Your Local Times February 2011 by Local Publisher

your

Local Times February Issue 2011

â&#x20AC;Śfor the life you lead e n t ertainment * travel * fas h i o n * s t y l e * re s t a u r a n t s

your

Local Times

How to contact us: Editor: Fiona Pennington 08456 199 038 editor@yourlocaltimes.co.uk Contributors: Steve Gould Trevor Kirton Sue MacLusky Des Taylor Advertising: Sales Team advertising@yourlocaltimes.co.uk 08456 199 038 Sue Maclusky 07810 578075 Studio Team studio@yourlocaltimes.co.uk Credit Control 08456 199 038 Accounts: Ken Bell accounts@yourlocaltimes.co.uk Published by Your Local Publisher Ltd Bridge House, Severn Bridge Riverside North, Bewdley DY12 1AB 01299 406 095 DEADLINE next issue:

20th February Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither the publisher nor its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party for loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. The publisher does not officially endorse any advertising material included in this publication. Your Local Times is a trademark of Your Local Publisher Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form - electronic, mechanical, photocopied or recorded without prior permission of the publisher.

Contents

Welcomeâ&#x20AC;Ś I have so much to talk about for this months issue with its new layout and our many varied advertisers.

Sue has been attending many network meetings and will be writing about her experiences in the coming issues. Many people are reluctant to talk about their life changing experiences but Kevin, who owns Simply Charming, is certainly one to read about. On the Website is another small presentation showing how lucky we are compared to others. Over the next few months we will be featuring gardening, holidays and the wedding fayres where Bridal Train recently had a very successful evening with the prom fashion show at Kidderminster Town Hall. We love it now you contribute to the magazine with features and as you will see the magazine is growing. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great to see the readership is increasing so keep in touch.

Fiona

Fiona Pennington - Editor editor@yourlocaltimes.co.uk 3

your

Community News

Local Times

Aggborough and Spennells Community Connect

Helping to improve our Community

The Aggborough and Spennells Community Connect website was launched in July 2010 and is aimed at those who live and work within the Aggborough and Spennells areas. We are several groups of enthusiastic local residents and we believe this is a GREAT area with a fantastic community spirit. We want this site to support and develop on the many local initiatives already started in the area and help to facilitate new projects. You are welcome to join us on-line and welcome you to

participate in suggesting future projects and events like the Litter Busters where the next event takes place on Saturday 5th February 2011 Starting at 9.30am until 11.30am (but come along when you can) to the Spennells Community/Youth Centre (next to Tesco Express). The group also brings to the attention projects to tackle the problems of dangerous Parking which has been brought to the attention of ASCCUS by several residents, as to their concerns regarding illegal parking of mainly light commercial vehicles at the junction of Captains Pool Road

and Turnstone Road. The group wants many more residents to take part in the community schemes so join in. Go to the web site at www.asccus.org and see if you can make a difference to your area.

Volunteers wanted Mentor Link is a local children’s charity dedicated to supporting young people in schools by providing them with a volunteer mentor. The mentors listen to and support the young people with the aim of creating a more positive attitude towards learning. Over our eight year history we have many success stories as one parent writes, “I would like to thank you and your team at Mentor Link for all your time, support and patience you have shown H over the last year. It has been a 4

valuable outlet for her, coping with friendship issues as well as the separation of myself and her dad. H has coped fantastically through a very tough year and I’m extremely proud of her and I’ve no doubt Mentor Link helped her achieve this.” We urgently need volunteer mentors for new schools in the Wyre Forest area and also volunteers for our shop in Stourport. The charity shop urgently needs volunteers to

process, price and sell stock. (bric a brac, clothes, books etc) Both voluntary roles offer a flexible and friendly approach to volunteering and supporting local children in your community. For further details please contact: Volunteer mentoring - Claire Quinn – 07973572768 cquinn@ baxtercollege.worcs.sch.uk Charity shop volunteersKatrina Stephenson – 01299 823537

Pancake Races The Wyre Forest Pancake Races were a great local tradition during the 1970s and are returning for the second decade of the 21st Century. Taking place annually on Shrove Tuesday, the races were one of those fun Bewdley events, for which people would skive school or work to either go and watch, or take part. Somehow though, and sadly, over the years the event ceased to be and as younger generations replaced the old, the Pancake Races were forgotten about by all but a few. We are going to revive the memory of the event, which will benefit the beleaguered traders of Kidderminster and hope they join forces to return visitors to the town and hopefully this will spread to Bewdley town centre and beyond. The races will be great fun, bringing a new lease of life to the town during the usually dull month of February. Just as in times past, when hundreds lined Load Street, races were over subscribed and several heats had to take place to allow everybody who wanted to, to join in. We

want it to be a huge success, Pancake Races are back! This year the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Races will be on Tuesday 8th March at 10.00am till 12 noon the first being in Kidderminster town Centre. Trinity Methodist church are organizing the event so to revive this old British tradition, bring along your frying pan to Kidderminster town centre where there will be races for children, Ladies and Gentlemen, those in fancy dress, relays for group entries such as shops and community groups. Entries will be ÂŁ1 per person and prizes will be awarded to the winners. In addition to the races Trinity Methodist Church will be holding a Coffee morning with Pancakes in the Corn Exchange. All proceeds from the event will go to Trinity Methodist Church Restoration Fund. If you are interested in joining us on the day please telephone Ann on 01299 404226 or Paul on 01562 824450 or email lymanhughes34@aol.com

Community News

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Local Times

Riverside Children’s Centre is holding Community Birthday Parties Calling all children aged between one and four living in the Bewdley area! Riverside Children’s Centre is holding a series of birthday parties for local children who have celebrated their 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th birthdays in the last 12 months. The fun began in January with a party for children aged one and continues in February with a party for two-year-olds. “This is a great opportunity for children of the same age to

get together, make new friends and celebrate,” says Children’s Centre Manager, Alvynne Curley. “We are looking forward to fun, games and party food.” The parties are being held on the following dates: • Tuesday 8 February (2-year-olds) 1.30-3.00pm • Thursday 14 April (3-year-olds) 1.30-3.00pm • Thursday 21 April (4-year-olds) 1.30-3.00pm

Places are limited and can be booked by phoning Riverside on 01299 409169. A full programme of events is available at www. worcestershire.gov.uk/ riverside. Barnardo’s Riverside Children’s Centre provides free activities, advice and support for children aged under 5 and their families living in the Bewdley area.

Ben the Bear visits Kidderminster International school Children from Holy Trinity International School’s Kindergarten played host to American Ben the Bear, after he returned from his global travels to visit the school’s Kindergarten pupils and tell them all about his international adventures and world experiences. Ben has had a real impact on curriculum activities which have taken on a ‘bear focus’ because as you can imagine, such a welltravelled bear likes to be the centre of attention. Kindergarten Manager, Gaynor Carter, speaking about his amazing adventures said: “As part of the children’s early learning goals, our well travelled furry friend, Ben the Bear, brings souvenirs and post cards back from all the wonderful places he has visited to show the children. 6

“His passport shows all the stamps of the places he’s been, helping the children with their understanding of languages and literacy, as well as helping with our discussions about the many people of the

Ben the Bear with 3yr-old Grace Ward and 4yr-old Toby Bevan.

world. Talking with the children about Ben’s travels really helps them to understand the world in which they live.” Furry Ben the Bear has been undertaking local and global travels with the school’s pupils and their families for many years, and has been seen on the odd trip or two with Kindergarten staff, bringing back pictures of him on holiday in and around the UK, Europe, America and all places in between; Ben is certainly a welltravelled Bear. Throughout the spring term, the three and four year-old Kindergarten children will each have the opportunity to take Ben the Bear to their homes and on any holiday travels they might undertake.

