Wye February 2018 by The Village Directory

The

Village Directory February Edition • Issue 56 • Royal Mail

Wye Area

From a simple door swap to a full replacement kitchen...

QUALITY KITCHEN FACELIFTS

EST.

1999

Before • ®

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Shear Pawfection

Welcome Hi everyone, welcome to the first edition of 2018, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. December is always my opportunity to slow down, catch up on everything home related and thoroughly recharge my batteries. As much as I love, and need, my December break it’s so tough getting my brain back into gear on the return to work, especially when there’s a print deadline to meet just two weeks into the new year. It’s frightening how much a significant break can affect brain function, on the 2nd of January I sat at my desk, stared at the magazine on my screen and thought “Now how do I do this?”! The magazine will be 13 years old this year so you would think the mechanics of creating it were part of my being. Mind you, the opposite is also true, in the early days I experienced the effect of not taking a break and that’s far worse. Another thing I need to get back into gear with is my exercise. Christmas really piles on the pounds, but it’s the fitness aspect that concerns me most. I have a significant birthday in August and I aim to hit it fitter and leaner than I’ve been for many years. Wish me luck! February is the month of Romance with Valentine’s Day on the horizon but Mother’s Day is early this year, on the 11th March. Don’t be caught out, you know what they say about a Mother’s scorn!

Debbie T: 01233 720488 e: info@thevillagedirectory.co.uk e: events@thevillagedirectory.co.uk w: www.thevillagedirectory.co.uk March Issue Deadline 10th Feb 2018

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Time to Get Pruning by Pippa Greenwood

At this time of year the weather is often perfect for pruning and cutting back woody plants, and there’s a good chance that there are many pruning jobs that have built up over the last year and could benefit from your attention now - so take advantage of the fact that deciduous trees, shrubs, hedges and climbers are now devoid of leaves and get stuck in. Here’s how to make sure your pruning will really benefit your plants: • If you have a relatively small expanse of hedge or are looking to roughly reshape a shrub, a good, sharp pair of shears should do the job. Make sure they are well-oiled so that the blades move smoothly and then angle the blades to make a level trimmed surface. When you are cutting along the top of a hedge you may want to use a guide line so that you make a neat and level surface - a taut string will do. For large hedges consider using a powered hedge cutter or hedge trimmer, but make sure you are happy with the weight of the machine and can use it safely!

• When the pruning of shrubs and trees includes the removal of stems at various heights and of varying thicknesses, it is worth using some ‘loppers’. These are available in various handle lengths, while some even have telescopic handles so that you can reach up higher without having to use a ladder or platform. They are much better at cutting through relatively thick stems than shears or secateurs and yet also allow for accurate positioning of the cut. If you are having to cut back branches above your head it is worth wearing some protective headgear, as well as goggles to protect your eyes from falling debris. • Everybody with even just a single shrub in their garden needs a pair of secateurs and the better the quality, the better the job you can do. Secateurs can be used for the most precise pruning of smaller woody stems. Provided they are good and sharp, you can make a perfectly clean and accurate cut. Always cut to an outwardfacing bud (so that the new growth produced from that bud grows outwards).

Secateurs are good for removing dead and dying stems as well as for formative pruning (where you are helping to ensure the plant grows in the direction you want it to), and for pruning to encourage flowering. If you are pruning out dead and dying material, bin it or burn it in case it carries infection. • When it comes to pruning out or tidying up larger branches on trees and shrubs then a proper pruning saw is what you need. If you choose one with one or (better still) two lines of teeth you can produce a very accurate and clean cut with relatively little effort. If you have fruit trees to prune then this is the perfect tool for the job. Use a sawing action for best results and again, if cutting above your head, wear protective headgear and goggles to protect your eyes. Make the pruning cut a few millimetres from the main stem to which the branch you are removing is joined. A cut like this will heal over much more quickly and the wound will be smaller and less prone to fungal rotting. • Before you get carried away,

The Garden check the best pruning time for the plants you have in mind. Most hedges and many shrubs can be cut back now, but if you are after a good display of flowers make sure that you prune at the correct time or else you may end up pruning out the plant’s potential. • Some trees - mainly those in the Prunus family such as cherries, plums, apricots, damsons, peaches and nectarines - are very prone to a potentially fatal fungal infection known as ‘silver leaf’. This is less likely to cause problems if these trees are pruned in the summer months, so don’t prune them now unless there is no alternative and you are sure you are prepared to take the risk.

• Always make sure that pruning tools are really sharp. If they are in the slightest bit blunt then the job will not only take a lot more effort from you, but may also end up with the plant being damaged, as the cut made will be jagged or stems may be crushed. • Create sloping cuts whenever you can so that rain and moisture runs off and does not accumulate (wetness encourages wood rotting), and cut close to but not on top of a bud as this will allow new growth without dieback. When you are using shears or large-scale trimmers you cannot do this, so always use secateurs, loppers or a saw.

of the plant is like, and just where you are best off removing the next bit - if you are close up it is harder to see how your pruning is affecting the overall shape of the plant. Visit Pippa’s website www. pippagreenwood.com and you’ll find some great gardening things: ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ (where you receive your chosen garden-ready vegetable plants in the spring accompanied by weekly advice and tips from Pippa) plus Nemaslug, bio-controls, gardening tools, raised bed kits, Grower Frames, signed books and more!

• Stand back from time to time when you are pruning and see what the overall appearance

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Don’t Leave Your Clutter To The Kids! by Kate McLelland

If you have children, you’ve probably thought about what you might leave them when you die. Maybe your home, if you are lucky enough to own a property? Some money? Or perhaps there are precious family heirlooms that you’ve planned to share out between them? Most of us are happy to make a will, setting out how we will dispose of these assets, but not enough of us stop to consider what will happen to the rest of our possessions: the bits and pieces we accumulate throughout our lives. Every item, including furniture, ornaments, clothes, framed pictures, souvenirs, books and papers – not to mention boxes of stuff that you’ve been meaning to sort out for years – will need to be picked over and subsequently sold, given away or discarded.

