The Connection Magazine (Norwich) Dec 2021/Jan 2022 by The Connection Magazine

THE

Connection OLD CATTON

Dec 2021/Jan 2022

SPIXWOR TH

HORSHAM ST FAITH

WEST SPROWSTON

W IN £25 JA

R VOU ROLD CHE R

CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE KIEFER SUTHERLAND ON TOUR ARE YOU EMOTIONALLY ROBUST? WHAT’S ON THIS CHRISTMAS? TURKEY BURGER WITH CRANBERRY SAUCE

Interview

Motoring

Gardening

01603 361005

Contents 10 Christmas Gift Guide 16

12 Kiefer Sutherland, Chasing the Rain Tour 16 What’s On? Christmas Entertainment 18 Recipe: Turkey Burger with Cranberry Sauce & Brussels Sprout Coleslaw 20 Finance with Wensum Financial Planning 22 Are you Emotionally Robust?

30 24 Festive Joy at Cherry Lane Garden Centres 28 General Knowledge Crossword 30 Interiors: Festive Tables 32 Competition: Win a £25 Jarrold Voucher 34 Interview with Old Catton Author Steven Bateson

12 42 Gardening: The Season of Giving to Nature 44 Natural Skin Rejuvenation with Coltishall Cosmetic 46 Index of Advertisers

38 Motoring: Eco-Friendly Advancements

Welcome Christmas is coming and we have plenty of Christmas themed features for you, including our essential gift guide to give you some present buying inspiration. December is a busy month with extra local events and shows, our ‘What’s On?’ page has a selection of some of the great theatre performances and events happening in Norwich this Christmas. As well as the fantastic Norwich Theatre Royal please don’t forget the smaller venues such as The Garage and Maddermarket Theatre who are putting on some great performances, both over Christmas and throughout the year. With the entertainment industry being one of the hardest hit over the past 18 months or so, your support is much needed and no doubt very much appreciated. I’d like to wish you a very joyful festive season and we will be back with the next edition in 2022.

Annette Editor 01603 466829

DEADLINE for booking an advert in the February/March edition is 6 January 2022 Email:the-connection@outlook.com 01603 466829 www.the-connection-magazine.net See page 47 for more details and a full price list.

CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENT

WHAT’S ON? THE GARAGE

MY FIRST PANTO: CINDERELLA ROCKS 26 November to 16 January The only panto in all the land that allows you the audience to get up and join in. You will be rocking out with Ella and her sisters. Dancing along with the mice and helping to make sure Ella gets her happy ever after. AGE SUITABILITY: 0-7 years, fun for all the family! £13.50 adult, £8.50 child, under 1s go free Box Office: 01603 283382 W: thegarage.org.uk

MADDERMARKET THEATRE

A SOUND IDEAS XMAS SPECTACULAR 4-10 December An All singing, all dancing festive treat for the whole family to enjoy. From £8.50

ON THE HUH PRESENTS: BIG TOP 11 December A sensational night of circus themed drag performances from a whole host of talented drag performers. Strictly adults only 18+. Price from £7.

CINDERELLA 15-31 December Family pantomime packed with traditional pantomime ingredients. A whole heap of festive fun. From £8. Box Office: 01603 620917

NORWICH PLAYHOUSE

ROBIN GOOD: THE POLITICO-PANTO 8-19 December The Minister for Greed & Division wants to deport the people of Norfolk to Suffolk, build a wall around Norfolk & turn the county into a holiday resort for billionaires. Full of local humour celebrating diversity, community and

the enduring triumph of right over wrong. From £14. Age 14+ W: norwichtheatre.org Box office: 01603 630 000

THEATRE ROYAL

DICK WHITTINGTON & HIS CAT 11 December to 9 January The rags to riches tale of a young man leaving home with only a spotted handkerchief and his cat on an exciting quest for fame & fortune. Featuring all the traditional pantomime ingredients and starring Richard Gauntlett, who is returning for his 21st Norwich panto. From £18.50 Box Office: 01603 630 000 W: norwichtheatre.org

THE FORUM

JABBAWOCKYCRAFTS CHRISTMAS CRAFT AND GIFT FAIR 11 & 18 December, 9am to 5pm Stock up on some special Christmas gifts at this pop-up Christmas mini market

MODERN COUNRTY CRAFTS CHRISTMAS CRAFT & GIFT FAYRE 17 & 18 December, 10am to 6pm Discover special crafts & gifts from local traders.

