by Martin Thomas | Aug 30, 2020 | Antenatal, Aromatherapy, Art, Christmas, Covid-19, Domestic Abuse, Hashtags, Hotel, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, lincolnshire Business, Lincolnshire Heritage, Lincs Connect, Lincs Police, LincsConnect, LincsPolice, Louth, Mandarin, Mandarin Therapies, Massage, Mobile, Museum, Networking, police, Postnatal, Restaurant, Twitter, Vouchers
#EatOutToHelpOut Ends But…
Looking forward to a bright Christmas in Lincolnshire in 2020. The #EatOutToHelpOut scheme officially comes to an end on Bank Holiday Monday 31 August. I sincerely hope it has been a great boost to our local businesses and economies.
Not all of us have been able to take advantage of course as we’ve experienced some serious income deficits during the lockdown period. However, ‘every little helps’ so let’s hope that the Lincolnshire restaurateurs have been able to recoup enough income for them to feel confident to spend more of their money locally.

Recession?
We’ve heard the stories about the recession and possible price rises over the coming months but there are also stories about ‘green shoots’ in the economy. The resilience of the British people to get on with their businesses to make money and pull the economy forward is a key to our success.
There’s much speculation with stories of ‘doom and gloom’ but I think it’s important to remember that many of the stories are literally just ‘stories’ written by journalists (trained or untrained). They may have an agenda unbeknown to us and may even be from a foreign country.
With that in mind, my cup is definitely half full. Focusing on the bright side and being determined to make business work is what I do. I truly believe that we (that’s you and I) are capable of making our businesses successful regardless of the circumstances surrounding us. Do we need help? Do we need to collaborate? Do we need to focus on the good things? Absolutely!
I’m prepared to accept help and advice all day long and I believe it’s one of the keys to success. Knowing when you’re out of your depth and needing help is crucial. As is knowing when to employ an expert to do a job properly. When we work together we can often achieve much more so let’s Keep working and talking to each other.

#LincsConnectChristmas

Use the hashtag to promote your business, charity gift idea or event this Christmas
After a pretty dreadful summer I believe we need to look forward to a bright Lincolnshire Christmas. We don’t know what the future will bring with Covid-19 but we do know that Christmas is coming! Whether you like it or not, celebrate it or not, or even believe in it or not, the fact remains that it will be here on 25 December and we need to be prepared for it. We may not be out partying as we have in previous years but we are resilient enough and creative enough to make it a good celebration.
#LincsConnectChristmas starts on 7 September to coincide with the new #LincsArtCraftHour. Combining the two will give us the opportunity to see what our local talented and creative people have to offer. We’ll have the opportunity to shop early and safely by avoiding the usual Christmas rush because, well, let’s face it, we really don’t know yet if there will be movement and shopping restrictions in place to avoid another Covid-19 wave of destruction.
A Christmas Hamper
In previous years we’ve had a virtual Christmas hamper where we’ve been able to add items of our own or recommend items from other traders. The idea seemed to work well so I think it’ll be a good idea to do it again.

It’s time to start filling the Christmas Hamper…
The hashtag works on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram so let’s start thinking about filling it up with lots of local goodies. Perhaps an example here might be useful. How about these messages:
“I think the #LincsConnectChristmas hamper needs some speciality chocolates. I highly recommend @BonBonLincoln who produce exquisite designer chocolates”
“No #LincsConnectChristmas hamper will be complete without some bespoke Christmas cards by @CardsOfGrimsby”
Adding a picture with each message will soon get the attention of local shoppers and will make the #LincsConnectChristmas hashtag the place to look for local independent Christmas shopping. With your help we can get this hashtag noticed and talked about around Lincolnshire and beyond to turn it into the ‘shop window’ for everyone to see.
A Christmas Meal

With no #EatOutToHelpOut scheme in place hotels, restaurants, cafes and bars will want to advertise their special meals and party events so the #LincsConnectChristmas hashtag is going to be ‘the’ place for them to advertise and I’m sure they’ll appreciate our support.
Let’s Work Together
I’m sure we can make Christmas a huge success but I do think that we will have to work together to achieve it. Am I confident? Absolutely!
Put It In Your Diary
The #LincsConnectChristmas and #LincsArtCraftHour both start on Monday 7 September at noon. Use the hashtags, search the hashtags and tell your friends about the hashtags. They’re here for ‘you’.
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Mandarin Therapies & Mandarin Mothers provide bespoke mobile complementary therapies in the comfort of your own home, hotel or nursing home across the whole of Lincolnshire and beyond. Gift vouchers are available for that special person too.
Previous Blogs
To find out more about the #LincsArtCraftHour follow this link to the previous blog:
Community
A message from Supt Paul Timmins of Lincolnshire Police following some sad and tragic deaths on Lincolnshire roads recently:

