the city scene december 2010

Telephone: 01780 783613 | DECEMBER 2010 1

Best Beauty BuysDieting and Health Tips

Do not Drink & Drive

OUR Christmas Special includes:

Christmas around the WorldChristmas Quiz

Cocktails Fashion

GiftsRecipes

Win a Magnum of Champagne

Inside This Month

Also

Teen SceneFamily SceneTravelReviews What’s On

Plus

2 DECEMBER 2010 | Email: [email protected]

Well would you believe it...... it’s nearly THAT time of year again!! My mostest and favouritist time of the year, and not for the usual expectation of presents; cos that’s what you were all thinking I’m sure. It’s all about the food of course!!! What better time to eat till you pop and have to roll round on the floor to check you haven’t missed a Hero in amongst all the wrappings. Rubbish on the telly and the usually repeats, every new game out, toys stroon all over...... utter chaos and I absolutely love it beyond belief!!! This year will be very different as we have no house, we are planning to camp out in our building site Christmas Eve with a fire, Chinese and a bottle of bubbles. I have explained to the in-laws that we will be back for a warm up early hours as it’s ice cold in the house with no heating, as you can imagine - but so looking forward to it.

Then it’s fillet steak for dinner, (non of that dry, boring turkey nonsense). Finally.....time to open the pressies that were dropped off by the big man himself, then snuggle up on the sofa with the chocolates, wine and the tv remote, falling asleep watching the twinkles on the real tree. ABSOLUTE HEAVEN!!! Then Boxing Day is the 2nd Christmas Day, only this day is even madder “up north”. We are off to Chez-Vegas for a few days where all the Charlesworth’s get together. Its loud, frantic and you have to keep your wits about you and lookout for incoming balls of coloured paper covered treat missiles. Gifts get launched from one end of the house to the other, and if you don’t have the tuned hearing of a bat to pick up the faint sounds of your name being yelled above the noise, you get them in the side of the head if you’re not careful, and an “I love chocolate” cook book really

hurts!!! Lol. More food, more wine, more chocolates, a walk round the block for the dogs to make room for more food, wine and chocolates. We’ll have an extra person to buy for this year as it’s the nephews first Christmas. Now Christmas news from the land of City in this Chirstmas overload issue, we have an eight page Christmas Special with loads of fashion, gift ideas, Christmas quiz, amazing cocktails and a fab-u-lous recipe from The White Hart @ Ufford. It is really scrummy, I have tried and tested this Christmas pudding and it’s easy to do. Hope you all have an absolute tip top proper Christmas and fab New Year!!

From all of us here at Scene HQ! XXX

Introducing the Team Head Honcho Heidi Semple [email protected] month I have mostly been - Spending time in Bournemouth...

Numbers And WordsNaomi [email protected] month I have mostly been - Knitting….it’s so ‘now’ darling

The Large Cog Charlotte Charlesworth [email protected] month I have mostly been - Eating dust to get into my Xmas outfit

Latest RecruitDaniel Wiesner - [email protected] month I have mostly been - Lusting after Ellie Goulding look-a-like

Pretty PicturesDuncan Milne www.greycoffee.co.ukThis month I have mostly been - Working nights and days...

ContributorsMegan TemplemanCharlotte ChorleyTim Barnes Clay


Recyle a Cycle 6

Cats Protection League 6

Peterborough FM 7

CAB Christmas Tips 8

Create a Forest 9

Stanground Skate Park 10

Ofsted Success 10

Police award 10

Local Numbers 12

Local Websites 17

Best Beauty Buys 18&19

Lose pounds this Christmas 20

Beauty tips 21

Travel 26&27

Ask the Experts 39-41

Teen Scene 44

Family Scene 56&57

Christmas Quiz 29

Christmas Cocktails 30&31

Christmas Gifts 32&33

Christmas Fashion 34&35

Christmas Pud Recipe 36

Christmas around the World 37

Reviews

Our Books 47

Seat Supra R 54&55

4 pages full of Christmas What’s On 49-52

The latest local business news 58&59

Sport

Semples Footie update 62

Peterborough Town Sports Club 63

POSH & Phantoms December Fixtures 63


A group of young people from Park Farm,

Stanground, gave up their time to help support Cats

Protection at St Mary’s Church, Eastfield,

Peterborough on Saturday 30 October 2010. The

event was part of the national Make a

Difference Day. The young people helped to raise

£639. Pictured with Cats Protection volunteers

are young people (l-r) Oyeyemi Taiwo (13), Kiran

Phagoora (14) and Harriet Smith (14).

RECYCLE A CYCLE FOR CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS GIFT

Residents who have unwanted bicycles in their shed are being urged to help Santa Claus this Christmas by donating them so they can be given to children as part of a recycling project being run by Peterborough City Council’s Chestnuts Playcentre.

Staff at the Norman Road playcentre in Eastfield, Peterborough, are encouraging residents to donate unused children’s cycles that can be restored and given to children as a gift this Christmas.

The Recycle a Cycle initiative follows last year’s successful appeal where eleven children received an early Christmas present thanks to the generosity of residents.

Unwanted cycles should be taken to the On Yer Bike shop at 541 Lincoln Road, Millfield, Peterborough. Children chosen by the playcentre will collect the restored cycle from the shop before Christmas.


Peterborough FM is a not for profit community radio station for the Greater Peterborough area.Its purpose is for social gain and community cohesion as well as information and entertainment, reflecting all of Peterborough’s diverse communities, and giving everybody the chance to get their voice heard. The project has been running since 2007 and has so far been broadcast over the internet involving more than 200 volunteers and ran 28 days Restricted Service Licensing (RSL) in the summer 2010. The project hopes that the Office of Communication (Ofcom) will open a third round for Community Radio licence and invite application, by the end of this year.

In the meantime the station is open again until 17th December. The project is supported by the Big Lottery Fund Reaching Communities Programme, the Lloydstsb Foundation for England and Wales and the BBC Children In Need Appeal.

Peterborough FM provides skills development and volunteering opportunities for all. Thanks to free radio training sessions organised volunteers can learn radio skills (presenting, recording techniques, driving the studio desk) and be able to put on air their own show.

Education and TrainingPeterborough FM has been delivering training since the project began in 2007, and currently offers a “basic” 15 hours training programme. Completion of this training is compulsory for all new volunteers wishing to present on-air. Additionally, Peterborough FM continues to offer a programme of “continuing development” to those volunteers who have completed the basic course.

This is demand-based, and is tailored to the needs of those volunteers taking advantage of it. Previously, topics covered have included aspects of ICT; feature / documentary skills; studio management; train-the-trainer; and disability and cultural awareness. Peterborough FM has had previous success in delivering “taster” training sessions to school pupils and young people groups in a Peterborough Young People Radio project funded by the Greater Peterborough Partnership (GPP) which led to the support of the BBC Children In Need Appeal for the next three years.

Young People Radio is a project that gives people aged between 13 and 18 years old the opportunity to broadcast their own show.

Peterborough FM 87.7 One Station: Many Communities


New project will create a

Forest for Peterborough... Peterborough’s green charity, Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT) is working in partnership with a number of city organisations to create a forest for Peterborough.

TV personality, radio presenter, and tree lover Clive Anderson has lent his support to the project by helping to kick start it with a big launch that was held in November. The project provides a welcome boost to Peterborough’s Environment Capital aspirations and will increase biodiversity in the city.

The Forest for Peterborough won’t create a single woodland in one set place, but will increase tree coverage in different areas all over the city.

If money is really tight this year and you’re worried about Christmas coming up, here are some tips from the Citizens Advice Bureau in Peterborough.

Christmas is a time of giving, but you don’t

want to give yourself a headache in the New

Year with bills and debts you can’t afford.

Follow these top tips for avoiding a Christmas

debt hangover:

Plan early for Christmas

Be realistic and budget accordingly. Work out

how much you are going to spend on each

person – and stick to it.

Don’t forget the everyday bills

Remember that rent, the mortgage, utility bills, food bills and other existing debts still have to

be paid – and the consequences can be severe if they’re not.

Don’t bank on an overdraft

If you do need more money, don’t just run up an overdraft without talking to your bank first – it

will work out much more expensive. If you can afford to pay for your goods outright by cash,

cheque, or debit card, don’t be persuaded to take out extended credit agreements unless they

really do work out cheaper.

Shop around

Try as many different places as possible to find the best price. Be wary of extended

warranties: the cost of a repair can be less than the cost of the warranty.

