South Bristol Direct Local Magazine April 2023

24 hour care

Hartcliffe care home provides nursing care in a warm supportive and safe environment.

We believe that you deserve to enjoy quality time with your loved ones, without feeling the added pressures of care giving. At Hartcliffe you can rest easy knowing that help is on hand 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Get back to being a family, not just a carer.

To book a visit call our team on 01174 562 263

MHA Hartcliffe Care Home

15 Murford Avenue, Hartcliffe, Bristol, BS13 9JS mha.org.uk/Hartcliffe

Nurse call system Chaplain

We’ll focus on the care. You focus on the catch-ups.

This Month..

4. Ricky Gervais brings Armageddon

6. best places for spring flower walks

10. Bristol harbour festival

14. Health benefits of coffee

20. Five safety tips foe women

22. Out and about

24. Time and money

28. Britain favorite sandwich

32. Our day out at the UK Comic Con

36. Horoscopes

38. Your garden

Disclaimer

to Bristol

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

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Kayleigh Penny

kierstan Lowe

Corinna Ingram

Andrew Varney

RICKY GERVAIS BRINGS ARMAGEDDON TOUR TO BRISTOL

Popular comedian Ricky Gervais is coming to the Bristol Beacon in December for two concerts as part of his world famous Armageddon Tour.

Don’t miss out on your chance to see him live—some of his other dates have already sold out. Get your tickets soon and you’ll be guaranteed a night of laughter and fun!

Following his visit to York, Gervias tweeted: “Thanks to the amazing Armageddon crowd in York tonight. Might be my favorite performance for this tour so far. I also loved visiting the railway museum. In fact, I think I like pretty much everything here. Maybe I’d lose some of the rain Anyway, see you soon.”

Reviewers of the show say it pushes the boundaries further than its Netflix special super nature. This show drew a lot of backlash after his comments about transgender people. Gervais devoted a significant portion of the show to commenting on the trans community, joking that “old-fashioned women” are “the ones with wombs” and that he’s morphing into “Vicky Gervais.”

Gervais defended the program, saying He wanted to “take audiences to a place they’ve never been before.” He told BBC One’s ‘The One Show’: “I think that’s what comedy is really for – to get us through stuff and I delve into taboo subjects because I want to take the audience to a place where it’s never been a split second before.”

A Bristol Beacon spokesman said: “The creator and star of ‘The Office’, ‘Extras’, ‘Derek’ and the critically acclaimed hit ‘After Life’ (Netflix), Ricky Gervais, has won countless awards According to Life, which was released on Netflix in March 2019, Ricky has since written and completed filming on a second series that will hit Netflix in 2020. His hit series The Office is the highest-grossing British comedy of all time, shown in more than 90 countries with seven remakes.”

BEST PLACES FOR SPRING FLOWER WALKS

When that spring sun's out and the birds are singing, it's time to put on your walking shoes! Where better to go moseyin' around than the stunning Bristol landscape?

With daffodils, bluebells, loads of other blooms and some seriously insta-worthy sights, there's nowhere quite like it.

We've tracked down the cream of the crop: historical estates, cemeteries, woodlands, parks – you gotta check these badboys out! Grab your camera (or phone), hit up one of our top wildflower spots and show us how you spent your spring in style – don't forget to tag us in all those pretty pics!

ASHTON COURT

Another estate where you’ll no doubt encounter a vast array of plant life and wildflowers galore, Ashton Court Estate is even home to its own impressive spread of bluebells, located at Rownham Wood which can be located on Bristol City Council’s map of the estate.

Add to this the estate’s deer park, mansion house and stunning views and you have a must-walk spring adventure.

PRIOR’S WOOD IN PORTBURY

One of the best places to see bluebells (from late April), Prior’s Wood is located in Portbury and boasts a “wildlife-rich ancient woodland with streams and a wonderful bluebell display in spring”. According to the Avon Wildlife Trust, it spans some 62 hectares and is free to enter, with dogs allowed on a lead.

Parts of Prior’s Wood date back to the 1600s and are very close to the type of woodland that developed after the last Ice Age, about 10,000 years ago. Just ensure that you refrain from picking the bluebells as they are a protected species.

WESTON BIG WOOD, NEAR PORTISHEAD

This woodland near Portishead is also known to be a great area for bird watching, as well as for its array of wildflowers. Avon Wildlife Trust advises visitors that access to paths is uphill and paths can be steep and muddy at times.

However, the scenery is worth it - the trust advises: “In springtime the ground is covered with wood anemones, violets and masses of bluebells.”

