< Previous010-011:Layout 1 11/10/13 12:30 Page 1010-011:Layout 1 11/10/13 12:30 Page 212 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYReaders’lettersWe’d love to hear from you. If you have any news, views or issuesyou would like us to cover, do get in touch.Charity begins at homeDear Lincolnshire Today,I thought your readers would like to know of acharity ball held in honour of baby girl Ally Cadencewhich has raised £3500 to help other children living with the conditionwhich claimed her life.The Ally Cadence Trust, based in Walcott in Lincolnshire, hosted theButterfly Ball at the Petwood Hotel in Woodhall Spa recently to raisemoney and awareness of Spinal Muscular Atrophy. We are absolutelythrilled to have raised such a staggering amount of money this year. Weknow that every penny makes a big difference to the lives of the childrenand families we help, whether that’s spent on petrol money for Karl andme to visit and offer support, or toys and specialist equipment.I want to say a huge thank you to everyone involved, no matter howbig or small a part you played. The biggest thanks go to my husbandand children. Without them I wouldn’t be here today doing what I’mdoing to help others. They give me the strength to do this, day in dayout, and for that I am eternally thankful.E HumphriesSleafordAnd... relaxDear Lincolnshire Today,Congratulations to the Grange Spa near Bourne, which has beennamed the Thalgo Day Spa of the Year. People forget that theGrange Spa is a local, independent, family-run business, not acorporate brand, and so achievements like this make us locals reallyproud of what their amazing team have done so hard for.B WellingBournePICK OF THE MONTHThe winner of our letter of the month wins a case of wine.We’d love to hear from you: Lincolnshire Today, Armstrong House,Armstrong Street, Grimsby, N E Lincs DN31 2QE.Email: lincs-today@blmgroup.co.uk We reserve the right to edit published lettersBeeing happyDear Lincolnshire Today,Many thanks for the greatarticle in your last issue on PowCottage and my garden. It reallymade the garden looksomething special, which I suppose it is - but of course I’mbiased!. The bees are sorting themselves out for winter and are eatingthe syrup as fast as I can make it. The crops have also passed allexpectations, which is useful as the jams are starting to get verypopular. All my honey has now sold and I have a list of folk who arewaiting for next year’s crop.Again, many thanks for the superb coverage for the cottage andgarden.Jane PowTattershallEditor: You’re welcome, Jane! For any other readers who think theirgarden might be interesting enough for a feature, get in touch with us on01472 310305.Simply delicious!Dear Lincolnshire Today,Can I just say how much I enjoyedthe dining out ideas across thecounty in your October issue.Although my husband and I eat outquite a lot, we are still struck withjust how many places there are wehaven’t tried yet! We enjoy a varietyof different food, so it’s alwaysinteresting to hear about new placesor perhaps those that are tuckedaway.Thanks for letting us know aboutsuch places, we’ll be looking forward to trying the rest out soon.J TweedBriggPICKOF THEMONTH012:Layout 1 11/10/13 12:33 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY13ORCHARD CARE HOMESCare is thereat WainfleetChoosing a carehome isn’t easy,especially if youneed dementiacare, but it may beworth visitingLarchwood Care’sWainfleet homenear Skegness.The home offers round the clock specialist dementia care forlong term or short term stays. The dementia programme is tailoredto the individual and has been developed with guidance from theAlzheimer’s Society. Specialised care and activities are on offer in asafe and well designed space delivered by a team of dedicatedpeople who have all undergone specialist dementia training.Recently a number of changes have been made to the homeenvironment. New signs in strong bright colours with bold graphicshelp point the way to toilets, bathrooms and communal areas.Brightly coloured bedroom doors are made to look like those ourresidents have left behind so they are familiar and can be easilyidentified. Handrails painted orange contrast with walls helping toprevent falls, and new dining facilities with coloured