The Bristol Nine - December 2013 by Andy Fraser

HAPPY

S A M T S CHRI Dec 2013 No 93

4 Useful Numbers and Information Gas Emergencies 0800 111 999 Electricity Emergencies 0800 365 900 Water Emergencies 0845 600 4 600 Avon & Somerset Police Non‐ Emergencies 101 (new no.) Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 Southmead Hospital 0117 950 5050 Frenchay Hospital 0117 970 1212 BRI / Children’s Hospital 0117 923 0000 NHS non‐emergency 111 Council Dog Warden Services 0117 922 2500 Bristol Blood Donation 0117 988 2040 The Samaritans 08457 90 90 90 Alcoholics Anonymous 08457 69 75 55 ChildLine 0800 11 11 National Rail Enquiries 08457 48 49 50 Telephone Pref Service 0845 070 0707 Mailing Pref Service 0845 703 4599 Bristol Care & Repair ‐ home safety checks & handyman 0117 95 4 2222 Postal Services Westbury on Trym Post Office 9 ‐ 5.30 Mon to Fri, 9 ‐ 4 Sat Henleaze Post Office 9 ‐ 1 , 2 ‐ 5.30 Mon to Fri, 9 ‐ 12.30 Sat Westbury on Trym Parcel Collection 7 ‐ 1 Mon to Fri, 9 ‐ 12 Sat Late Post ‐ there is a late post box at the main Post Office sorting depot on the A38 at Filton. Currently the late post is at 7pm, Local Libraries Henleaze ‐ tel. 903 8541 Mon 9.30 ‐ 7.00, Tues 9.30 ‐ 5.00 Wed 9.30 ‐ 5.00, Thur 9.30 ‐ 5.00 Fri 9.30 ‐ 7.00, Sat 9.30 ‐ 5.00 Westbury on Trym ‐ tel. 903 8552 Mon 9.30 ‐ 5.00, Tues 9.30 ‐ 5.00

Wed 9.30 ‐ 5.00, Thur ‐ closed Fri 9.30 ‐ 7.00, Sat 9.30 ‐ 5.00 Sea Mills ‐ tel. 903 8555 Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat 9.30 ‐ 1.00 , 2.00 ‐ 5.00 Wed ‐ closed, Thur 9.30 ‐ 1.00 , 2.00 ‐ 7.00 Public Transport Visit the excellent Bristol City Council website www.travelbristolorg to plan out your routes in, around or out of the city ‐ whether you are planning to go by bus, train, ferry, air, bike, car or foot. Local Churches St Mary Magdalene, Stoke Bishop www.stmarysb.org.uk 0117 968 7449 Methodist Church, WoT www.westburyontrymmethodistchurch.org.uk 0117 962 2930 Baptist Church, Reedley Rd, WoT www.westburybaptist.org.uk 0117 962 9990 Holy Trinity Parish Church, WoT www.westbury‐parish‐church.org.uk 0117 950 8644 Sacred Heart Catholic Church, WoT www.sacredheartchurch.co.uk 0117 983 3926 St Peter’s Church, Henleaze www.stpetershenleaze.org 0117 962 4524 Trinity URC, Henleaze www.trinityhenleazeurc.org.uk 0117 962 9713 The Community Church, WoT www.the‐community‐church.net 0117 946 6807 Recycling and Household Waste The Household Waste and Recycling Centre on Kingsweston Lane, Avonmouth for pretty much everything. The Avonmouth centre is now open winter hours from 8.00am to 4.15pm, 7 days a week.

We are now taking bookings for our

Christmas Day Menu 25th December ‐ 12midday to 5pm Starters Poppadum & Chutney Tray Mixed Platter Vegetable or Chicken Soup

Main Course Roast Turkey & Roast Lamb, Served with Roast Potatoes, Seasoned Vegetables & Special Gravy Sauce (mild, medium or hot) Additional menu items will also be served

Dessert Traditional Christmas Pudding with Custard Indian Dessert Indian Pudding / Indian Sweets / Indian Tea or Coffee

Drinks Table for 2 to 4 people, free bottle of House Red or House White wine Table of 8 or more, free bottle of Champagne Adult: £35 Under 16: £20 per person Bookings needed by 21st December - please call Raj Gate on 0117 968 6567 or 0117 968 5859 (5.30pm to 11pm) or 07957 839 606 (daytime) Raj Gate Tandoori, 5 Trymwood Parade, Shirehampton Road, Stoke Bishop, BS9 2DP www.rajgatetandoori.co.uk

6 The Editor’s Small Piece Hello there and welcome to the last magazine of the year, a festive one which I hope you will enjoy. December is a hectic one with plenty going on around the area ‐ church services and carol concerts galore, school fairs, and two big Christmas celebrations in Henleaze, on the evening of 4th December, and in Westbury during the day on 14th December (Stoke Lane in the morning, Canford Lane / High Street in the afternoon). Having seen the amount of work involved by the organising committees in putting these events on I really do hope for good weather and a terrific turnout from local people. The Bristol Nine will have a little stall on the 14th so do come and say hello if you see me sat there, lonely and shivering ‐ I hope to be selling Bristol Nine calendars on the day. There are some other local Christmas gift ideas mentioned in the magazine this month, including jigsaw puzzles, puzzle walk books and a great novel written and based here in Bristol. It’s also nice to be able to welcome a new contributor to the magazine ‐ Tara Hofman, a local chef and expert caterer, who will be taking over the culinary corner and providing monthly food inspiration. Tara’s first column is on page 52. As the year draws to a close I’d like to say a huge thank you as ever to all of the people who deliver your Bristol Nine each month ‐ a team of some twenty people who get the magazine to you whatever the weather and whatever increasing weight it is to carry each month. Thank you all. Thanks also to all the generous local companies and individuals who choose to use the magazine as a method of bringing their businesses to your attention and without who the Bristol Nine wouldn’t exist. And finally a big thank you, and festive best wishes, to all readers ‐ you are hugely supportive and that support is very much appreciated. Cheers. And finally just to let you know there is not going to be a February Bristol Nine magazine next year so please bear that in mind when planning your events, activities and advertising. Have a great Christmas, Andy To get in touch ‐ T: 0117 968 7787 M: 07845 986650 P: 8 Sandyleaze, WoT, BS9 3PY E: andy@bcmagazines.co.uk Tw: @BS9Andy W: www.bcmagazines.co.uk

D & L Ford Carpet, Vinyl & Laminate Specialists - Mobile Showroom. We have an expert measuring & fitting service with a full range of carpet, vinyl & laminate samples for you to choose in the comfort of your own home. If you would like us to call and give you a free estimate please call on

0117 9663917 or 07944 147485

♠ BUILDING & PRESERVATION WORKS ♠ PROPERTY REFURBISHMENTS ♠ PLASTERING & RENDERING ♠ DAMP PROOFING ♠ TIMBER TREATMENTS ‐ DRY & WET ROT ♠ CAVITY WALL TIES ♠ PAINTING ‐ INTERIOR & EXTERIOR

ALL BUILDING WORKS UNDERTAKEN QUALITY, AFFORDABLE, FRIENDLY SERVICE

07954 783574 www.firewoodandkindling.com

info@firewoodandkindling.com

All of our firewood and kindling is ethically sourced from sustainable managed woodland. Delivered in nets carried to wherever you want them, for your convenience

Anything you need doing?

Don’t DIY, GKI ‐ Get Kev In !

Kev’s Tip of the Month Get your pa o cleaned before winter sets in so it’s not slippy and it’s clean for Spring.

12 Friends of Blaise This month we continue our walk along the Hazel Brook at Blaise. So far we have walked from the Ford at Henbury, through the Dell, past the Mill and into the gorge where we have arrived at the Tarn Lake. This is a man made feature, built between 1840 and 1881 by the then owner Mr J. S. Harford. He had a large pond constructed where the valley turns sharp left and diverted water into it, making use of a dam in the Hazel Brook, constructed almost a century earlier. The Brook still flows around the outer edge of the pond, through a small tunnel and emerges below the remains of the Giant’s Soap dish. This is all that remains of a small circular cold bath house probably dating from between1762 and 1778. Originally it would have been overlooking the Hazel Brook, but now overlooks the pond, and can be accessed from a short, steep, and sometimes slippery path. From here there is a good view of the lake and towering above it the steep cliﬀs of Lover’s Leap. The name Giant’s Soapdish originates from the legend of the Giant Goram, whose arm chair can be seen as two stone outcrops similar to those of an armchair, on the opposite side of the gorge. From here it is said, he could wash his feet in the lake. The Tarn Lake is an important feature of the Estate and received a considerable investment from the Lottery funded works in 2006. It was completely drained and desilted and a silt trap installed where the water is diverted from the Hazel Brook. Extensive new planting around the edges was intended to restore the lake to a more pleasing woodland feature. Temporary protective fencing was erected to allow the plantings to become established. Perhaps this scheme was too ambitious and the planting not suited to the surrounding

landscape of rocky gorge and woodland. Much of the planting has been damaged. The temporary fencing is still in place, but is now badly broken and detracts substantially from the overall scene. The lake is popular with dog owners who actively encourage dogs to enter the water to fetch sticks, which results in serious damage to the renovated banks. The rustic rubble bridge at the southern corner of the lake was constructed in 1812 and was originally intended to form part of the carriageway to Coombe Dingle. As we leave the Tarn Lake behind us, the drive climbs away from the brook toward the Beech Cathedral. This is an impressive area of clear stemmed beech trees planted about 1800 on a steep slope rising above the carriageway. Some of the trees are now over mature but it is still an impressive sight, particularly in the autumn when the leaves change colour.

We will continue our walk next month but in the meantime wish all our readers a Happy Christmas and hope that many of you will be able to enjoy the atmosphere of this historic landscape during the holiday period. If you enjoy visiting the Blaise Estate and would like further information about Friends of Blaise this can be found by visiting our website www.friendsofblaise.co.uk Patrick Clarke

GARDEN TRAPPINGS We are pleased to oﬀer a full range of locally grown Christmas Trees ‐ both pot ‐grown and Nordic non‐drop, as well as tradi onal locally‐made holly wreaths and table baskets. For more details and up to date news visit our Facebook page ‐ Garden Trappings on www.facebook.com And a Merry Christmas to all

our regular customers 10 Canford Lane Westbury on Trym 07970 730 501 fayandj@live.co.uk

Bob Mole Renewable Energy & Domestic Electrical Services Part P registered

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems Generate electricity for your own use and be paid as part of the government’s ‘Feed In Tariff’. Generate electricity, export it to the National Grid and be paid.

Electrical Design & Installation Re-wires, partial re-wires, circuit extension & modification. Fuse board upgrades.

Electrical Inspection & Testing

Landlord Certificate, P.A.T. Pre-mortgage surveys. Henleaze based with references available. All work guaranteed and warranty-backed. For free estimates and friendly honest advice

contact Bob Mole Tel: 0117 327 0237 Mob: 07946 408 434 E: moler@me.com Visit: www.moler-wwp.co.uk

Registered Number 22793

15 Constituency Matters Matters Constituency with With Charlotte Charlotte Leslie Leslie MP MP Summer seems a long time ago ‐ as I write the temperature must be close to freezing – but you might recall in August the heat had clearly got to Bristol City Council planners. They had suggested changes to the bus stops on Southmead Road on the approach to Henleaze and Westbury. As residents will know, these ‘lay‐by’ style bus stops have been very effective for many years, allowing buses to stop without interrupting the free flow of traffic. So it was with utter bewilderment that local people and I discovered the council wanted to effectively shut down the laybys, put the bus stop where the laybys currently stand and force buses to stop in the inside lane of the dual carriageway. The plans, and I am not making this up, were designed to “make public transport more attractive” according to Bristol City Council.

