18

Bi-montly local lifestyle magazine for North Norfolk

Norfolk on my Mind 2009To advertise call 01328 851211 ORFOLKN Early Summer 09 yourfree Norfolk lifestyle magazine ON MY MIND... www.norfolkonmymind.co.uk

office@norfolkonmymind.co.ukTo advertise call 01328 851211

Norfolk on my Mind 2009To advertise call 01328 851211 Welcome All rights reserved. No part of Norfolk on my mind... may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any other form, or by any other means, electronic, mechanical, photographic, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the owners of Norfolk on my mind... Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of material published in Norfolk on my mind... However the owners cannot accept responsibility for the claims made by advertisers or contributors. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the editors or the owners. Although all reasonable care is taken of all material, photographs and transparencies submitted, the owners cannot accept responsibility for damage or loss. 003 Andy Turner Vicky Turner Phil Scott 07734 307435 Starre Corner Cottage Dereham Road Colkirk Fakenham NR21 7NQ Tel 01328 851211 Mob 07859 931673 office@norfolkonmymind.co.uk www.norfolkonmymind.co.uk Andy Turner Mob: 07859 931673 Dear Readers Anyone out there happy that spring is well underway and summer nearly upon us, all raise their hands!! As I thought, most of you. Doesn’t it make you feel much better in yourself - it certainly does me. I can now pop my head out of my study window whilst working on the magazine to feel those sun’s rays on my face. That gets the neighbours talking - believe me! Also, at this time of year we will start to notice extra traffic on the local roads as visitors come to Norfolk to enjoy the place where we live. If you are a visitor to the area whether regular or not, make sure you scour the magazine for information and articles that will make your stay a more enjoyable one. When spending your hard earned cash, give our advertisers a try - you will always be assured of a friendly welcome. And first - class service. Since our last issue we have been working hard on our business, and there has been some restructuring and change. ‘Norfolk on my Mind’ and our sister publication ‘Dereham & Brecks Magazine’ will shortly come under the one umbrella of Yabber Ltd. We have also recently taken over production of the Rotary Magazine ‘Rotary East 1080’ and have some other exciting publications in the pipeline. If you are a new or existing business and would like to promote your business or service with a growing independent publisher, then drop us a line. ’ Best wishes Andy Front cover pic - courtesy of David Morris Professional Photographer of the Year Runner Up Landscapes category Winner of portrait category www.davidmorrisphotographer.com FREE ONLINE DIRECTORY You can now register your business for free visit www.norfolkonmymind.co.uk and click on the directory link glen mikegill Promotions Manager Phil louise Contributors By Glen Matten Local Wells artist, Linda Nicol By David Morris Launch yourself into some fun A close-up with Serena Shores ‘Still a family business’ Topical discussion with Mike Pemberton With David Makinson annabel malcolm jo this issueContents serena

office@norfolkonmymind.co.ukTo advertise call 01328 851211 Glen graduated from the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in 2001 and runs nutrition clinics in London and Norwich. His fresh approach to nutrition has led to regular guest appearances on TV series such as GreatFood Live, Food Uncut, TasteandThe Wright Stuff.Glen regularly contributes to radio shows and puts pen to paper for a number of magazines and newspapers Glen teaches and lectures at a number of colleges and is currently studying for an MSc in Nutritional Medicine at the University of Surrey. Throughout 2009, Glen will be continuing his monthly seminars in Norwich for the general public, with each month tackling a hot topic in the field of nutrition. Glen’s first book,100 Foods You Should Be Eating, will be published later this year. For information about individual consultations, seminars or consultancy, Glen can be contacted on 01603 890439 or by email at glen@realnutrition.co.uk Hold tight. Here’s a lightning quick recap of Part 1... Superfoods. Nonsense concept. Haphazard use of high-dose nutritional supplements. Risky. An all round healthy diet and lifestyle. Yes. A dietary pattern made up of multiple health-promoting foods. Jackpot. The Mediterranean diet. Top notch example. Its constituent parts? Olive oil, fruits and vegetables, breads and wholegrain cereals, fish, legumes, nuts, low to moderate dairy products, low to moderate poultry and eggs, low amounts of red meat, wine consumed in low to moderate amounts, food that is minimally processed, local and seasonal. Up to speed? Let’s crack on. Evidence has accumulated associating adherence to a Mediterranean diet with some key health benefits. Here are the highlights: Ÿ A reduction in overall mortality Ÿ Reduction in mortality from heart disease Ÿ Reduction in cancer incidence and mortality Ÿ Reduction in incidence of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s Disease Ÿ Protective effect against diabetes Ÿ Protective effect against obesity The long and short of it is this. Greater adherence to a Mediterranean type diet is linked to a reduced risk of major chronic diseases. It’s likely to add years to your life and life to your years. But as ever, a little caveat. Much of this evidence comes from population-based observational studies. Whilst providing useful information about associations, this type of evidence can’t clearly prove cause and effect. For example, factors such as higher levels of physical activity, or a more leisurely pace of life, or some other unaccounted for factor, may bias the results. However, there’s plenty of good logic at work here too, which helps to explain why such a dietary pattern would be associated with bold health benefits. What you might call the ‘mechanisms’. We’re talking the likes of reductions in total and (bad) LDL cholesterol, increases in (good) HDL cholesterol, improved endothelial function, antioxidant status and insulin sensitivity, anti-inflammatory effects and favourable effects on body weight. That all sounds a bit sciencey, granted, but basically, stack that all up and you most likely reduce the risk of developing chronic disease. So whilst it’s difficult to make precise claims for the Mediterranean diet with absolute certainty, it is undoubtedly rich in nutrients such as fibre, healthy fats, antioxidants and bio-active compounds associated with good health and disease prevention. And the real deal breaker. It tastes great. The Mediterranean Diet Part 2By Glen Matten -Nutritional Therapist BA Hons Dip ION MBANT Forthcoming Nutrition Seminars An essential guide to the different types of dietary fat – saturated fat, trans fats, monounsaturated fat, polyun- saturated fats and cholesterol – and the positive and negative effects they can have on our health. Friday 3rd April or Monday 6th April (7.00-9.00pm) Part 1 of an in-depth look at the beneficial plant compounds found in everyday foods – everything from berries, tomatoes, broccoli and nuts to chocolate, tea, coffee, curry spices and much more - and a summary of the latest scientific research into their potential health benefits. Monday 11th May or Thursday 21st May (7.00-9.00pm) The concluding part of an in-depth look at the beneficial plant compounds found in everyday foods – everything from berries, tomatoes, broccoli and nuts to chocolate, tea, coffee, curry spices and much more - and a summary of the latest scientific research into their potential health benefits. Monday 8th June or Friday 26th June (7.00-9.00pm) Seminars cost £12 each, £22 for two, or £30 for all three, and take place at, 15 Kingsley Rd, Norwich. To book a place phone 01603 890439 or email glen@realnutrition.co.uk. 004

