The Brockenhurst Guide - July/August 2017

The Brockenhurst

Guide

The independent directory of local businesses serving the residents of Brockenhurst, Beaulieu & East Boldre

Delivered FREE by Royal Mail to all residents & businesses in the SO42 postcode

July/August 2017

In this issue: Win a bottle of bubbly Baking competition to launch at New Forest Show Brilliant Composting with Children at Minstead Study Centre Brockenhurst Music Society Adventures of Nellie

Professional Tree Care Throughout The New Forest

Tree Surgery • Firewood & Kindling • Hedge Trimming Stump Removal • TPO Applications • BS3998 Compliant Fully Qualified & Insured (£5 Million Public Liability)

Westbeams TREE CARE & FIREWO OD

Free no obligation quotations

T: 01590 690644

www.westbeams.co.uk

2

MEADENS, YOUR LOCAL ŠKODA RETAILER. VISIT OUR NEW SHOWROOM IN BROCKENHURST. DISCOVER AN AWARD WINNING ŠKODA

DRIVEN BY SOMETHING DIFFERENT Meadens ŠKODA

Sway Road, Brockenhurst SO42 7SH

01590 623344

www.meadens.co.uk

Official fuel consumption for the ŠKODA range in mpg (litres/100km): Urban 31.0 (9.1) to 72.4 (3.9); Extra Urban 44.1 (6.4) to 88.3 (3.2); Combined 38.2 (7.4) to 80.7 (3.5). CO2 emissions for the ŠKODA range are 170 to 90 g/km. Standard EU test figures are for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results.

To advertise in The Brockenhurst Guide, please call: 023 8065 9309

3

GRANITE & QUARTZ WORKTOPS

FREE

OLD WORKTOP

REMOVAL

when we install during

July/August

(Normal charge £200)

20% SALE

Ends July 31st Genuine Every single product and every style in our range (QUOTE REF SUMMER2017)

To offer honest and practical advice, to deliver quality products and to put the needs of our customers first

A337

APPROVED SILVER SILESTONE FABRICATOR

A35

Portman Stone Factory/Showroom

CHRISTCHURCH Sainsbury’s

SOMERFORD

SHOWROOM & GRANITE GALLERY %MV½IPH ;E] Christchurch BH23 3PE

Call 01202 484 340 info@portmanstone.com www.portmanstone.com

We believe that by offering a good service, as well as a leading range of products, we will continue to build a growing list of happy customers into a successful business for today and tomorrow

Please mention The Brockenhurst Guide when responding to adverts

4

Dear Brockenhurst, Beaulieu, Setley, East Boldre, Hill Top and surrounding villages,

Welcome...

The Brockenhurst Guide

The sun has finally come back… let’s see how long it lasts. Are we all ready for a good summer with hopefully the chance to sit on our wonderful beaches or take a walk in our wonderful forest? We have a trip to Cornwall planned in August with Hayden taking part in another Surf Life Saving competition on the beach which we are really looking forward to.

In the meantime, his training at Branksome is a great excuse for a cuppa on the sand. Last month Nellie, the Hampshire Publications Campervan, said “Goodbye” as we flew to America to say “Hello” to Mickey! What a great trip that was.

Do have a read.

Edition 49

Published by:

Stephen & Debbie Corney at Hampshire Publications

Telephone:

023 8065 9309

Email:

info@brockenhurstguide.co.uk If you have suggestions for any improvements

Copy deadline for the September edition: 14th August 2017

Disclaimer: Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that data in this publication is accurate, the publisher cannot accept any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause.

The Brockenhurst Guide does not officially endorse any advertising material included within the publicati on. No par t of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval systems or transmitted in any form, without prior permission of the publisher.

to your “Brockenhurst Guide” please do call or email. We would love to hear from you. We are always looking to promote local events for free, so please let us know if you would like some extra advertising. Stephen and I very much like our day at the famous New Forest Show and we do hope you get the chance to go this month!

Please continue to use the advertisers inside.

They need your calls to keep them busy and our local economy thriving. This is really appreciated.

Stephen, Hayden and myself wish you a fantastic month of July.

Best Wishes,

Debbie & Stephen Corney

Useful Numbers Brockenhurst Police Southern Electricity Transco Gas Emergency Southampton Gen. Hosp.

0845 045 45 45 08457 708090 0800 111999 023 8077 7222

Train Enquires First Bus Company Wessex Water Lymington Library

08457 484950 023 8058 4321 01225 526000 01590 673050

To advertise in The Brockenhurst Guide, please call: 023 8065 9309

5

Experts in Heritage & Period yled joinery Box Sash Windows | Hardwood Doors

+44 (0) 2381 927 979 | www.tailored-wood.co.uk

Are your automated gates an open or shut case?

We can service, maintain and repair existing automated gates of virtually any make & design.

• CAME Safe approved installers • Automatic gate installations & repairs • Regular service schedules or one off We are also fully qualified electricians and can undertake all kinds of electrical installations, inspections and repairs.

Tel: 01425 477943 1 Stag Business Park, Christchurch Rd, Ringwood, Hampshire, BH24 3AS www.gle-uk.co.uk

Please mention The Brockenhurst Guide when responding to adverts

6

Community News

Brilliant Composting with Children Here at the Minstead Study Centre we introduce the children to the joys of composting!

As we have a substantial vegetable garden on site, each year we like to produce a few tonnes of our own home made organic compost. When we first created the vegetable patch we were faced with the prospect of gardening in heavy clay with a thin layer of top soil. Over the last two decades we have succeeded in improving the soil which now supports a magnificent fifteen centimetres of top soil.

