Thousands of revellers are expected to hit the Nottingham's pubs, bars and clubs and Old Market Square for New Year's Eve celebrations tonight.

Nottingham City Council will be putting on a midnight fireworks display – after it was cancelled last year to save money.

The fireworks, sponsored by industrial manufacturing company Purico, will be set off at Nottingham Castle, although the grounds will be closed to the public.

Councillor Dave Trimble, Nottingham City Council's portfolio holder for leisure, culture and tourism, said: "The castle is the perfect location to hold a display; it sits high above Nottingham, allowing those celebrating to enjoy it from across the city.

"The best vantage point will be the surrounding area of the castle where people can come together and share in the New Year celebration."

Bars, clubs and restaurants across the city are running special events tonight.

They include the annual Waterfront Festival, with DJs lined up at the Canal House, to the Masquerade Ball at the Crown Plaza Hotel and a special jazz dinner at Brown's restaurant.

And Nottingham's largest nightclub Oceana, in Lower Parliament Street, has a Best of British-themed tonight.

Mike Knight, chairman of the city's Club, Pub and Hotel Watch, is urging people not to bring their own drinks into the city centre.

He said: "We want people to enjoy themselves sensibly and not drink too much and be silly. The taxi marshals will be on duty and the street pastors will be making sure people don't take their drinks out on the street. We're urging people not to bring drinks from home into town."

Nottingham City Transport is running 11 night buses that will leave the city centre from their usual bus stops at 11.15pm, 0.15am, 1.15am, 2.15am and 3.15am.

These include the N4 to Clifton; N6 to West Bridgford, Wilford Hill and Compton Acres; N27 to Sneinton Dale, Carlton, Gedling and Mapperley; N28 to Beechdale, Bilborough and Wollaton Vale; N36 to Derby Road, QMC, University Park, Beeston and Chilwell; N48 to Meadows, Clifton Estate and Ruddington; N58 to Sherwood and Arnold; N68 to Sherwood Rise, Basford and Bulwell; N77 to Aspley, Strelley and Whitemoor; and N89 to Hucknall Road, Bestwood Park, Rise Park and Top Valley. There will also be the N100 to Colwick, Netherfield, Burton Joyce, Lowdham and Southwell, which will leave at 11pm, 0.15am, 1.30am and 2.45am. Trent Barton will also be putting on special services tonight. Throughout the day, a Saturday service will run until around 8pm. During the evening a special service will run on major routes into Nottingham, with usual weekend night buses after midnight until around 3am. Skylink and Indigo services will provide a 24 hours service as usual.

A police spokesman said: "Before you go out take a moment to plan how you're getting home, keep a taxi number in your phone or make sure you have a lift arranged.

"Drink responsibly, don't leave your drink unattended and don't accept drinks from strangers. Never walk home alone, try to stay in a group and don't take short cuts through dark alleys.

"There will be extra officers on patrol in the city to help ensure you have a safe evening and remember to report any incidents to police by calling 101, or in an emergency, 999."

A NEW year has broken. After all the waiting, all the anticipation, 2012 can now be consigned to history.

No longer are we living in an Olympic year, no longer in a period of the London Games.

After a summer of sport that exceeded all expectation, we can all look back with fond memories.

We can cast our eyes back to reflect on the achievements of our medal-winning Nottinghamshire Olympians and Paralympians.

But as we start 2013, it is time to look forward too.

For this year, and the future, is brighter than ever thanks to what unfolded during the last 12 months.

And that is the case for Richard Whitehead, the man whose story offers inspiration to everyone.

Not just because of his gold, but more for his plotting of future dominance over the coming years in both the 200m and marathon.

On his arm is tattooed 'Cometh the hour, Cometh the man'. And as he blazed from the back of the pack to a world-record winning time in the T42 200m at the Paralympics, he lived up to his ink as the double amputee gave the two-gun salute after crossing the line inside the Olympic Stadium.

Whitehead only made the decision to take up the 200m 18 months before London, after being told he could not compete in the marathon because there was no recognised classification for his disability.

But for a man born with no legs below the knee, nothing was ever going to keep him down.

He went about a training regime that saw him transform his physique from a long-distance champion into a sprint king – more bulk, more power.

And he is now the world record holder for double amputees in the 200m, half-marathon and marathon.

If ever there was an example of where discipline and dedication can get you, Whitehead's story is it.

As we enter a new year full of good intentions, full of resolutions, it will be easy to lapse into our old ways in a few days or weeks.

But anything is possible, as Whitehead keeps proving time and time again and that was recognised in the New Year's Honours list, when he received an MBE for his achievements.

At 36, some may think time is running out for the popular Lowdham Bladerunner. Far from it.

Not only is the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro his big and realistic goal, he also hopes for a switch in eligibility criteria so he can compete in both the 200m and marathon in Brazil.

That will be a huge and unique challenge but for Whitehead, you get the feeling he believes nothing is insurmountable.

The IPC Athletics World Champions in Lyon take place this July and that will be the initial challenge on his mind.

And it was not just Whitehead who enjoyed a golden summer at the Paralympics.

