North Somerset Direct Local December 2022

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Elite Beds .pdf 1 25/04/2022 10:23

HOW TO KEEP YOUR HOUSE WARM AND SAVE MONEY ON ENERGY COSTS

So this week it’s gotten really cold out there. Like, seriously guys, it’s freezing!

But you know what? I actually kind of love it. There’s something really cozy about bundling up and going outside to enjoy the fresh air.

However, once you’re inside it’s a whole different story.

Apparently, according to the Office for National Statistics, one of the biggest expenses for families is heating their homes. So this year, more than ever, it’s important that we find ways to keep warm while also saving some cash.

Since lots of us are working from home now too, it’s key that we figure out how to make our homes hold onto heat better, without driving up our energy bills.

In order to save money on heating and stay warm, it’s important that you take steps to reduce the heat loss from your home. There are loads of simple (and cheap) things that you can do to use your heat more efficiently and to retain the heat you create.

1 TURN THE THERMOSTAT DOWN

Every single degree you lower your thermostat could save you several pounds per week. Turning your heating down as little as one degree can help save as much as £55 a year.

Experts recommend 18C as an ambient level, rather than a costly 20C or 25C. So give it a try turning it down a bit, even by a degree or two, especially when you’re in the house all day.

If you opt to do this, you will save money. But how do you make sure you are also keeping your home warm enough?

2 REARRANGE YOUR FURNITURE

It might sound obvious, but directly blocking your radiators with furniture will trap in heat, and prevent it from making the room nice and toasty.

If you can, move your furniture clear from the radiators, and let the heat radiate out into the room. This will help increase the heat in your home without having to turn up the thermostat.

3 DRAUGHT PROOF YOUR HOME

All those little holes letting air into your home are making a big difference to the warmth of your house and your energy bills. So, it’s time to cover them all up.

You can do this on the cheap by using gaffer tape to seal cracks in floors and walls and cracks around windows, while the bottoms of doors can be blocked with old clothes or towels. Or you can go all out and buy draught-excluders to plug any gaps.

It’s estimated that this could save you around £20/year on energy bills, and help you better control the temperature of your home.

4 GET YOUR BOILER SERVICED

Heating your home using oil is a very efficient fuel. However this is only the case if your boiler is working efficiently.

We recommend that you get your boiler serviced every 12 months to ensure that everything is running smoothly and safely. We usually recommend that you do this in Autumn (before the Winter season), but if you’ve not done it yet it’s not too late.

5 OPEN YOUR CURTAINS DURING THE DAY

Yes, we get precious little sun during the Winter months in Scotland. But, what little sun we do get can help to heat up your home without increasing your ener gy bills.

Make sure you open those curtains in the morning to let the light and the heat in. It’s an efficient and totally free way to get some more heat in your house.

CLOSE YOUR CURTAINS AT NIGHT

While opening your curtains during the day can help warm up the room. Closing them as soon as the sun drops will help to retain any heat that has been created.

Heavy weight curtains work best, or you can even invest in thermal curtains to keep the heat in.

7 LEAVE THE OVEN DOOR OPEN AFTER COOKING

You’ve got to eat. And the oven is nat urally one of the hottest places in your home. So why not utilise that heat to warm your home?

An oven full of 200C air released into the kitchen is the perfect way to stave off the cold in the evening especially if you have an open plan kitchen-diner.

Also try to think of how you use the oven, and make the best use of it. Having it on for an hour and a half just for one solitary jacket potato is not the best use of energy. Check what everyone in the house wants for dinner before switching the oven on, and consider bulk cooking by putting in a casserole, pie or crumble that you can then freeze, along with your main meal, to make best use of all that heat.

A CHILLING TALE PROVIDES THE PERFECT FESTIVE READ

As we recover from a heatwave summer of record temperature highs, it’s hard to imagine that Bristol shivered Siberian-style beneath blizzard conditions in the early 1960s.

Some of the lowest temperatures, and heaviest snowfall, for 150 years were recorded during the winter of 1962-63. The snow started falling on Boxing Day and led to a great freeze which saw the docks covered in ice which was ten centi metres thick in places.

While it’s unlikely that we’ll suffer such chilling temperatures this coming Christmas, the story of that great freeze is outlined in the pages of Manson’s Bristol Miscellany Volume 2, the perfect present for anyone with an interest in Bristol.

But if you don’t fancy the chilly tale of how people had to boil snow for their water in the city, there are many other stories that have been uncovered by author Michael Manson in this second volume of stories from the rich history of Bristol.

The miscellany began as a compilation of things that piqued author Michael Manson’s own curiosity as he wandered around the streets he has called home for 45 years in a quest to find the ‘soul of the city’.

In addition to recalling ‘The Coldest Winter in 150 Years’, readers will discover everything from plans for futuristic aerial walkways in the city centre to the infamous Bristol accent; from notable buildings to Banksy; aircraft to almshouses. Even the most knowledgeable Bristolian will learn something new about the city.

There’s a chapter on ‘the stink of the city’, recalling some of the prevalent odours that have filled the Bristol air over time, from brewery hops to tobacco, from sewage in rivers to the sweet scent of chocolate.

Manson’s Bristol Miscellany is available now from the Bristol Books website, www.bristolbooks.org priced £20.

