GINGERBREAD MEN

With Christmas just days away, this tummy-warming festive treat will be a hit with the whole family.

No confectionery symbolises the holidays quite like gingerbread in its many different forms – from gingerbread Santas to snow-covered houses glued together with sugar.

Gingerbread has a confused identity in this country, referring simultaneously to moist cakes, crumbly bars, and a whole army of spicy biscuit men.

Of course, we are talking about the hard sort, with its festive spicing and a long and varied history.

It first appeared in central Europe in the Middle Ages, when soldiers returned home from The Crusades with sugars and spices from the Middle East.

And in the 16th century, Queen Elizabeth I surprised visiting dignitaries by presenting each with a gingerbread man that had been made to look just like them.

It was at Christmas time when gingerbread began to make its most impressive appearance, as Germany started making extraordinary houses out of the biscuit. Huge and expertly crafted, with candies and sugar icing used to decorate them, the houses were loved by children across the country.

Associated with celebrations, gingerbread was soon synonymous with Christmas. With its warm, subtle spices, the treat seemed kept out the cold.

And with the later invention of cookie cutters, gingerbread soon took on the form of Christmas trees, stars, elves and snowmen, creating the true Christmas biscuit.

There are many ways to bake gingerbread and various spices can be used to create the unique taste loved by many. Cinnamon is one – it's a sweet but spicy flavour, leaving a nice warming feeling on your taste buds.

Ginger is similar to cinnamon in its warming effects, but it packs a much different punch of sweet and Christmassy flavours.

These treats are a fun and easy way to get children involved in baking and can be decorated in many different ways.

INGREDIENTS

350g plain flour, plus extra for rolling out

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

2 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp ground cinnamon

125g butter

175g light soft brown sugar

1 free-range egg

4 tbsp golden syrup

METHOD

1. Sieve the flour, bicarbonate of soda, ginger and cinnamon and mix together.

2. Add the soft butter to the dry ingredients, and mix together until small breadcrumbs are formed.

3. Add the sugar and mix it all together.

4. Lightly beat the egg and golden syrup together, and add into the bowl.

5. Stir together making sure it is all combined. Doing it by hand is fine, but if you have a food processor it will be much easier. Keep mixing until the mixture clumps together.

6. Tip out the dough and kneed briefly until smooth.

7. Wrap in cling film and leave to chill in the fridge for 15 minutes.

8. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.

9. Line two baking trays with greaseproof paper.

10. When chilled, roll the dough out to 0.5cm in thickness on a lightly floured surface.

11. Using cutters, cut out the gingerbread into shapes – or create your own.

12. Be sure to leave a gap between each gingerbread shape when placing them on the tray.

13. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until lightly golden-brown. Keep an eye on them – it can be hard to tell when they're done because of the dark mixture.

14. Leave on the tray or 10 minutes and then move to a cooling rack.

15. Decorate your gingerbread men with icing and sugar paste, Smarties, chocolate chips – whatever you've got in the cupboard!

Make a reindeer shape, giving Rudolph a big red nose, or create an icing beard for Santa. Make and decorate a Christmas tree, just use your imagination!

ONCE again Derbyshire County Council have hit the most vulnerable in our society – the elderly and disabled.

The latest victim of the latest round of cuts is the Ambervale Resource Centre.

In May 2013, Labour were elected to the county council having gained a landslide victory.

I would like to remind them that the majority of the people they are punishing are Labour supporters.

The county council has wasted money. The council had to pay the outgoing chief executive compensation, as well as replacing him, meaning extra expense for the council taxpayers.

Mobile libraries have been scrapped, care homes closed and now the latest is the closure of Ambervale. Who's next for surgery?

The most annoying thing is neither of the two Ripley councillors seem to have lifted a finger to prevent the closure of Ambervale. The two Ripley councillors concerned also serve on Ripley Town Council and, in May, are due for re-election.

My message to disabled groups is to put forward candidates with no political axe to grind to stand as Independents.

I have said previously I will canvas for such a candidate. It is time to end the Punch and Judy show currently produced by the main political parties on local councils.

