The Carlisle Guide Magazine, Issue 13

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ISSUE 13 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013

theCarlisleGuide Brampton l Longtown l Wigton www.thecarlisleguide.com

THE CARLISLE GUIDE MAGAZINE

EVENTS

GIGS

FESTIVALS

FOOD

Dresses to Die For...

The Feeling

Potted Trout

Christmas in Carlisle

WWW.THEGUIDEMEDIAGROUP.COM

Christmas Is a Coming

LIFESTYLE & MORE

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Find that Perfect Gift THIS Christmas at Washington Square Workington

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River Island

Thorntons

NEXT

Debenhams

www.workingtonretail.com

Cash Solutions l Katies Kitchen l Nobles Amusement l The Works l Shoe Zone l Stephen Rowe Opticians Taylors Carpets l Oasis Dental Surgery l Sinclairs Jewellers l Mobile Booth l Jane Street Barbers

theCarlisleGuide November/December 2013

The Team

Managing Director Stephen Murphy T:01946 816 716 stephen@theguidemediagroup.com

Office Admin Manager Steffany Clarke T: 01946 816 719 steffany@theguidemediagroup.com

Graphic Designer Gary Hunter T: 01946 816 727 gary@theguidemediagroup.com

Graphic Designer Nicole Burns T: 01946 816 728 nicole@theguidemediagroup.com

Advertising/Distribution Paul Seath T: 01946 816720 paul@theguidemediagroup.com Editorial T: 01946 816 715 Published by EOL Publications, The Guide Media Group, Phoenix Enterprise Centre, Jacktrees Road, Cleator Moor, Cumbria, CA25 5BD.

A word from THE EDITOR

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VEN if you’re not normally a museum goer you should perhaps take the chance of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in Carlisle and make a date to see the magnificent Crosby Garrett Roman helmet, one of only three of its kind in Britain.

It is now at Tullie House Museum and will be given pride of place in a special display until January. It is privately owned, cost its anonymous owner £2.2 million and may never be seen here again.

The bronze helmet (pictured) was dug up in 2010, on farmland in the hamlet, near Kirby Stephen by a metal detectorist and his son who, with the farmer, shared the proceeds of the massive auction fee.

It’s an exceedingly rare Roman cavalry helmet and Tullie House was one of those wanting to buy it, but they were outbid, on the telephone, by the current owner, a private collector, at an auction just months after it was found. The helmet is sure to attract a lot of interest and is to go on show for a similar period in the British Museum after being here.

But since it’s privately owned this could well be your one and only chance to see it close up.

Editor Chris Breen T: 01946 816 715 chrisbreen@theguidemediagroup.com

ADVERTISE WITH US TODAY! T. 01946 816 719 www.theguidemediagroup.com info@theguidemediagroup.com

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Printed by The Magazine Printing Company.

Photography Brian Sherwen www.briansherwen.co.uk Jim Davis www.jimdavisphotography.com Front Cover Kerry Clark Photography

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Contents: The Carlisle Guide Magazine

November/December 2013

EXCLUSIVE

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The Feeling Want to come to Cumbria

Live at The Brickyard Nov 16

32-33 Blitz Kids

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Features

10-12 Christmas is a-coming

Packed family entertainment programme for Christmas

Sheila Marr

24-25 A Force to be reckoned with

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LifeStyle & BEAUTY

34-36 Time to Start a Fresh

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Beauty by Bridget Foster Resolve to look after yourself from flu and holiday jabs to health checks and medical advice

FOOD

46-47 The Great Northern

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Cookbook by Sean Wilson

Potted Trout

48-49 Alan Spedding Recipe

MOTORING & SPORT

60-61 Sierra RS Cosworth

Cosworth dream to reality

Second season syndrome affecting the Blues?

64-65 Carlisle United

WHAT’S On

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Music, Theatre, Film, Comedy Whats On in July/August 7

Raw and Stripped Back

By Adam Glover

“

I love it when you call, I love it when you call but you never call at all goes one of their famous lyrics.

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Well, I was rather looking forward to my call from Dan Gillespie Sells, frontman of everyone’s favorite posh rock band, The Feeling. Thankfully, he did call and he told me all about his band’s new album, Boy Cried Wolf, and then he tried to fish for a slot at the next Whitehaven Festival.

What on earth have you been doing?

We’ve been doing a lot of shows over the summer - it’s amazing that we haven’t even got a record out yet but we still got quite a lot of live work in - which has been great!”

The new album, released on October 7, definitely has a more “live” feel to it, and is probably not the album you will be expecting. It’s raw and stripped back but with so much drama and depth. It feels like it was recorded in a magnificent, old dusty theatre, not a converted pub in East London.

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Exclusive “I think it’s just because we’ve got better at recording - our shows have always been fairly full on - people have told us that they’re bigger and grander than our recordings. To capture that and get it right is just down to our recording skills, I think. This album is bigger is because we’re just better at engineering and producing because we’ve always done it ourselves.”

There’s a definite melancholy to their new sound, gone are any cheesy, pop aesthetics that might have once hung around them. But, as Dan attests, they feel like a band reborn - free from former label Island Records’ watchful eye.

“I’ve always had quite sad lyrics, even the pop songs had quite sad lyrics. Musically, maybe we’re a little bit more sophisticated than we were, but that just comes with age I think. That’s just what I’ve been inspired to write about recently, the more melancholy things in life.”

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It’s amazing that we haven’t even got a record out yet but we still got quite a lot of live work in which has been great!

”

Of course I wanted to ask Dan about any advice he might have for young artists in Cumbria.

“Well, maybe two years ago I would have said get yourself to the nearest big city and hook up with people there because you’ve got much more chance of connecting with people. But now I think that’s changed, because we’re connected by the internet. If you’re creating things that are good – and you can get it out there online – people will discover it and it doesn’t matter where in the world you are.You can even be collaborating with people all over the globe via skype or email – I know people who have ma’de records with their drummer on a different continent!”

Reckon you’ll be playing round these parts any time soon?

“We’d love to, it’s always hard to get out to places like Cumbria, because it’s so hard for people to get the gigs together - if theres a way of getting to a place we haven’t been to we always love to;, we’d always do it.You know what, If ever you speak to someone involved with the Whitehaven Festival, tell them to give us a call!”

I’ll be sure to pass the message on, Dan… To find out more about the band; where you can watch them this year and to listen to Boy Cried Wolf, check out www.thefeeling.com

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s a m t s i r h C

’….

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BESE geese are getting anxious so can we safely mention the C-word yet?

It’s not as far away as you think, you know…

Christmas that is… and the switch-on of the city lights will be thrown on Saturday November 17.

The 5pm switch-on ceremony will once again include a packed family entertainment programme to suit all ages.

For the first time, there will be a competition to compose and perform a ‘Carlisle Song for Christmas’, either a variation on a well-known tune, or their own composition.

Schools and youth groups (all groups members need to be in full time primary or secondary education) have been invited to take part in and all schools and groups will be invited to The Sands Centre in November to perform in front of an audience and four professional judges. The winner will perform at the Lights Switch On and at The Community Concert.

The Switch-On stage will be in place outside the Old Town Hall in the city centre between 2pm and 5.30pm, and will play host to a fabulous afternoon of free, open-air entertainment.

Snow White at The Sands This year’s Sands Centre pantomime will be a magical rags to riches story. A family-favourite, Snow White & the 10

Seven Dwarfs will showcase a star-studded cast and is set to the region’s biggest Christmas show!

It stars singing star and actress Maureen Nolan as the Wicked Queen and there will be Ben Hanson (Bouncer from CBBC’s Tracy Beaker) as the Huntsman, CFM Radio’s Robbie Dee gets in to the action as Muddles the Jester, and Josh Bennett, from C4 TV’s Seven Dwarves, is Grumbly.

The pantomime runs from Friday December 13, to Tuesday December 31.

A Carols in the Park event will be held in Chance’s Park, on Thursday December 12. The festive event will start at 6.30pm and be held in the grounds outside Morton Manor Community Centre, off Wigton Road. BBC Radio Cumbria’s Val Armstrong will compere the evening event.

Carlisle Musical Society and Yewdale School Choir will be performing accompanied

by the St Stephen’s Silver Band. Following the carol service, mulled wine, mince pies and other festive fayre will be available inside Morton Manor Community Centre. To Know more call 01228 531105 or follow them on Facebook.

A Christmas Family Fun Day will be held at Tullie House, on Saturday December 7, between 10am and 4pm. Most activities are free, but normal admission charges apply to the galleries.

Children under 12 years of age need to be accomContinued on next page

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panied by an adult. You’ll be able to create Christmas cards and take part in other festive craft activities and you will be entertained by school and community choirs in the atrium throughout the day. There’s the chance to visit Santa in his festive grotto and attend a special performance of the Frog Princess, presented

by Puppet Lab, for an extra cost. For further information, visit www.tulliehouse.co.uk There are lots more festive treats on offer too this Christmas including festive food at the Talkin Tarn tearoom and a Santa Grotto at The Old Town Hall, Tourist Information Centre, in Carlisle, every weekend from Saturday November 30 and then daily between Thursday December 19 and Christmas Eve, Tuesday December 24.

During weekends starting from November 30, the opening times are: Saturdays 11am – 4pm; Sundays 11.30am – 3.30pm; Friday December 20 11.30am – 3.30pm; Monday December 23 11.30am – 3.30pm; Christmas Eve 11am - 2.30pm.

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An International Christmas open-air Market will be held between Wednesday December 4 and Sunday December 8 in the city centre.

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A Christmas Carol Parade will be held on Thursday December 12, starting at 6.15pm, at St Cuthbert’s Church. This popular event will also include carol singing in the city centre followed by a Hog Roast in the historic Tithe Barn. Tickets for the Hog Roast will available on the night.

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Carlisle’s Victorian Covered Market Hall will be transformed into a winter wonderland on Saturday December 14 when it stages its Festive Fun Day. Children’s entertainment, from 11am till 3pm, including face-painting, balloon-modelling, stilt-walkers and Santa… with chocolate treats for the kids.

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Carlisle Christmas Spectacular, at Borderway Exhibition Hall, between Friday 20 and Monday 23 December, includes matinee and evening performances. It will have festive music, professional singers and dancers. Visit: www.carlislechristmasspectacular.co.uk to find out more.

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Guided walks around key landmarks will be held

by Open Book Tours. Including notorious Crime Stories at the Citadel and Ghost tours

And for further information about festive events in Carlisle, telephone 01228 598596 or visit; www.discovercarlisle.co.uk

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Brynie

Trimming their wicks?

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HIS festive season Brampton Players are staging their seventh pantomime, Aladdin, at Brampton Community Centre.

For many members it’s the highlight of the year, and for many the panto has been the reason why they have developed a love of being on stage.

Also being introduced is talented young choreographer, Emily Atkinson, who although only 14 has a wealth of experience to draw on, plus bags of enthusiasm and energy!

Other new faces – fresh from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival – is 16-year-old Brynie Boyle, who is excited to be starring as Aladdin in her first principal role in pantomime and you’ll be able to “boo” Brampton and District Choir member, Rick Palmer, who takes on his first acting role as the evil magician, Abanazar.

Local youngsters are being encouraged to take part and take up an invaluable role as chorus members, who often play two or three parts, being on stage more often than some of the “main” characters.

Brampton Players encourage commitment and 14

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This year Ruth Atkinson directs for the first time and is assisted by Anne Laird. Both have been involved in pantomime since they were young, passing their enthusiasm on to their children and Chris Laird will be having a whale of a time in the role of the dame, Widow Twankey, for the first time.