Some years ago we had a series of wooden compost bays constructed by the local carpenter. Into these bays we put all our uncooked organic waste; grass clippings, annual weeds, peelings from the kitchen, egg shells, used tea bags and coffee grounds.

As these elements are high in moisture we add in waste cardboard and paper towels to create a better, balanced mix.

One of the key elements to good compost production is layering the ingredients to avoid a predominance of any single component. There should be an equal amount of green and brown materials. The temperature should rise, between 49 and 77 degrees Celsius. After the appropriate amount of decomposition time, it is then advisable to turn the heaps to speed up aerobic digestion. This will then heat the pile back up.

The children take the lead in this process; each becomes a junior master chef creating the perfectly formed chocolate compost cake around one cubic meter in size! They layer up their ingredients, like baking a cake, with a spade full of soil as the chocolate filling in the middle. This introduces all the vital beneficial soil bacteria and earthworms to

start the break down. In this way they all contribute to the annual gardening cycle whatever the season of their residential visit.

Certain materials such as leaf litter and pernicious weeds need to be stored separately as they decompose more slowly.

It also helps if larger items are shredded into fine particles. These items can be added into the mix at a later date.

It gives us all great satisfaction to dig up the final product; a crumbly, deep brown nutritious compost. It is truly magical to see the transformation within the space of a year and a great way to avoid using peat based compost in our organic garden.

At the end of the Autumn some of our home produced compost is layered onto the vegetable beds to replenish the soil and the rest used to earth up the potatoes in Spring. Not only have we made this valuable commodity but educated many thousands of children to recycle green waste and better understand the precious nature of ‘soil’ and the natural processes involved in decomposition.

Why not have a go yourself……

By Jane Pownall

To advertise in The Brockenhurst Guide, please call: 023 8065 9309

7

The Jose family have been master bakers since the 1890s and here in the New Forest area since 1905.

At The Bakehouse, we hand make our white bread which has been matured for 30 hours and is additivefree, providing a wonderful flavour and long lasting freshness.

To complete the process, the breads are then baked in authentic stone ovens for their traditional taste.

And if the thought of these hand made breads and pastries are making your mouth water, then why not drop in to The Bakehouse today for a made to order mid-morning or lunchtime treat?

Fresh breads and baguettes baked on the premises can be filled with all manner of wonderful fillings ranging from simple salads to fresh hog roast and apple sauce to create the sandwich of your dreams!

CALL IN or PHONE YOUR ORDERS

TEL: 01590 622155

45 Brookley Road, Brockenhurst

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8

• Traditional Sash & Casement Windows FAILURE TO APPROVE YOUR ARTWORK BY 12:00pm ON Mon

• Internal & WILL RESULT IN THE ARTWORK BEING DISPLAYED AS SH External Doors • Cabinet Making • Bespoke Joinery Product

Ashurst & Colbury

T: 01590 671870 E: info@jhjoinerynewforest.co.uk 33 South Street | Lymington | Hampshire | SO41 8EA

Need Need an an Electrician?

Electrician?

Domestic Commercial

& Industrial&Installations Domestic, Commercial Industrial Installations

247 247 electrics electrics

Your Fast, Reliable Electrician A Sensible Price YourAt fast, reliable electrician at a sensible price Full/Part rewires & New Kitchen Wiring Full/Part rewires &Fault NewFinding kitchen wiring Effective Effyears ective fault finding Est. 20 Free Estimates Allyears work •guaranteed Est. 20 Free Estimates All work guaranteed Southampton: 023 8029 3824

07802 448447 T:Mobile: 023 8029 3824

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Visit: www.247electrics.co.uk Email Mike@247electrics.co.uk

15 Dene Way, Southampton SO40 7DA www.247electrics.co.uk

To advertise in The Brockenhurst Guide, please call: 023 8065 9309

9

For the best value made to measure curtains & blinds • We measure, we make, we fit • Free no obligation measuring service • Over 25,000 metres of designer fabrics in stock • An Aladdin’s Cave of curtain & upholstery fabrics, bedding, sheets, cushions and so much more!

• Open 7 days a week

Tel: 01590 677780 info@theforestmillshop.co.uk www.theforestmillshop.co.uk 11 High Street, Lymington, Hampshire, SO41 9AA

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10

To advertise in The Brockenhurst Guide, please call: 023 8065 9309

11

ADVERTORIAL

Cloudy2Clear Announce Trusted Trader Partnership Consumer champions Which? have now joined the thousands of customers who recognise that Cloudy2Clear Windows really are a business that you can TRUST. The company which specialises in repairing windows which are steamed up, broken or damaged by replacing the panes – not the frames has received the coveted ‘Which Trusted Trader’ status after going through a rigorous accreditation process entirely focussed on customer service.

Group Managing Director Marcus McGee believes that Which? have endorsed Cloudy2Clear’s long standing

company policy of delivering the highest standards possible at all times. ‘Our service is simple. If your double glazing has misted up we can replace the glass at a fraction of the cost of a new window, in any type of frame, and with a new 25 year guarantee. But it’s not just about saving people money, although that obviously helps. Whilst a number of tradespeople perhaps don’t focus on customer care as much as they should do, we make sure we turn up when we say we will, do the job the customer requires and leave their house as clean as a whistle.

Locally Cloudy2Clear service the Brockenhurst area and

manager Justin Friel agrees that this approach is a major factor in his success. ‘The truth is that it’s not just the personal satisfaction that I get from doing a good job but also it makes good business sense. I get a huge amount of business from friends and family of people I’ve done work for, which just goes to show how much a little bit of effort is appreciated as both my customers and, obviously a body as nationally important as Which? now recognise.’

So, if your windows are steamed up, broken or damaged give Justin a call for a free quotation on 0800 61 21 118 and he’ll be happy to help!