CARDS FOR GOOD CAUSES POP-UP CHRISTMAS SHOP Until 20 December, Mon-Sat 10am to 5pm, Sun 11am to 4pm Cards for Good Causes, the not-for-profit card and gift retailer, is back with a wide range of Charity Christmas Cards supporting many charities. The shop also stocks all the Christmas essentials, including 2022 calendars, wrapping paper, stationery and much more. W: theforumnorwich.co.uk T: 01603 727950

Please check the event organiser’s website for any updates before attending

Finance

Little Boxes PART 2 By Trevor Goodbun I left things last time saying I would finish dealing with a couple of aspects of pensions, namely death benefits and the restrictions on how you can access benefits. Death Benefits As with many things to do with pensions there can be differences between different types of pension, so what I am going to say here applies to most forms of personal, private, stakeholder and workplace pensions. They don’t apply to Defined Benefit pensions (e.g. final salary pensions) or some older pensions. How old is difficult to say; certainly anything pre 1988 needs to be checked, but really to be certain you need to check what applies to your own pension. Having said that, many pensions that you haven’t yet drawn on and some types that you have, will return the full value of the pension fund on death. Once again there are exceptions to this, but in the majority of cases this will not form part of your estate and can be paid without any tax liability at all. Also, since 2016 the pension can be left to anyone you choose, not just a dependant. So the money can be left directly to a child or grandchild if you so wish. What’s more this can easily be done by completing an Expression of Wish form. If you have got an existing pension and you haven’t done this then it’s certainly worth doing. If you have done one, or if you are not sure if you have, it’s worth checking if you have made this declaration and who it’s in favour of, especially if your personal circumstances have changed. For example, if you have divorced it might be your ex-spouse who is still the beneficiary. If this is still your

intent then no worries, but if it has simply been overlooked you may want to change that. Once you are over 75 it gets a bit more complex. In the main the pension still stays outside of your estate and therefore is not subject to IHT. It will also usually pass to the person you have nominated without a tax liability. The difference is that when they draw on it, it counts towards their income and, if they are a tax payer, then they will pay income tax on the amount they draw. It’s not widely appreciated but there is no lower age limit for income tax so even if left to your grandchildren who are minors there could still be tax to pay, but they also have a personal allowance currently £12,570 before they pay tax. However, at the risk of adding yet one more complexity, if you are nominating a minor on you expression of wish, check with the pension provider whether that causes any issues. And just in case you are wondering ( I know you probably are not!) using a trust doesn’t help and there are different rules for pension money being paid into a trust that could mean you lose out. I just have enough space to cover the fact that whilst a pension can pay out at any age on death, for you to access it yourself, in the vast majority of cases, you have to be age 55 or over. Trevor Goodbun is the author of Plan A Secure Retirement, published by Hodder and a partner at Wensum Financial Planning www.wensumifa.com 01603 731170 2c Oval Road, New Costessey, NR5 0DE

Health

ARE YOU EMOTIONALLY ROBUST? It’s possible that if you’ve never faced some difficulty, you may not have become psychologically resilient. Some of us find the world a more difficult place to negotiate than others. The issue is, can we deal with difficulties in a composed way that doesn’t disrupt our psychological balance. I call this state fluidity. Fluidity is a combination of possessing resilience, and equanimity. Psychological resilience is the ability to confidently endure a crisis and to resume emotional calm speedily. It exists in people who develop self-awareness and good psychological practices that authorises them to stay unruffled during psychological tension or confusion and to move on from that state without continuing negative thoughts and feelings. My form of fluidity is where you sit steadily within yourself internally and you are less anxious with matters beyond your control. You have a genuine authentic reality regarding your true self and are genuinely mindful of your frailties, strengths, vulnerabilities, less than lovely qualities as well as your well-regarded abilities. My experience when operating in arduous circumstances is that the ensuing upset doesn’t overly distress me that much. Being fluid allows you to proceed with a little passing gremlin rather than an enduring catastrophe. The American Psychological Association suggests "10 Ways to Build Resilience”: 1) To maintain good relationships with close family members, friends and others. 2) To avoid seeing crises or stressful events as unbearable problems. 3) To accept circumstances that cannot be changed. 4) To develop realistic goals and move towards them. 5) To take decisive actions in adverse situations. 6) To look for opportunities of self-discovery

