Men who do

Returning from holiday after a hellish journey and finding our chimney had deposited a pile of soot and two bricks into our living room during our absence, was not a great welcome home. We then discovered the central heating boiler had broken down leaving us with no hot water.

It could have been worse. Thank goodness for efficient local businesses who turned up the same day to help.

Hats off to Phillip Maggs -
Chimney and TV aerial specialist:

01284 764158 / 07738 595187

Click here to email us And Martin, from Stratton Heating and Gas Services: 01359 235089 | Email: info@strattonheating.co.uk I can't praise both 'rescuers' highly enough for their efficiency, knowledge and sound advice.- although maybe the advice is yet to be tested

Archley Landscape Solutions

                                                                                         

www.archleylandscapesolutions.co.uk

It occurred to me recently that I pass on names of local businesses that I think deserve a mention (or a moan about) but I have never included the family one.  My son-in-law and daughter own the above business which has been immensely successful over the years, winning national awards, and accolades from the numerous happy customers who have seen their gardens and drives totally transformed by Steve Bentley and his team (take a look at their webpage).

As Steve's success and reputation grows I cannot help but feel that many people with smaller gardens might have assumed that Archley Landscape Solutions (formerly Archley Paving) was aiming to capture the larger 'landscape' market....... leaving the town gardens behind. This is far from the truth. Despite much of their work being of 'landscape' proportions, Steve and Archley's garden designer Linda Munday take great pleasure in turning small gardens into little paradises.

Some years ago when I was holidaying in Greece I used to pass a garden regularly on the way to the beach. By the end of the week I so enjoyed glancing into the courtyard of the building, which had been transformed into an ornamental garden, that I resolved one day I would have the same. I know Steve could build me one but I think even at mate's rates, I could never afford the marble surrounds.  Not to be deterred, it is my ambition to have some modernisation with water features and lights in my garden. The present pond and solar lanterns do not count.

I don't know whether it's called taking the indoors outside but essentially, Archley has completed a number of projects to make gardens special enough to almost live in. Steve's own garden 'loggia' is a great place for adults and children alike to spend time in - room for entertaining, relaxation and 'sleepovers' (which is called taking the noise outside). There's no hot tub in it though (but I suppose there could be).

I always think it's a good sign when your friends employ you and Steve has worked for his friends and neighbours and my friends. Now if I could get a few more friends interested, I might get that mediterranean garden I want (despite living in the most un-mediterranean climate).

West Stow Anglo Saxon Village, Bury St Edmunds

If only to prove all my photos are not dreadful (it's when I've been using my Blackberry - the camera in it is hopeless) I thought I needed to harp back to those lovely days of summer...... a month ago?   Well it may only be June now but summer came and departed early. Who knows when it will return?

I love the West Stow Anglo Village - not just for the history it represents but for its peace and tranquility.  Children tend to visit here from school but all adults should come too. It has some special event days, a good playground nearby, a half-decent cafe and a gift shop in which I always manage to buy something (particularly at Christmas).  It's a very short distance out of Bury and deserves one visit if not more.

Recycling - East Anglia's Children's Hospice (each)

This charity shop in St John's Street, Bury, not only takes in items and clothes to re-sell but also 'rags' type clothes and materials for recycling, for which they collect a fee direct from the larger recycling organisations. I can't say this often enough - please be careful who you place charity bags outside the house for.  There are many organisations who have well known charity names on the bags they leave but only give a small percentage of the proceeds to them.   Please, please, please don't give good clothes to such collectors. They could end up shredded. I believe it should say on the bag who receives what, but generally speaking if you know of a local charity shop  e.g. Heart Foundation, Cancer Research, Age Concern and so on, then the shop will benefit directly from the clothes etc that you donate if you leave the bags out for collection.

Today I walked into town specifically to deliver a bag of 'damaged' clothes to each but I did point out that there was a pair of young men's jeans in there with a small tear in, which they might be able to sell in the shop. They agreed - on the basis that many jeans are sold from shops like that

Some more criticism from the family

My brother and his wife visited in the holidays for the first time since the Arc shopping centre was built. They have always absolutely loved Bury but this time they were very disappointed- 'What a dreadful shopping centre - it's cold, stark and soul-less', my sister-in-law said. My brother seemed more concerned that the shops were 'boring' but both agreed their lunch in Carluccio's would have been improved with a decent view.

I really am surprised by their comments - why I don't know, I think it's a dreadful place. True I have 'monochromed' my photos. This is because the Arc reminds me of a cross between something from the future and something from the 60s (we all know the 60s happened in black and white). Not a good combination from any perspective. So many people do like the Arc (but there are hoards who don't) - maybe they don't get out much. Sorry if you do like it, but I think we need colour in in lives (I didn't have to do much adjusting to get a monochrome photo) not this grey austere mixture of cheap looking units.

Well, my family are critical of Bury these days - one might imagine they have travelled here from the Cotswolds or Cornwall. Brentwood and Romford actually.