On Thursday 8 December, Mike will be at Glouces ter Road Books, 186 Gloucester Road, Bristol, between 6.30pm and 8pm, signing copies of the book (and there will be warming glass of sherry awaiting those who attend, too).If you would like to attend, please email mike.manson@pastandpresentpress.co.uk in order to help with the management of numbers.

ACCESSING YOUR PENSION MONEY SENSIBLY AND AVOIDING PENSION SCAMS

Whether you have a defined benefit or defined contribution pension scheme, you can often start taking benefits from the age of 55. You could use this to help top up your salary if you are still working or to enable you to work fewer hours or even retire early. You may also be able to release a cash sum from your pension too.

Often the first 25% of the fund will be tax-free if taken as a cash sum. The remaining 75% would be counted as income and taxed in the usual way. So care needs to be taken as could push you into a higher income tax bracket for that financial year.

Which part of your pension you take also effects what levels you can contribute back into a pension in the future. If you just take the 25% tax free lump sum, you can continue to contribute up to £40,000 per annum into a pension. However, if you take out any of the remaining 75% taxable portion of your pension, the amount you can contribute into a pen sion each year reduces to £4,000 per annum.

Pension Scams to avoid

Pension scams have increased recently due to the Coronavirus impact on the economy and people having financial difficulties due to job losses. One particular scam to be wary of and avoid is companies claiming they can access your pension money before the age 55

One particular scam to be wary of and avoid is companies claiming they can access your pension money before the age 55. Accessing your pension before age 55 is viewed as an unauthorised payment in most circumstances. The tax you will pay for accessing can be up to 55%, as well as charges of up to 30% by the firm which does it for you.

If a website or marketing brochure advertises that you can or should access your pension before the age of 55, it is unlikely they will be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and any advice or guidance they give you will be unregulated. This means you will not be able to complain to a regulator if anything goes wrong.

There are two instances when you can legally access pension money under age 55. The first is if you’re too ill to work or if you have a serious illness which means you are expected to live for less than a year. The second is when you have a protected pension age lower than age 55. An example of someone who might have a ‘protected retirement age’ might be a professional sportsper son.

If you are planning to access your pen sion and are unsure of the rules or how to do so, make sure you seek professional advice and consult a regulated financial adviser. You can check if the advisory firm is authorised and regulated to give financial advice by going to the FCA register on their website.

LEARN HOW TO GET ONLINE

The ‘Tea and Tech’ sessions happen ing across North Somerset will teach residents how to get online and use today’s technology - and enjoy a cup of tea while they’re at it!

In this cost-of-living crisis, it’s more important than ever to bridge the digital divide. Not being online means missing out on basic activities that most people take for granted, like looking for jobs, finding local support, getting essential health information, and using digitised public services..

Free tech sessions to help tackle this are available here.

Cllr Catherine Gibbons, Executive Member for Children, Young People, Lifelong Learning and Skills at North Somerset Council said: “These sessions are a great opportunity as not being online during the current cost of living crisis means you won’t easily be able to shop around for the best deal, access helpful and local cost of living advice on the North Somerset Council website or contact key organisations for the latest online support.

We want to narrow the digital divide and help everyone feel more confident ac cessing online services and finding the right information to help them through these challenging times. Free technical learning sessions are taking place across North Somerset so sign up to a session or pop into your local library for more advice.”

Libraries can help anyone wishing to in crease their digital knowledge. Comput ers are available in libraries as well as free Wi-Fi for anyone bringing their own device. Staff can help you access the Internet as well as use printing/scanning facilities. Click here for more information:

Residents facing digital exclusion through not being able to afford sim cards and mobile data can also access them for free thanks to a scheme available through North Somerset Council's library service.

The UK National Databank provides free sims and mobile data (as well as talk minutes and texts) to people in need through the Good Things Foundation’s network of local community partners, including North Somerset libraries. It’s like a food bank but for internet connectivity data.

Anyone over 18 from a low-income household who qualifies in at least one of the following ways can obtain data vouchers from their local library:

Has no access or insufficient access to the internet at home, and/or has no or insufficient access to the inter net when away from home, and/or can’t afford their existing monthly con tract or top-up.

Residents who need a data voucher should contact their local library to make an appointment to collect it. For details of North Somerset libraries visit www.n-somerset.gov.uk/libraries, email libraries@n-somerset.gov.uk or telephone 01934 426 834

BRISTOL’S FESTIVE CELEBRATIONS ARE COMIN’ TO TOWN

Bristol will feel more festive than ever this year with the unveiling of new sparkly Christmas lights and a Love Bristol Gift Card campaign designed to invite shoppers to the city to support local business this winter.

Bristol City Centre BID, Redcliffe & Temple BID and Broadmead BID have joined forces for 2022 to bring festive spirit to all corners of the city.

Corn Street will be transformed into Bristol’s answer to Carnaby Street with a love themed light installation adorning the historic street. With eight love lyrics to be spotted (and selfied under!), the city’s residents and visitors are sure to be feeling the love (Bristol) this Christ mas. The city centre is now lit up after dark with Christmas light installations on King Street and the Old City, Park Street and Queens Road. Park Street is once again lit with stunning festoon lighting, which was launched in 2021, and this has been extended into Queens Road this year. The Love Bristol disco balls also return bringing sparkle to the streets outside the Clayton Hotel, Mother’s Ruin, Mr Wolf’s, Four Wise Monkeys and the Queen Shilling. You can expect to see the city twinkling once the lights turn on from 14 November.