Norfolk on my Mind 2009To advertise call 01328 851211 Linda Nicol has been painting portraits full time for twenty years. As well as her private commisions she has painted for organisations as diverse as The Royal National Lifeboat Institution, The Worshipful Company of Cutlers, Eton College and Arsenal Football Club. She is truly international - her work is hung as far afield as France, Germany, USA, Singapore, Japan, and New Zealand. Born in Kent, daughter of a farmer, she originally trained as a Graphic Designer at Canterbury College of Art, where she obtained a BA hons Degree together with "The Queens Award for Art and Design". Leaving college she moved to Paris for a while, keeping body and soul together by drawing portraits of tourists in Montmartre. During "The Swinging Sixties" she moved to London where she met her husband. Together they formed a design group specialising in record sleeve design. Linda designed for many stars of that era including Manfred Mann, Kiki Dee and the late Dusty Springfield. She received critical acclaim, during a radio interview with DJ Brian Matthews on his original "Saturday Club" (still going strong as "Sounds of the Sixties") for her work on a cult album cover for Jon Hiseman's "Collosseum", on the Vertigo label, the original kinetic logo of which she also designed. The advent of her children meant her being at home in the Thames Valley away from London and Graphics. During this time she combined being a mum with other projects. She had an Antique shop in Cookham, Berkshire, and ran an Interior Design partnership with Jan Kilroy-Silk, wife of Robert. But Linda soon turned to her real passion - fine art. "I started painting my children, friends and their pets and anyone who would sit still - it snowballed from there." The rest, as they say, is history. With her children grown up, Linda and her husband returned to his roots in north Norfolk where she has lived and worked for the last fifteen years. Linda works from her studio in Wighton near Wells-next-the-Sea where examples of her talent can be seen. Big people, little people (her favourite subject being her grandson Joe), pets and country pursuits. To contact Linda ring on or call at her studio at " Lavender Cottage",14 Copys Green, Wighton, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, NR23 1 NY. Ride into town on the Wells Harbour Railway; wander the streets and browse the many shops; stroll through the Pinewoods or along the sand; relax and watch the boats along the quay; take a boat trip to see the seals on the sandbanks; take a steam train ride to Walsingham; unwind and enjoy a pub lunch or afternoon cream tea. The choice is yours and the choice should be Wells..... Visit Wells 005

office@norfolkonmymind.co.ukTo advertise call 01328 851211

Norfolk on my Mind 2009To advertise call 01328 851211 007 Firstly an apology to the whole of Norfolk for saying in the last article that Oscar Wilde had said that Norfolk ‘was mostly flat’. As everyone knows, including this writer, it was Noel Coward. Don’t ask me why I got it wrong I just did, I’ve been trying to live it down in our local ever since. Anyway as Noel said “stuff ‘appens” and before you pick up your pens, this is a different Noel. The “mostly flat” is interesting since Norfolk does have some bits that show real altitude. Renowned for huge skies and panoramic beaches it makes up for what it lacks in height by making sure it’s got impact. Thanks to some spectacular coastal erosion, the cliffs can finish abruptly, leaving almost vertical drops and a sense of vertigo that comes with the real fear of dangerous heights. In some cases unsupported grassy carpets flap in the wind, still showing the measured tread of cliff walkers. Where are they now and did they make it home for tea? I’m not a fan of much of the cliffs in Norfolk, I prefer rocks, boulders, chalk faces, anything but the mud cliffs that grace much of the Norfolk coastline. But as always the county is up for making you change your mind on just about any topic you care to name. One very early morning I was on the beach in search of the illusive award winning seascape when I was surprised just how white the cliffs were along a certain stretch of the North Norfolk coast. The sun had just tipped the horizon and the light made the cliffs a dazzling white. Ah! The White Cliffs of Norfolk I could see the caption now. This was clearly a phenomenon not to be missed. The problem being that to get the right angle meant getting as close to the base of the cliff as possible. You get lots of helpful warning signs along the cliff top path saying ‘walk here at your own risk’ and ‘nobody can be held responsible if you fall off’. And lots of fencing to keep you safe, but the fencing is intermittent. Which does make you wonder, why the whole of the coastline isn’t fenced off. Along the Spanish coast they don’t go in much for warning signs. Their attitude seems to be ‘Well you saw what it looked like’. As you’ve probably guessed I’m not a big fan of lots of signage apart from ruining your photograph, I’ve got a niggly naggly doubt that trying to eliminate all risk from our lives isn’t really what we’re about. Anyway Norfolk is perfectly capable of giving you lots of helpful clues that you should tread warily along her coastline. half brick structures on the edge of a cliff that used to be someone’s house, roads that finish abruptly with no dead-end signs, pipes and cables feeding households who no longer pay their council tax. You won’t find stronger signage anywhere that the Norfolk coastline is not to be trifled with. Whereas down on the shoreline when it comes to personal safety you are left to use common sense, something of which my wife thinks I am completely devoid. So here I am edging closer and closer to an unstable cliff feeling distinctly uncom- fortable. Do you get a warning of a cliff slide, is there a rumble, a feeling of movement. Will pressing the shutter trigger a landslide, will I get a chance to run for it? Like all photographers I have an instinctive reaction to save my equipment first. I guess this would be helpful to any rescue team. First they would find the mud slide and then two hands sticking out of the mud holding a camera. The wife would recognise the camera and say “Yep that’s Dave”. Photographer David Morris makes an unexpected discovery, but it comes with a warning. TheWhite Cliffsof Norfolk David Morris’ work can be seen at The Garden House Gallery, Garden Street, Cromer 01263 511234 Also visit www.davidmorrisphotographer.com

office@norfolkonmymind.co.ukTo advertise call 01328 851211 008

Norfolk on my Mind 2009To advertise call 01328 851211 Be amongst the first to acquire the ultimate ‘Boingee Thing’ at your party or event with Bungee Trampolines from ‘Over the Moon Air Rides’ – , the safest form of trampolining, rising jumpers slowly, up and down, up to 35 feet in the air! Airbourne somersaults are easily achieved after instruction! The origins of this system are believed to have derived from the early Olympic Games. manufacture/operate Britain’s largest six station T M Bungee Trampoline Systems, and their smaller four station units (which can be adapted for 2 or 3 station units) and can offer these units for hire on a daily or evening basis. They can deliver, erect and supervise operations for your total safety and complete enjoyment, and clear everything away at the end of your hire period. All the staff are fully trained operatives, giving a controlled and safe environment for participants along with a polite and fun attitude to enhance your enjoyment! The service is covered with £5,000,000 liability insurance and is also backed by all the relevant safety certification as laid down by the Health and Safety Executive. Weight limits are between 15kg and 80kg (exemptions do apply) and’ Over the Moon’ always operate a zero tolerance with alcohol and unruly behaviour on their units. The 6 station unit will be operating from 11th to 19th April at the Sandringham Estate Visitors Centre. Summertime is Party Time with Over the Moon Air Rides Up to 35 feet in the air in safety! 009 To get your business seen in a thoroughbred publication call Phil on 07734 307435