Read the small print

Check for hidden extras in any credit agreement. Work out the total amount payable. Ensure

the monthly instalments are within your budget before signing. Interest free credit can seem

attractive, but if you don’t pay on time, or miss a payment, you could have to pay a lot more.


Hugh Cripps, Chief Executive of PECT explains, “This project will certainly increase the number of trees planted in Peterborough. But it’s also about more than just trees – we want to increase the range of habitats in the city such as grassland and hedgerow as well as woodland. We want to create green corridors throughout Peterborough to allow our wildlife to flourish.

“The final number of trees to be planted depends on the amount of funds we are able to raise. But we are talking about thousands of trees and a project with a big impact for the city. We have a long-term vision for this project spanning 15 years and beyond.”

“Local schools and community groups will be involved with the project because we want to help people learn about the importance of both biodiversity and how they can develop and protect

it, as well as the important heritage role forest have played through the centuries and their relevance today.”

The project has received support from many local and national organisations. Local company Utility Aid is offering businesses in Peterborough a free energy audit to cut their fuel bills and asking businesses to donate a proportion of the money saved to plant trees.

If you want to support the Forest for Peterborough text the word ‘wood’ to 70300 and donate £3 towards the project. There are also opportunities to help plant the trees, contact PECT on 01733 866431


STANGROUND SKATE PARK OPENS A skate park has officially been opened on

land behind Stanground Community Centre,

driven by young people from two groups in

Stanground. Local students were interviewed

to find out what they wanted the skate park

to look like. Their ideas were then used in the

design of the skate park.

Double Ofsted success in the City

Westwood and Ravensthorpe Children’s Centre

Westwood and Ravensthorpe Children’s Centre has become the first children’s centre in Peterborough to be inspected by Ofsted and was graded good overall.

Inspectors visited the children’s centre in October and found it to be well-regarded and forward thinking, providing a range of good quality services for families.

Westwood and Ravensthorpe Children’s Centre offers services at two sites; Ravensthorpe Primary School and Highlees Primary School. It is run by registered charity Family Care on behalf of the city council.

Ken Stimpson Community School

Ken Stimpson Community School has been praised by Ofsted for its rapid improvement, its many good features and the great strides it has made since its last inspection.

The school’s capacity for sustained improvement, the extent to which pupils feel safe, their behaviour, the way pupils adopt healthy lifestyles, and their contribution to the school and wider community were praised as good. Also rated good were pupils’ development of workplace skills, the way the curriculum meets their needs, the care, guidance and support pupils receive and leadership and management. The effectiveness of the governing body in challenging and supporting the school is outstanding.

The Peterborough office of the Alzheimer’s

Society has moved into new premises. Located

now off Vicarage Farm Road, the staff and

volunteers continue to offer support, advice

and information for people with dementia, their

carers and families. Alzheimer’s Society, Unit

8 Flag Business Exchange, Vicarage Farm Road,

Peterborough PE1 5TX Tel: 01733 893853

Email: [email protected]

PCSO Receives Award

A PCSO has received an award for helping

to tackle problems in an area of

Peterborough. Ronnie Durrell received the

Excellence Award for his work in West ward

for among other things, working with local

residents, schools and police in tackling

anti-social behaviour at The Grange, off

Mayor’s Walk.


Peterborough City Hospital

01733 678000


Sale Starts 4th

December


Hi Beauties, wow December is here already, Xmas is my favourite time of year,

especially because of all the new beauty products on the shelves, oh and presents!

Here are my top tips…

Luxury Xmas beauty splurge!

I am a huge fan of the Christian Dior collectable

beauty charms and palettes, so I was thrilled to see

that this Christmas they will be launching this

beautiful palm sized make-up replica of Dior’s much

coveted clutch bag- the Minaudiere. This

palette features a combination of eye shadows and

lip glosses, creating the perfect smokey eye and

nude lip combo. This dressing-table showstopper

will hit stores this month retailing at £59. I can’t

wait!

Star Xmas beauty gifts!

O.P.I Princess Mini’s

Forget Rapunzel and Cinderella, there’s a new

princess on the block – you! OPI Princess Minis

feature three pretty pastels and a handy RapiDry

Top Coat that’ll keep your nails looking princess-

perfect for even longer. Shades come in Bubble

Bath, Alpine Snow & Pink-ing Of You. Available

from ASOS for a bargain £12.15.


As seen on TV this month!Fans of the hilarious ITV2’s The Only Way Is Essex reality show would have seen Amy & Sam going to

their local beauty salon for a Garra Rufa fish (aka - DR Fish) spa pool treatment. The fish live in the spa

pool where they feed on the skin, they only consume the affected and dead areas, leaving the healthy skin

to grow. I’ve even seen mini pedicure versions of this treatment popping up in shopping centres. Google it

online to find where you can try this new craze! Full body treatments start at £65 whilst pedicures are a

mere £15 for 20 minutes.

The Body ShopStuck for Xmas prezzie ideas??? Get yourself down

to The Body Shop your find something from

everyone, from your gran to your trendy little

brother and they even have a new range of baby

products! My favourite product is a special-edition

Sparkler Atomiser it releases a fine lightly scented

shimmery powder to highlight the face, body and

hair. It would make a fab present for the girls. RRP

£10

To celebrate the

holidays MAC are

telling a slightly

twisted Tartan

Tale, in all its

posh, punk,

ancestral,

anarchic, nobl and naughty glory. Royal and raunchy,

colours and patterns collide, fantasies come true,

punk fairies take flight with enchanted new looks.

Be transformed! My favourites out of the collection

are the Glamora Castle eye shadow and the lip, eye

and nail seasonal sets.

MAC

BB xxxI hope Santa brings you lots of beauty gifts in your stocking! Have a beautlicious Xmas!

Add me on my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/BeautyBarbiePeterborough

Be the beauty you are….


If you have lost weight during the past year, you will probably not want to undo all your hard work and put it back on again during the festive season. Eating and drinking with friends and family are an important part of Christmas and you don’t want to be a ‘diet bore’. The first thing to remember is that any fat gained during a few days of over indulgence will be ‘soft’ fat and easier to get off again than the hard, compacted fat that has been on your body for years. When it comes to food shopping, plan your meals and buy what you need, plus a little extra (for unexpected guests) that can be frozen. Most people buy too much at this time of year and you want to avoid waste that ends up on your waist! Get a few healthy nibbles that the whole family can enjoy. Stick strictly to your diet for as long as possible – up to Christmas Eve if you can. Enjoy your special meals on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and then try to resume healthy eating until any special events for the New Year. Don’t starve yourself in advance of your main meals, as this will slow down your metabolism and affect blood sugar levels. Have some breakfast, and maybe a starter of grapefruit, melon or clear soup at your main meal. Eat slowly, so that your body recognises when it is full. Although having serving dishes on the table is more elegant, if you dish up in the kitchen, you will avoid the temptation of second helpings that you don’t really need. If you have your main meal at lunchtime, why not have a break after the main course and go for a long walk before it gets dark. This will also help young children let off steam and prevent them getting restless at the table. Make sure you clear away leftovers to prevent nibbling. We have a tradition of ‘waste not want not’ when it comes to food; most children are encouraged to clear their plate – ‘think of all the children starving in Africa’ or ‘there won’t be any pudding if you don’t eat your first course’. This is laudable in many ways, but it destroys our natural instinct to stop eating when we have had enough. Finally, at the end of each day, make sure you store away the children’s selection boxes, so you won’t be tempted to help yourself!

Saving Pounds at Christmas

Jayne Stevens 0845 190 4313

Visit www.dietcare-peterborough.com for special offers during November and

December.


25% OFF Any hair dressing service to new clients,

non members welcome

Hair Xclusive would like to wish all their clients and friends a very Merry Christmas and a

prosperous New Year.

Top tips from tranquility health and

beauty:

Skin brush morning and night for 5

minutes! This will increase your circulation and

exfoliate your skin making it appear brighter

and feel smoother. Use light sweeping motions

towards the heart for best results.

Don’t use face wipes! Using a face wipe can

cause the skin to age dramatically especially

around the eye area. The way you use them to

scrub at your face to remove your make up pulls

the skin too much and around the eye area can

cause broken capillaries if too much pressure is

applied.

Use an eye cream if nothing else! Eyes are the

biggest giveaway when it comes to telling your

age, and they can often make you appear older

than you actually are, which is not what anybody

wants.

