March 2009
Community Times
REDDITCH
Delivered FREE to homes in the Redditch area.
www.ctredditch.co.uk
Inside this months edition we have:Win a Bouncy Castle for a day! 3p Fuel discount Voucher Kate Winslet – Celeb Interview Motoring Review—Subaru Win a Wedding worth £15000+
And soooo much more!
Visit online at www.ctredditch.co.uk
Introduction
Community Times REDDITCH
Publisher: Community Times Limited Editors Faith & Kirsty Wootton Editorial: Advertising: Email:
01527 539552 01527 539552
Welcome to the March Edition of Community Times Redditch… We would like to apologise for the non production of last months magazine, it was due to technical issues which are now thankfully resolved.
sales@ctredditch.co.uk
Website: www.ctredditch.co.uk
Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither the publisher nor its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. Community Times Ltd does not officially endorse any advertising material included within this publication. is the registered trademark of Community Times Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form - electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise - without prior permission of the publisher.
We have got a packed edition for you this time full of great offers and articles. Also a couple of competitions not to be missed - win a bouncy castle to keep the kiddies entertained - see page 14 and then we have the fantastic competition to win your dream wedding worth £15,000+ don’t miss your opportunity - visit the website to enter. Race for Life - Redditch event is 26th July 09, read all about how you can enter on the centre pages. Join us Kirsty and I have entered! A very big thank you to our advertisers, (new and old) without them this would not be a free magazine. Thank you for your support and we look forward to working with you again throughout this year .
And finally to you Mum’s, have a Happy Mothers Day! Faith & Kirsty Editors Tel: 01527 539552 Email - editor@ctredditch.co.uk
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Community Times REDDITCH
How to...
Save Money Online Community Times Redditch’s essential guide on how to save yourself money when you do shop online. With hints from price comparison websites, to where – Our resident computing expert to look for the latest Written By voucher Richard codes!
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n the current economic climate, cutting back is something that most of us are already doing, and it will no doubt be helping most of you. Did you know however, that you don’t need to cut back completely? You just need to be savvy and find the cheapest places to buy from! Just as you would compare the same DVD or pair of jeans from one shop to another on the high street, you can very easily do that online.
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Credit Cruncher Now that internet access is very readily available (if you don’t have access, then you will surely know someone who has!), you can take advantage of all of the price comparisons that people have done for you. We are going to have a brief look at just how you can save money on your online purchases today.
where people discuss their latest findings and showcase them for others to see and take advantage of. One of the largest of these is the M on e yS a vi n gE xp er t . c om forums. This is full of people regularly helping others to find the best prices for products and services in the UK. Hot UK Dea l s (www.hotukdeals.com) is Cashback W e b s i t e s similar too, but with more Whenever you shop at certain deals. online retails, you can often go through another website first Discount code websites and to get a proportion of whatever Voucher codes websites you spend back, in the form of Chances are that whenever cashback. For example, you have bought something Quidco (www.quidco.com) online, you’ve seen the little offer on average around 5% of ‘Discount Code’ or ‘Voucher’ your spend back to you as box on the payment screen, but never had one to put in. cashback. Well, help is at hand from Latest Deals Websites many of the voucher code There are many websites websites out there. Simply search in your favourite search
engine (such as Google) for the name of the website, followed by “Discount Code” and you may just find one that will save you some money! Price Comparison Websites You’ve no doubt seen the t el e vi si on a d ver t s for CompareTheMarket.com and GoCompare.com. Well, these are the most publicised online price comparison websites. There is almost a price comparison website for any product category that you can think of. Two of the most common ones for entertainment products are Find DVD and Find CD (www.find-dvd.co.uk and www.find-cd.co.uk). These c om pa r e th ousa n ds of products from different online retailers and show you the lowest prices.
Cashback Websites: Quidco (www.quidco.com), TopCashBack (www.topcashback.co.uk), Free Fivers (www.freefivers.co.uk) Latest Deals Websites: Money Saving Expert Forums (forums.moneysavingexpert.com), Hot UK Deals (www.hotukdeals.com), UKOffer (www.ukoffer.com) Discount Code Websites: Price Cuts (www.pricecuts.co.uk), VoucherCodes.co.uk (www.vouchercodes.co.uk) Price Comparison Websites: Find DVD (www.find-dvd.co.uk), Find CD (www.findcd.co.uk) Community Times Redditch is not affiliated with any of these websites, and is not responsible for the content on any of them.