office@norfolkonmymind.co.ukTo advertise call 01328 851211 Sculthorpe Moor, a couple of miles west of Fakenham on the A148, is that very special thing: a little patch of uncultivated land that has retained its identity despite the rigours of 20th century industrial scale agriculture. It is also a rare piece of folk history and as such part of Norfolk’s cultural heritage. For hundreds of years the moor served the local community providing fuel and bedding for their livestock. Today it continues its role by offering a chance for locals, visitors and school parties alike to experience a timeless microcosm of old Norfolk rural life in the middle of the sugar beet heartland. Ancient land management had originally created the invaluable saw sedge wetland habitat. This attracted other visitors to the reserve – birds of prey which in turn attracted their champions, the Hawk and Owl Trust who today own the land. Sculthorpe Moor was originally run as a deer chase during the Middle Ages, becoming common land by about the 1700s. It was during this time that the land was to take the shape we see today. Always being low-lying and very wet, the woodland of the deer chase soon gave way to beds of reed and sedge which were harvested and managed using a system similar to that seen on the Norfolk Broads. Wet woodland abundant in specialist birds, insects, plants and fungi is still a valuable and integral feature of the reserve. The peat, turf ‘flags’ and gorse were also cut and gathered for fuel, so the Enclosure Acts which had such a monumental impact on agriculture and common land and effectively created the rural Britain we see today, were of course hotly contested. Sculthorpe however, unlike so many traditional areas of communal land, was to suffer from a very rare spirit of philanthropy on the part of the landowners. Although the land was enclosed effectively making it illegal to gather fuel in the age – old way, an area of approximately 30 acres know as Turf Moor was given to the poor of the village. This act of basic humanity is still reflected in the diversity of the agricultural land of the area in comparison to the reserve. It is as if the generous soul of Turf Moor lives on in its environmental value. Sculthorpe Moor is a little window into the ecological richness of pre-industrial Britain. As well as barn and tawny owls, the Hawk and Owl Trust is particularly proud of the rare marsh harriers that come to Sculthorpe every summer to breed. They can often be seen from Whitley (or Fen) Hide. The wet and dry woodland, areas of reed-bed, fen, grassland and water channels also support willow tits, tree creepers, kingfishers, bittern, water rail, orchids and water voles. The trust’s work in creating essential hunting habitats and roosting and nesting sites for their hawks and owls produces the beneficial by product of providing a haven for their prey as well as all manner of insect, mammal and amphibian life. The Hawk and Owl Trust was formed in 1969 in response to the decline in the numbers of familiar birds of prey; in particular peregrine falcons. After centuries of persecution, many raptors were falling foul of now disused pesticides and struggling to find enough food in the intensely farmed agricultural landscape which was becoming a virtual wilderness. Today the trust operates a three- pronged approach to protecting owls and diurnal birds of prey. Firstly, through their three reserves (the other two are at SCULTHORPE MOOR COMMUNITY NATURE RESERVE By SERENA SHORES To get your business seen in a thoroughbred publication call Phil on 07734 307435 010

Norfolk on my Mind 2009To advertise call 01328 851211 Shapwick Moor on the Somerset Levels and Fylingdales Moor in the North York Moors) they recreate and maintain unique and often irreplaceable areas of habitat. These are supplemented by artificial nest sites of boxes, baskets and platforms to further encourage breeding. Secondly, ongoing research and survey work is not only increasing knowledge of these birds but also our understanding of the threats to their survival, such as destruction of traditional habitats and road deaths. Thirdly, the trust (along with its partners in other wildlife organisations) has made great headway in working with farmers and other landowners by advising how to create, manage and conserve specialised environments suited to birds of prey. This often involves putting up nest boxes to increase the number of nest sites. The Hawk and Owl Trust is completely dependant upon grants, sponsorship, contributions from membership and donations from members of the public. The trust can thankfully count on the ongoing support of a band of dedicated volunteers who work alongside the in- house experts. The Countryside (now Environmental) Stewardship Scheme and other initiatives have begun to pay dividends for wildlife by encouraging environmental responsibility among farmers and rewarding them for the creation of ponds, hedgerows and strips of uncultivated grassland. However, this work will always be limited in its ability to substantially increase numbers of certain species. These (such as the elusive bittern) can only be sustained by uninterrupted expanses of natural habitat. Thankfully barn owl populations appear to be slowly making a recovery. Marsh harriers and ospreys are coming back to England to breed. Others species however, like the little owl and kestrel need careful monitoring and long term help if their 30 year decline is to be checked. Taking a free walk and a view from one of the many benches and hides at Sculthorpe offers a wonderful experience for all the family. But it also offers time to contemplate the unique contribution of the trust to birds who have, as a group, perhaps suffered the most at the hands of man’s ignorance and desire to conquer nature. 011

office@norfolkonmymind.co.ukTo advertise call 01328 851211 The area’s leading Balloon Decor & Party Experts NABAS REGISTERED • FULLY INSURED Why trust your special event to anyone else? Ÿ Professional Balloon Decor Ÿ Balloon Bouquet Delivery Ÿ Party Items Ÿ Theme Parties Ÿ Corporate Events Ÿ Promotional Items & Displays Free Event Plan Consultation www.norfolkballoons.co.uk The Balloon Lady 01328 829829 Suppliers of Snazaroo Face Paints “I’m gettingmarried in the morning” You can spend months or even years preparing for your wedding. You only get one chance to get it right, so here are a few pointers to help You may chose not to have any but it is a nice way of letting those closest to you join in, and it can be a great help to delegate duties in the days leading up to the wedding. This well chosen individual can be relied upon to look after the rings and pay the Registrar as well as making sure the Groom is looking his best One, two or three tiers? Fruit or chocolate? Iced or Plain? Probably the first and most important thing on the bride’s mind. Try on as many different styles as you can and although you may have a vision of your perfect dress, keep an open mind and let others give their opinion about what suits you. (Mum, sister, best friend- all brutally honest!) Attending wedding fairs can give you a good idea about the types of services that are available to you and a good place to pick up useful information. The brides bouquet, buttonholes, church, reception, bridesmaids. Make sure he is not left out of the plans even if he would rather sit back and let someone else organise the day. He will definitely need to be involved with the suits etc and maybe he can take care of another G - the Gift list. Traditionally the groom will book and pay for this. Remember to get your passport changed into your new surname where applicable. Send these out at least 3 months before the wedding and keep a note of the numbers attending so you can confirm your catering. Order your rings around 6 months before to allow time for any special sizing and engraving. Welcome during the ceremony or maybe just at the reception? Remember it’s a long day for them and some children’s entertainment such as a magician and goody bags will go down well. Make an appointment with the Superintendent Registrar in the area you wish to marry to give notice of your wedding. Two people must witness the signing of the register after the ceremony Bride’s arrival, signing of the register, first dance, live band or disco? 012

