Oswestry Life January 2023

Former Wing Commander in RAF becomes first patient at Headley Court Veterans’ Orthopaedic Centre

Alex Baxter, 64, attended The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital at the beginning of December for a follow-up review, having had both hips replaced last year by his surgeon, Lieutenant Colonel Carl Meyer, who is the director of the Veterans’ Orthopaedic Service.

Mr Baxter, from Shrewsbury, credits the surgery with “giving him his life back” – and believes the newly-completed Veterans’ Centre – which is the first of its kind in the UK – will be a game-changer for meeting the health and care of the country’s large veteran community.

“Carl Meyer got me in and really took me under his wing,” said Mr Baxter, who served in the Royal Navy as a radio operator from 1978 to 1985 before joining the RAF in 1985, where he was commissioned as a Supply Officer. He retired in 2006 with the rank of Wing Commander.

“When he saw me, I was really struggling and daily life was difficult. Two operations later, and he has given me my life back.

“It’s the little things that really make such a big difference,” added Mr Baxter, who lives with his wife Carol and retriever Alfie, and has three grownup children. “Things like being able to put my own socks on again. There are a lot of basic things like that which most people take for granted.”

Creating a dedicated veterans’ centre was a long-standing dream for Lt Col Meyer, and that has now been made a reality – thanks to the support of The Headley Court Charity.

“For a number of years, we have talked about veterans being seen in an environment that brings comfort to them and by clinical teams that have an understanding of military personnel and their unique needs,” said Lt Col Meyer.    “Thanks must go to the Headley Court Charity for their amazingly generous grant, for believing in what we’re doing here and ultimately supporting our long-term vision for world class veterans’ healthcare.”

Aico selects Christmas card design winner

Oswestry-based Aico were delighted to call upon pupils of Moreton Hall Prep School again this year to design their company Christmas card.

Jane Pritchard, Community Liaison at Aico said, “We want to say a huge thank you to Moreton Hall Prep School students for their entries into this year’s Christmas card competition – every single entry was fantastic, and it was incredibly difficult to pick just one!”

After much deliberation, the Aico Managing Director chose a lovely design by Year 3 pupil Jonty Rayner, “We were all extremely impressed with the detail that Jonty had put into his design. We loved to see Santa and his sleigh on top of our building the colorful candy canes and Christmas presents all around our home. We really enjoyed seeing all the festive designs featuring elves, angels, reindeers, snowmen and also some great drawings of our Aico mobile units! Well done to everyone who entered”.

Grant money awarded to local businesses

Over £300,000 worth of grant money has been awarded to 13 local Oswestry businesses, as part of a grant scheme which aims to restore and reinstate buildings to their original beauty.

The Oswestry High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) scheme is transforming rundown buildings and shopfronts to revitalise the market town of Oswestry, its historic character and bustling high street. In addition, the project supports local traders and businesses during times of economic recovery and future growth, following

uncertain times for retail and hospitality sectors during the pandemic.

The scheme, which has received funding from Historic England, Oswestry Town Council and Shropshire Council, is being delivered through the Future Oswestry partnership between Shropshire Council, Oswestry Town Council and Oswestry Business Improvement District (BID), which is centered around establishing Oswestry as an even better place for people to live, work, shop and visit.

Source: Shropshire.gov.uk

Pictured: Mr Baxter and Lt Col Meyer

Jonty Rayner, Year 3 pupil at Moreton Hall Prep School with his winning design.

New Bleed Control Kits Arrive in Oswestry

New bleed control kits have been installed to all defibrillator boxes in and around Oswestry Town.

The first bleed kit was funded by the West Midlands Ambulance Service for the Bailey Head defib box and Oswestry Town Council has since provided funding for seven additional kits to be installed across the town.

Michelle Simmonds from Oswestry First Responders, supported this new initiative and explained how they can be used in serious incidents to control bleeding and promote blood clotting. “There are many ways that a catastrophic bleed can occur, such as from a stabbing, car accident or a work-related injury. By having publicly accessible bleed control packs, anyone can provide the necessary first aid to reduce blood loss until professional, medical help arrives”.

Oswestry Town Mayor, Councillor Jay Moore commented, “The Town Council unanimously supported this initiative and while we hope these incidents do not occur, we will do our very best to protect our community and help to save lives”.

Jenna joins co-working centre team as community ambassador

A pioneering Oswestry co-working centre has appointed a community ambassador to spread the word about its support for businesses throughout the area.

Jenna Ward, 39, has joined the team at Hadleigh Works after originally coming to the co-working centre as a client.

Jenna, who runs her own empowerment coach business, will also be working for Hadleigh Works in and around the Oswestry area helping to let local businesses know what the centre has to offer and how it can help their businesses.

The centre, based in Oswestry Memorial Hall in the town centre, includes professional office and meeting facilities plus networking events and support for small businesses and entrepreneurs at a regular fixed fee.

“It is so much more than a co-working space. It’s made a big difference to my own business, so I was delighted when they asked me to act as a community ambassador to let others know what is on offer,” explained Jenna.

For further information about Hadleigh Works contact info@hadleighworks.com or visit the website at hadleighworks.com

Slimming World Success

“I’m an emotional eater!”, said Michelle Simmonds who is a member of Claire’s Slimming World in Oswestry. “I eat when I’m happy, when I’m sad and I don’t know why, but I really take comfort from eating.”

After a few years of heartbreak, I turned to food even more and I piled on weight. I was so sad, and I hated looking in the mirror. It suddenly struck me that I had to do something about it so I joined Slimming World in July 2021 and I was determined to achieve my goal so I could be happier in myself.

With the help of Claire, the Cabin Lane members and my determination, I learned to change the way I thought about food. I no longer eat to satisfy my mood I eat to satisfy my appetite and fuel my body. I eat such amazing food that fits in with Slimming World’s philosophy of Food Optimising. I still enjoy a glass of wine without it affecting my weight loss because I’m making healthier food

choices and since I joined, I’ve lost just over 4 stone and dropped 5 dress sizes. I cannot describe how happy I am now and I’ve achieved so many amazing things since losing the weight. It is so important to turn up to group each week and stay to Image Therapy to get the support and help needed to achieve your weight loss dreams.

The Eastern Oswestry Community Centre, Cabin Lane, Oswestry

Monday: Morning and Evening 9am, 10.30am, 5.30pm and 7pm Saturday: Morning 8.30am and 10am For more information call CLAIRE on 07882 174539

I still enjoy a glass of wine without it affecting my weight loss because I’m making healthier food choices and since I joined, I’ve lost just over 4 stone and dropped 5 dress sizes.

Feet 1st

Nail cuts, Callus removal, Fungal nails, Corns & Verrucae treatments, Diabetic foot care, Thickened nails & more. Clinic based & home visits available Call Claire 07857306159

Amber’s Cleaning Services

Domestic and Commercial Professional Cleaning Services with competitive rates. One off deep cleans/End of Tenancy cleans. Daily/Weekly/ Fortnightly clean. Offices and building sites T: 07955 022129 E:amber123nicole@gmail.com

The Bee’s Knees

A shop buzzing with bee-utiful things. Women’s clothing, handbags, jewellery, seasonal gifts, quality preloved clothing, artwork from local artist. Pop in and treat yourself. 07870 280690

Clean & Gleam

Give your oven a little TLC with Clean & Gleam!

Professional oven cleaning services covering Oswestry & surrounding areas. 07866 472083 / 07791 655559 www.facebook.com/cleanandgleamovens

Dogz Dinnerz

Foods and supplies for all your pets at the best prices. Oswestry Indoor Market Hall, Oswestry Tel: 07368 104980 Email:dogzdinnerz@yahoo.com

Enchanted Gifts By Karen

A wide range of gifts, jewellery, crystals, holistic, spiritual, new age and fun items, based in Oswestry Indoor Market. Email enchantedgiftsbykaren@gmail.com

Heatwave Hair & Beauty

All aspects of hairdressing services and beauty and holistic treatments in a friendly salon environment. Hair and beauty appointment offers a few days a week with our trainee 01691 659968

Herd Milk

Taste the difference! Delicious, whole milk and yoghurt, fresh from the cows in our grassfed herd. Bring a bottle or buy one from us. Drenewydd Farm, Whittington Road, SY11 4NB www.herdmilk.co.uk

J&I Carpets

Over 30 rolls of carpet in stock! Many roll ends half price! Vinyls, LVT, Blinds and Curtains. A family business est. 1982. Victoria Road, Oswestry www.jandicarpets.co.uk 01691 656843

Meraki Colour

A locally run independent Art Supplies, Stationery and Print & Copy Shop. 3, Church Street, Oswestry, SY11 2SU. Email: merakicolour@hotmail.com 01691 650 713

Micky Finn Quality Fish

Highest Quality Fresh from Fleetwood EVERY morning! If you have not enjoyed your fish we will refund. Powis Market Hall Oswestry Wednesday and Saturday 7.30-12 Ian: 07966 201696 Erin 07742 248269

Nu U Beauty

Delay the signs of ageing. Specialist in CACI non-surgical face lift, Microdermabrasion & Collagen Lift. Over 20yrs beauty experience. Facials are my passion. www.nuubeauty.com 07506 078265

Obertelli Play Therapy

Delivering therapy to children. Supervision and therapeutic consultation available. For a free initial discussion please contact: Gina Obertelli 07974 506910 Ginaobertelli@aol.com

Old Too New

Helping the environment by turning old unloved pieces back into modern pieces for your home.

