Ashby Life January/February 14

Find us on the web at www.ashbylife.co.uk2

Please mention ASHBY LIFE when responding to adverts 3

44

this issue 93

Ashby LifeEditorLiz Roberts

Telephone01530 417739

Email enquiriesAdvertising/[email protected]/What’s [email protected]

Webwww.ashbylife.co.uk

Facebookwww.facebook.com/ashbylife

Twitter@AshbyLife

AddressAshby Life LtdCastle HouseSouth StreetAshby de la ZouchLE65 1BR

Front Cover Image byJohn 'Jay Dubya'Smith

Ashby Life is an independentpublication. No part of thispublication may be reproducedwithout the prior permission ofthe editor. The use of thismagazine for canvassing ordirect marketing is strictlyprohibited.

Information is included onthe What’s On andCommunity Board pagessubject to space beingavailable. Whilst every carehas been taken toensure that the data inthis publication is accurate,Ashby Life cannot be heldresponsible for any errors oromissions or endorse com-panies, products or servicesappearing in this magazine. If you would like to advertise in Ashby Life

It’s a fantastic way to target potential customers and great value for money

See our website or call Liz on 01530 417739 for detailsNext issue is March and deadline for copy is Friday 7th February.Please note advertising space is limited, pre-booking is recommended

Welcome to 2014... We’re starting the year off with awonderful cover picture of Ashby Castle by a local artist. John‘Jay Dubya’ Smith will be exhibiting his work in Ashby Librarylater this year as part of the Ashby Arts Festival, and will alsobe judging the Open Art Competition. If any of our readers have localphotographs that they’d be happy to share then do pop them over to us, we’realways on the lookout for good images of our lovely area.

We’re starting 2014 with a brand new competition (page 94) plus a look behindthe scenes at some of the people who help make our town what it is (page 74). Ihope you enjoy these and all our regular features, wishing you all a very HappyNew Year. Liz Roberts

Contents

06 Seasonal Recipes

10 This Month

14 Open 4 Business

18 It’s Local

20 All About You

24 On the Beat

28 Storytime

32 Ashby Health Centre

36 Just 4 Fun

40 A Walk in the Forest

44 January Horoscopes

46 Ashby Museum News

50 In Your Garden

54 Wordsearch

58 Back Chat

62 In Your Home

66 Ashby Library News

70 Young Ashby

74 Behind the Scenes

78 Puzzle Page

82 Your Wellbeing

86 Community Board

90 Book Reviews

94 Prize Competition

98 Christadelphian Church

102 What’s On

108 Puzzle Solutions

110 Business Directory

06

2014

90

40

50

94

74

Find us on the web at www.ashbylife.co.uk

NEW

NEW


seasonal recipes

GEt StARtED

1 Mix up all the dough ingredients to make asmooth ball.

2 Pop a tea towel over the top of the bowl andleave the dough to rise until it has doubledin size - this will take about an hour.

3 Punch the dough out and roll it out to0.5cm thick. Brush it with softened butterand sprinkle with cinnamon and brownsugar.

4 Roll the dough up longwise.

5 Cut the dough up to make little rolls andthen place on a greased baking tray.

6 Put the rolls in the oven for 15 minutes at180°c or until brown around the edges.

7 While baking, beat the icing ingredients andspread generously on each roll whilst theyare still warm. Yum!

GEt StARtED

1 Heat the oil until hot, add the sausages and fry

until browned but not completely cooked

through. Remove from the pan and set aside

on a warm plate.

2 Add the chorizo to the empty pan and fry until

crisp and golden-brown. Remove from the pan and

set aside with the pork sausages. Chorizo releases

a lot of fat and I prefer to drain this off.

3 Add the onion and chilli to the same pan and fry

until softened.

4 Add the garlic and the wine then bring the mixture

to a simmer until the liquid has reduced in volume

by about a quarter.

5 Add the chopped tomatoes and the beans then

return the sausages and chorizo to the pan and

stir well.

6 Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over a low

heat, cover the pan with a lid and cook for at least

45 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened and

reduced in volume. If the sauce becomes too dry,

add a little more water or wine.

7 Just before serving, stir in the honey and season,

to taste. Then serve over plain boiled rice or

creamy mash, and sprinkle with parsley.

FOR tHE ROLLS

• 3 teaspoons yeast

• 1 cup warm milk

• Half a cup sugar

• Half a cup meltedbutter

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 2 eggs

• 4 cups plain flour

FOR tHE FILLING

• 1 cup brown sugar

• 21/2 tablespoonscinnamon

• Third cup softenedbutter

FOR tHE ICING

• 8 tablespoonssoftened butter

• 11/2 cups castersugar

• Half teaspoonvanilla essence

• Pinch of salt

Lucy’sCinnamon Rolls

Serves 6Ready in90 mins

Spanish Style

Sausage& BeanCasserole YOu WILL NEED

• 2 tsp vegetable oil

• 600g/1lb 5½oz thick,good quality porksausages

• 150g/5½oz chorizo,cut into serving pieces

• 1 medium onion, sliced

• 1 small chilli, seedsremoved, fleshchopped

• 2 fat garlic cloves,finely chopped

• 75ml/2¾fl ozwhite wine

• 400g/14oztinned tomatoes,chopped

• 200g/7ozcanned butter beans,or cannellini beans,rinsed and drained

• 2-3 tbsp choppedfresh parsley

• 1 tbsp clear honey





this month

WHAt child, or adult for that matter, doesn’t

love the sensation of sledding? Speeding down

a snowy hill is the best fun ever. It can also

be dangerous, which of course is half the fun.

Every time it snows, sledding injuries flood

the country’s A&E departments and more

than half of them are head injuries, most not

serious, but some deadly.

To sled in safety, follow these rules:

Choose the right hill The best are not too steep and

have a long flat area at the bottom to allow for a gentle

stop. Avoid those which end at a road or a car park,

but also those which end at a line of trees, a pond or

a wall!

Choose the right sled Old fashioned sleds with

wooden seats and tall blades look wonderful, but on

the soft sort of snow we tend to get in the UK, their

sheer weight can cause them to sink or run too slowly.

Conversely, on compacted snow or ice, the thin blades

travel so quickly it’s easy to lose control. Plastic sleds

with a braking system work well on softer snow, but

can crack on compacted snow or ice, especially if they

hit a stone. Metal tray-style sleds work well on all

surfaces and are very robust, but can get up

considerable speed, so may not be suitable for very

young children.

Wear sensible winter clothing Hats, gloves, snow

pants, winter jacket, snow boots, anything that is

waterproof and warm. Cycle helmets can be useful

head protectors in case of a tumble.

Have fun, stay warm, stay safe.

by Sarah Davey

10 Find us on the web at www.ashbylife.co.uk

the Joy of Sledding





open 4 business

EvEN though they were kept

busy throughout 2013 with both

supply only and supply and fit

of bathrooms in Ashby and

surrounding areas, owners Paula

and Dan managed to take time

out to cement their long term

partnership by getting married.

Now the new Mr and Mrs

Whitworth are pleased to ann-

ounce that their best man and

long term friend, Dan Cashmore,

will join them to work within the

business from 20th January.

Dan Cashmore brings with him a

wealth of customer experience

and will concentrate on ensuring

that the customer service of the

business is first class. This is just

one aspect that Ashby Tile and

Bathrooms see as being crucial to

their success.

With the vast majority of their

business coming very much from

the local area Dan and Paula are

very proactive in supporting local

community and sponsor Rainbows

Hospice along with local clubs

Ashby Ivanhoe FC

and Marlborough

Rovers FC. Living

and working in the

area they see the

sporting clubs as a

foundation stone of

the community and

Dan says “If it wasn’t for the

local community we wouldn’t

have a business”.

Situated on the corner of Market

Street and Lower Church Street,

Ashby Tile and Bathrooms have

over 25 years’ experience within

the industry and will design,

supply and fit a bathroom that

you’ll love, suited to your budget.

They offer a personalised

3D design service,

lifetime guarantee and

friendly advice and will

beat any like-for-like

quotation or offer. In

keeping with their company ethos

fitting is undertaken using only

established local tradespeople

and their suppliers are all UK

manufacturers. They are happy to

offer help and advice to customers

who are looking for supply only

and for those who want the full

service of planning, design, supply

and installation they look to make

sure that the customer is happy

from the start right through to

their beautiful new bathroom.

A new development in 2013

was the updated website at

www.ashbytile

andbathrooms.

co.uk.

This now contains links to all of

their suppliers’ ranges so that

customers can browse online at

their leisure to see which designs

they like best. There is also plenty

of information about the company

along with customer testimonials,

a link to their Facebook page and a

section where you can check out

all the latest promotions.

If you are stuck for ideas, looking

for inspiration, or wondering how

to deal with an awkwardly shaped

room then drop in to the show-

room. There is always a good

range of fully tiled displays to view

and the two Dan’s and Paula will

be happy to give you helpful advice

and help you plan your new bath-

room. Call in now and you can

see the new 2014 displays and

benefit from their January sale

with up to 40% off.

Ashby tile and Bathrooms

are situated at 3 Lower

Church Street, Ashby,

LE65 1AB - you can call

them on 01530 588946

or visit www.ashbytileand

bathrooms.co.uk and you’ll

also find them on Facebook

and Twitter.

