Your Steyning

Welcome to the August Issue of Your Steyning – your monthly community news and business directory.

Since I have been editing Your Steyning I have had a number of requests to feature, in some cases, controversial local topics which I have been reluctant to do. However I have decided to start what I call a ‘Your Comments’ page.

We kick start this page with a letter from local artist Karen Corballis (who we also feature on our front cover). Please feel free to write to me with your comments about local issues and I will try and include them each month on this page.

Please note that I will not print anonymous letters or emails.

Another new feature for the month is a regular page featuring Health Matters. Each month we will discuss topics of your choice; this month we discuss the healthy way to diet.

Our environmental features this month discuss how to Save Water and find out how Fertiliser can be Green on page 54. Fancy learning to dive? Why not go down to the Steyning Leisure Centre and join the Seaurchindivers - to find out more turn to page 24.

The What’s Happening pages this month are as usual jam packed! The Sussex Wildlife Trust has a myriad of activities for kids during the school holidays. Talking about the school holidays, fancy treating your children or grandchildren to a fun day out? Why not go to The Steyning Tea Rooms where the children can have the special Teddy’s Bear Picnic whilst you enjoy their famous home made scones!

Instead of our usual restaurant review this month we decided to do something different, to find out more turn to page 63.

This month’s Q&A features local business woman and paediatric nurse Christine Harding. Christine has recently started a company called Little Lives where she teaches parents and carers child first aid.

I hope you enjoy this month’s issue and that you have a summer break planned!

Melanie Wood
Editor

Your Comments:
A place to air your views or send us interesting news and information.

Dear Editor,
As I live close by in Bramber I am a frequent user of the Downs Link footpath as both a cyclist and a walker. The volume of traffic and the speed it builds up to at the point where the path crosses the A283 makes it more like trying to cross a race track than a road.

Yours truly,
Karen Corballis
Rose Cottage, The Street, Bramber, BN44 3WE
Tel 01903 879 320, Email JCorballis@aol.com

Please send to melanie@yoursteyning.co.uk or
Write to: 19 Roman Road, Steyning, BN44 3FN
Anonymous letters and emails will not be printed

So we start at the beginning, those first few days and weeks. The realisation that life has changed fundamentally, no matter how organised or not you were before hand. The bump has become a brand new small person. This small person has a mummy and daddy and takes precedence over all…at least for a while. There is the 24 duty, the washing the cooking, the cleaning and domesticity rules!!

There are all those guests, endless cups of tea, if you’re lucky made by your visitors. Each member of the family whether an auntie, an uncle, a cousin or grandparent on both sides of the family – likes to state their claim, inevitably relationships change.

Post pregnancy there is your own health and esteem to manage on a few hours of broken sleep. There are so many manuals and tips and a whole industry has been built around help for those first weeks.

One good one is for those days when the day appears to have no beginning or end is to count the hours you have had sleep rather than dwell on the time you haven’t.

Also gazing at your child should be written into the agreement! I remember being quite overwhelmed by having produced a being from my body!

Of course you have listened and read every piece of advice you can think of and thought it all through, you have been anxious about the birth, rehearsed the run to hospital etc., however it still shocks you, for a while, that there is someone on the planet that you have given birth to, rather fantastically.

Nevertheless, it is difficult to imagine a more complex but rewarding task in life, as parenting. Don’t worry about what all the books tell you, listen to your baby and to yourself, trust your instincts and if you have a partner bounce things off them, they are not hormonal and will make a more rational judgement. Don’t get caught up with sleeping and feeding patterns, these issues solve themselves as the days go by. Remember babies are a bit like ‘moving targets’ each day will bring new challenges.

I think more than anything there is something about ensuring you enjoy every age and stage as much as you can. As your child grows up they seem to love more than anything to sit with a parent and hear funny stories about when they were babies. I think this helps a child to have a clearer understanding of themselves.

What a wonderful thing, enjoy it!

WORDS BY Felicity Groves, Little Foxes Day Nursery

If the answer to this question is YES then read on and save heartache and worries.

Question: What is a cam belt?

