Breezethe village
Letter from the Editor
Hello again and welcome…
A friend and I were lamenting the end of summer. It has been fun and there’s always so much more to do than there is in the autumn.
I asked him what he was planning for September, and he said, “I’m going to take up a language.” Now, he really doesn’t travel much, but maybe he had Europe in mind, so I asked him which language he would be studying.
Him: “I was thinking Esperanto”.
Me: “Esperanto?! When will you ever use that?”
He acknowledged that he'd never really need to speak it. He certainly wasn’t going to make a living out of it nor necessarily travel anywhere it was spoken, but the learning experience itself would be fun and stimulating.
He's right of course. Lifelong learning is highly beneficial for physical and mental health. We can’t be forcibly made to absorb a topic in which we have no interest (I’m looking at you, the offside rule), but it is an essential part of keeping our minds and bodies active.
There’s so much available online that there’s really no excuse. Well, except that at home – for me at least – there’s always some excuse. Learning with other people is not only more enjoyable, but far more likely to make you stick at it.
In September, the local colleges announce their evening course line-ups, gyms see an uptake in new members attending classes, and volunteering is always a chance to develop new skills and forge friendships. I'm converted - Esperanto it is!
And the thought I will leave you with this month:“Be like a postage stamp Stick to a thing till you get there!”
Until next time…
events Pedal, Paddle, Peak Charity Event
cook! Gnocchi Con Tomate 28 coffee break Grab a cuppa and a biccie! 30 small pets
A little friend for your little one?
Get in touch...
The Village Breeze is a local community magazine and business directory distributed monthly to 8,000 homes and businesses in Appleby Magna, Donisthorpe, Linton, Measham, Moira, Oakthorpe and Overseal.
Deadline for next issue 15th September, 2024
Editor Sheila J. Bethell
General enquiries 0753 441 3055
Advertising enquiries 01283 814214
Drop us an email info@thevillagebreeze.co.uk
Read the magazine online at www.thevillagebreeze.co.uk
LIVE AND LEARN
Learning something new can be a source of great joy and personal growth. Perhaps you've always harboured a desire to speak a new language, master the art of cursive writing or discover a hidden musical talent. Yet, the demands of daily life often relegate these aspirations to mere thoughts. This is where evening classes, whether at a local college or through a private company, can provide the structure and support to turn these dreams into tangible achievements.
A 2020 survey conducted by Tes Magazine revealed that the uptake for evening classes had dropped by around 50% in the last ten years. In fact, for many of us, education stops after university or secondary school as we’re thrust into employment and parenthood. With the saying ‘every day is a school day’ in mind and many agreeing that education is a lifelong pursuit, why do many of us never consider the option of local colleges or evening classes?
The number one answer is probably time. Adulthood not only brings responsibility but distraction – TV, social media, DIY, family and so on. Although for many this is a reasonable concern, it is important to state that many classes are hosted outside traditional working hours, making it as easy as possible to attend.
WHAT’S ON OFFER? If you haven’t looked at an adult learning prospectus recently, you might imagine that evening classes are just for working skills, like how to use Microsoft Office or give presentations. If this is your view, then the first thing to learn is how wrong you are! Work, vocation and hobby training courses are all available.
Consider the possibilities: An Introduction to Generative AI, Improving your Speaking Voice, Indian Head Massage, and Pottery are just a glimpse of the diverse range of courses available. While many of these skills could enhance your professional life, they also offer a gateway to new hobbies and a chance to be part of something enjoyable and fulfilling. Who knows, you might discover a passion you never knew you had!
Taking lessons can bring indirect benefits too. Spending some time in a different environment can lead to a general improvement in your mental health and well-being. Furthermore, several observational studies show that people who do mentally stimulating activities may have a lower risk of cognitive decline and dementia, regardless of the age you are when you start. And don’t forget the potential friendships you can make in these classes with people equally passionate about the topic that you’re learning.
In summary, evening classes are an excellent way to learn something new, make friends, and benefit your mental health. That leaves you to take the initial steps: research what’s on offer and either call the course provider or find an open evening to attend to chat through your options. It’ll be fun!