Almost inevitably it will be your children who are left to scale this mountain of possessions. Most people who have had the job of clearing a parent’s home will tell you that having to sort through the myriad objects that represented a

person’s life is not an easy task, particularly when you are still grieving. As well as organising your funeral and dealing with all the legal and administrative tasks that accompany a death, your children will have to spend hours at your property, emptying the contents of cupboards and drawers into black plastic sacks. Whose responsibility is it anyway? When a person dies, a grant of probate is needed for the executor of the will to act on important financial matters, but there is no official framework in place to handle the disposal of household items and possessions – legally known as ‘chattels’ or ‘fittings’. While chattels may have little monetary value, they can nevertheless hold great significance for family members on an emotional level. If two or more family members can’t agree what to do with mum or dad’s possessions, it may lead to arguments and even to the break up of relationships. If there is a difficult family dynamic to begin with, the

effort of clearing out a parent’s home may make things even worse, particularly if there is pressure to act quickly because the property is being sold. When Joyce Petersen died, her two sons Peter and Daniel – who had previously fallen out and no longer spoke to one another – needed to clear out her two-bedroom house in Broadstairs, Kent. Unfortunately there was a stand-off over the house clearance as her sons couldn’t agree who should be responsible for undertaking the work. The house had still not been cleared by the completion date for the property sale, so the new owner was forced to take on Joyce’s possessions – including a set of family photographs – when she became the legal owner of the house. Some days after the sale had gone through, Joyce’s younger son Daniel sent an emotional message to the owner via his solicitor, asking her to save the photographs, but there was no happy ending to the story. The owner told him that the album had been dumped at the local waste and recycling

centre, along with many other deeply personal possessions that belonged to his mother. How can I cut my clutter? While it’s unreasonable to expect older people to clear out possessions that they still need and value, over time we all accumulate items that we seldom use, or even look at. If that applies to you, start by working systematically through cupboards and drawers, making three piles – things you want to keep, things you can recycle or give to a charity shop, and items you can throw away. Check through your clothes, eliminating anything that hasn’t been worn in the past two years: if you haven’t put it on within that period of time, it’s unlikely you’ll ever wear it again. Do an audit of your furniture. Once you’ve managed to sort through your possessions, you may find that some cupboards and drawers are now half empty. If so, think about combining your remaining possessions in one place so you can eliminate at least one piece of furniture. One way to avoid arguments after your death is to call the family together to discuss how they would like you to divide up the pieces that they value. You don’t have to give those things away now – just agree who will receive each item, encouraging family members to take a photo of the pieces they will take when the time comes. As you grow older you may need mobility aids to get around, so you’ll be glad of the extra space you have created through your de-cluttering efforts. You can also be reassured that by taking time to sort through your possessions now, you’ll be saving your family a lot of time, effort and heartache in future.

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Mowgli by Montgomery Vets

ello everyone, Mowgli here! Ebony and I hope you had a good Christmas and New Year. We had a great time here, although as usual it was very busy for us cats. With plenty of guests and visitors over Christmas (including Santa Paws of course - turns out that a cat can be really quite naughty and still get gifts….) we were both feeling quite exhausted by New Years Eve. Luckily for us some of our best friends came round so we were able to spend the evening purring on various laps while the humans played board games and waited for the New Year.

e were relieved when we heard Big Ben striking on the TV and we thought we could sneak off to bed. But it was not to be….. When our guests left they found a terrified lost collie dog sheltering on the drive. No bed for us! I took charge of operations and shouted instructions from the porch window. Luckily the humans soon got the idea and before long the poor dog had been given a rudimentary collar and lead and transferred to a warm bed in the garage. The dog had found the right house - not only did we have a superb feline team to organise things there were 3 vets and a zookeeper to help and one of them had a microchip scanner in the boot of their car!

ery luckily for the dog he turned out to have a microchip. Jane was probably Petlog’s first caller of 2018 and before long we found out that the poor dog’s name was Scrap and he came from Sellindge. His owners soon called and were on their way to get him. It seems that Scrap had been scared by the fireworks, panicked and got lost. I was still watching from the window when Scrap’s Mum arrived. They were very pleased to see each other and Ebony and I were relieved to finally curl up on the bed feeling like we had got 2018 off to a good start. We think this is a good reminder to be microchipped- I can’t think of

many worse things than being lost and having to sleep outside on someone’s drive- I might get frost on my very fine whiskers.

nyway, best wishes to all our feline friends and their owners for 2018. Hope you are all still keeping your resolutions We have resolved to help Jane clean up around the house more- anything we find on the floor we will take to the kitchen and post under the boot room door. Out of sight, out of mind! So far we are doing well. Some things are quite hard to post but we like a challenge!

~Mowgli

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The Probus Club of Ashford Spring Activities The Probus Club of Ashford meets twice monthly at Sandyacres Pavilion, Sandyhurst Lane, Ashford TN25 4PE. At present, the Rules only allow for Male Members. However our wives and Partners do join in with many of our activities. On the second Friday of each month we have a Coffee morning - to which our Ladies are invited – and at which we are entertained by an interesting ( and generally humorous ) Guest Speaker. On the fourth Friday there is a convivial and very enjoyable Member’s Lunch. A Probus Club is not a Retirement Club, but seeks to bring together local people who, having retired from the Professional and Business World, now have the time and interest to make new friends, and to enjoy new, or revisit old activities. Our Club already has a very active and competitive mixed Bowls section. In April, we are hoping to have the facility to play mixed Croquet, at a local club, whose players are a very friendly band. Additionally, many of our members belong to Walking Groups. Once a year, normally, we organise a short ( 4 nights ) Holiday in the UK, together with another Break to the near Continent. Additionally, we have Days Out to Places of Interest, and Theatre Trips.