Answer: A timing belt, timing chain or cam belt is a part of an internal combustion engine that controls the timing of the engine’s valves. Some engines use timing gears. The term “timing belt” is also used for the more general case of any flat belt with integral teeth. The timing belt connects the crankshaft to the camshaft(s), which in turn controls the opening and closing of the engine’s valves. A four-stroke engine requires that the valves open and close once every other turn of the crankshaft. The timing belt does this. It has custom teeth to turn the camshaft(s) synchronised with the crankshaft and is specifically designed for a particular engine. In some engine designs the timing belt may also be used to drive other engine components such as the water pump and oil pump. Timing belts are typically inaccessible and difficult to inspect. Engine manufacturers recommend replacement at specific intervals. The manufacturer may also recommend the replacement of other parts, such as the water pump when the timing belt is replaced because the additional cost to replace the water pump is negligible compared to the cost of accessing the timing belt. Failure of the timing belt may seize the engine and often leads to damage that is uneconomic to repair. If one is lucky the only damage sustained is a few bent valves but even this is a costly repair when compared to the cost of a new cam belt at the appropriate time. A cam belt is the belt that drives the top end of your engine and the bottom end of the engine, ensuring that all components in your engine are synchronised and do not hit each other.

Question: Do I need to replace my cam belt at any time?

Answer: Yes. The cam belt on your car is made up of a rubber-based compound, which can deteriorate over time and mileage. Your service schedule will say at what mileage it needs to be changed. Makes and models vary hugely with changes recommended from 30,000 miles to 100,000 miles. Even different models may have different changes. It is not only the mileage to take into consideration. Timing belts will breakdown over time so normally a mileage along with a period of years is given the service book. Following the manufacturers advice is very important as a broken cam belt can lead to the vehicle being beyond economic repair.

Here is how COLES AUTOMOTIVE can help:
We are currently running a campaign for cam belt replacement. In the offer you will receive the following benefits if you decide to have your cam belt replaced at Coles.

Contact Coles with your registration and we can advise you of interval change and prices.

• A 10% discount on all parts and labour.
• A fully trained technician working on your vehicle.
• Vehicle specific parts used.
• A free of charge courtesy car on request subject to availability.
• Collection and delivery in a 5-mile radius.

If you wish to take advantage of this SPECIAL OFFER please contact Richard at our service department on 01273 857520 and he will be happy to arrange a suitable appointment.

Seaurchindivers is a local scuba diving club based at the Steyning Leisure Centre pool. It has been running since 1997 and has a membership of approximately 25-30.

Seaurchindivers is run by Andy Willett, a local Steyning resident. Andy has been scuba diving for almost 25 years and has travelled world wide exploring exciting dive sites.

The club meets every Monday evening (except Bank Holidays) at 8.30pm and offers club based diving and activities as well as offering PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) courses from beginner to advanced trimix decompression diving.

The club shore dives regularly on midweek evenings in the summer months and also from boat charters on weekends. We are always keen to invite new members to join, or for beginners to come along and start a new exciting hobby.

There is a wealth of excellent diving opportunities along the south coast with regular good visibility to boot. There are more ship wrecks per mile along the south coast than anywhere else in the world (!!) some of which are intact and shipshape. These wrecks attract an abundance of interesting marine life, and we regularly swim through huge shoals of fish that are attracted to these underwater structures. The views can be stunning.

Seaurchindivers usually travel abroad as a club once a year to locations such as the Red Sea, Malta, Thailand, etc. These trips offer fantastic relaxed diving from shore or boat. Resorts that cater for holiday divers offer great facilities to divers and their families.

There is more to diving than meets the eye. Underwater photography is popular especially with the new digital cameras that are available. Most diving is relatively shallow, as most of the vivid colours and life are here. Playing with underwater scooters is fun, as is diving at night time with torches and lamps. Deeper diving is available to those who like that extra challenge, but most like easier more relaxed fun diving.

We have some great local shore diving sites here in the south, for example, Selsey Bill, offering shallow but fascinating diving. We dived there one evening and saw dog fish, edible crabs, spider crabs, lobsters, pipe fish, blennies, mullet, snake lock anemones, sponges, ballan wrasse, corkwing wrasse, scallops, the list goes on…

As long as you can swim, have an interest in the natural world, have a reasonable level of fitness, you can enjoy scuba diving to whatever level you wish! You will have the opportunity to meet new friends, go to exciting places and develop new skills. You won’t look back!