Cloudy2Clear GUARANTEE All Customers That An Average Quote Will Take No Longer Than 20 Mins!!!

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Music News

12

Brockenhurst Music Society Our new season is underway, and details of our next two concerts are below. The concerts are given by exciting young professional musicians and are held at St Saviour’s Church, Brockenhurst at 7.30pm.

Tickets (free to Society members and to students) are £12 at the door or £10 in advance from Pot Pourri or Streets in Brockenhurst, or Sway Deli in Sway.

For more information please ring 01590 624733 or see our website: www.brockenhurstmusicsociety.co.uk

2017 Season

brockenhurst music society

Castalian String Quartet MONDAY 14 AUGUST 2017 ~ 7.30PM ST SAVIOUR’S CHURCH, BROCKENHURST

Programme to include:

MOZART

Tickets £10 from Streets Ironmongers or String Quartet in E flat, K.428 Pot Pourri, Brookley Road, Brockenhurst, THOMAS ADES The Four Quarters Sway Deli in Sway, or £12 on the door SCHUBERT String Quartet in D minor, D810 STUDENTS: FREE ‘Death and the Maiden’ www.brockenhurstmusicsociety.co.uk

“Bringing Music to the Forest”

Monday 10th July Kaleidoscope Saxophone Quartet.

Works by Grieg, Bach, Gershwin & MacMillan. ‘Very special - faultless technique, exuberant passion and Alexandra Vaduva

utter commitment to the music.

Breathtaking!’ - Jacqui Dankworth

Monday 14th August Castalian String Quartet. Programme includes Mozart, Thomas Ades and Schubert.

‘Richly romantic energy and passion’ The Strad

Monday 11th September Alexandra Vaduva - piano. Works by Schumann, Enescu, Bartok, Brahms and Beethoven.

First prize at the Vienna International Piano Competition To advertise in The Brockenhurst Guide, please call: 023 8065 9309

13

Be “WINTER ready for a long Hot Summer!

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We can resand using “No Weed” paving sand We can repair all dips and troughs in paving We can repair & replace all damaged mortar We can repair & replace old damaged slabs We can seal all types of paving, patios & decking For free Quotations and Advice - Call Peter

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14

Money Saving Tips

Martin

LEWIS %DODQFH 7UDQIHU

In January, for many, the letterbox becomes an enemy. When it flips open it contains a bill. And the worst of those for many are credit cards - a final reckoning of the last year’s debts, topped off by Christmas spending. If you’ve debts you can’t repay, there are two key things to do: stop borrowing more and cut the interest rate.

By cutting the rate, more of your repayments clear the actual debt rather than just help add profit to the lender.

The main weapon to clear credit and store cards is a balance transfer, where you get a new credit card(s) that repays debts on existing cards for you, so you owe it, but at a far lower cost, for a small fee.

The good news is right now there’s white hot competition in this market. So, sort it now and stop paying more than needed.

And if you won’t listen to me, listen to Marc who emailed: “took your tip on taking a balance transfer card and we’ve saved £9,400 over the next 40 months.

Amazing.”

How to choose the right balance transfer card deals There are a vast range of cards to choose from, ranging up to 43 months 0%. But it isn’t quite a simple as just go for the longest.

1. Go for the lowest fee in the time you’re sure you can repay. Most cards charge a one-off fee on the amount of debt transferred. So, for example, 3% is £30 per £1,000. Generally, the longer the

0% period, the bigger the fee.

So, what you need to do is calculate how long you think you’ll take to clear the debt, add a few months for safety, then pick the lowest fee within the time you need. If you’re not sure, play safe and go long. For example, the longest card available at the time of writing is the www.MBNA.co.uk up to 43 mths 0%, with a 3.29% fee. The longest no-fee card is www.Halifax. co.uk up to 26 mths 0%.

2. You need a PERSONALISED best buy table. Each lender credit scores you differently, where one accepts, others reject. Best buy tables just list the best offers available, but what really counts is what you can be accepted for. Worse still, the only way to find out what you’ll actually get is to apply, and that marks your credit file.

Yet we’ve seen a new range of tools that show your likely chances of acceptance before applying, protecting your credit score. Some card firms have their own or my Eligibility Calculator (www.mse.me/BTeligibility) shows your chances for most top cards, effectively giving you a personal best buy table.

3. Many cards are ‘up to’s’: With these cards, only 51% of accepted applicants need get the advertised 0% length, the rest could get a shorter deal. So, in many cases, the cards that aren’t ‘up to’s’ can be better.@MoneySavingExpert The longest non-up

To advertise in The Brockenhurst Guide, please call: 023 8065 9309

15 to 0% deal is www.SainsburysBank.

Martin co.uk 42mth 0% for a 3.5% fee, and it

LEWIS

also has the longest fee free deal at 25mth 0%.

This is especially important when you %DODQFH 7UDQIHU do a eligibility comparison. If all your accepted cards are ‘up to’ cards, then the likelihood is you won’t get the full 0%. So even if there’re one or two non ‘up to’ deals there, they may be worth looking at.

The 3 Balance Transfer Golden Rules Getting the right card’s only half the job.

Once you get it, you need to use it the right way. a) Repay at least the set monthly min, or you can lose the 0% deal. The same can be true if you bust your credit limit. b) Always clear the card or shift again before the 0% ends, or rates jump to the representative APRs, typically 18% to 20%. c) Don’t spend or withdraw cash on them, it’s rarely at the cheap rate.

Instead, shift your debt to these cards, then put it away somewhere not to be used.

