NN Pulse Magazine April 23

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ou’ll have a cracking time this month. There are egg hunts, traditional Easter bonnet making, and days out for all the family. See our collection of egg-citing holiday events and activities; you’re sure to find something to entertain you.

If you head over to Rushden Station on Easter Sunday or Monday you can ‘hop’ aboard the Easter Bunny Express. There’s an Easter hunt, crafts for the children, and you’ll probably bump in to the Easter Bunny too.

When you’ve finally enjoyed enough egg hunts you can spend some time in the garden introducing your young people to the joys of a mini bug hotel. You can make one out of almost anything you have to hand.

Racing enthusiasts will want to plan a trip to Silverstone to see how Scalextric has recreated the famous racing circuit. You can also build your own circuit or design livery for a racing car.

At Lamport Hall there’s the Spring Fair during Easter weekend and at the end of the month the Art, Craft and Design Fair returns with some of our best local makers and artists.

All Saints Church in Earls Barton, at the heart of the largest village along the Nene Valley, is worth visiting too. Laura Malpas has been finding out about the 5,000 years of history surrounding it.

After all this activity, could you also take on a fundraising challenge for the Northamptonshire Health Charity? You’ll be supporting local NHS hospitals and community services.

Whatever you’re doing this month, have a Happy Easter everyone.

Kerry

Editor Read previous editions online: www.pulsemagazine.co.uk 01604 935300 nnpulse@pulsegroupmedia.co.uk 17 Stilebrook Road, Olney, Bucks MK46 5EA Connect with us on socials: /pulsemagazines @pulsemagazines nnpulsemagazine FINISHED READING? PASS PULSE MAGAZINE TO A FRIEND OR PLACE IT IN THE RECYCLING.

At the Kelmarsh Show there’s everything from parachutes to paws along with plenty of food and fun activities. Youngsters can bring their grown-ups to St Peter’s Church in Brackley to bake the Easter story and there’s crafting in the garden at Olney’s Cowper & Newton Museum.38 26 6 NEWS 12 LEGAL 15 CRACKING EASTER 26 CHARITY 28 ANDREW LEWER 32 LOCAL HISTORY 36 BEAUTY 37 FASHION 38 FOOD & DRINK 40 HOME & GARDEN 46 INTERIORS 48 MUSIC 52 WHAT’S ON 55 THEATRE 56 MOTORING 57 PUZZLES 58 YOUR STARS 15

NN Pulse is distributed door to door to 22,000 homes and businesses in: Ashton, Astcote, Blisworth, Brafield-on-the-Green, Bugbrooke, Chapel Brampton, Church Brampton, Collingtree Park, Collingtree Village, Dalscote, Denton, Eastcote, East Hunsbury, Gayton, Grange Park, Great Brington, Great Houghton, Greens Norton, Hackleton, Hardingstone, Horton, Kislingbury, Little Brington, Little Houghton, Lower Harlestone, Milton Malsor, Moulton, Nether Heyford, Pattishall, Piddington, Preston Deanery, Quinton, Roade, Shutlanger, St Georges Fields, Stoke Bruerne, Upper Harlestone, West Hunsbury, Wootton, Wootton Fields, Yardley Hastings and pick up points across Northamptonshire.

Home Counties Loft Ladders, Quality You Can Trust!

These days most homeowners suffer from a lack of storage space. So many precious items that need to be kept – but where to store it all? That’s where Home Counties Loft Ladders come in.

The company, based locally, offers homeowners the opportunity to maximise their storage space with a loft ladder, 50sqft of boarding and a lightall fully fitted in less than a day from just £444! But it’s not just the affordability of the package that makes Home Counties Loft Ladders stand out, as manager Jamie Oakley explains: ‘Our watchwords

are Quality, Integrity and Value. Quality in the materials that we use for all our installations and the fact that all our loft packages are fitted by time served tradesmen, so our customers are assured of the best job.

Integrity in that we will turn up at the time we say and make sure the house is spotless when we leave, and value in that we offer our services at a price people can afford.

Our business relies on referrals and we get a huge amount of our calls from people who have been

referred to us by our existing customers - that simply wouldn’t happen if we didn’t adhere to our overriding principles.

At the end of the day the old adage that happy customers lead to more happy customers is true and we work hard to make that happen for every installation we carry out!’

So, if you want to make use of your loft space, call Jamie free on 0808 301 9552 and he’ll be happy to pop round and give you a no obligation quote so you too can make use of your loft!

‘Robins appear when loved ones are near’

The anniversary art installation will be made up of 500 individually hand crafted limited edition clay robins at the newly refurbished Chester House Estate in June.

These are not just robins, they are limited edition robins, each stamped with a number between 1 and 500 and designed as a bird feeder with a hollow back for bird seed to attract other feathered friends into gardens, to bring a little joy even on the darkest of days.

The 500 robins are available to pre-order and purchase via the Cransley Hospice Trust website before they make up a stunning spectacle at Chester House in a design to be revealed on the 16th June. The inmemory installation will be free for anyone to visit and enjoy, and to remember their loved ones. Pre-purchased robins will then be available for collection to fly off to their new homes and gardens.

Louise Gurney, Community Fundraising and Events Development Manger at

Cransley Hospice Trust have partnered with talented local potter

Louise Crookenden-Johnson to create a 25th anniversary art installation ‘Robins appear when loved ones are near’.

donations and corporate support. We’re delighted to be partnered again with Louise, she already makes the wonderful comfort pebbles for our children’s memory boxes and we knew that her skills and creativity would be perfect for this special local exhibition to mark the 25th anniversary of Cransley Hospice. The funds raised will enable us to continue to support the specialist care and services provided by the hospice and in the community by the hospice at home team. Together we can be there for the next 25 years”.

Cransley Hospice Trust said “An installation of this kind is a first for Cransley Hospice Trust and for the area, and we are hoping to raise around £20,500 from sales,

The robins are available to purchase, via the Cransley Hospice Trust website www.cransleyhospice.org.uk and cost £25 each. Cransley Hospice is hoping to raise an additional £250,000 during their anniversary year to support and develop end of life care for the community of North Northamptonshire, so any additional donations or support will be very gratefully received.

Improve the energy efficiency of

home

The robins were hand crafted by local potter Louise Crookenden-Johnson (pictured) and will make up a stunning art installation at Chester House in June

Cloudy2Clear, A Local Family Service, Saving You Money.

Established for over 16 years, Cloudy2Clear windows have become the UK’s leading company for domestic glass replacement. Customers are no longer needing to replace their complete window frames, instead, now they can join over 320,000 happy customers and have their glass replaced and/or upgraded in an affordable and ethical manner. Remember, a failed glazing unit may no longer provide you with the protection you need or be energy efficient. Why not spend a few minutes checking your home to see if you have any failed double glazing? If you act now you can avoid any future costly problems.

When talking to Trevor & Wendy Skidmore the owners of Cloudy2Clear Northampton & Oxford it became clear that these values have been held for over 16 years. Since buying the local franchise in 2006 they have remained true to their core values of supporting the local community whilst introducing their 2 sons Lloyd & Ross & daughterin-law Lori into the family business along with Dan, Tom & Jo as demand for their service has grown.

The Cloudy2Clear service only requires the glass to be replaced and not the whole window once the

unit has failed. Trevor commented “Cloudy2Clear were able to assist our community through the last financial crisis in 2008 due to the savings that can be made in using our service. Unfortunately we might be going through something similar again soon and the public can rest assured that we will be there to help once again”.

For a free quotation please call 0800 61 21 118 or visit www.cloudy2clear.co.uk.

Visit the stunning new bathroom showroom which has come to Towcester

Luxury bathroom design company, Ripples, has opened a new showroom in Towcester, showcasing a range of contemporary and traditional bathroom fittings and accessories. The perfect destination for those seeking inspiration and expert advice on creating their dream bathroom.

Ripples Towcester, which opened earlier this year, features a vast array of quality products from some of the top luxury bathroom brands in Europe. From hand-painted boat baths and stylish concrete basins to brushed gold brassware and marble tiles, the showroom features products and design solutions to surprise and delight.

Once customers have browsed the product selection, an in-house designer will be on hand to expertly guide them through their bathroom project, creating a unique design specifically tailored to their needs.

Ripples works with renowned bathroom suppliers across Europe to offer clients a collection which is vast and of exceptional quality. Its product range includes baths, showers and enclosures, WCs, basins and brassware in almost every style, colour and design imaginable. It also offers unique

collections and materials that provide something a little bit different including copper baths, special finish brassware and bespoke solid wood furniture. With styles to suit all tastes, Ripples showrooms act as the perfect showcase to spark the imaginations of clients before the design team get to work creating bespoke bathroom solutions for them.

Founded in 1988 by Roger and Sandra Kyme, Ripples has 35 years’ experience in designing bespoke bathrooms for customers up and down the country. With an impressive collection of 15 showrooms nationwide, Ripples has built a reputation for creating innovatively designed and beautifully finished bathrooms, earning over 60 coveted industry awards across the group.

Ripples Towcester is open now at 2 Roman Corner, Northampton Rd, Towcester NN12 6LD. For more information, visit ripplesbathrooms. com or call 01327 368233.

Ripples’ showroom features a vast array of quality products from some of the top luxury bathroom brands in Europe

Medical Negligance Claims Against Hospital Trusts

Medical negligence claims against hospital trusts have been a contentious issue in recent years. Patients who have suffered harm as a result of medical malpractice often seek compensation through legal action, placing hospitals and healthcare providers under increasing scrutiny.

While medical errors can have devastating consequences, the process of pursuing a medical negligence claim can be complex and emotional for all parties involved. Wilson Browne Solicitors explore the challenges and controversies surrounding medical negligence claims against hospital trusts, and consider potential solutions for improving patient safety and resolving disputes in a fair and efficient manner.

Medical Negligence claims are not only limited to being brought against a GP; they can also be brought against, but are not limited to, Hospitals, Out of Hours Centre, Ambulance Services, Dentists, Opticians and even Private doctors.

What is Hospital Negligence?

The basis of bringing a claim is very similar irrespective of the Defendant, albeit Hospital claims appear to be the most common. Generally, when attending a Hospital, you would be hopeful to receive the best service and be treated for the problem you have attended the Hospital for. Sadly, this is not always the case and things can go wrong.

Although the errors may not be intentional, as an individual, you are entitled to receive a reasonable standard of care and when this care falls below the reasonable standard required, you may be entitled to bring a claim against the Hospital Trust.

What is the purpose of bringing a claim against the Hospital?

Medical Negligence claims are usually brought to try to put an individual back into the original position they would have been in, had they received the proper care they should be expected to receive. This may be by way of financial compensation together with a written apology from the Hospital Trust.

Will bringing a claim affect the care of other patients?

In short, no. When a claim is being brought against a Hospital Trust, the matter is generally referred to their insurers, NHS Resolution. The clinicians involved in your care will not be busy dealing with claims.

What type of claim can I bring?

If the treatment provided to you has caused an injury, generally you can bring a claim. There are a variety of claims that can be brought, but are not limited to:

Surgical claims, amputations claims, delay in diagnosis claims, anaesthesia claims, nursing claims, cancer claims, paediatric claims, birth injury claims.

How will I fund my case?

A lot of people may be daunted at the potential costs of bringing a medical negligence case, however there are a number of funding options available.

The first, and most common, is a No Win No Fee which is an agreement between a client and their solicitor which covers the costs of bringing a claim. Essentially, if the claim fails, you would not be charged for the work carried out. If a case is however successful, you may be entitled to pay our fees together with our success fee.

The second option is known as Legal Aid Funding, however this option is limited to cases involving children who have suffered an injury from birth as a result of medical negligence.

The third option is known as legal expenses cover. This stems from your motor or home insurance policy and which covers you for medical negligence claims.

You may also wish to privately fund a case, which entails paying a solicitor for the work they carry out on your case.

How soon do I need to bring a claim?

The general rule of thumb is that there are 3 years from the date of knowledge/date of accident by which time you must bring a claim. There are some exclusions to this rule, which include claims for children, who have until their 21st birthday to bring a claim. If there are concerns about a patient’s capacity, the rule also changes.

Will I have to go to court?

Most medical negligence cases are settled out of Court with a settlement, however there may be a chance you may need to go to Court, albeit it is minimal.

What if the injured person has died?

A claim can still be brought on behalf of a person that has died, as part of their estate. If they have left a will, then the executor of the estate, with the assistance of a Grant of Probate will be able to bring the claim. If the deceased has not left a will, then the next of kin an bring a claim after applying for a Grant of Letters of Administration, which will allow them to bring a claim on behalf of the deceased, as part of their estate.

The process can be daunting, and that is why it is important to have a team of solicitors to protect you from this. For further information, please contact the medical negligence team at Wilson Browne Solicitors on 0800 088 6004.

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Spring is here with brighter skies and longer days offering us more time to get outside again and start enjoying some of the attractions available in our local areas

EASTER Cracking celebrate spring with EWE! We are EGG-cited to

The Ewes at The Chester House Estate are getting ready to give birth and all of the team are incredibly EGG-cited to welcome visitors to meet the cade lambs and celebrate spring. The livestock team will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about the lambing season, EWE can also get involved in the action and help bottle feed the cade lambs.

The spring activities don’t stop there! EGG-splore the Estate and search for the hidden GIANT easter eggs. Collect the letters on your map and receive a tasty chocolate easter egg once you have completed the puzzle. GF/diary free options available. Please allow for up to 60-90mins to complete the hunt.