LOWER WOODS, SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Covering almost 700 acres, Lower Woods is one of the largest ancient woodlands in the entire South West region, located near the village of Wickwar. According to Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, which manages the site, otters have been known to play in the stretch of the Little Avon river that runs through the nature reserve.

It’s another in this list where you can spot a bluebell or 10, among other wild flowers, too.

OLDBURY COURT ESTATE/VASSALS PARK

Oldbury Court Estate is a free parkland in Fishponds with woods, riverside paths and even a children’s play park. It’s also close to the nearby Snuff Mills park and community garden. You’ll no doubt spot an array of flowers and other wildlife as you stroll along the river.

MISTAKES TO AVOID WHEN SPRING CLEANING YOUR CAR

We all know it doesn’t hurt to give your car a good spring cleaning every so often.This not only makes you thoroughly proud of your nice clean car but also gets rid of any ground in dirt that builds up over time.

But, mistakes can be made on when to actually begin the process of doing your deep cleaning or spring cleaning. Our guide will also advise you on when to never wash your car.

UPHOLSTERY

If you have either leather or cloth seats, it’s most important not to leave them to not have a build -up of grime and dirt. This by no means never looks pleasant and neither is it hygienic or nice and comfortable to sit on.

It’s always advisable when cleaning leather and cloth seats to never use any household disinfectant such as bleach, which will ruin the overall appearance of most materials.

The two basic rules to follow:

LEATHER SEATS

Never soak your seats completely and the best natural cleaning solution is white vinegar, mixed in hot water and a dash of washing-up liquid. Once your seats have fully dried, apply a reputable leather conditioner to increase the look and longevity of your leather car seats.

CLOTH SEATS

Firstly as you would normally do, give your cloth seats a good vacuum clean, and like before, use a combined solution of hot water, white vinegar, and a dash of washing up liquid. Then scrub the solution thoroughly into the fabric with a soft brush to liven up the fabric.

WHEELS FIRST

It’s normally the recommended practice of most professional car washers to wash the dirtiest part of the car, the wheels. The practice is to use a high-pressure washer to get rid of most of the dirt. Then you can start the hand cleaning process of applying a wet sponge to wipe each tyre and wheel alloy clean.

HEAT IS BAD

The best advice we can give you and one of the biggest mistakes most car owners make is to wash their car on a hot day, or with the engine still running. This can severely affect the finish of your car once you have completed the wash. Washing your car in hot heat means you will quickly dry the soap you have applied at the start of your car wash, causing water marks all over your car. This doesn’t make it any easier to successfully wash your car within the normal time ranges. Never wash your car until the engine has fully cooled and when doing so, try and do it in

FOR BRISTOL, BY BRISTOL: BRISTOL HARBOUR FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR SUMMER 2023

The iconic free family event of the summer, Bristol Harbour Festival returns from 14th - 16th July 2023, with newly imagined entertainment zones, Circus Playground moving to College Green and an inclusive water programme that celebrates the city’s harbour.

Attracting over 250,000 visitors to enjoy over one mile of entertainment, the festival will feature a huge range of local talent, world-class circus, music acts and on the water activity from cardboard boat races to high octane jetpack stunts.

With five areas filled with music and entertainment, Bristol Harbour Festival fans can look forward to five performance platforms, bringing beats, boats and backflips to the summer extravaganza. Cirque Bijou will once again be bringing tricks and trapeze, children’s entertainment and pop-up performances at the Circus Playground which will now take pride of place at a brand new city green space, College Green.

The Jelli Shack will take over Millenium Square, providing chill-out beach-bar vibes with an acoustic programme brought to you by the team at Jelli Records. Featuring an abundance of Bristol talent, the Jelli Shack will also have dodgems and refreshments, making this a ultimate spot to bask in the sunshine.

The Amphitheatre will become a great spot to enjoy a bite from the Food Court with music from Access Creative College, Ujima Radio and BCFM Radio as it becomes Harbour View. The perfect place to promenade alongside moored vessels and look out onto the stunning setting of Bristol’s floating harbour. It's time to pull up a picnic bench and soak up the summer vibes.

Three days of maritime-magic puts puts local talent at the forefront of 2023 Bristol Harbour Festival showcase

On the Water entertainment will return to the Harbour Festival, bringing the water at the heart of our city to life with activities showcasing maritime-magic from jet ski stunts to the iconic Pyrounaut showing off its skills.

Bristol’s Georgian Queen Square will transform into the Music Quarter; curated by Harbour Festival programming legend, Tony Benjamin. This space will kick start the festival on Friday night and will also feature the brightest talent from Access Creative College alongside established acts.