Never fall asleep with your make up on! Your

cell regeneration speeds up at night.

When testing and choosing foundations, test

on your neck or chin, not the back of your hand.

Your hands are a completely different colour to

your face.

Exfoliate the day before your waxing

appointment or shaving your legs. This will lift any

hairs which are ingrown or are just sitting under

the surface of the skin.

Steer clear of products that contain mineral

oil. This is in a lot of products and even more so

in make up. It will clog your pores leaving your

skin feel bumpy and congested.


Gift Vouchers available – ideal for Christmas Gifts.

Introducing our extended opening hours. now open 6 days a week Monday - Saturday, late night Thursday

Christmas Offers• Buy 3 Jane Iredale make-up products and get the cheapest half price

• 20% off all treatments for new clients

• Have a manicure and get 20% off OPI Polish

Call now to book your party make-over

Alma Rd Primary Care Centre

Join us!Make Alma Road

Your practice

Tel: 01733 758388Web: http://alma.3well.info

Open 7 days a week 365 days a year 8 am – 10 pm


Esporta Club

• Luxurious indoor pool & spa with sauna, steam room and separate children’s pool• Split level 10,000 sq ft fitness area• Three large air-conditioned studios• Relax with a drink, a snack or a meal in our new bar & brasserie• A large crèche, a soft play area, an outdoor activity area & a Playstation Lounge• A choice of six indoor/outdoor tennis courts• Personal Training• Over 80 studio classes a week• Ofsted registered crèche• Tranquillity Health & Beauty Salon open to members & non-members


On average 100,000 motorists across the country

are arrested for drink driving every year.

Driving at twice the legal alcohol limit will mean

you are at least 30 times more likely to cause

a road accident than a driver who hasn’t been

drinking. You may think you’re in control but the

effects of any alcohol on your driving can include

slower reactions, reduced field of vision, poorer

judgement of speed and distance and

overconfidence and increased risk taking.

Each person’s tolerance to alcohol depends on

a range of factors including weight, gender, age,

metabolism, whether you have eaten recently and

the amount of alcohol.

The only safe option is not to drink

alcohol if you plan to drive, or book a

taxi.

A drink driving conviction has the potential to

ruin someone’s life with a mixture of legal and

personal consequences, including at least a 12-

month driving ban, criminal record, hefty fine and

possible lifestyle changes. Remember don’t rush

to get behind the wheel the morning after. You

may feel fine but you could still be over the legal

alcohol limit or unfit to drive. A cold shower, a

cup of coffee or any of the other myths about

‘sobering up’ will not make people fit to drive

any quicker. SaferPeterborough Partnership road

safety team 01733 453576 or

visit www.saferpeterborough.org.uk

HOW MUCH WILL YOUR NEXT ROUND COST YOU?


The Caribbean – Idyllic gems in the sun!!The Caribbean is an archipelago of more than 7,000

islands, islets, reefs, and cays, scattered like bright,

sun-drenched jewels in the Caribbean Sea.

Clichés about the Caribbean abound, and they are

all true. These islands really are picture perfect with

palm-backed white beaches, crystal clear azure

waters and year round sunshine. What’s more, the

people are friendly and welcoming and the pace

of life is laid-back and relaxed. And, whether your

heaven is five-star nothing with ice in a deckchair,

full-on adventure in the jungle or somewhere in

between, you’re looking at the right destination.

The Caribbean Islands are scattered in volcanic arcs

(island chains): the Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles

(including the Leeward Antilles) and the Bahamas.

You can generally see neighbouring islands over the

sea from your own. However, each Caribbean Island

has its own individual history, culture and flavour.

There are destinations to suit couples, groups and

families and there is plenty to do, from trying out

water sports to relaxing on beaches, and from

climbing volcanic peaks to wildlife watching in

the jungle. Some islands reveal French influence,

others Latin, Dutch or English. Want lively and

well developed sophistication? Or perhaps you

would rather be immersed in a strong, traditional

culture of music and dance? Whether you want

sport, sailing, nature, scuba diving, culture, lush

mountains, amazing wildlife or simply a pristine

beach, you’ll find it in the Caribbean sunshine.


Honeymooners have long found the Caribbean

the perfect destination for them, mixing ro-

mance and beautiful beaches with activity. The

islands also continue to grow in popularity with

those seeking an idyllic venue where they can

tie the knot with a quality wedding in the Carib-

bean (with the honeymoon obviously included)

often working out to be far cheaper than a UK

wedding.

Accommodation options are also varied across

the islands with some islands offering more

sophistication than others. The main / larger

islands in the Caribbean, such as Barbados, St

Lucia, Jamaica and Antigua, provide the whole

spectrum of accommodation to suit all tastes

and budgets. Choose from world-class resorts

offering a whole host of activities, boutique ho-

tels perfect for romance, family orientated re-

sorts with kid’s clubs etc, exclusive bolt-holes

and self-catered luxury villas (although chefs can

be supplied if required!!) Many of the resorts

offer the opportunity to go “all-inclusive” which

helps with budgeting, whilst some are simply on

a bed & breakfast basis to allow for exploration

of the islands cuisine.

Whatever you crave from a holiday, the Caribbean

is likely to have it all and more!

Inspirational Travel are experts in the provision of

tailor-made holidays to the Caribbean and will be

happy to discuss your ideal itinerary with you to

create your dream holiday.

Call us on 01780 784380, drop us a line at [email protected] or call into the office: Inspirational Travel, The Old School House, Great North Road, Wittering, Peterborough, PE8 6BX.

www.inspirational-travel.co.uk

Telephone: 01780 783613 | DECEMBER 2010 29 Answers


Cracking Christmas Cocktails

Morning Glory Fill Collins glass with ice

chunks, pour 1/2 ounce

Cointreau, 1/4 ounce cherry

brandy, and a dash of Angostura

bitters. Add orange/pineapple

slices. Fill with champagne or

sparkling wine.

Savoy 2000(American Bar, The Savoy, London)

Shake 2/3 ounce gin, 2/3

ounce Midori, 1/3 ounce

Limoncello, 1-2/3 ounces mango

juice.Pour into glass frosted with

sugar, and top with champagne.

Chanel No. 6 Pour 1 ounce vodka, 1

ounce Chambord, and 1 ounce

chilled pineapple juice into a

champagne glass. Top with

well-chilled champagne. Add a

fresh raspberry.

Champagne Cobbler

1/2 tsp lemon juice, 1/2 tsp

curaçao, thin slice of orange, chilled

champagne

Fill a large goblet half full of cracked

ice. Add lemon juice, curaçao, and

orange slice. Stir and fill glass with

champagne or sparkling wine. Stir

again gently.

Between the Sheets Everybody loves oranges, satsumas

and tangerines at Christmas, so this

cocktail will be a sure-fire hit.

1 part cointreau or grand marnier

1 part brandy | 1 part rum

2 parts freshly squeezed lime juice

Mix the above ingredients together

and serve in a martini glass.

Decorate with a twist of lime or

orange peel and drop a few

tangerine segments into the glass.


Christmas Champagne Cocktail 3/5th glass of chilled brut champagne or Spanish cava or Austra-

lian sparkling wine 1/5th glass cointreau

1/5th glass Absolut mandarin vodka | 1 sugar lump

Mix all the ingredients together. Serve in a champagne flute and

decorate with either a slice of orange or a few segments of

tangerine.

Santa’s Cointreau Spritzer This cocktail is an unusual variation on a standard spritzer

3 parts dry white wine | 1 part cointreau | soda water

Mix everything together, decorate with a twist of orange peel and a

stick of celery.

Cranberry Cheerer This Christmas version of a

Seabreeze always goes down well.

1 part vodka

1 part cranberry juice

1 part blood red orange juice

Mix the ingredients together and

serve in a tall glass on ice. Decorate

with a wedge of lime.

Bloody Brain0.5 part Irish Cream

1 part Peach Schnapps

5 Drops of Grenadine

Pour Peach Schnapps into a shooter glass, Layer the Irish

Cream gentle on top. Add the grenadine drops drop by

drop to form the bloody brain at the bottom.

Kir Royale Pour iced champagne or sparkling

wine into a large chilled wine glass, add

1/2 ounce of crème de cassis, and stir

gently. Garnish with a twist of lemon

peel.

Holly-tini A festively coloured green version of the famous cocktail.

