R.Kelly’s Back Making Music

AFTER three long years since his last album, R.Kelly is back with his new album, Black Panties.

This album has 17 tracks on the deluxe version and features superstars Ludacris, Kelly Rowland, 2 Chainz, Future, Juicy J and more.

The 46-year-old offers something different with each track, but it all fits together into one flowing masterpiece.  His vocal range is amazing and he isn’t afraid to flaunt his talent in each song.

There is so much passion with he sings and even though the lyrics aren’t romantic or personal, the melody of every song is so catchy.

This album has a sound that really fits into the music industry at the moment, but his style is very unique. It is fresh and each track is unpredictable.

R.Kelly's new album Black Panties

It is certainly an album that offers something different with every track. There is a mixture of R&B, Soul, Pop and Ballads and his voice suits each one of these music styles.

He is that much of a superstar he has brought out a new sound from Kelly Rowland in the All the Way track. She sings in falsetto which she rarely sings in and it really compliments R.Kelly’s voice. Rather than having someone feature just to give the song more credibility, all of the features on this album have an equal amount to sing so it is more like a duet. This is very rare to come across.

This album is very chilled out. It’s great to listen to for background music. It would have been nice to have one or two songs that have a little more bass and a faster tempo, but I guess R.Kelly is known for his slower tempo R&B songs. Despite that, it is certainly a must buy at £10.99 for the deluxe edition.

Preview it on iTunes here: 

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/black-panties-deluxe-version/id742663988

Chester Intelligencer reporter, Amy Poole

Leona Lewis Gets Christmassy

LEONA LEWIS’ voice is pretty much perfect and her album Christmas, With Love, a cover album of Christmas tracks, puts the original singers of these songs to shame.

This album has all the Christmas classics, including Winter Wonderland, Silent Night and I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday.

She sings each one beautifully and this album is very festive. She has a wide vocal range and great control over her voice. She’s really pleasant to listen to because she doesn’t over-do her singing.

Each track is very similar to the original to make this album great for all ages.

Her young voice has really brought the old classics to life, but it would have been nice to have heard something different from these tracks. It feels like she has brought out this album for no real purpose. She hasn’t been around for a long time, so it could be a way to get back into the public eye and singing Christmas songs is an easy way of doing this.

Although this album isn’t a disappointment for Christmas addicts, it is disappointing for music lovers. There are so many artists who have brought out a Christmas cover album, so this one doesn’t really offer anything different. If Leona had have played around with the melodies and gave each song a unique sound, it would have been a more satisfying buy.

This album is similar to Mariah Carey’s Christmas album, which was on sale nearly ten years ago. Sorry Leona, but Mariah did it better. Not because she is a better singer, because they both have tremendous talent, but because when Mariah’s album was released, it was different to any other singers who sang the songs.

Listen to a preview of Christmas, With Love here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXAyf0FUk7U

To purchase Christmas, With Love, visit iTunes here: 

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/christmas-with-love/id731437243

Chester Intelligencer reporter, Amy Poole

Leona's new Christmas album,
taken from http://www.rickey.org/leona-lewis-christmas-love-mp3-album-sampler/

Review: 18th century Chester physician display

THE WORK of a pioneering 18^th century Chester physician was displayed at Cheshire Records Office this weekend as part of a nationwide celebration of historical figures in healthcare.

Cheshire Records Office. Photo: Liam Cookson

A recreation of Dr John Haygarth’s work was on display in conjunction with the national Explore Your Archive day on Saturday November 16.

A medical chest filled with copies of Haygarth’s original journals, patient records and photographs was on a special display for one day only. Although a very small display, the cabinet has drawers that can be opened and explored, and the contents rifled through.

Particularly striking and poignant are the patient records, which list if a patient 'recovered', 'died', or is 'incurable'. The recreation of Haygarth’s patient books showed a decrease of patients dying and notable increase in recoveries as his career progressed.

The display was well organised and held many photographs and other visual aids which made the subject much more interesting. A real snapshot into the life of the physician was successfully presented, and the ability to physically interact with everything on show made the display much more fun.

But why did the Records Office choose Haygarth as their subject? Paul Newman, of Cheshire Records Office said: “Using the general theme of ‘health’ it was obvious we should display Haygarth’s work.”

