< Previous60 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYWEDDINGSIt’s surely one of the most romanticmoments you can get – the final presentunder the Christmas tree is the smallestof them all, but when you open it, it’saccompanied by your partner goingdown on one knee. If you or one of yourrelatives were fortunate enough to get anengagement ring on December 25th, oryou’ve decided that after ages togetherthis is finally the year you’re going tomake it official, there’s certainly plenty ofexcitement in store.Yet if you thought organising Christmaswas a challenge, imagine the equivalentof an entire festive season crammed into24 hours, attended by almost everyoneyou know and – with a bit of luck –something you can’t repeat twelvemonths later. Planning a wedding hasbeen likened to a military operation andcertainly you’ll need your wits about youto make sure it’s a day that sticks in thememory for all the right reasons, but thatdoesn’t mean the planning can’t be greatfun in its own right.Lots of that is thanks to Lincolnshirebeing home to a host of fabulous venuesand wedding experts who have theknowledge and experience to turn yourplans into reality. Some people are waryof making use of wedding planners andspecialists, though, envisaging that theirown views will be marginalised and thatthey’ll become bit-part players in astandard tried-and-trusted weddingtemplate recycled for every other couple.But that’s almost never the case. Therole of a wedding specialist is to helpmake things happen, not tell you whatthose things are going to be. Their skilland experience in organising specialevents mean they have an innateknowledge of what will and won’t workin that context. This mean they’ll be ableto let you know if one of your big ideas islikely to be unworkable before you’vemade a commitment to it – or think of amore effective way to do it that will be63 ÁPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/KAYLIE_KELLYet if you thought organising Christmas was a challenge,imagine the equivalent of an entire festive season crammedinto 24 hours, attended by almost everyone you know58-64_Layout 1 14/11/2016 14:29 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRETODAY61Stunning Bridal Boutique in Woodhall Spa2017 Stockists of Justin Alexander,Allure, Ivory & Co and moreTo book an appointment call01526 268030or go towww.theivoryroombridal.co.ukGoodyear House, Tattershall Road, Woodhall Spa, Lincs, LN10 6QJ• Wedding Receptions • Civil Weddings • Naming ceremonies • Renewing of vows • Birthday Parties • Retirement Parties • Engagements• Conferences • Business meetingsTel: 01507 600750Watery Lane, Little Cawthorpe, LouthEmail: info@royaloaksplash.co.uk • www.royaloaksplash.co.ukSituated in its own lawned gardens next to a picturesque ford, TheRoyal Oak Inn is ideal for romantic photo opportunities. We have sevennewly furbished comfortable en-suite bedrooms, including a bridal suite.We pride ourself in the services we are offering and we are dedicatedinto ensuring that your wedding day will be perfect from start to finish.• Use of our conservatory for your service & wedding breakfast• We can cater for up to 100 guests• Open bar throughout the day (on either cash or account basis)• Special dietary requirements catered for• Table linen & linen napkins provided (cream)• Wedding cake table & knife providedLet us make your dayextra specialOurconservatoryis licensed for CivilCeremoniesAmongst some of the most truly divine landscapeslies an ultimate fairytale castle, the unique character thatCave Castle possesses makes it possible to ensure thatyour entire day can be the most special it could be.Winter Wedding Event - Sunday 15th January 2017 12-4pmCave Castle Hotel & Country Club, Church Hill, South Cave, HU15 2EU01430 422245 weddings@cavecastlehotel.comwww.cavecastlehotel.comThe Dower House Hotel offers a delightful choice of setting,whether your wedding is a small intimate affair or a largercelebration. Inside the atmosphere of The Dower House Hotelcreates a sense of romance and charm. Outside, the groundsprovide the ultimate backdrop for your wedding photography.