Your Life, Your Style â&#x20AC;Śfor the life you lead

f a s hion * wedding * beauty * health * glamour 7

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Local Health & Beauty

Local Times

Why you can travel the World but you can’t beat… Mary Ann Randle scoured the American market before finding her daughter’s dream dress back home at Frox. As Proms are so big in America Mary’s first thought was to scour the internet. She even took her daughter shopping while

Prom package Bronze - Dress and make up (including trial) £135 Silver - Dress, make up (including trial) and hair £150 Gold - Dress, make up (including hello@froxhire.co.uk trial) hair & www.froxhire.co.uk jewellery £165

07884 344 755

Appointments available 82 Hagley Road, Oldswinford, Stourbridge, DY8 1QU

on holiday in Florida! But still no luck. Then, after trailing round many dress shops near to her Kingswinford home she finally discovered Frox. “Laura, who runs Frox, makes it such a relaxed experience and has real style. There’s never any pressure to buy. She’s kind and helpful and knows just what you want.” Mary’s daughter, Grace, left the shop ecstatic. Buying the right prom dress is like buying a Wedding dress. It’s a girl’s big day and she needs everything to be really perfect; the tan, the hair, plus the right make up and accessories. Mary’s daughter Grace found her dream dress for her Year 11 Prom – then, a few years later, was back again for her Year 13 one! “I’d say Laura at Frox has special qualities. So much so that other shops just don’t compare.” Visit Frox, 82 Hagley Road, Stourbridge DY8 1QU or call Laura on 07884 344755 www.froxhire.co.uk

Local Venue Stylist

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Local Times

Bespoke Venue Styling for any occasion With the high costs of holding your wedding reception or anniversary at hotels your guests can now enjoy a personal theme styled venue anywhere of your choice. Many of my clients use the local village hall or marquee to hold a wedding reception or anniversary celebration and I tailor the style and theme to each clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s instructions. It is bespoke and individual but very affordable. Each wedding is different and very special and I offer this room transformation using specialist fabrics, lighting, and colour pallets to make that stunning unforgettable day. Table decorations include fresh florals to combine elegance or a contemporary look. Every makeover is unique and instructions from the client are sympathetic to the occassion. After twenty-seven years in the fashion industry I like to design and dress the venue to delight your guests.

Please call me if you would like more information or go to the website at www.theroomdresser.co.uk Or call 07969 984023

Local Health & Beauty

It’s Valentines! So I’ll tell you why I love my clients! My job is maintaining people’s good health. The majority of my clients are healthy, albeit very stressed out, people. Some of my clients ring me up and say “I need to be Sue-ooed” ! Which means they need me to de-stress them! My clients are amazing people. If they weren’t my clients they’d be my best friends. What I do is allow them to experience the weight of everyday life melt away as they enter a world of relaxation and tranquility. For many of them, coming to see me is the only time they turn their mobile phone off. I provide a safe space for them to completely ‘let go’. We all need to let go sometimes. When you experience a really good massage it has a sieve effect; it really does sort out or de-clutter your mind. Many of my clients have made life-changing decisions after having regular massage. I had a Head Teacher who resigned from her job and an IT Consultant who went off round the world! Some people simply drift off into a deep relaxation as soon as they lie down on my heated couch. Others like me to talk them through a ‘guided meditation’. I design a meditation especially for them. Many ask me to tell them my ‘little boat story’ (it’s one of my favourites and really helps people unwind).

But what most people don’t realise is that my Massage is like a Meditation for me as well! In fact, I’d go so far as to say that I love it so much I’d do it even if I didn’t get paid! Right, now if you’re reading this and you want to experience some TOTAL RELAXATION – call me now ! Sue MacLusky 07810 578 075

Relax and let go with Sue Call 07810 578 075 BESPOKE MASSAGE THERAPIES

• Isn’t it about time you felt great? • Would you like to relax at a deep level? • Do you want to let go of all your stresses & strains? “Once you’ve had a Massage with Sue you won’t want to go anywhere else! Unbelievable.”

Richard, Stourbridge

website: www.sootheoutstress.co.uk

Sue is based in Stourbridge but works across the UK 11

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Local Valentine

Local Times

Are You a Valentine Looking for Love?

Dare You Join the On-Line Dating Game? One of my most memorable jobs in television was making a ‘docu-soap’ (real life drama) about a Dating Agency. My task was to find people brave (or mad) enough to date on camera! The series went out on BBC 1 prime time. So, more than a decade on, I’m not surprised on-line dating is so popular. FACT 1: Modern life means people don’t have time to date; hence shortcuts. FACT 2: Many don’t have time for relationships either. FACT 3: People search for everything on- line so why not love? In my experience you need to know yourself well and be specific about what you want. If you want marriage or a long term romance say so. There are plenty out there who only want flings and don’t or won’t give you time for much else! I know lots of people who use on-line dating. One has even got married ! It can be a great way of connecting with people, but you really do need to be extremely careful. I’ve put together some profiles of people I know: Emma, young single Mum. “Check them out first and always meet somewhere anonymously in day light. I like it cos’ I find it flattering to find all these men interested in me” Lisa, single Mum of two. “It helps if you know what you want. I’ve found myself a nice professional man for

weekends when the kids are away with their Dad. It’s great.” Sally, divorced with grown up kids. “It was a case of now or never with me. So I gave it a go never dreaming I’d meet someone who mattered but I did and now we’re married!” Julie, age 50 – with grown up daughters still at home “My daughters egged me on! Told me it was about time. Especially as they saw their Dad get hitched up via an on line agency! I turned 50 and never felt better so thought ‘why not’? So I did and would-you-believe it I ended up meeting a lovely chap who lives just 5 miles down the road from me!” Christine – 40 something “I did a lot of dating. Yes I met some creeps and yes I wasted time but what it did was open me up to the possibility of meeting the right one and what happened in the end was I ended up with someone my brother introduced me to but had I not had the experience of dating I would not have been ready for him”. If you ‘Google’ dating you’ll find plenty of sites to choose from. Match.com is one of the biggest but check out the Daily Telegraph’s guide to on-line dating. Also, beware – online dating is addictive. Don’t rush it and take it really steady. Take good advice and always tell a friend where you are going and who you are meeting. Sue MacLusky

Local Nutrition

Love your liver –live longer For the past ten years I have been helping people to improve their energy levels as well as their general health and well being.

But did you know that our liver has a way of telling us it is not happy in more ways than one?. Whenever I mention the Liver to my clients, some of them immediately respond with “I don’t really drink, so my liver should be ok.” How many of you love cheese and chocolate? I, myself am partial to a nice bit of dairy milk, but I have seen the way it affects health and energy by blocking the liver when I see clients with low energy, mood swings, bloating, dark circles round their eyes and more often than not, having problems losing weight. Our liver is our main organ and acts like a large sieve, cleaning out daily toxins from our blood.. It also has a many other other jobs to do like burning fat and producing hormones. So it makes sense that a clean liver will burn more fat than a clogged one!

I love food and like many of my clients we all love a treat. Mine would be a cappuccino and piece of cake or a noce warm scone and butter. In moderation food and drink generally doesn’t present a problem. But it is the excesses and binging that over many years affects us. So some foods to watch … • chocolate • cheese • sugar • alcohol • fatty foods

• full milk • coffee

…and some tips to help your liver function better… • increase water drinking • reduce alcohol • avoid fizzy drinks • limit coffee • watch the cheese, especially hard cheeses • chocolate in moderation • exercise more Suggested supplement: Milk Thistle (available from all health food shops or Biocare Ltd in Kings Norton).

Local Health & Beauty

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Local Times

Jenny Pavle is passionate about what she does. She knows the secret of making women feel truly pampered and totally relaxed. Maybe that’s because she enjoys her job and gets satisfaction from making women look and feel as beautiful and as glamorous as they want to be! Jenny firmly believes every customer should be treated like Royalty. “I really enjoy my work as I love enabling my ladies to really relax and enjoy some special ‘me’ time. I really do roll out the red carpet for my ladies in my salon. Comfort and cleanliness are also my priorities, as well as offering a really professional service with a warm smile!”

