Enjoy a family pottery session with Rebecca Blades at Unique Cottage Studios, Fulney Lane South, Spalding, today (10am to 12 noon).
Using air-drying clay, youngsters aged six and over can create creatures, pots and plaques to take away and paint at home. £8/£25 for four per session.
The wonderful jazz singer Miss Jax Terry and her Cocktail Bar Swing Band are playing at Pinchbeck Village Hall tomorrow (8pm).
They will be performing smooth swing music from The Rat Pack, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Nat King Cole, Billie Holliday and more. Entry is £5 on the door.
Firemen from seven stations are tackling a blaze at a building in Stainfield, near Bourne, which broke out this morning.
Crews from Donington, Holbeach, Spalding and Market Deeping were called out to Elsthorpe Road at about 4.15am where a building with acetylene and propane gas cyclinders was alight.
The fire spread to hay bales and firemen from Bourne, Billingborough and Stamford are also at the scene.
There are no details of any injuries at the moment.
Become a bat detective on Saturday by joining the Friends of Bourne Wood in a bat walk.
The event starts at 8.45pm from the Forest Office, off Beech Avenue. Following an introduction to bats, the group will go off for a walk to listen for bats with detectors. Donations of £1 appreciated.
Five pupils from Tydd St Mary School enjoyed their last Friday in primary education by working at the Lincolnshire Free Press and Spalding Guardian offices.
The five 11-year-olds, who all leave for secondary school on Tuesday, visited as part of a newspaper project they have been working on.
Earlier in the year Free Press and Guardian editor Jeremy Ransome visited the school to talk about journalism.
In the weeks since the pupils had been writing reports about their school year for a special front page.
They wrote about their stay at the Kingswood Activity Centre in Norfolk, their trip to Duxford War Museum, the extension work carried out at their school and the animation and short film-making projects some of them had been working on.
On Friday Maisie Pratt, Erika Webb, Patrick Walsh, Joshua Ripley and Alfie Ransome designed their commemorative leavers’ front page, helped by Jeremy.
The five – who are off to Spalding Grammar School (boys) and Spalding High School (girls) in September, took colour copies of the special page home as a memory of their last year at Tydd St Mary Primary School.
Pacific Rim (12A) by Gavin Miller
Cast: Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, Rob Kazinsky, Charlie Day, Ron Perlman, Rinko Kikuchi, Max Martini, Clifton Collins Jr, Burn Gorman, Diego Klattenhoff, Robert Maillet, Heather Doerksen, Santiago Segura, Mana Ashida
Running Time: 2hrs 10mins
Director: Guillermo Del Toro
It’s all about sequels in Hollywood these days so it’s hard for a brand new studio tentpole movie to get the recognition it deserves.
And that’s exactly what will be Pacific Rim’s long-term downfall even though it at least tries to provide something different for this summer’s blockbuster season.
The only problem when its opens close to the likes of already established franchises like Monsters University, Despicable Me 2 and Grown-Ups 2 in the UK and US – even with acclaimed director Guillermo Del Toro at the helm – it probably won’t make enough money to get the sequel it deserves.
Oscar-nominated Del Toro was the man behind 2006’s exceptional Spanish-language film Pan’s Labyrinth and the two generally critically-lauded Hellboy films (and was meant to direct The Hobbit), but he’s still not a big enough name to the general moviegoer – and when your film hasn’t got a major A-list star, that makes it even harder.
Even with Brit stars Idris ‘Luther’ Elba and ex-EastEnders actor Rob Kazinsky, new Channing Tatum-a-like Charlie Hunnum, comic relief in the form of Charlie Day (Horrible Bosses) and a cameo from Del Toro mainstay, Ron ‘Hellboy’ Perlman providing decent turns, it’s undoubtedly the monsters versus robots story that was always going to be the main selling point.
Its plot – however implausible – is at least a fresh take on the sci-fi theme, as giant monsters rise from the oceans through an intergalactic vortex in the earth’s crust to consume the planet’s resources.
Known as the Kaiju, these relentless Godzilla-like beings are sent to the world’s major cities to trash as many buildings and kill as much human life as possible (to eventually inhabit the planet) before they are downed by the military – and for years they were extremely successful.
