The Bristol Nine March 2014

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March 2014 No 95

In this issue - students on a Mission - fountains on the Downs - Prize Wordsearch It’s rhubarb time - General Knowledge quiz - BS9 Art Trail - and other bits ‘n pieces

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Hello there, and welcome to the March issue.

Well, where did that “month off” go? I hope you didn’t miss the magazine too much last month, and thanks to several people who rang me to say they were worried they’d not had their Feb issue delivered. Never fear, all back to normal now ‐ whatever that is, although you won’t see many alterations to the magazine this month. They will come in April ‐ but you can read about some of the impending changes on page 97 as well as some wise words about proof reading from local PR lady Angela Belassie that I need to heed.

In this month though you can read about a great new student project called Missionly, test your general knowledge with our quiz, get a taster of the exciting new BS9 Arts Trail coming our way in May or have a go at the river ‐themed prize wordsearch.

On the subject of rivers, our local stream features on the front cover ‐ the Trym in an uncharacteristically full state, taken last month during one of the very high tides . So deep you almost swim up it….

I hope you have a great month and look forward to doing it all again in April.

The Editor’s Small Piece

Thanks for reading,

Andy

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130 Westbury Road, Westbury on Trym, 0117 962 0008

For all your complementary healthcare needs

ENERGY MEDICINE – help yourself to health Sue Bryant ‐ Energy Medicine prac oner

Einstein’s famous formula E=mc² boils down to a simple concept: energy is all there is. There are various forms of flowing energy (what we generally think of as ‘energy’) and there is congealed energy, in other words ‘ma er’. Everything in nature is one or the other – this is a mind bending concept! Energy animates every cell in your body. Energies ‐ both electromagne c and more subtle energies form the dynamic infrastructure of the physical body and governs the way the body func ons. The body’s energy systems include the meridians, chakras, aura and many other vital energy pathways. The health of the body reflects the flow, balance and harmony of those energies. Together they connect, protect and support the body inside and out. When the body is not healthy, disturbances in its energies can be iden fied and restored. Stress can be a major culprit in throwing the energy systems off balance, ul mately leading to physical problems.

Energy Medicine consists of gentle techniques to restore energe c imbalance. It can also be a powerful self‐help tool. For instance, did you know that there is much you can do for yourself just using your hands?

Holding your stress points This calms the fight/flight stress response and restores blood flow to the forebrain.

(It is also helpful for menopausal women experiencing hot flushes). Cup one hand over the forehead and cup the other hand across the back of the head. Hold for 2 – 3 minutes, breathing deeply in through the nose and out through the mouth. You will gradually feel yourself li ing out of stress.

Our website www.chironcentre.co.uk gives full informa on about all the therapies we offer, so please do look us up, give us a call on 0117 962 0008, or email us on info@chiron.co.uk

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8 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.

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Osteopathic Care For All The Family • Back & Neck Pain • Joint Pain and Stiffness • Sciatica • Fibromyalgia • Whiplash • Sports Injuries

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

GARDEN TRAPPINGS

Fingers crossed the rains will have stopped and in March we will be awash with colourful Spring bedding. Pop down to see what plants and shrubs we have on a daily basis, pick up some prac cal gardening advice or just have a chat.

For more details and up to date news visit our Facebook page ‐

Garden Trappings

on www.facebook.com 10 Canford Lane Westbury on Trym 07970 930 501 fayandj@live.co.uk (Opposite the Co‐Op)

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13 Constituency Matters with Charlotte Leslie MP I’ve never been called a ‘Fairy Godmother’ before, but in a hilarious splurge of creativity, the Bristol Post re‐imagined me complete with wings, sitting on a rather chilly looking log.

All this oddity was prompted by an interview I had on the Daily Politics, where a former Labour MP criticised some of today’s MPs for trying to be ‘Fairy Godmothers’ to their constituents. I had to butt in to say I Photo courtesy of disagreed – and that Bristol Post there was no conflict between being a very local campaigner, and an effective national legislator; why? Because the constituency, and constituency campaigns are an MP’s ‘reality library’, outside the Westminster Bubble.

Last year I was a bit shocked to be awarded ‘Backbencher of the Year 2013’ for my work on the NHS. This was an award for a national campaign, but what informed and motivated me? Local stuff; it was the inside view I’d had of the NHS growing up with my father as a surgeon. If I had just relied on party‐press releases that get pumped out of the Westminster bubble, I never would have gained the knowledge, or sought out the views of the brave whistle‐blowers in the real world, for whom I was able to be a small voice. That’s where politics happens.

But there is one thing I’d take issue with – being a good local MP is not to be a fairy godmother, for one simple reason – we don’t have a magic wand.

If we did, it would be easy. The prosaic truth is that to get any real change means dogged determination; day in, day out. At my Pub Politics last month, someone asked me why I was still banging on about the Henbury Loop Line, since we had been working so long on it and nothing has yet been confirmed. I replied that it was precisely because we’d been working on it and

nothing had yet been confirmed! There is a choice in life, either sit down, expect the worst and moan about it, or get on, and keep on trying to change it.

And no one knows more about that than local hero Shielmor Twomey. When her son Caleb tragically died after taking Ketamin, many people would have crumbled, and gone into a decline.

But Shielmor bravely rallied Caleb's friends and loved ones, and I have supported her valiant four‐ year campaign for Ketamin to be classified as a Class B drug. Last month, Sheilmor won the victory for which she has been fighting. It won't bring her son back, but "Caleb's Campaign" has changed the law, and will change, and hopefully save, lives.

Readers will remember our fight to save the layby bus stops between Henleaze Road and Southmead Road last year. On the face of it, a small planning issue but in reality, the original decision had the potential to cause untold rush‐ hour misery for thousands.

Another, victory for dogged determination came last month when we learned that after over four years of campaigning, the beloved Lamplighters Pub in Shirehampton is being renovated by the amazing team at Kings Weston House, to open as a pub this year!

Shielmor Twomey, Caleb's friends, the Lamplighters Team and anyone else involved in what sometimes seems like an endless campaign can tell you that nothing happens by waving a magic wand. But the sense of achievement when all the work pays off, locally or nationally, has its own kind of magic. That first Lamplighters Pint will taste all the better for all our hard work, and above all, my congratulations and respect goes out to all involved in "Caleb's Campaign". There may be no magic wands, but their determined victory could not be a more fitting tribute to Caleb's tragically short life.

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

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“Caring for a loved one can be an emotional and stressful time full of uncertainties. For that reason we have been chatting to local people here in BS9 and asking them what concerns and issues they might have when considering home care as an alternative to residential care.

Over the next three months I’ll try and answer the most common questions that the team here at Bluebird Care are asked.” ‐ Cameron MacLeod, Director

"Would it be cheaper to look to get my mum into a home?"

“It’s likely to be more expensive for your mother to be in a home. With Bluebird Care you can tailor the visits specifically to what is needed. That may just be help at certain points of the day, such as getting up and dressed and ready for the day ahead. Maybe assistance at lunchtime or with medication or help getting to bed. There are many options of time of the visit, length of the visit, things to be done etc … and you only pay for the time a carer spends visiting.”

“What sort of feedback / reports would you provide about the care my father is receiving?"

“Before we start our provision of care we write a detailed Care Plan. This is the result of discussion with our customers and their family as to what is required. The plan is left in the customers house for the staff to read on arrival.

After every visit our carers will write a brief summary of the visit which is there for family to read. After the first week of care, and regularly thereafter, our Care Manager or Supervisor will contact the customer, or their family if

applicable, to formally invite feedback on our service and discuss any improvements which could be made.”

"How do I pay for my mother’s care?"

“We will invoice you every two weeks with a fully itemised list of the visits that have taken place. We will state the date, time, duration and name of the carer who attended. This will make it easy for you to review. We accept payment by cheque, cash, internet banking or we can set up standing order for you if you prefer.”

If you have any questions or would like to have a chat about the homecare options and services we offer please do get in touch.

Bluebird Care Bristol West Redland House, 157 Redland Road Bristol, BS6 6YE

Tel 0117 950 5855 Out of Hours enquiries ‐ 07775 585 188 bristolwest@bluebirdcare.co.uk www.bluebirdcare.co.uk/bristolwest Accredited as mee ng all CQC na onal standards

16 Computer Corner with Mrs PC - Browsers and Search Engines A browser is a means of viewing the Internet.

In order to get onto the Internet you need to double click on an icon on your desktop, which then connects you. In the old days this was very time consuming and made rather a lot of noise‐ rather like a phone dialing. Nowadays it is very fast and silent.