A final thought on this. The best way to clear debts is to repay as much as you can and be wary of only repaying the minimum repayments. That’s dangerous. Minimum repayments are set to only just cover the interest, so repayments drop as debt drops, prolonging the debt period.

For example, with £3,000 on a typical card, repaying minimum repayments it’d take you 27 years to repay, costing £4,000 in interest. Now you may say to me “I can’t afford to pay more”. Yet in the first month the minimum repayment would be about £70, and if you fixed your repayment at

that rather than letting it drop, you’d clear the debt in five years.

Yet if you’ve multiple debts, order them in terms of interest rates, and throw all spare cash at repaying the one with the highest rate (as its growing fastest). Just pay minimums on the rest. Once that’s clear, focus on the next most expensive debt and so on.

Are you in debt crisis?

The solutions above are for those who can manage their debts. Yet if you a) can’t meet even the minimum monthly payments b) have non-mortgage debts bigger than a year’s salary or c) can’t sleep due to your debts, or have depression or anxiety because of them, then you’re in what I define as debt crisis.

Forget the above and get free, one-onone debt-counselling help from www.

CitizensAdvice.org, www.capuk.org, www.

StepChange.org or www.NationalDebtline. co.uk. They They are there to help, not judge. The most common thing I hear after is: “I finally got a good night’s sleep”. @MoneySavingExpert

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Community News

16

New Forest & Hampshire County Show launches brand new baking competition for 2017 Organisers of the New Forest and Hampshire County Show are pleased to announce the launch of Bake and Cake, a brand new baking competition. For the first time in the Show’s history amateur bakers will have the opportunity to enter a baking competition at the Show with classes available for men, women and children. All entries will be on display for visitors to see at the Show. The 2017 Show will be taking place on 25th, 26th and 27th July at New Park, Brockenhurst. The Bake and Cake schedule is available to download and view via the New Forest Show website: www.newforestshow.co.uk The Bake and Cake marquee will be located on 7th Avenue of the showground.

Classes range from Cakes and Pastry to yeast cookery and preserves, creating opportunities for everyone to enter no matter their speciality. Entries can be made online via the New Forest Show website. If you would like to receive an entry form in the post please contact the Show Office on 01590 622400. Judging will take place at the showground on Monday 24th July. Winners will be announced at the Show on Tuesday 25th July and all entries will be available to be view throughout the Show.

Jenny Dolbear, Bake and Cake coordinator said, “We have been asked on many occasions in the past if there is a competition for the public and we are now able to offer the Bake and Cake, it is exciting to be involved with this new competition marquee. We hope the public take this opportunity to get involved with the Show.”

There are a variety of classes available for the general public to enter ranging from scones, Victoria sandwich and lemon

drizzle in the cake category, Bakewell tarts and treacle tarts in the pastry category as well as chutney, marmalade and jam in the preserves category. Entries for all classes close on Monday 26th June. A full list of classes can be seen online in the Bake and Cake Schedule.

Tickets for the New Forest and Hampshire County Show are available to purchase online via the New Forest Show website.

Visitors will receive 15% off all tickets purchased online before Tuesday 18th July 2017. A shuttle bus service will be running throughout the Show between the showground and Brockenhurst train station which will be free for all advance ticket holders. To purchase tickets and find out more information about the variety of attractions and activities to see and do at this year’s Show visit: www.newforestshow.co.uk

To advertise in The Brockenhurst Guide, please call: 023 8065 9309

17

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Celebrity Interview

18

Celebrity Interview:

Miriam Margolyes

By Tim Saunders Retirement is increasingly becoming a luxury of the past. While for some the cost of living is the reason, for others working is addictive and good for the soul. This desire to keep working can be found in all sectors, from scientists (Professor Stephen Hawking is 74) through to business people (Sir Alan Sugar is 69 and Sir Richard Branson is 66). And even in the world of fame.

Seasoned entertainer Bruce Forsyth is 88 while David Attenborough the naturalist is 90.

BAFTA award winning actress Miriam Margolyes is a comparative youngster at a mere 75. She is widely known for her role as Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter films. Miriam is as busy as ever, not just with her acting but also her work as a voice artist. “Sorry we’re going to have to reschedule our interview,” she says to me, “I’ve got another job on.” But we’re able to catch up at a quieter moment.

It is a craving for success that drives Miriam to work even harder. “I don’t think I’m as successful as I would like and I don’t think I’m as successful as people think I am. I’m just in the front rank of the second raters as Somerset Maugham put himself. I think I’m hugely talented and I think I have the potential to be great.”

As a voice artist, she has quickly become wellknown to countless children the world over as Weathersnike in Bottersnikes and Gumbles.

Set in Australia it tells the tale of the evil bottersnikes: ugly, lazy creatures whose ears become hot when they get angry. The Gumbles are small, giggly things who the bottersnikes

try to enslave to make them do all their chores.

This programme is aired in both Britain and Australia, a relationship that works well for Miriam because she has divided her time between the two countries for years. In 2013 she was presented with her Australian citizenship certificate by then prime minister Julia Gillard.

And she isn’t as wealthy as some might envisage.

“I don’t have more than half a million in the bank… Some people would say that’s pretty wealthy but I think you have to have a million in the bank before you’re wealthy.” Miriam does own or part-own a few properties, a home in south-west London, a Tuscan farmhouse and a penthouse close to Bondi Beach in Australia.

There are two facets to Miriam that have stood her in good stead. Her eloquent tones ensuring that her voice is familiar. And her appearance making her instantly recognisable on stage or screen. Miriam has a great ability to make any role memorable. Her career spans five decades.