In Broadmead, over-street Christmas lights have this year been joined by new canopies on Merchant Street North and South alongside sparkly tree lights on Union Street and The Horsefair, illuminated from 4th November. You can also find Broadmead’s highly successful Sunday market returning for a Christmassy edition, Festive Sundays Broadmead, operated by Better Events. On 20th November, and 4th, 11th and 18th December, the local, ethical market will showcase the best of Christmas gifts, including wreaths, handmade crafts and decorations from Bristol and beyond.

Just in time for Christmas stocking fill ers, the BIDs have also launched a new edition of the Love Bristol Gift Card: the Love Bristol Night Out Gift Card, shining a light on the businesses that make the Bristol night-time economy so diverse and exciting. With hotels, theatres, res taurants, clubs and bars throughout the city centre featured, the Night Out Gift Card is sure to make the perfect present for the city’s night owls this Christmas.

Brought to life in a campaign by the BIDs, a series of digital and print creatives have launched, demonstrating how the Love Bristol Gift Card means the best of Bristol is in the palm of your hand this Christmas - all ready to be gifted to loved ones.

Vicky Lee, Head of Bristol City Centre BID, said: “Whether you’re looking to treat your loved ones to sneakers, paint supplies, vintage clothes or a night out at one of Bristol’s best restaurants, the Love Bristol Gift Card has it all and is sure to delight when recipients find it in their stockings on Christmas morning. Our city has so much to offer and we’re thrilled that the most wonderful time of the year is finally here to see it sparkle even more than it usually does, through the festive lights and love lyrics that have appeared throughout the city.”

The lighting schemes across the city centre utilise LED lighting fixtures and components which are incredibly energy efficient and have a longer lifespan than other traditional lighting features.

MATILDA

The inspirational musical tale of an extraordinary girl who discovers her superpower and summons the remarkable courage, against all odds, to help others change their stories, whilst also taking charge of her own destiny.

Standing up for what’s right, she’s met with miraculous results.

In cinemas now

ALSO SHOWING IN CINEMAS

ARMAGEDDON TIME STRANGE WORLD

BRISTOL CLEAN AIR ZONE HAS LAUNCHED

Bristol City Council has launched a Clean Air Zone in order to reduce air pollution in the city. The zone covers a small central area of the city and the Portway, and older, more polluting vehicles are being charged.

There is no need for drivers to receive written notification or any kind of alert that they have entered Bristol Clean Air Zone or that a payment is due; individuals and businesses are fully responsible for managing this. Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees said, “What an incredible milestone we’ve achieved today, launching Bristol’s Clean Air Zone to help create a city that is healthier for everyone to grow up, live and work in. No vehicles are banned from entering the central zone, and Bristol remains very much open to all residents, visitors and businesses, particularly as we look ahead to the busy Christmas period.”

“We have always sought to reduce air pollution in Bristol to improve the city’s health, but we’re also mindful of the financial strain people are under at the moment. We have taken our time to find a way to clean up our air, while also providing support to those who need it most. Temporary exemptions and financial support are still available, and I urge people to check if they’re eligible.”

To date, the council has had over 6,000 applications for financial support such as grants and loans to change or upgrade vehicles. Over 1,500 applications for temporary exemptions have been approved, mostly to Blue Badge holders, and over 8,000 active travel offers such as bus tickets and Voi scooter credit have been given out.

Mayor Rees continued: “I would encour age you to try out our bus, train and park and ride services as an alternative way to travel around Bristol, and we still have free vouchers available to help you give these options a go. You can visit the council website for more information on how to register your interest, as well as more information about the zone boundary map to help you best plan your journeys.”

NOW IN OPERATION

Daily charges for Bristol Clean Air Zone apply 24 hours a day (midnight to midnight), seven days a week, all year round, and must be paid within six days of travel. People can pay online at www. gov.uk/clean-air-zones or by calling the Clean Air Zone support line on 0300 029 8888 (Monday to Friday: 8am to 7pm, Saturday: 8am to 2pm). Users of smart phones can also pay the charge using free-to-use apps like Caura.

Business owners can sign up to the Business Accounts Feature, to set up a Bristol-specific account to help manage payment for multiple vehicles entering and exiting the Zone.

From today, the council will send Penal ty Charge Notices to people who drive non-compliant vehicles in the Zone and do not pay the appropriate daily charge.

However, for the next six weeks, people will be given the option of a Special Pay ment Offer which gives seven additional days to pay the appropriate daily charge for that journey. This is £9 for private cars, taxis and light goods vehicles and £100 for heavy goods vehicles, buses and coaches. If the charge is paid, the remaining Penalty Charge of £120 will be cancelled.

Failure to pay this daily charge will result in a full Penalty Charge Notice of £120, or £60 if paid within 14 days, as well as the outstanding daily charge.

Drivers in Bristol and surrounding areas are encouraged to look out for roadside signage showing when they are entering or approaching the zone. Some signs count down how many miles to go until the zone starts and others have a green cloud symbol on, with the letter D inside.

MUSHROOM & POTATO FRITTATA

Ingredients

• 500g baby potatoes, halved

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 150g baby button mushrooms, large ones halved

• 120g Co-op grated mature Cheddar

• 6 medium h eggs, beaten

Method

Put the potatoes into a pan of cold water.