after a struggle with loss. 7) To develop self-confidence. 8) To keep a long-term perspective and consider the stressful event in a broader context. 9) To maintain a hopeful outlook, expecting good things and visualising what is wished. 10) To take care of one's mind and body, exercising and regularly, paying attention to one's own needs and feelings. This list is great, but it’s lengthy and challenging and for most an impossible challenge. I often use the three ‘F’s” mini mantra, which is not a complete answer, but it’s handy: Flexibility replacing Fixity promotes Fluidity Flexibility is where you have a relaxed, acceptant and grounded attitude to what happens and how it happens. You look at things in a composed and mindful way. Fixity is being stuck in your ways; narrow minded, stubborn, inflexible or rigid in your thoughts, outlook and behaviours. Fluidity is when you are faced with a difficult or challenging situation, and it doesn’t upset you internally and you deal with it evenly and realistically. Becoming more flexible requires selfexamination, straightforward honesty and unpretentiousness, but ultimately can help bring about fluidity or an internal harmony where you feel just right, a place that is individual to you – your unique contented balance. Shane Lutkin is lead therapist at psychotherapy organisation, Emotionalskills.uk If you’re struggling with emotional issues, call 07986 488690 email us at: contactus@emotionalskills.uk Visit www.emotionalskills.uk

Share the festive joy with CHERRY LANE GARDEN CENTRES With Christmas just around the corner, Cherry Lane Garden Centre has everything you need to make this year magical. From stunning decorations, real trees and lights to make your home sparkle to great value gifts, must-have toys and seasonal stocking fillers for all your loved ones, Cherry Lane offers so much more than just a garden centre. Bring comfort and joy to your home with Cherry Lane’s fantastic decorations to suit all tastes, from traditional reds, golds and greens to fanciful frost-bitten pinks and snow whites. With top quality home furnishings at amazing prices from its exclusive Hamilton McBride range, now is the ideal time to stock up on cosy cushions and snuggly throws and deck your festive dinner table with beautiful glassware and crockery in preparation for gorgeous family meals. We have great gift ideas for gardeners too, including tools, outdoor clothing and beautiful plants. Our Grown By Us range of plants are grown and nurtured here at Cherry Lane, offering the freshest, high quality plants at unbeatable value prices. And if you’re looking for gifts for feathered or furry friends – visit our wild bird department and Scallywags Pets. Back once again for 2021, are Cherry Lane’s popular Christmas events, including the magical Santa’s Grotto – the best place for children to visit the big man himself in a beautiful winter wonderland to have a chat and receive a gift. Plus, there are wreath making workshops and even Santa Paws events for dogs* - see website/in-store for details and to book. During your shopping trip, why not have a well-earned break in the Watering Can café and bistro, serving hot and cold drinks, delicious cakes, snacks and freshly made meals. Look out for our new seasonal menu! Christmas is always a very special time of year but now perhaps more than ever, we’re all looking forward to spending quality time with family and showing our loved ones how much we care. We’ve got everything you need all under one roof so a trip to Cherry Lane means you can get into the festive spirit and enjoy an easy, great value shopping experience with big brands, top quality products and low prices. We can’t wait to see you. Make this Christmas truly magical with Cherry Lane. Find your nearest garden centre at www.cherry-lane.co.uk *events vary at each Cherry Lane – see website/in-store for details

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE CROSSWORD

Answers on page 46

13. Showing extreme courage (6) 15. Citrus fruit (6) 17. Sing carols (7) 19. Short prayer of thanks before a meal (5) 22. Professional charges (4) 23. One who writes the words for songs (8) 24. Puzzle formed of many pieces (6) 25. Garden of Adam and Eve (4)

Down 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Across 1. First James Bond film (2,2) 4. Cartoon character who eats spinach (6) 8. Pensive lyrical piece of music (8) 9. Gelling agent (4) 10. Former name of the Democratic Republic of Congo (5) 11. Breed of pigeon (7)

7. 12. 14. 16. 18. 20. 21.

Dry red table wine from Spain (5) Smallest of the Great Lakes (7) Catherine ___, Henry VIII's sixth wife (4) Game played with young children (4-1-3) Fungi used as an agent for raising bread dough (5) Decreasing in size or extent (6) Mythical warrior whose heel was wounded by Paris (8) Substance covering the crown of a toot (6) Small pouch projecting from the upper part of each atrium of the heart (7) Rice and raw fish wrapped in seaweed (5) Hindu social class (5) Organised group of workmen (4)

Peter J. Wright EST. 1985

INTERIOR PAINTING & DECORATING PROFESSIONAL PAINTER & DECORATOR

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01603 488796 2 Three Corner Drive, Old Catton, Norwich, NR6 7HA