There are several browsers to allow you to access the Internet. They are all very similar. If you are a Windows user you will probably be familiar with Internet Explorer, which comes with Windows machines‐ the icon looks like a yellow “e”, and is made by Microsoft. You may have heard of Safari, which is Apple’s version and the icon looks like a compass. You can also choose from Mozilla Firefox‐ my browser of choice, which looks like a fox wrapped round the world, or Google Chrome, which is a colourful ball icon. There is also Opera which looks like a giant red ‘O”.

You could install and use all of these if you wished, and see what the differences are! It is really a personal preference. It is said that Mozilla Firefox is the safest of all, and Google Chrome is the fastest.

Whichever one you decide to use, the most important thing is to keep it up to date. You will be reminded about the updates and it is essential that you do them. Once you have chosen a browser you like, I would suggest that you customize it. Set your favourite home page or pages, and save lots of bookmarks so that you can find your way around the Internet quickly.

I visit many people who have 2‐3 icons for browsers on their desktop and they are unclear about which one they use. Once you have

decided, it is probably a good idea to stick with that one, and delete the others from the desktop ‐ you can always re‐instate them later if you wish.

Incidentally, there is much confusion about Google Chrome because people don’t realize it is a browser and not a search engine. Google, Yahoo, Bing, Aol, and Ask are all popular search engines. Each one searches for information in a slightly different way.

Think of the Internet as the world's biggest library ‐ but instead of books, the shelves contain billions of individual web pages. In such a vast library it would take forever to find what you were looking for! So every library has an index to help you track down the book you want. This is what a search engine does for you on the Internet. All browsers can use Google as a search engine! But Google Chrome is a browser not a search engine! Most people use Google in the Uk. If you are not happy with your browser, you can change it!

Now that you know the basics of browsers and search engines, take time to look at their differences and make your choice out of your own experience rather than what other people tell you is best for you! Explore all their features and learn all about them. Once you take control of your computer it is a lot less threatening.

Happy Internet surfing til next time!

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• • • •

Local Company Free & Friendly delivery Weekly Case Deals!

Top Brand Labels Starting from £27.00 a case, that’s only £4.50 a bottle!!

Mixed Case Spring Special for BS9 Readers Mixed Red, White and Rose Case £27.00

• Wolf Blass Yellow Label Rose

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

wineonwheels.biz

• The Siren Chenin Blanc • Banrock Station Merlot • Yellow Tail Pinot Grigio • Kiwi Cuvee Shiraz (French) • Koala Tree Shiraz

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20 Yoga Classes in BS9 since 2005 at Bristol Chiroprac c & Pregnancy Clinic, The Chiron Centre & Stoke Bishop Village Hall

▪ Pre & Post Natal ▪ Children's ▪ Stretch & Relax ▪ Beginners ▪ General ▪ 1‐2‐1 Yoga ▪ Indian Head Massage ▪ Ayurvedic Faceli Massage

For further details, please contact

Sara‐Jo on 07789 552 052 or visit www.yogawithsara‐jo.com

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

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.

A&P Plastering Specialists All aspects of plastering . . .

Skimming over artex * Coving * Artexing Plaster boarding * Small jobs welcome Over 25 years experience and locally based Clean and professional service

Contact - Philip Rogers Tel: 0117 942 5762 or 0775 925 5438

21 Young entrepreneurs on a Mission Back in the dark ages I remember getting my first proper job. Until then I’d spent a lifetime (all 18 years of it) in education, learning stuff ‐ accounting principles, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and the psychology of the postcard ‐ all preparing me for the next phase in my life, earning a living. Plunged into a work environment ‐ the Purchasing office in London of an leading oil company‐ was daunting. With it came fear, I was terrified of everything ‐ the photocopier, the telephone ringing and being expected to answer it, the three fearsome cockney matriarchs who I sat with (bless you Jenny, Jeannie and Josie, you taught me well) ‐ and the realisation that whilst I had plenty of theory, up to date knowledge and enthusiasm, the only way to put this to any meaningful use was to get my hands dirty.

I thought about these early work experiences after a recent and very fortuitous phone call from Sam Abbott of Missionly. “Do you, as a small business owner, ever have any tasks or jobs you need doing that we can help with?” he asked. Do I ever? I was in the middle of a month off, trying to tackle a to‐do list of elephantine proportions. We were on the phone for ages ‐ Sam telling me about Missionly and me growing in enthusiasm for the story and the possibilities it could bring.

Let me summarise if I may. Sam and a team of 5 friends, all local undergraduates, had come to the realisation that they, and their fellow student population, possessed a wide pool of skills and an urge to unleash them into practice. They also knew that there was a burgeoning small business sector of companies, many of which were crying out for that experience but didn’t know where to find it or, crucially, couldn’t always afford to invest in hiring people in. Ker‐ching, as they say.

Students have skills but need experience to get jobs. Small businesses need skills but can’t readily employ them. So why not try and

facilitate bringing both sides together in a kind of “match‐making for skills”, an arrangement facilitated by modern communication methods and IT skills that the Missionly team have in abundance?

The Missionly team ‐ (l to r) John Anthony, Denis Sellu, Will Duddell, Chris Dalley and Sam Abbo The result is an exciting enterprise bursting with potential and marshalled with energy and enthusiasm. Here’s how it works. I, as a business, have a task or project that I need help with ‐ someone with suitable skills to undertake it for me. Let’s call it a “mission” shall we? I write a short scope of work for the mission, post it to the Missionly website and make it visible to the ever‐increasing number of students on their books. Interested students then register to say they’d like to be considered for completing the mission for me and I then conduct whatever selection process I choose.

Quick, simple, hopefully productive ‐ and cost effective. As a business it costs £20 to post a single mission, or there is an “all‐you‐can‐eat“ option of unlimited mission postings for £30 per month. And in terms of payment to the student for completing the mission, well that is entirely up to you and needn’t be financial.

Sam quoted me an example of a local coffee shop where, as a result of Missionly, a student carries out half an hour of social media and

22 website management for the company each day in return for a daily full‐English. Both sides win ‐ the student gets to opportunity to put into practice and hone their skills, gets a reference for their CV and a daily brekkie, and the coffee shop gets up to date advice and the services of a social media guru for the cost of two rashers and a builders tea.

The team at Missionly had a launch evening

last month in the old converted Bridewell police station, an event at which well in excess

of a hundred small businesses and students attended and where the enthusiasm for the project from both sides was very apparent.

The Bristol Nine has now posted its first mission and I hope readers will see the result in the next month or so. I’m experienced enough (some may say cynical enough) to realise that this isn’t the answer to every resource requirement a business might have, but if adopted where appropriate, in the manner intended and with enthusiasm and the will to make it succeed on both sides, I think it could be a real success for the boys in orange and business users alike. Best of luck guys, will be watching you.

To find out more about the Missionly project

visit their website www.missionly.co.uk or give them a ring on 0117 2541017

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Bristol Foot Clinic Spring is but a footstep away... ● 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

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Acupuncture Awareness Week 3rd to 10th March Acupuncture awareness week is an initiative organised by the British Acupuncture Council to help the public become more knowledgeable about the range and benefits of acupuncture.

As part of the initiative the acupuncturists at Yew Tree Clinic, Rob Parnell and Kim Kakebe, will be available on Wednesday and Thursday of that week to answer your questions about acupuncture.

'It was fantastic to see acupuncture used as front line medicine and to witness people getting better from many common and sometimes strange illnesses that made no sense in conventional medicine terms' Kim, whose background is in international media concurs, 'acupuncture has its own ways of looking at disease so is able to cast new light on old problems and can have a perspective on illness that conventional medicine may not.'

These perspectives represent 3000 years of accumulated knowledge and it is often said that acupuncture and Chinese medicine has had the longest ever clinical trail! Because acupuncture is a therapy that looks at the whole person, treatment not only includes the healing needles that everyone knows about but also advice on diet and lifestyle which could help support recovery from illness of someone you know. Rob is also a qualified herbalist and is able to prescribe herbs which allow a person to have some therapeutic input on a daily basis.

The kind of questions that people usually ask are things like 'what is it good for'.

Rob who worked as an acupuncturist in a Hospital in China in the early 90's was amazed by the variety of illnesses the Chinese Doctors were able to deal with.

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

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Prices start at only £48 (standard single oven £48, standard double oven £58)

Call your local specialist Franchisee Jason on 07795 490 834 / 0800 840 7127 www.ovencleaning‐bristol.co.uk

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28 Current Affairs Quiz How up to date are you on the news, whether it be of international significance or of no significance at all? Test yourself here with a little trawl through recent events that you might have spotted on the box, in the press or on your tablets. No prizes, just domestic bragging rights at stake. Answers are on page 94.

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2.

Name the actor who recently won the BAFTA award for Best Actor, and in what film was his leading role.

What are Finnish authorities trialling in an attempt to reduce the number of reindeer deaths in Lapland?

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Who has announced that he will be stepping down as the Sainsbury’s boss later this year?