The festival has opened its annual Expression of Interest for those wanting to perform and get involved with the festival this year, hoping to attract the newest and coolest into the festival from all over corners of the city once again. With a large number of performers coming through the EOI form last year, applications are open to everyone and anyone looking to share their talent.

Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, said: “Bristol’s Harbour Festival is a big part of our city’s calendar, and an incredible platform for aspiring artists and local talent to perform in front of huge audiences. The Harbour Festival is an event for all communities and is an opportunity to showcase the diverse Bristol we’re proud to call home. We look forward to celebrating together and bringing another brilliant free-festival to Bristol this Summer.”

Applications for boat owners and visiting vessels who wish to attend this year’s festival can apply from the 17th April 2023 on the Sail Bristol app. Allocations will be made on a first come first serve basis and more information can be found on the Harbour Festival website.

Bristol Harbour Festival’s new and reformed festival is brought to the city by Bristol City Council. The Circus Playground is supported and funded by the High Street Recovery Fund.

Welcome to Bristol Saver Mondays

Reduced price tickets, all day!

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES

A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers undertake an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people. Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves brings the rich world and playful spirit of the legendary role-playing game to the big screen in a hilarious and action-packed adventure.

(12A)

SUPER MARIO BROS.

For the first time, the iconic global entertainment brands Illumination and Nintendo join forces to create The Super Mario Bros. Movie, a new, big-screen adventure starring one of pop culture’s most prominent plumbers of the past four decades.

(PG)

CREED 3

From award-winning director Ben Affleck, AIR reveals the unbelievable game-changing partnership between a then rookie Michael Jordan and Nike’s fledgling basketball division which revolutionized the world of sports and contemporary culture with the Air Jordan brand.

WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF COFFEE?

Scientific studies into the health effects of coffee are being done all the time and have, in the past, claimed the drink brings fairly big health benefits.

REDUCES EARLY DEATH RISK

Research by the National Cancer Institute in the US last year found people who drink six or seven cups of coffee each day were 16 per cent less likely to die from disease within a 10-year period than those who didn't.

LESS LIKELY TO GET DEPRESSION

Another study, done by the Harvard School of Public Health, found that women who drank four or more cups of coffee per day were 20 per cent less likely to suffer from depression.

WOMEN HAVE HIGHER PAIN THRESHOLD

British scientists at Goldsmiths, University of London, found women who drank coffee – 250mg of caffeine, to be precise – tended to have a higher pain threshold than those who didn't.

LOWER TYPE 2 DIABETES

The Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee last year said it had trawled through nearly 30 studies of almost 1.2million people to find drinking three or four cups of coffee each day could slash the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 27 per cent.

HOT CROSS PEANUT BUTTER BLONDIES

INGREDIENTS

200g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing

250g white chocolate, roughly chopped

200g light brown soft sugar

3 large eggs, lightly beaten

1 tbsp vanilla extract

3 tbsp smooth peanut butter

200g gluten free plain flour

20g roasted and salted peanuts, finely chopped

You will also need a piping bag

METHOD

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

Grease and line a 28cm x 18cm x 5cm baking tray with greaseproof paper

Melt the butter and 200g of the chocolate in a large heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water

Remove from the heat and mix in the sugar until smooth

Add the eggs, vanilla and peanut butter, and mix again

Sift in the flour and whisk until smooth

Pour into the prepared baking tray and sprinkle the peanuts on top

Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 25-30 mins, until a thin crust has formed and the blondie is almost set in the middle

Leave to cool fully in the tin. Take care not to overcook or you will lose the gooey middle — the blondies will firm up more once cooled

Cut the blondie into 24 squares

Microwave the remaining white chocolate in

15-second bursts, until melted and smooth

Fill the piping bag and pipe a white chocolate cross on top of each square

Leave to set for an hour before serving

CHOCOLATE EGG BREAD

INGREDIENTS

180ml whole milk

50g unsalted butter, melted

3 eggs

500g white bread mix

60g caster sugar

For the decoration

2 tbsp sprinkles, plus extra to decorate

150g chocolate eggs

50g aster sugar

METHOD

Put the milk, butter and two of the eggs into a jug and whisk to combine

Tip the bread mix into a large mixing bowl, add the sugar, then make a well in the centre

Pour the milk mixture into the well and mix with a wooden spoon until a loose dough forms

Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 mins, until smooth and elastic.