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Redditch & District Canine Society Redditch and District Canine Society held its Members Limited Show at Mappleborough Green Village Hall on Sunday 21st December 2008. It was their first Christmas Show and the Officers and Committee’s aim was for exhibitors to enjoy the start of the Christmas spirit whilst handling their dogs. There were 68 dog classes judged by Mrs Chris Owens and also 4 handling classes (judged by Father Christmas) with a total of 124 dogs entered. The exhibitors came mainly from the local Worcestershire area but some came from as far as Milton Keynes, Leicestershire and Pontypool. We received some kind comments regarding the show including the following report from the ‘Our Dogs’ Midland News Reporter Donna Goodall :- “I have already said in my previous article what an excellent day out this was. The society headed, by Sue Malpas as secretary, worked so hard and created a wonderful atmosphere. Lovely Christmas cards had been prepared and printed for every exhibitor and a beautiful cake bearing the society’s kingfisher emblem was sliced up and distributed amongst everyone. Then there was the appearance of Father Christmas himself (well maybe not the real one!) to judge the handling classes. A delightful and fun day, so sincerest thanks to all concerned. Judge for the day was Mrs Christine Owen (owainglyndwr) who had a superb entry of 124 exhibitors making 204 entries. In addition ‘Father Christmas’ ‘ aka Mr Fred Gadd had
14 entries for the handling classes. Mrs Owens eventual choice for the Best in Show was Mr & Mrs Palmers 5 year old German Shepherd (bitch) ‘Forgedoak Simply Red’, RBIS Mr & Mrs Stanley and Miss Weaving’s Bichon Frise (bitch) ‘Amiesta Kind Of Magic with Elancie’, BPIS Rhian Williams’ Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshund (dog) ‘Cwndarhian Mr Magoo’, RBPIS Mr & Mrs Stilgoe's’ Pointer (dog) ‘Dobelands Beauclerc’ and Best Veteran in Show my very own black Labrador (bitch) ‘Beaverbrook Sweet Honesty’. A Huge thanks to everyone for a truly super day! The society would like to extend special thanks to their sponsors TPMS for their on-going support. The society’s next Open Dog Show will be held on the 16th May 2009 at Ryton Dunsmore, Nr Coventry. Further details available from the society secretary.
For further details regarding the forthcoming Open Dog Show or for general inquiries please contact the Society Secretary:
Mrs Sue Malpas Ivy Dene Neachells Lane Willenhall WV13 3RG Tel: 01902 634475 or 07956 10592
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Flowers By Design
Weddings, Funerals, Birthdays & Celebrations. Orders Now Being Taken For Mothers Day — 22nd March Unit 4D2, The Quadrant, Alcester Road Redditch Worcestershire B98 8AE
We Now Stock Helium Balloons. Giftware and Greeting Cards
Tel: 01527 893 377 1240c Evesham Road, Astwood Bank,, Redditch B96 6AA
J H Plumbing & Bathroom Fitting Honest and Reliable Service / 15 Years Experience / No Call Out Charges / Free Estimates Full Bathroom Modernisation Including Fitting / Tiling / Taps / Overflows / Blocked Drains Insurance Work Undertaken Repairs / Insulations / Sinks / Showers No Job Too Big Or Too Small ! CALL: John: 07763 994608 Tel: 01952 608415 Email: johnhuntington@hotmail.co.uk 9
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JMC
Tarmacadam Specialists
BWARM H E A T IN G & PL U M B IN G L T D
Tel: 01527 520220 Fax: 01527 520221 O DRIVES
HAVE A SERVICE AT £40 + VAT MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS £110 + VAT FREE QUOTATIONS
O CAR PARKS
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We can now offer finance to all our customers from 1 year - 10 years. Spread the cost.
O UTILITY CONTRACTS
Replacement Boiler or Full System Installation Available
ALL WORK GUARANTEED FOR A FREE, NO OBLIGATION QUOTE
Full Central Heating Checks. Landlord Checks. A LL PL U M BIN G W O R K C AR RIED O U T
Same Day Repairs If You Call Before 12 noon
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24 HR CALL OUT 365 DAYS OF THE YEAR NO CALL OUT CHARGE NO JOB TOO SMALL ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED
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COMPETITION Win a FREE FUNBUSTERS.COM BOUNCY CASTLE*
DESIGN AND COLOUR YOUR OWN BOUNCY CASTLE Funbusters.com have lots of inflatable’s suitable from tots to adults including slides, gladiators, sumos, bungees and Rodeos.
*Refers to a single days hire on any weekday during the school holidays there is no alternative prize or cash value. All entrants will receive a discount voucher to use against Funbusters hires or parties. Send your entry to; PO Box 7148 Redditch Worcs B98 7WW Don’t forget your name and address, email and D.O.B.
GRASSCUTTING WEEKLY / FORTNIGHTLY DOMESTIC OR COMMERCIAL FOR A FREE ESTIMATE CALL PAUL - TEL: O7925 199 740 14
LOCAL ISSUES
Redditch sets Council Tax for 2009/10 Redditch Borough Council last night (Monday 23 February) agreed the amount of money it will be asking its residents to pay next year as part of their overall Council Tax bill.