Norfolk on my Mind 2009To advertise call 01328 851211 Wedding flowers can be designed to whatever the individual bride desires, whether it be very traditional using white or cream roses or orchids, or more modern designs using a variety of different unusual flowers such as Ginger flowers, Proteas, Gerbera - even vegetables can be used, the only limiting factor is the bride’s imagination! Sharon Pointen is a trained florist and has some 10 years experience designing and producing floral designs for all occasions including all types of parties and events; she offers a personalised service to the couple to design bespoke wedding flowers for the most important day of a couple’s life. For a free no obligation consultation please contact her on 07747014714 or by email on flower30@hotmail.co.uk find out the maximum capacity allowed at your chosen venue before compiling your guest list. After agreeing your budget, it may be hard to stick to it when you forget about the little things - favours, gifts for the attendants, place cards etc. Visit several photographers and ask to see examples of their work. Ask what packages are available and expect to pay a deposit to confirm your booking. get as many as you can and remember to ask if they include VAT, service charges, handling fees etc. Easily the most expensive part of the whole day. Hotel function room? Village Hall? Garden Marquee? Usually a week or two before the big day the men & women will go out separately with a gaggle of friends to celebrate the last few days of being single How will you arrive? Horse & cart, limo, sports car, vintage Rolls….? These guys are usually in charge of ensuring guests get seated and handing out the order of service sheets. You may not have thought about this but it is a nice way to record all the moments you might miss and a lovely keepsake to show your children. Let someone else do all the hard work! They are often able to negotiate discounts and preferential rates plus have access to great contacts. If you have a budget, try to stick to it. Decide early on who will pay for what. it’s your day so try to grab some time alone. an obvious but important one! A good night’s beauty sleep is essential! As Spring approaches, so too does wedding season, and with it the realisation for couples that amid the preparations for Church, reception and so on, they may have to perform that all important first dance. ‘Waltzes and weddings go hand-in-hand’ says Xavier Navarre, ‘and there can be a real pressure on couples to get it right. But you don’t have to be traditional and dance a waltz. I have choreographed dances for weddings that range from Guns’n’Roses to Nat King Cole and I’ve not come across a piece of music yet that I can’t get a couple dancing to.’ Wedding Flowers Wedding Dance 013

office@norfolkonmymind.co.ukTo advertise call 01328 851211 014 working exclusively with Colombier Vins Fins Ltd For information on our Annual Wine tasting in September at The Links The Links Country Park Hotel and Golf Club is an imposing building set in its own grounds, overlooking the golf course with spectacular views over the sea and surrounding area. This established hotel, with a long history, is a wonderful and accommodating venue for conferences, meetings or any event. It is also licensed for civil wedding ceremonies and is a very relaxing place to stay. All its leisure facilities, including the golf course, pool, sauna, solarium, tennis courts and mini gym are available for guests to use, free of charge! Our award-winning hotel chefs create fabulous meals from a varied selection of local produce, and our resident patisserie chef who creates edible works of art was in fact recently commissioned to make the birthday cake for ‘The EDP Norfolk Magazine’ to celebrate their tenth anniversary. We have a dedicated brochure from which you can choose your own cake design for that extra special occasion. The hotel is the largest conference venue in North Norfolk and can cater for up to 220 delegates or for smaller groups in one of the three main meeting rooms. It is equipped with a large interactive screen and has all the equipment required for business or corporate events. The Links Country Park Hotel and Golf Course has 49 en-suite rooms and can accommodate over one hundred guests, with generous car parking and only two hundred meters away from a main line train station. When you stay at The Links there are many attractions right on your doorstep, making it the ideal base from which to enjoy all that North Norfolk has to offer in any season, with the Norfolk Open Gardens Scheme, Cromer Pier Seaside Specials or the Thursford Christmas Spectacular, to name but a few. We will be glad to help you with any queries you may have and invite you to contact our Reception on 01263 838383 for full information on tariffs, special rates and our regular events. Alternatively, visit us at www.links-hotel.co.uk. We look forward to welcoming you to The Links Country Park Hotel and Golf Club. A great wedding venue in North Norfolk The Links Country Park Hotel For couples getting married and holding their reception at The Links - we would like to offer them a free weekend to celebrate their first anniversary at our sister hotel The Peveril of the Peak near Ashbourne in Derbyshire www.peverilofthepeak.com THE ART OF CAKE CRAFT There are no limits to what can be made Tel 01263 838383 07890 006812 stephenmarksadler@msn.com ©Chris Taylor wedding photos www.christaylorphoto.co.uk ©Chris Taylor Chef Stephen Sadler

Norfolk on my Mind 2009To advertise call 01328 851211 After a wonderful two years of trading, The Crystal Cave has opened . Our aim is to offer a wide range of therapies from experienced, qualified and mature therapists with their objective to relieve clients of all the stresses and strains of modern living. For the precious time they are with us, we want all our clients to experience a wonderfully relaxing and chilled environment, so upon departure, they feel balanced and recharged. The therapies on offer include: Hypnotherapy and NLP, Crystal Healing, Reiki, Aromatherapy, Body Massage and Swedish Massage, Indian Head Massage, Hopi Ear Candles, Reflexology, Hot Stone Therapy, and finally, Readings and Life Guidance from a gifted and sensitive Medium. We shall also be running 6 week meditation classes - please enquire at the Crystal Cave as places are limited. If you are unsure as to what therapy would be best suited to you, please pop into the shop and we will be happy to advise. is open 7 days a week, with the following opening times: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday 10 to 5, Thursday and Friday 10 to 7, Sundays 10 to 4. Gift vouchers are also available for both the shop and treatments; they make a wonderful gift! If you live locally and haven’t been into our shop, you will be very pleasantly surprised at the range of products we now stock - we don’t just sell crystals! There is a wide range of gift ideas from silver jewellery to pampering aromatherapy products. Our creams and gels for arthritis and stiff joints are a best-seller. We sell local photographic landscapes and handmade driftwood boats to name just a few of the unique gift ideas available. There is a children’s section with fossils, crystals and other interesting bits and pieces priced from 50p. You will be amazed that our little shop can house such a wide variety of products and its all on your doorstep! Serenity Natural Healing Centre at The Crystal Cave 015 A visit to Rob's Claybusters is a unique event for Hen & Stag parties, Team building, Holiday outings and Family Occasions, not forgetting the Kids! CLAY pigeon shooting is an established, exhilarating, fast-growing sport and leisure activity, rewarding all participants with a sense of achievement. Rob Barber of Rob’s Claybusters, Kings Lynn and Baldock, Herts has become established as the initial contact for total novices with no experience and people wanting to take up the sport as a regular activity or just simply to have a go. A CPSA registered instructor and safety officer, Rob has over 30 years’ clay pigeon shooting experience. His professional and thorough approach and expertise have secured his popularity, with over 10,500 satisfied customers. Anybody can have a go, irrespective of age or gender, with more and more ladies and juniors taking part. Rob’s patience and enthusiasm have paid off, with visitors ranging in age from 6 to 80! He has 99% success rate of customers hitting clays on their first visit, with 297 ladies and 291 juniors hitting the first clay out of the trap to date! Rob’s top lady shooter regularly travels 40 miles and is consistently hitting more clays than 85% of his men shooters. Many people have travelled further to take advantage of Rob’s special rates and expertise. All lessons are half price, with something to suit everyone’s pocket. Rob is happy to cater for the needs of individuals, providing one to one tuition, as well as conducting corporate events, school groups, cadet corps or any other group you may wish to name. Rob is fully mobile and able to come to you at a suitable location of your choice – spice up your BBQ’s and dinner parties ( ) for your friends, family and business colleagues, executive team building and for that special occasion – Claybusters caters for all! Rob’s Claybusters has police support and recommendation as he specialises in gun handling and safety. The use of guns and all protective equipment are included (no licence required). Safety is always a priority, along with ensuring that customers have a fun and enjoyable time. For further information on introductory rates, promotional offers and locations, one possibly near you, phone WE SPECIALISE IN TEACHING LADIES AND JUNIORS