That is until humanity moved to ‘Plan B’ by building massive weapon-laden billion dollar robots, called Jaegers, to fight back against these hulking beasts – piloted by two people whose minds are interlocked by a neural bridge.
But even though this machines defended the planet for a number of years, the Kaiju are starting to evolve by sending even bigger and stronger creatures – and they’re now winning the war with an apocalyptic event now looking ever more prevalent.
Enter the stereotyped unlikely hero, washed-up former pilot Raleigh (Hunnam), who is thrown into the one of the last working Jaegers with untested Japanese rookie Mako (Rinko Kikuchi) – recruited by Lt Commander Stacker (Elba).
And even though it doesn’t quite get the balance between seriousness and humour quite right – its comedic characters like Day’s Dr Geiszler and Burn Gorman’s really annoying Dr Gottlieb sometimes uneasily change the tone on a six-pence – for the most part this is surprisingly good and sometimes quite inventive fun.
The dialogue (surprisingly for Del Toro) can also border a little on the generic side, along with the heroic storyline that has been played out in different formats before, but it does ultimately contain a lot of heart that adds an endearing quality.
The battles scenes and special effects are also infinitely more impressive and enjoyable than the likes of Transformers, or even the recent Man of Steel, and is one of the better recent 3D outings too.
One thing’s for sure, if next year’s Godzilla remake has picked up a thing or two from this admirable effort it wouldn’t go far wrong.
And with the versatile Elba putting in another stand-out performance – easily adding to his burgeoning Hollywood reputation – this really deserves (despite its flaws) to be a monster hit.
Rating 3/5
To celebrate the birth of the royal baby the Spalding Guardian is giving all readers a free eight-page supplement when they buy this Thursday’s paper.
The souvenir will contain the latest news, views and baby pictures (finger’s crossed!!) Miss it and you’ll miss out.
The Thatched Cottage at Sutterton makes no secret of the recipes that have made it popular with regular diners.
People are able to learn the secrets of the restaurant’s recipes at cookery classes for three to six people, arranged by appointment (01205 460870).
It is also sharing a recipe for lamb cutlets, using Lincolnshire produce available from its own farm shop. All the beef, lamb and pork sold in the shop is butchered in-house for use in the restaurant.
YOU WILL NEED
6 lamb cutlets (French trimmed)
6 baby carrots
1 small swede
6 baby asparagus spears
1 tbsp olive oil
4 large potatoes
10g of butter
80ml of cream
500ml of lamb jus
2 bunches of redcurrants
Fresh mint leaves
Salt to taste
Method
Boil a small pan of water with a pinch of salt and preheat the oven to gas mark 6 or 180C.
Peel the carrots then the swede and cut into 1in cubes, and trim the asparagus spears.
Carefully place the vegetables into the pan and cook until al dente. Cool with cold water and place in the fridge.
Wash then peel the potatoes, cut into quarters, place in a pan of water and bring to the boil for ten minutes then leave to simmer.
Season the lamb cutlets then pan fry to seal both sides in a little olive oil. Place the pan with the cutlets in the preheated oven for six minutes.
Now strain the potatoes, mash them with cream and butter, a little salt and pepper, then cover the pan and keep warm.
Now take the cutlets from the pan and leave to rest on a warm surface.
Take the vegetables from the fridge and sauté in the pan used for the cutlets until hot, then take from the pan and keep warm.
Put the lamb jus into the pan and reduce by half.
Gedney’s annual flower festival starts on Thursday and continues until Sunday (open 10am each day) on the theme of famous films.
There will also be stalls selling cakes, plants, produce, books and bric-a-brac plus refreshments including hot and cold lunches.
Transported is a new arts programme centred upon South Holland and Boston; and this week we spoke to Melissa Marlowe, the communications manager, and Simon Hollingworth who is artistic director.
Transported is a strategic, community-focused programme which aims to get more people enjoying and participating in arts activities,especially those who perhaps wouldn’t normally attend or participate arts events.
Melissa and Simon talked about the recent Transported events, as well some forthcoming activities and gave us a flavour of Transported ideas and their approach.
We spoke about a spectacular sound installation event at Ayscoughfee Gardens. SoundSpiral is a uniquely interactive audio playback environment, holding 52speakers within an inflatable venue.