10.

What is the speed‐limit on Whiteladies Road?

11.

Who was recently arrested for exceeding the speed limit on a Californian street in a yellow Lamborghini?

12.

Her Majesty The Queen will undertake a State Visit to which country in June this year?

13.

Which former One Show presenter recently returned to the BBC after a stint as the lead football presenter at ITV?

3.

“Celebrity” Simon Cowell recently became a father. Can you remember the baby’s name?

4.

The Labour Party recently won a by‐ election ‐ in which constituency?

14.

On what date was World War I declared?

5.

What is the planned date for the referendum on Scottish independence?

15.

6.

Who was recently described by a Portuguese man as a “specialist in failure”?

Name the missing cast member ‐ Ramona Marquez, Tyger Drew‐Honey, Daniel Roche, Claire Skinner and …?

16.

Davina McCall was lifted out of which body of water after completing the swimming leg of her recent Sport Relief challenge?

7.

Name the Somerset villages (beginning with the letter M) that have been at the centre of the Somerset Levels flooding disaster.

8.

What were the “Yarny Army” celebrating recently?

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Ut~Éá UÉâà|Öâx

would like to invite you and your friends to our

“FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY” CLEARANCE SALE Friday 14th March, 12 midday to 8pm Fantastic Reductions on • Mother of the Bride / Groom, • Bridesmaids, • Evening Wear, • Guestwear, • Accessories etc

All sale stock reduced and up to 50% off selected items.

Visit us on Facebook for regular updates, promotions and new collections

Bakos Boutique, 50 High Street Westbury on Trym, BS9 3DZ www.bakosboutique.co.uk 0117 950 4909

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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 . .

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32 The Downs Recorder Richard Bland

The Fountains of the Downs

Time was when providing clean fresh water for people to drink from public fountains was a noble charitable act. It involved considerable expense, providing the pipes from a suitable source, and building a handsome structure with a suitably inscription enabling everyone to recall the generosity of the donor. There are five such structures on the Downs, none of them providing water because of fear of the spread of disease, and the weird recent public habit of carrying water around with them in plastic bottles. All but one are in a reasonable state of repair, and listed, but, as they are now useless, it is probably just a matter of time before they vanish.

The best known, though not the most handsome, is Proctor’s Fountain close to the top of Bridge Valley Road, given by Alderman Proctor, who also gave his house to be the official residence of the Lord Mayor, which it still is. It was originally built at the bottom of Fountain Hill in 1872 in fine Gothic style on the site of the former toll house, but in 1988 it was designated a traffic hazard and moved to its present site, and for a while continued to supply water.

The prettiest fountain is a cast iron one on Suspension Bridge Road put up in 1866, two years after the bridge opened, by the vicar of Christ Church, the Rev Mourant Brock. It was made in Glasgow by Walter Macfarlane & Co, and was featured as Patent no 8, cost £27.10s or £27.50 in modern money, and multiply by 100. The pipework was renewed in 1982, but has now all gone.

The finest is the Urijah Thomas Memorial Fountain and clock tower at Blackboy Hill. It no longer tells the time or provides water, but the weathervane still works, and it is stuck on a

traffic island surrounded by very well maintained gardens, and an ancient urinal, and the whole site is still technically part of the Downs. It is finely polished Aberdeen granite, put up in 1904, paid for by the public, to honour a man who dedicated his life to education, the poor, and women’s suffrage.

Urijah Thomas Memorial Fountain The largest is the Stoke Road fountain at the Water Tower erected in 1877 from the huge profits made at the 1874 Bath and West agricultural show held on the Downs. The next show, in 1878, attracted 120,000 visitors. It is decorated with terracotta rams heads, and the heads of a bull, a cow and a horse, and both ends have water troughs for animals, which must have been a boon for the 400 sheep that still regularly grazed at the time, and on the main façade a fountain for humans which no longer works.

The most neglected is just a memorial stone and spout near the Sea Walls toilets. The inscription is illegible, and I can find no mention of it in any source. Someone must know about it; please make contact if you do.

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

www.fodag.org

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36 The new BS9 Art Trail will be kick starting Bristol’s vibrant art trail season on 10th/11th May this year, The trail is an exciting new spring event extending from Stoke Bishop across the Downs to Henleaze and into Westbury‐on‐Trym. More news on the BS9 Arts Trail will feature in the April Bristol Nine but for now we present a short profile of a some of the Bristol based artists featuring on the trail.

Caroline Caswell, a self employed Polymer clay jeweller and Mosaic artist has found a happy niche for creating highly colourful, unique items of jewellery and artwork. The processes of experimenting with such basic materials and turning them into treasured items, is a constant joy in her life. Each piece, whether a small pair of earrings, bracelet or bold necklace are a one off, comfortable and striking to wear and are all finished to a high standard with sterling silver clasps. With the mosaic Caroline has also developed her skill over the past 15 years and by using her hand painted tiles, to give her the ‘palette’, she is able to place the tiles as though painting a brush stroke. Her inspiration is mostly of flowers and plants and from the ever changing hedgerows of Cornwall. However when she has been commissioned she has had the opportunity to be challenged which has led her in new directions. Caroline has been passing on her knowledge in both these area by running regular workshops. www.carolinecasswell.co.uk

Bristol based artist Melanie Pike designs and hand makes contemporary jewellery using precious and non‐precious metals and stones, recycled materials and found objects. She breathes new life into tiny treasured items that her customers give her ( a single earring from a treasured pair, a mother's gold ring, a special pebble or button) creating original pieces from their cherished fragments that have a strong personal connection, that are 'precious' in their own way. Melanie feels that rediscovered or overlooked objects have a unique history and powerful associations. She uses driftwood, beach glass, vintage relics, pottery shards, rusted iron and vintage tin in her work, all of which reveal the patina of age. To her these humble materials have great charm and often seem more poignant and exciting to work with than brand‐new materials. In her pieces a new context brings discarded or mundane elements to life in a way that hints at the underlying preciousness of the everyday. See more of her work at www.PikeJewellery.co.uk.

Rosie Webb is a Bristol based illustrator/artist who works in a loose and expressive way using watercolour paint. Her work has featured in The Times, The Guardian & Jamie Oliver magazine and has been used by Boden and Waitrose. As well as selling original watercolours Rosie makes some of her work into limited edition archival prints. This enables her to create work which is affordable whilst still unique. www.rosiewebb.co.uk

www.bs9arts.co.uk

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38 With a name like Bristol ke lebell club you would assume that the main focus is exercise, but owner and director Peter Luffman stresses, they are as much about nutri on, lifestyle and well being as they are ke lebells. Pete says “The ke lebell is our tool and we know how to get the most out of it, but because exercise only accounts for 3‐5 hours of a 168 hour week, it’s what you do in those hours that dictates whether you get fi er, stronger, lose body fat or build muscle”.

Therefore Pete has set up a private Facebook group for the club members to educate them on these other cri cal areas. Pete is cer fied through Precision nutri on and GB Fitness and coach’s nutri on and exercise on a full me basis. “For most people nutri on is the stumbling block and frustra on soon sets in when they don’t see any change. We are by no means a quick fix although we have had members achieve incredible rates of fat loss under our guidance. Habit based nutri onal coaching is all part of our service and is as important as teaching our members how to safely use a ke lebell”.

Sessions run in Southmead, Por shead, Ashton, Southville and Nailsea. Learn more and claim a free session on the website www.bristolke lebellclub.co.uk

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Barry Watkins Carpentry & Building Services The complete carpentry service from concept to comple on.

With over 35 years experience in all aspects of carpentry work.

» Fi ed bedrooms » Extensions » Complete kitchens fi ed » Tree houses » Roofing » Replacement fascias, soffits and gu ering » Door hanging » Shelving » Decking » Replacement garage doors Please feel free to contact me to arrange a no‐obliga on visit for advice on your proposed carpentry project. No job is too small or too large. » 07785 584 0587 » 0117 382 8648 » Email barrywatkins99@sky.com

40 Louise’s tips for an easier life

The importance of diarising

How is your 2014 progressing? (With any luck you have not been blown or washed away). Have you taken stock and reflected on last year’s events and set your resolutions? I have heard resolutions labelled as ‘promises to myself’ – which is a really good way of thinking about them, as it is all about you achieving what you want this year. Each promise can have a month set against it and this can be copied into your diary as a reminder. One promise might be to have a sort out and spring clean. Why not take a look at each room in your home and ask yourself – do you feel that each item in it is useful or beautiful? If the answer is no, the item can either be recycled or taken to charity. As a reminder, if this task feels too overwhelming, give me a call – just a few hours of my help in your home will make a positive difference.