A De-Luxe Four Hour Pampering Session for the One You Love

This package includes 4 hrs of pure relaxation:

• • • • • •

Deluxe facial Eye lash and eye brow tint Brow reshape Full body polish Deluxe Manicure Deluxe Pedicure

All this for only £70.00 that’s a saving of over £20.00 Book now with Jenny

07871 073 866

Specially for Valentine’s this month, Jenny is offering a luxurious ‘Pamper Package’ which is unbeatable value. For just £70 you can have a four hour pamper session which includes a deluxe manicure and pedicure, a luxurious facial, a body polish, plus an eye lash tint and eye brow shape. Jenny prides herself on her bespoke facial treatments. She believes a facial should be just as relaxing as going to a Spa or having a really good massage. Sue is one of Jenny’s regular customers: “I would thoroughly recommend Jenny. She’s very talented and made me feel completely and utterly relaxed. I believe giving a good facial is a real art; Well all I can say is that Jenny has certainly honed her ‘art’. I especially liked the little ‘treat’ she gave me at the end. A cup of special tea and an exquisite Belgian chocolate – what more could a woman want!” Sue, Stourbridge. Jenny offers a pretty unbeatable service and runs her salon from the centre of Stourbridge. She’s based at ‘Body Balance’ which is down Victoria Passage, just off the High Street. Call Jenny now for her latest offers – mobile: 07871 – 073866 or 01384 442091

Dance Yourself Thinâ&#x20AC;Ś â&#x20AC;ŚAnd have fun at the same time with Zumba Fitness. This Latin inspired, calorie-burning dance and fitness-party programme is being enjoyed by those from sixteen to many who are in their seventies. Tailored to suit men and women of all shapes and sizes you can dance away those unwanted calories while meeting people at local venues arranged by Deborah, a CYQ level gym instructor.

Deborah has full public liability insurance and is available to take classes at any venue throughout Worcestershire and has started the schools programme by introducing children to this fabulous way of exercising.

The routine set to music is exhilarating and easy to follow and is fast becoming the successful dance-fitness programme in the UK. There is a friendly, lively atmosphere and you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to complete with those who regularly use a gym to train. Deborah will ease you slowly into a dance routine exercising along to Salsa, Samba, Pop, Reggaton, African and those who wish to show off Belly dancing. Every session feels like a party so why make loosing calories a chore?

Look at the classes available on the advertisement or on the website at www.jordan-fitness.com Call 07792 723213 or email: Jordan-fitness@btinternet.com

Local Health & Beauty

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Local Times

How Cancer & Crystals led me to set up

…Kevin Barker’s story

“At first, having bowel cancer was a bit of a joke. I’m a big bloke so I’d tell people it was a great way of getting a ‘tummy tuck’! But the day came when I was in the hospital waiting room and I beautiful girl walked past and gave me the most amazing smile. She was completely bald and hooked up to a drip. Suddenly it was ‘Oh my god, I’ve got cancer!’ I started to panic. Next time I was in hospital my Mum gave me some crystals to play with. I know it might sound strange to you but they made me feel so much better. I started to review my life. I’d been the Senior Manager of a large company and we’d got everything. You know, the jacuzzi and hot tub in the garden and what we thought was a great life. But after cancer it all became meaningless.

I’ve been guided to set up “Simply Charming”. I know it won’t make me rich but this is what I want to to do. This is what I have to do. We sell silver jewellery, gifts & essential oils and natural products. My wife Anne runs the business with me and our shop has been entirely created to meet our customer’s demands. Step inside “Simply Charming” and be prepared to be completely and utterly charmed! I promise you, you won’t be disappointed!

www.simplycharming925.co.uk Simply Charming, 4 Blackwell St, Swan Centre, Kidderminster. 01562 752522 Therapy & Training Rooms Available for bookings.

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Local Dating

Local Times

If You Want to Join the Dating Game - Go Local! You can have a lot of fun doing on line dating but you can also waste a lot of time. You might find many of those listed are married and if they’re not married they live too far away or are just too busy to meet. That’s according to Trudy Williams, of Ombersley. Trudy has been running a dating agency for the last 30 years. “Perfect Partners” is an exclusive Worcestershire based dating service. Trudy prides herself on her reputation for making good matches.

The service from Perfect Partners is both professional and completely confidential.

Trudy is a trained psychologist and every new member is interviewed personally by Trudy herself. She’s pleased that on-line dating has become so popular but warns people to be careful.

All our introductions will be within easy travelling distance.

“Anyone can put themselves on line with a fake or ‘touched up’ photo and they can lie about their personal circumstances. We match quality with quality and I specialise in older people. I believe age is no barrier to meeting people.”

Contact Trudy Williams at Perfect Partners

01905 621 183

www.perfectpartners-midlands.co.uk PO Box 22, Droitwich WR9 OYT 18

“A quarter of our members are recommended or are repeat customers. All our members are genuinely single and the service we use is safe, secure and successful. I’ve got a great track record and have in fact had 90 marriages!”

Contact Trudy Williams at Perfect Partners 01905 621 183 www.perfectpartners-midlands.co.uk PO Box 22, Droitwich WR9 OYT

Flower Power Bewdley Specialising in modern and traditional designs, Flower Power Bewdley provides high quality flowers for all occasions, including weddings, funerals, births and corporate events.

10% OFF Voucher

Valid until 31st March

30 Load Street, Bewdley Worcestershire DY12 2AS

Tel: 01299 409036 Mob: 07817 615555 Web: www.flower-power-bewdley.co.uk Email: flowerpowerbewdley@ymail.com

Karen Butler Health Professions Council

Registered Chiropodist

01299 871272

Reiki Training at the

Ramada Hotel Kidderminster 1st, 2nd, Master, Master/Teacher Degrees Small classes Comprehensive manual Lunch and refreshments For 2011 courses please contact

Carole Carlton

(UK Reiki Federation Teacher )

www.arcanus.co.uk Telephone 01299 841540 19

Local Health & Beauty

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Local Times

Angelina’s Salon Introduces the Latest Skin Care Technology ‘The A Lift’ facial rejuvenation treatment Angelina’s in Kidderminster has launched a revolutionary new facial treatment to replenish and rejuvenate tired looking and ageing skin. The new “A-Lift” machine is only available at Angelina’s in Kidderminster. Angie, at Angelina’s is one of the first beauticians to be trained to use a new microcurrent machine which renews your skin cells. Unlike other machines, like CACI,

Offering services covering all your hair and beauty needs

Opening Hours

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

CLOSED 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM CLOSED

01562 752194 www.angelinas.biz

the A Lift machine is unique in that it has a constant current. When you frown or smile muscles tighten over time and become fixed in one place, leading to pronounced frown lines and wrinkles. The A-Lift system tightens and firms up the muscles, thereby reducing slackness and restoring a finer shape and tone to the face. It also encourages the body to produce collagen and increases cell metabolism by 500%. The micro-current also stimulates the lymphatic system, which in turn reduced the amount of fluid in the face. Eye bags can be reduced in size and dark circles improved. The end result is a face that has a better texture, colour and a healthy glow! Angie at Angelina’s recommends a course of “A Lift” facial treatments if you want your face to look healthy and young. Call Angie now to find out how the “A Lift” can help restore your youthful glow.

Local Inspiration

Shelter From the Storm

A life affirming and inspirational journey Shelter from the Storm is a book by Trevor E. Price. It tells the story of a life affirming and inspirational journey. A journey that was shared by a loving, long-married couple knowing that one of them only had a short time left to live after being diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. The book tells of the friendship and help the couple received after opening their hearts and determining not to fight their battle alone. Supported by the love, prayers and laughter of an army of friends, the couple spent a miraculous and joyful year together – precious time that extended way past the original expectations of the doctors.

curtain may live a life filled with joy and happiness right up to the end.

