SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE MAGAZINE
APRIL 2022
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This Month..
The team Editor Michael Davies Journalist Lisa Davies Distribution coordinator Matthew Clarke
4. Downend curry house 6. Billy Chip 8. Bristol Beacon listings for April 10. Health benefits of gardening 14. Tips and tricks how to 20. Due Diligence part 2 22. Bristol Bears 24. Best months to get married in 28. Community award winners 30. Mistakes to avoid 35. Movie preview 36. Your garden
10 High Street, Shirehampton, Bristol, BS11 0DP Email: info@directlocalonline.com Website: www.directlocalbristol.co.uk
38. Horoscopes Disclaimer The opinions expressed in Direct Local do not necessarily reflect those of the editor, publisher or their agents. Whilst every reasonable care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information included within this publication, the publisher takes no responsibility for errors or omissions in Direct Local. The content of Direct Local is not to be reproduced in any form without permission of the publisher. Please pass to a friend, recycle or compost. All adverts designed by Direct Local are the property of Direct Local please contact us if you wish to reprint them in other publications as a small release fee Is applied. Use of adverts designed by us will need written permission first.
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Downend curry house wins national award A take-away in Bristol working to reduce single-use plastic has won a national industry award. Rajastan Royal, in Downend, has been named Takeaway of the Year in the South West region for the second year running in the annual Asian Curry Awards. The awards, sponsored by Just Eat, celebrates innovative vision and exceptional food. Naseem Talukdar is marketing manager at Rajastan Royal and founder of Plastic Pollution Awareness and Action Projects (PPAAP), a charity set up to find alternatives to single-use plastic – starting in the food industry. He said: “We are delighted to receive such recognition and are grateful to everyone who supported us.” Reducing single-use plastic The team at the takeaway in Westbourne Road have worked to reduce waste and plastic, as well as increase vegan options. 4
It includes adding the option to only order extras if wanted, introducing biodegradable carrier bags and offering more plant-based choices. Naseem, who has also received a High Sheriff’s Award from the Lord-Lieutenant Bristol in recognition of his contribution to the city, said: “We want to play our part in protecting the planet. We still have a lot of work to do, but it’s in motion.” Awards Organised by the Asian Catering Federation, the awards cover a range of national cuisines, including Chinese, Bangladeshi, Indian, Thai and Middle Eastern. Hundreds of businesses across the country took part and the winners were announced during a ceremony at Grosvenor House in London’s Mayfair, hosted by BBC TV presenter Kate Silverton. Naseem, who lives in Fishponds and is director for social responsibility and sustainability for campaign group UK Curry Connect (UKCC), said the award was good for morale.
He said: “It’s a great boost to receive such an award and we couldn’t have done it without the support from our customers and friends in the community.” Supporting the community and facing challenges UK Curry Connect (UKCC) is a campaign group which has been set up to raise awareness of skills shortages in the Asian catering industry. Naseem said the industry faced challenges, particularly since the pandemic, and had to find ways to be sustainable. Yawar Khan, Chairman of the Asian Catering Federation, spoke of the sector’s resilience but predicted, with rising costs and staff shortages, “The days of the cheap Friday night curry are coming to an end.” But he added: “There is no shortage of customers willing to pay for a superior product.” Khan also acknowledged the generosity those who donated thousands of takeaways to frontline workers and the vulnerable.
The team at Rajastan, working with UKCC, were part of the Food 4 NHS project – delivering free hot meals during lockdown. Celebrating achievements Andrew Kenny is managing director of Just Eat UK, which has worked closely with the federation. He said: “As we begin to recover from the pandemic, I’m delighted to celebrate our partnership by helping to recognise the fantastic achievements of those in our industry who have worked tirelessly through the last 18 months and continue to do so.” The awards are sponsored by Just Eat and the ceremony is also supported by British food wholesale operator Booker Wholesale.
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FACELIFT TO MARLWOOD SCHOOL SET TO START SOON A multi-million pound programme of refurbishments and upgrades is due to start at a South Gloucestershire secondary school shortly. The investment at Marlwood School in Alveston, which will be overseen by the new Headteacher Seema Purewal, will include new classrooms for art, design technology and science as well as new student toilet areas. The project forms part of an £18.1m refurbishment of The Castle School and Marlwood School which is jointly funded by the Castle School Education Trust (CSET) and South Gloucestershire Council. As well as improving the facilities, sustainability at the school will be address ed with the main building exterior benefitting from upgraded insulation to the roof with new glazing and a new efficient heating system added. Headteacher Seema Purewal said: “We are delighted to be starting work on this important and much-needed project to upgrade our facilities and make our school more sustainable, which in turn will help us continue to serve our local community. “The creation of new classrooms within the main building, which will be fully-resourced with new equipment, will be a huge advantage to our students’ learning and our science and design technology offering will become a strength of the school when complete. “By closing the old buildings which previously housed these classrooms and making significant thermal improvements we are working towards low energy-use standards. “We understand that there may be some disruption caused to students and the local community while we undertake the work, but we are committed to ensuring the project is completed as soon as possible and hope that the end result will outweigh the inconvenience.”