Local business, Ashby Tile and Bathrooms, are looking

back on a busy year and looking forward to exciting

new developments in 2014

JANuARY SALEWItH uP tO 40% OFF

Best mates in BusinessAshby Tile and Bathrooms




it’s local

tHE Ashby de la Zouch Relief in Sickness Fund is

a local charity helping people in Ashby and

Blackfordby who may be struggling as a result of

sickness, disability or infirmity. the charity has an

interesting history.

Before the NHS came into being in 1948, medicine

was often a shoestring operation, with the local

cottage hospital being largely supported by local

volunteer fundraisers. When accommodation was

desperately required for the local District Nurses, a

piece of land on Leicester Road was generously

donated by the hospital trustees.

After some serious effort, enough money was raised

to build a house on the land, which remained the

Nurses residence until the seventies, when it was

sold.

Since all the money used to build the house had

been raised by volunteers and donated by the local

community, it was

decided to use the

proceeds of the sale to start a local

health-based charity.

The present day trustees of the charity come from

various walks of life: medical, legal and religious.

Grants from the Fund are not means-tested, and

each application is taken entirely on its merit.

Recent donations include a payment to assist with a

respite care break, help with the cost of petrol to

enable a man to visit his wife in hospital and a

donation towards an electric powered chair to help

someone with a severe stroke to move from sitting

to standing.

If you know of anyone in Ashby or Blackfordby whom

the trustees might be able to help, please contact

the Clerk of the fund, Leanne Cooper on 01530

414111 or [email protected]

Ashby de la Zouch

Relief in Sickness Fund



all about you


WINtER is upon us and it’s time

to get the heating on, stock up

the cupboards and prepare for

the possibility of snow or ice.

This time of year can be a real

struggle for our older generation

as they try to cope with the

freezing cold weather and keeping

an eye on their pension as fuel

costs soar. Not only this but it’s

the time of year when the elderly

barely venture out of their homes

as the slippery, icy footpath's

and cold weather cause them to

take the easier option of staying

home in the safe and warm, so as

not to risk falling and injuring

themselves. This itself can lead to

isolation and depression as the

elderly may become detached

from the outside world and their

communities. Their circle of

friends and relatives may not be

as big as it used to be so some

have hardly anyone or, in some

cases, no one looking out for them

at all.

Research has shown that the cold

weather can also increase the

health risks in older people like

the flu and colds, respiratory

problems, pneumonia, strokes

and heart attacks. So its

extremely important to take the

necessary steps to keep as warm

as possible this winter if you may

be affected by the cold.

Here are some helpful tips to get

through this year’s cold spell:

tips on helping the elderly...

• The obvious one is to ensure

that they are warm enough with

clothing and heating.

• Ask if they’ve got enough food

in and if possible, perhaps help

them with shopping.

• Ensure that they are well

stocked up on salt and grit as

these supplies soon run out as

winter approaches. Perhaps

clear their paths if you can.

• Try to make sure that there is

someone to check on them at

least once a day and leave them

contact numbers should they

need anything. Or put them in

touch with a Homecare agency.

• Another good idea is to make

sure they’ve got books, mag-

azines, crosswords, etc. Any-

thing to keep them a little

entertained.

• If they are a relative

or friend a good idea

can be to set them up

with perhaps an old

computer and get them

connected to such things

as Skype to keep in contact.

The technology is there so you

may as well use it.

If you’re affected this winter...

• Try to ensure that you are

stocked up on food, drink and

supplies as much as possible

so you don't need to make

unnecessary trips out.

• Make sure you’ve enough warm

clothes to see you through,

including thermals. The living

room should be between 18-

210C (65-700F) with the rest of

the house around 160C (610F).

Electric blankets and hot water

bottles are also useful.

• Should you need to go out, wear

shoes with a good grip on and

take a mobile phone with you if

you have one.

• Try to ensure you’ve got a list at

hand of contact numbers you

can call if there is any kind of

emergency situation such as a

family member, friend, age uk,

local council and local NHS.

• If you could do with a little

extra help then a registered

Homecare agency can provide

this from as little as 1/2 hour

a day and offer such services

as home help, meal

preparation, shopping,

personal care and

companionship.

For more information on

care at home to the elderly,

disabled and adults with

needs contact Allround

Homecare Services on

01283 763558 or visit

their website at www.

allroundhomecare.co.uk.

Looking after the Elderly this winter




tO start the New Year off, I have a message

from Inspector Helena Bhakta (pictured right),

commander at North West Leicestershire Local

Policing unit (LPu):

I have now been here as the Local Policing Unit

commander for North West Leicestershire for seven

months, and I am thoroughly enjoying my time here.

I am fortunate to be part of a superb team, and day

in, day out I continue to be impressed by the hard

work, drive and ambition of all of the staff and

volunteers at this LPU.

Retail crime in particular shoplifting continues to be

a priority for us, and during October and in the run

up to Christmas we ran retail crime initiatives

in Coalville and Ashby which were designed to

combat this type of crime. They included high

visibility patrols, promotion of the retail radio

scheme and crime prevention advice.

During October and November we took part in a

number of force wide initiatives designed to tackle

alcohol harm, and I was particularly delighted with

the results of a test purchasing operation we carried

out across the area. Nine off-licences were visited

by a plain clothed officer and a young person. The

young person attempted to purchase alcohol at

each off-licence, and all nine refused to serve the

young person.

This shows that our message about selling to under

age people is getting through. However, we are not

complacent and we will continue to work closely

with our partners and local licensed premises to

tackle alcohol related crime and disorder.

As in many comm-

unities, illegal drugs

continue to be a

concern. Acting on local intelligence and

information, we executed a number of warrants

under the misuse of drugs act. In Castle Donington

we found a cannabis factory and seized around

£50,000 worth of cannabis plants. Two local men

were arrested in connection with this offence.

In Coalville, we executed two further warrants and

seized cannabis and cannabis growing equipment.

One local person was interviewed in connection with

the offence of possessing cannabis.

Over recent months we have worked hard to tackle

crime, in particular the theft of motor vehicles and

theft from motor vehicles. Since the beginning of the

financial year in April we have had a 24% reduction

in vehicle crime, which represents 101 fewer victims.

However, we still receive reports of vehicle crime

where it has been made a lot easier for the criminal.

As a reminder, when you leave your vehicle always

remove all valuables, and lock the vehicle. If you leave

it on show, expect it to go.

If you are defrosting your vehicle, please do not leave

your vehicle unattended with the engine running. By

taking these simple measures you greatly reduce the

chances of becoming a victim of crime.

PC 1667 MARk ARJOOtelephone: 101 voicemail ID: 1667

email: [email protected] can follow me on twitter: @NWLeicsLPu

on the beat

Hello everyone...





storytime

Melanie had arrived at the hotel in

Lanzarote exhausted but excited,

then received a glowing welcome

from a handsome young Recep-

tionist, with the name ‘Angel’ on

his badge. Her family had thought

her decision to holiday alone was

crazy, but Melanie wanted, just

once in her life, to do something

reckless. If the hotel guests are as

nice as Angel, she’d thought, this

holiday is going to be perfect.

After exploring the hotel complex,

however, she’d slumped into a

state of dismay. She discovered

the island was having its wettest

January for thirty years, and she

had booked herself into an out-of-

season resort with a crowd of

Bingo-loving pensioners. This was

not going to be the big adventure

she’d hoped it would be.

It was dull, but bearable, until she

met Dennis and June Drabble.

Dennis swooped upon her like a

clammy vulture declaring his

intention to take her under his

wing. He had a fondness for his

own awful opinions. And June was

kidding herself that wearing

massive sunglasses concealed the

fact that she was constantly lusting

after Fario, the overweight lifeguard

with one eyebrow.

The Drabbles wouldn’t leave her

alone. So far Melanie had shared

an evening of Monopoly, Trivial

Pursuit and Cluedo with them in the

hotel lounge. Dennis was the type

of person who sulked whenever it

looked like he might not win. June

glugged back all-inclusive gin until

her sunglasses steamed up. All day

Melanie had been dreading their

threat of Scrabble, so tonight she

decided to rebel.

When the coast was clear she

tiptoed into the

lobby and asked

Angel to call her a

taxi.

“Where are you

going, Miss?” he

asked politely as

he picked up the

phone.

Melanie shrugged.

“A bar? Somewhere

lively? I need to get out of here.”

He glanced towards the lounge,

looked back at her sympathetically

and winked.

“I know the perfect place: good food,

great music, young people.”

Melanie smiled with gratitude.

“That sounds absolutely perfect.”

Across the lobby Melanie caught

sight of the Drabbles parading

through to the lounge. She ducked

down behind a potted palm but

was too late; they had spotted her.

“Ready for Scrabble, Missy?” Dennis

rattled the scrabble box in her face

just as Angel announced, “Your taxi

will arrive in five minutes.”

A look of supreme offence crossed

Dennis’s face.

“You’re not going out?” It sounded

more like a statement than a

question.

“I am actually,” Melanie gulped.

“I’m going to a bar”.

“On your own? Surely that isn’t safe?”

“No,” Melanie lied. “I’m meeting

someone.”

“Not Fario?” croaked June. “He’s a

terrible gigolo I hear.”