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Fri 29 (2pm) .30pm) Sun Dec tinee & 7 a m m p (2 4 Sat Jan

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the energy among their chorus. For some people the chorus is as much as they want; they enjoy the camaraderie, the games in the Green Room, the costumes, as they don’t all crave the limelight. For others the chorus is a stepping stone to a major role and this year Ellie Booker and Lewis Logie will be enjoying their first principal roles.

Director Ruth Atkinson said: “We have a fantastic and talented cast who are using a brand new script which is packed full of singing, dancing and comedy.

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Aladdin will be performed at Brampton Community Centre on Sun Dec 29 (2pm); Fri Jan 3, 2014 (7.30pm); Sat Jan 4 (2pm matinee and 7.30pm).

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Tickets are available from Mblem-Wear, Brampton, or by phoning 016977 42094 or 07775812145. Email: info@mblem-wear.co.uk

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HILE you’re tucking into your roast turkey and the snow is falling outside, visualise another family relaxing in the sun, after a morning’s training.

The Farrells go abroad for Christmas for two purposes. One is so that they can all be together and the other is so that they can all do some exercise without being quite as adversely affected by winter weather as they would be in the UK. Dad David admits to being a bit obsessional about it: he runs eight miles every day and even books the flight times so that he doesn’t have to miss a day’s training.

Nowadays David doesn’t compete, but he remains a key member of Border Harriers and his cheery, teasing tones will often be heard compèring the Great Cumbrian run. He was 12 when he first joined the club, and he still meets up with former running mates – friendships which were formed three decades ago. Around the time of Ovett, 16

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By Sarah B

Cram and Coe he was one of the top 50 middle distance runners in the country.

David met Jenn through Border Harriers, and they both emphasise how group training sessions several times a week and going to race meetings meant that their relationship developed slowly.

They firmly believe that this has helped it endure and they have just happily celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.

Jenn’s athletic influence came from her mum, who was a Junior Wimbledon champion and played college hockey. In Jenn’s last year of primary school she was told she’d be a good high-jumper and at that point joined Border Harriers and met the coach who was to stay with her throughout her career, Mike Stayman.

She wore her first national vest while a student at Carlisle College and went on to compete in the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. It was a special event for her as she could come home at times during the Games, and also plenty of

Feature supporters turned out to cheer her on. However, knee problems resulted in a cartilage operation followed by 10 years of minor surgery.

That, and bearing two children, meant that she retired at age 31. Nowadays she keeps active but is waiting, frustratingly, for another knee op.

It’s no surprise that David and Jenn’s children are both athletic. Tom Farrell notably won a silver medal in the European U-23 Championships and has more recently raced against Mo Farrah in the IAAF Diamond League in Birmingham.

“

The hockey programme is extremely challenging mentally as well as physically, but I thrive on it.

I’m very excited that for the next four years of my life I’ll be here playing hockey

”

When it came to choosing a University, he and his parents were delighted when he won a scholarship to Oklahoma. “Once over there I knew it was the place for me”, he says, and David reinforces this: “it’s really disciplined. There are strict timetables for training sessions, you have to achieve a minimum academic standard, and there is a zero tolerance to alcohol during dry periods – you can lose your scholarship”.

And with Skype and email it’s easy for the family to keep in touch.

When it was the turn of daughter Hannah to go to University she too chose America. She won a hockey scholarship to the University of Massachusetts where she is studying journalism. “I absolutely love it here, I’m living the dream. The hockey programme is extremely challenging mentally as well as physically, but I thrive on it. I’m very excited that for the next four years of my life I’ll be here playing hockey while gaining a degree in journalism and a minor in psychology.”

While watching the progress of Tom and Hannah is thrilling, David and Jenn have not been lazy since retiring from competitive sport. With redundancy in 2005 an opportunity arose for them to create their own business. They spotted a lack of quality childcare in the Carlisle area and considered what they could do better. Stone Eden Nursery School was founded, reflecting many of their own personal beliefs: and it has proved hugely successful.

But as David says, none of the sporting or business success occurs purely from luck, or pure talent.

Rather he considers it’s a mixture of ability, application and opportunity. It may be old-fashioned, but hard work and a positive attitude certainly seem to be a winning formula for the Farrell family.

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Get a Hut Date in Brampton T

O outsiders, Brampton probably seems like any other sleepy little market town. Those who live there however know differently; it’s a thriving community with a diverse range of activities for all ages and interests.

The Community Centre is one of the focal points for these activities, offering events and classes throughout the year including karate, dancing and a film Club.

The Hut is part of the Community Centre but it’s a detached building with an intriguing history. As an early example of a ‘pre-fab’ building, it was erected at the Devil’s Porridge, in Gretna during World War 1 as a gym for the munitions workers. At the end of the war it was auctioned off, bought by the White House Grammar School and presumably flat-packed for transportation to Brampton, where it was reconstructed on its current site, being used again by the school as a gymnasium.

In the early 1980s the grammar school and Irthing Valley Secondary School merged to form William Howard School, using both schools’ sites. The building’s use changed: it now hosted craftwork and technology lessons, including woodworking. In 1992 Heather Tipler was employed as a technology technician but just a few years later William Howard School consolidated onto its current site, leaving behind all the buildings including The Hut and its wood-working equipment

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It became Brampton Community Centre, managed by the Brampton and Beyond Community Trust.

The programme for September to December is fuller than ever, with a Christmassy theme such as ‘Willow Christmas’ (making Christmas decorations from willow), ‘Christmas Cake Decorating’ and ‘Animate a Christmas Message’.

Heather went to work for Tullie House museum and later became a freelance consultant in Arts and Heritage Learning, little dreaming that just two decades later she would be back as coordinator for activities at The Hut. While there was already a busy programme of regular self-managing groups such as Knit and Knatter and workshops and exhibitions, Heather saw a chance to extend the menu.

She kept existing groups but introduced new workshops, some deliberately with familyfriendly appeal.

Life Drawing classes will be run for William Howard students and members of the community jointly, while links with Cumbria Adult Education have led to a series of pre-schoolers’ classes which will include topics such as making a story sack based around the child’s favourite book.

These are designed for adults and children to learn new skills side-by-side, and Heather says watching it happen is “very special”. As a result classes such as ukulele and harp, which have proved immensely popular, are now being booked for regular follow-up sessions as well as more beginners’ workshops in the subjects.

For further information, look out for these brochures in venues such as the Library, the Tourist Information Centre or Off the Wall in Brampton and Tullie House in Carlisle, visit www.bramptoncommunitycentre.org.uk, email hut@bramptoncommunitycentre.org.uk or phone 01697 745023.

A further initiative of Heather’s is to have produced a professionally-printed brochure, sponsored by local businesses, listing all events clearly and at a glance.

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Customer confidence takes @Homepc to the top

S far as evolution goes Carlisle A firm @Homepc has lived life in the fast lane for the past decade and been a small business with a really big impact on Carlisle.

The family run firm is starting to celebrate 10 years in business that has seen it grow from an £8 turnover on its first day to half a million pounds a year and become Carlisle’s biggest independent retailer in its sector.

Based at Port Road, @Homepc is owned and run by husband and wife Paul and Fiona Gordon, with full-time assistance from Jamie Earl, 18, who has been with them for three years.

The firm was founded on simple principles to which customers have responded whole heartedly and those principles have been the key to its success.

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They are: first-class personal service, value for money and great products or as it says more simply, above the shop… “Sales, Repairs Solutions”.

But what that doesn’t tell you about is the central integrity of the business.

“We don’t just shift boxes,” said Paul, “Everything is set up for the local customer, how they want it and all essentials are included.

As a well-known city DJ at the former Pagoda and Buskers nightspots in Carlisle Paul knows the how to keep customers happy and @Homepc was born out of his life-long interest in gadgetry. That became a sideline which cluttered up his home and, when Fiona fell over one computer too many, they got their first business premises close to their present one.

From this first premises of some 750 sq ft, they have grown into their present 1,700 sq ft showroom and store.

“We took £8 on our first day; turned over £100k in our first year and thanks to all our loyal customers we’ve never looked back. The first two years were explosive and we have grown steadily since.”

The main brands which @Homepc sells are Acer, Asus, Lenovo, Sony and Toshiba and they are also an Acer Experience Centre… one of only four in the country, which means special offers on Acer products; are regularly available. @Homepc is also a major education supplier and also a major supplier of Apple products and can usually offer special prices on Macs.

They won’t sell you anything you don’t need and they’ll give you jargon-free advice and you’ll get plain, common-sense answers from friendly helpful people.

As well as supplying hardware and services to many local schools @Homepc can tailor and install dedicated business systems of up to 40 machines, including Electronic Point of Sale systems (EPOS) and can supply components such as cash registers.

Small business server installations can be carried out and systems including telephones for such as call centres can also be arranged in collaboration with Utd Communications of Unit Kingmoor Park North, Carlisle. @Homepc can provide hardware and peripherals and also has a successful online business, wih a full ecommerce website with click and collect facility and they also sell nationally, via Amazon.

They also boast a same-day repair service on domestic and business computers provided they have the parts in stock and they can even build you a customised gaming machine if that is you desire! @Homepc is at: 16, PORT ROAD, CARLISLE, CA2 7AJ Phone: 01228 514444 Email: info@athomepc.co.uk Fax: 01228 595007 23

I was intrigued – and I was curious to find out how such a practical, applied career could develop into something so apparently esoteric.

From school Sheila intended to go to Art College.

However a serious accident in which her sister broke her neck resulted in almost two years of helping nurse her back to health and Sheila’s exam results weren’t as high as they might otherwise have been.

So instead she got various jobs, mostly to fund restoration of her classic car. While talking to other mechanics and friends she asked what civil engineering was. It’s building the big stuff,” they said – and almost immediately Sheila wanted to be part of that.

After years of working on busy construction sites in the South-East, Sheila was ready for something new. She and husband Dave moved to Cumbria and set up a landscape gardening business, as Dave had previous experience in the field.

With a new baby, Sheila also continued in a parttime engineering role in order to bring in a steady income. Realising she was juggling too much – trying to be an engineer; a mother; running the embryonic company and designing gardens – she began reading books on directing your energies in a more focussed way; using your intuition to tell you what path to take in life and ultimately this led to Sheila’s studying earth healing.

A force to be reckoned with

Sheila Marr At first glance it seems totally incompatible but local woman SHEILA MARR is a civil-engineerturned-Earth-healer. But why? And how did that come about? Sarah Briggs finds out.

DO you sometimes go places that just don’t feel right… areas that you’re relieved to leave?

Are there rooms in your home which feel cold or unwelcoming and which you avoid?

Well, according to Sheila Marr, this could be due to geopathic stress or other out-of-balance energies.

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When we start talking about ley lines and geopathic stress the hairs on my neck stand up: Sheila mentions that Lanercost is an ancient, sacred place, and that such spaces are ones which have felt special to people for centuries. You only need to think about the deeply-rooted history behind Stonehenge or some of our churches to realise this.

Initially Sheila integrated this ethos into her garden

Feature design, aiming to create outdoors areas which people could be in or look out at and which would feel special and restorative to them, but she has now taken the decision to concentrate solely on the earth healing.

But just what is earth healing? Although it sounds way out and weird, in fact serious research has been carried out for several decades into the effect of electromagnetic fields and geopathic stress, with some scientific evidence for the adverse effect of power lines, underground streams etc. on health.

Conditions such as asthma, infertility and even cancer have even been linked to geopathic stress. Earth healing is the process of ‘curing’ some of the adverse energies or items which are causing the ‘illness’: this can be as simple as making rooms in a house or outside spaces lighter and brighter and less cluttered.