Put into a large, lightly oiled bowl, cover with cling film and leave in a warm place for an hour, or until doubled in size

Cut the dough into three equal pieces Working with one piece at a time, shape each into a rope about 40cm long

Lay the ropes together length-ways on a lined baking sheet and plait together to make one large loaf

Cover with a clean tea towel and leave to rise again for 30 mins, or until puffed up

Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/ gas 6

Whisk the remaining egg with 1 tbsp water

Brush all over the loaf and bake in the oven for 25-30 mins, until golden

Meanwhile, put the sugar and 3 tbsp water in a small saucepan and bring to the boil

Cook for about 2 mins, until syrupy

Brush the loaf with the sticky syrup, leave to cool slightly, then decorate with the chocolate eggs and extra sprinkles

FIVE SAFETY TIPS EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW FOR A SAFE NIGHT OUT

No one expects bad stuff to happen when they’re out with friends, but as women we all know the potential risks involved. We’ve been taught since we were little to be aware of our environment and stay alert – otherwise we could become an easy target for a crime or accident.

Violence against women is an international and national issue, whatever country you live in. The World Health Organisation reckons that up to a third of women globally have had either physical or sexual abuse at the hands of someone close to them. Over here in the US, around 33% of women and 25% of men have experienced physical violence from a partner.

it’s a reality many women must remember when they head out with friends or alone at night—and even during the day. Being aware of the possibilities can help keep you safe from problems and let you enjoy your time out.

Heading out with your besties soon? Then check out our top five safety tips to make sure you have the most epic ladies’ night. Safety first, right? Once you’ve got those covered, it’s time to kick off the party!

1. STICK TOGETHER!

Look, let’s be real here: safety is way more important than having a good time. If you’re out at the club or on public transit, keep your friends close - and your girlfriend even closer. Along those same lines, make sure someone in your crew is always sober to look after everyone else so that no one gets taken advantage of. And when it comes time to go home, have at least one person designated as the driver who’ll get all the homies back safe and sound. Ya hear me? Safety first!

2. BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS

If someone is creeping you out or you aren’t feeling comfortable in the place you’re at, let a friend know and move to another location. Some of the main things to remember are to be aware of your surroundings and to trust your instincts. Being courteous isn’t more important than safety, so trust your gut and be comfortable not giving details about yourself.”

3. GUARD YOUR DRINKS

When you’re out dancing and having a good time, it can be easy to forget about your unattended drinks on a table or bar. Unfortunately, this is a great opportunity for someone else to slip a drug into your drink—making you an easier target for sexual assault.

Make a habit of taking your drinks with you or buying a new one each time. Don’t accept premade drinks from strangers. If someone wants to buy you a drink, go to the bar and watch the bartender pour it for you.

4. WATCH WHAT YOU POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Don’t post on social media where you are going or where you are at currently. Wait until you have left to post photos or videos. Posting where you’re at is like an open invitation for others to come and find you.

5. HAVE FUN!

There are many things to worry about in life, but don’t let them ruin your evening plans. With some awareness and self-confidence, you and your friends can make the most of any night out together.

OUT AND ABOUT IN BRISLINGTON WEST WITH JOS AND ANDREW

NEW TREES FOR WEST TOWN LANE:

We were delighted to help plant three, beautiful new trees on West Town Lane on the small green near Turnberry Walk last week. The trees are a pear, with its beautiful springtime blossom, an unusual Japanese pagoda tree, and a paper birch tree, with its beautiful bark. The ground was surprisingly rocky but we managed to get them in! A local resident has kindly agreed to help water them if we have another hot, dry summer like last year.

CIL FUNDING UPDATE:

We recently attended a meeting at City Hall to get an update on Community Infrastructure Levy funded projects in Brislington West. We currently have the following ongoing projects:

Arnos Court Park - we have won cross-party support to have the new, substandard path relaid in tarmac, as per the original agreement. The park has also been awarded a further £7,000 for ecological and amenity enhancements, including a seasonal swale and more seating.

Holymead School - we have been awarded £75,000 to establish a ‘school street’, which will facilitate safer, sustainable journeys for school children.

Wick Road/Newbridge Road - this joint project with Brislington East will promote road safety improvements along this road, which is currently prone to excessive driving speeds.

We will shortly be giving you details on how to apply for funding for your projects for this year.