Chris and Trevor Price It may seem inevitable that we feel only despair about the premature death of a loved one and yet this book shows how, with a positive attitude, anyone facing that final

All profits from the sale of this book will be donated to two charities: Pancreatic Cancer UK – committed to raising awareness of pancreatic cancer, providing a powerful voice for everyone who has been affected by the disease and Pancreatic Cancer Action – a charity with a mission to change pancreatic cancer survival numbers. If you would like to place a trade order please contact Trevor at trevor@shelterfromthestorm.me.uk

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Books We Like

Local Times

Books We Like ‘What Alice Forgot’

by Liane Moriarty The gripping story of a woman who wakes up with a bump on her head and no knowledge of the past 10 years. A romantic comedy that is both thought-provoking and funny.

‘The Confession of Katherine Howard’

by Suzannah Dunn A surprisingly modern look at Tudor history and another ill-fated wife of the much married Henry VIII. Describing Katherine’s conversations with best friend Cathryn Tilney in a gossipy and intimate manner.

“Beatrice and Virgil” by Yann Martel

The long-awaited novel from the Booker Prize-winning author of Life of Pi tells the entwined stories of actor Henry, and elderly taxidermist, a donkey called Beatrice and Virgil a howler monkey.

“The News Where You Are” by Catherine O’Flynn

The funny and touching story of Frank, a local TV news presenter in Birmingham. Beneath his awkwardly corny screen persona, Frank is haunted by disappearances: the mysterious hit and run that killed his predecessor Phil Smethway; the demolition of his father’s post-war brutalist architecture; and the unmarked passing of those who die alone in the city.

Local Hypnosis

Hypnosis as a way forward for smoking and weight issues…. At this time of year people are particularly caught up with health issues. We all make that resolution to quit smoking or loose that extra weight, but where to start? Well, in any decision the first step is in actually making the decision itself. Identifying it and setting a target, goal outcome whatever you call it. This is your ‘psychological acceptance’ of the issue being a problem to be resolved. However, unless we reaffirm that decision regularly it quickly gets ‘lost’ in the events of everyday life. Thinking about the decision in a positive, future paced way is a great way to reinforce it, especially if you are reminded of it regularly. A post it note on your bathroom mirror stating “I am a non smoker...’ Or ‘I weight ‘x’ lbs and am a ‘y’ dress size’ can be powerful subconscious reminders of your desired outcome. To be sure of more direct and lasting results you may turn to other ways to bring these about. Joining a Gym can help weight and using patches can assist stopping smoking. But to be absolutely sure, you need to re-programme your subconscious mind to ensure the old learned behaviours of smoking and eating too much are banished forever. Hypnosis is ideal to achieve this ... quickly and efficiently. Smoking is a habit, and nothing more, and is easily stopped with the use of Hypnosis ... usually in a single two hour session. Usually a follow up session is arranged to check all is as it should be. Your investment for this type of work is usually around £165, about half the monthly bill for smoking 20 a day! Weight management is a little more complex as there can be many issues at play here and many of our modern lifestyles do not help. However, the principles are simple in that eating too much and not moving enough mean you gain weight ... harsh, but true! Some people turn to drastic measures to loose weight, even investing up to £10,000 to have a Gastric Band fitted, effectively reducing their

stomachs down to a size where they cannot eat as much so often, thereby loosing weight, but only if supported with a dietary and exercise regime. The latest development in the use of Hypnosis is the fitting of a ‘virtual’ Gastric Band, convincing the brain that you have such a band fitted in reality, just like the stage hypnotist can make you believe you are eating and apple when in fact it is an onion! The process is usually over 4 sessions with an investment as little as £395; the Hypnotic Gastric Band is a cost effective and successful alternative to bariatric surgery.

If you would like to learn more about Hypnosis and how it may help you, call Michael Skirving on 01384 468 004.

Hypnosis Results

Stopping Smoking Hypnotic Gastric Band Anxiety Other issues

Using Hypnosis, NLP, Psychology and Meta Medicine Private Practice in Stourbridge

Michael Skirving

01384 468 004

michael@michaelskirving.co.uk 23

Places to Be â&#x20AC;Śfor the life you lead

a t t r a ctions * events * sounds * theatre * cinema 24

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Local Attractions

Local Times

Safari Park Names Greatest Exhibit in 37 Years The pride of White Lions at West Midland Safari Park has been deemed as one of the Park’s greatest animal exhibits in its 37year history. The White Lions were first introduced at West Midland Safari Park in 2004 and represented the biggest single animal investment that the Park had ever made. Interest in the four White Lions - one male and three females was immense from the start with enquiries about them being received from as far as Australia, Canada and South Africa.

The famous White Lions at West Midland Safari Park enjoying some rare winter sunshine

In 2006 four cubs were born at the Park - the first ever White Lion cubs to be in the UK. The interest in them was phenomenal. Further births have resulted in a total pride today of 15 - two males and thirteen females - representing the largest pride of rare White Lions in the UK. The legend of the White Lion has been etched into African folklore for centuries. In fact the White Lions at West Midland Safari Park seem to be shrouded in mystery and synonymous with the winter period, since each time white lion cubs have been born it has always snowed. The Park commissioned an exclusive range of White Lion soft toys, the sales of which has surpassed any other item range items to be sold through its on site souvenir shops and via

their online shop. The same can be said of their animal adoption scheme, with White Lions being one of the most sought after animals on the Park to be chosen in the ‘shared’ adoption scheme of fifteen different animals. The White Lions at West Midland Safari Park can be seen in Kingdom of the White Lions that forms part of the four-mile self drive safari.

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First Baby of the Year for Safari Park There’s one little new arrival at West Midland Safari Park who couldn’t wait until spring before showing its face. Despite being born at the start of the winter and enduring the coldest December since records began, the Park’s first baby of the year - a baby wallaby (or Joey as they are known) seems perfectly content to explore the White Wallaby reserve from the warmth of Mum’s pouch. It is quite usual for staff at West Midland Safari Park to welcome an influx of youngsters from February onwards, but the first wallaby baby of the year has certainly appeared much earlier than anticipated given the intense cold weather. Bob Lawrence, the Park’s Director of Wildlife said, “It is likely that the wallaby was born early November hidden from view and thriving in Mum’s pouch. It is certainly unusual to see a Joey this early in the year, given that it has been such a harsh winter with temperatures in the animal reserves reaching as low as -19 degrees”. Native of a much warmer climate, the mob of 23 adult White Bennett’s Wallabies at the Park have a royal connection. They have descended from the original white wallabies that were given as a gift to Queen Elizabeth II whilst on a state visit to Australia in 1962. The latest White Wallaby baby at West Midland Safari Park can be seen in the White Wallaby

Royal connections - the first baby of the year at West Midland Safari Park

reserve that forms part of the four-mile selfdrive safari. The Animal Reserves and Discovery Trail at West Midland Safari Park are now open every weekend in winter until Sunday 13th February 2011. The Park and Amusement Area will open daily from Saturday 19th February 2011. Further information from 01299 402114 or www.wmsp.co.uk

Food for Thought â&#x20AC;Śfor the life you lead

e n t e rtainment * wining * dining * restaurant * deli 27

your

Local Recipe

Local Times

Moroccan Soup Recipe supplied by The Deli at Bewdley

A fragrantly spiced pumpkin soup

Serves 4-6 generously Ingredients • • • • • • • •

1 kg butternut, Acorn squash (peeled and de-seeded) 3 small onions, diced 2 cloves garlic, crushed 2 level teaspoon Arabica Ras el Hanout 1/2 cup red lentils 2 oranges, zested and juiced 2 tablespoons olive oil salt, to taste

Method

Remove the peel, seeds and fibre from the squash and cut into chunky pieces. Reserve the seeds, wash off any clingy bits of fibre and then pat dry with a tea towel. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan, add the onions and cook on a low heat until the onions soften and become translucent and give off there natural sweetness. Add garlic, Ras el Hanout spices, orange zest and the pieces of squash and continue to cook

on a low heat for another 5 minutes stirring regularly. Add 1 litre of boiling water and the red lentils and leave to simmer for 25 minutes. Check to see if the squash is soft by trying to mash a piece with a fork. Take off the heat and blitz with a stick blender until smooth. Stir in the orange juice and season to taste.

