Silver Surfers is a term used to describe people over 55 who regularly access the Internet. Almost one million do this now, and the number is growing fast. The communications technology allowscontact with friends and family all over the world in matters of a few seconds, for the price of alocal phone call. It also brings a world of information to your finger tips. A new site aimed at older surfers has been set up at www.retirement-matters.co.uk
This is a one-stop directory for all retirement related products, services and information. It covers travel, housing, leisure, legal/financial services, entertainment and lifestyle subjects to name but a few.
If you are a silver surfer, why not pay a visit.
Stars in Dore
High in the winter sky are the prominent constellations of Orion (the Hunter), Taurus (the Bull), Gemini (the Twins) and Auriga (the Charioteer), and the brightest star in the sky, Sirius, lies low in the southeast. Furthermore, the two greatest planets, Jupiter and Saturn, are visible in Taurus for most of the winter nights. Around Christmas time, Venus, too, may be seen early in the evening (before 7pm), low in the southwest.
Our star chart shows the brighter stars as seen by an observer looking to the south at about 10pm on 22nd December. It is also as the sky will appear at about 8pm on 22nd January or 6pm on 22nd February, roughly two hours earlier each month.
On a crisp clear night see if you can see Orion's sword hanging down from the three stars in his belt The faint nebulous spot around the sword's central star is a veritable nursery of young stars, and it is an awe-inspiring fact that we are actually seeing this so called Orion nebula as it was in the year 500 AD! The light from Sirius, on the other hand, left the star only 8 years ago. See also the Pleiades cluster considered relatively young' by astronomers with stars born 80 million years ago. We recommend that those interested in star-gazing walk or drive up to the village seat at the end of Newfield Lane and gaze westwards across Blackamoor and southwards towards Totley, or pause on Whitelow Lane on their way into Dore from the Hathersage Road. There is a thriving Sheffield Astronomical Society which meets regularly nearby, at the Old School, David Lane (the Mayfield Education Centre) between Dore and Fulwood (tel: 0114 269-2291).
Their meetings are usually on alternate Mondays at 7.30pm. The Society owns a computerised 10-inch Meade telescope through which members and visitors are shown many kinds of celestial objects, galaxies and nebulae, and the moon and planets, including Saturn'srings, Jupiter's belts and the planets' accompanying moons (Saturdays when skies are clear). Readers may wish to address questions to us concerning the stars, galaxies and the universe. Write to the editorial office marking the envelope Stars in Dore'. We may be able to reply tosome of them in the next issue of Dore to Door, or perhaps on the village magazine's website. Alternatively, e-mail us directly at enquiries@wheelers-warehouse.co.uk, and visit our website at www.wheelers-warehouse.co.uk.
On a seasonal note
Champagne - an English Invention, or a French Development?
Until the end of the 17 century the wine made in the Champagne region of France was a murky ros‚ colour, and it was still, not sparkling. As French glass was too weak for fizzy wine before about 1695, and an efficient seal such as cork was not available, sparkling Champagne's debut in France must have been between about 1695 and 1698.
The English, by contrast, already had the technology - (their glass was coal-fired and strong, and they had cork from Spain) - and there is proof that they used it to make still wines sparkle at least 30 years before the French! At the Royal Society in 1662, a Dr. Merret stated that "our wine-coopers of recent times use vast quantities of sugar and molasses to all sorts of wines to make them drink brisk and sparkling". There is also evidence that the English deliberately put a sparkle into the imported still wines of Champagne. In 1676 the dramatist Sir George Etherege wrote that "sparkling Champaign...makes us frolic and gay, and drowns all sorrow".
It was at the beginning of the 18 century at the abbey of Hautvillers, that the benedictine monk Dom Thierry Ruinart, became acquainted with the precious secret' of the elaboration of the wine which sparkles'.This secret' was passed to his nephew Nicolas Ruinart who founded the first House of Champagne at Reims in 1729, in direct response to public demand for his wonderful sparkling Champagne that he'd originally produced for private use.Today, in Britain, the production of sparkling wine (by the champagne method) is enjoying a healthy revival and deserved fame; Nyetimber, in West Sussex, is a gold medal winner, the 1992 vintage being chosen for the Queen's Golden Anniversary.
However, it is the longer established Houses of Champagne (The Grand Marques) that remain the most acclaimed and not least the House of Ruinart which has maintained its fine reputation through to this very day. This high-quality Champagne has never been produced in large quantities even though sales have trebled since its purchase by Mo‰t & Chandon (LVMH) in 1963 and is all too often overlooked and amazing value' [Tom Stevenson]. NB For local historians, the cellars of Ruinart Champagne are a series of Gallo-Roman chalk pits (CrayŠres), officially classified as an historical monument, and well worth a visit.
Wine Direct UK
[ Dom Perignon (1639-1715), a monk and cellarer at Hautvillers Abbey, near Reims, is widely thought to have invented sparkling Champagne, but there is little hard evidence to support this, notwithstanding the fact that he was a winemaker par excellence'.]