Open: Tuesday to Saturday - 10am-5pm 2 Upper Church Street, SY11 2AE 07803536441 My website is: oldtoonew.co.uk

Park Gate Florist

Now taking orders for Christmas Wreaths, Garlands (real/artificial) Christmas Trees. Bouquets and arrangements for any occasion 01691 679898 Email: parkgate35a@hotmail.co.uk

Pippo’s Bakery

Specialising in designing bespoke celebration cakes and cupcakes for your special occasion. Always unique, always yum! Contact us at pipposbakery@gmail.com or via Facebook. com/pipposbakery

Radiance Aesthetics

Performed by a qualified, practicing nurse, fully insured. I specialise in a variety of treatments aimed at improving the appearance of the skin. Check out my facebook page, DM or ring/txt 07599477838 to book your consultation or treatment .

Rahanni Reflex Healing Therapies

Take time out from everyday pressures with a reflexology treatment - a wonderfully relaxing experience! Based in Park Hall, Whittington. 07376 038253 rahannireflex33@gmail.com www.rahannireflex.com

Siop Cwlwm

“Y Gorau o’r Gororau” Welsh Shop situated at 33 Bailey Street and online. Welsh books, cards, music, homeware & gifts Probably the only Welsh shop outside Wales! www.siopcwlwm.co.uk Tel: 01691 680401

Simla Tandoori Restaurant

Proudly serving the best Indian cuisine since 1976 to the local community 42, Beatrice St, Oswestry. 01691 659880 www.simla-oswestry.co.uk

Sun City

Stand-ups, Lie-downs and Infrared Sunbeds. Open 7 days a week A member of The Sunbed Association. Telephone 01691 661115 www.suncity-oswestry.co.uk

Time Invaders

Oswestry’s Comic shop, with Retro Arcade, Gaming rooms, Rooms 2hire, & American Coffee House. Warhammer stockists. All Dog friendly and always a warm welcome. Tel 07946550916 www.timeinvaders.co.uk

SaleStartS tueSday3rdJanuary

Staff recognition for long service

There have been many headlines over the last few months about the shortage of staff in health and social care. Both the recruitment of new staff and the retention of existing staff are issues faced across the whole of the care sector. However, this month Allenby Douglas, an Oswestry based Domiciliary care company are proudly celebrating Long Service Awards for three of their finest care staff demonstrating that the company’s approach to staff retention is having the desired effect.

Allenby Douglas recognises long service with a presentation of certificates, flowers, and a generous bonus in the monthly wages to staff with 5, 10, 15, and the recently introduced, 20 years’ service.

Throughout their time at Allenby Douglas these carers have helped and supported many people to live as independently as possible in their own homes. Over years the lives of the individuals and their families have been enriched because of the dedication and commitment of these skilled care professionals who are devoted to providing expert care. It is a proud moment to be able to celebrate the achievements of staff, together with all the other team members who go above and beyond on a daily basis

The staff proudly display their long service badges on their uniforms, one for five

and two for 20 years of service to the company.

to provide the best possible care to those vulnerable people living in the Oswestry area.

A career at Allenby Douglas can be very rewarding. Not only do staff have the chance to make a real difference to people’s lives in the community they also have the opportunity to progress through a dedicated career pathway. This starts as a Health and Social Carer, on to Senior and Advanced Carer, progressing to Care Coordinator roles and through to Registered Manager. All the management team at Allenby Douglas have progressed through the company to their current positions through training and development and the support of fellow colleagues around them.

From the moment someone joins the team the investment in their training and development begins. The Head of Care, a Registered Nurse with a vast experience and knowledge of all aspects of care, provides the initial training to ensure new recruits are inducted into the world of care and from here their learning journey begins.

Looking smart in their uniforms new staff participate in shadow shifts, accompanying more senior carers, visiting clients and learning

the practical elements to their role. Once confident to undertake the responsibilities by themselves, or as part of a team, the new staff partake in a wide variety of care calls ranging from social visits, shopping, and personal care, right through to complex and end-of-life care. Whatever skills and knowledge are required to meet the needs of our clients, full training is provided and the reassuring support of the senior staff and management team is never far away.

Allenby Douglas offers training in a wide variety of health and social care subjects with a dedicated team of in-house training Champions, each having their own specialist field of interest and knowledge, on hand to deliver in-depth training sessions. All staff are encouraged to study for their RQF (formerly NVQ) Level 3 in Health & Social Care which enhances their knowledge and understanding and further supports their career development.

The Allenby Team is strong, forward-thinking, and passionate to provide the high quality of care that everyone deserves. They love what they do and invite you to share the journey with them and become another respected “ambassador of care”.

If you are interested in a rewarding career opportunity and would like to join a CQC-rated ‘Outstanding’ care company or would just like more information on the services on offer, please contact allenbydouglas@outlook.com.

Maybe you to will be the proud recipient of one of their Long Service Awards?

Over years the lives of the individuals and their families have been enriched because of the dedication and commitment of these skilled care professionals who are devoted to providing expert care.

years,

over the festive period Recycling and waste

The

Monday 26 December 2022

Tuesday 27 December 2022

Wednesday 28 December 2022 Thursday 29 December 2022 Friday 30 December 2022

Monday 2 January 2023 Tuesday 3 January 2023 Wednesday 4 January 2023 Thursday 5 January 2023 Friday 6 January 2023

Saturday 24 December 2022

Wednesday 28 December 2022

Thursday 29 December 2022

Friday 30 December 2022 Saturday 31 December 2022

Tuesday 3 January 2023 Wednesday 4 January 2023 Thursday 5 January 2023 Friday 6 January 2023 Saturday 7 January 2023

2023 Financial Resolutions

January is the traditional time for making New Years’ Resolutions. Most of us start off with good intentions but by the end of January those goals are often forgotten. Rather than having one or two resolutions with no end date, how about having one goal per month to be ticked off when achieved. In the current climate, taking care of your finances is even more important. Here are some suggestions for the year ahead:

January: Prepare a budget planner for the year ahead, allow for holidays, birthdays and next Christmas.

February: Review your mortgage, is your mortgage due for renewal in the next 12 months? Will the increase in interest rates have a big effect on your outgoings?

March: Spring clean your bank account, check your standing orders and direct debits, are you paying for things you no longer need?

April: Holiday planning time, check travel insurance, passport is in date, best exchange rate for your currency.

May: Review your utility providers, is loyalty costing you money? Electric, Gas, Phone, Broadband, TV subscriptions etc.

June: Legacy planning; consider Wills and Power of Attorney provision.

July: You are now half way through the year, look back at the last six months and have you achieved all of the goals you set, now is the time to relook at those you have missed.

August: Review all your general insurances; car, house, travel, make

a note of the renewal dates and ensure you shop around at renewal time for the best deal.

September: Back to school time; with the savings you have made this year, can you start a savings plan for the children/grandchildren to help towards future education/house deposit?

October: You are never too old/young to start retirement planning. Review or start pension contributions, obtain a state pension forecast.

November: Are your life assurance and illness provision plans suitable and adequate for your current situation?

December: Review your credit card provider and consider switching to interest free or to a card with a lower rate.

Aluminate: The Aesthetic Clinic Founded on Amanda’s Nursing Values

To understand the ethos of Aluminate Aesthetic Clinic, you need to know Amanda’s story. Because, for Amanda Tuckwell, founder of Aluminate, aesthetics is a passion born from personal experience.

Amanda is a Registered Nurse Prescriber with a background in Emergency Care and as a nurse, promoting well-being was already second nature to her in her nursing roles. So, when Amanda reached a point in her life when she looked in the mirror and felt disheartened by what she saw, she decided to turn her clinical eye towards the non-surgical cosmetic industry to see what solutions it could offer her.