Transported was officially launched in Carters Park, Holbeach in May, with a day of unusual arts displays the like of which Holbeach has never seen, attracting around an estimated 4,000 people.
Recently Transported put on a wet picnic performance as part of ‘Activate’ in Ayscoughfee Gardens.
In particular, Melissa was very excited to announce the group’s upcoming performance of a play celebrating ‘Barbeque 67’ which will revisit the famous rock festival featuring Jimi Hendrix in Spalding 1967.
You can listen to the full interview with Melissa and Simon on the podcast section of the Tulip Radio website: www.tulip-radio.co.uk
Period properties have enduring appeal and one of the main reasons is their original features, which add value and look lovely.
However, they weren’t always so prized – many period houses and flats have had their original features removed or covered up. The good news is, you can restore them to their former glory with some time, money and effort. Similarly, if you have a modern home that lacks personality, there are plenty of ways to make it into more than a bland box.
Fireplaces add character, give a room a focal point and, if they’re functional, are a practical addition to reception rooms. eBay is a great place to find fireplaces of all styles, including period and reproduction ones. While some are expensive, many can be picked up for very little money.
Period flooring, whether stone or wood, can be expensive if you’re buying reclaimed originals, but there are alternatives.
Modern wooden flooring comes in many different forms, including engineered wood and bare tongue-and-groove floorboards, although it will never have the charm and character of original wooden flooring.
Stone is easier to replicate – modern encaustic tiles are very similar to Victorian ones, for example, and some companies specialise in laying them in intricate designs that match original ones. This is a fantastic way to create a stunning feature that will never go out of fashion.
The latest fundraiser for the Butterfly Hospice Trust, which helps patients from the South Holland area, is a 1940s style Big Band and Swing dance being held at Springfields Events Centre in Spalding on Saturday, September 28.
Live music is being performed by Sonny and the Honeydippers.
Entry is £25 – which includes a two-course dinner and coffee – and tickets are available at the Spalding hospice shop, Springfields or from 01205 311222.
Listings from Thursday, July 25 to Wednesday, July 31
Cinema
PETERBOROUGH SHOWCASE, from tomorrow.
Despicable Me 2 3D, Man of Steel, Monsters University (and 3D), Now You See Me, Pacific Rim, The Frozen Ground, The Wolverine (and 3D), The World’s End, World War Z 3D.
For times visit www.showcasecinemas.co.uk
SOUTH HOLLAND CENTRE
Epic, Glyndebourne: Hippolyte et Aricie, World War Z 3D, Despicable Me 2, Secret Cinema (Movie Club), This is the End.
For times visit www.southhollandcentre.co.uk
Music
Today
Folk and blues, 8-11pm, Wheatsheaf Hotel, Swineshead.
Friday
Redemption, Merry Monk, Kirton, 01406 550630.
Zebra, The Ship Inn, Pinchbeck, 01775 766800.
Miss Jax Terry and her Cocktail Bar Swing Band, 8pm, Pinchbeck Village Hall.
Saturday
Quantum, The Rising Sun, Gedney Drove End, 01406 550630.
Vex, 9pm, Riverside, Sutton Bridge, 01406 351402..
Lloyd Watson and his band, Ian and Kat, Counterfeit Quo, from 5.30pm, The Ship Inn, Pinchbeck.
Sunday
Greg Fitch, 3pm, Riverside, Sutton Bridge
The Glorious One Eyed Cats, 3pm, The Ship Inn, Pinchbeck.
Theatre
The week ahead
South Holland Centre, Spalding
Country and Comedy.
Stamford Arts Centre
Spit Nolan.
Stamford Corn Exchange
The Hit Makers Tour.
Tolethorpe, Stamford
Dad’s Army, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Listings from Thursday, July 25 to Wednesday, July 31
Thursday
Flower festival, stalls, cakes, refreshments, lunches, 10am, St Mary Magdalene Church, Gedney, 01406 365436.
Messy summer workshop, ‘God’s creation’, and tomorrow, 10am-noon, shared meal tomorrow, 01406 371984.
Activate day, 11am-4pm, ages eight-19, Gedney Hill Primary School playing field, 01775 761161.
Family pottery creative summer fun, ages six and over, 10am-noon, Unique Cottage Studios, Fulney Lane South, Spalding.