2 parts vodka or gin | 1 part dry martini | ½ part crème de menthe

Either mix in a cocktail shaker with ice or simply serve on ice in a

martini glass.

Snowball Advocaat is enjoying something of a revival at the moment. To

make this drink look even more festive, dip the rim of the glass (any

glass will do, but a champagne saucer looks particularly good) in

freshly squeezed lime juice. Then place it, rim down, into a bowl of

sugar. 1 part chilled advocaat | 2 parts chilled lemonade | ½ lime,

squeezed, sugar to decorate the glass Mix the ingredients together

and serve with a slice of lime and a cherry.


Make-Up Pallet £5.99

Westgate House

Marmite Sandwich BoxHawkins Bazaar, Bridge Street, Peterborough

Mia

ow S

houl

der

Bag

Plum

£79

.99

- R

eba.

New Apple iPod Nano 8GB £115 - M&S

Stylish Cushion - £4.99 - H&M www.hm.co.uk

Christmas Gifts


Awakened RRP £12.99 waterstones

union jack bag £38.00 accessorize

Lush Winter Garden £29.95 this is a shower hatbox full of wintery delights

Lush Snow Fairy £9.95 A global best seller, last year 90,000 of them flew off the shelf.

Lush Christmas Cracker £6.50Sparks will fly in the bath tub with this christmas gift

Lush Christmas Star £19.95 Seeing as its been such a good seller we thought it deserved a gold star.

Lush Christmas Candy Box £19.95 A Lush favourite with a new look this year.

Christmas Stocking Fillers From


Indulge yourself this winter with the perfect Christmas outfit Christmas is coming! And among all the present buying, cake making and tree decorating, it is

imperative that you find yourself that perfect Christmas outfit to wear for your work meals, nights out

and family lunch. Of course, this is the time of the year when naughty indulgences are permitted and

waistbands tend to get a little bit larger, so, you’ll want clothes that hide all the lumps and bumps

accumulated over the forthcoming weeks and still keep you looking the belle of the ball. It’s important to

mix and match with outfits as one may not be suitable for all the events that accompany the Christmas

season but, with an eye on the money that will probably be spent on lovely gifts for your friends and

family, it’s also necessary to only buy the essentials; therefore, many parts of the outfits described here

may already be lurking in your wardrobe and will save all that cash for other aspects of Christmas.

For the traditional lunch with the family a satin pussy

bow blouse is key: the blouse is a key statement piece for the

Autumn/Winter collections this season with designers such as

DKNY, Prada and Ralph Lauren all producing their versions of

the top. For the boyish-figure, a blouse with billowing sleeves

and frilly bow around the neck will add both femininity and

curves to the figure, whilst a patterned chiffon with empire

neckline is great for the larger lady as it disguises and draws

attention away from the stomach and up towards the face;

stick with neutral tones and only add colour as an accent to

the rest of the outfit. During the day, a statement piece of

knitwear is an excellent way of tapping into another of this

season’s top trends.


For Christmas drinks with the friends, a sequin shift dress worn over a black polo neck is ideal,

because it’s comfortable and bang-on-trend. A night on the town is the look that requires the most

amount of preparation, but it also offers the most opportunity to have fun and play around. If you’re older,

aim for a dress that sits just below the knee or, for the younger, then above the knee is girly and flirty; for

the larger woman then padded shoulders will even out the silhouette but if you’ve got the slimmer shape,

then a figure-hugging body-con dress will really flatter your figure. When you’ve got your statement dress

sorted, team with clear or opaque tights (it’ll be freezing) and wear with black or cream heels – as for

accessories, load them on but focus on one area, so either pile on the necklaces or concentrate on the

hands with cocktail rings and gem-encrusted bracelets.

So, with the countless parties, meals and night-outs coming up this winter, you’re guaranteed to look

fabulous and have all eyes on you; indulge yourself with the perfect outfit and make sure you have a truly

merry Christmas. Charlotte Chorley


4 oz fine breadcrumbs8 oz of self-raising flour

4 beaten eggs8oz of suet

8oz of light brown sugar1 grated carrot

8oz of grated apple

4oz of chopped almonds8oz of currant

4 oz of chopped apricots8oz of sultanas16oz of raisins

Grated rind and juice of 1 lemon and one orange

½ a pint of strong beer or stout½ a pint of barley wine2 tsp of golden syrup2 tsp of mixed spice2 tsp of cinnamon2 tsp of nutmeg

Alan’s Nan’s Christmas pudding from The White Hart @ Ufford

1. Soak all of the dried fruits in the liquor and fruit juice, cover with a tea towel and leave to soak in a cool dark place over night. 2. Into that, add the rest of the ingredients. Mix well. Chef tips: the best-mixing tools, I find, are your hands! Don’t be afraid, get right down to the bottom of the mixture and turn it though plenty. Don’t forget to make your Christmas wish while your mixing!!!3. Turn all the mixture out into a large pudding bowl, alternately you can make small individual ones but this will alter the cooking time. 4. Cover the top of the pudding in a greaseproof paper and muslin tied round the top. If you don’t have any muslin you could use an old clean tea towel or a pillowcase. Leave the mixture overnight to rest and all the lovely Christmas flavours to become good friends. 5. Place the pudding in a large saucepan and fill nearly to the top of the pudding bowl with water and cook on a low heat (gas mark 2) for about 12 hours. Smaller pudding will need less time. To check the puddings are cooked, stick a skewer in the middle and if this comes out clean, it’s ready. 6. Serve warm with all those lovely naughty Christmas creams and sauces!!!

The White Hart | Main Street Ufford | PE9 3BHTel: 01780 740 250

Email: [email protected]


Christmas celebrations around the world

Here in England, we are all used to the

traditional English Christmas. Turkey, Father

Christmas, snow and presents spring to mind,

but not everywhere in the world celebrates the

Christmas that we know and love; some countries

have a very different take on the Christian

celebration.

Norway, like other Scandinavian countries, has a

little gnome or elf to bring gifts. The elf appears

as a goat-like creature and is known as Julebukk

or ‘Christmas Buck’. Traditionally (just as we leave

glasses of milk and snacks for Santa) children in

Norway prepare bowls of porridge for Julebukk,

and if they don’t it is believed that he will play

tricks on them. Norwegian Christmas dinner is

Codfish, porridge, potatoes and gingerbread.

In India, Christians decorate mango or banana

trees at Christmas and often decorate their

entire homes with mango leaves. Christmas Day

is called Big Day (‘Bada Din’) and preparations in

India start at least a month before Christmas, and

in certain parts of India, oil-burning clay lamps are

used as decorations. Spain begins its Christmas

season on December 8th with the feast of the

Immaculate Conception. This is celebrated each

year in the Gothic cathedral in Seville, where ten

boys perform an ancient dance called ‘los seises’.

On Christmas Eve, known as Blessed Night (‘La

Noche Buena’), people light bonfires as the first

star shines at night. It’s surprising how different

people and different countries interpret the birth

of Christ in completely diverse ways. Will you be

sticking to your customary traditions this year, or

will you take a different approach this Christmas?

Whatever you choose to do, I wish you a Happy

Christmas, God Jul (Norwegian), Glædelig Jul

(Danish), Joyeux Nöel (French) and Feliz Navidad

(Spanish)! Megan Templeman


Q: Could you recommend a good all round table wine to serve with Christmas lunch that will impress my guests but not break the bank?

A Chablis or a New World Chardonnay goes down really well with turkey on Christmas day, not too cold though, you’ll get more flavour coming through the nose and on the pallet if the chardonnay grape is slightly warmer As for the reds you can’t beat a Bordeaux or a Rhone from France or even a New World Shiraz For a good bottle you would normally only need to spend £8 to £14.(With thanks to Mathew on this one our very own Oz Clark)

Q: Can I cook my vegetables the day before, and still serve them fresh and tasty?

To par-cook your vegetables, cook as you normally would but a few minutes before finished take out and drop into iced water, on Christmas day put a large pan of salted water on to boil, when on a rolling boil drop all the vegetables in together for about 3 minutes, drain and serve well seasoned and with a knob of butter.

Q: How do I get the best roast vegetables?

The trick is to par-cook/blanch them first and then place into a hot roasting tray with goose fat (not olive oil) and keep turning them at regular intervals and for that extra touch why not drizzle them with some honey a few minutes before the end.

Q: Is there an alternative to turkey?A good free range Capon chicken around 10Lb will happily feed six guests.


Q: I always try to buy local seasonal vegetables what is in season for Christmas?