“We should come with you,” Dennis

said glancing at his watch as

though this was all very

inconvenient. “I’ll need to find my

wallet”.

“Oh no,” Melanie said quickly. The

last thing she wanted was the

Drabbles

chaperoning her on

an imaginary date.

“I would hate to spoil

your evening.”

“It would seem it

is already spoilt,”

Dennis said tossing

the scrabble box

onto the desk.

“What the young

lady means,” Angel intervened, “is

that she will be in perfectly safe

hands and delivered back to the

hotel in one piece - by me.”

With authority, he ushered them

towards the lounge.

“Thank you,” Melanie said, once

the Drabbles had gone. “Honestly

though, you didn’t have to lie on my

behalf.”

“My shift has just finished and I

would love to show you my beautiful

island,” he smiled shyly. “Unless

you’d prefer Scrabble.”

The taxi pulled up outside. The rain

had stopped and a warm breeze

blew in that smelled of sea mist,

adventure and, possibly, romance.

by Jackie Brewster


scrabblewith the drabbles




ashby health centre

Do you look after someone?If you look after someone, who couldn’t manage

without you, and feel you would like someone to talk

to, or someone to advise you on what help is

available, we have a carers pack in the surgery which

our Patient Participation Group (PPG) has put together

for patients and their carers. Please ask at reception

if you would like one of these packs which gives you,

amongst other things, information on The Carers

Centre, an organisation set up to help people looking

after others get all the help and information they

need. Alternatively there are cards about the The

Carers Centre in the lobby in the health centre which

you can use to get in touch with them directly or you

can call them on 0116 251 0999. There is no need

for a referral from the doctor.

There will also be two drop in sessions here at the

Health Centre for anybody to come and have a

chat with advisers from The Carers Centre. These

sessions are taking place on Friday 31st January

and thursday 13th

February 2014 from

1.30pm until 5.30pm

for anybody who looks

after or cares for another

person. Anybody who lives in

North West Leicestershire is

welcome, you don’t need to be a patient at this

practice to come along.

Patient Participation Group

We have a growing Patient Participation Group (PPG)

here at the surgery and to make the group as

representative as possible of all ages it would be nice

to have some younger members on the group

because more mature people are already well

represented. If you are interested please ask to fill

in one of our Expression of interest forms (or

download it from the Patient Participation Group

part of our web site) and your application will then

be considered in line with the PPG constitution.


Monthly update




just 4 funS

olu

tions o

n p

age 1

08


Solu

tions o

n p

age 1

08

Each letter in this puzzle isrepresented by a numberbetween 1 and 26. The codesfor three letters are shown.As you find the letters enterthem in the box below.

CODEWORD


38 Find us on the web at www.ashbylife.co.uk


Moira Furnace and Shortheath

This short walk starts at Moira Furnace and takes in Barrett Pool Wood which is tucked away on the paths between the

Furnace and Shortheath. There are several parking areas at Moira Furnace, but the car parks do have barriers which are

closed overnight so please be aware of this if you are starting your walk later in the day. There is a fair section of the

walk alongside the road at Shortheath, the pavements are good but dog walkers will need leads – the stiles into the

fields at Shortheath had some fencing around them too so larger dogs will need to be able

to go over them. I’d allow around an hour for this walk.

Leave Ashby along kilwardby Street and Moira Road, continuing on through Shellbrookand straight across at the Daybell Roundabout. On reaching Moira go straight aheadover both the mini roundabouts. Just before the road bends turn left into Moira Furnaceand then right into the first car park.

Start your walk by crossing the playing fields, leaving the car park with the children’splay area on your right and going to the left of the two sets of goal posts, around theedge of the grass with the woodland on your left. On the far side of the playing fields

you cross the end of an unused tarmac driveway andthen, keeping left, you will see a short track through thetrees with an old signpost at the end of it (1). Take thistrack and when you join the path by the old sign turn right along it so that the newishfence with a cleared area on the other side of it is on your left.

Follow this path down to a swing gate at the end which leads out to the road. Crossstraight over the road, following the public foot path which is immediately opposite youas it goes over a stile beside the metal barrier ahead. The path continues ahead alongthe wide track until the track bears round to the right – at this point you need to turnleft and go under the railway arch (2). Shortly after this you will go through a swinggate and enter Barratt Pool Wood, named after the old mill which stood on this site.

Continue straight ahead and after a short way you find yourself on an interesting oldpath which has obviously been built up at some point

and has streams running underneath it. This path bears round to the left beforeemerging onto a driveway with a duck pond on the left and a building on the right.Follow the driveway to emerge by the road at Shortheath.

Walk straight ahead for about 20 yards and then turn right, following the woodenpublic footpath sign down a grassy track that leads between the houses and over astile into a field. Turn immediately left when you’ve crossed the stile and then aimfor the corner of the field – it looks like a bit of a dead end but you will find a stiletucked away in the corner when you reach it. Cross this stile and another one very

soon after and then follow the well-trodden path acrossthe next field to reach a cute little gate leading out ontothe pavement (3). Turn right and keep on the pavementalongside the road until you get to the road junction(along this stretch you will pass a gateway leading intoShortheath Wood, this isn’t part of our walk but there is a picnic table in there and you couldenjoy a short diversion around this area if you wished).

At the road junction cross over towards Gorsey Leys and then turn right walkingalongside the road to pass by the park homes site on your right and then the old tollCottage on your left. Immediately after crossing over the road which leads to SpringCottage (and before reaching the National Forest Youth Hostel) you should cross back tothe opposite side of the road and follow the public footpath sign which leads betweentwo brick walls (4). This path will take you down a track and through a wooden gate to

re-enter Barratt Pool Wood. Bear left across the grassy area with the picnic table and on the far side turn left to returnunder the railway arch.

On emerging from the railway arch turn right up the track way, back over the stile by the metal barrier and cross theroad to return to Moira Furnace – you can either go via the path you followed at the start which is immediately aheadof you, or you can turn left, walk for a short way and then cross the park on your right to return to the car park pastthe play area.

All walks are checked shortly before publication but please be aware that paths may change over time and with the seasons.

a walk in the forest

2

3

4

1





january horoscopes

capricornDecember 22 - January 20

The new moon in your sign on the 1st dayof the year sets the pace for 2014. Energetic Mars isat the most elevated point in your chart and urges youto fight for change and new beginnings. IntellectualMercury leaves your sign on the 11th and highlights anyconcerns you have about your income.

aquariusJanuary 21 - February 18

This year begins with a new moon in adeeply introspective sector of your chart. This is apivotal year and any plans that you make now have agood chance of being very successful. The second newmoon on the 31st is in your sign and lights the way forbringing your ideas to the public.

piscesFebruary 19 - March 20

Energetic Mars is charging through themonetary sector of your chart, bringing issues aroundfinances, inheritance and legacies to the forefront.Creative thinking and planning are important now asboth new moons brings renewed confidence to face anyissues that are causing you problems.

ariesMarch 21 - April 20

Assertive Mars, your ruling planet, is inbalanced and relationship focused Libra all month. Yourpartnerships may feel very demanding and timeconsuming, so it’s essential that you take time out forrest and relaxation. Creativity peaks after the 12th, asMercury changes sign and brings fresh ideas.

taurusApril 21 - May 21

The New Year starts with an abundance ofenergy and a longing to broaden your horizons andwork towards new accomplishments. Both new moonsfall in important areas of your chart and the longing fornew goals is strong. While this new pace may seemunsettling at first, you’ll soon get used to it.

geminiMay 22 - June 21

The New Year begins with abundant Jupiterhighlighting the financial sector of your chart. Adjust-ments need to be made and a total review of yourearning potential is now on the cards. Confidenceshould be high and it’s a positive time to finish off whatneeds finishing and discard what is no longer current.

cancerJune 22 - July 22

January puts your home and family life intothe spotlight and has you questioning if you arespending enough time in these areas. Both the newmoons put relationships and financial matters high onthe agenda. Transformational change is possible now asyou discover a more manageable work life balance

leoJuly 21 - August 21

With energetic Mars in Libra now in thecommunication area of your chart, forceful butdiplomatic interaction is on the agenda. Where it hasbeen difficult to get your message across, the energyshifts now, particularly after the 12th as Mercurychanges sign to give you a more innovative approach.

virgoAugust 24 - September 22

January brings a reorganisation of moneymatters to the very top of your agenda. Energetic Marsassists in innovative new ways to be creative and up yourearning potential. Mercury, your ruler, changes signs onthe 12th and you’ll notice a difference in yourresourcefulness and in your interaction with others.

LIBRASeptember 23 - October 23

With motivational Mars in your sign allmonth, your energy levels should be at an all-time highand there’s a new sense of originality to all your crea-tive projects. Venus, your ruler, remains in Capricorn,enabling beneficial and sound business decisions to bemade, particularly in the first week.

scorpioOctober 24 - November 22

The New Year begins with mighty Jupiterhighlighting the adventurous and expansive side of yournature. Far away journeys for 2014 could well be cominginto focus now, some of these may even be work related.The new moon on the 1st is important for boosting yourconfidence in the way you communicate.

sagittariusNovember 23 - December 21

Financial matters and communications arethe two main focal points for you this month. Both newmoons bring you a much needed energy boost foradjustment and change, and creative ideas should beabundant. With Jupiter, your ruler, also highlighting yourincome, this could be a really lucky year.