So too did Newark's Sophie Wells, who won team gold in the dressage and two individual silvers.

In the Aquatics Centre, the Hynd brothers from Sutton-in-Ashfield enjoyed success, with teenager Oliver upstaging Sam by winning gold, silver and bronze.

For his efforts, he has also been awarded an MBE, something older sibling Sam unfortunately did not receive when he won gold in the 400m S8 freestyle in Beijing four years earlier.

This time round Sam picked up bronze in the same event, with Oliver winning silver.

But Oliver secured gold in the 200m Individual Medley (SM8), and bronze in the 100m Backstroke (S8).

Both brothers suffer from a form of muscular dystrophy.

And Mansfield swimmer Charlotte Henshaw got among the medals as her dedication paid off as she won silver in the 100m breaststroke (SB6), missing out on gold on the touch, it was so close. But she made up for her fourth-placed finish in China in 2008.

Like every other Paralympian, Henshaw has her own story behind her disability.

Charlotte was born with a congenital condition which meant she had a shortened femur and a missing tibia in both legs. She had both her legs amputated through the knee when she was 15 months old and began to learn to walk with artificial limbs when she was around two years old.

All in all, the Paralympics simply continued to build on the momentum of the Olympics, capturing the imagination of the British public.

Disability sport rocketed itself into prime-time viewing and stadiums were full to the core across London to watch some stunning performances born out of the most gruelling of training schedules and after overcoming some incredible hurdles that life has put before them.

So, 2012 was the year that inspired, when sport brought the nation together.

And at both the Olympics and Paralympics, Nottinghamshire's athletes delivered.

Etienne Stott and Tim Baillie won gold, Richard Hounslow and David Florence winning silver behind them in the C2 canoe slalom at the Lee Valley course.

Newark-born Mary King won equestrian silver, Beijing double-gold medallist Rebecca Adlington two bronzes in the pool, while Sam Oldham helped the men's gymnastics team to a medal of the same colour. There was bronze too for West Bridgford's Helen Richardson with the women's hockey squad.

And it was an amazing year for Ilkeston's David Brailsford, who oversaw Bradley Wiggins' Tour de France victory and then British Cycling's dominance at the Olympic Games.

He was duly awarded a Knighthood in the New Year's Honours List.

But 2013 is a year to build for our Paralympians. Rio is three-and-a-half years away but for our swimmers, there is the disability world swimming championships in Canada later this year.

For Brailsford, he will look to mastermind a defence of the Tour de France for Team Sky.

For Adlington, a decision will soon be made as to whether or not she will retire or go for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

After two gold and two bronze Olympic medals over two Games, it would be no surprise to see her hang up her swimsuit.

She has triumphed at every major championship, the Mansfield ace may rightly feel her job is done.

We can look back on 2012 – not just at the Olympics but other major achievements too – and say Britain, and Notts, delivered on the biggest stage of all.

But it is a new dawn, a new year and Whitehead, among the many others, will look to continue to inspire through 2013 and beyond.

And when it comes to sticking to our own goals and resolutions, we can learn a lot about discipline and dedication from these inspiring athletes.

DESCRIBED as a "wonder woman" by teachers, colleagues and parents at Hempshill Hall Primary School, Sheila Jackman has called time on her long and productive career.

Cards, gifts and flowers were showered upon the popular teaching assistant, who fought back the tears as glowing tributes were paid to her during a surprise farewell celebration on the last day before the Christmas break, on Friday, December 21.

Mrs Jackman, 62, who lives in Armstrong Road, Bulwell, began working at Hempshill Hall Primary as a cleaner 27 years ago, and during her fulfilling career has gone on to make her mark in all aspects of school life.

As well as spending 18 years as a member of the auxiliary staff, which included being a dinner lady, Sheila graduated to become a teaching assistant, working with some of the school's youngest and most vulnerable children.

She says one of her "greatest joys" during her 27 years at Hempshill was being given the responsibility for looking after special needs pupil Yale Ellis, who died at the age of seven.

"Yale was a little star and will always have a special place in my heart," she said.

Head teacher Helen Ridge described Mrs Jackman as an "unsung hero".

She added: "She had a strong relationship with the children, staff and parents.

"Nothing was too much trouble for her and she was loved by us all."

Foundation teacher Perminda Uppal said: "Sheila has a heart of gold. She was a great role model to us all and will be sorely missed.

"She's a real wonder woman."

Married for 41 years to her husband Roy, they have two children and are expecting their first grandchild in the new year.

"Hempshill Hall Primary is a wonderful school and I feel privileged to have been part of it for 27 years," said Mrs Jackman. "My life has been enriched in many ways and there is no doubt that the friends I have made and the many memories I take with me will stay in my heart forever."

NO evidence has been offered against Ahmed Imtiaz, 45, of Cromwell Street, Canning Circus, Nottingham. He denied charges of assault and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour in Hucknall on September 2. The charges were dismissed at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on December 18.

SAMANTHA McBain, 49, of Carling Street, Bulwell, will appear at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on January 17. She is charged with assault on December 7, and theft in Bilborough between November 25 and November 28. She is on conditional bail.