SANDY PARK ROAD UPDATE:

Many people have contacted us about unsafe, pavement parking on Sandy Park Road. We are interested in seeing road safety improvements and will be submitting a CIL bid for the funding of strategically located bollards to prevent pavement parking. In the meantime, please feel free to sign our petition and share it with your Bristol-based family and friends:

https://chng.it/BXhMFvf8PM

WESTLINK PUBLIC MEETING:

A reminder that we have organised a public meeting regarding the new WESTlink bus service coming to Brislington from the beginning of April. We have invited the WECA officer leading on the new WESTlink service to explain to local residents how it will work and to answer your questions. If you can’t make the meeting, but have a question, please contact us and we will ask on your behalf. Meeting details: Thursday 30 March. 7pm. Hungerford Community Centre. Hope to see you there. More details here: https://m.facebook.com/ events/726857512568249

SPRING HOUSING FORUM NEW DATES:

The upcoming March online Housing Forums for council tenants have now been rescheduled to April 2023. At the Spring Forums, residents can find out about the council’s rapid repairs response service, which they’ve been piloting across the city over the last 12 months. They’ve been doing repairs on high and low-rise blocks of flats to improve the look and feel in and around communal areas. If you would like to attend, you can book a place using the links below. Further

Tuesday 4 April 2023, 1pm to 3pm. Book your place: https://www.eventbrite. co.uk/e/housing-forums-for-bristol-council-tenants-and-leaseholders-tickets-510837377347

Thursday 6 April 2023, 6pm to 8pm. Book your place: https://www.eventbrite. co.uk/e/housing-forums-for-bristol-council-tenants-and-leaseholders-tickets-510840255957

If you have any enquiries about the Forums please do get in touch.

GREAT BRISTOL SPRING CLEAN:

Last year, brilliant Bristolians held 179 litter picking events, 81 more than the previous year. In total, 587 people took part in 2022, spending 698 hours litter picking and collecting a whopping 427 bags of litter. Don’t miss this years spring clean, Bristol Waste have a limited supply of litter picking kits. You can order your kit using the link below. Our next community litter pick will be in the Repton Road/Sand Hill area on 22 April. Meet in Repton Road Car Park at 11am. All equipment will be provided.

https://bristolwastecompany.co.uk/greatbristol-spring-clean/

By Jos Clark, Liberal Democrat Councillor (Brislington West) Email: cllr. jos.clark@bristol.gov.uk

Mobile: 07584 370429

& Andrew Varney, Liberal Democrat Councillor (Brislington West) Email: cllr. andrew.varney@bristol.gov.uk Mobile: 07584 183381

TIME AND MONEY

SAVING TIPS FOR LANDLORDS

Being a self-managing landlord is really hard work and never more so than right now. There are 178 pieces of legislation, regulations, and compliance in the private rental sector and, as a landlord, you are expected to know all about them and implement them, as applicable. We know lots of self-managing landlords and they take on the management of their properties for a variety of reasons – some manage because they are portfolio builders who haven’t reached the point of taking on an agent just yet; some have had bad experiences with agents and some like to be hands on, at the coal face and manage themselves. Whatever the reason, one thing is for sure, they all work extremely hard, know how to juggle and are usually “on call” 24 hours a day – it’s a very hard job, it’s time consuming and you need to have a long list of skill sets!

So, in honour of all the self-managing landlords out there, this one is for you! Here are some top tips to help make life a little easier and, hopefully, simpler. We have put together our 5 top tips for you – but remember this is not an exhaustive list and there are lots of things that you can do to maximise your rentals and minimise your voids – also, our door is always open if you decide that you’d like an agent who will work alongside you to protect both you and your asset and, help maximise your portfolio.

HERE ARE OUR TOP 5 TIPS:

Templates

Documenting standard procedures saves huge amounts of time.

Whenever you do something, for the first time, document it and create a template. That way, the next time you come to do it, you won’t be wasting valuable time thinking “how did I do that?” Or “what wording did I use for that?” Think and learn the procedure once and then template it, so that you can rinse and repeat for the next occasion, saving yourself valuable time and minimising mistakes.

WHAT CAN BE TEMPLATED?

Templates don’t just have to be documents, they can be letters, emails, procedures and even shortcuts on your phone, replies to texts, WhatsApp messages and for communicating on your favourite platforms like Spare Room etc. You don’t have to waste time thinking “what did I say/do last time?” If it’s templated, then it’s there, whenever you need it and it’s consistent. It also means that if, for some reason, you are not available, then someone else can communicate your procedures, using “your voice” in any communications with your tenants, your team or any other interested parties.

DO REGULAR INSPECTIONS

Not doing regular inspections, because you’re “too busy” is a false economy of time.

We hear, time and time again from landlords, that they “just don’t have time…” to doinspections or that they” …have a great relationship with their tenants” and a myriad of other justifications.

This is very short-sighted because the protection of your biggest asset should never ever be left to chance or a “gut feeling” and because inspections are your opportunity to catch any issues, and sort them, before they become a bigger problem.

The phrase “a stitch in time saves nine” was made for property inspections – have a checklist, have a procedure and you will be “in and out” in no time and it will save you no end of time and hassle!