So far this year I’ve been helping clients to get their homes how they would like them. By removing the piles of magazines, clearing out cupboards and taking bags of redundant clothing and items to the charity shop, they can now see the wood for the trees. Spring cleaning has been high on the agenda in January and February.

Continuing with diarising, one of my New Year jobs is to copy birthdays and important dates from last year’s diary into this year’s. This is so birthdays aren’t missed – when sending cards you need a few days’ notice rather than the electronic reminder pop up on the day. I

also note down expiry dates for items such as insurance and MOT. If you have something written down, you do not need to commit it to memory, but of course you do need to make sure you regularly look at your diary or kitchen calendar so you don’t miss crucial dates!

Established in November 2011, I have been working as a Lifestyle & Home Assistant in Bristol for over 2 years and I can say that I have helped people turn their lives around. Whether I've been de‐ cluttering or being another pair of hands to ensure a house move goes smoothly, I have seen many times over the benefits of helping people turn tasks from 'overwhelming' to 'accomplished'.

Call me for a no‐obligation chat and find out some of the ways that I can make life simpler for you! Think of me as the extra hours in your day. For once a month, once a week or just a one‐off, I offer a professional service to fit in with your life and, most importantly, to make your life easier!

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.

Website: www.louiseengland.co.uk Mobile: 07780 474256 Email: louise@louiseengland.co.uk Twitter: @L_England

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Westbury Chiropractic Clinic, established in

1987, is well known in the city of Bristol and is recognised by all major healthcare providers and most health insurance companies.

The clinic is run by David Aberdeen, an experienced chiropractor who has practised in Westbury on Trym for the past 25 years. He has a particular interest in problems involving the feet and the jaw and his work has been featured on television.

For more information, and to read what people have said who have received treatment, please see our website.

The clinic is situated at the top of Westbury Hill

where there is ample parking.

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Regular readers of the Bristol Nine will know that I am a sucker for trying out most health and beauty treatments, although I drew the line at waxing. And people who know me well will be aware that few things get me as animated as a ridiculous television commercial.

Advertisements for “beauty products” which contain warthog DNA, use the application of nanobimble technology, or come in the form of a decelerating serum that will make you look twelve when you are actually in receipt of age‐ related state benefits, are guaranteed to start the red‐mist descending. No, I deserve something a little more natural on my chiselled chops ‐ because I’m worth it.

Which explains the attraction of a recent invitation from Charlotte Perrey, beauty and massage therapist based up at the Chiron Centre in Westbury. Three new natural facial treatments are “on the menu” ‐ based upon entirely natural ingredients that you’d find in most kitchens. “Come and try the “Intense Chocolate” or the “Lemon Drizzle” facial masks” Charlotte suggested ‐ and without much persuasion my daughter and I duly accepted the invitation.

Relaxing under a warm towel I let my face free into Charlotte’s expert hands whereupon it was buffed to perfection in a series of treatments.

First I was gently cleansed using a paste of icing sugar, flour and warm water, then toned with refreshing rosewater, exfoliated with a mask of Greek yoghurt and sugar, spruced up with a hot flannel (bliss), toned again, then masked with a lusciously scented mix of Greek yoghurt, oats and cocoa. While the mask did its thing, cleansing my now‐open facial pores (sorry, no

photographs exist), Charlotte administered a scalp massage that is best described as heavenly, before removing the sweet‐scented face‐pack and finishing me off with a moisturiser of natural oils and tea‐tree.

A treatment from Charlotte really is a feast for the senses, resulting in a wonderfully smooth and glowing face, following thirty minutes of natural‐product inspired total relaxation ‐ and not a serum or hydronucleonic antacid in sight to trouble my totally‐mellow brow. Thank you Charlotte for a lovely experience ‐ a sentiment echoed by the teenager with me who had the Lemon Drizzle experience (Greek yoghurt and lemon juice ‐ great for oily skin and which was apparently a great way to chillax!)

Charlotte can be contacted through The Chiron Centre for a full range of massages (Swedish, Aromatherapy, Indian Head and Hot Stone), reflexology, manicures, pedicures, waxing and of course these lovely facial treatments.

Charlotte also offers Gift Vouchers - a great idea for any celebration, and especially for Mother’s Day on Sunday March 30th

Charlotte Perrey Massage Therapist The Chiron Centre Tel: 0117 962 0008 www.chironcentre.co.uk charlotte-massage@hotmail.com

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STOKE BISHOP CRICKET CLUB

SBCC has a vibrant and thriving Juniors sec on with teams represented from U9’s through to U15’s. All the year groups throughout this sec on benefit from a first rate team of coaches and team managers offering structured, high quality training (winter and summer nets) and busy match‐playing seasons within compe ve local and regional leagues.

The Juniors enjoy close links with the Senior sec on and is a stepping stone for talented players at U13 and U15 level reaching towards Senior level cricket.

The Seniors currently run two sides on Saturday. The 1st XI are making excellent progress in the B&D league having been promoted to the Senior division and the 2nd XI play in Division 8. Along with playing compe ve cricket, the club offers a good social side which generally involves beers and banter a er the game. Both the Senior and

Bob Mole

Junior sec ons are based at the 38 acre Coombe Dingle and Stoke Lodge playing fields and the club enjoys the use of the 4 Cricket Pitches, 3 Ar ficial Cricket Nets and a fully equipped pavilion with licensed bar and satellite TV.

This year is a big one for SBCC, marking its 125th anniversary. In order to con nue this proud heritage we are looking to a ract new players at both Junior level, from U9’s through to U15’s age groups and Senior level.

We would therefore welcome any enquiries from parents/players who are interested in joining for this coming season. If you would like to find out more about Stoke Bishop Cricket Club (Seniors and Juniors) please contact:

stokebishopcc@gmail.com

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Osteopath Niamh Honey from Open Circle Osteopathy responds to some commonly asked questions she hears in her practice.

"I get a little confused about some of the differing treatments available for medical conditions. I have lower back pain so do I need to see an osteopath, a chiropractor, a physiotherapist or someone else?

All three of these professions have been trained to effectively diagnose, triage and treat musculoskeletal disorders such as lower back pain.

All three are recognised primary care professions and are statutory regulated by a governing body.

This means you can see any of these professions without going to see your GP first.

Variation in approach and style exists between the professions and indeed between individual practitioners within the same profession. In the main physiotherapists tend to focus on exercises, chiropractors tend to focus on manipulation of the spine and osteopaths tend to utilise exercise, manipulation and soft tissue massage as part of an integrated approach.

It is a personal choice and I believe due to the nature of the professional relationship it is important that you warm to your practitioner as a person as well as trusting their competence clinically.

"So what is the basis of osteopathy?"

Osteopathy is ‘hands‐on’ manual medicine for the musculoskeletal system. We specialise in the diagnosis, management, treatment and prevention of a wide range of musculoskeletal disorders and medical conditions. The ethos of osteopathy is to not simply treat symptoms but address the underlying cause of pain and dysfunction. We aim to restore normal biomechanical function to the musculoskeletal system and in doing so engage the body’s own inherent healing mechanisms.

Osteopathy is a recognized primary care profession and is regulated by the statutory body – the General Osteopathic Council.

"Is it just bad backs then, or does osteopathy provide a wider range of positive benefits?"

Back pain (including lower back and the neck pain) is very common and it is what we specialise in.

However osteopathy can help treat mild to severe symptoms in a range of common musculoskeletal conditions including: headache arising from neck dysfunction, shoulder and arm disorders, pelvis, hip and leg disorders, minor sports injuries, pregnancy related musculoskeletal pain, arthritic and rheumatic pain and Fibromyalgia.

Osteopathic care also has the potential to provide other positive benefits in relation to general wellbeing. Every new patient has a thorough case history taken. Within this, the osteopath ascertains what the patient experiences in relation to diet, exercise, work and life style. This holistic approach enables the osteopath to identify potential causes or maintaining factors to the patient’s pain. Stress and tension is a common predisposing factor and osteopathy can help to counteract this with specific hands on technique and advice. Many people seem to derive positive benefit from seeking a trained professional, taking ownership of their problem and understanding the nature of the problem itself.

"How do you undertake a diagnosis?"

Osteopaths are skilled in diagnostic techniques and believe that forming the correct diagnosis from the outset is key in the successful management of a problem. We do this by conducting a thorough case history and physical examination, which includes a postural assessment and may include other clinical examinations such as assessment of blood pressure or a neurological exam. This level of care and attention takes time and in my practice appointments are approximately 40 minutes in duration. From a combination of the case history

54 and examination findings a diagnosis will be made.

In some cases further tests maybe required. We are trained to identify any pain arising from a musculoskeletal problem and to recognize when a patient needs to be referred on to another healthcare professional.

"So once you know what is wrong is it a case of a one off treatment and I'm cured, or will a course of sessions be necessary?"