You will also create a chocolate lolly with the amazing Stamford Heavenly Chocolates, covered in some of your favourite sweets. The chocolate workshop is included in your Spring Passport. Included in your Spring Passport (£15) –

• A Cade Lamb Feeding session

• The GIANT Easter Egg Hunt

• Chocolate workshop ticket

Saturday 25th March – Monday 1st May 2023

(Weekends and School Holidays only)

Easter Events

Egg-cellent for everyone!

There are no shortage of egg hunts in the area! Pulse has pulled together the best so you can prepare for a ‘cracking’ few days over the spring break...

The hunt is on...

The Parks Trust invites you to follow the clues and solve the puzzles at its free Easter Egg Hunt this April.

You’ll begin the search at Caldecotte Brook on Britten Grove in Old Farm Park, and as it’s selfguided you can take the kids and have some fun at a time to suit you. The hunt starts on April 1 and runs through to April 16.

The Parks Trust is also holding an Easter Eggstravaganza at Ouzel Valley Park on Wednesday, April 5. Themed crafts and activities and an adventure on their Easter trail awaits.

We understand the Easter Bunny will be putting in a special guest appearance too! It’s free to attend, there is no need to book and the two-hour event begins at 10am.

doors between 9.30am and 12.30pm for family-friendly, drop-in sessions every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday between April 4 & 13.

The Parks Trust will have lots of artefacts for little folks to investigate, including nests, skulls and feathers that have been found across local parks.

Nature-themed challenges and a selfguided trail will also be set up.

On-site parking is free and the Grounds Cafe has hot and cold snacks including vegan options.

Milton Keynes Museum welcomes families to its annual hunt, happening over four days, pic by Sammy Jones

Enjoy an Easter eggstravaganza with The Parks Trust

An Easter Egg Trail around Abington Park Museum will be running between Tuesday, April 4 and Sunday, April 9.

It costs £2 to partake in the hunt and every child will receive a choccie egg prize. Get more details, and book places by visiting northamptonmuseums.com

The hunt will once again be on at Milton Keynes Museum this Easter when the search for hidden eggs begins – all leading the way to yummy chocolate rewards, of course.

It is a cracking way to celebrate the festive period – and the egg hunt ensures everyone wins something. Find the exceedingly rare eggs and you’ll get a bumper amount of chocolate treats, so keep your eyes peeled.

The eggs will be dotted around inside the Museum and around the grounds, ensuring a fantastic time for all as you enjoy a wonderful tour of the history hub along the way.

The Museum is also inviting visitors to get stuck into some Easter themed craft activities.

It’s traditional family fun suitable for little chicks and older bunnies alike, and the four day event (April 7-10) is also choc-full of nonsweetie goodness, with plenty of hands-on interaction getting you closer to the past.

Good Friday will be a great Friday for those youngsters who take part in the annual egg hunt organised by Emily’s Star

The Milton Keynes-based charity is once again inviting children to hunt around Wolverton’s Secret Garden in search of letters to guess the hidden word.

All children will receive a prize of an Easter egg or a non-chocolate alternative, and a personalised certificate.

If you want more than chocolate, you’ll be in luck – a barbecue will be serving up savouries, and there will also be a small number of fundraising stalls to take attention.

The hunt begins at 10am and will wrap up at 2pm (last entry at 1.30pm).

Tickets are £4.50 per little person, with adults going for free. Book by clicking to emilystar.co.uk and click on events.

> A limited number of tickets will be available for children who need a calmer and quieter environment to be able to enjoy the hunt. Those ticket holders can arrive at 9.30am and won’t need to queue in order to enjoy the festive fun.

Will you be able to find the eight decorated eggs that have been hidden in the Walled Garden at Delapre Abbey?

Follow the trail and match the patterns to your bingo card and you’ll be rewarded with a chocolate prize – and dairy free options are available, which is fantastic.

A simply egg-cellent time is for the taking for youngsters and their grown-ups, who will also be able to take part in craft activities, lawn games and more.

While on site you will be able to take a look at the 19th century stables which are due for restoration. What do you think the space could be used for? If you have event

or activity ideas, the Abbey would love to hear them.

Come April showers or shine, the egg hunt will be fine – it takes more than a little rain to stop play at this event, which is recommended for those aged 11 years and under.

The Easter Eggstravaganza runs from Good Friday to Easter Monday, between 10am and 4pm daily, with timed entry.

Tickets are £2.50 per child (babes-in-arms go free) and you would be wise to pre-book –visit delapreabbey.org

Easter at Delapre Abbey, pic by Kirsty Edmonds

egg-citement

Add a little to your free time

If you fancy a quiet Easter, the Kelmarsh Show (April 9 & 10) isn’t for you. However, if you want quality entertainment, shopping, yummy food, fun for the kids, music and more, you’ll be well catered for.

Awesome performances and brilliant stunts, demonstrations and interactive displays make this an unbeatable way to spend a day.

Highlights in The Main Arena will include appearances by the Red Devils Parachute Display Team and Paws For Thought Dog Display Team, and elsewhere you can get in a flap at The British Falconry and Raptor Fair. Feeling peckish on site is not something to worry about. With everything from BBQs to vegan choices, and tempting curries, cheeses and pies, your tastebuds will be in overdrive. Got a sweet tooth? There will be just as much choice, and a few companies will be selling their alcoholic beverages too. From gin to cider and all kinds of other temptations.

The Wilson Browne Kids Zone will have balloon modelling, gold panning, Punch & Judy and face painting, so little mites will be all smiles.

There’s so much more, including a Pet Dog Arena, a Craft Marquee, Traditional Rural Crafts and plenty of Have A Go Activities.

Investigate the full line-up for yourselves at kelmarshshow.co.uk

At The Umbrella Fair Organisation in Northampton, an Easter craft fair and bonnet parade is being held on Sunday, April 2.

A number of stalls will be selling handmade goods, some of which will be Easter themed. The fair will run between 2pm and 6pm, and entry is free. Well behaved dogs are welcome too, because Rover might like to get involved.

Helen Verrill runs regular recycled craft workshops at the Umbrella Fair, and she will also be hosting a recycled materials Easter bonnet making workshop on March 31.

Hat’ll do nicely for those of you wanting to be fun and festive at the craft fair.

For more details

email helen.verrill@hotmail.co.uk

MK Handmade and Vintage will be back in Rushden for its Easter Fair on Good Friday and Easter Saturday (April 7 & 8).

It’s another chance to shop a variety of independent designer-makers, artists, vintage and antique dealers and small businesses from the area; everything from clothing and gifts to homewares and accessories will be for sale.

“With the beautiful spring nature walk, the Easter fun and activities onsite, and the treats from our exhibitors plus the amazing shops and eateries, it’s the perfect spot for your Easter Friday or Saturday!” encouraged organiser Jen North.

Entry and parking is free and the event runs between 9am and 6pm both days.

Animals in Need is holding its Spring Fayre on Easter Sunday. Head to Pine Tree Farm in Little Irchester and ready the pennies and pounds – there will be raffles, a tombola and lots of stalls ready to entice you as the charity raises much-needed funds to look after the 100s of animals in its care.

The animals will be on their best behaviour and ready to greet you too – it’s a welcome chance to meet the furries and the farm animals and show them some love.

You can pop to the cattery, be social with the doggies when they are out for walkies around the site, and swing by to see the resident farm animals living a safe life in the care of AIN. Entry is just £2 and if you are feeling peckish, the cafe will be open and serving lots of yummy vegan food.

St Peter’s Church in Brackley invites primary school aged children (and their grown-ups) to get in ‘the mix’ and Bake the Easter Story on Saturday, April 8, with an event that will explore the meaning of Easter...but might just include a sprinkling of 100s and 1000s!

The cost is £5 per family, and the baking begins at 9.30am.

Popkids UK will visit Kiln Farm venue MK11 for The Big Easter Neon Rave.

Aimed at youngsters aged between four and 12 years, this afternoon nightclub bash promises two hours of entertainment and music. Kids will be able to let loose their inner pop star singing along to familiar songs spanning Disney to chart hits.

Ticket-holders will have the opportunity to meet the guests (in the past, Pikachu, Iggle Piggle, Bugs Bunny, Elsa, Olaf and The Greatest Showman have made appearances) with some lucky youngsters able to join onstage for a really special time. And parents, don’t get pop envy – you’ll be able to get involved too!

Adding to the fun, there will be giveaways and prizes, a face painter, full lighting and laser show, confetti, foam and more.

Little ears are fragile and so the sounds will be monitored and kept at a safe level. The Popkids Neon Rave will run between 1pm and 3pm on Wednesday, April 12. As organisers say, ‘There ain’t no party like a Popkids party!’

To book tickets for your little ravers, head to mk11kilnfarm.com

At Olney’s Cowper & Newton Museum, children will be invited to get stuck into some craft making activities for half term, which they can take home afterwards.

Happening outdoors, and using the Museum’s pretty gardens for inspiration, participants will work to create a decorative tile. All the necessary materials will be provided. The activity – on April 4 & 6 - is suitable for children up to the age of 12 and runs between 2pm and 3.15pm.

Miniature game craft making will also be offered. It costs £4 per child and places are limited, so advance booking is recommended. Email info@cowperandnewton museum.org.uk

The Museum will also offer garden collage making sessions on April 13 & 14. Timings, costings and booking details as above.

Find your sport this Easter with MK Movers, at Midsummer Place. Children can explore dance, martial arts, parkour and more, with demonstrations and FREE taster sessions across the weekend!

No need to book, just come along and join in the fun. Find it in the boulevard, 15th and 16th April.

PASSION FOR PING PONG?

Come and get active in our FREE Ping Pong Parlour. Open from March 22nd. Find it next door to the LEGO store, opposite Next Beauty and Home.

FOR MORE VISIT

Spring at Midsummer Place

Spring is a time for change and growth, so there is no better time to read up on the latest trends and the exciting changes coming to Midsummer Place!

FASHION

Spring is finally here! We finally have the warmth of the sun on our skin and the gloves have been packed away. Now it’s time to explore our favourite spring fashion trends with Midsummer Place.

Detailed Denim - Think tasselled jackets, patchwork flares and embroidered shirts! The seventies are back and we are here for it. Find your denim look at Levi’s, New Look or Tommy Hilfiger.

Flower Power - Florals, for spring?

Groundbreaking’, we’ve all seen the memes but you know you can’t resist a floral. Floaty skirts and bold dresses, we’re thinking colour and drama for spring! Looking to add florals to your wardrobe? Check out Jack Wills and Hugo Boss!

Scarlett accessories - Ties, belts and handbags, oh my! Go for bold red this spring and your ensemble is sure to stand out. Michael Kors and Charles Clinkard have you covered for this hit trend.

Larger-than-life bags - Oversized bags will be everywhere this spring/summer and not only will they carry your entire life, but they will be available at every price point too! Tommy Hilfiger and Hollister are ready with the latest carry-all bags. Pockets! - You know that feeling of joy when you discover your new purchase has pockets? You can now live that feeling out over and over again as the trend has finally caught up! Jackets, trousers, dresses, all with the comfort of knowing you have pocket equality. Check out Superdry and New Look for all your pocket needs!

For the Mrs Hinch fans, ‘Welcome to Hinch Farm’ is sure to be a sellout! For those of you in need of a good emotional story, fan-favourite Jojo Moyes brings us ‘Someone Else’s Shoes’, a tale of the struggles and successes of two very different women.

THE BOULEVARD

2023 will be an exciting year for the Apple store at Midsummer Place. We are all looking forward to the launch of the brand new MacBook Pro featuring a huge leap in processor technology, perfect for work, design and gaming!

TECH BOOKS

Was your New Year resolution to read more in 2023? Well, you aren’t short of new releases coming this spring. From Handmaid’s Tale author Margaret Atwood, try the warped retelling of fairytales in ‘Old Babes in the Wood’

Exciting changes are in the works at Midsummer Place. Take your tastebuds on a journey around the world with our brand-new food court! Whether you’re catching up with a bestie, having a date lunch or just a quick break from the office, The Boulevard will have something perfect for you. Keep an eye out for exciting announcements and get those tastebuds ready!

Check out Midsummer Place on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more events, news and fashion and check out the latest spring summer trends here https://midsummerplace.co.uk/blog/ spring-summer-2023-fashion-trends

Hop aboard the bunny train

The Rushden Historical Transport Society is inviting you to ‘hop’ aboard the Easter Bunny Express for some seasonal fun.

Visitors to Rushden Station on Sunday, April 9 & Monday, April 10 will also see the Easter bunny and can enjoy an egg hunt.

There will be crafts for the kids, and refreshments will be available from the buffet carriage.

All children will receive a free Easter egg (advise if you need an egg alternative and replacements will be sourced in advance).

Animals in Mind will join in the fun, and they are bringing some very special guests with them; fluffy animals, minibeasts and reptiles!

Tickets are £5 each for children and adults. For more information and to book click to ticketsource.co.uk/rhts

Meet the Easter bunny at Rushden Station

Oversized bags will be in vogue this spring/summer

The latest fashions are at the forefront in Midsummer Place

Pick up a handy town guide when you visitavailable in most of the local eateries and shops!

Eat Drink Shop Olney

Escape the hustle and bustle with a visit to historic Olney

Slow down for a while and enjoy a drink in one of the pubs, or enjoy a tempting snack or afternoon tea in one of the tea and coffee shops. Take your time as you browse around the shops, offering fashion, vintage, antiques or unique gifts. Escape for an evening out and enjoy a drink and a delicious meal in one of the town's many and varied restaurants, everything from Turkish to modern English cuisine.