With the road being a main commuter route and also vital for the upgraded Southmead Hospital, there were real fears that this was the council creating a problem rather than solving one. It did not take a genius to realise that at all times of day, and especially during rush hour, buses stopping on the inside lane would cause massive congestion as well as being dangerous for cyclists forced to pull out. Thankfully, after a campaign led by resident Terry Wall and supported by myself and councillors Geoﬀ Gollop and Alastair Watson, common sense has prevailed. A letter from the council says: “The City Council has decided, for the time being, to postpone works and carry out a full review of the current proposals and consider any other options.” My hope is that they will now quietly shelve the whole idea, which seemed to benefit no one. This was a case of Bristol City Council trying to fix something which was not broken and which, if implemented, would actually have made things much worse. It was utterly pointless and such a waste of public money when there are so many other priorities.

As residents said, the current lay‐by bus stops have been used for years with no problems. What is most pleasing is that a well organised, determined group of residents have managed to organise a thoughtful campaign and won. It is so vital for all of us to engage in the processes which, although touted as for our benefit, are often nothing of the sort. It was an incredibly proud moment for me last month when I was named as Backbencher of the Year at an awards ceremony in London. I received the accolade at the annual Spectator magazine Parliamentarian of the Year awards for my eﬀorts to expose bad practice in the NHS. While it is lovely to receive the award, my pleasure is mostly to do with the fact that I have been able to bring wrongdoing in our health service to public attention and now there will be greater protection for those heroes in the NHS who do not want to sit quietly while terrible things happen. The NHS is a real passion for me – my dad is a surgeon – and I want a health service for all which oﬀers the very best care, free at the point of delivery, for all. And to achieve this, we sometimes need to challenge certain practices. The most important things is that the work goes on and I will continue to seek to expose wrongdoing in our NHS which is, in the vast majority of cases, magnificent but which has, over the years, sheltered those who have let it down and punished those who tried to do something about it. Finally, don’t forget we are looking for Bristol North West’s best independent shop. You can vote for your favourite here www.charlotteleslie.com/ independentshop with the chance to win £100 in the winning shop. You can find out more about my latest campaigns and much more at www.charlotteleslie.com. I’m also on Twitter @CLeslieMP and Facebook www.facebook.com/ charlotteleslie

Charlotte Leslie ‐ MP for Bristol North West Oﬃce: 184 Henleaze Road, Bristol, BS9 4NE 0117 962 9427 E: charlotte.leslie.mp@parliament.uk

16Â

Kemps Jewellers Est. 1881

Would like to wish all their customers a very Happy Christmas

A local family business offering you professional friendly advice on beautiful gift ideas for ladies and for gents.

We now have a great range of modern secondhand jewellery to complement our existing selection of beautiful traditional second-hand pieces. Do come in and have a look. Â

17Â Apps of the Month

Rings and jewellery, - both new and old as well as watches & watch repairs. We also buy old and scrap gold . . . . . . we offer complimentary gift wrapping on all purchases . . . . . . and you can now buy online at our online shop

Kemps Jewellers & Registered Pawnbrokers, in the heart of the village 9 Carlton Court, Westbury on Trym 0117 950 50 90 or shop online at www.kempsjewellers.com Â

18 Tara’s Table Hands up who likes Brussels sprouts? Well, it’s that time of year again when you are bound to encounter them at some time, whether you like it or not! Personally, I do like them and being a chef, I’m always thinking up new things to do with them. These days, there are so many ideas and recipes available that you never need to be at a loss for what to do with them. Nigel Slater was cooking them with bacon and almonds on television recently ‐ that sounds like a really good idea I might have to try myself. One of the things I like about sprouts is that they really are a seasonal vegetable. These days seasonality is so irrelevant with so much supermarket produce available, that the appearance of the Brussels sprout in my local greengrocers is really a heartening sight! Here are a couple of recipes for sprouts that you might like to try. Let me know how you get on! Sprout Purée I had this dish in Germany a few years ago and it was so tasty and diﬀerent, I couldn’t wait to re‐create it when I got home, it’s delicious with pheasant or any game bird, or indeed, turkey. Serves 4 12 ‐ 15 sprouts 1 white onion, medium 2 cloves garlic 5 rashers streaky bacon For the bechamel: 25 g butter 25 g flour 125 ml milk The end of an onion 1 bay leaf thyme black peppercorns Cut the sprouts in half and then shred them finely. Put them in a pan of boiling salted water and cook for 5 minutes. Drain and discard the water. Finely slice the white onion, reserving the end for the béchamel and fry in a pan until soft and

browned with the finely diced bacon and garlic for about 10 minutes. Put the milk on the heat with the end of the onion, a bay leaf, a couple of peppercorns and some thyme; bring to the boil and leave to infuse for 10 – 15 minutes. Make the béchamel by melting the butter and adding the flour, cook for 5 minutes over a low heat. Pour the milk through a sieve little by little, stirring after each addition. You should end up with a very thick béchamel. Cook it gently for about 5 minutes. Then add the browned onion, bacon and garlic and the blanched sprouts. Season with salt and pepper to taste and cook for about 30 minutes over a low heat. This can be made in advance and re ‐heated the next day, so it’s great for getting ahead.

If you prefer sprouts to be left intact, why not try sprouts with béchamel? The ingredients are similar to the purée but the result is completely diﬀerent, it’s a much lighter dish. It’s also a more substantial side dish for any vegetarian guests you may have. Halve your sprouts lengthways and blanch for about 10 minutes or until soft, reserving some of the cooking water. Begin by making a béchamel in the same way as the previous recipe, but let it down with some of the sprout cooking water so it is a thinner, pourable sauce. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg to taste and cook for about 10 minutes. Place the cooked sprouts in a serving dish and pour the béchamel sauce over. Top with some breadcrumbs you have toasted with garlic and thyme in a pan until they are crisp and brown. This is a great way to use up old bread and adds an interesting crunch to the finished dish. These breadcrumbs can be kept and used for all sorts of dishes so don’t worry if you have some left over. I hope you enjoy trying these recipes out! If you’d like to see how to do it, visit our You Tube channel at www.youtube.com/tarastable and you’ll find these recipes there under “three ways to cook Brussels sprouts”.

Happy Christmas!

The Yew Tree Clinic is a friendly, familyfocused clinic. We integrate Structural Osteopathy, Cranial Osteopathy, Acupuncture, Chiropody, Holistic Massage, Facial Care and Hypnotherapy, in a professional, relaxed and comfortable environment. Our practitioners commonly treat people of all ages and fitness levels from the elderly to the newborn, manual workers, office professionals, pregnant women, children, babies and sports people.

0117 914 6645 www.yewtreeclinic.co.uk 56 Stoke Lane, WoT, BS9 3SW

Pembroke Road Garage A friendly, family-run business offering MOT’s & free retests ● Servicing Repairs & Diagnostics Tyres ● Aircon Servicing All makes of cars, motorcycles and light commercial vehicles.

Free estimates - Courtesy vehicles Pembroke Road, Shirehampton, BS11 9SB

Tel 0117 982 7396

Treeschool Gardens Arborists Terry McGovern 40 Wessex Avenue, Horfield, Bristol, BS7 0DB

Tel: 0117 952 2475 / 07974 715 099 terry@treeschool.co.uk www.treeschool.co.uk

Hedges trims, grass cut, shrubs pruned, Hedges trimmed, shrubs pruned Tree maintenance. (Qualified tree surgeon). Free quota ons, no job too small. Chainsaw & tree climbing courses.

Independent day school where girls shine

Musical Red Maids enter Guinness world record books Red Maids’ Junior School’s Year 4 students played their way into the Guinness world record books by taking part in a mass ocarina ensemble at the Royal Albert Hall. The eight and nine‐year‐old girls were among 3,081 people all playing the small hand‐held wind instruments in a world première of a Douglas Coombes melody. Their eﬀort – part of the Barnardo's Supporters Concert – smashed the previous record set in China three years ago.

Ocarina‐playing Red Maids outside the Royal Albert Hall

Mrs Gillian Rowcliﬀe, Headteacher at the school, said: “This is completely typical of Red Maids’ – our pupils have a positive attitude that means they achieve whatever they put their minds to.” Additional activities aimed at expanding the girls’ interests, skills and confidence are a key part of the learning provided at Red Maids. With outdoor education specialists, the pupils regularly go caving, kayaking and climbing but ballet, football, bell‐ringing and chess are just a few of the other extra‐curricular activities readily available for them to try out. In the classroom, most Year 4 lessons are given by the same form teacher, with subject specialists introduced gradually. Special features of learning in this year include a reading programme in which the girls write book reviews for each other; joining forces with the youngest in the school on a humanities project which develops early mentoring skills; and an overnight camping trip during the summer when the girls sleep under canvas. Mrs Rowcliﬀe added: “In Year 4, the girls are growing every day in confidence, becoming more independent and self‐organised. We provide a rich and varied curriculum with lessons interspersed with art, music and sport. They can try their hand at anything and the reality is that you end up with girls caving one day and dancing around in a tutu the next. The world really is their oyster.”

Christmas Prize Wordsearch A festive theme for the prize wordsearch this month, where the prize is a £25 shopping voucher to hit the sales with. In the list below are twenty three words you would commonly associate with Christmas. All bar one of them are also to be found in the wordsearch grid (in any direction) but one of them is missing. Find the missing word, let me know what it is and you are in with a chance of winning the prize. Please send you answer in, by New Year’s Day, by post (8 Sandyleaze, WoT, BS9 3PY), email (andy@bcmagazines.co.uk), phone (0117 968 7787), text (07845 986650) or Tweet (@BS9Andy). Best of luck and enjoy the puzzle.

Tinsel Baubles Christmas Tree Holly Ivy Turkey Presents Giving Receiving Gold Frankincense Myrrh Manger Baby Jesus Mary Joseph Stable Figgy Pudding Family Love Happiness Parties Crackers

The correct answer from the November wordsearch was former Chancellor Dennis Healey, and the winners name will be announced next month. In the meantime the winner from the October competition, who correctly spotted that The Great Escape was the missing film, was Teresa Lambert. Teresa wins herself a family ticket to The Orpheus. Congrats Teresa, and thanks the record number of entries. Better luck this month ‐ keep trying.

26 Computer Corner with Mrs PC Wishing you a Cryptolocker‐free Christmas! My very best wishes for a very happy Christmas! I sincerely hope that it isn’t spoiled by computer problems! More and more people take advantage of the Christmas break to get online and there is usually a lot of internet traﬃc at this time with folk shopping, Facebooking or Skyping their loved ones. or catching up on TV shows using iPlayer. However, a timely warning to all Windows users. There is an extremely nasty virus called Cryptolocker which puts you at great risk, despite any antivirus software you have. It is a new breed of virus, much nastier and cleverer than any seen before and it is brand new. I know of one infection in Bristol already, but there are probably lots more! The virus usually arrives as an attachment, usually a fake PDF file. If you click on it, it will infect your computer. It is known as a Trojan, and it invades your computer, encrypts all your files: documents, photographs, movies and music etc and you will no longer have access to anything on your computer. Once the infection is complete, there will be a window that tells you that your files have been encrypted and basically holds you to ransom.

You have 72 hours in which to send around $300 in Bitcoins to the makers of the virus, or

your data will be destroyed. If you pay, they send you the encryption key and you get your data back. The makers have made millions! It is possibly just the start of a new wave of viruses, which will be modeled on this one. There is yet no‐one that can remove and destroy the virus and get your files back. The encryption is so strong. How to avoid Cryptolocker. Make sure you keep your computer up to date. This means your Internet Browser, Java, Adobe, Windows itself and of course your antivirus programme. Do not click on any suspicious email attachments. The malware can be deployed by hacked and malicious Web sites and exploits outdated browser plugins. Be careful where you browse and what you click on! Back up your data regularly. I suggest that you back up onto an external hard drive and also to an online backup such as Carbonite. The virus is so nasty that it can encrypt your back ups if they are on your network or connected to your computer when it is infected, so beware! You have been warned, and I am afraid Mrs PC can’t help you if you get this virus. On a brighter note, you may wish to take advantage of Nasa’s Santa Tracker website, which starts tracking him down from 1st December. Happy Computing and stay safe online! Best wishes, Mrs PC.