Assembly

Pour into a deep bowl, garnish with some fresh parsley or coriander and serve with a hunk of crusty bread.

Tips

If you’ve have the time, wash and pat dry the seeds from the acorn squash and either dry toast them in a hot pan or slowly toast them in a medium oven until they turn crunchy and golden in colour. If Acorn squashes are out of season this recipe is equally tasty using carrots.

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Come out from the cold …

a warm welcome awaits you at Hodgehill Garden Centre’s Coffee Shop and Deli. By Fiona Pennington It’s warm, it’s friendly and the smell of freshly ground coffee and home made soup fills the air. This is why you simply must pay a visit to Gingerella’s Coffee shop and The Deli at Hodgehill Garden Centre. It’s a real treasure of a place which is very conveniently located just off the busy Birmingham Road as you head towards Kidderminster. In fact when I’m travelling back home in rush hour traffic I often stop off at Hodgehill and do all my food shopping (the Deli closing at 4pm). Why bother fighting through traffic to get to one of the big supermarkets when I can buy all my organic meats and veggies and just about everything else at Hodgehill ? Then, before trogging off home I can reward myself with a cuppa and a nice piece of cake. What more could a woman want I ask myself? (Yes well okay, maybe there is just one thing - arrive home to delicious cooking smells, romantic table for two set up, man waiting with Rioja warmed and ready to pour! But if this is unlikely to happen then stopping off at Hodgehill really IS the next best thing, honest!

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Open every day except Monday in the winter months. Gingerella’s offers “seats, eats and treats” and along with The Deli next door it’s got lots to tempt you out of your car and into a nice warm environment where you can fill up your shopping basket with lots of tasty mediterranean produce from The Deli. (Olives,tapas, flavoured Olive Oils for dipping, exotic cheeses, salami etc..) Both The Deli and the coffee shop offer “try before you buy” free samples on any of their tasty goodies. And, for those times when you really can’t decide between the succulent dark chocolate cake or the deliciously moist fruit slab, the friendly staff will persuade you to do what every girl really wants to do - to have a slice of both of course! And why not? I would thoroughly recommend a stop off at Hodgehill Garden Centre’s very own coffee shop and Deli. You can’t beat delicious homemade, organic and locally sourced food. Fiona

Homes â&#x20AC;Śfor the life you lead

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Your Property Your Home

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Local Times

Property values

turned on their head With the economic downturn affecting the property market,

is it a good time to sell?

Life goes on and over the past few years the property market has seen exceptional growth. Lets not forget the reasons why we buy a property. We need somewhere to live and whether we buy or rent there is no getting away from this reason. We like growth in property values because whatever we paid for our home in the past we have been able to borrow against its equity and banks have certainly not stopped us from doing this. Perhaps in retrospect we should have curbed our borrowing but banks certainly made it very easy to procure loans and overdrafts. In the past, it was accepted that a large mortgage attracted, what was the called, mortgage relief, but those were in the past and the only winners now are the banks, which charge inflated interest Those who have to sell, for what ever reasons, moving to new areas, family reasons, repayment of debt, down sizing to a smaller property, will find a limited numbers of buyers who are in a position to purchase. Firstly, they probably have to sell their property, and secondly they may have to find a mortgage, which can prove to be a problem. The criteria for obtaining a mortgage have certainly been tightened up, in my opinion too much, but I am no expert. They can certainly find Which way now, David? the money to 34

pay bankers bonuses this year again so there may be other reasons. It would be interesting to hear from a banker who may shed some light on this. Clearly while the interest rate is so low they wouldn’t make so much money by lending to the mortgage industry. They certainly have had their fingers burnt creating the toxic debt but should the genuine homeowner be penalised over their miss management. As tax payers, we all own a piece of the banks which the government bailed out in the crisis and I feel the government has a duty to resolve the mortgage crisis and introduce a new government backed mortgage scheme where genuine home owners, whether they be first time buyers or pensioners who need to down size, can borrow safely, cheaply and quickly. I distinguish between the genuine home owner and the speculative property developer, which many home owners have become, after many television programmes show us how to buy, renovate and sell, with little or no experience of building, decorating, the legal requirements and by using the aptly named “leverage” to acquire the money by re-mortgaging their main residence. So we have come full circle where many speculators have thrown in the keys, causing toxic debt, a record number of empty property ‘s, when there is an increase in the homeless, fewer property’s being bought and sold, banks reluctant to lend mortgages and a housing market in limbo. So do we have an answer and have we learnt any thing from this crisis? I doubt it because in another ten to fifteen years’ property will have risen in value and this crisis will be consigned to history.

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Local Gardening Calendar

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Whitlenge diary February www.whit-lenge.co.uk

There’s something about this time of year that always makes me yearn for the exotic, for hot climates, lush growth and vibrant colours. With this in mind we hope to plant a new border at Whitlenge as it is south facing and surrounds the conservatory. We may experiment with an exotic theme. This gives an excuse to use plants we haven’t tried before such as the hardy Japanese banana plant Musa Basjoo, a variety of cannas such as Canna Glauca for its bluish foliage and also Canna Indica Purpureum with purple leaves and small but endearing orange red flowers. Cordylines could give an architectural focus especially C a Torbay Dazzler with its narrow spiky leaves of pink and green. We could fill in with plants that are known to us but still give a feeling of theme such as Crocosmia Lucifer, dahlias and rudbeckias.

To carry on with the exotic theme we are sowing seeds of Bell peppers under glass to crop from late summer, Chilli peppers and Aubergines. All our paths need clearing of slippery algae and moss so we will have a go with stiff brushes and power washers.

Pruning carries on apace. For summer foliage effect hard prune Cotinus, Philadelphus, Sambucus and Hydrangeas. Prune late flowering clematis such as C.viticella down to 30cm. Don’t forget the birds as they get ready for nesting and producing this year’s young, it’s a busy time for them so help by providing extra food and bird drinking stations and baths .

Even in Shakespeare’s time English summers were tricky “Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summers lease hath all too short a date” so lets be ready when and if it arrives to enjoy every minute. 36

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Pet food James Wellbeloved, Royal Canin, Burns, Wagg, Bakers, Iams & many more 37

Local Business

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Local Times

Love your Loft and make it part of your home Unless you make an effort, the attic or loft in your home can remain a mystery from the day you move in until the day you move out. A quality loft ladder installation by Attic Access will unlock valuable storage space. With over 25 years experience delving into dusty lofts, they know a thing or two about how to make the most of your loft. They provide a convenient 7 days a week obligation-free consultation service. With many fixed price packages on offer, Attic Access can transform your loft into a useable and valuable space that links with your existing living space.

Loft ladder installation is quick and easy, and once you know what product will work best for you, it only takes around two hours to install leaving you with a safe and convenient way to access to your loft without the hassle and mess you might expect. Make the loft part of your home for the first time and suddenly you have a bigger house â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not to love about that?

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Ovens, the last frontier Gren from Bewdley all over Christmas the last thing you want We cook every night and weekend but hated cleaning the oven. Tony from oven to be doing in the New Year is cleaning brite came along and made our wellthe oven. A chore all of us put off till used ovens look like new. Great Job Is your oven clean? Having been cooking

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Sue from Stourbridge. When I moved into my flat the oven was grimy and well used. I chose Overbite as I had heard some good reports and they advertise locally in the magazine so I was confident they would do a good job. The oven is now looking fantastic. Thanks Tony. Sarah from Stourport With children to look after the last thing on your schedule is oven cleaning. It took Tony two and half hours to clean the ovens and the have come up like new. Another job I don’t have to worry about. Call me on 01562 66532 or for a fast response 07966 270348 and I will give you the most competitive price available so it won’t break the bank. Start the New Year by having a spring clean on your oven.