Bring to the boil and simmer for 12-15 mins, until tender, then drain

Preheat the oven to 180°C, fan 160°C, gas 4

When the potatoes are nearly cooked, heat half the oil in a 20cm ovenproof fry ing pan (base measurement) and fry the mushrooms over a medium to high heat for 5 mins

Lower the heat and cook for a further 5 mins, then remove the mushrooms from the pan

Add the remaining oil to the pan and put it over a low to medium heat

Add the cooked potatoes and mushrooms to the pan, and season

Add three-quarters of the cheese to the beaten eggs and pour over the vegeta bles

Sprinkle over the remaining cheese and cook gently for 5 mins

Transfer to the oven and cook for 15 mins, until cooked through and golden Serve in wedges

CHOCOLATE, HAZELNUT & COOKIE CAKE

Ingredients

• 250g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing

• 250g 70% cocoa dark chocolate, chopped

• 250g light brown soft sugar

• 250g self raising white flour

• 50g cocoa powder

• 4 large free range eggs

• For the buttercream

• 150g unsalted butter, softened

• 200g chocolate spread

• 150g icing sugar

• 1 tbsp semi-skimmed milk

• 6 Irresistible triple chocolate cookies, to decorate

Method

Grease and line 2 deep loose-bottomed 20cm cake tins

Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan 160°C/ gas 4

Put the chocolate, sugar and butter in a pan and melt together over a low heat, until the sugar is completely dissolved and everything is combined. Leave to cool

Put the flour and cocoa into a large bowl

Whisk the eggs into the cooled chocolate mixture, then whisk the chocolate mixture into the dry ingredients

Divide between the prepared cake tins and bake for 25-30 mins, until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.

Leave to cool completely

Once the cakes are cool, make the buttercream

Whisk together the butter and chocolate and hazelnut spread until light and fluffy Whisk in the icing sugar, then add the milk to loosen slightly

Place one of the cakes onto a serving plate and spread a layer of the buttercream over the top

Sandwich with the second cake, then spread over the rest of the buttercream

To decorate, cut 3 of the cookies in half and crush the other 3 into crumbs

Pat most of the crumbs around the sides of the iced cake, push the halved cookies at intervals around the top, and sprinkle with the remaining cookie crumbs to serve

HOUSING NOW A BUYERS’ MARKET

“

Housing in the Bristol area has now fully-flipped from a sellers to a buyers' market as the cost of living crisis bites, according to a property agent with offices in North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

Estate agent Andrew Simmonds says the hike in interest rates last Thursday to their highest level in 14 years raising mortgage payments, has already had a noticeable impact on the market.

An estate agents in Backwell, North Somerset and Country Property in Chipping Sodbury is reporting that there are now more people trying to sell their homes than there are people actively trying to buy with sales now beginning to slow.

He continues “For a long time in the villages around Bristol houses have had a queue of potential buyers almost as soon as they go on to the market. Really good properties in the best locations were selling without really being fully marketed.

“There were also many examples of people paying over the asking price in order to secure the property that they really wanted. In the last few months that has totally changed.

The rise in interest rates last week was well signalled so we have seen the market evolve in the last few months and weeks. But it has now totally flipped to a position where sellers will have to work harder if they want their home to sell in a reasonable time-scale.

“All the indicators are that as a result house prices will fall. In some ways there has been too much heat in the market this year and this is a re-adjustment and as usual it will vary from location to location.”

Mr Simmonds says the rental market is still strong in the area with a shortage of accommodation for the number of people looking for a place to live.

He said: “The greater Bristol area has a major student population who take up a lot of the rental properties available. It is also an attractive area for relocation and in recent times many people found it easier to sell elsewhere and rent locally so they were in a position to move quickly for a house when it became available.

“We are still finding a good level of enquiries for all rental properties and there is no sign at the moment of rental levels falling. With more people finding it tough to get a mortgage the rental sector will stay strong for landlords and difficult for those looking for the right accommodation.

AGENT “IN THE HOT SEAT” – WHAT’S FULL MANAGEMENT?

Full Management (frequently referred to as a “fully managed” service) is a service offered by most letting agents to landlords that wish to have a more passive experience, where their letting agent is responsible for and will deal with all aspects of the management process including:

• Management of tenants

• Rent collection

• Safety compliance management

• Property inspections

• Management of property maintenance

• Assistance in any disputes

• Protection of the deposit

PROS

This is a great option for landlords who either don’t want to self manage or, for whatever reason (usually time or location related), cannot self manage. It is a passive service, because the letting agent will manage the property and the tenants and will ensure that the tenancy and the property are compliant. So, if it’s passivity that you are after, then this could be the right service level for you. Most agents will be happy to discuss tweaks with you, and trigger points at which you would like to be involved. For example, some landlords are happy to be completely hands off and let their agent choose tenants and some like to have the final say on tenant selection themselves; some are happy for the agent to sign the contract on their behalf, and some want to sign it themselves –and so on and so forth. Usually, if something is do-able and makes sense, your agent will be happy to oblige. Where the tenant find service leverages your agent’s selection experience, full management carries on, where that service ends, leveraging the agent’s management and compliance knowledge and expertise and often their trade contacts too.