Click on this picture to open the video in Twitter

Click on this picture to open the video on Facebook
We see far too many road deaths in Lincolnshire so please always ‘be aware’ and don’t become a statistic. We love you just the way you are…. ‘alive’!
Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse doesn’t have age limits. If you know someone who is suffering call the police today. You’ll find some useful numbers here but if there is an immediate threat of harm call 999.


A Helpful App

Visit your App Store to download this free App to your device
Let’s pretend you’re out walking or have gone for a drive when you come across an accident. You dial 999 to contact the emergency services for help but then you don’t know exactly where you are. You know you’re in the middle of a field or on a country road but you couldn’t direct the emergency services to the incident. I imagine you might feel completely helpless!
I saw a post on Twitter asking the public to download the App What3Words so obviously I did. I didn’t expect to ever have to use it but thought it would be a good ‘insurance policy’ should the unexpected ever happen. I have actually used it though. I was able to give the three words that were displayed on my iPhone screen to the control room who directed the fire service to the field fire that I had discovered on my way home last winter. That’s it! It really is that easy. All you have to do is open the App and you’re immediately given 3 unique words that identify your exact location.
When opening the App you’re given the option to share the 3 words via social media or email or send it directly to one of your contacts so it’s a great way to pass on your location to friends if you are meeting them in town. Typing the three words into the search bar your friends are able to navigate directly to you using the App so as well as being the all important navigation tool in emergencies it’s also a brilliant tool for finding your friends.
Louth Museum
Perhaps you could try out your new What3Words App with your friends. If you’re on your travels why not pop in to Louth Museum? It’s open to the public again and there is no need to book. The museum is over two floors (stair lift available for those who may need it) and you’ll be respectfully requested to wait outside if the museum is full when you arrive. Covid-19 regulations are in place of course so don’t forget your mask. I’ve had a look at the website www.louthmuseum.org.uk and discovered a virtual tour as well as Ruth’s Blog page. I thought you might find this interesting; It’s a factual account of the Lincolnshire floods in Louth on 29 May 1920. Imagine seeing a 2m wall of water heading into town…

Click on the picture to read the blog
Just imagine how useful What3Words would have been in this situation if it had been available then. Technology has certainly moved on at a remarkable pace!
Stay Safe
That’s the blog done for now but if you have something that you would like me to include or would like to advertise please get in touch. Have a lovely Bank Holiday everyone. Look after yourself and look out for your neighbours.


by Martin Thomas | Aug 28, 2020 | Aromatherapy, Grantham, Lincolnshire, Lincs Connect, LincsConnect, Mandarin Therapies, WhatsOnLincs
WhatsOnLincs – Easton Walled Gardens
WhatsOnLincs Easton Walled Gardens. Read on to discover the delights of these lovely gardens and the Grantham canal.

Click on the link to discover the Easton Walled Gardens (EWG) ‘Whats On’ page and don’t forget to add the Sweet Pea Season which starts 21 Jun 23 Sunday into your calendar plus the Autumn Country Market. You’ll be pleasantly surprised I’m sure and you can even sign up to the EWG newsletter too.
Easton Walled Gardens (Grantham) Directions
Drive from Ancaster towards the A1. Before reaching the A1 you’ll see a brown sign directing you to Easton Walled Gardens. It’s one of those hidden gems that you need to make the effort to see.
From the A1 take the turning onto the B6403 (High Dyke() towards RAF Cranwell and look out for the brown sign. You could be forgiven for thinking it’s a small garden hidden away next to a busy road. If that’s what you’ve been thinking, you really need to read on.