Roland Chapman Electrical Ltd All electrical work undertaken such as:

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For a friendly, professional and reliable service call Roland on 0785 0815424 or 01603 880654

Interiors

SETTING THE SCENE

38 Allen’s Avenue, Sprowston, Norwich, NR7 8EP

A family business of over 30 years Fitted carpets are properly stretched, all joins are hand sewn, doors cut and rooms cleaned on completion

That’s what we call a first class service 31

COMPETITION

FIND THE KITTENS AND WIN A £25 JARROLD VOUCHER There are FIVE kittens hiding in the pages of this magazine (just like the ones here but smaller) Find all the other five to be in with a chance of winning

TO ENTER: 1) Read this copy of The Connection cover to cover and find the other FIVE kittens and make a note of the page they were found on. 2) Apply via our website, just go to: www.the-connection-magazine.net/competition and follow the instructions (if you don’t have internet access or struggle with using the internet please give us a call on 01603 466829. You can leave a message with the page numbers, your name and telephone number and you will be entered in to the competition) The closing date for entries is 15 January 2022 and a winner will be chosen within 7 days The Connection Magazine competition terms and conditions apply

INTERVIEW WITH OLD CATTON AUTHOR Steven Bateson Bifurcation One introduces key players in the first novel in this planned trilogy by Old Catton Author Steven Bateson. “A new power emerges from the chaos of a declining order. The religious, political and financial elites recognise their growing impotence too late. For better or worse the new power will have its way. All the old order can do is watch in horror”. Tell us about your path to publishing your first novel I retired at 53, basically burnt out and badly over weight. My first priority was to get back into the gym with a regular routine to lose weight. Improvement was initially very slow but I lost five stone over a period of about five years. Once that was done I needed something else to focus on. I initially painted a few portraits of friends, relatives and pets then after a while decided to try writing a novel. How did the idea for ‘Bifurcation One’ come about? My undergraduate degree was applied maths, giving me a life long love of science (particularly cosmology) and maths. Writing a Sci-Fi novel just ‘felt’ like the right genre for me. It struck me that the world has become increasingly chaotic over the last couple of decades. Bombing of civilians leading to mass migration. Terrorist attacks. Rogue states murdering journalists. Bifurcation (splitting in two) occurs as chaotic systems start to move out of temporarily stable patterns, towards what ends up looking like a random mess. The book is as much a commentary on the drivers of that mess as it is a science fiction story. You designed the stunning book cover yourself. Do you have a background in Art & Design? I left school at sixteen and used my O levels to get a job in a drawing office, with access to day release and evening classes at Norwich City College. I then used those technical qualifications, which included engineering drawing, to access university. During my second year as an under graduate I had to study at least one subject that had

nothing to do with my main field of study (engineering maths). I’d always enjoyed drawing/painting and decided to have a go at graphic design. When my daughter was young she developed an interest in graphic design so I bought a copy of the Serif graphic design package and taught her how to use it. Who was you favourite character to create? Bjorn is my favourite character: he was dealt a tough hand in life but with a combination of luck and hard work overcame adversity to excel. He loves nothing better than problem solving and brims with enthusiasm for it. Tell us about your writing routine? I worked from home for the last decade or so before retiring and still have a home office to work in. Once I started writing I set myself a target of producing one chapter per week. The only thing I prioritised above that was meeting with friends every Tuesday morning for coffee and breakfast. Some weeks I’d completed the chapter by Weds and took the rest of the week off. Other weeks I found it tougher going and struggled on into the beginning of the next week. I then kept going until I was back on schedule before taking any time off. What’s next for you? I put some weight back on during the lockdowns so I’m currently focused losing weight. Once that’s done I’ll probably get back to the painting for a while then write Bifurcation Two. Bifurcation One, targeted at adults and the mid to late teens. It's available from Amazon, in paperback for £5.99 or as an e-book for £0.77

Motoring

Gardening

Andrew Brierton Domestic Appliance Repairs Factory Trained Est 1999 All Makes Bosch Zanussi AEG John Lewis Hotpoint Indesit All Appliances Cookers Washing Machines Dishwashers Tumble Dryers

01603 890429 Mobile: 07900 003794 1a Godfrey Rd, Spixworth, Formerly Rackheath, Norwich