The biggest one here is cost, as full man agement is an ongoing cost, as opposed to a one off fee, for a one off service, like, for instance, a tenant find. The im portant thing to mention here is that your agent will be spending a lot of time, on an ongoing basis, managing your proper ty, managing your tenants, and keeping abreast of compliance, in order to keep you, as a landlord, safe. The other important thing to mention here is to choose your agent carefully. There are some great agents out there, and a conversation with them, asking some good quality questions, will help you to choose the right one. Make sure that you do this well and that you don’t choose based solely on price, because they will be managing your biggest asset and their knowledge of the local area and of regulations and compliance are crucial, especially if you want a truly passive service – remember, you cannot outsource your responsibility as a landlord, so your choice of lettings partner is an important one.

Full Management versus Tenant Find

Whereas with a tenant find, the agent’s services do not extend beyond the check in, Full Management “does what it says on the tin.” A full management service incorporates all aspects of managing the tenancy. This often works well for land lords who do not have the time, experi ence, or knowledge to self-manage, or who have more than one property. It can also work well for more compliant or time intensive property models, like HMOs (Houses of multiple occupation) or SA (Serviced accommodation).

The Cost

This will vary from agent to agent, as with all costings but, our advice here would be, don’t be lured in by very low prices. A full management service is time heavy, and time equals money, so if you are being quoted a very low cost, we would see this as a potential indication of how much time is going to be spent on the management of your property, so “buyer beware.”

It’s also important to choose the right lettings partner, not just one based simply on price. There are some fantastic agents out there, so pick up the phone and have some conversations with them and ask some searching questions about how they go about the business of managing property. We charge 10% plus VAT for a single let and 12% plus VAT for an HMO, with discounts available for portfolio land lords. Different agents will have different fee structures, we have chosen ours to reflect time spent and the level of com plexity involved.

Our Tenant Find versus Our Full Management With our Tenant Find, you get to leverage exactly the same experience, knowledge and team as you get with full management, just for the part of the process that you need. We don’t outsource any part of our lettings service, so you get the full KPA experience, just for the “tenant find bit.” With our Full Management service you get that very same, experienced team, managing your property, your tenants and keeping both you and your property fully compliant; it can be as passive as you’d like it to be. Most agents work in a similar way and a conversation with them will help you to make the right choice about your lettings partner.

Us versus our Competitors

There are some great agents out there and, whilst it’s hard to comment, spe cifically, on exactly how they carry out their Full Management service, a chat with them would soon answer any of your questions and queries. Most agents define the service in a very similar way and are very happy to chat with a landlord about specific needs when it comes to the management of their property. The relationship with your agent is a partnership, never more so than in a management capacity, as they will be responsible for the day-to-day management of one of your biggest assets. Have those conversations, ask those questions, address those concerns – you will be pleased that you did!

If you have found this subject useful, then you can find other, related, blog articles here.

WALKING WORKOUT IS GOOD FOR YOUR BODY

The UK is largely populated with sedentary workers, we take less and less exercise. Yet one of the most simple forms is also the most effective - walking. There is evidence to suggest that regular brisk walks could be as good for us, if not better, than strenuous jogging.

WHAT DOES WALKING DO TO YOUR BODY?

Regular walking, like most aerobic activities, is great for you because cardio-vascular exercise strengthens the heart and lungs, overall increasing fitness. Together with healthy diet and other exercise plans, it can also help with weight loss and tone up muscles

A sports science lecturer at the University of Exeter is a firm believer in the bene fits of walking, and said: ‘It can improve muscle endurance as well as muscle strength, especially in the lower body.

‘It is also good for bones and improves the body’s cardiovascular system. It also helps boost circulation.

Power-walking - keeping a brisk pace at moderate to high intensity - can burn the same amount of calories as running or jogging. So it is very useful for helping with weight loss ‘Because it is low impact, it does not have the same potential for injury as jogging or running. Yet it can offer all the benefits.’

Walking helps to drain the lower legs of excess fluid and can help prevent varicose veins through the pumping action of the calf muscles. The increased supply of oxygen exercise promotes also gets rid of the waste products in the tissues.

Because more people are able to walk at a consistent speed than run, it is a more beneficial form of tissue-cleansing, particularly for people over-50, As jogging can actually cause more problems.'

Did you know walking is also better for the spine than running, as it puts less stress on the discs. As we are designed for constant movement, not sitting in cars or in front of computers, which causes negative pressures on our spinal cord.

Regular walking is excellent for spi nal discs, which receive minerals and vitamins through the pumping action it causes. The best thing is that you can see results from walking very quickly - although it depends on each person's individual level of fitness, age and how often and fast they are walking.

WHAT DOES IT DO TO YOUR FEET?

The main players in regular walking are, of course, your feet. And we don’t use them in the best way.

Our feet were made for walking about. And that’s exactly what they should do as It’s the best way of exercising the 50-odd muscles we have in our feet.

we learn to walk as infants, very few of us have continued to walk correctly.

For instance, a slight 'bounce' while walking not only slows you down, but also places a strain on joints.

When taking a step, let the heel land first. If you think about how your body weight is distributed, it makes sense to land the foot in a heel-to-toe motion as you take the movement from heel towards the ball of the foot, try to make a slight rolling motion inwards. This will help to give you more power when you push off with your foot. The result will be a faster stride. Walking can burn just as many calories as jogging if you walk with a special technique.

It’s called the race walking wiggle. If you walk with a slight swivel in your hips with each stride, it makes you move faster. Yes, it can make you look a little strange but, mile for mile, it uses the same calo ries as you would if you were jogging.'

Also maintaining your posture also makes a huge contribution in obtaining the maximum benefits from walking. walk tall and also holding the ribcage up and tummy muscles in.