The gardens are open Wednesdays to Fridays and Sundays from 15 February until 22 December 2023. Make plenty of time to wander as the grounds cover a full 12 acres of gardens. You’ll be able to discover new plantings and the latest additions while exploring the 80m long borders. I’m reliably informed that the plantings have been designed to peak in August for your delight.
WhatsOnLincs Easton Walled Gardens (South Kesteven) – Opening Times
The Courtyard Shop, The Coffee Room and The Gardens are open 5 days a week until 22nd December (Wednesdays to Sundays) plus Bank Holiday Mondays, 11am-4pm.
Easton Walled Gardens (Grantham) – 400 Years And Counting
It’s been 400 years in the making (and growing) and has the River Witham flowing through its grounds. The cafe and courtyard are open for refreshments to keep you sustained during your adventures. The shop (both physical and online) is the place to be for your seeds and lovely gifts. There are even holiday cottages for those of you who want to stay for your next local break. I’m sure there is quite a bit that I’ve missed off here so as a result I recommend a visit to the Easton Walled Gardens website to make your own discoveries. There is no need to book as the grounds are extensive. The gardens are posting on social media of course so for a quick update follow @EWGardens on Twitter.
Well worth a visit even if it’s raining. After all, a set of waterproofs or an umbrella along with some waterproof footwear will be all you need to experience the fresh garden smells that await you.
From Easton Walled Gardens To Grantham Canal

Woolsthorpe Lock is just West of Grantham and is a great area to visit to see the current engineering work that’s going on to restore the Grantham Canal.
From Easton Walled Gardens To Grantham Canal
For boat trips, walks and beautiful scenery visit the @GranthamCanal for your next Lincolnshire visit. I thoroughly recommend you take your camera with you and be prepared to be amazed! The lottery funded work is really impressive and, all things considered, the volunteers deserve all the praise they can get. You’ll be able to see what they’ve been doing if you search for them on Facebook too. For that reason I’ve included a link here: Grantham Canal Society If you like what you see you can join the team as a volunteer and/or make financial donations to help the project along. Obviously you’ll find much more information about this project and more canal walks and adventures on the www.canalrivertrust.org.uk website. Additionally you’ll find lots of free guides for days out, maps, walking and cycling routes plus much more.
In case you are wondering, you’ll also find some lovely pubs on route for food and drinks.
National Garden Scheme
While you’re in the Belvoir/Rutland area you might like to take a visit to some of the lovely gardens in the Rutland area. There are lots of gardens available for us to view throughout the year so please do take a look at the websites to discover what and when gardens are open in your area: Redhill Lodge
I was going to write about the National Garden Scheme to explain what it is and how it works but, to be honest, I can’t put it any better than the words on the official website. As a result I’ve copied an excerpt from the website for you:
“Thanks to the generosity of garden owners, volunteers and visitors we have donated a total of £55 million to nursing and health charities, and made a record annual donation of £3.1 million in 2018. Our beneficiaries include Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK and The Queen’s Nursing Institute.
By opening your garden, you’re not only giving people a great day out – you’re also raising money to help those in need. What’s more, you are joining a community of thousands of other like minded garden owners, all passionate about great gardens and raising money for great causes.”

Why not organise a visit to a garden in Louth? The Secret Garden of Louth is taking bookings and visits cost £2.50. Click here for more details

Mere House, Sturton by Stow is another garden to visit. Admission is £6.00 (children free). Click here to go to the website where you can book your visit.
Previous Blogs
Here are a few links to earlier blogs which I hope you find interesting. There’s lots going on at #LincsConnect and there is even more planned so please keep an eye to for new features and events.

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Christmas Is Coming…
Don’t forget that the #LincsConnectChristmas hashtag along with the #LincsArtCraftHour hashtag goes live on Monday 7 September. ‘Now’ is the time to start your preparations so look out for the hashtags and shop early & safely for Christmas.
Community

Bank Holiday Pharmacy services in Lincolnshire. Click here for details of pharmacies that will be open near you and follow @ULHT_News for your health updates.