Hannah Stone and Renate Sokolovska, 7pm, King’s Lynn Festival, All Saints’ Church, 01553 764864.
Friday
South Holland Local History Group, speaker Susan Stevenson on Puddle Paddock, St John’s Church Lounge, Hawthorn Bank, Spalding, 01775 722465.
RSPB walk around Boston West Golf Course, meet in the car park 6.30pm, 01205 360858.
Weekend beer and music festival, 5.30-midnight, barbecue 5.30-9.30pm, The Ship Inn, Northgate, Pinchbeck, PE11 3SE, 01775 766800.
Flower festival, 10am, St Mary Magdalene Church, Gedney, 01406 365436.
Blazin’ Fiddles, 7.30pm, King’s Lynn Festival, Guildhall, 01553 764864.
Saturday
Heckington Show, grand firework concert from 7.30pm, Heckington Showground, Boston Road, NG34 9JF.
Weekend beer and music festival, noon-midnight, barbecue 5.30-9.30pm, The Ship Inn, Northgate, Pinchbeck, PE11 3SE, 01775 766800.
Mad Soundz Karaoke, 8.30pm, Lamb and Flag, Whaplode.
Nene Valley Railway festival, Peterborough.
Karaoke John, 8pm, Turpins Wine Bar, Long Sutton.
Friends of Bourne Wood bat walk, 8.45pm from the forest office, off Beech Avenue, Bourne, 07760 468052.
Raiders of the lost park, festival of archaeology with Peterborough Museum, exploring ancient secrets, games, crafts, Flag Fen Archaeology Park, Northey Road, Peterborough, PE6 7JQ.
Motown and Northern Soul nite, over 18s only, fancy dress optional, 7.30pm, Function Suite, United Services Club, Church Street, Holbeach, 01406 423134.
Psychic evening with clairvoyant medium Adrian Bell, Gedney Dyke Village Hall, 01406 364980.
Anthems in the Park 2013, 3pm, RAF College Cranwell, www.rafbf.org/anthems or 01689 300005.
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, 7.30pm, King’s Lynn Festival, Corn Exchange, 01553 764864.
Flower festival, 10am, St Mary Magdalene Church, Gedney, 01406 365436.
Sunday
Weekend beer and music festival with tug-of-war family fun day, noon-6pm, barbecue noon-5pm, tug-of-war 2pm, The Ship Inn, Northgate, Pinchbeck, PE11 3SE, 01775 766800.
Flower festival, stalls, cakes, refreshments, lunches, 10am, Songs of Praise 6.30pm, St Mary Magdalene Church, Gedney, 01406 365436.
Heckington Show, Heckington Showground, Boston Road, NG34 9JF.
Raiders of the lost park, festival of archaeology with Peterborough Museum, exploring ancient secrets, games, crafts, Flag Fen Archaeology Park, Northey Road, Peterborough, PE6 7JQ.
Spalding Ramblers walk, 10am, meet near the church, Tealby, 01775 767267.
Open garden for Spalding Flower Club, 2-5pm, 47 Seas End Road, Moulton Seas End, 01406 370243.
Music in the Gardens with Swineshead Silver Band, bring your own chairs, 2-4pm Ayscoughfee Hall, Spalding.
Music in the Park, 1-9pm, Carter’s Park, Holbeach, 07748 985632.
Monday
Here-4-U drop-in for dementia/stroke support, 10am-4pm, WI Hall, Park Road, Holbeach, 01406 426508.
RSPB Wash birdwatching cruise, 9am, meet outside the lock keeper’s office, Witham Bank East, Boston, 07531 495521 book on 01775 764777.
Heartstart first aid level one, ages four-11, 10am-1pm, The Umbrella, Westlode Street, Spalding, 01775 712359.
Tuesday
Heartstart first aid level two, ages four-11, 10am-1pm, The Umbrella, Westlode Street, Spalding, 01775 712359.
For the regular weekly listings visit www.spaldingtoday.co.uk or call into our offices in The Crescent to pick up your own personal copy.
The information in this column is supplied to us, please ring the organisers where possible to confirm the event before setting out on your journey.
No-fear teenagers have been risking their lives by swimming in the Coronation Channel to cool off as Spalding bakes in temperatures up to 30C.