This means you get an additional midriff work-out while walking. Also it’s advised to squeeze your bottom in as you walk since this tightens the gluteus maximus muscles.

Imagine you are holding a £50 note between the cheeks, so that you achieve a firmer bottom and also get a more effective walking session.'

minutes daily, for a minimum of five days a week. But you can split the walk into a couple of 15-minute journeys each day or make up for lost time with an extra-long walk at the weekend.

Walking beats other forms of exercise as there are excellent strategies for boosting the amount you do.

For example, getting off at an earlier bus-stop than your usual one will add on a two to three minute walk. That may not sound much, but if you do that twice a day, every day, it all adds up.

Another great tip is walking up a flight of stairs instead of taking the lift. Even a brisk walk around the block for ten minutes in your lunch break contributes to your daily walking too.

HOW TO KEEP IT UP?

Also there is psychological benefits to walking. When you walk, just like any other form of exercise, your body has a chemical release of serotonin, the natural feel good chemical.

Also the release of endorphins, which are happy hormones, which is why people feel on a natural high at the end of an exercise session. Remembering how you feel should be an incentive for you to keep it up. However linking up with a 'walking buddy' can also help with motivation. If you have a commitment to meet a friend for that walk, you are less likely to cancel. Where as if you are planning to walk on your own, it is often easier to make excuses and put it off.

HANG CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTS LIKE A PRO

When you're learning how to put lights on a tree, you figure out pretty quickly that hanging Christmas tree lights is easy. Getting the lights to look just right and taking them down at the end of the holiday season, however, is much harder.

FIRST, WHAT NOT TO DO:

Many times, people make the mistake of putting their lights on the Christmas tree haphazardly, crossing strands to form a wire net that’s nearly impossible to remove. Fortunately, there are a few strategies to try to make your Christmas lights easy to put up—and take down.

Whether you decide to hang your lights horizontally as we prefer, or vertically which also has its perks, use these tips to become a Christmas tree decorating pro.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

Christmas lights, of course! Start by figuring out how many lights you need for your Christmas tree. A good rule is to average 100 lights for every foot of the tree, but you can add more lights (or use fewer) as you prefer.

How to Hang Christmas Tree Lights

Before you start, plug in the lights to check if all the bulbs are working. Leave them on while you work so you can see how they look on the tree, and so you can easily address dark spots.

Horizontal is the most traditional way to install your Christmas tree lights— traveling around and around the tree to wind in the lights. To give your Christmas tree a professional look, string them a little randomly, to give your lights a more organic, natural feel. As you work, place some lights deeper into the branches and place some closer to the front to create depth.

A dead zone of lights occurs when you connect one string of lights to another: Hide the unsightly green plug by pushing it deep into the branches.

If your lights aren’t hanging exactly where you want them by wrapping a little floral wire around the cord and branch to hold it in place. Bend the loose ends of the wire towards the back of the tree to prevent any injuries.

If you have a branch that’s drooping or unattractive, simply remove it by clipping it from behind with a pair of florist shears.

Best Way to Hang Vertical Christmas Tree Lights

While hanging tree lights horizontally is most common, many top decorating experts recommend installing your lights from the bottom to the top. "The trick is to go up and down, not around and around.

Use a trunk-to-tip method to create “not just a shell of light but an inner glow and a three-dimensionality that cannot be achieved any other way.

To follow this tree lighting technique, di vide the tree vertically into three sections (think trunk to tip) and string the lights by section. Beginning at the bottom, weave each string in and out of the branches, to the top of the tree and back.

PORTISHEAD RAILWAY LINE RECEIVES DEVELOPMENT CONSENT ORDER

Portishead Railway Group (PRG) is delighted that the Secretary of State for Transport accepted the Portishead Branch Line Development Consent Order (DCO) application. The announce ment is cause for great celebration. It has been a long andarduous journey to get to this most welcome point in the saga of reopening the railway to passenger traffic.

PRG also thanks and congratulates North Somerset Council staff for their hard work that resulted in the success of the DCO application, and Dr Liam Fox MP for his tireless work over many years to support the case for Portishead rail in Parliament and central government. Thanks are also owed to the three other local councils for their patience and support, and to WECA for also lobbying central government.

PRG members, and the people of Por tishead and of Pill, are only too aware of the need for the town’s rail link with Bristol and beyond, the great benefits of which are well known and demonstrated in the DCO application. Urgent action is now required to push forward with construction so as to help solve the existing road congestion and resulting pollution problems,as soon as possible.

The acceptance of the DCO application is a prime example of local councils, regardless of political affiliation, working together for the common local good.

PRG will now turn its attention to what sort of stations and amenities can be provided at Portishead and Pill, to make this important new alternative transport offer as attractive as possible to those who currently use road transport.

Alan Matthews, Chair of Portishead Railway Group says, “This is a very welcomeannouncement. The Portishead line has always had a very strong business case and we are pleased that this was recognised by the Secretary of State. We now look forward to seeing the business case and full design so that the contracts can finally be put in place forconstruction of the line to start.”

BLUE Q MENS CREW SOCKS

These socks from Bristol-based Lota are perfect for Christmas! We used one of their less expressive examples, but you get the gist--some are quite rude. Either way, we think you should check them out on Gloucester Road.