What happened next was an unexpected change in the direction of Amanda’s career. When she experienced significant differences in her appearance and confidence from having aesthetic treatments, she decided to train in aesthetics herself with a consultant plastic surgeon at his Harley Street clinic.

Following this training, Amanda was determined not only to bring the benefits of aesthetic treatments to others but also to address the barriers that mean many people miss out on experiencing the personal gains of treatment. In her practice, Amanda has found that many patients have delayed seeking treatment as they’re concerned about looking fake or unlike themselves (like some of the unhelpful celebrity examples we’ve all seen). And so, the Aluminate ethos was conceived: Restore, Renew & Rejuvenate: never false, frozen or overdone. Amanda is also open with her patients about the regular ‘tweakments’ she has to maintain her youthful look and is happy to act as a real-life example of how aesthetics can achieve subtle but significant results that enhance your natural features.

As a life-long learner, Amanda’s journey with

aesthetics didn’t stop with her initial training. It wasn’t long before Amanda undertook her advanced training and her drive to offer the best results possible has seen her attend numerous conferences and workshops, as well as becoming an active member of professional networks, including the British Association of Cosmetic Nurses (BACN) and Aesthetic Complications Expert (ACE) Group.

And Amanda’s pursuit of excellence in practice doesn’t stop there. She has also achieved the highest accreditations possible in the aesthetics industry.

Amanda is a Save Face Accredited Practitioner, which means she appears on a register of treatment providers who have been inspected against rigorous Professional Standards Authority criteria and is recognised by the Government, The Department of Health, NHS England, and The Care Quality Commission. Amanda has also achieved the Safety in Beauty accreditation which, in the absence of comprehensive regulation of the aesthetics industry in the UK, offers further assurance that best practice standards are met at Aluminate.

As further testament to the quality of her work, Amanda has recently been announced as a finalist for the Safety in Beauty Diamond Awards Best Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner Award. These awards celebrate professionals who have transformed lives and empowered patients through aesthetic and beauty treatments in the most positive and safest ways. And the Nurse of The Year award in particular recognises an outstanding aesthetic nurse who has contributed to the profession and the industry for the greater good.

What all of this means is that you are in the safest of hands with Amanda at Aluminate clinic. All consultations and treatments are carried out by Amanda herself in her own discreetly located, private professional clinic, which means she can deliver a truly personal service. And as a nurse, your well-being is paramount to Amanda, so there’s never any pressure or obligation to proceed with treatment after your free consultation. Amanda will recommend the treatments that can help with your concerns, as well as honestly advise you when it comes to treatments that you don’t need or won’t benefit from.

For more information visit www.aluminateclinic.com, call 07951 902146 or email hello@aluminateclinic.com

It’s a wrap

It’s cold but don’t let that dampen your fashion spirit. Times like this call for wool coats and beautiful big scarves. Long, belted coats are back and we love an image re-fresh at the start of the year. Here are some subtle options that look so snuggly.

Navy Longline Belted Trench Coat £80, www.roman.co.uk

BELOW TOP TO BOTTOM:

Grey Stripe Scarf £18, www.mandco.com

Suki Brushed Colourblock Scarf £39, www.whitestuff.com

Lorissa in camel £40, www.dunelondon.com

Knee High Boots £44, www.mandco.com

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:

F&F Neutral Twill Crombie Coat £55, www.tesco.com; F&F Blue Crombie Coat (due winter), www.tesco.com; Sadie faux fur trim wrap coat green £275, www.monsoon.co.uk; Cream Crombie Coat £32, www.primark.com; Navy Longline Teddy Coat £64.99, www.threadbare.com; Dark Brown Belted Long Coat £49.99, www.newlook.com

Paws fOr Thought ws

DEALING WITH SEIZURES IN DOGS

What Causes Dog Seizures? Seizures are the result of uncontrolled electrical activity between your dog’s brain cells. There are several different causes, including:

• Genetics

• Metabolic disorders

• Toxins-pharmaceutical and environmental

• Vaccines

• Flea and tick preventatives

• Pesticides

• Head injury

• Brain tumours

Seizures can be anything from a twitch or stare to uncontrollable shaking and collapse. Or your dog may lose consciousness, drool, or foam at the mouth.

Some breeds have a predisposition to idiopathic epilepsy (without a known cause) including Beagles, Border Collies, German Shepherds, and Labradors. What to Do? Even though seizures may appear violent, your dog isn’t experiencing any pain. But the periods before, during and after can cause them confusion, fear or anxiety.

• Try to remain calm. Clear the area around them so that they are safe.

• Avoid touching the head and don’t put your hand in their mouth as you may get bitten!

• Track how long the seizure lasts. If it continues over 2 minutes your dog may overheat. So place a portable fan near them or apply cold, wet towels.

• Talk softly to him to help reassure him.

Seizure Management If this is the first time your dog has had a seizure, contact your holistic vet to talk about diagnosis and management, looking at conventional options and some natural alternatives.

1. Potassium Bromide Potassium bromide is an “old school” anti-seizure medication. It’s been one of the most reliable anti-seizure medications for many years.

2. CBD Oil Research shows that CBD has anticonvulsant effects and is safe in managing seizures over the long term.

3. Homeopathic Remedies Research shows that homeopathic remedies are very effective at reducing the frequency and severity of seizures.  Belladonna 200C, Cocculus 6C

seizures can be stressful. But with these natural options, you can help reduce the long-term effects for

Rebecca Evans of Knowing NosesBotanical Self-healing for Animals info@knowingnoses.com

Focus on…

Christmas

through the lens of Graham Mitchell

What a tremendous festive season in Oswestry. Parades, lights, music, Santa and great markets. Here’s just a few photos of a memorable run-up to Christmas.

Meet Rukon (our Head Chef )

With over 20 years experience as a curry chef, cooking curries is all Rukon has ever known. With a lifelong understanding of cooking tradition, it’s no surprise that Rukon has worked for quite a few restaurants over the years. Using only the finest fresh ingredients, Rukon cooks all his mouth watering dishes to perfection every time. So whether it’s his award winning Chicken Tikka Jalfrajee, mouth watering Lamb Balti or just plain boiled rice - you can rest assured they’re in safe hands! Bursting with all the vibrant, rich and aromatic tastes of a true Indian experience. We run a restaurant-style kitchen of specialist chefs who prepare a select menu of classical Indian dishes ready to serve within 30 minutes for you to enjoy at home.

With over 20 years experience as a curry chef, cooking curries is all Rukon has ever known. With a lifelong understanding of cooking tradition, it’s no surprise that Rukon has worked for quite a few restaurants over the years. Using only the finest fresh ingredients, Rukon cooks all his mouth watering dishes to perfection every time. So whether it’s his award winning Chicken Tikka Jalfrajee, mouth watering Lamb Balti or just plain boiled rice - you can rest assured they’re in safe hands!

Bursting with all the vibrant, rich and aromatic tastes of a true Indian experience. We run a restaurant-style kitchen of specialist chefs who prepare a select menu of classical Indian dishes ready to serve within 30 minutes for you to enjoy at home.

Sungold baked oats

Kick-start your day with this warmfrom-the-oven version of overnight oats. Perfect for breakfast or an energy-boosting midmorning snack.

Serves: 4-6

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 40-45 mins

Ingred I ents

• 4 eggs

• 25g protein powder (optional), we used vanilla

• 1 tbsp honey

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1 tsp lemon zest

• 250ml almond milk

• 400g oats

• 3 Zespri SunGold kiwis, plus 1 for the top, peeled

• 120g blueberries

Method

• Preheat the oven to 200°C / fan 180°C / gas mark 6.

• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, protein powder (if using), honey, vanilla extract, lemon zest and almond milk until frothy.

• Add the oats and stir until well combined. If you have time, leave the oat mixture for 30 minutes to allow some of the liquid to be soaked up.

• Roughly chop 3 Zespri SunGold kiwis and stir through the oat mix along with the blueberries.

• Transfer the oat mix to a baking tray. Slice the remaining kiwi, arrange on the top and then bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes until golden brown. Leave to cool slightly before cutting into squares. Enjoy!

Our recipe was created using Zespri SunGold Kiwi. For more recipe inspiration, visit www.zespri.com/ en-UK/celebrate-the-sungold

Welcome to Henlle Heights Coffee Lounge, Restaurant and Bar, a stunning raised tetradecagon building designed and built to provide a beautiful area for guests to enjoy, relax and unwind.