The number of treatments required will vary between individuals. It will depend upon the nature of the problem and the individuals response to osteopathic treatment. Usually acute conditions tend to respond relatively quickly, whereas chronic conditions may take a little longer to resolve. The average number of treatments is in the region of 2‐ 5, unless long‐term treatment of a chronic problem is required. My main objective of treatment is long‐ term change in tissue health, if possible without continued reliance on treatment.

"Can osteopathy be proactive or is it just a reactive treatment to the physical symptoms I'm experiencing?" (i.e. can you help me manage the problem ?)

This really does depend on the nature of the problem itself. However, we aim to prevent symptoms recurring by taking the time to identify the potential predisposing and maintaining factors that contribute to the problem. This may include imbalances in the musculoskeletal system to poor work station ergonomics for example.

I now advise my patients to return when they feel any ‘niggles’ or minor discomfort in an area that was previously problematic. From my experience treating a problem at this stage requires fewer treatments with more rapid response and avoidance of acute and chronic pain states. I think “management” is a key word here and this extends to the management strategies employed by the osteopath and those employed by the patient themselves. Understanding the nature of the problem helps to enable this, as does a personalised rehabilitative exercise programme.

Why did you start your osteopathic practice (Open Circle Osteopathy)?

I started Open Circle Osteopathy (the OCO) after

working in different osteopathic practices and wanting to develop and make subtle changes to the patient experience at each stage. I chose Westbury on Trym Primary Care Centre specifically, so that the osteopathic care was being provided within a context of GP’s surgery. Open Circle Osteopathy practice is open to everyone in the area and not just patients registered at Primary Care Centre.

Our ethos is to provide personalised and patient centered osteopathy. I am passionate about patient education and I believe this to be a fundamental part of the treatment process. This is reinforced outside of the treatment room by the online access to an exercise prescription tool that enables our patients to view video clips of their personalised exercise programme and a summary of information about their musculoskeletal condition. I believe that being able to contact your practitioner when required is important and patients can contact me directly via email and telephone.

I provide a broad scope of treatment techniques, such as: soft tissue and muscle energy techniques, more robust joint manipulations, gentle cranial osteopathic technique and medical acupuncture. I aim to keep up to date with the latest research and current health legislation and I have a blog on my website that helps to reinforce this.

Please get in touch: You can call us on: 07858 026849 or e‐mail us at: info@the‐oco.com

We are situated in Westbury on Trym Primary Care Centre at the back of the Westbury Hill / Methodist Church car park. (BS9 3AA).

Opening mes: 8.30am – 1pm on Mondays and Fridays.

2pm – 7pm on Wednesdays.

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57 Gardener’s Corner with Cathy Lewis Take a scented journey through a winter garden.

With all the recent wind and rain, we could all do with a little pick‐me‐up. Luckily nature provides it in the form of gorgeously scented winter shrubs that can still be enjoyed through February and early March. Winter flowering plants have to work hard to attract early pollinators. As a result their flowers are often small, but highly scented, making them irresistible to the few insects robust enough to survive the winter months… and to us! As most of us don’t spend a lot of time in the garden at this time of year, winter scented shrubs are best planted close to your garden path or front door so that you can enjoy their perfume as you go to and from home. Bring a twig inside and it will fill the room with a natural fragrance that knocks spots off scented candles or air fresheners.

Here are four of the most gorgeously scented winter shrubs…

Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ (above left) has the most wonderful scent emanating from clusters of subtle, pinky‐purple flowers. This evergreen shrub is happy in sun or partial shade, but needs some shelter from the worst of the winter frosts. Daphnes have long, simple roots that are easily damaged if you try to

move them, so choose your planting spot carefully.

Chimonanthus praecox, or Winter sweet, (above right) produces semi‐translucent yellow flowers on bare stems between December and February. These unassuming blooms pump out the most alluring spicy fragrance, guaranteed to lift the spirits. This large shrub can take a few years to flower, but it’s worth the wait.

Hamamellis, or witch hazel, (Hamamellis mollis ‘Pallida’ above left) has a warm, spicy scent emanating from clusters of spidery flowers growing from bare stalks. Depending on which cultivar you choose, the flowers can be anything from acid yellow to coppery red ‐ fiery colours that will warm the heart in winter.

Viburnums are easy to grow and the mainstay of many gardens. The winter flowering varieties such as Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ (above right) may not be the showiest but they can flower from autumn through to spring with dainty, perfumed white and pink flowers. If you want a fairly bomb‐proof plant with winter fragrance, Viburnums are for you.

All photographs taken at the University of Bristol Botanic Garden, where you can see a wonderful variety of winter scented shrubs.

Cathy Lewis Dip. PSGD Cathy Lewis Gardens & Design Professional garden design, consultancy and maintenance. Tel: 07985 008 585 www.cathylewisgardens.co.uk

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Commercial Property – “Double Digit Returns Ahead!”

This is the rather bold statement made by several investment managers in the commercial property sector since the turn of the year*. I am always at pains to explain to clients how different it is to residen al property. Posi ve returns are far more dependent on income generated than the

capital value of a property. Before the credit crunch in 2008, commercial property tended to be a ‘lower risk asset class’. A good commercial property fund consisted of a spread of proper es in type and geography, but the two most important issues was whether the proper es were occupied and genera ng rent and the extent of finance or loans on the property. Over the long term these property funds demonstrated reasonably low vola lity.

61 All that changed with the onset of the credit crunch. Long term trends went out the window and this asset class felt the impact of what was happening to the banks, there was an over ‐supply of proper es, many were over stretched or ‘geared’ with debt, companies got into trouble, proper es lay empty and the income dried up.

So what has changed? Well, demand has started to return. Commercial Property returns are usually correlated to the health of the company so with an improving economic backdrop a more posi ve outlook is to be expected. As businesses expand their opera ons, they may require more space. This could mean the purchase of new premises or simply taking up empty proper es as tenants.

One fund manager has pointed to increasing demand for office space in the South East and fully expects this to spread out to other major ci es in the UK such as Bristol. There is a more posi ve outlook in terms of Capital Values as well this year.

DEVEREUX & Co.

So good prospects ahead? Maybe, but that is not to say that you throw the kitchen sink at it!

As I would always recommend you need to be aware of the risks, the mescale of investment, the lack of liquidity with commercial property (i.e. the inability to obtain your investment back at short no ce if you need it), and how it fits with your other investments. A balanced approach using other assets is o en the be er way to have your money invested. We believe shares con nue to offer a compelling story over the medium to long term, but with cash being in the depressed state it is and Bonds and Gilts not delivering the returns they did a few years ago, maybe it is me, at least in part, to look at commercial property again.

Finally, if you are going to use a commercial property fund, you need to understand what’s in it, but that will keep for next month….

Phil James Grosvenor Financial Consultancy Ltd

*Standard Life Investments, Ignis Asset Management and M & G. There are advantages and disadvantages to using all of these strategies and they depend on individual circumstances so don’t take ac on without seeking competent advice. Tax rules, rates and allowances are all subject to change. The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate tax advice and some forms of offshore investments. The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and you may not get back the full amount you invested.

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64 Friends of Blaise Many readers will have read of the recent proposal to either close or mothball the Blaise Castle House Museum as part of the savings required to balance the City Council’s finances.

Fortunately, this proposal has now been overturned and at least for the foreseeable future, the Museum is safe. It has been a museum for 65 years having been opened in May 1949 and described at the time as a Folk Museum, containing collections illustrating English life in former times with special reference to the West of England.

It was in 1789 that John Scandret Harford purchased the Blaise Castle Estate. As well as the land and an old fashioned house it included the village Inn and Smithy. He had ambitious ideas for his new acquisition, and set about planning his improvements.

In 1795 he employed Humphry Repton the most celebrated landscape architect of the day to improve the landscape setting for his proposed new house. Repton was concerned that the house be designed so as to receive maximum sunshine, and was fortunate that the best views were to the south. The living rooms were therefore placed to both take advantage of the views and the sunshine. He also recommended that the house be slightly raised on a small knoll with the ground sloping away from it.

This advice was accepted and Bristol architect William Paty was commissioned to design the

new house. Work started in October 1795 and to celebrate the completion of the roofing, a dinner was given to 70 workers at the Blaise Castle Inn in 1796.

Subsequent to this in 1832/1833 the Picture Gallery, and the Portico at the front of the house were added, and the service wing to the east extended. The elaborate plasterwork with casts of classical reliefs in the hallway and main stair case together with the bath stone terrace and coade stone urns, also date from this time.

The house is built of Bath stone but the steps and paving in the portico are made of the much tougher Portland limestone. Despite nearly 200 years of use there is little sign of ware.

This is basically the house as we see it today where it stands on a knoll with the ground sloping away.

