Why not treat yourself and visit the beautiful island of Bermuda? Some 600 miles from the coast of the USA and 1000 miles north from the Caribbean lies Bermuda, Britain’s oldest colony. The 150 small islands are joined by causeways and bridges only 21 miles long. You can sit back after a short flight and enjoy the beautiful colourful sub-tropical garden paradise. Soon you will be able to sit back on one of the fine Pink coral sand beaches, lapped by the clear blue waters of the Atlantic. No wonder Mark Twain wrote `”Visitors on their way to heaven call… and think they have already arrived”.

Bermuda’s relaxed pace of life and laid back style is why you will soon want to come to this wonderful island. Bermuda reminds me of Britain in the 1950`s but with an added American accent. Getting around the island is easy, you can travel by ferry, bus or Scooter. (OK, the Scooter may not be your cup of tea!) but could still be fun. I would recommend the seven day bus and ferry pass at only $45.00 which will give you the best value for travelling around the island.

The railway closed in the 1940’s but in 1984 some 21 miles of its original route were cleared to allow visitors to enjoy the calm beauty and natural treasures of this lovely island. Seven different walks can be enjoyed from 1¾ miles to 3½ miles. I would really recommend this excursion and please don’t forget your camera.

The island has eight testing golf courses in just over 21 square miles and several diving schools for you to enjoy. The currency is the Bermuda dollar but US dollars and travellers cheques are accepted everywhere on the island.

Cheslyn Hay

Cheslyn Hay is a former mining village in south Staffordshire, between Cannock and Walsall. During the 19th century the area was known colloquially as the Wyrley Bank (in the local dialect Wyrley Bonk). It lies two miles south of Cannock and shares with it a boundary formed by the Wyrley Brook. To the east and north-east it is bounded by the neighbouring civil parish of Great Wyrley, the boundary between them having been adjusted under the Staffordshire Review Order of 1934 ‘to follow a more satisfactory line’.

The former Wyrley and Cheslyn Hay railway station closed in 1965. A new station at Landywood opened in 1989 and the station also serves the adjacent villages of Cheslyn Hay and Great Wyrley. The LNWR also operated an earlier halt at Landywood which closed on 1 January 1916.

The soil is light in Cheslyn Hay, with a subsoil of gravel and sand. In 1940, when the land was held by many freeholders, the chief crops were wheat, barley, oats, and turnips. The farm land is situated to the west and north-west of the village which lies mainly along the south-eastern boundary of the parish. There were ten people chargeable for the hearth tax here in 1666. Around 1797, Cheslyn Common had attracted numerous squatters who lived in mud huts there, but the opening of the mines in the district brought some respectable inhabitants to the place who established a plan for relieving the poor and erected a Methodist chapel and Sunday school.

Before World War II there was a cinema at the top of Rosemary Road, on the site much later occupied by Barts Motors. The housing stock has been grown significantly in each post war decade, with suburban expansion into surrounding fields. The Hawkins family were a prominent family in the area in the 19th century.

A major employer in the village is B.S. Eaton Ltd, a manufacturer of concrete products. The company operates a fleet of distinctive orange trucks. Station Street is the main street with some small shops.

The old Primary School was situated on the site bounded by Hatherton Street, Pinfold Lane, Hill Street and High Street. It was constructed around 1883 and demolished in the 1990s and the land was used for new housing. An additional modern building on the opposite side of Pinfold Lane was used for school meals and gym.

The village is now served by two primary schools, Glenthorne primary school and Cheslyn Hay primary school, and by one secondary school Cheslyn Hay Sport and Community High School which was constructed 1977.

The population was 443 in 1801, 2,560 in 1901, 3,130 in 1951 and is now around 7,600. The area is 823 acres.

In a quiet corner of Shropshire lies Albrighton, an attractive and charming village. Mentioned in the Domesday Book, Albrighton dates back to the 7th century and has an interesting past steeped in history.

Visitors fall in love with its lime tree lined High Street, village green, interesting houses, friendly traditional pubs and good range of individual shops and amenities. Albrighton is surrounded by prime Shropshire farmland and a series of six circular walks produced by the local Footpath Group is available to purchase from various outlets in the village. These walks are also detailed on the ‘Parish Walks Map’ located on the wall of the shoe shop adjacent to the Red House in the centre of the village.