Cauliflower, Sprouting Broccoli, Leeks, Turnips, Swede, Carrots Parsnips, Brussels Sprouts

Are just a few that are in season, both Parsnips and Brussels Sprouts are best after they’ve had a frost

on them.

While your guest are waiting for the sprouts why not serve some Mulled Cider a twist on the

festive classic

Mulled Cider

2 pints Strong Cider | 1 Mulled Spice bag | 2 Shots Brandy | ¼ Pint Apple juice | 200g Sugar

Put everything in a pan and simmer gently for 20mins allow to cool slightly and serve.

The White Hart sleeping - eating - drinking

see our ad on page 9


Q: Having lived in rented accommodation which suffered from damp, I am anxious not to buy a house which suffers so what are the tell-tale signs?

A: Confusion sometimes arising in distinguishing between damp that has either come up into the building from the ground below or penetrated through the external walls or is the result of condensation.

The effects of each are varied and include damage to plaster and decorative finishes or erosion of brick, stonework or rot in timbers.

Airborne moisture is present in most houses and results from the day-to-day activities such as washing and cooking. When this comes into contact with a cold surface, it can condense.

Mould growth indicates condensation because spores only grown in clean water as opposed to contaminated water from penetrating or rising damp.

Damp penetration can be more random. It occurs in localised areas such as around chimneystacks, through parapet walls, around window openings or through an external wall of solid construction but poor condition.

Rising damp is indicated by a noticeable tide-line in plaster or finished around affected parts of the building and is accompanied by high moisture content in adjoining skirting boards or adjacent floorboards. A survey is always recommended when purchasing a house

Researched and written by Elaine Mitchell on behalf of Carter Jonas in Peterborough.

How can I get the best deal on my energy supply?

If you have never changed your energy supplier you could be paying more than you need to for your gas and electricity. Depending on where you live,on average you could save: £91 a year if you pay by Direct Debit, £86 a year if you pay by card, key or token meter, or £73 a year if you pay by cash or cheque.

When going to compare prices of different suppliers it’s a good idea to get a copy of your last bill, or if you use a card, token or key meter to have an idea of how much you spend each month on energy. It is also helpful to know the name of your current suppliers; the name of the deal you are on, and your post code.

There are three ways to find out about the prices charged in your area.

Phone round the energy supply companies to find out what deals are on offer and compare them with your current deal.

Or you can use one of the approved online price comparison sites. These are listed on the Consumer Focus website: www.consumerfocus.org.uk You can also download a pricing factsheet for your area from the Consumer Focus website.

If you cannot access the internet you can call Consumer Direct on 08454 040506 for a pricing factsheet as well as general consumer advice.

If you are having problems paying gas or electricity bills get advice. For more information and contact details of your local CAB go to the Citizens Advice website adviceguide.org.uk


Q: My daughter is about to leave her nursery

and begin a new school in Year 1. I am worried

about large class sizes in her primary school,

however, I am worried about her moving out

of her familiar environment and away from her

friends. What advice do you have?

A: Year 1 is a very important educational milestone and choosing a school at this age is every bit as important as choosing a secondary school at the end of Year 6. Many parents are happy to place their son or daughter in a local nursery but the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage requires further decision making. Parents may choose to keep their child in their local primary school but increasingly factors such as class sizes mean that alternative options may be considered.

A good school will place real emphasis on the importance of Year 1 as the beginning of a more formal education, and prospective pupils might be invited to attend a taster day. It is very important to visit a new school in a working day; meet teachers and to ask questions about differentiation; special needs provision and extra-curricular activities.

It can be worrying to think about moving children out of their familiar nursery setting, but making the right choice at the start of Year 1 can prevent anxiety about large class sizes and a child being lost in the crowd later on.

I am sure that your daughter will soon make new friends and at her age new routines quickly become the norm. You will also find that schools which do not have a nursery or Reception are especially well geared up to making pupils feel at home in Year 1.

Q: Christmas is such a difficult time to say no

to all those indulgences we love to enjoy, how do I

ensure I don’t overdo it?

As the Christmas season draws near and as our

diary fills with Christmas parties and celebrations

we can sometimes over indulge and feel the worse

for wear. Here are some tips to enjoy your self

during this festive time.

Firstly watch what you drink. According to recent

guidelines provided by the government woman

should only drink 2-3 units of alcohol daily and men

3-4 units. So a pint of beer or 2 small glasses of

wine equate to 3 units. To avoid drinking too much

eat before a big night out or enjoy a drink with a

meal or snack.

Besides alcohol the other indulgence during this

time is food. During the Christmas season we go

out for meals with our work colleagues, family and

friends to celebrate. Also there are extra

chocolates and sweets and mince pies laying about

the office or home. The important thing to

remember is moderation. Instead of 3 mince pies

try to eat only 1. Alternatively fruits and nuts are

healthier options to nibble on during this season.

The staff at Alma Road Primary Care Centre wishes

you the best during this Christmas season and

wants you to know we are open through out the

holidays.

Alma Rd Primary Care Centre

Education Health


Advertise in the City Scene for as little as £30 per month and reach 15,000 readers. Call now on 01780 783613 or log onto www.thecityscene.co.uk


Monthly UpdateWell where do I start, I threw a mad party

at the start of the month for fireworks

night. I saw Ellie Goulding on the 15th

November which was absolutely mind

blowing, met lots of new people and been

enjoying my work life to the max! Haven’t

really got anything major planned for this

month, can’t wait until New Year! It’s going

to be a good one! Errrrm, decided that

cigarettes need to be gone from my life, so

hopefully that will be my New Year’s

resolution... we will have to wait and see.

I’m also in pieces over the loss of the gig

venue ‘Club Revolution’ formerly known as

‘The Park’! It’s a sad loss for us all, looks like

it’s going to be a lot more nights at the Met

Lounge…

“Teen Scene”

Biggest Joke in History

Okay, brace yourself for this one… there

now is officially a Justin Bieber doll! First

off, he doesn’t deserve to have a doll of

himself - he doesn’t even know what/where

Germany is! Secondly, his music is

diabolical and he has no talent at all! Plus.....

you can collect them, there is one for every

music video that he has made, this has spoilt

my year. Sorry if this has offended anyone,

everyone’s entitled to their own opinion

though, eh?

Christmas Must Haves!

Xbox 360 Console – Prices Vary

Get off your couch and into the game by using your body as the

controller with Kinect and control your Xbox 360 with a single

gesture or wave of the hand

CD - It’s a Goldie Lookin’ Christmas: the Fairy Tale of Newport

- £9.00 on HMV This has yet to be released, but just by the title

of the album... It makes me want to pre-order it! Its out on the

6th December… GET ON IT!

Dance Challenge

‘Calling all the young dancing talent in the City’. The Dance

Challenge Team is inviting young people to compete in a dance-off

at the Cresset in Bretton. Dance Challenge is a unique, national

competition that challenges and rewards young dancers from

primary & secondary schools and community groups on any dance

style. This is a prestigious and innovative showcase where

youngsters are invited to make a 3-4 minutes dance presentation.

This isn’t my sort of thing, but I’m sure for some of you readers,

this will be a dream come true. To participate or for more

information at www.dancechallenge.co.uk

By Daniel Wiesner-Papp


TIMING IS EVERYTHINGFrom boiling an egg to writing a presentation for business, all of us need split-second timing in our lives.

A chronograph from Robert Loomes of Stamford gives so much more than that: a

luxury mechanical wristwatch-cum-stopwatch that is hand built by the man whose name is on the dial; one that is only available from the shop where they are made. Said Robert “To make a chronograph is to fashion a work of art. To make a gift of one is to ensure you will be remembered for ever.” Nobody else in the country makes mechanical chronographs in their own workshops, so this is indeed a rare gift. Each watch is carefully built in his Stamford work-shops from scratch, with every wheel, pivot and screw checked, cleaned, polished and lubricated by hand before the movement can be tested. It takes a highly skilled watchmaker the best part of a day just to build the mechanism. Robert works using a

Swiss design from the 1940s, once used by Breitling and Omega. The model was long forgotten because it was a labour intensive movement and not suited to modern mass-production techniques. Robert has radically improved the design and made it a thing of beauty. Once completed he fits his unique dial and hands and assembles the whole into the case. Each is then rigorously tested for accuracy and reliability. Robert Loomes is creating a limited edition of one hundred chronographs, available to order only from his shop on St Mary’s Hill.

