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April has been the longest month of my life, since records began. We hear since records began all the time now, making it sound so dramatic...I like it. My dramatic April was partly due to the school being shut for two weeks. My wife bought our little girls a digital clock and attached a post-it note which said 07:30. Only when they could see those digits could they get out of bed. It didnt work. Instead, they waltzed in our room, wearing post-it note ear-rings, shouting “its nothing six dot dot one five”... not nice.

Many thanks to all our readers who sent in their Crossword entries, especially to our winner, Mrs Tonge from Dalston. Congratulations to the Stanwix Scout Group who found ‘North’ Bear on a litter picking exercise - their group picture will appear in the next issue. Well done to Emma and Charlie who found ‘South’ Bear in Cotehill. Note the change of rules to the Where’s Bear Competition to make it a little fairer for all.

Thanks again to all our advertisers and contributors for helping to produce another cracking issue. Roll on the summer….

Front Cover picture courtesy of Jesse Knibbs [nature_boy33@hotmail.co.uk] DESIGNED & PRODUCED BY: Michaela Corrie Design [m.corrie@virginmedia.com]

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EDITOR’S NOTE

NAME Jenn Farrell AGE 48MAriTAl sTATus Married to David and has two children, Tom and Hannah liVEs Aglionby, Carlisle JOB Joint Owner, Stone Eden Group

My motto in life is to enjoy life to the full and try to make the most of each day

The people I admire most are those who mean the world to me - my husband and my two children, Tom and Hannah

My life would be a lot easier if i could remove the people and processes which make busi-ness and family life more complicated

My simple solution as a parent, a wife and a business owner is to

make decisions which YOu think are right, rather than worrying about expectations of others

My favourite film mmm, you are asking someone who hardly ever goes to the cinema, and hardly ever watches TV, however we really love the theatre... and one of my favourite productions is Blood Brothers. We love to support The Theatre by the lake as well as going to the West End on trips down to london.

I am most proud of David and i setting up stone Eden Group and also the sporting and academic achievements of our children, Tom and Hannah.

The things I like most about my job are the flexibility and independence of owning your business and giving children from three months of age the opportunity to develop and flourish within a semi-rural environment.

My hobbies As a former athlete myself, David and i have spent the past 40 years either participating ourselves in our own sports, or taking our children to sporting fixtures. it looks as though Hannah will go off to university in the usA this summer, so David and i are planning our life as empty nesters.

my lifeWe love to know what makes our local business people tick....

ANDREW CORRIE Editor

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From Top: Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers and with their daughter leaving for the USA, they are soon to be empty nesters.

Advertisers...Dont take our word for it... Read the latest testimonials on our website“I now only rely on ‘word-of-mouth’ and Village Link for all my advertising as I can see that it works”

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4 8 4 Ring 01228 562904 to advertise or email: sales@village-link.co.uk 8 4

latest head to toe treats from beauty editor Louise Reed

by CAROL WESTMORLAND

www.pilates-cumbria.co.uk

health and fitness

Harnessing the positive energy all around you could be just the tonic you need. Your wellness depends on it. Devouring those

with endless energy is not just permit-ted it is now an order and from the top.

Emotions are highly contagious a new study has revealed. researchers in Finland have found that someone’s emotional expression triggers a mirrored reaction. The study proved that our brains and bodies synchronise with those around us. Now i know why i dislike supermarkets so much.

Put us all together en-masse we will all behave in a similar way. i am a firm believer that we can express ourselves without saying a word. A fleeting glance does not tell you a great deal about that person unless they are expressive in the way they look. Take myself as an example. i love colour. No surprise to anyone who knows me. it is everywhere around me. i drench myself in it. This applies to our home too. Our kitchen alone has grass green walls, a lilac AGA, deep pink cabinetry and my beloved KitchenAid artisan mixer is a beautiful sunshine yellow. i am about to reacquaint myself with our Francis Francis espresso machine– soft pink, naturally.

My energy levels are irrepressible and i believe it’s no coincidence that my colourful life is just that – colourful. i ignore anything dull and that does include people. Colour makes me giddy with excitement.

Did you know that the human eye has more receptors for the colour yellow than any other colour? is there any other colour that better sums up the sum-mer?

i bet you have bright colours to wear, but what do you do? You save them for parties or special days. Forget that. Every day is special. Put them on now and set out to be noticed. Be outrageous.

Believe in you and dazzle.

Tel: 01768 896733 • Classes: Creighton Rugby Club, Parklands, Carlisle Mon & Wed-5.30pm, Castle Carrock Village Hall, Tues & Thurs 9am. NEW: Cumwhitton class 7pm every Monday!

The beauty industry is fast changing...a bit like our Cumbrian weather. This issue we will feature what’s the latest word on nail trends, yes ladies, its

finally time to get our hands out of those wooly mittens. Well manicured fingernails always finish off your look so here are easy nail care tips that don’t take much work or time:

Cut Your Nails After Your Shower or Bath When you need to trim your nails, it’s best to do it after they’ve been soaking for some time. They are more pliable and easy to trim without cracking. You don’t need to specifically soak the nails if you don’t have time, just cut them right after your shower or bath. They’ll be perfectly ready to cut. Always cut toenails straight across and do not file down the sides to prevent ingrowing nails, the strongest shape for fingers is slightly rounded.