Review : Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
WHAT IS IT?
With combustion engines being pushed to the background, the Ioniq 5 N is a golden opportunity for Hyundai to reveal a performance car that appeals to a new generation of car lovers.
The Ioniq 5 N is the ‘hot’ version of its standard electric hatchback with go-faster touches to make it more involving, exciting and engine-like than ever.
With hot EVs such as the Abarth 500e, Volkswagen ID.3 GTX and the MG4 XPower entering the market, can the Ioniq 5 N do enough to come out on top?
WHAT’S NEW?
Hyundai’s ‘N’ performance arm focuses on usable and exciting cars, so it’s much the same story here – though with some firsts. This first electric Hyundai N car also features several driving modes to help when used on a track. There’s a launch control function, bigger front brakes, and an N Active Sound system and N e-Shift to recreate the sound and feel of a traditional gearbox. It makes the 5 N feel as involving to drive as possible.
WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?
This is like no other electric car, and even though the simulated internal combustion engine noises pumped through the speakers are fake, they still add to the fun factor.
Sharp and nimble steering combines well with the Ioniq 5 N’s cornering and it doesn’t feel like a tank to drive despite being a heavy car. The acceleration is seemingly unending while the ‘gearshifts’ really work – you can even ‘hit’ the rev limiter if you leave it in a certain gear. You can customise the suspension and steering with Normal, Sport and Sport+ modes, with the ride comfort still adequate in Normal and Sport. However, its most fierce setting made the N very sharp over bumps – the steering gets quicker in Sport and Sport+ mode and you can change the noise of the fake exhaust, too.
WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?
At 84kWh, the 5 N’s battery pack is larger than the standard Ioniq’s 78kWh pack, but the range is a claimed 278 miles compared to 298 for the standard car. Courtesy of two electric motors the Ioniq 5 N produces an impressive 609 bhp, while the NGB button on the steering wheel unlocks 641 bhp for 10 seconds.
0-60mph is reached in 3.5 seconds (3.4 with the NGB button engaged) and the top speed is 161mph. All Ioniq 5 N’s come with four-wheel drive.
On the negative side is the Ioniq 5’s large size, especially with its larger body kit. Narrow gaps in town and traffic are a chore due to the car’s width and it doesn’t inspire confidence.
HOW DOES IT LOOK?
The N version maintains the standard car’s eyecatching style by featuring Hyundai’s flagship Performance blue paintwork, flared wheel arches, side skirts, front bumper lip and large rear boot spoiler. There’s a lot of carbon and gloss black trim at the front and rear, while 21-inch alloys and red accents on the lower part of the car help complete the traditional ‘N’ look.
WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE?
The Ioniq 5 N differs from the standard car, with a sporty steering wheel with controls for different drive modes. The N sports bucket seats keep you in place around corners and there are aluminium pedals and blue stitching throughout. The cabin is spacious and has lots of cubby holes and cup holders, including a decent-sized glovebox. The rear head and legroom are good and the doors open wide for easy access. Boot space is 480 litres with the seats up and 1,540 litres with them down.
The interior quality isn’t as good as other Hyundai products, with lots of hard plastics used throughout –disappointing at this price point.
WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?
The single specification is excellent and includes the N Bucket seats and sporty steering wheel, 21-inch forged alloy wheels, digital key, rear electronic slip differential, Bose sound system and a 12.3-inch touchscreen. Prices start at £65,000 and rise to £66,250.
The Hyundai is expensive compared to other performance EVs like the Volkswagen ID.3 GTX at £47,000 and the MG4 XPower at £36,000.
VERDICT
Hyundai has proved that an electric car isn’t just a tool for getting around.
The Ioniq 5 N is a car tailored to driving enthusiasts and is in many ways a groundbreaking vehicle. The driving experience and feel of the car are unique and the N could break the ice between EV sceptics and full-blown car enthusiasts, despite the price.
Writer's Block
All was quiet – except for the gentle snoring of the Cockapoo stretched out on the tartan carpet under her desk. The air should have been filled with the sound of fingers rattling across the keyboard, and words of wisdom ricocheting off the walls and ceiling. Instead, Camille stared miserably at the blinking cursor on her blank computer screen.