Come along and take your first underwater breath.

For more information see Seaurchindivers web site at www.seaurchindivers.co.uk or call
Andy Willett on 07786 243763.

Facial Rejuvenation Massage in Steyning:

Facial Rejuvenation Massage or Natural Lift Facial Massage as it is sometimes known, is based on the energy balancing principles of Ayurvedic medicine and is a relatively new anti-ageing method in Western society, not to mention an incredibly relaxing and enjoyable therapy. In many European societies, Facial Rejuvenation Massage is generally accepted as a routine treatment that most women view as one of the key ingredients in their overall routine in fighting the signs of premature ageing.

Just as a balanced diet and regular exercise are important to control weight gain, likewise regular massage of the face is an effective method in controlling wrinkles and facial tension. Skilful massage techniques, drawn from both Japanese and Indian Facial Massage, tone and stimulate the skin, collagen and connective tissue, improving its function, making it an effective way to counteract wrinkles and fine lines. By increasing the blood circulation more nutrients and oxygen are carried to the facial area, whilst the lymphatic system is encouraged, and speeds up the removal of toxins and waste products. The balancing effect of Facial Rejuvenation Massage will keep the skin hydrated, especially beneficial for sun-damaged skin, yet reduce puffy eyes and water retention and will encourage you to relax.

Facial Rejuvenation Massage fights the signs of premature ageing by using special massage techniques and acupressure points, opening the flow of energy to the skin and stimulating the muscles, which hold the skin in place. This, in turn, prevents facial sagging and is proven to increase muscle tone and elasticity. Stress can cause the muscles of the face, neck and shoulders to tighten, restricting blood flow and energy. Collagen and elastin fibres of the skins connective tissue, which have been “locked” together, gradually release and open making the face feel more alive and supple. There is much evidence that suggests that facial massage also reduces stress levels, which greatly aids in a more youthful appearance and gives a radiant glow to the face.

Benefits include:
• Fewer Wrinkles and Expression lines.
• Tighter Facial Contours and Improved Complexion
• Release of Neck, Shoulder and Facial Tension
• Relief for Headache and Migraine Sufferers
• Relaxation of Facial and Eye Muscles.
• Rejuvenation and Stimulation of Cellular Activity

Facial Rejuvenation Massage is available now at Body Matters, 36 High Street, Steyning - 01903 813500 and can help anyone who wants to look good and feel great.

After the clinic ended on Saturday, in this spirit of looking after myself, I had my first-ever facial rejuvenation massage with Cathy at Brighton & Hove Therapies (www.brightonandhovetherapies.com). The idea of this anti-ageing facial massage for men or women, Cathy told me, is to improve lymphatic drainage and blood supply, and thereby improve skin tone and elasticity, and I was keen to try it because Cathy and I have considered teaming up to offer her holistic face lift massage alongside the homeopathic anti-ageing protocol I offer patients.

Cathy used to work at Covent Garden’s famous Sanctuary spa, and has treated plenty of celebrities in her time, and her experience certainly showed in her warm and confident approach. The facial, neck, head and shoulder massage with uplifting orange oil was so relaxing that I dropped off to sleep, so in terms of unwinding, I’d say that was a result. I definitely felt more relaxed and revived than usual that evening, and although I didn’t expect to see a difference in my skin tone after one treatment (an initial course of four is recommended), I’m amazed to see that my laughter lines seem fainter this morning, and my skin is so clear, soft and smooth that I’m giving it a make-up free day, today. Given that attention to self-care is a requirement for practising professional homeopathy, perhaps I should ask my accountant whether a course of facial rejuvenation massages might be tax deductible!

Cathy is available at Body Matters on Thursday evenings from 5 -9pm and other days by prior arrangement. A treatment takes approximately 45mins and normally costs £35. Please mention “Your Steyning “to receive an introductory £5 discount.

Contact Cathy at 07970 619744. Available at: Body Matters, 36 High Street, Steyning 01903 813500.