Nestling in beautiful woodland, surrounded by mature trees and manicured parkland, you could be forgiven for feeling you are ‘anywhere in the world.’

Whether seated inside by the central fireplace or outside in one of the comfy quiet areas, you can enjoy the relaxing atmosphere in a truly unique setting.

A very warm welcome is always assured. We are open Monday to Thursday from 9am – 9pm, Friday to Saturday from 9am – 10pm and Sunday from 9am – 6pm with cakes available all day. We look forward to greeting you soon!

Honeysuckle celebrates 44 years of trading

Honeysuckle first opened its doors in the summer of 1978, in the midst of a social revolution sweeping Britain. It was founded by four friends on strong environmental, political and social ethics, not to mention a passion for good food. In 1970s Shropshire, workers co-operatives, vegetarians, vegans and organic were a rare species, but business blossomed and Honeysuckle established a strong trade in the heart of Oswestry. It has since become a landmark in the retail map of the town and border area.

Specialising in organic and locally grown fresh fruit and veg, speciality teas and ethically traded vegetarian/vegan products, Honeysuckle has been supplying classic wholefoods and staple ingredients for decades. They have an ever-expanding range of refills and zero waste products, which provides a great service for local people trying to cut down on plastic waste.

Celebrating over 44 years of trading as a worker’s cooperative, the team pride themselves on their fair working practices, strict buying policy and excellent customer service and count many of their customers as great friends. Honeysuckle has been organically certified by the Soil Association for over 20 years.

As a business, Honeysuckle aims to be as environmentally friendly as possible, using energy sourced from renewables and reusing as much as possible before recycling it. The shop also supports the thriving local honey producers, artisan bakers and local makers of hot sauce, as well as a range of local charities and community groups like the Oswestry Foodbank and OsNosh, whose work is so important to the community.

So, next time you’re strolling down Church Street pop in and see what they have to offer!

For more information, visit www.honeysuckle-wholefoods.co.uk, call 01691 653125 or email info@honeysuckle-wholefoods.co.uk

The Honeysuckle Wholefood team

want to help you create the most memorable event, from the tiny details to the extravagant gestures. Oswestry Cricket Club can help you with your layout, decorations, music choices all the way up to your food options - be that a delicious menu or making way for your favourite caterer. Whatever your budget, we can help.

No. 1 in the UK and Excellence for Arthurs of Oswestry

Arthurs Vauxhall, one of Arthurs Motor Groups 3 dealerships, based in Oswestry and a family-owned business since 1939, has been awarded yet another incredible accolade for its eighth year running.

Not only are Arthurs Vauxhall Number 1 in the UK for Customer Satisfaction for new car sales, but they have also been awarded the Gold Vauxhall Customer Excellence Award for 2022. This prestigious ‘Gold’ award is given by Vauxhall for recognition to the top retailers for quality of service that is given to their customers.

The ‘Gold’ Award is given to Vauxhall retailers who achieve the Customer Excellence Award five years in succession. 2022 is the eighth consecutive year that Arthurs have been awarded this Gold Customer Excellence Award.

William Edwards, Retail Operator at Arthurs Vauxhall, said, “We are incredibly proud to win this Customer Excellence Award and delighted to be recognised once again for our commitment to delivering first class customer service. Receiving this award is a testament to the hard work and efforts of all of the team, in ensuring customers receive an exceptional experience when visiting Arthurs. Thank you to all of our wonderful customers for their loyalty and support.”

Arthurs is one of the magnificent seven that have been awarded the Gold Vauxhall Customer Excellence Plaque, with the best combined recommendations scored from sales and service customers, gathered from the returns that customers provided to Nigel Williams, Managing Director

of Arthurs Motor Group, said, “As a family-owned organisation, we are jubilant at receiving this gold Customer Excellence Award by Vauxhall. I’d like to personally thank all of our team for their quality of service and our loyal customers. Your custom is never taken for granted, and transparency and communication are at the very heart of our business. Everything we do, is about delivering an unrivalled level of quality customer service.”

For more information about Arthurs Motor Group, visit  www.arthurscars.co.uk

Arthurs of Oswestry receive award

Celebration for Preschool

Nurturing and encouraging young minds are core values for Morda Preschool, which now has good reason to celebrate. Over the last year, the Preschool has completed and gained the Accreditation from The Curiosity Approach.

The Curiosity Approach® is a modern day approach to Early Childhood. The method is designed to empower and ignite passion and excitement in Early Childhood Educators. Providing the tools and knowledge to enable preschools to create a culture of curiosity, awe and wonder embedded at the heart of each school. Becoming accredited means providing an environment for children that supports social, emotional and skills development through their play using loose parts and recycled materials.

Harriet Wale, Preschool Deputy, said, “The whole staff team have worked towards this and despite changes in staffing and our ever-reflective environment we have worked hard and accomplished this amazing achievement. Something we feel very proud of. Even more so to learn that we are the only Preschool setting in the whole of Shropshire to do so.

“This Accreditation gives our small, but special Early Years Preschool yet another edge in our day-today practise, alongside our third consecutive Ofsted Outstanding Report.”

Some feedback received from the Co-Founder of the Curiosity Approach stated, “I would like to thank Samantha and her team for their thorough submission, which truly reflects their whole team’s approach. The team are incredibly reflective, which I’m sure will stand them in good stead moving forward to maintain and continue implementing The Curiosity Approach ethos at Morda Preschool. The joy on the children’s faces in the supporting photos is wonderful to see and not something that can be manufactured - keep up the amazing work!!”

Harriet Wale went on to say of the preschool, “We are extremely lucky to have such a dedicated staff team who make the Preschool run seamlessly and who truly care for our children and their families. Furthermore, we have lovely families who support our Preschool in our day-to-day practise to ensure that their children are receiving the best in terms of environment, resources, and reflective practitioners. Something we feel has been cemented by the Curiosity Accreditation now more than ever. We are lucky to get out and about into the local community, whether a village outing or further into Oswestry, our latest being to visit the Oswestry Fire Station, which the children thoroughly enjoyed and took

away lots from even at the tender age of three.

“We have made links with many different people in the community from other charities and organisations to local businesses who support us at various times whether directly to learn and grow or indirectly with fundraising for example sending us donations towards our annual Easter Funday (which will be returning this year following the Pandemic!). We also enjoy helping and supporting others whether sharing ideas with other settings or visiting other places for the children to help and support already instilling our values of respect, teamwork, and friendship from this young age.

“We are so proud of our Preschool here in Morda and despite not having direct links to larger settings or a School, as a Charity ran organisation, we do everything we possibly can to make us the best we can be, such as our fantastically celebrated Forest School sessions and onsite Library and we invite you to celebrate our newest achievement with us!”

For more information visit www.mordapreschool. co.uk, call 01691 688743 or email mordapreschool@ btconnect.com

Growth for Local Walking Football Club

Ellesmere Rangers Football Club set up a walking football section in February 2018 and is going from strength to strength.

Walking football is widely regarded as the fasted growing sport in the UK. It is a unique small-sided football game created in 2011 for the over 50’s. The biggest difference between association football and walking football is that running is not permitted, but players can walk ‘as fast as possible’!

The game is played on small pitches inside and outside and competitive matches are usually six a side. There are simple rules designed with health and safety as the paramount consideration. Tackling is allowed but the game is ‘no contact’, free kicks are indirect, and the ball must not go above head height.

Walking football is all about older people enjoying football and players of all abilities are welcome at Ellesmere Rangers. The common factor at Ellesmere Rangers is everyone mixes in and enjoys the friendliness of the club.

The game offers a multitude of health benefits including reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and strokes. There are also many mental health benefits as players have ‘fun’ whilst also exercising and enjoying the ‘banter’.

Ellesmere Rangers Walking Football Club is the largest walking football club in the region and draws players from a wide area. Since its inception in February 2018 the membership has grown rapidly with around 30 members currently. The training sessions are held on a Wednesday evening in the sports hall at Ellesmere College during the winter months starting at 7.00pm, and during the summer months the training sessions are held on the same day and time on the Ellesmere Rangers Football Club pitch.

The club have enjoyed some success in the Walking Football Association National Cup in recent seasons. These national cup tournaments are held across the UK and clubs are drawn as to who they should play. Currently, teams in the Over 50’s and Over 60’s tournaments have been entered in recent years and it is hoped to enter an Over 65’s team in the 2023 National Cup tournament. They have played much larger clubs in these competitions, including Nottingham Forest Vets and Birmingham Walking Football Club, whilst the highlight may be the visit to Ellesmere of the Over 50’s world champions from West Bromwich.