Push Back Cuticles Give your cuticles a gentle push back and put a dab of cuticle oil every day after your shower.

Wear Clear Nail Hardening Polish If applied daily it will harden your natural nail as well as giving your nails a smooth, shiny finish. I recommend OPI Nail Envy for hardening.

Trends for this season are either bright pastels or pale nudes - toning down your nails is the new way to play it cool. Get the ‘pale nail’ look using

neutral cream shades or try applying two coats of natural colour polish capped off with topcoat. One of my favourite’s, which took the beauty industry by storm a few years ago,

Toning down your nails is the new way to play

it cool

is Shellac. This special formula, applied only in a salon, brushes on just like normal nail polish but wears like a gel. Nails are prepped in the same manner as a basic manicure. As a time-served nail technician myself, something I am often asked is ‘Will an enhancement ruin my nails or make them thinner?’ Any enhancement to a natural nail will dehydrate the surface,

just as constantly wearing polish will. However, acrylic enhancements have come a long way and, when applied correctly, are now considerably less abrasive on the natural nail. But not ev-

eryone wants or needs nail extension. Shellac (like other gels) can be gently removed and reapplied fortnightly and stays chip resistant with a high shine. It also dries instantly, saying goodbye to chips and smudges. One thing to remember though, if your nails are very thin to start with they will always need a helping hand, but applying Shellac can help protect them. I speak for most technicians when I say one of the most annoying things is when people say ‘Acrylics (or gels) ruined my nails’! It is actually the incorrect removal of acrylic/gel enhancements that causes the damage. Please leave it to the professionals.

Does nail polish expire? Bottles usually don’t have an expiration date, but it does thicken with time. To keep it lasting longer store it in the fridge. If the nail polish becomes “chunky” try adding a drop or two of nail-polish remover and shake until smooth.

BeautyNews

Hi, I am very excited to introduce myself as the new beauty columnist for the Village Link magazine.As the proud owner of Captiva Hair & Beauty I would like to tell you a little bit about our salon, our signature treat-ments and new spring/summer trends!At Captiva we offer up to the minute bang on trend Hair and Beauty treat-ments at competitive prices using the most desired and envied products in the world. You want it we do it! Gorgeous nails that shimmer, sparkle, glitter and shine, luscious lashes, fabulous fake tanning, mineral makeup, princess hair ups, modern, funky colours and styles to suit everyone! Not forgetting your monthly maintenance treatments such as waxing, tinting and trims! Drift away in our new Spa

Experience room, try our heavenly hot stone massage, revitalising reflexology and invigorating Indian head. Soak up the relaxing atmosphere, indulge in our holistic therapies and have a little ‘me’ time because you deserve it!With a wide variety of treatments to choose from, we’re sure we can cater for all your Hair and Beauty needs. Have a look at our website: www.captivahairandbeauty.co.uk , if you have any comments or questions with regards to appointment availability and prices, please feel free to contact us on 016977 3747. We hope to see you at Captiva soon!

Louise Reed23 High Cross St, Brampton, Cumbria CA8 1RP

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Lofty Stoddart, Hell Driver

David Fuller and his merry men and maids

Silloth Pavilion in pre-war days

Wetheral, Carlisle Tel: 01228 561888

www.crownhotelwetheral.co.uk

Father’s Day

Sunday 16th June

Cream of Leek and Potato SoupBlackpudding and Chorizo Salad

with English Mustard MayonnaiseSmoked Mackerel Tartare

with Horseradish Crème FraicheTomato and Buffalo Mozzarella Tart

with Rocket and Pesto

Roast Lakeland Topside of Beef with Yorkshire Pudding and Natural GravyPan-fried Pollack with Parsley Mash,

Wilted Greens and Lemon Butter SauceRoast Bacon Loin with Caramelised

Apples and Cider GravyPea and Mint Risotto with Mascarpone Cheese and Free Range Poached Eggs

Selection of British and Continental Cheeses, Biscuits, Celery and Chutney

Cumbrian Rum Nicky Tart with Vanilla Clotted Cream

Chocolate Sponge with Dark Chocolate SauceStrawberry Eton Mess

Coffee and Chocolates

£18.50 per adult Children under 12 years, half adult price

Gift for dad

Lunch Menu

Opening HoursNEW

from Monday 6th May

10am – 11pmHot Food available all day!