PICTURES AND VIDEOS OF ISSUES

Getting tenants to send pictures and videos can save so much time!

It’s hard not to have that “sinking feeling” when you get a message from a tenant that something is amiss; especially when you are a self-managing landlord, because this usually means that you will be the one jumping in the car to go and assess the damage!

We find that asking tenants to send a picture or, even better, a video of the problem, helps tremendously. Often it is something that you can talk them through over the phone or via whatever platform you use for communication. If action is required, then you will not be in the dark and can make an informed decision as to whether you need to visit the property or can call your maintenance team direct, thereby dispensing with unnecessary journeys.

This is also especially good for appliance and boiler breakdowns, as tenants can provide details of make, model and serial numbers, so that you have all the information to hand when calling breakdown companies.

The bonus, also, here is that it gets tenants into the habit of taking responsibility for their home, which is in the interest of both parties.

QUALIFY APPLICANTS

Its impossible to overstate the importance of tenant selection.

Tenant selection is more important than ever and if you are a self-managing landlord, then you will find that this takes up large chunks of your time. Where do you find your tenants and how do you conduct viewings? Do you have a pre-selection process and, if so, how stringent is it? The answers to these questions will determine just how much time you spend doing viewings and how much of that time could be saved if you had a solid pre-viewings qualification procedure in place.

KEEP DETAILED NOTES

The importance of detailed note-keeping, about every property.

There is really nothing worse than being in a stressful situation and not having the right information to hand. With a property, this stressful situation could mean fire, flood, gas leak or a whole number of other dramatic and highly charged situations – but you don’t need to turn a drama into a crisis!

Keeping detailed notes, about every property in your portfolio is invaluable. Things like the location of the stop cock, gas meter, gas shut off valve and consumer unit and information about broadband passwords, make and model of the boiler, white goods and even things like paint colours (especially of any feature walls).

BRISTOL RECYCLING CENTRE OPENING HOURS TO BE REDUCED

Recycling tips will close two days a week and street-cleaning rounds are being cut amid a funding crisis.

Bristol Waste needs to plug a £4m gap and is also reducing the work of fly-tip and graffiti removal teams.

Bristol City Council, which owns the company, has told the firm it must "live within its means".

The local authority's 2023/24 budget includes higher charges for garden waste collections and new fees for DIY waste.

The local authority cannot increase Bristol Waste's contract in line with inflation, effectively meaning a funding cut, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The company’s business plan said: “This has led to some difficult decisions and a significant impact on our plans for the business.”

Changes agreed with the council include reducing the household reuse and recycling centres’ opening hours from seven to five days a week.

The plan said: “Significant changes to the street cleansing service will be required to ‘live within our means’.

Street cleaning reductions “Remodelling frequency of street cleansing will lead to a reduction in the cleansing frequency of semi-urban, residential and industrial areas of the city by up to half.

“This change will have the biggest impact on our city cleanliness and will be the first area for reinvestment when finances allow.”

Bristol Waste currently removes more than 6,000 pieces of graffiti and 8,500 fly-tips each year, as well as responding to 6,250 street-cleansing requests.

The new Hartcliffe Way tip, opened last June by mayor Marvin Rees and Broadchurch actor Joe Sims, will reduce its opening hours to five days a week along with the tips at Days Road and Avonmouth.

DISCOVER BRITAIN'S FAVOURITE SANDWICH

This year, Britain’s best-loved sandwich is the bacon butty.

Other popular fillings include cheese and pickle, chicken and bacon, and even a filling of crisps. We know the sandwich is still a national treasure and the most popular meal in the UK, accounting for 5.9bn meal occasions1.

Interestingly, this time last year, cheese topped the chart, closely followed by ham and cheese, which has now slipped to sixth place with the nation favouring sausage and egg mayonnaise a year on.

When it comes to preparing the perfect sandwich, the research revealed ‘white medium sliced bread with the crusts left on and cut into squares’, as the top choice.

But it’s not just sandwiches being enjoyed more by the nation, a third of adults are eating more toasties now than they did before the lockdown, with cheese the most popular filling.

As well as toastie fillings, the research identified the condiments most enjoyed with sandwiches to be pickle (40%), ketchup (37%) and mayonnaise (55%).

Others choose to spice up their sarnie with a splash of sriracha (6%), a drop of tabasco (6%) or a spread of English mustard (34%).

The research also found that almost half of the nation (43%) are eating more bread and toast (34%) since the lockdown.

The average person will enjoy four sandwiches and two toasties during a typical week – but a fifth of the nation will eat more than seven sandwiches in a seven-day period whilst social distancing continues.