She has appeared in TV programmes including Crossroads, three Blackadders and even an Agatha Christie (2004). More recently she has appeared in Doc Martin and Kingdom. Her film appearances include The Age of Innocence (1993) where she won the BAFTA. Directed

by Martin Scorsese, Miriam played the part of the Countess’ grandmother. The Countess was played by Michelle Pfeiffer. “But the thing that I am most proud of in my life is Dickens’ Women.” The one- person show includes 23 different characters based on or inspired by characters in Charles Dickens’ novels.

Jewish, a Labour supporter and a lesbian, Miriam is her own harshest critic, known for her plain speaking. When she has time, she is passionate about genealogy and politics. “I have got back as far as 1790 with my family tree but it is difficult because records of Jews were destroyed in the Second World War. I also collect political cartoons of the past. It is the past that I am interested in these days.” www.miriammargolyes.com Tim Saunders is an author, journalist and businessman.

He meets celebrities, goes on holiday and road tests cars.

To advertise in The Brockenhurst Guide, please call: 023 8065 9309

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21

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Puzzle Corner

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Pop the kettle on...

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1 1 4 3

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Across 1 A type of owering vine (8) 5 Periodicals (6) 9 Smooth-spoken (8) 10 Wind (6) 12 Ease (5) 13 Broadcasted (9) 14 Morals (6) 16 Stress (7) 19 Sword-shaped (7) 21 Notable initial occurrences (6) 23 Meet (9) 25 Bell (5) 26 Relating to a cuticle (6) 27 Hovels (8) 28 Swabbed (6) 29 Diagrammed outlines (8)

Down 1 Tires (6) 2 Baseball inďŹ elder (9) 3 Provide the tools necessary (5) 4 Sets ablaze (7) 6 Scribe (9)

Crossword

7 Utilisers (5) 8 Using up (money) (8) 11 A thin strip of wood (4) 15 Immunize (9) 17 Hunch (9) 18 Surpassed (8)

20 Information (4) 21 More distant (7) 22 Feels or detects (6) 24 Chocolate substitute (5) 25 Faultfinder (5)

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23

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24

Motoring

Auto Biographies

New Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid

By Tim Barnes-Clay, www.carwriteups.co.uk

Let’s get one thing answered – the new 2017 Toyota Prius Plugin Hybrid is not exciting, okay? But, that doesn’t mean it’s a bad car. This is one very ingenious machine, with some awesome features – the most outstanding being the solar panel roof that can place just enough ‘go’ into the Toyota’s drive battery for an extra few free miles every day. The Prius PHV - as it’s abbreviated to - also has a refreshed electric powertrain.

A large 8.8kWh lithium ion battery is housed under the floor of the Toyota’s boot, together with a hi-tech electrical arrangement to move clout through it. This works well and provides, what is essentially a fourth-generation Prius, some worthwhile shove, especially as the car also has a twin motor hybrid powertrain.

This raises pure electric power from 72PS to 103PS. All this gives the Toyota five-door hatch a maximum speed of 84mph when driven in unadulterated electric mode. Mind you, you can only get away with this form of propulsion for so long – the electric range is 39 miles, but expect 20-25 miles real-world.

The Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid also has a 1.8 petrol engine, and along with the electric wizardry, 122PS is produced – giving a zero to 62mph time of 11.1sec and a maximum speed of 101mph. Hardly exciting, as I said earlier – but it’s not abysmal performance, either. More importantly, the Prius PHV breaths out a tiny 22g/km of CO2 and it’s possible to get 283mpg out of the car. No, that’s not a typo – that’s the claimed figure.

Of course, reality doesn’t always match up to what we’re told, and on a long motorway stretch, I only managed to get 59mpg – but then I did have my foot down – and hardly used electric mode. Instead, I mucked around with the ‘Normal’ ‘Eco’ and ‘Power’ settings, seeing what difference they made to the car.

It’s difficult to tell much difference between ‘Eco’ and ‘Normal’ –

but the ‘Power’ mode does give you a bit of a push in the back – and a lot more noise – reminiscent of a slightly unhinged vacuum cleaner.

Anyway, away from the tech and figures, the new Prius PHV is similar to the normal Prius – apart from a couple of things.

Unlike the regular model, it’s only got two seats in the rear – so it’s a strict four-seater - and the boot is smaller. This is all due to the bigger, newer battery. Oh, and I nearly forgot - there is one other notable way of telling the PHV apart from the usual Prius: its rear lights are horizontal, not vertical. I think it looks better this way.

On the move, the car is hushed, due to extra sound-deadening materials, and, when I did venture off the motorway onto Spanish rural routes, the Prius handled corners with barely any lean at all. This is down to retuned suspension springs and dampers. However, the tauter set-up means the car does bang and crash over potholes. Yet, back on smooth surfaces, the Toyota feels refined and, when using electric-only mode, I found the car almost silent. Only the whoosh of wind and tyre rumble disturbs the otherwise library-like calm in the cabin.

Once I’d stopped hooning the PHV and started using the electric settings, I achieved a hybrid-mode fuel economy figure of 69mpg – which is better than many Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) will do. Alas, that’s only a tiny fraction – probably about 5mpg - better than you’d eke from a run-of-the-mill Prius. It’s also hard to recommend this car over the regular Prius – due to its strict four-seater configuration and its shallower boot..

Pros ‘n’ Cons • Appearance √ • Tech √ • Efficiency √ • Cornering √ • Four-seater only X

Fast Facts • Max speed: 101mph • 0-62 mph: 11.1 secs • Combined mpg: 283 • Engine: 1798cc 4cyl petrol / electric • CO2: 22 g/km • Price: £34,895

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Adventures of Nellie

26

The Adventures of Nellie

The Hampshire Publications Camper Van Nellie booked us tickets to go to Disney World in Florida! Obviously Nellie would have loved to come with us and knows how I have wanted to take Hayden to Disney for a long time, but despite the fact that she loves to travel, Florida was just not possible for her. Nervously she waved us “Goodbye” on Sunday 28th May. Now I say that, as on Saturday 27th May there were NO British Airways flights flying anywhere in the world.

