TN Uncovered November 2016 Edition

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TN EDITION - NOVEMBER 2016

Delivered to 23,000 Homes and Businesses- Issue 51

www.tnuncovered.co.uk

IN THIS ISSUE Reader Competition

WIN tickets to Peter Pan at The Hawth Theatre Deck The Halls!

FESTIVE DÉCOR Back Pain TIME TO GET BACK TO BASICS

WELCOME

Hello...

This month, autumn is fast turning to winter and we’ve got some ideas for you to make the most of November and the Christmas season which is looming large! To help you we have festive décor ideas to help you ‘deck the halls!’ and if you’re in the party mood but conscious of over doing it we’ve got a feature on ways you can indulge without the bulge!

Our cover story this month features the Hawth Theatre, Crawley’s pantomime for 2016 Peter Pan and we’ve got an interview with star of the show and Captain Hook, former EastEnders star Shaun Williamson.

Get set for cries of “he’s behind you!”…

So, as the days turn darker let us bring you some sunshine and warmth and catch up with our great lifestyle features and local community content in our November issue.

Don’t forget you can contact our community writers by emailing featuresdesk@mantramagazines.co.uk if there is something you would like to see in the magazine next month.

It’s over to you! The TN Team

Contents 4

28

COMMUNITY

16

Community News What’s on 14

COVER STORY

Peter Pan at The Hawth Theatre 16

HOMES

Deck the Halls 20

GARDENS

Planting Trees & Shrubs 22

CHILDREN

20

Learning Challenges 24

FOOD & DRINK

All in Moderation 28

HEALTH

Time to Get Back to Basics 30

PET CARE

A Dog’s Dinner

TN

ADVERTISING SALES Nikki Relffe-Arnold, nikki@mantramagazines.co.uk

UNCOVERED

Heather Porter, Nadine Lindsay,

PUBLISHED BY

info@mantramagazines.co.uk

Mantra Magazines Ltd

ART & PRODUCTION

CONTACT

David Arnold, production@mantramagazines.co.uk

Unit 32, Rowfant Business Centre Wallage Lane, Rowfant, RH10 4NQ

FEATURES EDITOR

ONLINE

Jacob White, Jacob@mantramagazines.co.uk

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Jacob White, jacob@mantramagazines.co.uk

www.rhuncovered.co.uk @RHUncovered RH Uncovered Matthew Arnold, Matthew@mantramagazines.co.uk

ACCOUNTS

Mandy Notridge, Credit@mantramagazines.co.uk

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ARTICLE WRITERS Shelly Welti, shelley@mantramagazines.co.uk Nikki Relffe-Arnold nikki@mantramagazines.co.uk

COMMUNITY WRITERS Jacob White, Featuresdesk@mantramagazines.co.uk

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A day in the life of a Community Nurse

P

aula Charnley is a Community Nurse for Chestnut Tree children’s hospice, here she shares her experience of working with Chestnut Tree and providing care in families’ own homes.

“My job here is really varied but one of the main focuses is to provide support and respite to children with life-shortening conditions and their families in East Sussex and the surrounding areas.

This involves looking after children in their own homes so that their families can have a break, looking after the children whilst they are in hospital, taking the children out to access activities in the community, or taking them to interact with their peers. We also act as advocates for parents, supporting them with hospital appointments and meetings regarding their child.

Each visit with a child is different, sometimes we will go to the child’s home and might do some cooking, encouraging them to be involved where possible, at other times we will take them out. We do have things we take on visits with us, such as toys, the sensory box, and a whole box of music which a lot of the children enjoy. Our time with the child is always led by them, as each of our children will enjoy different things.

The parents will use the respite for many different things; some parents go out with siblings, some catch up with housework or have a bath and chill out, doing school runs, getting on with paperwork or putting the dinner on. It is an opportunity for them to get on without worrying about their child’s needs.

A week is very varied and can change at short notice. As our children go into hospital a lot, we may need to travel up to London or go to Brighton to visit them whilst they are there.

Part of my role involves caring for children at the end of their life. Families are able to choose

whether their child receives care in hospital, in their own homes, or at Chestnut Tree House, and we provide a 24 hour on call service in partnership with other agencies to offer as much support to families as we can during this difficult time.

A lot of people ask me how I can do this job, and it can be hard work emotionally, but most of all it is satisfying. To me it is an honour that these families have let you into their home and trusted you with their child. You do feel humbled and honoured. Sometimes it is sad, and end of life care is never easy – but we have a very supportive network of colleagues and there are systems in place to support you. Most of the time it is a very happy place to work and I feel very privileged to be able to do this job.”

For further information about the care that Chestnut Tree provide in families own homes please visit www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk.

COMMUNITY My TN Passion and I…

Katey takes centre stage What’s your passion? This month I meet actress and singer Katey Fraser who tells me about her passion for performing, what inspired her to get on stage and the challenges she has overcome.

By Jacob White

H

eathfield performer Katey Fraser knew from a very early age that the stage was her best friend, in fact being a performer is in her blood – her paternal grandparents were Hollywood stars in their day.

Katey, 24-years-old is a graduate of Bangor University with a degree in Electronic Engineering with Music Technology, but she’s happiest when taking centre stage and creating a right song and dance.

Katey performing in Legacy in July 2014

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This happiness started in childhood, by the age of six Katey was enrolled in local drama clubs and the performing bug hasn’t left her – she appeared in plays and musicals throughout her school years.

