Puppy Problems Solved 5: Winnie’s friend Henry learns not to eat stones
Winnie
Written from Winnie’s point of view
Ooh, was that the doorbell? I’d better go and see who it might be …
If I press my nose up against the glass like this I can almost see through. Looks like two people, and wait, I know that shape – it looks like my best friend Henry, the Labrador!
Ah, Claire, I’m so excited, hurry up and open the door!
Winnie, calm down, I can’t open the door if you’re pressed up against it. Get down girl …
Henry!!!!!!
Henry, Henry, Henry. I’m so pleased to see you. Let me chew your ear for a minute, no, I need to jump on you, oh I’m so pleased to see you!
Oh Winnie, you have to calm down, ouch, that hurts!
Blah blah blah, Henry’s a bit poorly, blah blah blah. Be careful Winnie …
Don’t send me to my basket Claire. I just want to see Henry, we usually play this rough, what’s different?
Henry, what’s up, why won’t they let us play like normal?
Oh, Winnie, it’s been awful. I’ve been so ill. Be gentle, I’ve got a poorly side.
Don’t look sad Henry. Sorry if I hurt you, I didn’t know you were ill.
I’ve been very ill – and in so much pain. I had to go the doggy hospital and everything!
Oh no, not the doggy hospital! Oh Henry, what happened?
I’ve been very silly. But you know how I like to eat stones!
Eat stones?! Oh Henry, you’re not still doing that are you? I thought you’d stopped – remember all that fuss last time?
I know. I just love them – I don’t know why. Anyway, this time I had to go and have an operation at the doggy hospital. It was awful, I was so scared – and Laura had to leave me there. She was so upset. I felt awful. They put me to sleep and when I woke up I had such a pain in my side – it was better than the pain in my tummy before the operation, but now I just feel sore and I’m not allowed to go on long walks. Winnie … they’d cut me open to get the stones out!
Poor Henry, you really should stop eating stones then shouldn’t you? Let’s just have a quiet cuddle then. I know you didn’t mean to upset Laura, and I’m sure she understands …
Yes, she’s been very good. She looks after me so well. I was in such pain, I’m sure I’ll never eat stones again …
I hope so Henry. Really only very small puppies usually eat stones. I know I chewed a couple and Claire always caught me before I could swallow them.
Well, I snuck away from Laura and she didn’t see. She’d have given me a right telling off if she knew. After I ate this one, it was a bit big, I had this terrible pain in my tummy. It was unbelievable!
Do you feel better now?
I do, but I’ve just got to take it easy whilst my stitches heal.
Oh Henry, I’m just glad you’re okay.
BREEDER’S ADVICE:
I wish I knew the answer to this problem, but I don’t! I can make some suggestions and offer a word of warning, but why dogs do this I really don’t know.
Perhaps they are bored, perhaps they are inquisitive, perhaps scraps of food from a barbecue have fallen on the ground? Whatever the reason, definitely they are being stupid! Unfortunately, they don’t make any connection between the sore tummy (and possible operation) with eating stones. Dogs live in the moment and would only learn if the undoubted agony happened immediately. However puppies will be puppies, so we must do our best to protect them. Some of the smaller pebbles can pass through, depending upon the breed. It might be a good idea to fence off gravelled areas, possibly spray with bitter apple or some such anti-chew preparation.
The word of warning concerns mulch. Please be sure to read the label as some mulch has been flavoured with Cocoa and (as I’m sure you know) chocolate – especially the darker chocolate – can be fatal to dogs. Even if the label states it is safe for dog, it isn’t if cocoa is listed. Greedy dogs can eat huge amounts of this and the consequences can be horrific. Sorry to end on such a glum note, but better safe than sorry.
Pat Thomas bred her first litter in 1971 and has bred Border Collies, Irish Setters, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Papillions, Labradors and, of course, Golden Retrievers.