Roast Beetroot & Flower Marie, Goat’s Cheese Mousse & Pickled Cucumber:

In season August: Apricots, Blueberries, Blackcurrants, Raspberries, Cherries, Whitecurrants, Globe Artichoke, Beetroot, Broccoli, carrots, celery, chard, runner beans, radishes, rocket, tomatoes, black sole, halibut, crab, grey mullet, lobster, turbot, guinea fowl, grouse from the 12th!

I grow my own beetroot. Easy to do and once in the ground needs almost no attention until they are harvested (great news for busy people!) Home grown beetroot are really sweet and I love their vibrant colour. Harvest young and small and they do not need cooking for hours! This recipe makes an elegant starter for a summer dinner party and all the preparation can be done the day before.

Serves 4:
small beetroot.
2tbs hazelnut or olive oil.
4oz/100g Flower Marie goats cheese or other soft variety.
2oz/40g soft, full fat cream cheese.
small clove of garlic peeled and crushed.
¼ cucumber.
0.5oz/12.5g castor sugar.
0.5floz/15ml white wine vinegar.
1tsp chopped fresh fennel.

Scrub the beetroot until clean, without breaking the skin. Cut off the green tops leaving about 5cm (this will stop them from bleeding).
Wrap them in tin foil and season liberally with salt and pepper and the oil. Place in the centre of a pre-heated oven at gas mark 4/180C until a skewer easily pierces their centre (40 mins to an hour on average)

When the beetroot are cooked let them cool and then using rubber gloves rub off their outer skin and cut into very thin slices.

Let the cheeses come to room temperature and cut off any rind on the goat’s cheese. Blitz the two together in a food mixer.

In a small, stainless steel saucepan bring to boil the vinegar and the sugar and reduce for one minute. Take off the heat and allow to cool.

Slice the cucumber as thinly as possible, dry the slices on kitchen paper and add to the cooled liquid. Snip in the fennel herb.

To serve, place slices of beetroot on white plates, and overlap with slices of cucumber. Place a dollop of goat’s cheese mousse on the side.

Serve with some garlic bread. - Delicious!

Picnicking - Quigleys style, Bramber Castle, Bramber.

Since it’s the Summer holidays I decided to move away from restaurant reviews for a month and, in the same way that I featured the traditional English roast last Winter, I chose to write about a family picnic this month…keep your eyes peeled for English fry-ups and garden barbecue sessions in the future…

I booked some sunshine for a Thursday in July and arranged a picnic takeaway from Quigleys Deli in Steyning to take up to Bramber Castle. I then called a couple of friends and arranged for the husband to take the day off work. In typical fashion the weather forecast was incredibly non-committal and promised sunshine and rain in no particular order or quantity. The day before our planned excursion was absolutely vile but the day in question started well…blue skies, sunshine, just what I ordered.

My not quite 2 year old daughter is something of a regular at Quigleys, she goes there with Granny for ice cream and cake. I, on the other hand, had never actually been inside this delightful cornucopia of deliciousness. So when we arrived Sophie (my daughter) showed me around, pointed out the drawers full of chocolate flapjacks, jars of traditional sweeties, freezers full of homemade puddings and introduced me to the staff!

Already feeling part of the family we got thoroughly immersed in discussing what delicacies were most appropriate for a memorable family picnic. When I’d spoken to Susie earlier in the week she had asked if we liked scotch eggs – apparently the batch she makes at the weekend are usually sold out by Wednesday – so we had had one of them put aside for the husband who is more than a little partial. So we started with a Scotch Egg…we then added homemade chicken liver pate (this turned out to be the absolute highlight of a truly fantastic picnic – it was quite simply the best tasting, smoothest, most delicious pate I have ever ever eaten), homemade hummous, a selection of homemade salads including coleslaw, tabouleh and potato salad, quiche (homemade obviously), freshly baked bread, a selection of cold meats - including something called Finocchiona (an organic salami with fennel seeds), ham, Spanish chorizo then there came olives, sun dried tomatoes and artichokes and a random packet of crisps that Sophie must have slipped in when I wasn’t paying attention.