FRIENDS OF ASHBY MuSEuM The Friends would like to thank all those who came to the Christmas coffee morning.Two dates for your diary: Derbyshire Police Choir is paying us a return visit on Friday 14th March. The concert will beheld at Manor House School. Tickets will be available from the museum soon, priced at £5 each. On Wednesday 26thMarch, val Gale-Cox will be the speaker at a coffee morning at the museum. She will be speaking on my life as a WREN.This starts at 10.30am. Please call the museum to book a place to include coffee and cake at £3.

In the spring we will be running a six week course

‘Discovering Leicestershire Archaeology’. The lectures will

be given by Peter Liddle, former county archaeologist for

Leicestershire, and take place on six consecutive Tuesday

afternoons from 2pm to 4pm at the Museum, beginning on

March 4th. The course details are as follows:-

March 4th Early Prehistoric Leicestershire

March 11th Late Bronze Age and Iron Age Leicestershire

March 18th Roman Leicestershire

March 25th Early and Middle Anglo-Saxon Leicestershire

April 1st Viking and Early Medieval Leicestershire

April 8th Later Medieval Leicestershire

Book for the series, or come to individual lectures at £6 each, at the Museum 01530 560090. Alternatively

contact Peter Liddle on 01162 214508 or email [email protected].

The kids’ Club on Saturday February 1st from 1pm to 4pm is ‘Young Historians’. The following month on

Saturday March 1st the subject is ‘Young Archaeologists’.

ashby museum news

‘Discovering Leicestershire Archaeology’





in your garden

SNOWDROPS – Latin name

Galanthus means milk flower.

the story of this small, enchant-

ingly beautiful and stoically resilient

plant is steeped in history. It is said that some of

the soldiers at the Crimean War (1853 – 1856) were

struck by the beauty of the tiny delicate white flowers

which were on and around the battlefields. A few of

these soldiers brought the plant back home to put in

their gardens.

There are lots of varieties and many can be brought

flowering now for planting from garden centres. Once

you have established an area of Snowdrops, over the

years rather large congested clumps may have formed.

If so, divide them whilst they are in flower and dot them

around the garden, under trees, and deciduous shrubs

and give spares as presents. The fresh green slender

leaves and the bright white flower can lift an area which

at this time of year might otherwise be rather dull.

A few of the Snowdrop varieties are very rare and

collectable. The rarest bulbs fetch as much as £600

each. There are several gardens with wonderful displays

of Snowdrops which are open under the National

Garden Scheme and can be found by looking at

www.ngs.org.uk. Throughout the year some wonderful

privately owned gardens are open to the public on this

scheme and are a very good way of getting ideas for

your garden and planning a garden themed day out.

As to the type of snow from the skies, whilst January

snow falls are pretty and the untouched snow is

picturesque, if falls have been heavy brush away snow

off hedges and shrubs to stop them being forced apart.

Try and remember also to make sure plants within

frozen containers do not dry out. I suggest wrapping

containers in bubble wrap or straw and hessian and

group together the pots for protection.

If for the Christmas period you decorated your home

with a traditional Poinsettia house plant, remember they

do like warmth but not to be radiator hot. Don’t be

tempted to keep them going by over watering and feed

weekly. Christmas will be ready for clearing away for

another year so try and start 2014 on a green note and

recycle the Christmas trees. There are often special

kerbside collections by the councils or alternatively go

to the local council household and waste site so that

the tree can be recycled.

As you will be aware birds are so important to the

natural balance of a garden and the RSPB is running

the Big Garden Bird watch again this year. This is the

world’s largest wildlife survey and can be fun for all. To

be involved all you need to do is count the number and

type of birds in your garden or local park for a total one

hour over the weekend of the 25-26th January and send

your findings to the RSPB. For further details look at

www.rspb.org.uk

With the trees bare of leaves now is an ideal time to

check them over. Any newly planted trees lifted by frost

should be firmed back down. Do check ties and stakes

on trees. As the trunk of the tree widens the ties will

need to be adjusted. Remove any damaged branches,

cuts should be done cleanly with sharp secateurs or

loppers to prevent the risk of infection. After mid-winter

don’t prune Acers or Birches as they may bleed a lot.

It is the right time to prune apple and pear trees and

also to order new bare root fruit trees. If the ground is

frozen when the bare root stock arrives, do not try to

plant but heel the plant in by gently firming compost

around the roots until the ground thaws.

January and February are the months to look after

Wisteria again. Cut the stems off main framework to

2-3 buds of previous year’s growth to help give a

fabulous floral display in early summer.

Prune gooseberries and red and white currents, keeping

the centre of the bush open for good airflow. Prune

back unproductive old stems to make way for vigorous

young shoots. Red currents need to be cut back by one

third of the oldest stems to near ground level.

Happy 2014 gardening year!

Francesca2014 calendar showing Francesca’s gardens is available

for £8. Email [email protected]

Photograph courtesy of Gillian Day

RHS Show Garden Medalist, Francesca Sinclair, looks at how to make the most of your

garden and garden jobs for this time of year. Francesca offers a full garden

design service - find out more at www.francescasinclair.co.uk

AND tO tEMPt YOu INtO tHE GARDEN...

1 Repair and reshape lawn edges

2 Buy bare root roses

3 In fishponds keep pumps running to give extra oxygen to fish

4 Plan vegetable crop rotations

5 Order seed catalogues

6 Store seeds in a cool dry place or air tight containers

7 Sow sweet peas under cover

8 Clear paths of moss and leaves

9 Ventilate greenhouses on warmer sunnier days

10 Dig over vacant plots not done already

11 Feed the birds

Snow and Snowdrops





wordsearch





back chat

tHIS month we’ll be exploring the knee and those structures within

that cause my patients and you so much discomfort!

SO HOW DOES A kNEE WORk? The knee joints are essentially four

bones held together by ligaments. The thighbone (femur) makes up

the top part of the joint, and two lower leg bones, the tibia and the

fibula, comprise the lower part. The fourth bone, the patella (or

kneecap), slides in a groove on the end of the femur. Each surface that

comes into contact with another is covered in cartilage to allow the

joint to glide more smoothly. This is all contained within a fluid filled

bag to aid lubrication.

LIGAMENtS are large bands of tissue that connect bones to one another. In

the knee joint, four main ligaments link the femur to the tibia and help stabilize

your knee as it moves through its arc of motion. These include the collateral ligaments

along the inner and outer sides of your knee, and the cruciate ligaments, which cross each

other as they stretch diagonally from the bottom of your thighbone to the top of your

shinbone. Damage to these structures is most commonly after strong trauma, and most often

related to sports. It can leave the knee swollen, painful, and very unstable.

BuRSAE. A number of these fluid-filled sacs surround your knee. They help cushion your knee

joint so that ligaments and tendons slide across it smoothly. Bursitis, sometimes called

housemaid's knee or carpet layer's knee, is an inflammation of these sacs. Prepatellar bursitis often

occurs after an activity that requires you to kneel for long periods - scrubbing floors, gardening, or

installing tile or carpet, for example. It can also result from an infection or as one of the signs of

arthritis or gout.

ILIOtIBIAL BAND SYNDROME (ItB). This is a common cause of outer knee pain in runners. The ITB

is a strong structure running up your outer thigh from the knee to the hip. Competitive runners are

especially susceptible, but amateurs aren't exempt. You're more likely to develop iliotibial band

syndrome if you have problems such as unequal leg length or weak hip muscles. Exercising on

concrete surfaces or uneven ground, increasing the intensity or duration of your exercise too quickly,

wearing worn or ill-fitting shoes, and excessive uphill or downhill running also can contribute to

iliotibial band syndrome.

tENDON INJuRIES. Inflammation of the quadriceps tendon (tendonitis) can occur in people who

run, bicycle or ski. It can also result from inflammatory diseases that occur throughout your body,

most notably rheumatoid arthritis. Middle-age weekend warriors are more likely to rupture their

quadriceps tendon than seasoned athletes are. Patellar tendon ruptures frequently occur in active

younger people who have a history of tendonitis or who have had steroid injections in their knees.

The majority of patients I see in clinic have had no specific cause for there knee pain, which is

often more frustrating than a sports related injury. These often occur due to a gradual weakening

of some muscles, an over-use of others and inflexibility in the surrounding joints. The most

important thing with knee pain is the correct diagnosis, to allow prescription of the right course of

treatment, and the correct exercises that will strengthen and stretch the problem structures,

otherwise the problem will get worse.

For more information on osteopathy or treatment at Ashby Osteopathic Clinic please call 01530 440 442,

visit www.ashbyosteopath.com or e-mail [email protected]

by Sarah Kavanagh, Ashby Osteopathic Clinic

www.ashbyosteopath.com

knee Pain






in your home

WE all love the festive season, but it can’t be denied that Christmas

celebrations are a magnet for mess and clutter. For a short period of time

our living space seems to shrink under the sheer volume of seasonal items,

including gifts (yours and theirs), food and drink, countless decorations –

and of course, that huge pile of washing up that never seems to diminish

from morning to night.