‘Oh, Bertie!’ she sighed. ‘Have YOU got any ideas?’ At the sound of his mistress’s voice, the puppy slowly opened one eye, before going back to sleep again. The walls of the study were lined with mahogany shelving overflowing with books of all sizes –including four or five dictionaries (one in French), a Fowler’s Modern English Usage, and a Roget’s Thesaurus. On the shelf below, a line of matching hardback novels was neatly arranged in chronological order. The first book was titled: “HELENE PERRINE INVESTIGATES” – by CAMILLE LE PEN”.
Suzy looked at the row of thrillers she had written over the past ten years – each one a Sunday Times Best Seller. Yes, Commissaire Helene Perrine, the famous French lady detective, had been an unprecedented success! She’d certainly given Hercule Poirot a run for his Belgian money!
There was a light tap and Greg popped his head around the door.
‘Hi Suzy!’ he said. ‘Just made a brew – fancy a cuppa?’
Suzy, AKA Camille Le Pen, nodded.
‘Thanks, love,’ she replied, smiling.
‘How’s it going?’ her husband asked, placing a mug of steaming hot tea on the table beside her.
Suzy pulled a face. ‘Not good,’ she replied. ‘I’ve got writer’s block. My mind’s a complete blank.’
‘Well, you’d better crack on,’ Greg said. ‘You’ve got less than twenty-four hours to finish it . . . I’ll leave you in peace,’ he added, closing the door behind him. Before becoming a successful writer, Suzy served in the police force for many years, rising to the rank of Detective Chief Inspector before her retirement. This invaluable experience of solving crimes, gave her the expert knowledge to write the first of many Commissaire Perrine novels.
For the umpteenth time, Suzy looked vacantly at her empty computer screen. The flashing cursor was beginning to irritate her. She slowly sipped her tea, playing for time. But the deadline for finishing her writing was fast approaching.
Now awake, the puppy yawned, and gave Suzy a look as if to say: ‘You’re a writer. Write something!’
Later, Greg returned to check on her progress.
‘Still not finished?’ he retorted, looking at the blank screen. ‘What! Don’t tell me you’ve not even started! What’s the matter with you? No one would guess you’re a top-selling writer with several million book sales to her credit! Tomorrow’s a very important day for you, Suzy! Just keep it simple! The clock’s ticking . . .
Then, suddenly – a light bulb moment! Jolted by her husband’s outburst, Camille Le Pen is seized with inspiration! As if by magic, her fingers skip over the computer keyboard like greased lightning . . .
The sea of upturned faces waited patiently in expectation. The town hall was packed to capacity. Camille Le Pen shuffled noisily to her feet, and took a deep breath. This was the moment she had been dreading.
‘Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen . . . and fellow writers. I must admit that I struggled to compose this speech. Novelists can be shy people, and I didn’t want to come across as too cocky, too full of my own importance. The tone had to be just right. “Keep it simple”, my husband lectured me.
And so, it is with a great sense of pride that I stand before you this afternoon to accept this prestigious award. It is not every day that an author, like myself, receives the Woman’s Prize for Fiction. I am truly grateful! I would like to begin by thanking my agent; my publisher; my devoted husband Greg; Bertie, my adorable puppy . . .
‘I’m just about to start writing the sequel to the series of my Helene Perrine novels – so, if anyone’s got any ideas . . .'
Phones without fear
As children go into their first or second year at secondary school, many parents will start being pressured to provide them with a smartphone because “everybody else has one”.
They have a point: many kids conduct much of their social lives via phone apps, and don’t want to miss out. But you know that there’s a lot of unpleasant stuff online. The good news is that Apple and Android phones have some tools to help ensure your tween uses a smartphone safely.
On an iPhone, the features you want are in Settings > Family. Here you can set up Screen Time for family members, a feature enabling you to change safety settings for their phone and other devices. You can block specific apps, set time limits on others and set content restrictions.