Albrighton is located just three miles from Junction 3 off the M54 and it is easily accessible by Road, Rail and Bus. For details of all public transport in the area contact Traveline on 0871 200 2233.

POST OFFICE: Station Road

BANK: Lloyds TSB Bank, High Street

PETROL STATION: Keith Gibson Cars Ltd, Station Road

DOCTORS: Albrighton Medical Practice, Shaw Lane (01902 372301) Closed Saturday

CHEMIST: High Street (01902 372363)

POLICE: For non-emergency calls phone 0300 3333000

VETERINARY PRACTICE: St. George’s Veterinary Group, Station Road (01902 374578)

LIBRARY: Station Road (01902372226) contact Traveline on 0871 2002233.

ALBRIGHTON & DISTRICT FOOTPATH GROUP: (Secretary 01902 372937)

ALBRIGHTON CHURCHES WEBSITE FOR SERVICE TIMES: www.albrightonchurches.co.uk

ALBRIGHTON TRADERS’ ASSOCIATION WEBSITE FOR SHOPS AND BUSINESSES: www.albrighton.eu Severn Trent Water

ALBRIGHTON & DISTRICT CIVIC SOCIETY WEBSITE: www.albrightonanddistrictcivicsociety.co. uk

TOURIST INFORMATION: www.shropshiretourism.co.uk

I was amazed at just how much local history there was, The Caves and Rock House, The Locks, Cannock Chase, Chillington Hall places that I had not visited for over 20 years. There was so much to see that we had to almost make a whistle stop tour – I would have loved to spend more time each site.

We started with Halfpenny Green Vineyards, we were talked through the whole wine making process. Can you really believe grapes are grown in the Midlands? Not only that but also they have many award winning wines. Having started with just ½ an acre in 1983 the vineyard has now grown to over 22 acres with many different varieties of grapes from Huxelrebe to Chardonnay.

We set about wine tasting and we were shown how to do it properly. I hadn’t realized how much work was involved in this process of grape growing.

There are all year round guided tours and with craft workshops, tea rooms, coarse fishing and a Vineyard trail there is lots for all to see..

We then moved on to Cannock Chase Trekking Centre. I have had very little experience of horse riding and since I broke my hip a year ago, it was with nervous trepidation that I visited The Trekking Centre, I apologized to Lisa, the owner and said that I really did not think I would be able to get on the horse at all. However she gently persuaded me that I would be OK and to my joy, I loved the experience.

There were approx. 25 people in my group with varying degrees of ability , and Lisa teamed me up with Tom and assured me was a sensible, no nonsense kind of horse!
I need not have worried – there were plenty of staff and I felt safe and at ease, and before long was amazed I was learning to trot, canter and maneoevure Tom around.

Lisa told me that by next year the facility will have been expanded to make the experience even more enjoyable.

If you visit South Staffordshire there is a lovely hotel called Dunsley Hall in the picturesque village of Kinver. With just 10 bedrooms which are all individually designed, it is the perfect romantic get away with beautiful log fires , set in 8 acres of grounds. The environment is friendly and relaxed and at no time do you feel that you can’t just sit back and make it your home for your stay.

If you are planning a celebration be sure to take a look at Dunsley Hall as it provides a very special setting for weddings with stunning gardens making a great backdrop for a very special day.

Finally we visited Enville Brewery – if you like Beer you need to visit! Try their Honey Beer and Ginger Beer (the alcoholic not the soda of course ….). The Brewery is run by real enthusiasts and they will love to tell you about how they initially became involved with the business.

Tours are from April-October and they take minimum 12, maximum 20 people.

If you are planning a visit make sure you see The Rock Houses, Kinver, beautiful Chillington Hall owned by The Giffard family – it is an absolute treasure. There is also Wightwick Manor and Gardens, the Bratch Pumping station.

Enjoy the beautiful countryside and canals along the way – there really is plenty to discover!

Penkridge is a market town and ancient parish in Staffordshire with a population of approximately 7,836. Many locals refer to it as a village, although it has a long history as an ecclesiastical and commercial centre.