•Ideal wedding venue •Sunday lunches •Afternoon teas• Golfing packages • Corporate hire • Function hireManor Estate, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire LN10 6PY.Tel: (01526) 352588 Email: info@dowerhousehotel.co.ukWeb: www.dowerhousehotel.co.uk58-64_Layout 1 14/11/2016 14:29 Page 458-64_Layout 1 14/11/2016 14:29 Page 5LINCOLNSHIRETODAY63WEDDINGSjust as glamorous but less expensive.When it comes to the ceremony itself,the traditional approach is there if youwant it, and certainly many aspects of theceremony are moving and poignant andaren’t things you’d like to change. Thismay be especially the case if you have anumber of older guests attending whomay well appreciate the traditionalaspects more than most.There are plenty of opportunities todeviate from the norm, however. Thesedays people are often getting marriedlater in life and have usually livedtogether for a couple of years. Thatmeans you may see the wedding assimply an excuse to get together yourfamily and friends for a huge celebrationwith the actual formalities taking on amuch smaller part of proceedings. Indeedif the venue you’ve got your heart set onisn’t licenced for weddings, you mayeven take the opportunity to simply dothe formal bit quietly in a register officebefore proceedings start in earnest.It’s more than likely that your weddingwill be a cross between the twoapproaches – a slightly informal eventwith various traditional aspects sprinkledthroughout proceedings. Lincolnshire’svenues can provide the perfect setting,but you don’t have to plan yourwedding’s colour scheme or themepurely around the venue’s existing décor,nor insert your ideas in a well-worntemplate rolled out for every weddingheld there.Most venues have a number of roomsthat between them suit every shape andtype of wedding – and if you want totalflexibility there’s the opportunity of amarquee as well. Even the most lavishlyappointed hotels usually include amarquee as an option because it providesa blank canvas for couples to project theirown ideas and personalities onto.Entertaining though planning thewedding can be, there are aspects whicharen’t quite so much fun – if you thinkchoosing the dress and deciding on themusic for the first dance is challengingenough, requiring extensive study, whatabout some of the less thrilling logisticalaspects? Is the venue licenced to play64 ÁPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/NEJRON PHOTO58-64_Layout 1 14/11/2016 14:29 Page 664 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYWEDDINGSmusic or serve alcohol? Are there going to befacilities to cook and store the food or will youhave to hire some equipment? Might you needinsurance in case something crops up at the lastminute?One does have to consider what kind ofpeople will be coming to the event, however.Unique among anything you plan it’s likely thatyour wedding guest list will be far more diversethan any other event, with guests’ ages rangingfrom nine months to ninety years. They’ll allhave different tastes and expectations of theevent and while obviously it’s your big day andyou’ll have the final say, you wouldn’t wantyour guests to go home disappointed.This applies to food and drink as much as itdoes the entertainment – especially when youmight have guests not only with differentpalettes, but also things they can or cannot eat.Accommodating all of this can be difficult butmost venues will be able to handle it as par forthe course. They are no doubt more used topreparing for a wide range of fussy eaters thanyou will ever be and will have a menu filledwith alternative options to reflect that. It’salways a good idea to ask.That’s not to say you have to blandeverything out and do everything by the book –but if you are planning a rather radical diversionfrom the norm, you’ll probably want to makethat clear when you’re sending out theinvitations. If your guests arrive expecting a fullwedding breakfast and all you’re serving up iscanapés then you may find the music drownedout by rumbling stomachs later on. Similarly ifpart of the day you’ve planned involves anexcursion to some out of the way location, youmight want to emphasise that in case yourolder guests don’t fancy the travelling.This kind of thing shouldn’t limit yourimagination, however, and as long as yourguests know what to expect, there areopportunities to reflect your own tastes andmake the event particular personal to you andyour relationship. Lincolnshire’s venues andwedding specialists are on hand to help makeyour dreams a reality.PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/GLOBALMOMENTSOur White Hart Gift Vouchers are a perfect way to tell someone you care, say thank you, or as a special treat.From romantic meals, 1 or 2 night stays with choice of accommodation types, cocktail classes or afternoon tea the choices are tailored to suit you needs.You can always trust the White Hart to deliver an excellent service and experience, in a great location.For more information t 01522 526222 | Option 4e info@whitehart-lincoln.co.uk Bailgate | Lincoln | LN1 3ARFollow us on Twitter @WhiteHartLN1A PERFECT gift experience58-64_Layout 1 14/11/2016 14:29 Page 7LINCOLNSHIRETODAY65PETSOpening Hours:Monday - Friday 8.45am - 6:00pmSaturday 9:00am - 11.30amConsultations are by appointmentMonday - Friday 8:45am - 11:00am & 4:00pm - 6:00pmSaturday 9:00am - 11.30amAfter hours emergencies - 07956 991959We are