No wonder, then, that at New Year we take a certain pleasure in clearing out

the festive junk we have accumulated in order to restore some domestic

equilibrium.

But why stop there? Traditionally the beginning of the year is a period when

we want to embrace change, eliminating what has become outworn and

unnecessary, so it makes sense to tap into that New Year energy by using

the first weeks of January to reclaim your living space.

The psychological benefits are obvious: most of us feel better, calmer and

more able to deal with daily stress when our home environment is well

ordered, so why does it always seem so difficult to make a start when

clearing out the things we no longer need?

If it’s been a while since you sorted through your stuff, then contemplating

a proper clear-out may seem like a terrifying prospect. Here’s an easy, step-

by-step guide to getting the job done:

One step at a time. Don’t allow yourself to be overwhelmed by the prospect of

reorganising your home; give yourself a set of different tasks and don’t start

the next task until the last one is complete. For example, Task 1 could involve

going through your kitchen cupboards, throwing away everything that’s past its

sell-by date, Task 2 could be a thorough clear-out of your

clothes drawers and wardrobes while Task 3 might call for a

purge on your home filing system. Make a list and tick off the

items one by one to give yourself a real sense of achievement.

use the ‘three pile’ system. One pile to keep, one pile to

donate or give to friends, one pile to throw away. If some of

the items in your ‘keep’ pile have previously been hanging

around, gathering dust, this is the ideal time to buy some

attractive boxes or baskets that will keep them all out of sight.

Make an audit of potential storage areas in your house. Are

there any alcoves that could be filled with shelves? Is your loft

being used to its full capacity? Do you have an under-used

garden shed?

Cultivate a minimalist style. If your rooms are full of pictures

and ornaments it becomes hard to appreciate the merits of any single object,

so identify a few items that you really cherish and make sure they are properly

displayed. If you love all your decorative pieces equally, you can always rotate

them throughout the year.

If you don’t want to put up shelves or buy more storage options, sometimes

it’s just a matter of rethinking the way your house is organised. Moving a large

item of furniture just a few inches can sometimes give a much more spacious

feel to a room, so be creative and experiment. However you choose to reclaim

your space, you’ll have a whole year to enjoy the results.

Reclaimyour

livingspace

for2014

Editorial by Kate McLelland





ashby library news

We will make you feel at home in Ashby Library. Joinfor free to use the computers and borrow books,DVDs and talking books. Pop in and say hello!

OuR REGuLAR EvENtS:

‘Wriggly Readers’ and ‘Story andRhymetime’ for children aged 0 -5 yearsand their parents and carers. Join us forstories and songs every Friday morning10.30am – 11am.

The friendly ‘knit and Stitch’ group meet every Monday2pm – 4pm. Bring your project and come for a chat.

‘tiny talk’ baby signing classes take place every Thursday9.30am – 10.30am and are £5 per session. Pre-bookingessential.

The unusual and popular ukulele playing group meets everyWednesday 10.00am – 11.30am. £5 per session.

Creative Writing Group will take place every Tuesday 2 – 4pm.The first session will be on 14th Jan. Contact Helen Johnsonfor more details on 01530 414247.

Come and practice Hatha Yoga every Tuesday 7 – 9pm. Thefirst session will be on 7th January. Contact British Wheel of

Yoga qualified instructor Lorna Kirk for more details on01530 416135.

ALSO At tHE LIBRARY...JuSt FOR tHIS MONtH:

Lunch time talks: the Search for theElephant Man with Peter CousinsFriday 10th January, 12.30 – 1.30pm£2.50 library members, £3 non-membersLearn more about local man Joseph Merrick,born in the Victorian era suffering from severedeformities.

Lunch time talks: My Life as a Prison

Officer with Richard Papworth

Friday 7th February, 12.30 – 1.30pm

£2.50 library members, £3 non-members

A humorous and moving account of the ups

and downs of prison life.

January Sales Saturday 11th January to 1st FebruaryBag a new year bargain at our sale of ex lib-rary books. A wide variety of books will beavailable.

For more information or to book please contactAshby Library on 0116 3055917 – book earlyas spaces are limited.




young ashby





behind the scenes

Find out a bit more about some of the people who live and work within

the local area – each month we will be interviewing someone from a

business or organisation in Ashby or the surrounding areas. This month

we find out a bit more about...


kathy BelfieldAshby Tourist Information Centre

What do you love about your work? It is an opportunityto make a difference – we are involved in making thisdistrict a better place to live and work.

What is your favourite local restaurant? Zamani’s

restaurant in Rushton’s Yard.

Where do you like to go for a day or evening out? Wego everywhere! Lately I’ve been enjoying going over toCentury Theatre at Coalville a lot. I go there for thecinema and also recently saw Alistair McGowan livethere.

What is your favourite local shop and why? The Posh

Pantry in Rushton’s Yard. Emma is so helpful and I findproducts there that I didn’t know I wanted!

What do you like best about Ashby? I love thecommunity spirit – people care and I think that the

town has something for everybody.

If you could change one thing about the town whatwould it be? I’d like to see a Community Centre for thetown, with plenty of space for exhibitions, functions,classes and community groups.

If you didn’t live in this area where would you liveand why? We moved here from Nottinghamshire 36years ago so that the children could grow up in asmaller community. I’ve honestly never wanted to liveanywhere else since.

What is the best thing that has happened to yourecently? My daughter who now lives in Singaporecame home for a visit recently. It was 5 years since shewas last in Ashby and she was delighted to find thatthe town is still full of lovely shops and restaurants.




puzzle page

SUDOKU

Fill in the grid so thatevery row, everycolumn and every 3 x 3box contains the digits1 through 9, with norepetition.

that’s all there is to it.

You solve the puzzlewith reasoning andlogic - there’s nomaths involved andno adding up.

It’s fun, it’s challenging,it’s additive!

Solutions to allpuzzles can be foundon page 108.

quICk CROSSWORD1 king's title (7)5 Herb (5)8 Sprays water (9)9 Curved line (3)

10 Sword (5)12 Remote military camp (7)13 Incendiary guns (13)15 Highest noble rank (7)17 tests (5)19 Concerned with the

environment (3)20 Raised area (9)22 Give up (5)23 Wandered (7)

1 Disguises (5)2 Glass container (3)3 Genuine, honest (7)4 Colourful small birds (13)5 Hat (5)6 E.g.EastEnders (4,5)7 Finds (7)

11 Region in space (5,4)13 Nervous (7)14 Outside (4-3)16 Fear (5)18 Church council (5)21 Climbing plant (3)

Solu

tions o

n p

age 1

08

Across

down





your wellbeing

2014 - A New Year and for many of us a new stage in life.

this could be adolescence, adulthood, marriage,

parenthood or becoming grandparents and retirement.

During adolescence physical changes are obvious but

changes in the brain development aren’t. The human brain

is now believed to be developing until the early 20’s, with

the parts of the brain responsible for more ‘top-down’

control, i.e. controlling impulses and planning ahead being the last to mature. Early adolescence is when there

is a large change in emotional development and this can result in anger outbursts, tearfulness, low moods,

anxiety etc, for situations which as an adult appear to be a relative ‘non-event’. Research also suggests the

changes in brain development during adolescence impact on sleep regulation and poor sleep can result in more

impulsive behaviour. Social grouping becomes all important and peer group pressure can mean risky behaviour

in order to try and ‘fit in’. On top of all this adolescents are having to manage their emerging sexuality,

educational expectations, career choices and family expectations.

We have all done things in adolescence which we can look back at with slight (or major) embarrassment,

however, social media means things said in emotional rage, pictures taken for a ‘laugh’ are now a constant

reminder of those embarrassing moments and yet another thing for adolescents to try and manage.

Communication is key - if your child is upset don’t ask them why they are upset just say ‘you look upset is

there anything I can do to help’. Don’t automatically try and find a solution to the issue but just listen and

reinforce how difficult, sad or angry they must be feeling about... Boundaries should be age appropriate and

consistent (this helps a young person to feel safe - even if they rebel against them) this includes consequences

for verbally abusive or aggressive behaviours.

Parents can seek further support from our services within a relatively short time whether the young person attends

or not - please see our advert below.

A NEW YEAR &New Beginnings





Parkinson’s ukAn organisation for those with Parkinson’s, for carers and

for anyone interested in the effects of Parkinson’s and the

efforts to combat it. Parkinson’s UK group for North West

Leicestershire meets at Hugglescote Community Centre,

Grange Road, Hugglescote LE67 2BR on the second Friday

of every month, from 2pm to 4pm. This provides an

opportunity for discussing the condition with others who

have experience of it, and listening to guest speakers on

varying topics, all over a nice cup of tea. If you are

interested, just turn up at a meeting or contact the Chair,

Beth Elston via email to [email protected].

New teen Fitness Class If you are aged 11 to 14 years old or have children of this

age then why not give the new Teen Fitness Class a go!

Held on Thursdays at Hood Park Leisure Centre from 3.45

to 4.45pm and costing £2.30 per week. Pre booking is not

essential and if you are a member of the Club Activ8

scheme then you can use your points to pay for the activity.

For more details Email mark.bates@nwleicestershire.

gov.uk or see www.nwleics.gov.uk.

tara kadampa Meditation ClassesRelaxing meditation and practical advice to help us in our

daily life at Legion House, South Street, Ashby, LE65 1BQ.

