North Bristol Direct Local Magazine March 2023

This Month..

4. Window Wonderland

8. Brain tumour wareness month

10. A welcome return

14. Fitness walking

20. Hospitality On The Harbour

22. Major breakthrough

24. HMO compliance

28. Begin charging in the autumn

32. City and Port of Bristol Bowling Club

36. Horoscopes

38. Your garden

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Editor

Michael Davies

Journalist

Lisa Davies

Distribution coordinator

Matthew Clarke

10 High Street

Shirehampton

Bristol

BS11 0DP

Email: info@directlocalonline.com

Website: www.directlocalbristol.co.uk

Regular editorials By:

Andrea Sexton, Martin Powell

Daren Bane

Kayleigh Penny

kierstan Lowe

Corinna Ingram

David Hinksman

IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN SHIREHAMPTON’S WINDOW WANDERLAND.

This year’s Window Wanderland takes place from 11th March to 13th March from 6pm until 9pm each night in Shirehampton. It originally featured local residents doing their own designs displayed in their front windows but this year Shirehampton Window Wanderland is expanding. Shirehampton Window Wonderland

They are working with several local artists – Annelies, Juliet & Sarah – who will work with local schools and groups as well as individuals who will contribute to our High Street shops and business window designs to make the area as bright and welcoming as possible, following the footsteps of Shire Christmas Illuminations.

Some shops will feature daytime themed designs and others will have night time Window Wanderland designs shining brightly on our very own High Street.

There will be opportunities again for workshops providing ideas and materials for all people and families who’d like to participate in this year’s event.

You don’t have to be artistic, just an idea that can be turned into reality for your home windows.Shirehampton Window Wonderland

In the meantime there are workshops taking place every Thursday from 3pm until 8pm at the JTE Hub based at the Methodist Church that faces the High Street in Shirehampton.

You could be helping with the High Street window art which will be a hive of activity or just need advice for your own home window design. This is an event to bring our community and High Street together.

“I am hoping that our artwork will brighten up our high street and make people smile. I also hope the publicity will bring people from other parts of Bristol to enjoy it too.” said Juliet Le

Feuvre

Whilst Sarah Trigg said “Our community and our High Street are really worth celebrating and this is a brilliant, creative way to do it. I hope loads of people feel welcome to contribute and many more have fun spotting all the art.”

Meanwhile Annelies Egli concluded: “This project is a great opportunity for local creatives to collaborate and share their ideas and experience with one another and the public. I hope that this one off event will light the way to future events and exhibitions which bring together, showcase and celebrate local talent.”

John Hastings has been co-ordinator for Shirehampton’s Window Wanderland event and can’t wait to see all the window displays that have been made in recent weeks not only for homes but the local shops as well. “Shirehampton’s Community Plan Committee decided that the High Street would really benefit from a pick me up at the end of a long winter. Following the previous success of BS11 Window Wanderland, grant money form the High Street Funds were allocated and some local artists have stepped forward to help decorate the windows of many of the local businesses. Let’s hope it’s a great success for everyone involved”.

You can still sign up for Window Wanderland in Shirehampton by going to: www.windowwanderland.com/event/ shirehampton-2023/

You can also email: shirewindowwanderland@gmail.com if you have any questions and don”t forget to join and follow their Facebook page.

Group: www.facebook.com/groups/shirehamptonwindowwanderland and their Instagram Page: shirewindowwanderland

Be who you want to be at Trymview Hall

At Care UK’s Trymview Hall care home in Westbury-on-Trym you can continue to be who you’ve always been, or who you want to be, while receiving award-winning care and attention in a place you can call home.

We treat everyone as individuals so that you can take your life with you on your journey into care. You’ll be supported to continue much-loved interests, to rediscover long lost hobbies or to try something new, as well as making new friends.

It’s all about lifestyle

At Trymview Hall our team is passionate about supporting you to enjoy a fulfilling life, full of meaningful experiences.

When you join us, we’ll learn all about your personality, your interests and preferences so we can create a fully personalised lifestyle plan to support you to live life in the way you want.

We organise an array of daily activities, such as exercise classes, pet therapy and gardening, as well as events, entertainment, outings and treasured oneto-one time. Then there are our strong ties with local groups, charities and schools so residents feel connected to local life.

Residents of Trymview Hall love going for an outing in the minibus, visiting local

parks, shopping centres and cafés. Other residents enjoy spending time baking delicious homemade treats, from scones, cupcakes to jam tarts!

Everything under one roof

Trymview Hall is a purpose-built care home where every luxury has been thought of. There’s a coffee shop, hair salon, cinema, bar, and beautiful landscaped gardens.