NE Lincs virtual mental health support – just a Zoom away… If you’re in need of mental health support in the evening get in touch with @NAVIGOCARE by click here to go straight to their website.
You may also like to take a look at the “Aviation Trail’ by Visit Lincoln

Aviation Trail by Visit Lincoln
Stay Safe
Stay safe everyone. Hand washing and social distancing is still the key to our continued success so keep up the good work. Have a lovely Bank Holiday and don’t forget to put your rubbish in the bin or take your litter home with you.



by Martin Thomas | Aug 23, 2020 | Antenatal, Aromatherapy, Art, Charity, Christmas, Covid-19, Facebook, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, Lincs Connect, LincsConnect, Louth, Mandarin Therapies, Massage, Mobile
The LincsArtCraftHour Is Here:

7 September 2020 – Was A Very Important Date
The LincsArtCraftHour is here! Monday 7 September 2020 was a very important date because it was the first LincsArtCraftHour and it’s here for all Lincolnshire artists and crafters of all genres. All are invited to post promotional messages and network using ‘two’ hashtags.
LincsArtCraftHour
The LincsArtCraftHour is on Twitter from 12.00pm – 1.00pm every Monday lunchtime from 7 September 2020.
The idea behind it is to highlight the talent that we have in the County and to allow you to view what’s on offer. You’ll find everything from cards to jewellery and paintings to sculptures with everything ‘arty’ in between. This weekly hour will give you the opportunity to see what’s on offer and even follow links to local online shopping.
Those posting will be able to include links to their Facebook pages, Twitter accounts, websites and online shops while at the same time showing off their huge talents. ‘Christmas’ is coming (as it does every year) but don’t just see this as a virtual shop window for your Christmas shopping. A gift for yourself, a ‘thank you’ card, a birthday gift or even a Mothers Day gift for next year are all possibilities.
You’ll also find some info on the Lincs Connect Facebook page too so please have a look to see what you think. I’ll also be interested to hear if you have any other ideas of course.

LincsArtCraftHour – How It Works
If you’re posting messages on the #LincsArtCraftHour slot follow these simple steps:
Be sure to have your tweets ready to post (in real time or scheduled) by 12.00pm each Monday
Add a picture (or two) to show what you are advertising
Include a link to your website, Facebook, Instagram or online shop for people to follow
Use the two hashtags #LincsConnect and #LincsArtCraftHour in your tweet
Search the #LincsArtCraftHour hashtag to retweet and support others and to do your own free networking either live on the day or later in the week. You can search the hashtag at any time 24/7.
Don’t ‘dump’ a load of tweets on the hashtag in the first couple of minutes (even if they are scheduled tweets) as it won’t look good on you. Make sure your tweets are spread out over the hour.
How To Search The Hashtag
Searching the hashtag may be easier than you think. Simply go to your search bar, type in #LincsArtCraftHour, click search (or enter – depending on what device you are using) then go to ‘Latest’. That’s it! It really is that easy so make sure that we make the hour a success by supporting each other. To make life even easier, each time you see the hashtag highlighted in blue here, that link will take you straight to the hashtag.
Finally, don’t forget to let your contacts know too. Obviously the more people we have using, searching and talking about the #LincsArtCraftHour the more likely you are to increase your following and make more sales.
LincsArtCraftHour – Old Maps

Click on the picture to follow Fiona on Twitter or click on this link to find her on Facebook: @fidunkart
I know I’ve posted this before but it’s worth another mention. I think these painted old maps are an excellent idea. If there was ever a way to bring a map to life, this is it! Why not give Fiona a follow on Twitter or Facebook to see what other delights she has in her portfolio?
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LincsArtCraftHour – Christmas Is Coming…
Like it or not, love it or hate it, celebrate it or ignore it… It’s still coming and we need to start preparing for it
Many artists and local traders are still suffering with lost sales since March 2020 (Covid) so if you are going to recoup anything from that shocking year ‘now’ is the time to start planning it.
NOW is the time to plan your advertising for Christmas. If you don’t, someone else will. If you want to salvage some of your lost selling opportunities, NOW is the time to do it.
Charity

Visit the Louth Age UK website for more information about their charity shop. Your safety is in mind and fundraising for those in need is at heart. Click on the logo for details

Are you a ‘vintage’ fan? If you are I think you’ll like this room in the Louth Age UK Shop. It’s your chance to grab a bargain while supporting a local charity at the same time

Click on the YMCA logo to find out how they serve our community and discover why they need our financial support