This means all Redditch residents living in Band D properties will be asked to pay the borough council £204.08 for the year, an increase of £8.80 on last year. Those living in Feckenham will be asked to pay a further £22.64 to the The Council’s share of the bill will be increased parish council, a decrease of 11p on last year, by 4.5 per cent in 2009/10. This is added to which gives a total increase of £8.69. charges for services provided by Worcestershire County Council, Hereford and Worcester Fire The total Council tax bill for Band D Redditch and Rescue Authority and West Mercia Police residents will be £1,485.63 in Feckenham and Authority. The total overall increase will be £1,462.99 elsewhere. 3.49 per cent.
Redditch Borough Council — Council Tax 2009/10 Band
Redditch BC Worc’s CC
Police
Fire
Total
Parish
Parish Total
A
£136.05
£675.81
£115.75
£47.71
£975.32
£15.10
£990.42
B
£158.73
£788.45
£135.04
£55.67
£1,137.89
£17.61
£1,155.50
C
£181.40
£901.09
£154.33
£63.62
£1,300.44
£20.13
£1,320.57
D
£204.08
£1,013.72
£173.62
£71.57
£1,462.99
£22.64
£1,485.63
E
£249.43
£1,238.99
£212.20
£87.48
£1,788.10
£27.67
£1,815.77
F
£294.78
£1,464.26
£250.78
£103.38
£2,113.20
£32.71
£2,145.91
G
£340.13
£1,689.54
£289.37
£119.29
£2,438.33
£37.74
£2,476.07
H
£408.15
£2,027.44
£347.24
£143.14
£2,925.97
£45.29
£2,971.26
Increase %
4.50%
2.94%
4.94%
4.93%
3.49%
-0.45%
0.0342
Increase £
£8.80
£28.95
£8.17
£3.36
£49.28
-£0.10
£49.17
%AGE Of Total
13.95%
69.29%
11.87%
4.89%
100.00%
What are your views on the new Council Tax rates? Are we getting value for money? Send your emails to - editor@ctredditch.co.uk
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REDDITCH WOMEN ARE INVITED TO DO Redditch women are being invited to do something amazing by signing up for Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life 2009 and raising money for research to help more people survive cancer.
This years Race for Life in Redditch takes place on Sunday, July 26th, at 11.00am at Arrow Valley Country Park Last year 1500 women walked, jogged or ran the event in 2009, organisers are encouraging 2,000 women to put their best feet forward and raise £115,000. Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life 2009 is the UK’s largest women only fundraising series. Women of all ages and fitness levels are invited to do something amazing by signing up for the 5k event and joining together to walk, jog or run 5k to raise money to help beat cancer. Many women who walk, jog or run are cancer survivors or are participating in memory or celebration of a loved one whose life has been touched by cancer. Laura Kavaney, Race for Life Area Event Manager for Redditch, said: “We hope that everyone will accept our invitation to do something amazing by taking part in Race for Life. Women of all ages, abilities, shapes and sizes join in. They motivate and inspire each other to complete the 5k course. Many simply walk round, chatting and having fun but they all share the wonderful spirit of sisterhood and pride on the day.”
Cancer Research UK spent over £8 million last year in Birmingham on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research. For example, researchers at the Cancer Research UK Institute of Cancer Studies are working on many aspects of cancer, from discovering the causes of the disease, through to developing and testing new treatments in the clinic. Laura Kavaney continued: “The number of people surviving cancer is increasing. In the 1960s, less than three out of ten children diagnosed with cancer were successfully treated. Now, it’s seven out of ten. Today, more than 95% of men diagnosed with testicular cancer are cured and more women are surviving breast cancer than ever before.” She added: “But we still have a long way to go. Despite improvements in treatment, one in four people in the UK will die from cancer. With your help, we want to change that. Cancer Research UK believes that research is the key to developing better ways of preventing, detecting and treating cancer.”
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SOMETHING AMAZING AT RACE FOR LIFE
2009
Redditch participants will be part of a total of 680,000 women from across the UK, taking part at over 230 events between May and July. Cancer Research UK hopes that together they will raise a total of £60 million to fund the charity’s life saving work. Gloria Hunniford, Patron of Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, said: “I know that for many women, Race for Life holds a special place in their hearts and the determination and passion that is felt throughout the events creates an atmosphere that is truly special and inspiring for us all. I would urge every woman, no matter what age, fitness level or ability to take part. She added: “On a personal level, Race for Life is a very moving and emotional experience for me. It’s now four year’s since I lost my gorgeous daughter Caron to cancer but even in this short period of time, treatments for the disease have improved so much.”
Women in Redditch are invited to enter Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life at www.raceforlife.org or by calling 0871 641 2282.