The link between our physical and mental health is of course well-proven and many people I have spoken to say how clutter in their homes makes their minds feel cluttered.

Sheila emphasises that it’s about trusting your instincts and feelings. She says: “your home should be a special place – a haven – somewhere to relax and to restore yourself”. If you don’t feel like that, then clearing and ‘curing’ outside spaces (for example in a town), your home or certain rooms should help you feel more energetic and healthy.

Despite the arguably arcane element to this, Sheila’s feet are firmly on the ground, or, as she says “I’m still working in the mud”. She tells how Native Americans dig a pit and sleep on the earth, especially when they feel the need for some form of healing.

She also makes the point that it’s about cherishing life, our homes and objects: I am reminded of the William Morris saying that you should not have anything in your home that you do not believe to be beautiful or know to be useful.

To find out more about Sheila, electromagnetic fields or geopathic stress, these websites offer a starting point: www.sheilamarr.co.uk www.rolfgordon.co.uk (Re. geopathic stress) www.nhs.uk/conditions/sick-building-syndrome www.hse.gov.uk (type ‘electromagnetic radiation’ into the search box on the home page) www.who.int/en (again type ‘electromagnetic fields’ into the home page search box) And if you are a holistic practitioner interested in taking part a “mind, body, spirit” festival in Brampton in 2015 which Sheila is starting to put together, then please contact her on: sheila@subtleearth.co.uk.

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Annie’s animal magic

By Chris Breen

Animal sculptor Annie Kendall

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HINGS are taking shape for Cockermouth animal sculptor Annie Kendall, who is fast making a name for herself, with her stunningly lifelike and remarkably textured works which are made entirely from old wire.

Annie, who works out of a shed at home – with the emphasis on ‘out of’ because she prefers natural light – creates her sculptures from barbed wire, pig-netting and even old electrical wire. She readily admits that she has no formal art credentials; has never had any formal art training and cannot draw to save her life. Such was her artistic talent at school that they made her do Divinity instead.

Her tool kit consists of four pairs of pliers a pair of wire cutters and an uncanny ability to twist the wires just the way she wants them.

“I have lived all of my life with dogs by my side, various other animals at home and wildlife just a short walk away. After years of watching them in their everyday habits and poses I have etched, 26

deep into my mind, split second glances of stances and movements that now just flow through my hands into the wire I hold.

“Like an artist uses differing thicknesses of lines in a drawing Annie uses carious thicknesses of wire to achieve her desired effects. Don’t ask me how I do it because I can’t give you an answer, other than

Feature “I’d no job and nowhere to live anymore and because people were talking about my work I decided to try and make it my career”.

So she undertook an enterprise coaching course through WISE, Ways into Successful Enterprise, at Workington and then launched her own business.

Now she’s getting regular commission work; is currently exhibiting at the Quirky Workshops Gallery, at the Greystoke Cycle Café, as part of C-Arts Cumbria’s annual festival (Sept 14-29) and some of her works are being sold through Number 15, at Kirkgate, Cockermouth.

Annie has been invited to exhibit at the Fountain Gallery artists’ co-operative, at Wigton, which was visited by Prince Charles last year, and she recently gave a demonstration day at Solway Ceramics, Newton Arlosh. they just take shape; I surprise myself sometimes.”

Like Moses it was a bush that changed the direction of Annie’s’ life, but in Annie’s case it wasn’t burning just and ordinary gorse. She has worked much of her life in kennels, caring for dogs and was managing a kennels when she noticed a lifelike shape in the bush.

And where does all the old wire come from? Wherever she can find it… local farmers, the Forestry Commission; and private landowners all are happy to donate and even rustiness isn’t a problem…the colour’s excellent for red squirrels.

Website: www.annieswireworks.co.uk

“I glanced at it and immediately saw what looked like a greyhound, running. So I decided to work on it with some scissors and it all started from there. I then made a hare from some old wire lying around and that was it… I began making dogs, hares and other animals, just for myself at first, and I would put them around the fences. Customers and others admired them so I gave some away and even began to sell the odd one and people began to give me commissions to make various animals.

“

Don’t ask me how I do it because I can’t give you an answer, other than they just take shape; I surprise myself sometimes

”

After that Annie began to enter them in local agricultural shows and a hedgehog she made from barbed wire became the best overall Arts and Crafts exhibit in the Chertsey Agricultural Show.

Following the closure of the kennels she managed in Surrey, due to the owners’ retirement, Annie returned to her home town of Cockermouth.

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It’s a Growing Form OF Medicine

Patients disillusioned with conventional medicine are seeking out complementary medicine practitioners in record numbers so in this edition we introduce a new series, by Hethersgill medical herbalist, Jackie Cooper, about herbal and holistic medicine; what it is; what it does and what’s involved. In the coming editions Jackie will tell you what you need to know; what the medicines can treat and explain their benefits. So don’t miss The Carlisle Guide in the coming months.

P

EOPLE are beginning to understand that there are alternative ways to assist recovery from illness, which are more effective in the long term, yet gentler on the body.

The true purpose of medicine is to assist nature’s power of healing, and this belief is emphasised in the practice of herbal medicine, which acts with the body, not against it (unlike pharmaceutical medicines which are designed to have a direct effect on the body, and which is why they frequently lead to unwanted side effects).

Herbal Medicine acts as a catalyst, enabling the body to find homeostasis, to balance itself.

For this reason, it is important to choose the remedy very carefully, because in my view when used correctly (and constitutionally) herbal medicines are completely free of side effects.

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I am a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists which has been established since 1864, and which means that I have undergone five years of training in the same diagnostic skills as a GP. Unlike most GPs, however, I treat holistically. I focus on treating

Feature the individual rather than the disease, and no two prescriptions are the same. It is not a ‘one size fits all’ because there are no two individuals (human or animal) the same, and one person’s experience of illness is rarely the same as another’s. This is ‘constitutional treatment’.

In the American Indian tradition, a people who have always maintained their connection with plant remedies, medicine is described as ‘anything that improves one’s connection and understanding to the mysteries of life, including healing the body, mind and spirit’. Herbal medicine can work on whatever level we want it to. Yes, the plants contain many active chemical constituents which have similar actions to pharmaceuticals (indeed there are over 80 plant derived drugs currently on the market), but if the remedies are used allopathically (ie. against the body), in a similar way to pharmaceuticals, they are limited to symptomatic treatment, and as often occurs in conventional medicine, may mask an underlying condition.

Dysbiosis, an imbalance of gut flora, is an example, and can apply to humans or animals (and has been linked recently to the use of genetically modified foodstuffs (Lipton, 2008)).

Dysbiosis can lead to diarrhoea, constipation, candida, allergies etc, and symptomatic treatment of any of those conditions will not rectify the underlying cause.

Herbal Medicine can do so much more than just treat symptomatically. The plants have an (indirect) action on the body, but they can also be a catalyst for changing the way we think, because ultimately all disease is derived from a state of mind (hence dis-ease). The mind controls the body. The placebo effect is testament to this.

I practice from my clinic in Hethersgill, and I make many of my own medicines from my medicinal garden. I believe that whatever medicine is around us is what we need. What do you have growing around you?

For further information contact Jackie Cooper, Fairways. Moss Edge, Hethersgill, Cumbria CA6 6HJ. Telephone 01228 675042 www.talkinherbs.co.uk

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a meal with people she’s never met before and she’s even been interviewed on radio; things she would once have avoided at all costs.

Because of the growth of her own self-worth Tilda’s long-term aspiration is also to learn more about the mental health aspect of the training and she firmly believes that it is an important part of a personal transformation, physically and emotionally.

by Sarah Briggs

Crazy Monkey can help you lose weight and feel stronger, as well as mentally empowering you. Part of it, she has learned from her coach.

It’s about changing the labels you use in your head: “rather than ‘I am nervous’, think I am excited,” she says.

onkey CrazyonM fident Women Creates C

H

ELPING women develop or regain self-confidence is Tilda Vaughan’s main motivation in her campaign to teach self-defence to more women through women-only martial arts sessions.

The system is called Crazy Monkey and got its name from people who had watched monkeys defending themselves. It is taught one-to-one or in small groups of up to six people Tilda’s female-only Crazy Monkey sessions, a combination of all the martial arts, can be tailored to each client’s personal needs and aims. Tilda is just 24 and has recently taken the brave step of setting up her own business. She grew up and still lives near Carlisle and for much of her secondary school life suffered from bullying, which left her timid and lacking in confidence.

The self-assured, outgoing woman who now teaches Crazy Monkey is far removed from that previous individual. Now she’ll happily go out on her own for 30

Tilda likes to adapt each session to the individual and progress at each participant’s own particular pace.

The aim is also to have fun, and certainly my trial session resulted in a lot of laughs, especially as the eager puppy in me meant I was thrashing out, instead of controlling my punches!

Tilda is particularly keen to teach people from the age of about 14 upwards because many confidence issues start in the teens, as did hers. She also plans to hold an Open Evening each month for existing clients and their friends, so that women can visit her space in Brampton which has been designed with the female clients in mind. It’s a safe, clean, uncluttered space with flowers, a mirror, hooks for clothes and then a sofa, so if people prefer they can just sit there for a coffee and a chat.

Feature The Crazy Monkey programme is designed to take clients through different stages but without the strict grading systems of traditional martial arts.

Each stage, called a “Core”, can take as long as a client wishes: the later Cores entail more physical contact, so if a woman is not happy with physical contact – everybody has a different tolerance to what could potentially feel like invasion of personal space – then she doesn’t need to move on to further Cores.

Even after one session I felt aware of my own strength and had learned a technique for making my wrists stronger when I punch: it was a good, confidence-building feeling.

Crazy Monkey classes have been on offer in Brampton for a while: what Tilda is doing differently is teaching women and girls only from her own, new studio.

Women interested in Crazy Monkey training are invited to visit Tilda’s website www.crazymonkeywomencumbria.co.uk to find out more, including how to contact her and book their free trial session.

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Playing Live at THE BRICKYARD Nov 16

Blitz Kids ready to battle to the top

J

oe James, lead singer with Blitz Kids, is a man of strategy. Alongside comrades Jono, Nic and Matt, the lads from Nantwich have proven themselves as arguably one of the nation’s finest support bands. Now though, armed with an album due for release next year, they are ready to mount an assault on the top position, and to establish themselves as more than the supporting act.

“We actually released our first CD in 2006, I kinda lose track because it seems like forever I’ve known Nic since before primary school and we met Jono at high school.”

Joe was certain that despite working professionally with old friends for a long time, the Blitz Kids didn’t suffer from infighting.

“It is really difficult for us to get offended because at this point we know what each other’s faults are and we just deal with them. I get to spend literally every day with my best mates!”

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By Adam Glover

The band have already supported several huge acts on their UK tours including D.R.U.G.S. in 2011, Mayday Parade, Tonight Alive, We The Kings and Lower Than Atlantis at the beginning of 2013, as well as sets at Download, Sonisphere and Slam Dunk.

“The most important thing for us is the live show.

For us that’s the most fun we have and that’s the reason why we do it. We’re just a bunch of idiots really, we just like to have fun, but when we’re on stage, we take it seriously. In terms of when we play live, that direct connection that we can feel with the crowd and the fans is what it’s all about for us. To come to our show is really the best way to see what we’re about - we’re lively, running all about the place - basically just giving our all because that’s just our favourite thing to do. I think a lot of bands like to get us to support them because we really get the crowd going.”

They have a busy 2013 ahead, and are about to embark on a full UK tour, supporting Cambridge

Exclusive

post-hardcore rockers, Mallory Knox. You can catch them at The Brickyard in Carlisle on November 16 this winter.