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What are the different styles of shutters? There are three types of shutters: plantation, solid and cafĂŠ style. Most people go for the plantation style, which have slats (also known as louvers) that rotate open and closed to control light levels. Solid shutters are ideal for those wanting to create a more traditional look, and are designed to be folded back during the day and closed at night. Extremely ( ! shutters can be made to ' any size or shape

Shutters provide a chic and stylish alternative to blinds and curtains and are a cost-effective way to completely update the look and feel of a room. They are more hygienic too as they simply wipe clean and don't absorb the dust, unlike curtains or blinds. Shutters offer you a great deal of flexibility, for instance you can have different slat sizes, different colours and different panel designs. You also have more control over how much light enters the room. With blinds, there's relatively little light control flexibility. Shutters can also save you valuable pennies as they provide further insulation, which is particularly appealing in these cash strapped times. And finally, shutters last longer and are more 12 durable.

CafĂŠ style shutters are popular in restaurants and cafes, hence the name. With this style, the shutters normally cover just the bottom half of the window. Shutters can help retain heat â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a bonus for household bills

With tier-on-tier shutters, there are two sets of shutters, one above the other. You can open each set individually, which gives you more flexibility and more light control. These are ideal if you have larger bay windows.

Which styles would suit which types of windows? Solid shutters are mainly used in Victorian and older style properties. They keep out more light and offer the ultimate privacy. This type of shutter is perfect in a room with a simple and minimal dĂŠcor, and works particularly well in country cottages where they look quaint folded back during the day. Solid shutters with a solid lower half but with movable slats on top work fabulously on French doors, giving a lovely Continental feel that will certainly remind you of your summer holiday.

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With the plantation shutters, you can really get creative with the design, the colour and the rods, and as such these types of shutters suit most spaces. Can shutters still be fitted in awkward spaces? Shutters are perfect for awkward places! There are very few spaces that can't accommodate shutters For further information advice on awnings Shutters can help retain heat, a bonus for household bills.>> and accessories please contact JLS Blinds & Shutters on 01233 226570

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Quirky Britain Cat Cafés “An Americano and two tabby cats, please … “ by Kate McLelland As you sip your skinny latte in Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium, you never know who might appear on your lap. It could be fluffy ‘Petra’, soulful ‘Tink’ or any of the other celebrity rescue cats (with hundreds of Twitter followers) who live in the quirky East London café. In this strange combination of restaurant and luxury cats’ home, the feline inhabitants can exercise on a giant ‘hamster wheel’, scamper along walkways or snooze on various raised platforms around the venue as customers eat and drink. AN A-MEWS-ING TREND? Lady Dinah’s - the first ever cat café to open in Britain - was the brainchild of Australian Lauren Pears, who set out to create a relaxing retreat where young professionals living in rented accommodation (where pets are not allowed) could interact with the resident moggies. Although Lauren’s original vision was to create a peaceful urban retreat where customers could relax with a book, chat with friends or even hold meetings, she hadn’t bargained for the enthusiasm with which British cat lovers would greet her new enterprise. Within the first two weeks

of opening in 2014 Lauren had received a staggering 20,000 bookings, and the café turned out to be anything but the tranquil enclave she had originally imagined. It has since become more of a tourist attraction than a place where local office workers can pet a friendly feline, and she has now been forced to limit visits to 90 minutes to accommodate all of her customers.

CRUEL OR KIND? Nottingham’s Kitty Café which has recently opened a second branch in Leeds - offers a home to abandoned cats, rescue cats and cats with medical issues that need some TLC. It also acts as a rehoming centre, so customers who bond with their furry table companion can join the café’s adoption programme with a view to taking their favourite feline home.

Although the world’s first cat café opened in Taiwan in 1998, Lauren Pears was ahead of the curve when she started making plans to open Lady Dinah’s in London. “After I did some research, I saw there were a few popping up in Europe and spotted that a trend was on its way,” she recently told the website thisismoney.co.uk. But since 2014 a number of copycat ventures (no pun intended) have sprung up in towns and cities across the country. You can now call in to a cat café in London, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Derby, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, Newcastle, Oldham, Oxford, Aberdeen or Edinburgh, and it’s almost inevitable that we’ll see more of these cat-themed eateries opening up in future.

Cat cafés are big business, but not everyone feels the love. There has been a lot of criticism from animal charities, including Cats Protection and the RSPCA. Cats Protection refuses to accept donations from cat cafés due to concerns about “the welfare implications of having a number of cats in a limited space with groups of people unknown to them coming and going throughout the day.” The charity goes on to explain that “(Cats) have evolved as solitary animals and generally do not choose to live in social groups.” The RSPCA has equally strong views about placing cats in what it considers to be an unsuitable environment. In its Science Group review of 2016 the charity writes: “Our aim is to dissuade

new cafés from opening and to advise those already in operation of the appropriate and necessary steps that should be taken to minimise potential feline stress. We have also raised our concerns for the welfare of cats living in cat cafés through media opportunities.”

we make.” She admits that on occasions she has been forced to retire cats from café life if they have exhibited signs of unhappiness or stress, and she has now reluctantly decided to ban younger children because she lacks the staff numbers to supervise them.

However most café owners claim they are doing their best to keep their star turns happy and healthy. At Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium guests are asked to follow a set of rules when interacting with the cats. This includes not picking them up or stroking them when they are asleep and avoiding flash photography. Owner Lauren Pears comments: “Our concern for the cats’ wellbeing governs pretty much every decision

The Kitty Café has devised a set of rules for customers and publishes separate guidance for adults and children. The adult rules include no carrying hot drinks, vaping, playing music or using laser pens. Adults are reminded to respect that the café is “the cats’ home” and warned not to pick up cats, corner them or touch their “eyes, mouths, whiskers or tummies.” Children are requested not to shout, scream and “push or pull”

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the cats. They are asked to stoke them “nicely and gently”, while adults are reminded to make sure their children follow the rules. If the public’s enthusiastic response is anything to go by, cat cafés are likely to remain a feature of our high streets for many years to come. However, given the difficult balance between keeping cats and customers happy, it seems unlikely that the controversy surrounding these felinefocused establishments will end anytime soon.