Classes on Thursdays 12th Jan, 19th Jan, 26th Jan, 6th

Feb, 13th Feb from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. There is no need

to book-just turn up. Seating is on chairs. Classes cost £5,

for details or further information contact 01283 732338

or e mail [email protected]. See www.tarakmc.org.

January Sales at the Ashby Library Bag a New Year bargain at our sale of ex library books. A

wide variety of books will be available from Saturday 11th

January to Saturday 1st February. For more information

contact Ashby Library on 0116 3055917.

Discovering Leicestershire Archaeology In the spring Ashby Museum are running a six week course

entitled ‘Discovering Leicestershire Archaeology’. The

lectures will be given by Peter Liddle, former county

archaeologist for Leicestershire, and take place on six

consecutive Tuesday afternoons from 2pm to 4pm at the

Museum, beginning on March 4th. The course details are

as follows:-

March 4th – Early Prehistoric Leicestershire

March 11th – Late Bronze Age and Iron Age Leicestershire

March 18th – Roman Leicestershire

March 25th – Early and Middle Anglo-Saxon Leicestershire

April 1st – Viking and Early Medieval Leicestershire

April 8th – Later Medieval Leicestershire

Book for the series, or come to individual lectures at £6

each, at the Museum 01530 560090. Alternatively contact

Peter Liddle on 01162 214508 or email peter.liddle51

@gmail.com.

CAP Money CourseThis course gives you opportunity to think about how you

spend your money, how you can save for those big items

like holidays and gives you help on setting a budget and

working within it. The next course will run for three

Monday evenings starting 24th February at 7.45pm in

The Coffee Lounge at Ashby Baptist Church, Brook Street.

Free of charge with access to on-line help and workbook.

Sign up or enquire by text or phone 07790 542041 or

email: [email protected]. CAP Money is part of

Christians Against Poverty, a confidential debt counselling,

Job Club and money management charity.

Leicestershire and Rutland ProHelp

Can we help you?

ProHelp is a group of professional firms that offer advice

and guidance for free to not-for-profit organisations

across Leicestershire and Rutland. They can provide:

Accountants, Marketing/PR Consultants and Architects,

Structural & Quantity Surveyors for assistance on a

variety of projects. For more information and an

application pack please contact Katharine Lightbown,

Community Development Team, Leicestershire Cares.

Email: [email protected] or call

0116 275 6469.

“Pride” This new shop opened at 3 Huntingdon Court, Ashby De

La Zouch in November. Pride has been developed in

collaboration with Lewis Charlton School and derives its

name from the school motto: “Pride in Performance”. The

purpose of the shop is to generate opportunities for

students to make further links with the local community,

to gain valuable work experience in creative trades and

the retail industry.

Concert for the Poppy AppealAshby Concert Band’s Poppy Appeal concert on 8th

November was another successful fund raising event for

the Poppy Appeal. The Poppy Appeal is the Legion’s

biggest fundraising campaign, with more than 40 million

poppies bought last year, raising nearly £25,000 in Ashby

and £35m nationally. As in previous years, the event was

organised by the Band in association with the Ashby

Branch, Royal British Legion. For more information about

the band see www.ashbyconcertband.org.uk.

Ashby de la Zouch town Council

Calendar of Meetings

The Parks and Cemetery Committee meet on the 10th

February, the Finance and Tourism Committee meet on

17th February and the Planning and Licensing Committees

meet on the 13th January and 24th February. Members

of the public are welcome to attend and there is a slot for

public questions. Meetings take place at Legion House,

South Street and start at 6.30pm.

community board





book reviews

The Perks of Being aWallflower... Stephen Chbosky

Always being on the periphery and one of life’sobservers certainly may seem to have itsadvantages. Fifteen year old Charlie is the‘wallflower’ in question and through a series of letters, reveals his fearsabout starting high school. Unusually for him, he is quickly befriended bya Senior called Patrick and becomes ingratiated into his group. Far frombeing another lighthearted high-school novel, the book tackles issues suchas homophobia and incest. Charlie has a tough road ahead of him as hetries to come to terms with his past and learn to embrace his future.

Midwinterblood... Marcus Sedgewick

Eric and Merle love each other but are separated by time and space. Ifyou’ve ever thought that you lived another life, in another time, then spare a thoughtfor this pair. The novel has seven stories which span the centuries, from ancientcivilisations to the not-too distant future and find Eric and Merle trying desperately toreturn to one another. Reincarnated as lovers, siblings, and even mother and son, theyare repeatedly drawn back to each other. In this, the most unusual of gothic romances,the pair will eventually have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Ketchup Clouds ... Annabel Pitcher

It’s not just desperate women who start penning letters to people who are inpenitentiaries. 15 year old Zoe decides to unburden herself of her story to a prisoner on Death Row. Soterrible is her secret that she feels she can’t reveal what happened to anyone else and so Zoe writes to StuartHarris in Texas. Zoe’s tale is packed with teenage angst, with the right smattering of humour thrown in. Herletters of betrayal and the most terrible of love triangles will have you hooked right upuntil the last page.

S TA R G I R L ... Jerry Spinelli

Millions of readers have fallen in love with Stargirl, as does Leo, whose heart thiskooky, alternative girl wins when she turns up at his high school.

Stargirl only needs to smile for Leo to fall for her. She’s quirkyand imaginative; a mysterious being with a celestial name andno one quite knows where she’s from or where she’s going.Whatever your age, Stargirl will stay with you, like a brandnew friend.

every day... David Levithan

Whenever you think you’re not quite feeling yourself, spare a thought for ‘A’. Everymorning, A wakes up in a different body, and it’s been that way since A was born.The instability and uncertainty has become the only constant in A’s life. That is,

until A meets Rhiannon. On that fateful morning, A wakes up as none other thanRhiannon’s good for nothing boyfriend, Justin. From 24 wonderful hours grows a

longing to be near someone and with someone, no matter what it takes.

From the deepest, darkest

depths of mid-winter

comes a heart-warming

glow: Valentines’ Day. But

not every pairing is a

match made in heaven;

some love stories are short

stories, and others fail to

spark at all. We’ve put

together a selection of

more unorthodox teenage

love stories.


True (but unlikely) Romance





prize competition

WIN £25 IN OUR PRIZE COMPETITION We’ve hidden a copy of our logowithin one of the advertisements in the magazine – just tell us the name of the company whose advert itis hidden in and you could be in with a chance of winning £25. Send your answer to us at: Competition,Ashby Life, Castle House, South Street, Ashby de la Zouch, LE65 1BR.

(If you don’t want to cut out the entry form you can send the answer on a postcard) or enter by email to:

[email protected].

Entries close on Friday 7th February. The winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries. The winnerwill be notified and a cheque for £25 sent within 14 days of the closing date, the winners name will also be printedin the following edition of Ashby Life. Multiple or automated entries are not allowed. We will not pass your detailsto any third party. We may use your details to send you marketing emails from Ashby Life in the future – if youwould prefer that we did not, please tick the box below.

Name

Address

Postcode

Email address

The logo is hidden in the advert for

on page

CONGRATULATIONS to December competition winner, Mrs B Dane, who correctly identifiedthe Noon Column at Sence Valley as the location of last month’s competition picture.




It’s not unusual that at this time of year, after

indulging in food, alcohol and burning the candles at

both ends that we look to start the year with the best

of intentions to improve our health and wellbeing.

Perhaps you’d like to feel less stressed and learn how

to manage this or you've decided to finally address

the neck and shoulder tension that’s slowly increased

over the months.

Already widely accepted

in the USA, Yoga Therapy

offers a different approach to recovery and well-

ness, in that it takes into account the whole of your

body, not just the problem area in question. How

the whole of the body relates, not just shoulders,

hips and spine but also your breath and emotions

(mental and physical).

Yoga erapy – A New Aroach to Moving Forward

Are you serious about your New Year’s resolutions?

Is improved health and wellbeing on top of your list?

www.ashbychurch.co.uk

Ido like a good read of the BBC’s website. It

must be something to do with my upbringing and

not being allowed to watch ITV as a child!

The BBC do a pretty good job of reporting without

being too prejudiced. As a photographer I was

recently drawn towards a gallery entitled 'Year in

pictures 2013'.

It’s surprising what happens in a year that you

forget. Unfortunately it didn’t make pleasant viewing.

Out of 22 images, 7 were disasters both man-made

and natural. 9 images were what I would class

as ‘man's inhumanity to man’, from the Boston

Bombings and the war in Syria to the horrific Nairobi

shopping centre terrorist attack.

However among all the horrific images was one

shining beacon: Nelson Mandela. The sad passing

of this great man gave chance to reflect on his life

and the difference he made in the world. He did not

claim to be perfect or to have everything right, but

was someone who, after all he suffered, found it in

his heart to forgive those who persecuted and

imprisoned him for 27 years – in so doing, he taught

others to forgive. Nelson Mandela ultimately ended

oppression of millions of South Africans under

Apartheid without civil war, terrorism or violence,

helping all who were willing to listen to realise that a

more equal society was possible.

I heard (on Radio 4 of course) Mandela’s forgiveness

being compared to that of Jesus who not only taught

forgiveness but lived it throughout his perfect life. In

the Bible, Paul writes to the Galatians to show how

God views believers as equals.