33 Book Review - No Turning Back If you fancy something dark, thought‐ provoking, tense and local from Father Christmas this year then you could do worse than write to the big man for a copy of ‘No Turning Back’, a post‐apocalyptic page‐turner from local author Andy (AP) Cruickshank. Set largely in Bristol, and much further afield (don’t want to say too much for fear of spoiling it for potential readers) the story is told through the eyes of Michael Green, a pretty average kind of bloke who witnesses, but avoids quite by chance, pretty much every aspect of his life ‐ his home, his social circle and the society he lives in – being destroyed by forces beyond everyone’s control. He then has to pick his way, mentally, morally and literally, through the rubble of everything that his previous life was based upon, to see where, and indeed if, he would emerge from a living nightmare. A nightmare hard to contemplate, but one which ’No Turning Back’ skilfully makes you think about. It took me a little while to get into the book ‐ I wasn’t initially keen on the first‐person diaristic style and some of the characterisation beyond that of the narrator is a bit thin ‐ but as the story became grimmer and the Bristol‐based settings came to life (no pun intended) the book got a grip of me and in the end I just had to finish it.

With nods, intended or perhaps just in my interpretation, to ‘Lord of the Flies’, ‘War of the Worlds’ and James Herbert’s ‘The Rats’, the depiction of the breakdown of society, and the contrasts between those who fight for their own survival against those who fight for the greater good, is thought provoking and at times unsettling. And the conclusion? Well, let’s just say life on Earth isn’t always a case of “all’s well that ends well”. Andy Cruickshank’s novel is well worth a read and is available online through Amazon (www.amazon.co.uk) but will also be available in hard copy locally from the author as I believe Andy will be having a stall at the Westbury Christmas Fair on 14th December. I’d suggest this could sit well in many a Christmas stocking.

Life as a Student ‐ What’s it going to Cost? Over the past couple of months I have looked at the financial issues of being a student both to the individual as well as parents or guardians. Most youngsters will go through university with the aid of a student loan; indeed there is an argument that whether someone has the capital means or not, student loans make sense. There are two main types of student finance:

Tuition Fee Loan (up to £9,000) – to cover the university fees Maintenance Loan – to help towards basic living and academic costs. The maximum Maintenance Loan outside of London is £5,500 p.a. or £4,375 p.a. if living at home. Part of the maintenance loan is means tested based on the students and parents income . These loans have to be applied for each year and there is a deadline of May for new students and June for existing. The total

35 owed by the average student could be as much as £43,500. However rather than allowing this figure to determine your decision – consider this:

£21,000 you will be charged an extra 0.15% interest. Those earning in excess of £41,000 will incur the maximum 3% interest rate.

Payback Time? After graduation as soon as you earn more than £21,000 per annum you will have to start paying back these loans. However repayments of your outstanding loan are only 9% above the £21,000. E.G. You earn £30,000 p.a. resulting in a take home salary in the order of £1,930 p.m. The student loan repayment will be 9% on £9,000 (30k‐21k) = so just £67.50 each month. It will be deducted from your pay each month on an affordability basis, so two people on the same salary but who had different levels of tuition fees will pay the same amount each month as a loan repayment – it’s just that the one with higher fees will take longer to clear the debt. After 30 years any remaining debt is written off. You can make additional loan repayments and common sense suggests this is a good idea. However do not lose sight of the fact that student loans are still a cheap form of borrowing. After graduation you may have a car loan, a commercial loan or even a mortgage (well possibly!) and all of these might have higher rates of interest thus being more beneficial to repay first. So what interest is paid on a student loan? Under the new arrangements interest is now charged on top of inflation. For every £1,000 you earn over

Jean K. Doddrell L.T.C.L. Ed. Dip. Teacher of piano and theor All ages, all g ades Organist available for weddings and f nerals

0117 985 0846

Undoubtedly the headline debt figures will put many people oﬀ going to university. However a distinction needs to be made between a student loan debt (a good debt) and a credit card debt for example. The former has repayment terms which are aﬀordable and unlikely to spiral out of control. So not all debt is bad – e.g. a company might use a business loan to expand, an individual to buy a house rather than pay rent. A student loan should also be seen as an investment in your future. Next month I will conclude this series of articles on student finance by looking at ways of reducing the cost of the fees, some quite radical and also what help is available to students in the form of grants – and there are more than you might realise.

Phil James ‐ November 2013 (Figures Sourced from: Student Loan Company – October 2013)

Edward Desenne

Saxophone and Clarinet tui on for all ages At your home in the vicinity of BS6, BS8 & BS9 "Access to Music" Trained Teacher + Performer CRB checked ‐ Several years' experience with Adults + Children. Economic Rates. Contact ‐ edwarddesenne@hotmail.co.uk or tel. 0117‐9629463

Introducing a new concept in adver sing Extend the reach of your magazine adver sing Link your magazine ads to exclusive, interac ve and engaging online ads, targe ng your latest promo ons, products, or services Pay ONCE, and use your exclusive online ad as many mes as you want No Renewal fee No limita ons on adver sing space Comprehensive range of features To find out more and see how it works please visit www.1pageadver sing.com or scan the QR code.

Chimney sweeping from £30

Birds Nests Removed Pots & Cowls Fi ed

Boilers repaired & installed (NAT GAS & LPG)

Wood burners supplied & installed S. Doughton Plumbing & Hea ng Call 07815 904645 or visit trained www.asweepservices.co.uk

c CLL

P L A S T E R I N G EST 1976 • OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE • INTERIOR & EXTERIOR • QUALITY WORK • COMPETITIVE RATES

CALL: 0117 949 0147 or 07909 937 229 or 07970 596 260 dannymccall2323@hotmail.co.uk

38 Puzzle Walks . . . Regular readers will know that the magazine occasionally features puzzle walks around the local area, aimed at encouraging people to get up and explore on foot some of the less well‐trod parts of out area. Now a north Bristol‐based author and illustrator has launched her own new publishing venture on a similar theme ‐ and very nice the results are too. The Explorewalks UK series is the idea of Clifton resident Julia Killingback. To start the series, Julia has released Clifton and Victorian Clifton, both co‐ written with the well‐respected local historian, Michael Pascoe, but she is already working on two more titles – Cliftonwood and Hotwells – due out next Spring. Each of the guides points out places of historical, architectural, artistic and natural history interest along a circular route, as well as sharing anecdotes about past events and people, stories from legend, fun facts and a page‐by‐ page quiz devised with families in mind. In addition, the books are packed with illustrations, including original drawings and photographs by Julia, old paintings, archive documents and clear route maps that oﬀer shorter or flatter alternatives for those with less time or stamina. Julia says: “The idea of the Explorewalks UK books is to show and share interesting details of all the lovely features we tend to miss when we just hurry by, and to make the walks enjoyable for all interests and ages through the use of stories, pictures, pointers to the unusual and the ‘I Spy’ style quizzes. They are also designed to appeal to ‘armchair walkers’ and to serve as colourful souvenirs of Bristol, too.”

Many local volunteers helped Julia to test out the maps and directions and all reported back on how much they enjoyed their new discoveries. Bristol’s Mayor, George Ferguson, has also endorsed the series, saying he hopes they will encourage more residents and visitors to leave their cars behind and explore the city on foot. The guides are available from many local shops, information outlets and tourist attractions, including Stanfords bookshop, Destination Bristol at Harbourside and Bristol City Art Gallery and Museum, Queens Road. Copies can also be ordered online from www.tangentbooks.co.uk. The books are priced at £7.99p each and the price includes a donation to the Wallace and Gromit Grand Appeal for Bristol Children’s Hospital.

Boiler / Central Hea ng Installa ons Landlord Gas Safety Inspec ons Power Flushing Boiler Breakdown Repairs

Email: paulhooper40@googlemail.com

Once Upon A Time ‐ your local Day Nursery for children from 6 weeks to 5 years 2 & 4 Downs Cote Drive, Westbury on Trym ‐ 0117 962 5203 223 Passage Road, Brentry ‐ 0117 950 4529

Chapter 1 . . . . . . Your precious baby will receive superb care in a homely setting. There is sensory play, garden space, pets to stroke, dens to build - but also quiet times for rest and cuddles. Chapter 2 . . . . . . From 18months old our Tweenies need to be active and talkative. Experienced staff will encourage independence and a sense of exploration, from cooking to clay modelling to trampolining. Chapter 3 . . . . . . By 3 years old Pre-Schoolers are excited by learning - lessons are journeys of discovery. be ready for big school. Outdoor skills are learnt at Forest School. Our children will soon Once Upon A Time Nursery offers expert care for your child in a home setting. Established in 1999 our caring and competent staff will help your child to develop their true potential within their own key person group. • Free 3 and 4 year old Grant places with flexible options • All vouchers accepted. • Free settling-in sessions • All-inclusive fees with extra-curricular activities such as Forest School, Music & Movement, outdoor trips • Hot nutritious meals

Open a new page for a bright future for your child at your local home-from-home Nursery and Pre-School. The story starts here . .

Right Foot First Right Foot First is Bristol’s newest children’s shoe-fitting specialists, with over 30 years of combined fitting experience. Shoes from toddler first shoes through to secondary school shoes. Stockists of Start-rite and Hush Puppies Fully trained shoe fitting experts Family Loyalty Discount Scheme Spacious shop with free parking outside

Our Christmas Gi to you 15% oﬀ all stock un l Dec 24th

33-35 Southmead Rd, Henleaze, BS10 5DW

(just off the roundabout)

0117 962 9746

We would like to wish all of our customers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year We don’t leave you with a wet carpet. Carpets are DEEP CLEANED, PILE LIFTED and left totally DRY. For a no obligation survey and quotation please call Michael on 0117 908 9843 or 07976 060424 michael.hamilton@blueyonder.co.uk

MONDI ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR FOR ALL YOUR DOMESTIC ELECTRICS FROM TESTING SOCKETS AND LIGHTS TO COMPLETE REWIRING CALL FOR A NO OBLIGATION QUOTE

Based in Westbury-On-Trym.

Call Mondi on 07976160025

Tel. 01761 569 265 Oﬃce ‐ 07976 318 613 Mobile

130 Westbury Road, Westbury on Trym, 0117 962 0008

For all your complementary healthcare needs

Pilates Pilates is a body conditioning routine that may help build flexibility, muscle strength, and endurance in the legs, abdominals, arms, hips and back. It is great for postural problems as it helps to strengthen the ‘core’ muscles that stabilise and support the spine. Pilates allows for different exercises to be modified in range of difficulty from beginners to advanced and intensity can be increased over time as the body conditions and adapts to the exercises. Joseph Pilates observed that when there was a weak or misaligned area in the body a person tends to over compensate another area. Therefore it is crucial to correct the misalignment and re‐ educate the body to prevent further injury. Benefits of Pilates: ‐ * Improved flexibility * Greater strength and muscle tone * Better posture * Increased bone density * Less incidence of back pain * Mobilises neck and shoulders reducing stiffness * Boosted immune system * Lowered stress levels * Greater joint mobility * Flatter stomach and trimmer waist Spine Stretch This is a great stretch for the back and the hamstrings. This stretch will be particularly helpful if you suffer with lower back pain. It is also great if you sit at a desk or do a lot of driving for a living. 1. Sit up tall on your sitting bones. Your legs are extended about shoulder width apart, and your feet are flexed. 2. Inhale and extend your arms out in front of you, shoulder height. 3. Exhale as you lengthen your spine to curve forward. You are going for a deep C‐Curve. 4. Allow a deep release in the hips as you keep your shoulders down and reach your fingers toward your toes. 5. Inhale and reach a little further as you enjoy the fullness of your stretch. 6. Exhale and initiate your return by using the lower abdominals to bring the pelvis upright. Roll up through the spine to sitting. For more information please call Samantha Cleverly The Chiron Centre, 130 Westbury Road, W‐O‐T, Bristol. 0117 9620008 or 07786 961772