Ed. A bottle of Ruinart Champagne worth £25 has been donated by Wine Direct UK for our Christmas competition - see news & comment.
To visit Wine Direct on-line : www.winedirectuk.co.uk
I hate hospitals
The word hospital is enough to make anyone turn in the opposite direction, but should this word make our pets go hot-under-the-collar? As an increasing number of veterinary hospitals are opening up to the public, more and more people would like to know what this means to themselves and their pets. Firstly, most veterinary hospitals, such as the new Sheffield Hospital in Totley, do take pets on a first opinion basis, although many also do referral work. This means that you can use these practices for vaccines, wormers and other routine healthcare matters as well as when your pet is seriously ill. Certain veterinary hospitals are run by charities such as the PDSA but these are a minority as most work in a similar way to your local vets, where income is necessary to maintain high standards of care.
The term veterinary hospital means that certain standards have been reached as set down by the British Veterinary Hospital Association (BVHA) and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). These standards are wide ranging, but include 24 hour on-site nursing cover, isolation facilities, and up-to-date diagnostic equipment for clinical examinations. Staff are also encouraged to continue training and development, including veterinary surgeons and nurses, to obtain further professional qualifications and to provide a forever increasing standard of care. These regulations are intended to assure clients that the highest possible standard of care and treatment are available and that your pet will never be left alone in the building when unwell.
As a profession vets often aim to treat their patients in a similar way to how their clients would wish to be treated themselves. However, modern practices do actually offer much more than you can get from your own doctor and hospital. When your pet is ill you can virtually always have an appointment on the same day, if not immediately. If an operation is needed, then frequently that will be performed on the same day - no long waiting lists, which reduces the risk of a condition deteriorating. Results from tests such as x-rays or ultrasound scans can be reported when your pet is collected by the same person who saw your pet in the first place. With in-house blood testing, when necessary, the results can be available to your vet within fifteen minutes, allowing them to advise the most appropriate treatment. However, in many ways, what is most important is the fact that many people find their vet more approachable than their doctor and hopefully they have a more caring attitude. Most vets don't see you coming through their doors as just another case, but try and understand the fantastic bond between client and their often much-loved pet.
So if you are lucky enough to have a Veterinary Hospital in your area then don't flee at the mention of the word, but appreciate the extra effort taken to achieve this title, and do your pet a favour, be brave and venture inside.
Jamie Harris
Sheffield Animal Hospital
Small Treasure
I wonder how many parents of young children reading this magazine are aware of the small treasure that is hidden in Atkinsons store? Rather forlornly, but still with a cheery expression on its face, there is a mechanical horse/mule at the bottom of the staircase, where one descends from the display of net curtains, that is a real bargain ride.
I first became acquainted with this animal over twenty years ago when I moved to Sheffield. In those days it resided outside the gentlemen's outfitters and was easy to spot as one progressed through the store. It was painted a dull brown and was always an enormous favourite with my children. It was a very cheap ride, and even today it will cost your child a mere two pence to be jogged safely and gently backwards and forwards. My children used to save their modest pocket money so that they could pay for the ride themselves. Indeed they did very well with their money, a packet of parma violets from the post office would keep hunger at bay while we waited for the bus to go into town and if eaten slowly enough there would be a few left to chew whilst having a ride. I also occasionally resorted to direct bribery promising a ride if we could go without complaint to such interesting stores as Marks and Spencers or Boots.
Today the brown paint has gone and the horse, which I think is modelled on Muffin the Mule (anyone over fifty will know what I'm talking about), is painted in trendy shades of purple and blue. The gentle cheery expression is still there and so it should be for an animal that has provided so much pleasure for so many children (and me). Do take time to visit it next time you are in town and don't forget a supply of two pence pieces!
Caroline Veal
Fiddle or Cello?
New resident Iona Sherwood-Jones, who is Head of Strings at Birkdale School, would like to know. She and cellist Rachel Moore run a project called Fiddle Fingers', based at BirkdaleSchool but open to any child aged 5-7 years in the area who would like to try a string instrument.
Iona came to Sheffield from Oundle, via Chetham's School of Music; Rachel Moore is a tutor at the Royal Northern College of Music on their Junior String project. Classes for Fiddle Fingers' run after school for an hour and tuition is in groups. A parent is expected to watch the class and then help with the daily practice at home..no musical experience necessary! Apart from the instrumental tuition the pupils do some singing and then kick off their shoes and socks to do the eurythmics', a fun way to learn about rhythm using play equipment.
Every term there is a concert followed by a party. There are currently 27 children on the project and they were chosen to play at the Royal Festival Hall in July in the National Music for Youth competition.
Tuition costs now are £4. per class, which includes the loan of an instrument and all music.
The aim of the project is to teach good basic playing to young children, some of whom may wish to carry on later with individual lessons."String players ideally should start young and if a child has a flair for the violin or cello, the earlier the better. Above all we want to foster a love of music in children, even if they decide to change instrument if not suited to a string one. They are the future concert-goers and CD buyers and who one day might encourage their children to take up an instrument."
Anyone interested should contact Iona on 266 8408.