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Marlwood School is part of CSET which offers high quality education across the primary, seondary and sixth form key stages at seven South Gloucestershire schools. The school benefits from expansive grounds including tennis courts, astro pitch and a multi-purpose playing field which is all available for use or hire by the local community. Will Roberts, chief executive of CSET, added: “This project enables us to replace temporary buildings, improve the condition and configuration of the school site and provide an inspiring learning environment for current students as well as future generations.” The project is being managed by Burke Hunter Adams with Speller Metcalfe handling the construction. Sustainable architectural practice Quattro Design Architects designed the project and provided the CGI images. James Speller, pre-construction director for Speller Metcalfe said: “It is fantastic that we are now onto the construction phase of this scheme, making this project a reality for the students and staff at Marlwood School. Having completed many education projects over the years, we know first-hand what a positive impact this will have on the school and its local community.” For more information about Marlwood School visit www.marlwood.com and for CSET visit www.cset.co.uk
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Bristol Beacon listings: April 2022
Rock and Pop: Portico Quartet, Trinity Centre, Saturday 9th April, 8:00pm, £21.80 incl. booking fee
This month, Bristol Beacon brings us an extraordinary abundance of entertainment across Bristol and Bath. From melodic afropop, through cathartic pop and rock and lively jazz and contemporary folk, to dramatic orchestral performances and everything in-between.
The Mercury Prize-nominated group’s latest release ‘Terrain’ is a three-part suite inspired by American minimalism and pioneering Japanese composer Midori Takada.
Unmissable events in the next few months include: Jazz, Rock and Pop: KOKOROKO, Marble Factory, Sunday 3rd April, 8:00pm, £19.62 incl. booking fee KOKOROKO are a leading force of the London jazz community. Featuring a seismic horn section, guitar, keys, drums and percussion, plus the enchanting vocals of frontwomen Sheila, Cassie and Richie, the band have received critical acclaim from BBC 6 Music, Clash & NPR as well as clocking up over 40m views on YouTube. 8
With an intricately considered sound that encompasses elements of jazz, ambient music, electronica and minimalism, Portico Quartet “stake claims to territory occupied by Radiohead, Cinematic Orchestra and Efterklang” (Guardian).
Rock and Pop: Cleveland Watkiss and The Great Jamaican Songbook, Bristol Beacon Foyer, Saturday 9th April, 8:00pm, £17.44 incl. booking fee Co-founder of the ground-breaking Jazz Warriors, across his career Watkiss has performed at the legendary Metalheadz nights at Blue Note, starred in Julian Joseph’s jazz operas and collaborated with the likes of Carroll Thompson and Sugar Minott to mention but a few of his accolades. Watkiss’ latest project ‘The Great Jamaican Songbook’ sees him delve deep into the golden era of roots music, tracing Jamaican musical legacy from 40s and 50s mento through ska, reggae, dub and lovers rock.
Folk: Calan, Folk House, Saturday 16th April, 8:00pm, £17.44 incl. booking fee Voted the Best Band at the Wales Folk Awards. Bringing infectious rhythms and high voltage routines, Wales’ greatest folk supergroup Calan return to Bristol with fiddles, accordions, guitars and performances full of raw excitement. Rock and Pop: The White Buffalo, O2 Academy, Wednesday 20th April, 7:00pm, £20.44 incl. booking fee American singer/songwriter Jake Smith has been performing under the moniker The White Buffalo since 2002. His 2017 album ‘Darkest Darks, Lightest Lights’ was created in just six weeks, with Rolling Stone describing it as Stone’s “most stylistically rich collection of songs.” Rock and Pop: Joshua Radin, The Station, Sunday 24th April, 8:00pm, £24.53 With his music played on shows like Scrubs, Grey’s Anatomy, and One Tree Hill, Joshua Radin is “one of a crop of singer-song writers whose names became ubiquitous with a particular kind of heartstring-pulling drama” (Americana UK). Over his extensive career, the LA musician has become a worldwide name with his amiable, tender folk-pop.
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THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF GARDENING There is growing awareness of the ways that gardening and green spaces can improve physical and mental health. Getting active by gardening is a healthy hobby which helps us to adopt a better lifestyle, lowers our body mass indexes and connects us with nature. Also it’s been proven to generate a sense of fulfilment that can boost social well-being, reduce isolation and help in mental health recovery. Natural Health Service We all know the NHS is currently under strain and with people now living longer will continue to put pressure on the government’s healthcare budgets. However mental health and social anxiety is also high on the agenda with a Mind Charity study published revealing that over 1 million antidepressants are issued weekly in England. Doctors are starting to prescribe gardening and horticultural therapy to its patients as it has been proven to improve mental wellbeing and physical health and the role it can play as the ‘Natural Health Service.’