Galatians 3:28: There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither

slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are

all one in Christ Jesus.

Have a look for yourself – it makes interesting

reading, gives us hope for our future and has the

power to transform lives.

Editorial by Ashby Christadelphian Church, Union Passage, Ashby

www.ashbychurch.co.ukForgiveness is key?





what’s on...

10th JanuaryAshby Library Lunch time talks - TheSearch for ‘The Elephant Man’ with PeterCousins. Learn more about local manJoseph Merrick, born in the Victorian erasuffering from severe deformities,12.30pm till 1.30pm. Tickets £2.50library member’s or £3 non-members.For more information or to book pleasecontact Ashby Library on 01163055917. Book early please as spacesare limited.

Ashby Writers’ Club with speakerJonathon Taylor (novelist, poet andsenior Lecturer in creative writing atDMU). 7.30pm till 9.30pm, Congreg-ational Church, Kilwardby Street, Ashby.Visitors are welcome at a nominal fee of£4 per speaker meeting. £3 percomp/manuscript meeting (includestea/coffee).

14th January Curses, Sacrifices and temples - CivicSociety Ashby, illustrated talk on Paganand Roman religions in England by PeterLiddle MBE, 8pm at Legion House,South St, Ashby. Visitors welcome to ourfriendly society £2. Refreshmentsavailable. Contact Susanne Tandy01530 415654.

15th JanuaryAshby travel Club – Talk on Kent andEast Sussex by Mr Ian Hill. Meet atPithiviers Room of the Ivanhoe College,Ashby at 7.30pm (prompt). All arewelcome to join any of their meetingsfrom now until March. There is nojoining fee or annual subscription, justgo along on the night for a good eveningout. For more information contact Mr JShaw on 01530 413441.

Ashby Spa WI – ‘The Discovery ofRichard III’ with Richard Buckley. ManorHouse School, South Street at 7.30pm.You don’t have to be a member to attendthe meeting. There is a small charge of£3 for visitors. For further details pleaseemail [email protected].

16th JanuaryNational trust Group – Afternoon teaand talk by Gary Root, who has workedat Birmingham airport for many years,and will give a fun and practical insightinto what goes on behind the scenes ata busy international airport. For moreinformation call 01530 563003.

17th JanuaryCentury theatre at Snibston – ‘AlanPartridge: Alpha Papa’ (15). Hugelysuccessful British comedy starring

Steve Coogan. Programme commences7.30pm. Tickets £3.50, pay on the door.Tel: 01530 278444.

North West Leicestershire & RutlandWildlife trust – Water Voles at RutlandWater. Sara Botterell explains the re-introduction scheme for water voles.Also DVD of 100 years of the WildlifeTrusts. Ashby Methodist Chapel, BurtonRoad, Ashby de la Zouch. Entry £2. Formore details call David Maltby on01530 222934 or Jim Footitt on01530 262389.

18th JanuaryAshby Farmers Market – From 9am to2pm at Manor House South Street.Bringing you the finest foods from theregion and specialist stalls. Freeparking.

21st JanuaryLearn to Dance - Ballroom andSequence dance classes for beginners,taught by qualified dance teachers. Anyage from 5 to 105 welcome! Classesbegin 8pm till 9.30pm at BlackfordbyVillage Hall, Sandtop Lane, DE11 8AL,£3 each a class. No booking requiredjust turn up on the night!

22nd JanuaryAshby Wine Circle – Burns Night. Foodand Wine provided. 7.30pm at BrownCourt, Atkinson Road, Westfields, AshbyDe La Zouch. LE65 2LZ. For furtherinformation contact Ralph Forbes on01530 224030.

25th January Swap and Fix at Snibston DiscoveryMuseum - 10am to 1pm. See page 73for more details.

Charity Barn Dance organised by TheRotary Club of Ashby de la Zouch Castle.Music and entertainment by theDerbyshire Ranters who are sure to haveyou up and dancing. Included in theprice is a quality buffet and a licensedbar will be available. Doors open at7.30pm with tickets priced at £12.50 foradults and £5 for children with proceedsgoing to Rotary charities. Tickets areavailable from Measham Leisure Centre,La Zouch Restaurant on KilwardbyStreet, by calling Alan Oakes on 01530272678 or [email protected].

Ballroom and Sequence Dancing toJ.B.P. Music at Blackfordby Village hall.Dancing from 8pm till 11pm. Admission£3. Raffle, bar and refreshments. Formore details phone 01283 213481 or01283 819447.

28th JanuaryAshby u3A – ‘Life behind the scenes atBirmingham Airport’ with Gary Root. Atthe Congregational Church, KilwardbyStreet, Ashby, 2pm. All welcome,visitors £1. Bring friends andneighbours, meet U3A members andfind out more.

National trust Group - Chase away theJanuary blues at a fun quiz evening.Includes a fish and chip supper. Pleasering 01530 563003 for furtherinformation.

Ashby Writers’ Club - Manuscriptevening. Members own work, 7.30pm till9.30pm, Congregational Church,Kilwardby Street, Ashby. Visitors arewelcome at a nominal fee of £4 perspeaker meeting, £3 per comp/manuscript meeting (includes tea/coffee).

29th Januarythe Zouch Acoustic Folk Music Clubmeets on the 3rd Monday of the monthat The Belper Arms in Newton Burgolandfrom 8pm. Sing a song, read a poem,tell a short story or relax and listen, allwelcome. For more information contactBrian on 01530 416251.

Ashby travel Club – ‘The Faroe Islands’,a talk by Mrs V Williams. Meet atPithiviers Room of the Ivanhoe College,Ashby at 7.30pm (prompt). All arewelcome to join for all or any of themeetings from now until March. Thereis no joining fee or annual subscription,just come along on the night for a goodevening out. For more informationcontact Mr J Shaw on 01530 413441.

Ashby Film Nights – ‘Alan Partridge:Alpha Papa’ (15). An extremely funnyfilm about a desperate radio hostexploiting a siege at his radio station.The Lyric Rooms, Ashby de la Zouch,LE65 1AB. Film starts at 7.30pm, doorsand bar open at 7pm. Tickets £5,available on the door. More information:ashbyfilmnights.wordpress.com.

31st JanuaryDrop-In Session for Carers at AshbyHealth Centre, see page 32 for details.

1st FebruaryAshby Museum kids’ Club – ‘YoungHistorians’ at Ashby Museum, NorthStreet, Ashby. Free entry. From 1pm to4pm.

January into February

continued on p104



what’s on...

7th February Century theatre at Snibston – ‘AboutTime’ (15). British romantic comedy.Programme commences 7.30pm.Tickets £3.50, pay on the door. Call01530 278444.

Lunch time talks - My Life as a PrisonOfficer by Richard Papworth. A humorousand moving account of the ups anddowns of prison life. From 12.30 till1.30pm, £2.50 library members’, £3non-members. For more information orto book please contact Ashby Library on0116 3055917. Please book early asspaces are limited.

11th February Orchids of Derbyshire - Illustrated talkon Peak District mines and flora, by localexpert John Jones. Civic Society, Ashbyde la Zouch at 8pm at Legion House,South St, Ashby. Visitors welcome to ourfriendly society £2. Refreshmentsavailable. Contact Susanne Tandy01530 415654.

Ashby Writers’ Club – Favourite authors.Bring along two favourite pieces of workto share with other members (poemsand/or prose up to 500 words. Not yourown work, something you loved reading).7.30pm to 9.30pm at CongregationalChurch, Kilwardby Street, Ashby. Visitorsare welcome at a nominal fee of £4 perspeaker meeting. £3 per comp/manuscript meeting (includes tea/coffee).

12th FebruaryAshby Wine Circle - French Evening.Members to bring their own favouritedish. 7.30pm at Brown Court, AtkinsonRoad, Westfields, Ashby De La Zouch.LE65 2LZ. For further informationcontact Ralph Forbes on 01530 224030.

Ashby travel Club – ‘The Tales of aCycling Photographer’ by Mr T Williams.Meet at Pithiviers Room of the IvanhoeCollege, Ashby at 7.30pm (prompt). Allare welcome to join for all or anymeetings from now until March. There isno joining fee or annual subscription, justcome along on the night for a goodevening out. For more informationcontact Mr J Shaw on 01530 413441.

13th FebruaryDrop-In Session for Carers at AshbyHealth Centre, see page 32 for details.

14th FebruaryCentury theatre at Snibston –‘Philomena’ (12A). Highly acclaimedBritish film starring Judi Dench andSteve Coogan. Programme commences

7.30pm. Tickets £3.50 pay on thedoor. For more information call 01530278444.

15th February Ashby Farmers Market – From 9am to2pm at Manor House South Street.Bringing you the finest foods fromthe region and specialist stalls. Freeparking.

17th Februarythe Zouch Acoustic Folk Music Clubmeets on the 3rd Monday of the monthat The Belper Arms in Newton Burgolandfrom 8pm. Sing a song, read a poem, tella short story or relax and listen, allwelcome. For more information contactBrian on 01530 416251.

19th FebruaryAshby Spa WI - Choosing the Right Brawith Sara Smith. Manor House School,South Street at 7.30pm. You don’t haveto be a member to attend the meet-ing. There is a small charge of £3 forvisitors. For further details please [email protected].