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The Evolution of Music - Part 2 Firstly, may I wish all our readers a rather belated Happy New Year, hopefully it wasn’t too sober for you !! I must admit, I think it’s about time somebody wrote a new song for us to sing at midnight on the 31st, personally I’m a bit sick ‘n tired of “auld lang syne” - I suppose it wouldn’t be too bad if; a) we all knew the words, other than the first line and b) we knew what it meant !! There you go, maybe Slade or Roy Wood could knock something together, we wait with bated breath... Last issue, if you recall, we took a trip down memory lane, back to the very origins of recorded music and our good friend, Thomas Edison – the pioneer of the phonograph. If you recall, his first attempts at recording and playback of sound were created using a cylinder based machine and although revolutionary and very successful, inevitably wax and foil cylinders soon gave way to discs due to lower production costs, durability and ease of storage and although he was very pro cylinder recordings due to their superior sound reproduction, even he could see that the future was discbased and rather than try to compete, ceased production of cylinder players in 1929 and put all his efforts into the fast-growing disc market. Early disc records were made of various materials including hard rubber. From 1897 onwards, earlier materials were largely replaced by a rather brittle formula of 25% shellac, a filler of a cotton compound similar to Manila paper, powdered slate, and a small amount of a wax lubricant. Early disc recordings were produced in a variety of speeds ranging from 60 to 130 rpm, and a variety of sizes. As early as 1894, Emile Berliner’s United States Gramophone Company was selling single-sided 7” discs with an advertised standard speed of “about 70 rpm”, but as you may well know, ultimately a speed of 78rpm became the industry standard. The playing time of a phonograph record depended on the turntable speed and the groove spacing. At the beginning of the 20th century, the early discs played for two minutes, the same as early cylinder records. The 12-inch disc, introduced by Victor in 1903, increased the playing time to three and a half minutes. As a 10inch 78 rpm record could hold about three minutes of sound per side and the 10-inch size was the standard 42

size for popular music, almost all popular recordings were limited to around three minutes in length, maybe this is the reason why even today three minutes ( or thereabouts ) is still accepted as the recommended length for a tune hopefully destined for the pop charts !! ( Let’s face it folks, even three minutes is maybe three minutes too long for some of the dross we have to endure... ). Over the ensuing years, sizes, speeds and groove spacing were changed, modified and experimented with and due to time restrictions, the more common “LP” Long Player - became the norm and with a reduction in speed and development of two sided recordings, it soon became possible to record for longer. I suppose it was inevitable that classical music became the genre of choice to release on the new LP format, which now spun at 33⅓ rpm giving an approximate record time of around 30 minutes per side ( woo hoo !! ). For the historians among us, the first “microgroove” 33⅓ rpm, 12” LP was released by the Columbia Record Company at a New York press conference on June 21, 1948 - it was the first true vinyl release, as Shellac was found to be extremely brittle and easily broken. Vinyl was far more durable, but easier to scratch or damage. With recordings flying around the World, it didn’t take long for record companies to embrace the new medium and thus the vinyl age was born. Of course, unless you had your own pressing plant, it was impossible to record onto vinyl so a blossoming tape based medium developed alongside vinyl. So, where did this originate from ?? In 1935, decades before the introduction of the Compact Cassette, AEG released the first reel-toreel tape recorder (in German: Tonbandgerät), with the commercial name “Magnetophon”, based on the invention of the magnetic tape (1928) by Fritz Pfleumer, which was using similar technology, but with open reels, for which the tape was manufmactured by BASF. But it wasn’t until 1962 that the compact cassette came along courtesy of Phillips. Stay tuned for the next thrilling installment.... Steve Gould

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Sick and tired of endless bills through your letterbox? Have you ever thought how good it would be to get all your services listed on one single bill? Well, there is a way you can do just that – if you take a look at what The Utilities Warehouse has on offer. By switching to them you can not only save money but also get everything on one bill. This makes it a lot easier to budget for everything! Anthony Ruben is a Utilities Warehouse distributor based in Stourbridge. He’ll happily tell you how easy it is to switch over to Utlities.... just ring him for a noobligation chat.

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Local History

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Local Times

Le Mans and Glory for Jaguar

In the 1950’s Jaguar was still a new and small company in global terms and most of its racing credentials had come from privateer racers who owned and raced Jaguars. Success with the Jaguar XK 120 Roadster in racing was now being overtaken by the continental racing cars with their streamlined bodywork and backing from the larger motor manufacturers. It was clear the XK 120 was now obsolete and William Lyons and chief engineer Bill Haynes embarked on the crusade for the Jaguar Company to win the Le Mans twenty-four hour race and capitalise on its worldwide publicity. In secret and using its close-knit loyal staff of engineers it came up with the winning formula of the Jaguar XK 120 C. Its slippery sleek aluminium crafted bodywork over a steel tubular chassis frame used the same engine as the XK 120. The suspension, although modified, still used the fashionable torsion bars and the drum brakes. Its two seats were wedged between the side frames of the chassis and the prop shaft tunnel categorised it as a sports racing car.

Improvements were made to the XK 120 engine with its 3/8 inch lift cam shafts, 8-to-1 Aerolite pistons which on test produced 184bhp at 5500rpm. Staggering to think today the average family saloon car produces this and the average sports car is in excess of 250 bhp but in the race for titles bhp counted. Tyres of 600x16 inch buffed R1 racing tyres, which were supplied by Dunlop, were set to a pressure of 55lbs per square inch. Incredible how a company with limited resources could achieve the accolade of winning the Le-Mans 24 hour race not only in 1951 but in 1953 where the first three cars home were all Jaguar C-types. Jaguar went on to produce for the public the C-type after its famous victory when a total of 54 cars, including the factory cars, were produced.

No wonder enthusiasts wanted these cars and now the price is beyond the average person’s reach. An original car at auction would sell today for more than a million pounds, which is why, in the 1980’s, a few enthusiasts built replicas of the 1953 racing cars. With the introduction of disc brakes and the 3.8 litre engines, companies succeeded in producing a replica mainly from original parts of the XK 120 Roadster and drop head vehicles which were being broken for spares. Little did we know these would become icons to be collected and preserved. Many replicas bore the distinction of a kit car with the fibreglass body and the modern mechanics from the Jaguar XJ saloons but the few purists who crafted a true Replica of a 1953 Jaguar C-Type built in 1985 having an all aluminium body replica can be proud of the and mechanics from genuine XK 120 built by Autech Classic Cars. heritage they have left. Photograph by Robert Cooper.

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Local Swimming

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Sporting Success

Against the Odds This is 20 year old Fran O’Connor. She’s a world class swimmer and she competes internationally. But she’s no ordinary athlete. For this remarkable young champion was born, at 26 week, with cerebal palsy. She joined the local Wyre Forest Swimming Club and started swimming when she was eleven. Fran, along with many other disabled youngsters, has achieved extraordinary success thanks to the efforts of her father, Kevin O’Connor, who set up the West Midlands Disability Swimming Squad.

Without the help and support of this charity many young disabled swimmers would be unable to participate at all, let alone compete. Later this month, ten youngsters from the West Midlands will be competing in the National Junior Championships, held in Sheffield during the last weekend in February. Many of them hope to qualify for the European Championships in Berlin later this year. But the training sessions and development of these very special athletes is only made possible thanks to the fund raising efforts of Kevin and his team. So if you’d like to get involved or give them some support please visit their website: www.wmdss.org.uk

West Midlands Disability Swimming Squad. Or you can contact Kevin O’Connor m.07890 552 082. e.kevinoc@hotmail.co.uk.