John Scandret Harford died on 23rd January 1816 and the Estate eventually passed to a nephew who remained living at Falcondale in Wales. When he died in1875 his wife Mary moved to Blaise and lived there with three unmarried daughters until her death in 1919.

After her death there was a sale of the contents on 22nd and 23rd of October that year. The daughters went to live in Bath and the House remained unoccupied until it was finally sold to the Corporation of Bristol in 1926.

During the war it was requisitioned for use by the armed forces and finally given a new purpose in May 1949 when the museum opened. www.friendsofblaise.co.uk

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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

STUMP GRINDING, FENCE ERECTION & REPAIRS TURFING & GARDEN CLEARANCE

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68 Tara’s Table - Cookery with Tara Hofman A riot of colour!

As I write this, we are enduring the wettest winter ever on record and it’s been drizzly and drab, but I’m all for positivity so I look for the colour in life – I start with food, at the greengrocer’s.

Believe it or not, there is a lot of colour around at this time of year, if you look hard enough. It started in February and it will just take us into the spring. Yorkshire rhubarb: florescent pink stems with a lovely, delicate flavour and an 80’s shade of yellow/green leaf. Forced rhubarb is only available at this time of year, for a short time. Exclusively produced in the Yorkshire triangle between Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield, it’s grown in completely darkened, heated forcing sheds and harvested by candlelight to keep its vibrant colours. It’s a national culinary treasure, geographically and

culturally unique and it even has European PDO status, which was awarded a few years ago.

The best way to cook it is to roast it: choose stems of a similar size, cut them into uniform pieces, so they cook at the same time and put in a deep tray in one layer, don’t overcrowd them or they will stew and loose their shape.

Sprinkle with sugar and add the zest and juice of a large orange; if you can find a blood orange, so much the better as it adds to the colour. Cover with foil and bake in the oven at 180oC for about 15 minutes. Check towards the end of cooking and if some pieces are more cooked than others, take them out and return the pan to the oven. When they are ready, they should be just soft to the touch whilst keeping their shape. Leave them to cool and strain off the liquid which you can reduce to a shocking pink syrup.

Serve with vanilla pannacotta. It’s also delicious on porridge in the morning. For a bit more spice, add some grated fresh ginger, which is really tasty too!

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Over 50? Time to Spare? Skills to Share?

Please join us in a volunteering ac vity of your choice, helping:

▪ GP Surgeries by driving and befriending their elderly and frail

pa ents;

▪ Children to read;

▪ Improve the quality of life of people in Care Homes,

including those with Learning Difficul es;

▪ Older people to stay ac ve, with musical ac vity sessions;

▪ People living in cold homes (with fuel poverty); or

▪ with something new you think is worthwhile.

• We always need new Volunteers and Volunteer Organisers. • You decide how much me you can spare. • We provide insurance and reimburse your out‐of‐pocket expenses. • Use your life experience to help people in your local community, have fun and meet new friends.

If you’d like to chat about all the opportuni es, please contact us ‐

The CREATE Centre, Smeaton Road, Bristol BS1 6XN Email office@rsvp‐west.org.uk Telephone 0117 9224392 Please see www.rsvp‐west.org.uk for more details

rom Life! f t o n ‐ k r o Re re from W

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MOBILE QUALIFIED HAIRSTYLIST

Member of the Freelance

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• Affordable hairdressing in the comfort of

your own home • Cut and blow dry from £15 • Perms from £35 (inc cut & blow dry) • Hi/Lo Lites from £35 (inc. cut & blow dry) • Special rates for children under 14 and OAP’s For more details please contact Anne on 0117 968 8248 or 07730 270039

Tel. 01761 569 265 Office ‐ 07976 318 613 Mobile

72 Prize Wordsearch With rivers being so much in the spotlight of late it seemed topical to have them as the subject of the prize wordsearch this month.

Listed below are the names of 21 different UK rivers. All bar one of them are also hidden in the wordsearch grid. They can be listed forwards, backwards, upwards, downwards, or on a diagonal. Your job is to find the missing rivers and let me know which it is.

Just let me know the missing river by 31st March and if you are correct your name will go into the random selection process to be in with a chance of winning a £20 gardening voucher.

Answers to me please by post (8 Sandyleaze, Westbury on Trym, Bristol, BS9 3PY), email (andy@bcmagazines.co.uk), phone (0117 968 7787), text (07845 986650) or tweet (@BS9Andy).

Right ‐ here are the rivers you are on the lookout for:‐

Dee

Avon Dart

Humber Lune Mersey

Nene Ouse Severn

Swale Tamar Tay

Tees Teign Thames

Trent Trym Tweed

Tyne Ure Usk

In the meantime, crumbs, you lot love your cakes. A record entry for the cake‐ themed January puzzle. Those who entered will now know that coffee walnut is my sponge of choice. Thanks to everyone who took the trouble to enter, ands congrats to the first name out of the hat ‐ Mrs J Bradbury.

Your cake assortment will be on its way to you ‐ after I’ve done a little quality control.

Do please have a go ‐ someone has to win and it might be your name here next month.

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Kemps Jewellers Est. 1881 A local family business offering you professional friendly advice.

Rings and jewellery, new and old - and a great range of modern secondhand jewellery to complement our existing selection of beautiful traditional second-hand pieces.

Beautiful gift ideas for ladies and for gents, as well as watches & watch repairs.

Do you have any secondhand or scrap gold? Gold prices remain attractive so why not bring it in for a free valuation?

Kemps Jewellers & Registered Pawnbrokers 9 Carlton Court, Westbury on Trym 0117 950 50 90 www.kempsjewellers.com

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78 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).

The deadline for listings in the April 2014 magazine is 10th March ‐ any received after that date will be held over until the May 2014.

This year's Annual Art Exhibition & Sale will be held at Stoke Bishop Village Hall, Stoke Hill, on 1 March 2014 from 10.30 am to 4pm. As usual, there will be lots of affordable art in a variety of media ‐ paintings, drawings, ceramics, textiles & enamels displaying the talents of local artists. Admission is free, with refreshments available all day. FFI Contact ‐ stokebishophallbookings@yahoo.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.

Westbury on Trym Women’s Institute meets on the 3rd Monday of the month (not in August) in the Methodist Church Hall, WOT (next to the car park) at 2.00pm. We have a programme of varied speakers, outings, discussions etc. New members and

visitors always welcome. For more information please contact: Sue Murphy – Tel: 01179502826.

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.

North West Bristol Camera Club (NWBCC).

We are an enthusiastic group of amateur photographers who meet each Wednesday at 7:45pm at Westbury Fields. New members of any level of ability are most welcome. For details contact Pete on 07870 589555.

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‐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

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BRISTOL CABOT CHOIR Enjoy singing and raise money for local chari es. The Bristol Cabot Choir is an amateur mixed‐ voice group with around 60 members, formed in 1977 as the XIV Singers, taking its present name in 1990.

Whilst the choir’s main purpose is to enable people to enjoy both performing and listening to choral music, each year it nominates a local small charity as the Charity of the Year. The charity benefits not only from publicity and cash collec ons at the choir’s concerts, but also from profits made by the choir from cket sales, which may be up to £3000.

Recently supported chari es have included Bristol Child Contact Centre, Broad Plain Boys Club, Life Educa on Bristol, BUI Prostate Cancer Appeal, and Bristol Ensemble’s Preludes project in South Bristol primary schools. This year we are suppor ng the Avon Club for Young People in Lawrence Weston.

Led since 2011 by Musical Director Rebecca Holdeman, the choir has had considerable recent success, with the Christmas 2013 concert in Bristol Cathedral with Bristol Brass and the Preludes Childrens’ Choir a rac ng an audience of almost 450. We also join with other choirs for major works, current plans including Vaughan Williams’ Sea Symphony with Bristol Choral Society and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

Why not join us, enjoy singing and taking music to friends and the public, whilst raising money for valued local causes? At present the choir is par cularly keen to recruit sopranos, but would welcome all voices other than altos.

80 What’s On & Community Events Tuesday of each month at BAWA, Southmead Road. At these meetings we have a three course lunch with a speaker. In addition there is a substantial programme of social events to which our Ladies are invited to participate. If you are interested in joining our club, please contact our Membership Secretary Martin Harker on 01275 857324 or email probusbristol@hotmail.co.uk.

For more information, including past reports on events and our current programme, visit our web site www.bristolprobus.org.uk

Saturday March 8th at Holy Trinity Church WOT, Organ Elevenses with Claire Alsop.

Claire is currently organist at Trinity‐Henleaze URC as well as being Assistant Organist at St. Mary Redcliffe Church. Coffee and cake from 10‐30 am followed by her recital at 11.

Suggested donations £5, which include refreshments! Children free. Besides hearing our recently restored organ, you can see Claire on the big screen. All welcome!