Although Winnie is not yet in season most of her litter is booked. This is usually the case, although too many of one sex can be a problem. As a Kennel Club Accredited Breeder, Pat has free access to the K.C. website and if she have any puppies not sold, she puts them on there. However, mostly the pups are sold by word of mouth and families returning for a second, third and even a fourth puppy.
Winnie’s Woes Part 7 – Winnie Moves On
Winnie’s Woes Part 6 – Winnie Learns about Children
Winnie’s Woes Part 5 – Winnie’s friend Henry learns not to eat stones
Winnie’s Woes Part 4 – Winnie learns about other dogs
Winnie’s Woes Part 3 – Winnie Eats too much
Winnie’s Woes Part 2 – Winnie eats a shoe
Winnie’s Woes Part 1 – Winnie finds digging is not a popular activity!
What is Urban Greening?
Front garden paving
I was inspired by a talk at a Royal Horticultural Show earlier this year about urban greening. We heard about the effect of concreting or bricking over drives and how it affects the movement of rain and how flooding can occur. In fact there are local authority regulations related to the maximum area of any front garden can be covered, you should look at your local county council’s website.
We were shown photographs of gardens before and after and were impressed at how much more interesting drives could look with just a little design and planting.
Being aware and taking action to reduce the risk of flooding to property may even bring insurance premiums down. To find out more about how you can prepare and protect your property from flooding, visit the Environment Agency ‘How can I be prepared?’ web page.
Could urban greening be an advantage to your property? The RHS have a website page with that information, it is in print form as well.
Our drive is paved with gravel between the paving and we have grown thyme from seed and planted it this autumn. Nothing much to see at the moment but we’ll add images next summer to show the difference. Other plants we could use are bugle, thyme serpyllum, creeping jenny.
Common Name: Creeping jenny
Genus: Lysimachia
Species: nummularia
Skill Level: Beginner
Exposure: Full sun, Partial shade
Hardiness: Hardy
Soil type: Well-drained/light, Moist, Boggy
Height: 8cm
Spread: 90cm
Time to plant seeds: March to May
Time to divide plants: September to May
Flowering period: May to August
Creeping jenny is a useful plant all around the garden. The prostrate, creeping stems make excellent ground cover around pond margins and, being evergreen, are useful for concealing the edges of pond liners. They also infiltrate pondside plants or those growing in a damp border, filling gaps and providing winter interest after other perennials have died down
www.ourfrontgarden.com is an ongoing record of the renovation and care of a front garden in a garden city in the UK.
Val Reynolds, Editor
London’s Hidden Secrets – the City’s Quirky and Unusual Sights
New guides to London are proliferating! Last July I reviewed the London Sketchbook for this magazine, a personal and somewhat quirky look at the capital that took certain areas and walked you through them.
Now, like the proverbial buses (you wait half an hour then two turn up at once!) I have in front of me London’s Hidden Secrets by Graeme Chesters, with the sub-title A Guide to the City’s Quirky and Unusual Sights. Strangely enough, I wouldn’t particularly have chosen the word ‘quirky’ to describe this one, though certainly ‘unusual’. This is a beautifully produced and methodical guide that takes you from the heart of London to the outer suburbs and describes in precise and concise terms points of interest that are certainly not on the tip of every tourist’s tongue.
Piccadilly Circus
The layout is clear and consistent: Every sight has two pages devoted to it, the left displays photographs and an ‘at a glance’ box which gives you the all important information on location, cost and opening hours. (There is a ‘health warning’ right in the front of the book in a stand-out red box to check times as they may have changed – with continuing cut-backs some places are shortening visiting times). The right page is devoted to an informative and very readable written description of the sight with a charming one-line quote at the end from the author, summing it all up as he sees it.
So let me whet your appetite with a few examples, starting right at the heart of the city. Have you ever noticed the Twinings Teashop and Museum opposite the Royal Courts of Justice? Or in particular its 18th century doorway with its two Chinese figures and the company’s golden lion? The quote at the end of this one is ‘More tea, vicar?’, a lovely illustration of the liveliness of the author’s writing.