They have also been seen jumping into the River Glen at Surfleet from the bridge crossing the A16, in spite of there already being 12 deaths in waterways across the country.
The closest tragedy was the death of a 16-year-old boy in King’s Lynn, who drowned after being held under the water by reeds.
Temperatures are due to remain high this week and South Holland has been put on a Met Office Level 2 heat health watch.
With schools due to break up for the summer today, the Environment Agency is urging residents not to swim in rivers and waterways.
A spokesman said: “Swimming in rivers may seem like an attractive proposition during the summer, but fast currents, river weed, unstable riverbanks and underwater objects can pose a serious health and safety risk – or even result in tragedy.”
Lincolnshire Police has tweeted graphic images related to diseases caught in waterways – swimmers’ itch caused by snails and Weil’s Disease from rat urine.
Sgt Stuart Hurst said: “We are working with the Environment Agency to ensure residents are aware of the risks.”
As harvest gets nearer, the crops are generally looking better than we could have wished for earlier in the year.
We are busy preparing ourselves, our machinery and equipment for the approaching harvest.
The crops are about two to three weeks later than average due to the cold spring weather.
This will mean we will have very little time post-harvest before we will need to be establishing our next run of crops.
We have to be very well planned and organised at this busy time of year to get jobs done on time and give crops the best start for next year.
Hopefully, if the weather is with us, this should all work out to plan.
However, we don’t need much bad weather to upset our well-laid plans and disrupt the nomal flow of work on the farm.
Our chicken sheds are due to be cleaned out during August this year, and that means extra work at an already very busy time.
The chickens have not liked the recent hot weather and egg production has fallen as the older chickens have struggled in the heat.
As with many of us, extremes of weather – whether it is hot or cold, wet or dry – affects all living things, and that means farmed or wild animals in the countryside.
It certainly has been an extremely hard time for all.
While most of us make the most of the dry, sunny weather, farmers are closely watching its effect on different crops.
Lutton farmer David Hoyles is no exception, with mustard, beetroot, potatoes and cereal crops to monitor.
The beetroot harvest has begun, with about 1,500 tonnes of beetroot grown in 120 acres.
The mustard has just about finished flowering at Monmouth House Farm, and David says: “That’s about on time and the bees have been working hard and it’s got good potential. It looks one of the better crops we have had in the last five years. I think it enjoyed, when it was in its early growing stage, that it wasn’t too cold or too warm. It grew nice and steadily and didn’t have a lot of pests and disease at that critical time because it was cool and cloudy. Then the sunshine came out, which attracts all the bees and pollinating insects, and they have done a good job and it’s looking quite good.”
The potatoes are also growing well, although David says they “need a bit of a drink”, particularly as little or no rain was forecast at a time when the potatoes would be going through their bulking up stage in order to grow bigger.
A feasibility study has been started to investigate irrigation options on the farm, but David says: “Irrigation is something we need to look at investing in but it’s a long process getting abstraction licenses and it’s a big investment.”
The NFU has repeated its call for tax incentives to encourage farmers to introduce reservoirs to their land.
The farming organisation was prompted to repeat its call for tax breaks because of a report by the Committee on Climate Change.
That report warned that, without action, there could be a significant shortfall of water for farming by the 2020s. The report said: “Having a price for water that better reflects scarcity will provide a stronger incentive for action.”
The report added that higher water prices would make reservoirs more economically viable. However, a NFU water resources specialist said he doubted higher water charges would encourage farmers to build more reservoirs. Some farmers might be prepared to pay more for a guaranteed supply of water, but he was unconvinced that high water prices would drive reservoir construction and that it would be better to incentivise farmers to invest through tax measures such as capital allowances.
We would like to point out that Leicester Longwool breeder Barry Enderby, of Whaplode, won the Malton Agricultural Society trophy at the Great Yorkshire Show, and not the The Malton Show as reported.
Barry won the ewe class, reserve male champion, first with the ewe and then first and second with the Longwool females as well as the ultimate award, female champion, with Soprano.
DEFRA has launched a fresh drive to cut red tape in farming and plans to seek views on how best to implement CAP reform so it is simple for farmers.
DEFRA secretary Owen Paterson wants to know how regulation could be less burdensome.