Stepping on stage was quite literally walking in the footsteps of her grandparents as Katey explained and it is something that she’s proud to be part of, and performing is what she calls “amazing”.

Katey said: “My grandmother, whose stage name was Ann Gillis, turns 90 in February but in her youth appeared in 47 movies including Walt Disney’s Bambi and 2001: A Space Odyssey.’

“I have performed since I was very small, it is always something I was passionate about so it is amazing to be able to pursue it as an adult.

Performing is just a dream” the actress and singer added.

Being a performer isn’t always plain-sailing as Katey will

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admit, and her biggest challenge was last year when she toured the UK with a production of Sleeping Beauty which she describes as “intense”.

“Coupled with a short 10-day rehearsal period there were times I worried that I wouldn’t be ready for the opening day of the tour.

Thankfully, I needn’t have worried. It went amazingly well!’

“I was the Fairy Godmother, and it was such a wonderful feeling to help make so many people smile, especially the children! It was a rewarding experience!” Katey says.

To succeed in the world of performing arts, Katey has a simple message of advice for any aspiring performers – hone your craft. She says getting as much performing experience is invaluable.

Katey, said: “Do anything and everything; dance classes, singing lessons, join bands, choirs and clubs – anything that gives you the chance to practice your skill.

It’s well worth it.”

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COMMUNITY Spotlight: Uckfield Writers Club

The write stuff!

Are you a budding writer? Do you need inspiration or want to bounce around ideas with other creative people? Well, if so one club in Uckfield which recently celebrated a quarter of a century of creativity could be the place for you! I spoke with Jane Shepherd of the club to learn more.

By Jacob White

U

ckfield Writers Club was founded by a group of like-minded writers in the early 1990s.

Initially headed up by Doreen Purton, (who is still part of the club) as there was no outlet for the writers locally, and so, determined to set up a group closer to home, the Uckfield Writers Club was born.

Today, the group has 12 members and works on many projects and activities at its meetings with members working on individual novels which they can share with fellow members for ideas and help if they suffer from writer’s block or simple tweaking.

The group has enjoyed success as both as a whole and by individual members.

Currently, articles are being written, and four members are writing novels, with one member with four already

Uckfield Writers Club meet the first and third Wednesday of each month (except August) at 7.30pm at the Luxford Centre in the centre of Uckfield.

A taster-first meeting is free, after that an annual fee of £40 is payable. under their belt, but Jane is quick to explain that you don’t need to be published to join the group.

Jane says: “We’re in the position to help get members into competitions, 20-years-ago as group we won a competition to be included in a national anthology of writing and won a cash prize which we were able to donate to the x-ray unit of what was then the new Uckfield Hospital.’

“We’ve also had one member who wrote a play which we as a group all attended in support of him when it was performed at Hadlow Down Village Hall. It was a great event, and we’re

strong on coaching and shared tuition which is what the group is all about” Jane added.

The coaching and tuition take many forms, and the group uses fun and innovative ways to encourage members – Jane explains that on one occasion they held a social event in a local pub whereby they performed Romeo and Juliet in the setting of a pet shop.

The group’s president is local author Simon Brett and has had a series of guest speakers including writer Michael Leggitt and they actively work with other local groups and schools to encourage writing, with members coming from across Sussex.

Want to be part of a future Spotlight?

If your group is in the TN postcode area, let me know, and you could feature in a future edition of TN Uncovered!

Email me: jacob@mantramagazines.co.uk and put TN Uncovered Spotlight in the email subject.

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COMMUNITY

When JFK Came To Sussex As the world awaits the election of the 45th and next President of the United States of America, TN Uncovered revisits the summer of 1963 which saw the 35th President John F. Kennedy visit Sussex – spending a night in Horsted Keynes and attending a Catholic Church service in Forest Row.

By Jacob White

T

he year 1963 saw changes in the leadership of both the Conservative and Labour parties, the Profumo Affair, The Beatles ascendency and the beginning of the long-running sci-fi series Doctor Who. In Sussex, one story hit the headlines that year, but it was not domestic politics, the Fab Four or the Time Lord, rather it involved an earthlier figure from ‘across the pond’.

On June 29, 1963, youthful US President John F. Kennedy paid a flying visit to meet Prime Minister Harold MacMillan at his beautiful Sussex country house; Birch Grove, on the Ashdown Forest.

During the peak of the Cold War, the eyes of the world looked at a quiet corner of Sussex as Kennedy made a short stop-over on a crucial four-nation European tour he was undertaking.

Arriving at Gatwick Airport for Cold War talks Kennedy was not alone – files from the time show that almost every

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hotel in the area was booked up by his entourage and associated media.

Much of the press stayed at the Metropole Hotel in Brighton and US officials along with the crew of Air Force One boarded at the city’s Grand Hotel with helicopter shuttles to and from Hove Lawns.

Supplies of the blood group which Kennedy belonged to were sent to The Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead and the US Secret Service stationed themselves at The Crown Inn in Horsted Keynes.

The President, a practising Catholic worshipped at a 40-minute church service in Forest Row before leaving the UK onward bound to visit Italy, the next stop on his final landmark European tour.

Sadly, Kennedy would never return to the UK following this visit – less than five months later, he was dead – shot on a gloriously sunny November afternoon whilst visiting Dallas, Texas.

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thatsmymop / Shutterstock.com

White House Diary extract Sunday, June 30 12.00pm GMT Small luncheon in honor (sic) of President Kennedy given

by Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. Birch Grove House, Sussex, England.