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Into the New Year Books about awakenings and new beginnings to see you into 2018. The Power – Naomi Alderman Not a new release this one, but well worth a read if you missed it back in 2016. Teenage girls across the world discover they have the power to hurt, and even kill, with just their bare hands. And they have the ability to awaken that same power in other women. Now that men are the weak ones, how will the gender balance shift? An engaging read that twists modern day happenings and examines the dark side of power. Gripping, thought-provoking and a real conversation starter, The Power is ideal for book clubs. Me. You. A Diary – Dawn French This book combines writing your own diary with taking a peek into Dawn French’s. She shares her thoughts each month, along with various insights into her life, and invites you to do the same. The idea is that, by the end of the year, you’ll have a ‘fatter, scruffier book that is written by me but totally personalised by you.’ With various writing prompts, this book makes keeping a diary altogether easier. The perfect start to the new year.

How to be Champion: My Autobiography – Sarah Millican Sarah Millican’s autobiography is like a glorious ramble through her

life. The book is split into chapters with headers such as ‘Things I’ve Been Bullied For’, ‘Why I’m Not A Criminal’ and ‘My Love Of Stationery’. It’s part autobiography and part self-help guide. Nothing is off limits, so it’s probably not the book for you if you’re not keen on swear words or reading about bodily functions. However, if you want a book that’ll make you feel good about yourself and is snortyour-tea-out-of-your-nose-funny, buy it now. History of Wolves – Emily Fridlund 14 year old Linda lives in an ex-commune out in the woods. Lonely, socially-inexperienced and left to her own devices by her parents, Linda craves friends and a sense of belonging. When a new family moves nearby, she befriends the young mother and regularly babysits the four year old child. But she soon discovers that all is not right. The choices Linda has to make to keep her new found family could have tragic consequences. Compelling reading. The Art of Hiding – Amanda Prowse Nina seems to have the perfect life, but it soon starts to unravel when her husband is killed in a

car crash. Left with two children to care for, a mountain of debt, and the growing realisation that her husband wasn’t all he seemed, Nina has to fight to rebuild a life for herself and her family. An enjoyable easy read – perfect for long winter’s nights. Mrs Osmond – John Banville Banville picks up the story of Isabel Osmond (née Archer) from where we left her in the classic The Portrait of a Lady. While this novel will likely appeal most to fans of Henry James’s work, Banville retells enough of the original story for Mrs Osmond to work as a stand-alone piece. Upon learning of her husband’s betrayal, Isabel has journeyed to London, leaving him behind in Italy. Away from her husband and reunited with her friends, Isabel starts to rediscover her desire for independence. Lively characters, elegant prose and engaging dialogue combine to make this a very enjoyable read.

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L i v e Ja z z 2018

T h e Fo l k e s t o n e J a z z C l u b At T h e To we r To B o o k C a l l : 0 1 3 0 3 2 7 7 1 7 5 All gigs start at 8pm ~ All gigs £12 admission Seat Bookings: 01303 277175 Email: twinklewood@btinternet.com Website: www.towertheatrefolkestone.co.uk Feb 1st Pete Long’s -- Pocket Basie

Jacqui Hicks with The Brian Dee Trio Feb 8th

Feb 13th Direct from Ronnie Scotts

The Artie Zaitz Quartet Feb 22nd The music of Al Jolson “ Jazz’n

Jolson “

March 1st Brandon Allen Quartet play the

music of Gene Ammons

March 8th Alan Barnes Sextet play Duke

Ellington & Johnny Hodges

March 13th Craig Milverton Quartet play

Oscar Peterson

March 22nd From New York City -Marlene

verPlanck & her trio

March 29th Derek Nash Accoustic Quartet

T h e Fo l k e s t o n e J a z z C l u b i s a n o n p r o f i t m a k i n g j a z z c l u b. R u n b y & fo r p e o p l e w i t h a l i k e m i n d e d i n t e re s t i n OUR KIND OF MUSIC D e r i c k Wo o d l a n d 0 1 3 0 3 2 6 0 3 3 0

Fe b r u a r y 5th Woodchurch Local History Society meets on the first Monday of the month at Woodchurch Memorial Hall, 7:30pm. Our first speaker of the year (Alex Ferris) will give a presentation entitled ‘Plague Doctor of the Weald’ on Monday March 5th. Why not come and give us a try? New members are very welcome indeed, paying £10 annual membership. Visitors pay £2 at the door. Please ring Geoff, 01233 860393 for more information. 9th Woodchurch Film Society will be showing Manchester By The Sea. Doors open 7pm for 7.30pm screening. Tickets: £4 (members), £5 (non-members). All available at the door. Venue: The Memorial Hall, The Green, Woodchurch TN26 3PF. Refreshments: hot & cold drinks plus our usual delicious home-made cakes for sale during the interval. 10th Spiritualist Meetings held every Saturday evening, at Highbury Hall. Highbury Lane. Tenterden. TN30 6LE. Doors open at 6pm ready for 6.30pm start. Refreshments afterwards. All are welcomed. February 10th - Iain Mason £4. February 17th - Stephen Morrell. February 24th - Philip Holden from London, £4. PS. We also have a page on facebook, Tenterden Spiritualist Centre. 15th Iden Village Hall Bingo, held every once a fortnight. Doors opening at 2pm ready for eyes down at 2.30pm. 20th Ashford Flower Club is holding its Annual General Meeting at Furley Hall, Maidstone Road, Ashford TN24 8TX. The formal part of the evening will be followed by a short floral demonstration by Trudie Easton. The meeting starts at 7.30pm (doors open 7.00pm). Anyone interested in joining the Club is very welcome to attend. 21st The Weald of Kent Computer Club will meet in Biddenden New Village Hall at 7.30 pm. This evening Phil Birch, of Highway Learning and Support, will be giving a talk on “Security and your computer.”. Annual membership is £10.00. Nonmembers are welcome at £2 a visit. Full details: http:// www.wealdofkentcomputerclub.co.uk/. Enquiries: secretarywkcc@yahoo.co.uk 23rd Brabourne & Smeeth Gardeners’ Society will meet 7.00 for 7.30pm in the village hall when our speaker with be Ian Rickards of Kent Wildlife Trust who will be giving a presentation on “The Wildlife of Hothfield Heathlands”. Those who came on our escorted tour last year will know how interesting this area of Kent is, we are planning another trip on Wednesday 9th May. For further enquiries please

What’s On

contact Wendy Sanders on 01303 813 451 or email brabournewendy@gmail.com. Visitors will always be made welcome. 28th The Biddenden Horticultural Society meets in the New Village Hall. Mrs Elizabeth Hall is going to start the year with a talk entitled “Dragons: Animal, Vegetable and Miscellaneous”. If you would like our events calendar for 2018 contact Irene Orsborne on 01580 291777 or Lesley Lidgett on 01580 291931 or visit the website www. biddendenhorticulturalsociety.co.uk. Our usual fees for Village Hall meetings are Members £2, Non Members £3. Annual membership £5. New members always welcome.