As well as competitive matches they play friendlies, having recently visited Preston North End FC for a

walking football friendly followed by a stadium tour around Preston North End FC’s stadium. Friendlies have been arranged for next year against Wigan Strollers Walking Football team who are associated with Wigan Athletic FC and the Liverpool Probation Service walking football team.

The club have entered Over 50’s and Over 60’s teams in many local tournaments, including Market Drayton, Shrewsbury, and more recently at a tournament in Oswestry organised by Llanfair United FC.

There is no pressure on players to play in any matches, friendly or competitive, indeed many players wish to only play in the weekly training sessions.

There is a great deal of camaraderie between all the members of Ellesmere Rangers Walking Football Club, to the point where some people have decided walking football is not for them, but they still attend the social events laid on by the club.

The members range from 51 to 75 years old, and the walking football club have a group WhatsApp page where everyone is kept informed as to what is happening within the walking football group. Some of the members are new to the area and they regularly comment as to how welcoming everyone is within Ellesmere Rangers.

Earlier this year, the club received a donation of £500 from the Oswestry based Charlotte Hartey Foundation, which was used to purchase tracksuits and the teams were most grateful.

If anyone would like to try walking football in Ellesmere, please contact Alan Davis on 07852 328031 or by email alan@mospares.co.uk

Preston North End FC - Club Visit New Tracksuits provided by Charlotte Hartey Foundation

Walking Football Over 50’s Winners of Market Drayton Tournament - June 2022

Mayor’s Minutes

The Mayor of Oswestry, Councillor Jay Moore

Greetings everyone, and welcome to this month’s edition of Mayor’s Minutes.

2022 has been a significant year for the Town and for the Town Council, and we continue to face difficult times having gone through covid, an energy crisis, a war in Europe, three prime ministers and the continued cost of living crisis.

Despite all that, we have been welcoming and working with Ukranian refugees at our weekly Ukranian drop in Hub. We have recognised some of Oswestry’s brightest stars with my Mayor’s Community Champion Award (Geoff Moore, Kelly and Gary Clarke as well as our latest champion Lenny Worthing) and we have also been continuing to support our towns youth through initiatives such as The Heads Up Project, weekly youth clubs and supporting the early stages of creating a Youth Council.

We have seen new events emerge such as Cae Glas Live and much needed repairs to shop frontages and public spaces. Oswestry In Bloom brought home another Gold and also won the best overall in the Large Town category. A huge congratulations to Natalie and the team.

As we look forward to 2023, the Council hope to add a new Splash Pad play facility to Cae Glas Park as well.

Of course, I’d be remiss if I did not acknowledge the passing of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, which will no doubt be what many of us will always remember 2022 for.

2023 will see the Coronation of King Charles, which I am proud to say I will preside over during my tenure as Mayor.

We will see continued significant investment in our town, not just financially but also in terms of our working relationships with other local entities such as the police force, through our police partnership panel.

I am truly optimistic about what 2023 will bring, and I hope you are too.

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Please shop local!

Need a lift to work? We accept early morning bookings

Facebook Alert!

If you get a message from a friend on Facebook that seems a bit strange like, “Hello, how are you doing mate?”, it probably isn’t from them and their account may have been hacked. Which? warn that fraudsters send messages saying they saw your name on the NCG list. No such ‘National Consumer Grant’ list exists. The fraudster claims they have received a grant and sends you a link to an application form. If you click on the link, you will be sent to a dodgy website requesting your personal details – and you may find that the link also downloads malware onto your device.

If you receive a strange Facebook message, contact your friend another way to alert them. If it’s your account that’s been hacked, visit www.facebook. com/hacked to secure the account. Consider turning on two-factor authentication (2FA) for added protection against any further attempts.

In recent years there has been a massive increase in the number of websites losing the personal data of their users – for the consumers the after-effects of targeted hack or identity theft can be devastating.

2FA is an extra layer of protection to ensure the security of online accounts.

After entering a username and a password, an extra piece of information is required such as:

• Something you know: like a PIN (personal identification number)

• Something you have:  like a credit card

• Something you are: like a fingerprint

With 2FA, even if your password is stolen or your phone is lost, the chances of someone else having your second-factor information is highly unlikely. Learn more about two-factor authentication and download the Authy app for IOS, Android and Chrome at: https://authy.com/

Sign up for Which? scam alerts: https://campaigns. which.co.uk/scam-alert-service/ . Find details of recent scams at www.actionfraud.police.uk , on our Facebook page Rainford-it-stay safe online or the blog at www.rainford-it.co.uk. Call 07552 863996 for more info.

All your IT in one place, we are Mac specialists

Stick with your existing phone

If you’re coming to the end of a mobile phone contract, don’t keep it going: you can almost certainly save money by switching to a month-to-month SIM-only plan, and you can still keep your existing phone number even if you’re moving to a different network.

Don’t buy more than you need

A deal with 150GB of mobile data every month sounds brilliant, but do you need it? Even if you use mobile data every day of the week you’ll rarely exceed 10GB in a month. You should be able to check how much data you’ve been using in your current provider’s website or app.

Buy a new phone separately

Need a new phone too? Buy it outright and then go shopping for a suitable mobile phone plan to use it with. It does mean having to pay the price of the phone up front, but you’ll be able to get a much better deal by taking out a SIM-only contract.

John, Logan and Dane of family business, Rainford IT

WESTON

POOLS WESTON LANE, OSWESTRY

Common questions when buying a property

It can be a daunting prospect, but Cassie Chidlow, of Lanyon Bowdler’s residential property team, answers some commonly asked questions to help take the mystery out of buying a house.

How long will the process take?

It generally takes 8 to 10 weeks depending on the chain.

How much does it cost and when do I have to pay?

The majority of firms offer fixed fees which are based on the purchase price. At Lanyon Bowdler we provide a full breakdown of our fees at the outset so that our clients do not get any unwelcome surprises upon completion.

When obtaining quotes for a purchase transaction you should check that there are no “hidden costs”. The legal fees will be payable upon completion and will be included within a completion statement however you will be asked for monies on account upon instructing a solicitor in respect of search fees.

What happens if my parents are helping me buy the property?

Getting onto the property ladder is difficult for young people and therefore it is not uncommon

for parents to assist by way of a gifted deposit toward the purchase. If a gift is involved, we would be required to notify the lender and comply with their requirements in this regard.

There are generally no issues with gifted deposits from family members and the majority of the mainstream lenders accept gifted deposit applications.

The person providing the money would be required to sign a declaration to confirm the gift is indeed a gift and it is not refundable and that they do not intend to take any interest whatsoever in the property. Your solicitor will arrange to obtain this declaration on your behalf.

Why do I need searches?

The lender requires that we carry out due diligence, which means ensuring the property is adequate security for the amount of money

you are borrowing from them and this includes carrying out the necessary searches against the property.

The standard searches generally include a local search, environmental search and water and drainage search. If any other risks are flagged for the property, for example flooding or mining, we would also carry out those additional searches. Searches are generally valid for six months and will cost in the region of £300 which you will be required to pay for on account of costs when instructing a Solicitor.

What happens on the completion day?

This is the day in which you move into your new home. Your solicitor will deal with all legal formalities and will call you to confirm once legal completion has taken place and when you can pick up the keys. Keys will not be released to you until such time as the completion monies have been received by the seller’s solicitor, who will then release the keys with the estate agent.

You can listen to Cassie discussing these questions in more detail on the latest edition of Lanyon Bowdler’s podcast, the Legal Lounge, at www.lblaw.co.uk/podcast or search for the Legal Lounge on your usual podcast provider.

Cassie Chidlow

Buying a property, for most, will be the biggest and most important financial transaction made in their lifetime, and it’s understandable to have questions about how it all works...

There are generally no issues with gifted deposits from family members and the majority of the mainstream lenders accept gifted deposit applications.

By Paula Hurford, Wealth Management Consultant at Hadlow Edwards Wealth Management

It’s that time of year where we look to try and turn over a new leaf and have a bit of a sort out. For those with children, grandchildren, or nieces and nephews, here is something that could affect them.

Child Trust Funds In October 2022, HMRC issued a press release* stating that thousands of teenagers could be missing out on unclaimed amounts in their Child Trust Fund (CTF) account.

A CTF is a long-term savings account which was set up for every child born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011. To encourage saving, the Government provided an initial deposit of at least £250.

The CTF account matures when the child turns 18 years old with the first accounts maturing in September 2020 and the last in September 2029. On maturity, the account can either be cashed in or transferred into an adult ISA.

