During September the Waveney Springs Art Collective produced an art trail in and around Diss. Merrick Hill Insurance in St. Nicholas Street displayed Ned Pamphilon's The Vision of Paine and visiters included BBC Radio Norfolk's Stephen Bumfrey and local MP Richard Bacon.

Ed Nottingham at Merrick Hill was so pleased with the activity he invited Ned to continue displaying artwork in his office window. English artist Ned Pamphilon returned to East Anglia in 2008 after 10 years based in Istanbul, Turkey, where Father Xmas is known as Noel Baba. Paintings of Baba Noel and Nativity Chimney Stories can be seen over the festive season:



Noel Baba, or rather St. Nicholas, was born in the 4th century and lived in Demre (Myra) on Turkey's southern Mediterranean coast. He was born to a warm sunny climate with green hills and sea breeze in the small village of Patara. At a young age, his parents died leaving a large inheritance enabling him to give generously to the poor and needy. He intended his donations to be secret, but these things get out.

One story tells how a poor old nobleman with 3 beautiful daughters lived in a run-down palace with barely enough to eat. The girls couldn’t marry because there was no money for a wedding. Nicholas secretly deposited bags of gold through an open window, but when one night the window was closed, Nicholas climbed the roof to send a cascade of gold down the chimney and into stockings left hanging to out to dry by the daughters. Years later Nicholas had become a famous holy man and his story was remembered as people began to hang up empty stockings and ‘secretly’ fill them for their children.

Nicholas visited Jerusalem before he grew too old and on his return became the new Bishop of Myra. He continued his generous ways performing miracles and amazing deeds; he saved sailors from drowning, innocents from harm and Myra from famine. His interests remained very much with children and he was loved and respected so much the people built the church of St. Nicholas, still there today. Some alleged his bones were moved to Italy, where years later another church in his remembrance was built. The story was retold and the children of Europe began to hang stockings on the eve of 06 December, St. Nicholas’ Day. He was portrayed wearing green, yet the tradition was melded with 24/25 December and in the 1930’s a US company, marketing a fizzy coloured sugar water drink called Coke, added the red imagery for their advertising campaign.

• Best Caravan or Holiday Park
• Best Broads Holiday Experience
• Customer Care Award

On Saturday 20th November 2010 I attended the Skid Control Course offered by Shawn Taylor Racing Norwich, as Guest of Shawn Taylor the Managing Director... the courses are held north of Norwich, arriving at the venue in very foggy conditions, where everyone had assembled ready for what would be a very educational morning all about skid control, complete with lots of fun...

After a greet and meet from the very helpful staff of the Race team and everyone taking part were told of the house rules and health and safety.

Shawn explained an in depth look at Under-steer and Over-steer, and the importance of easing off the gas pedal throughout roundabouts in case of oil spills...

Chris who would be the Trainer for the day was introduced to the class, a very skilled Trainer who would put all at ease...
The seven drivers for the session were equipped with Helmets, hence health and safety, and shown to the cars being used for the training, BMW 328i Saloons.

Shawn Taylor Racing had their race cars on display, this year they have their own STR CUP RACING at all Circuits and have just developed a 6 litre race car being the only one in Europe.
This course is really good with everyone going through a stage by stage set up and onto sliding and being able to cope with all types of control.

I must say I was joined by Susannah Roberts a local Grid Girl on Race circuits and Fashion Model. - Susannah who was amazed how much there was to learn about skidding and several times commented the words "this is real awesome".

I must admit starting from scratch and never known what it's like to be in a skidding car, Susannah really done well and did much better than the lads...

I can really recommend this course to all, its a life saver, we now have the very bad weather approaching so its nice to know at least one young lady is safe out there.

As contributor of motoring hints weekly to the Waveney Valley Blog and Norwich City Net, I feel I must say Shawn Taylor does not know of my write up of this course, never asked for advertising, I just feel all drivers should take this up.
I would also mention you will be seeing Susannah Roberts GRID GIRL 2011 on the track at meetings, and Susannah has just won the local Miss Slinky 2010 Competition.

Well Done Susannah.

Don’t forget some pharmacies will open on all the public holidays over the Christmas and New Year period.

That’s the message from NHS Suffolk as it encourages people to choose well and make sure they go to the right place for treatment.

Lynne Wigens, NHS Suffolk’s director of patient safety and clinical quality said: “The festive period is a busy time for the NHS, with busy services and staff. It is really helpful if people don’t overlook their pharmacy as this is a great a place to go for help and advice.

“If you are unlucky enough to suffer a minor injury or illness over the holidays think about whether your pharmacist is the person you could ask for assistance the first instance.

“By choosing this form of treatment everyone can help reduce the pressure on A&E departments and the 999 service, who can sometimes end up dealing with minor medical problems that could easily be dealt with by over-the-counter medicine bought from the pharmacy.

“A number of pharmacies across the county will be opening for limited hours on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, 27th December, New Year’s Day and 2nd January 2011 – so make sure you know the location of your nearest one, just in case you need it.”