“We’re really busy tour wise; we’re doing some dates in Europe which is going to be awesome. We’re either playing shows, rehearsing or recording. Our album The Good Youth is coming out on January 20 next year, and there will be another single out when we’re touring with Mallory Knox - hopefully the video will be out around November. This is our first proper release and I feel like it’s our first real go at what we’re doing. I’ve got three goals for the next year; I’d like us to sell out our own headline tour, I’d like to play the Warped Tour in America and I’d love us to play at Reading and Leeds. Next year, we will definitely doing an album tour.”

It really wouldn’t be surprising to see Joe achieve these goals, and who knows; maybe 2014 will be the “headline” year for the Blitz Kids.

To find out more about them, visit their website at www.blitzkidsofficial.com 33

bridget foster Now is the best time to start afresh

Make Up & Hair Artist Bridget Foster

BA Hons Fashion, Specialist Make Up Design

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07929 414763 info@bridgetfoster.co.uk www.bridgetfoster.co.uk

Hair: Verity Faichen Photography: Jamie Cowlishaw Styling: Tess Daly

Lifestyle autumn / winter is actually Ithink more of a new start than New Year.

Of course, this is when we see our skin start to become duller, paler and tighter and you probably feel a bit odd wearing your summer coral lip stick.

To be honest I love this time of year, fashion is very versatile, especially after London Fashion Week.

At this time of year you can still go out in light summer garments and also thicker knits and even combine the two and this combined approach also applies to hair and make-up.

I enjoyed creating some vintage looks on a fashion shoot the other week. I’ve spent many weekends making up brides and bridesmaids, which I love, but those looks are very much what the client wants so getting back to creating looks that I wanted was great. When it comes to vintage styles, I can’t stand creating a carbon copy; I always try and keep it modern and wearable.

Anyone who has had their make-up done by me before will know that I will always start on the eyes before base, for many reasons, but I’ll let you work out why.

However with my vintage looks I decided to set up and frame the face differently. I have done this so, you can view your own face differently and perhaps realise that you can suit a heavier lip or a stronger brow 1.

2.

3.

Prepare the skin by moisturising and priming. It’s surprising how many people fail to carry out these simple steps and yet complain about dark circles lines and wrinkles. Hydrating the skin often solves that problem. Slapping double wear under eyes certainly doesn’t!

4.

Conceal the under-eye area and blemishes.

Don’t forget nostrils at this time of year because they get very red.

My new favourite discovery is Urban Decay’s eye primers.

I use the colour SIN on most bridal clients before applying shadow. It doesn’t move and because it has a glowing, shimmery look it gives the eye a three-dimensional appearance. However Kim, at Urban Decay, in Debenhams, Carlisle, showed me EDEN, which is a matt formula. It’s fantastic, under any shadow and makes your eye shadow stay and seem more vivid in its colour. It’s now an essential in my kit.

I bought some matt power shadows as well as I wanted to move away from shimmers and changing the texture of a product can be all you need to do to update your everyday look.

Liquid and strong eyeliner is a tricky skill to create.

Some girls and women wear this every day with the same product and have perfected it. However some of us struggle. With your face prepped from the four steps above, look at your eye shape. Not everyone can actually wear a flick or extended eyeliner because of their shape or how the eye will look when it’s opened.

Use a soft, cheap eye pencil, in black, to start to build a shape along your eye line. Smudge it out with a cotton bud and, once you’re happy with the shape, start to apply your liquid.

My favourite black liquid is the Dior Black Liquid Liner. It is very black whereas most have a grey or Continued on next page

Lightly groom your eyebrows. Create a frame for your face and create a bone structure.

Once you have lightly groomed and enhanced your brows you will be able to see your face become more symmetrical and your eye shape becomes clear.

MUA Blonde Pencil, from Superdrug for £1, is great for preparing the brows.

Apply a nude lip liner to create the shape you want. Spend time building up a shape you like.

Make your Cupid’s bow rounder although my 35

www.bridgetfoster.co.uk

The bridal season has come and gone, nights get longer and autumn winter clothes fill the high street stores and yes, whether you like it or not, Christmas is approaching.

favourite is a sharper, triangular shape. More a fun evening look. Urban Decay have new lip liners and lipsticks that last!

Skin

It is time to start incorporating a glow into your foundation. Look for something you can mix into your current base so you can adapt your foundation to your skin and mood.

My all-time favourite is Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturiser. I mix it into foundation tinted moisturiser depending on how I feel or look. It makes me look human again! However it’s something us Cumbrian girls will need to order.

Alternatively L’Oreal have a lovely primer with a matt texture but stunning glow for under make up, alone or mixed into your current base. Cheaper but a good product to start experimenting with priming and adding a new texture and look to your skin.

Matt skin can look dated and looks two-dimensional and dull… fact. Not great in winter. Use matt skin on spots and T zone only.

Keep it pink/salmon in colour to perk up your eye colour and keep you looking perky for the day. If you have gone for a strong lip, then just keep the cheeks more of a bronze tone and concentrate on highlighting the cheekbones and adding warmth when needed. blue tinge to them. The tools you use to create a line are very important. You don’t have to use the applicator with your liner. Your liquid liner maybe fantastic but the brush with it might just be a bit naff or you personally need something you can work with. Most of you know I love a flat liner brush but angular brushes are also good for eyeliner extension or flicks.

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The Revolution Lipsticks, by Urban Decay (£22) are more of a matt texture and a lovely range of bright-to-deep colours; perfect for this time of year.

Although they are matt in appearance they have a lovely buttery feel on the lips because they contain Shea Butter, so your lips won’t dry out in the cooler weather.

www.bridgetfoster.co.uk

Just because it’s winter-ish and we are losing colour doesn’t mean we have to grin and bear the blank skin. Add your warmth and colour with your bronzer and blush. A cream blush would be a lovely alternative at this time of year.

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Dresses to die for ‌ T

RUE glamour and the very best of British dress designs from the 1950s onwards are currently to be seen at Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, in Carlisle.

It is staging a retrospective exhibition of stunning frocks, accessories and daywear

by Her Majesty the Queen’s favourite designers Norman Hartnell and Hardy Amies.

The exhibition, entitled Hartnell to Amies: Couture by Royal Appointment, showcases

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Feature the elegant, innovative couture of ground-breaking designers such as Hartnell, Amies and others.

It explores how the Queen’s patronage of groundbreaking British designers helped put London on the international fashion map in the period after the Second World War and celebrates the timeless elegance of fashionable 20th century British couture.

The show includes pieces from the 1920s to the 1990s and features exceptional examples of British couture for clients including HM Queen Mary, Oonagh Guinness, Mildred Shay – the Pocket Venus, Lady Anne Glenconner and Barbara Cartland, as well as designs and embroidery for Her Majesty the Queen.

The sumptuous pieces on display illustrate Hartwell’s genius for cut and embellishment and Amis’ gift for understated British elegance.

The exhibition also features an archive display of Norman Parkinson’s, which focus on the leading trends in these designers’ stylish and sophisticated spring 1953 collections.

Marian Jones, Programming Manager at Tullie House, said: “As the exhibition will run from the end of October until the end of January, it fits in well with the Christmas party season and we are sure visitors of all ages will take inspiration for their own party wear and winter wardrobe from this wonderful exhibition”.

The exhibition runs until January 24 2014

Copyright Norman Parkinson Ltd/Courtesy Norman Parkinson Archive.

On Thurs Dec 5, Hardy Amies curator, Austin Mutti-Mewse, discusses the work of the men’s readyto-wear founder, from opening a shop almost seven decades ago on Savile Row, to designing costumes for Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ and dressing the 1966 England football team.

On Wed 20 Nov, Wed 27 Nov and Wed 4 Dec (12.30pm - 1.30pm), Tullie House will be hold lunchtime tours of the exhibition and costume conversations talks with artist and creative education consultant, Dr Maggi Toner-Edgar.

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Lifestyle

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Lifestyle

Hannah carries Cumbria’s hopes L OCAL girl, Hannah McGeoghegan, 19, has won a place in the prestigious final of Miss Galaxy England 2014.

Hannah, from Stanwix, Carlisle, earlier this year won the title of Miss Cumbria Galaxy which means that she will go forward in to the grand final of the all-England competition, in March, joining girls from all over the country!

The winner of Miss Galaxy England will travel to the USA with contestants from all over the world, to compete in the Miss Galaxy International next summer.

Hannah says: I am so excited to have made it to the final, it is a great achievement and I cannot wait to meet all of the other girls”.

Hannah, who lives with her mum, brother and boyfriend, is currently at university studying an events management degree.

She said: “I have previously taken part in two beauty pageants - Miss teen Galaxy England and The Face of the North East,”. I work at the Mash Staffing agency doing various promotional jobs.

The UK has enjoyed some amazing success at the Galaxy International Pageant. In 2009, both of the UK Galaxy Girls (Hayley Mac and Emma McInnes) won the International crowns and Jamie-lee Williams, Miss Galaxy Wales 2011, also won the Miss Galaxy International crown.

The England final is being held in March 2014, at Park Hall Hotel, near Preston, Lancashire.

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Resolve to look

after

yourself S the festive A season rapidly approaches it

will soon be the traditional time of year to take stock of our lives and health shouldn’t be overlooked in that process.

You really should look after yourself and here at Dalston Pharmacy we can make it easier for you to do just that – in all sorts of ways – from flu and holiday vaccines, to help with giving up smoking, health checks and medical advice and we have even got a free prescription delivery service.

The winter flu “season” will soon be at its height and we can offer help to vaccinate individuals and groups of people, particularly employees of businesses which can ill-afford the effects of a flu epidemic among their workforce.

Mark Stakim, who runs Dalston Pharmacy, says: “We are seeing increasing numbers of companies and employees coming forward and we recently inoculated the staff of the Eden Valley Hospice”.

For private inoculations Dalston Pharmacy will come to you and we also offer vaccination vouchers which employers can buy for individual workers, if they prefer. All these services are proving well worthwhile for those who can’t afford their staff to go off for four or five days.

With pre-arranged appointments it’s convenient and can avoid a lot of hanging around at the doctors… and for certain NHS target groups, such as primary school children, the over-65s and those with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, asthma, heart conditions and COPD there’s free treatment. For the youngsters it only involves a nasal spray.

A wide range of services is offered and if you’re hoping to quit smoking for the New Year then there’s great help and advice available. For those travelling abroad we now have a complete vaccination service.

So resolve to pop along to your nearest Dalston Pharmacy Branch and we’ll be only too pleased to help. We’ve branches at: Dalston; Harraby; Langholm; Lockerbie; and Parklands Village, Carlisle.

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Sean Wilson - Photo: Brian Sherwen

RolyPoly By Sean Wilson, as seen in his new cookbook

‘Corrie’ star helps us re-find our wholesome heritage

capable cooks and even master chef mums and grannies.

There’s much more to former Coronation Street star and Whitehaven Festival favourite, Sean Wilson, than just cheese. For five years after launching The Saddleworth Cheese Co Sean has released the well-received Great Northern Cook Book which aims to be the definitive cook book for our region. Here Ali Hipkin talks to Sean about the book

S

EAN Wilson is keen to keep alive the wholesome heritage of Northern Food.

“There’s a whole generation out there that don’t know how to make a Cheese and Onion Pie. They can pick up the book and be surprised at how easy it is to make something that tastes amazing.”