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Physical Health A survey commissioned by RHS, has revealed that 80% of us gardeners say gardening as a physical activity helps to keep them fit and maintain a healthy lifestyle. It Just takes 1-2 hours of gardening a day to reduce stress hormone levels, lower blood and cholesterol levels, reduce your risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes and strokes, and prevent other chronic diseases such as osteoporosis. Mowing the lawn was cited as one of the top three activities to give the best fitness workout, burning up 250 calories in an hour, whilst digging or raking plant borders and vegetable gardens for 30 minutes requires as much energy as a 2km run. A good natural landscape has been shown to improve your overall mood, reduce anxiety, boosts the immune system and lessens social isolation, as well as strengthening bonds in community gardens. A recent study online by YouGov for the HTA revealed that 87% of British adults believe gardens and green spaces benefit their state of mind.
Mental Health
Houseplants
it is proven that 1 in 4 people in the England will experience mental health problems in their lifetime. Numerous studies have revealed that fresh air and the exercise that gardening brings boosts mood and offsets stresses of everyday life, releasing serotonin and endorphins making people feel good. Did you the nurturing and caring aspect of gardening and looking after plants is important as it gives hope and a sense of achievement, boosting self esteem.
Houseplants bring many benefits to our lives and also tap into the increasingly important ‘wellness’ trend that surrounds us.
Not to worry even if you don’t have a large gardening space, just 20 minutes spent in parks and gardens can reduce the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, compared to time spent in urban concrete areas. Having a green area in the workplace for breaks and having plants around office buildings can make people more productive and has been proven to reduce employee annual sick leave by 23%. Hospitalisation recovery rates are also improved where planting is visible
Houseplants work to purify and clean the air that we breath, remove toxins and other chemical nasties around the home. NASA conducted a study in 1989, evaluating the ability of leaves to filter 87% of toxins in the air such as benzene and formaldehyde, used in some detergents and other household materials and various allergens. Plants such as aloe vera, peace lilies, ivy, ferns, dracaena and sansevieria improve the quality of the air we breathe, whilst absorbing carbon dioxide and create oxygen indoors. With the places we live in massively evolving over the past two years becoming a place to both live and work from, people are growing increasingly mindful of their wellbeing and bringing the outdoors in. What’s more, these houseplants don’t need a green-thumb either with plenty of them only needing minimal care too.
Why not read our other publications online! South Bristol North Somerset North Bristol South Gloucestershire www.directlocalbristol.co.uk 11
Volunteer Police Cadet Unit Leader Could you make a difference and help shape the lives of the young people in your area? We trust our people and they’re empowered to make decisions. You’ll have the chance to build new skills, gain unrivalled experience and you’ll be valued for what you bring. In this unique role you will have the chance to motivate and support other Cadet Leaders and our volunteer Police Cadets to learn the skills and train under the guidance of our police officers. Our cadets have FUN whilst learning skills… they are a diverse mix of 13-17 year olds, each with lots of enthusiasm and excitement for our organisation and its values. As a Unit Leader you will become the person that ensures all duties and responsibilities required to run a unit successfully are completed by your team of Cadet Leaders. You will make sure that sessions are planned and delivered on a regular basis and oversee the content that gives our cadets a fantastic experience. We do not expect you to undertake all the tasks yourself but you will be comfortable with delegating to your volunteer team and checking that tasks have been completed. This is in addition to inspiring, leading and motivating cadets to support their local community.....
Each group provides an environment for young people where they can learn about roles within policing, support their community and develop valuable life skills such as communication and problem solving. You will be the person that ensures high standards in your group, this includes things such as uniform checks and drill practices. You will need to be comfortable presenting in front of a group of circa 30 cadets and being the person that engages and leads this group We will want you to be responsible for ensuring that the activities of your group are fun and engaging and align with our volunteering strategic objectives. As Unit Leader of your team you will support planning and delivery of an exciting, interesting and balanced programme to give the cadets the opportunity to have fun and learn new skills while taking part in many different types of activities, events and camps to broaden the cadet’s knowledge of policing and the local community. These activities often take place at weekends. Through these groups our Cadet Leaders have a tangible and positive impact on the lives of our young people, our volunteers and our local communities.
A coach
We are currently recruiting for a Unit Leader for our BANES unit, which meets on Tuesday evenings in the Odd Down area of Bath. Our units resumed in person activity in November 2021 and in January of this year the BANES unit welcomed new Cadets. It’s a busy unit with plenty of enthusiastic young people and Leaders who are looking forward to developing their skills.
A leader
Be you
An influencer
Be valued
We do not need you to have policing experience, our existing leaders come from a wide range of backgrounds, and they each bring key elements of their day to day lives into the role.
Be the difference
You will be: A mentor
We ask you to volunteer your own time to lead an inspirational team.
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Tips And Tricks For Successful House Painting
There is more to house painting than just slapping up a coat of paint. The job can be messy, amateurish if the homeowner is in a rush or impeccable and of professional quality if he or she will follow a few tricks of the trade. This is not a task to hurry through or it will have to be done over again sooner rather than later. Without proper attention, the new coat can flake off in big disappointing peels. Unsuccessful painting can mean that the entire task will have to be done over again or that it will look like a sloppy eyesore for years to come. Here are some tips for the best results: Tools of the trade: Pros take great pride in their tools and for good reason. Having high quality paintbrushes, ladders, stirring stick and rollers will allow a superior result more easily. Inferior quality paintbrushes may seem like a bargain at the cash register but once the painting begins, it may become a different story. Shedding brush-hairs left in the path of the shoddy paintbrush will be a pain to pick out of the newly applied layer. Those crummy brushes will shed more than a dog in the middle of summer. Without a retractable ladder, a homeowner will have a hard time reaching various spots. after the can has set for a while. And rollers, like paintbrushes, must be of high quality for proper absorption and distribution.