These features will cover the basics for most people, but if you want even more control there are multiple parental-control apps from big names in computer security. One of the best known is Norton Family, which not only blocks content and does so even better than the Apple and Google apps but also enables you to see a child’s search, streamed video and browsing history.
NORTON FAMILY Norton is one of the best-known names in PC security and this cross-platform app runs on phones and computers with effective parental controls, app blocking, time limits and search history reporting. £14.99 per year
The Android equivalent is an app called Family Link Screen Time and Family Link let you set content restrictions for the phone’s default internet browser. The restrictions can’t block everything, but they do a pretty good job of reducing the risk of dodgy content getting through, and you can also block specific sites. Family Link and Apple’s Find My app both enable you to locate your tween. In the case of Family Link, you can set up notifications regarding specific places, so for example you can get Google to ping you when your tween arrives at or leaves school or a friend’s house.
QUSTUDIO
This provides detailed reporting and fine-grained app control and can let you know who they’ve been calling or who’s been calling them.
£39 per year
AURA
This US app was judged the best parental app by the tech site Techradar last year, thanks to its ability to warn you about dodgy content and other kids’ bullying behaviour in games.
$99 per year
NET NANNY
Net Nanny’s focus is on inappropriate content, enabling you to block and be alerted of attempts to view pornography and other unsuitable content. It’s available for PC, Mac and iOS but not Android.
$59 per year
Golden September
Reap what you have sown September is a grand month for harvesting the fruits of your labours. The shorter days might find you picking autumn raspberries, enjoying the last of your peas and runner beans, trying to harvest the lettuces before the slugs reduce them to slime, picking your courgettes and digging up your remaining potatoes, making sure not to leave any behind. This is also the beginning of the harvest for early apple varieties, as well as for pears, medlars and quince. September is an excellent time to assess the success of your outdoor space. Did it perform in the way you hoped? Did you have enough colour, adequate screening from the wind, usable shade and shelter from sun and rain, and visual interest that delighted you? Was your paving or hard surfacing ideal for
your needs? Did you get around to using your garden table and chairs as often as you hoped? If not – why? It’s a good time to move things around and to plan for next year.
Bear in mind that, with climate change, seasons are likely to gradually merge over time. A hot summer has never been guaranteed in the UK so we should work with what we are given. The winters tend to be warmer than those in the past. Many insects can now survive over the cool season and there are likely to be continental pests that can now thrive. Keep an eye out for pests and try to attract as many birds as possible to the garden so that they can clean up. It is thought that our feathery friends will eventually develop a taste for box caterpillars, for example, given a few more seasons of plenty.
This can be a wonderfully golden and generous month, with soft light levels and welcome warmth. Don’t forget to notice and enjoy it, rather than mourn the passing of summer.
Good gardeners tend to be forward-thinking If shape, lush greenery or colour were lacking in your garden this year, consider adding plants as architectural features and perennials for colour. Plant aromatics around the pathways where a delicious scent will be released as you walk through, and place energising specimens in key locations to rejuvenate the soul. Specimen plants or artwork are all sculptural forms that act as punctuation marks in a garden. They hold the interest, providing emphasis. Try adding balls or pyramids of evergreens to provide refinement, contoured hedges for a calming flow, espalier-trained fruit trees to add a touch of class and create a screen, or the bold spiky leaves of something like agave to add drama and style. Multi-stemmed trees or clearstemmed large shrubs are visually effective against a plain wall, whilst verticals such as Italian cypresses or fastigiate yew are timeless, lending an air of sophistication with a classical feel. Playing with ideas and moving things around are part of the gardening fun, and this is the perfect time to indulge!
Love at first bite
TV presenters, co-hosts, chef and home cook – not to mention husband and wife – John Torode and Lisa Faulkner are set to return to our TV screens in September.
Melbourne-born John Torode MBE is a much-loved celebrity chef and presenter on our TV screens, best known as co-host and judge alongside Greg Wallace on BBC One’s MasterChef series.
This will be the ninth series of John and Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen, and they’ll also be celebrating their debut cookbook, John & Lisa’s Kitchen. The ten-part series will air on Saturday mornings.