New advances in facial rejuvenation. ‘Natural Skin Rejuvenation’ options available at the Coltishall Cosmetic Clinic. Two main characteristics of a beautiful face are fullness and flawless skin. Signs of ageing and sun damage suddenly creep up and we start to look for available options to make us look as good as we feel. ‘I wish to do something but do not want botox, fillers or surgery. Can you offer natural options?’ This is a question that sometimes arises and we are pleased to say that modern innovations allow us to offer many natural treatment options. Here we provide information on some of these. We also offer packages or ‘minimakeovers’ that offer fantastic value. Cool-peel Also known as arctic peel or micro-laser peel. Cold air provides cooling and a fractional CO2 laser works its magic on the skin. CO2 fractional laser therapy is ideal for the treatment of sun damage, brown spots, fine lines, wrinkles, skin laxity/texture and acne scars. Not only does this offer amazing results, but also it does so safely and quickly with little downtime. Microdermabrasion Gentle fruit acid peels and LED light facials. We offer a variety of options here and various combination packages, so you can choose a package that best suits your needs. These improve skin texture, reduce acne and pigmentation. They gently exfoliate, smooth and soften the skin while removing the outer layer of skin cells. They are great to improve a dull, lifeless complexion. Mesotherapy We use natural products such as vitamins, minerals and hyaluronic acid, this can be combined with any of the other options to

enhance results. It can be performed in a ‘no needle’ way by combining with our lasers or with micro-needling. Laser resurfacing The CO2 laser is the ultimate technology for aesthetic skin resurfacing. Laser skin resurfacing is designed to remove superficial wrinkles around the eyes, lips, forehead and cheeks seen in aging skin. Facial scars and sun-damaged skin are also excellent candidates for this treatment. The laser gives your doctor precise control over the natural exfoliation process as it gently vaporises the outer layer of sun-damaged or acne-scarred skin to reveal the smooth, fresh skin underneath. Lines are removed in a precise, rapid bloodless fashion, achieving excellent results. Laser skin resurfacing can be performed with local anaesthesia avoiding the need to recover from a general anaesthesia. Laser Skin rejuvenation We have a choice of 24 lasers to address a variety of skin concerns in a very effective way. We believe in offering the best laser technology for your unique needs as these are highly sophisticated specialised tools capable of delivering excellent results. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) A solution derived from whole blood that is enriched in the platelet fraction. Historically, PRP has been applied to wound beds to promote healing of complex wounds. Over the last decade, it has served as a valuable therapeutic tool in various specialties such as maxillofacial surgery, plastic surgery, orthopaedics and sports medicine. In recent years it has been use increasingly in addressing aesthetic medical

concerns. Your own blood is taken and mixed with an anticoagulant solution and spun in a centrifuge to separate the platelets from the rest of the blood. These platelets are a rich source of a variety of growth factors, which then stimulate your own collagen Fat transfer Fat is your own natural filler. It is an active metabolic tissue and a rich source of various growth factors and stem cells. Use of fat to fill areas of volume loss is not new but we have new techniques and refinements, which make it very successful. The old method of looking at facial ageing was based on a gravitational model: that all things fall over time. The new model of the facial ageing process focuses on the primary importance of how the face deflates and loses volume decade after decade. What was once thought to be sagging has now been understood to be caused by facial deflation. A facelift without volume restoration looks artificial. Replacing lost fat results in a natural look. 3-D Facelift If you want to achieve fantastic results in one appointment then this one is for you. This procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic. Fat is used to replace lost volume from your facial areas such as forehead, temples, brows, cheeks, lips and jawline. A co2 fractional laser is then used to create new skin by removing tiny fractions of old skin. We offer full range of natural; non-drug treatment options Please contact us on 01603 736487 or log on to the website www.coltishallclinic.co.uk to find out more information

Index of Advertisers

Local advertising for local businesses Call: 01603 466829 Email: the-connection@outlook.com www.the-connection-magazine.net

Crossword answers Across: 1 Dr No, 4 Popeye, 8 Nocturne, 9 Agar, 10 Zaire, 11 Fantail, 13 Heroic, 15 Orange, 17 Wassail, 19 Grace, 22 Fees, 23 Lyricist, 24 Jigsaw, 25 Eden. Down: 2 Rioja, 3 Ontario, 4 Parr, 5 Peek-a-boo, 6 Yeast, 7 Waning, 12 Achilles, 14 Enamel, 16 Auricle, 18 Sushi, 20 Caste, 21 Crew. Nothing in this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without the permission of The Connection magazine . Although The Connection has endeavoured to ensure that all information inside the magazine is correct, details, prices, dates and times may be subject to change. The Connection cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions, or endorse products or services that appear in this magazine.