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Hauling out a kitchen chair to climb up on will result in slops and streaks on the unsuspecting furniture. Stir sticks are a must or the colors won’t be mixed properly Preparation: If the surface is dirty and peeling, it must be cleaned and sanded before a new coat of latex or enamel is applied. Paints don’t stick to dirt and instead of a quick cover-up job, there may be layers of wet muck that fall off before a painter knows it. Flakes peeling underneath will cause a new layer to peel away as well. Prep isn’t something to skimp on if a topnotch result is desired. Taping around windows and woodwork is also crucial in order to keep them neat and spot-free. Color choice: Choosing the color will take a bit of time. It’s not as easy as it may seem. There are zillions of shades of a hue as simple as white. Taking swatches and samples home from the store will be an important step. Looking at tones next to existing furnishings, lighting and woodwork will help with selection. Once a hue has been settled upon, painting a sample area and living with it for a few days will be a good idea. This will allow a homeowner to see what it looks like at various times of the day and in certain lighting. When a homeowner decides to do some house painting, he or she must take the time to do it right. Proper tools , preparation and color choice will be steps on the path to enhanced curb appeal. The interior and exterior of a house can be greatly improved upon with a product as seemingly simple as a can of paint.
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GO BANANAS OVER BANANA LOAF WITH CHOCLATE CHIPS
1. Preheat the oven 160C/325F/Gas 3. Grease and line a 450g/1lb loaf tin with non-stick baking parchment.
Ingredients
3. Stir in the chocolate chips and spoon the mixture into the prepared loaf tin. Level the top.
1 ripe banana (peeled weight 100g/4oz)
4. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until well risen, shrinking away from the sides of the tin and golden-brown.
1 tbsp milk 50g/2oz soft butter or baking spread 75g/3oz plain flour 75g/3oz caster sugar ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda ½ tsp baking powder 1 free-range egg 50g/2oz dark chocolate chips To decorate 50g/2oz dark chocolate
2. Use a fork to mash the peeled banana in a mixing bowl. Add the remaining cake ingredients (except the chocolate chips) and beat with an electric hand whisk until combined and smooth.
5. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes, then remove from the tin and leave to cool on a wire rack. 6. For the decoration, break the chocolate into small pieces and add to a heatproof bowl. 7. Melt the chocolate in the bowl over a pan of simmering water (ensuring that the bowl does not touch the water). Stir regularly, until almost completely melted, then remove from the heat. The heat of the bowl will melt any remaining lumps. 8. Spoon the melted chocolate into a piping bag and pipe zig-zags across the top of the loaf. Set aside for the chocolate to set. Slice and serve.
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What’s the best thing for hay fever?
Looking for the best hay fever natural remedies? Thankfully, there are plenty of options out there to help those suffering from a seasonal allergy. Pollen season can start from any time in March and carry on until mid-September. It peaks in the summer months. Did you know hay fever symptoms can range from mild to severe, and often include a runny nose, red, irritated eyes, sneezing, and fatigue. Research shows that one in four people in the UK suffer from hay fever and the number of people diagnosed rises by five percent each year, partly due to the impact of climate change.
Clean your clothes— As most sufferers know, washing your clothes thoroughly will usually get rid of the pollen that clings to them. However, drying them on outside rails could put you back where you started, especially on windy days, so make sure to dry your clothes indoors. Avoid exercise at dawn and dusk—The pollen count is highest in the mornings and then in the late afternoon and early evening, If you’re especially sensitive to pollen, you might want to avoid being outside at these times. If you’re worried about a high pollen count, check the weather tracking apps daily. Skip gardening chores— An obvious one, but avoid mowing the lawn or trimming the hedges during the height of allergy season. Annoyingly, some grasses are more likely to release pollen the taller the blades grow, so try to find someone who doesn’t suffer from hay fever to keep your lawn trimmed for you.
Although we have much more exposure to allergens because of climate change, for which global changes are required, there are important lifestyle adjustments we can implement, which will make a difference to our Prioritise sleep— Night-time immune hay fever symptoms. activity (which naturally happens as we sleep) strengthens adaptive immunity, fortifying and repairing wounds, and also fighting off Dietary changes, reducing stress, auditing infection. During sleep reinforces the body's your own environment, as well as supporting ability to remember how to recognize and your own immune system with supplements, react to dangerous antigens, which can help can all help. the body with its fight against allergies. If you’re looking for the best thing for hay fever, you should know that there is no-one size-fits-all treatment. Finding out what works best for you is often a case of trial and error. However, there are some common ways to help alleviate symptoms of hay fever that will often work for the majority of people.