Moving outwards, would you like to see ‘Some of the best Italian art in London’? Then head for the Estorick Collection in Canonbury, which also often has interesting temporary exhibitions and is particularly regarded for its Futurist works, all housed in a lovely 19th century building. Interested in Art Deco architecture? Then, if you’re a north Londoner like me, grab your passport and head south of the river (though not very far) to Tooley Street by London Bridge station and look carefully at St Olaf House. I’ll confess that I must have been past here on numerous occasions and never noticed the intricacies of the building before, both the Tooley Street side and the Thames side. I’ll be looking out for it next time I’m in the area.
And finally, if all Neasden conjures up for you is the magazine Private Eye, take a Tube there and wonder at ‘Europe’s first traditional Hindu temple’ with its souvenir shop (of course!) and a restaurant serving Indian vegetarian food. Named, apparently, by Readers’ Digest as ‘one of the seventy wonders of the modern world’.
I thought I was well-versed in the standard and less-standard fare that London has to offer. Since I’ve had this lovely book in my possession I’m not so sure!
London’s Hidden Secrets is published by Survival Books priced at £10.95.
Jeannette Nelson A bit of a culture vulture, Jeannette enjoys art exhibitions, cinema and classical music, but her main interest is the theatre. For several years she ran theatre discussion groups for which her MA in Modern Drama together with teaching skills stood her in good stead. She prefers to concentrate on the many off West End and fringe productions as well as that real treasure of the London theatre scene, the National.
Finding a Suitable Care Home, a book to help
© Pintail Media
The time may come when we are faced, probably unwillingly, with the possibility of finding a suitable care home for a relative or family friend. With little or no experience of such places searching out an acceptable home can be daunting. One that at least I had had no experience of. As luck would have it I heard about the independent guide to choosing a care home in the south east of England, entitled The Care Homes Guide – South East England. One in a series, it proved to be a mine of information especially in relation to financial considerations.
For us it raised more questions than answers which needed a lot of time to understand and resolve. However the book has an extensive directory of approved homes, impartial and clear comparisons, and essential advice on choosing the right home, as well as useful contacts. We found it a reliable and very readable source of information and became our essential reference source. 
Highly recommended, published by Crimson Publishing, £14.99, http://www.crimsonpublishing.co.uk
You may also find our recent feature Care Homes: How to avoid being wrongly charged of interest.
Val Reynolds Brown, Editor
Puppy Problems Solved 4: Winnie learns about other dogs
Winnie, left, in playful mood
Written from Winnie’s point of view
We’re out in my favourite woods for a lovely walk. I love coming here, I never get tired of it, there’s so many interesting things to sniff at and play with. Lots of rabbit trails to follow, other people to say hello to and loads of other dogs that are so friendly!
I like Claire’s other friend who has come with us today. She likes playing with me too.
Ooh, what’s that amazing smell?! I’ll just follow it into these bushes. This is so much fun.
Hang on, I’d better go and find Claire again, she’ll get worried if I disappear – I don’t want to lose her!
Oh, there she is, she’s waiting for me.
Winnie! Here girl!
Here I am! Don’t worry I didn’t go far! Scratch my ears … but wait, there’s something else to smell here … this is interesting …
What’s that coming towards me? It must be a friendly animal to play with.
Aaagghghg! Whine … ouch, that hurts, why is this dog biting me, I thought all dogs liked to play with me … ouch, ouch, whine …
Why won’t someone help me!? I can’t shake this dog off me at all, he’s biting into my neck!
Claire and her friend are helping now, I hope they don’t get bitten too! Oh and a man is helping, he’s pulled his dog off. Thank goodness, that hurt so much.
Claire, I need a cuddle, I’ll cower behind your legs. Please protect me! That was very frightening.
It’s okay Winnie.