Those who are aged 18 or over and have yet to access their CTF account, could have savings waiting for them worth an average of £2,100.*

Help when needed Many eligible teenagers who have yet to claim their CTF savings might be starting university, apprenticeships, or their first job. The lumpsum amount could offer a financial boost at a time when they need it most, which is especially helpful to parents in a cost-of-living crisis!

If the child or their parent/guardian know who their

CTF provider is, they can contact them directly, or alternatively, they can use HMRC’s online form to locate their CTF account using the link: https://www.gov.uk/ child-trust-funds/find-a-child-trust-fund ISAs In January 2011, the CTF was replaced with Junior Individual Savings Accounts (ISA). There are different types of Junior ISAs, including cash and Investment based ones. Once a minor becomes an adult, they can invest in regular ISAs. Always seek advice if you are thinking of investing on behalf of a child.

If you would like help to understand the savings options available for your child or grandchild, or if you would like to look more specifically at the options for your child’s maturing CTF, please do not hesitate to contact me.

The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than the amount invested.

The favourable tax treatment given to a JISA may not be maintained in the future, as they are subject to changes in legislation.

*HMRC 05/10/22: Teenagers could be missing out on a stash of cash.

FILM OF THE MONTH

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (12A)

STREAMING NOW ON NETFLIX

Master detective Benoit Blanc first appeared back in 2019 in US director Rian Johnson’s hugely enjoyable Knives Out. A lovely spin on classic Agatha Christie style ‘Country House’ murder mysteries, the film went down so well that a sequel was a foregone conclusion.

Daniel Craig plays Blanc as an old-fashioned southern gentleman, a Kentucky Fried Poirot. Invited to a murder mystery party on a private island owned by tech billionaire Miles Bron (a thinly disguised Elon Musk style whiz), only for the party to stop being fun when Bron is killed.

As is usual, Blanc must root through the motives and means of a group of suspects, including Kate Hudson’s supermodel and Dave Bautista’s activist. The joy of the first Knives Out was the sparkling screenplay and the genuine twists and turns of the plot, and that looks to be replicated successfully second time around. Expect some great one liners, some over the top characters and some suspenseful moments, all part and parcel of an original and witty whodunnit. Bringing a little sharpness to a fun confection, this is an ideal choice for the post-Christmas period, just put your feet up and enjoy.

LIKE THIS? TRY ‘ZERO EFFECT’. Another great update of a classic genre. ‘Zero Effect’ sees Bill Pullman playing the world’s greatest detective, Daryl Zero (socially awkward, hugely intelligent, basically Sherlock Holmes) with Ben Stiller as his Watson. Zero usually solves all his cases without ever leaving his apartment, but a millionaire being blackmailed over a lost key leads him to a mysterious woman and the chance of love and normality. This overlooked US indie also works as a great whodunnit while still being funny and original. Available to stream.

By Michael Hudson

BOOK

REVIEW EDITOR’S CHOICE

Food for Life

BY TIM SPECTOR

Yes, it’s January and we tend to focus on new year’s resolutions and fresh starts, so a good starting point is our health. I’m not talking about the gym (you can breathe a sigh of relief). Author Tim Spector is a Professor in Genetic Epidemiology at King’s College London and his focus is, “in researching the microbiome, the large community of microbes that live in our gut, skin and body”.

In this book, Spector points a magnifying glass over the scientific research around food to date and brings attention to what we should know that can improve our approach to health. What does that mean? In a nutshell, what we know, isn’t exactly helping us in our vision to live longer or better.

That all sounds a bit worrying but Spector knows what he’s talking about so if you’re looking to overhaul your diet in the new year – this will really help guide your choices.

Tangerine Heart

BY PAULINE FAULKNER

My tangerine heart, ripe and hopeful Picked from the laden tree Turned over, chosen partly devoured Then cast aside unflavoured Discarded for sweeter juicier fruit

My tangerine heart lies lonely Deep in the fruit bowl Of the shallow mind Discarded to wrinkle alone.

Words’n’pics Open Writers (WOW) Come & meet us for the New Year New writers especially welcome contact janhedger7@googlemail.com

POETRY

Winter skin routines

Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise

Emollients like petroleum jelly and shea butter contain more oil than your typical moisturiser or lotion, which makes them great for hydrating dry patches. They work by forming a protective layer around the skin that traps moisture, softening and soothing the skin.

When it comes to moisturisers, look out for ingredients such as vitamin C and hyaluronic acid.

Drink plenty of water

It may seem obvious but drinking plenty of water really does wonders for your skin as winter’s low humidity robs your skin of its natural moisture. If you don’t fancy

Cambrian Pharmacy

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drinking cold water, try sipping warming herbal teas like turmeric, ginger or lemon.

Exfoliate regularly

It might be the last thing you feel like doing when your skin is feeling dry and itchy, but exfoliation allows your moisturiser to better penetrate dry skin, while also stimulating the growth of new skin cells – improving your skin tone and texture.

Avoid hot showers

Appealing as a hot shower on a cold morning may be, doing so will actually draw moisture away from your skin, stripping it of its natural oils. A quick shower or a bath in lukewarm water is a far better choice.

Choose your skin products carefully

Swap moisture-sapping face wipes for a gentle, moisturising cleanser to keep your skin hydrated, avoiding any that contain added fragrances or alcohol.

Winter weather and central heating can take a heavy toll on our skin. Here are five ways you can support your skin this winter.

Be still my beating

heart

Did you know you will probably live to be a billionaire? Sadly, it’s unlikely to be in monetary terms but the average lifetime involves more than 2 billion heart beats: that’s a big number.

Try bending your elbow once a second and see how long it takes for your arm muscles to start moaning –your heart muscle does this all the time and that, if you think about it, is mind boggling. Your heart has a sort of wiring that keeps it ticking regularly but sometimes, like Sting’s song it goes wrong – a sort of short circuit occurs and we get an arrhythmia. The most common of these is called Atrial Fibrillation or AF. About 800,000 people have AF in the UK including 10% of the over 75 age group. Often, they will feel lightheaded, short of breath or be aware the heart is racing but sometimes patients are unaware of their AF.

Can you take your own pulse? It’s quite easy: just gently place your ring and middle fingers on the inside of your wrist about 6cm or 2 inches below your thumb joint. How fast is it? Is it regular? Does it matter? AF is described as “irregularly irregular ”and has no fixed rhythm. Unfortunately, one of the heart chambers is not contracting well and clots can form. These can travel and cause a stroke: people with AF are about 4-5 times more likely to have a stroke.

The good news is that AF is quite treatable and studies of life expectancy with treated AF show very little reduction in life span. The treatment can involve trying to re-start the normal rhythm or taking medication to stop the clots forming and control the heart rate if it is too fast.

So, take your pulse: particularly if you are over 60 years old. If you have any doubts see your Doctor or Nurse: a simple ECG often either rules out or confirms the diagnosis.

Dr Paul Middleton

Your heart has a sort of wiring that keeps it ticking regularly but sometimes, like Sting’s song it goes wrong

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*Offer available from 01/01/23 – 31/01/23.

Could you be one of our special Angels? Do you want to work with a company where you are the heart of the business? You can make a difference by becoming a Visiting Angel carer today. These are just some of the incentives we offer: Pay at £11ph weekdays and £12ph at weekends, double time for bank holidays and public holidays * Annual 5% pay increase * Paid mileage and travel time * Part-time and Full-time contracts * 6 monthly valet for your car * Annual service check for your car

Healthy Focus Make a change

Are you setting health related New Years’ Resolutions? Avoid failure and go small!!

lifestyle contributes to around 70% of chronic illness such as diabetes and heart disease. These illnesses are avoidable and can even be reversed, so if we can change our behaviour even a little, we will achieve great results. However change can be hard and researchers have shown that only 19% of individuals keep their resolutions beyond mid January.

one way to make lasting change is to start small – The British society of lifestyle Medicine (www.bslm1change.org) (of which I am a certified practitioner member) recommends #1change with the TBC approach:

Trigger – Choose something you commonly do daily e.g. brush teeth

Behaviour – Think of something you want to change – e.g. be more active. Start with just one squat to establish the habit and every time you brush your teeth, do a squat... then one more!