Wash your pets— If you have pets that go on regular outdoor walks, the pollen is likely to stick to their fur, so ensure when you wash, they wash too. No time for a bath? Use a microfibre cloth to wipe them down and remove those pesky pollen spores.
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Easter chick eggs
Ingredients
Method
4 British eggs
Cook the eggs in a pan of boiling water for 9 mins
2 tsp low-fat mayonnaise Small piece of carrot 2 handfuls watercress or other salad leaves
Drain, plunge into cold water for 1 minute and peel off the shells Carefully cut a zigzag pattern around each egg just above the middle and pull off the top Scoop all the yolks into a bowl and mix with the mayonnaise Sit the eggs in egg cups and spoon the egg mayo back in, then pop the lids on top Cut beak and eye shapes out of the carrot and stick into the mayo
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To serve, scatter salad leaves around the plate to look like grass
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DUE DILIGENCE – FOR THE SECOND PART IN OUR SERIES
In property circles we are all familiar with the phrase “due diligence” but it is often talked about in terms of “the deal” – the bricks, mortar, facts and figures of the deal. Equally as important but often overlooked is due diligence on the people you are working with. In this, the second part of our series on due diligence, we look at the people puzzle and talk about why checking out people, as well as property deals, is every bit as important.
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Google the individual and the company (if there is one)
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Check out both company and individual on Companies House
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Request details of their background, experience, and track record
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Ask to speak to past clients or people who have invested or worked with them
We have all seen the posts on social media, you know the ones, the ones which make those of us who have been in business a while cringe. They are asking for money or JV partners, and they usually talk of amazing deals which “just cannot be missed” and are “only available today”. Further, most of us have come across the self-styled “property gurus,” sharks and unscrupulous people, who are out to con the unsuspecting of their hard-earned cash.
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Search for them on social media and online forums
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Talk to people in your network – ask about the individual and the company
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Do all the usual due diligence on the deal itself – does it stack?
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Does their body language match their spoken language – what’s your “sense of them?”
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Do you feel comfortable with them?
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When things go wrong, as they often will, do you get a sense that they will be solution focused and working side by side with you or will they be finger pointing?
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Are they excessively flattering or overly charming?
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When you’ve spent time with them (over coffee etc.) how do they treat others?
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Are you compromised? More on this on the next page.
What is interesting though, is that when we hear the stories, we always think “this would never happen to me… I would never fall for this” and yet people do and, it’s often not just the newbie investors who fall for the patter and the stories, it’s the experienced ones too. In this article we are going to look at the practical things we should be doing to check out the people in the deal, whilst also looking at some of the psychological principles too. The practical checks and questions you should ask yourself: 20
ON DUE DILIGENCE WE LOOK AT - THE PEOPLE PUZZLE Others things to consider:
In addition to the more tangible criteria above, I am a huge advocate of listening to your gut instinct. The message, which comes from somewhere deep inside the sum of your accumulated experiences, knowledge, and journey through life. Unfortunately, as human beings, we can all be compromised and, when we are, we can over-ride our gut instinct. The best examples of this are from things we do all the time – from that piece of cake we eat when we’re supposed to be watching calories, to the item we bought, that we haven’t budgeted for – we’ve all done it and we are past masters at it! So, how do we prevent being compromised? The answer is in knowing yourself, your triggers and having a plan – someone to sense check with, time to stop and think, a network to bounce ideas off. Some of the highly charged emotions, which make us override our gut instinct are: •
Excitement
•
Greed
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Desperation
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Fear
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Time – many successful transactions and partnerships are built over time. Are you being coerced into moving too quickly because a deal is “only available today” or does it feel as though someone is trying to short circuit the natural flow and rhythm of the relationship? Ask yourself what’s the urgency? Why do I need to decide now? What will be different tomorrow?
•
Influence v manipulation – know the difference between the two. Who benefits?
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Is one party over reliant on the other and is the partnership equitable?
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Ethics – do both parties share the same ethos?
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Do you like them? We touched on this before. Property Investors that we talk to are often surprised when we say that we don’t work with people we don’t like. If you don’t like someone, then your instincts are trying to tell you something, in our experience, you ignore them at your peril – several decades of business has taught us this one!
Last, but not least, if it feels too good to be true, the chances are that it is! Take the time you need to assess, sense check and stop, look and listen. If something still doesn’t feel right, then move on, there is always another deal and lots of super ethical people out there to partner with, that will feel right! www.kpa.co.uk
Only you will know how you will feel, when you are in the grip of one of these emotions. When you feel that you may be, it’s time to stop, think, evaluate, and maybe sense check with someone outside the “deal” that you know and trust. 21
Bristol Bears, Dave Attwood, Announced as Jessie May Ambassador Specialist palliative care charity Jessie May (www.jessiemay.org.uk) is delighted to announce that Bristol Bears’ Second Row, Dave Attwood, is joining the charity as an ambassador.
Dave has seen some of the amazing work done through Jessie May and is keen to help raise awareness of the charity, and hopefully further the support and funding to expand on this vital service.
Dave is an English international rugby player, currently playing with his home club Bristol Bears. He has been internationally capped 24 times for England, and captained the national team on a tour to South Africa in 2016.