D ear Reader - you may detect a certain continental flair to my tone this month. Having bored quickly with the position of High Sheriff of Brampton (my planning application has been given the nod) I now feel the need to

expand my horizons further. Regular readers of this column will be aware that I have had my eye on taking over the motoring section in this magazine for quite some time. The idea of driving around in fancy cars appeals to me. I once again brought this matter up with the Editor - he suggested that the new post of International Correspondent was ideal - almost made for me! International Correspondents job would be to travel to dangerous locations and report back to the Village Link. My mole at the Parish Council gave me my first lead on an International story. It appears that proceeds from the Corby Hill speed camera have been secretly squirreled away by the Council members to a Cypriot bank account and now are frozen in the Euro crisis! As both an investigative journalist and Civic Leader myself, I had a moral duty to help (and a 15% cut plus travel expenses). Cyprus does seem a little unstable so I decided to monitor the situation from Monte Carlo here in the South of France (on expenses of course). I am pleased to report the food and wine are excellent and the sun is shining.

old blogger writes... Au Revoir

QUICK CASH FOR WRITING TO us

want to be on this page?Send your words and pics to editor@village-link.co.uk or write to: Village Link, The Shrubbery, Great Corby, Carlisle CA4 8LR

Did you know that you can receive £10 simply for sending a letter to us? We reward the writer of the star letter we print. Has your child done anything that made you laugh? Did your pet get into a bit of a scrape recently? Maybe you have some clever cooking advice or an easy way to save time with household chores. Get your name published and show off to your friends!

Money Matters

Essential advice on managing your finances from money editor Alan Dickson

At last, competitive fixed rate “fees free” remortgages have finally become available. It’s now possible to get a good five year fixed rate for 3.19%

(depending on the amount of equity you have), with a free valuation, free legal costs, and no arrangement fee!

Why is this so important? The Bank of England base rate is currently just half of one percent! But this simply can’t last forever. At some point interest rates must rise. Some of us still shudder at the memory of mortgage rates historically as high as 15.4% although it’s very unlikely that they will rise to these levels. But when interest rates finally increase, as they undoubtedly will, those on variable and tracker rates will feel the pain. Part of the problem is that many of the fixed rates on offer have huge arrangement fees. It hasn’t been uncommon to see £999 arrangement fees or more, just to secure a decent fixed rate. The simple fact is that most mortgages in the Carlisle area are modest and can’t justify a large fee. That’s why these improved “fees free” mortgages are so attractive.

So why now? The mortgage market has been stifled by a lack of available credit for several years. The government in their desire to kickstart the moribund housing market, have recently introduced the “funding for lending” scheme. The potential injection of some sixty billion pounds into financial lending institutions on the proviso that this made available to customers provides the impetus for the improved mortgage rates. So

far it seems that this is working. A number of good mortgage deals have now become available. And the amount of deposit re-quired to secure these deals is decreasing, and the requirements to qualify for these mortgages are becoming less onerous.

So many mortgage holders are paying unnecessarily high amounts of interest on by remaining on their standard variable

rate and are leaving themselves wide open to future inter-est rate rises. There is also heartening news for first time buyers and those

wishing to move house as there are new schemes becoming available to solve the problem of only having a very small deposit. When arranging a mortgage, it is little wonder that many find that dealing with a trusted Financial Adviser with the relevant training and experience in their own home to be a simple and straightfor-ward solution.

A client bought a new home and the mortgage broker wanted to send flowers for the occasion. They arrived at the home and the owner read the card; it said “Rest in Peace”. The owner was angry and called the florist to complain. After he told the florist of the obvious mistake and described how angry he was, the florist said, “Sir, I’m really sorry for the mistake, but rather than getting angry you should imagine this: Somewhere there is a funeral taking place today, and they have flowers with a note saying, “Congratulations on your new home”.

To Advertise: Ring 01228 562904 or visit www.village-link.co.uk

or 07947 233631

PROMPT & FLEXIBLE SERVICE & INSTALLATIONS • COMPETITIVE RATES

• Washing Machines• Fridges and Freezers• Microwave Ovens• Tumble Dryers• Electric Cookers• Any Electrical Appliance

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The mortgage market has been stifled by a lack

of available credit for several years

6

For sensible mortgage advice...COntaCt:Alan Dickson Tel: 07775 645 021alan.dickson@edenmortgages.co.ukwww.edenmortgages.co.uk

YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE. We do not normally charge a fee for mortgage advice. If a fee is charged our typical fee is £125. Please note I have not charged a fee for over five years. Eden Mortgages Ltd is an appointed Representative of Personal touch Financial Services Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered Office: 11 West Lane, Penrith, CA11 7DP.