YMCA Pop Up furniture and Brik-a-brac shop, The showroom, Tritton Rd, Lincoln. The next dates are 26-29 Aug from 10.00am to 3.00pm. Click on the picture to find them on Twitter
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Mandarin Therapies & Mandarin Mothers provide a bespoke mobile service throughout the whole of Lincolnshire and beyond. Call 07966 174878 to book your Covid-19 safe appointment or click on the picture to go to the Mandarin Therapies Facebook page for more info.
Mel had a solo art exhibition in Lincoln starting on 7 Sep at the Gallery At St Martin’s, Lincoln with lots of new original artwork. Entry was FREE. The art was on sale of course and the gallery is happy to take card or cash sales. If you would like to know what Mel has planned next click on the picture to find the link for more information.
Additional Blogs By LincsConnect:

That’s about all for now but please don’t forget to make a note in your diary for the #LincsArtCraftHour on Mondays from 12.00pm. Tell your friends too
Stay safe everyone

by Martin Thomas | Aug 19, 2020 | Burghley, Culture, Doddington Hall, IBCC, International Bomber Command, Lincoln, Lincoln Castle, Lincoln Cathedral, Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire Heritage, Lincs Connect, LincsConnect, Mandarin Therapies, Museum, Stamford, The Collection
Love Lincolnshire Culture
Love Lincolnshire Culture – This list is by no means definitive but I hope it gives you a few good ideas for places to visit.

International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln
Love Lincolnshire Culture
Love Lincolnshire Culture – Did you know that 17 August 2020 saw the start of #LoveCultureWeek across the UK? It’s a time to celebrate and visit cultural venues and marvel at what is on offer. This week is aimed at highlighting some of the venues but our cultural sights are open all year of course so let’s get out (safely) to enjoy what’s on offer.
References to Covid 19 may no longer apply so some of the venues have no doubt reverted back to normal visiting times. Restrictions will have been lifted and references to Covid have changed but the venues are still certainly worth visiting. Read on to discover some great locations in Lincolnshire:
It’s time to celebrate by visiting the fantastic County museums, galleries, heritage sites and libraries to see what they have to offer. Please feel free to add in the ones that I’ve missed in the comments below.
Lincolnshire Culture – Enjoy Summer Safely
I hope my list does it justice. Apologies in advance to those that I’ve missed out but I’ll happily add a little mention for you if you contact me. If you want to pay a visit to any of these locations please make sure you check to see if you need to book in advance.
Where To Start?
With a County as large as Lincolnshire its going to be impossible to cover every venue and location in one blog but perhaps a few choice mentions might give you some ideas and inspiration to make your own list. After all, you don’t have to cram everything into just one week!
Love Lincolnshire Culture – Lincoln
Starting with our County capital you’ll no doubt have a large list of locations to visit ranging from:

Click on the picture to go straight to the ticket office and don’t forget to follow @CollectionUsher on Twitter too

Click on the picture to book your tickets. The grounds are open to the public so if the weather is right, why not pay a visit to have a walk around with friends and family? The Castle has its own Twitter account so why not give it a follow to make your own discoveries? @LincolnCastle

Click on the picture to go straight to the Lincoln Cathedral events page to discover what’s going on. The Cathedral also has its own Twitter page too so give it a follow to discover what’s happening @LincsCathedral

The picture doesn’t say it all – Click on the picture to go to the ticket office of this ‘Gold Award Winning’ venue in Lincoln. You won’t be disappointed. They’re on Twitter of course: @IntBCC so give them a follow

Doddington Hall and Gardens are open for visitors with many planned events so click on the picture to go straight to the events page on their website. Obviously bookings will have to be made and rules will need to be followed but we’re all used to that now! You can give the Hall a follow on twitter too of course @DoddingtonHall to stay up to date with their events calendar.
Plan Your Visit
Each of the venues above are on Twitter but if you prefer Facebook just click on the relevant picture to go to the website to follow from there..
Top 3, Top 10… Or Top 100?
No matter how big or small the list is, I’m bound to miss someone important! Please keep in mind that this list is just to give you some ideas as I’m sure you’ll have plenty of additions for your own list.
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Love Lincolnshire Culture – Stamford
If you’re in the Stamford area there are some pretty spectacular places to visit. Top of the agenda has to be the town centre with it’s beautiful buildings and delightful local shops. There is more to see and do too though:

Burghley House And Gardens are open from Wednesday to Sunday each week. Click on the picture for more details. The park is open every day though and entry is free. Give them a follow on Twitter @BurghleyHouse for regular updates