Avon and Somerset Constabulary Male Voice Choir concert at Reedley Road Baptist Church on Saturday 22 March 7 for 7.30 pm. Ticket £7.50, to include refreshments, available from Kate at Just so Balloons, 158 Henleaze Road, 9501511 or from Alison 9629715. All proceeds going to Children's Hospice South West.

Tuesdays in Lent at Holy Trinity Church WOT March 11th to April 15th.Join us for a series of Soup Lunches 12‐15 for 12‐30 pm in St. Paul's Room in the Parish Church. Lunch will be followed by a short talk with coffee and biscuits. Friendly fellowship with fine home‐ made soups and biscuits. £3. All proceeds to the East/West Appeal. All very welcome.

Durdham Down bookshop and The Friends of Henleaze library are delighted to present Nathan Filer, winner of the 2013 Costa book award at Henleaze library on Thursday 20th March. Tickets £5.00 each (to include wine and

nibbles). Doors open at 6.45pm for 7.00pm prompt start. Tickets and information from Henleaze library !Northumbria Drive. BS9 4HP 01179038541.

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.

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, 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 web‐site: on membership on our 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.

The next meeting of the Bristol Philatelic Society is on 13th March, in the form of a

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82 What’s On & Community Events competition night whilst 27th March is a display on Advertising through the Post, starting at 7.15 p.m. For further information: John Roe 0145 477 6975.

Stoke Bishop & Sneyd Park Local History Group will meet at Stoke Bishop Village Hall on Friday 11th April at 7.30pm when Bristol archaeologist Peter Insole presents “Know Your Place” ‐ a look at the Bristol Council website that enables you to explore your neighbourhood through historic maps, images and linker information. New members and visitors (£2 charge) always welcome. Please ring Jenny Weeks for more information ‐ 0117 968 6010.

Keynsham Brass Band are in Concert at Trinity ‐Henleaze United Reform Church, Waterford Road, Henleaze, Bristol BS9 4NW on Saturday 15 March 2014, 7.30pm. Box office: 0117 9629894 or pay on the night. Tickets: Adults £5. Under 16s free. There will be refreshments and a raffle. Concert proceeds in aid of Cancer Research UK.

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.

The Bristol & Gloucestershire Archaeological Society: On Monday 24th March at 7.45 pm in the Apostle Room in the basement of Clifton Cathedral, Pembroke Road, Clifton, BS8, Joe

Hillaby will talk on “Medieval Jewries of the Severn and its Region.” This lecture will consider the interrelationships between the medieval Jewries of Bristol, Gloucester and Worcester and ultimately Hereford. (www.bgas.org.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.

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.

Calling all Carers. Would you like the opportunity to share your experiences, relax and make new friends? Then come and join the new Henleaze Carers’ Group. The group will meet on the second and fourth Thursday morning of each month, 10am to 12, in the new Bradbury Hall, Waterford Road, Henleaze. For more information please call Mrs M Rudston 942 6095.

Redland Wind Band, Spring Concert on Sat 22 March 7.30pm. Tickets £7 on the door or email redlandwindband@gmail.com. Under 14s free. Redland Wind Band this year will perform its Spring Concert in a new setting at Alma Church, Alma Road, Clifton Bristol, BS8 2ES. An evening of wind band music from this popular local ensemble will include swing, dance, classical and film music.

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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. Our March meeting is on 6th March when Mr John Savage will be talking on “High in Hope‐ what Bristol will be like in 40 years time”. April meeting is on 3rd April when plastic surgeon Mr Donald Sammut will be talking on “My work in hand surgery in Nepal”. May meeting is on 1st May when Mr Gareth Williams (Professor of Medicine and former Dean of Medicine at BRI) will be talking on “heroes and Villains‐ the story of Smallpox” And on 21st May Christopher Jefferies will be talking on “My Story in relation to the ethics (or lack of them) of the media and the relationship between the media and the police”

Henbury Singers welcome new members. We are non‐audition choir and friendly choir. We meet at 7.30 pm at Stoke Bishop Primary School in Cedar Park, on Thursday evenings in term time. We sing mainly choral music from a range of classical works (Vivaldi, Handel, Schubert) tradition but also sing carols, folk and gospel, and can range from Billy Joel to John Rutter. We have 2 or 3 events each year usually raising funds for a charity. Do call Maggie Cavanna 0117 9734794; or contact secretary@henburysingers.org; or check www.henburysingers.org; or drop in on a Thursday evening. We would love to see you.

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.

Bristol Chamber Choir present Masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance , featuring Gregorio Allegri “Miserere”, Antonio Lotti “Crucifixus” and Giovanni Anerio “Missa Pro Defunctis”.

Sunday 6th April 2014, 3 pm, at Redland Park United Reformed Church, Whiteladies Road, Bristol, BS6 6SA. £10 (Concessions £8.00) Children Free. Available from the Choir Secretary on 07447 042 441 and from Opus 13, 14 St Michael’s Hill.

Henbury Singers Spring Concert in aid of Alzheimer’s Society ‐‘Singing for the Brain’ will be held on Saturday March 22nd at 7.30 pm in Trinity Henleaze United Reformed Church.

Directed by Richard Jones, the programme will include Easter Music from the Messiah by Handel, with full supporting programme.

Tickets are £10, or £8.00 concessions, available from choir members, or on the door. For more details call Don Kimber 0117 9099261

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.

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.

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What’s On & Community Events 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.

“Reflections VI: Renewal” A Mixed Art Exhibition from the Reflections Group at The Guild Gallery, 68 Park Street, Clifton, Bristol March 22nd – April 12th 2014. With each artist having their own highly original style this latest exhibition will include a strong eclectic line up of paintings, prints, ceramics, glass, enamels and textiles. It is well worth coming along and to see what the artists have been creating over the winter and may be pick up a gift for Mother’s Day, a birthday or even something just for you. The exhibition starts on Saturday 22 March at The Bristol Guild Gallery, Park Street, Clifton and it runs until Saturday 12 April and the gallery is open between 10am and 5pm, Monday to Saturday. For further information about the artists and the exhibition, contact Denise Lonsdale at denise@demonpotters.co.uk

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.

Bristol Cathedral is the venue for a concert full of atmosphere, special lighting effects and of course, fabulous music. On March 22nd Bristol Bach Choir will be performing Rachmaninov’s stunning Vespers along with some of John Tavener’s deeply moving music, including his Song for Athene which was performed at the funeral of Princess Diana. The audience is also in for a real treat hearing a star in the making, soprano Vivian Yau, who will sing Tavener’s Lament of the Mother of God. Although only just 18 and still a pupil at Wells Cathedral Music School, Vivian has already performed at New York’s Carnegie Hall, won international prizes for her singing and has been offered major scholarships at several world‐ renowned music colleges. The concert starts at 7.30pm. Tickets cost between £10‐25 and are available online at

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88 What’s On & Community Events www.bristolbach.org.uk or by phoning 0117 214 0721.

Stoke Bishop Townswomen's Guild have now moved to the Hulbert Room, St Mary Magdalene Church, Mariner's Drive, Stoke Bishop, and are settling in well. The Hulbert Room is approached via a path to the left of the steps just past the church, and our meeting is on 6 March, the usual 1st Thursday of the month, at 2pm ‐ come and visit us a little before 2, free of charge. Further details from 9683671 or 9685638.

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

Yoga Classes in BS9 with Sara‐Jo Cameron at Bristol Chiropractic & Pregnancy Clinic, 130 Westbury Rd, W‐O‐T,BS9 3AL on Wednesdays (from 9.30 to 10.45 stretch and relax yoga, 11.45 to 12.45 pre and post natal yoga) and Thursdays (6.30 to 7.30 pre and post natal yoga, 7.40 to 9.00 beginners yoga. Also at Stoke Bishop Village Hall, BS9 1EX on Wednesdays (2.00 to 3.15 General yoga, 6.00 to 7.00 stretch and relax yoga, 7.30 to 8.45 General yoga) and on Fridays (2..00 to 3.00 Pre and Post Natal Yoga ). NB Pre and Post Natal Yoga must be booked in advance. Please ring Sara‐Jo on 07789 552052 for more details or visit www.yogawithsara‐jo.com

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, 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.

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). For bookings please call Zoe Rayne 07747 696 938, 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 info or www.bristoldancezumba.co.uk

Scottish Country Dancing Classes for

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Internal & External Carpentry • Fencing & Gates • Sheds & Garden Buildings • Landscaping • Patios • Tree Work Free surveys and estimates - Local references available - Fully insured Dominic Carroll 07747 560 669 dom.carroll@hotmail.com

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.

90 What’s On & Community Events 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.

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. 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 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.