Kirsty and I have both entered into the Race for Life event on July 26th 2009 and we urge you to join us and help raise funds for this fantastically worthy charity, if you cannot enter and would like to sponsor us please visit www.ctredditch.co.uk for a direct link to our fundraising pages. Thank You !
For further information about Cancer Research UK's work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 08701 602040 or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org 1717
Community Times REDDITCH
The way to your
Mum’s heart
FLOWERS AND CHOCS ARE FINE FOR MOTHER'S DAY, BUT BAKING HER A CAKE COULD BE EVEN MORE SPECIAL. WE'VE FOUND SOME TRADITIONAL TREATS THAT COULD BRING BACK MEMORIES AS WELL AS GIVE PLEASURE.
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onour thy mother in the kitchen this Mother's Day and you're guaranteed to score yourself some (chocolate) brownie points. Better still, bake a cake together and you can relive the days when she let you lick the spoon - and rediscover some of the traditional tastes of childhood. Many of us will remember weekends spent in the kitchen helping cook batches of deliciously sweet fairy cakes for friends and family. There's certainly nothing quite like a mother's guiding hand in the kitchen," says Susannah Blake, one of the contributors to new book Just Like My Mother Used To Bake.
If you've forgotten just how great those cakes from childhood tasted, this recipe collection will have you whipping up Victoria sponges just the way your mum made them in no time. Even if yours was not the baking kind of household, this Sunday is still an ideal day to inspire your own children to get involved with a homemade teatime treat. After licking the bowl clean, share a slice of melt-in-your-mouth Lemon Drizzle Cake or indulge your ma with a traditional tea, with Victoria Sandwich with Strawberries and Cream. The following recipes should make your mother, and your children, very proud...
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Just Like My Mother Used To Bake is published by Ryland, Peters and Small, priced £6.99. Available now.
Mother’s Day
Victoria Sandwich With strawberries and cream (Serves 8) 180g butter, at room temperature 180g caster sugar 3 eggs 180g self-raising flour 3 and 1/2 tblsp goodquality strawberry jam 140g strawberries, hulled and halved or quartered, depending on size Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Beat together the butter and caster sugar in a large bowl until pale and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at at time. Sift the flour into the mixture and fold in until thoroughly combined. Spoon the cake mixture into the prepared tins and spread out evenly using the back of the spoon.
120ml whipping cream Icing sugar, for dusting Two 20cm sandwich tins, greased and base -lined with greaseproof paper
Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and the sponge springs back when pressed gently with the tips of your fingers. Turn out the cakes onto a wire rack, gently peel off the lining paper and let cool completely. Slice a thin sliver off the top of one of the cakes to create a flat surface.
Spread the strawberry jam over and top with the strawberries. Whip the cream until it stands in soft peaks, then spread it carefully over the strawberries.
Press the second cake gently onto the cream and dust with icing sugar, then serve.
Lemon Drizzle Cake (Serves 8-10) 140g butter, (room temperature) 140g caster sugar 2 large eggs Grated zest of 1 unwaxed lemon 140g self-raising flour For the lemon topping: 4tbsps caster sugar Freshly squeezed juice of 1 lemon A 20cm loose-based square cake tin, lined with greaseproof paper
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Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Beat together the butter and sugar in a bowl until pale and creamy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the lemon zest. Sift the flour into the mixture and fold in until well mixed. Tip the mixture into the prepared cake tin and spread out evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes until risen and golden and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Transfer the cake tin to a wire rack and prick the top of the cake all over using the skewer. Dust with one tablespoon of the sugar for the topping. Quickly combine the remaining sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl and immediately pour over the top of the cake. Let cool in the tin, then carefully unmould to serve.
VOLUNTEERING COULD BE THE KEY TO COMBATING THE CREDIT CRUNCH If you have just been made redundant, or are using the credit crunch as an opportunity to change your career path, why not consider volunteering with a national charity. Leonard Cheshire Disability’s Saltways on Church Road, Webheath is calling for people in Redditch who want to do something positive and gain some valuable experience for their CV. Research has found that employers are more likely to choose a candidate with volunteering experience than one without it. People who volunteer are more likely to cope better with the blues than those who don’t. Volunteering can provide a route into employment; ensuring people have the skills and confidence they need to get back into work.
Nancy Croft, Volunteer Coordinator at Leonard Cheshire Disability, says:“Volunteering may not be at the top of people’s minds during the economic downturn, but it is a brilliant way of developing team-working, communication and problem-solving skills, as well as working with a diverse group of people. We offer specific, free training, which is relevant for your role. It can be used on your CV and could be a way into a new job. “We are looking for people from all sectors of the community who want to be part of a team. You’ll find new friends and really make a difference to the lives of disabled people in Webheath. “Volunteering is a win-win situation for everyone and is a great opportunity to get to know your local community.” Leonard Cheshire Disability can offer volunteering opportunities to fit around busy schedules, whether you can spare a few hours each week or just a couple of hours each month. The charity provides flexible training, so that people are confident in their role, working with disabled people.