More Events President Kennedy attends Mass at a nearby Catholic church.

President Kennedy and Prime Minister Harold Macmillan issue a joint statement following their discussions at the Prime Minister’s country home.

Both agree that a nuclear test ban treaty is essential.

President Kennedy departs from Gatwick Airport and arrives in Milan, Italy where he spends the night at the Villa Serbelloni on Lake Como.

ADVERTORIAL

‘5 minutes with Studio Talking’s Becky & Chloe.’

What inspired you to launch a business?

We worked for a company which recorded magazines and documents for blind and partially sighted people. It was an opportunity to meet a wide variety of people from all walks of life.

We got to know people and every one of them had a story to tell – we thought their life stories were too precious to be left to “luck” to be remembered so we set out to preserve them.

What makes your business special?

You know how there are songs that have the ability to transport you back to a moment in time? Imagine then what happens when you hear a loved one’s voice talking to you.

We capture the voice, with all its uniqueness, idiosyncrasies and familiarity and give the gift of memories to be enjoyed by a family today and in the future.

“We’ve always been interested in social history and how other people live so suppose we’re fairly nosey! But we think that’s what makes us good listeners and producers, as you have to be interested in people.”

What do you enjoy most about capturing memories?

Becky: “I love it when people talk about a time and then are reminded of something else. You can see in their face and hear in their voice that these memories are bringing back so much pleasure.’

“I often have people telling me that they “haven’t spoken about this for years” or “I’d completely forgotten about that”.”

“Of course, there are the sad and personal memories and we deal with everything with complete confidentiality and discretion.’

Chloe: “Hearing tales of people’s experiences - ‘The way things were’, families don’t always have time to spend together so it’s wonderful that these memories can be shared, enjoyed and treasured even after the person is gone.

What have been the most notable memories shared with you so far?

Becky: “My mother died young and with that I lost her voice. Recently I discovered an old recording of her, aged 21 talking to her parents from Africa. It astonished me.’

“Hearing her voice, talking about her “natty shorts” and adventures and even including some Jazz music at the end – it made me laugh a cry at the same time!”

Chloe: “The story of a man in the army serving in Sudan following the Second World War. He spoke of how he kept a lizard in the shower, had pet monkeys who used to comb his hair and steal food.’

“He spoke with such fondness of this time in his life and the pictures he painted of these events were so vivid I almost felt like I was there. I was a wonderful journey to take with him.”

For more information Phone: 07540 470539 Email: info@studiotalking.co.uk Website: www.studiotalking.co.uk • Prices start from £155 • Recording session approximately two hours and are booked around your schedule • Recording session are done at home • Free consultation to discuss the process • The final product includes the recording edited onto CD but we can create a DVD including a selection your favourite photos and/or music

COMMUNITY

A divine debut for Gerald

Those with disabilities realise the struggles that come with whatever they may face. Some choose to let their disability define them – others decide that they will do whatever it takes to overcome their condition and one such person is author Gerald Chatfield.

By Jacob White

G

erald, 74 is the author of new book, Dowsing and Ley Lines which he has written, despite being severely dyslexic his whole life, having no academic qualifications and barely being able to read he has invested his time in his other abilities – dowsing.

The life-long Uckfield resident largely used a computer program called Dragon 10 to produce the book which covers dowsing from the most basic to the most advanced, including time and what lines do in relation to precise Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

Where he may struggle with dyslexia, dowsing has allowed Gerald to learn in a different way – he has been dowsing or water divining since a child and he is now determined to share his passion for and teach others all about the technique of dowsing.

“I created this book because I have unique first-hand knowledge, having spent a lifetime acquiring” Gerald said.

The book contains five different sorts of lines all of which can be found by a dowser or water diviner, they follow more than 500 lay marks covering half of the British Isles and included in the book is also hundreds of pictures of lay markers Britain-wide.

“The book is among the most expensive on the shelf because there are 564 colour photographs of ley markers, which have all been taken by me across the southern half of the British Isles.’

“The technical knowledge I have acquired throughout my life puts me at the forefront of dowsing” Gerald added.

In the book, Gerald tells you how to create quartz lines. There are positive quartz lines, which curve clockwise and negative, quartz lines, which curve anti-clockwise, none of which are active at the present time but he’ll tell you how to create your own.

Gerald, says: “The unique knowledge that I have discovered over a lifetime is my legacy, which is why I have paid to have this book published.”

The phrase ley line was first used in 1921 by amateur archaeologist Alfred Watkins, referring to supposed alignments of locations of geographical and historical interest including ancient monuments and water-fords.

According to Gerald, there are two lines passing near Crawley, one that follows the A272, to the South and one that passes through Turner’s Hill, North East of Crawley, to Charlwood, under the flight path of the aircraft from Gatwick.

We have a copy of the book to giveaway to one lucky reader!

Visit our website: www.tnuncovered.co.uk to find out more

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ANNIVERSARY

More than just print!

Continuing our year of tenth birthday celebrations, this month we’re looking at our social media offering and how you can access our content and enter our competitions anytime, anywhere.

By Jacob White As well as offering comprehensive coverage or ten years we’ve been delivered of local events and community news on social door-to-door by our delivery partner media platforms, two dedicated websites offer Royal Mail but in that time we’ve proven we’re much more than just print! This month around the clock updated content. we explore how the internet has changed how In 2015, both the RH Uncovered and TN Uncovered websites went live. we get to you and how you can access us.