47 Cohabitation agreements – Alison Dukes Family Law Specialist with AMD solicitors considers the myth of the common-law spouse One of the hardest tasks for a family lawyer is advising a woman (or a man) at the end of a relationship, who believes they have rights as a ‘common-law spouse’. However long an unmarried couple live together, if they do not marry, a financially dependent partner has no entitlement to maintenance or a cash sum from their partner on the breakdown of the relationship whilst in contrast at the end of a marriage the Court has wide powers to redistribute wealth. In terms of the family home, if this is held in one partner’s sole name, the other can only claim an interest in it if they have directly added to its value by contribution. If one partner has promised the other a share of the property in the event that they split up, it may be possible to persuade a court that they are bound by this promise. Proving such a promise, however, is likely to be far from straight-forward. Where an unmarried couple have children, the partner who cares for them most of the time will have financial claims against the other for child support. A Court may also be willing to transfer a house to the partner with care of the children, or to order the payment of cash to provide a home for them. Such a home will only be given for the period whilst the children are in education, however, and on the children leaving home, the financial provision will

Advice Making a Difference

end and the house would revert to the paying partner. Claims on death It is particularly important for an unmarried couple to draw up Wills in order to provide for each other in the event of death. This is because unmarried partners do not benefit at all from their partner’s estate under the ‘Intestacy rules’ which determine who inherits if no valid Will has been left. If a partner dies without making adequate provision for their partner’s maintenance needs, an application can be made to the Court for a share of the estate to be awarded to meet these needs if the partners had lived together for at least two years, or if they were being maintained by the deceased prior to their death. Given the severely inadequate protection currently provided by the law in England and Wales to cohabiting couples, taking specialist legal advice is essential. A Cohabitation agreement is a contract made by an unmarried couple setting out the financial agreement they have reached. Each partner should have received specialist legal advice to make the agreement For advice on the legal issues arising from cohabitation contact AMD’s team of specialist family solicitors. email alisondukes@amdsolicitors.com or telephone 0117 9621205 to speak to Alison or one of her colleagues. Or visit our website www.amdsolicitors.com Copyright AMD Solicitors

48 . . . and Puzzle Pieces A family business in Henleaze is puzzling its customers – with the launch of its Great British Jigsaws. Just‐So Balloons, on Henleaze Road, has created the 1,000 piece sets of diﬀerent landscapes across Britain and is donating some proceeds to charity. And graphic designer Helen Davies, from For Eﬀect, has put the final piece of the campaign together with a fitting logo and packaging. John Taylor, director of Just‐So Balloons, in Henleaze, said: “This had been an ambition of mine for at least ten years. I was finally able to do it after finding the right people for the right job, and Helen was one of those people. “She’s excellent at her work and I was really pleased with the outcome. I could depend on her to get on with the job, while I got on with the running of the business.

Amy Taylor, of Just‐So Balloons (l) with Helen Davies, from For Eﬀect, with one of the Great British jigsaws. “We wanted to support a cross section of charities, including some which are less well known. Some charities were suggested by family members because we had involvement with them in the past, such as Dementia UK, as my mother‐in‐law suﬀered from dementia.” John, who runs the business in Henleaze Road with his wife, Kate, and daughter, Amy, has

worked on several charity ventures with Helen as part of their respective charity organisations. Helen is a member of Soroptomist International, a worldwide service organisation for women, while John is a member of Bristol Brunel Lions Club. The jigsaws will help 12 charities, including Bristol Oscar (organisation for Sickle Cell Anaemia Research) and Children’s Hospice South West. Married‐mum‐of‐two Helen, who is based in Redland, said she was happy to create a logo and design the packing for John’s prized puzzles. Helen, who has over 20 years’ experience in creative design and branding, said: “I’ve known John for years and knew this was something he really wanted to do, so it was exciting to come up with ideas to help him realise his vision. He wanted something British, hence the Union Jack, and it is really satisfying work when the person is really happy with the end result. The design had to work with the landscape photos and the portrait style of Brandon Hill. It was really nice to something which was in aid of charity. I have been involved in several of the charities he is raising money for through the Soroptomists. The Great British Jigsaws are really lovely and it’s great that proceeds will be going to worthy causes.” The jigsaw pictures were taken by Bristol photographer Graham Coleman and include the settings of Avon Calling and Cabot Tower and Brandon Hill in Bristol. Fifty pence from the sale of each jigsaw will go to one of 12 charities. The other charities include Rainbow Trust, Refuge, Missing people, British Institute for Brain Injured Children (bibic), Cystic Fibrosis Trust, Dogs for the Disabled, Rapid Response, Dementia UK, Emmaus UK and St Dunstan’s. For more information, please visit www.justsoballoons.co.uk or www.foreﬀect.co.uk

Bristol Foot Clinic ● Nails trimmed

● Corns removed

● Ingrown toe nails

● Callous reduction

● Verruca treatment

● Orthotics

● Diabetic footcare

● Thai foot massage

& advice

● Gift vouchers

Philippa Cook, Foot Health Practitioner, Dip CFHP MPS Pract VRFHP Clinic at 10 Downs Cote Park, Westbury on Trym, or home visits

0117 962 1273 or 07837 292435 www.bristolfootclinic.com

Fit for Life Pilates Mat Classes in Westbury on Trym and Cli on, all courses beginning w/c 6th January for 6 weeks Spin City, Hampton Lane, Cli on Down BS6 6LE ▪ Monday 8 pm Beginners Pilates ▪ Tuesday 7 am, Les Mills Body Balance ▪ Thursday 9.15 New Mums and Babies Pilates (pre crawling babies welcome) ▪ Thursday 10.30 am Beginners Pilates ▪ Friday 6 pm Les Mills Body Balance Newman Hall, Grange Court Road, Westbury on Trym BS9 4DR ▪ Tuesday 8.45 am Intermediate Pilates ▪ Tuesday 9.45 am, Beginners/Improvers Pilates Westbury On Trym C of E Academy, Channells Hill, Westbury on Trym BS9 3HZ ▪ Tuesday 7.30 pm, Improvers Pilates ▪ Tuesday 6.30 pm, Intermediate Pilates ▪ Tuesday 8.30 pm, Beginners Pilates Penny Porter Physiotherapy, 18a Dragons Wells Rd, Henbury BS10 7BU ▪ Thursday 1.30 pm, New Mums and Babies Pilates (pre crawling babies welcome) ▪ Thursday 6 pm, Improvers Pilates ▪ Thursday 7 pm, Beginners Pilates

Please call Julie Waters on 07817 809734 for further details or to make a booking, or email info@fit4lifetraining.co.uk

58 Fun Festive Quiz When I was younger we always used to love doing a family quiz on Christmas Day, one from the newspaper I recall, and I still enjoy exercising the grey matter every now and again. For those kindred spirits amongst you here is a little Christmas‐themed puzzle with, I hope, something for all the members of the family. No prizes, just the potential to gain a slightly smug warm feeling (or not, if you are rubbish at quizzes).

Which is the first of Santa Claus’ reindeer when listed alphabetically?

10.

Which British monarch first addressed the nation and Commonwealth on Christmas Day?

11.

What did Spike Jones & His City Slickers want for Christmas in 1947?

12.

The ghost of which former business partner visits Ebenezer Scrooge in his sleep in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol?

Which racecourse plays host to the big Boxing Day King George Vi Steeple Chase?

13.

The Boys of the NYPD Choir are mentioned in which classic Christmas pop song?

“Don’t You Want Me” by The Human League was the Christmas number one in what year?

14.

“Frosty wind made moan” is the second line of which popular Christmas carol?

15.

How many mince pies does the average person in the UK eat over the Christmas period?

16.

Who was Piella Bakewell who made her UK public debut in 2008?

17.

John Eric Bartholomew appeared on our Christmas Day television screens every year from 1969 to 1980 (except 1974) in what guise?

18.

Which Pacific island welcomes Christmas in first because it is in the world’s furthest forward time zone?

19.

Bing Crosby sang ‘White Christmas’ in which film?

20.

Charlie Chaplin died on Christmas Day in what year?

largest by weight?

Somalia, Oman and Yemen are the largest producers of which fragrant festive product?

What are commonly believed to be the names of the three wise men?

Which city donates a Christmas tree to be displayed in Trafalgar Square each year?

Nine what feature in the Twelve Days of Christmas

In what year were most of the unoﬃcial Christmas Day truces held on the WW1 battlefields?

In Delia Smith’s Traditional Christmas Pudding recipe which ingredient is

Answers are on page 96.

60 HUSH Hairdressing ‐ Bristol’s Leading A safer alterna ve to chemical hair colour Organic and Mineral‐Based Salon Hair dye isn’t regulated for safety, and approximately

Nature knows best, especially when it comes to hair care and colour. HUSH Hairdressing is an organic and mineral‐ based salon that combines a modern, caring approach with the latest skills and organic technology, to achieve stunning, natural looks. The highly experienced team uses only natural, plant‐based products that are ammonia, sulphate and chemical‐free and cer fied organic. The salon oﬀers a range of services and organic treatments by directors, Glenn Holmes and Mark Andres, and four senior stylists, including organic colour, precision cu ng, permanent straightening and smoothing systems, hair extensions, bridal and occasion hair and nail services.

NICE

THINGS

FOR NICE HOMES I oﬀer a high quality personal making ‐up service for made to measure so ‐furnishings ‐ Curtains Blinds Cushion Covers and other so furnishings For a compe ve quote please phone Jill on 07817 540 730 to discuss your requirements

400/456 hair colours ranked at the Skin Deep cosme cs database of the Environmental Working Group are considered high hazard, which means they contain toxic ingredients. HUSH’s clients enjoy the peace of mind that they aren’t being exposed to harmful chemicals and their treatments are being carried out in a chemical‐free environment.

The best way to colour your hair, naturally. There are safer op ons than chemical treatments for colouring your hair, which have less impact on your body and the environment, while achieving beau ful, natural results. The best way to minimize your chemical exposure is to have your hair coloured using a chemical‐free, organic hair colour, which can also be used for clients with chemical sensi vity and/or allergies.

HUSH Hairdressing 27‐29 Baldwin Street, Bristol 01179 300 350 info@hushhairbristol.co.uk www.hushhairbristol.co.uk

• • • •

To order or for more informa on please contact Rachael on 0117 9083827 / 0777 8023661 or visit our online shop at

Local Company Free & Friendly delivery Weekly Case Deals! Top Brand Labels Starting from £27.00 a case, that’s only £4.50 a bottle!! Festive Mixed Case Special this month for BS9 Readers Mixed Red, White and Rose Case £27.00 • Yellow Tail Rose • The Siren Chenin Blanc • Banrock Sta on Merlot • Casillero Del Diablo Chardonnay • Lindemans Bin 50 Shiraz • Koala Tree Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon

wineonwheels.biz

If we run out of a variety we will replace with an equivalent or more expensive bo le of wine!

fãxxà cxt

Ladies and Girls Clothing and Accessories • Internal & External Carpentry • Fencing & Gates • Sheds & Garden Buildings • Landscaping • Patios • Tree Work

• Free surveys and estimates • Local references available • Fully insured

14 High Street, Westbury on Trym, BS9 3DU

Dominic Carroll 07747 560 669 dom.carroll@hotmail.com

ONE ITEM OF YOUR CHOICE WITH THIS ADVERT

30% OFF

Call Jason today to book in me for Christmas

07795 490 834 / 0800 840 7127

www.ovencleaning‐bristol.co.uk

GARCIA BUILDING SERVICES

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS ‐ FAMILY RUN BUSINESS SINCE 1975 ‐ ALL BUILDING WORKS UNDERTAKEN

WE NOW ACCEPT CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS

FROM FOUNDATIONS TO ROOFS. BATHROOMS AND KITCHENS FITTED GAS SAFE REGISTERED

Registered No. 133189

BOILER SERVICING AND REPAIRS, NEW BOILERS FITTED CARBON MONOXIDE TESTING ALWAYS CARRIED OUT 7 YEAR GUARANTEE ON ALL NEW VAILLANT BOILER INSTALLATIONS EMERGENCY CALL‐OUT SERVICE CENTRAL HEATING AND LANDLORD’S SAFETY CHECKS UNDERTAKEN

SPECIALISTS IN EXTENSIONS AND LOFT CONVERSIONS ROSE COTTAGE, STOKE HAMLET, WESTBURY ON TRYM

0117 962 2204 / 07860 301756 Email: michaelgarciabldr@yahoo.com

67 Each letter of the alphabet corresponds with a number from 1 to 26, but they are not in order.

Codeword Time with Teazel

You are given three letter/number matches to start with, as shown in the smaller grid below. Insert these letters into the correspondingly numbered squares in the larger codeword grid and you are on your way. No prizes ‐ answers are on page 96 If you like the puzzle why not check out Teazel in your app store?