“There isn’t a recipe book out there that just has Northern recipes. So we were very lucky and proud that Hodder and Stoughton asked us to produce it”, Sean said. The book caters for audiences of all cooking capabilities, from people who can’t boil an egg to a fairly 46

The Great Northern Cook Book which accompanies Sean’s TV Series on Channel 5, contains over 90 traditionally Northern recipes from pies to puddings, including favourites such as Pea and Ham Soup; Steak and Kidney Pie; Cheese ‘n’ Onion Pie; Lancashire Hotpot and Jam Roly Poly. ; Sean, who has become a firm favorite at the Whitehaven Festival over the years, said: “We travel up and down the country from Kent to Aberdeen going to food fairs and I’ve never seen a festival like it. It’s such a happy show.”

“The Whitehaven Festival is one of the best in the country and I don’t think people from Whitehaven realise that. There’s so much hard work that goes into it and the chefs that you get are fabulous. A food festival by day and a completely different atmosphere at night which is created by live music and bands. It’s just brilliant.”

“Last year was the fourth time we’ve been to Whitehaven; the only problem was we didn’t bring enough supplies with us!”

Along with the release of his recipe book Sean is launching a range of Dumplings. Yorkshire Puddings, Crisps and Soups all of which are low in salt and don’t contain added preservatives.

Best known for his role as Martin Platt in Coronation Street the transition to cook and cheese-maker extraordinaire seems like an odd one but food was always one of Sean’s passions. Working at Michelin Star restaurant, Northcote Manor, in Blackburn, after he left Coronation Street, he was introduced to Bob Kitchen, master cheese maker, who taught Sean the art of making Lancashire cheese.

Food

“I feel like I was kind of working with fate.” said Sean as he explained how he got to meet Bob. Sean was always interested in the science of food.

“The French and Italians place such provenance on their cheese; it’s something I think we need to do as well.” As he travelled he learned the how different creameries in different countries made cheese.

“It’s a complicated process but I try to make it as simple as possible; using the perfect milk form the perfect heard. There’s a lot of heritage to Lancashire cheese.”

Despite running a successful business that produces award winning cheeses Sean doesn’t take it too seriously, conjuring up light-hearted, colloquial names for his cheeses such as “How’s yer Father,” their creamy Lancashire; the tasty Lancashire “Mouth Almighty”; “Smelly Ha´peth,” their blue cheese and their Lancashire crumbly, “Muldoon’s Picnic”.

Muldoon’s Picnic and Smelly Ha’peth revive fond memories of a childhood in Lancashire for Sean; A Smelly Ha’peth referring to a child covered in muck after a full day’s play. Muldoon’s Picnic in particular raised a chuckle from Sean as explained the term as being given to a room full of screaming kids making a mess; “What d’ya think this is Muldoon’s Picnic?!”.

Recently ASDA and B&M have brightened up their fridge sections by stocking The Saddleworth Cheese Co. cheese which goes to show how far his Lancashire creamery has come in just five years, a recognition that brings a huge sense of achievement.

After talking to Sean for just a short while his passion for the cheese and recipes he’s created is obvious.

The Great Northern Cook Book would be a perfect gift for Christmas and can be bought from most good bookshops and online.

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t u o r T Potted d

n Words a

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raphy Photog

pedding

S

by Alan

O

NCE upon a time, way back when my dad was but a mere lad, Samsung smart fridges were totally unheard of.

The only way to keep produce fresh in those good old days was in a cellar, cold store, outhouse or by preserving.

Jams, Chutneys and the pickling of seasonal goods would guarantee year-round treats and I’ll never forget my grandmother’s strawberry jam served on a Sunday afternoon on freshly baked bread with “proper” butter.

Another simple method of preserving was to submerge the product under a layer of fat. This was a really effective way of keeping the air out and the product fresh underneath.

I’ve chosen a really simple recipe here and picked Trout as the ingredient to preserve under a layer of spiced clarified butter.

Personally speaking I wouldn’t let this go any longer than two weeks in a fridge but no doubt it will keep for a lot longer. (The preserving books say four to eight weeks).

But once you try it on toast then I am sure it won’t be around for very long anyway.

As I said I’ve used trout here but salmon, mackerel, rabbit, prawns and shrimp are all equally prime candidates to pot.

Take a big thick slice of hot toast and then let the potted Trout just melt all over it. It really is a wonderful breakfast... or a bit of a posh starter if you like to play around like I do.

Food Potted Trout. (Makes four portions)

2 nice-sized trout fillets, pin boned and skinned (about 450g).

100g of “clarified” butter.

2 Spring onions finely sliced.

A handful of fresh basil leaves (whole, torn, shredded or chopped).

Good pinches of mace, Cayenne pepper, coriander and black pepper.

Method

1 Warm the butter over a gentle heat until melted.

2 Slip the trout fillets into the hot butter and ensure that they’re submerged. Allow the fish to cook away over a medium / low heat really gently until it has just and so cooked through. Remove from the heat and allow the residual heat from the hot butter to finish off the cooking process perfectly.

3 Add the spices and the fresh basil and gently mix into the butter.

4 Gently break up the trout fillets and spoon them into little containers. (I used glass ramekins for this) 5 Spoon over the hot butter to completely submerge the trout and then allow the butter to set.

6 This will now keep well for several days in the fridge (covered)

To make the Clarified Butter

Melt the 100g butter over a very gentle heat. Once it has totally melted then leave it for a few minutes to settle down. Then gently spoon off the white foam floating on the surface of the butter and discard. Spoon off the beautiful melted butter, very carefully, into a container and leave the unusable white solids behind, in the bottom of the pan.

Follow Alan at: www.alanspedding.co.uk www.cumbriafoodie.wordpress.com www.theguidemediagroup.co.uk

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Grilled Venison Chops with Creamed Spinach and Straw Potatoes

Difficulty: Medium Serves: 2 Preparation: 20 mins Cooking: 20 mins

Recipe Courtesy of The Countryside Alliance

4 venison chops or rack ½ tsp flaked sea salt 1 tbsp fennel seeds 2 tbsp olive oil

For the creamed spinach

1 bag of baby spinach 1 tbsp olive oil, plus 2 tbsp later 2 heaped tbsp full fat crème fraîche A good scratch of nutmeg 1 small clove of excellent garlic (must not be sprouted) Salt and pepper

For the straw potatoes 400 g peeled large potatoes Sunflower oil for frying Salt

METHOD

Wash the spinach thoroughly and drain it in a colander. Get a pan large enough to take all the spinach and get it on a high heat. Add 1 tbsp oil and when it is hot, not smoking, chuck in all the spinach. Spit, crackle, sizzle it will go. Stir away, turning the leaves until all are totally collapsed.

Remove from the heat.

Press the spinach against the side of the pan with a wooden spoon and tip away all the excess water.

Stir the spinach and repeat the process, getting rid of as much water as you can.

Put the spinach in a blender.

On top of the spinach flop in one heaped tablespoon of crème fraîche, nutmeg, the remaining 2 tbsp olive oil, garlic, and salt and pepper. Blitz everything up together until the purée is totally smooth. Adjust the seasoning to taste.

Heat up the creamed spinach just before you 50

need it, as if kept on a long slow heat, ticking over, it will lose its fabulous colour.

Peel and very thinly slice the potatoes. Stack the slices and slice them lengthways into matchstick thickness.

Preheat the grill to high, and heat 2 inches of oil in a medium pan to 180ºc.Season the venison chops with salt and the fennel seeds and rub them all over with the oil. Place them close under the grill, turning them once until cooked to your preference. I would say ideally they should be pinky rare within, so about 4 minutes on each side. Or seal the rack in a pan and then cook in a hot oven for about 12 mins.

Drop the potato slithers in the oil and fry until golden. Stir them occasionally to help them colour evenly. Remove to kitchen roll to drain and salt generously.Serve the venison chops with the warmed spinach and tangled chips.

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Yes, it’s cauliflower and chocolate

T

HIS is a bit of an unusual one (to say the least) as very few of us have ever tasted cauliflower risotto, let alone cauliflower and chocolate risotto.

Now don`t be put off by the thought of this, or the photo here, because first and foremost it`s gorgeous and secondly I`ve tarted up the magazine version with all of the extras just for the photograph.

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Here`s a simple version of a basic Cauliflower Risotto and to add the Chocolate taste then simply sprinkle over some quality cocoa powder. You`ll have to trust me on this one; it really does work so try a little sprinkle on a spoon first and then you`ll see for yourselves.

Anyway, King Heston can`t be wrong and that is where the original version was born.

Be as adventurous as you dare. The version in my photo consists of The Cauliflower Risotto, Cauli Veloute cream, chocolate jelly cubes and disk, frozen discs cut from the stem of the cauliflower together

Words and Photography by Alan Spedding

RisottoWhatto?

with Cauliflower crisps... labour intensive but O.M.G... It tasted divine!

Food

Ingredients - Serves 4 1 head cauliflower (about 2 lb)

3 cloves garlic.

3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 tsp salt 10 fl oz (300ml) of vegetable or chicken stock 1 large minced shallot or 1/4 Onion.

7oz (200g) Arborio rice 8 fl oz (250ml) dry white wine 4oz (110g) grated Parmesan cheese Fresh double cream to taste... a nice “glug” will be perfect.

Finely chopped fresh chives (a generous handful) Add cocoa powder and a sprinkling of mild curry powder to taste.

Preparation Trim the cauliflower and then cut into small florets.

In large bowl, toss together cauliflower, garlic, 2 tbsp of the oil and 1/4 tsp of the salt. Roast on a greased baking sheet in 400°F (200°C) oven until golden, caramelised and tender, roughly 35 to 45 minutes should be fine. Mash the garlic with a fork.

Meanwhile, in small saucepan, bring the stock and (425 ml) water to boil; reduce the heat to low and keep warm. In large saucepan, heat remaining oil over medium heat; cook shallot / onion and remaining salt, stirring occasionally, until golden. This should take about 3 minutes.

Add the rice, stir to coat and toast the grains. Add the wine then cook, stirring, until no liquid remains, for about 1 minute.

Add more stock mixture a ladle at a time and keep stirring after each addition until most of the liquid is absorbed before adding more. This should take about 18 to 20 minutes in total. (The rice should be loose and creamy but not mushy, and still slightly firm to the bite (Al dente) in the centre of the grain. Stir in the roasted cauliflower, garlic, Parmesan, cream and chives.

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Food Slow Food stages

First event in county

C

UMBRIA’S Slow Food movement is organising its first event in the county. at Longtown, in December.

It’s called “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire,” and takes the form of festive drink and slow snacks at Clift Hill, Bush-on-Lyne, Longtown, CA6 5TR. (6-8pm).

Slow Food Cumbria is part of Slow Food UK movement which works to ensure good, clean and fair food is a right for everyone. “‘Good, clean and fair” means that food should taste good; be produced in a clean way which fully respects the environment, human health and animal welfare and that food producers are fairly paid.

Slow Food works to raise awareness of the sustainability of the food we eat, to protect traditional UK foods, defend bio-diversity and to promote food education.

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Fusion food and live music event is cancer fundraiser

E

MMA Malone and Vanvisa Sri, from Carlisle, are organising A Host for Hope, fusions food event in aid of Pancreatic Cancer UK. On Monday November 11 (7pm), during Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, Emma and Vanvisa will be hosting a night of fusion food and live acoustic music at The Tayay Kitchen, Lowther Street, in Carlisle .It includes a nine-course taster menu and a drink on arrival and 50 per cent of price goes to Pancreatic Cancer UK. Emma who lost a friend to the disease, said: “When I found out that the funding for research into

Pancreatic Cancer is less than one per cent and that the survival rates have not changed in over 40years, I decided to give something back to my friend and help raise money and awareness for the charity. I have come to realise that pancreatic cancer is a lot more common that you would think”.