In 2006, the same year as our launch the first tweets were sent – the 140-character blogging Have you visited our website recently? service Twitter started and incredibly today, more www.tnuncovered.co.uk than 400 million tweets are sent every day!

RH Uncovered joined Twitter in 2012 and was Have you liked us on Facebook yet? followed by TN Uncovered in February 2015. https://www.facebook.com/ Starting two-years before our birth, Facebook TNUncovered was still in its infancy in 2006 but is now a global phenomenon with 1.71 billion users worldwide.

Have you followed us on Twitter yet?

Last year, RH Uncovered and TN Uncovered @TNUncovered launched Facebook pages.

F

COMMUNITY Saturday, November 5, 2.00pm Remembrance Recital

Trinity Church, Lewes Road, Forest Row, RH18 5AF. A recital with soloists including harpist Margaret Watson and organist and pianist Simon Morris. Retiring collection.

Thursday, November 10, 7.30pm (Doors 6.45pm) Horam & Heathfield Flower Club Open Evening

Heathfield Community Centre, Sheepsetting Lane, Heathfield TN21 OXG. Visitors welcome at £10.00.

For more information, call: 01435 408605 Saturday, November 12, 10.00am – 4.30pm Collection of Military Exhibits

Horam Village Hall, Horam TN21 0JE. Featuring faith and healing display including artefacts relating to chaplains, military medicine and veterinary units presented by the Etchingham Military & Aviation Preservation Group. Admission £3.00, accompanying children free.

For more information, call: 07775 515936 Saturday, November 12, 10.00am – 12.00pm Forest Row Royal British Legion Coffee Morning

Peter Griffiths Hall, Forest Row Village Hall Lewes Rd, Forest Row RH18 5ES. Includes a cake and produce stall in support of the Royal British Legion.

Sunday, November 13, 11.00am – 3.00pm Cats Protection Homing Show

The Hawth Theatre, Hawth Ave, Crawley RH10 6YZ. Cats Protection, the largest cat charity in the UK, hosts monthly homing shows where you can visit and meet your potential companion in a safe and relaxing environment – this month it’s Crawley. For more information, call the homing line on: 01293 226155, or visit: www.catsprotection.co.uk

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Saturday, November 19, 9.00am – 12.30pm Heathfield Farmers Market

Co-Op car park, 110 High Street, Heathfield TN21 8JD. Fresh local produce, arts and craft – buy direct from the producer. For more information, call: 01892 610314, or email: farmersmarket@heathfield.net Friday, December 2 (10.00am - 9.00pm) Saturday, December 3 (10.00am - 6.00pm) Sunday, December 4 (11.30am – 4.00pm - Christmas Service at 4.30pm) Holy Cross Church Festival of Christmas Trees

Holy Cross Church, Uckfield TN22 1BP. The annual Festival of Christmas Trees, a firm fixture in the town’s calendar, last year more than 6,000 people flocked to attend.

There will be refreshments and children’s activities available.

Admission is free, however donations are welcomed with funds going to the church and The Children’s Society.

For more visit: www.churchofholycrossuckfield.co.uk Saturday, December 3, 3.00pm Uckfield Singers Christmas Concert

Civic Centre, Bellfarm Lane, Uckfield TN22 1AE. Christmas songs and carols as well as tunes from Joseph and His Tehnicolour Dreamcoat.

Tickets are Adults £7.00 and Children (under 16) £5.00.

Tickets will be available to buy from Gale and Woolgar in the High Street from November 7.

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London Temple Visitors Centre is delighted to invite you to attend

FAITH

The musical in concert 7.00pm, 13 November

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Old Horsham Road, Southgate, Crawley West Sussex RH11 8PD

OUR PIONEER HERITAGE Composed & Directed

by David R. Markham

Featuring many of the cast & chorus from the 2011 Salt Lake City Conference Centre Theatre production

During the 1850’s many thousands of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints left these shores in answer to the prophet’s call to ‘Come To Zion’. ‘FAITH-the musical’ follows the documented story of the Oakey Family from Gloucester - who, crossing an ocean, joined the ill-fated Willie & Martin Handcart companies and travelling by foot for over a thousand miles, finally reached the Salt Lake Valley having suffered the perils of hunger, disease and even death. Rhoda Oakey, pictured above, was the youngest of their eight children succumbing to exhaustion & disease on the eve of the family entering the Valley.

Places visited: Hyde Park, Wandsworth, Stevenage, Reading, Belfast, Merthyr Tydfil, Poole, Bristol, Cheltenham Leicester, Northampton, Birmingham, Lichfield, Paisley, Edinburgh.

Entry to the event is FREE for more information find the London Temple Visitor’s Centre on Facebook or visit www.lds.org/placestovisit

COVER STORY

Peter Pan

at the Hawth Theatre The stage is set, it’s time for the curtain to rise – it’s panto season once again with boos, hisses and cries of “he’s behind you!!” and this year the Hawth Theatre has something to get you hooked!

By Jacob White

C

rawley’s Hawth Theatre boasts an offering of lively and diverse shows throughout the year but without a doubt, a family highlight is the annual pantomime and this year it’s Peter Pan featuring EastEnders stars Shaun Williamson (Barry Evans) and Emma Barton (Honey Mitchell).

It’s a show not to be missed as Williamson takes on the role of the menacing Captain Hook.

With the same creative team behind last year’s record-breaking smash hit, Jack and the Beanstalk there’s fun and frolics guaranteed for the entire family – young and old alike!