To find out more please contact Nancy Croft, on 01527 452800 Or visit www.lcdisability.org/volunteering
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Kingfisher Angling Centre Ltd 58a Arthur Street, Lakeside, Redditch, B98 8JY
Special Offer Wychwood Rage Freespin 60 Baitrunner Reel RRP £34.99 - Our Price £30.00, Or Buy 3 Reels For the Special Price of £75.00
Kingfisher Angling Club Membership Card Now Available 10% Discount to ALL Members Suppliers Of Most Major Brands
Tel: 01527 510479 Fax: 01527 510491
Opening Times Monday - Thursday 9.00 am - 5.00 pm Friday and Saturday 8.00 am - 5.00 pm
Email: info@kingfisherangling.co.uk
Terms & Conditions: Voucher valid for one half price wash for one vehicle. Cannot be exchanged for cash. Offer ends 30th April 2009. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer.
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Terms & Conditions: Maximum 60 litres per customer. Cannot be exchanged for cash. Offer ends 30th April 09. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Offer may be suspended at any time.
WIN
your dream
Wedding!
The Fairy Tale Wedding of your dreams with Bowden Hall Hotel
C
ommunity Times and Ramada Bowden Hall, in association with a number of key suppliers, have teamed up to create a truly spectacular wedding day... just for you! Arranging such a wonderful wedding is normally a huge undertaking, but if you're the lucky winner of this amazing competition then you can leave all the stress and worry to us. We'll arrange everything for you and then we'll pick up the tab!! And we've thought of everything... A dream dress courtesy of "By Design" who stock an exclusive range of dresses from top designers, including Justin Alexander, San Patrick, Sweetheart and Ellis Bridals. Professional makeup by Sanchia Finlay who will provide a professional and friendly service from the first consultation to the big day itself.
At the Theatre
You will arrive in style, courtesy of Cloud Nine Limousines, with a magnificent wedding car, the Excalibur, one of the most sought after limousines in the country!
A truly show stopping cake commissioned for you and created by Contemporary Cake Designs will be ready and waiting for that special moment.
And then you'll be greeted with a champagne wedding breakfast created especially for you and up to 60 guests.
There will even be a chocolate fountain, and all the chocolate you can eat, courtesy of Berwyn Chocolate Fountains and Lizz Lipscombe will be playing the violin for you.
Beautiful wedding rings will adorn your fingers courtesy of Fredk Allen Ltd. Delicate, hand-crafted bridal jewellery created by Teresa will be commissioned to compliment your dress, including, earrings, necklace and tiara! And, to finish the look, you will have gorgeous fresh flowers from Passion Florists. Formal menswear for the groom and his retinue will ensure that your beau is equally resplendent! Magnificent tabletop decorations from Butterfly Celebrations and chair covers from Cotswold Chair Covers will set the scene at the reception with balloons by All Occasions accompanied by spectacular glassware from Kopend Creations.
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You will have a simply stunning record of your special day with professional photography from Blenheim Studios. An evening reception for up to 100 guests and a beautiful four-poster honeymoon suite at Bowden Hall Hotel. Beautiful bridal lingerie from Joyce Brooks and sensual honeymoon lingerie from Cia Boutique.
The backdrop for your stunning wedding day will be the classically elegant Bowden Hall Hotel, one of the gems of the Cotswolds, set in acres of beautiful parkland. You will have your very own dedicated wedding coordinator who will be on hand to help you create and personalise the wedding of your dreams and a hand picked team of experts will also ensure that you look and feel wonderful and that your day is one to remember forever!
Your special day will be nothing short of the red carpet treatment from start to finish. But it doesn't end there! There's even a very special photographic experience with Simply Secretive, a boudoirstyle photography studio staffed by a dedicated all female team.
They will provide you with a unique photographic experience capturing sexy, yet tasteful and elegant images of you both. Photographer Jan and professional make-up artist Sanchia Finlay, are waiting to give you a wonderful gift beautiful images of yourself to treasure forever. And there's more... To celebrate your first anniversary we'll even send you away on a romantic weekend to the continent. Where would you like you like to go? Paris perhaps? Our win a Dream Wedding in the Cotswolds competition will be run over two months, February and March. Closing date 31 March '09.
So, if you're in love, planning to get married and would like to win your dream wedding simply enter our competition for your chance to win this fantastic prize.