A nice cuddle, thank you Claire. My heart is racing, I’m so scared – at least that horrible dog has gone. I didn’t realise some of them weren’t very friendly! All the dogs I’ve met so far have been really nice to me and wanted to play, not attack me – and I didn’t even do anything, I was just walking along, minding my own business!
I don’t understand …
Claire’s putting my lead on and we’re heading back to the car. Thank goodness. I hope that dog doesn’t come here very often, I’ve never seen him before, but it makes me a bit scared. Perhaps I should be more on my guard in future.
Comment from Owner Claire Price: Winnie was attacked by a bull dog, it seemed to appear from nowhere and just launched itself at her. I had my small daughter on my back in a carrier at the time and the dog’s owner was walking with children too. It was a very scary moment, the family were very apologetic and fortunately no harm was done, it was more frightening for Winnie. She’s always been a bit dense about other dogs until this incident, she was always very friendly and wanting to play, but from then on she learnt to be a bit more circumspect and give dogs a bit of a space.
BREEDER’S ADVICE: Pat Thomas
Although moving away from my area of expertise (breeding) a few comments may be helpful.
- Don’t put your own safety at risk or the safety of others, especially children.
- Some breeds – usually “bull” breeds have an interlocking jaw. These breeds cannot be pulled off as their bite allows them to hold fast to whatever piece of the “prey” they are holding, i.e. flesh/ear tips/tail etc. One hopes that the owners of such dogs will walk them with a muzzle firmly in place.
- Resist the temptation to smack the biting dog. This only serves to further increase the adrenalin.
- Although it happened to Winnie, it is unusual for a dog to launch an attack without giving off signals – tail held erect, hackles rising, maybe a growl or snarl. This gives you a minute to put your dog on a lead and (if possible) change direction.
- If puncture wounds are suffered – either to you or your dog – go to the appropriate medical centre. Dogs carry a huge amount of bacteria on their teeth and a puncture wound allows this bacteria to enter the blood stream. Usually (after bathing/stitching) it is antibiotics for dogs and a tetanus injection for people.
- If the fight was serious, inform the Police. Although unlikely to act on a “dog-to-dog” fight, if enough people complain about a certain dog, then the Police may – at the very least – have a word with the owner. The Control of Dogs Act give the Police the authority to investigate.
- The “attacked” dog may have various reactions ranging from couldn’t care less to extreme fear. It may be necessary to ensure that only friendly dogs are encountered on the next few walks, until confidence returns.
- If problems remain, then contact a dog behavourist who should be able to help.
Pat Thomas bred her first litter in 1971 and has bred Border Collies, Irish Setters, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Papillions, Labradors and, of course, Golden Retrievers.
Although Winnie is not yet in season most of her litter is booked. This is usually the case, although too many of one sex can be a problem. As a Kennel Club Accredited Breeder, Pat has free access to the K.C. website and if she have any puppies not sold, she puts them on there. However, mostly the pups are sold by word of mouth and families returning for a second, third and even a fourth puppy.
Have you ever experienced a dog attack? How did you cope? Would you like to write about it. You can email me at editorinbalance@me.com
This feature is the fourth in a series of seven episodes entitled Winnie’s Woes
Episode 1: Winnie finds Digging is not Popular
Episode 2: Winnie Chews a Shoe
Episode 3: Winnie Eats Too Much
Anythingdogz – an excellent website owned and run by Lisa Evans, an In Balance reader
My Scarf – An ironic short story
This story, written by Val Fief, a contributing author, has echoes of the kind of irony Roald Dahl included in many of his stories.
I love my scarf. It is 72 years. I knitted it when I was 8. Those were very cold years and my mum gave me a woolly jumper to unravel so that I could have some wool to knit with. She taught me how to knit plain stitch, then purl stitch and how to pick up stitches that I had dropped.