We offer mortgages from the whole of the mortgage market

7

I don’t know what being orange says about your social

status but everywhere I go, orange

people abound

Garden Feature

Life and the occasional gardening tip from garden editor Jason Hindmoor

JASON HINDMOOR 01228 561989 / 07812 438810

JOHN CARR 01228 564083/ 07966 415061

Weeding | Ground Clearance, Hedge Cutting | Planting,

Leaf Clearance & Pressure Washing

ANY JOBS CONSIDERED

agaliving.com

Village Link - your FREE Community Magazine

One of the advan-tages in hav-

ing an outdoor job is the opportunity to get a bit of colour during the great British sum-mer. This is occasionally due to the sun but more often is caused by a wind rash. Anyway, whatever the cause, John and I are normally starting to get brown by this time of year and this used to be quite a good thing but sun tanned skin now seems to be very much out of fashion. Now as far as I understand it, before the Industrial Revolution, pale skin was preferred as it was a sign of high social status. The poorer classes like John and I worked outdoors and got darker skin from exposure to the sun, then we died from consumption, while the upper classes stayed indoors and had tea and light skin. Therefore fair skin became associated with wealth and high position. However in the mid-20th century every-thing changed and Coco Chanel made tanned skin seem fashion-able, healthy and luxurious. This has been the case ever since until more recently the trend seems to have changed again, this time swinging heavily in favour of being orange. Now I don’t know what being orange says about your social status but everywhere I go or-ange people abound. Too much sun is ob-viously bad for you but being orange can’t be a sign of good health can it? If your new born baby came out orange you’d be horrified, wondering which vital organ was failing, yet a decade or so later it will be paying someone your hard earned cash to spray paint it orange. It therefore goes on my list of things I don’t understand the point of, which currently includes Gok Wan, the Ford Fusion, non-alcoholic beer, vases and Embarrassing Bodies. (My good wife enjoys Embarrassing Bodies which seems to be a programme for people with nasty rashes in their nether regions who are too embarrassed to go to their Doctor but are happy for 6.8 million viewers to

laugh at them). Anyway apparently Chris Huhne’s wife is to replace John Terry as England Captain - she’s very good at taking penalties.Famous last words: Oscar Pistorius’s girlfriend - ‘It’s Valentine’s Day and the

least you could do is take me out.’The parents of a difficult boy were discussing how to sort out his disobedi-ence. The mother said ‘Lets buy him a

bicycle.’ ‘Well’, said the father, ‘maybe but do you think it will improve his behavior?’ ‘Probably not,’ said the mother, ‘but it will spread it over a wider area.’ Anyway I digress.

May / June Gardening Tips:May is a very busy time in the garden. Be prepared to protect tender plants and vegetables such as courgettes and beans from low night-time temperatures or even late frosts.

Spring flowering plants will be coming to the end of their flowering time and will need clearing in prepa-ration for your summer bedding. Remove the old plants, run a fork through the soil, and add some good fertiliser so the area is ready for new planting. May is also a good time

to start buying your summer bedding plants. Tie in shoots of clematis and any other climbers in the garden to firm supports such as trellis or a backing fence. Also try to tie in any climbing and rambling roses you may have. If daffodil flowering has been poor, divide bulbs and separate out the larger ones for replanting. Pot up smaller ones and plant in a spare patch of ground to develop. Mow lawns regularly, rais-ing the cutting height in dry weather, but not letting the grass grow by more than three-quarters of an inch between mowing. Gradually accustom greenhouse plants to outdoor temperature.

8 8 Village Link is proud to be independent

Mouth-watering inspiration from food editor Jane Ferguson

meet the Author

When did you first start writing and what was your first book? I have had some poems written for 30 years or more but I started writing stories about 6 years ago. I have previously had published two illustrated children’s’ story books.

Is there any particular author/book that has influenced you? I’ve always been very interested in the Brontes. Just recently I requested one of Thomas Hardy’s books called Return of the Native, having read a short book by Thomas Hardy called An Indiscretion in the Life of an Heiress. I liked this very much - it’s a little known book of this author.

Tell us about your book ‘Ella’ - and the reference to ‘Corby Woods’. ‘Ella’ is a fictional story about a girl who was abandoned as a baby and who grew up without any identity. I didn’t know until I got so far with the story who she might marry. My choice of Wetheral as the basis of the story was because I used to go a lot to the house opposite the Wheatsheaf and it just came naturally that Ella and

her fiance would do their courting in Corby Woods.

What was your favourite book to write and why? I have had a Scottish friend for the past eight years. She gave me her story which I wrote, entitled ‘Northern Star’ - it is I think my greatest achievement. I’ve received some good comments for both the story and my illustrations. I think my favourite book though is the poetry book - Kaleido-scope, again illustrated with my line drawings. I am at present waiting to hear if my latest work about nursing will be accepted for a E-book publication.

Which of your books could you see made into a movie? I think ‘Ella’ would make a great play or movie... she would have to be played by a young attractive actress with honey-blonde hair.

Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers? If you have a good idea for a story, start writing. You don’t know what you can do until you try.

Elizabeth Love was born on a farm at Reagill, near Shap. A great lover of the countryside around her home of Carlisle, she writes about her observations & colours her stories with occupational and human interest.