Bowden Hall Hotel
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IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Article
Community Times Your Location
Is Kate Winslet
Winner?
finally on to a
KATE WINSLET HAS WON A GOLDEN GLOBE AND BAFTA SO FAR THIS YEAR. THE BRITISH ACTRESS TALKS ABOUT WORKING WITH HER HUSBAND SAM MENDES AND FORMER TITANIC CO-STAR LEONARDO DICAPRIO.
K
ate Winslet can't seem to win. After waiting for a major acting award for 12 years, two come at once, but she still gets it in the neck for her over-emotional acceptance speech. After her double Golden Globe victory, reports of 'weeping Winslet' were rife, telling how she was assisted onto stage, repeatedly apologised and urged herself to 'gather' and forgot Angelina Jolie in the list of her Best Actress rivals. Kate won the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress gongs for her Performances in Revolutionary Road and her portrayal of a former SS guard in The Reader.
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Celebrity As well as listing agents, producers and make-up artists, during her gushing Globes moment, Kate also thanked her two children Mia and Joe for "coming on this adventure with mummy". "My priorities in life have just completely shifted since I had my two children. Mia and Joe are the most important thing in my world and that's that." Even so, when she was offered parts in both Revolutionary Road and The Reader - projects that would be filmed less than six months apart – Kate found it impossible to turn them down. "I'm still sort of recovering from the last 18 months of my life and just coming to terms with the fact that I got to play April Wheeler and Anna Schmitz in one year, let alone in my lifetime," she says, wide-eyed. "I'm very very aware of how rare that is as an opportunity and I can't tell you how much I've learnt about acting, about myself, as a result of playing both of these unbelievable women. Revolutionary Road, based on the novel by Richard Yates, is a heartbreaking portrait of a marriage in 1950s America. Despite her dreams of a career in acting, April finds herself slipping into the suburban housewife role, while her husband Frank (Leonardo DiCaprio) commutes to New York for business lunches and flirtations with secretaries.
The couple's hopes of moving to Paris to reinvigorate their marriage are shattered when April discovers she's due to have another child. As a mother herself, Kate had to try to understand what drove April's decisions and how the era defined her as woman. "She makes choices I would never make as a mother, but what's tragic about April is that I think if she had the chance to open herself up, to go to Paris and be more free, she would have been a very different mother as a consequence." The film gave Kate the opportunity to work with her director husband Sam Mendes for the first time since they married in 2003, which she found to be both a blessing and an added pressure.
"Sam and I decided early on that we couldn't have any rules about this stuff otherwise it would be way too confusing. So with Revolutionary Road, I was able to indulge in that and I kind of abused the fact that I was living with the director - I would pick his brains constantly." Reading-born Kate was also reunited on set with her good friend Leonardo for the first time since Titanic broke box office records back in 1997. Having him in the role of Frank was a huge comfort, she says. "We've known each other since we were 20, that's over a third of our lives, so to have that level of friendship and trust between us was really valuable and we felt physically comfortable together playing those parts. "But we also had to look after each other a lot because some days were extremely difficult." To prepare themselves for the film, Kate and Leo watched 1950s period videos promoting life in the suburbs, which she describes as "horrifying". Having put so much thought and effort into her performance, Kate found it hard to let go of her character when filming finished. "Sometimes that takes me a week and sometimes it takes me a couple of months, just until I feel like I can realign my own thoughts again."
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Motoring Article
Community Times REDDITCH
FirstDrive
AS YOU STEP INSIDE THE SUBARU IMPREZA WRX-S, THE CHUNKY THREE-SPOKE STEERING WHEEL AND MOMO GEARKNOB ARE THE KIND OF RALLY-ESQUE ADORNMENTS YOU EXPECT, AND ONCE SLOTTED IN TO THE SUPPORTIVE SEATS THE IMPREZA HAS YOU IN ITS GRASP.
T
his is a story that was never supposed to end. As far back as 1993, Subaru has competed in the World Rally Championship with the Impreza, and the number of wins and world championships that followed proved its dominance in such a competitive sport. Not only was it good for the sport, it was good for the sales of Mica Blue Impreza STis and matching rally jackets.
A generation of car fans have lived and breathed hot Imprezas, but now the WRC car is no more. Perhaps then this is the best time to savour the current Impreza, especially as this recently launched WRX-S version benefits from some choice enhancements.
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The shape should be familiar to all by now: the surprise that greeted the switch to hatchback format from saloon has long disappeared, and instead been replaced by an acceptance that the Impreza is distinctive, if not loved by all. The hotter models do make the most of the shape
however, and the WRX-S benefits from some tasty 18-inch anthracite alloy wheels as well as some of the body add-ons usually reserved for the top STi model. So only the true anorak-wearers will know that you're not driving the full-house model.