office@norfolkonmymind.co.ukTo advertise call 01328 851211 A Q Louise Thomas-Minns CIBTAC CIDESCO BABTAC is a skin specialist and therapist with over 12 years experience. She is the owner of U Treatments, a beauty business that brings the salon to you and is about to launch a London skin clinic. She lecturers in, and is an NVQ assessor part time, in beauty therapy. Her specialism in the skin and ingredient technology requires her to be a regular guest on Radio Norfolk and write for some national periodicals. You can visit her website at www.u-treatments.co.uk or call Louise on 07810 872 633 for details of her bespoke treatment menu. Beauty&Skin Your Questions Answered Do you have a question you would like to ask Louise? Email or write in to Town & About and we will feature a selection in the publication. mail@townandaboutmagazine.co.uk Beauty Secrets Town & About Starre Corner Cottage Dereham Road, Colkirk Fakenham, Norfolk NR21 7NQ – Book yourself in for a bespoke facial treatment since getting your skin in tip top condition is the key to a glowing you and a perfect wedding day makeup. If you have specific concerns with a skin problem though, it’s a good idea to start a course of treatments up to 6 months prior to you wedding date. Have your eyebrows shaped at this stage too. – Schedule any waxing treatments in as you will need at least two before your honeymoon especially if you are a waxing virgin. A manicure and pedicure will start to get these areas in shape and you can gain some homecare advice to encourage growth and health of your nails. – Another facial is needed now to evaluate on any new product regimes you would have under taken and to give the skin a brightening boost coupled with a brow tidy to keep them well groomed. Have an eyelash tint test patch to ensure you’re not allergic to the dyes that will be used if you haven’t had this treatment before. – Wedding make up trial, this will allow you to discuss and try out your wedding day make up look. I am a huge fan of the Bare Escentuals mineral make up range and as I was involved in the UK launch 8 years ago am expert in applying this 100 % natural range. I very much work on giving brides a ‘make under’ instead of a ‘make over’ to achieve a natural, flawless look. – Have your pre wedding waxing and eyelash/eye brow tints. – A manicure, pedicure and brow tidy are essential the day before to allow for complete drying of nail polish and for any redness on the brow area to subside. The big day – Have your hair done before your professional make up application and why not have a foot reflex massage to calm any pre- aisle walking nerves you may have. Help! I am getting married in May and now that a lot of the main preparations are planned I am turning my attention to getting myself ready. I have only had the odd manicure in the past and have no idea of what types of treatments I should or could have done in the lead up to my big day? 016

Norfolk on my Mind 2009To advertise call 01328 851211 Is your lawn looking a little neglected? Your back garden may not be as big as this... but whatever the size we have a mower to suit! Sales / Service 01263 822799 Britons Lane Sheringham Norfolk, NR26 8TS A business that began life in an 8 x 4ft summer house back in the 1960s has moved with the times to now become one of the biggest names in garden machinery in North Norfolk. Anglia Mowers has invested part of its success back into developing a modern showroom, office space and 5000 m2 warehouse at its Britons Lane site in Beeston Regis, Sheringham, expanding the size of its business 3 fold and bringing the total number of full time staff to ten, six of whom are family members. First and foremost Anglia Mowers puts its success down to friendly, honest advice. “As the majority of staff are still family, we always take good and bad comments very seriously, and pride ourselves on supplying good quality branded products with excellent service and back up.” We have always had a saying, “that if it’s not good enough for us, it’s not good enough for our customers,” said Calvin The selection of brands in stock now include John Deere, Honda, Atco, Qualcast, Hayter, Rover, Stihl, Bosch, Mountfield, Kawasaki, Sarp, Briggs and Stratton, Stiga, MTD and Agri-Fab. Due to the high level of experience of the factory trained staff, Anglia Mowers is the only associated John Deere dealer in the UK which is recognised to sell and carry out warranty work on its professional lawn care equipment. Three years ago, the company was approached by Honda UK to become the main dealer in North Norfolk to supply and service their range of garden machinery. They have now progressed to become one of Honda’s top performing dealers in the country based on sales and after sales care. With dedicated multiple workshop space, our factory trained technicians work hard to keep the garden machinery of the local authorities, schools, caravan sites, golf clubs and the general public in good working order. Contract, professional and domestic customers often take advantage of our emergency breakdown service at this time of year. We keep thousands of spares in stock at all times with the facility to obtain any non stock items normally with very short lead times. Anglia Mowers is able to offer a complete purchasing experience beginning with its unbiased honest advice, providing on site assistance, demonstrations and the servicing and repairs of all of its brands sold. If transportation of your machinery is difficult, make use of our collection and delivery service however big or small. “The staff are always enthusiastic and ready to help, but most of all we appreciate our customers, I am dedicated to continue the success of Anglia Mowers into the future to allow my son Cambell to be the third generation of Pigotts to drive Anglia Mowers to another 43 years ” said Calvin. www.angliamowers.co.ukinfo@angliamowers.co.uk 017 Anglia Mowers Still a Family Business