John Rotherham

Field Terrace

Ripley

FOR three, bone-chillingly cold evenings, Lapland's lady of the night had stood me up and I was beginning to despair.

Aurora Borealis, the Roman goddess of dawn, had lured me deep into the heart of icy Finland with the promise of a show, the like of which I had never seen before.

But each time I ventured out from my cosy log cabin, wrapped up like a polar explorer against the -22C cold, all I could see was a deep black sky, lit up with countless sparkling diamonds and the occasional arching shooting star.

With my neck aching from gazing upwards and my face numb against the Arctic breeze, I was ready to call it a night. But then, with the time nudging midnight, she arrived.

Off to my left, under the ever-present North Star, a swirl of green emerged from the blackest part of the sky like some mystical voluminous curtain. My jaw dropped and I looked around for someone to share the experience with, but there was no one around. It seemed the northern lights were putting on a display just for me.

A few flickers of green danced across the sky, reflected in the snow-covered pine trees, and then disappeared just as soon as they had come. The show was over.

My brief encounter was one of several magical moments in a four-day trip to Levi, a picture-postcard winter wonderland just over 100 miles inside the Arctic Circle in northern Finland.

In truth, the display was nothing like the spectacular showing that had been the talk of the town the night before we arrived, but I felt blessed to have seen it.

I had come with my wife to fulfil one of her dreams and meet the real Santa Claus, Father Christmas. And, cruel as it sounds, we had left the kids behind.

Now, my family loves Christmas, but when it came to a choice of a beach holiday or a trip to Lapland, our son and daughter opted for sunnier climes. At 21 and 25, they felt they were too old to be chasing fairy tales.

But my wife, Carole, really loves Christmas. Barely has the festive season passed when she is plotting the next one.

A healthy helping of snow set the scene nicely and, after being kitted out with enough Arctic clobber to have kept polar explorer Ranulph Fiennes warm and toasty, we made the short journey from Kittila Airport – a three-hour flight from East Midlands – to lovely Levi.

Guiding us along the way was one of Santa's little helpers, a happy-go-lucky elf named Twinkle. She introduced us to the delights of dog-sledding, snowmobiles and reindeer rides during our whirlwind trip, before joining Santa for a 'surprise' visit to our log cabin.

There's something magical about a fir tree weighed down by freshly fallen snow – and Finland has more than a million of them.

Each winter, the Levi locals adorn their trees – both inside and out – with thousands of fairy lights, giving the town a look that has been mirrored in countless Christmas cards.

While Santa-fever hangs in the air, many head to Levi for skiing and snowboarding, with a well-lit downhill ski run dominating the skyline.

Levi Fell is the largest ski resort in the country, with 43 slopes, and prides itself on catering for skiers of all ages and abilities. It also plays host to one of the World Cup events, and therefore attracts the skiing glitterati.

But we resisted the urge to hire some skis and instead joined Twinkle – aka Suvi, a sweet-natured 20-something from southern Finland – on a ride deep into the forest for a meeting with Aliya and her herd of magnificent reindeer.

The Christmas fairy must have seen us coming because the temperature suddenly climbed to an almost balmy -5C and it started snowing for the first time, great big fluffy blobs of the stuff.

We clambered on to the back of a sleigh, snuggled up under an inviting blanket, and then watched in wonder as our reindeer led us through an enchanting wood that looked like a set from The Chronicles Of Narnia. All we could hear was the gentle swish of the sleigh on the crisp snow and the jangle of reindeer bells as we wound our way through the snow-laden trees.

I'm possibly the least romantic person in the world, but even I had to admit it was special.

In fact, the ride was over so quickly that I cheekily asked Aliya, resplendent in her traditional Sami costume, for another whizz through the woods. Then it was back to the owner's house for a cup or two of warm berry juice and a fascinating talk about the reindeer and the ways of the Sami people, who have survived in the barren landscapes of the Arctic Circle for as long as 4,000 years.

It set us up perfectly for our altogether more action-packed husky ride, something we had eagerly been looking forward to.