Make your next escape to Olney

FREE PARKING A SHORT WALK FROM THE HIGH STREET

The real meaning of Easter

There is no shortage of egg hunts to be had in the coming weeks, but in Milton Keynes, Church Without Walls (CWW) will mark Holy Week and Easter with a weeklong series of events planned.

They begin with a Palm Sunday Dinner at Broughton Field School (Sunday, April 2, from midday) where visitors can eat, chat, pray and reflect on the events of Palm Sunday.

The family-friendly opportunity will end with bread and wine shortly before 1.30pm. A day later, the Easter Trail will begin. The fun will run through to Easter Sunday, and if you are up for the challenge, you will travel across Broughton and Brooklands, following the clues in the windows, learning the Easter story as you go.

A Maundy Thursday gathering is being hosted at the Hummingbirds Children’s Centre on April 6 with a shared meal, prayers and reflections.

“As Jesus gathered with his disciples to share a meal on the night before he died, so we gather as a community to eat and pray together during this holy week,” said Ruth Maxey, Community Minister for Broughton & Brooklands.

Byte on this!

The National Museum of Computing has some STEAM Family half term activities in the diary, guaranteed to unlock imaginations, inspire and entertain young minds.

There are three drop-in sessions each day (11am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-3pm, 3.30pm-5pm) meaning that there is plenty of opportunity to explore the Museum too.

Sessions on various days will cover robotics, programming, digital music, engineering and augmented and virtual reality.

Those wanting to get a feel for all the activities, but who can only make it along to one event are advised to check in on Saturday, April 8 or 15 for the ‘A Bit of Everything’ sessions which will cover the most popular activities. Visit tnmoc.org to discover what’s on, when.

Easter for Everyone –happening on Good Friday – is a child friendly morning of crafts and activities at Broughton Fields Primary School between 10.30am and midday.

Little participants can get creative making Easter gardens, before a simple service will explain the Easter story. Drinks and hot cross buns will be available.

The Church of St Lawrence in Broughton will welcome you for Good Friday Meditation (April 7, 3pm), but this is one event unsuitable for young children.

The same church invites you to Easter Sunday Communion (April 9, 9.30am) before the focus switches to Broughton Fields School from 10.45am for the Easter Sunday Celebration –enjoy warming, toasted hot cross buns, pasties and coffee, worship and an egg hunt before sharing in communion.

For more information on any of the events mentioned visit the FB page @mkchurchwithoutwalls drop an email to mkcommunityministry@gmail.com or click to mkchurchwithoutwalls.org.uk

Easter on the ‘cheep’

It’s no surprise that retailers have managed to monetise Easter, but you don’t have to buy into it. Even if you choose to stay at home you can do lots of Easter friendly things with your children, and they needn’t be expensive.

On the hunt

You could hold your own chocolate hunt around the house, using own-brand choccies, or sweeties. Kids don’t care where they are searching, just so long as they get the reward at the end!

Be crafty

Arm them with some pieces of coloured paper, some stick on eyes, a couple of pipe cleaners, a few empty toilet roll tubes and some crayons, and who knows what they’ll present you with when they let their imaginations run loose. And they can do it at the kitchen table.

You don’t need to bake it – you can fake it. Kids love being little helpers in the kitchen, and while it can be messy, it doesn’t need to

> Families living with disabilities are invited to a session of Easter Holiday Fun at Broughton Fields Primary School on Wednesday, April 12.

Attractions include an MK Art gallery, trikes and bikes, inflatable slide (so long as the weather is fine), Easter egg hunt and more besides.

Entry is £3.50 per child or £10 for a family ticket (under 2s go free) and the two hour event begins at 1.30pm. Book in advance by tapping to ticketsource.co.uk/xtra-special-families

be expensive. Head online for simple Easter cake, biscuit and cookie recipes – some of them won’t even require you to switch the oven on!

Get outside

We’re now in spring, and signs are everywhere, as the hardiest of flowers dare to bloom, seeking out the early sun. We live in an area bursting with green spaces where you can enjoy the new life, so jump in - connect with nature and fill your lungs with fresh air.

Get busy with the seeds

Little ‘uns love getting grubby, and if you help them plant seeds, they’ll love watching them grow, too – fun and educational in exchange for a few pence. You could even start with something super simple, like cress heads. They don’t have to be grown in egg shells, you could use yogurt pots or even potatoes – once a grown up has scooped out a hollow in the top and made a flat surface at the base - little gardeners in training can get to work. And they’ll sprout in days.

Hands-on Easter fun at Church Without Walls

Silverstone gears up for Easter fun

Anew ‘On Track’ exhibit at Silverstone Museum this Easter will take attentions –the world famous Silverstone Formula 1 Circuit has been recreated by the team at Scalextric for the exhibit, and visitors will be able to pick up a throttle and enjoy epic battles with iconic cars around the two lane Grand Prix circuit.

The Scalextric set will be a highlight of the exhibit, but throughout the Easter period (April 1-16), the Museum will also have a range of full size cars on display alongside their

Scalextric versions, including Damon Hill’s Williams FW16B-07, a Ford Lotus Cortina, Honda Civic Type R and a Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth.

“For generations, Scalextric has been a beloved brand among racing fans of all ages. Now, with our collaboration with the Silverstone Museum, we’re taking that love to a whole new level,” said Simon Owen, Head of Scalextric Brand.

“With our collective passion for racing together with the Museum’s unparalleled collection of artifacts and racing memorabilia, we’re creating

an experience that’s not just fun and exciting, but also informative and educational.”

Fancy building your own Scalextric circuit? How about designing your own livery competition? They are just two of the family friendly activities on offer. Others include an ‘On Track’ trail that will take you on a nostalgic journey through the history of this household name.

> For more information and ticket bookings, get into gear and visit silverstonemuseum.co.uk/ontrack

Lamport Hall and Gardens ready for 2023 season

Lamport Hall opened for the first time this year in February and were delighted to welcome over 1,000 visitors to enjoy their splendid snowdrop and spring flowers display. They really were a treat to behold this year. The daffodils are just starting to show their heads after a beautiful covering of snow but all staff are now looking forward to warmer months and welcoming lots of visitors this spring.

The Gardens will be open every Wednesday and Thursday from the 5th of April to the end of October from 10am to 4pm. The Hall will open from the 3rd of May to allow a restoration project in the library to be completed before visitors return. Tours of the Hall will be by guided tour only at 11am and 1pm with a monthly ‘freeflow’ access option being added new for this year. Please see the website for more details on this. The café will be also be open 10am-3pm offering light refreshments and delicious homemade cakes. All full price tickets to the house and/or gardens will be automatically upgraded to a 12 month annual pass, meaning you can enjoy the changing seasons with just one entry cost. Alternatively you can gain free access as a member of Historic Houses or 2 for 1 access with a Gardener’s World card. The season of events kicks off with a much-anticipated Antiques and Collectors Fair over the Easter weekend. The event will be open on Easter Sunday and Monday, 10am4pm with adult entry costing £5. There will be a huge variety of antiques and collectables for your perusal ranging from pocket money toys to something for even the most discerning of collectors.

April also sees the return of the Art, Craft and Design Fair. Come along to the Hall on the 30th of April and 1st of May, 10am-4pm to enjoy a wonderful display of handmade and artisan gifts and crafts. Adults are £5 entry, with under 16s free and dogs on leads welcome. Indulge in some shopping supporting the best local makers and artists, some of whom will be demonstrating their craft. Refreshments will be available and demonstrations in our Museum of Rural Life will be running on both days.

Lamport Hall are also looking to add to their wonderful team of volunteers. If you have a passion for history, meeting new people or gardening, do get in touch with Sarah on house@lamporthall.co.uk to discuss how you might be able to give some of your valuable time to our wonderful Grade I listed country house.

Check the website for more details on the Hall and Gardens opening and exciting calendar of events in 2023 at www.lamporthall.co.uk

April 5th -

Oct 26th

Are you ready for spring and summer events including racing at Ascot and Chester or family and friends’ weddings?

Come and discover the stunning new fabrics from across the globe available at Saint Crispin Bespoke menswear, put an appointment in the diary today to make sure you are ready for the important events this spring.

Hanging honeycomb ombre Easter egg 40cms £20 talkingtables. co.uk

Hop into Easter

Easter is just around the corner, so we’ve pulled together a curated collection of products to help you hop into the festivities this year!

Characterised by traditional bunny, egg and chick motifs along with the signature powdery pastel colour palette, we’ve hand-picked a few of our favourite Easter-inspired products to help you create a cozy, inviting atmosphere that that the whole family will love.

Society of wanderers pineapple thrills Linen bunting £39 antipodream.com

Rows

eggs cushion £33.59 welovecushions.co.uk

Easter side table decorations with pastel candles lights4fun.co.uk

Pastel Glass Easter Egg Decoration £14.99 lights4fun.com

Set of six pastel glass Easter egg decorations £14.99 lights4fun.com

of

Yellow & Green Cupcake Cases & Bunny Toppers - 24 Set £10

Faux green rabbit decoration £9.99 sophieallport.co.uk

Peeking bunny Easter napkins £4.49 gingerray.co.uk

The Bunny evieandskye.com

Easter egg wreath £39.99 sophieallport .co.uk

Faux pussy willow wreath £60 oka.com

New rehab bike to help patients thanks to fundraising

Abseiling, half marathons and mountain climbing are among the fundraising feats that have helped buy a new rehab bike to help patients cycle their way to recovery. Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) has introduced the new £8,000 Therabike which is set to help patients suffering from neurological and mobility conditions.

The new equipment, which is being used at the Hazelwood Ward in Isebrook Hospital in Wellingborough, can help with a number of conditions, such as strokes, and improve mobility to speed-up patients’ recovery so they can return to doing the things they enjoy.

The static bike is able to give feedback on how much work a patient is achieving on either side of the body and helps build the strength of arms and legs. The display screen also provides motivation to encourage people to push towards rehabilitation.

To fund the equipment, Northamptonshire Health Charity were approached to help, and staff at NHFT held fundraising events; Mary Boulton ran two half marathons in Sandringham and Northampton, Alison Lindley abseiled down Northampton’s ‘Express Lift’ tower and Liz Metcalfe climbed Snowdon in September.

Michelle Leighton, community fundraiser from Northamptonshire Health Charity, said: “It was very emotional when we visited the ward to see the new Therabike being used by patients. Many of the patients at Hazelwood have had a stroke or another acute episode of illness which has meant they need further rehabilitation in an inpatient setting before they return home. We saw how the bike was already helping them, and that they really enjoyed using it. This is what I love about my job; seeing the difference that charity funding makes to patients.”

Hazelwood Ward is part of the Northamptonshire Countywide Stroke Pathway which includes Northampton General Hospital, the Community Stroke Team and Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

Mary Boulton, Therapy Assistant Practitioner, said: “It is very rewarding to see the Therabike on the unit, knowing that many patients now, as well as in the future, can benefit through all the hard work Alison, Liz and myself have put in to achieve. Furthermore, I’d like to thank all the sponsors and support along the way to make this happen.”

Here’s what patients have said about the Therabike:

• ‘Feels like it is working the muscles on my weaker side equal to my stronger side’

• ‘Makes me feel better about myself and makes me want to achieve more’

• ‘I felt it really helped my recovery. It’s good to be able to use my legs without weight bearing’

• ‘It definitely improves my mood and gives me a sense of achievement’

• ‘It’s like a meditation in a way’

> Could you take on a challenge or hold your own event to raise money for equipment and projects that enhance patient care and experience across our local NHS hospitals and community services? Read more about Northamptonshire Health Charity at www.northamptonshirehealthcharity.co.uk

Mary Boulton taking part in the Northampton Half Marathon

Therabike Hazelwood Ward Isebrook

Alison and Cameron Lindley abseiled Liz Metcalfe climbed Snowdon

Why we need a Maggie’s Cancer Centre

When people think of treating serious illnesses like cancer, they tend to think of the medical side like radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Yet in my work supporting those with Motor Neurone Disease I now know that the psychological pressures of long-term illness have a massive impact too. There is the stress and anxiety of not knowing how your illness will progress; the financial impact of illness; how your family will cope with caring for you and a myriad of other pressures and worries. It is incredibly important that people with serious illnesses get the right practical and emotional support they need to be able to cope with the psychological impact of cancer and that is why I am supporting the building of a Maggie’s Centre inside the grounds of Northampton

General Hospital

Maggie’s supports anyone with cancer and their families. Their research found that 3 out of 5 people with cancer find the mental pressure far harder than the physical outcomes. Their centres offer tailored and free psychological and practical support to anyone with a cancer diagnosis and, essentially, also to their families.

Northampton General Hospital sees over 4,000 people newly diagnosed with cancer each year. The Trust have invited Maggie’s to build a centre on a site within 100 metres from the oncology unit. That means that anyone with cancer and their families can walk out of the main hospital and straight into a place where they can find everything they need to cope with their diagnosis. That means benefits advice, support groups, one to one psychological care, meeting other people going through the same thing around a kitchen table and the best possible cancer advice and information. The centre is all run by experts in cancer care who have backgrounds in cancer nursing or psychology.

What is more as you can see by the images the centre will be a beautiful one. Designed to welcome people in and be in a very homely place. With lots of light and space and places to sit and talk. Once fully functional, the cancer centre will be able to help 15,000 people a year who will be able to walk through the doors and get the vital support they need.