SHOP IN BRISTOL THIS CHRISTMAS

ZARA’S CHOCOLATE ADVENT CALENDER

Zara’s advent calendars are a great ore-christmas gift for chocolate lovers, but you better order yours quickly! Zara’s based in Southville

HOUSE DOCTOR GOLD CLEAR GLASS CANDLES

Candles make great Christmas gifts, and these House Doctor Gold Clear Glass Candles available in different designs are perfect for long winter nights. They’re also very affordable, making them a great option for anyone on your list. Mon Pote is based in Bedminster

WINTER SCARF’S

BAM is known for their quirky home ware and gifts, and they have some thing to suit all budgets. Like this scarf. You can shop online or in store. BAM is based in Easton.

BRISTOL BUSINESSES STAR IN NEW SHOW ON AMAZON’S PRIME VIDEO

Released on Amazon’s Prime Video, all five episodes of Business As Unusual star two businesses from Bristol – salon NOCO Hair and travel company Inside Travel Group. The series follows eight companies on a journey through lockdowns, re-openings and the every-day challenges faced by businesses across the UK.

Narrated by Downton Abbey’s Phyllis Logan, the audience is given a fascinat ing bird’s eye view of business owners navigating through one of the most unpredictable periods in modern history with the guidance of a local business coach, Gary Keating. The series starts at the onset of the pandemic and grips viewers wondering if the business owner heroes will survive the toughest business conditions in living memory.

The scenarios are real and some are seemingly impossible, not least the business partners with travel company, Inside Travel Group in Quay Street, specialising in tours to Japan – a country with one of the longest lockdown periods! Whilst NOCO Hair not only contends with lockdowns but also opens a second salon in Clifton in addition to their original salon in Redlands – all with strict guidelines to keep staff and customers safe and healthy.

This series is perfect for anyone thinking of becoming a business owner, understanding the mindset and action needed during times of crisis. For those already fully immersed in business ownership, this show will draw parallels to situations you have faced, not only during the pandemic but on a daily basis. And for anyone looking for a heartfelt docu mentary showing how both professional and personal lives collided during the pandemic, this is a window into the lives of some business owners struggling to ensure the job security of their staff and families.

“It was certainly an experience being followed around by a filming crew over the course of two of the most tumultu ous years but I think it’s really important for people to see behind the scenes of businesses during that time. There are so many lessons to be learned which are valuable considering the current economic climate,” said Gary Keating from ActionCOACH Bristol.

Search Business As Unusual on your Prime Video streaming service to watch now or follow this link here

EXECUTING A WILL – DON'T BURY YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND

An executor is a person who has the responsibility of administering a deceased person’s estate. They are appointed by a person’s will and their role begins when that person dies.

Executors have a whole host of responsibilities, including:

• Organising the payment of any tax due, such as inheritance and income tax

• Applying for any applicable tax reliefs

• Paying the deceased’s liabilities

• Identifying and collecting in all the assets

• Locating the correct beneficiaries

• Applying for a grant of probate (if required)

Distributing the estate to the beneficiaries in accordance with the deceased’s will

Failure to perform these obligations can leave an executor personally liable for matters concerning the deceased’s estate. Furthermore, it is incredibly important an executor fulfils their duties, or they could find themselves being sub ject to serious penalties.

The recent case of Totton and Another v Totton provides a graphic illustration of this.

The case concerns the estate of Hazel Totton, who died in July 2019 and left a will appointing her son Mark Totton, aged 51, as executor. She left half of her estate to Mark and the other half to her grandchildren, Hollie Totton and Daniel Washer.

The primary asset in the deceased’s estate was her house, which sold in April 2020 for £425,000. To date Hollie and Daniel, of Essex, have still not received the inheritance they are entitled to in the will and Mark Totton has failed to account for their inheritance.

Hollie, 25, and Daniel, 19, appointed solicitors who wrote to Mark over a period of eight months requesting him to administer and distribute the estate. No reply was received to any of these letters. Hollie also contacted Mark via telephone calls and texts asking when her and Daniel would receive their inheritance. In October 2020, Mark advised Hollie they would receive their inheritance “within days”.

In April 2021, Hollie and Daniel brought a claim against Mark Totton calling for a full account of the deceased’s estate and for the same to be distributed. With Mark having taken no action, the court made an order in March this year, direct ing him to provide a full account of the deceased’s assets and their location to Hollie and Daniel’s solicitors within three weeks. Again, Mark Totton failed to take any action.

The court produced further official documents in August which were similarly ignored and Mark Totton failed to attend subsequent court hearings later that month, and then again in September.

A warrant was executed and Mark Totton was brought before the court on 15th September. The court provided Mark Totton with several chances to comply with his duties as executor, namely, to correctly distribute the estate. He admitted that he had “buried his head in the sand” regarding the administration of the estate and he received a four-month prison sentence.

The court gave one final deadline, stating that the jail term would not take effect so long as the estate was distributed by 6th October.

The following day Mark Totton was jailed for six weeks for contempt of court after failing to comply with the judge’s order to set out the assets of the estate within a certain time frame and to give a full account of his dealings with it.

The court also noted that he had not instructed solicitors to assist him with his duties, which would have likely prevented proceedings being brought against him.

Acting as an executor is sometimes straightforward, however it can very quickly become confusing, convoluted and time-consuming. Here at Clarke Willmott we have the expertise to assist executors with as much or as little as is felt necessary.

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!