The Explore Your Archive campaign was a successful nationwide event, which encouraged local residents to visit their local archives and record offices to discover the history of the city they live in.

Haygarth’s innovative ideas were ground breaking at the time and were used first hand in Chester Infirmary, where he was a part of the staff.

His straightforward beliefs, such as regularly changing bed sheets and opening windows to let in fresh air helped countless patients recover from their diseases.

The physician’s work most notably helped Chester stay Typhus free for over 36 years whilst he was stationed at Chester Infirmary.

The inaugural Haygarth Lecture, an annual talk on important health issues was hosted in memorial of the doctor took place on Monday November 18 at the University of Chester.

If any readers are interested in this subject, the University of Chester's Faculty of Health and Social Care museum at the Riverside campus is a year-round display of medical curiosities, mostly taken from Chester Infirmary.

Sandiway's Round Tower rebuild: still awaiting a decision

AROUND 10.30pm on November 14 a Red Corsa veered into and destroyed a 200 year old Cheshire landmark.

The remains of the tower being removed. Photo: Michael Howroyd

Within the few seconds of the crash, the tower was damaged severely. The following morning, Cheshire West and Chester Council decided to take apart the whole structure.

The driver of the car, who was said to be a 50-year-old woman, was taken to hospital and treated for minor injuries. Although an unfortunate incident, no one was seriously hurt.

The tower, beloved by the residents of Sandiway and the surrounding Cheshire area, was built in the 1800s, and has a local newsletter named after it. Far from being a building of great historical significance or use, the grade II listed monument is well known has nonetheless become a topic of heated debate.

In a bid to aid public safety, the remainder of the tower was totally deconstructed after the accident by the council and the sandstone bricks put in storage. The morning after the incident, the council posted this tweet:

@Go_CheshireWest Our teams are already planning reconstruction of the tower on the A556 and we always pursue costs from drivers' insurance companies.

Soon after, anger and disappointment spread throughout the surrounding area. Immediately, members of the public came forward through social media and tried to make their voice heard:  “the Round Tower should be rebuilt.”

The council have been discussing the options of rebuilding, and plan to submit an application in February 2014. The public want answers now.

Countless tweets and posts later, an ambitious Facebook group was created: ‘Rebuild the Round Tower’. It gleaned over 1,000 participants in under 24 hours, and now it’s set to break the 2,000 mark. This group represents a fraction of the public as a whole.

Offline, the public have been showing their support for the cause. Owner of Beeston Reclamation Yard, John Newton, has offered a supply of his own sandstone bricks in order for the tower to be reconstructed as quickly as possible.

Is this a decision that Cheshire West and Chester council can even make? English Heritage have been contacted and are currently in discussions with the council on what the best plan of action will be.

And yet, no ultimate decision can be made yet. A public forum meeting is to be held on Monday 16^th of December, which is sure to reflect the anxieties and wishes of the social media campaign, and through them, the general public. Hopefully their voice will be heard: “the Round Tower should be rebuilt”. And quick.

Best Accounts to Follow on Twitter in the Run-up to Christmas

[caption id="attachment_1204" align="alignnone" width="300"] [http://webdesignfan.com][/caption]In the anticipating run up to Christmas what better way to get into the festive spirit than to follow an array of Twitter accounts to make your timeline Christmas crazy!

Here are some of the best festive accounts to follow at this time of year:

@ ChristmasCount – This account is perfect fun for the Christmas season and is sure to bring some festive cheer whilst your scrolling through your usual timeline. Its bio reads: “Twitter's Christmas Countdown! Follow us for Christmas updates, trivia, announcements and holiday fun all year!

Example:

https://twitter.com/ChristmasCount/status/410575140549062656

 

@SantaBanter_ - This one’s for the adults. A comedic and hilarious Santa parody that combines crude humour with Christmas countdown tweets.

Example:

https://twitter.com/SantaBanter_/status/410455765896687616

 

@ Buddy_Teh_Elf – This is a wonderful account filled with humorous quotes from the movie ‘Elf’. The bio of this account reads: “SANTA! OH MY GOD! SANTA'S COMING! I KNOW HIM! I KNOW HIM! I'm Buddy The Elf, Christmas is my favourite!

Example:

https://twitter.com/Buddy_Teh_Elf/status/410263832540364801

 

All of these account combine humour with all the fun of the run up to Christmas day and are a great way to keep you smiling as you scroll through your timeline on Twitter.