4 St Mary’s Hill | Stamford | PE9 2DW

[email protected]

Phot

o C

redi

t: D

on L

ambe

rt


By Duncan On my New Year

List, out in January

The Science of Avatar£16.99 (Hardback)

James Cameron’s Avatar is the

biggest movie of all time. Such

has been its effect on audiences

that some have reported begin

depressed at having to leave the

vividly realised setting of

Pandora to return to the real

world. In THE SCIENCE OF

AVATAR, bestselling

science-fiction author Stephen

Baxter and James Cameron

explore the epic together. From

journeys into deep space to

anti-gravity unobtanium, from

Pandora’s extraordinary flora and

fauna to transferring

consciousness, Baxter and

Cameron reveal that we are

closer to world of Avatar than we

know.

By NaomiThe Confession by John Grisham £18.99 (Hardback)In 1998, in East Texas, Travis Boyette abducted, raped, and strangled a popular high school cheerleader. He then watched as police and prosecutors arrested and convicted Donté Drumm, a local football star, and marched him off to death row. Nine years later, Travis suffers from a brain tumor and decides to do what’s right and confess. But how can he convince lawyers, judges, and politicians that they’re about to execute an innocent man?

By Heidi

A Simples Life: The Life and

Times of Aleksandr Orlov

£9.99 (Hardback)

Aleksandr Orlov has in the last year become one of the most

loved figures in British culture and his catchphrase - Simples! - can

be heard from the playground to the office. Written in his

inimitable voice (as dictated to his sidekick Sergei), his

autobiography will offer the same humour as his TV ads, giving us

the full story of his ancestor’s Journey of Courageousness from

the Kalahari to Russia, the low-down on his life as entrepreneur

and founder of comparethemeerkat.com and his love of grubs and

cravats.

By Charlotte For the New

Year.....out in January

Masterchef at Home

£20.00 (Hardback)

This title helps you become a

MasterChef in your own kitchen.

Impress your friends and family

with “MasterChef at Home,” the

fantastic follow-up to “The

MasterChef Cookbook.” With

over 200 recipes from the three

2010 series, as well as nine

complete menus from the

winners, and top tips on how

to present your food, for a real

show-stopping feast.


NENE VALLEY RAILWAY

“SANTA SPECIALS”

Why not join the Nene Valley

Railway and start your Christmas off

with a real bout of festive fun ?

A visit to Santa in his Grotto

followed by a train ride during which

Santa joins everyone for a chat and

photographs while enjoying a mince

pie, seasonal tipple or tea/coffee

and confections and soft drinks for

the children. Dates still available on

some services.

Phone 01780 782833 or

01780 784444 - between 9.30am

and 4pm

Whats On December

Sunday 5 December

Santa Fun Run

Ferry Meadows Country Park

Family fun run to raise money for local charity

EACH. Dress up as Santa and run (or walk!) 2.5km

around Ferry Meadows. Times: Starts at 11:00am

Meet at: Water Sports Centre cafe Cost: £10 for

adults including Santa suit, £8.50 for adults without

Santa suit and £5 for 13 year olds and under

including Santa hat.

Booking: Participants must register in advance.

Call 01223 205180 or go to www.each.org.uk

for details.

December at the Nene Park Trust

Tuesday 14 December

Tree Planting - Ferry Meadows Country

Park

Keep warm this winter by coming along and

helping the Rangers. Wear boots or wellies as this

event may get muddy! Times: 10:00am-12:00noon

Meet at: Visitor centre - Cost: Free

Booking: Essential. Please call the Nene Park

Trust on 01733 234193 or

e-mail [email protected]


Tuesday 21 December

From Bottle to Bird Feeder

Ferry Meadows Country Park

Give our feathered friends a treat by turning

a used bottle into a garden bird feeder. Please

bring a clean plastic bottle. Dogs must be left

outside. Times: Drop in any time from 10:00am

-12:00noon - Meet at: Visitor Centre - Cost: Free

Booking: No need to book.

December at the Nene Park TrustContinued....

JUMPED UP THEATRE presents A

WORKHOUSE CHRISTMAS AT

PETERBOROUGH MUSEUM, Priestgate Adapted by

Nick Wood (From the poem by George R..Sims) Directed

By Kate Hall (“Our Nobby” for Eastern Angles)

A traditional Christmas story for all the family, transformed into a walk-about show all around

Peterborough’s historic museum. Traditional Christmas carols and Jumped Up Theatre’s professional

actors bring this famous Victorian story to life. A community choir will lead the audience around

Peterborough museum, piecing together one man’s touching love story, from rural courtship to city

workhouse. Cast includes Jason Webb (Key Theatre, Trestle, National Theatre) Liam Thomas (Globe

Theatre) and Caroline Rippin (Menagerie Theatre.) Tickets: £8.50 (£5.50 concessions.) Family tickets

available for 4pm & 6pm shows for £25 (2 adults & 2 under 16’s)

10 – 19 December times vary, contact box office for details) Box Office: 01733 207239 (Key Theatre.)

Tickets also available on the door or from Peterborough Destination Centre on Bridge Street.

Children’s Christmas Event at

Werrington Library

The Snowman Storytime – Tuesday 21st December,

2pm-2.30pm Stories and making your own

snowman

Werrington library 01733 864282


Cologne Christmas

Market in Peterborough

The traditional German

Christmas market is in

Peterborough until 23

December in Cathedral Square,

Bridge Street and Long

Causeway.

Burghley Christmas

Festival & Fine Food

Market 2 – 5 December

Burghley House, Stamford

Christmas Tree Festival,

All Saints Church, Park Road,

Peterborough 3 - 5 December

10am – 4pm (Fri & Sat), 1pm –

4pm (Sun) Admission £1,

accompanied children free

Candlelight Classics

Peterborough Cathedral 4

December - 7.30pm Presented

by Peterborough Young

Singers and Peterborough

Baroque Ensemble Tickets £8.00,

concessions £6.00

Lights of Love with Sue

Ryder Care 5 December

5.30-8pm Join in the carol singing

in the gardens with the City of

Peterborough Concert band and

Peterborough Community

Gospel Choir Plus lots of

Christmas celebrations

including Father Christmas, train

rides, BBQ and ending with a

firework display

Christmas Craft Fayre &

Fun Day 5 December - 10am

– 4pm Flag Fen Archaeological

Park, The Droveway, Northey

Road, Peterborough Craft stalls

and demonstrations, childrens

crafts, Father Christmas (small

charge), refreshments and much

more. Free Entry

Christmas Bazaar at

Peterborough Women’s

Enterprise Centre 7th

December - 10am-5pm Stalls

featuring cross stitch,

confectionery, jewellery,

handmade bags, flowers,

children’s artwork, fashion

accessories and much more! All

made by the talented ladies from

the Enterprise Centre! There

will also be a raffle raising money

for Cancer Research UK.

Lunchtime Landscape

Lecture 8 December - 1pm A

series of lectures based around

the theme of Peterborough’s

landscapes, historically,

geographically and culturally St

John’s Church, Church Street,

Peterborough Free entry

Living History Talk –

Madness of King George

- 9 December 7.30pm The

Madness of King George, the

true story of George III, his life

and bouts of madness. An

entertaining talk by Don

Chiswell. Peterborough

Museum & Art Gallery,

Priestgate, Peterborough

£4 adults, £2 concessions

Christmas Cracker

11 December - Presented by the

Peterborough Male Voice Choir.

St John’s Church, Church Street,

Peterborough Tickets £8,

concessions £6

Candlelit Ghost Tours

14 December 7.30pm

Peterborough Museum & Art

Gallery, Priestgate, Peterborough

Tickets £5 adults, £3 children


Kings’s School

Christmas Concert

15 December

Peterborough Cathedral

Featuring the Choirs,

Orchestra, Brass Group

and Band of the King’s

School together with

choirs from various

junior schools.Tickets

£7, concessions £5,

under 11’s free.

Every weekend from

4th December and

daily from the 15th –

23rd December 10am

– 4pm

A Victorian

Christmas at

Sacrewell plus

special Christmas

tractor ‘sleigh’ rides

around the Farm

Sacrewell Farm &

Country Park,

Thornhaugh Winter

admission prices apply

01780 782254

Peterborough

Jazz Club 19

December - 8pm

Featuring the 78RPM

Big Band with special

guest top vocalist Esther

Miller Great Northern

Hotel, Station Approach,

Peterborough Tickets

£17.50, available in

advance by email

enquiries@peterbor-

oughjazzclub.co.uk

Party of the

Square 31 December

From 8pm New Year’s

Eve celebrations on the

square, with live Abba

tribute band.