crockery andchequered tablecloths make meal times more enjoyable. Wainfleet also has tactile activity boards along their corridors withfamiliar, comforting items such as bus stop and phone box, plus alovely indoor garden area. An activities coordinator runs a variedprogramme including quizzes, singing and exercise, so there is noplace for loneliness. Green-fingered residents grow and pick theirown produce for residents to enjoy, with green beans and tomatoesin the outside garden at the moment.Wainfleet is on Rumbold Lane, Wainfleet, Skegness, and formore information, or to arrange a visit, call 01754 881155.Career OpportunityIf you want to build a career in advertising sales,you will learn more, earnmore and go further withthe market leader.ConfidentSelf-MotivatedCreativeTeam playerMoney MotivatedEnthusiasticTarget DrivenCompetitiveIf this is you…...we want to hear from you!Call Kim Collins, Becky Darnell or Angie Cooper on 01472 310302WWW.LINCOLNSHIRETODAY.NET013:Layout 1 11/10/13 12:34 Page 1Upcoming Lincoln Sportsman Dinners...• 7th November – Steve Thompson (Ex Lincoln City Footballer) and John Rawling (Broadcaster)• 12th December – Phillip DeFreitas (Cricket) and comedian Austin Knight• 6th February – Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards and comedian Sid Denis (Scrap man from Skegness)To contact the club you can email at info@lincolnsportsmans.com, telephone on 01522 508355 or visit the comprehensive website at www.lincolnsportsmans.comDinners are heldat The BentleyHotel, SouthHykeham, LincolnRugby star Mark “Ronnie”Regan MBE was the guest ofhonour at the latest dinnerorganised by the LincolnSportsman’s Club at theBentley Hotel. Ronnie is oneof the rare breed – an EnglishWorld Cup winner, afterbeing part of the victorious2003 Rugby World Cupsquad. In total he won 49caps for England and alsoenjoyed a distinguished clubcareer.As ever the aim of theSportsman’s Club is not justto bring sporting heroes tothe county but also helpnurture the next generation,and a donation was made toAaron Would, a member ofLincoln Wellington AthleticsClub who is hotly tipped tobecome a top sprinter forTeam GB.Arron Would, Mark Regan and TrevorMasonRoy Froggatt andBernard RossThe Booth partyJames Cawdell, David Atkin and Tim IngramJay Jackson, Nigel Douglas and Rowley BoltonDavid Pilcher, Mark Regan and Norman TatePHOTOS BY RICHARD PICKSLEYThe one RonnieDave Barnsdale andChris Walker14 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYSOCIAL SCENE014:Layout 1 11/10/13 12:35 Page 1Pilgrims ChaseWygate ParkWintergold AveAvignon RdNicolette WayEstella WayWygate RoadWWygate RdEdward RdSPALDINGHelp to Buy† Taylor Wimpey terms and conditions apply. Images for illustration purposes only. Prices correct at time of going to press. Eligible applicants will be offered an equity loan of up to a maximum of 20% of the purchase price (based on the open market value). Applicants are required to fund at least 80% of the purchase price by means of a conventional mortgage, savings and any deposit where required. For the first five years there is no fee charged on the equity loan component. At the start of year six a fee of 1.75% is payable on the equity loan, which rises annually by RPI inflation plus 1%. The equity loan is provided by the HCA and held as a second charge. Terms and conditions apply and full details will be provided on request. This offer is subject to status and only available on selected developments and properties in England only. It is not offered with any other promotion. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGEStop Waiting. Buy Nowtaylorwimpey.co.uk/pilgrimschaseor call 01775 660 426Sales Office open daily from 10.30am to 5.30pmWhy pay for someone else’s home when you can buy your own with just 5% deposit?It’s taking people up to 10 years to save a deposit for their own home, but not anymore. Stop renting, stop waiting, and ask us about Help to Buy – it’s for everyone, not just first time buyers! You only need a 5% deposit and a 75% mortgage. The Help to Buy scheme will provide the remaining 20%.Pilgrims ChaseWygate, Spalding, Lincolnshire, PE11 3GU4 bedroom homes from £194,995You 5% deposit £10,749Help to Buy 20% loan £42,999Lender 75% Mortgage £164,246Get Help to Buy a 4 