Maggie’s have already raised half the funding for this centre from incredibly generous local founders and trusts. But they desperately need the remaining half which is why I am strongly backing them to help source remaining funds. I supported them via Round 2 of the Levelling Up Fund application which was sadly unsuccessful, but I am determined to keep looking out for any other funding opportunities.

Planning permission is already in place, the designs are ready to go and with a highly experienced team ready to build and deliver, all we need now is the final part of the funding which is why I met with Health Minister Helen Whatley last month to explore any new potential funding leads.

You can find out more about Maggie’s and their existing centres across the UK at www.maggies.org

> If you are my constituent and you would like to come down to London for a tour of the Houses of Parliament, I would be delighted to organise this for you. Please email me andrew.lewer.mp@parliament.uk.

Andrew Lewer MP for Northampton South

CONTACT DETAILS: Tel: 01604 978080

Email: andrew.lewer.mp@parliament.uk

www.andrewlewer.com

CONSTITUENCY

An artist’s impression of the proposed Maggie’s centre at Northampton General Hospital

An artist’s impression of the kitchen area inside the new Maggie’s centre

The range of specialities and treatments we provide include, but are not limited to:

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Three Shires Hospital has a vast amount of specialist Orthopaedic Surgeons who are highly specialised and provide treatment, diagnosis,and management of a wide range of trauma, orthopaedic, and musculoskeletal conditions.

How quickly can I be seen at the Three Shires?

If you’re experiencing pain and reduced movement in your joints, you can simply book an appointment with us online. You can usually get an appointment within 48 hours. If you’ve been referred to us by your GP or medical health provider, we will be in contact with you to arrange an initial consultation.

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Is a prenup part of your wedding planning?

Hotels and wedding venues are busy hosting wedding fairs and gearing up for the wedding season, with everyone focused on the details of the big day, from the colour scheme and menu to the choice of attendants and music. One other thing which now appears on a wedding checklist is discussion of a prenuptial agreement, especially when it is a second marriage, if there are business interests, or where the ‘Bank of Mum & Dad’ is helping with a deposit for a property.

‘A prenuptial agreement provides a form of protection if the marriage does not last, and it lets couples decide in advance how their property and assets should be divided if they separate,’ says Diana Rose a family law solicitor at Borneo Martell Turner Coulston. ‘However, it needs to be drawn up carefully and should not be rushed into at the last minute’.

This form of agreement is a useful tool for providing certainty for the couple as they embark on their married life. It can be particularly beneficial if any assets would be difficult to divide 50/50; if you want to ensure children from a previous relationship are provided for; if you want to protect business assets or inherited wealth; or you do not want to be responsible for the other partner’s outstanding debts.

Since the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Radmacher v Granatino, prenuptial agreements can now be given significant weight under UK law, and will be enforceable provided certain conditions are met. Courts can still disregard them if they are felt to be unfair – for example, if the children of a marriage are likely to suffer if the terms of the prenuptial agreement are upheld.

In deciding what is fair, the court will apply the three-stage test set out in Radmacher. This means:

• the agreement must be freely entered into;

• the parties must totally understand the implications of the agreement they are entering into;

• the prevailing circumstances must be contemplated when assessing whether it is fair to hold the parties to their agreement.

It is crucial to consult a specialist family lawyer before you sign a pre-nuptial agreement. They can make sure that all the legalities of a prenuptial agreement are observed, such as ensuring that:

• both parties have obtained legal advice from different lawyers (to avoid any question of a conflict of interest) before the agreement is made;

• all the terms of the agreement and their implications are understood;

• the agreement is entered into by both parties without duress;

• the terms of the agreement comply with the Radmacher test;

• both parties make full disclosure of all their assets; and

• the agreement is signed at least 21 days before the wedding.

It is completely up to you and your future spouse what terms are written into the prenuptial agreement, but could include clauses covering:

• what happens to the family home and any other property you may own;

• how money in your bank accounts should be divided;

• how debts should be dealt with;

• what happens to a family business;

• who your children will live with and any financial maintenance;

• whether one spouse should be allowed to keep inherited wealth;

• what happens to your pets; and

• how personal belongings you bought together, such as cars and furniture, should be allocated.

Dr. Diana Rose Head of Family Law

Borneo Martell Turner Coulston

Image is provided by Ingram Images Ltd

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Wow, what a fab stay! Enjoyed it. Even though I was under general anaesthetic and had an op it was enjoyable. Would stay there again. Nurses Emily, Jackie, and Pete of the nightingale ward were fab! Very attentive. The food was lush. Felt so relaxed and at ease the entire time. What a great experience!

Butterflies at Earls Barton Church

It’s the largest village along the Nene Valley, and its skyline is dominated by the finest Saxon tower in England, hinting at a rich past. This month, in time for Easter, I’m visiting one of the oldest yet most active churches in Northamptonshire. All Saints, Earls Barton.

The area of land that eventually became the Earls Barton of today has been occupied for millennia. There are traces to be found dating back to the Stone Age, well over 5000 years ago. As the settlers cleared the woodland and lived along the valley, they left traces of their lives and deaths. Bronze and Iron Age artifacts, burials and

Written by Laura Malpas

barrows are to be found locally, along with farmsteads and simple dwellings, and of course the Romans also left their mark in this stretch of the Nene Valley.

After the end of Roman governance, the area was settled by Germanic tribes often referred to as Saxons, and eventually it became part of the Kingdom of Mercia. During this time the settlement gained its name from the Saxon words for barley, ber, and farm, tun thus Barton.

In the middle of the 7th century, the Mercian King Peada converted to Christianity, and churches were built first in wood, and then in more substantial materials. As always, religion had both a spiritual and political significance. In the later Anglo-Saxon period, an aspirational Ceorl, or free man, who wanted to raise his status to Thegn, the first level of nobility, was required to possess a certain amount of land, a fortified gate tower, a bell tower and a chapel. It appears that the oldest part of the current church might have been a multi-functional building to address all these issues, although we don’t know who the builder was. We can guess that he was reasonably successful

Detail of the Rood Screen painted by Henry Bird

because the settlement at Barton became the centre of the Hamfordshoe Hundred, an area of local government.

The church still retains this Saxon structure. Thought to have been built around 970 AD, the original building consisted of a tall tower with a small eastern extension. The ground floor would have been used as a church, with a standing congregation, no pews in those days! The floors above may well have been used as a living space, storage and for observation. The tower must have dominated the town then, as today it still stands as a local landmark.

Despite having surprisingly insubstantial foundations a mere 30cm thick, the original Saxon construction has survived to the height of the battlements, 19 metres high. The decorative tower design is a practical solution to stabilise the walls. The tower’s square corners have a pattern of long and short quoin stones to strengthen, and long thin strips of stone, known as pilaster strips, to create an attractive design whilst holding the rubble and mortar wall together. The stonemasons used the pilasters as if they were working with wooden beams, often using carpentry joints. One wonders if this was a deliberate choice to replicate a previous tower built of wood, or simply that it was the only way the craftsmen knew how to build. The tower was rendered, and decorative open arcading was added to the belfry allowing the sound of the bells to escape on all sides.

Following William the Conqueror’s successful campaign to seize the throne of England in 1066, ‘Buartone’ appears in the Domesday Book as being held by Bondi, a court official to the previous king. Before long the village was passed to King William’s niece, Judith, who was married to the Earl of Huntingdon, additionally he was then granted the Earldom of Northampton, and so the town gained its full name of Earls Barton.

The founder of Delapré Abbey, Simon de Senlis II who later succeeded to the titles, decided to extend the Earls Barton church considerably, in addition building St Peter’s Marefair. There are many similarities to be seen in both All Saints and St Peter’s, including the decorative arcading and distinctive chevron

All Saints Church in winter

South side of the church.

Photo by Andrew Barker

Detail of decorative capital in the Chancel

Detail of South door arch with beak head and chevron decoration

decoration of the arches and doorways. In All Saints, the South doorway also has spectacular Norman ‘beak head’ decoration with strange grotesque anthropomorphic faces gazing down, perhaps to scare away evil.

Over every century that followed, All Saints Church was extended and embellished. Fine windows and the clerestory, a series of arcaded high windows, were added to give extra light to the nave and chancel. A magnificent Jacobean oak pulpit was donated, and a clock. This last item came with an endowment of land to provide funds for its upkeep, now known as Clock Close on the Wellingborough Road.

The Victorians, fascinated by Gothic architecture, were particularly active in restoring the Church and modernising where they could. They added stained glass windows, an organ, a new font, and pews. Rather sadly, they discovered medieval wall paintings, probably featuring St Christopher, which they then plastered over without recording the detail.

At some stage after the Civil Wars of the 17th Century, an already two centuries old Rood Screen was introduced to All Saints. It may have originally come from Delapré Abbey and was clumsily shoehorned into position between the Nave and the Chancel. Originally the dark wooden screen was simply

decorated with gold leaf, but in 1935 a local artist, Henry Bird, was invited to brighten it up. This talented gentleman had been a chorister at St Peter’s Marefair and was heavily influenced by the decorative schemes employed there, both by the Medieval stonemasons and the late Victorian Gothic Revival painted east wall. His new scheme for the screen was to introduce a glorious riot of colour over the whole screen, painting the figures of the All Saints. These figures were set in a Northamptonshire meadow surrounded with local wildflowers below, and above clouds of local butterflies, representing the Resurrection, and prayers floating to heaven. It also honoured two previous vicars, both Reverend Knight, as the father and son were keen lepidopterists.

The change in decoration was radically different and modern and was the source of huge controversy at the highest level. However, it is undeniably charming, and a beautiful backdrop to worship.

Over the years, the Earls Barton villagers have loved and cared for All Saints. Many changes have been made but the finest features have been retained whilst making way for the new. The current Vicar Jenny Bland is determined to ensure that the church remains the heart of the community and responds to the needs of villagers today. It is the most welcoming space, and especially so to families. There’s something to appeal to everyone, formal and informal services, and all sorts of group activity including preschool fun, youth and young adult activities, friendship groups, silent worship, and concerts of all sorts. The acoustics in this medieval church makes it a wonderful venue for live music. And of course, it is a wonderful place to celebrate the joy of Easter. You will be made very welcome either as a visitor or a worshipper.

For more information about the lively church, please visit www.allsaintsearlsbarton.org.uk

The Northamptonshire Heritage Forum has something for everyone interested in learning more about our county’s history. If you would like more information, or are interested in joining the Forum and supporting its work, please visit www.northamptonshireheritageforum.co.uk

Looking towards the chancel

The Jacobean pulpit

Common iPhone faults and what you need to do...

Repair Not Replace,

Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes local repair service, offer some tips on what to do if your iPhone starts playing up.

Black Screen

If your iPhone is still vibrating, or making noises, then you should start with a hard reset of the iPhone. For most iPhones you press the volume up then the volume down button then press and hold the power on and off button, keep holding it until you see the Apple logo. If this does not fix the screen then this is likely to be the LCD failing on the iPhone and a new screen is needed.

Ghost Typing

This is where your iPhone looks like it is typing by itself. Turn off your iPhone and let it rest for a 5 minutes and then switch on. If that fails then it is normally caused by the touch failure and you will need to call us out to replace the screen.

Battery Draining Fast

Sometimes apps can be working in the background draining your battery, so look for any apps that might do this. Check to see how often your email is being fetched by your iPhone, and change it so it checks at longer intervals. Turn off Bluetooth when you are not using it and you can turn on, in settings low power mode. A new battery is needed if this doesnt help.

Water Damage

If you get your iPhone wet you should turn it off and not charge it. Allow your iPhone to dry out, but do not use a hair dryer or put it on a radiator. If you can take out the sim card that will help. Do not put it in rice, as this doesnt help and you can get rice stuck in the charging port. After 48 hours switch it on, if it doesnt work call us out for the water damage service.

Difficulty Charging / Not Charging

Many times this is caused by compacted dirt and dust at the back of your iPhone. If you have an air duster spray into the charging port. Do not stick anything into your iPhone as you can damage the pins. The charging port can be replaced if needed.

Cannot Hear Properly

Again this is usually dirt in the ear piece, but sometimes the ear piece itself can go faulty. You can clean the ear piece with a soft toothbrush and air duster. If that fails then an ear piece replacement is needed. Repair Not Replace offer free advice, so if you have a problem with any mobile phone, tablet, laptop or MacBook then do ring us for free advice 0800 047 2047. If we cannot help over the phone we can send out to you a technician and fully stocked van to offer you a repair. All prices are fixed and published on our website where you can also book. (repairnotreplace.co.uk). We are the ambulance service for your technology.

Let your inner rebel loose with The Body Shop’s Rebel Rosebud Body Cream a non-greasy treatment that includes handcrafted Community Fair Trade shea butter from Ghana, and is alive with heady, velvety notes of rose absolute, saffron and amber.

It’s a staple favourite from the brand, but is enjoying a fresh new look. It’s vegan, and the packaging is fully recyclable. You’ll feel good, and you’ll be supporting the planet.

RRP: £18

Get it: The Body Shop branches in centre:mk Milton Keynes and Grosvenor Centre, Northampton

Did you know that magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the human body? It is responsible for more than 300 roles including brain function, energy production and muscle repair.

Lush has harnessed the goodness and popped it into new massage bars; by applying magnesium transdermally it will travel from the skin to the bloodstream.

Magnesium and massage are the perfect companions, choose from Deep Sleep, Before or After.

RRP: £10

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Two new magnesium Epsom salt cubes have also been added to the Lush menu.

