Sunday Email: Issue 87

See the item about services at St Columba’s for details of a special Carols around the Christmas tree event on Wednesday 22 December.

Message from Linda Carver and Karen Morley
A big thank you to whoever it was that put us forward for Hambleton Hero awards. it was very kind of you, but it couldn’t have happened without the support of all those who made delicious soups and cakes…and all of those who have attended the lunches over the last few months. Many thanks to you all. 

• Asenby Feoffee – Carole Ford on 01845 577718 r
• Topcliffe Feoffees – Anne-Marie Barningham 07740 175311 or Doug Allan 07785 223707 

• Christmas trees are now on sale.
• 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.
• Milk Churn Hampers – a range of delicious treats carefully packaged and hand-wrapped in an Emma Bridgewater tin.
• Christmas treats from the cafe – 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)

• TONIGHT!  (5 December) 6.30pm – Choral Evensong
• 12 December 10.45am, Holy Communion
• 19 December 10.45am, Matins
• 26 December (No service)

A message from all at St Columba’s
We send our very best wishes to you all for a very happy and blessed Christmas and 2022. We would also like to thank everyone for their support and understanding as we have negotiated both the Covid pandemic and the lengthy period we have been without a vicar.

How to keep safe when Christmas shopping online
This year more than ever before people will be doing their Christmas shopping online and avoiding visits to busy shops and malls. Most transactions will be fine but there are risks for the less wary, so here are a few simple tips that just might keep you safe from scammer cheats:

• Do your research: if you’re looking for a specific item then make sure you have a good idea of what the RRP is. If you see it advertised at a dramatically reduced price then chances are it’s a scam.
• Use secure websites: make sure any websites you use to buy items have the secure padlock icon in the web address bar and start ‘https’
• Pay using a credit card or secure payment provider like paypal: Using a credit card gives you an extra layer of protection.
• Be aware of spoofed websites: scammers can imitate popular websites so make sure the web address is correct and if in doubt don’t use it.
• Check reviews: If you’re not familiar with a website or retailer then look for reviews before making any transactions. TrustPilot is a good source for this.

Finally, if something looks too good to be true then chances are it’s probably a scam!

• Asenby Parish Council will meet at 7.30pm on Wednesday, 19 January 2022 – http://www.asenby.net
• Topcliffe Parish Council will meet at 7.15pm on Thursday 3 February 2022- http:// www.topcliffe.org.

Village Hall Committee meeting

• The next meeting will be at 7.15am on Tuesday 25 January 2022.

Both parish councils and the Village Hall Committee meet at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall.

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 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/

• TONIGHT! 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.
• Tuesday 7 December at 7.30pm – Firefighters’ Carol Concert with the Lockwood Brass Band.
• Thursday 9 December at 8m – An Evening with Shaun Ryder – As the frontman of The Happy Mondays and Black Grape, Shaun Ryder is part of the Madchester phenomenon that spread across the globe.
• Friday 10 December at 7.30pm – Elvis the Legend – J D King impersonator extraordinaire! 
• Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 December at 7.30pm – Roy Chubby Brown.
• Saturday 18 December – 3pm and 7.30pm – Northallerton Male Voice Choir present their Christmas concert, with special guests, the Easington Colliery Band.
• Monday 20 to Friday 24 December – multiple performances each day – a magical family pantomime, The Nice List.
• Sunday 16 to Saturday 22 January (various performance times) – The Northallerton Variety Company present the pantomime Cinderella – undoubtedly the best known and most popular panto of them all.

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

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 – 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. 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 Contacts: 07747 083155, Facebook page or http://www.thecattonkitchen.co.uk 
• 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):

• Refuse – Mondays 6 and 20 December, 3 January.
• Recycling & green waste –  The garden waste collection on 2 December was 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. Bin lids must be closed.

Harrogate (Asenby)

• Recycling – Monday 6 and Saturday 18 December (changed for operational reasons) and Wednesday 5 January (changed due to a bank holiday).
• Refuse – Monday 13 and Friday 24 December (changed due to a bank holiday) and Tuesday 11 January ((changed for operational reasons).
• Garden waste – no more collections until March.

COVID NEWS IN BRIEF

• The average number of daily confirmed cases has bounced around since mid-July and has been rising again since early November. A further 53,945 confirmed cases were announced on Thursday, the highest daily total since July, when the Euro 2020 football matches were being played.
• The emergence of the new Omicron variant , which has so far been detected in 30 countries, means new temporary measures are  now in force in this country as a precaution. These include the compulsory use of face coverings in shops and on public transport. Anyone entering the UK is required to take a PCR test within 48 hours of arrival and must self-isolate until they receive a negative result.
• A booster campaign, for people aged over 40, has been extended to all over-18s. Every adult will be offered a booster jab by the end of January, in an attempt to stop a potential wave of cases driven by the new Omicron variant.
• Experts say there is good reason to believe the vaccines will provide some protection against the new Omicron variant  so if you are boosted your response is likely to be stronger. That means it’s more vital than ever that people get their jabs. 
• Booster jabs can now be given three months after a second dose (or third, if you have a weakened immune system). Vulnerable people will be contacted first, followed by older age groups, then younger ones.
• A UK trial has shown that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines give the best overall booster response.
• Jabs will be rolled out at 1,500 community pharmacy sites and extra hospital hubs. 
• Five to 11 year olds could be the next age group to be offered a Covid jab with ministers now taking advice on the impact of vaccinating primary-school-age children.
• People are likely to need to have annual Covid vaccinations for many years to come, according to the CEO of Pfizer.
• If you have any questions about the new rules and impact of Omicron, you may find the BBC’s questions and answers useful – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-51176409