Celebrate – pat yourself on your back every time you “brush and squat” and share your success with your friends.

local personal Trainer Rachel stevenson of HappyFit – Fitness, Nutrition & Wellbeing concurs, suggesting small steps and consistency is key. To add in a habit write a plan of when, what and how you want to change but also plan to fail so you don’t get completely thrown off track when life throws you a curve ball. Learn from the failure and tweak the plan to keep you going. www.happyfit.co.uk 07867 802811

Setting a goal can really help focus the mind, why not check out Adrenaline Sporting Events line up for next year and sign up for a cycling or running event around Oswestry? www.adrenalinesportingevents.co.uk

If you’d like to read more about establishing habit change pop along to the library or Booka and request a copy of the brilliant ‘Atomic Habits’ by James Clear or ‘Feel Better in 5’ by Dr Rangan Chatterjee.

Have a happy healthy month!

Claire a rnold

The Meadows o s T eopaT h Clini C

HealtH & Wellbeing

New Year: New You!

After all the excitement of Christmas and new year celebrations, January arrives and many of us can get to feel a little flat. We may have over indulged over the festive period or suffered with all the stress of being so busy and still being in the dark of winter. But there are plenty of things to do to help put ourselves right again. Give yourself a gentle liver detox with Milk thistle seed. The powder can be added to your morning power smoothie or sprinkled over cereal. It has a slight bitter taste, but not too strong and it really gives your liver and digestion a boost. Although subtle at first, if taken regularly you might notice an increase in your energy and your outlook as well as feeling a little less sluggish. This herb combines well with one of the aromatic herbs such as Cardamom or Fennel to give our digestive processes extra support.

Cinnamon taken regularly as a capsule or added to morning porridge can be very useful when doing a sugar detox after all the indulgence. If you are still craving sweet things or just “using up” what is left over, this can help you get off it again. Cinnamon can

be used to balance blood sugars in early stages type II diabetes too, but advice must be sought for this.

Drinking extra water; hot or cold, can be a quick and easy way to rehydrate your body after all the extra alcohol you may have been offered. Add some liver support herbs to it to get extra oomph! Try; Swedish Bitters, Gentian, Agrimony, dandelion root or Artichoke. A little mint, cucumber or lemon give a little welcome flavour and support the kidneys too.

Tiredness can also be a feature during January; get a pep up with tonic herbs. Avoid caffeine if you have any degree of anxiety but a decoction of Siberian ginseng or Ashwagandha capsules are great. Simple, effective herbs to use at home.

Louise Idoux MSc. MNIMH Member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, Oswestry Herbarium, tel 01691 656934

The story of DIVINE MATERIALS UPHOLSTERY

Rebecca Gibbs fell in love with the art of upholstery after attending a weekend footstool course.  She found the pure joy of creating a piece of furniture from scratch and turning it into a statement piece brought about a desire to learn more.  Subsequently, Rebecca decided to retrain at The Ministry of Upholstery in Manchester.  “At the end of the course, I knew I was hooked,” she said.

“Last October I arrived at a crossroads in my life – after a longstanding career working in marketing, I was made redundant – I had two choices; carry on in the corporate world I’d been used to or take the plunge and start my own upholstery business.  And so Divine Materials Upholstery was born.”

From a workshop in Oswestry, DMU specialises in designing and making quality handmade, contemporary and deep buttoned footstools, benches and headboards from hardwood frames.  Using modern upholstery techniques and a wide selection of luxury fabrics and feet from some of the UK’s leading suppliers, they work closely to clients’ specific requirements in order to create bespoke pieces that reflect the individuality of customers’ interior spaces and homes.

As well as upholstering new furniture, Rebecca also provides a modern or traditionally based reupholstery service. “I take great pleasure in

listening to the stories behind the furniture and restoring and reviving old and much-loved pieces.  Whether that be a dining chair, sofa, wingback chair, chaise lounge or footstool, we give them a new lease of life for generations to come.  Every piece of furniture receives the same attention to detail, time and care in order to bring about the transformation it deserves, and in today’s ecofriendly world it’s more important than ever to reuse and restore rather than sending to landfill.”

Fabric selection is an exciting and pivotal element of each reupholstery project and at DMU, Rebecca works with a variety of British fabric suppliers such as Warwick, Linwood, Art of the Loom and Sunbury, sending samples directly to you to help make the process an easier one.  All fabrics adhere to UK Fire Regulations giving you peace of mind.

In addition to reupholstery, an environmentally safe sanding and rewaxing service is available.  Using a light media blasting technique, which doesn’t damage the wood, years of coating can be removed, bringing wood back to its original state and ready for a new stain, wax or varnish.

So, if you’re looking for a new footstool or bench, simply want to revamp your dining chairs or revive an old family heirloom get in touch.

For information email divinematerialsupholstery@gmail.com or call 07973 336447. Facebook: divinematerials Instagram: @divinematerialsupholstery

Property in popular village

Erw Deg, Penybontfawr

A beautifully presented detached property in the popular village of Penybontfawr which offers primary school education, shop, church, public house and is convenient to Lake Vyrnwy, Oswestry and Bala with many walks and riding route.The tastefully renovated accommodation includes; entrance hall and inner hall, dining room with bay window to the front, living room with wood burning stove and patio doors leading to the rear garden. The kitchen includes modern units and utility room along with a useful storeroom and WC.

Offers Over £350,000 For viewings call Morris Marshall & Poole on 01691 679595 or email oswestry@ morrismarshall.co.uk

Detached New build

Tregarthen Lane, Pant

A truly superb new build family home located in the pretty village of Pant. The property is just one of two properties being constructed and offers spacious four-bedroom accommodation with good sized gardens. There is a

large kitchen/ family room to the rear with bifold doors opening onto the rear garden. All amenities are close at hand including good road networks.

Asking Price £512,500. For viewings call Town & Country on 01691 679631 or email sales@ townandcountry.com

Four Bedroom Family Home

Morda Road, Oswestry

A four bedroom detached family home set in a sought-after and notable position in Oswestry. In brief, the property’s accommodation affords: a porch, entrance hall, living room, dining room, kitchen, four bedrooms, shower room, and cloakroom. Externally the property affords: a driveway, detached single garage, and gardens laid to lawn. Viewings are highly recommended to appreciate the property’s location and accommodation.

OIRO £525,000. For viewings call Woodhead’s on 01691 680044 or email sales@woodheadsalesandlettings.com

17, Western Avenue Whittington, SY11 4BP - £185,000 - WITH NO ONWARD CHAIN! 3 bedroom, semi detached family home with generous off road parking, gas central heating and uPVC double glazing.

Chapel Terrace Porth Y Waen, SY10 8LX £395,000 - A delightful country cottage style 4 bed property set in approximately 0.6 acres of gardens and grounds.

Ruyton House, off School Lane Ruyton XI Towns, SY4 1JT - £725,000 - A truly outstanding former school that has undergone a spectacular yet sympathetic transformation with large open plan ground floor living space and four bedrooms to the first floor.

Efficiency first and foremost

All newly manufactured stoves have to comply with Ecodesign efficiency and emissions regulations.

The clearSkies label shows models that exceed the regulations, with clearSkies level 5 the highest. Stoves also have energy efficiency labels ranging from A++ to G.

Smoke control areas

In a smoke control area, you must have a DEFRA-exempt wood burner – look for the ‘DEFRA approved’ logo. ClearSkies accreditations 4 and 5 are suitable for use in smoke control areas. Always discuss these requirements with the manufacturer or retailer.

A classic design incorporating the latest technology, this wood burner is suitable for heating areas of up to 75 cubic metres. 3112 wood burning stove, £1,550, morsoe.co.uk.

This striking pedestal stove is DEFRA-exempt and features an airwash system that keeps the large glass door clean. NEO3P-ECO wood-burning stove, £2,530, acrheatproducts.com.

What size to buy?

“Before purchasing a stove, verify the heat requirement for its intended location,” says Declan Kingsley-Walsh, managing director at Morsø UK. “To calculate the heating demand of a specific space, work out the volume of the room in cubic metres and divide by 14.” Stove capacities vary from 3kw to 15kw.

Storing your wood

Think about where you will store your log supplies. Some stoves have a small, built-in log storage section, and you may have space near your stove or fireplace for a basket or other container. Logs must be kept in a dry and wellventilated area, and ‘wet’ wood must be dried for at least two years.

Comply with regulations

New installations must comply with building regulations regarding the flue, the hearth and the distance from combustibles. A ‘Competent Person’ installer can certify it for you. They will do a smoke test to check your chimney is sound. You must have a carbon monoxide detector in the room, and consider a fireguard to keep pets and young children safe.