“No amount of support is ever enough to help the people at the heart of Jessie May. It’s paramount that we raise awareness in order to garner as much support, both local and national, for charities like Jessie May in an effort to ease their suffering and hardship.”
He is a graduate of both Bristol University and The University of the West of England and has been a philanthropic advocate of research into degenerative brain disease for many years. Dave currently lives in Bath with his two children. Jessie May provides specialist palliative care to children with terminal and life-shortening conditions, and their families, and has a team of dedicated nurses who provide palliative care during a child’s life, and bereavement care for families for up to 5 years after a child's death.
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You can view a video message from Dave over on the Jessie May website: (www.jessiemay.org.uk/news) and follow the relationship through both Jessie May and Dave’s social channels.
Greater awareness of invisible illness needed A leading consultant fertility specialist who heads the St Michael's Endometriosis Centre in Bristol is calling for greater awareness of the ‘invisible illness’ endometriosis which, according to the World Health Organisation, affects roughly 10% (190 million) of reproductive age women and girls globally.
Recent research has revealed it takes an average of 6.7 years to be diagnosed with endometriosis.
Oli O’Donovan, who works as a consultant gynaecologist, fertility specialist and endometriosis surgeon with Bristol Centre for Reproductive Medicine (BCRM) said: “Many women live with endometriosis without realising they have it, although some will be only too aware of the symptoms, especially pain and difficulty falling pregnant.
“The good news, however, is that treatments are available for most patients - and an early diagnosis will give the best outcome.
“The condition occurs because tissue similar to that which normally lines the inside of the womb grows outside of it, usually on organs in the pelvis. The hormones responsible for the normal menstrual cycle make this tissue thicken and bleed every month in the same way as if it was lining the womb, which can cause pain, scarring and fertility issues. “A doctor may suspect endometriosis based on symptoms and appropriately trial treatment, but definitive diagnosis usually requires a specialist scan or key-hole surgery.”
Oli O’Donovan said: “If a woman is also having difficulty falling pregnant it is definitely worth requesting an assessment by a specialist because endometriosis can halve your chances of having a baby, and we know that approximately half of patients presenting with infertility have endometriosis.
“It is very usual to have some pain with your monthly periods, but if your period pains last longer than a day or two, do not improve after taking standard painkillers, or certainly if they cause you to miss college, work or social events or if you are struggling to get pregnant, it is worth asking your GP about endometriosis and for consideration of a specialist referral.” March is Endometriosis Action Month. Details of this year’s campaign are here: https://bit. ly/3pKHlev and information about fertility services offered by BCRM, including investigation for endometriosis, can be found here: https://www.fertilitybristol.com/
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What are the Best Months to get Married in! Has the last 18 months changed your original wedding plans? Struggling to settle on a new date? We'll help you decide which month to get married in the UK. Whether your wedding date decision is based on availability, budget or you’re hoping to hold your big day on a sentimental date, here are the pro’s and con’s of each month of the year, to help you decide the best month to get married in the UK. Best Months to Get Married
January
Only 1% of couples choose to get married in January, so its great month to pick if you want a wedding with a difference that will lighten everyone’s January blues – you’ll definitely have plenty of choice when it comes to dates! January weddings are often cheaper, so you’ll get more for your money. You could even bag a last-minute deal.
February
Arguably the most romantic month of all, obviously, what could be more perfect than a Valentine’s Day wedding? If you had a Valentine’s proposal, it’s a great way to mark the occasion, and you could go wild with a red heart themed day.
March
Spring weddings are famously pretty for a reason, as March sees the first sprinkling of daffodils and crocuses. Only 4% of weddings take place in March, so venues could be persuaded into offering a discounted deal – a wedding in the quiet season is an incredibly clever way to save money on your wedding. The weather in March is fresh, but sunny.
April
7% of brides choose to get married in April – which is usually the month Easter falls in, so your guests will benefit from the school holidays. April hits the balance of warmer weather without the sweat-inducing heat of high summer.
May
The month of fresh flowers and sunny spells, 13% of weddings take place in May, making it one of the most popular months to get married in the UK – if it’s good enough for Harry and Meghan, it’s good enough for us! 24
June
With the longest day’s of the year, it’s no surprise June is a popular month to get married – 12% of weddings take place in June. It doesn’t get dark until well into the evening, making June perfect for a marquee reception. The downside, It’ll be pricey, and many venues are booked up years in advance during June.
July
The height of summer, July is very popular with brides: a huge 14% of weddings take place this month, making it the second most popular month to get married in. Beautiful July deserves a dreamy outdoor venue, and with new laws regarding weddings being proposed, it could end up being cost effective too!
August
August is officially the most popular month to get married with 18% of couples choose to tie the knot in this sun-filled month. With school holidays and balmy weather, its not hard to see why… Most children have the entire month off of school, so inviting families is a doddle. And it goes without saying, you can practically bank on perfect weather.
September
September is often blessed with good weather, and has better availability than in the summer months, which is why it’s one of the most popular months for a wedding in the UK. 13% of weddings take place in September. This month isn’t in such high demand as the May to August period, so your venue will probably have more flexibility on dates.