office@norfolkonmymind.co.ukTo advertise call 01328 851211 Slumdog Millionaire picked up 9 of its 10 Oscar nominations in Hollywood in February making it the third most successful movie since the Academy awards were inaugurated in 1927. Ben Hur tops the list in 1959 with 11 awards from 12 nominations followed by West Side Story three years later with 10 out of 11. I am sentimental about West Side Story because I first saw it in New York when I was touring America with the London Old Vic. We performed Romeo and Juliet, on which the film was loosely based, on Broadway. By the way, if you’ve not seen Slumdog, avoid a complex of tiny intimate cinemas. I sat in what they call premier seats which recline and are as comfortable as business class on a 747. But the screen is just too big for such a small space so you could almost smell the stench of the Mumbai slums and feel the pain of the violent sequences. It’s a big picture requiring a big cinema. Do you remember the expression when someone was asked a really difficult question? “Ah” they would gleefully reply, “that’s the sixty-four thousand dollar question.” In June 1955, shortly before the birth of ITV in Britain, “The $64,000 Question” premiered on CBS-TV live from their studio in New York and was the ancestor to ITV’s “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” The format has remained almost identical from those far off days but the prize money escalated to a million after prize limits were lifted. I know it’s a loose link but did you know quizmaster Chris Tarrant got fed up with his teaching job and demanded the TV companies take him on as “the face of the 1970s”. I like a roguish individual but in his case I could be persuaded to take the Tarrant bypass which leads onto the Ann Robinson fly-over. Wine seems to be constantly under scrutiny both by the experts and many writers who think they know all the answers. Descriptions and directions become more and more diverse and often plain stupid. It all started with Jilly (the nose) Goulden late of BBC TV’s Food and Drink programme. She would follow the time honoured procedure of pouring and swirling a little wine in the glass, then taking long snorts at the rim similar to vacuuming up a line of cocaine. She would then offer some completely banal description like “mmmm apples, pears, peaches, parsnips, a hint of burnt toast, an aftertaste of dustbins and the fragrant finish of wrestler’s armpit!” In fact anything but grapes which, let’s face it, are a reasonably important ingredient in the wine making process. A word of warning, particularly to those who, until a few months ago, were frequenting trendy London night clubs ordering bottle after bottle of vintage champagne at £500 a pop. If you’ve had to sell the Lamborghini, rent the yacht to an oligarch in Monte Carlo or cancel your seat on the inaugural flight of Virgin Galactic, beware the “mixed case”. You’ll see them offered at under half price in all the posh Sunday supplements. Do not be tempted my friends! There might be one, maybe two, recognisably decent bottles and the rest will not be plonk but let’s say – both difficult to drink and headache inducing. And, whatever you do, disregard the descriptions – they are often meaningless and aimed at people who normally buy wine in a box. While writing this on 3 March I took time off to watch the BBC’s normally excellent Horizon programme. But even that time honoured slot has succumbed to titillating television viewers. The spectacle of shapeless whiter than white males and females removing all their clothes in the interest of some crackpot research project would, had I never experienced it at its most beautiful, have put me off sex for life. Shame on you BBC – I’ve turned my eyes away from the TV screen for far less nauseating sights! There are some strongly opposed views over the grotesque circus surrounding the tragic story of Jade Goody. But, whatever your opinion and what ever you think of her and Max Clifford, her publicist, it’s her children she’s made the beneficiaries and that, at least, goes some way towards Up to the Mike... by Mike Pemberton 018

Norfolk on my Mind 2009To advertise call 01328 851211 compensating for her never-to-be-forgotten behaviour in the Big Brother house. I have often wondered about the criteria employed by supermarkets when making offers that show the original selling price before the item was marked down. So I asked a manager at Tesco (can you believe my spell check accepted that word?) and she told me that any marked down item displaying the value of the saving had to have been sold at the full price for one week only and in only one Tesco store. It won’t be long before Tesco becomes a verb – the ultimate honour for any brand name – such as Hoover. “Once I’ve hoovered the carpet, I’ll tesco you a lovely meal.” What about this for a verb? “Don’t shop for it – Argos it!” Imagine a dozen or so rosy faced marketing graduates barely out of nappies sitting around the boardroom table, M+S cuff-linked sleeves rolled up, lattes in hand when the marketing director asks “Any ideas guys?” Then, with the infuriating confidence of an estate agent (remember them?) and as if back in his classroom at Eton, a member of the team puts his hand up. “Sebastian, I knew I could count on you.” There’s a note of anxiety in the director’s voice. “It’s taken six weeks and half a million quid to come up with this one – so let’s have it.” All eyes are on Seb. As if delivering the first line of Hamlet’s best known soliloquy he proclaims - “Don’t shop for it – Argos it”. There follows an uneasy silence then the MD speaks, slowly at first rising to a strangled crescendo. “That is magic – absolutely brilliant – sorted - everyone agree?” Another silence until one of Seb’s colleagues starts to applaud. Then a micro-skirted leggy female, more beautiful than is deserved by any marketing department, oils her way over to a startled Sebastian, sits on his lap and kisses him full on the mouth. It really is his lucky day! Still on consumables I am unable to ignore the temporary closure last month of The Fat Duck by its chef/owner Heston Blumenthal, hitherto unknown by anyone without an expense account or those mad enough to part with enough money to provide meals for a thousand starving children in the developing world. I say this because, whilst Blumenthal has become the latest iconic TV chef, his restaurant in Bray, Berkshire has three Michelin stars, a 10 (the only one) in the current Good Food Guide and is fine as long as someone else is paying the bill. A couple of years ago The Fat Duck was voted best in the world by (needless to say) a British journal called Restaurant, an accolade that begs the question – who were the judges and how many restaurants did they visit in order to arrive at a global decision? Aside from his undisputed talent Blumenthal, as many will know, is, for want of a better description, a culinary alchemist. A fellow restaurateur suggested to me the 30 odd customers who experienced food poisoning after a visit to The Fat Duck and who probably paid more than £150.00 per head for the privilege of dining at “the best restaurant in the world” could just conceivably have been victims of a chemical experiment. The answer may be found in a test tube rather than a saucepan. Why worry about Robert Peston’s next report? – we will take your mind off money matters in one luxury fun-filled evening. All through the coming summer we are holding crunch beating parties at Brovey Lair. The Good Food Guide says The Café at Brovey Lair is top for fine dining in Norfolk so who are we to disagree. There will be pre-dinner drinks and post-dinner games and the whole evening will cost less than two hour’s worth of Sir Fred Goodwin’s for-life pension. Call 01953 882706 for details & quote TAA0409. Visit www.broveylair.com for images and menus. Conditions: In order to hold a party we must fill the restaurant so those making bookings are asked to be flexible on dates. Cost per head for dinner, wine and service can be as low as £60.00 019

office@norfolkonmymind.co.ukTo advertise call 01328 851211 Q. Since October 2007 employees have been entitled to 24 days holiday per year, and from April 2009 they will be entitled to 28 days per year. This entitlement includes bank holidays, so if you already give your employees 4 weeks plus bank holidays there is no need to change. Otherwise, you must make sure that holiday entitlement is amended to reflect the new rules. The entitlement for part-time employees must be calculated on a pro rata basis. However, if you rely on bank holidays to make up your employees’ entitlement, and some employees only work on certain days of the week, you will need to make sure that they receive pro rata to 28 days, rather than simply pro rata to 20 days plus bank holidays. An employee who does not work on a Monday, for example, may end up missing out on bank holidays and an extra day or two will have to be given to make up the correct numbers. If your employees are given 28 days off in addition to bank holidays there is no need to change the way you deal with this. However, if the bank holidays are included in the 28 day allowance, you cannot pay overtime instead and days off in lieu must be given. If you give more than the minimum statutory allowance of holiday, you can choose how to deal with the extra days (i.e. over 28 days) but should make it clear in your employees’ contracts what you intend to do or whether they will be given any choice. . The Working Time Regulations allow an employer to dictate when their employees must take holiday, provided that sufficient notice is given. The Regulations say that you must give twice as many days notice as the number of days you require your employees to take, although for practical purposes you should really give as much notice as you possibly can, to avoid a situation where your employees have already used or made plans to use all their entitlement before the required time. . Neither. Paid holiday is treated in the same way as paid working time for these purposes. If the holiday has already been agreed you should honour the arrangement, but you will not need to extend the notice period because of it. If you require advice on this or any other legal matter, please contact Hayes + Storr on (01328) 863231.QQ Q Holiday Entitlement Q&A by Fiona Hewitt, Solicitor Q