Step into the bath and dive into the dream world that Deep Sleep allows, with a relaxing blend of lavender, chamomile and neroli oils, or opt for Salt Water Soother and its oils of peppermint, spearmint and eucalyptus. Zzzzzz...

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Weleda’s Wild Rose

Smoothing Night Cream is proof that great things come in small packages. It works wonders on thirsty, dry and normal skin, giving instant hydration and a silky way to welcome in the new day.

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The Body Shop has also added a new selection of Moisturising Lip Balms to its range. Swipe It adds a softening pop of colour in one easy glide, with heavy-duty moisturising ingredients. A ‘fruit cocktail’ of balms are available; choose from Kiwi, Strawberry, Passionfruit, Blueberry (pictured) or Dragonfruit.

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Get it: The Body Shop branches in centre:mk Milton Keynes and Grosvenor Centre, Northampton

Melior’s Eco Hand Wash launched at the start of 2023 and is the UK’s first luxury powder-to-gel with a huge nod to the environment. Purchase the pump bottle, and then buy cheaper refills thereafter - they are plastic free, and packaging is compostable and biodegradable.

And this eco brand creates jobs for people with disabilities. We like it.

Choose from Sweet Clementine & Lavender and Lemongrass & Thyme.

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Love the skin you’re in with our choice picks of the best in beauty this month – it’s time to let your softer side show!

By Cindy LGH @CindyLGH

Pocket Watch

Prepare yourself! Style’s shifting gears again. Utilitarian chic’s back, and practically everywhere along the highstreet.

For spring/summer’23? It’s anything pocketed. Think flapped patch pockets on jacket fronts, trouser legs and down the side of maxi skirts. There’ll be toggles, drawstrings and buckles, too - plus cargo trousers and parachute pants are about to go big again. Take direction from the catwalk at Givenchy, where maxi and midi skirts were paired with ruche details; at Fendi, where silky, satin jumpsuits, skirts and shirt-dresses came with a side of asymmetry. For your palette, see Miu Miu who sent models out in beige and white, and the softest greys and mint — along with a shock of chartreuse, highlighter pink and neon green accessories.

Zara £49.99

£17.50

^ Primrk £14 Skirt £16 >

All items John Lewis (leather shacket £199)

H&M £49.99

Vintage cheddar and thyme soda bread

INGREDIENTS

250g 00 or plain flour

250g rye flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

120g vintage cheddar

4 sprigs of fresh thyme, leaves removed

2 tbsp fried crispy onions - optional

For the homemade buttermilkif not available in the supermarket

400ml full fat milk

2 tbsp lemon juice

METHOD

1. Prepare your buttermilk. Pour the milk into a jug and add your lemon juice. Set aside for a few minutes and you will start noticing your liquid split.

2. In a bowl mix all your dry ingredients completely and create a well in the middle. Add a third of your buttermilk and start mixing quickly. You may not need all your liquid depending on the flour you will use. Continue adding your liquid until the flour is all combined in a sticky dough, don’t be tempted to use more flour.

3. At this point, add your cheese, thyme and crispy onions if using, and shape into a ball.

4. Move the dough on a lightly floured or lined oven tray. Shape once more, it doesn’t have to be perfect, flatten with your hand and with a sharp knife, give the traditional cross, nearly to the bottom of the loaf. Sprinkle with a little more flour and bake in a preheated oven at gas mark 7 - 200° C for about 40 minutes or until is golden on the surface and sounds hollow.

Suggestion: If you don’t have rye flour, use the whole quantity of the same.

Our recipes come from NN Pulse food writer, Sofia Gallo, an acclaimed local chef, food writer and teacher at Milton Keynes Cookery School. She has recently won the ICG Cooking Competition and was a contestant on BBC’s Masterchef.

Follow Sofia:

Instagram: @in_cucinacon_sofia FB: incucinaconsofia www.lamiacucina.co.uk

Pretty in Purple

Soft, romantic hues of lilac, lavender and violet come together within this trend to help you transform your space and create a relaxing, tranquil environment without compromising on colour and fun. T

hese versatile shades of purple have proven to be a favourite time and time again, especially in the lead up to the spring/summer season ahead - perfect if you’re looking to embrace these beautiful hues in your decor.

Juliette feather light in lilac £445 coldharbourlights.com

Eva Sonaike wewe cushion - purple £75 sweetpeaandwillow.com

Jadala colour block baskets - set of three from £16 thebasketroom.com

Wisteria cushion 60x40cm £59.95 annabeljames.co.uk

Joyful lilac emulsion paint from £21 yescolours.com

Froyo - purple stripe wallpaper £79 bobbibeck.com

Lilac & green straws £21.99 softcore.co

Lavender embroidery craft kit for beginners £20 theartistslab.co.uk

Mustard Locker the Twinny in lilac £449 antipodream.co.uk

Seedball butterfly mix £6.50 ywtshop.org.uk

Lilac Ripple Wall Mural by Lara Skinner wallsauce.com

Get the perfect fit for your home with T&K Home Improvements

Transform your home with a conservatory and unlock the potential for new ways of living. Whether you’re after additional family space, a bigger office area, or even just somewhere peaceful to relax in, award-winners T&K Home Improvements have got you covered.

There are endless possibilities when it comes to designing bespoke conservatories.

T&K Home Improvements offer you the opportunity to design a one-of-a-kind conservatory that meets your exact needs. From glass windows through to Hybrid roofs, the experts will collaborate with you to build a space that is perfect for you.

Not only will a conservatory improve the space in your home, but it will also increase the value of your property between 5% - 15%!

What to consider when looking for a conservatory…

When it comes to building conservatories, it’s important that they should be able to endure the test of time. To ensure this is achieved, it is essential that the team installing them are well-versed in existing building regulations.

T&K offer a 10-year guarantee which provides peace of mind when making your investment. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. With different colours and finishes available, it can be used to create quite a transformation in any space.

Wall-to-floor glass windows are extremely popular as they create a modern look whilst letting in a lot more light. This option actually saves you money and gives the illusional of a bigger room.

Fancy jazzing up your conservatory with some bi-fold doors? Or how about patio style French doors? T&K again have a huge range of materials that will allow you to choose your design exactly how you want it.

Another thing to consider is how you’d like to build your roof. Whether you want to see the

sun shining through clear glass, or replace your existing glass with tiles, T&K will work with you to find your perfect solution.

Adrian Timbers, Sales and Marketing Manager at T&K Home Improvements, said: “A well-chosen conservatory can make a real difference to the way people use their homes.

“It is now possible to have a living space that stays cool in the summer, warm in the winter and, at the same time, make significant reductions in energy bills.

“People are working from home now more than ever, so it’s important that you create the space and environment that’s right for you.”

If all of this wasn’t enough, T&K can also provide ways for you to save money on your bills. With solar control glazing now available, there really are endless options to reduce costs whilst making your house a home.

The team make installation easy, with their simple and straightforward process. The experts will take care of everything so all you have to do is sit back and enjoy your new space!

“I can honestly say how blown away we are with the service we received from T&K home improvements.”

“The quality is faultless. We now have the most stunning conservatory we wished. I highly recommend T&K homes if you are looking for quality.”

“A thoroughly good experience working with T&K, from the initial design stage going through towards the extension completion.”

But don’t just take it from us, here’s just a few quotes from many happy customers…

DIGGING DEEP

Encourage the minibeasts

The Easter break is coming, which for parents means the headache of entertaining the kids for a fortnight, and you can’t do an egg hunt every day!

But keeping their attention doesn’t need to be taxing, or expensive – we’ve got just the thing to spark their imaginations, and you’ll enjoy it too!

Introducing youngsters to the delights of the garden is a great thing, but while they might not get as excited as you do about pruning trees or perfect edging, all kids love mud, bugs and being creative – so get them engaged in making a minibeast hotel

Bug hotels provide great shelter for many kinds of insects and bugs; woodlice, earwigs, ladybirds, solitary bees, centipedes, snails and spiders will enjoy the accommodation.

Your hotel will be unique, of course, but whether you provide them with a budget place to lay their heads, or an insect version of the Dorchester is really down to you, and the choice of materials you use.

Top Tip

Now that you are back outdoors, you’ll be noticing that spring flowers aren’t the only thing popping their heads towards the early sun – weeds are becoming active too.

The easiest way to deal with weeds amongst your flowers and veggie patches is to use a hoe, but a fork or your fingers are fine too.

Depending on the area you are treating, and the nature of growth, you might choose to use mulch or edging barriers to keep things in check.

Whatever you decide, you need to understand that weeds will always return, and that weed killers are never the best or preferred way to solve the problem.

How does your garden grow?

The sweet pea seedlings are now over 5cm tall. I have pinched out the tops, just above a leaf. They will soon bush out and be planted into big pots. They are hardy enough to withstand a degree of frost.

Broad beans, The Sutton, which have been grown in pots by the children are now ready to plant out.

You can be as creative as you like, and make good use of items that might well otherwise go to waste.

A simple wooden box or old pallet will provide you with a solid base from which to work – you’ll need to leave it open at one end, and can then begin filling it with natural materials that will be attractive to bed down in.

Try to mix it up when it comes to furnishings; wood and plant matter are all good additions, but the list of materials might also include old plant pots or roofing tiles, woodchips, moss, old cardboard (rolled up) pine cones and bark. Bricks are ideal too; they are weighty and if you use the ones with holes in, you’ll maximise spaces for visitors to utilise.

If you have old logs to put towards the project, drilling holes into them will encourage guests.

It’s all about providing the little creatures with nooks and crannies, and warm spots where they can snuggle up.

Kids will love creating these little houses, but they don’t need to be petite – if you’ve got the space and the materials, feel free to build a high-rise!

Bug hotels aren’t just about bed spaces though – they’ll be wanting dinner too, and nectar rich flowers planted close by will be appreciated by visiting bees and butterflies.

The only other thing a bug hotel requires is to be dry, so think about where in the garden you will place yours – it’s best not to pop it straight next to your vegetables or flowers in case the visitors decide on some unwanted snacking, and it obviously needs to be on flat, solid ground. Then, sit back and wait for the minibeasts to move in.

It’s a great way to encourage children to learn about nature on their doorstep, and a brilliant way to use up some of that school holiday time productively!

Lettuces, carrots and radish seedlings are showing which is causing great excitement. Initially we have sown only short rows to enable us to sow a succession later.

I have bought some ready grown tomato plants for instant interest, and we are sowing further seeds indoors. They should soon grow, to be planted outside in early summer.

We have planted the sprouted potato tubers in a shallow trough, with a scattering of general fertiliser. We are prepared to cover the young shoots with a cloche, if a cold snap occurs.

Daffodils and tulips must be dead headed; the stalks and leaves remain to wither and feed the bulbs.

Clean bird feeders often and replenish, avoiding whole peanuts.

Hedgehogs will be on the move; put out soft chicken flavour cat food or dried hedgehog food and water to ready them for the breeding season.

There’s a lot to look forward to!

Ralph Westmoreland, Denton & District Gardening Club member

> Denton & District Gardening Club is a small, friendly club which meets on a Monday evening every month. New members and visitors are always welcome. For more information please contact Margaret at m.pateman@yahoo.co.uk or 01604 890875.

The kids wil love building the minibeast hotel and watching the insects come and go

Why choose Paul Rowles Kitchens, a bespoke kitchen company?

Bespoke kitchens are all about creating something tailored to exactly suit your needs. The results are never the same, but they are always beautiful. The true beauty of bespoke kitchen design is the lack of limitations.

Project management and installation - Our fitters know our products. They have, between them, 30 years’ experience in the field and nothing phases them.

If the prospect of arranging all the trades, plumbers, electricians, plasterers is a bit daunting then leave that to us. We ensure that everything is done at the right time and to the right finish with our teams of trusted local trades.

Price - We operate on smaller margins than the big chains and have built good relationships with

our suppliers that allow us to be 100% competitive on a likefor-like product.

There is no pressure to buy, we give you the space and time to make the right decisions with no pressure to take up confusing finance deals and a clear pricing policy which is always ‘best price first’.

Reputation/Word of mouth -

As a small company with one showroom, you can guarantee that our reviews are from people in the area and word travels fast!

Bespoke service - One-to-one appointments in our lovely showroom mean you will not be jostling for time or attention. It

is your space to explore, sit and chat over your design with your dedicated designer who will work with you from start to finish. Once your dream kitchen is installed the service doesn’t stop there. We are on hand with advice and support with aftercare.

Support local - We operate within a 40-mile radius around the small bustling market town of Daventry. We work with local builders on every size of development – offering the same level of customer service that we give to all our clients.

If you have a project in mind, then why not give us a call and book in for that one-toone appointment and see for yourself what we can offer. Call 01327 300506 or visit us online at: www.paulrowles.co.uk

‘The true beauty of bespoke kitchen design is the lack of limitations’

Inside, Out

It may seem strange as an interior designer to be talking about gardens and outdoor spaces, but the same theories and rules can apply when you consider redesigning your exterior. Gardens are so much more than the outside of your property; they can be an extension of your home, an extra room to be transformed to fulfil any number of imaginative uses.

Consider some of the interior design tricks that can apply to a garden. Think about zoning in the same way as we would zone a large open plan interior; with colour, patterns, textures, screens, furniture groupings and rugs all used to help define each area. Decide what you would like to use your outdoor space for (dining, cooking, playing, reading, relaxing, working) and allocate a “zone” to each use. You can then distinguish these with different flooring choices, anything from a simple lawn area, patio or decking to something more elaborate, perhaps elevated or sunken? Incorporating dividers of varying heights by using retaining walls, steps or raised flower beds can also accentuate the zones of the garden without the effort of raising or lowering an entire area.