Aldington School Table Top Sale Saturday 24th February 2018 Aldington School Hall 10am until 12Noon

Ma r c h

17th The first event of the High Halden Horticultural Society ‘s year is a quiz night in the Memorial Hall at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Entry is £3, there will be a great raffle, bring your own refreshments. Contact 850579 to reserve a table

Refreshments served Set up from 9am £7 a Table Book at:

aldingtonptfa@aldington.kent.sch.uk

30th Lydd Airport Art Exhibition. Easter Weekend 12.00 - 5.00 Sat & Sun, 31st March & 1st April 10.00 - 5.00, Mon 2nd April 10.00 - 4.00. Free admission and car parking. Refreshments available in restaurant. Local Artists supporting the Air Ambulance. Further information from Anita Warden 01797 367734 St Martins Church Aldington invites you to our

27th February, 2018

10 -12am

at Silcock’s Farm, St.Michaels, Tenterden, TN30 6TL

NEW!!

£5 PER TABLE. TO BOOK PLEASE CALL: Sue 01233 720652 Proceeds to charity.

[Type here]

A FUN MEET-UP FOR non-ﬁction WRITERS Aldington Village Hall

be inspired Workshops for Positive Change

T: 01233 878474 M: 07968 785714 www.yvonnefernandonlp.co.uk

Come and find out what this new group is planning for 2018 and

u network u tell

us about your writing project the in’s and out’s of self-publishing u share ideas about marketing & social media u have fun with mind-mapping u set some achievable goals u discuss

The group is led by Zoe Meyer, writer and publishing consultant, who enjoys sharing her ideas and wide experience with fellow authors.

£10 to include coffee and cake Book now! Text 07985 012046 or email zoe@zoesbooks.co.uk

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Leisure

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Chorizo & Prawn Paella Serves 4

Ready in 50 minutes

This one-pan supper can be on the dinner table in less than one hour. Serve with a crisp green salad and some crusty bread for a delicious and filling midweek meal.

Ingredients: • 1tbsp olive oil • 250g chorizo sausage, diced • 1 large onion, peeled and chopped • 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed • 4 celery stalks, chopped • 225g paella rice • Few strands of saffron • 850ml hot chicken or vegetable stock • 200g raw king prawns (thawed if frozen), peeled with tails left on • Salt and freshly ground black pepper • 1 tsp paprika

Heat the oil in a large deep frying pan and fry the chorizo sausage for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently until browned. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add the onion, garlic and celery to the pan and fry gently for 8-10 minutes, stirring, until softened. Stir in the rice and saffron strands and cook for 1 minute, then pour in the stock. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 20-25 minutes, until the rice is almost tender and nearly all the liquid has been absorbed, stirring frequently. Add the chorizo and prawns to the pan and cook for a further 5-6 minutes, until the prawns are cooked through and pink. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper and serve in warmed bowls sprinkled with the paprika. Add some diced red or yellow pepper and a TIP handful of chopped fresh parsley for extra colour and flavour.

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Cake & Bake Perfect Pancakes Whip up a classic pancake batter to celebrate Shrove Tuesday. Simply serve the traditional way with sugar and lemon juice or try one of our extra special sweet or savoury serving ideas. Makes 8 - Ready in 30 minutes plus standing time Ingredients: • 100g plain flour • Pinch of salt • 1 large egg • 300ml milk (or milk and water mixed) • Sunflower oil or unsalted butter, for frying 1. Sift the flour into a large bowl, add the salt and make a well in the centre. Add the egg and beat with a balloon whisk, gradually drawing in some of the flour. 2. Slowly pour in the milk, whisking all the time and drawing in the rest of the flour, until you have a smooth batter which is about the consistency of single cream. 3. Stand the batter for about 30 minutes to allow the starch grains in the flour to soften and expand –this will give a lighter pancake. If the batter has thickened slightly then just whisk in a splash of milk. 4. Heat a little sunflower oil or a knob of butter in a non-stick shallow frying pan (about 20cm diameter)until almost smoking then quickly ladle in enough of the batter to thinly cover the base of the pan, swirling the pan to give an even layer. 5. Cook for 1-2 minutes until small air bubbles appear in the pancake then flip it over and cook for a further minute until golden. Repeat with the rest of the mixture, serving the pancakes as they are cooked or interleaving with baking paper and keeping warm in a low oven.

SWEET Choc ‘n’ nuts – spread warmed pancakes with chocolate and hazelnut spread then fold into quarters. Drizzle with warmed chocolate sauce and serve with toasted hazelnuts. Orange cream – heat 4tbsp thin-shred marmalade with 150ml orange juice in a frying pan and simmer for a few minutes until syrupy. Fold the pancakes and add to the pan, turning to coat in the syrup. Serve topped with whipped cream or crème fraiche. SAVOURY Cheese and bacon melts – add 2tsp dried Italian herbs to the pancake batter. Fill each cooked pancake with some grated Cheddar and 2 rashers crisply fried smoked bacon rashers. Fold over and pop in a hot oven for 10 minutes until the cheese has melted. Tuna parcels – place a spoonful of canned flaked tuna fish in the centre of each cooked pancake and top with some canned sweetcorn and chopped spring onion. Fold the pancakes to make parcels and enclose the filling. Serve with sweet chilli sauce.