October
Golden crunchy leaves and beautiful clear skies are both seriously dreamy wedding accompaniments – there’s nothing quite like an Autumn wedding! Brides certainly agree, with 8% of them choosing to get married in October. All those red and yellow leaves are the ultimate ready-made photographic backdrop. The downside to October weddings is the nights start to draw in after the equinox, making an al fresco soiree tricky.
November
Crisp cold and atmospheric, November is the perfect month for a winter wedding. It’s a great option for brides on a budget, with 27% of November brides citing the price as their reason for choosing this month. With frost underfoot and maybe even a few icicles, November can be seriously photogenic. The only problem is, It’s a rather cold and dark month, so you’ll need to spend a lot of your budget on making your venue cosy and warm.
December
There’s more than one way to have a white Christmas! A festive big day is truly magical, and a real way to make a style statement. Be sure to give guests a lot of notice as it’s the busiest party season of all. Working around Christmas weather can be tricky, and a snowfall can throw transport plans into chaos.
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Diligent Data Disposal from Byteback
We have all owned a Mobile Phone, PC, Laptop or tablet that has come to the end of its useful life. This may be because it is broken, too old to run the applications we want or, or we've updated it with a shiny new one. Perhaps you've considered selling the item or passing it on to a friend or family member but have you thought about how to properly dispose of all the personal and private data that it holds?
PCs and Laptops are a little more complicated. The only way to be sure that nobody can access your data is to remove the hard drive (your local computer shop may be able to help you) and either keep it safe or destroy it with a big hammer!
With this data, someone may be able to identify your name, address, friends and family, employment and education history, tax numbers and bank details. In the wrong hands this information could do more than cause you embarassment. It could lose you money or even result in legal issues such as identify theft. So what can you do? When you finish using your device it's important to remember to remove your Google or Apple account information and re-set the item back to factory defaults. This should ensure that even if the device is re-used, your data will be gone. 26
If this all sounds too complicated there are specialist IT recycling companies who can take these devices off your hands and safely and securely recycle them, ensuring they don't end up in landfill, and permanently destroy your personal data. Visit https://www.byteback.it/
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Chair’s Community Award winners announced Unsung heroes from across South Gloucestershire have been presented with a Chair’s Community Award to celebrate the selfless and valuable contributions they make as unpaid volunteers. The annual awards are held by South Gloucestershire Council to recognise and thank local volunteers who willingly give up their time to help others and bring communities together. Chair of South Gloucestershire Council, Cllr Ruth Davis presented the awards along with the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire Susie Hewson, Group Chief Executive & Executive Principal of South Gloucestershire & Stroud (SGS) College Kevin Hamblin, and Principal and Deputy Chief Sara-Jane Watkins. The event is sponsored and hosted by SGS College and offers an opportunity to celebrate the hard work and dedication of volunteers in our communities who display outstanding commitment in giving their time and effort to help others. Eighteen deserved winners from diverse range of voluntary backgrounds were recognised, but all shared a common characteristic of dedicating their time to support others without asking for anything in return. Cllr Ruth Davis, Chair of South Gloucestershire Council, said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to meet and recognise the volunteers who make such a significant and important contribution within South Gloucestershire. 28
“Volunteers have been a vital lifeline for many residents through the pandemic and I was moved to learn of people’s selfless actions which became a real beacon of light for those who were coping with the effects of Covid-19. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, many volunteers managed to continue with their voluntary work to support our public open spaces and local wildlife, which is testament to their commitment. “It’s important that we shine a light on the work of our local volunteers who do so much to help others. These people are community heroes and I personally thank each of them for their efforts.” SGS College Principal, Sara-Jane Watkins said: “SGS College were delighted to sponsor and host the Chair’s Community Awards. The winners hard work and dedication this year has shone through. They make such a difference to their local community and should be tremendously proud of themselves. This event highlights the good work the volunteers do, and it was a pleasure to meet them all.” The final award to be presented during the evening was the Lord Lieutenant’s special award, which was presented to Steve Riches. Steve has been a school governor since 1998 and his primary focus is always on what is best for the children. In 2013 Steve helped establish the Resound Foodbank in Emerson’s Green, where he works with donors, local agencies, and the North Bristol Trussell Trust. For further information visit: www.southglos. gov.uk/communityawards
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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. 30
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 the shade if temperatures are on the hot side.
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THE CINEMA REVIEW MOVIE REVIEW SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 After settling in Green Hills, Sonic is eager to prove he has what it takes to be a true hero. His test comes when Dr. Robotnik returns, this time with a new partner, Knuckles, in search for an emerald that has the power to destroy civilizations. Sonic teams up with his own sidekick, Tails, and together they embark on a globe-trotting journey to find the emerald before it falls into the wrong hands.
MORBIUS
One of Marvel’s most compelling and conflicted characters comes to the big screen as Oscar winner Jared Leto transforms into the enigmatic antihero Michael Morbius. Dangerously ill with a rare blood disorder and determined to save others suffering his same fate, Dr. Morbius attempts a desperate gamble. While at first it seems to be a radical success, a darkness inside him is unleashed. Will good override evil – or will Morbius succumb to his mysterious new urges?