Also, the average household is getting through two loaves of bread a week –with a quarter consuming more than three loaves a week (24%).

Nearly a third of Brits said the reason they’ve had more bread is because they aren’t buying as many meals away from home, and 29 per cent put it down to having lots of other food in the house which goes well with it.

Lunch is still the most popular time to enjoy a sarnie or toastie with 82 per cent doing so, while a quarter of Brits (23%) frequently indulge by snacking on a sandwich. More than a third actually prefer sandwiches for lunch over a hot meal, and 24% would even struggle to go a day without enjoying a slice of bread.

In fact, sandwiches account for 56% of all carried out lunches and 32% of all in home occasions2.

However, no longer are people creatures of habit as 73 per cent of the nation try to alternate their sandwich fillings, and one in 10 have been more experimental with fillings.

OVER

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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

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ROLLS-ROYCE GETS FUNDING FOR MOON BASE NUCLEAR REACTOR

Rolls-Royce has secured funding to develop a nuclear reactor that could be used on a future lunar base; it is projected to be ready by 2029.

This will play an essential role in establishing a suitable habitat for astronauts, enabling them to carry out important research and experiments. We look forward to this new endeavor!

It might sound like the setup of a James Bond film, but is in fact part of a very real-world project that aims to see humans living and working on the lunar surface.

The UK Space Agency has given RollsRoyce a fresh £2.9m to construct the reactor, following a £249,000 study last year that it also funded.

Engineers and scientists at the British firm are working on the Micro-Reactor programme, which will look into how nuclear power could one day support a full-time moon base.

It’s hoped that it would provide enough energy for communications, life-support, and experiments.

Astronauts will be ‘living and working on the moon’ within a decade, says NASA

The moon could get its own time zone, but clocks work differently there - here’s why

Rolls-Royce is aiming to have a reactor ready by 2029. It’s collaborating with universities including Oxford, Bangor, Sheffield, and Brighton to hit the target.

Science minister George Freeman said: “Space exploration is the ultimate laboratory for so many of the transformational technologies we need on Earth: from materials to robotics, nutrition, cleantech and much more.”

He said the project was another sign that the UK is a “major force in frontier science”.

The government says Britain’s space industry is worth £16bn.

Only California builds more satellites than the UK, and optimism remains that they will soon be launched from British soil, despite a failed attempt to do so in Newquay earlier this year.

Dr Paul Bate, chief executive of the UK Space Agency, said: “This innovative research by Rolls-Royce could lay the groundwork for powering a continuous human presence on the moon, while enhancing the wider UK space sector, creating jobs and generating further investment.”

Work on the lunar base comes as humans prepare to return to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years.

NASA’s Artemis mission got up and running in November and is aiming to put astronauts - including the first woman - back on the surface by the end of 2025.

WHAT A GREAT DAY WE HAD UK COMIC CON AND GAMING FESTIVALS AT ASHTON GATE.

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

HOROSCOPES

Aquarius Jan 20 - Feb 18

With things going on at present, you may be feeling quite down. Remember you are not the only one feeling this way. This could be a good time to reflect and try new hobbies, maybe read a book you have never picked up. When communicating with others, they may be feeling similar so bring your sensitive side with you. Use some of this time for yourself, and remember not to be too hard on yourself or others.

Keywords new things and sensitivity

Taurus Apr 20 - May 20

Someone new may need your help and support, but you may have a few things of your own to deal with right now, if so try and just be flexible and sensitive in regard to speaking to this person. This could be a good time to have a reflect on those practical things as well as some of those inner turmoils we sometimes have, and see what things would help to sort them out, to ring back your balance.

Keywords for stop sensitivity and balance

Pisces Feb 19 - Mar 2

Through the challenges we have at the moment, you may be finding it hard to keep calm and in balance. Maybe take time to give yourself a breather, and try and see things in another light.It may be an idea to start thinking of new ideas and projects to begin at this time, that you could continue when things begin to ease.

Keywords. Re-view and re-new

Aries Mar 21 - Apr 19

We are all facing obstacles at the moment, and staying in touch with your loved ones and friends is important, but remember there are many ways now through ordinary phones and modern technologies. Remember to use your intuition at this time, as it seems to be very important to follow your inner guidance.

Keywords intuition and communication

Gemini May 21 - June 20

Although it may seem a struggle at times, there will be some new changes for you, and a sudden realisation will dawn on you. This realisation maybe something you need to explain to someone and this should clear the air if there were some difficulties. Remember also to be kind to yourself, and stay calm, Maybe read that book you’ve been putting off, I try a new recipe, find something new.