Norfolk on my Mind 2009To advertise call 01328 851211 021

office@norfolkonmymind.co.ukTo advertise call 01328 851211 022

Norfolk on my Mind 2009To advertise call 01328 851211 In the early 1990’s, I was called to a house in south-west Norfolk which on arrival, turned out to be a very large Georgian house, standing in gardens and grounds with a river frontage. On entering the property I met the owners, who turned out to be an older brother and sister living in this vast house. I was duly shown around the property, which consisted of several reception rooms, domestic offices, bedrooms, bathrooms and attic rooms. The house had the most wonderful original features of the Georgian era and was well presented by the owners. We were instructed to market the property in such media as ‘Country Life’ and the national press. From this marketing, we gained a great deal of interest - on one occasion the telephone rang and the vendor said to me “There are photog- raphers outside the grounds photographing the house with long-angle lenses – could you come over?” I drove to the property and it turned out that at that time, Prince Edward and his then bride-to-be, The Countess of Wessex, were looking to buy a large country house and the Press had got the idea that they were looking to buy this particular property! We also had a television company on the phone along with the national press standing outside! The television company in question particularly asked to have a “quote” with the agreement of the owner; I was interviewed by the television at the property. Yes, the property would have suited His Royal Highness Prince Edward, but we had no record of any contact from the Royal Household. As you can imagine, we had a tremendous amount of advertising and press coverage on this property and we duly found a buyer from the London area who was intrigued by all of the extra interest generated. What was a nice touch from the vendors was before they moved out, they telephoned myself and the solicitor and asked us over for lunch. We had got to know the owners well over the months and they wished to give me a present – the sister presented me with a long face clock as a ‘thank you’ for all the hard work that had been carried out. I was totally amazed and greatly thanked her for the kind gift which I collected on the day of moving. I am still in touch with this particular vendor and I’ve always considered it a privilege to have worked for this family. What was interesting was that the lady in question had in fact worked for the Royal Household in years past! Malcolm Duffey A Day in the Life Malcolm Duffey, Valuer at Belton Duffey, lets us in on some of his behind-the-scenes experiences. 3 Market Place, Fakenham, Norfolk, NR21 9AS – 01328 855899 26 Staithe Street, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, NR23 1AF – 01328 710666 12-16 Blackfriars Street, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 1NN – 01553 770055 66 Great Cumberland Place, Marble Arch, London, W1H 7BL – 0207 298 0329 www.beltonduffey.com - E-mail fakenham@beltonduffey.com GREAT MASSINGHAM GUIDE PRICE £540,000 EAST RUDHAM GUIDE PRICE £425,000 GREAT MASSINGHAM GUIDE PRICE £630,000 GREAT BIRCHAM GUIDE PRICE £284,995 SPORLE GUIDE PRICE £375,000 A detached 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom bungalow, with conservatory and double garage, landscaped grounds of over 1 acre (sts), overlooking village pond. A 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom period detached property standing in grounds of nearly 2 acres (sts) with a large pond. A 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom, single storey barn style property with interesting features, double garage and grounds of approximately 2 acres (sts). A deceptively spacious 3 bedroom, period semi-detached cottage with original features, detached garage, grounds of 1/3 acre (sts) and farmland views. A fully renovated 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom, period house with grounds of almost 1 acre (sts) and a detached barn. A charming 2/3 bedroom period country cottage with garden room, garage, and ample parking. Set in a most delightful cottage garden and location. GREAT SNORING GUIDE PRICE £249,000 of a Country Agent 023 NEW INSTRUCTION

office@norfolkonmymind.co.ukTo advertise call 01328 851211 Garden Design 024 What a winter that was! Not wishing to tempt fate, may I say thank goodness that's over. Now I'm sure we all need to indulge in some horticultural therapy. My phone has been busy with enquiries and there are rumours of a "Hot Summer". This is a good moment to plan for our gardens to be easier to manage, whatever the weather conditions. To give plants the best chance of survival, the "Right plant right place" principle is always true. If we have to cope with a dry soil, fairly common in this area, a free-draining sandy soil in sun is easy to plant. Any plants with silver or furry leaves are well adapted to moisture-loss, as are fleshy leaved plants such as Sedum. Fine needle-like leaves such as in cotton lavender (Santolina) and the brooms. Any plants loosely in the herb category, which also includes the flowering sages, thymes, marjoram and lavenders are obvious choices. Golden marjoram is an excellent ground-cover in small borders. Bearded Irises planted en- masse are an amazing sight in May/June and similarly Sisyrinchium 'Aunt May' (variegatum) is a great favourite of mine. But when it comes to dry shade, it is a different matter. Planting under trees can be a challenge for the most experienced gardener. But it can be overcome. Putting aside Yew and Pine, which are really awful to plant beneath (except in containers) preparation is the key. Add plenty of organic matter, ideally leaf-mould and incorporate a slow-release fertiliser to combat the greedy tree roots. Water thoroughly through the first growing season and replenish regularly with mulch. Choose a few tolerant plants and mass them. Do not expect a vibrant colourful show, but foliage interest makes up for that. Ideal choices are :- Lamium (I love 'Hermann's Pride' ) Helleborus foetidus, Euphorbia robbiae, Epimedium, Geranium phaeum and nodosum and Alchemilla mollis. Suitable ferns include Dryopteris filix-mas and Polystichum setiferum. Small shrubs for these conditions include Vinca, Daphne laureola and Sarcococca. Some variegated ivies make excellent ground cover too. A beautiful garden can be achieved with mainly foliage interest and there is something very restful, almost Zen-like, in a garden mainly in shades of green. Tom Stuart-Smith proved this in his garden for Chelsea last year (see photo). The subject of foliage interest, has been much on my mind lately as I have designed a garden for a client who spends much of his time working in Japan and admires their style of garden. It has been an interesting project as the garden is behind an unassuming bungalow in Holt, but benefits from a curved brick wall. The planting is fairly minimalistic but, for a colour fiend like myself, challenging! I have used shrubs chosen for foliage interest and especially Autumn colour. A snake-bark Maple and other Acers, Viburnum 'Mariesii', a group of white Azaleas and a shrubby Pine or two. Perennials had to be carefully chosen and I have gained some colour with a swathe of Iris sibirica and Sedum 'Red Cauli'. Ophiopogon-the black "grass" (in fact a type of lily) should look dramatic growing through the silver granite chippings I am using. To retain the small level change, I am using charcoal-coloured roofing tiles and my client has chosen a beautiful curved "granite "Rankei" lantern to hang over the small pebble pool, with a simple granite bench to sit beneath the bamboo arbour, over which we are training Wisteria. As you can tell, I am rather excited about this garden and if it achieves expectations, I will include a photo in a later edition. A "Japanese" garden in Norfolk and Planting for dry conditions