LEROY Stewart, 36, of Belconnen Road, Bestwood Estate, will be sentenced at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on January 3. He admitted driving a blue VW Golf car in Nottingham while disqualified from driving and without insurance on July 17. He is on unconditional bail.

EDWARD Brown, 26, of Hereford Road, Bakersfield, pleaded guilty to using threatening abusive or insulting words or behaviour in Bridlesmith Gate, Nottingham, on October 1. He was granted unconditional bail to appear at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on January 7.

JONATHAN Marritt , 39, of Edwin Street, Daybrook, will not face a charge of using threatening, abusive words or behaviour. The case against him was dismissed at Nottingham Magistrates' Court.

NIGEL Burns, 47, of The Meadows, Farndon, Newark, was fined £400 for using a television without a licence. The case was proved in his absence at Nottingham Magistrates' Court. As well as the fine, he is required to pay a victim surcharge of £15 and costs of £130.

DALE Chell, 22, of Harwill Crescent, Aspley, has been fined £110 for not having a television licence. The case was proved in his absence before magistrates in Nottingham. He is required to pay the fine and a victim surcharge of £15 and costs of £90.

DAWN Collier, 49, of Lindfield Road, Broxtowe Estate, pleaded guilty to not having a television licence. Magistrates in Nottingham fined her £35 fine and ordered her to pay £90 and a £15 victim surcharge.

LEE Crowson, 24, of Vine Terrace, Hucknall, was fined £65 for using a television without a licence. Nottingham Magistrates' Court imposed the fine, a victim surcharge of £15 and £90 costs. He pleaded guilty at court on December 18.

AMY Fisher, 23, of Dickens Court, Newthorpe, has been fined £200 for not having a television licence. Magistrates in Nottingham issued the fine, an order to pay a victim surcharge of £15 and costs of £90. The case was proved in her absence.

BERNADETTE George, 27, of Harwill Crescent, Aspley, has been fined £65 for using a television without a licence on July 10. She pleaded guilty by post at Nottingham Magistrates' Court. Together with the fine, she must pay a £15 victim surcharge and costs of £90.

DANIEL Gretton, 26, of Woodley Square, Bulwell, has been fined £35 for not having a television licence between August 10 and September 11 this year. After pleading guilty at Nottingham Magistrates' Court, he will be informed about the fine, a requirement to pay a £15 victim surcharge and costs of £90.

JAY Haxby, 20, of Bankwood Close, Aspley, has been fined £200 for not having a television licence. Magistrates in Nottingham proved the case in his absence on December 18. He had no licence at his home address on July 10. The fine was imposed, a £15 victim surcharge and a requirement to pay costs of £130.

PHILLIP Lane, 28, of Vernon Avenue, Old Basford, has been fined £400 for not having a TV licence. Magistrates heard the offence happened between June 2, and July 3. As well as the fine, he is required to pay a £15 victim surcharge and costs of £90. The case was proved in his absence.

ALISON Musson, 44, of Cavendish Road, Carlton, was fined £400 for not having a television licence at her address. The case was proved in her absence at Nottingham Magistrates' Court. The offence happened between May 20 and June 21. She is further expected to pay a victim surcharge of £15 and costs of £90.

A £1 MILLION project to create a new country park in Gedling has moved a step closer.

Plans to turn the former Gedling colliery site, off Spring Lane, into a country park have been in the pipeline for at least ten years.

But lack of money and other complications have delayed it.

Now Gedling Borough Council plans to ask developers to tender for the scheme.

The authority is to advertise an invitation for "expressions of interest to tender" from construction companies to create Gedling Country Park – estimated to cost £1.1 million.

The park would include a 40-space car park, footpaths and an access road.

Peter Hollins, 66, of Spring Lane, said: "This has been going on for long enough. Finally it's moving forward. If it's all organised and landscaped properly, I welcome this."

Hayley Carnill, 47, of Spring Lane, Lambley, welcomed the development but raised concerns over traffic.

"I would rather a country park than a load of houses," she said. "But Spring Lane is busy enough as it is and that might increase with a country park that has 40 parking spaces."

Louise Trimble, 47, of Spring Lane in Lambley, said: "If it goes ahead, that would be fantastic. I would definitely use it to walk my dog."

Ms Trimble, who teaches at Mapperley Plains Primary School, in Central Avenue, Mapperley, also said she would welcome a learning facility for kids in the new park.

"It would be especially nice for kids who aren't as fortunate to live in the countryside to learn about birds, nature and conservation. Attenborough Nature Centre sets a good example for things of that sort."

The old colliery site was previously owned by UK Coal, but now belongs Harworth Estates – formerly the property division of UK Coal.

The borough council says it is negotiating with Harworth Estates to buy the site.

It says the cost of building the park would be between £100,000 and £250,000.

It also has available a £250,000 Government grant, which has to be spent by March 2013, £500,000 of its own public realm fund and £360,000 to "potentially" come from contributions by developers, according to official documents.

The council said it was unable to divulge any more details on the scheme, due to ongoing negotiations.