Says John: “We are back! We have been preparing for series nine of Weekend. To have our very first ever book together to go alongside will make this series extra special.”
Adds Lisa: "Weekend Kitchen never feels like work for us, which is why we love it so much.”
Food of love
It was a love of food and passion for cooking that brought the couple together when actress and presenter Lisa took part in the 2010 series of Celebrity MasterChef, which she went on to win, while John was co-judge. They started dating two years later, became engaged on Christmas Day in 2018, and tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at Aynhoe Park in Northamptonshire in 2019.
Lisa has said previously: “It seems like John and I work together all the time, but we don’t. If John’s filming MasterChef, I don’t really see him because he comes
back late, and if I’m filming away, we don’t spend lots of time together. When we work together, I love it.”
Lisa lost her mother when she was 16 and has also spoken frankly about her infertility, ectopic pregnancy, several miscarriages and three gruelling rounds of IVF before first fostering and then adopting daughter Billie with her then-husband Chris Coghill in 2006. Lisa, 52, is also a devoted stepmother to John’s four children from his previous relationships.
Despite being familiar faces on our TV screens, John and Lisa, who live in North London, keep their lives private. However, speaking recently, John said: “I’ve never chatted to somebody so much in all my life. It’s really weird. What’s the secret to a happy relationship? Respect. Give and take.
“Allowing each person to breathe and have their say. People say: ‘She takes the mickey out of your accent and you prod her…’ That’s our relationship, it’s a good one.”
John and Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen is back on ITV1 and ITVX on Saturday mornings, produced by ITV Studios Daytime and sponsored by Waitrose. The book, John & Lisa’s Kitchen, is published by Quadrille, priced at £25, with photography by Dan Jones.
COMMUNITY GARDENING GROUP
DON'T KNOW ONE END OF A SPADE FROM ANOTHER?
Whether you do or not, you would be welcome at our friendly community gardening group. Formed initially as one of Measham Medical Unit’s Social Prescribing groups, we aim to offer exercise and social contact as a means to bolster physical and emotional well-being and improve our public spaces at the same time.
We currently look after 3 sites in Measham, meeting on a Monday at 10.00, to work until 11.15 or so, when we head to the Age UK Cafe on Measham High St for tea and biscuits. (Own cost : £1)
Some members also tend an allotment in Appleby Magna — organic, zero air miles, fruit and veg!
Call or text Linda on 0745 299 1949.
Charming Channel Islands
Nestled between the UK and France, the Channel Islands have long been recognised for their holiday appeal. Owned by the British crown, but not actually part of the UK, they offer British tourists hopes of a warmer climate and a touch of the exotic, without the need to cross borders.
The archipelago is made up of five main islands, the largest and most populated being Jersey and Guernsey. Closer to the coast of Normandy than the UK’s shores, the weather here tends to be milder. English and French are widely spoken, and although you’ll see road signs and street names in French, most of the population speaks English. To top it off, the islands are easily accessible from many places in the UK. You can catch a ferry from Poole and Portsmouth to Jersey and Guernsey, and direct planes fly from airports such as Exeter, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow.
Visit Jersey Zoo
Founded by writer and naturalist
under Nazi occupation, leaving behind sobering reminders of the horrors of WWII. These include the remains of the Lager Sylt concentration camp on the island of Alderney, the wartime memorabilia of Guernsey’s La Vallette Underground Military Museum and – perhaps most poignantly – the Jersey War Tunnels, the remains of a Nazi underground hospital converted into an interactive museum.
Find your favourite beach
Gerald Durrell in 1959, Jersey Zoo is widely considered one of the best in the world. It also plays an important role in the conservation and breeding of species that are under threat, and their reintroduction into the wild.
Visit to see endangered creatures such as Andean bears, orangutans and lowland gorillas, and even stay overnight thanks to the zoo’s unique camping programme.
Discover WWII relics
Between 1940 and 1945, the Channel Islands came
The Channel Islands have no shortage of sandy beaches to lay your towel on – in fact, some are so beautiful, you’ll almost forget you’re in the British Isles! On the island of Herm, the azure waters of Shell Beach wouldn't look out of place in the Caribbean. Then there’s the sheltered Portelet beach in Jersey, which offers a perfect swimming lagoon at low tide.