Food & Domestic Services

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Repairs to... Washing Machines Cookers (Electric) Tumble Driers Dyson Vacuum Specialist Call Garry on 07958 640152 01233 632329

Local Markets Ashford Farmer’s Market First Sunday of every month from 10am to 2pm in the lower High Street. Charing Farmer’s Market Charing Church Barn 9 -11.30 every Thursday morning. Contact 01233 740176 Egerton Every Friday 2 - 4.30pm Millennium Hall Rolvenden - 01580 240763 Every Thursday 10am -12 noon St Mary’s Church and the Village Hall Rye Farmers Market Every Wednesday at Strand Quay 10am - 1 pm (From Midday Oct - April) Rye Market Every Thursday at the Cattle Market Car Park. Early till around 3pm (depending on the weather)

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New Depot - Come join us for a tea or coffee. Best prices in town!

Kitchens and Joinery

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Kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Corner

Kid’s Corner

Making STEM Fun by Kate Duggan kateduggan.co.uk STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) are the fastest growing industries in the world. Even if your child doesn’t fancy a career in STEM, they will need to use elements of it throughout their working life. According to The National Science Foundation, “To succeed in this new information-based and highly technological society, students need to develop their capabilities in STEM to levels much beyond what was considered acceptable in the past.” So how can you help your child to develop a real enjoyment for STEM? SCIENCE There are lots of children’s science sets available to buy, but you don’t actually need any fancy equipment to conduct simple experiments at home, such as: • Asking your child to add a few drops of oil to a glass of water. Discuss what they think will happen. Will the oil and water mix or stay separate? • Finding four old, dull two pence coins. Soak each one in a different liquid (water, coke, vinegar and lemon juice) for a few minutes to see which liquid cleans the coin the best. TECHNOLOGY Computer programming now features in the National Curriculum and many schools

offer basic coding clubs from Key Stage 2. Paul Lyons, IT Director at Ebuyer.com, explains, “Even if your child has no interest in becoming a software developer, they will benefit from skills such as problem solving and following instructions - which can be applied to other areas. Many parents may not know where to begin, but introducing educational aspects into children’s technology use at home can have a real impact on a child’s ability.” There are lots of resources available to help your child at home. Useful websites include: • scratch.mit.edu, which lets children aged six and up learn the basics of creating games online. • codecombat.com: while this American site is mainly aimed at teachers, you can sign up as a parent or student to access a free short course. • www.codeclub.org.uk, which lists coding clubs for 9-13 year olds across the UK. ENGINEERING K’Nex model building sets are a fun way to introduce engineering concepts. The K’Nex Education Introduction to Simple Machines: Levers and Pulleys Set, for example, contains more than 170 pieces, and instructions for building eight mini machines. You can also help your child to

make simple structures using household items. Straws and play dough are ideal materials for building model bridges. Or try searching www.instructables. com for instructions on making structures out of lolly sticks or toothpicks. MATHS Kjartan Poskitt, author of Murderous Maths and Ambassador for the National Young Mathematicians’ Awards 2017, says, “I always say that maths is like broccoli. You either like it or you hate it, but you have to have some because it’s good for you. If learning the tables is driving your child mad, what can you do to sauce them up? The secret is to play around with numbers and get to know them. Here are a couple of little facts and tricks to get you started: • If you write out the digits 1 2 3 4, you can turn them into 12 = 3 x 4. You can also do this with 5 6 7 8 because 56 = 7 x 8. • Pick any three consecutive numbers (e.g. 4, 5 and 6). Multiply the smallest by the biggest, and then add one. (So here we get 4 x 6 = 24, then 24 + 1 = 25). The answer is always the same as the middle number squared (5 x 5 = 25).”

Clubs & Societies

The Royal Air Forces Association meet on the 2nd Thursday each month at 7.30pm in Wye Village Hall. After a short business meeting we usually have a speaker followed by refreshments. Connection to the RAF is not necessary. We would be pleased to meet new members. Parking is not a problem. Contact: rita. elgar05@gmail.co.uk

Wye Historical Society – meets monthly from October to April in the Lady Joanna Thornhill School at 7.30pm. Subscriptions £10 per year; visitors welcome at £2 per meeting - no need to book. For more information see www.wyehistoricalsociety.org.uk.

Aldington Corner Quilters is a long established group

of friendly ladies meeting on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month at Aldington Village Hall, 7.00pm 9.00pm. We have a mix of beginners and experienced ladies who share their latest projects and ideas. We always welcome new members so if you are interested come along one evening and meet us. For more information contact Julie Coney - quirkyjules@gmail. com or call 01303 813944 (eve).

Aldington WI on 3rd Mon every month. All ladies welcome, 7 for 7.30 at The Walnut Tree, Aldington.

Ashford Model Railway Club - We meet on

The Brabourne and Smeeth Branch of the Royal British Legion meet every Second Tuesday in the

month at the Brabourne Baptist Church at 7.30 pm. New Members area always welcome, please contact George Taylor 01303 812165 or Ron Cooper 01303 813330

East Kent Morris Men Do you like dancing, beer,

socialising, music, having fun? Why not try Morris Dancing? We are recruiting for new members. Weekly Wednesday dance practices at Mersham Village Hall, 8pm to 10pm; afterwards we practise drinking in the pub opposite! No experience required. Why not give it a try? Details from www.ekmm.org.uk or 01795 536 262

Enjoy Learning offers enjoyable adult classes in NEW

ROMNEY, DYMCHURCH and HYTHE. We teach ART APPRECIATION & SPANISH CLASSES. The Spanish Classes are not for complete beginners, but if you have done a bit of Spanish in the past and would like to brush up your skills, the classes might be suitable. Cost £5 per week. For further details contact ANDREW and DEBBY on 01303 875542

Wednesday evenings at the barn café at Willesborough Windmill. between 7.00pm and 9.00pm, and the club would welcome new members. Club members are currently building a model of Rye in 00 gauge in the SR period. Contact John White on 01233 733416 for more information

Quilting Group held in the Oak Room, Smeeth TN25

Ashford Radio Aeromodellers, we have a field at

Sellindge Gardening Association meet on the 3rd

Ashford Soroptimists

Sellindge Table Top Sale the 1st Saturday of each

Sellindge for flying seven days a week, and fly indoors in Ashford Market on various Thursday evenings during the Autumn, Winter, & Spring, please visit www.araclub.co.uk for more details, or phone Iain on 07956501510, or myself (Roger) 01233 627694.