Tai Chi Classes for beginners. For centuries the Chinese have practised Tai Chi as simple but powerful form of exercise for strength, balance and mindfulness. Always want to give it a try, now you don't have to go to China. The Bristol School of Tai Chi has lots of daytime and evening classes in Henleaze and Bishopston starting from the 13 January. Any questions contact Ben Milton, 0117 9493955, www.bristoltaichi.com

Henleaze (Morning) Townswomen's Guild.

This is a recently formed Guild and we meet from 10.00am – 12.00 noon on the third Thursday of every month at The Eastfield Inn, Henleaze Road. New members and visitors are most welcome. Further information can be obtained by ringing Elaine Anderson on 0117 9075279.

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.

Weekly yoga classes in Stoke Bishop – Mondays at 7pm to 8.30pm, each class costs £9. Stoke Bishop Primary School, Main Hall, Cedar Park, Bristol BS9 1BW. Drop‐in class, no booking – come any week, come every week.

Mixed ability class, suitable for most levels of ability – come along and try the class out to find out for yourself. Learn how to practice yoga postures, connect with your breathing and quieten the chattering mind with

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92 evening). 16 April Jon Mason ‐ Spring Garden Tips. 21 May Our very own 'Garden Question Time' + Plant Sale. Visitors always welcome. meditation – good for bringing balance and FFI contact Gail Mitchell 0117 9685350 or Esme health to our life. Gary Osborn‐Clarke has been James 0117 9682571 practising for 19 years and teaching since 2002.

You can find out more about Gary and his Redland High School will be holding a ‘Learn classes at his website, www.yogabristol.co.uk; how to play Bridge’ Taster Day at the school email gary@yogabristol.co.uk or call 0789 903 on Saturday 22 March. Taught by National Bridge Champion, Cathy Kitcatt, the day will 4645 introduce the basics of the game and will

Henleaze Tennis Club has vacancies for include a delicious lunch of home‐made soup, players of all standards and ages. Whether you salad and bread. Tickets are £25 (£12.50 for full are an established player looking for a club, time students) and can be purchased from someone who is rusty or a student come along Redland High School on 0117 916 6711 and try us out. For more details take a look at our web site www.henleazeltc.com or contact Do you love weddings? Westbury on Trym Village Hall is a very popular wedding venue the secretary Pat Thomson 0117 950 5862. and has another busy wedding schedule set for

Bristol Brunel Probus Club for retired 2014. Would you like to put your skills into professional and businessmen. Meet at BAWA, action? If so, why not become a wedding Southmead Rd, once a month to enjoy a good volunteer and help organise these happy lunch and a great mix of social events, regular events. If you are interested, please contact speakers, visits and outings, to which wives and Anne 0117 9680872 or Cat 07931112192. friends are warmly welcomed. For more details please ring Fred Martin on 0117 968 3875.

St Peters Church Choir, The Drive, Henleaze.

We are always on the look out for new Redland Green Bowling Club invites both members and would welcome any new voices novices and players to come and play at soprano, alto, tenor or bass. All are welcome.

Redland Green where tuition is available with Please contact Reg Parker ‐ Organist and qualified coaches. FFI please ring Jean or Gerry Choirmaster on 962 1230.

Wickham on 9624466.

Bristol Phoenix Choir celebrates fifty years of

Come and join the Stoke Bishop Ladies Choir! singing with a concert of joyful music by Haydn If you enjoy singing, don't be shy, come along and Purcell on Saturday 5th April at 7.45 pm in on Mondays 1.45‐4pm at Stoke Bishop Village Clifton Cathedral. Nelson Mass and Te Deum Hall. No auditions required. We sing for ‐ Haydn: Hail! bright Cecilia – Purcell. With four pleasure. We do a concert at the end of term soloists including a member of The Sixteen for charity and raised £450 at our Christmas plus three past and present members of Bristol one. Come and be part of the fun. For more Cathedral Choir, this promises to be a fabulous birthday. What would we like as a present? information, please ring Carolyn on 2791409.

Lots of people to sing to, of course!

Sea Mills Garden Club have regular monthly meetings, every 3rd Wednesday, held at Sea Stoke Lodge Ramblers provide a varied range Mills Methodist Rooms, Sea Mills Square at of walks that will suit all levels of walking 7.30 pm. Our forthcoming programme of talks ability. Walks are scheduled for the first and is:‐ 19 March, Bob Brown ‐ So Many Plants so third Thursdays and Sundays of every month.

Little Space (This is our 'celebrity' talk and we Those on Thursdays are either medium walks will therefore be charging visitors £5 on that of 5 ‐ 7 miles or short walks of 4 miles. Sunday

What’s On & Community Events

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94 What’s On & Community Events 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.

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 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 28

1. Morland and Muchelney; 2. Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years A Slave; 3. Eric; 4. Wythenshawe & Sale East; 5. 18th September 2014; 6. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, by Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho; 7. Lizzy Yarnold’s gold medal in the skeleton at the Sochi Winter Olympics; 8.

They are spraying reindeer antlers with luminous paint; 9. Justin King; 10. 20mph; 11.

Justin Bieber; 12. France; 13. Adrian Chiles; 14.

4th August 1914; 15. High Dennis from the cast of the BBC’s “Outnumbered”; 16. Windermere.

Deadline for April Issue ‐ 12th March

95Â Canford Bowling Club There can be few clubs existing in Westbury on Trym that have continued without interruption for over 100 years. Work started on the creation of Canford Park in January 1905 and a public Bowling Green was laid in 1912. The Bowling Club was founded in 1913 with a membership of 73 (including 3 ladies) Despite two world wars and the pavilion being burnt down on 14th October 1973, there has only been limited disruption, and a programme of games has been played in every one of the last 100 years.

In 2012 the club agreed to take a much more relaxed attitude to the rather formal clothing requirements. New club shirts, light jackets and anoraks replaced the Blazers, white shirts and ties.

We are now looking forward to our 101st season and hope to attract many new members. Here is a game enjoyed by all ages, in a pleasant and social atmosphere. We hope that this article will create interest amongst readers to come along to the club, see how we work, learn how to play, and decide whether this sport is for them.

We will have a pre-season meeting for members at the club house on 22nd March starting at 10:00am, at which potential new members will be welcome.

If you are unable to attend, the club practice evening is held every Monday throughout the season from 14th April, at which coaching for new members is available.

Please get in touch on Bristol 9501967

Â

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97 Changes are afoot . . .

From the April issue ‐ which will mark The Bristol Nine’s eighth birthday ‐ there will be a few changes introduced. None of them that dramatic visually, I admit, but important enough nonetheless.

▪ Circulation of the magazine will

increase from 10,000 to 12,000 monthly

copies to refresh those parts of BS9

hitherto uncovered. So the remainder

of Coombe Dingle, half of Sea Mills, and

peripheral areas around Henleaze Lake

and Wellington Hill West will all come

into the distribution area.

▪ The magazine will, as far as is

practicably possible, be fully delivered

by the first of the month, allowing a full

calendar month of community news to

be covered in each issue

Getting it right when you write I received the following little article from local PR consultant Angela Belassie who kindly reminded me that I am no stranger to human fallibility and am known to miss out the odd comma, colon and capital error.

“If to err is human, then to proofread is divine.

Whether it’s a work email, marketing literature or an article for a client, it’s crucial to make sure it is accurate. This includes content, spelling and the grammar. As Shakespeare pointed out: we are all human and prone to making mistakes.

But proofreading our work and double‐ checking details can help avoid unsightly, embarrassing and potentially costly errors.

What harm in a little typo you may wonder? So what if I spelt ‘Smith’ with an ‘i’ instead of a ‘y’?

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To facilitate this, new print deadlines are coming into force ‐ so all entries into the What’s On section must be received no later than the 12th of the month for inclusion in the following months magazine.

A larger and hopefully more legible font and colour schemes will be introduced to make the reading experience more enjoyable.

More articles will be introduced, including regular slots for news from local schools and sports clubs.

A lighthearted monthly cartoon, being especially drawn for the BS9 by a local student, will start to feature (hopefully from April, definitely in May) less mistakes (see below)

and, at last, a more legible index!

Well, it comes down to credibility and people’s perception of you.

If you can’t spell Mrs Smyth’s name correctly, people will question the accuracy of the rest of your content. It can also come across as a lack of interest in your subject matter. And, of course, it’s likely to upset Mrs Smyth.

(I should point out the Mrs Smyth I refer to is a fictional character. But you get the point.)

A lack of, or simply inaccurate punctuation can cause confusion. And it could even lead to a costly lawsuit. The New York Times once reported on The comma that cost 1 million dollars. Citing the “rules of punctuation,” Canada’s telecommunications regulator ruled in favour of a company cancelling its five‐year agreement with little notice.”

Sound advice Angela ‐ which I intend to act upon.

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