The Greenback Yard Christmas

Craft Fair - 12th December 10am – 4pm

Including stalls packed with Christmas presents,

all made by local artists and craftspeople. Buying

locally is one way to lessen the impact of which

is especially important in these times of

economic woe and strife.

At the craft fair there will be the opportunity to

make your own presents and Christmas

decorations at workshops running throughout

the day as well as delicious local food, perfect

to munch whilst warming yourself round the

bonfire.


In Dulci Jubilo 17 December

7.30pm - A Venetian Christmas at


Tickets are available from the

Cathedral shop, Stamford Arts

Centre, or call 01733 343342 for

further information.

Midnight Eucharist sung by Peterborough Cathedral

24 December - 11.30pm


The Leon Cupra R sits above the Cupra, and offers a fine-tuned version of its 2.0-litre turbocharged

petrol engine, packing a 265 PS punch, backed up by no less than 350 Nm of torque at just 2,500 rpm.

That’s a full 50 Nm more than the already burly Leon Cupra. The result? A 0-62mph time of 6.2 seconds

and an unrestricted 155mph top speed. That’s getting close to supercar levels of acceleration and

performance. But the Cupra R is more than just raw power. It’s also a very refined hot hatch with five

doors and comfortable seats, and one that’s enormously exciting to drive. Even with front wheel drive, it

manages to put all its enthusiasm down without fumbling for grip. The front always feels fixed to the road

and the steering wheel doesn’t jerk from side to side as it can in other front wheel drive performance

cars.

THE LATEST Leon is nothing less than a beast. And it should be – it’s the most potent SEAT ever made.

By Tim Barnes-Clay, Motoring Writer© BARNES-CLAY MEDIA 2010

www.barnes-claymedia.webeden.co.uk

SEAT Leon Cupra R


As impressive, perhaps, is the new Leon’s

thriftiness. Combined economy of 34.9 mpg

and CO2 limited to just 190 g/km make the car

among the most environmentally friendly

ultra-hot hatches around. Not quite green enough

to qualify for the brand’s Ecomotive badge - but

distinctly more environmentally conscientious

than a number of competitors which have CO2

emissions of 220 g/km and above. Speaking of

rivals, it might not have the kick of the Ford

Focus RS, but at £25,205 on the road it is £3,000

cheaper. It’s also £3,500 less than the Volkswagen

Scirocco R. Only the Renault Megane Renault

sport offers a convincing alternative on cost, but

the Cupra R’s engine has more finesse and the

inconspicuous five-door formation broadens the

interest. Even though the Leon has a relatively

modest price tag, there is an awful lot of kit

included. There are sporty twin central exhaust

pipes within a modified rear diffuser, a subtle

extended high level rear spoiler, tasteful ‘R’

badging and gloss black highlighting inside and out.

Then there are the ebony black front seatbacks

with ‘R’ logo, which leave rear seat passengers in

no doubt about the characteristics of this super

quick SEAT. Colossal 19-inch ‘Potenza’ wheels,

available in traditional silver alloy or

contemporary white finish, also mark out the ‘R’

as something extra special. If that’s not enough,

you also get cruise control, rear parking sensors,

automatic lights and dual-zone climate control

- all of which come as standard. Quite simply,

the SEAT Leon Cupra R is a bargain when you

consider how much car you get for the cash. It

looks awesome, it’s engaging and it’s seriously

rapid without being uncomfortable. The Leon

would, without doubt, tick all the boxes for me if I

wanted to buy a modern day performance hatch.

FAST FACTS

• Max speed: 155 mph• 0-62 mph 6.2 seconds • Combined mpg: 34.9• Engine: 4 cylinders, 1984 cc, turbo-petrol• Power: 265 PS• Torque: 350 Nm at 2,500 rpm• CO2: 190g/km• Price: £25,205 OTR

PROS ‘N’ CONS

• Attractive √• Performance √• Fun √• Cost √

• Boy racer image X


Seasonal biscuits250g of dairy free spread (Naomi has used Pure,

sunflower spread free from soya)

140g of caster sugar

1 egg yolk

2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

300g of gluten and wheat free plain flour

(Naomi has used Doves Farm)

• Pre heat oven to 180oc and grease two baking

trays.

• Mix the butter and sugar in a large bowl with a

wooden spoon, then add the egg yolk and vanilla

and briefly beat to combine. Sift over the flour

and stir until the mixture is well combined - you

might need to get your hands in at the end to

give everything a really good mix and press the

dough together.

• Dust the work surface with plain flour and roll

out the dough. Cut out the dough with Christ-

mas shapes and place on the greased tray. Cook

in the over for 20 minutes until the biscuits are

slightly golden.

• Once the biscuits are cool, finish with a dusting

of icing sugar or icing depending on how sweet

your tooth is!

Nuffin MuffinWe are all more aware of tolerance issues to food types now and local resident, Naomi Jones has used

her recent diagnosis of being dairy intolerant to good effect for others, by setting up ‘Nuffin Muffin’, a

cake business where delights are made without dairy (animal milk), wheat, gluten and soya.

Naomi has been able to adapt recipes based on needs including, to date, English made sugar, soya free,

rice flour and egg free and has shared a recipe with the City Scene....as well as some of her yummy treats

(thank you Nuffin Muffin!!)


File sharing

There’s still plenty of time to get yourself online

and ready to share pictures and video with family

and friends all over the world.

www.flickr.com You can share files, upload them and organise

them, crop, fix and edit them too and give yourself

peace of mind that they are secure as you choose

who can view them.

www.facebook.com Facebook doesn’t have to be all about sharing

your latest thought or opinion, you can also post

your photos on here and share them with your

friends. Those friends do need to be on Facebook

too, but you’ll be surprised how many people are

on there that you know!

Fresh air and fun

After the children have been off school for a week, you’ve

packed and unpacked an extraordinary number of shopping

bags, seen sprouts, cranberries, crackers and sellotape until

you can bear it no longer, shake off those feelings by

getting out and about. Get on those new gloves, matching hat

and scarf and dig out your thermals. Go on a seasonal walk

or bike ride, taking time to have a look at your local area in a

different light. There are fewer cars around, less HGV’s and

you’re not in a hurry for once. Pack a flask and some snacks

and work off some of those Christmas chocolates too!!

Glitter and Glue Throw caution to the wind and get out the glitter and glue for the

kids. Simple initials to hang on your tree for all the family and your

friends visiting over the festive season, can be fun and adds that personal

touch to your decorations.

Christmas websitesTracking Santa at www.noradsanta.org

Last Christmas I went mad over this website – track Santa’s delivery

all over the world and see how many people have been delivered to! I

stayed up well past the children’s bedtime last year and watched Santa

zoom off to the International Space Station!! Christmassy website with

fun and games for kids at www.northpole.com Fun for kids, stories,

recipes and sending Santa a letter


Opportunity Peterborough is engaging with local businesses through the city bondholder scheme, that offers a package of benefits including a high quality networking programme, a monthly newsletter, free business advice and more.

Becoming a Peterborough bondholder is simple, free, and offers members plenty of opportunities to work together for the benefit of the city and their own business.

www.opportunitypeterborough.co.uk/bondholder Get in touch with Opportunity Peterborough - Telephone: 01733 317 417Email: [email protected]

Website: www.opportunitypeterborough.co.ukFollow on Twitter: www.twitter.com/thefutureisyou

09 Dec ‘10 - Speaker Alan Rimmer - Provider Business Link East - Topic Visibility and Desirability – How to Stand Out From the Crowd

16 Dec ‘10 - Speaker Lindsey Reed - GLOWS Career Coach Goal Setting - Ready for 2011

2011- 06 Jan - Speaker Belinda Coaten - Provider People Potential - Provider Interview Techniques

13 Jan - Speaker Chris Claydon - Provider Middleton Murray - Topic How We Can Help You Back to Work

20 Jan - Speaker Andrea Crompton - Provider The One Group - Topic The Benefits of Recruitment Agencies

Call: 01733 207348Email: [email protected]

Back to Business Club, SeminarsEFFICIENT APPLIANCE TIPS

from Premier Kitchens & Bedrooms

Choosing the right appliances to suit the space

you have and the way you want to cook is key to

the success of your new kitchen. The oven is no

doubt one of the most important appliances and

there is a selection of truly advanced technology

to choose from; from integrated steam functions

to pre-set auto-cooking facilities. Hobs and hoods

are designed to enhance the appearance of the

kitchen and can create a spectacular focal point.