Explore by foot
The Channel Islands offer a fantastic network of coastal pathways from which to soak up the islands’ spectacular scenery. Walk along quiet clifftop paths, stopping to savour the scent of subtropical plants, and look out for cormorants, oystercatchers and even puffins if you’re lucky. Along the way, you’ll be treated to views of sandy bays, rugged cliffs, hidden coves and farmland dotted with Jersey cows.
Take to the water
Jersey was once the centre of Europe’s surf scene, and the sport is still as popular as ever among locals. The three-mile stretch of St. Ouen’s Bay on the west coast of the island remains one of Jersey’s main surfing locations. Guernsey’s surf scene is smaller, with most local surfers chasing the swell at Vazon Bay.
Gnocchi Con Tomate
The crisp bounce of the gnocchi replaces the bread traditionally used in Spanish ‘pan con tomate’ and takes it from a light lunch to a more substantial meal for one!
Detail...
Serves 1
Preparation time 5 minutes
Cooking time 5 minutes
You will need...
• 2 good-quality large vine tomatoes
• 1 clove garlic, peeled and grated
• Flaky sea salt
• Extra virgin olive oil
• 150g gnocchi
• 5g fresh basil leaves, torn if large
Method...
1. Start by grating your tomatoes onto your serving bowl or plate. Use the large hole of the grater and grate until you are left with the skin of the tomato, which you can discard. Add the garlic to the tomato and mix together. Season well with salt and a good drizzle of olive oil.
2. Heat a frying pan over a medium-high heat and add another good drizzle of olive oil to the pan. Add the gnocchi and fry for 4-5 minutes until golden and crispy. Season with salt then spoon over the tomato mixture.
3. Scatter the basil over the top before serving.
More than eight million Brits live alone. This recipe is extracted from One Pot, One Portion recipes for people who eat, cook or live alone, but are tired of washing up, by Eleanor Wilkinson, out now, published Ebury Press, priced at £22, with photography by Dan Jones.
ASHBY u3a
AFTERNOON TALK WITH...
ANDREW BARSON
A talk about 'Leicestershire Links'
Andrew Barson is the Local Area co-ordinator for Ashby de la Zouch in respect of the organisation called Leicestershire Links. This is a Leicestershire County Council led initative and it's aim is to improve the health and well being of individuals and communities. They work with GP surgeries, adult social care teams and provide support to those in need. Come along to the Congregational Church, Kilwardby Street, Ashby-de-la-Zouch LE65 2FQ
[Look out for our flag on the pavement outside] on Tuesday 24th Sept. Doors open at 1.30pm for 2pm start. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available – along with a warm welcome. If you are not a member of Ashby u3a why not come along as our guest for a ‘taster’ visit? For more information go to ashbyu3a.co.uk or email:- members@ashbyu3a.co.uk
Small pets...
Children often pester their parents for a pet, particularly if a friend has one. The dog or cat option is a big commitment though, in terms of both care and life span. A smaller pet probably won’t be around when your darling has left home, but it still allows children to enjoy ownership. The choices will usually be between a rabbit and a rodent, such as a guinea pig, hamster, rat or mouse.
RABBITS need quite a bit of space to move around in. The RSPCA recommends a space of 3m by 2m with a metre height for a pair of rabbits, meaning most are kept outdoors. Rabbits are cute and that makes them appealing to children. However, they need considerably more care than a caged rodent, live longer, and cost more to care for. Remember, too, that if you go on holiday, you’ll need someone to visit your property to take care of Lifespan: typically 8 to 12 years.
RODENTS are kept in a cage and, provided the enclosure is big enough, you can have several. They are typically kept indoors, making them easier to care for. The shorter life span means you’ll need to set your child’s expectations, but you won’t be left looking after them long after the youngster’s interest has waned.
Lifespan: hamsters and gerbils 2-3 years, 1-3 years for mice, guinea pigs 5-7 years.