a small animal veterinary practiceLooking after your pets atBlack Sheep VetsUnit 4, Meridian Centre,Belvoir Way, Fairfield Industrial Estate,Louth, LN11 0LQ. Tel: (01507) 609929www.blacksheepvets.co.ukWishing you and yoursa Merry and safeChristmas and 2017from all atBlack Sheep VetsWinter can be a rotten month for many people. WhileChristmas is fantastic, as are the holidays and all the cheer, snowis still snow and there’s no denying the fact that it can bebitterly cold out. We cope in numerous ways where we can –and it’s still not unusual for us to come down with a few bugs inthe winter months. Our pets have it much worse. Some animalswill have it easier than others, especially if they’re an indoor kindlike cats, but for outdoor animals such as horses, dogs and such,there are a few things one can do in order to make them morecomfortable this Christmas.Provide ShelterIf your animal is one that spends a lot of time outside,especially if they have to stay outside overnight, then it’s alwaysworth considering what shelter they will have available in theevent of a sudden turn in the weather. In the winter even a lightrain can lead to serious problems as the moisture on fur freezes.Dogs could be brought inside for the winter months, or at thevery least a sheltered kennel should be provided – one that iswarm and draft-free. For horses, a good field shelter can givethem somewhere to escape the weather.Provide more foodIt’s harder to stay warm than it is to keep cool. Like humans,animals burn calories in order to generate heat, with morecalories needed as the weather gets worse. It might be a goodidea to feed your pet more often as a result, and to avoid foodthat is cold for them. For dogs this could mean giving them a little more food thanusual, though it will also depend on how active they are.Keeping an eye on the weight of your pet will be enough tomake sure you don’t overfeed them. Animal clothingAn issue more divisive than the Presidential Elections – shouldLooking after thelittlest ones Christmas may be here but so is winter – and it’sworth putting some thought into how you’re goingto help your pet adapt.animals wear clothes? Fashion and sensibilities aside, winterwear can help keep a pet warm. Whether it’s a warm coat for adog or a winter rug for horses outside, it will help protect them.Horse owners will be used to giving horses rugs and likelyhave many on hand, but for dogs and smaller animals it’s againworth considering how often they go outside and how thicktheir coats are or what breed they come from. Smaller dogsbeing taken for walks will need a coat much more than a thick-coated German Shepherd or a cold climate dog like a Husky. Watch their healthInfection and illnesses can be worse on animals than it can forhumans, not least of all because we can communicate and takesteps to limit the pain. If your animals start showing signs ofillness, lethargy or vomiting then it’s always worth it to visit alocal vet and have them checked up. Like with ourselves, manyproblems are easier to deal with if they are caught sooner.A good vet can also offer advice on how to limit any future risksor protect your pets further. Christmas can be fun for our animalsas much as it can for us – but it doesn’t hurt to be careful. PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/DEZI65_Layout 1 14/11/2016 13:52 Page 166 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYCOUNTY MOTORING‘Scrooged’It may seem a bit Ebeneezer-like but, with fuel likely to increase in price,getting the most out of your vehicle is an absolute must these days whateveryou drive. To show us how, drivers recently pitted their skills against eachother to see which cars could deliver the best returns and who could squeezethe most out of their vehicles.66-69_Layout 1 14/11/2016 14:23 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY67COUNTY MOTORINGThis year’s MPG marathon pulledtogether drivers of cars vans and 4x4’s topit their talents in a novel two day eventwhere vehicles and drivers are put to thetest to save fuel, the environment andmoney.To ensure a level playing field, eachcar’s overall performance is first measuredby its actual fuel consumption relative toits official Combined mpg figure. Then,each car and driver pits their wits andskills against each other in a two daymarathon covering over 8,000 miles. Now, before readers sigh and think thisis simply about driving slower thannormal, this isn’t entirely correct. Thetrick is apparently to use maps to find theroute most suited to perpetual, smoothmotion, because that, apparently, is thekey to efficient driving, as acceleratingand braking, utilises far more fuel.What the marathon showed is that bymaking small changes and driving moresmoothly, readers could save up to £400a year.The highest overall figure was achievedby a pre-production Toyota Prius Plug-inHybrid, with 109.14mpg achieved overthe 387-mile route. And, at the typicalcost of £5.20 a gallon, this wouldequates to just £14.63 worth of fuel todrive a route equivalent to the distancebetween London and Glasgow by road.However, the best overall fuel economyfor a combustion-engined production carwent to a Mazda 2 1.6d Sport Nav drivenby John Kerswill and Ian McKean, whichachieved 91.37mpg, an improvement of8.27mpg (or 9.95 per cent) over themanufacturer’s combined figure, thoughthe crew did incur a 2.5mpg timepenalty reducing their score to 6.94 percent in the final tables. But, it’s a tellingtale as to how manufacturers haveimproved their offerings when youcompare this to the winners from 2006at which time only one petrol poweredcar, a Volvo S60 T5, managed to returnmore than 30mpg. Other notable entrants included aHydrogen fuel cell powered Hyundai iX35driven by Chris Chandler, Principal68 Á66-69_Layout 1 14/11/2016 14:23 Page 2Consultant at Lex Autolease. The iX35 used 6.45kg ofhydrogen during the event, averaging out at 63.1 miles perkilo against a quoted figure of 60.9 miles per kilo.But, the two most coveted prizes on the event, for bestoverall MPG improvement, were taken by Andy Dawsonand Andy Marriott in a 5.0-litre V8 Ford Mustang in thecars category (an astonishing 75.12 per cent improvement),and by Doug Powell and Tony Warrington in a Fiat Fiorino1.3 Multijet in the light commercial vehicles category (a12.28 per cent improvement). Results that’d even havemade Ebeneezer Scrooge sit up and take note! Based on an average of 46.94mpg as the manufacturers’combined MPG figure for all the production cars and vansparticipating in the UK’s premier eco-driving event, theMPG marathon entrants achieved a mean average fuelconsumption figure of 56.92mpg, an improvement ofalmost 10mpg, or around 21 per cent.With fuel currently costing an average of £5.20 a gallon inthe UK, and likely to increase due to falls in the value ofSterling, the competitor cars saved an average of £8.46 avehicle over the circa 400-mile route. Event organiser Jerry Ramsdale said: “The figures showhow a sensible approach to eco-driving can really paydividends for both fleet managers and private motorists –68 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYCOUNTY MOTORING66-69_Layout 1 14/11/2016 14:23 Page 3our competitors improved their fuel consumption by anoverall average of 21 per cent, with some doing evenbetter than that, and with fuel costs increasing and fleetskeeping a close eye on costs, it shows that educatingdrivers in eco-friendly driving techniques should beconsidered essential.”“This is a great result for the Hyundai iX35 Fuel Cell andtruly demonstrates the capability of advanced fueltechnologies,” he said. “There was significant interest inhow the iX35 performed both at the event and acrosssocial media, with people hungry to find out more abouthow hydrogen-fuelled vehicles work and what the potentialbenefits are. It’s clear the technology will play a central rolein the industry’s future. The car is a working vehicle, used ona daily basis by the University of Birmingham and our fuelefficiency results speak to its potential – the only emissionproduced throughout the race was water.”New for 2016 was a ‘Garage 56’ category, open toexperimental and unusual vehicles and named after theprototype garage at the Le Mans 24 hour race. As well as thePrius and iX35, other Garage 56 vehicles included a MotoGuzzi 750 motorcycle (which achieved 88.05mpg) and aMercedes-Benz E220D that was driven in semi-autonomousmode by Fleet World editor, Alex Grant.In an event described by a number of competitors as ‘thetoughest MPG Marathon yet’ and sponsored by RACBusiness, ALD Automotive and Crystal Ball, drivers werecharged with working out the most economical routebetween a number of waypoints in Oxfordshire,Warwickshire, Shropshire, Northants and Gloucestershire in atwo-day event starting and ending at the prestigiousHeythrop Park near Chipping Norton.For the first time, fans of the event – which took place on18-19 October - were able to track the vehicles’ progress liveusing telematics data supplied by sponsor Crystal Ball, whichbroadcast where each car or van was at any given time viathe event website.LINCOLNSHIRETODAY69• M.O.T’s • SERVICING • CLUTCHES• TOWBARS • BREAKDOWNS• WINTER MOTOR CHECKSCavendish Auto Repairswas established by itspresent owner in 1984.Cavendish Auto Repairs LtdCavendish Road, Skegness, Lincs PE25 2QZTel: 01754 767964 / 01754 761234Email: cavendishauto@tiscali.co.ukwww.cavendishautorepairs.co.uk www.practical.co.ukCAVENDISH AUTOSCAR & VAN RENTALALSO AVAILABLE66-69_Layout 1 14/11/2016 14:23 Page 4Next >