If you struggle for space in your garden, then again, take your lead from interior design. Outdoor mirrors are a great way to give the illusion of a larger area, as well as reflecting light back into a smaller garden which may be surrounded by other buildings or not get so much of the natural sunlight during the day. This will be especially true for north or east facing gardens, which may only catch the earliest of the sunshine, if at all.

Using dark colours such as anthracite or black to paint fences or walls will give the feeling of space and help the greenery and colours of plants to really stand out, bringing them into the foreground. In these smaller spaces, zoning with a multitude of varying flooring options may appear busy and suggest too many small areas have been packed in together, so choose one floor tile, decking colour or grass to use across the entire space. Grass needs more maintenance through the summer months and can become muddy in the winter, so perhaps a hard floor would be best in areas where you are inclined to sit out or have furniture that would otherwise need to be moved for mowing or leaf raking.

Many companies now sell outdoor rugs, which can be a great way to successfully zone hard floor areas. William Yeoward have a wonderful range full of pattern and vibrant colours. Outdoor rugs are usually made from recycled plastic, acrylic or nylon, can withstand being rained on and won’t fade in the UV sunlight. Natural fibres such as jute and sisal are an eco-friendly option, but whilst they are quick drying and easy to clean, they don’t like getting very wet. In the winter months, try to bring any

outdoor rug inside or at least under cover, most of the materials can withstand a hose down and a scrub or even a jet wash to bring them back to looking fresh for the spring and summer months.

There seems to be an ever-increasing variety of outdoor furniture options, so if a garden living room or dining space is on your radar then there are plenty of styles to choose from. Consider the look of the room that’s closest to the garden. Is the wood painted or stained? Does the room fit a theme? What’s it’s general aesthetic? Whether it’s industrial, modern or country kitchen, make sure your outdoor furniture is of a similar design. This will help link the outside with the interior of your home, adding to the impression that the garden is an effortless and coherent extension to the house. Many fabric and homeware brands such as Romo, Harlequin and Osborne & Little now produce entire fabric collections dedicated to outdoor use, so you could consider recovering plain exterior seat cushions in a more vibrant design or adding scatter cushions to metal framed furniture, to soften it and make the area more comfortable.

Rosie Kinsella Interior Designer 01604 751262

GW Goutlet, unsplash

Vitor Monthay, unsplash

If you have a garden room that functions as an office, then try to incorporate evergreen foliage and shrubs around the building. This will soften the landscaping and stop the area feeling drab in the winter months when many other plants may lose their leaves and be flowerless. Water features can be very relaxing, so placing these near a well-used outdoor space can help create a retreat or a better working environment if positioned in sight of the office window.

We talk so much about good lighting design in interiors, but lighting can be equally important outside. When putting so much thought into creating your perfect garden, it would be a shame not to be able to enjoy it late into the evening after the sun has set, or during the autumn and winter months when the days are shorter. There is a whole array of exterior lighting to choose from, some of which are hardwired into a switch in the house, others use solar panels to charge during the day so that they come on automatically at night. You could string festoon lights from a pergola above the dining area, or even place rechargeable table lamps next to outdoor sofas for a cosy glow. For more permanent lighting, incorporate flush uplighters into decking or strip lights into steps. This will enhance the design and provide a useful level of light for safely navigating your garden at dusk.

However, you choose to arrange your garden, whatever the size of your lawn or yard… make sure you have somewhere to sit out in the air and to take stock and breathe. With modern life being so busy and multi-faceted, we all need somewhere to be able to stop and sit and appreciate the great outdoors. The smells, the sounds, the wildlife, the peace and quiet, the noise of others, many are qualities that we cannot achieve from our interiors alone.

Artist Spotlight: Rebecca Lardner’s picturesque coastal art

Asuccessful artist and illustrator, Rebecca Lardner’s career has taken her - and her scenes of the South West Coast path – around the world. Born in Swanage, Rebecca spent her childhood ‘roaming the glorious Dorset countryside, happiest amongst nature or keenly observing the local people and places’. This attachment is tangible with Rebecca’s work bringing us a taste of seasalt and billow of fresh air.

A Dorset artist bringing her world to our walls

Rebecca trained formally in art and illustration, which was followed by a high profile commission for Sir Paul McCartney’s Music Academy. Rebecca then travelled to Southern India to paint a mural for the Russ Foundationan amazing start to her career.

In 2010 she was awarded the Best Selling British Artist by the Fine Art Trade Guild and is now one of the UK’s most highly sought after artists with work being purchased by collectors around the world.

Coastal landscapes and joyful characters

As a child of the south-west coast, it’s not surprising that Rebecca Lardner’s work is clearly inspired by the landscapes she grew

up around. Her coastal art focuses on the lives lived in this environment; whether that’s the people, their homes and boats and pets, or the British seabirds, often included and sometimes placed centre stage.

These paintings of the English coast provide a light-hearted perspective on the world in a subtle, calming palette of blues and greens, while also presenting the small details of everyday life to engage and intrigue us.

We really feel Rebecca’s love of Dorset with art which brings out the character of the place. Her work has been described as ‘quintessentially British’ and ‘whimsical’, these fantasy, pastelcoloured locations which clearly represent something deeper than the bricks and mortar you’ll see on a visit. Lardner herself has been dubbed ‘the modern day L.S.Lowry’, reflecting her ability to capture scenes of real life and bring character to individuals created with just a few strokes.

While her coastal prints and sketches would bring sunshine to any wall, Rebecca Lardner also produces sculptures - seaside birds and boats which reflect her humour and eye for detail.

We’re thrilled to announce that Rebecca is coming to Northampton. She will be joining us in person in the Rose Gallery for an exhibition of her paintings and sculptures on Saturday April 22nd. Everyone is very welcome to come and meet the artist in person and enjoy some previously unseen work by Rebecca.

Celine Lee Gallery Correspondent www.therosegallery.co.uk

Fond memories of The Jazz Butcher

Music fans will come together to pay tribute to Northampton’s Pat Fish on April 2.

Pat, aka The Jazz Butcher, was an influential and key member of the town’s music scene who enjoyed a lengthy career in his own right and as part of various bands.

He was also one of the early signings to Alan McGee’s famed Creation Records.

Pat recorded 15 studio albums, and attracted fans from around the world for his indie and alternative deliveries.

Pat was still a familiar on the Northampton scene at the time of his death in October 2021.

The tribute is being hosted at The Labour Club on Charles Street and will bring together many of his collaborators, including bandmates old and new, and label mates from those days on Creation.

Those participating will be playing their own material, together with tracks from The Jazz Butcher’s back catalogue.

Philip Snow, who co-authored the book Miracles and Wonders with Pat, is promoting the gig. Tickets are £12 in advance from philipsnow77@yahoo.com

> All profits from the show will go to support Pat’s cat, Raoul.

Adrian’s Page turner inspired by Bettie

Pay a trip to the Charles Bradlaugh on April 1 and you’ll be rewarded by a band with a fondness for songs about clowns and drowning. Nope, not an April Fools.

Canyons also say they are ‘sort of alt-country but also early ‘70s groovy’ and Stevie Ward, Matt Felce and Edward Mander – all familiar faces on the ‘fampton scene – can be found in play.

Maraca driven rattle ‘n’ roll will come courtesy of Gogo Loco, and Adrian Stranik, a ‘fine purveyor of existential cowboy songs, rockabilly noir, urban folk and psychedelic bluegrass’ will be delivering a solo acoustic set and hosting a book launch for his debut page-turner Monomania, Mon Amour, so you definitely need to be in the building nice and early.

The seed for the story was sown in the mid 1980s in an East Hollywood apartment belonging to psychobilly punk pioneers Lux Interior and Ivy Rorschach, of The Cramps, and where Adrian found himself one April evening.

“Lux played some fabulously obscure vinyl, whilst on a continuous loop, was a series of vintage bondage movies on their 72 inch television set. The scenes were campy set-ups involving girls in lingerie, spanking and tying each other up. One girl stood out like a diamond in a dung heap—a raven haired beauty who,

I was about to discover, was Bettie Page, the ‘Queen of The Pin-ups,’” Adrian explained.

“It transpired that she was a huge star in the 1950s—famous for her shellac black bangs and Alaska melting smile, but disappeared from the face of the earth 30 years earlier. Almost forgotten in the following decades, she had become something of an underground cult figure by the 80s, with the mystery of her fate adding to her allure.

“Little did anyone know at the time of that Glendale soiree, she was only an hour away in a San Bernardino mental asylum.”

Time passed, and more ‘Bettie related’ coincidences were experienced by our author in the making, before he took up residence in a New York apartment and began to put some flesh on the bones of a screenplay he had written in the mid 1990s.

The debut page-turner from the man who is also known for his musical work with Broadway Twisters and Silver Brazilians has been getting some seriously sweet reviews too; ‘Sexy, raw and bloody. Gives Tarantino a run for his money,’ must surely be one of the best.

Stranik says it is ‘an unholy union of neo-noir and rock and roll mythology.’

Things get up and running at 8pm, entry is free and the Mixtape DJs will see you through to 1am.

Sewage to get excited by

The Lab welcomes Acme Sewage Co. to the stage on April 7.

While widely known as a punk collective, they were more at home with pre-punk players like The Stooges and the New York Dolls.

First active in 1976, by the early 80s their time was up. In 2010, a CD of old recordings, cunningly titled Raw Sewage was issued, and then in 2017, they added to the musical armoury with a CD of re-recorded old material. Conversations were had, members reconnected and the band reassembled with a new flush.

Garage-pop-punk trio Blackmail Tapes will open the gig. Doors at 8pm, tickets are a fiver.

Pic of Pat Fish: Heimo Reifetshammer and Thomas Peterson

All round creative class from Adrian Stranik

Still shooting high

As they head towards their 30th anniversary (seriously), Glastonbury rock mob Reef are back on the road plugging their current opus, the universally lauded Shoot Me Your Ace – and Northampton is in their sights.

That aforementioned album put the band back into the UK Top 20 album charts, and the man found taking care of production duties knows a thing or two about the art of a great tune; it was Duran Duran’s Andy Taylor.

The band is still led by original members frontman Gary Stringer and bassist Jack Bessant, with longterm guitarist Jesse Wood and drummer Luke Bullen (known for his work with Bryan Ferry and Joe Strummer) now also ensconced full time.

Virtuoso guitarist Amy Newton is also signed up for this current live charge, which follows a date supporting The Rolling Stones in Munich (Jesse’s dad is Ronnie Wood), a headlining slot at Glasto on the Avalon Stage, and more recently they enjoyed a stream of UK tour dates supporting The Black Crowes.

While the majority of their contemporaries who are still active choose the nostalgia route, Reef are surging ahead as a band for the here and now.

Reef will play their rescheduled Roadmender show on Friday, April 14.

A day later and Warwickshire heavies

Conjurer visit the venue. The show from the metal heavyweights will pick through their two albums to date, the 2018 debut Mire, and last year’s sophomore release, Pathos. Catch them this time, and then go get a second blast when they return as support to the magnificent Carcass, on June 1.

Something totally different is in the diary for April 28, with scene aces Dave Pearce & Alex P heading ‘deck side’ for Out of Space, a session dedicated to the best classic and current dance anthems.

History of Trance & House will deliver a top-drawer mix of club classics and dance

anthems, with resident OoS DJ’s Phil Ashby and Elliot White keeping things upbeat.

Expect to hear music from artists like Frankie Knuckles, Todd Terry, Groove Armada, Faithless, Ultra Nate and too many others to mention here and now. Let your ears loose for the full five hour session from 8pm. It’s selling fast. Snooze and you’ll lose.

> To get your tickets, place your hands on that plastic pal of yours and tap to theroadmender.com

‘Mutuality and patience’ delivers results for Lichen Slow

Northants risers Rolling Thunder have been clocking up the miles in support of their new six-track EP, Know No Different, and they will bring the curtain down on the road trip with one last show, on home ground at The Black Prince, on April 14.

The hard grafting quintet deserve a great show of faces to wrap up the run of dates, and with tickets at £6 you’ve no excuses not to.

“...would be great to see you all there for a party,” they invite.

Support is coming from Parking On Pavements and Big Whup

John Robb will be in conversation at the venue on April 19, discussing his new pageturner The Art of Darkness, The History of Goth, with Alex Novak hosting. More about that over the page.

Lichen Slow, aka Joel Harries and Malcolm Middleton, appear on April 22. They describe their connection as ‘a band steeped in mutuality and patience.’

Middleton is best-known for his work in Arab Strap, and Harries has filled record collections with his solo offerings, and with electronica-based Team Leader and instrumental noise-makers 72%.

After a chance meeting through a mutual friend, the two quickly found common ground: “We just clicked and had a good chat about Bolt Thrower,” Middleton recalled.

They’ve since been on a creative journey which has resulted in the debut album Rest Lurks which hit the racks last month.

Irrelevant Device and Howling Bee are up in support.

If you like ‘soppy music with happy guitar’ Potwash can help with that – they play on April 29, with Khartoum and Sunny Gym alongside.

> It’s another meaty month for music at The Black Prince. Click to sbdpromotions.com for tickets.