It’s the second such evening that Tayay Kitchen has Tickets (£20) are available either from the restaurant or Emma on 07850267359.”

Pancreatic cancer is the fifth most common cause of cancer death in the UK and, at around four per cent, it has the lowest survival rate of the 21 most common cancers.

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The Great Guide to Eating Out To advertise in The Great Guide To Eating Out Tel. 01946 816 719

58

Wild Rabbit Ragu

Food

with Penne

Difficulty: Medium Serves: 4 Preparation: 25 mins Cooking: 1hr 10 mins INGREDIENTS

1 wild rabbit, all meat cut from bones 3 tbsp olive oil 75g cubed smoked pancetta 1 medium carrot, scrubbed and finely grated 1 large stick of celery, washed then finely grated 1 medium onion, finely grated 3 cloves garlic, finely grated ¼ tsp dried chilli 1 tsp dried rosemary ¼ tsp nutmeg ¼ tsp cinnamon 1 bay leaf 4 tbsp tomato purée 1/3 tin chopped tomatoes 1 tsp white wine vinegar 200ml white wine 100 ml water 1 thumb size piece of Parmesan rind

To Finish

175g penne pasta, ½ tsp salt, Parmesan cheese

METHOD

In a medium sized sauté pan heat the olive oil before adding the pancetta, it should sizzle gently when entering the pan. Cook it for 5 minutes before adding the grated vegetables, stir all together well.

Add the spices and the bay leaf, then cook for a further 5 minutes before adding the rabbit with the tomato purée. Stir altogether for a few minutes before adding the remaining ingredients.

Put a lid on the pan and simmer very gently for an hour. Note: Adding Parmesan rind will give the Ragu extra depth of flavour, but remove the rind before serving. Drop the penne pasta into boiling salted water and cook to your preference.

Drain and mix the penne through the Ragu, divide over 4 plates, adding a good grate of fresh Parmesan should you require it.

Recipe Courtesy of The Countryside Alliance

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Shaun turns his dream into reality

By Shaun Foster, Workington

I

HAVE been into fast Fords since the 1980s before I could even drive.

A friend and neighbour, Gary Taylor, bought a Sierra XR4i I fell in love with. He had previously owned other performance cars but nothing compared to this. So my passion for Fords was born and my first car was a Mk1 Fiesta‌ although I ultimately aimed, to own a Cosworth.

My chance to do so came about in 2007 when I was browsing on ebay and saw a Sierra RS Sapphire Cosworth for which the owner was looking to do a deal involving a Yamaha R1 motorbike.

Guess who owned an R1 (no prizes)?

Negotiations began but I was in West Cumbria and car owner Jason was in Torquay, Devon. We arranged a rendezvous at a services near Birmingham. It was love at first sight (the car not the services) a deal was struck and to this day Jason regrets parting with it.

After getting the car home I found the car needed work, but nothing serious which was ideal for me as I wanted something to put my stamp on. The Sierra is in a rare colour of Crystal Blue of which there are few left.

Work started on the underneath of the car, I started stripping the underneath like the rear beam and 60

petrol tank just to make sure that there was no hidden rust. The under body was given a layer of stonechip paint and all parts were powder coated.

I later found that there was a crack in the engine block; this took me on my travels to the other side of Birmingham for a fresh block, new pistons and crank so that the rebuild could begin. I filled the boot of our Focus ST with the new engine parts and travelled to the North East to a well known Cosworth engine builder called Gordon Scott.

Motoring In the meantime I completely stripped out the engine bay and got it painted ready for the new one arriving.

The new engine was fitted and is being run in at the moment.

The rest of the work was mainly cosmetic; this included fitting a stainless steel oil breather and header tank; rocker cover, which was powder coated in blue; upgrading to blue hoses and a brand new engine loom was fitted. I also decided to replace the cloth interior with a leather one which was a bigger job than I thought.

The Sierra was then taken to MP Auto Detailing, in Cockermouth, for a full detail. Over the winter I will be taking it to Motorsport Developments, in Blackpool, for a dyno rolling road setup.

Since the day I got the car I could not even think about never owning a Cosworth again. The next step up for me would be a Moonstone Blue, 3 door Sierra Cosworth so watch this space!

HAVE you an interesting or rare motor vehicle or motor-cycle?

Would you like it featured in our motoring pages?

If so, please talk to me, Chris Breen on 01946 816715 or email me at: chrisbreen@theguidemediagroup.com

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Present for a petrol head

Mason’s Motorin g Mayhem IS BN : 9781 8458 44394 UP C: 6-36 84704 439- 8

ERE’S a book idea if you’re H stuck for a Christmas present for a petrolhead? It’s a book, an autobiography by former Top Gear presenter, Tony Mason.

Mason’s Motoring Mayhem relives Tony Mason’s hectic life in motorsport and television. Few people achieve success and notoriety in more than one field, but Tony Mason has managed it!

He joined a local car club at Morecambe before he even had a car, eventually climbing to the top with rally wins in the Lake District, before joining the prestigious Ford works team and co-driving Britain’s biggest rally star, Roger Clark, to win outright the RAC Rally – Britain’s toughest event of its kind.

He started a successful car accessory business then ventured onto the stage for a short while, before being signed by the BBC to appear on its popular Top Gear programme, on which he was a main presenter for 15 years. His cheery presence became a popular part of the programme, and he moved from rallying to driving all manner of vehicles, from vintage Rolls-Royces, Reliant Robins, tanks, fire engines and Eddie Stobart trucks.

Tony Mason started rallying in the early 1960s, winning events both as a driver and navigator.

He went on to co-drive for the Ford works team, winning outright the 1972 RAC Rally of Great Britain with Roger Clark. He then moved to TV becoming ‘Mr Rallying’ on BBC Top Gear. Tony’s 62

jovial personality brought him a huge following and he presented a variety of items for 15 years before appearing on several other programmes and he was regularly on TV in Australia and New Zealand.

Tony is widely travelled, having visited nearly 100 countries. He currently entertains on P&O cruise ships around the world.

After he was famously bombarded with snowballs during a report on the Monte Carlo Rally, he became even better known, with the famous out-take being shown on programmes around the world.

Tony’s lighthearted, jovial persona takes readers on a trip through almost 100 countries, with thrills, spills, ups-and-downs all vividly remembered and often shown in photographs.

The book is hardback has 208 pages, 123 pictures and costs £24. You can view sample pages and text on the Veloce website at www.veloce. co.uk and copies can also be ordered on the website.

Pets At KAMP K-9 Cumbria we ensure that your dog has a fun time when you are unable to be at home.

Alongside DayCare and Training a couple of years ago we were asked to re-home a dog, which we did successfully and from then on Blu’s K9 Rescue was born – We re-home local dogs when people are no longer able to look after them for many reasons. We do this with no financial help from anywhere. Every penny comes out of our own pockets. We also ask for a donation from the dogs we re-home of £85 We feed, give treats and in some cases have to take the dogs in our care to the vets which as you can imagine costs a lot of money. We don’t put any dogs ‘down’ If the dogs are not re-homed then they stay with us as part of our ever-growing K9 family.

We would like to take the opportunity to ask if anyone has any donations they would like to donate to

Blu’s K9 Rescue

such as food, bedding, towels etc. every little helps and the more we get in the more dogs lives we can save.

Please contact us through our website: www.kkampk9.com or facebook page Blu’s K9 Rescue or Kerri’s Kamp K9 Cumbria

Training Centre

Tel: 01228 67 20 47 or 07702057300 Everyone that brings this article with them or quotes CG4 kamp k9 will receive 1 FREE DayCare on a day of your choice between Monday to Friday.

What are we?

We are a Dog Training Centre with qualified dog trainers that only use positive methods of training (Force Free.)

We are Carlisle’s 1st Doggie DayCare Centre, we have been open for almost three years now and have built up a very successful Centre were your dogs are happy & socialised – which gives you piece of mind while you are at work.

More and more of us go out to work every day but thankfully we realise that ‘home alone’ is no life for a dog!!

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Those young players are still here, but it’s fair to say that their progress has been mixed. One or two have had fairly regular first team experience; others remain very much fringe players with another little batch of youth players pushing on behind looking to grab their chance.

Second season syndrome it’s called. It’s a common thing to see promising young footballers come into the senior ranks and not immediately pull up trees as they threatened to do in their initial season with the first team.

It’s a delicate balance when you consider the development of young players. Some burst on to the scene and never look back. Other careers take a bit of a rain check before flourishing once again –David Amoo, United’s ex-Liverpool wide man an example. Sadly in some cases all that early promise ends in career disappointment.

Greg Abbott was careful not to over egg the situation with his youngsters. It was always a case of bringing them along bit by bit and never letting their achievements prevent them from keeping their feet firmly grounded.

David Amoo

Is second season syndrome affecting the Brunton Babes?

Carlisle United by Ross Brewster

HIS time last year Carlisle United T were a steady 13th in the League One table-about where they are now-and

people were looking ahead optimistically to seeing the gradually increasing introduction of a group of highly promising home produced young players.

There was a different manager in charge, a different youth team coach whose work in identify and nurturing this emerging talent was paying handsome dividends, and it did look as if United, particularly at a time when money is tight for clubs at their level, were ready to reap the rewards for a successful youth policy.

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His successor, Graham Kavanagh, now takes on the role of determining where some of that early promises ends up. Already goalkeeper Mark Gillespie has made himself first choice in his specialist position, but for teenagers like Brad Potts, Mark Beck, David Symington, all of whom made a significant bow last season, this year has been very much stop start. Now is the time when they really are being posed the question, with one or two more of ex-youth coach Kinder’s kids in the wings.

The Brunton Babes are growing up, but they will have to earn their places on merit. For United it is vital that they do manage to bring through their own talent. Attracting established players to the north-west, even if you are able to match their wage demands, is not easy, so you

Sport need a fair sprinkling of talent from the home production line.

I think most supporters felt that Greg Abbott’s tenure had reached a natural conclusion at the end of last season and were surprised that he was handed a new one year deal. I think he will be judged more favourably in the future when people realise what a tough job he faced in keeping United on an even keel with a big turnover of the playing staff and little spare money at his disposal.

“

The Brunton Babes are growing up, but they will have to earn their places on merit. For United it is vital that they do manage to bring through their own talent

”

As Abbott left Brunton Park with dignity, his deputy Kavanagh was the man the club turned to, despite having received over 50 applications for the manager’s post, some of them quite high profile figures but with little knowledge of football at Carlisle’s level.

If you manage Carlisle you have to be jack of all trades and master of quite a few. There’s so much that fans never see. Kavanagh, a vastly experienced player with the likes of Stoke City and Sunderland, made an excellent start and certainly understood the need to get the defence under control before moving on to other elements of the team.

Of course the test of the man and how he handles himself as a manager comes when, as invariably happens even to the best, you hit a run of bad luck and poor results. Orient manager Russell Slade’s side went deep into October unbeaten, but he was still wise enough to say “look, we are playing well, but we don’t have a big squad and a few injuries and suspensions can soon change the picture so we won’t allow ourselves to get carried away.”

I’m sure that Kavanagh, who has made all the right noises thus far, is realistic enough to know that his big test lies ahead and you can take nothing for granted in this game.