We were booked with BA. A computer glitch. Wow that is quite something. Me and Nellie were definitely anxious. After all we had waited years for this chance and now… well it wasn’t bear thinking of. Several hours of ‘on the edge’ waiting and then, late in the evening Stephen was able to get the all important boarding cards on the internet!

Some relief, but I was not entirely convinced.

I think I did get some sleep, but…

Arriving at the airport, there were queues and queues of people with lots of luggage.

We had hand luggage only. A trick we learned a couple of years ago. It saves a lot of ‘concerned eagerness’ at the conveyor belt, wondering if YOUR bag will ever come out! Ever had the feeling? It does mean I cannot take 16 pairs of shoes and 30 different outfits for a week, but Stephen is rather pleased about that. The toiletries are limited too, but again it saves hours of time in the evening in front of the mirror applying 20 different creams. Do they really work or is it all an illusion to make us feel better?

Anyway, having booked the valet service where the company literally greets you in the multi storey car park on arrival, takes your car away for the week and brings it back to you as soon as you land (a service we highly recommend and is nowhere near

Amazing shows at Cinderella’s Castle as expensive as you might think), we then walked straight on through. Really, no stops whatsoever, straight to the gates. We were very lucky! Now we could relax and enjoy ourselves.

We loved Disney! Staying at a resort some ten minutes drive away made it easy to get there. Taxis were the trouble free option for us, no worry of driving, no $20 parking fees per day on top of expensive car hire costs, on top of the petrol, on top of the ‘extra’ insurance fees. We are all for an easy life.

Can you see that! Nellie had it all sorted for us.We had booked tickets for the parks themselves on the internet in England before leaving. This turned out to be a good decision. They were not cheap, but at $119 per day per person per park, this ticket was good value. It also gave us the Memory Maker photos which were priced at $168 as well as $20 each to spend at Planet Hollywood which we found at Hollywood Disney. We bought a tee shirt each.

In addition to that we were able to book three fast track passes per day before we even set off! That turned out to be a real bonus. No waiting for three rides per day! In fact once those three fast passes were used

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27 you could book another fast pass. Perfect.

Going in June was also an intelligent choice as the weather is good, but not totally humid and the American children were not all off school yet. I think the park in August would be a bit too much for me. The storms were just starting and the show at Epcot in the evening was quite spectacular with the back drop of lightening as well as the fireworks!

It all added to the atmosphere.

Fast and furious on the rock ‘n’ roller coaster

In seven days we visited 5 Disney Parks and walked around 200,000 steps according to our phone! Typically British, we wanted to get our money’s worth. The first day we visited Magic Kingdom. Fantastic. It is such a family, friendly, smiley place. I have to say that Hayden, nearly 14 is not so enamoured

by Mickey, whereas me, age 52 love him and Minnie! Am I on the slippery slope back to childhood I hear you say… No, just an ‘old adult’ who is young at heart! It is allowed. Well I tell Hayden that but like a lot of teenagers he is not convinced. The show there really was quite magical. Fireworks dancing off the castle showing movie clips and songs. Truly amazing.

“Expedition Everest - the Legend of the Forbidden Mountain” at this park too. A roller coaster that zooms you backwards in the dark, then forwards to overlook (at a huge height) the whole surrounding area below. Quite exhilarating, if you like that sort of thing… We did wait 2.5 hours to get on the new Pandora ride which had literally been opened at the beginning of that week. No fast track for that one. It was terrific though.

The walk through the trees all adorned as they are in the film “Avatar” is awe inspiring.

Once on the ride you fly through the air on the back on a Banshee (Dragon) at speed.

The graphics were out of this world and the wait was actually well worth it.

Epcot is incredible. Educational and fun.

Great food from all around the globe too.

The show in the evening on the water was just so aesthetic.

There was far more at Animal Kingdom that I had realised.

The Safari ride takes you through vegetation with Elephants, lions, alligators, giraffes, hippos and lots more. They all look well and are thriving. We were Troopers went down really thrilled by the roller coaster, a “storm”!

Hayden loved seeing the Storm Troopers at Disney Hollywood Studios. That made his week. For all those Star Wars fans, this is the place to go. Great rides and excellent shows including an Indiana Jones stunt show you can take part in.

Typhoon Lagoon was great. An enormous wave machine for Stephen and Hayden to dive into, a lazy river for me and family rafter rides for us to enjoy together. These are moments to remember.

Nellie would love to be part of Disney. Her fun loving exploits, her cheeky sense of humour. I think she would fit in well and she loved looking at all the photos as you can imagine. It is back to England this month… where will Nellie take us this time?

By Debbie Corney

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28 OvenKing have been running cleaning services successfully over the past 4 years.

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7DVWHV VR JRRG

Food & Drink

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Banana Loaf Cake

A delicious banana loaf that’s versatile enough to be served as breakfast, warm brunch or simply enjoyed with an afternoon cuppa.

Ingredients for 8 servings 4 medium sized ripe bananas 180g Whole Wheat flour 125ml Sunflower oil 125g Brown Sugar (amount can be adjusted to suit tastes) 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract ¼ tsp. Cinnamon Pinch of nutmeg powder (optional) 2 tbsp. sunflower seeds (optional) 1.5 tsp. Baking powder ½ tsp. Baking soda Pinch of salt

1. Preheat Oven to 180C. and lightly grease a loaf tin or rectangular cake

tin.