Contractors will be asked to complete questionnaires by Monday, January 21, for a two month contract, which would start in March or April this year.

MANY thousands of motorists must have stopped for a tank of petrol, or brought their cars for service, at the old Gorse Hill Garage in Plains Road, Mapperley.

The garage closed more than 30 years ago but some of the original building still remains and, certainly for Ian Hastings, the memories live on.

It was Mr Hastings' grandfather Dennis Miles who built and opened the garage just after the Second World War and behind it is a fascinating story of how that generation emerged from the austerity of the post-war years.

Dennis Miles was an inspector of crashed and shot-down aircraft during the war.

He had to travel round and inspect mainly Avro Lancasters to determine the cause of crash: whether due to enemy action or mechanical error.

With this background and knowledge of mechanical engineering, he decided that his future after the war would be running his own garage. Mr Hastings said: "He chose the site on Plains Road as I assumed it was cheap as the road then was not at all busy, not like today.

"I think it was almost in the middle of nowhere."

Dennis Miles had also chosen a site close to his Wood- thorpe home, convinced that the road would become a busy thoroughfare in the not-too-distant future and provide his business with the passing trade it would need.

However, Dennis Miles' confidence was not shared by potential investors and he could find no one prepared to back his vision.

Undeterred, and with the support of his brother-in-law Bill Allen, he was able to scrape together the funds to get the business started.

"So, and I am not sure how, my grandfather managed to source the materials, bricks and timber, etc, from bomb sites. I assume this must have been something that happened a lot with the waste materials then," said Mr Hastings.

Dennis Miles and his brother-in-law then recruited four German prisoners of war on the strict understanding that he was not allowed to pay them for their labour and, in 1946, this disparate team got the garage built.

"My grandfather did tell me how hard the men worked, how well mannered, respectful and dedicated they were," said Mr Hastings. "He built a relationship with them really.

"When the garage was complete a bus was sent to collect the Germans and take them back to Germany. My grandfather was extremely grateful and he gave them each a packet of cigarettes.

"They were, apparently, overjoyed and, as the bus left, they continued waving and thanking my grandfather. I think that would be the last time he ever saw them and I assume they were never in contact."

From such an unlikely beginning, the Gorse Hill Garage developed into a successful business as Plains Road became ever more busy.

Dennis Miles owned and ran the garage until 1980 when he sold it to Plumtree Mazda and retired, as many Notts people did, to the East Coast. In the time he owned the garage they predominately serviced and repaired cars as well as being a filling station.

"They always supplied Esso petrol and we still have some Esso tea towels," said Mr Hastings.

"My grandfather was also a dealer for Austin and sold cars such as the Mini and the Allegro as well as diversifying into stocking and supplying Howard Cultivators and ride-on lawn mowers.

"They extended the existing building in approximately 1970 to have a showroom for these products.

"I have memories of visiting the garage at weekends and being allowed to play in the showroom and it's amazing what your young mind can make out of a ride-on lawn mower. I know he was a recommended supplier for these and very often showed the latest models at the Newark and Lincolnshire show."

The garage made the news in 1969 when the Evening Post sent a reporter and photographer to capture the story of two blackbirds which had decided to build a nest in the wheel-arch of a car parked at the garage.

At the time, Mr Miles told the Post: "I have heard of nests being built in cars that have been standing for a long time, but never in one that is used every day."

As the success of the business grew Dennis Miles was able to build a handsome house in Egerton Road, Woodthorpe, for himself and wife Doris to raise their family before moving to Sandilands, near Skegness.

Mr Hastings lives just five minutes from the site of his grandfather's garage – and just a few minutes from his mum, Dennis's daughter Pamela Henson.

RECENTLY, in both national and local media, there has been a lot of coverage about police stop and search figures appearing to show that it is mainly ethnic minorities that are being targeted.

I question whether the figures take into account the actual ethnicity of the local population within the area where the stop and search has taken place.

In Nottingham, for example, there are areas which are favoured by residents of a particular ethnic origin, therefore it is reasonable to assume that the figures will reflect this.

Others that are mixed should show a balance or at the least reflect that mix.

The power to stop and search is often enforced in places where crime/incidents are prevalent and not just on a whim.

Would it not be reasonable to publish the place, the make up of the residents and the reason for the enforcement as well as the figures.

This would afford a better overview of the whole picture, rather than one which lends itself to further undeserved criticism of the police and focuses on a problem that may not really exist (but could and should be avoided).

It would also prevent the figures being used to others' own ends.

DENNIS ASHCROFT

Piccadilly

Highbury Vale

AFTER the mauling given to Rushcliffe Borough Council's housing plans by the Government Inspector, why doesn't it do the decent thing by withdrawing its plans and changing the management of its planning department?

After all they got the council into this embarrassing mess and the local community has surely lost faith in them.

The council could then return to its pre-election pledge to challenge the unrealistically high number of houses proposed in the plans of Nottingham City Council and other neighbouring Labour-held local authorities.

It could also focus more on lobbying the Prime Minister to deliver his promise to scrap the regional strategies prepared under the last Government which are still giving legal force to the housing proposals made by the City Council and others.