Trust us to care

At Care UK, we’ve been delivering high quality, person-centred care for over 40 years. That’s why over 8,000 families across the country trust us to care for their older loved one

To find out more about Trymview Hall, please call 0117 911 1605 or email nicola.wolff-donitz@careuk.com

Trymview Hall care home

Southmead Road, Bristol BS10 5DW careuk.com/trymview-hall

BRAIN TUMOUR AWARENESS MONTH

It's Brain Tumour Awareness Month! March 1st to 31st is when we come together to spread awareness about brain tumours and increase research funding. Plus, the last day of MarchFriday the 31s - is Wear A Hat Day, Brain Tumour Research's biggest event. It's a great way to show your support and have some fun while doing it. Lastly, remember that Brain Tumour Research is the only charity in the UK devoted solely to brain tumour research.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF A BRAIN TUMOUR?

The symptoms of a brain tumour will depend upon which part of the brain is affected. The most common symptoms are caused by an increase in pressure in the skull (intracranial pressure) caused by the growth of a tumour in the brain.

ARE HEADACHES CAUSED BY A BRAIN TUMOUR?

Headaches are one of the main symptoms of a brain tumour, but of course there can be many reasons for having a headache. Headaches caused by a brain tumour tend to:

• Be severe and persistent

• Often worse in the morning

• Get worse over a number of days

• Give stabbing pains if you do anything that increases the pressure in your head, for example coughing, shouting, bending over or doing exercise.

EYE SYMPTOMS OF A BRAIN TUMOUR

Please remember that there are many reasons why people display these eye and vision-related symptoms, but if any of these symptoms have come on suddenly they may be caused by a blood clot or infections such as meningitis or encephalitis, so it is worth seeking medical advice as a matter of urgency.

• Squinting

• Worsening vision

• Blurred or double vision

• Restricted field of vision, loss of peripheral vision, blind spots

• Problems with looking upwards or controlling eye movements

• Abnormal eye movements such as flickering eyes

• Head tilt, usually because the patient is turning to see things out of the corner of their eye rather than looking straight at them

• Brief loss, blurring or “greying out” of vision, sometimes triggered by coughing, sneezing or bending down

• As the tumour grows, it may cause the eyeball to bulge forwards. This is known as proptosis.

It is always worth seeing both your GP and an optometrist (optician) to investigate such symptoms. If your doctor suspects the presence of a brain tumour, they will immediately refer you for a scan at a hospital in order to be sure whether or not one is present.

JUST 1% OF THE NATIONAL RESEARCH SPEND HAS BEEN ALLOCATED TO THIS DEVASTATING DISEASE

A WELCOME RETURN FOR SHIREHAMPTON'S HIGH STREET MARKET

The High Street Market opened its doors to 2023 on Thursday 2nd February. Many customers said it was good to have the High Street Market open again after a short break.

For a winter's day that constantly threatened rain, this did not the deter the local communities making their visit to this monthly event.

The next High Street Market on Thursday 2nd March at the Tithe Barn will see some additional stalls added to the range they already have with an expansion outdoors. Shirehampton Markets is always keen to support small local business where they can and open to new stall ideas too that will give a wider range of items for the local shopper to choose from.

There will be the Easter Market to look forward to on Thursday 7th April where arts and crafts, garden games, D.I.Y face painting, along with colouring pictures, crosswords, sudoku and word searches will be available to all ages, yes including adults too. And there will be the Easter Character Hunt throughout the High Street. Many of the local shops and businesses will be taking part and all you have to do is find the character names and where they are. You can then return to the Market with completed form to collect your bag of sweets.

On the Saturday 29th April there will be a special event taking place at the Public Hall, Station Road, Shirehampton, BS11 9TU.

"King Charles III Coronation Celebration" will be taking place between 10am until 3pm. There will be plenty of stalls and activities taking place that day and it will be a great family day out for all ages. Like both our venues they are also disability friendly. There will be an environmental/nature/royal celebration character hunt throughout the High Street too.

"Having this special community event the weekend before King Charles III Coronation means our local communities can get into celebration mood a little early especially as many will choose to see the coronation live on TV and then go to their own street parties afterwards" said Ash Bearman, Community Development Officer for SCAF

Volunteers are still needed to join Shirehampton Markets in particular for the Saturday Community Fayres and special events they run to secure their future. As with many local activities volunteers form an important role within the community.

The High Street Markets take place at the Tithe Barn, High Street, Shirehampton, Bristol, BS11 0DE the first Thursday of every month from 10am until 3pm.