2. Add the sugar and bananas to a mixing bowl and mash well until pureed.

3. Add the oil, cinnamon, vanilla, and nutmeg to the bowl and stir well.

4. Into the bowl, sieve the flour with the baking powder, baking soda and salt.

5. Fold the dry ingredients carefully and evenly ensuring it is well blended.

6. Add sunflowers seeds if chosen and gently fold.

7. Tip the mixture into the greased pan and bake for 35-40 minutes or until risen and a golden brown colour.

8. Remove the loaf when cooled from pan, slice and serve warm or cold.

9. The loaf is best kept in a lidded container in the fridge or wrap in cling film.

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Building

Landscaping

DIY

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RJW Carpentry

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We can assist with any related issues, such as Lasting Power of Attorney, the payment of costs, Wills, Management of Affairs, Property Sales and other advice.

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The Brockenhurst Guide

D G L Y Y S O O R E L A X S B

A R K D N A L S I A V B H P A

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K Y F S E I E S P R R Q P F V

I N U N T R J U C Y T E W I K

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Q Y K M Y Y N C E C A E P G Z

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F K I M F H Y E S A C T I U S

Prize Wordsearch

Prize Wordsearch

AIRPORT KIDS CAMPING SUITCASE RELAX BREAK PEACE GETAWAY ISLAND BEACH

This month, the prize is a bottle of bubbly, so please complete this page by 14th August and send to: July Prize Wordsearch Name: ______________________ The Brockenhurst Guide, Address: ______________________ 1 Moorlands Rise, ______________________ West Moors, ______________________ Ferndown, BH22 0JR Telephone: ______________________

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34

Gardening Tips

On Your Plot Start them young

I was an incredibly picky eater as a child. I remember wanting to like tomatoes because they were such a lovely bright colour but still I wouldn’t eat them! It was only after my mother started growing them at home that I finally plucked one straight from the plant and popped it, warm from the sun, into my mouth - delicious!

Jobs for July :-

• • • •

Make last sowings of carrots and French beans.

Keep harvesting those beans, peas and courgettes.

Sow Spring cabbage.

Lift onions (and garlic if it’s still in) and dry for storing over the winter. Plait and hang (or store in a string bag).

• Remember to feed your tomatoes.

• As crops go over use the free space for quick growing salad leaves or radishes.

• Peg down some of the runners from your strawberries to root into new plants. Remove the remainder.

Would you like to see your youngsters spending more time outdoors and get them eating healthy foods too? Then what better idea than to involve the kids in growing their own?

While we’d all love a string of willing, young, helpers on the vegetable plot you do have to be realistic. Children can have short attention spans, will only want to do the jobs that appeal to them, and usually expect quick results. Us adults on the other hand tend to be stuck in our ways, place great importance in doing things slowly and methodically and don’t usually take well to sudden changes of plan! So how can you encourage your little ones, without boring them out of the garden, or having them dig up your row of prize leeks?

If it is at all possible give children a space that is completely their own on the plot. Get hold of some good quality child size tools and encourage their attempts even if it isn’t quite what you’d have done - if digging holes and making mud pies is more in their line than neat rows of seedlings perhaps they could create a wildlife area? A shallow dish sunk into

the ground can be used by birds, frogs, toads and hedgehogs, and a log pile will be home to all sorts of insects plus providing a possible hedgehog home.

Giant sunflowers are great fun, especially if you have a growing competition, and wild flower seeds can just be scattered and will, in time, encourage useful insects and birds - natural pest control!

Keen young growers can browse seed packets or catalogues to see what takes their fancy. Quick growing crops are a good suggestion - radishes and salad leaves pop up in no time at all and should give them almost instant satisfaction! Sweet young carrots are likely to tempt even picky eaters, as are those lovely little cherry tomatoes. Popping peas out of their pods is very appealing and how about growing their own hideaway in the form of a lush green wigwam of peas or beans? They may not be keen on eating greens, but there is certainly a much better chance that they’ll be tempted to try something they’ve grown themselves.

Fruit, such as strawberries and raspberries is usually popular, and if you haven’t got any of your own planted yet you can always get them enthusiastic by having an afternoon out at the pick your own farm.

Ready grown plug plants can be good for helping them to set up an ‘instant’ plot - take a trip out to the garden centre to see what is on offer. If you already have seedlings started, then they could have the choice of some for their own plot (and you can see whose grows best!). Finally, don’t forget ‘indoor’ growing activities too - clean out the bottom half of a boiled egg and draw a face on it. Fill it with cotton wool soaked in water and sprinkle on some cress seeds - in just a few days the egg man will be growing hair and not only can they cut his hair but they can eat it too.

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Travel Tips

36

Travel

Devizes, Wiltshire

By Tim Saunders – www.travelwriter.biz

More of us are holidaying at home and this becomes apparent during a trip to Devizes, which is experiencing a booming tourism trade.

“We’ve already beaten last year’s bookings and we’re not even half way through the year,” reveals Michael Messam, volunteer at Kennet & Avon Canal Trust, which has just received the Queen’s Voluntary Award.

We board Kenavon Venture, a 30-year-old and 60ft long canal boat - one of four the trust owns.

Trust volunteer Jean Cook, one of 450 volunteers, explains about the Flight of Locks, where 29 locks tackle a 367ft drop. These, (as you can see in one of the videos at travelwriter.biz) act a bit like a lift for canal boats to climb sharp inclines.

At nearby Etchilhampton, Jon and Judy Nash run Tichborne’s Farm Cottages. “We’ve held our prices so that we remain competitive and this has helped maintain steady numbers of tourists from as far away as Australia,” says Jon. Jon and Judy have lived there since the 1970s. They converted their barns into three luxury self-catering holiday cottages, recently adding a three-bed house for larger families.