EASY

HARD

Subscribe to Bristol Weekly Magazine via this QR code To enter our cash prize draw each week MEDIUM

ESCAPE THE MAZE

Can you find your way through this difficult maze?

DECEMBER HOROSCOPES

Aquarius Jan 20 - Feb 18

Something you have been putting aside needs to be dealt with. The sooner you do this the better things will be for you. Remember that in any situation you have a strong enough character that you will be able to deal with most things. If you have hold-ups and obsta cles, check that you are not causing these yourself.

Keywords strength and endurance

Pisces Feb 19 - Mar 20

Meeting people is quite promi nent this month, both in social and other groups and gatherings. If something needs to be said or sorted now is a good time to do it. It may be a time to reflect and for decisions.

Keywords. Gatherings and decisions

Taurus

Apr 20 - May 20

Looks like changes are on the way for you. It may be a new venture or career. You may be feeling a bit restless at the moment., May be time to reflect aon nd some of the things you would like to achieve. You may find people keep wanting to give you their problems, but do not let yourself get involved in gossip or conflict.

Keywords changes and reflection.

Aries Mar 21 - Apr 19

If you are involved in meetings at this time they may not run as smoothly as you would like 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 and clearing

Gemini May 21 - June 20

You may be feeling that things are being held up for you, or that your vitality levels are low. Spring is just around the corner and soon your energy and yourself will be feeling back to normal. If there is something complicated in your life at the moment, you will soon be able to unravel it and and let it go. Don’t be too hard on yourself, remember you can achieve more than you think.

Keywords. Letting go..

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 with relatively plain sailing.

Keywords opportunities and rela tionships

Leo July 23 - Aug 22

This month pay attention to your intuition especially in regarding to situations with other people. You may need to step back from something and try and see it from a different perspective In all situations this month try and keep calm and balanced.

Keywords. Intuition and balance

Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 21

It may be that time of year to go through some paperwork and to change some things that you have been putting off. A good time now for clearing and getting rid of things you don’t need both physically and emotionally. Try to be aware of being sensitive to other’s needs.

Keywords: Clearing and sensitivity

Virgo Aug 23 - Sept 22

You may be at a point where a knew interest hobby or some kind of study is on your mind. This could lead to opportunities in many directions. Just remember anything you want to achieve may involve some kind of challenges.

Keywords challenges and oppor tunities.

Sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21

This month is just the right time to start sorting other things out you have been putting off. You may feel I need to have a revamp in your home, this may also involve a clearing for yourself emotionally. Should be a chance to get rid of all those paperwork issues too.

Keywords clearing and cleansing

Libra Sept 23 - Oct 22

Any obstacles that have been in your way look likely to be on their way out. You may have been feeling a bit stuck in your ways of late, this could well be about to change. It may be time to think of having a break, even if it’s just for a day or so.

Keywords change and relaxation

Capricorn Dec 22 - Jan 19

At this time any hold-ups you have had are going to be easing. It would be good to listen more than talk at this time.Then may be things will be of value to you. Sensitivity and flexibility is something for you to be aware of this month.

keywords: Listen and sensitivity

Forecasted by Marie Hayward

Disclaimer

YOUR GARDEN IN DECEMBER

Choosing a Christmas tree

Most gardeners tend to think that everything in the garden is dormant in December. While this does tend to be the case there are still crops, plants and wildlife to protect from any winter frosts. The lawn will need to be kept clear of any remain ing leaves and patio containers will need raising to avoid them sitting in the wet. The beginning of the month, however, will probably be dedicated to decorating the Christmas tree. For many people this is an essential part of their festive traditions and there’s nothing quite like a real Christmas tree to decorate a room and fill the home with that nostalgic seasonal aroma...

There are several types of Christmas tree to choose from and if you’ve never had one before it can be hard to decide which will be best.

Nordmann Fir - this is the top choice for real indoor Christmas trees and has excellent needle retention.

The lush, glossy, rich green needles are soft and dense making it easy to decorate and the strong branches will support your lights and decorations to create a stunning display. They quite often have a wide base, making a perfect place to hide presents!

Norway Spruce - the ‘traditional’ Christmas tree. Strong branches make for easy decorating, although the needles can tend to be fairly sharp. If you are choosing this tree it is best kept outside for as long as possible before bringing it into a cool room to help with needle retention.

POTTED/POT GROWN TREES

Most people buy cut Christmas trees, but it is possible to buy ‘potted’ or ‘pot grown’ trees. If you want to keep your tree after Christmas to pot on or plant in the garden always ask for a pot-grown tree. Potted Christmas trees have usu ally been grown in the ground and then dug up and potted with a few roots.

Looking good this month.. Mahonia

They generally won’t last much lon ger than a well cared for cut tree, and usually won’t establish in the garden afterwards. Pot grown trees have been grown in the pot and so many are more likely to be successful for growing on from year to year.

WHY SHOULD YOU PLANT THEM?

Striking winter foliage, fragrant lily-of-thevalley aroma and beautiful yellow blooms - it’s not difficult to see why the Mahonia is such a well-respected addition to a winter garden.

HOW SHOULD YOU PLANT THEM?

Mahonia are very low maintenance shrubs but a small amount of attention will ensure that they perform to the best of their abilities - an annual prune is suf ficient to keep them in check. By nature they are adapted to woodland conditions so plant in partial to full shade however they will grow well in a variety of soil conditions including clay, chalk and even sand.