Local Football

our yyour Local Times

The Harriers Kidderminster Harriers are looking to go again with their postponed pre-Christmas promotional event for local football-playing youngsters, and out-of-work supporters. The club had planned to hold its Junior Teams Day last December, though the targeted match against Kettering Town was called off due to the bad weather. Keen to use the idea, things are going ahead once again next month for the visit of Altrincham in the Blue Square Bet Premier on Saturday, 12 February 2011. The Junior aspect of the day is run in conjunction with the club’s Football in the Community scheme, and is designed to continue the club’s recent work in re-engaging with the local community - and especially those of a younger age. All junior teams from the local area are being urged to turn out - and in their club colours. All players will be admitted to the ground’s East Stand for free on the day, with accompanying coaches, parents or officials being given entry for just £10.00 - a discount of £7.00 on a regular adult price. The club is insisting on a minimum of one accompanying adult to every eight children. What’s more, those teams attending in their respective colours will be able to take part in a pre-match penalty shoot-out competition, with each side allowed one representative each. As a fantastic prize, the winner’s team will also be awarded a full playing kit for next season, worth £500, thanks to M.G. Sportswear Ltd. Youngsters participating on the day will also be able to collect autographs and pose for photos with the Harriers squad before the rest of the fun gets underway. Teams wishing to take part will need to book up in advance through the Community Scheme. A booking form is available from the Scheme and will need to be completed by no later than 12:00noon on Monday, 7 February 2011. The Scheme is planning to have tickets ready

for collection within one working day of receipt of a completed application. Individuals who wish to take advantage of the initiative must collect their tickets in advance of the day from Aggborough’s Ticket Office. They should bring proof of both identification and unemployment status, in exchange for an East Stand ticket. To obtain a form or for more information on the Junior Teams day, contact the Football in the Community office on 01562 863 821. These will need to be printed and completed before being returned to the Community Office at Aggborough Stadium.

TWO FREE TICKETS -

For any other Harriers Home League Match. Just answer the following question: Q: Against which opposition will Harriers hold their Junior Teams day this year? A: Kettering B: Bath City C: Altrincham Email your answer to: winner@yourlocaltimes.co.uk or text A, B or C to 07736 540 136 *Full terms and conditions available at the rear of your issue. Good Luck, and come on you reds!

Puzzle Corner

Instructions for sudoku For anyone new to Sudoku puzzles, fill in the blank spaces so that each row, each column and each 3 by 3 block contains all the numbers from 1 to 9.

The Harriers Competition Rules and Conditions No cash alternative to prize. Winner will be notified y e-mail or telephone. Two competition match vouchers will be issued to the winner, which must be exchanged in person (free of charge) for match tickets the Kidderminster Harriersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Ticket Office, located at Aggborough Stadium, Hoo Road, Kidderminster, DY10 1NB. Any personal data will be processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. It will only be used for the purposes of notifying outcomes of the competition. Your information will not be shared with any organisations external to Your Local Times except for when a third prize is issuing a prize directly. If you do not wish to be informed of future events or offers please state so.

Answers to puzzles on page 66â&#x20AC;Ś

Local Golf

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Local Times

Bewdley Pines Golf Club

What a relief for golfers everywhere to finally look through the window and see that everything has stayed green overnight and not turned white yet again, and so it is that the weekly exodus to the golf course takes place. But how difficult is it to still enjoy and play our best golf during the winter months? Well it is certainly important to stay warm. Extra layers of clothes, hats & gloves are a must but don’t make it easier to swing freely. So remember to play within yourself, all that thrashing about in an effort to create extra power seldom works. Try to hit the ball well, not hard.

Cold air will take 20% off your distance so club up, choose one you can easily reach you target with and swing smoothly. If the greens are soft you can hit positively when chipping and land the ball closer to your target as it won’t run, hit firmly and play for less borrow when putting. But above all, don’t delay, keep on the move then you and other golfers around you can still enjoy their round of golf. For more information on how to play, or improve your golf contact Mark Slater PGA Professional, Bewdley Pines Golf Club. 01299 404744

Des Taylor

our Local Fishing

The Big Fish Angler Extraordinaire

At last the snow and ice has gone or at least it has whilst I sit here writing this article! For 7 weeks the canals, pools, the bigger lakes and even the river has been frozen over and it’s been virtually impossible to cast a line. But now it’s looking better, blackbirds are already chasing each other in mating mode, birds are starting to sing at dawn and snowdrops are just starting to stick their heads through the hard cold soil.

moving on. If there is a pike present it will take the bait very quickly. I’ve taken big pike on the river before now “on the drop” in other words as the bait falls through the water straight after casting in. Whilst in the swim about every 10 minutes I simply lift the bait a few inches and then let it settle again. If a pike is looking at the bait that little bit of movement can be the difference between a blank or a big fish!

All this resurgent of life you can actually see, but be in no doubt the same is happening under the surface of the water and fish are starting to look for food again. At this time of year a good bet is to try and catch a big pike and with a river like the River Severn so close to us that is full of them why not give it a go?

A tip here is I personally like to pre-bait for pike, something that very few anglers do. All this entails is buying a bag of sprats or sardines, cutting them up into three and throwing them in likely looking swims without actually fishing them. I might do this twice in the week before fishing the area on a weekend. But be careful, make sure you put the bait in the morning not in the evening after work because the pike will get used to feeding late or even in the dark and night fishing for pike on the river in winter is something you don’t want to be doing. The longer you “pre-bait” without fishing the more and bigger the pike will come to those swims. Yes you are educating the fish to come to your swim instead of trying to guess on the day where they will be.

My favourite baits are a live roach if allowed by the club or association or a nice silver sardine. Simply rove down the river and every bay or slack cast your bait in there and give it only 30 minutes before

Waiting for a pike to pick up my sardine in a swim just above the town of Bewdley

I know some “experts” will tell you to use 30lb nylon instead of wire trace for pike but that is courting disaster, for big pike have big teeth and you “have” to use wire traces or you will be bitten off. Some will tell you to smoke a cigarette before striking after the pike has taken the bait. Well that is asking for the pike to swallow the bait resulting in a damaged fish. I strike straight away like on other fish and I don’t lose many and striking straight away means the fish is hooked in the mouth causing no damage what so ever. Pike are great sport and fight well even in the cold water of winter so get out there and hook one and put a bend in your rod. 57

Business to Business â&#x20AC;Śfor the life you lead

r e c r u i t m e nt * coaching * accou nting * shopping * traders 58

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Local Times

Local Recruitment

Recruiting Locally for Your Business Your local publisher is looking for sales persons for its advertising department. With unemployment running at its highest since the nineteen nineties you would have thought that it would not be too difficult to find a suitable candidate. We would like someone who is local but I enquired how much it would be to place a credit card sized advertisement in the Express and Star and The Kidderminster Shuttle. I won’t quote the prices but let me just say that you could advertise in Your Local Times and Your Local Trader for a whole year and have change to have a night out for a whole week!

An advert this size will cost you £75.

How’s that for value ?!

Telesales person required Full or Part time Experience in selling advertising would be an advantage. Must have good communication skills, be enthusiastic, work to deadlines and be computer literate. Located in Bewdley you will receive training to achieve targets. Please email your CV to:

bob@yourlocaltimes.co.uk or call 08456199038 for more details

Being a small business, needless to say, we have had to look for alternatives to increase our staff levels. Maybe we should include in our magazines a section for recruitment and would like to hear from businesses that need to increase their workforce. Of course if your business wants to spend huge sums of money with the newspapers then you are welcome to do so, but if alternatives exist why not use them? If you feel that our rates are, well too cheap, then let me know and I can send you a “very inflated” invoice! I know what you are thinking. News papers have a larger readership and it is daily or weekly, but does that justify a “one night stand” with them when you could have a larger advertisement, reaching a readership of thousands of local people and is on the website for as long as you require it in our digital magazines. Targeting local people, especially now it is more expensive to travel to work, who are looking for work need not cost the earth. Remember that Your Local Times and Your local Trader targets businesses as well as local residents so call me now on 08456199038 and for less than a £1 per day your advert may just find the person who will add value to your company.

your

Local Networking

Local Times

(Why YOU Should)

Love Networking!