Excellent performance is achieved by the right

cooling product, fridges and freezers with features

from frost-free, intensive cooling and freezing

systems give you the option to find the right

product to suit your needs.


Time and energy saving features are widely incorporated into dishwasher and laundry appliances,

making cleaning easier and giving you time to do the things you actually enjoy.

Q: I love to cook and really want to spoil myself by creating a dream kitchen that

will be easy to use. Where should I start?

A: A good kitchen designer will take the three key areas of your kitchen – the cooking zone (oven

and hob), the prepping zone (work space and sink) and the storage zone (cupboards and fridge) – and

place them on three points of a triangle. This ensures cooking utensils are kept together and each

zone is easily reached, making your time in the kitchen hassle-free and allowing you to enjoy your

cooking experience.

Richard Pearse, Researcher in the School of Management who is also the Managing Director of Fortify Investments Ltd, is shortlisted for Two National Awards. As the founding director of Fortify Investments Ltd the firm provides independent wealth management and general financial planning advice to members of the general public and small medium size enterprises was recently shortlisted by “Health Insurance & Protection” for:

1. Best Protection Intermediary and2. Best Training and Development Intermediary, 2010

These prestigious industry awards are made annually at the Health & Protection Insurance networking event of the year, held at the Grosvenor House, London. The gala award ceremony in Mayfair that is attended by leading industry figures is scheduled for the 21st October. If Fortify Investments Ltd wins either of the awards they are automatically entered into the ‘Health Insurance Intermediary of the Year Award’ for 2010. When the Managing Director, Richard Pearse was asked how he felt about being shortlisted he

stated: “To be recognised by your industry peers in providing a service of excellence is very satisfying.

Fortify Investments are no strangers to success in being recognised for their expertise in serving the general public and local businesses. In 2009 they also gained the following independent Regional Awards:

1. Business Achievement of the Year2. Businessman of the Year (twice awarded to Richard Pearse, Managing Director for his leadership)3. Financial Services Provider of the Year, and4. Wealth Management of the Year

Should you want to know more Richard Pearse can be contacted on, 01664 474613, or email him at: [email protected] or log onto www.fortifyinvestments.co.uk


Please circle your answersHow would you rate the City Scene overall - out of 10? (1 being Poor and 10 being Excellent)1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

What areas could we improve on? please use a separate piece of paper to expand on this answer) Community Health, Hair and BeautyAsk the ExpertsReviewsLocal InterestFashionFamilyEvents and What’s OnUseful NumbersBusinessSport and Leisure

Do you log on to our website and read the magazine online? Yes No

How often do you pick up our magazine?Monthly | Without fail | As and when I’m passing

Would you subscribe to the magazine to get it delivered to your door? Yes No

Have you ever responded to, or used:Adverts | Competitions | Useful Numbers | What’s On

Have you ever passed the magazine to a family member or friend? Yes No

Do you think that the magazine would look better as A4 size? Yes No

Would you still pick it up if it was A4? Yes / No

City Scene Reader Survey

Win a Magnum of Champagne!!!!We need your help!!! We want to know what you think about our lovely magazine and to see if there is anything we can do to improve the articles and ensure we are meeting the demand of our readers. Please complete the short survey below and send it to The Scene, The Old School House, Wittering, PE8 6BX. All entries will go into a prize draw and the winner will receive a magnum of champagne. Please send back by the 28th December 2010.

Please make any other suggestions that you feel would benefit the magazine, or anything that you feel we are missing. Name_____________________________________Address___________________________________Contact Tel No _____________________________Email address_______________________________Your details will not be passed on to any other company.

We really appreciate your help to improve our community magazine!!!


Chelsea V Man United (Sunday Dec 19th)

PIC OF MAN UTD V CHELSEA PAST MATCHES

This match between the 2 most successful Premier

League clubs in recent years comes right before

the manic Christmas games schedule and could go

some way to determining how they both fare dur-

ing it. Win the match and both will feel confident

of getting a significant amount of points on board

in a short space of time. Lose and all of a sudden

playing 3 games in 6 days seems like a daunting task

to undertake. I believe, (yes I’m slightly biased!)

that Sir Alex Fergusons red devils will come out

on top. Chelsea’s incredible start to the season

has been hit for 6 with continuing injuries to

stalwarts John Terry and Frank Lampard. They will

both take time to rediscover sharpness and more

importantly form and I just feel United will fancy

themselves at Stamford Bridge, despite dropping

far too many points on the road so far. The one

thing people may also forget about is the return

of a certain Wayne Rooney. All United fans will be

desperate for him to carry the torch and hit the

heights he last year and with recuperation coupled

with match time under his belt by time the game

comes around, he could just be the difference. My

Prediction- 0-1

Arsenal V Chelsea (Monday Dec 27th)

Another heavyweight showdown, this match

comes right in the thick of the Christmas fixture

pile up with injuries/suspensions sure to have

an effect on both teams. Nevertheless matches

between these London rivals rarely fail to be filled

with huge amounts of passion on top of supreme

technical ability and most importantly, goals!

Chelsea have definitely had the edge over the

gunners in recent years and with this huge

encounter coming a week after their game against

Man United, (a match they will lose if my crystal

ball is correct!) then another defeat would be

disastrous for them. The key factor in the outcome

lies in the hands, (sorry feet!) of one man, Didier

Drogba whose incredible record of 13 goals in

13 games against Arsene Wenger’s team will have

certainly caused a few nightmares for the arsenal

backline. One thing Arsenal have improved on this

year though is their ability to mix up their style

of play from the well known breathtaking 1 and 2

touch play to going more direct with the likes of

strong forward Marouane Chamakh and the

lightening speed of Theo Walcott. This will

definitely be a factor in proceedings but I still see a

Chelsea win. My Prediction- 1-2

Ryan’s December Football Preview

Please email

[email protected] with any

views you have and visit

www.semple-soccer.co.uk for my

response.


Peterborough Town Sports Club

Well the Summer is truly forgotten and cricket

is a far distant memory although we will all get a

bit exited when the Ashes start in Australia soon.

The Cricket Dinner at the Bull Hotel was a great

success. The beef was superb but just a pity the

horse radish sauce came with the cheese cake!!!

The hockey season is well underway and the men’s

1st X1 have stormed to the top of the league

having won their first eight games amidst an

avalanche of goals. Player Coach Gareth Andrew is

leading the way with goals but he is ably

supported by others returning to the Club such

as the intenerate Scott Gilmour, Luke Manning

from University and Rick Corbett after more RAF

travels. New recruits Mark Burchett at the back

and Chris Vine in goal are welcome additions and

the squad is looking very powerful. The next three

games, the last before the winter break, promise

to be more testing but on their day this team will

blow anybody at this level away. The promise of

National league Hockey next year is looking good.

The Ladies have had a moderate start with a very

young playing strength, but all in all the success

right through the teams indicates a very strong

club at present. Squash are running 2 teams in the

Cambs League and 5 in the Peterborough &

District League. We are the only club in the area

running so many teams but with club number one

Dan McGinn having gone to University and

number two Dan Soar playing most of his

competitive squash away from the club, we are not

really in contention in the leagues. There is lots of

activity, however, and more people are enjoying

their squash here than for many years.

The Club is thriving, which is good to see in these

difficult times. There is nothing like a bit of sport

and post match ‘socialising’ to take your mind of

your troubles!!! Peter Lambert

Peterborough Town Sports Club,

Bretton Gate. 01733 262202

POSH Fixtures for December 2010 Saturday 4th Yeovil Town - A 3pmFriday 10th Rochdale - H 7.45pmSaturday 18th Dagenham & Reds - A 3pmSunday 26th Colchester - H 3pmTuesday 28th Swindon Town - A 3pm

Phantoms Fixtures for december 2010 Saturday 4th Guildford - A 6pmSunday 5th Milton Keynes - H 5.30pmSaturday 11th Swindon - A 5.45pmSunday 12th Guildford - H 7.15pmSaturday 18th Fifi Flyers - A

the city scene december 2010

Documents

christmas day

proper christmas

christmas news

christmas pudding

time of year

driveour christmas special

page christmas special

building site christmas