Christleton celebrates local resident's 100th birthday party in style

The village of Christleton celebrated Janette Shaw's 100th birthday yesterday afternoon with a large group of local guests and old friends in Waverton at the Evangelical Fellowship centre.

The party began with a warm-hearted speech on ‘meeting the great mile stone’, which gave everyone a true reflection on all of the evolvements in science, technology and transport which Janette has seen throughout her lifetime.

Janette’s history began when she was born in Manchester on the rather special date of the 11th day of the 12th month of the 13th year and a century later has been lucky enough to celebrate this day again.

In her early life Janette worked as a typist for the civil service during the Second World War. A few years after the war she met her husband, Police Officer, Jack Shaw who she moved around Cheshire with until they decided to settle in the village of Christleton in the year 1969 and start a family.

Until recently Janette was one of the talented six ladies who made tapestries in the Women’s Institution. She says, “I have always been a fond knitter and when I was younger I was a dress maker”. An event Janette still enjoys taking part in are the local quizzes and where she is still sharper than most of the younger ones there.

Keeping up appearances is something Janette takes great pride of, as she enjoys wearing a spot of makeup and even wore a stylish pastel pink river island shirt for the birthday party.

The event was organised by volunteers from the Waverton Day Care Centre where Janette has been a member of since 2009 who did a brilliant job with deocations and refreshments.

Today, Janette and her loved ones are looking forwards to receiving her telegram from the Queen at her second party this afternoon.

[caption id="attachment_1201" align="alignleft" width="225"] Janette Shaw, at her 100th Birthday. Image by Rebecca Jones [/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1202" align="alignnone" width="300"] Friends and family of Janette. Image by Rebecca Jones[/caption]

Movember madness

IN November 2003, Australian friends went a whole month without shaving their moustaches to raise money for charity.

Now, ten years later, Movember has become a recognised part of the calender with 1.1 million people registering as 'Mo's.' Supporting over 560 men's health charities the annual event has raised £94 million and now takes place in 21 countries.

The main focus in the past few years has been men's mental health charities but money raised also goes towards prostate and testicular cancer charities.

Adam Garone, Movember co-founder and CEO said: "Whilst the quantum funds is truly impressive, what is equally important are the conversations and awareness about men's health."

There are hundreds of different forms of mental illness that effect both men and women, but, in the UK young males have higher levels of suicide than any other social group. Jonathan Phillips, 21, suffers from mild

[caption id="attachment_1192" align="alignright" width="168"] Movember is a light hearted way to raise money for an excellent cause.[/caption]

depression and raises money every year for the cause, he said: "I do Movemeber every year with three other friends. It's important for people to realise that mental illness can effect anyone and sufferers might be unaware they have it or be too embarrassed to go a get help." He added: "Its a great light hearted way to raise money and awareness for a serious cause but also to help remove the stigma attached to mental heath issues."

Chester joined in the fundraising this year once again with those young and old from schools to offices and nightclubs donning either a real or drawn on beard to promote the cause.

Related articles

• Grow a Mo' for Movember (getyouseen.wordpress.com)


• Movember (thesocaleediary.wordpress.com)

Beating the winter blues this Christmas

THE WINTER IS the season that gets darker, colder and for some gets depressing. For some the thought of cuddling up on the couch listening to the rainfall becomes a dampening habit rather than a cosy night in. People who can notice an emotional difference due to the changes of season may have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) also known as ‘winter depression’. SAD is a classified type of depression that occurs during certain types of the year affecting millions of people in the UK.

There are a number of symptoms which when combined, can be helpful in diagnosing the disorder. They include; feeling lethargic and unproductive, feeling pains in your joints, feeling depressed or irritable and finding it difficult to concentrate. If you are someone that is struggling with these symptoms, there are a variety of ways to over come the winter blues and enjoy the festive season.

Firstly, eating the right types of food can have an amazing effect on your body and mind as getting the correct vitamins and proteins can do the world of good. One main vitamin we need is the ‘sunshine vitamin’, better known as vitamin D which is naturally produced when the sunlight hits the skin. But in the winter months, where there is little natural sunlight, you are more likely to run a deficit.

