Sunday Email: Issue 85

PS If anyone in the village(s) has any spare decorations they would be prepared to contribute, please contact Doug Allan on 07785 223707.

• Fresh free range turkeys from Pollards of Thirkelby. From 4kg upwards. Orders now being taken. 
• Other meat and poultry such as goose, chicken and pork plus special meat boxes from Johnson’s of Thirsk – please check website for details.
• The Farm Shop is preparing bespoke fruit and vegetable boxes with all the essentials for the festive season. Order by 14 December and collect to suit.
• Christmas trees of many sizes will be available on site from Saturday 27 November. Pre-orders can be made any time before then.
• Milk Churn Hampers – a range of delicious treats carefully packaged and hand-wrapped in an Emma Bridgewater tin.
• Christmas treats – gingerbread latte topped with whipped cream, cinnamon and a gingerbread man or white hot chocolate topped with whipped cream, sprinkles and mini candy cane. Yummy!

Check out the Milk Churn Facebook page or website – 
http://Christmas | Milkchurn (milkchurnfarmshop.co.uk)

• TODAY! – Sunday 21 November, 10.45am – Choral Matins with hymns and readings.
• Sunday 28 November, 10.45am – Holy Communion with hymns.
• Sunday 5 December, 6.30pm – Choral Evensong
• Sunday 12 December, 10.45am – Holy Communion.

Services planned for the Christmas period will be listed soon.

Amazon to stop accepting payment by Visa credit card
Online retail giant Amazon will stop accepting payment via UK-issued Visa credit cards from 19 January 2022. Customers will still be able to use Visa debit cards and non-Visa credit cards, but the decision to bar UK Visa credit cards will affect millions of shoppers. Many commentators are suggesting that Brexit is behind the issue. Back in 2015 Brussels capped cross-border fees for transactions inside the EU but the limit no longer applies to payments here now that the UK is no longer a member. Since Brexit, Visa has raised its transaction fees beyond the EU level and that is what is thought to have caused Amazon’s action.

• Topcliffe Parish Council will meet at 7.15pm on Thursday 2 December 2021 – http:// www.topcliffe.org.uk
• Asenby Parish Council will meet at 7.30pm on Wednesday, 19 January 2022 – http://www.asenby.net

• Cyprus, Eastern Europe, Greece, Iceland, Malta, Turkey – Friday, 26 November
• Western Europe – Monday, 29 November
• Airmail to Operational HM Forces – Monday, 29 November
• Airmail to Static HM Forces – Monday, 6 December
• UK 2nd Class – Saturday, 18 December 
• UK 1st Class – Tuesday, 21 December

• Breakfast baps available Thursday to Sunday each week and lunch options served Thursday to Saturday each week, all made from home grown produce where possible. 
• 07747 083155 or check out http://www.thecattonkitchen.co.uk or Facebook.
• If you would like to receive The Catton Kitchen’s weekly email about what’s on offer, please email Amy at hello@thecattonkitchen.co.uk

Northallerton Male Voice Choir – Christmas Concert

There’s a real treat in store this festive season when the excellent Northallerton Male Voice Choir, accompanied by their guest (the Easington Colliery Band), present their Christmas concert. It’s at the Forum in Northallerton and there’ll be two performances – 3pm and 7.30pm on Saturday 18 December. Tickets are £10 and you book via the Forum website at http://www.forumnorthallerton.org.uk

• To Thursday 25 November – The French Dispatch – A love letter to journalists set in an outpost of an American newspaper in a fictional twentieth century French city that brings to life a collection of stories published in “The French Dispatch Magazine”.
• Friday 26 November to Thursday 2 December – The Last Duel – King Charles VI declares that Knight Jean de Carrouges settle his dispute with his squire by challenging him to a duel.
• Friday 3 to Thursday 9 December – Dune – Feature adaptation of Frank Herbert’s science fiction novel, about the son of a noble family entrusted with the protection of the most valuable asset and most vital element in the galaxy.
• Friday 10 to Thursday 16 December – Spencer – During her Christmas holidays with the royal family at the Sandringham estate, Diana decides to leave her marriage to Prince Charles.