If you want to become a volunteer you can call: 0117 9829963 and leave a message or email: shirehamptonmarkets@outlook.com or leave a message via their Facebook page: www.facebook. com/shirehamptonmarkets

Welcome to Bristol Saver Mondays

Reduced price tickets, all day!

ALLELUJAH

When the geriatric ward in a small Yorkshire hospital is threatened with closure, the hospital decides to fight back by galvanizing the local community.

(12A)

SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS

When the Daughters of Atlas, a vengeful trio of ancient gods, arrive on Earth in search of the magic stolen from them long ago, Billy - aka Shazam - and his family are thrust into a battle for their superpowers, their lives, and the fate of their world.

(PG)

CREED 3

When a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy, Damian (Jonathan Majors), resurfaces after serving a long sentence in prison, he is eager to prove that he deserves his shot in the ring.

(12A)

FITNESS WALKING TECHNIQUES

Proper technique in fitness walking can make your workout more effective and enjoyable while helping to prevent injuries.

POSTURE

Keep your head upright, looking ahead. Your chin should be in a neutral position, not to high or tucked in towards your chest. Your shoulders remain back and relaxed, not hunched over.

FOOT PLACEMENT

Keep feet close to an imaginary line in the center of the pavement in front of you.

FINDING STRIDE LENGTH

Stand upright with feet slightly apart. Lean forward at the ankles (like a ski jumper). Transfer your weight forward and as you do, put your right foot out in front of you and catch yourself before you fall forward. This is your stride length. You should maintain the same stride length regardless of the type of walk you do (Strolling - 3 mph; Brisk/Fitness walking - 4 mph; Racewalking - 5 mph

STRIDE

Always keep at least one foot on the ground. The heel strikes the ground first, following with rolling onto the ball of your foot, finishing with a strong push off the toes (trailing foot). Focus on quicker rather than longer strides. Avoid slapping the ground with your feet and concentrate on smoothing out the movement.

ARM SWING

This makes your walk a total body exercise. You will burn an additional 5-10% calories. Let your arms bend at the elbows and swing them in step with your feet in an arc from your waist to the front of your chest; your hands should reach just below chin level. Your forearms should brush your hips to keep your stride.

BUFFALO CAULIFLOWER WINGS

INGREDIENTS

1 Cauliflower, trimmed and cut into small florets

1 tbsp Cold pressed rapeseed oil

2 tbsp Cornflour

½ tsp garlic granules

1 tbsp Unsalted butter, melted

2 tbsp hot pepper sauce

For the dipping sauce

2 tbsp light mayonnaise

150ml Soured cream

¼ tsp garlic granules

50g Blue Stilton®, crumbled

1 tbsp chopped chives, plus extra to garnish

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 220°C/fan 200°C/ gas 7

Line two bakingtrays with foil

In a large bowl, toss the cauliflower florets with the oil until well coated

Sprinkle with the cornflour and garlic granules, season, then toss to coat evenly

Spread out the florets on the baking trays and cook for 15 mins, turning the pieces over after 10 mins

Meanwhile, put the melted butter and hot sauce into a small bowl, and stir together

Take the cauliflower out of the oven and brush it with the sauce mixture

Return to the oven and cook for a further 10-15 mins, until browned and crisp

To make the dipping sauce, stir together the mayo, soured cream and garlic granules until smooth

Gently mix in the Stilton® and chives

Spoon into a serving bowl and sprinkle with a few of the extra chives

Arrange the buffalo cauliflower on a serving plate and sprinkle with the rest of the extra chives

Serve alongside the dip

CHOCOLATE CHUNK COOKIE CHEESECAKE

INGREDIENTS

8 Double chocolate chunk cookies

45g Unsalted butter, melted

300ml Double cream

2 x 200g Tubs soft cheese

Juice of 1 lemoned

METHOD

Line a 20cm loose-bottomed cake tin with greaseproof paper

Whizz the cookies in a food processor or bash with a rolling pin to give fine crumbs

Put 200g of the cookie crumbs into a bowl with the melted butter

Stir until fully combined, then press into the bottom of the cake tin and chill for 1 hour until set

Put 135g of the remaining cookie crumbs into a bowl and stir in the double cream

Place in the fridge for 1 hour

Stir together the cream and cookie mixture, the soft cheese and lemon juice, then spoon into the tin over the cookie crumb base

Decorate with the remaining cookie crumbs and leave to chill in the fridge for 2-3 hours, until set

Timings exclude chilling

er Wilkinson will headline the harbour alongside four time ‘Best DJ’ award winner A.M.C, new Hospitality collaborative act LINK and many more stellar names in Drum and Bass. Signup for Hospitality’s Siren special, here: https:// bit.ly/HospitalityOnTheHarbour23-signup

Siren takes place at Bristol’s iconic harbourside, from Thursday 27th to Saturday 29th July.