DEVEREUX & Co.

Free Initial Interview

0117 959 33 44 SOLICITORS We only do 3 things - because we like to do them well Conveyancing

Wills & Probate

Divorce & Family

www.devlaw.co.uk 52A High Street, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, BS9 3DZ

68 Award winning Hair Stylist

ERICA MARTIN Contemporary Professional Mobile Hairdresser Excellent rates Ring me for a free consulta on 07825 818210 / 01454 270098 email: ericamar n1@sky.com

WALBROOK BUREAU SERVICES LTD

•

Book keeping

•

Payroll / PAYE

•

VAT Returns

•

Tax Returns

•

Small Business Start-Ups Tel: 0117 941 9000 Fax: 0117 959 0227

info@walbrookaccountancy.co.uk www.walbrookaccountancy.co.uk 34 High Street Westbury on Trym Bristol BS9 3DZ

Counselling Gabriel Lodge MBACP ►Bristol’s premier carpet and flooring

specialists ►Quality floor coverings to suit all

budgets ►Free measuring and quota on service ►Professional fi ng service. No job too small. ►Free home selec on service with a no‐ pressure approach ‐ or visit our showroom at 56 High Street, Shirehampton, BS11 0DJ www.choice‐carpets.co.uk 0117 982 6988

Overwhelmed, stuck, at a complete loss? I offer therapy for bereavement, stress, depression, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem

t: 0117 968 5172 e: enquiries@gabriel-lodge.net www.gabriel-lodge.net

71 Gardeners Corner with Cathy Lewis - Christmas Wreaths Create festive, hand‐made wreaths using greenery from your garden Wreaths and garlands made from natural greenery knock spots off fake shop‐bought ones – they look and smell lovely and are fun to make. All you need are some twigs, garden twine, secateurs, your choice of greenery and a little know‐how. 1 Twist and weave three or four bendy twigs together to make a circle, approx 25cm diameter. Willow, dogwood or the basal shoots from lime trees all work well. Secure the twigs with a few pieces of twine and add a loop at the top for hanging. 2 Now the fun bit… scour your garden and hedgerows for greenery. I use the off‐cuts from Christmas trees together with holly and ivy as the basis of the wreath, as well as evergreen herbs like rosemary and sage to add scent and texture. For a splash of colour, include variegated holly, Viburnum flowers, sprigs of Hebe or whatever else you can find in your garden. 3 Gather together a fat bunch of greenery, putting the colourful stuff at the front and the conifers at the back. Tie it all together with a generous length of twine.

4 Now place the bunch on top of your circle at a slight outwards angle. Tie it in place, but don’t worry if it seems a bit wobbly at this stage. 5 Create another bunch and tie it in place so that it overlaps the first bunch. Work your way around the circle. Finally, fill in any gaps with bits of greenery, snip and tidy as required and secure the loose bits of string on the back. 6 My preference is for 100% organic wreaths although you can jazz yours up with red ribbon, sparkly pine cones or dainty spray‐painted twigs.

The finished wreath – 100% organic and smelling lovely! Hand‐made wreaths are available to order, price £20. Please phone for details. Cathy Lewis Dip. PSGD Cathy Lewis Gardens & Design Professional garden design, consultancy and maintenance www.cathylewisgardens.co.uk Tel: 07985 008 585

MOLESWORTHS ‐ CHRISTMAS TURKEYS Order your fresh turkey today! ‐ We offer a range of options

• Copas Organic Bronze • Usk Vale Barn White • Copas Free range Bronze • Usk Vale Boneless Crown • plus Free Range Wiltshire Geese, Ducks etc. Cut by our master butchers and stuffed to your requirements Christmas Set Boxes & Vouchers • Corporate Presents for Staff

LOCAL FREE RANGE QUALITY FOOD 101 Henleaze Road, Henleaze ‐ 0117 962 1095 ‐ www.henleazebutchers.co.uk

STUMP GRINDING, FENCE ERECTION & REPAIRS TURFING & GARDEN CLEARANCE

74 Downs Recorder - Richard Bland Yesteryear I love anniversaries. They are a chance to pause and recognise the way in which the past not only lives on, but in many ways limits and controls us. There was an excellent book published recently on Unbuilt Bristol, the schemes that never made it and the diﬀerent world that we would now inhabit if they had. And an anniversary encourages the ‘what if’ speculation; suppose that Bridge Valley Road had never been built, or the Portway for that matter.

Construction of the Portway ‐ 1923 (photo reproduced with kind permission from Paul Townsend at www.bristolpast.co.uk) So what can we look forward to next year? Well most significantly of all of course the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Suspension Bridge. The monument was first envisaged in 1754, 260 years ago, by William Vick, who left the money in his will to fund a bridge over the Gorge. What a vision, what madness, and yet this is now the universal and defining symbol of Bristol. 270 years ago the last two murderers, Burnet and Payne, were hung at the gibbet that stood at the top of Gallows Acre Lane, now pathetically renamed Pembroke Road. The Gibbet stood where now lie the ruins of a water fountain, and a rather stunted Copper Beech. Theirs were such ordinary English names, and brutal as they may have been, it is worth recalling that capital punishment for murder was still the law of this land fifty years ago. 180 years ago the first, and last, dinosaur was found in a quarry on the Downs, and can be seen

in the museum today. It was a thecodontosaurus, and only the fourth dinosaur ever found and its discovery helped the extraordinary process by which our ancestors slowly and reluctantly began to realise that the world had not been created in 4004 BC, but was millions, hundreds of millions, years old. What fundamental a change in mind‐set there has been in the brief span since its discovery. 90 years ago sheep grazing ceased, though its formal abolition came two years later. And still the water trough, hewn out of a single block of pennant sandstone dragged up from the valley of the Frome, sits on the grass by Ivywell Road, a memorial to the thousands of sheep down ten centuries whose ceaseless nibbling gave the Downs their form and botanical structure. The end of grazing was an ecological disaster, changing the plant life of the Downs fundamentally because mowers could never do what the sheep had done, keeping the turf short, but enabling the creation of a unique assemblage of limestone loving plants. 70 years ago much of the Downs was a vast tank park and repair depot churned up beyond apparent repair, covered in nissen huts; And one June day they all vanished. The rest of the Downs surface was scattered with white pyramids of stones put their four years earlier to deter an enemy landing from the sky. 40 years ago the Portway was closed to traﬃc because of the threat of a huge block of unstable rock at Sea Walls. It was not just closed for a Sunday morning in October, it was closed for the best part of two years. What did we do, however did we get to work? And recall that it was only the opening of the Avon M5 bridge that enabled the closure of the Portway; till then all the M5 traﬃc trundled Down Rownham Hill and crossed the Cumberland basin. Innocent times. And on November 26th 2003, just ten years ago, Concorde’s last flight swept majestically over Brunel’s bridge. If you enjoy the Downs, or use if for your sport, why not become a Friend? Membership is just £10. Contact Robin Haward at robinhaward@blueyonder.co.uk 0117 974 3385

Having problems with your Upvc windows and doors? Misted panes, broken handles, faulty hinges or locks! Why replace if you can repair? For all types of Upvc maintenance and repair, contact Malcolm on 01179 686486 or 07548 928251 for a free quote.

S & P PLUMBING SERVICES LTD • All plumbing work undertaken • Local, friendly and reliable • Free quota ons • Boiler Service from £50 • Complete bathroom design & installa on • 24 hour call‐out • No job too small • Landlord gas safety cer ficates FREE POWER FLUSH / SYSTEM CLEAN WITH EVERY NEW BOILER INSTALLATION

Sean ‐ 07919 106 393 Paul ‐ 07739 840 225 42 Branscombe Road, Stoke Bishop, BS9 1SN

77 Louise’s tips for an easier life Louise England’s 12 Days of Christmas! On the Twelfth Day of Christmas, Louise England gave to me…. 12 Carpets cleaned 11 Errands executed 10 Tidy wardrobes 9 Oﬃces organised 8 Birthday parties 7 House moves 6 Decorators deployed 5 Charity shop collections 4 Cleared cupboards 3 Hours of help 2 In‐trays filed And a clutter clearing session for me! Just a reminder that gift vouchers are available and they make an ideal Christmas present. From just £25 you can give the present of a professional organiser/de‐ clutterer for the day. To purchase please send me an email or give me a call, and I will send the gift certificate by post. So how are your preparations coming along? I know some of you are doing well as you’ve got in touch and I’ve been able to take away some of your stress. But for those of you who are in a bit of a head spin – most importantly don’t panic! Take a deep breath, and as I mentioned in my article last month, it’s all in the planning, so find a piece of paper and a

pen. Make a masterplan with the headings of What, Who (delegate, delegate, delegate) and When so you can fill in the ingredients of your Christmas and feel calmer. So much can be done in advance e.g. buy non‐perishables early, dig out your decorations, clean out your fridge, freezer and food cupboards to make room for what’s to come. Cross off any chores on the list that aren’t strictly necessary. There’s no need to make Christmas a chore – people start complaining about it months in advance – if you start off with a negative attitude, you can guarantee it won’t be a happy event. Just remember, the secret to a perfect Christmas is to forget about trying to make it perfect in the first place – get it into perspective, make it as special as you can, but set boundaries. It’s not about how much you spend or how much you do – it really is about being with those you care about, and enjoying that time together. Merry Christmas! Louise England is a Lifestyle and Home Assistant and her service aims to free‐up your free time. Her passion is to make a positive difference to people’s lives by helping them sort things out and complete jobs in their homes quickly and efficiently. www.louiseengland.co.uk Mobile: 07780 474256 Email: louise@louiseengland.co.uk Twitter: @L_England

Winter Oﬀer 25% Oﬀ all work between Nov 13 and Feb 14

80 What’s On & Community Events Listings for community events, not for profit clubs and charitable activities are free. If you have something that you would like listed please get in touch with Andy by telephoning on 0117 9687787 or 07845986650 or emailing me your notice, in Word or email format, not in PDF format, to andy@bcmagazines.co.uk (strict maximum sixty words).