21st FebruaryCentury theatre at Snibston – ‘ThoseCoal Town Days’. An upbeat night ofhumour and song as award-winningsongwriter Jez Lowe with his band TheBad Pennies perform the best of Jez’scoal songs new and old. Show starts7.30pm. Tickets £8 advance, £10 on thedoor. For more information call 01530278444.

North West Leicestershire & RutlandWildlife trust – Ospreys of Rutland Waterby Tim Macrill. Tim will look forward intowhat the future holds for thesemagnificent birds. Meetings take placeat Ashby Methodist Chapel, Burton Road,Ashby De La Zouch. Entry £2. For moredetails call David Maltby on 01530222934 or Jim Footitt on 01530 262389.

22nd FebruaryBallroom and Sequence Dancing withPhil Brown playing the music. 8pm till11pm at Blackfordby Village Hall.Admission £3. Bar, refreshments andraffle. More details from 01283 213481or 01283 819447.

Century theatre at Snibston – As part ofSnibston's Charles Jennens exhibition,Vermillion present a choice selection ofinstrumental chamber music pieces fromthe mid-eighteenth century playingauthentic instruments of the period.Show starts 7.30pm. Tickets: £7advance, £9 on the door. Tel: 01530278444.

25th FebruaryAshby u3A - Mrs Ann Roberts on ‘Life asa Farmer’s wife in Rhodesia’ (Beatingabout the Bush) at The CongregationalChurch, Kilwardby Street, Ashby at 2pm.All welcome, visitors £1. Bring friendsand neighbours, meet U3A members andfind out more.

Ashby Writers’ Club – Annual GeneralMeeting, 7.30pm till 9.30pm atCongregational Church, KilwardbyStreet, Ashby. Visitors are welcomeat a nominal fee of £4 per speakermeeting. £3 per comp/manuscriptmeeting (includes tea/coffee).

26th February Ashby travel Club – ‘Winter trekking inNepal’ by Mr B Bryan. Meet at PithiviersRoom of the Ivanhoe College, Ashby at7.30pm (prompt). All are welcome tojoin for all or any meetings from now untilMarch. There is no joining fee or annualsubscription, just come along on thenight for a good evening out. For moredetails call Mr J Shaw on 01530 413441.

Ashby Film Nights – ‘Sunshine on Leith’(PG). Based on 13 Proclaimers’ songs,this will film will give you tingles ofhappiness. The Lyric Rooms, Ashby de laZouch, LE65 1AB. Film starts at7.30pm, doors and bar open at 7pm.Tickets £5, available on the door. Moredetails: ashbyfilmnights.wordpress.com.

28th FebruaryCentury theatre at Snibston - Alex Horne‘Lies’. As part of his UK tour, the multi-award-winning stand-up comedianpresents a show packed full of jokes,impressions and lies. Tickets: £12. Call01530 278444.

January into February continued

Did you know it’s free to put

community information on this

page? Email the details and

contact number to admin@

ashbylife.co.uk. Deadline for

submissions for the Community

Board or What’s On pages of

the March 2014 issue is Friday

7th February.

Information is published subject

to space being available. Ashby

Life cannot be held responsible

for any errors or omissions or

endorse companies, products

or services appearing in the

magazine.





PuZZLE SOLutIONS - CROSSWORD - SuDOku - CODEWORD & MORE...

HONEYCOMB

StEP ON It - Bikes, Bites, Mites, Mates, Hates, Gates.

WORDSEARCH HIDDEN PHRASE “You are the music while the music lasts.” t.S. Eliot




business directory

Accountants & Payroll

Ashby Payroll Bureau 92

Baldwins 30

Haines Watts 9

JAWS Accountancy Services Ltd 76

RDG Accounting 74

Aerials & Satellite

AB Aerials & Satellites 47

Architects

A G Dezign 26

Arts, Crafts, Gifts, Jewellery, toys

Diamond Awl 16

Knittiquip 68

Souk de la Zouch 16

Builders

Coe Construction 31

Keith Armston Building Contractors 35

Business Services

Lion Court Conference Centre 5

Carpenters & Joiners

Derek Verey 22

N M Joinery 55

S S Joinery 67

Carpets & Interiors

Abbotts Oak Blinds and Curtains 85

Agadon 3

Ashby Carpets 23

Ashby Stoves 27

Botanic Blinds 55

Boundary Carpets and Floorings 53

Fairweathers Carpets 72

Roger James Furnishers 80

The Bed Shop 96

Toons 109

Wendy's Courtyard Interiors 18

Charities

The Royal British Legion 103

Cleaning, Ironing, Laundry Services

Breedon Carpet Care 26

Deanclean 108

Extreme Clean 85

Karen’s Ovengleam 73

Oven Cleaning Services 34

Safeclean 55

The Bee’s Knees 52

Toni's Ironing Angels 42

Clothing

Just for You 71

The Shoe Box 15

Country Stores/ General Stores

Hallmark Tractors 13

Ivanhoe Countrystore 41

Domestic Appliances

Contracool 45

Contract & Domestic Services 38

Ray Pittam Engineers 64

Driving Schools

Bardon School of Motoring 13

RDT School of Motoring 93

Electricians

A & J Bartlett Ltd 32

Bright Sparks 100

M J Electrical Contractors 29

Estate Agents

John German 77

Events/Event ServicesHoneysuckle and Castle 39Ivanhoe Way Challenge 64Leicestershire Waste Partnership 73Financial ServicesBleathwood 69Squirrel Financial Advice Ltd 54Food & GroceriesAshby Farmers Market 100Clarissa’s Culinary Creations 76Scaddows Farm Shop 8Funeral DirectorsA E Grice Funeral Directors 15Furniture Repairs & RestorationAncient & Modern 22GardenArtisan of Ashby Ltd 66Bonington Tree Services 68Charnwood Tree Services 94Eden Tree Care 106F G Gardens 60Francesca Sinclair & Associates 107GDR Landscapes 73Green Thumb (Ashby) 51Lush Landscape and Garden Design 23Mowing Places and Garden Care 71Roughly Refined Garden Service 8Stone Drives & Landscapes 93Hair & BeautyVerity’s Nail Creations 10HealthcareAllround Homecare Services 21Ashby Chiropody/Podiatry Clinic 26Ashby Dental 24Ashby Osteopathic Clinic 59Candor Care Ltd 49Dr Jin 76Future Minds 82ICare 99Juliet Brooke Chiropody 42Karen Evans (Alexander Technique) 83Postlethwaite Podiatry 47Prestige Nursing 48ProPhysio Ashby 33Swadlincote Chiropractic Clinic 65Traditional Acupuncture 22It ServicesAshby Web Design 92The PC Clinic 60UK Bits 100Insurance ServicesP F Spare Insurance Brokers 68kitchens & BathroomsAlbion Bathrooms Ltd 83Ashby Tile & Bathrooms 2Holme Tree Kitchens 37Provencale Kitchens 35Tiles 4 Less 81Victory Kitchens 15LocksmithsHazlewood Locksmiths 37The Lockie 31Motor ServicesA D Car Cosmetics 45Caravan Support Services 47Castle Garage (Ashby) Ltd 101Chips Away 12Mobile Automotive 8

Music, Dance & Drama

Joseph Southgate 31

Painters & Decorators

Ace Decorating 59

Holywell Painting & Decorating 24

John Clark 27

Nigel Simpson Smith 31

Pet Services

Ash Farm Boarding Kennels 52

Highfield Cat Hotel 48

Smisby Dog Grooming 38

The Glenthorne Veterinary Group 111

Wiffy Woofies 34

Woodward Veterinary Practice 52

Plasterers

A C Ellison Plastering and Tiling 16

Matt Charles Plastering Services 18

R & H Plastering 8

Plumbers & Gas Services

Adrian Dunstan Plumbing & Heating 27

Batemans Plumbing 11

CCA Gas Plumbing 85

James Pepper Property Solutions 38

S D Hill (Plumbers) 7

Therm Heating 34

Property Repairs & Maintenance

Ashby Glass 84

Ashbyhandyman.co.uk 59

Cloudy 2 Clear 61

D H Phillips (Flat Roofing) 73

Handyman Maintenance 87

James Beckett 71

James Pepper Property Solutions 64

Roof Tech 42

Window Mate 108

Pubs, Restaurants & take Aways

La Spezia Pizzeria 45

La Zouch Restaurant 107

Link Measham Cantonese Restaurant 19

National Forest Youth Hostel 10

Rose Cottage Tea Rooms 27

The Blue Bell 107

The Courtyard Café 95

The Lyric Rooms 88

The Mews Restaurant 105

Wong Kwei 63

Zamani's 56/57

Schools and tuition

Appleby Community Languages 93

Manor House School 97

Maths Magic 13

Stephenson College 43

Stephenson Studio School 79

Solicitors

Crane & Walton 16

Fishers 91

Simpson Jones Solicitors 46

Sports & Fitness

Anthony Pullen Personal Training 89

Breedon Priory Health Club Ltd 112

Fitness Republic 17

Hood Park Leisure Centre 25

Pure Movement Yoga 97

travel & Holidays

Ashby Wells House 35

Villair Travel 75



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Ashby Life January/February 14

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