Tom Hoyle, Co-Founder of Siren said: “Hospitality and Sequences are really bringing an incredible line-up to Bristol this year. After last year’s sold out event it is obvious why we have so many big names in drum and bass eager to grace the Amphitheatre stage again. This is going to be a legendary day for DNB in Bristol’s 2023 summer calendar.

Saturday’s packed bill of drum and bass giants will join jungle and DnB duo Fabio & Grooverider, who take to the Siren stage on opening night as part of their pioneering collaboration with The Outlook Orchestra, with support from David Rodigan, local boy Gardna, and more still to be announced.

Guest headliner Wilkinson will lead the Hospitality stage line-up on Saturday, alongside A.M.C, DJ Marky, Flava D, LINK and more… 2022 saw the release of Wilkinson’s 3rd solo studio album ‘Cognition’, the most successful drum and bass album of the decade, cementing him as a key front runner in the dance music scene. The man behind one of the biggest DNB singalong anthems of all time ‘Afterglow’ - Wilkinson has also worked with artists like Rag N Bone Man, The Prodigy, Ed Sheeran, Chase & Status, Wretch 32 and Naughty Boy scooping himself ‘Best Single’, ‘Best Album’, ‘Best Video’, ‘Best Producer’ and ‘Best Live Act’ at the National Drum & Bass Awards 2022.

Making their Bristol debut at the Harbour is new Hospital records collaborative act LINK. This newly-launched collective consists of four of the hottest artists in the scene right now. Expect a cross-genre showcase blasting out the sounds of old-school hardcore to precision cut drum & bass, and everything in between. All respected in their own right - Whiney, Unglued, Lens and Degs each bring their unique sound to the dancefloor, carving themselves out as trailblazers of the underground.

Hospitality staple, Flava D’s first venture into drum & bass came in the form of her track ‘Return To Me’, which featured on Hospital Records’ annual compilation ‘Sick Music 2019’ and was selected as Annie Mac’s Hottest Record In The World. The Bournemouth-born producer has established an internationally-successful career playing and releasing all flexes of UK garage, grime and bassline. With the success of her label debut, the imprint welcomed her back to release ‘Human Trumpet’ and she became a regular name at their events and festivals worldwide.

Technical craftsman, lifelong drum & bass curator and Hospitality special guest A.M.C is bringing his renowned razor-sharp, four-deck performances and physical, impassioned mixing style to the mainstage. Four-times Best DJ winner in the Drum&BassArena Awards 2019-2022, A.M.C has worked with distinguished labels like Ram Records, Monstercat, UKF, Drum&BassArea, Charge and Dim Mak to name a few. A.M.C’s announcement for the harbour comes fresh off the back of his incredible sold-out headline show at London’s Electric Brixton this month.

This amalgamation of worlds is a must-see event for any dance music fan, near or far. Enjoy two days of D&B classics and jungle hits at the 2nd year anniversary of Siren. Look out for the second stage lineup announcement for Hospitality On The Harbour x Sequences still to come, plus a huge announcement for the final event in the series due to take place on Friday 28th July with a very special headliner announcement coming soon.

MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH AS FIRMS IN TRIAL STICK WITH CHANGES

A critical key to improving employee wellbeing and productivity could lie in a four-day working week, according to an expansive trial conducted by the University of Cambridge. Out of the 61 companies in various sectors that took part in the study across June and December last year, 2,990 participants reported feeling less stressed (39%) and having lower levels of "burnout" (71%). The results have been echoed by one particular company that participated: The Royal Society of Biology. Their Chief Executive noticed improved productivity levels within its staff; which coincided with an average decrease in sick days from four to five per person per year, down to less than two. The comprehensive trial highlights that there's evidence suggesting a potential shift to a four-day working week should be seriously considered for future years.

Tessa Gibson, a senior accreditation officer for the society said it ‘made a big difference to her mental health,” and that she wouldn’t want to go back to a five-day week.

She said: “Weekends can be a pretty hectic time for the best of us, from housework that needs to get done, to the laundry pile that never seems to get smaller and for those who have children, weekends can pretty much be a write off as a time to relax. But a four-day working week allows workers an extra day to get stuff done, giving them at least part of their weekend back.”

However, not everyone is a fan of the idea, Jay Richards who is the co-founder of Imagen Insights explained how a four-day week can leave workers feeling like they have to get more done but in less time. Explaining his reasoning he said: “We do a five-day week but we work 10am to 4pm, we shorten our days so the employees have that work-life harmony but they’re not actually shortening their week, which I think would put more pressure on them.”