Irecently went into a restaurant and instantly felt I was going to be told off. All I’d done was ask for a table for four. It’s the same look the shop

assistant gives you that says ‘you can’t afford anything in here’, plus ‘nothing will fit you anyway’. How do they know that I have not just inherited a small fortune and am buying a present for my size 10 daughter? I have never understood this attitude and never will. When I first started out in the world of hospitality and catering I was very fortunate to work for a great family. They had an extremely successful restaurant, which I would class as ‘a little bit up market’, but in no way was that reflected in the way they treated anyone who came through the door. It was only a small, quite intimate restaurant and I can fully understand how it could be a little bit daunting when first stepping inside. I would see a young couple come in, looking quite nervous, not knowing what to expect and probably feeling a little bit out of their comfort zone. Within five minutes you could see them visibly relax as they were welcomed and made to feel at home. Did it matter that they only spent half of what the well off

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During May

couple spent? Never. What a shame not every establishment feels that way! This is a great supper, which, who knows you may be able to eat outside with a nice glass of vino. Good for vegetarians also.

Greek Filo and Feta Pie Place 450g sliced leeks, 2tbsp flat-leaf parsley, 25g butter, 125ml white wine and salt and pepper to taste in a small

saucepan. Bring to the boil and cover and cook for about 15 mins by which time the liquid should have been absorbed and the leeks

cooked. Cool. In a separate bowl whisk 2 large eggs plus 2 egg yolks and 150ml single cream together. Add 300g feta cheese and 175g grated gruyere cheese and the cooled leek mixture. This is the filling. Layer six sheets filo pastry in a dish painting each one with melted butter, and then add your filling. Layer six more sheets of filo on top again painting with butter between each layer. Sprinkle a few drops of water on top and bake the pie for 35-40 mins on 220C/Gas 7. Serve with a side salad and some nice bread.

All books available from Pegasus Elliot MacKenzie Publishers Ltd., Tel: 01223 370012 www.pegasuspublishers.com

How do they know that I have not just inherited a small

fortune and am buying a present for my size 10 daughter

3 Fisher St | Carlisle | Cumbria | CA3 8RR

Providing Accountancy and Taxation Services to Businesses and Individuals

01228 521286

www.grainger-platt.co.uk

Travel editor Stephen Dent tells you what to see and where to stay

The dismal weather is understandably putting people off holidaying at home. The infamous Great British weather is the main reason the UK has

fallen down the pecking order now there is no Olympics or Jubilee to celebrate. How-ever, according to VisitEngland, the na-tional tourist board for England, there is still an appetite for Brits to take holi-days at home and they plan to further inspire the popula-tion by launching an new TV campaign in May which will encourage viewers to book a holiday in the UK. I personally wish VisitEngland every success but with no immediate signs that

the weather is about to improve and the current economic

conditions becoming a more of the norm, they’re going to have quite a job to persuade the Great British Public to stay at home!

If you’re looking for something different and you’re fed up with the Spanish Costas, why not give Bulgaria a try. Bulgaria has emerged as one of the most competitive beach destinations in Europe over the last decade, whilst at the same time major investment has been ploughed in. The largest Black Sea resorts are Sunny Beach and Golden Sands, which appeal to a wide range of customers from clubbers to fami-lies. Two new aqua parks are now located close to Sunny Beach, and live music bars, pubs and clubs open late. South of Sunny Beach is the historical seaside town of Nessebar, a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Price example:- Seven nights’ half board at the Chaika Hotel costs £429 in June, including flights and transfers.

Royal Caribbean is currently promoting sailings onboard Oasis of the Seas, when the world’s largest liner visits Europe and the UK for the first time. The ship

will leave its homeport of Fort Lauderdale on 1st September, 2014 on a 12 night eastbound trans-atlantic cruise to Barcelona, where

it will sail two five night round trip West-ern Mediterranean itineraries, before a seven night sailing to Rotterdam. After undergoing maintenance whilst in dry dock, It will then set sail to the UK where it will call at Southampton on October 15 before heading back across the Atlantic to Florida. Demand is expected to be high so early booking is highly recommended.

Please mention The Village Link when responding to adverts 9

Travel Guide

They are going to have quite a job to persuade the

Great British Public to stay at home!

www.holidaypiggybank.com

For further details on the above, pop into Dawson and Sanderson, Lowther Street, Carlisle or call 01228 548899.

Ring 01228 562904 to advertise or email: sales@village-link.co.uk 10

SUPPLIED BY: Mercedes Benz, Carlisle 01228 541111

Station-Wagon, Avant, Touring, and now... ‘Shooting Brake’, well, it sounds better than an estate doesn’t it. Apparently, some-time back in the 19th Century,

‘Shooting-brake’ originated as an early British term for a vehicle used to carry shoot-ing parties with their equipment and game. The term brake was initially a chassis used to break-in horses and was subsequently used to describe a motorized vehicle. This in time was later applied to custom built wagons by high end coachbuilders and properly refers to two door wagon style vehicles. In fact, the New York Times in 2006 said that the shooting-brake was conceived to ‘...take gentlemen on the hunt with their firearms and dogs’. So, for the country-types, its the practical choice for carrying firearms, dogs, plus-fours etc, whilst equally suited for the more ‘urban’ gent with his wife, three kids and a dog!With this model, you literally have the 3 S’s, Style, Sportiness, Space!To some people it may look a bit heavy especially towards the rear, but in truth the difference compared to the CLS is hardly anything at all. Driving along twisty lakeside roads down through Ullswater, the CLS was an absolute joy - well bal-

anced and very responsive. I suppose it makes sense, since Shooting Brakes were originally designed as hunting cars, that the boot space is massive, but I wonder how many will go for the ‘optional extra’ and order the boot floor to be made in American Cherry Wood! The cost of having the deck of a luxurious yacht fit-ted to the rear of your car is over £4,000 - rather pricey just to have your weeks big shop slide and crash entertainingly around.I loved it. It’s a station-wagon, touring, long vehicle for people who don’t like estates. But it is an estate that likes to be driven. Now where did I leave my dalmatians.