Stamford Arts Centre is physically closed at the moment but they do have events online via their new YouTube channel so why not pay them a visit? This centre has so much to offer so do follow them on Twitter @StamfordArts for updates then pay a visit when it’s safe to do so. Click on the picture to go to their website

Stamford Sights & Secrets Tours is a must if you want to find out more about Stamford. The walking tours are on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 11.00am. Simply click on the picture to go to the ticket site and don’t forget to follow them on Twitter @StamfordTours for updates
Love Lincolnshire Culture – More To Come…
Lincolnshire is such a big County that it’ll be impossible to list everyone here. With that in mind, I’ll post another blog or two with some more ideas from Grantham, Spalding, Skegness and Grimsby. Do let me know if you would like to be included.
Previous Blogs
You may also like to read the ‘Aviation Trail’ by Visit Lincoln

Aviation Trail by Visit Lincoln
Until next time, stay safe everyone,


by Martin Thomas | Jun 28, 2020 | Aromatherapy, Authors, Bands, books, Cleethorpes, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Covid-19, COVID19, Download, Libraries, Library, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, Lincs Connect, LincsConnect, Mandarin Therapies, Massage, Mobile, Online, Planet, Shop, Shopping, Twitter, Vouchers

Saving the planet online in Lincolnshire with LincsConnect
Are You Saving The Planet Online In Lincolnshire? – On The Plus Side…
Try saving the planet online in Lincolnshire with LincsConnect: Covid-19 has wreaked devastation across the world since the beginning of 2020. As a result many lives are being lost while others have become (and remain) seriously ill. ‘Normal’ has changed with travel, work and personal restrictions causing much disruption and heartache. Finances have been seriously challenged for many but we’ve shown a remarkable resilience and a desire to keep going. Some industries carry on as normal while others have significantly increased working practices to cope with demand. Others have suffered greatly with many paying the ultimate price of permanent closure.
On A Positive Note
On a positive note, many of us have adapted to work online. As a result we’ve seen a significant reduction in pollution, fossil fuel emissions and litter. From a personal perspective I’ve reduced my travel by taking my work online.
My clients have been able to manage injuries and carry on with their rehabilitation programme under personal instruction while reducing their travel to classes. I Monitor strength and fitness levels regularly with FaceTimes training sessions. As a result my clients have also had reduced car usage so the reduction in the burning of fossil fuels has been felt even further. We can help to save the planet by going online!

Click on the picture to find Mandarin Fitnesses on Facebook and follow me on Twitter @MandarinFitness
I’m Not Alone
Many people have now turned to working through Zoom and other video sessions while others have been doing it for some time. I’ve looked around at what others were doing and wondered why it’s taken me so long to catch up? As a result, most of my work is now via FaceTime. I’m certain others will feel the same way I do and will continue to work online.
Authors have been selling online for some time; We’ve become accustomed to buying books for our e-readers and other devices over the years. Many courses and tutorials have been online for a long time as has shopping.
Local Libraries Are Saving The Planet Online In Lincolnshire

Local Libraries – Saving the planet online in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire Libraries (@lincslibraries on twitter and Lincolnshire Libraries on Facebook) are set to reopen on 13 July 2020. Phased reopening of larger premises initially and hubs/mobile libraries opening later. Our libraries have really stepped up their online services to keep us all happy. You can enjoy audio books, e-books or music from their ‘Freegal Music’ selection too. Visit your library online and free today with your Library card. If you haven’t already experienced it, now is the time! Accessing your library from home or mobile device will have the advantage of helping to save the planet, reducing travel.
Are You Looking For A Good Read?
If it’s a good read that you’re looking for and are a regular browser of the amazon or Apple libraries you may have a favourite local author who has been keeping your reading habits and imagination alive. Some of them have been mentioned in previous blogs of course. The very imaginative books by local Grimsby author Lynette Creswell who sells her books on Amazon can also be found on Facebook ‘Lynette Creswell Author’ or via her website www.lynettecreswell.wordpress.com She has a new book of short stories ‘The Cat Thief’ ought to be on your list of ‘must read’ books:

Lynette Creswell – A local author based in Grimsby with quite a collection of published books now has a new book ‘The Cat Thief’ – click on the picture for more information.
Lisa Gabriel in her own words “Successful composer, poet & author of multidimensional fiction…” also has work on Amazon. I happen to know that she is a sculptor too so give her a follow on Twitter @persimew to find out more.