All this came from the deli counter – there were also shelves full of delicacies that I should have paid more attention to, a very impressive looking cheese counter, a full range of sandwiches to eat in or take away, random delicacies such as quails eggs, pastries, speciality teas and coffees and a whole host of other items that you might need at any given time. While we were selecting our picnic delights a thoroughly harassed looking woman turned up desperately looking for puff pastry and mascarpone – the ever helpful Janne provided both and clearly rescued a critical Steyning dinner party.

Once we had our basket full of delights we headed up to Bramber Castle. I don’t visit Bramber Castle nearly often enough and forget what a perfect family spot it is – basically a great big lawn for the kids to run around on while the parents can happily lounge around while keeping them in full view.

Sophie and I set the picnic up – we had so much fun unwrapping the packages, opening the tubs and laying out the blankets. The rest of our party hadn’t arrived yet but unsurprisingly there were grey clouds gathering so we started to tuck in. The food was absolutely divine. Sophie gorged herself on ham and hummous while I was in seventh heaven over the chicken liver pate and salads. The freshness and flavours were awesome and the location was perfect. Then of course it began to rain. So we legged it to the car. And Sophie fell over on the stony path and grazed her face. So in true English picnic style we finished off the food in the car – Sophie with a tear stained but happy face, pouring rain outside and friends who cancelled in the end due to bad weather!

Quigleys is also a sit-in internet café so you can eat their Chicken liver pate (and everything else) at a table with proper cutlery and everything while checking your emails.

A definite hit. If my daughter will let me encroach on her and Granny’s territory I will certainly be visiting Quigleys more often from now on. Oh and the husband said the scotch egg (which we saved for him) was excellent. And did I mention how amazing the chicken liver pate is?

Opening times:
Mondays: 9.30am – 4pm
Tuesday – Friday: 9.30am – 5pm
Saturday: 9am – 4pm
Sunday: Closed

Quigleys Delicatessen: 96 High Street, Steyning (01903) 813311.

This time of year everyone is writing about getting the children ready to go back to school.

I know this is an important topic, but we have left out the main person that has to get the children ready for the first day of school, YOU!

You are the one that has to get up and get the family moving. It is your responsibility to make sure they go to bed and get the rest they need. Your summer has been filled with a “happy-go-lucky” spirit. No one really had a bedtime or an alarm set for morning.

We teach best by our example. Not just a simple “do as I do,” but an example that is set in love.

Most of our lives we have run around putting out fires just to stay on top of housework, bills, jobs and parenting. If you are a born-organised person, these things do not take a toll on you, but if you tend to get side-tracked then you know about putting out fires. A born-organised person just gets things done, and the people around them do not even know that it has been done. If you were raised by a born-organised person you have experienced this when you got your own place.

If you are this born-organised person, I am not putting you down. I am saying your children don’t know that this is what is happening. So when you tell them to go clean the bathroom or their bedroom, they have no clue. Mainly because it was just easier for you to do it yourself than to show them that there actually is a routine to housecleaning. For the other 80 percent of us that are not born-organised, there is hope! We can learn to be organised. Taking the methods that a born-organised person does naturally and using them to help us gain control over our homes and lives give our children the tools to go out into the world on their own. Born-organised people can’t even teach us side-tracked people what they do because they have never had to figure it out; they just do it.

I have watched the people who are born-organised, and I have noticed they tend to do the same thing in the same order every single morning. At first I thought that must be so boring. Then I realised that it was brilliant. The brilliance comes from having mundane things in life taken care of so you can have fun.

It is time for us to go to school and learn something that will help us enjoy life without the guilt we place on ourselves. I am going to call it FLYing School. We will start our first lesson with our before-bed routine. Without a before-bed routine; you are running around the house in the morning in a panic.

1. Lay out your clothes for tomorrow. Even if you have to do a load of laundry to accomplish this; it is better than having to deal with it in the morning when everyone is rushing around. When you lay out your clothes, your children see you doing it. Set your timer and make a game out of it.

2. Think about what you have to have when you walk out the door in the morning. Establish a launch pad by your front door. This can be as simple as a coat hook or table. One lady put an old dresser base in the entrance. Each child had a drawer to put their items for the next day. Use this space for backpacks, brief cases or whatever.