Important Listings Notice The deadline for listings in the January magazine is 18th December ‐ any received after that date will be held over until the March 2014 issue as there is no February issue One‐Oﬀ Events ‐ December Sun. 1st Dec, 1‐4pm. Christmas Fair at Christ Church Primary School in Clifton (BS8 3AW). Stalls selling festive fare inc. Christmas trees, toys, cards & gift‐ wrap, toiletries, jewellery, cakes and books. Santa's Grotto and activities to keep the children occupied, including craft room and face painting. Christmas carols courtesy of the Bristol University Brass Ensemble. £1.00 entry (under 16s free). Wednesday 4th December from 4pm. Henleaze Christmas Festival will take place on Henleaze Road, Waterford Road, Dublin Crescent and Cardigan Road. For more details on this great annual event please visit www.henleazechristmasfestivbal.co.uk or see our Facebook page. Thur 5th Dec. Christmas with Jane Austen and Friends. Acclaimed actress Angela Barlow will bring Jane Austen to life with her talk, Jane Austen and Character: An Actor's View. There will be music, a raﬄe, seasonal refreshments, and books from the Durdham Down Bookshop. The £5.00 ticket will include a glass of mulled wine and Christmas nibbles. Tickets available from Henleaze Library, Northumbria Drive BS9 4HP 903‐8541 Fri. 6th Dec. 7.30pm Filtones “Christmas Crackers” concert. Eden Grove Methodist Church, Eden Grove, Horfield, BS7 0PQ. Tickets £6 in advance from Mike Watson (908 3778) or Dot Bryant (969 0654) or on the door. In aid of the Jessie May Trust. Saturday 7th December at 7.30 pm. Westbury

Singers Christmas Concert, Westbury Baptist Church, Reedley Road, WoT. Proceeds from this concert will be donated to Freewheelers Voluntary Emergency Service. This valuable service provides a fleet of motorcycles and qualified riders for the transport of blood and other vital emergency supplies for the NHS. Tickets are available from Gretta McDade, telephone 0117 9500606, priced £6.00, £5.00 concessions and free for children under 12. Sat. Dec. 7th at Westbury Parish Church. Organ Elevenses. Nigel Davies, our guest organist for December's recital, will be remembered by some as Organist and Choirmaster at this church from 1977‐ 1985. While there, he developed the all‐male Church Choir and founded the Choral Group, in answer to the vociferous demands of the ladies of the congregation! Since 1992 he has been Director of Music at St. James‐the‐Great in Dursley and until recently was Director of Music at Redland High School. Great coffee and cake at 10‐30 followed by recital at 11am. Suggested donation £5, but children free. Sat 7th Dec. Bristol Concert Orchestra offers a concert at St George's Bristol under conductor Stefan Hofkes. The Overture & Polonaise from Rimsky‐Korsakov's Christmas Eve, the first Bristol performance of Britten's Movements for a Clarinet Concerto with soloist Nicholas Shipman, and Rachmaninov's 2nd Symphony. This hour of sensory indulgence will warm both heart & soul on even the coldest December night. Tickets priced £8‐£15 (concessions £2 discount), children £1 are available online from www.bristolconcertorchestra.org.uk or from St George's Bristol in person or by phone: 0845 40 24 001 Saturday 7th December. Royal York Gardens Committee present their annual Christmas Fayre on the historic promenade of Royal York Crescent. This event in the heart of Clifton Village is becoming increasingly popular with its delightful mix of festive stalls, carol singers, BBQ, mulled wine / cider and more. Make time between 11am and 3pm to include it in your Saturday shopping in Clifton. If you would like a stall at the event please contact the committee either by e‐mail,rycgardencommittee@yahoo.co.uk or calling 07725 109760. Pitch / Stall prices £20 / £25. Sun. 8th Dec. City Voices Bristol choir perform ‘Great Joy’ – a concert of Christmas cheer at 7pm at St George’s Bristol. Box Office 0845 40 24 001. £1 of every ticket sold, and the retiring collection, will go to our nominated local charity ‘Alive’. Tickets £10, £8 and £6 (£8, £6 and £5 concessions).

82 What’s On & Community Events Mon 9th Dec. The Stoke Bishop Ladies Choir Christmas Concert will be at 2.30pm at Stoke Bishop Village Hall. Free tea but there will be a collection in aid of charity. All welcome. Tuesday 10th December 6.30pm to 8.30pm. The Village Hall and St Mary Magdalene Church in conjunction with many local organisations would like to invite all residents and friends to join us for a Stoke Bishop Christmas Gathering at the bottom of Stoke Hill. Festive Food and Drink ‐ Christmas Music and entertainment. Help to decorate a community Christmas Tree. Everyone welcome. Details from Church Oﬃce 0117 9687449 On Thursday December 12th at 2pm in St Peter’s Church Hall, The Drive, Henleaze, the Henleaze Ladies Choir will be holding their Christmas Charity Concert conducted by Jane English with Harvey French at the piano. The programme will be very varied. Why not join us for an afternoon of pleasant music and get in the Christmas mood? The concert will be followed by tea and mince pies. Entrance is free, but there will be a retiring collection in aid of the charity ‘Kids Company Bristol’. For more information see their web site: www.kidsco.org.uk/ our‐work/bristol Friday 13th December and Saturday 14th December at 7.30pm. Celebrate! ‐ a feast of music and words for Christmas with Bristol Bach Choir. Come and join us at the start of Christmas for an evening of festive music and poetry. Hear new settings of traditional carols together with more familiar oﬀerings such as Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Christmas Carols and Morten Lauridsen’s O Magnum Mysterium. The glorious music is complemented with a varied selection of seasonal readings. We will be performing for two nights at St George’s, Bristol. Tickets cost £10‐20 and are available online at www.bristolbach.org.uk or by phoning 0117 214 0721. Saturday 14th December there are two Christmas Fairs on the streets of Westbury ‐ from 10am to 1pm around the Stoke Lane shops, and then between 2pm and 6pm in the village centre around Canford Lane and High Street. Father Christmas will be appearing at both events and there will be lots of events, stalls and entertainment for the whole family.

Saturday 14th December 2013 7.30pm. Out There Chamber Choir Christmas Concert, Redland Parish Church, Redland Green Road BS6 7HE. Programme to include: Bruckner, Leonard Cohen, Tavener, Whitacre, Bob Dylan and a selection of classic and Christmas music. In aid of Redland Green Church Hall £7 (£5 under 18s) tickets available from: admin@outtheremusic.net, 07754 518254 www.outtheremusic.net Sat 14th Dec. Westbury on Trym Local Produce Market traders will be joining the Westbury Business Association “Colours of Christmas” fun day. Therefore there will be no December market on the normal 4th Saturday. So please come along and support your friendly stall holders on the 14th. Monday 16th December at 7.30pm. Join in the Christmas spirit with Bristol Cabot Choir when they return to Bristol Cathedral for their annual Christmas Concert featuring a selection of traditional and modern carols. The finale will be the wonderful ‘Hallelujah’ chorus from Handel’s Messiah. The concert takes place at Bristol Cathedral, College Green, Bristol BS1 5TJ. Tickets are £14 and £12 (reserved), £10 (unreserved). A £5 student discount is available on all tickets. Tickets can be obtained via tickets@bristolcabotchoir.org or by calling the Choir’s ticket line on 0117 968 6822. Tickets are also available to buy online via the choir’s website www.bristolcabotchoir.org Regular Monthly Events Wot Pots' Little Potters after school club ‐ A new pottery club that will be oﬀering a range of inspirational and fun pottery activities to children in school years 3‐6. Every Wednesday 3.45 ‐ 5.15 starting Nov 27th. For enquires and to join Please call Jenny on 07527 957237 or email jenny@wotpots.co.uk. www.wotpots.co.uk Bristol Cabot Probus Club for retired and semi‐retired professional and business men to maintain contact and fellowship with people of similar interests. Meets Third Wednesday each month in BAWA Club Southmead Rd, for lunch followed by a speaker on a wide range of interesting subjects. Extensive programme of social events including holidays, day trips, Sunday lunches and skittles to which ladies and friends are welcomed. We are principally a social meeting place and not based on charitable activities. Interested? Contact John Howard‐Cairns on 0117 968 3134 for more details. Henleaze Carers' Group meets on the 2nd and 4th

84 What’s On & Community Events Thursday morning each month throughout the year in The Coffee Bar, Bradbury Hall, Waterford Road, Henleaze from 10 ‐ 12 noon. It is an informal support group, and offers friendship, information, and social events to anyone caring for a relative (old or young) or friend on a regular basis. For more details please get in touch with Monica Rudston on 0117 9426095. Do join us for Parish lunch at St Mary’s Church Stoke Bishop, every Thursday from 12.15. 3 course buffet lunch, tea and coffee. £3.50. Civil Service Retirement Fellowship. The Westbury‐ on‐Trym group welcomes all retired Civil Servants and their spouses to their meetings held on the first Thursday of the month at Studland Court, Henleaze Road at 2.00pm. Those people without a civil service background are welcome to join our group as Friends of the Fellowship. For more info phone Beryl Webb on 01454 614451. The Bristol Branch of the Association of Wrens meet on the first Friday of every month at Studland Court, Henleaze Road, at 2pm. The Association is open to all serving members of the Royal Navy, as well as retired and ex‐members of the Women’s Royal Naval Service, the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Navy Nursing Service, the Royal Naval Reserve, the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, and the Voluntary Aid Detachment. All Service personnel are welcome. Sea Mills Garden Club have regular monthly meetings, every 3rd Wednesday, held at Sea Mills Methodist Rooms, Sea Mills Square at 7.30 pm. Please make a note that this year's Christmas party will be held on Thursday 12th December at the Methodist Rooms.. Visitors always welcome at £2 per meeting. Hope to see you there. FFI contact Gail Mitchell 0117 9685350 or Esme James 0117 9682571 . The Royal Naval Association meets on the 3rd Monday of the month at 8pm for a social evening for retired and serving members of the forces. New members are always welcome to come along to the evening which is held at the Royal Air Force Association club on Eastfield. For more details please contact 9681769. Instep Club for Widows and Widowers weekly on Wednesday evenings 8.00‐10.30pm at Stoke Bishop Village Hall, Stoke Hill. New members welcome. Ballroom and Sequence dancing (If you haven’t

danced for a long time, don’t worry, we will help you). Refreshments, social activities. Please telephone Mary on 968 3170 or Wilma on 962 8895 for further information. Westbury Friendly Club. This is a social club for senior citizens and meets every Thursday afternoon from 2 to 4 pm at the Westbury on Trym Methodist Church Hall, Westbury Hill. Activities include outings, talks, concerts as well as the normal activities of cards, scrabble, conversation and tea. For more details please contact Trevor Green on 9629862 Westbury‐on‐Trym Probus Club provide a meeting point for retired and semi‐retired professional and business men, to promote social well being through friendship, companionship and discussion. The club meets on the third Thursday of every month at BAWA, Southmead Road, from 12 midday. If you are interested in joining then please contact the secretary by telephone 0117 9684270 or by email: graham.horne5@btinternet.com. The Probus Club of Bristol for semi or retired Professional Business men, meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month at BAWA, Southmead Road. At these meetings we have a three course lunch with a speaker. In additional there is a substantial programme of social events. If you are interested in joining our club, perhaps you could consider coming to our December lunch, members are inviting guests who might become potential new members, why not join them, please contact our Membership Secretary Martin Harker on 01275 857324 or E Mail probusbristol@hotmail.co.uk. For more information, including past reports on events and our current programme, visit our web site www.bristolprobus.org.uk Rotary Club of Bristol Northwest. We meet every 1st and 3rd Wednesday as well as any 5th ones that come along and base ourselves at Henbury Golf Club. Meetings usually start with a meal at 7.30pm followed by a speaker or occasional other social events. Guests and new members are always welcome at our meetings. Current charities we support include Bristol Area Stroke Foundation and the Pahar Trust Nepal – building schools in remote parts of the Himalayas. For further details please visit www.bristolnorthwestrotary.org or contact the club secretary on suketar@btinternet.com. Retired Professional Engineers' Club (Bristol) is a non ‐profit making club that arranges regular events for retired professional engineers, whatever their background. Guests will be made most welcome,

Benefit Concert for Fight For Sight QEH Theatre, Berkeley Place, Cli on, BS8 1JX Friday 7th February at 8pm (doors 7.15pm). Tickets £14 from mike@westburysurgery.co.uk Tel. 0117 962 3706 www.philbeer.co.uk www.facebook.com/philbeermusic

Phil Beer is one of the most popular ambassadors for acoustic roots music. His impressive track record also includes touring with Mike Oldfield and being a member of the feted Albion Band from 1984‐1991. Show of Hands became a full‐time partnership in the early 90s, a band that has gone on to sell out the Royal Albert Hall three times and who were voted Best Live Act, by the public, at the 2004 Folk Awards. Fight for Sight has been funding research into blindness and eye disease for more than 40 years. There has been major progress in this time but there is still much more to do. Currently clinical trials are in progress using gene therapy to prevent progression in an inherited eye condition called choroideremia. Two patients in Bristol have already had this pioneering treatment and proceeds from this concert will raise much needed funds for this work to continue. This promises to be a wonderful night of music, songs and stories ‐ so please try and come.