CT Motoring Article It's an attractive visual boost over the regular WRX, and it certainly gets you in the mood for some enthusiastic driving, which is what hot Imprezas are all about. As you step inside, the chunky threespoke steering wheel and Momo gearknob are the kind of rallyesque adornments you expect, and once slotted in to the supportive seats the Impreza has you in its grasp. The cabin itself is a pleasant place to be: Subaru has made noises about it being a premium cabin, and while it can't quite match up to the levels of quality you get in a European car at this price tag, it's still appealing all the same. The audio unit sits helpfully high on the fascia, and the layout is sensible and attractive. The dials are smart and the driving position good, while the equipment list is as healthy as you would hope: climate control, hill start assist, six - disc MP3-compatible CD autochanger with an MP3 jack too. You can even get full leather, but a true rally fan wouldn't consider it. There's more to the WRX-S than visuals though. The rally car builders over at Prodrive got their laptops out and had a prolonged fiddle with the Impreza's electronic brain, and in the process released an extra 25bhp and, more importantly, 51lb/ft of torque, bringing the total up to 288 lb/ft. That's surprisingly close to the STi, reflected in the fact that it sprints to 60mph in only 5.5 seconds - just 0.6 of a second slower than the ÂŁ26,000 STi.
That performance is easy to tap in to, always there and ready to power you forwards with vigour. Some may be disappointed by the relative lack of drama from the engine - despite the modified exhaust the WRX-S is relatively civilised, but its keenness is undiminished. Get a few thousand revs on the 2.5-litre boxer unit and it really starts to fly, powering it round to 130mph in quick succession. The performance is helped by the slickness of the gearbox, and although it lacks a sixth gear which the engine could happily pull, it slots keenly between ratios and strings together the mighty efforts of the engine.
It's the kind of performance that makes the WRX-S such a delight to use on a back-road drive. The WRX-S brings the range of hot Imprezas to four, which is more than most of the competition. However, that doesn't mean that biggest is necessarily best. The WRX-S has a significant visual and mechanical boost over the standard car for a modest price increase, yet it does without some of the add-ons that take you the truly ballistic STi versions. Unless you feel that more is definitely more, then get behind the wheel of the WRX-S first: the S definitely stands for Special.
FACTS AT A GLANCE Model: Subaru Impreza 2.5 WRX-S, ÂŁ20,025. Engine: 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol unit developing 252bhp and 288lb.ft of torque. Transmission: 5-speed manual transmission as standard, driving all four wheels. Performance: Maximum speed 130mph, 0-60mph 5.5 seconds. Economy: 24.6mpg. CO2 Rating: 246g/km.
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Spare to
MAKE YOUR HOLIDAY GUESTS FEEL WELCOME BY UPDATING YOUR SPARE ROOMS OR USING SPACESAVING SOLUTIONS LIKE SOFA BEDS AND OTHER STYLISH PIECES.
W
hile entertaining family and friends at home during the holiday may be fun - not to mention exhausting - it also puts your home under a revealing spotlight. And as those extra people and their possessions put pressure on storage and space, any shortcomings and limitations can suddenly become all too clear. If that invasion makes you uncomfortably aware how your home is perceived by others, or you aren't overwhelmed by compliments on your little palace, it could be high time to give rooms some TLC. There's no better moment, with the shops bursting with sale bargains, to pin-point the areas that could do with improvement and turn them round for 2009. We've got tips on discovering hidden space at home, plus we've found the best buys from storage boxes to room dividers that could transform rooms.
Be warned though - it could mean those guests stay longer or clamour to return! 28
Under the stairs: Kitted out properly, this space could provide an additional seating area, a home office, a utility cupboard or a storage spot.
Property Discover hidden spaces
Spare room style
Where space is limited, every square inch counts. The way it's organised can make a huge difference to your home. You may be overlooking valuable space, as Elizabeth Wilhide, author of Small Spaces, points out encouragingly. "When you haven't got a lot of room to play with, you have to focus on clever ways to used wasted corners," she says. "Most people could probably find extra space in their home." A Farmhouse sturdy storage bed (£499) doubles as a sofa, and has rattan storage baskets under the base.
Stairs: Stair treads can be converted into drawers or storage spaces. There are now companies offering readymade stairs fitted with storage compartments. Landings: Generous landings are an ideal site for free-standing or fitted storage, or maybe just a chair and small table as a retreat from the bustle of the living room. Window seats: Build seats into window bays or alcoves and gain extra seating. Room dividers: These can serve as bookcases or display cabinets. Simple screens are also effective.