By Sue MacLusky

When I finally braved it to my first networking event I was terrified. The thought of standing up to do a 60 seconds speech really bothered me. I imagined a room full of hard nosed business people in crisp suits, all staring at me!

Circle Events Network have meetings right across the Wyre Forest and Worcestershire. They meet over Breakfast, Lunch or Evenings to ‘do business’ and support, share and encourage. (*See below for sample list of events*)

I needn’t have worried. No one stares at you, everyone encourages you and they are all friendly and welcoming (not a crisp suit or hard stare in sight! Phew!)

Michelle Mills-Porter, of “Ethos”, convinced me that networking is the best way to promote your services: “We are evolving, communication is evolving, marketing is evolving.... networking is essential for building business. Circle is about giving and what you get back in return is tenfold. I love Circle!”

”

For details of networking tel: 01384 359103 or info@eventsnetworking.co.uk

Where busy people meet to get connected

01384 359 103

email:

info@eventsnetworking.co.uk 60

Halesowen Breakfast Club: 16 th Feb, 23 rd March Stourport Breakfast Club: 9th Feb, 9th March Evening events and ‘Ladies Lunches’ also available. “Personal recommendation is the most powerful thing and if you work on your own it’s fantastic to have the support and encouragement of others. I would urge anyone with a business to promote to go to Circle events” Nick Bowes

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Local Training

Local Times â&#x20AC;Śis happy to support

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Local Business

Local Times

Why Doing What You LOVE Is The Key! It’s February, the month of LOVE. So we’re talking PASSION. Now come on, isn’t it about time you did what YOU really love doing? Dale Carnegie said “You’ll never achieve success unless you like what you’re doing.” So why not be passionate? We all know that when our heart’s not in something we find it a real struggle. Do you remember as a child how enthusiastic you were about the things you loved doing? Well unless you try and recapture your original motivation and energy, any passion you once had will simply fly out the window. Thus, you’ll never produce the results you are so very capable of.

”

I want to see us all realising we are brilliant, talented and making a difference The commonly held belief that dreams are impossible to achieve is what stops most people from getting what they want out of life. Nicola Marshall set up her own company, “Ripples Coaching” because she enjoys enabling people to make the changes they need to succeed.

“I’m passionate about people. We’re all unique and yet the same. I want to see us all realising we are brilliant, talented and making a difference.” SO WHAT DO SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE LOOK LIKE? Nicola Marshall has coached many local business people to success. “Nicola makes us think about life from a different perspective. I needed someone who could challenge me so I could make changes and re-focus”. To this end Nicola is offering local businesses a tailor-made one day Workshop to help business people get their passion back and focus on the main thing. If you need help making your thing, the main thing contact Nicola now and see how she can help.

07843 559 760 www.ripplescoaching.com nicola@ripplescoaching.co.uk

your

Your Local Writer

Local Times

Let Me Help You Advertise Your Business Here If YOU are reading this, then so are your potential customers!

”

Sue certainly makes life easy!! Running a business is difficult enough without having to find the tine to produce editorials for

I’m a fully qualified and highly experienced

magazine adverts!! Having sue to take that

journalist. With a great eye for a story I

pressure of and produce the writing for me

can make your business really stand out

has been a massive help. She captures the

by offering you a FREE editorial of your

essence of the business well, I always have

choice when you advertise with us. All you

full confidence in her work. Look forward to

need to do is phone me up and I’ll tell you

working with Sue again soon.

how I can HELP YOU ( in the same way I have helped Laura at Frox dress hire, Janet & Angela at Hodgehill Deli and Coffee shop and Kevin, the cancer survivor at ‘Simply Charming’ ...they are just a few of our many

Laura McArdle, Frox Dress Hire. DON’T DELAY CALL SUE TODAY ON 07810 – 578 075 or e-mail

delighted advertisers ).

suemaclusky@gmail.com

Regular advertising in Your Local Times

“Sue wrote a feature regarding our charity

is far more effective than any other local

that helps young disabled swimmers in

advertising, simply ask any of our regular

the West Midlands. She highlighted the

advertisers – OUR ADVERTS WORK!

continuing need to raise money to allow these swimmers to realise their hopes and

Most of our adverts sell for well under

dreams. The article generated much interest

£100 – for full colour and a full design

and has opened new avenues to us to help

service – we are totally unbeatable !

us maintain our fundraising efforts”.

Simon Cook

(MAAT)

Year End Accounts Management Accounts Taxation Business Advice VAT PAYE Training Bookkeeping

Mobile: 07545 928 686 Email: srcaccountancy@googlemail.com Web: www.srcaccountants.co.uk

Bewdley Gallery

The Future of Accounting &

Bookkeeping is on-line

Trevor Price established Bewdley Gallery in 1980 and has a range of original paintings, limited and open edition prints all at competitive prices. The Gallery also has a picture framing service with hundreds of designs to choose from and with 25 years of experience. All work carries a lifetime guarantee.

Lax Lane, Bewdley, Worcestershire DY12 2DZ 01299 400 918

Serving the LOCAL business community

• On-line bookkeeping • Year end accounts • Tax returns • VAT

• Payroll • Business advice • Budgets & Cashflow Forecasting

Integrated Accounting & Bookkeeping Service Call Ken Bell

01299 402776

email k.bell@talk21.com www.srcaccountants.co.uk www.kbbsaccounting.co.uk

Local Oratory

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Local Times

Speaking Of Terror… I well remember on visitor to Stourbridge Speakers Club. She was invited to stand up to say a few words. “Hello. My name is Mary and I’m here to represent the terrified.” Many people have fears. Spiders, heights and flying being well known for inducing terror. Pretty much everyone is nervous to some degree when they get up to speak in public, and that is healthy; it keeps us on our metaphorical toes. However, Mary (not her real name) is typical of many people where the thought of getting up to speak to an audience grips them with terror, and panic sets in. They would take any steps necessary to avoid having to speak and, if forced to do so, will feel physically ill. Why does speaking to a group of people cause us so much stress? Probably because we fear making a fool of ourselves in front of friends or work colleagues. So how do we overcome our fears? If we know what we are talking about we are unlikely to make a fool of ourselves. So make sure that you talk on subjects that you know about. Do any research needed to add to your expertise, plan out what you are going to say and practise. Yes, rehearse your speech or presentation. When you know that you are well prepared, automatically you will feel more confident. When you stand up to speak, don’t rush. Look around you and smile at the audience.

Take a couple of deep breaths. Then start to speak. Look at your audience; make eye contact briefly with each of them. They are your friends. They will be willing you to succeed. Most of them are scared at the thought of being where you are so they will be on your side. You may even spot one or two smiling back at you or nodding their heads - hopefully in agreement, not slumber! Don’t ignore the rest of the audience but be sure to seek out these ‘friend’ at any point in your speech that you need reassurance. You’ll probably find your throat will dry up. Have a glass of water nearby and don’t be afraid to pause to take a sip. If it is an afterdinner or a wedding speech you’ll probably find the audience will be grateful for the opportunity to have a sip from their glasses at the same time. And finally, why not join an organisation such as Stourbridge Speakers Club to help you to develop your speaking skills in a friendly and supportive environment? David Wike, with Derek Norval of Bromsgrove Hypnotherapy Practice, will be running a morning workshop, Speaking For The Terrified, on 23rd February.

www.StourbridgeSpeakers.org.uk Phone 01527 835161. David Wike Communications Officer Stourbridge Speakers Club

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Check out Des Taylor’s video on You Tube… a documentary about his pursuit of a 40 pound Carp

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email: sbsbaits@btconnect.com Units 27 & 28, Meadow Mills, Dixon Street, Kidderminster, Worcestershire DY10 1HH.

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Solutions to Puzzle Corner page 55