Alongside Williamson, Barton appears as Tinkerbell with Cook and Line, the hilarious pirate duo from CBeebies Swashbuckle onboard ship and Hawth favourites Hilary O’Neil as Mrs Darling and Big Chief Sitting Cow and panto dame extraordinaire Michael J Batchelor.

Competition Time!

It’s competition time!

Oh, yes it is!

We’ve teamed-up with the Hawth Theatre to offer lucky readers the chance to watch Shaun and the rest of the cast in action.

For more information on how to win, visit our website: www.tnuncovered.co.uk

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From Albert Square to the Jolly Roger – Five Minutes with Shaun Williamson Ahead of his performance at the Hawth, I caught up with EastEnders legend Shaun Williamson, who for more than a decade played the loveable fool and car salesman Barry Evans in the popular BBC soap.

How do you feel about appearing as Captain Hook?

“I am very excited about playing Captain Hook in the Hawth’s forthcoming production of Peter Pan. I’ve played several panto baddies, but it’s my first Hook. He’s a classic villain from my childhood memories.

I loved the Disney fi lm, and I’ll have a lot of fun putting my own spin on it.”

How does stage compare to screen for you as a performer?

“If I am honest I prefer stage to screen.

Screen acting is so technical, and there are always long delays to allow for technical problems. You can’t beat hearing the feedback from a live audience. They’ll soon let you know if you’re doing it right!

The schedule suits me; no 6am calls!”

Have you done panto before?

It must be difficult to be away from loved ones at Christmas.

“It’s my fifteenth panto. I’ve played Abananzar in Aladdin more than four hundred times! Also, King Rat, the Sherriff of Nottingham, Buttons, Idle Jack and many more. My loved ones are used to it now.

It’s just the way Christmas is, and if I had a normal one I wouldn’t know what to do!”

What is your message to our readers thinking of attending the panto?

“What I can say to readers who are undecided which panto to go to is that Evolution (the production company behind Peter Pan) are renowned for their fabulous pantomimes. The scripts are freshly written every year; the costumes are lavish and the cast looks forward to seeing you.”

Finally, there was a sensational rumour that Barry might make a return from the ‘dead’ like ‘Dirty’ Den and come back to EastEnders, is there any truth in this rumour?

“There is no truth to the rumour that Barry is being resurrected by EastEnders.

I had ten years of it, thanks!”

Book for Hook!

If you’re not lucky enough to be one of our competition winners, tickets are now on sale!

For more information on ticketing, visit: www.hawth.co.uk Box Office: 01293 553636 The Hawth Theatre, Hawth Avenue, Crawley, RH10 6YZ

HOMES

Deck the Halls!

All too soon Christmas will be upon us and the annual visit to the nether regions of the loft, or the climb across everything that has been piled into the garage, including tents, BBQ’s and sun loungers from the long-gone days of summer will be necessary, to find the Christmas decorations.

By Nikki Relffe-Arnold

U

nless, you decide that this will be the year when you will bring your festive décor bang up to date and buy new!

This, naturally comes with its own issue, of what colour theme to choose? You may be lucky in that you have a fairly neutral colour scheme in your home already, in which case the sky is the limit for you, but if not, we’ve come up with some more ideas, one of which is bound to be a perfect match for your décor.

Red, Green and Gold Well, we couldn’t offer up a colour theme without the traditional red, green and gold being top of the list! With all the colours that remind us of Christmas pulled together, the red and green reminiscent of the beautiful holly and berries so synonymous of Christmas along with the age-old tradition of gold will fill every corner of your home with festive cheer throughout the season.

Silver, Blue and White If you have embraced the neutral trend of whites and greys this year, then a choice of silver, blue and white will be the perfect icy topping for your theme. Use sparkly silver for baubles or how about clear glacier-like glass? Finally, weave ice-like white fairy lights throughout tree branches, bannisters and along mantels for a truly winter wonderland feel.

Burgundy, Green and Gold Rich burgundy, deep green and velvety golds will add a touch of opulence to your home – look for fabric or glass tree decorations in deep burgundy and green shades along with sparkling gold lights and deep green beads wound majestically around your tree.

Add vases of greenery and bowls of golden baubles to side tables and mantels to finish.

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Multi-Colours If you have children, you are going to be lucky to get away with any of the sophisticated themes above. It is likely that they will want to do the decorating of the tree in their style. They will throw everything, but the kitchen sink on the tree and none of it will match. You’ll have fifty shades of tinsel, mismatched and lopsided baubles and a wonky fairy to top it off but your heart will melt quicker than all of the chocolate coins and bunnies on the tree every time you look at it!

To finish, pull your theme together with co-ordinating cushions, throws and candles, pour yourself a festive tipple and settle in for a very Merry Christmas!

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All projects are based on a fixed price

www.baileybridge.co.uk 01825 714 922 or email enquiries@baileybridge.co.uk

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FLAT ROOFS * GUTTERING FULLY INSURED

For all enquiries please telephone: 01435 810022 / 07900 885888 or email askeggsroof@gmail.com 36 Paynsbridge Way, Horam, TN21 0HQ

STORAGE HEATERS FROM

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• Rough? • Discoloured?

Baths restored to NEW without removal.

One day service. Any colour.

Get a FREE online quote at www.renubath.co.uk or call 01342 324 577

GARDENS

Planting Trees & Shrubs Arguments rage between gardeners on the best time to plant trees and shrubs. The consensus is that anytime between October and March is a good time.