You can find out the opening hours of your local pharmacy by calling NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 or by visiting www.nhs.uk



Issued by NHS Suffolk Communications Team on 01473 770014


For more information about NHS Suffolk visit www.suffolk.nhs.uk

Clown Round is a project for children and young people who are either in or out patients in the region’s hospitals and hospices. Earlier this year Suffolk Artlink launched a search to find two further Clown Doctors to join Dr Fillie Fidget and Dr Christobell Misschief in their searchto find smiles and laughter.

After an overwhelming response, play days and interviews, two sensitive experienced artists were found - Cosmo Hardy and Vicki Weitz.

The team of Clown Doctors have had a busy Autumn term, with work experience and training with TIN Arts. All Clown Doctors passed with flying colours!!

Click here to meet the Clown Doctors...





Please join us the World Premiere of Who Cares? at the Cut in Halesworth on the 14th January 2011.
The evening will begin at 7pm with a reception followed by 'Who Cares?' along with a number of short films produced by the group whilst working on the main film.

Click here to read more...

It’s that time again ...."Oh yes it is" ......to hold onto your seats, because the tale of Robin Hood is bounding its way onto the stage at the Fisher Theatre, Bungay. Theatre-goers will be pleased to hear, that once again Steve Ace will be the driving force behind this year’s must-see Panto.

Steve said "Its a pleasure to be returning for our 4th year and each year seems better than the year before. The audience has grown and grown. Our first panto here we did 11 performances, this year we are doing 25! The audience knows that as soon as the overture begins they can sit back and enjoy themselves. Kids, mums and dads, aunts, nannas and grandads, all laughing, and joining in together, there’s nothing like it."

Steve continued "you see, when I started writing scripts, I was working for a large theme park and the audience went to the shows for free, so you had to engage them from the very start, and keep it going to the end, otherwise they simply walked out and went on a ride! So all my shows have a fast pace, a joke in almost every line, short songs, and lots of ad libs, topical gags, and yes, the same old stories that everyone loves”.
Les Hoare the Marketing Manager said "It’s that ingredient that makes our pantos so popular, non-stop fun rooted in a traditional story. Here you get the real deal and feel part of what’s going on.”

Back again with Steve this year are Gavin Dean playing Robin, Clare Durrant as Maid Marion, and sharing the role of the Sheriff are Dan Hanton and the well-known previous Manager of the Fisher Theatre, Chris Moore.

Add the dancers and local children playing the babes and it looks like another cracker.

We are asking people who work with or identify with personality disorder, their carers, families or close friends to create a piece of art on a postcard, that we can professionally print as part of a campaign postcard.

From all the images sent, 5 finalists will be selected by a panel of service users and experts in the field of arts and health. Each selected image will be printed on a new postcard with information about PD on the reverse. As a set of 5, they will be distributed nationwide by Emergence as well as throughout the region to services, groups and the public as part of an awareness raising campaign.

Each of the 5 finalists will be fully acknowledged in their preferred name on the postcards, and will receive a framed set of the 5 selected postcards to keep.

All Information submitted will be handled under the data protection act and will not be passed onto a third party without your prior consent. All artists selected will be contacted within 10 days of the deadline.


1. You can order a set of blank postcards which have explanatory notes on the reverse, together with a freepost addressed envelope from admin@emergenceplus.org.uk or telephone 020 8233 2854.

2. Please create your Artwork on the blank side under the theme: What Personality Disorder means to me...

3. Complete the details on the reverse and return to Emergence. Deadline; 7th February 2011.

The Queen's Head, Bramfield is holding a prize draw in aid of the East Anglian Air Ambulance. Tickets cost £1 from the Queen's Head and you have a chance of winning a basket of goodies including Amanda's home-made jams, chutney, a home-made Christmas Cake, a home-made Christmas pudding and a bottle of Adnams Sprindrift beer. The draw will take place on Christmas Eve.

For more information on the East Anglian Air Ambulance and ways that you can help visit:
East Anglian Air Ambulance

For many of us Christmas is a happy occasion when we spend time with our family and friends.

However, for many older people the festive season is one of loneliness and, combined with the cold and icy weather, it can leave them vulnerable to ill health and accidents.

This Christmas, NHS Suffolk is asking people in the county to give the gift of time to an elderly friend or relative.

Olive Quinton, health improvement manager with NHS Suffolk said: “Making time for an elderly person can give them a great boost and it needn’t take up too much of your time.


“Popping round for a cup of tea and a chat or offering to take them shopping can make all the difference to someone who is alone and vulnerable.


“During the cold weather, paying a visit is also a good opportunity to check they are staying warm and are eating well, having hot drinks and staying safe.


“Check their heating is working - and turned on. Make sure they have a supply of tinned food they can use should the cold weather prevent them from getting out. Also make sure they are not vulnerable to accidents in their home, for example, by wearing old and worn slippers that could cause a trip.”

For more information about NHS Suffolk visit www.suffolk.nhs.uk