I cut open all of the seams and set to work pulling out the curly wool and stretching it round the back of a chair. It was hard work undoing someone else’s carefully knitted work. I did this for a long time and when I had these big skeins of wool, I washed them hoping to straighten the wool out as they hung out on the line and I made balls of wool with them. At last I had something to knit with although the wool was still curly. We didn’t have washing machines and spin driers then – it was 1939 and the outbreak of war.
My mum taught me to cast on both with my thumb and with two needles. Metal knitting needles number 10s. I came home from school and knitted while listening to the wireless. I had finished by the end of November and was very thrilled to wear it to school. It was as tall as I am. I felt cosy and warm on the way to school. When it was very cold, I wore it over my nose.
As I wasn’t evacuated because we lived in Suffolk, we had other children come to live with us. We stayed friends with some of them throughout our lives. I was an early reader and read voraciously. In 1949 I went to University to study English. When I was a student I met another student, James. He was studying Maths. I was always baling him out with money. With the excitement of past war freedom, we got married. We had 7 children including twin girls. James studied and became a bank manager eventually but this made us move house often. Each time I had to find new schools and friends and houses. It was hard work but we managed with lots of challenges and laughter. We moved 14 times. I grew a garden everywhere we went. We managed it all and my scarf went with me to every location. It was like a baby’s comforter to me. A reminder of base. My original safe home.
The children grew up and had careers and interests. And we had a safe and permanent home and we would never have to move again. It was a lovely home in the middle of Cambridge with room for the children to come home. Until one day, James came home looking very serious. He said that it was time to leave home to be with a woman who always made him the most important person in her life. I was stunned. I blurted out “I suppose she has no children?”. “As a matter of fact, no”. He replied. “I will return tomorrow for my things” he said. “We will sell this house and you can have something small”. “You haven’t worked so you don’t deserve such a big house”.
Wow! He would simply return for his things, abandon me, and throw me out! I was shocked and unhappy and held tightly on to my scarf. Confused and frightened. I was distraught. Work? What does having seven children and moving 14 times to do with work? The next evening I took the bulbs out of the hall lights and left my scarf on the stairs and as he stormed out in great anger, he fell down the stairs and broke his neck. I retrieved my scarf, put the bulbs back in the sockets, and called 999 sobbing profusely.
That was all 20 years ago. My children come and see me in the house I love so much. My grandchildren too. There was accident insurance. I have had a wonderful life and I love my scarf.
Val Fieth, Contributing author
Knitting is becoming a more popular past time. John Lewis have kits for beginners on their website and a good range of funky wools to choose from. One of our favourite wools is Sirdar Squiggle Super Chunky Yarn, Pale Blue Mix at £3.80 per ball.
On the same website we noticed some cushion covers to knit, hmm with winter evenings coming up would be good to curl up in front of the fire and knit …
I welcome features to appear on the website. Do get in touch with me with your ideas.
Val Reynolds Brown Editor
Living with an Alcoholic – follow up story
Alcoholism affects everyone in a family
We have had several readers writing in following our feature Living with an Alcoholic published in May this year and here is another account we have received
When I heard about the death of the husband of a dear friend of mine I was shocked. Stewart was a charming, very active and creative man. He had suffered a massive heart attack. He was 70 years old.
Born in India to English parents he and his siblings were sent to what are referred to as lesser public schools when the family returned to England.
Stewart served in the British army in the Far East, he was caught and interned by the Japanese.
When he returned home the three children were away at school and his wife had become a well known architect.
Not unusually, Stewart was a drinker, which became heavier as time passed. He travelled to London three times a week by train from Gloucestershire. His behaviour was such that he used to be taken to Paddington station and put on the train by the taxi driver. He would be met by another taxi driver in deepest Gloucestershire who would drive him home and help him into the house.
He usually managed the stairs but if not his wife would cover him with a blanket and leave him there, after all she couldn’t move him.
He had promised over and over to stop drinking, but his wife knew he hadn’t stopped as she found bottles hidden all over the house, even finding one in his dressing gown that hung on the bathroom door.