However, planting in the autumn is preferred by many while the ground still retains warmth and moisture.

By Nikki Relffe-Arnold

A

bove ground, the autumn season for most trees and shrubs is a dormant one, the leaves have fallen or are in the process of doing so, and therefore the plant doesn’t have the hard work of having to pump water through the roots to the leaves and shoots above.

Planting now gives the shrub the chance to expend their energy on the root system of newly planted trees and shrubs, encouraging rapid root growth, ensuring that the plant will be well-established when the growth explosion in the spring takes place.

If you can find bare-rooted trees, then go for this option every time. A container grown tree will mean that the root system won’t be as healthy and will likely be quite crowded, which will make them difficult to tease out when you want to plant. If you can’t find a bare-rooted specimen, then container grown is fine, but be sure to spend some extra time teasing out the roots to give

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them the best possible chance to thrive.

When it comes to planting, begin with a good sized hole, ensuring that it is several inches (or more) wider than the longest of your roots on your tree or shrub. Prepare it with a mixture of good organic matter such as garden compost and well-rotted manure which will help ensure it doesn’t dry out. If you have a heavy soil, add some grit and leaf mould too to help with aeration and drainage around the roots.

You only really need to stake large trees, or if you are planting in a particularly windy area.

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Otherwise, the best advice is that if a tree is given a chance to move around a little, it will form a stronger trunk in the long-run. If you are going to stake, use a short stake, at an angle, with a proper tree tie fitted so as not to damage the bark.

Finally, ensure thorough and regular watering is carried out during any dry spells for at least the first couple of years after planting. Bearing in mind that lack of water is the biggest cause of newly planted trees dying, if I only needed one reason to convince me to plant in the autumn, this would be it.

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CHILDREN

Learning Challenges

By Shelley Welti

W

hat can you do if you think your child has dyslexia? What learning support is available for you as a parent and your child as a student? We uncover all you need to know to ensure your child gets the hands-on help they need.

10% of the world’s population have been diagnosed with dyslexia, and 4% of sufferers are described as ‘severely’ affected by the learning disability. Dyslexia is a lifelong issue that affects the ability to develop in reading, writing and spelling and is usually first noticed when a child requiring extra help goes to school.

But, that doesn’t mean that a dyslexia diagnosis will hold them back – in fact, there’s plenty of entrepreneurs, leading business figures and creatives that have proved the opposite. From Steve Jobs to Jamie Oliver, Pablo Picasso to Richard Branson, sufferers have shown over and over again that they can thrive – regardless of any difficulties they face while learning.

Dyslexia symptoms The symptoms and severity of dyslexia can vary from child to child. Some parents can detect difficulties experienced by their child before they go to school.

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Parents notice any speech issues (such as jumbling up words or not being able to pronounce longer words), witness problems with them trying to express themselves and struggling with getting to grips with the alphabet. However, many of the symptoms aren’t fully recognised until a child goes to school.

Most dyslexic children can find themselves confused when faced with words that look similar but have different meanings – for example ‘cat’ and ‘cot’. They may not see a difference between the two and be unable to understand how to sound a change, should a suggestion be made to change the ‘C’ to an ‘H’, for instance, to become ‘hat’ and ‘hot’. This is called phonological awareness.

Indications of Dyslexia in school-aged children include difficulty learning the names and sounds of words, inconsistent spellings, mixing up letters and numbers (and often writing them the wrong way around).

They may also be unable able to order letters in words correctly, have difficulty reading aloud, complain about seeing ‘blurry’ letters, be slow at writing, experience difficulty remembering and carrying out multiple tasks given or understanding questions but not being able to formulate a written answer easily.

Getting help Getting a diagnosis as soon as possible will prevent further learning frustrations and tears. If you have any concerns, the best person to chat to is your child’s teacher, as they’ll be able to advise if they have noticed any abnormalities with their development. From there, a visit to your GP with your child should be scheduled. This will give your doctor the opportunity to check for underlying issues that could be affecting their learning, such as problems with hearing or vision.

Should these issues be ruled out, your doctor may suggest using different learning methods or for your child to receive help from a specialist classroom assistant. A further assessment for learning difficulties can be requested (either by you or the doctor) to thoroughly investigate the root of the issues being experienced.

Then, once a diagnosis has been made, organisations such as the British Dyslexia Association can offer additional advice and assistance – along with your child’s school.

For more information on dyslexia visit: www.bdadyslexia.org.uk.

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Sixth Form Open Evening

at UCTC on Thursday 3rd November 2016 from 5.30pm to 8pm for prospective students and parents You are warmly invited to visit our Sixth Form College at UCTC when you can find out about the extensive range of courses and opportunities available to our 6th Form Students.

There will be three presentations throughout the evening at 5.30, 6.30 and 7.30pm.

During the evening you will have the opportunity to visit representatives from each subject who will be able to give you guidance and information concerning the variety of courses we can offer you in our Sixth Form.

Your future starts here!

Principal: Hugh Hennebry BSc NPQH Downsview Crescent UCKFIELD East Sussex TN22 3DJ Telephone: 01825 764844 e-mail: 6formapply@uctc.org.uk Website: uctc.org.uk

FOOD AND DRINK

All in moderation

Christmas can be a time of gluttony, but it needn’t be.

We’ve got some top tips for you to indulge without the bulge.

