Columns

We recently had the pleasure of spending an hour in the company of the two stalwarts of the local branch of the Royal Naval Association, Keith and Yvonne Crawford. Keith told us of his early days in the Royal Navy and the square bashing he had to endure as part of his basic training. He later joined the Fleet Air ...

In this increasingly digital life in which we live I believe that owning pets is more important than ever. They can give us, and particularly children, a grounding in the real (analog!) world. Keeping a pet should teach about care and responsibility, about relationships and emotions and ultimately the sadness and feelings associated with death. We have all seen and ...

This year’s Pumpkin Festival is set to be better than ever before. It is being held on Friday, October 9, in Hall Place and Sheep Market in Spalding. The Pumpkin Festival is a celebration of local horticulture and harvest. It is a wonderful opportunity to spend quality time with your friends and family and enjoy the abundance that the South ...

Moving on from last week’s edition this week we are concentrating on cruising with couples in mind. At Holiday With Us & Spalding Travel we search independently for the best prices for our clients. We are able to match online prices and offers through various reader publications. So when you have a date and a destination in mind, call or ...

One of the most frequent problems that I am asked to look at during my consultations are masses on or just below the skin. I will discuss just some of the more common ones in this article. Many of these masses are benign or inflammatory masses, some are ‘’locally” malignant tumours and a few are highly malignant tumours. Warts are ...

Following a successful food festival, we are now looking forward to events leading up to Christmas. This coming Sunday will see the second visit to the town of the Italian Piazza Market being held on the Sheep Market between 10am and 4pm, and will have 16 speciality stalls selling high quality Mediterranean foods including; freshly made Italian breads, olives, Salumi ...

There has been a major disruption this week to our household routine. You would not think that such a small little thing would cause so much trouble. Just over three weeks ago we decided that we would let one of our old and broody Buff Orpingtons sit on an egg. We kept this to one egg as we did not ...

The step up from primary school to secondary school is an exciting time for young people – if not more than a little daunting. Here are the comments of some of the year seven students who started at the Sir John Gleed School last week. Sophie Toynton Before the Sir John Gleed School’s summer school I felt excited and really ...

Hello again! Last time in my column I looked at wasps. This time, we’re back to the birds. I’d like to look at what is becoming an increasingly common garden bird, the woodpecker. Well, actually not just one woodpecker. Around Spalding there are two different kinds which we are likely to see. The green woodpecker, which is (oddly enough) green. ...

Last weekend saw the first Food Festival in Spalding for three years and over 2,000 people came to enjoy the delicacies of South Holland’s micro food Industry. There were 53 different stalls, over 45 of which were food related, giving a good selection of produce. The venue provided by South Holland District Council had many people remarking on how good ...

As the summer draws to a close and autumn begins the mild, damp weather contributes to an increase in the number of mushrooms and toadstools growing. It’s a good idea to check your garden and keep a close eye on the areas you exercise your dog for mushrooms and toadstools as we see many dogs that become ill after eating ...

Diarrhoea and vomiting is a very common complaint particularly in dogs and less so in cats. We see more cases in the hotter weather than during the winter (except for Christmas). Diarrhoea without vomiting where the animal is still quite bright is generally the result of an imbalance of the lower intestinal gut flora. The lower gut is populated with ...

Over the next few columns we are talking about cruising – which is the best cruise for you and why you should always use an Independent agent such as Holiday With Us and Spalding Travel to get the most from your cruise. We can package your individual requests incorporating regional airports, overnight stopovers and lots more! There are so many ...

If you have read my column over the last two months you will be aware that the Spalding and South Holland Festival of Food and Drink is taking place on August 29 and 30 in the various car parks and spaces surrounding the South Holland District Council offices in Priory Road. I make no apologies for reminding you of this ...

As you get older in life and you have had more experiences, there are some conclusions about living that you come to. At 56 years of age my conclusion is that all households should have at least one chihuahua and some chickens. As this article is mainly about chickens, I will only give a brief reason for having a chihuahua. ...

By Dr Chris Andrews – visitor experience manager, RSPB Frampton Ah summer, just the time for a picnic. But what is this, gatecrashers at the feast! All is in confusion as arms are flailed wildly at the intruding wasp. But do we really need to react that way? “What good are wasps?” is a common question I get asked by ...

If you have life insurance, it is a good idea to regularly review the cover to make sure it’s right for you and your family circumstances. When you sign up for a policy, the extent of cover – how long it lasts, and how much it would pay out – is based on your financial situation and commitments at that ...

South Holland remains one of the safest places to live in the county. Crime rates continue to drop year on year and agencies work hard to ensure you continue to live in a place which is safe. Being part of a community can really help with your sense of belonging and it’s important that you feel you have a voice ...

Allergic skin disease or “atopic dermatitis” is very common at this time of year. It is often seen as frequent scratching and chewing at the skin with skin quickly becoming red, sore and thickened. Allergens in the environment trigger this reaction in dogs which are sensitized to them. This sensitivity is triggered through the pets own immune system. Contact with ...

Whether you are passionate about Opera or a curious novice, a night at the opera is highly recommended, the drama and music not to mention the surrounds of a grand opera house combine to create an unforgettable evening. Therefore should you wish to do an escorted opera tour with like-minded companions or simply combine one night at the opera with ...