3. Go to bed at a decent hour. This is the most important part of a before-bed routine. Mine starts right after dinner with a bath. Establish a bedtime for everyone in the house, and this includes you. You may not need as much sleep as your babies, but my guess is you are not getting enough. We tend to want to play till the wee hours of the morning and then drag ourselves out of bed with only a few hours of sleep. This has got to stop. You are like a little baby who has his days and nights mixed up and you are trying to function on no sleep. This ineffective habit is killing you, and telling your children that it is fine to not take care of yourself. When you start getting the sleep you deserve you will find it easier to get up.

This is a simple three-step routine that will make your morning run in a smooth fashion. You are going to love the peace that this brings to your morning.

Words By Marla Cilley

For more help getting rid of your CHAOS; check out: www.flylady.net. Also see Cilley’s book, “Sink Reflections” and her new book, “Body Clutter.” Copyright 2005 Marla Cilley Used by permission in this publication.

Be waterwise in your garden.

Saving water at home, in the garden, or at work takes very little effort, but makes a big difference. In this issue of ‘Green Piece’ we will concentrate on how to save water in our gardens. In the next issue we will focus on saving water in our homes.

The key is for everyone to reduce their own personal wastage. If every household in the UK got a standard water butt this would save about 30,000 million litres of water each summer – that’s enough to fill Bewl Water reservoir!

Water use in England and Wales:
The balance between water supply and water demand is a vital issue. During the past two decades we have been steadily increasing the amount of water we use in our homes and gardens, and this is likely to continue.

Our population is increasing and our climate is changing affecting both the demand for water and its availability. If we do not carefully manage our natural resources and the demands made on them, then the water environment will suffer and the security of our water supply could be in jeopardy.

Outdoor water use accounts for around 6% of total water use in the UK. However, in the summer, when supplies are tightest, over 70 per cent of our water supply may be used for watering gardens. This is one of the easiest areas to save water as we don’t need to waste valuable drinking water on plants. Plants actually prefer rainwater – it’s better for them!

Water Metering:
Metering is the fairest way to pay for water. Water is a precious resource and we must treat it as such. Although we think of England and Wales as wet places, they are also densely populated, and demand for water is high. So there is actually less water available per person here than in drier countries like Spain or Portugal.

Fitting a water meter raises your awareness of how much water you use. Meters save the majority of households money compared to the usual charge based on the rateable value of your home . The less water you use the more money you save!

Contact Southern Water on 0845 270 0845 to request a water meter to be fitted. It is possible to fit these free of charge for the majority of homes.

Saving water in the garden:
“In the UK, it is possible to have a beautiful and productive garden using minimal mains water.” Alan Titchmarsh.

And if Alan says it, it must be true! He has come up with the following water saving tips for the garden that can save you time and?money, and even improve your garden at the same time.

• Water your garden in the cool of the early morning or evening. This will reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation.

• If you water plants and shrubs too often their roots will remain shallow, weakening the plant. Leave them alone until they show signs of wilting.

• Collect rainwater in water-butts and use a watering can instead of a hose. If you prefer to use a hose pipe, fit a trigger nozzle to control the flow.

• Regularly weed and hoe your garden, to ensure that watering helps plants and not weeds.

• Plant flowers and shrubs that thrive in hot and dry conditions such as thyme, evening primrose, rock rose, Californian poppy, pinks, lavender, buddleia and herbs.

• Mulches such as wood chips, bark and gravel help to prevent water evaporation and also suppress weed growth, saving you both water and time spent weeding.

• Lawns can survive long periods of dry weather if the grass is not cut too short. Even if the grass turns brown, it will quickly recover after a few days of rain.

• Garden sprinklers can use as much water in an hour as a family of four uses in a day. If you use a sprinkler or have a swimming pool, Southern Water require you to have a water meter fitted.

So go on, start taking these simple steps to be waterwise in your garden and persuade friends and family to do the same!

More info:
Southern Water website for information on water metering: https://www.southernwater.co.uk

Waterwise website for information on how to install a water butt:
http://www.waterwise.org.uk/reducing_water_wastage_in_the_uk/house_and_garden/water_butts.html

SOPHIE GOODALL