Did you know?

Lightning is one of nature's most recurrent and common spectacles. Around the world, there are over 3,000,000 flashes every day. That's around 44 strikes every second.

Trees can often be destroyed by lightning strikes. When lightning hits a tree, it usually travels just below the tree's bark where there is a layer of sap and water. This layer becomes instantly heated and expands causing the bark to be blasted off the tree and sometimes splitting the wood.

But it can help plants grow

While nitrogen is in the air all around us, for plants to be able to absorb it (a process vital for their growth) they rely on a process called Nitrogen fixation.

Although much of this process is done by bacteria and algae, the extreme heat of a lightning strike causes nitrogen to bond with oxygen to create nitrogen oxides which combine with moisture in the air to fall as rain and water plants with nitrate-rich water.

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Today's Peninsula sunrise: 05:39

Today's Peninsula sunset: 20:19

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Tide Times:

01:42 1.12m

08:02 3.29m

14:09 1.3m

20:32 3.24m

Fine on the Strand

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Weather:

A cloudy and murky start will soon brighten up with some sunny spells developing. However, there is the continuing threat of thunderstorms breaking out during the afternoon. Feeling rather warm and humid too. Maximum Temperature 27c, low of 16c

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Orwell Bridge: Open

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Quote of the day:

Thunder is good, thunder is impressive; but it is lightning that does the work.

Mark Twain

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Joke of the day:

I'm hammering a nail into the wall when my wife comments "You hammer like lightning"

I replied "you think I'm that fast?"

She said "no. You never hit the same spot twice."

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Today's Post Office Openings:

Shotley: 09.00 – 17.00

Chelmondiston: 08-00-17.00

Holbrook: 09.00 – 17.30

Brantham (village hall): Closed

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Today's food shop openings:

Holbrook Co-op: 06.00 -23.00

Brantham Co-op: 06.00 – 23.00

Premier Stores Shotley: 08:00 - 21:00

Premier Stores Wherstead: 08.00 – 19.00

Hollingsworth's: Times vary

Orwell Stores: 08.00 – 13.00

Suffolk Food Hall: 09.30 – 17.30

Stutton Community Shop: 09.00-16.00

Woody's Butchers: - 09.00 to 17.30pm Lunch 13.00 -13.45

Please wear a cloth face covering, respect social distancing rules and treat shop staff with respect.

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Holbrook and Shotley surgeries and dispensaries.

Holbrook: 328263

Phone access only 08:00 – 17:00 Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 08:00 – 13:00 Thursday 08:00 – 18:30 Friday for urgent queries

Repeat prescription medication can be collected from 08:00 – 11:00 Monday to Thursday and 15:00 – 17:00 on Fridays. Additionally, those over 70 can collect from 14:00 – 15:00 on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday

Shotley: 787435

Phone access only 08:00 – 18:30 Monday to Thursday.

Repeat prescription medication can be collected from 08:00 – 11:00 Monday to Friday and 15:00 – 17:00 on Monday to Thursday. Additionally, those over 70 can collect from 14:00 – 15:00 on Monday to Thursday.

Call 111 for emergency medical matters.

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For food deliveries, or prescription collection please contact your local support schemes:

Brantham Good Neighbours(GNS) 07811 630899 

Chelmondiston GNS 01473 780408

Holbrook Helpers 07999583017

Shotley & Erwarton GNS 07799873381

Stutton Network 01473 327753

Tattingstone 07895052086

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Live travel updates: Road and rail

Bus services:

Check here for new Monday to Sunday timetable

Shotley to Harwich-Felixstowe foot ferry running check timetable

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See which businesses are still operating with our Peninsula Business Directory:

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Our daily Breakfast Briefing is proving very popular but we are always striving to improve the experience for you. If you have any suggestions for inclusion please email [email protected]

This also includes anyone who want to send us a photo to use, we are always happy to credit the picture with your name.