She often spoke of the stress of living with an alcoholic and said her doctor had warned that her her blood pressure was sky high. He told her if Stewart hadn’t died when he did, she wouldn’t have lived much longer.
As it was she lived for another 15 years but always felt guilty for not being able to help him stop drinking even though she did accept he alone was responsible for his behaviour.
Jean Jarvis, contributing author
Some websites offering support:
NHS Support
Support for Families and Friends
If you would like to send in an account of a personal experience that you feel might help others, do get in touch. I can assure you of complete confidentiality.
Val Reynolds Brown, Editor
Puppy Problems 3: Winnie Eats Too Much
Winnie’s Woes – Winnie eats too much …
Written from Winnie’s point of view
Winnie in her basket
That was a lovely lunch. I really enjoyed the crunchy bits and the soggy meaty stuff. I feel quite full so perhaps I’ll have a snooze whilst Claire is upstairs before our next walk. She’s shut me in the kitchen so I guess she might be a while.
Oh, what’s this – Claire has left the door to the pantry open. I’ll just put my nose next to that crack in the door. Oh … that smells nice … mmm, smells like those delicious biscuits we have on walks. I love those.
I better just leave them alone. She probably wouldn’t like it if I go in there. The door is usually closed – I’ve checked several times …
I’ll go and have a lie down. Put the thought of extra biscuits out of my mind.
Bored …
Bored and slightly peckish …
Hmmmmm …
Now I don’t feel so tired, I just want to have a peek at those biscuits.
Wait, what’s that noise? Is it Claire? She’s coming down the stairs! Oh no she isn’t. She’s just walking around upstairs, on the phone …
I’ll just have a look at the biscuits. I’ll just shove this door aside with my nose. Ow, that didn’t work, paw then. Yes, that’s better. Mmm, the biscuits, they do look yummy. I know I’ve just eaten but it’s a long time until tea time and I do get hungry in the afternoon, especially after our walk …
I’m sure she won’t mind, or notice, if I just have a few, just a couple of nibbles.
They’re so delicious! I can’t stop eating. Maybe I should just try and eat as many as I can before she comes downstairs. Hmph-munch-yum-dee-hmh-lish-hmp-usss!
Oh dear! My tummy hurts! Oh my goodness, look at it, it’s huge. Ooowwww, oh it hurts so much. I’ve eaten far too many biscuits. Almost half the bag is gone! And on top of my lunch. Crikes, she won’t fail to notice that. Oowwww. Whine whine …
Winnie, are you okay?
Oh, cuddles. Careful, my tummy hurts … whine whine
Oh no, she looks confused, she’s patting my tummy.
Winnie … blah blah blah, biscuits …
Oh no, she’s seen the open door! Oh please don’t find the bag … oh she has, and she’s looking at me again … oh dear, she looks upset … please don’t tell me off!
Winnie … .blah blah blah blah blah
Oh more cuddles, and stroking. Oh now she’s picked me up. Where am I going?! The garden? Oh, OK, I guess maybe she wants me to go to the toilet … trouble is I don’t feel like doing one yet … Oh my poor tummy!
Whine whine, pitiful whining …
Note from Claire: Poor Winnie was only doing what little golden retrievers do best – eat! I thought I’d closed the pantry door and I’d also left her biscuits at a silly level so she could get at them too easily. Her tummy eventually went back down again, but it was a bit like waiting for Pooh Bear to get thin again when he got stuck in Rabbit’s front door.
Breeder’s advice:
Young puppies will be extremely inquisitive and you must be one jump ahead. Some things could even lead to the death of your puppy – chocolate for instance. Overeating dry food could (on rare occasions) cause the stomach to bloat and if it then twists, you have a real emergency on your hands. Two courses of action can be taken: either invest in child proof locks or simply keep anything edible on a high shelf and – possibly – in a “chew proof” container.
Pat Thomas bred her first litter in 1971 and has bred Border Collies, Irish Setters, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Papillions, Labradors and, of course, Golden Retrievers.