Its main distinction in the Middle Ages was the important collegiate church, which still dominates the skyline. The church was the most important local institution for most of Penkridge’s history: economically powerful and architecturally dominant. All the people of the parish had to be buried there, at considerable cost, so it was where the local magnates installed their memorials.

Penkridge is situated in the district of South Staffordshire in the county of Staffordshire. It is located between Stafford which is five miles to the north and Wolverhampton, approximately ten miles to the south, and lies on the River Penk.

It was assumed that since the town could be said to stand on a ridge by the Penk, it must derive its name from the river. However, this is to reverse the true derivation. The name of the town was confirmed many centuries before that of the river. The name “Penk” is actually a back-formation from the name of the town. The occupying Romans gave their fort in the area the Latin name Pennocrucium; this shows the origins of the name Penkridge, but is not its direct origin. In the indigenous Celtic, the name of the village was almost certainly penn-crug, meaning “the head (or end) of the ridge”, or “chief hill or mound”, and pronounced roughly penkrik. In very early times
of Anglian settlement the inhabitants of the district were known as the Pencersæte.

The town of Penkridge lies on the medieval route between the county towns of Stafford and Worcester, which also passes through Wolverhampton. The Penkridge section became part of the major stagecoach routes linking London and Birmingham with Manchester and Liverpool and is now subsumed into the A449 road. Just to the south, at Gailey, this route crosses the historically still more important Watling Street, now the A5 road, which linked London to Chester, Wales, and ultimately Ireland. Today Penkridge is grazed on its eastern side by the M6 motorway, the main route between London and the north-west of England and Glasgow.

Penkridge is a parish unit within the East Cuttlestone Hundred of Staffordshire. Its boundaries have varied considerably over the centuries. The ancient parish of Penkridge, as defined from 1551, was made up of four distinct townships: Penkridge itself, Coppenhall, Dunston, and Stretton. As a place with its own institutions of local government, the parish was also known as Penkridge Borough.

Penkridge became a civil parish in the 1830s and in 1866 was shorn of the three smaller townships, which became separate parishes. It was constituted as a parish of four distinct constable wicks: Penkridge, Levedale, Pillaton, and Whiston. In 1934, the civil parish exchanged some territory with the surrounding parishes to rationalise the boundaries, acquiring the whole of the former civil parish of Kinvaston in the process.

ARIES MARCH 21 – APRIL 20
Your ruler, motivational Mars spends the whole month in communicative Gemini. This is an excellent month to examine all levels of communication, both spoken and written. You have renewed energy to look at your life on all levels and many sweeping changes can be made now as confidence is at an all time high.

TAURUS APRIL 21 – MAY 21
Your ruler, the love planet Venus, moves into the sign of Cancer on the 3rd. This shift brings issues of trust and support into the spotlight, causing you to re-examine relationship areas of your life. You’ll realise how important loyalty is and after the new moon on the 8th, you may have a very different strategy in place.

GEMINI MAY 22 – JUNE 21
Your birthday month is energetic and exciting as themes around team spirit, friendships and group pursuits are activated by four planets in your sign. After the new moon on the 8th you’ll start to review all your friendships and relationships, especially as interesting new people begin to appear on your horizon.

CANCER JUNE 22 – JULY 22
An introspective and quiet start to June changes after the first week, as Venus moves in to your sign and the new moon waxes after the 8th. Dynamic and unconventional Uranus is at the highpoint point of your chart and major career shifts are now possible. Unexpected opportunities are in the pipeline.

LEO JULY 21 – AUGUST 21
June’s energy is very strong for all social activities and for taking a break from the rigors of daily life. After the Gemini new moon on the 8th you’ll be feeling especially playful and communicative and a holiday or an exciting journey could turn out to be the very best way to express yourself on all levels.

LIBRA SEPTEMBER 23 – OCTOBER 23
Life is action packed in June and normally balanced Librans may find the tempo a bit to hot to handle! But if you can embrace all levels of change, then marvellous things will be opening up. Jupiter reaches the high point of your chart on the 26th, last there 12 years ago, now is the start of an exciting new cycle.