While some may not agree or like the idea, 92% of the companies who took part in the study have expressed their intent to continue with the four-day week now the study has finished, and 18 of them are making the change permanent.

HMO COMPLIANCE

There are 178 pieces of legislation linked to being a Landlord and HMOs are compliance heavy beasts, before you decide to invest in them, do your research well, educate yourself and understand your obligations. Let’s have a look at some of these pieces of legislation, as they relate to HMOs, now:

HMO COMPLIANCE CAN BE BROKEN DOWN INTO 3 MAIN AREAS:

Investor/Landlord Compliance – Being a compliant investor Property Compliance – Having a compliant property Tenant Compliance – Creating & Maintaining compliant tenancies

Let’s assume you are a compliant investor/landlord: that you have ICO registration; that any company you are using as your investment vehicle is correctly insured etc. etc. and concentrate on the property itself:

Property Compliance can be broken down into a few areas too, some are HMO specific and some are not:

Insurance & Safety – HHSRS & being correctly insured for an HMO Licensing –Mandatory & Additional Licenses Planning – Article 4 & Sui Generis LACORS – Fire Safety

INSURANCE & SAFETY:

Naturally, you will need to have your property insured, each property is going to be different, each area is going to be different and the best thing to do is work with a broker who you know and trust and be very open and honest about what you are looking to achieve (if you don’t know one, we know a great one!)

THE NEXT THING TO BE AWARE OF IS HHSRS.

HHSRS stands for Housing Health & Safety Rating System and it’s the way houses are assessed for being fit for human habitation (or not). The whole document is 72 pages long and while you don’t need to read it all, you do need to know the basics.

The list of what could be a hazard stretches from loose floorboards to asbestos, but the key thing is compounding the risks/hazards. For example, cupboards in hallways, junk mail and loose carpet on stairs on their own are small risks, but combined are a large risk!

Our advice is to imagine you are walking around the house after a few too many or if you were a toddler (can be the same for some!) how can you hurt yourself? What items when paired together pose a greater risk and how can you mitigate that?

LICENSES & LICENSING

Each council has their own set of licence criteria (I know…) and if you are lucky enough, like we are in Bristol, to have a city that spans two council areas, then you need to know both sets! Generally, they are similar but there are subtle differences.

Key things for licences are minimum room sizes, the number of bathrooms/ toilets, fire safety and amenities.

In the eyes of the council, there is no excuse for not licencing an HMO and the rent repayment orders can be very expensive, in Bristol in September 2021 the council fined a landlord £48,000… not only that but if you have your `fit and proper person` status revoked, all of your HMO licences will be taken away, which could be very destructive for your portfolio!

There are two types of HMO licence: Mandatory Licences – these are applicable to every HMO with 5 or more people.

Additional Licences – these are applicable to HMOs with 3 or 4 people IF your council has an additional licensing scheme in place.

HMO PLANNING:

There are two key aspects to HMO planning

Sui Generis Planning (for large 7+ person HMOs) which is universal and applies everywhere and Article 4 Planning Directives (for converting a family house into a small HMO of 3-6 people) which are area specific.

Article 4 is the big one, it removes the permitted development right to convert a family house (class C3) into an HMO (class C4). Councils bring this in when they want to limit the number of HMOs in an area, you can find a map on the council website if your council has it in place. It is not impossible to get Article 4 planning, but it is quite difficult.

Sui Generis is when you are going for larger

HMOs and will always apply. If you want to have 7 or more people in a house, you will need to apply for it. Each council has specific things they look for: big storage, refuse storage, anti-social behaviour measures, parking etc. these can be found in the local plan and you are best to speak to a local planning agent about the likelihood of getting Sui Generis Planning.

LACORS (FIRE SAFETY)

LACORS is the fire safety guide for all rental properties but has a specific section on shared houses and HMOs. It outlines the fire doors you will need (FD20 or FD30) the fire system you will need (Grade A or Grade D), the coverage of that system (LD1, LD2, LD3 etc.) and other things such as fireproofing of understairs cupboards etc.

Sometimes, the council licensing regulations and LACORS won’t match, so you need to check both and where they don’t, choose the stricter option… if in doubt, always go above and beyond!

If you are unsure, you can pay an independent fire assessment company to come and look at your property, which for a new investor may be a good way of learning exactly what you need to do!

HMO Compliance is a huge topic and we have only covered the basics you need to be aware of to get started - each one could be a whole post in itself. When we do compliance audits for our landlords, we go through all of these items and more. It is important to educate yourself, because there are no grey areas when it comes to compliance!