86 What’s On & Community Events with a notional charge to cover the cost of tea and biscuits. Talks normally start at 14.00 in St Peter's Church Hall, Henleaze, BS9 4LD, on the second Wednesday of the month. Further information on membership on our web‐site: www.rpec.co.uk or call Julian on 0117 968 2824. Henleaze Townswomen's Guild meet on the first Wednesday of the month (except August) at St Peter's Church Hall, The Drive, Henleaze. Lady visitors are always most welcome to these, and all meetings. Further details can be obtained by ringing Jean Wickham on 0117 9624466. Westbury‐on‐Trym Townswomen's Guild meets at 2.15pm at Westbury Village Hall, 1 Eastfield Road, Westbury‐on‐Trym on the second Monday in each month. We have speakers, whist, table tennis, discussion and social events. New members and visitors welcome. Please contact Anne Trathen, Chairman, on 962 4256 or Margaret Smith, Secretary on 924 1728. Stoke Bishop Townswomen's Guild ‐ WE ARE MOVING ‐ as from the JANUARY MEETING we shall meet in the HULBERT ROOM, ST MARY MAGDALENE CHURCH, MARINER'S DRIVE, Stoke Bishop. The date for the January meeting ONLY is the 16th, in February it will revert to the 1st Thursday, do come and visit us in the new venue, free of charge. Entry is via the pathway to the left of the steps in Mariner's Drive, you will be most welcome. Further details from 9683671 or 9685638. Bristol Philatelic Society meet at 7.15p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month at the United Reform Church meeting rooms in Whiteladies Road. On Thursday, 14th November starting at 2.00 pm there is a Members' meeting when items of interest, queries and new acquisitions are shown. For further information: John Roe 0145 477 6975 Like making Airfix models? The Avon Branch of the International Plastic Modellers Society meets on the third Wednesday of every month at the BAWA club on Southmead Road at 8.00pm. New members are always very welcome. For more information contact Andy White on 0117 3300288 or visit www.ipmsavon.org.uk . Bristol Mahjong Club meets every Thursday 2‐5pm at The Eastfield Inn, Henleaze Road . Experienced

players and beginners welcome. British Mahjong Rules. Please contact Lee ‐ Mob: 0790 567 2979 or neeliej@hotmail.co.uk. Stoke Lodge History and Archaeology Group meet on the first Thursday of every month at the Friends Meeting House in Hampton Road at 7.30pm. We have speakers on a varied range of topics, many of which have a strong emphasis on local history. New members are always made very welcome. For further details please contact Annette Martin on 0117 979 3209. The Mosaic Singers are a small, friendly four‐part local choir who meet to rehearse every Tuesday evening from 7.30 to 9.30 in Stoke Bishop. We aim to sing a fairly wide range of pieces of music, leaning towards the lighter end rather than the heavier choral works. For more details please ring David Richards on 0117 968 2741 who will happily give you further information. The Bristol Branch of the English Speaking Union welcomes guests to their meetings which are held in the Apostle Room of Clifton Cathedral at 7.15 p.m. for 7.45 p.m. There is ample parking and entrance is £3. The aim of the English Speaking Union is to encourage friendship and global understanding through English. Please look at our web site esu.org/ Bristol to see what we have been up to this last year and do come along to any of our meetings, preferably by telephoning the Chairman, Tony Williams on 2393187 or the Secretary, Jenny Haines, on 9628075. Henbury Singers, a non‐audition choir, meets on Thursday evenings from 7.40 to 9.15 pm in Stoke Bishop CE Primary, Cedar Park. We sing mainly choral music from the classical tradition but also carols, folk songs, gospel and modern. Please contact Mary Whittington secretary@henburysingers.org or Frank Gibson – frank@henburysingers.org, check our website www.henburysingers.org or simply drop in on a Thursday evening. West Bristol Orchestra. A Chamber Orchestra, playing a wide range of Classical Music arranged for the smaller orchestra, meets at the United Reformed Church, Muller Road on Thursdays 7.15pm.to 9.15pm. Additional String players of Grade5+ standard welcomed. Previous experience of orchestral playing is not essential. For more information, please contact the Secretary on (0117) 968 3998.

Richard Higgs, a local Chartered Financial Planner based in Westbury on Trym, has a specialist interest in financial care for the elderly. He will be presen ng at a local event:

Reducing or Elimina ng Inheritance Tax Planning For The Costs of Long‐Term Care This will be a comprehensive presenta on covering important technical points to consider in financial care for both the re red and the elderly and their families. There will be a complimentary buﬀet lunch served beforehand at which Richard will make himself available to answer any individual queries.

Monday January 13th 2014 1.30pm to 4pm Henbury Golf Club, Henbury Hill, Westbury on Trym, Bristol BS10 7QB Places are limited. If you would like to reserve your place (and lunch) please contact Richard at Wealth West:

0117 3789421 or 07757279551 richard.higgs@wealthwest.co.uk www.wealthwest.co.uk Trym Lodge, 1, Henbury Road, Westbury on Trym, Bristol, BS9 3HQ “The purpose of financial advice is it’s first and last about money. For Wealth West it’s so much more than that. It’s also about helping people in the local community and giving back. It’s about doing what is right for the client with integrity and going out and making a diﬀerence to people’s lives. Welcome to the family” Richard Higgs Chartered Financial Planner

What’s On & Community Events The Henleaze Garden Club is a thriving club for anyone interested in anything to do with gardening ! With a healthy membership of 200 , this friendly club meets the first Wednesday of each month in the main hall at St Monica's, Cote lane, with a summer break when the club arranges coach trips. We invite expert speakers, produce a quarterly newsletter, have an annual plant sale and great Christmas event. Annual individual membership is £20 plus a £1 per visit, visitors are most welcome at £5 per visit, both to include refreshments and raﬄe. Please see www.henleazegardenclub.co.uk or contact Jane Voke 9622440 for more info. Henleaze & District Flower Club meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at Bradbury Hall, Waterford Road in Henleaze. Flower demonstrations are held on the second Thursday and practice classes on the fourth Thursday. New members are always welcome ‐ just come along and join in. Westbury on Trym Allotments & Gardens Association trading hut is now closed for the winter and will re‐open on Saturday 1st February. Ray Bridge Club meet every Tuesday 6.30pm to 9pm at the Sea Mills Methodist Church, Shirehampton Road (new venue) for social rubber bridge. New members always welcome. Please ring 942 7760 or 968 2652 for further details. Country Market. Every Friday morning from 10.30 to 11.30 in Westbury on Trym Methodist Church Hall. Homemade cakes, arts, crafts, plants, vegetables, jams and chutneys. Refreshments are also available in a relaxed and friendly environment. For more details contact Sue Sills on 9628306. West of England Bridge Club meets for duplicate bridge on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at The Golden Hill Sports Club, Wimbledon Road from 7.30pm ‐ 10.30pm. New members and visitors always welcome. £4 per evening for members, £5 for non‐ members, special rates for juniors/unemployed. Licensed bar. For further details of the club or lessons please contact Gareth Evans on 07921 788 605, email enquiries@woebc.co.uk or visit www.woebc.co.uk. Social Bridge, every Tuesday at 7.30 p.m. at Stoke Bishop Village Hall. New members welcome. Tel Chris on 968 5640.

Westbury Art Club meet every Thursday evenings between 7 and 9pm at The Greenway Centre, Doncaster Road, Southmead. We are a mixed ability group of artists For more details check out www.westburyartclub.org.uk, e‐mail us at westburyart@blueyonder.co.uk or phone our club secretary on Bristol 962 9799. Lip‐reading class. An evening lip‐reading class to help you cope with your hearing loss runs in Clifton from 6.15pm to 7.45pm every Monday at Redland Park United Reformed Church, Whiteladies Road. Fee is £5 per session. For more details contact the tutor, Mary Hall, by email on lipreadingmary@yahoo.com or telephone 07790 283939. Tai Chi ‐ friendly local classes. Beginners Tuesday. Improvers Friday. Both 11‐12am at the Greenway Centre. Ffi: Karen 0117 9424167 Back to Netball at Coombe Dingle! Ladies ‐ enjoyed playing Netball at school? Stopped playing and would love to start again? Looking for a new, fun activity? Come and join us every Friday 9:30‐10am at the University Sports Centre, Coombe Dingle. Only £2 a session. For more info visit www.englandnetball.co.uk/Back‐to‐Netball or contact Sue Anderson on 0787 2407216. Moves Fitness – exercise to music for all ages and fitness levels at St Peter’s Church Hall, Henleaze from 10am till 11am every Wednesday. Moves Fitness oﬀers an approach to fitness that is fun and eﬀective in a friendly welcoming class. Come and give it a try – £4 per session. Just turn up or Phone Jane on 0117 9681042 for more info or visit www.movesfitness.com Eurythmy group for adults at the Helios Medical Centre, 17 Stoke Hill, BS9 1JN. Every Thursday mornings from 11am to 11.45, £8.75 per session. Drop in class, newcomers welcome, no prior experience necessary. For more information please contact Eurythmy Therapist Rebecca Paten on 0117 9733584 or telephone 0117 962 6060. Scottish Country Dancing for beginners and experienced dancers at St Monica's Trust hall on Thursdays 7.30pm starting in September. All new dancers welcome; come on your own or with friends. Contact Trish at 0117 962 3775 or go to our website: www.rscdsbristolinfo.co.uk Tai Chi for Health class. Mondays from10.45am‐ 11.45am at GH Health and Fitness, Pembroke House,

(GWAAC4)

90 What’s On & Community Events Pembroke Grove, Clifton BS83DA. Non members and beginners welcome. Sessions £5. For further information contact Sue or drop in Mobile 07929030209 www.sueqi.co.uk. Interested in badminton? Come along to our badminton club at the Greenaway Centre, Westbury on Trym, on Monday evenings from 7pm to 8.30pm. Reasonable standard of play is required. Please telephone Marilyn on 0117 2391005 for more details. Gentle Exercise. We are a small class that meets for an hour on Monday mornings and gently exercise the body, from sitting or standing, to improve posture, balance and flexibility. Everyone, any level of ability, is welcome. Ring 0117 903 8844 or log on to www.bristol.gov.uk/adultlearning to book your place. Ring Nen on 0117 9556657 for further info. Pilates Classes in Henleaze and Westbury on Trym. Classes held at:‐ Henleaze URC, Monday 9.30‐ 10.30 & 10.30‐ 11.30 am (Beginners New January classes); Keith James Physios, Coldharbour Rd, Monday 7.30pm (Pre Natal Pilates ); Henleaze United Reformed Church, Tuesday 6.15 pm (Beginners) and Wednesday 6.15 pm (Intermediate); Westbury on Trym Methodist Church, Tuesday 9.30 am & 10.30 am (Intermediate/ Beginners). Bookings: Zoe Rayne BCPA 07747696938, zoerayne@adaltapilates.co.uk or visit www.adaltapilates.co.uk. Zumba Gold Class @ Horfield Parish Church Hall every Weds 2pm‐2.45pm (Gold Class) £4.00 per class, for the mature movers aimed at age 55+ (All other ages Including Beginners) Zumba Class @ Orchard School every Thurs 7pm‐8pm Contact Georgina for further details on www.bristolzumba.com or tel: 07545 625089. Keep Fit for Ladies class every Thursday between 9:45 am and 10:45am at St. Peter's Church Hall, Henleaze. An enjoyable class of mixed ages and abilities with an introduction to the use of balls, scarves, ribbons and clubs. Coﬀee is available to finish the class. New members always welcome ‐ just turn up at the class or for more info contact Margaret Clarke on Bristol 9501967. Zumba Light 5pm/ Zumba Fitness 6.30pm. Westbury ‐on‐Trym village hall. Weds. £5 on door. Just drop in with water and a sense of humour! Phone Marie on 0117 9634104 for more details or visit

www.bristoldancezumba.co.uk Yoga classes in Stoke Bishop Village Hall. Wednesdays 2 ‐ 3.15 pm General Yoga , 5 ‐ 5.45 pm Teens Yoga (ring first), 6 ‐ 7 pm Beginners Yoga stretch/relax, and 7.30 ‐ 8.45 pm General Yoga. For further details on the above please contact: Sara‐Jo on 07789 552 052 or visit www.yogawithsara‐jo.com Scottish Country Dancing Classes for beginners at Leonard Hall, Trinity‐Henleaze URC, Waterford Road, Henleaze, ( Tel: Tina 0117 9075462). Classes for more advanced dancers at St Peter's Church Hall, Henleaze, (Tel: Cheryl 0117 9590970). Every Tuesday 7.30‐9.30pm. See wscbristol.com for details. Fallodon playgroup offers childcare for children aged 2 ½‐5 years old. We meet Monday – Friday (9.15 – 12.15pm) in Fallodon Way Scout Hut, Henleaze, and take the early years entitlement for 3‐4 year olds. Our recent Ofsted inspection rated us as ‘Good’ (April 2013). To arrange a visit please email fallodonplaygroup@hotmail.co.uk or text our mobile 07585817173 and we will get back to you. Jack in a Box Pre‐School Gymnastics for 0 ‐ 4 yr olds. We are a friendly, well established Henleaze group which runs 3 different fun and physical programmes for young children aged 0‐2yrs, 2‐3yrs and 3‐ 4yrs. We hold classes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the Bradbury Hall, Waterford Road, BS9 4BT. For more details look at our website: www.jackinabox.info, or contact Kate on 0117 9623758, e‐mail:kate@jackinabox.info Little Hearts Toddler Group meets every Wednesday during term time, 10am‐1145am at Newman Hall, Grange Court Road, Westbury on Trym, BS9 4DR. Story time followed by a snack for the children and tea/coffee and cake for the grown‐ups, a craft activity, free play and singing. Contact littleheartstoddlers@yahoo.co.uk Westbury‐on‐Trym Toddler Group. New members welcomed to join a fun and lively group Wednesdays in term time 9.30‐11.30am at Westbury Methodist Church Hall. Run by group members we have a baby area, crafts, toys and ride‐ons. For mums and carers, a termly night out! So come and make some new friends ‐ please book a taster session. For more info www.westburytoddlergroup.co.uk or email westburytoddlers@gmail.com. Pat‐a‐Cake Toddlers:‐ We are a small friendly parent/ carer and toddler group for babies to preschool aged children. We meet on a Tuesday 1.15 ‐ 2.45 at