COLIN RAYNOR

Tomlinson Avenue

Gotham

SP Jackson's attempt to "admonish" me must come across as an attempt to stifle honest criticism to the fair-minded (Opinion, December 3).

But, of course, that has always been a tradition of the churches.

Fortunately for me I cannot be burned as a heretic today.

Mr Jackson puts faith before reason which, as all religions are split and split again, is a dubious practice.

All faiths may be wrong but they cannot all be right.

He dismisses my comparison with how women have been treated with how they are treated in some Islamic societies but fails to explain why the Married Women's Property Act was necessary.

Until that Act married women owned nothing and had few rights.

Even her earnings belonged to her husband.

He justifies not having women bishops by saying there were no women amongst the disciples.

The Bible he takes this information from was assembled on the behalf of a Roman Emperor at least in part for political reasons.

All other versions were destroyed. Who can say what was said about women's roles in them? And women did accompany the disciples.

He distorts my statement about the way women tend to behave. I never claimed that women were pacifists.

The behaviour of men and women tends to overlap, with men likely to be confrontational and women to negotiate.

Of course there are exceptions, especially in a man's world.

Would Margaret Thatcher have gotten to be the leader of her party if she had been anything but what she was?

Another indication of difference between the sexes is shown by recent statistics showing that more women are abused by men than men by women.

If Mr Jackson does not want women bishops in his church one wonders what his attitude is to women having any elevated position in our society.

RL COOPER

Harlequin Close

Radcliffe-on-Trent

ON behalf of the Carers Federation's Action for Young Carers campaign, I would like to thank businesses for very generous donations and other support throughout this year.

This has enabled young carers and their families in the city to enjoy many activities that others may take for granted, and a break from their caring responsibilities.

A big "thank you" goes to:

Sainsbury's in Arnold and the Castle Marina store, which provided 30 cinema tickets for young carers and their families to see Nativity 2 in December.

Sainsbury's in Arnold also provided Action for Young Carers (AYC) Nottingham City with a once in a lifetime opportunity in June. As part of a Woodland Trust event and the Jubilee Celebrations, Sainsbury's offered AYC four places to see The Princess Royal on a day trip.

In December, Sainsbury's also provided eight tickets to see Nottingham Panthers take on Edinburgh Capitals.

Sainsbury's in Perry Road helped AYC Nottingham City by allowing us two fundraising sessions in their store – £250 was raised through donations and shoppers donated gifts, while Sainsbury's also donated selection boxes, other presents and decorations.

The Co-operative organised a beach day in Skegness, providing food, entertainment and coach travel for 40 young carers and their families. In addition, the store gave a donation to provide Christmas presents to young carers at the AYC Nottingham City Christmas party at our offices in Sherwood.

Action for Young Carers Nottingham City and the young people we work with would like to extend our sincerest thanks to each of these stores, and others who took part in the activities – they all helped create several special occasions in 2012 for young carers who truly deserve our support.

ROSALEEN LYNCH

Project manager

Action For Young Carers, Nottingham City

Christopher Cargill House

21-23 Pelham Road

REGULAR correspondent Joy James, of Colwick Park Close, Colwick Village, ushers in the New Year with memories and verse:

First-footing is an ancient British tradition whereby one encourages someone tall dark and handsome to set foot over your doorstep on the stroke of midnight.

He must not have flat feet, cross eyes, warts on his nose or eyebrows that meet in the middle and definitely not be blond as only Vikings were blond and they never bought good luck! Oh and the first footer had to bring a gift of a small piece of coal and this tradition has always kept the miners in full time work!

Due to the war, when I was a little girl in St Ann's, men on our street were rather scarce, so our dad used to first foot everyone on our street.

He was tall and dark but there the tradition broke down as our dad had a squint which probably accounts for the bad luck we all grew up with!

On December 31 we all take a look back at our closing year with despair for the past and trepidation for the future and so set out a list of New Year resolutions with which we slip into January 1.

Invariably we attack our vices and vow not to smoke for instance; I gave that up 17 years ago; or not to drink – I never have! So I am almost vice free, except for sex!

So last year I resolved to get in shape and lose weight. So, at a cost of £240, I joined a proper gym and approached this exercise regime with enthusiasm! On day one, I was signed in by a tall 17-year-old beauty who had the girth of an undernourished child!

After 10 minutes, I was seriously out of breath and limped out past that sniggering Miss size zero! I consoled myself with the thought that if she ate an apple she'd look pregnant!

Then I had a day off and began again. I might just have made 11 minutes the second time I went and then I had a week off... then another week... and another...

So I gave myself a stern talking-to and, after reaffirming my new year's vows on February 1, I set off and walked the two miles to the gym, where I set the machine to a fast steep uphill jogging programme for 20 minutes.

Then ditto on the rowing machine and the bike and gritted my teeth through another 20 minutes on the weightlifting bench and, having worked off 200 calories – roughly about two biscuits' worth – I crawled all the way home, threw myself on the bed and slept for six solid hours.

I could have achieved this exact same state by exercising my arm back home raising a glass of red... but I don't drink! I never did go back to the gym again but I did write this:

I'm getting older by the day, but not without a fight!