Second Tues of the month, 7.15pm, except August, in Tesco Crooksfoot Community Room. We are part of a global organisation whose aims are to improve the lives and status of women and girls through education. In addition we also have fun, with a programme of social activities. If you think you may be interested in joining us do please give us a call. Contact Sue Wood 01233 623902

Bilsington Ladies meet in Bilsington Village Hall 2nd

Thursday of the month at 2.15pm. Interesting speakers and a warm welcome awaits. Call Jan on 01233 641820.

Brabourne & Smeeth Gardeners’ Society We meet on the last Friday of the month at Brabourne & Smeeth Village Hall, 7.15 for 7.30pm. New members and visitors will be made very welcome. For further info call Wendy

Sanders 01303 813451 or email brabournewendy@ gmail.com.

6SA. If you are interested in quilting or patchwork why not come along and learn new skills and share your expertise with like minded people. Beginners and advanced levels are welcome. Bi-monthly meetings, for further information contact Marion on 01233 750319 Wednesday of the month in the Durling Hall Sellindge (next to the main hall) at 7.15pm for 7.30pm start. Our programme includes speakers, a summer show, social events, day trips and an annual holiday. For further details contact Linda on 01303 813288.

month in the village hall Sellindge. Tables booked in advance are £5. 00 Each and on the day (If available) £8. 00. Telephone for more information 01303 813475. Refreshments are available and home made cakes.

Smeeth W.I. We meet on the second Monday of the Month at 7.30 pm in the Brabourne & Smeeth village hall for further information do contact Joy Taylor 01303 812165”

Stanford & Postling WI meet in the comittee room at the rear of Lympne Village Hall on the 3rd monday of every month. we are a small but friendly group who would love to wlecome new members. for any futher information please contact Elaine on 01303 863096 or Iona on 01303 238390.

The Home

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Beauty Winter S.O.S.

by Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk

Beauty goodies to see you through the cold spell. If your skin is feeling dry and tight at the moment, a sheet mask could be just the ticket. Look for one with hyaluronic acid, which helps skin to hold on to moisture and fight the signs of ageing. The skin689 Bio-Cellulose Hyaluron Face Mask contains hyaluronic acid, along with coconut extract and an amino acid complex to nourish skin. As with all sheet masks, it’s a little fiddly to use, but feels lovely and refreshing when it’s on and the end results are definitely worth it. Softer, more hydrated skin, in just 20 minutes. And at £5.90, it’s an affordable weekend treat. See www.skin689.com. An American skincare brand has released the world’s first vegan, plant-based topical collagen formula. Algenist’s serum is designed to replace 30

lost collagen and contains Omega-rich microalgae oil. As with many things, there’s no long-term gain without short-term pain. In my case this meant that I had to contend with several large pimples breaking out in the first few days of using the serum. However, my skin soon got used to it, and did look plumper, smoother and much more refreshed after just a couple of weeks. All in all, I’m impressed. Genius Liquid Collagen is available from www.SpaceNK.com for £90. Central heating and icy winds don’t just wreak havoc on your skin - they can also leave your hair feeling dry and lacklustre. Faith in Nature’s Seaweed & Citrus Shampoo and Conditioner include natural extracts, such as wild harvested seaweed to ‘feed’ your hair with minerals and antioxidants. As with all Faith in Nature products, they’re free from parabens and harsh ingredients, so very gentle. Suitable for all hair types, they leave your locks feeling healthier,

smoother and shinier. £5.35 each from www. faithinnature.co.uk. Sore, cracked hands can be a real pain over the colder months. Unfortunately, some hand creams can actually make the situation worse, particularly if they contain artificial perfumes. Dermalex is a specialist skincare range aimed at sufferers of conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and rosacea. The Hand Irritation Cream can help with dry, cracked skin, itching and other signs of irritation. You’ll also want to look for a gentler hand wash or soap that doesn’t contain sodium lauryl sulphate, which can dry your skin and aggravate skin conditions. From £12.99,

www.dermalex.co.uk.

Health & Beauty

It may be cold outside, but it won’t be long before it’s time to pack the winter woollies away for a few months. If you’ve been neglecting your nails under warm gloves, now’s the time to treat them to some TLC. Nails Inc Superfood NailKale Base Coat is enriched with kale, aloe vera, lemon, ginseng, pomegranate and grape extracts to nourish and strengthen your nails. Use it on its own for a glossy nude finish, or as a base coat for your favourite coloured polish. £15, www.nailsinc. com.

VISION

Open

Monday to Friday 9-30 to 5-30pm Saturday 9-00 to 5-00pm

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Health

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Sleep: Vital for Good Mental and Physical Health

We’ve known, vaguely, for a long time that losing sleep can make us struggle to concentrate and keep smiling. Even Shakespeare knew the value of sleep, describing it as the ‘balm of hurt minds’ and the ‘chief nourisher in life’s feast’. But research is increasingly proving that a lack of good quality sleep can seriously damage our physical and mental health. More than 20 large-scale studies have proved conclusively that the shorter your sleep, the shorter your life - and it’s not hard to see why… HOW A LACK OF SLEEP AFFECTS PHYSICAL HEALTH Weight gain and obesity Research shows that insufficient sleep is a factor in weight gain and obesity. This is probably because sleep deprivation reduces levels of leptin (the hunger-inhibiting ‘you’re full’ hormone) and increases levels of ghrelin (the hunger-stimulating hormone). It’s a vicious circle, too, as you’re more prone to sleep problems if you’re overweight. Increased diabetes risk People who usually sleep less

than five hours a night, particularly those lacking deep or ‘slowwave’ sleep, are at increased risk of developing diabetes. Their body processes glucose differently, reacting as though suffering from insulin resistance (a condition in which your body doesn’t react properly to insulin). Tiredness causes you to secrete more stress hormones (e.g. cortisol), making it harder for insulin to function correctly and leaving excess glucose in your bloodstream. Increased cancer risk Professor Matthew Walker, author of Why We Sleep, says that after just one night of only four or five hours’ sleep, your natural cancerattacking cells drop by 70%. US researchers have discovered that when people work nights, they produce 80% less of a chemical which is a by-product of DNA tissue repair, indicating that their bodies aren’t carrying out the crucial cell restoration which should happen naturally overnight. Increased risk of Alzheimer’s Disease Long-term insufficient sleep significantly raises your risk of Alzheimer’s disease. During deep sleep, amyloid deposits (a toxin that accumulates in the brains of Alzheimer’s sufferers and kills surrounding cells) are ‘cleaned’