HALL FOR RENT ‐ WESTBURY ON TRYM NORTHCOTE HALL ‐ GREAT BROCKERIDGE Available for long term let on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Fridays between 8am ‐ 3pm (and for one‐oﬀ events e.g. children’s par es at weekends). Perfect for children's and senior ac vi es such as community & playgroup/toddler groups. Excellent kitchen & garden facili es.

Please email ‐ 26northcote@gmail.com ‐ or visit our website ‐ www.26thbristolscouts.org.uk (see venue & room hire sec on)

92 What’s On & Community Events Westbury Methodist Church Hall. We have a baby corner, crafts and lots of toys to play with. £1.00 per family per week, each session finishes with a lively singsong. For more information contact Caroline on 968 4894. Westbury Singers. We are an enthusiastic group of people who love singing in four‐part harmony. We rehearse on Monday evenings during school termtime in Reedley Road Baptist Church. We give performances in a variety of local venues. If you are interested in joining us please contact the Secretary Marilyn Baker on 0117 9683993 or email mazzb@hotmail.co.uk. Mums and Tots. Henleaze URC Leonard Hall, Waterford Road, Henleaze. We are a small friendly group who meet every Wednesday afternoon (during term time) 1.30 pm ‐ 3.30 pm. Grannies and nannies welcomed as well. £1.50 per week to include a cup of tea and biscuits. Do come and join us. Miscellaneous Activities and Notices Cards for Good Causes Multi‐charity Christmas Card Shop is now open at Tyndale Baptist Church, Whiteladies Road, Clifton. The pop‐up shop is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm until 11th December. Staﬀed by local volunteers, we sell a fantastic range of cards for 25 national and local charities (Great Western Air Ambulance, St Peter’s Hospice and The Guild of Friends of the Bristol Royal Children’s Hospital). Just follow our red Santa sign on Whiteladies Road, opposite Redland Library, to find us. The Tenovus Cancer Charity shop, 110 Henleaze Road, is very short of volunteers. If anyone is able to help, if only for a couple of hours a week, Nina, the manageress, would be very pleased to see you. The premises were revamped last year and it is a bright, and cheerful shop to work in. It gets you out in the community and if you are at home alone it can brighten your day, as well as helping to raise money for a worthwhile charity. Just pop into the shop for more details. Clifton Rotary Club welcomes new members of all ages and backgrounds ‐ all we ask is that people give their time, are interested in making new friends, building business contacts, using skills to help others and try new things you would never normally have

thought of doing. Please find out more by emailing secretary@cliftonrotary.org. Henleaze Tennis Club has vacancies for players of all standards and ages. Whether you are an established player looking for a club, someone who is rusty or a student come along and try us out. For further information take a look at our web site www.henleazeltc.com and contact the secretary Pat Thomson 0117 950 5862. Bristol Brunel Probus Club for retired professional and businessmen. Meet at BAWA, Southmead Rd, once a month to enjoy a good lunch and a great mix of social events, regular speakers, visits and outings, to which wives and friends are warmly welcomed. For more details please ring Fred Martin on 0117 968 3875. More Reading Buddies Wanted. Would you enjoy offering reading and language support to children for whom English is a second language? Can you commit to giving one hour of reading time a week in term‐ time? We are working with eleven schools in the Southmead, Brentry and Horfield areas. Training is offered, and your advanced CRB check is paid for by Bristol City Council. You would read with the same children each week and be part of a growing group of volunteers. For more information please contact Paul Harrod, at paul.harrod@gmail.com, or on 07576 150706. Redland Green Bowling Club invites both novices and players to come and play at Redland Green where tuition is available with qualified coaches. FFI please ring Jean or Gerry Wickham on 9624466. Bristol Concert Wind Band invites you to learn a woodwind/brass/percussion instrument even if you've never picked one up and can't read music. All you need is a strong desire to play and to learn with other musicians of the same standard in a friendly, supportive environment at a weekly, inexpensive class. Much more information on BCWB can be found on our website www.bristolconcertwindband.co.uk. Volunteer Drivers wanted for the transport of elderly patients to a doctor or nurse once or twice a week at the WoT Primary Care Centre. We operate under the wings of the nationwide Charity RSVP who provide us with liability insurance other practical help. And of course we work closely with the Staff of the Westbury Practice. Please contact Zina Wilson on 0117 907 8744 or bernzina@blueyonder.co.uk for more info or ask Reception or your doctor on 962 3406.

94 What’s On & Community Events Volunteers Wanted ‐ RSVP/CSV Reading in schools. We are urgently looking for volunteers over 50 both male and female to go in to local schools on a regular weekly basis to help children with their reading. We organise your references and a short training course and the school would do any necessary checks. If you think that this is something that you would like to be involved in please email me on vckitchen1949@gmail.com or ring 0117 9096858. Do you love weddings? Westbury on Trym Village Hall is a very popular wedding venue and has another busy wedding schedule set for 2014. Would you like to put your skills into action? If so, why not become a wedding volunteer and help organise these happy events. If you are interested, please contact Anne 0117 9680872 or Cat 07931112192. St Peters Church Choir, The Drive, Henleaze. We are always on the look out for new members and would welcome any new voices soprano, alto, tenor or bass. All are welcome. Please contact Reg Parker ‐ Organist and Choirmaster on 962 1230. Stoke Bishop & Sneyd Park Local History Group are keen to welcome new members and visitors (£2 per meeting) to their programme of meetings. For more details please contact Jenny Weeks on 968 6010. Calling all would‐be bridge players. Would you like to learn to play bridge absolutely free? I am running "Bridge for Complete Beginners" sessions. If you are interested, please contact Terry Stygall Tel. 9091714, 07837300073 or by email at tc.stygall@gmail.com . Stoke Lodge Ramblers provide a varied range of walks that will suit all levels of walking ability. Walks are scheduled for the first and third Thursdays and Sundays of every month. Those on Thursdays are either medium walks of 5 ‐ 7 miles or short walks of 4 miles. Sunday walks are approximately 8 ‐ 11 miles. A number of social events are held throughout the year. New members are always welcome. For further details please visit www.stokelodgeramblers. wordpress.com or ring our Secretary on 0117 968 4140. Dinosaur Egg and Spoon! Shark Tennis! Bucket Shapes! Do you have an active pre‐school child who would like to have some fun and do something diﬀerent? 'Little Sports' is an exciting class for 2‐3 year olds and 3‐4 year olds, held in Henleaze. Limited

spaces available in each class so book your FREE trial session early! Simply contact Bryony on 0117 9499688 or email littlesportshenleaze@yahoo.com . Visit our website www.little‐sports.com for more information. Do you, or does someone you know, need support following a relationship breakdown? Over the past 20 years Aquila has helped many people learn to cope and rebuild their lives following separation or divorce. If you would like to know more call Sian on 07807 058479, email bristol@hope‐after‐ heartbreak.co.uk or visit www.hope‐after‐ heartbreak.co.uk. The Bristol Grandparents' Support Group, for grandparents who are going through the trauma of not being able to have contact with your grandchildren, due to family breakdown. We meet every two months at 9, Park Grove, Westbury Park. Visit www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk for more info or contact Jane Jackson tel. 0117 9246496, mobile 07773 258270, or email jackson.jane@me.com. Do you need to borrow a PA System? Martyn at North Bristol PA Hire has kindly oﬀered his services, and those of a whole bunch of public address and lighting gear, for any community or charitable event being held here in BS9. Martyn is happy to be contacted to discuss if he can be of help at any appropriate events e.g. fetes, fun days, musical productions or whatever. He can provide music, commentary or just turn up with a PA (and lighting if needed). If you are interested please ring Martyn on 07977 512436 or 0117 987 0534 or check out his website www.northbristolpahire.co.uk.

The Bristol Nine is published by Bristol Community Magazines Ltd (Co. No. 08448649, registered at 8 Sandyleaze, Westbury on Trym, Bristol, BS9 3PY). The views expressed by contributors or advertisers in The Bristol Nine are not necessarily those held by Bristol Community Magazines Ltd. The inclusion of any business or organisation in this magazine does not imply a recommendation of it, its aims or its methods. Bristol Community Magazines Ltd cannot be held responsible for information disclosed by advertisers, all of which are accepted in good faith. Reasonable eﬀorts are made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this magazine but

95Â

Specialist Decoration Hand painted furniture, room makeovers, painted kitchens-bathrooms etc.

Contact Angela - My Painted House 13 Alma Vale Road, BS8 2HL 07796143326 -01179733699 info@mypaintedhouse.co.uk www.mypaintedhouse.co.uk

96 What’s On & Community Events no liability can be accepted for any loss or inconvenience caused as a result of inclusion, error or omission. All content is the copyright of Bristol Community Magazines Ltd and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of Bristol Community Magazines Ltd.

Get In Touch ‐ it couldn’t be easier • Telephone ‐ 0117 968 7787 • Text / Phone ‐ 07845 986650 • Email ‐ andy@bcmagazines.co.uk • Post ‐ 8 Sandyleaze, Westbury on Trym, Bristol, BS9 3PY • Twitter ‐ @BS9Andy

Quiz Answers from page 58 1. Kempton Park; 2. 1981; 3. Frankincense; 4.Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar; 5. Oslo; 6. nine ladies dancing; 7. 1914; 8. Currants; 9. Blitzen; 10. George V in 1932; 11. two front teeth; 12. Jacob Marley; 13. Fairytale of New

York by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl; 14. In The Bleak Midwinter; 15. twenty seven; 16. The Bake‐O‐Lite girl in Wallace & Gromits ‘Matter of Loaf and death’; 17. he was Eric Morecambe; 18 . Christmas Island; 19. Holiday Inn; 20. 1977 Codeword Answers from page 67

97 STAND UP FOR YOURSELF!

• Improve your posture • Cut down on awkward falls and sprains • Look and feel younger and itter Find out how with six personalised lessons with me, David Harrowes MSTAT Yew Tree Clinic Alexander Technique Practitioner First session half price. Discounts available. For an appointment contact: Yew Tree Clinic, 56 Stoke Lane , Westbury on Trym, BS9 3SW 0117 914 6645 www.yewtreeclinic.co.uk

Flexible, Aﬀordable, Reliable CRB checked, Fully insured References available Please call, text, email or visit our website

01454 619352 / 07748 676 965 www.carmencleaning.co.uk info@carmencleaning.co.uk

100