There are no matinees on any of these films. Please keep checking the website for the latest details – https://www.ritzcinema.co.uk/

• Friday 26 November at 7.30pm – The UK Rock Show – Get ready to be transported back to the 80s heyday of classic rock, combining the feel of a rock festival with the atmosphere of a top end rock arena tour. 
• Sunday 28 November at 7.30pm – Comedy with Gary in Punderland – get ready to dive into a rabbit hole of the best jokes in the world from Apollo sensation Gary Delaney.
• Thursday 2 December at 7.30pm – Jenny Eclair: Sixty! Having hit 60 (but still a year younger than Madonna), Jenny Eclair confronts a new decade of decrepitude.
• Saturday 4 December at 7.30pm – The Upbeat Beatles – This is a rockin’ band with tight  musicianship and powerhouse vocals! You’ll be jumping from the word go! 
• Sunday 5 December at 7.30pm – ‘Anything Goes, the musical’ – Filmed live at the Barbican in London, this production features an all-star cast. A heart-warming romance with spectacular dance routines and some of theatre’s most memorable songs.
• Saturday 18 December – 3pm and 7.30pm – Northallerton Male Voice Choir present their Christmas concert, with special guests, the Easington Colliery Band.

Enquiries 01609 776230. Tickets online at http://www.forumnorthallerton.org.uk

• Art classes – 10am to 12 noon each Monday to 6 December.
• My Time Yoga – 1.30 to 2.45pm – every Monday.
• Boot Camp – 7 to 8pm – Mondays
• Boccia Club – 1.30 to 3.30pm every Tuesday. More participants welcome
• Library – 1.30 to 3.30pm every Tuesday (access at other times with agreement of activity leaders.
• Squirrels – 5 to 6pm every Tuesday.
• Beavers – 6.15 to 7.15pm every Tuesday.
• Soup & Sweet lunch – 12 noon to 1pm on alternate Wednesdays – next is on 10 November
• Cubs – 6.45 to 7.45pm every Wednesday. 
• Pammy’s Pilates – 6 to 7pm, every Thursday evening.
• Indoor Carpet Bowls – 7.30 to 9.30pm every Thursday.
• Boot Camp – 6 to 7pm every Friday.
• Scouts – 7.30 to 10pm every Friday.
• Salsa and Bachata dancing – Saturdays – 6 to 8pm.
• Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall Committee – 7.30pm on Tuesday 23 November.
• Election for new Police , Fire & Crime Commissioner – all day Thursday 25 November.
• Topcliffe Parish Council meeting – 7.15pm on Thursday, 2 December
• Elderly folks Christmas Lunch – 12 noon – Wednesday 15 December
• Carols at the village Christmas tree – 7pm Wednesday 22 December (led by members of St Columba’s Choir). Mulled wine and mince pies afterwards in the Village Hall.
• Asenby Parish Council meeting – 7.30pm on Wednesday, 19 January

To encourage existing and new group activities, use of the Village Hall is being offered free of charge until 31 December (this does not include commercial one-off or private hires for parties and social functions). The Big Race Night and Challenge Quiz & Curry Night will hopefully be rescheduled early in 2022.