ROAD TEST

Mercedes Benz Which Model? CLS ‘Shooting Brake’ Verdict? Trade in the Touring

Many thanks to Mrs Jane Hasell-McCosh, Dalemain Mansion & Historic Gardens Gardens, Tea Room and Gift Shop - Opening Times for Summer 2013 Sun to Thur - 10.30am – 5pm

Please mention The Village Link when responding to adverts 11

Cycling tips and advice from sport editor Gary Dickson

On Your Bike

Shopping for anything these days is never straightforward, and shopping for a bike can be exactly the same. You thought you were just going to buy a

good traditional bike. However, after a discussion with the salesman and describ-ing what you will use the bike for, it turns out you are after something entirely differ-ent. For men, it usually ends up being a road bike, mountain bike, or a hybrid, and quite frankly, the more gears the better! Wom-en? Well, for the most part it’s the same three, however not all want to be clad in lycra clocking up the miles on a road bike or tackling tracks in the Lake District on a mountain bike. Neither are they remotely interested in technical bike talk nor trying to work out the complexity of what gear they should be in. Where has the tradi-tional bike, styled on yonder years gone? Where are the trusty old Raleigh bikes of the past? The comfortable “sit up and beg”

riding position, the big leather Brooks saddle, steel pull brakes, steel mudguards, a dynamo lighting system built into the front wheel,

3-speed Sturmey Archer gears, a steel chain guard that fully enclosed the chain, a big chrome bell, and in those days every bike had a stand. ‘Ful-ly equipped’ is how they were described. Ok, lets not get carried away... while there is something very endearing about old modes of transport (steam trains, classic cars, traditional bikes) no-one wants to be to be pedalling a Sherman Tank - those old bikes were just too heavy.

A good old traditional bikeBRAKES Then: Steel. Very heavy, prone to rust Now: Shimano roller brake. Very effective and almost maintenance free

DYNAMO Then: Heavy and more resistance Now: Light and very effectiveSADDLE Then: Steel and leather construction. Heavy and often not comfortable Now: Light & very comfortableMUDGUARDS & FULL CHAIN GUARD Then: Steel, heavy, prone to rust Now: Light weight

So, armed with the facts you can now go shopping for a ‘traditional bike’ with all its classic, elegant styling, comfort and simplic-ity. But be warned - they are not for everyone. They don’t handle trails like a mountain bike and they will never be as fast as super light-weight carbon fibre road bike.

So...Why don’t they make bikes like they used to? The answer is, they do, but since very few are available in this country people think they are not available. Although

modern or traditional bikes are similar to bikes of the past - the engineering is far far superior. For instance - here is a “Then & Now” improvements comparison:-

FRAME Then: Steel. Very heavy, prone to rust Now: Aluminium. Light weight and more comfortableWHEELS Then: Steel rims and spoke nipples. Very heavy, prone to rust Now: Aluminium. Light weight and much easier to pedalHUB GEARS Then: Sturmey archer. Good in their day Now: Shimano Nexus 3-speed. Incredibly smooth and easy to use

No-one wants to be pedalling a Sherman tank - those old bikes were just too heavy!

A look into Carlisle’s past with history editor David Ramshaw

Last October I published a book for two local authors, Peter Ostle and Stephen Wright, A Century Around Silloth, which brought back many memories for me,

particularly of the 1970’s and 80’s when a family trip to Silloth to see the ‘Hell drivers’ or the occasional Easter weekend show was a must. Author Stephen spent a lot of time there as, like many other local families, had a chalet on the Stanwix field at Blitterlees. Just about everything that hap-pened in the area from the early 1900’s to the late 80’s is described with many photographs and reminiscences of local people. Here are a couple of examples from the book:

The Happy Valley One summer evening in 1901, three figures in pierrot costume wheeled a piano across Silloth green; they did not realise that they were establishing one of the town’s ‘Institutions’. Several locals gathered to hear the performance, near the bank at the north end of the green which formed a natural auditorium. Three men – David Fuller, George Worthington and Arthur Court – entertained them with song, music and humour. The audience must have been impressed, because these entertainers were to give many more performances. The site between a pine tree enclosure and North House became their home and was known as the Happy Valley.