Another local author that you’ll need to look up is Lisa Marie Garbiel with her book ‘The Wings To Fly’. A great read with lots of local Lincolnshire references and landmarks throughout. Clicking on the picture here will take you straight to her Amazon page and you can follow her on twitter at @persimew
How about factual eBooks about growing vegetables in straw bales? Simon Gibbins has produced both an e-Book and a DVD which can both be purchased through his website www.strawbaleveg.co.uk

Simon Gibbins is based in Waddington, Lincoln but his e-Book and DVD are both available from his website. Click on the picture for more information
Home fruit and vegetable growing has certainly seen an upsurge during the lockdown. Are shopping habits set to change? Simon will provide the knowledge and tools to start your new journey to local growing. Are you interested in home grown produce? Contact Simon through his website or on twitter @strawbaleukman Simon also has information on twitter about his seed sales as @SeedsSimon
Saving The Planet Online In Lincolnshire – Lockdown Hobbies
While many of us have utilised the lockdown to learn new skills it’s worth remembering that many businesses have been providing their services online for quite some time. Rosemary from Inavanti Learning provides language courses on an individual basis with online learning to compliment her sessions. During the lockdown she has moved her classes to exclusively online.
Learning Exclusively Online
Lincolnshire is a large County so it’s important to be able to reach customers wherever they are. ‘Online’ is the way forward, not just for reach and accessibility but for reducing traffic and helping to look after our planet. Schools have embraced the technology to keep in touch with students of course. As the schools return to building based lessons it’s important to know that personalised online learning is still available. ‘Thank you’ to the dedication and hard work of private tutors like Rosemary and all of the teachers who do such a marvellous job.

Inavanti Learning – click on the picture to go straight to the website. This could be the start of your next journey…

To view the Inavanti Learning video – Click on the picture above. Get a feel for your next learning experience, education while saving the planet online in Lincolnshire
Download it – Saving The Planet Online In Lincolnshire
Music is part of the online and download revolution with lots of platforms available to artists of any genre. I often search YouTube to listen to local artists so, as I’m writing about ‘online’ I thought it would be a good time to share some local bands here:
Trak3 is a Grimsby based band singing rap. I’ve chosen ‘Caught Up’ as a featured track here but please keep in mind that other tracks of theirs do contain swearing. Don’t forget to give them a follow on Twitter @TRAK3_Official
Fancy something different? This very young band from Cleethorpes definitely deserves a listen. A group of youngsters who have really been doing some great things. They’ve been getting their name around the music scene at home and abroad very successfully too. Have a listen to ‘Bullet’ and don’t forget to see what else they have on their Youtube channel. You can also follow Revivalry on Twitter @revivalryband
Another great Lincolnshire band destined for big things is Shout Inferno. They’ve appeared on my tweets and blogs before as one of my featured local bands of the week so it’s no surprise to see them here again. Have a listen to ‘Holloway’ and give them a follow on Twitter @ShoutInfoerno.
Shout Inferno – Holloway (Live at The Sweet Factory). Click on the picture to go to their youTube channel and hear another great song from their library. You can also follow them on Twitter @ShoutInferno
Yet another great local band, this time from Sleaford. The Saboteurs have featured several times as one of my ‘Local Bands of the week’ on Twitter and I’m sure you won’t mind if I feature them here too. This track is called ‘Coraline’ and it’s really worth a listen. Give them a follow on Twitter @sabsbanduk – they pop up there quite regularly.
Follow The Leader
For local, national and international music you need to follow Dave @laamb4 on twitter or visit the website for lots more music and arts information. As usual, you can click on the picture to go straight to the website:

Laamb – Click on the picture to go to the website. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
A Word From The Sponsor
You can sponsor the blogs at any time so get in touch today. I hope you like what you see and can see the value in it for local businesses, charities and organisations. Until next time though, I’ll leave you with a short video by @MandarinMothers who provide bespoke (certified Covid safe) complementary therapies from the comfort of your own home in Lincolnshire and beyond:
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If you have any suggestions for future blogs please do let me know. You can email me at martin@lincsconnect.co.uk and you can visit www.lincsconnect.co.uk/blogs to see more blogs
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