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Kids

66

Kids

Word search

Christmas Wordsearch

Cake Christmas Decorations Holly Jesus

Mistletoe Presents Reindeer Santa Claus Sleigh

Snowman Stocking Tree Wisemen

Kid’s Sudoku

67

Puzzles

Take a Break

Quick Crossword Across 1. Comical (5) 4. One of the senses (5) 7. Freedom (7) 8. Regret (3) 9. Woodwind instrument (4) 11. Ire (5) 14.Valuable item (5) 15. Singing voice (4) 18. Large antelope (3) 19. Greed (7) 21. Force out (5) 22. Compare (5) Down 1. Bird of prey (6) 2. Seize suddenly (3) 3. Tall story (4) 4. Attempting (6) 5. Dreamlike (7) 6. Level (4) 10.Vague (7) 12. Leave (6) 13. Forward-looking (6) 16. Monster (4) 17. Shopping precinct (4) 20. Writing fluid (3)

Sudoku

Please see the Tide Tables page for the solutions 68

TheWhat’s

OnGuide

Your guide to all that’s best in Carlisle and West Cumbria from

Music Theatre Film Comedy Other

Lets Play Who’s Coming to Carlisle

Aida Akala Blitz Kids Colt 45

Dick Whittington Ed Byrne Foster and Allen Jack Dee Ken Dodd

Roy Chubby Brown Snow White The Exiles The View

69

What’s On For November/December

Your guide to all that’s best in Carlisle, West Cumbria and Keswick from

Music Theatre Film Comedy Other Music

Sat Nov 2 Scallywag “Music Throughout the Decades” FREE ENTRY 9pm Start The Cranemakers, Carlisle The Brickyard’s Halloween Soiree: Motown and Soul Night The Brickyard, Carlisle Come and Sing at Lanercost Priory Rehearse Faure’s Requiem. Rehearse together 1pm - 3.30pm; perform it from 4 to 5pm. Cost is £10 to sing in aid of the 2014 Lanercost Festival.

Enquiries: Tony Peacock kathtony@ abbeymill.me.uk Lanercost Priory Church

Wed Nov 13 Traditional Jazz Second Wednesday of every month.

Carlisle and Brampton Jazz Band The Howard Arms, Brampton Elias String Quartet - The Beethoven Project Theatre by the Lake, Keswick Thur Nov 14 The Lucas Oravec Quartet A Slovakian quartet on their debut UK tour. 8.30pm - 11pm.

Tel: 01228 596767 Carlisle Jazz Club, Carlisle Rugby Club, Off Warwick Road, Carlisle

Thur Nov 21 Akala Club Rock, Carlisle The Quincey Street Quintet 8.30pm - 11pm. Tel: 01228 596767 Carlisle Jazz Club, Carlisle Rugby Club, Off Warwick Road, Carlisle Fri Nov 22 Cockney Rejects, No Thrills, Thee Overdose The Brickyard, Carlisle Czech National Symphony Orchestra The Sands Centre, Carlisle

A Moment Lost Club Rock, Carlisle

Sat Nov 23 Anything Goes Silent Disco The Brickyard, Carlisle

Thur Nov 7 The Merseysippi Jazz Band 8.30pm - 11pm. Tel: 01228 596767 Carlisle Jazz Club, Carlisle Rugby Club, Off Warwick Road, Carlisle Thur Nov 21 Akala

Fri Nov 8 - 10 Carlisle Blues and Rock Festival Swallow Hilltop Hotel, Carlisle

Fri Nov 15 The Sex Pistols Experience The Brickyard, Carlisle

Fri Nov 8 The Dead Horse Gang The Brickyard, Carlisle

State Control EP Launch with Falter Club Rock, Carlisle

Sat Nov 9 Censored, Here Lies Your Hero, Deklaration, Moth and Beyond the Ocean The Brickyard, Carlisle

Sat Nov 16 The Groovebreakers “Blues, Rock n Soul” FREE ENTRY 9pm Start The Cranemakers, Carlisle Sat Nov 16 Mallory Knox, Blitz Kids and Crooks The Brickyard, Carlisle

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Tue Nov 19 Har Mar Superstar, Lizzo The Brickyard, Carlisle

Foster & Allen For over three decades Foster and Allen have been entertaining audiences all over the world performing all their hits, including ‘A Bunch Of Thyme’, ‘Maggie’, ‘After All These Years’, ‘Old Flames’, and ‘I Will Love You All My Life’ The Sands Centre, Carlisle Sun Nov 24 Thriller Live The legend lives on!

The Sands Centre, Carlisle Thur Nov 28 John Power, I Am Spartacus The Brickyard, Carlisle Thur Nov 28 Dave Donohoe’s All-Stars 8.30pm - 11pm. Everyone welcome, different bands every week.

Tel: 01228 596767

Whats On Carlisle Jazz Club, Carlisle Rugby Club, Off Warwick Road, Carlisle Fri Nov 29 Cumbria Autism Family Support Project Fundraiser: Colt 45, The Exiles, Car Crash Radio, The Freedom, Black Spirit Gauge The Brickyard, Carlisle

Fri Dec 13 Hellion Rising, Fallen Mafia, Heartbreak Remedy, Bulletproof Rose The Brickyard, Carlisle

Indie Night The Brickyard, Carlisle Thur Dec 5 High Society Jazz Band 8.30pm - 11pm. Tel: 01228 596767 Carlisle Jazz Club, Carlisle Rugby Club, Off Warwick Road, Carlisle Sat Dec 7 Hip Hop Night The Brickyard, Carlisle Alec Dankworth’s World Jazz Trio Introducing Emily Dankworth Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven Wed Dec 11 Live Jazz - New Orleans Old time Jazz every second Wed of month.

The Howard Arms, Brampton Thur Dec 12 Esk Valley Jazz Men 8.30pm - 11pm. Tel: 01228 596767 Carlisle Jazz Club, Carlisle Rugby Club, Off Warwick Road, Carlisle

Sun Nov 3 La Boheme Carnegie Theatre, Workington Fri Nov 8 Aida Chisinau National Opera, from Moldova in Verdi’s Aida The Sands Centre, Carlisle

Sat Nov 30 The Neutronz “Rockabilly & Rock n Roll” FREE ENTRY 9pm Start The Cranemakers, Carlisle Guitar Concert - Sarah MacQuaid Sarah MacQuaid, whose dulcet tones and guitar playing have been described as rich and mature and as complex as the finest thrice-distilled Irish malt whisky.

Watson Institute, Castle Carrock

Theatre

Tue Dec 17 The View Tue Dec 17 The View The Brickyard, Carlisle Thur Dec 19 Steve Andrews with Roly Veitch And special guest-star trumpeter, Enrico Tomasso. 8.30pm - 11pm Carlisle Jazz Club, Carlisle Rugby Club, Off Warwick Road, Carlisle

Sat Nov 9 Albert Einstein - Relatively Speaking’ Performed by Tangram Theatre, in Brampton Community Centre (7.30). Suitable for 11s-adult. Tickets in advance or on the door: Tel Community Centre 016977 45023.

Tangram Theatre, Brampton Community Centre Thur Nov 14 In Doggerland Box of Tricks present the Premiere of In Doggerland Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven

Fri Dec 20 The Big Heavy Metal Xmas Party!

Fyre Power, Die No More, Hell’s Addiction, Soul State The Brickyard, Carlisle Sat Dec 21 Gaz & Daz’s Vinyl Spintacular The Brickyard, Carlisle Thur Dec 26 Do You Remember The First Time?

Celebrate the glory days of the Twisted Wheel at this annual reunion.

The Brickyard, Carlisle

Fri Nov 8 Aida

Sat Dec 28 Motown & Soul Night The Brickyard, Carlisle

Fri Nov 15 Salt An evening of song, story, and salt art for the family. Enquiries to Esther Hingle: 07813 696 759 or esther@blueyonder.co.uk.

Brampton Community Centre

Fri Feb 7 Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Returning for their outstanding annual concert as part of Orchestral Classical Series The Sands Centre, Carlisle

Sat Nov 16 Six Impossible Things Cabaret Watson Institute A cabaret-style show featuring impossible acts of peril, comedy and virtuosity.

Castle Carrock

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What’s On For November/December

Your guide to all that’s best in Carlisle, West Cumbria and Keswick from

Music Theatre Film Comedy Other Theatre

Sat Nov 16 Essence of Ireland Story about love, joy, happiness and heartache The Sands Centre, Carlisle Fri Nov 22 We Will Be Free Townsend Productions present We Will Be Free! Curtain up at 7.30pm Hallbankgate Village Hall CA8 2NJ

Fri Dec 20 - 23 Carlisle Christmas Spectacular Borderway Exhibition Hall, Rosehill, Carlisle Sat Dec 21 - 30 Jack & The Beanstalk Carnegie Theatre, Workington

Mon Nov 11 Lore (15) Tullie House, Carlisle Mon Nov 18 West of Memphis (15) Tullie House, Carlisle

Sat Nov 30 Lili La Scala Songs To Make You Smile Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven

Sat Nov 23 The Great Gatsby (12A) Brampton Film Club, Brampton Community Centre

Mon Dec 2 - 14 Dick Whittington and his Cat West Walls Theatre, Carlisle

Mon Dec 2 -14 Dick Whittington and his Cat

Fri Dec 6 Remember When at Christmas Carnegie Theatre, Workington

Sun Dec 29 Aladdin Brampton Community Centre

Tue Dec 10 - 14 Blackadder Three episodes by Workington Playgoers Carnegie Theatre, Workington Fri Dec 13- 31 Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs Mirror, Mirror on the wall ...

Who is the fairest of them all?

The Sands Centre, Carlisle Sun Dec 15 A Midwinters Dream Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven

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Sun Nov 3 Baraka A 70mm ‘guided meditation’ shot in 24 countries on six continents over a 14-month period that unites religious ritual, the phenomena of nature, and mam’s own destructive powers into a web of moving images.

The Rheged Centre, Penrith

Fri Jan 3 & 4 Aladdin Brampton Community Centre Fri Jan 31 Brendan Cole: Licence to Thrill Brendan and his cast of 20 musicians and dancers on a journey of music and dance The Sands Centre, Carlisle

Film Fri Nov 1 A Late Quartet (15) Brampton Film Club, Brampton Community Centre

Sun Dec 22 The Muppet Christmas Carol (U) Theatre by the Lake, Keswick Its a Wonderful Life (U) Theatre by the Lake, Keswick

Comedy Fri Nov 1 Ed Byrne - Roaring Forties The Sands Centre, Carlisle Thur Nov 7 Jack Dee The Sands Centre, Carlisle Sat Nov 9 Ken Dodd The Sands Centre, Carlisle Sat Nov 16 Luisa Omielan - What Would Beyonce Do? Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven

Whats On Tue Nov 19 Andrew O’Neill is Easily Distracted Theatre by the Lake, Keswick Sat Jan 4 Roy Chubby Brown Making a return with his bluest show yet! Not suitable for under 18s The Sands Centre, Carlisle

Other Sat Nov 2 Carlisle Fireshow Bitts Park, Carlisle Bonfire Night Supper Tullie House, Carlisle

Thur Nov 7 North East Allerdale Neighbourhood Forum 7pm - 9pm St Cuthbert’s,’ The Old Convent, Burnfoot, Wigton, CA7 9HU Prehistory Study Afternoon Our Curator of Archaeology Tim Padley invites anyone with an interest in prehistoric archaeology to join him for this fascinating afternoon.

Tullie House, Carlisle Fri Nov 8 - 10 Roger Albert Clark Rally Finishes at Brampton Sat Nov 9 Adventures: Alastair Humphreys Rheged Centre, Penrith Mon Nov 11 Host For Hope In aid of national Charity Pancreatic Cancer UK. Night of food and live acoustic music. 7pm Tayay Kitchen, 38 Lowther Street, Carlisle

Sat Nov 9 Ken Dodd Wed Nov 6 Tullie Toddlers - Fizzing Fireworks Why not bring your under 5s to our free play sessions? Drop into the community room anytime between 12.30pm and 2.30pm where we will be making firework inspired paintings.