from the brain. Without sufficient sleep, these plaques build up, especially in deep-sleepgenerating regions – meaning you sleep even less and are even less able to destroy the plaques. It’s a vicious circle. Increased risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke Persistent sleep deprivation is associated with increased heart rate and blood pressure and higher levels of inflammation, which can all put extra strain on your heart. Over-45s who sleep less than six hours a night are 200% more likely to have a heart attack or stroke. Weakened immunity Sleep deprivation damages production and distribution of immune factors. Reduced fertility and libido Research has revealed that men and women who don’t get enough quality sleep have lower libido and less of an interest in sex. This may partly be linked to sleep apnoea, which disturbs sleep, as men who suffer from sleep apnoea also tend to have lower testosterone levels, which can lower libido. Regular sleep disruption can also reduce the secretion of reproductive hormones. HOW A LACK OF SLEEP AFFECTS MENTAL HEALTH Increased risk of depression and anxiety Many studies have linked anxiety and depression to poor quality and insufficient sleep. Daniel Freeman, co-author of major research on the link

Health & Lifestyle between mental health and sleep published in Lancet Psychiatry, says that having insomnia doubles your chances of developing depression and that treating insomnia is shown to reduce depression. Increased risk of paranoia, hallucinations and psychotic episodes The same study also showed that when people sleep better, they’re far less likely to suffer from paranoia, hallucinations or psychotic episodes. General mental health is much improved in people given therapy to improve their sleep. Reduced memory, concentration and reaction times While we can usually cope with the odd late or broken night, the effect on our mental health

and abilities becomes far more pronounced after several nights or frequent occurrences of poor sleep. Your ability to concentrate and make decisions will decline and your reaction times will slow significantly. This can be dangerous, affecting not only your health and safety, but that of others you work with, care for – or drive past. Studies show that sleep deficiency harms your driving ability as much as, or more than, being drunk. Less than five hours’ sleep? You’re 4.3 times more likely to be involved in a crash. Four hours’ sleep? 11.5 times more likely. It’s estimated that driver fatigue is responsible for around 100,000 car accidents and 1,500 deaths each year.

A CHANGE OF ATTITUDE “No aspect of our biology is left unscathed by sleep deprivation,” says Professor Walker, who fears sleep loss is costing the NHS and our economy dearly. “Things have to change: in the workplace and our communities, our homes and families.” He believes that sleep “needs to be prioritised, even incentivised” and that we have “stigmatised sleep with the label of laziness” because we want to seem busy; “It’s a badge of honour.” That’s an attitude we need to change.

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Puzzle Time

Word Ladder

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Change one letter at a time (but not the position of any letter) to make a new word - and move from the word at the top of the ladder to the word at the bottom, using the exact number of rungs provided.

S H I P

Y A R D

Crossword Across 7. Red fruit (6) 8. An agreement (6) 9. Water activity (4) 10. Pieces (8) 11. Non-attendance (7) 13. Slightly inebriated (5) 15. Quarrel (5) 17. Brine (7) 20. Holding tightly (8) 21. Pain (4) 22. Customer (6) 23. Soak up (6) Down 1. Spider’s trap (6) 2. Tepid (4) 3. Neat (7) 4. Begin (5) 5. Determined (8) 6. Smells badly (6) 12. Supplied with (8) 14. Line drawing (7)

16. Infrequently (6) 18. Cling to (6)

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Important Information Emergency 999 Police Neighbhd Team Ashford & Tenterden 101 Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 Out of Hours Doctor William Harvey Hospital

0845 4349655 01233 633331

Samaritans 116123 www.samaritans.org Electricity: Southern Electric EDF Energy Gas: Natural

0845 770 8090 0800 783 8866 0800 111 999 LPG Details on tank

Doctors Surgery Willesborough 01233 621626 Wye 01233 884585 Veterinary Surgeons Barrow Hill Vets 01233 624687 Montgomery Vets 01303 813756 Parish Councils: Brabourne & Smeeth Boughton Aluph & Eastwell Brook Challock Hastingleigh Wye & Hinxhill Westwell Ashford Borough Council www.ashford.gov.uk Ashford Gateway info:ashfordgateway.co.uk www.ashfordgateway.co.uk Citizens Advice Bureau

01233 626185

CPRE Kent Volunteer Centre

01233 714540 01233 665 535

Age UK Ashford

01233 623902 01233 720392 01233 750415 01233 740351 01233 750415 01233 812459 01233 623902 01233 331111 0845 8 247 247

Macmillan Cancer Support www.forget-me-nots.co.uk

Parkinsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s UK, Ashford Branch

Contact Mike Wharrad 01233 623520 Royal British Legion 01233 620 167 St. John Ambulance Brigade 01233 611 414 East Kent Strokes 01233 840448 www.eastkentstrokes.org

SE Kent Multiple Sclerosis Soc. 07767326138 email: mssoutheast@gmail.com NSPCC: Tenterden & District Mrs J Coombs 01580 763733 Pregnancy Sickness Support Kent and Sussex www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/ Contact: Denise Clifford deniseclifford@btinternet.com Royal Mail Residential Customer Services 08457 740740 Bus Enquiries Arriva Bus Enquiries 0844 800 44 11 Stage Coach East Kent: 0871 200 22 33 (Timetable) 08456 00 22 99 (Customer Services) National Train Enquiries: www.nationalrail.co.uk Wealden Wheels: 01233 840000 Village Halls: Boughton Lees Brook Challock Westwell Wye

High Pressure Jetting Service & Repair to Sewage treatment plants Soakaway Testing

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Cesspool Emptying Service

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PUZZLE ANSWERS Kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Corner:

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Crossword:

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