BRISTOL CAR PARKS TO BEGIN CHARGING IN AUTUMN

There's major backlash over the planned charges at 10 Bristol car parks. The authorities announced them back in February, which basically means they're coming this autumn. People are not happy – especially GP patients near Westbury Hill Car Park.

Folks have called it a "tax on people for being ill" since the car park is so close to the doctor's surgery. Even some cross-party councillors have spoken up against it and said it should either be dropped completely or at least cut back.

Conservative group leader and Henbury and Brentry ward, councillor Mark Weston, said he does not understand the "intellectual gymnastics the council goes through".

"We can afford to throw tens of millions of pounds at the Colston Hall [now Bristol Beacon] because we recognise the value it provides to the city but we are going to start charging a tiny amount in small car parks because we don't recognise the importance they have to secondary high streets.

"Small car parks are vital for those areas," he added.

Stoke Bishop ward councillor, Conservative John Goulandris, said medical patients needed to park at Waverley Road in Shirehampton where fees are also being introduced so “we will be hitting people who are sick”.

“These charges could... kill our suburban shopping centres which are suffering already,” he added

Mr Goulandris said the council's tiny earnings of £150,000 were a drop in the bucket compared to their total budget. The Labour cabinet member for transport backed up the plan with all its price increases, cuts and cost-saving adventures. Not that it made much of a difference anyway.

Councillor Don Alexander,said people have been subsidised for a long time with free car parks but “we would prefer to use that money to support bus services and active travel”.

The other eight car parks are Beechwood Road in Frome Vale; Callington Road in Brislington; Chalks Road in St George; Derby Street in St George; Ducie Road in Lawrence Hill; Machin Road in Henbury; Repton Road in Brislington and Stoke View Road in Eastville.

Blue badge parking spaces will remain free in every car park.

OVER 30’s DANCE PARTY at the superb BAWA Club, Filton on the FIRST Friday of EVERY MONTH (except No Dance in JAN or AUG and the APRIL DANCE is on FRI 14th) It’s The Ideal Night Out For The 30 * 40 * 50 * 60 Age Range.

Come and Dance Amongst A Friendly Lively Crowd. Enjoy A Good Mix of Music, Dancing Thru’ the Decades including some Motown and Soul Favourites. Club times are 9 ‘til 1 (last entry 11pm) –Very Smart Casual NO Tee Shirts or Trainers & Gents are Required To Wear Collared Shirts. Dance adm £8

For more Info call 07860578708 or go to www.mingles.co.uk Facebook: Luv2mingle

HOTELIERS URGE GOVERNMENT TO RELAX RULES TO AID UK RECRUITMENT

Hoteliers urge Government to relax rules to aid UK recruitment

Bristol hoteliers are urging the Government to relax some of the post-Brexit rules which have hindered their ability to recruit in recent years.

A combination of the impact of Brexit, coupled with the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdowns, caused huge problems for the hospitality sector, which has traditionally drawn heavily upon European workers to help staff hotels, pubs and restaurants.

Before Brexit, it’s estimated that the UK hospitality sector employed more than 400,000 EU workers.

Today, EU employees make up 28 percent of the UK’s hospitality workforce, compared to 42 percent pre-pandemic.

Many workers went home to be with their families when the Covid-19 crisis came, forcing businesses into lockdown.

Then, because of changes in employment law brought in by Brexit, most were unable to return, leaving huge workforce gaps, in hospitality and other sectors.

Many hospitality businesses which had managed to keep doing despite being forced to close because of the pandemic found they were struggling to find the staff they needed when they were able to re-open.

And little has dramatically changed since to significantly ease the staffing shortage.

With Chancellor Jeremy Hunt due to deliver his budget on 15 March and hoteliers are urging him to give them the power to boost the recovery of their businesses by being able to recruit the staff they need.

Raphael Herzog, Chair of Bristol Hoteliers Association (BHA), said: “The past few years have been extremely challenging for the hospitality sector and there are still some huge difficulties to overcome.

“Brexit, the pandemic and now the cost-of-living crisis, particularly in terms of energy prices, have created the perfect storm.

“One of the biggest issue for us remains recruitment in some key areas of our businesses, such as chefs, food and beverage staff, room attendants and so on, which is why we think it is time for the Government to look at relaxing some of the Brexit rules.

“This will help not only hotels and other hospitality providers, but many other sectors which have also been struggling with staff shortages, to help get Britain’s businesses back on their feet.

“News reports are full of stories of staff shortages, from bus and coach drivers to care providers, which is leading to hospital beds being blocked because people are not able to go home because there is not the community care services available to them, largely because of staff shortages.