Norfolk on my Mind 2009To advertise call 01328 851211 025 Following the huge success of Garden Shows held in Little Bentley, Essex in 2007 when £110,000 was raised for Essex Charities, and Abbots Ripton Hall, in Cambridgeshire in 2008, the Stradsett Hall Garden Show will take place this summer and is set to become the biggest Charity Garden Event in Norfolk. Plans are already well in hand for this two day event which will open up the private gardens and the lake of Stradsett Hall to the public. The show will also feature a Floral Art Show in the Church, Primary Schools’ ‘Butterfly Barrel’ Garden Competition, a Fine Art Show and antiques valuations by Cheffins. Around one hundred trade stands are expected to attend and hot and cold food will be available all day. The Norfolk WI Federation will be serving teas, so everything looks set for a great day out in this beautiful down land setting! Sir Jeremy Bagge, of Stradsett Hall, said “ I am looking forward to our new Garden Show and I confidently expect 10,000 visitors to my gardens for this weekend. We hope to raise over £50,000 for Norfolk charities that need even more support during these hard economic times.” The event will be held at Stradsett Hall, just east of Downham Market, at the junction A134 & A1122 on Saturday, 4th July and Sunday 5th July from 10am till 6pm. The gardens, owned by Sir Jeremy & Lady Bagge, will be the setting for this Charity Gardening Event. Amongst the charities the show is supporting are the East Anglian Air Ambulance, Norfolk Hospice, Norfolk WI, CLA Charitable Trust, Truesyard Museum plus many other local charities. These gardens are never open to the public, so this is a wonderful opportunity for people to view one of Norfolk’s hidden gems! For more information contact the show director Nigel Dyson via our Web site www.stradsetthall.co.uk or 07802 282193 Stradsett Hall Garden Show – Saturday 4th July & Sunday 5th July 2009 10am-6pm Garden Show set to become new Chelsea of Norfolk!

office@norfolkonmymind.co.ukTo advertise call 01328 851211 026 Call 01328 851211 or 07734 307435 for details of current advertising offers

Norfolk on my Mind 2009To advertise call 01328 851211 FED – UP with Poor Service Unreliable Delivery Poor Stock Holding NOW IS THE TIME TO VISIT US We have NOT: v Reduced our staffing levels v Reduced stock holding v Moth balled any of our lorries We are still -No1 Choice for Building Materials in North Norfolk C T Baker Builders’ Merchant Branches at The Old Brickyard, The Staithe, Stalham Lee Butler 01692 580210 Norwich Road, North Walsham Steve Bullen 01692 403718 Hempstead Road Industrial Estate, Holt Keith Wagstaff 01263 710175 www.bakersandlarners.co.uk

office@norfolkonmymind.co.ukTo advertise call 01328 851211 028

Norfolk on my Mind 2009To advertise call 01328 851211 Spy, pornographer, pimp, terrorist... Holt native Mark Kitto can rightly claim to have adopted none of these murky occupations for a living. But they were just some of the accusations levelled against him during a nightmare time in Shanghai when Chinese Communist Party officials took over his publishing empire without warning. They moved in on September 6, 2004, locking Mark out of his office from which he published three English magazines covering bars, shows, reviews and events in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. "I lost everything in one traumatic day," says Mark in his book, which charts his roller- coaster ride as publisher and more latterly coffee shop boss in China. "My life's work was taken from me in one fell swoop. It was the best thing I had ever done and I had put my heart and soul into it for seven frantic years. I was devastated." However, Mark isn't the type of guy to wallow in self- pity. Together with his Chinese wife Joanna - who was about to give birth to their first child - Mark moved to Moganshan, a mountaintop retreat two hours drive north of Shanghai. He had a head start in rebuilding the family fortunes having visited the area out of curiosity several years earlier. Moganshan had once been a delightful retreat, popular with China's foreign community before the Communists came to power in 1949, and Mark had already bought a house and cottage on an earlier visit. He was the first foreigner to move into the area for 50 years. He had also discovered that renovating the house in what was now a fairly neglected part of China was not without its dangers. A local builder constructed a chimney above the fireplace in the lounge but left a concrete slab on top to keep the rain out. When Mark lit a small fire in the grate, smoke swiftly started billowing into the room. Perhaps it was this and a more serious fire in a cottage which Mark has also bought that prompted a local official to ban fires in his home and insist that 'No Smoking' signs were placed above the beds. Having decided to live permanently in Moganshan after the Shanghai disaster, Mark and his wife hit on the idea of opening a coffee shop catering for tourists visiting the area. Mark found the ideal premises, a wing of a hotel which had once been used as a brothel. Business is thriving and today Mark is the proud father of two children."In all the years I have lived in China I have never felt so at home," he writes."There is nothing special about us here. They ask me if I have been to the market as if I have lived here my whole life." But there's always one exception to the rule. Not so long ago an old man looked into Mark's shopping basket during a trip to the market and shouted to the crowd: "The foreigner has bought an onion!" This is a lively, witty, well-written book, which provides a rare insight into an Englishman's life behind the 'bamboo curtain'. China Cuckoo by Mark Kitto Published by Constable&Robinson at £8.99 (paperback) “I am a fully qualified and registered Psychotherapist, running my own private practice in Milton Keynes from 1992 to 2007. I recently moved to Norfolk and am busy setting up a new practice in Briningham and Holt Consulting Rooms. I am a caring psychotherapist, working spiritually and intuitively with clients who want to move on in their lives, both personally and pro- fessionally. I could help you deal with your issues, past and present, to move your life on, to discover life’s purpose and to achieve your maximum potential. Brief strategic therapy can make a huge difference to a life, allowing you to deal positively with personal issues and improve your relationships at home, at work and with yourself. I also work with people who are stressed – stress is the reaction people have to excessive pressure or other types of demand placed upon them. It arises when they worry they can’tcope. Stress counselling helps a person to understand the causes of the stress, to recognise the signs of stress and be able to respond positively, using coping strategies and relaxation techniques to feel better about themselves and their lives. Dealing with stress could include looking at a persons’ lifestyle, physical, emotional and mental aspects of stress, as well as the effects of occupational, organisa- tional, family and social stress. Bullying and harassment at work causes serious stress to employees and can impact on home life and family. Conflict at home, usually a ‘safe’ place, often causes even more problems at work. I hold an enhanced CRB Certificate and work with children, young people and adults.” New Business Profile - INTEGRA Lifeskills 029

office@norfolkonmymind.co.ukTo advertise call 01328 851211 Internet Solar Energy Animals & Pets Foot Care Health & Therapies Garden Services Office Supplies 030 Private Investigation Furniture Restorers Business Directory ads from £16 per month

Norfolk on my Mind 2009To advertise call 01328 851211 Until end of April 2009

office@norfolkonmymind.co.ukTo advertise call 01328 851211