SCORPIO OCTOBER 24 – NOVEMBER 22
Finances and resources are in the spotlight this month. The powerful combination of a new moon on the 8th and four planets in Gemini ensure that decisions will have to be made. Be on the lookout for Interesting and exciting ways of boosting your income, new career opportunities are also on the horizon.

SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER 23 – DECEMBER 21
Powerful planetary action in the partnership sector of your chart means that you’re in for some surprises. Your mood in love is particularly adventurous and your charm is at an all time high. The new moon on the 8th brings new and passionate encounters and stable relationships can enter a new and exciting phase.

CAPRICORN DECEMBER 22 – JANUARY 20
Your work environment and your health and fitness take centre stage this month. The new moon on the 8th brings a need to review your diet and your work life balance. Saturn, your ruler, connects with the inspirational planet Neptune and brings the potential for creativity and innovative ways of communicating your ideas.

AQUARIUS JANUARY 21 – FEBRUARY 18
Four planets and a new moon in Gemini highlight the playful and romantic sector of your chart this month. After delays and setbacks things should really be moving forward now and as Jupiter moves into Cancer on the 26th abundance is all around! You can sit back and enjoy this especially energetic and expressive time.

PISCES FEBRUARY 19 – MARCH 20
Your home and your family are the main focus this month. Four planets and a new moon in Gemini ensure that you’ll be looking at ways to change and improve your surroundings. Love and romantic encounters are also favoured especially after the 3rd as Venus moves into compassionate, sensitive and caring Cancer.

Help for Varicose Veins

Treatment for varicose veins is increasingly restricted on the NHS. We look at who’s likely to qualify and your options if you don’t.

We’re all familiar with them – swollen, lumpy veins that are blue or purple and usually appear on the legs. In fact, varicose veins are very common, affecting around three in 10 adults and women more than men.

They develop when the small valves inside the veins stop working properly. Normally the valves open to let blood through then close again to stop it flowing back, but if they become weak or damaged, the blood can flow backwards, collecting in the vein and causing that telltale bulging.

Consultant vascular surgeons at Nuffield Health Wolverhampton Hospital, explain: “You’re more likely to develop varicose veins as you get older, especially if they run in your family. You’ll also have an increased risk if you’re obese because excess weight puts more pressure on your veins, making the valves more inclined to leak. People who’ve had a deep vein thrombosis may be more likely to get them too.”

Varicose veins can be painful or achy and the skin over the vein can be discoloured or inflamed. In the meantime, compression stockings, which encourage blood to flow up the leg, should help relieve pain but may not stop veins getting worse. The good news is that despite being unsightly, varicose veins don’t usually cause problems. The not so good news is that if they’re not causing problems, budget restrictions mean you probably can’t get them treated on the NHS.

There are several techniques to treat varicose veins but not all are appropriate for every situation. Liquid sclerotherapy involves injecting a chemical into the affected veins, sealing them, but this is only suitable for very small veins. Foam sclerotherapy, which involves injection under the guidance of an ultrasound scan, can treat larger veins but only as advised by your consultant.

The traditional surgical treatment for bigger varicose veins is a technique called ligation and stripping, which involves tying off the vein in the affected leg and then removing it with a thin flexible wire. It requires a general anaesthetic but you’ll probably be able to go home the same day, though you may be off work for up to two to three weeks.

A newer technique, VNUS Closure treatment removes varicose veins through ‘key-hole’ heating and closes the vein from the inside, using radiofrequency energy. Treating varicose veins this way is less invasive and painless than other treatments and has a much faster recovery time.

If you would like further information about varicose vein treatments call us today for a swift consultation on 01902 793259 or visit our website at www.nuffieldhealth.com/wolverhamptonhospital

Nuffield Health Group Awards
• 2012 NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) level three
• 2012 Laing and Buisson award for Risk Management
• 2012 – 18001 accreditation for Health and Safety
• Finalist for 2011 Laing and Buisson Medicines Management and use of Technology Awards
• Winner of 2011 Health Investor Private Hospital Group of the Year
• 2010 Laing and Buisson Award for Management Excellence
• 2010 Health Investor Social Enterprise of the Year