I'd pictured a gentle meander through the frosty countryside, led by four or five cute, fluffy Siberian huskies. But the reality was somewhat different.

Martin, a large, weather-worn dogs man from northern Finland, introduced us to his 'children' – a boisterous, yelping collection of pure-bred Alaskan huskies – before showing me how to operate the basic, yet sturdy sled.

"Whatever you do, don't let go, even if you fall over," commanded Martin, with a look that could have melted the snow. "My dogs are very precious to me."

"Don't worry, I won't let you down," I promised, making a mental note to plant my foot firmly on the break – a piece of metal wedged into the ice – as much as I could.

Then we were off, charging away from the dog kennels at breakneck speed, with Carole perched in front of me. I battled to control the sled as it zigzagged this way, then that, my right foot pressed firmly on the break and my heart pounding. The pack of six dogs was unbelievably strong as they tried to catch Martin's sled ahead of me.

Soon, we were out in the white wilderness, the dogs working as one, and the barking replaced by the soothing sound of the skis on ice.

Ahead, the midday sun was barely breaking the horizon, warming the blue, cloudless sky with yellows and soft oranges. It was absolutely perfect.

The Arctic chill was numbing my mouth, but I couldn't help but let out an occasional 'yee-ha!' as we charged across the snow. This was as far removed from the commercial excesses of Christmas as you could get, and I loved it.

That evening, a special visitor arrived at our cabin, with his reindeer, Comet, and Twinkle in tow.

A very authentic-looking Santa regaled tales of how he had reduced a grandmother to tears of happiness that day, by bringing her Christmas dream to life. He'd also sang Finnish festive songs with some local children and handed out Christmas presents.

It was a fitting end to a fairy-tale trip – and even the magical Aurora Borealis showed up before the night was over.

Sovereign Luxury Travel (0843 770 4526, www.sovereign.com) offers a three-night Lapland experience from £1,374 per adult and £1,174 per child. The offer includes return flights from London Gatwick, three nights B&B in a traditional cabin, a private elf guide, excursions including husky sledging, snowmobile and a reindeer sleigh ride, a private meeting with Santa, a Lappish festive dinner and thermal clothing.

IT was in May 1981 that the Derby Telegraph dispatched me to Stockbrook Street to report on the second anniversary of Bramblebrook Community Centre.

I suppose the newspaper sent me because this was a place in which I had a special interest and knowledge. In the years after the Second World War, I grew up here, made friends here in a place through which each day I walked with my pals to and from Bemrose School.

By the late 1970s, however, everything had changed. The area had been reduced to a wasteland. Tight rows of terraced houses, with their cramped corner shops and pubs such as the Parliament House and the Prince Arthur, had been pulled down, no longer fit for purpose as we would say today.

With those buildings went an entire community. Families who had lived in the Stockbrook Street area for generations were uprooted and moved to other parts of the city. The homes where people had been born, had spent all their lives and had died, were gone.

Eventually, however, new houses and flats sprang up. The community returned and, with the help of Derby City Council, the Bramblebrook Community Association – the name chosen by locals and coming from the ancient waterway that still runs through the district – was formed.

Finally, the community centre was built. When I visited it on that late spring day more than 30 years ago, it was a vibrant venue serving a neighbourhood that had, as it turned out, refused to die under the tracks and wrecking balls of demolition equipment.

In its first year, more than 500 people applied for membership before the number settled at around 300. The centre was open six days a week and occasionally on Sundays. It staged old-time and sequence dancing, keep-fit classes, bingo and whist drives and was available for other organisations to hire for shows, fund-raising events, birthday parties and wedding receptions.

Of course, over the decades things changed. People moved on. Eventually the community centre became beset by financial problems that threatened its very existence.

Back in 1981, Derek Seal, who was the first secretary and then chairman of Bramblebrook Community Association, told me: "There is a tremendous amount of satisfaction in knowing that local people have kept the community alive. I can't see anything killing it now."

There have been some difficult times but, thanks to the drive and imagination of people like Carl Willis, it seems that he was right. Now it is up to a new community to ensure that the spirit, so evident all those years ago, lives on.