“The country is on its knees because of a shortage of staff in so many sectors, which is why we are urging the Government to open up the EU borders more and give many British businesses the helping hand many of them so badly need.”

To find out more about the BHA and everything it does to support the hospitality sector in Bristol, visit www.bristol-hoteliers.co.uk

CITY AND PORT OF BRISTOL BOWLING CLUB

The new outdoor bowling season is approaching fast and preparation for its arrival is well underway.

Work on and around the green has been in progress for some time and fixtures both friendly and competitive made.

Starting with a home friendly game against Bristol St. Andrews on April 15th and running through until late September there will be around forty friendly games, home and away on Wednesdays and at weekends to be enjoyed. Fixtures Secretary Phil Cormack has worked hard to put together a good and attractive list of games against clubs in and around Bristol. There will once again be visits to Yatton and to Congresbury. The club will revert to wearing white below the waist for the coming season having worn grey as part of the Covid restrictions ---- to avoid entering changing rooms --- in recent seasons.

Both ladies and men will play in their respective Bristol Leagues --- fixtures for these are compiled and supplied by the leagues and start at the end of April.

The Monday Evening Club League which includes a knockout cup competition starts in May and concludes early in September. Four teams will take part again this coming season.

Last season saw only a small number of club competitions running and as a result a very much scaled down finals weekend and presentation evening took place. With Gill Hinksman now in place as Competition Secretary there is hope that the number of competitions running in 2023 will be much greater. There is a link from competitions at club level to county level through the men’s and ladies four wood singles. Winners of each is entitled to enter the Champion of Champions competition which is run by the Gloucestershire Association --- initially in sections, Bristol, Stroud, Gloucester and Cheltenham but culminating in a grand county wide final on County Finals Day.

Mary Lomas is the new Ladies League Captain whilst Bill Hatherall continues in his role as Captain of the Men’s League Team.

So --- why not come to the club in Nibley Road, Shirehampton and have a free trial bowling session. Call David Hinksman on 07932 387217 to arrange yours. The green re-opens for the season on April 10th so any time after that would be good. Bowling is a game that can be learned by anybody ---- last season saw children as young as 6 and much older people who had suffered strokes and are members of Bristol After Stroke on the green, bowling woods and quickly picking up the basics needed to become a bowler. The club has qualified coaches and many experienced bowlers who can show how it’s done and provide support.

The bowling club offers much more than bowling --- it offers a sense of belonging, provides a challenge and the opportunity to make new friends. During the Winter Months the club runs Sunday evening Social Events --- most recently there was an excellent quiz devised and presented by Gordon Dimond. Great fun and with prizes for the winning team --- Nomad

2. The previous month saw a night of skittles. Not everybody plays skittles so for them it was something of a challenge and an experience.

Before the outdoor season begins the annual Winter Bowling Break will see about thirty bowlers, family and friends heading down the M5 To the splendid Toorak Hotel in Torquay early in March.

There will be four two hour long bowls matches against other visiting teams on the hotels four rink arena. But --- it’s not all about bowling --- there is plenty of time to make use of the hotels array of things to do, enjoy the entertainment and explore Torquay and the surrounding area.

Hopes are high for a good and successful season with hopefully an increase in membership numbers and the formation of a Junior Section. The club ran regular sessions for children and young people last season and they were well supported. The plan is to develop what was a group of potential young bowlers into a junior club with real games of bowls and maybe a challenge to junior sections from other clubs.

For further information about the club and its activities please call David Hinksman on 07932 387217.

Take a break and try to solve theses puzzles

Here are this months puzzles designed to test your mental skills during your lunch break or after tea.

Good luck!

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7 differences between these two pictures. Are your eyes good enough to see them all?

HOROSCOPES

Aquarius Jan 20 - Feb 18

Clear communication would be a real asset to you at this time. There is something you have either put on the back burner or chosen to ignore but it is something you would be wiser to deal with at this time. Whatever is going on for you that is difficult, remember you have a lot of resilience and inner strength, and you will find the right way to deal with things.

Keywords: Clear communication & Resilience

Taurus Apr 20 - May 20

You could get one of those wonderful lightbulb moments, when something inspiring or enlightening suddenly makes sense. You may find the need to bring some harmony to a difficult situation. There could be some small but interesting changes that are coming your way.

Keywords: Sudden Realisation & Changes

Pisces Feb 19 - Mar 2

You feel that something may not have been dealt with fairly, this could be a situation with a family member or someone close to you. Step back and try and see the situation from all sides and try to bring some change and balance back.

Keywords: Fairness & Change

Gemini May 21 - June 20

Be careful in situations that could become volatile, especially in communication, try to be a listener as much as possible. Otherwise things could get into a bit of a tangle. Know that you can deal with and rise above a difficult situation.