By 1908, there were nine in the troupe, still led by David Fuller, and a covered stage had been built with a changing room at the back. In 1929, the district council leased the area and turned it into an indoor theatre:

One summer evening in 1901, three figures

in pierrot costume wheeled a piano

across Silloth green

History Matters

Ring 01228 562904 to advertise or email: sales@village-link.co.ukRing 01228 562904 to advertise or email: sales@village-link.co.uk 12

Memories of SillothThe Pavilion, enclosing the former Pier-rot stage and the hill behind. The building contained a stage, an auditorium with 600 tip seats plus dressing rooms for the perform-ers. Over the next twenty years, it became the venue for many entertainments, notably Charles Beanland’s Silloth Follies who per-

formed there throughout the summer between 1934 and 1939. During the winter, the Silloth Choral and Dramatic Societies put on shows there.

The Hell Drivers Stock car racing, or hell driving, came to this coun-try from America. It was growing in popu-larity but had not been seen in Northwest England until it arrived at Silloth airfield. The sport was brought there by Jeff Brown-hut, in 1972. The weekly race meetings were made into public–friendly events with more than just car racing. Refreshments and side shows were put on so that families could enjoy a day out. Crowds came down to watch the dramatic sport, where the roar of engines and smell of burning rubber ac-companied the speed, danger – and crashes!

Most of the drivers were Cumbrian. Among the people who took part were: Brian ‘Lofty’ Stoddart, Eric Davenport, Dave Joyce, Willy Morgan, Bob Pattin-son, Eddy Bosward, and Danny Baxter. These men enjoyed scouring local scrap-

yards and garages for suitable cars, modifying and personalising them, so they could perform well in – and survive – the rough sport.

‘A Century Around Silloth’ is available from Bookends, Carlisle, or online from www.p3publications.com

Lofty Stoddart, Hell Driver

David Fuller and his merry men and maids

Silloth Pavilion in pre-war days

David Fuller

Phil Tinning

The hills are slowly turning green after what has been a long winter and Spring brings a release of enthusiasm and ambition. It’s a good opportu-

nity to dig out the lightweight jackets and boots and make sure that they are working well. With a little judicious packing you can take a small rucksack with the day’s essentials. Here’s a short guide to getting the right kit for the job.

A medium size day pack such as the Berghaus Freeflow will take everything you need for a day on the hills. There’s a variety of sizes from 20 to 35 litre capacity and women’s and men’s fit too. These are very popular due to the air venting back panel which allows sweat to be whisked away.

Many of our legwear brands can be seen in daily use around town as functional and fashionable choices. Light, quick drying, hard wearing and easily looked after, lei-sure and outdoor trousers offer a value for money alternative to high street options. Often shower resistant, it’s only necessary to use waterproof overtrousers in the worst conditions. And it does rain occasionally!

Change of Gear...You would have to be a dedi-cated walker to go out in the worst of conditions but we can’t avoid having to take a waterproof jacket with us into the fells. If you’re a minimal-ist then the latest Goretex™ Active Shell material takes some beating. Berghaus, The North Face and Haglofs all have this technology. Capped by a fantastic guarantee the light weight and breathability of this fabric is top in its class.

You don’t want to be reminded every time you go for a walk that your gear doesn’t do the job! Get some expert advice from Freetime on buying the right outdoor gear. There’s a lot to choose from but there’s mistakes to be made too!

Edi-

With 35 years experience in the outdoors, Phil, of Freetime in Carlisle, is happy to advise anyone on their needs from a Sunday ramble to an Arctic expedition.

FREETIME climb + ski 1-2 Market St, Carlisle Tel: 01228 598210 www.freetime1.co.uk

13The Village Link - supporting local businesses

We all sweat (well, ladies perspire) so good next-to-skin layers are vital to achieve comfort during exercise. There are many excellent synthetic solutions such as the Haglofs tees, but recently icebreaker Merino Wool base layer has been a roaring success. unless you’re really pushing it hard, wool has a smooth comfort second to none, it’s easily machine washable and smell-free too. You can even trace its New Zealand origins by checking its “Baacode” online! For some extra insulation there are many warm mid layers to consider but again, lightweight is possible. soft touch micro fleece is packable when it’s warm but ready to provide a good warm layer when it gets chilly high on the hills.

13The Village Link - supporting local businesses

All pages are copyright of either Village Link Magazine or its respective contributors. All material published in Village Link including editorials, adverts and all other content is printed in good faith. However, Vil-lage Link accepts no liability for the content of the material or the services provided by the advertis-ers nor does it endorse any company featured. No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted in any form without the publisher’s written permission. All material is accepted on the understanding that its publication does not in-fringe any copyright. Village Link does not accept responsibility from claims of copyright infringement.