Vitamin D is important for maintaining a healthy immune system, cell growth, and bone remodelling so getting the right amount each day will help ensure that you feel as your best and decrease the severity of SAD. As vitamin D is important for the absorption of calcium eating beef, cheese and eggs are a brilliant way to help you from the inside out.

Once you have got eating healthy, another great way of overcoming the winter sadness is by finding workouts that you enjoy. When you feel low, you may want to curl up in a ball in your bed watching episodes of Friends but exercising can be one of the best ways to combat depression.

Having a regular exercise program, no matter how ambitious or small can boost your well being by causing a flood of feel-good endorphins rush around your body. For SAD sufferers, doing enjoyable workouts such as dancing, yoga or swimming are great and leave you feeling sustained and less anxious.

Maintaining a good sleeping pattern is important to do over the winter months. As the winter days are short it is best to wake up as early as possible to enjoy the best of the sunlight hours and get outside as much as you can. To get the best out of your sleeping hours, try going to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning. This will help you feel energised and refreshed, ready for the day.

Another way of feeling brighter this winter is by trying light therapy. Light therapy is useful for people who lack vitamin D and works by purchasing a ‘light box’. A ‘light box’ is a very bright lamp (3,000-10,000 lux) that helps your body create natural vitamin D. They may not work for everyone and can cause headaches so it is best to consult a specialist on how they work.

Mind-set is a powerful thing so try and teach yourself to enjoy the winter perks! Take advantage of the nights in to relax and enjoy watching films. Learn a winter hobby, like skiing or do an indoor sport such as badminton or squash. Don’t put your life on pause over the months that can be just as enjoyable as the spring and summer, just understand the reasons why before things can change.


[caption id="attachment_1161" align="alignnone" width="199"] Learn to overcome SAD and enjoy the winter again. Image by Rebecca Jones[/caption]

Beating the winter blues this Christmas

THE WINTER IS the season that gets darker, colder and for some gets depressing. For some the thought of  cuddling up on the couch listening to the rainfall becomes a dampening habit rather than a cosy night in. People who can notice an emotional difference due to the changes of season may have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) also known as ‘winter depression’. SAD is a classified type of depression that occurs during certain types of the year affecting millions of people in the UK.

There are a number of symptoms which when combined, can be helpful in diagnosing the disorder. They include; feeling lethargic and unproductive, feeling pains in your joints, feeling depressed or irritable and finding it difficult to concentrate. If you are someone that is struggling with these symptoms, there are a variety of ways to over come the winter blues and enjoy the festive season.

Firstly, eating the right types of food can have an amazing effect on your body and mind as getting the correct vitamins and proteins can do the world of good. One main vitamin we need is the ‘sunshine vitamin’, better known as vitamin D which is naturally produced when the sunlight hits the skin. But in the winter months, where there is little natural sunlight, you are more likely to run a deficit.

Vitamin D is important for maintaining a healthy immune system, cell growth, and bone remodelling so getting the right amount each day will help ensure that you feel as your best and decrease the severity of SAD. As vitamin D is important for the absorption of calcium eating beef, cheese and eggs are a brilliant way to help you from the inside out.

Once you have got eating healthy, another great way of overcoming the winter sadness is by finding workouts that you enjoy. When you feel low, you may want to curl up in a ball in your bed watching episodes of Friends but exercising can be one of the best ways to combat depression.

Having a regular exercise program, no matter how ambitious or small can boost your well being by causing a flood of feel-good endorphins rush around your body. For SAD sufferers, doing enjoyable workouts such as dancing, yoga or swimming are great and leave you feeling sustained and less anxious.

Maintaining a good sleeping pattern is important to do over the winter months. As the winter days are short it is best to wake up as early as possible to enjoy the best of the sunlight hours and get outside as much as you can.  To get the best out of your sleeping hours, try going to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning. This will help you feel energised and refreshed, ready for the day.

Another way of feeling brighter this winter is by trying light therapy. Light therapy is useful for people who lack vitamin D and works by purchasing a ‘light box’. A ‘light box’ is a very bright lamp (3,000-10,000 lux) that helps your body create natural vitamin D. They may not work for everyone and can cause headaches so it is best to consult a specialist on how they work.