• The Angel at Topcliffe – Check out full details at http://www.theangelattopcliffe.co.uk or follow on Facebook.
• Asenbee Honey – a local business selling honey but also making beeswax candles, a range of hand-carved spoons and oak chopping boards. http://www.asenbeehoney.co.uk
• John Aston Flooring Ltd – The Old Hatchery, Asenby. Carpets and flooring. Appointment only. 01845 421111 info@johnastonflooring.co.uk
• The Catton Kitchen  –  07747 083155. Check out http://www.thecattonkitchen.co.uk or folllow on Facebook.
• Chip ‘n Dales – the Fish & Chip van is in Topcliffe on Fridays between 5 and 7pm.
• The Elm Gallery – Call 01845 577316 or 07709 223920, check out the website at: http://www.the-elm-gallery.co.uk or follow on Facebook.
• Fotiá Candles – Nikki and Sam Key’s home-based business producing soy wax candles, wax melts and diffusers – http://www.fotiacandles.co.uk or call 07879 447953. 
• The Little Yorkshire Hamper Company – Kerry Parker runs this business supplying beautiful hampers containing the best of produce from small Yorkshire food and drink producers. 07793 775987. http://www.thelittleyorkshirehampercompany.co.uk
• The Milk Churn Farm Shop & Cafe – Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9am – 5pm; Thursday 9am – 1pm; Saturday 9am – 4pm. Closed on Sundays and Mondays. Trees and turkeys – you can now place your order for Christmas.  https://www.milkchurnfarmshop.co.uk/ follow on Facebook  or call 01845 400446
• Studio 18 Hairstylist – unisex hairdressing salon run by Nicola James at 18 Long Street (opposite the surgery). Open Monday to Saturday. Male and female adults as well as children. For an appointment call Nicola on 07851 034815.
• The Swan – Providing traditional home-cooked food. Extra choices on Wednesday Pie Night. Take-away meals every day. Sunday lunch served 12 noon to 4pm. On Saturdays, food is served 12 noon until 8.30pm and the bar stays open until late. Bar times: Monday to Thursday 5pm to close; Friday 4pm to close; Saturday 3pm to close and Sunday 12 noon until close.
• The Thirsk Food Bank – collection point at the Milk Churn Farm Shop. 
• Topcliffe Post Office – New opening times are: Shop sales, including newspapers – 7am to 5pm, Monday to Friday and 7am to 12.30pm Saturday. Post Office services – 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday and 8.30am to 12noon on Saturdays. New lines are being added every day so don’t forget to pop in for more than just your stamps or newspaper.

Hambleton (Topcliffe):

• Recycling & green waste – Thursday 2 December.
• Refuse – Mondays 22 November and 6 December

The garden waste collection on 2 December will be the last regular collection until 24 February. However, there will be a one off collection on 13 January to take Christmas trees. Normal garden waste is accepted during this collection.

Harrogate (Asenby)

• Recycling – Mondays 22 November and 6 December.
• Refuse – Mondays 29 November and 13 December
• Garden waste – no more collections until March.

The council will be in touch in January to explain what you need to do if you want to have your garden waste taken away in 2022.

• Bookings for the Covid booster jab are opening this week for people aged 40 and over. Sixteen and 17-year-olds will also be able to book in for their second jab from tomorrow. People eligible for a booster can get the top-up jab from six months after having their second dose. But they can book their appointment from 7am on Monday when the National Booking Service opens.
• Austria, which has a relatively low vaccination rate, has imposed a lockdown on the unvaccinated, agreed a full national Covid-19 lockdown starting on Monday and announced mandatory vaccination in the New Year. The Austrian Chancellor expressed his anger at the anti-vaxers saying: “Too many people have been incited into not getting the jab by too many political forces, flimsy vaccination opponents and fake news. 
• Germany saw several days of record infections last week and Ministers are talking about a national emergency that requires a combined national effort. Restrictions are already in place for unvaccinated people in areas with high hospital admissions and people need to show Covid passes on buses and trains, and in workplaces. In Bavaria Christmas markets have been cancelled.
• Violent scenes have erupted in The Netherlands as hundreds of protesters gathered to oppose Covid measures in the country. A three-week partial lockdown was introduced earlier this month. 
• Demonstrations are also set to take place in Switzerland, Croatia and Italy, as nations in mainland Europe struggle to contain coronavirus outbreaks.
• The organisers of the Australian Open tournament has confirmed that unvaccinated players will not be allowed to compete in next January’s tournament in Melbourne.