Although Winnie is not yet in season most of her litter is booked. This is usually the case, although too many of one sex can be a problem. As a Kennel Club Accredited Breeder, Pat has free access to the Kennel Club website and if she have any puppies not sold, she puts them on there. However, mostly the pups are sold by word of mouth and families returning for a second, third and even a fourth puppy.
Part 1: Winnie discovers digging is not a popular activity!
Part 2: Winnie Eats a Shoe
Have you read the bestseller The Puppy that came for Christmas … A true story that has appealed to dog lovers and non-dog owners alike – it is both truly heart warming and heart wrenching.
Recommended Links:
Anythingdogz – an excellent website owned and run by Lisa Evans, an In Balance reader
Helpful Holidays offer holiday cottages in the West Country that welcome dogs. See their Helpful Holidays website.
Jane Eyre – Major New Film – Giveaway Copies of Penguin Classic
Penguin Classic - Film tie-in
The Penguin Classic Jane Eyre is the tie-in book for the major new film directed by Cary Fukunaga to be released next Friday, 9 September.
Starring Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender, Jamie Bell and Judi Dench it promises to be an exciting version of a wonderful story.
Orphaned Jane Eyre undergoes a baptism of fire – from suffering the cruelty of her coldhearted relatives to the harsh regime at a charity school. Emerging from these experiences a fiery heroine, Jane challenges inequality and the hypocrisy of her keepers. But the strictures of her upbringing are a thing apart when faced with her love for the brooding Mr Rochester and the secrets of his dark past.
Bronte’s controversial proto-feminist classic has had over eighteen film adaptations. Cary Fukunaga, the director of this 2011 versions, says ‘I’m a stickler for raw authenticity, so I’ve spent a lot of time rereading the book. Other adaptations treat it like it’s just a period romance, and I think it’s much more than that.’
Radical in its time for its depiction of women and its challenge to accepted class standards, Jane Eyre has attained enduring significance for combining these controversial issues with a classic love story.
Charlotte Bronte (1816-55) was the eldest sister of novelists Emily and Anne Bronte. Jane Eyre appeared in 1847 and was followed by Shirley (1848) and Villette (1853). In 1854 Charlotte Brontee married her father’s curate, Arther Bell Nicholls. She died on 31 March 1855 in Haworth, Yorkshire, and The Professor was posthumously published in 1857.
This is one of our all-time favourite books and are so looking forward to seeing the new film version.
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GIVEAWAY DETAILS
We have three copies to give away to In Balance readers
To enter the draw send an email to editorinbalance@me.com with Jane Eyre – Cary Fukunaga’s new film in the subject box and your full contact details in the text box
Make sure your entry reaches us by latest 5 October 2011
Only one entry per household
Open Air Fitness in Welwyn Garden City
Meeting up in Parkway WGC © Pintail
Drivers and passersby could be forgiven for thinking the army has arrived on Saturday mornings on the main boulevard in Welwyn Garden City! Instead an army of fitness enthusiasts meet up for an hour’s highly organised activities.
Enthusiasts © Pintail
Essentially Regiment Fitness run a circuits class based on military fitness drills with energetic warm up activities, scrambling through a camouflage net, dragging tyres, constructing an ‘armoured gun’ from tyres, metal drums and a log and barging through a couple of ‘heavies’ with foam pillars!
Steven Nodwell, a Welwyn Garden City resident who is serving in the British Army, founded the company a year and a half ago.
They are not resting! © Pintail
These photographs were taken at a Welwyn Garden City Saturday class made up of all ages and levels of fitness.
The Welwyn Garden classes have been going for a few months – there are three classes a week: Saturday morning, Tuesday evening and Thursday evening. Around 15-20 join each session.
Exercise sessions are held at seven locations all over Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. For details go to the Regiment Fitness website or call 01582 658569
Getting ready to scramble under the net © Pintail
Val Reynolds Brown, Editor
Photography © Pintail
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