By Jacob White

W

ith all the delicious eats and treats now around the corner, there’s no way even the most disciplined among us will be able to commence a December detox.

However, this Christmas and New Year, by focussing on the motto ‘all in moderation’, you might just be able to enjoy the festive season by ‘maintaining and not gaining’.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and there are so many tempting naughties; Irish whisky cream? Pass me a glass!

Fondant chocolates? Mmm...

Christmas is an opportunity for parties, presents and festive treats – but for some, it comes with an expanding waistline.

So can you indulge without the bulge?

Rest assured, Christmas really can be happy and healthy! It’s not about a list of foods you must avoid or a set number of crunches you must get in every day. Somewhere over time, we have lost the sense to listen to our bodies as to when to start and stop eating - stress, life and time all too often come into it.

This Christmas, there’s no need to let gluttony take over if you feel full then stop right there!

There’s no need to keep eating for the sake of it!

Although you shouldn’t fret about foods to avoid, you can think about choices – for sweet nibbles why not ditch the chocolate for dried cranberries?

Colourful, sweet and tasty! Plus, without the sugar content of many other Christmas treats and they offer you a rich flavour of Christmas as well!

Look at drinks whether alcoholic or soft drinks – find sugar-free or low-alcohol alternatives that are as equally thirst quenching but won’t pile on the pounds!

Remember, some of these top tips may or may not work for you but what’s most important is that you find those that do and make them a habit during December.

Get your friends, family or work colleagues onboard!

Top Tip: Make it a competition!

Everyone puts a fiver in a hat and those able to maintain their weight during Christmas and New Year gets to split the winnings! Preparation is the key to success!

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Top Tip: Plan out your week’s events every Sunday. Knowing what’s going on in the week ahead can help you plan; office party on Thursday, girls-night-out Friday, in-laws Saturday…

Schedule some extra exercise in!

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Top Tip: Organise an exercise schedule around your festive fun and frolics!

It’s not about getting a gym membership but plan simple walks and household chores!

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THE RINGLES CROSS Wonderful Home Cooked Food All our food is home made from fresh ingredients obtained where possible from local sources.

New Childrens Play Area and Decking Quiz night first Tuesday of every month

FREE LIVE MUSIC EVERY FRIDAY AND SOME SATURDAYS

The Ringles Cross Hotel, London Road, Uckfield, TN22 1HG - 01825 765 428

THE PIG AND BUTCHER Restaurant Wed to Sat 12 noon - 3pm 6pm - 9pm To Make a Reservation Call us on

01825 732 191

Great Carvery Available Every Sunday 12 noon - 3pm All our food is home made from fresh ingredients obtained where possible from local sources.

We Cater For A Wide Variety of Events. (curry night, fish & chip night, pie night)

The Pig and Butcher, Five Ash Down, Uckfield, TN22 3AN - 01825 732 191

20% Off

Pre-book a table, hand your completed voucher to one of our staff & receive

20% off your food bill.

Voucher is valid for 2 people only.

(Excludes December, Bank Holidays, Mother’s & Father’s Day)

Name: Date of Birth: Anniversary: Postcode: We appreciate your visit and would like to keep you informed of our special offers and events as they happen. We will not pass your details on to anyone else

Email: Mobile:

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Buffet Packages available, starting at just £4 per head. (Min 20 people) Ideal for Weddings, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Funerals and Christmas.

Free Food Tuesday Nights 6.30pm - 8.00pm Hurry whilst stocks last.

Live music venue with excellent bands on Fridays or Saturdays throughout the month.

Call for details or check our Facebook

Cross In Hand, TN21 0SN - 01435 865 449

Opening Times: Monday - Thursday 12-11pm, Friday - Saturday 12-12pm, Sunday12-10.30pm

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 01342 718348

HEALTH

Time to Get Back to Basics

Back pain sends millions of patients to GPs each year, more than any condition other than the common cold. According to the Office for National Statistics in 2013 more than 31 million work days were lost due to back, neck and muscle aches.

By Nikki Relffe-Arnold

S

o who is susceptible to back pain, what can we do to prevent it and what are the treatment choices for sufferers?

With more than a third of the adult population affected each year, there aren’t any ‘typical’ sufferers. Although, stress, economic pressure, and lack of exercise can all contribute, most commonly back pain is due to poor postural habits or lifting objects incorrectly, and is generally not caused by a serious underlying condition.

When to see your GP Of course, there are more serious causes of pain and if your symptoms are persistent (lasting several weeks) or you experience any of the following then a visit to your GP is recommended: • Pins and needles, any numbness or weakness in your legs • Pain which intensifies over a number of weeks • Loss of bladder or bowel control • Difficulty in walking • Unexplained weight-loss Treatment While many instances of back pain can be self-managed with over-the-counter painkillers and perhaps hot or cold compresses, it is also important to try to keep as active as possible -inactivity may exacerbate the issue.

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For more persistent or acute pain due to a sport or work injury, your GP may refer you for treatment with a manual therapist such as an osteopath, chiropractor or physiotherapist.

Most back pain will dissipate or disappear within a few weeks of treatment, and only around 1% of all back pain or injuries ever require surgery, but your GP will be able to refer you should they feel this is necessary.

Prevention Prevention is always better than cure, and as we have already seen most back, pain can be prevented with good posture, activities that can reduce stress or adequate manual handling training. Regular exercise, such as swimming or walking will also help as will any movement that encourages the stretching and resulting strengthening of your muscles such as pilates or yoga.