Spare rooms should be comfortable, calm and inviting places where guests can retreat. "Creating space is easy with a few clever storage solutions," says Simon Glanville, managing director of STORE. "Pack away a multitude of clutter sins into large under-the-bed boxes, and store those throughout the house. "Utilise the backs of doors with over-door hooks to hold guests' coats and bags. It's worth investing in some clever hanging organisers or multi-hang hangers to maximise the vertical space in the wardrobe." STORE's Over Door Hook Multi Hook (£28) could be useful for extra coats or extra clothes, especially if a wardrobe's full to bursting. If there's really no room at the inn, invest in a handsome Footstool Guest Bed (£349) upholstered in faux suede. It takes up minimal space and could be kept in the living room.
Stealing Space Turn yourself into a 'space detective' and seek out all those unused corners, or think outside the box and build shelves in unexpected places. One imaginative approach is to build display shelves around a window or a door frame, which won't just be useful but also add character to a room. I'm particularly impressed by two new corner solutions from The Cotswold Company. An ivory painted corner shelf (£149) has two shelves and hooks, and could be teamed with a matching corner seat and shelf (£179), which has basket storage underneath. Save £50 by buying the two for £278.
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MarchHoroscope By Patrick Arundell
Aries
(Mar 21st - Apr 20th) You can find yourself in a quandary. You need to rely upon and work alongside others, but you may find that someone can prove unreliable or downright dishonest. If this destroyed your faith in everyone, that would be destructive, so work hard at seeing the best in other, more worthy associates. In love, more than one person can show an interest.
Taurus
(Apr 21st - May 21st) Your ruler Venus's reversal can see you unsure of both romantic and financial situations. Love in particular can see a stop-start scenario. One tie can come to a complete end or you'll ponder deeply about to what to do. A much more engaging and positive phase will kick in from mid-month, one which encourages you to link with lively friends.
Cancer
Leo
(Jun 22nd - Jul 23rd)
(Jul 24th - Aug 23rd)
A unique opportunity can drop your way later in the month, but this could require an instant decision. Equally you can hear news from afar which comes as a complete surprise. If you like life to be predictable, this could be challenging, but even if you initially struggle to get your head around all this, in time a change can seem as good as a rest, Cancer.
Early on, things can be blissful or rather confusing in a relationship. Perhaps you'll be in love with the idea of love, Leo. Overseas connections are strong and this may see you travel in connection with pleasure. Your attention can wander mid-month, particularly if you're looking to up your income. Wonderful news can be connected to a family legacy.
Libra
Scorpio
(Sep 24th - Oct 23rd)
(Oct 24th - Nov 22nd)
Love or creativity can be wondrous in week one, but just as easily you can find yourself being baffled or even deceived. The issue here is buyer beware! With Venus trawling backwards from the 6th, one tie could go from dreamlike to getting totally bogged down, or a rethink can be needed. By the month's end you can rediscover your composure.
Capricorn (Dec 22nd - Jan 20th) You can generate some marvellous ideas early on, but these will need to be copper-bottomed before they're ready to go. If you're seeking sources of funding, be truthful about your circumstances. It's essential. There can also be a reconnection with someone in your family. This may be a long-lost relative or someone you've drifted apart from.
The move of Mercury and Mars, on the 9th and 15th respectively, can do wonders for your morale and energy banks! Yet a joint financial matter can get hot and heavy or someone can come into your world with real business acumen and help transform your fortunes. Yet this may require you to be a lot more open-minded and flexible than ever before.
Aquarius (Jan 21st - Feb 19th) New ideas are unlikely to curry instant favour and because of this you need to show spirit to see them through. Assure yourself that if they're on the money, they will eventually pay off with persistence. Romantically, things can get more passionate from mid-month, but improved dialogue in the last ten days will help harmony most of all.
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Gemini
(May 22nd - Jun 21st)
One sincere person can play a bigger role. There may not be an attraction linked to this, more a meeting of minds. You can have a mutual interest or hold dear a cause that you both respect. There can be much travel and adventure early in March, but if you're looking to do anything ambitious, Neptune can cause mischief, so do first double-check arrangements.
Virgo (Aug 24th - Sep 23rd) You can find yourself with a big attraction to antiques or old valuables, and property matters can also be under review. This situation may not necessarily sort itself out very rapidly, but with time you can gain benefits, especially if your hopes are realistic. You can meet someone marvellous, or so it seems mid-month, but this may prove a fleeting fascination.
Sagittarius (Nov 23rd - Dec 21st) If you have children, Archer, you can feel especially affectionate towards them this month, and working out new ways to keep them entertained can keep you on your toes! A lively phase in the early part of the month does require you to be sure of what you think people say or if you're travelling, to be mindful of cancellations and late changes of plan.
Pisces
(Feb 20th - Mar 20th) Mark the 9th and 15th in your diary. Then you'll really get the wind in your sails, whatever your endeavours. Before this you can find yourself tying up loose ends, but with an eye on the future. Mid-month can be a turning point. Yet from a financial viewpoint there may be some kind of delay in a payment, or you'll need to invest for future returns.
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