Regular maintenance

A stove can take time to light, needs to be fed with fuel and the ash has to be cleaned regularly – a removable ash pan helps with this. Polish the exterior with a lintfree cloth or a clean shoe brush, says Jon Butterworth, director of Arada Stoves. “For the interior, dip a damp cloth in the wood ash and use it to clean the glass door, then vacuum away any soot or remaining ash. When the stove isn’t being used in the summer, remove the throat plate and leave the air inlets open to prevent rust.” Budget for having the chimney cleaned at least once a year.

by Stephanie Dhillon

Eclectic Bathroom

Incorporating an eclectic style for your bathroom works easily with a traditional base. The accessories and the layering are key and although this look can have an air of thoughtless clutter - when carefully curated, it can look incredibly sophisticated. If you keep to a limited colour palette or tone and add creative storage options for the necessary stuff bathrooms accumulate, you will create a haven of a bathroom to retreat to. Throw in some warmth with textiles, texture with plants and don’t forget to add a touch of humour.

A pinch of paprika

Longing for sunshine and long days?

Add a dash of spicy colour by including tones of cheering paprika.

Give your rooms a revamp

•

There’s no doubt that paprika – a kind of orange-brown-pink-red with a spicy tone that’s in the ballpark with terracotta and rust – is having a moment right now. And this is a shade that will bring the zing to your home in no uncertain terms. A feature wall? Definitely. Soft furnishings and window treatments? Yes, please. Cushions, throws and accessories? Certainly. Use this mood-boosting colour in small doses or go all out, the choice is yours.

• Working this intriguing shade into an interiors scheme means playing clever with colour. For a cosy and calming overall feel, keep paprika as a highlight in a palette of neutrals such as off-white, taupe and grey, including plenty of interesting surfaces such as sisal, wicker, timber, concrete and stone. When combining with other colours, think mustard, charcoal, terracotta, earthy browns, greens and – if you really want to make an impact – red, pink and orange.

• Bear in mind that your lighting will alter the appearance of any colour, and paprika is no exception. If you are committing to painting large areas of wall, try a tester pot first, and check how it looks in natural daylight and also when you switch your lights on in the evening – a liminal tone can vary quite dramatically, and this may alter how you combine it with everything else in the room.

é  Get an instant update with a colourful cushion. Cotton-velvet cushion cover in paprika, from £32, waltonshop.co.uk.

é  A striking contemporary choice for a feature wall. Metamorph wall mural in paprika and teal, £209, ohpopsi.com.

é  Create a statement in a bathroom, kitchen or hallway with vintage-effect ceramic floor tiles. Scintilla starpattern tiles in Paprika Orange, £24.95, wallsandfloors.co.uk.

çChunky tassels are the finishing touch on this inviting cotton throw. Nomad artisan throw, £41.50, waltonshop.co.uk.

ê This colour-blocked wallpaper features an abstract landscape of architectural forms. Blocs wallpaper in paprika, £75 per roll, ohpopsi.com.

èChoose a pretty vase for a quick and easy way to introduce a pop of colour. Paprika recycled-glass vase, £35.99, quinceandcook. co.uk.

the garden

by Graham Mitchell

Christmas presents all unwrapped and new year resolutions ready. Make sure your garden is near the top of the list.

If the ground isn’t frozen, now is an ideal time to plant bare-rooted shrubs, trees and perennials, either new, moving or splitting overgrown clumps. Take care to keep off sodden ground to prevent compacting it. Lay some boards on top if you need to work in that area.

Carefully clear some of the fallen perennial leaves and stems but remember that not only do they harbour slugs and plant diseases they are also a habitat for all sorts of garden wildlife, big and small. So don’t be over ambitious and keep some areas as a wildlife haven. The debris can also hide the shoots and flowers soon to emerge. Though snowdrops reappear year on year, it is a good time to add a few new ones already in flower.

Remember to think about water. One of the biggest killers of perennial potted plants is blocked drainage holes and consequential rotting. However, those pots under the eaves and trees may need watering even in January. Pots of spring bulbs will need a water either naturally or with a can twice a week. Whilst you have the watering can out, top up the bird baths and keep them ice free.

If you have some mistletoe left from Christmas, try pressing it into the bark of an apple tree. You might be able to start your own colony.

I am having a good think about what to grow on the allotment this year, the allium miners destroyed my entire leek crop last year, so will give then a miss for a few seasons. Every year I try a few new exotic or unusual varieties of vegetables, but they usually are less successful than the good old reliable types that I love. So, I think this year it is “stick to what you know”.

Later this month, the witch hazel will flower. Most people welcome the snowdrops, but to me the witch hazel announces the new gardening season with its promises of the spring not too far away.

Snowdrops

Do consumer rights cover car purchase? If so, what are they?

Q: My daughter bought a second-hand car from a garage in July this year. She paid £8,500 for it, which included the trade-in of her old car. Since getting it, she has had to take it back twice because the front footwells keep filling with water after a heavy downpour of rain. Both times the garage said they could find nothing wrong, and it must be because she doesn’t clear the leaves out of the windscreen gutter. Now it has happened again, and they say they can do nothing more. Can she return the car and demand a refund?

A: The Consumer Rights Act 2015 covers cars purchased after 1st October 2015. If your daughter believes her car is of unsatisfactory quality, unfit for purpose, or not as described, she has a right to return the vehicle and get a full refund. However, this is a short-term right only, limited to 30 days from the date of purchase.

After 30 days, the seller legally has one opportunity to repair or replace the vehicle if there is a problem with it. If the fault appears within the first six months after the purchase date, the law presumes the fault was there at the time of purchase and it is for the seller to prove this was not the case. If the fault develops after the first six months, it is the buyer’s legal obligation to prove it was there at the point of sale.

If the same fault persists and the seller is unable to repair it, or a new inherent fault develops, then a buyer is entitled to ask for their money back, or for a partial refund if they want to keep the car. However, the seller is entitled to deduct for mileage that has been added if the claim is after 30 days from the purchase date.

If the seller refuses to accept responsibility, your daughter should seek help from a solicitor.

This question has been answered by James Denton, a Solicitor with GHP Legal.  If you would like to speak to someone about this or any other legal matter it is still possible, and we are doing everything we can to ensure that we continue to offer our high levels of service to our clients. Where possible, we ask that you communicate with us by phone or email. If you have a new enquiry or for an appointment visit www.ghplegal.com or contact one of our offices: Wrexham 01978 291456, Llangollen 01978 860313, Oswestry 01691 659194

with GHP Legal’s James Denton

HOW TO ACHIEVE YOUR FINANCIAL GOALS IN 2023

There’s nothing quite like the start of a new year to give us a fresh perspective.

From eating better and exercising more to starting that evening class you’ve always fancied, it’s a time of new beginnings.

It’s also a great opportunity to get your finances in order.

The key is choosing a few goals which are most important to you.

If saving more money is at the top of your list, start by checking how your finances currently stack up. Tot up your savings, pension, investments and any assets, and work out how much income they will roughly provide in the future. If it’s not quite where you need it be, an independent financial adviser can help you create a plan to bridge this gap.

If your priority is growing your wealth however, task yourself with looking for opportunities to make this happen. Would you be in a stronger position if you changed your investment strategy? Could you take advantage of the market downturn by investing now? Investments can offer significant gains, but are a long-term strategy so consider carefully which approach would be best suited to your needs.

Financial goals aren’t just about making or saving money either. Perhaps recent world events have made you rethink your approach to investing? If so, review whether your current portfolio matches your views. There are more ethical investments on the market than ever before, meaning it’s now possible to gain a financial return without sacrificing your moral principles.

Lastly, it pays to be prepared. If the past few years have taught us anything it’s that we never truly know what’s around the corner. The good news is that there are ways you can you safeguard yourself financially through protective insurances like critical illness cover, income protection and life insurance. Designed to provide peace of mind should the worst ever happen, they can give you financial stability when you and your family need it most.

Call Belgrave Wincham on 01691 886554.

Review Of The Year

1. Who scored England’s winning goal when they won the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final against Germany?

2. In May, what did a band called Kalush Orchestra sell for 900,000 dollars? 3. Who became Chancellor of the Exchequer in July after the resignation of Rishi Sunak, but was replaced by Kwasi Kwarteng just nine weeks later? 4. Which month of 2022 saw the death of Queen Elizabeth II? 5. In February, who rowed, cycled, swam and ran his way from the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford to his hometown of Plymouth to raise money for Comic Relief?

6. Name the two singers who, in the same weekend, became the youngest-ever and oldest-ever headliners of the Glastonbury Festival.

7. In January, the first successful heart transplant from what type of animal to a human patient took place in Baltimore?

SOLUTIONS