Keywords. Realisation and communication

Cancer June 21 - July 22

There could be some new ideas for projects, and this could be a new inter est a project or something totally new. Communication is something very valuable in general, but even more so now.Stay in touch with people who are important to you, and also give yourself that time, to read the book you have been putting off, or something you have not finished. Do you line keywords communication, and projects

Leo July 23 - Aug 22

We are in trying times at present, and things can sometimes seem bigger than they actually are. Keep lines of communication open with your friends and family, there are many ways And technologies as well as good old fashioned phones. Maybe take some time to sort a few things out in your home environment, or at least have a think of new ideas and things you can change, refresh, or find new interests.

Keywords. Communication and changes

Virgo Aug 23 - Sept 22

We are well into spring, if you haven’t already done some clearing it could be a good time now to do so. If you have a tendency to overdo things, or take too much on, remember to slow down at times and give yourself a breather and try and bring some calming balance back into your life.

Keywords clearing, balance, and new things

Libra Sept 23 - Oct 22

Trying to keep balance in your life at the moment isn’t easy, with all these strange challenges.Relationships are important to you even more now,It is just important to find other ways to stay in touch with people. Try and find new interests, and try to keep calmness and balance in your life.

Keywords communication and balance

Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 21

If you have things you need to change, it may be a good idea to do so round now. Although actually socialising together with people is not aviable at the moment, through different technology it is possible to still have some sort of social life. If all else fails the good old telephone is as good as anything. Relationships mean very much to you more so at the moment but stay in touch with people in the safest ways possible.

Keywords. Relationships and communication.

Sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21

There may be things you really don’t want to deal with but it is best if you do it especially at this time. If you can do some clearing, in which ever areas you feel needed most, it would then be an idea to step back metaphorically speaking, and review situations, and things you are thinking of changing.

Keywords deal with things and overview

Capricorn Dec 22 - Jan 19

It seems as though balance in fairness are important to you at this time. There does seem to be quite a few things in the way and as well it’s all the challenges we are all facing there may be some personal ones for you. Keep the lines of communication open and try to find ways to change things in your life to make things easier.

Keywords balance and changes

by Marie Hayward

YOUR GARDEN IN APRIL

Spring should be well under way this month with daffodils in full flow, their bright flowers enough to cheer up any day. Blossom trees will be blooming and fresh growth will be appearing on plants everywhere. “April showers’ are common but don’t be deceived by sudden burst of rainfall – you may need to start watering plants more regularly on dry, bright and windy days. With longer days and stronger sunshine growing conditions are continually improving and the warmer weather will give us all the opportunity to get busy in our gardens.

SOW HARDY ANNUALS

Hardy annuals are plants that can be sown from seed in the open ground. Get them off to an early start by sowing in pots or modules. Modular trays are also handy for sowing summer bedding plants such as marigolds, lobelia and petunias. Label each seed tray and once they are growing put them outside when the weather is warm day and night.

SUPPORT CLIMBERS

Climbing plants should be growing rapidly now, so will need ample support for new growth. Extend or replace trellis as necessary or add more wire to archers and tripods.

New shoots will need to be gently encouraged sideways as they grow. This will send vital growth hormones doing the length of the shoot rather than just to the tip and so will encourage flowering all over the plant.

PLANT OF THE MONTH RHODODENDRON

The rest of the garden will also be growing well now, so if you have been putting off carrying out any major pruning then now is the time to bite the bullet and get it done. Trees, shrubs and hedges should be cut back now before birds begin to nest.

CARE FOR YOUR LAWN

The lawn will need regular mowing from now until autumn. Get some maintenance carried out to your lawn mower to ensure it stays in good running order – at the very least your mower blades should newly sharpened ready for regular use. Keep the edges of the lawn tidy after moving with a sharp pair of shears or a lawn edger. Don’t forget to give the lawn a spring feed after mowing if you haven’t got around to doing it yet. If a more drastic approach is needed to spruce up your lawn, sowing seeds for new lawns or over seeding dead patches can be carried out from mid-April onwards.

WHY SHOULD YOU PLANT THEM?

Ancient Greek meaning “Rose tree’ the rhododendron family includes azaleas. These stunning shrubs flower in all sorts of vibrant colours and can help brighten those difficult dark spots in your garden. Rhododendrons are grown for their spectacular flowers usually borne in spring, although some – the deciduous rhododendron or azaleas have good autumn colour.

HOW SHOULD YOU PLANT THEM?

In the wild rhododendrons are woodland plants, so they prefer dappled sunshine and can manage well in shade. They like plenty of water however will not do well in boggy or badly draining soil, so drainage is key. Plant in autumn or spring and use ericaceous compost.

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