bedroom Chelmsford home from£214,995015:Layout 1 11/10/13 12:30 Page 1Cross yourheartReaders’ homes are often a great inspiration tothose of us looking to improve our own propertiesand this month we were invited by Joanne andRussel Davies to see the fruits of their labour atCross Keys Farm in Quadring.16 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYREADERS’ HOMESHaving been at the property since 2006, Joanne and Russel have madeconsiderable changes to what initially was a shell of a home. Left in a semi-derelict state, the couple came by the home in September but lived in acaravan on site until they were happy to move in just a few weeks beforeChristmas that year.“It was about time to move in as the caravan was in danger of blowingaway!” says Joanne, reflecting on a time it’s probably not easy to remember.Comprising of a large, flowing farmhouse-inspired setup, the couple tooktheir ideas from the farmhouse that once stood where theirs does now. As aresult, the red-bricked home looks modern, yet deeply traditional. On theapproach, it suddenly pops up from the landscape and announces itself andthe grand feel never leaves you. Head through the cross-keys motifed gates and you’ll come across aplush, gravelled drive and large garage, but also some excellent shrubberiesthat are packed with colour and texture which makes for a greatintroduction to the farm.Set in ten acres of flat, open fields, the couple have a few horses, a18 016-021:Layout 1 11/10/13 13:59 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY17READERS’ HOMES016-021:Layout 1 11/10/13 13:59 Page 218 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYREADERS’ HOMESnumber of chickens and a duck, meaningthere is a definite rural feel to the placeand the stables and tack room on siteadd to this. “We think that if someone moreinterested in horses or equestrianism tookthe place on, they could really run withthat idea,” says Joanne. “There’s severalpaddocked areas available for that, butwe also got everything in place for acampsite in the furthest field and it evenhas running water, electricity and a toiletblock, we’ve just never got round tofinishing.”Inside, there’s oodles of space. Acentral hall leads off either left to a fully-heated pool, gymnasium and sauna aswell as a shower room. This means thatany fitness buffs will be in their element.The pool is of an impressive size for aresidential affair and the added bonus ofa sauna means you can relax as well asfell the burn. The exposed beams abovethe pool are solid oak and really give theroom a rustic and atmospheric look.Above the pool room is an annexe withlounge and bedroom, which could beused to house guests or evenindependent teenagers who want theirown space. With views through theskylight of the surrounding countrysidetoo, who could resist?Elsewhere downstairs, a plushbathroom off the main hall makes for aconvenient option. Tiled in gorgeous drystone and with some classic Frenchdecoration, you can imagine yourselfpampering away there of an evening.There’s a private lounge off the hallway,which can also be used as the familyhave done, as a dining room off thekitchen.The kitchen is an open and sprawlingone. With a breakfast island andintegrated appliances hidden by solidand strong oak, this is the mostfarmhouse inspired part of the home.With a small seating area in the kitchen,016-021:Layout 1 11/10/13 13:59 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRETODAY19READERS’ HOMEStoo, you can imagine a Sunday roast being preparedwhile guests chat away in the corner - as homely as itgets.A lounge has one of the grandest fireplaces we’veseen in a while. With views across the front of theproperty and to the side gardens it’s a space in whichyou could really relax. A dining room also offers stylein droves with some gorgeous candlesticks standingout in particular.The property has its own style, Joanne and Russel’staste seems to be traditional, with mangles, potatoweighers and other agricultural ephemera dottedthrough the home. This continues in the garden too,the clash of old and new occurring with modern20 The kitchen is an open and sprawling one,with a breakfast island and integratedappliances hidden by solid and strong oak016-021:Layout 1 11/10/13 14:00 Page 4Next >