INTERNET-SAVVY residents in Derbyshire can be kept in the loop with crime issues by following local officers on Twitter.

Police Community Support Officer Courtney Chetwyn, who has recently joined the safer neighbourhood team in Heanor and Loscoe, is the latest bobby to take to the social media site and will be keeping residents updated as she tweets on the beat.

She will be tweeting about crime prevention advice, police initiatives and any dates for the diary, such as community panel meetings, which help set policing priorities.

This is a challenging take on a push up but if you can master this move it'll work your chest, shoulders, arms and core as well as improve your flexibility. Craig Simmons, from Choices Health Club, in Raynesway, Derby, demonstrates:

1. Begin with your hands and feet on the floor with your bum stuck in the air. Arms should be shoulder-width apart.

2. Bring your chest towards the ground, like you would do in a press-up.

3. Then drop your hips down and glide your chest forward bringing it in between your hands and up towards the ceiling.

4. Revert back to the start position then repeat 8 to 10 times.

A SHOPLIFTER has been handed a suspended jail sentence for a series of thefts.

James Bannister, 30, of Marsh Lane Crescent, Belper, pleaded guilty to six counts of theft when he appeared at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court.

The court heard how the items he took from stores in Belper between August 31 and November 18, included meat, baby milk, vodka and a toaster. Magistrates handed him a 12-week sentence, suspended for 12 months, for the offence and ordered him to pay £145.21 compensation.

BELPER Town are the latest non league football club to join the Northern Premier League's Football Academy education programme.

The full-time programme started with a pilot season this year and included Mickleover Sports, Leek Town and Radcliffe Borough as inaugural members. Members study for a BTEC in Sport (Level two and three) and also play football in a league run by the NPL.

The BTEC in Sport qualification enables students to take their first steps into their chosen career with advice on nutrition, physiotherapy, refereeing, teaching and administration as well as opportunities to coach in the USA, Spain and Australia.

The open evening will take place at Belper Town on Monday, January 19 from 6.30pm. To register your interest email info@nplfa.co.uk

A PETITION to have the closure of Derby's Moorways swimming pool debated in public has nearly reached its goal.

The Labour-led city council is proposing to shut the pool in April in a bid to claw back £350,000 towards its £22 million savings target for the year after April 1.

The leisure centre at Moorways, on the opposite side of the car park to the pool, is already confirmed to be closing.

The authority has said it plans to build a replacement 50-metre pool somewhere on the Moorways site, with a target completion date of early 2018.

This replaces a scheme to build a pool at the city's Riverlights complex, which has now been dropped.

A petition to force city council members to debate the closure has received nearly 4,000 signatures – the minimum total that must be gathered to force a debate.

Members of the Conservative group were out in Derby city centre this weekend, helping to gather signatures.

Ed Packham, of Littleover, was one of those canvassing for signatures to the petition.

The 24-year-old is to stand in the elections for a council seat in Mackworth next May.

He said: "This pool is used not just by the people around it but children and adults from across the city.

"I had swimming lessons there when I was younger and have very happy memories of the pool.

"I understand there are savings that need to be made but I don't think cutting the chance for children to learn how to swim is the right way to do that.

"There are efficiency savings that we have to make that would mean that this closure would not have to be made.

"For instance, instead of spending £50,000 on artwork in Alvaston, that money could be spent better elsewhere. We want to see the pool continue to run until a replacement is created."

Among the people who signed the petition was Corin Fox.

The 19-year-old from Hilton said: "I used to go swimming there all the time when I was younger and lived in Littleover, and my siblings go there now.

"When I heard about the closure plan, I thought it was a shame because it's a part of Derby that we don't want to see go.

"Having the pool open until something else is built is the best way of doing it."

Derby Telegraph readers gave their opinion on what they thought of the proposed closure – and the suggestion that the pool could be run by the community instead.

Pete Stamp said: "It shouldn't be run by the local community because the council will still want its say on everything but wouldn't want to run it."

Andy Martin said: "What exactly do we pay council tax for? Should the public run the bins, too, because the people in the Council House can't do their job?"