Reef (left) and Conjurer (right) will be at The Roadmender in April

Bonded over Bolt Thrower - Lichen Slow (above) while Rolling Thunder (below) are ready to party with you on April 14

Ugly return for Slowthai

When Northampton’s Slowthai announced his Jägermeister Best Night of your Life tour (a jaunt to six pub venues), giving fans the opportunity to hear tracks from his new album for the first time, demand for tickets far exceeded the number available.

That’s hardly a surprise though; Slowthai doesn’t need to play grass roots venues nowadays – he’s graduated to bigger things like two-night stays at Brixton Academy. By choosing to return to buzzing small haunts, he paid back the early support they gave to him, which demands respect.

Here in his hometown, he played The Black Prince, and a couple of junctions

down the road, he stopped off in Milton Keynes, with a return to Wolverton venue The Craufurd Arms.

“The show was pure adrenaline, excitement and passion,” said Paul Rivers from The Craufurd Arms, as this picture from Anna Buscaglia demonstrates.

“Watching Slowthai really connect with the next generation of alternative kids was truly a special moment in live music that you only have the privilege of witnessing a handful of times in your career,” Paul added.

> Ugly is out now through Method/ Interscope. Slowthai will play Wembley Stadium this summer as guests of Blur.

Exploring the Art of Darkness with John

SBD promotions has teamed up with Spiral Archive to bring John Robb to town on April 19.

The journalist, author and frontman with The Membranes will be in conversation with Alex Novak about his new page-turner, The Art of Darkness - The History of Goth, which is a must-read for anyone interested in goth music, culture and history.

John sees this mammoth book – clocking in at 650 pages – as the first major and comprehensive overview of Goth music and culture and its lasting legacy, and the reviewers agree.

In the main, this book is built around the 80s post-punk Goth period. Northampton’s Bauhaus, widely credited with the genre’s first ever single, Bela Lugosi’s Dead, naturally features among the pages. There are also interviews with artists including Sisters of Mercy’s Andrew Eldritch, The Cult, The Banshees, The Damned, Trent Reznor, Adam Ant, The Cure and Nick Cave.

John’s work provides the reader with a first-hand account of being at those gigs and clubs which were pivotal in the movement, and looks at the music, style and the political and social conditions that spawned the culture.

The Art of Darkness - The History of Goth is out now, and John will sign copies at the event, which is being hosted at The Black Prince John runs the music site Louder Than War, and his other books include Punk Rock: An Oral History and The North Will Rise Again: Manchester Music City 1976-1996

> Tickets for the upcoming event are £10. Get yours by tapping to sbdpromotions.com

Get into the groove

Record Store Day 2023 is in the diary of vinyl junkies everywhere, and here in the ‘fampton, Vinyl Underground (80 Abington Street) and Spunout (57 Gold Street) will be partaking as usual.

And a typically genre rich selection will be on the shelves; From Death to Dolly Parton, Motley Crue to Miles Davis and Frank Black to Future Sound of London, there’s a bit of everything at this major celebration of sounds.

Both stores will be opening their doors early, at 8am, but if you’ve previously invested in RSD you’ll know the queuing starts way before that. Dead keen vinyl heads have been known to arrive in the early hours with folding chairs, blankets and flasks of coffee to keep them toasty until the doors open.

Spun Out always makes RSD a bit of a party day, and they’ll be doing it again on April 22, with live music from local players including Northants Krautrock artist Tvål (at 12.45pm), DJ sets from Rocket Hi Fi, DJ Scottie and more, and goody bags for those purchasing items.

Billy Lockett, currently toasting huge success with his debut album, Abington Grove will also be playing in store at 2pm. It’ll be packed out.

John Robb visits Northampton on April 19

#WhatsOnPulse

Faux Fighters

Saturday, April 1

Join the tribute to Dave Grohl’s band at The Picturedrome, with support by Pearl Jam as Earl Ham. The Pretender: thepicturedrome.com

Trickster Figures: Sculpture and the Body

Until May 7

The next chapter in the story of British Sculpture continues at MK Gallery, showcasing a selection of works by 11 contemporary artists. Shape shifting: mkgallery.org

Workshop:

Hedgehog Surveying For Families

Monday, April 3

Join The Parks Trust at Howe Park Wood to create a hedgehog survey tunnel, find out about MK Hogwatch andF how you can help our spiky friends whose numbers are declining rapidly.

Pre-booking is essential: theparkstrust.com

Strictly Ballroom The Musical

Monday, April 3 – Saturday, April 8

Strictly star Kevin Clifton is joined in musical play by Corrie star turned Dancing on Ice favourite Faye Brookes at MK Theatre.

Time After Time: atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

Julia Donaldson Day

Tuesday, April 4, midday and/or 2pm

Here’s something for little folks to get their teeth into during Northampton’s half term –a trio of movies from the pen of the muchloved writer; Highway Rat, Super Worm and Smeds & The Smods

Movie magic: thepicturedrome.com

The Little Mermaid –An Underwater Musical Adventure

Tuesday, April 4, 2.30pm

Fun, singing and dancing, with sparkling scenery, beautiful costumes and the chance to meet the characters post-show at The Old Savoy.

Making a splash: theoldsavoy.co.uk

Rag Mama Rag

Tuesday, April 4

The France-based acoustic duo come to Bletchley Blues Club having wowed on the same stage in 2022. Traditional tunes and some of their own, all in the pre-war style of the 1930s. Washboard and more: bletchleybluesclub.uk

Kate Mosse OBE –Warrior Queens & Quiet Revolutionaries

Wednesday, April 5, 7.30pm

Join the international bestselling author on her first ever theatre tour at the Derngate Theatre.

‘My hope is that Warrior Queens & Quiet Revolutionaries will inspire as I have been inspired,’ says Kate.

Off the page, on the stage: royalandderngate.co.uk

Dinosaur Adventure Live - Deco April 13

Shark In The Park

Wednesday, April 5, 2.30pm

The creative team behind The Hairy Maclary Show present all three of Nick Sharratt’s Shark in the Park books live on stage at Stantonbury Theatre. Fin-tastic: stantonburytheatre.co.uk

In the Wake of the Mayflower

Thursday, April 6, 2pm

Join Cathy Shelborne for this month’s Milton Keynes National Trust Association lecture, at the Oak Tree Centre, Wallinger Drive, Shenley Brook End. £3 for members, £4 for non-members.

Questions? deefam5248@outlook.com

The Witness

Thursday, April 6, 7.30pm

Moving through humour, bold physicality and intricate storytelling, The Witness recalls how one woman’s 2000 year old testimony comes clattering into the life of a contemporary woman, initiating a reckoning and demanding the missing pages be written anew. Her story became Heresy: stantonburytheatre.co.uk

Toddle Exhibition Tour – Trickster Figures

Saturday, April 8

A sensory experience for little folks (and their parents) which will be led by Julia Collar, who will ignite the galleries with music, storytelling, object handling and play. Toddle along: mkgallery.org

Jon Doe Trio

Tuesday, April 11

Unbridled musicianship from a must-see band for blues and rock fans of all ages. Power-trio: bletchleybluesclub.uk

Wargasm

Tuesday, April 11

Electro punk rock two-piece with a huge online following visit Wolverton hub The Craufurd Arms. Milkie Way and Sam Matlock will be joined by Blackgold in support. Lovely and lairy: thecraufurdarms.com

Zoe Schwarz & Rob Koral

Thursday, April 13, 8.45pm

Joni Zoe and Rob for a mix of roots, jazz and blues, combining old school tradition with contemporary verve, with an intimate performance at The Stables in Wavendon.

Communication: stables.org

Dinosaur Adventure Live

Thursday, April 13, 2pm & 4.30pm

A show that has been 65 million years in the making, and arrives in time for half term!

An awe-inspiring show to captivate the young and the young at heart.

Roarsome: theoldsavoy.co.uk

The Sound of Springsteen

Saturday, April 15, 7.30pm

Enjoy the best of The Boss with a night of greatest hits, deep cuts and the occasional surprise. Glory Days: theoldsavoy.co.uk

Morgan & West: Unbelievable Science

Saturday, April 15, 2.30pm

Magicians, time travellers and spiffing chaps Morgan & West have a secret past – they are genuine, bona fide, legitimately qualified scientists, and they are bringing their love of enlightenment to the stage. Mind blown: stantonburytheatre.co.uk

Rumours of Fleetwood Mac

Sunday, April 16, 8pm

A musical tribute to one of our most-loved bands, who sadly lost Christine McVie late last year. This collective is personally endorsed by Mick Fleetwood. Go Your Own Way: royalandderngate.co.uk

A World Divided

Monday, April 17

An epic edge-of-your-seat journey with songs that will touch your soul. The premiere of a new musical created by local talent for the big stage. Les Mis meets Rocky Horror: atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

Test Match Special Live – The Ashes

Monday, April 17, 7.30pm

Jonathan ‘Aggers’ Agnew and Australian bowling legend Glenn McGrath visit the Derngate to share stories, memories and predictions ahead of a massive Ashes summer.

Bowled over: royalandderngate.co.uk

Catch Rumours Of Fleetwood Mac at Royal and Derngate on April 16

WHATS ON

Fran Lebowitz

Tuesday, April 18, 7.30pm

The insightful social commentator and purveyor of urban cool will be sharing her cutting take on everything and anything. Opinionated: royalandderngate.co.uk

Forbidden Nights

Friday, April 21, 7.30pm

Sexy and innovative, get ready for two hours of breathtaking action, seductive choreography and a comedian compere when acrobats, male vocalists, fire acts and aerial artists perform for you. Leave your inhibitions at the door: theoldsavoy.co.uk

Gun Acoustic

Saturday, April 21

Rockers responsible for hits like their own Better Days and that cover of Cameo’s Word Up make their return to Milton Keynes for an acoustic stroll through their catalogue. Steal Your Fire: thecraufurdarms.com

Riding The Low

Saturday, April 22, 7.30pm

UK rock band whose frontman is known for his work on the screen; actor Paddy Considine. Hot ticket: thecraufurdarms.com

Emmanuel Sonubi – Emancipated

Sunday, April 23, 7.30pm

A relatively new name to the comedy circuit, Emmanuel is already being called ‘one to watch.’ This show will cover his time as a doorman in London clubs, through his career in musical theatre and life as a parent to two young children. Your name’s not down: royalandderngate.co.uk

Absolute Bowie

Saturday, April 29

With an electrifying performance by their Starman, and theatrical mid-set costume ch-ch-changes, Absolute Bowie delivers the greatest hits of the much-missed creative and all of his best-loved personas. Let’s Dance: thepicturedrome.com

TALK OF THE TOWN APRIL & MAY

Bands in the Park

April – Sept, 2–5pmAbington Park Bandstand

Join us for a schedule packed with local bands and musicians every Sunday and Bank Holiday

Monday from 16th April to 24th September. Bring your own chairs, picnic blankets/rugs and enjoy an afternoon of live music within the picturesque surroundings of Abington Park.

St Georges Day

Sunday 23rd April –

Northampton Town Centre

Friends of Northampton Castle Play Day

Sunday, April 30, 11am-4pm

Discover what life was like in the castle and medieval Northampton. Activities will include building a Lego castle, playing in the castle tent, completing castle jigsaws, dressing as a knight or a princess, laptop adventures and Medieval music.

Step back in time: delapreabbey.org

Tour: Medieval History

Sunday, April 30, 11.30am-12.30pm

Step back in time to 1538 at Delapre Abbey, at the end of its life as a Cluniac Nunnery. Learn about its history and how it was established, and some of the events that occurred on the nunnery’s doorstep; including the Black Death, excommunications and the Battle of Northampton.

Before or after your guided tour, you will be free to explore the Abbey. Past present: delapreabbey.org

10am-2pm - The Guildhall Courtyard

Join us to celebrate St George’s Day in the heart of the town with official Flag Raising, children’s craft activities, morris dancers and giant dragon puppet entertainment, including a heritage trail around the town centre featuring ‘Notable Northamptonians.’

Northampton EID Festival

Sunday 30th April 12-6pm –Becket’s Park

Come together for a community day full of activities and fun for the whole family including stage entertainment, rides, bouncy castle and a variety of pop-up stalls. Organised by the EID Management Group.

Coronation Celebrations –Save the Dates!

Saturday 6th May –Community Festival Guildhall Road

Sunday 7th May –The Big Lunch & Afterparty Delapré Abbey

Monday 8th May – The Big Help Out St Katherine’s Gardens

Plans are under way to organise a packed weekend of events to celebrate the Coronation! Including street party festivities and entertainment with big screen coverage in Northampton town centre on the Saturday, Big Lunch and concert Afterparty at Delapré Abbey on the Sunday and local volunteering opportunities for The Big Help Out on Bank Holiday Monday at St Katherine’s Gardens.

In partnership with West Northants Council, Northampton BID and Delapré Abbey.

For more details on NTC’s events and projects visit: northamptontowncouncil.gov.uk/events

Or get in touch with the team: events@northamptontowncouncil.gov.uk

All events and projects listed are delivered, supported or sponsored by Northampton Town Council

Enjoy Forbidden Nights - April 21

Fran Lebowitz - 18 April

Welcome to Quality Street!

Northampton theatres have monsters, music and muck, and plenty of it, this April. Sammy Jones takes you through the choice picks ahead...

Ray Charles was called ‘the Genius’ with good reason. He was inimitable – a prolific pianist, singer and composer. Only recently we played the Porgy & Bess elpee he recorded with another unique voice, Dame Cleo Laine. What a musical pairing that was.