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 01342 718348

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PET CARE

A Dog’s Dinner Owners are becoming increasingly concerned about their animal’s health and with a sharp rise in pet obesity causing similar issues found in humans it is little wonder many are looking at ways they can provide healthier dog’s dinners and provide them with the level of exercise that they need to stay fit.

By Jacob White besity in our four-legged friends is feed them. Each pet’s metabolism is different growing, and it’s triggered by the same so consult your vet. factors which have led to the rise 2. Be tactical with treats: If you’re going to give in human obesity – overfeeding and a lack of your pets treats, factor them into their daily proper, regular exercise. calorie intake. Too many pet treats are full of Owners are now approaching their pet’s diet sugar and fat – try healthier treats which clean requirements with a human touch, and many pet teeth at the same time. food brands are launching their own diet foods 3. Veg is vital: An alternative to processed akin to the latest human healthy eating trends. treats can be baby carrots, green beans or There are two questions owners need to ask; sliced apples. No different to the human what are the signs that my dog is overweight and diet – offer some colour and embrace the what do I do if my pet is overweight? By doing five-a-day recommendation. so, you might be able to fight that puppy fat!

4. Walkies! Research proves the most powerful weapon in reducing your pet’s weight is daily What are the signs that my dog is exercise. For dogs, as little as 30-minutes of brisk overweight? walking is all it takes to make a big difference!

1. Can you feel your dog’s ribs? If you have to

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apply pressure to the chest to feel ribs, it might be a sign that your dog is overweight.

2. Is your dog getting breathless? Dogs who have difficulties breathing or who tire fast after very little physical exertion may be obese.

3. Does your dog struggle to digest and go to the toilet? If your dog is having trouble going to the toilet or suffers from constipation, obesity could be a factor.

4. Is your dog moving awkwardly? Dogs with obesity may move more awkwardly as it’s a contributing factor to bone and joint problems.

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What do I do if my pet is overweight?

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CANINE HYDROTHERAPY

For any enquiries or information please contact us on

07738 686 189

Now OPEN near Haywards Heath

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More House Farm, Ditchling Road, Wivelsfield, Haywards Heath RH17 7RE

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INDEX Audio Biographies, Studio Talking, 9 Bathroom Restoration, Renubath, 19 Building & Maintenance, Reg Mardlin, 18 Care Home, Sussex Health Care, 5 Charity, Cats Protection, 12 Charity, Chestnut Tree House, 3 Chiropractic Clinic, Uckfield Chiropractic Clinic, 29 Curtains and Soft Furnishings, Florence Landais, 19 Dog Walking & Pet Sitting, Endless Summer, 30 Domestic Fuels, Geoff Boorman Fuels, 21 Farm Shop, Heaven Farm Shop, 26 Gutter Cleaning & Repairs, Ground Based Gutter Clearance, 19 Heating Services, Storaheat, 19 Hotel and Restaurant, The Ringles Cross Hotel , 25 Landscaping, Allseasons Landscaping & Design, 18, 21

Local Shopping, The Big Reveal - East Grinstead, 27 Mobile Car Valeting, P & B Mobile Valeting, 31 Printing Servicves, Quarry Printing, 31 Property Refurbishment & Construction, Baileybridge Property Refurbishment & Construction, 18 Public House, Pig & Butcher, 25 Public House and Restaurant, Cross In Hand, 26 Public House and Restaurant, The Brickmakers Arms, 32 Religious group, London Temple Visitor Centre, 13 Retirement Home, Holy Cross Priory, 11 Roof & Gutter Cleaning, Tilley & Co, 19 Roofing, Andrew Skeggs Roofing, 19 Secondary School, Uckfield Community Technology College, 23 Tyre Services, Setyres, 1 Will Writing Service, Good Wills, 7, 29

Are you following us on twitter yet?

follow We post regular community updates throughout the month @TNUncovered

P&B

Mobile Valeting

Office 01825 766 353 Mob 07590 480 865 - 07891 336 742 pandbmobilevaleting@yahoo.co.uk

The Brickmakers Arms is proud to be raising money for CCHF all about kids in Hassocks in loving memory of Mike Shepherd aka Sausage Mike.

Race Night Sat 12th November - 8pm start.

Come along for a night of laughs with our compère Des Lavaille

Following the huge success of Brickstock back in June we are hosting another music event on Sat 10th December - music from all eras with the burger van making a festive appearance to keep the hunger pangs at bay!!

As always we have a large Christmas hamper being raffled - prize draw Christmas Eve. Join us for a mince pie or two!

Call 01825 769 335.

Join us for Great Ales, Food and a warm welcome Find us at New Road, Ridgewood, Uckfield, East Sussex TN22 5TG

The Foresters Arms

Christmas menu available now....

Please see our website or call into the pub for the menu.

Christmas carols at The Foresters Thursday 15th Dec. 7.30pm for 8pm. Join us for a sing a long and a mince pie or 2!!

Opening Hours

Mon - Fri 11am-3pm & 6pm - 11pm (Fri midnight) Sat 11am - 11pm | Sun Noon - 8pm The Foresters Arms, The Street, Fairwarp, TN22 3BP Tel 01825 712808

Tickets for our Big Christmas Draw will be available from the 1st Dec and the winners will be drawn this night - all proceeds raised will go to The Pavilion Project

The World Famous Ashdown Mummers

will once again be performing on the afternoon of Sunday 18th December - book a table quickly for lunch this day due to popular demand