Mind-set is a powerful thing so try and teach yourself to enjoy the winter perks! Take advantage of the nights in to relax and enjoy watching films. Learn a winter hobby, like skiing or do an indoor sport such as badminton or squash. Don’t put your life on pause over the months that can be just as enjoyable as the spring and summer, just understand the reasons why before things can change.

[caption id="attachment_1161" align="alignleft" width="199"] Learn to overcome SAD and enjoy the winter again[/caption]

Thousands Gather to see the Coca Cola Christmas Truck in Chester

The iconic truck rolled into Broughton Retail Park on 28^th November and parked up where people were able to get their picture taken  and were offered free cans of coca cola.

The event was all free of charge and a professional photographer was on hand to ensure the magical moment was captured on film. The pictures were later uploaded on the Coke Zone website where attendees could download their special moment at no cost.

A speaker warmed up the crowd of hundreds that queued up to get their picture taken and a speaker on the truck played Christmas music out loud including the ‘holidays are coming’ song that the truck is known for.

The truck is planned to make 52 stops up until 23^rd December and is sure to bring Christmas cheer all over the country.

Beating the winter blues this Christmas

THE WINTER IS the season that becomes darker, colder and for some gets depressing. For some the thought of cuddling up on the couch listening to the rain becomes a dampening habit rather than a cosy night in. People who can notice an emotional difference due to the change of season may have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) also known as ‘winter depression’. SAD is a classified type of depression that occurs during certain types of the year affecting millions of people across the UK.

There are a number of symptoms which when combined, can be helpful in diagnosing the disorder. They include; feeling lethargic and unproductive, feeling pains in your joints, feeling depressed or irritable and finding it difficult to concentrate. If you are someone that is struggling with any of these symptoms, there are a variety of ways to over come the winter blues and enjoy the festive season.

Firstly, eating the right types of food can have an amazing effect on your body and mind, as getting the correct vitamins and proteins can do the world of good. One main vitamin we need is the ‘sunshine vitamin’, better known as vitamin D which is naturally produced when the sunlight hits the skin. But in the winter months, where there is little natural sunlight, you are more likely to run a deficit.

Vitamin D is important for maintaining a healthy immune system, cell growth, and bone remodelling so getting the right amount each day will help ensure that you feel as your best and decrease the severity of SAD. As vitamin D is important for the absorption of calcium eating beef, cheese and eggs are a brilliant way to help you from the inside out.

Once you have got eating healthy, another great way of overcoming the winter sadness is by finding workouts that you enjoy. When you feel low, you may want to curl up in a ball in your bed watching episodes of Friends but exercising can be one of the best ways to combat depression.

Having a regular exercise program, no matter how ambitious or small can boost your well being by causing a flood of feel-good endorphins rush around your body. For SAD sufferers, doing enjoyable workouts such as dancing, yoga or swimming are great and leave you feeling sustained and less anxious.

Maintaining a good sleeping pattern is important to do over the winter months. As the winter days are short it is best to wake up as early as possible to enjoy the best of the sunlight hours and get outside as much as you can.  To get the best out of your sleeping hours, try going to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning. This will help you feel energised and refreshed, ready for the day.

Another way of feeling brighter this winter is by trying light therapy. Light therapy is useful for people who lack vitamin D and works by purchasing a ‘light box’. A ‘light box’ is a very bright lamp (3,000-10,000 lux) that helps your body create natural vitamin D. They may not work for everyone and can cause headaches so it is best to consult a specialist on how they work.

Mind-set is a powerful thing so try and teach yourself to enjoy the winter perks! Take advantage of the nights in to relax and enjoy watching films. Learn a winter hobby, like skiing or do an indoor sport such as badminton or squash. Don’t put your life on pause over the months that can be just as enjoyable as the spring and summer, just understand the reasons why before things can change.

 

[caption id="attachment_1161" align="alignleft" width="199"] Learn to overcome SAD and enjoy the winter months[/caption]

Review: Gate of India Restaurant

The Gate of India Restaurant, situated on City Road is arguably one of Chester’s hidden gems, that is, if you are a curry lover.

I have been visiting this restaurant for a few years now and have never been disappointed with the meal or the experience.

If you are looking for a mild and creamy korma or a spicy vindaloo, the Gate of India really is the place to go. Mostly used by people who have had a few drinks in town and want to finish it with a nice meal, you would think the place was in danger of being to chaotic but the atmosphere is fun and friendly.