I slap on anti-wrinkle cream every single night!

My foundation is expensive, packed with youthful serum,

That's meant to keep the years at bay at least that is the theorem!

I take vitamins and minerals, give my body what it lacks

Plaster on anti peptides that fill in all the cracks.

My hair is thick and glossy, especially this on my chin!

And my face is so thickly botoxed, I can hardly raise a grin!

I'm a little over weight, oh alright then I'm damned fat!

But as I'm considered 'nearly there', what's so wrong with that?

From all this daily ageing I try hard to escape,

My body looks OK to me, well, isn't 'round' a shape?

I admit I have filled out some, especially on the rump

But I don't consider I'm unsightly, merely pleasantly plump!

There are some compensations now my body's such a wreck

When I remove my bra, all the wrinkles drop out of my neck!

I have tried exercising but it only makes me swear!

Don't I weight lift several times a day, just rising from my chair?

My doctor says; 'Lose some lard, be careful what you eat,

stop moving your greedy jaw when you know you are replete!'

"You need a balanced diet, salad and fruit are ideal"

I told him, to me a cream cake in each hand, IS a balanced meal!

I watch yoga on my telly but who am I trying to please?

If God wants me to touch me toes, He shoulda purrem on me knees!

"ALL-Seeing Erik," people are constantly asking The All-Seeing Erik, "since you nailed everything that was going to happen last year, whaddya reckon's going to happen this year?"

And they're making a valid point. The All-Seeing Erik doesn't like to brag, but he called the whole Jake Bugg-hitting-number 1 thing. Successful Olympic Games? All-Seeing Erik saw that coming. Royal baby, Charlie Brooks winning I'm a Celebrity, Oscar for Best Score to Ludovic Bource – check, check and check for The All-Seeing Erik.

But what does 2013 hold? For that, the All-Seeing Erik has the answers. Follow him to... the future!

January 19. After the final performance of Nottingham Playhouse panto Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood, panto don Kenneth Alan Taylor announces that this will definitely be his final panto. Paddy Power puts the odds at 3-1.

January 23. Following new England and Wales Cricket Board guidelines, the county cricket season begins at Trent Bridge and across the country. Notts director of cricket Mick Newell builds on his reputation for shrewd signings as international early-season cover signing and Swedish cross-country ski champion Anders Södergren scores a resilient first-innings 108.

March 14. In an effort to take back control of Notts County Council in the May local elections, Labour announces they are going to go after the crucial Literally Appropriate Surname vote. The Tories and leader Kay Cutts will face previously unknown party leader Reggie Reasonable-Amounts-of-Spending-for-Society's-Neediest.

April 27. A dramatic 2-1 win over Coventry caps off a dramatic April surge and propels Notts County to the Coca-Cola Championship. Forest fans prepare to trade vague condescension for active contempt.

May 2. For contractual reasons, The All-Seeing Erik must tell you to purchase the May 3 Post for local election results.

July 10-14. Are you New Zealand/Are you New Zealand/Are you New Zealand in disguise? Are yooooooo New Zealand in disguise ...

August 15. Silly season! The All-Seeing Erik asks his German friend if he knows what a stitch in time saves. His German friend says no.

September 27. Forest fans, noticing that Derby fans have been acting a bit aloof and passive-aggressive since Forest fans started spending more time hating Notts County, ask if anything's the matter. Derby fans say it's fine and silently leave the room.

October 12. Forest play Notts in a league match for the first time since 1994. It's pretty sweet.

October 19. Look, Derby fans. We can tell you're upset. Just because we've got Notts now, doesn't mean we don't value our loathing for you just as much as we ever did. It's just that ... hey! HEY! Don't you walk away, this is important! ...

November 26. Tired of speculation on whether or not this will be the year he actually retires, Nottingham Playhouse panto don Kenneth Alan Taylor unveils the Kenneth 3000, a comically frocked cyborg programmed to speculate on what is or is not behind it.

The Playhouse is proud to reveal that the Kenneth 3000 is funded by an Arts Council grant, donations from the public and gifts from select corporate patrons.

December 15. Dear Derby fans, a letter like this is never easy to write ...

JUST over a year ago, first-time parents Jade Underwood-Tattersall and Dean Haywood sat beside the hospital bedside of their first child praying she would stay alive.

At the time, the unnerving bleep of hospital monitoring equipment was the only sign of life and glimmer of hope that their prayers were being answered.

It was in November 2011 that Jade and Dean were told by doctors there was a high probability that their baby would die.

A tumour with a large cyst had been found growing in Brianne's brain. Together the tumour and cyst were about half the size of her brain.

Baby Brianne had an operation to drain the cyst on the same day her panicked mum brought her to the Queen's Medical Centre because she had fallen unconscious.

A week later Brianne had to be christened in an hospital corridor before going under the surgeon's knife once again to have part of her skull removed to take out part of her tumour – which had been found to be cancerous.

Her tumour is known medically as an anaplastic ependymona – and is extremely rare, with less than ten cases per year in Britain.