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THE BOOK REVIEW Do you you make make these these mistakes mistakes Do in branding? branding? in Branding is something that every business Branding is is something something that that every every business business Branding has, whether it has been invested in or not. has, whether it has been invested in or or not. not. has, whether it has been invested in What does your branding say about you? What does does your your branding branding say say about about you? you? What Whether or not you have put any thought into Whether or or not not you you have have put put any any thought thought into into Whether your brand you still probably make at least your brand you still probably make at least your brand you still probably make at least one of these mistakes, and possibly all of one of of these these mistakes, mistakes, and and possibly possibly all all of of one them: them: them: 1. You used initials as your company name. 1. You You used used initials initials as as your your company company name. name. 1. 2. You haven’t protected your brand with 2. You You haven’t haven’t protected protected your your brand brand with with 2. trademarking. trademarking. trademarking. 3. You decided to use a gmail address 3. You You decided decided to to use use a a gmail gmail address address 3. instead of getting branded email. instead of of getting getting branded branded email. email. instead 4. You haven’t got an emotionally engaging 4. You You haven’t haven’t got got an an emotionally emotionally engaging engaging 4. strapline. strapline. strapline. 5. You think branding is the same as 5. You You think think branding branding is is the the same same as as 5. marketing. marketing. marketing. If you are thinking about starting a company, If you you are are thinking thinking about about starting starting a a company, company, If or have a business and are not sure where or have have a a business business and and are are not not sure sure where where or to take it after the pandemic, this book is the to take it after the pandemic, this book is the the to take it after the pandemic, this book is guiding star you have been looking for. guiding star you have been looking for. guiding star you have been looking for.
From bland to brand will set you right on From bland bland to to brand brand will will set set you you right right on on From all of the above missteps, doing so in an all of the above missteps, doing so in an all of the above missteps, doing so in an entertaining tone, with some sharp wit and a entertaining tone, tone, with with some some sharp sharp wit wit and and a a entertaining refreshing honesty. It takes you through “the refreshing honesty. honesty. It It takes takes you you through through “the “the refreshing six cornerstones of crap” before describing six cornerstones cornerstones of of crap” crap” before before describing describing six ten building blocks that every small business ten building building blocks blocks that that every every small small business business ten needs to build a successful brand. And logo needs to to build build a a successful successful brand. brand. And And logo logo needs design isn’t even one of them. design isn’t isn’t even even one one of of them. them. design The author, Jason Flinter, has been The author, author, Jason Jason Flinter, Flinter, has has been been The building big brands for small businesses in building big big brands brands for for small small businesses businesses in in building and around Bristol for 25 years. He’s one of and around around Bristol Bristol for for 25 25 years. years. He’s He’s one one of of and our own and has helped start-ups become our own and has helped start-ups become our own and has helped start-ups become award-winning businesses, and successful award-winning businesses, businesses, and and successful successful award-winning local companies turn into national franchises. local companies companies turn turn into into national national franchises. franchises. local One client liked the strapline Jason devised One client client liked liked the the strapline strapline Jason Jason devised devised One so much, he had it tattooed on his arm. so much, he had it tattooed on his arm. so much, he had it tattooed on his arm. In this book Jason has distilled his 25 years In this this book book Jason Jason has has distilled distilled his his 25 25 years years In of experience into just over 200 pages of of experience experience into into just just over over 200 200 pages pages of of of wisdom to share with any business owner wisdom to share with any business owner wisdom to share with any business owner who wants to understand how to build a who wants wants to to understand understand how how to to build build a a who successful brand. At £10 offers exceptional successful brand. brand. At At £10 £10 ititit offers offers exceptional exceptional successful value whether you are ready to open the value --- whether whether you you are are ready ready to to open open the the value purse strings for your branding strategy or purse strings for your branding strategy or purse strings for your branding strategy or just want to understand what’s involved. just want to understand what’s involved. just want to understand what’s involved. From bland to brand is highly recommended. From bland bland to to brand brand is is highly highly recommended. recommended. From Don’t let “not buying it” be your next mistake Don’t let let “not “not buying buying it” it” be be your your next next mistake mistake Don’t in branding! in branding! branding! in
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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
MEDIUM
HARD
EXTREME
MOUNTAIN PROUD SAILOR SALE ENSURE GESTURE MARBLE MEASURE DESERT DESIRE ENCOURAGE BRAVE BUDGE CONCEPTION DELIVER
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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. 36
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 midApril 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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HOROSCOPES 38
Aquarius Jan 20 - Feb 18
Taurus Apr 20 - May 20
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
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 20
Gemini May 21 - June 20
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
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
Aries Mar 21 - Apr 19
Cancer June 21 - July 22
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
There could be some new ideas for projects, and this could be a new interest 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
Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 21
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
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.
Virgo Aug 23 - Sept 22
Sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21
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
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
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
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
Forecasted by Marie Hayward Disclaimer This zodiac is for entertainment purposes only please do not take the predictions seriously Marie take no responsibility for your actions
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