The staff in here are also excellent and very attuned to the customer’s needs. If you are with another person and you have ordered different curries and you happen to have each other’s plates in front of you, the staff are quick to correct it even if the curry’s look the same and you wouldn’t have noticed the difference!

This particular time, me and the person I was dining with ordered poppadum’s, chutney’s and onion bhaji to start. Then followed by a chicken Dupiaza, with rice and a naan for the main.

Even if you order two poppadum’s, there will always be more in the basket free of charge. There is a big variety of chutney’s also, just be careful of the lime pickle it does have a kick! We were shocked when the onion bhaji’s arrived as they were triple the size that I have ever seen.

The curry was absolutely gorgeous, just hot enough so that it didn’t burn your mouth.

I would definitely recommend this curry house to anyone who is looking for a nice, relaxed meal on the outskirts of town, before or after a drink. The restaurant stays open till 1am most weekend nights. The price of the meal, £25, was also very reasonable.

Chester Intelligencer Reporter, Amy Holland

Rugby match report: Chester 31 – 13 Harrogate

On Saturday Chester Rugby Union Football Club played the Harrogate Team at home. It was a cold, crisp day and both teams ran onto the pitch revved up and ready to play.

Chester kicked off the match but unfortunately didn’t retain possession of the ball for the first twenty minutes and it looked like Harrogate had the upper-hand although Chester defended well. Sledging

Ten minutes in Sean Green injured his wrist and had to be taken off the pitch to be treated by medics which hindered Chester even more. Harrogate then scored a try which was converted by Joe Rowntree.

A few nasty tackles and a few scuffles were seen as tensions increasingly rose with lots of penalties being awarded to Harrogate, resulting in a 10-0 lead to Harrogate sixteen minutes in. Not long after, they scored another try.

But with the shouts from Chester fans in the crowd they picked up the pace towards the end of the first half and thirty-four minutes in scored their first try and converted it to make it 7-13 to Harrogate.

The second-half was a blur of Chester repeatedly scoring and converting and resulted with Chester winning 31-13.

Chester had a good start to the season with a month of wins, then a bad run with a month of losses. But they seem to have regained their confidence and have started to win again so this match will be a much needed morale boost.

The next home match is on 21st December when Chester will play Caldy. Kick off is 3pm.

Chester Intelligencer Reporter, Amy Holland

Review: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at The Forum Studio Theatre

 

[caption id="attachment_140" align="alignright" width="224"] Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (pic : Amy Holland)[/caption]

This year Tip Top Productions returned with another magical Christmas pantomime, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, directed by Rob Stevens.

Waiting upstairs in the foyer, all that could be heard was the laughter and screaming of children excitedly waiting to go downstairs to see Snow White. Brownie groups, Rainbow groups and lots of families had all come to watch one of the most well-known children’s stories acted out in panto form.

Once seated, the lights dimmed and the stage filled with smoke and then the Fairy played by Fiona MacSween / Annie Howarth (depending on which night) appeared singing a song to introduce the play. Then, queue tons of fun, fast-paced singing and dancing from the whole cast and the pace never let up! Add a few ‘he’s behind you’s!’ and you have a classic Christmas panto.

I have to give special credit to Simple Simon, played by Dan Ellis. He really made the audience comfortable and was absolutely hilarious. Whenever he ran onto the stage I could hear fits of giggles from all the children.

Also, Nurse Kitty Litter played by Phil Edwards was hilarious with his innuendo jokes and crazy dress changes! The audience couldn’t stop laughing when a video of him seeing all of the sights in Chester was projected onto the set.

The main character of Snow White played by Rebecca Roberts, reminded me of the actual Disney character. She was sweet and princess-like just like Snow White should be. George, the servant boy, played by Kathryn Wilson brought many sing-along anthems to the play and really picked up the tempo.

As in all panto’s, you have to have a villain and she came in the form of the Evil Queen played by Pippa Redmayne. She made sure the audience really booed her by saying in her first few lines, ‘I HATE little boys and I HATE little girls!’ and it was fantastic to watch all the children getting up off their seats to boo her! Also, her costume was very evil-looking but very good.

The Seven Dwarfs, played by various different children on different nights, were very adorable as they walked onto the stage singing ‘Hi-ho, hi-ho’. In particular the girl who played ‘Jolly’ was fantastic and acted very well for her age.