The operations have seen Brianne, now 16 months old, hospitalised for effectively all of 2012 and she has been put on a course of chemotherapy.

But doctors allowed her to go home on a permanent basis just before Christmas Day.

After a year of worry, tears and rushing down hospital corridors, the Sneinton couple's new year outlook this time around will be very different. Today they will wake up in their semi-detached house in Skipton Circus together and bring in the year at home for the very first time as a family.

The couple are expecting their second child in July.

Jade, 25, said: "Brianne is still having her chemotherapy, but it will be nice not to have to be in hospital this new year.

"It's been a horrible year and put pressure on our relationship.

"I'm really hoping Brianne will pull through.

"At the start of all this I used to think this was the end all the time, but you kind of force yourself to go into a zombie-like state and get on with things."

Dean, 26, said: "It does feel like we've been put through the mill this year but we're optimistic about the future."

Maria Cartmill, consultant paediatric neurosurgeon at the QMC, who operated on Brianne, said the little girl was admitted with symptoms and signs of grossly raised intracranial pressure – pressure within the head.

A brain scan showed an extremely large brain tumour which was partly solid and fluid filled.

"She was taken to theatre for immediate drainage of the cyst in order to try and let down the pressure within her head and stabilise her condition. I believe she was christened outside theatre. These cysts do not 'pop', they just increase in size and cause more pressure. Brianne's condition was life-threatening and it was uncertain if she would survive the night.

"She was kept sedated on a life support machine until her condition improved and more detailed scans were obtained. My colleague, Mr Donald Macarthur, and I then operated to remove as much tumour as we considered safe without causing significant brain damage. Brianne is now having chemotherapy, the tumour that is left is being closely monitored by scans to check its response to this – and may require further surgery in the future.

"Her future remains uncertain but we are all delighted she is spending more time at home."

GENEROUS readers smashed the target set by the Post to collect tins of food for hard-up families at Christmas.

The Post's Five Tons of Tins campaign finished with the announcement on Christmas Eve that an incredible 11.4 tons of food had been collected in total.

We reported on a number of incredible medical success stories in December.

Grandfather Charles Rouse, of Gedling, suffered nine cardiac arrests before paramedics saved him, prompting the 64-year-old to turn his life around.

Following his brush with death more than a year ago, the 25st retired businessman lost 8st after overhauling his diet and starting to exercise.

And in December he put on a Santa costume to delight pupils at Stanhope Primary School in Gedling.

Karl Nethercot, 34, who fell two floors from a hotel balcony while on holiday in Tunisia, was able to enjoy Christmas with his family, despite fearing it would never happen.

His fiancee Emma Huszarik, 32, who had found him in a pool of blood after the accident in October, was so sure he would die she even started planning a funeral.

We also reported in December how 21-year-old Leanne Carter gave birth on Christmas Day – despite not knowing she was pregnant.

December was also a month of controversy.

After Gedling Borough Council agreed to spend £80,000 of taxpayers' money on giving its lowest paid workers a £250 one-off payment, Ashfield District Council followed suit – sparking protest among voters as well as the council's own senior management.

The move to hand out the cash was approved as part of Ashfield's full council meeting at the start of December. However, the council's own chief of finance later criticised councillors for making the decision, saying it hadn't been budgeted and could lead to cuts elsewhere.

The move came after pressure from trade unions Unison and GMB after an announcement by Chancellor George Osborne that council workers on low wages could get an extra £250 a year in the face of the public sector pay freeze.

December has also seen many warnings issued to motorists in Notts.

The Post reported in December how drivers who park on pavements and grass verges could be hit with £70 fines.

And Post campaign None for the Road, which names and shames drink-drivers, was once again backed by Notts Police.

Another announcement affecting motorists was the £168 million upgrade of the A453, which is due to start this month.

Meanwhile, an outbreak of the highly-contagious norovirus would mean a miserable Christmas for many in Notts.

The month ended with the shocking news that Nottingham Forest manager Sean O'Driscoll had been sacked.

It came after the 4-2 Boxing Day triumph over Leeds United, with Alex McLeish a named as his replacement just 24 hours later.

A MAN has appeared in court in connection with an incident which led to the Chilwell block of flats where he lives being evacuated.

Matthew Wilkinson, 36, of Ribblesdale Court, faces counts of criminal damage and making threats to commit criminal damage with intent to endanger life following the incident on Saturday. Eight flats were evacuated after police were called to Ribblesdale Court at around 11am.

Wilkinson appeared at Nottingham Magistrates' Court yesterday, and has been remanded in custody ahead of his next appearance, at Nottingham Crown Court on January 14.

NORMAL train services to and from London St Pancras are expected to resume from 11am today after emergency repair works.

The work follows the derailment of a freight train at Barrow-opon-Soar, between Leicester and Loughborough, on December 27.

However, further work by Network Rail at the site of the derailment is still required and, as a result, trains will be unable to call at Barrow- upon-Soar until further notice. A replacement bus service will remain in operation between Barrow and Loughborough.

The freight train – operated by DB Schenker – was carrying over 1,000 tonnes of stone when it derailed.