It takes a special voice to sing the music of the father of soul, but if anyone can, it’s Tommy Blaize

Tommy is lead singer with BBCs Strictly Come Dancing band and has worked with artists including Queen, Diana Ross, Amy Winehouse and Joe Cocker.

On April 3, he will be in concert at the Derngate, accompanied by the National Youth Jazz Orchestra. This will be stunning, trust us. Wildlife filmmaker and presenter Gordon Buchanan visits a day later for his ‘30 Years in the Wild’ anniversary tour, which will take a look back through those productive decades spent behind and in front of the camera.

Before he created Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie delivered the farce, Quality Street (Royal, April 4-8). In its time it was such a sensation that the much-loved choccie brand was named after it!

This delivery – by Northern Broadsides –features a good helping of Yorkshire wit from the retired workers of the Halifax factory where Quality Street have been produced for the best part of a century.

Royal & Derngate former Artistic Director Laurie Sansom has directed this work, described as ‘Bridgerton meets Inside The Factory.’

Prepare for a roar-some time (Derngate, April 6-8) as Dinosaur World Live visits. It’s a jurassic adventure with a post-show opportunity for little monsters to go and meet the big ones – Tyrannosaurus Rex, a Triceratops, Giraffatitan, Microraptor and Segnosaurus will all feature in the 50

minute show, and the meet and greet. This performance is suitable for those aged three years and up.

Also on April 8, there’s a chance to enjoy life down by the river bank with Ratty, Mole, Badger and Mr Toad in the enduring classic, The Wind in the Willows , at the Underground.

Thirty years since it first rocked us, The Commitments (Derngate, April 10-15) is out on another tour with more than 20 soul classics ready to spill during the show. Corrie bad boy Nigel Pivarro stars.

Strictly pro turned judge Anton Du Beke (Derngate, April 21) is out on the road while Strictly is off our screens, and he has a live band, a guest singer and his dancers for company. He’s a genuinely warm and funny fella and this show will be exactly that. There’s more Strictly stuff at the same venue the following day, with pro’s Nadiya and Kai in Once Upon A Time, which showcases their ballroom journeys and their relationship on and off the dance floor.

Inspector Sands (Royal, April 24 – May 26) brings its characteristic humour, passion and pathos to the love story of Heathcliff and Catherine in Wuthering Heights. There is a guarantee that it will contain violence, peril, social awkwardness, exhilarating music, high winds and mud. Will you need wellies?!

Dick & Dom will be swapping da bungalow for a night at the Derngate (April 28) and yes, the Creamy Muck Muck game will be played, and D&D ‘hits’ The Grunty Song, Pants Dance and BOGIES are all guaranteed.

Northampton really will be in for a ‘giganosaurus’ time of it this month – over at The Old Savoy, Dinosaur Adventure Live (April 13) will put you face to face with a Triceratops and T-Rex – you can even feed them their tea, but keep your wits about you or you could end up on their menu!

Mark Jones is an Old Savoy fave who has brought smiles all round with his appearances in panto at the venue. He will bring more giggles our way when he returns with Stand Up Comedy for Kids (April 16).

In the past, Mark has given us record breaking leek-balancing, tin foil face sculptures and The Great British Potato Giveaway of 2022. Who knows what half baked ideas he’ll have this time.

It’s a show suitable for ages four years and up, but those aged 84 to 104 must be accompanied by both parents or a responsible adult. Or an irresponsible one!

Show time is 3.30pm, so you’ll be home in time for tea, too. Winner.

A family favourite - performances of Quality Street begin on April 4

Da-da-da-da-da-da-da... Anton Du Beke glides in on April 21

Still wild - Gordon Buchanan comes to town on April 4

Get the giggles with Mark Jones at The Deco

The MX-5 is coming along at a gallop

FACTS AT A GLANCE

Top Speed: 136 MPH

Performance: 0-60 in 6.3 secs

Power: 181 BHP

ADAM TUDOR-LANE

reviews the Mazda MX-5

If one thing always crops up regarding criticism and the Mazda MX-5, it’s power. ‘Oh, if only it had another 20 or 30 more horses’, I’ve been guilty of it myself. But finally, power has been bumped to 181 BHP, up from 157 of a few years ago.

Prices start from £30,350 with the 2.0-litre engine as it’s only available from ‘Exclusive-line’ trim upwards.

The 1.5 litre starts at £25,800; you can also opt for the RF if you’d prefer a more solid roof above you.

While the MX-5 is still the sweetest handling roadster on the market, as previously mentioned, it always felt like it needed more power to really come alive.

That high revving 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine is the perfect match for some spirited back road driving, especially due to the slick short-throw six-speed gearbox.

Gearing feels a little longer thanks to the extra horses, the torque delivery continues to the red line, and the sound throws you back to cars of yesteryear. 0-60 MPH has dropped by 0.8 of a second thanks to an increase in revs, topping out at 7,500 instead of 6,500 in the old 2.0 litre. Now you’re looking at a 60 sprint in 6.3 seconds, and it feels every bit as quick as that. While the Abarth Spider nailed it in terms of exhaust note, that’s still something I think Mazda could improve on. An active flap wouldn’t go a miss, especially on a car costing £30k+.

The 2.0 litre benefits from a limited-slip differential, which helps fire you out of corners and effectively deploy all those horses.

Economy: 40.9 MPG (claimed)

Switch off the traction control, and the MX-5 will teach you all you need to know about car control.

Exclusive-line and above also gain a front strut brace and Bilstein dampers all around. The differences are subtle when driving the 1.5 and 2.0 litre back to back, but the 2.0 litre feels like the slightly stiffer, more driver-focussed MX.

Inside hasn’t changed all that much. The new Light Stone Nappa leather on the range-topping Homura trim is light grey in appearance. It’s utterly gorgeous and really finishes off the inside of the Mazda nicely, lifting the interior from being quite a small dark place to something a lot more premium in feel.

The Bose system comprises nine speakers; again, it’s a worthy upgrade over the standard stereo, with clear, crisp vocals while giving enough of a bass kick without a sub as you can expect.

It may be seven years old, but the MX-5 still concocts the perfect driver’s car, it has all the right ingredients, and that stronger core finally gives it the extra ‘oomph’ it’s always deserved. On the other hand, if you want a nice convertible to potter around in, the 1.5 is ideal; its softer ride is equally delightful for the right driver. When driven on the limit, it can also be a hoot without feeling ‘kill yourself quick’.

View from the Far Kerb

Grandma

Ah, grandma, where would we be without it? It?

Sorry, grammar. Grammar, grammar, grammar! I must get my smell-checker working butter.

Back to the important things in life. Consider the following question: What do you like? If you answer: I like eating grandma and watching television, then you may either have missed a very important comma from your reply or are a crime waiting to happen.

Sure, grammar can be seen as a hindrance, such as when trying to rapidly send someone a text message advising that you will be late, dead or both… However, the subtleties can clarify meaning or add a context that isn’t apparent upon casual reading.

It can be the same when considering the totality of sentences. Here’s an example of it from a classroom of English language students of a very Catholic country. On the board the question: Should a man be allowed more than one wife? was written, with answers and comments in English being invited. Unanimously the class response was, No!

Then the teacher added the words, at a time. He asked whether the class now had a different opinion regarding the original words. What if the man from the first form of the question had become a widower?

Suddenly it was not so clearcut. The emphatic no was now firmly applied to the completed question while the previous, truncated version now had all sorts of discussion taking place. The teacher was happy because, with a little prodding, he had

everyone seeking to offer their views, in English.

We meet every week on a Thursday evening, at seven o’clock.

The following Thursday, the hapless teacher turns up at the advised time and is greeted by an empty meeting room. Enquiry revealed that the words, except next Thursday, were omitted. It is possible that the speaker merely stopped talking once the teacher had nodded and indicated their understanding. Whatever the reason, a trip across town on a rainy evening could have been avoided with the addition of that simple three-word clause.

Rightly or wrongly, grammar can suggest things about the speaker.

I is not happy with what you is doing.

A simple substitution of am and are with is and a prejudice begins to form in the head of the listener.

Oh, you think you are better than what I am?

What? Now the listener is convinced. However, what if the sentences were delivered with perfect grammar by an otherwise drug-addled junkie who hadn’t seen the need to wash for years?

Things I like at the coast? White horses wearing swimming trunks and waterproof sunscreen. There’s that missing comma again, and this time it changes the white horses from the foamy crests of waves to those of the equine variety. Worse, it isn’t something a spell-chequer will correct.

Fast! My own spelt-chucker is useless. Soggy.

In my head I am seeing a little old lady with a shock of white hair, effortlessly lifting a lorry above her head – such is the power of grandma.

QUICK CROSSWORD

Your stars

Flavour of the Times - Spring, which begins with the equinox (equal day and night) on 19th March, provides the impetus for the season moving significantly forward at this time of year. Astrologically, a lot is on the move too. Several big planets are changing signs which introduces a huge element of the unknown into the flavour of our lives. Pluto has shifted into Aquarius which heralds massive changes spread over the next 20 years but this month other planets are in Aries giving a lot of energy to the month. Mars shifts into Cancer which makes emotional anger something to contend with.

ARIES

March 21 – April 20

Even with your levels of positive fiery spring energy, March may sometimes feel too much to handle. The full moon may give you a chance to stand back, breathe and consider for a moment (if you’re wise). More hard-to-handle energies may be released by the new moon that follows on 20th (Hitler’s birthday, I notice!) as things come down to earth in Taurus (not necessarily good at all)

TAURUS

April 21 – May 21

Are you standing in the way of a tsunami heading your way? Can you resist it? Maybe because the Taurus bull is one stubborn strong beast, but you may still be overwhelmed by the power of the waves coming at you. If you weather the storm, the new moon on 20th will be welcome because you can now get some of this under control. Hang on in there!

GEMINI

May 22 – June 21

Venus enters your sign on 11th of the month and immediately pings against Pluto who has just arrived in Aquarius. Conversations may be flirtatious and fun at first but don’t be surprised if some of them take a darker turn and get into some deep territory that you may feel reluctant to enter. There’s lot of positivity around but beware of folk with sensitivities who you may upset by mistake.

CANCER

June 22 – July 23

Domestic violence and misogyny are likely to be a theme this month as Mars enters Cancer. There may be people in your life who are vulnerable who need more looking after than usual. But be aware that some of them may not necessarily respond all that well to your caring nature. This may come out as hurt anger.

LEO

July 24 – August 23

You might be getting early hints of some fundamental changes that are starting to be made in your world, things that you have never really considered before. Over the next few years, you will be led away from some of the selfindulgence that you may have enjoyed, perhaps towards a more humanitarian approach to life. Service to others rather than to yourself?

VIRGO

August 24 – September 23

Following the rather directionless Pisces energy of recent weeks, you are probably being thrown into action now and dragged along with events taking place around you, slightly against your will. You will find it hard to maintain the sense of order but after the new moon in Taurus on 20th, things come back down to earth, and you can get space to do some planning again.

LIBRA

September 24 – October 23

You may be trying to hold people back for most of this month. Many of them are feeling a bit hyped up and headstrong without considering the down sides of their actions. If some of them just aren’t listening to your advice, you should probably leave them to their own devices, even though you know you may end up picking up the pieces later.

SCORPIO

October 24 – November 22

It will be crazy at the start of April, but you are going to feel the energy that kicks in after 20th at the new moon in Taurus. Lots of planets are also queueing up in that sign which may feel. Your health and daily routines may be a strong focus for you now but maybe you already know deep inside what needs to change and when. Consequences next month!

You are bound to be affected personally by some if not all of the massive changes that are taking place this year. An astrological reading of your chart can forewarn you about how these changes might affect you. To really understand what they mean for you on a personal level during 2023, I would recommend that you consider booking a comprehensive personal astrological consultation with me. This is completely specific to you and your life. This will illuminate many things that you may not have considered up to now and it will enable you to really take advantage of the positive energies and avoid the negative ones throughout the year.

SAGITTARIUS

November 23 – December 22

Things may get overblown this month. Your ruling planet, Jupiter is pulling everything else in its wake at speed and at times the energy is going to get a little crazy. It’s exciting and while it’s fine to feel optimistic and energised, don’t forget where the brake pedal is as you accelerate because there are slower vehicles ahead of you!

CAPRICORN

December 23 – January 20

Pluto’s time in Capricorn is done now and we are entering a new era which will require a radical reappraisal of where things stand. Still, the Pluto in Aquarius tsunami is slow even if its relentless, so no quick decisions are necessary yet. Perhaps the focus should start on your home base. It’s a good idea to get this in order before venturing out.

AQUARIUS

January 21 – February 19

You will be in pole position for the change to Pluto in Aquarius, but will you be ready for it? Big opportunities will be presenting themselves between now and June this year. Radical, humanitarian and community matters will all be coming into focus and influencing us for as much as 20 years from now. It may not be quite the Age of Aquarius yet, but it may feel like it for you!

PISCES

February 20 – March 20

This month will feel a bit harsh and aggressive and folk around you will be getting caught up in the crazy power of the spring Aries energy thrusting forwards. This characterises the first half of the month but there will be some fallout when things inevitably come back down to earth as the new moon occurs in Taurus. This is whole new ball game and should settle your nerves.

Chart readings with me start at £67 and last for an hour on Zoom or Skype. Please go to www.astroguidance.co.uk for more details and to book a session. You can also text or WhatsApp me on 07866 727743 or email me at howpark@ aol.com for more information.

If you are interested in discussing and learning more about astrology, why not pop into my Facebook group The Astrocafe | Facebook.

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