Samantha Wilkinson came to see the play with her husband and two young children, she said: “The kids loved it as you’d expect! To be honest I wasn’t really ecstatic to be seeing something that’s for kids but the Nurse really made me laugh! I’ll be coming back next year to watch the next panto, think it’s Alladin!”

Getting the audience to sing along to ‘The Fox’ by Ylvis near the end of the panto was very funny and references to Twitter and well-known celebrities also brought the it up-to date.

This year’s pantomime was truly well thought-out and the cast really made it a special play to watch. Looking around at the children’s faces afterwards showed that it was a complete success!

Chester Intelligencer Reporter, Amy Holland

Top presents for pets this Christmas

[gallery type="slideshow" ids="1140,1141,1142,1143,1144,1145,1146,1147"]



Everyone who owns a cat or a dog knows that they're not just a pet but a member of the family. So your pet deserves a lovely present under the tree. I scoured the high-street for the best, low-price gifts for your moggies and mutts this Christmas.

'I'm dreaming of a ... Christmas Dog Stocking' by Good Boy at Wilko - £3.00

With Turkey and Cranberry Flavour Bones , Chocolate Drops and a squeaky toy your dog will be happy and preoccupied all day long while you eat your Christmas dinner.

Dog/Cat Beds at Why Pay More (Chester Forum) - ranging from £5.00 to £12.00

Why Pay More have a huge selection of beds for dog's and cats in every colour you can think of. The small ones are £5.00, medium £8.00 and large are £12.00. Imagine how content your pet will be on Christmas Day when it lounges on one of these next to the fire.

'Christmas Pet Tux' and 'Christmas Fleece Jacket' by Primark - £1.50 and £3.00

If you love dressing up your pet and want to keep it warm this winter, why not try a tux or jacket from Primark? They're very easy to put on your pet and are light enough for them to not really notice it. The colours are very eye-catching too.

'I'm dreaming of a... choc biscuit box' by Wilko - £2.75

This biscuit box includes chocolate biscuit bones, crunchy snowballs and choc marrowbone and will be a great treat for your pooch. This present is only suitable for dogs.

'Christmas Large Cracker' by Wilko - £2.50

A rawhide treat for dogs only. This Christmas Cracker includes four munchy treats inside to surprise your pet just like a real cracker!

'Cat Stocking' at Poundland - £1.00

A perfect way to stash all your cat's treats till Christmas day! Eye-catching and very Christmassy, make sure your cat doesn't feel left out and get her a stocking!

'Christmas Dental Dog Stocking' by Wilko - £3.50

This stocking includes dental chews, a minty cotton knot, 2 rawhide treats and a munchy flat. This will keep your dog busy and he won't feel left out when your eating all of your human food. With the added bonus of keeping your dogs teeth healthy, this really is a good treat.

'Christmas Dog Toy'  at Poundland - £1.00

This toy is probably the best bargain I've found. It's for dog's but my cat actually played with it too. Will keep your pets entertained for at least an hour!

Chester Intelligencer, Amy Holland

Review – Disney’s 'Frozen'

[caption id="attachment_1138" align="alignnone" width="300"] Disney's 'Frozen' is currently showing in all major cinema chains[/caption]

Everything in this movie is beautiful from the intricate detail, the fascinating 3D to the whimsical characters and the strikingly stunning setting.

The story follows two Princesses Elsa (Idina Menzel) and Anna (Kristen Bell), one of which had shut herself down from society in fear of unleashing her dangerous icy powers and when her powers can no longer be contained; her fear traps the kingdom in an eternal winter.

The magical tale follows the two princesses on their quest to melt away the winter and bring back the summer.

On their journey, the princesses meet a jolly talking snowman named Olaf whose comedic antics are a joy for children and adults alike.

This wonderful tale runs for almost 2 hours and is aimed mainly at young girls but is a delight for all.

Carols for missing people this Christmas

HAVING  a family member go missing is heartbreaking all year round but the pain becomes even more raw during family - based periods such as Christmas.

Every five minutes, a child in the UK goes missing. In a year, up to 275,000 people disappear.

The effect for family members are devastating and any support becomes a lifeline. That's where charities such as 'Missing People' come in.