Network Rail engineers have been working to remove the stone and the derailed wagons from the track.

A DEVOTED mum and dad will have their little girl at home this new year for the first time in over a year after she was born with a life-threatening brain tumour.

Brianne Underwood-Tattersall had to be christened in a hospital corridor because doctors feared she would not survive an operation to save her.

The tumour, which was discovered just three months after she was born, was half the size of her brain and was pushing her brain against her skull.

First-time mum Jade Underwood-Tattersall, of Sneinton, took her to hospital on November 15, 2011, after Brianne fell unconscious and her eyes had rolled back. Within an hour of arriving at the Queen's Medical Centre she was on the operating table.

And ever since that day she has not been released from hospital for longer than a day – until now.

"Last new year was spent in hospital and I was thinking I might never see my baby alive again," said the 25-year-old mum.

"We're so pleased to have her home now. We've been through hell and back this past year," she said.

Jade quit her job as a carer for children with autism to look after Brianne, while dad Dean also had to leave his job as factory worker to be with his partner and child.

And the couple have high expectations for 2013 as they are expecting their second child in July.

MULTI-MILLION-POUND plans have been revealed to build 110 new houses in St Ann's as part of the regeneration of the Stonebridge Park estate.

The new homes are part of an overall plan to build 210 houses and 48 flats to replace the demolished 225 low-rise maisonettes and flats in St Ann's.

They will be built in a traditional street pattern, instead of the previous style of housing where homes faced away from the street, and which has been blamed for crime and antisocial behaviour.

With 95 new homes already complete on the estate, home builders Keepmoat Homes Ltd have now submitted plans to build the next phase, including 29 two-bedroom homes and 81 with three bedrooms.

The site, which includes land off Wray Close, Flewitt Gardens and north of 76 Jersey Gardens, was a former estate which was cleared in 2008.

Resident Richard Pearson, a member of the Stonebridge Park Tenants' and Residents' Association, said he was delighted to see that the plans have now been submitted to Nottingham City Council.

The 55-year-old, who lives in nearby Belle Vue Court, said he has written to various ministers in the last year urging them to put forward cash to kickstart this stage of the development. He said: "It's been slow getting off the ground, but the new houses are brilliant for Stonebridge.

"I'm very relieved as it's been slow going. The first phase started in 2010 and it's just been completed. It will look brilliant when it's finished.

"Looking at the plans it's very nicely done and well laid out."

Eight of the 110 homes will be rented as "affordable homes", spread across the development.

St Ann's councillor Dave Liversidge, also portfolio holder for housing, expects them to be very popular.

He said: "It's absolutely brilliant for the area – it will improve the area.

"The houses will be very popular judging by the last houses, which went so quickly. They're so close to the city centre."

The Stonebridge estate was built in the early 1970s, using the principles set out by the Radburn design movement.

The general layout consisted of "inverted housing", which faced on to communal spaces with access to the car via back gardens, meaning many homes did not have much front garden space.

People can now have their say on the proposals before the council makes a final decision. To air your views, quote the planning reference number: 12/03501/PFUL3

Are you affected by this story? Call our newsdesk on 0115 948 2000 or e-mail newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk

THE number of people contracting the highly contagious norovirus in Notts has risen again.

In the week before Christmas, 750 people in the city and county visited their GP with symptoms.

This was ten per cent up on the 681 who went to see a GP the previous week.

But the figures may just be the tip of the iceberg – as the Health Protection Agency estimates that for everyone who goes to a GP with symptoms, there are 288 others with the illness.

The bug causes diarrhoea and vomiting and is easily spread.

Currently, one ward at Queen's Medical Centre is closed to new patients because of outbreaks of the virus.

And hospital bosses are urging people showing symptoms to stay away, especially on days like today when GP surgeries are closed.

A spokesman for Nottingham University NHS Trust, which runs the QMC, said the ward closure situation was monitored on a daily basis. He said it was too early to predict when the ward would reopen.

He said: "Visitors with norovirus are asked to stay away from hospital to reduce the risk of passing on winter bugs to hospital patients or other vulnerable people.

"If you are ill or have been ill (including diarrhoea and vomiting), please do not visit friends or relatives who are inpatients until you have been free of symptoms for at least 48 hours."

Of the 750 people who visited their GP in the week before Christmas, 185 live in the city, with the remaining 565 from the county. Health experts say those showing symptoms should stay at home and recover naturally rather than seek medical advice.

Norovirus expert John Harris, from the Health Protection Agency, said: "The number of laboratory-confirmed cases has risen once again as it appears that we have seen the rise in cases that usually begins in January start a little earlier than we normally expect.

"Norovirus is very contagious, and very unpleasant. To help prevent spread of the disease, it's important that people who believe they are unwell with the virus maintain good hand hygiene and stay away from hospitals, schools and care homes, as these closed environments are particularly prone to outbreaks which can cause severe disruption."

The virus can be transmitted through contact, from contaminated food or water or from contaminated surfaces.

Symptoms include a sudden onset of vomiting and/or diarrhoea. Often, people have a temperature, a headache and stomach cramps. It usually lasts for one or two days.