Keywords: Listen & Inner wisdom

Aries Mar 21 - Apr 19

If you are involved in meetings at this time they may not run as smoothly as you would like or not even happen at all. If the situation feels difficult remember to keep calm. You may also feel time for spring-cleaning, both on the physical and emotional levels.

Keywords: Calm & Clearing

Cancer June 21 - July 22

Relationships are a high point this month, as well as possible a small refresh in the home. If something is a bit hard going at the moment, you will find that you will have the strength and endurance to go through this relatively plain sailing

Keywords: Opportunities & Relationships

Leo July 23 - Aug 22

If something isn’t moving as quickly as you would like, this could be a good time to sort and clear what needs doing. As this can make way for new things and ideas.

Keywords: Clearing & New ideas and things

Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 21

This may not be one of the easiest times, as you feel as though you need to be on your guard. A situation would be worth stepping back from, and trying to see it from a different perspective. This month would be good for you to follow those instinctive feelings, and work with your intuition. Remember also you are a lot stronger than you think.

Keywords: Protection & Intuition

Virgo Aug 23 - Sept 22

Balance and harmony are very important to you, somebody doesn’t always bring your sensitivity to the fore, as this will be an asset in this situation. You may also think of starting a new interest, that will involve collecting things or gathering information.

Keywords: Sensitivity, connecting & Gathering

Libra Sept 23 - Oct 22

It does seem as though study is on your mind at present. You may find yourself either researching or seeking information regarding things of interests to you. You may also feel the need to clear things both emotionally and within your living spaces, as you feel there maybe new things on the way. There is possibly an issue that you will have to deal with later in the month.

Keywords: Study & Clearing

Sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21

There is something you’ve been putting off that you need to sort out and this would be a good time to do so. You can do the same with some spring cleaning, both in your physical environment and possibly emotionally too. Once you have sorted a few things out it will give you the space to be able to carry on with some hobbies and a few relaxing things that you have not had time for.

Keywords: Time and hobbies

Capricorn Dec 22 - Jan 19

Your social life won’t be busy this month. A few things look to change for you, so be prepared. Could be a time for reflection and from this some study or research or new interests or hobbies, may come from this.

Keywords. Learning and changes

YOUR GARDEN IN MARCH

THE ESSENTIAL GARDENING SPRING IS FINALLY HERE!

The warmer and sunnier days during March provide the opportunity for an increasing range of gardening tasks. It’s a great time of the year as new life bursts forth and the garden begins to transform. Preparation of seed beds and borders should be well under the way this month as well as cutting back winter shrubs and generally tidying up the mess that the winter has left behind.

Whether you’re preparing for shrubs and bedding plants or sowing seed for vegetables. Once all the tidying is done you’ll be in a better position to plan the seasons planting.

Sow seeds and plant onion sets, shallots and potatoes. As the soil begins to warm you can start to sow broad beans, salads and sweet peas. If bad weather is forecast, be sure to cover seedlings with clothes to protect them. March is also the time to plant out onion and shallot sets – cover with fleece or netting to protect from birds.

Early varieties of potato such as ‘Rocket’ and ‘swift’ , can be planted. If they have been kept in a light and frost-free environments, they should be ‘chitting’ (a slight sprouting from seed potato). Chitting before planting can encourage earlier and heavier cropping.

FEED

As the warmer weather promotes fresh growth, a general garden fertiliser should be applied to help boost roots, green foliage and encourage more fruits and flowers from your plants. It can be applied around the base of plants by scattering straight from the box and left to be watered in the rain. Unfortunately, the warm weather will also see weeds start to grow as well. Weeding isn’t the most popular of jobs but its best to pull any that start to appear while they are young to prevent spreading.

SCARIFY THE LAWN

Do some lawn preparations before the growing season gets well under way. Choose a dry day and give the lawn a rake to remove the remnants of winter before cutting with the mower blades set at the highest position. Then aerate with a garden fork or aeration machine. This helps drainage and gets oxygen to the roots. Finally, apply a top dressing of spring lawn feed to add nutrients.

PLANT OF THE MONTH: PANSY/VIOLA

Why Should you plant them?

One of the most popular bedding plants, pansies and violas are hardy annuals that have a stunning array of colours to choose from. Bringing the joy of spring to your garden during the colder months, they grow happily in borders or containers as well as providing great ground cover.

How should you plant them?

Plant them in moist, well-drained soil in a spot with good sunlight to encourage flowering. tough little plants that are extremely hardy, they prefer cooler temperatures and need watering regularly. They are also very versatile - plant them in beds, borders, containers and hanging baskets