Prize Crossword ACROSS 1. Flexible tree possibly includes one (6), 4. Delightful prince (8), 9. Spa got alternative power as temporary measure (7), 11. Giving away nothing but obsolete vessel (7), 12. Neat tequila is drunk initially – why, you say? (4), 13. Turner that can be viewed from both sides (5), 14. Gave birth to dull person (4), 17. Part of the Caribbean populated by chaste women? (6,7), 19. 50 invest in city carelessly and without thinking (13), 22. Publicity fellows turned up first (4), 23. Surprisingly nitre is unreactive (5), 24. Most put up with him (4), 27. Ilona staggered across road first perhaps (7), 28. Some electricity is present (7), 29. Law a yob broke outside university city in Africa (8), 30. Glamorous former lover with old nervous habit (6)DOWN 1. Optimistic for certain (8), 2. Working as a monk is? (2,5), 3. Close for the evening mostly (4), 5. Run on flower power? (13), 6. Gather some mature apricots (4), 7. Sinful rascal promises to pay (7), 8. Look, a goose! (6), 10. Supply given to friend for the time being (13), 15. Drunk gives gratuities at start of year (5), 16. One accepting fine is unsuitable (5), 18. Python broadcast I see sounded mesmerising (8), 19. Unbeliever elected by Castro (7), 20. Ask earnestly for new net rate (7), 21. Pal somehow gets round doctor, showing confidence (6), 25. Be aware of speaker’s refusal (4), 26. Vintage unknown – that’s the essential point (4)

Crossword No XC248303

ACROSS 1 Flexible tree possibly includes one (6) 4 Delightful prince (8) 9 Spa got alternative power as temporary

measure (7) 11 Giving away nothing but obsolete vessel

(7) 12 Neat tequila is drunk initially – why, you

say? (4) 13 Turner that can be viewed from both sides

(5) 14 Gave birth to dull person (4) 17 Part of the Caribbean populated by chaste

women? (6,7) 19 50 invest in city carelessly and without

thinking (13) 22 Publicity fellows turned up first (4) 23 Surprisingly nitre is unreactive (5) 24 Most put up with him (4) 27 Ilona staggered across road first perhaps (7) 28 Some electricity is present (7) 29 Law a yob broke outside university city in

Africa (8) 30 Glamorous former lover with old nervous

habit (6)

DOWN 1 Optimistic for certain (8) 2 Working as a monk is? (2,5) 3 Close for the evening mostly (4) 5 Run on flower power? (13) 6 Gather some mature apricots (4) 7 Sinful rascal promises to pay (7) 8 Look, a goose! (6) 10 Supply given to friend for the time being

(13) 15 Drunk gives gratuities at start of year (5) 16 One accepting fine is unsuitable (5) 18 Python broadcast I see sounded

mesmerising (8) 19 Unbeliever elected by Castro (7) 20 Ask earnestly for new net rate (7) 21 Pal somehow gets round doctor, showing

confidence (6) 25 Be aware of speaker’s refusal (4) 26 Vintage unknown – that’s the essential

point (4)

Win a meal for 4 in Waltons Barto the value of £80

Name:

Address:

Postcode:

Email:

Telephone:

Complete the crossword and the tie-breaker, then post to: Village Link, The Shrubbery, Great Corby, Carlisle CA4 8LR or email the answers and your details to: editor@village-link.co.uk. All correctly completed entries will be entered into a prize draw which will take place on the 2nd June 2013. The first correct entry will be the winner.

Tiebreaker... From what date does Waltons Bar start opening all day ?

Stone Eden Nursery

NURSERY SCHOOL

Wheelbarrow Hall, Holme Lane, Aglionby, Carlisle, CA4 8AD

Tel: 01228 599400/07769 560443www.stoneedennursery.co.uk

Flexible childcare solutions all on one site,including FREE 15hrs for children aged 2 and 3 years

Rural location close to city centre, with stunning outdoor facilities

Ample & safe parking for parents picking up and dropping off

Full time Chefs preparing and cooking high quality food

Holiday Club for 4 - 11 year olds

High Quality Apprentice Training Programme (annual vacancies)

Bear is a keen rambler but with a poor senseof direction (stuffingfor brains!), and hasgot lost again. However he has his phone with him and has sent this photo of what he can see.There is a £25 cash reward

IF YOU GO & RESCUE BEAR* When you have rescued bear and you have him safe in your home, email us at bear@village-link.co.uk, leaving your name and address and we will be round to collect bear and hand over your cash reward!

Well done to Niki Iveson

and the Scout Troop

(13th Carlisle)

who found bear along

Tarraby Lane during their

Annual Litter Pick in

association with Stanwix

community centre and the

Major of Carlisle.

(Photo will appear in the next issue)

* TO MAKE IT FAIR FOR ALL, BEAR WILL NOT BE HIDING DURING THE FIRST FOUR WEEKS OF THIS ISSUE...YOU’LL NEED TO REMEMBER TO LOOK FOR HIM!

IMPORTANT:

and

See website for competition terms and conditions. www.village-link.co.uk

John TrembleFuneRAl DiReCtoRS

37 Church Street, Caldewgate Carlisle CA2 5tl

Tel: 01228 594831

Funeral Directors and Memorial Consultants

if you would like a miniature of your pet please contact me: hkhollinstone@hotmail.co.uk or visit my blogsite:

harrietknibbssculptures.blogspot.com

You could advertise here for just

£29

per month!*based on 3 issues.