[caption id="attachment_1134" align="alignright" width="300"] Carol services are being held throughout the country.
Picture by: eventbrite.co.uk[/caption]

This year there are five carol services being held in memory of those who are missing and their families in support for the Home for Christmas Appeal. The closest service to Chester is being held in Manchester at 6.30 pm on December, 14. Others will be in London, Colchester, Cardiff and York.

After last year's service, Kate McCann, mother of missing toddler Madeline McCann said: "Thank you to the charity Missing People for making the void in our family this Christmas that little bit smaller."

To find out how to register for a carol service, or for more information about Missing People's work over Christmas and the rest of the year, visit:
https://www.missingpeople.org.uk/missing-people/donate/our-carol-services-2013

1,500-home plan approved for Ellesmere Port

PLANNING permission was granted on Thursday for a ‘Port Sunlight inspired’ 1,500-home village to be built in Ellesmere Port.

Ellesmere Port countryside. Photo: Terry Kearney, Flickr.

The ‘garden village’ will be built on previously safeguarded farmland in Little Sutton, and will take 18 years to complete. 200 construction jobs will be created and a mixture of affordable two and three storey homes plan to be made. The village, which will be built in the image of model village Port Sunlight, will have a primary school, community building and shop.Spokesperson for Redrow Homes, David O’Reily, said the project will have “extensive community benefits” , including 375 affordable homes and a total of 1,570.

Plans have previously been met with mixed reviews and Councillor Gareth Anderson disagreed with the project. He said: “There was a huge variety of concerns expressed to this committee back in June and today about the loss of high quality farm land, the major detrimental impact that traffic will have on the area, the prematurity of this plan, sustainability, flooding.”

‘Every single one of these is still a concern and not one of them has been resolved satisfactorily.”

The plan was decided after a vote of five in favour, two against and two abstentions.

Sandiway Tower May Rise Again

[caption id="attachment_1129" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The Round Tower at Sandiway before it was destroyed. [Ken Hewitt - Picture taken from chesterchronicle.co.uk][/caption]The historic tower located on the A556 was demolished by a car that drove directly into it on November 14th.

There are already talks of a new structure being built in its place to resemble the old demolished structure and surveyors have already been on site to observe and plan for a new build.

[caption id="attachment_1130" align="alignright" width="300"] The scene of the crash at the Round Tower in Sandiway [Taken from chesterchronicle.co.uk][/caption]The round tower was a listed building that was built in the 1800’s. The tower was all that survived of a gate lodge to the house of Vale Royal Abbey.

The 50-year-old woman driving the Vauxhall Corsa that struck the tower was taken to Leighton hospital and treated for minor injuries.

Nearby Hartford resident Andy Jones said: “It’s a sad shame. The tower is greatly missed by many. I’m hoping a new tower can be built in its place.”

Review - The Croods Blu-Ray & DVD Release

DREAMWORKS brings together this witty comedy about a cave family who, after their home is destroyed, embark on an incredible journey through a world they have never seen before.

Grug, the father of the family has set a series of rules that the family have followed since they can remember. This includes staying in their cave after dark and staying away from anything new or out of the routine.  Despite this, rebellious teenage daughter Eep breaks her father’s rules which results in a chance meeting with interesting teenage boy Guy, who warns her that the end of the world is coming. When the Croods family cave is destroyed, they embark upon a journey through a formerly unknown world.

The Croods follows the standard heroic journey theme, but it's elevated by the writing and direction of Kirk DeMicco and How to Train Your Dragon's Chris Sanders. The Croods focusses on family dynamics and embraces humour to enlighten the message within.

As is always expected from Dreamworks, the animation is spectacular. Attention to detail is evident throughout and the graphics are stunning. The animation flows from one scene to the next in a fluid motion and with ease.

This movie has a great voicing cast who do a great job and really suit the role they are playing. Eep voiced by Emma Stone is a particularly suiting voice role. Other voiced parts include Nicholas Cage and Ryan Reynolds.

Although the Croods isn’t DreamWorks’ biggest blockbuster hit, the movie includes humour and a heart-warming story that will appeal to children and adults alike.

The new DVD and Blu-ray bonus content include Belt’s cave journal, lost scenes and the World of DreamWorks Animation and previews. The Croods on DVD and Blu-Ray was released in the UK December 9^th.

Watch the official trailer for The Croods here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fVCKy69zUY