Tullie House, Carlisle

Fri Nov 15 - 17 Arts and Craft Exhibition Friday 6.30pm-9pm; Saturday/ Sunday 10am-4pm.

The Hut, Brampton Community Centre Fri Nov 15 Think Pink!

Dress up and sing along to all the well known songs from ‘You’re The One That I Want’ to ‘Hopelessly Devoted To You’ and help to raise money for local charities, including the Cumberland Infirmary Oncology

Unit and Eden Valley Hospice.

The Sands Centre, Carlisle Sat Nov 16 Fashion and Fizz: Ladies Night A date for your diary, Ladies!

Go ‘glam’ yourselves and join us for a fun evening. A ‘Fashion and Fizz’ fiesta not to be missed!

Tullie House, Carlisle Sat Nov 16 12 Hour Spin-a-thon 12 hour fundraising Challenge to beat cancer, The Odyssey Charity.

Starting at 7am The Sands Centre, Carlisle Sun Nov 17 Carlisle Christmas Lights Switch On Carlisle City Centre Wed Nov 20 Tullie Toddlers – Stories and Shelters Why not bring your under 5s to our free play sessions? Drop into the community room between 12.30pm and 2.30pm Tullie House, Carlisle

Fri Nov 8 - 10

Roger Albert Clark Rally

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What’s On For November/December

Your guide to all that’s best in Carlisle, West Cumbria and Keswick from

Music Theatre Film Comedy Other Other

Fri Nov 22 - 24 Three Day Craft Fair Dacre Hall, Brampton

Wed Dec 4 - 8 International Christmas Market Carlisle City Centre

Wed Dec 18 Tullie Toddlers - Christmas Creations Why not bring your under 5s to our free play sessions? Drop into the community room anytime between 12.30pm and 2.30pm where we will be getting ready for Christmas with lots of festive fun Tullie House, Carlisle

Sat Nov 23 Natasha Daintry: Ocean Tullie House, Carlisle Sun Nov 24 Orton Farmer’s Market Rheged, Penrith American Wrestling An evening of American Wrestling.

6.30pm Tickets from the centre or on the door.

Brampton Community Centre Sat Nov 30 Breadmaking by Hand Quirky Workshops Greystoke Cycle Cafe, Penrith Sun Dec 1 H.M Royal Marines Band Her Majesty’s Royal Marines will also feature the world famous Corps of Drums The Sands Centre, Carlisle Afternoon Jumps Racing Carlisle Racecourse Wed Dec 4 Tullie Toddlers - Festive Frocks Why not bring your under 5s to our free play sessions? Drop into the community room anytime between 12.30pm and 2.30pm where we will be creating fancy festive designs inspired by the beautiful clothes in our Hartnell to Amies exhibition.

Tullie House, Carlisle

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Sun Dec 15 Family Day With A Christmas Theme Carlisle Racecourse

Sat Nov 16

12 Hour Spin-a-thon

Fri Dec 6 Swallow Hilltop Hotel Party Night 3 Course meal, Abba Tribute and DJ, FREE Prize Draw £19.95 Swallow Hilltop Hotel, Carlisle Sat Dec 7 Swallow Hilltop Hotel Party Night 3 Course meal, Motown Tribute and DJ, FREE Prize Draw £19.95 Swallow Hilltop Hotel, Carlisle Sat Dec 14 Swallow Hilltop Hotel Party Night 3 Course meal, Kylie v Madonna and DJ, FREE Prize Draw £19.95 Swallow Hilltop Hotel, Carlisle Historical Christmas Cookery with John Crouch Tullie House, Carlisle

Fri Dec 20 Swallow Hilltop Hotel Party Night 3 Course meal, Back to the 80s and DJ, FREE Prize Draw £19.95 Swallow Hilltop Hotel, Carlisle Sat Dec 21 Swallow Hilltop Hotel Party Night 3 Course meal, Grease v Dirty Dancing and DJ, FREE Prize Draw £19.95 Swallow Hilltop Hotel, Carlisle

The s Alley T

he 2013 Oxford English Dictionary defines an “alley” as a “narrow passage between or behind buildings”.

Suppose on your left you have the international headquarters of Ambition and Youthful Abandon PLC, and on your right stands the dominating art deco architecture of the Ministry of Damned Funky Tunes. I put it to you that you are in one rather exciting narrow passage. Down this particular narrow passage you might stumble across one of Carlisle’s hottest bands, The Alleys. Since forming two years ago, the boys have been racking up gigs across the country amassing over 100 performances, including two on BBC Introducing and a support slot with pop-rockers McFly. And here’s the kicker, they’re all aged between just fifteen and eighteen years old. I know, it’s sickening.

Lead singer/guitarist Jonny Foster had plenty to chat about ahead of the release of the lad’s second full album, Don’t Dream Babe, No Ones Listenin’.

“We recorded our first album back in May, and at that point we had a more indie style but since then we’ve developed a more rock ‘n’ roll sound.

We’ve got some new members of the band with a piano, saxophone and trumpet so our sound has changed over the last few months. We’ve always been Rolling Stones fans, and I’m a big Springsteen fan so we’ve alway been inspired by those kind of artists. At the moment we’re going through a bit of a Fleetwood Mac stage but we’re open to all sorts of music and I think that’s reflecting in our sound at the moment.”

Jonny and the band launched their album on the 26th of October with a release party at the new Live Lounge in Carlisle. “We take pride in our live performance so we need to look the part and have

the right attitude towards each on stage. Having the horn section and piano has only made our live performance better as it’s given us a bigger sound.

Theres a resurgence of guitar bands at the minute but we’re trying to move our sound on to the bigger sounds of the late 1960s.”

In an age where vast numbers of chart music lyrics are so disposable and meaningless, it’s great to hear a young band that are trying to buck the trend. As Jonny says, “The lyrics in a lot of music nowadays, I don’t feel, are sufficient considering the amount of music out there. With this album I’m trying to get a clear message but try to tell a story and be a bit more cinematic. There are a few “boymeets-girl” type songs on the album but a lot of the lyrics aren’t your standard style and we cover a lot of topics. Words have really been a key aspect for us with this album.”

And of course, being such young whipper-snappers has its positives and its negatives, as Jonny can relate, “It’s tricky at the minute because we are kind of young. We don’t really want to push the youth thing too much because we’re not just ‘kids’.” But, I would say to any promoters out there not to be put off by their youth, as they boast a musical talent and knowledge that besets their years. To find out more about The Alleys simply head to www.facebook.com/thealleysofficial and you should definitely feel more comfortable about exploring narrow passages.

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Wildlife of The Solway Firth

The Compass jellyfish Chrysaora hysoscella

By Mark Vollers

A

ny of us who like a walk along the shore will have come across stranded jellyfish of one kind or another and the Compass Jellyfish is certainly found on the Cumbrian coast in summertime.

produce free swimming larvae called planula. These settle down on a hard surface and transform into polyps or small anemones which for many are the over-wintering stage. In Spring these polyps bud off small medusa or jellyfish which grow into the adult stage we recognise.

Recognised by the compass like markings on its bell, they are beautiful graceful animals when seen in the water, but this species is best avoided as it has a painful sting. Twenty four long tentacles are equipped with stinging cells called nematocysts, used for paralysing prey such as small fish or other jellyfish and of course deterring would be predators.

They have limited control of movement, but react to light and move up and down in the water column to find their food. They have few predators, but among them are sunfish and turtles. It now must be said that the seemingly harmless practice of releasing balloons in to the sky is not a good idea‌ turtles mistake deflated balloons in the water as jellyfish and consume them with often fatal consequences.

Their life cycle is fairly complex. The adults have separate sexes and eggs are fertilised externally to

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Your Guide to Local Services

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Train Times - 8 December 2013 - 17 May 2014

For train times and fares information visit www.northernrail.org or call National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50

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Handy Map

Carlisle

The

1 Swifts Golf Course and Driving Range

Sports Grounds

1 Bitts Park

Parks

1 Carlisle College

Colleges/University

1 Our Lady and St Joseph’s Catholic Church 2 St Cuthbert’s Church 3 Carlisle Cathedral

Places Of Worship

Tourist Information Public Toilets Police Station Citadel Station Parking 24hr Petrol Station The Lanes Shopping Centre

Local Ameneties

1 Central Library 2 Market Hall 3 Skate Park

Points of Interest

Attractions

1 Carlisle Castle and Border Regiment Museum 2 Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery 3 Guild Hall Museum 4 The Pools 5 LaserQuest 6 VUE Cinema

City Map

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Handy Nos

The Cursing Stone, near Tulie House Museum, Carlisle

The Sands Centre

01228 633766

Name

Phone

Emergency Police/Fire/Ambulance

999

Police non-emergency

101

Fire & Rescue General Enquiries

01228 593350

Domestic Violence Support

07712 117 986

Samaritans

08457 90 90 90

Council & Other Services Carlisle City Council

01228 817000

Cumbria County Council out-of-hours service

01228 526690

Cumbria County Council

0800 1218 800

Carlisle Tourism

01228 817166

Carlisle Post Office (Scotch Street)

01228 525017

Carlisle Library (Globe Lane)

01228 227310

Theatres & Cinema

Carlisle Castle 01228 591922

Lake District Weather 0844 846 2444 82

The Sands Centre

01228 633766

The Green Room

01228 533233

Vue Entertainment

0871 224 0240

Museums, Attractions & Music Venues Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery

01228 618718

Walby Farm Park

01228 573056

The Source

01228 595535

The Brickyard

01228 512220

Guildhall Museum

01228 618718

Carlisle Indoor Market Hall

01228 513991

Carlisle Cathedral

01228 548151

LaserQuest

01228 511155

Name

Phone

AMF Bowling

0844 826 3013

Brunton Park

01228 526237

Carlisle Castle

01228 591922

Cumbria’s Military Museum

01228 532774

The Lanes Shopping Centre, Carlisle

01228 529356

Gretna Gateway Outlet Village

01461 339028

Carlisle Racecourse

01228 554700

Tullie House Museum

01228 618718

Sports Indoor & Outdoor Carlisle Driving Range

01228 545665

The Pools Swimming & Health Centre

01228 625777

Sheepmount Athletics Stadium

01228 625599

Stoneyholme Golf Club

01228 625511

Tourist Information Carlisle

01228 625600

VisitScotland Gretna

01461 337834

Brampton

016977 3433

Southwaite

016974 73445

Carlisle Racecourse

01228 554700

Travel & Weather 0871 200 22 33

Stagecoach North West

01228 597 222

Train Timetables

08457 48 49 50

Lake District Weather Service

0844 846 2444

Medical Cumberland Infirmary

01228 523444

Accident and Emergency

01228 814411

NHS Direct

0845 46 47

West Cumberland Hospital

01946 693 181

National Blood Service

0845 7711711

Dental Emergency

01228 603900

Cumbria Health on Call (CHOC)

03000 247 247

Brunton Park 01228 526237

If you would like your service listed here, please call: 01946 816 716

Bus Timetables

Vets Eden Veterinary Centre

01228 541999

Ashlea Veterinary Centre

01228 549177

RSPCA

01228 512893

Carlisle Driving Range 01228 545665

Schools Trinity School

01228 516051

Austin Friars St Monica’s School

01228 528042

Newman Catholic School

01228 404942

St Cuthbert’s Catholic Community School

01228 607505

Richard Rose Morton Academy

01228 607545

Carlisle College

01228 822700

University of Cumbria

01228 616234

Carlisle TIC 01228 625600 83

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