We stay in Kestrel cottage, a cosy two bed property surrounded by 50 acres of countryside.

It’s ideal for children or those with disabilities because everything is on one level. Interestingly, all the electricity for these cottages is generated from solar panels while the farm’s water comes from a borehole which provides chemical-free water filtered through the chalk downs of Salisbury Plain.

Two things that immediately strike us about the area are its sheer beauty and how quiet it is. We discover that Wiltshire is famous for its white horses carved in the white chalk. It’s here that the expression ‘chalk and cheese’ originates.

This describes the huge contrast between the chalky uplands used for grazing sheep and the lush dairy country beneath used for grazing milk cows. While Devizes is home to Wadworth brewery, which operates 250 pubs in Wiltshire,

JD Wetherspoon has proved that there is still room for another pub in the town. It operates The Silk Mercer in St John Street. Another business enjoying brisk trade is Jimmy Deane’s Fruit, Veg & Salad shop at 19 The Brittox.

Simon Fisher, Deputy Town Clerk at Devizes Town Council concludes: “Devizes is fairly fortunate. It’s a small market town with a good selection of independent traders which, touch wood, have done better than the national chains during recession. Devizes Town Council has a portfolio of properties that it lets out to businesses. We have had high occupancy levels throughout the downturn.”

There’s so much to do in Devizes that it surprises me that this quaint market town does not even receive a mention in the acclaimed Lonely Planet Great Britain book.

Not far away in the National Trust owned village of Lacock, Harriett has the ideal opportunity to roam free without the worry of traffic. Lacock is like a living film set where you can walk in the footsteps of the stars (Cranford, Pride and Prejudice and Harry Potter). There’s also an excellent second hand bookshop where I picked up a Colin Dexter in perfect condition for just £2.

Our holiday ends much too quickly. We all loved it and want to return.

Recommended places to visit: Kennet & Avon Canal, The Wharf, Devizes. Jazz evenings with professional jazz musician and fish and chips.

Lacock Abbey, Fox Talbout Museum and village owned by the National Trust Pop in for a pint and a pie at: The Silk Mercer, St John Street, Devizes. SN10 1BL Tel: 01380 736760 Tim Saunders is an author, journalist and businessman.

He meets celebrities, goes on holiday and road tests cars.

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37

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Index of advertisers

Your quick guide to everyone and everything in your Directory...

Accountants BAS Associates....................................................... 17 Bakeries Bakehouse............................................................. 7 Bedrooms Custom Creations.................................................. 39 Bathrooms Liberty Kitchens & Bathrooms...............................19 Bedrooms Custom Creations.................................................. 19 Blinds, Curtains & Shutters Infiniti3.................................................................. 3 Builders & Carpenters Bowden Tailored Wood.......................................... 5 J H Joinery.............................................................. 8 RJW Carpentry....................................................... 32 Building & Gardening Supplies Sydenhams............................................................ 31 Cameras Rocky Rock Cameras.............................................. 19 Car Dealerships Meadens of Brockenhurst...................................... 2 Carpet Cleaning Services New Forest Carpet Clean....................................... 17 Community News Adventures of Nellie.............................................. 26 Baking competition to launch at New Forest Show....16 Brockenhurst Music Society...................................12 Celebrity Interview: Miriam Margolyes.................18 Martin Lewis: Balance Transfer.............................14 Minstead Study Centre.......................................... 6 Motoring: New Toyota Prius PHV..........................24 On Your Plot: Start them young.............................34 Tastes so good: Banana Loaf Cake........................30 Travel: Devizes, Wiltshire....................................... 36 Demolition & Asbestos Clearance Services Pro-Dem................................................................ 37 Electricians 247 Electrics.......................................................... 8 Green Light Electrical............................................. 5 Fabric Shops The Forest Mill Shop.............................................. 9 Firewood Westbeams Tree Care & Firewood........................ 1 Funeral Directors R Hallum................................................................ 9 Furniture The Cane & Rush Workshop..................................19 Garden Services Proscapes Garden Landscaping.............................31

Golf Clubs Brokenhurst Manor Golf Club................................40 Health & Fitness Slimming World - Tina Fagan................................32 Insulation Services FoamInstall............................................................ 25 Kitchens Liberty Kitchens & Bathrooms...............................19 Oven Cleaners Oven King.............................................................. 28 Oven Wizards........................................................ 3 Painters & Decorators Alan Farrar & Son.................................................. 29 Pest Control Services Whelan Pest Prevention........................................ 21 Plumbers Gas Technique....................................................... 23 Pressure Cleaning Services New Forest Drive Clean......................................... 13 Property Maintenance DC Home Improvements........................................ 28 Puzzles & Competitions Crossword.............................................................. 22 Kids page............................................................... 10 Prize Wordsearch................................................... 33 Sudoku................................................................... 22 Roofing Forest Park Roofing............................................... 29 REKU Coatings....................................................... 17 Solicitors Heppenstalls.......................................................... 32 Stonemasons Lockerley Stone & Masonry................................... 8 Tiles On The Tiles........................................................... 20 Tree Surgeons Apex Tree Surgeons............................................... 35 Westbeams Tree Care & Firewood........................ 1 Venues & Events Foxlease................................................................. 29 Waste Services Philip Trim Contractors.......................................... 28 Windows, Doors & Conservatories Cloudy2Clear Windows.......................................... 11 Double Glazing Doctor........................................... 20 Worktops Portman Stone....................................................... 39

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Call us on 01202 823231 to book your free, no-obligation design consultation

www.customcreations.furniture Design inspired by you.

Showroom open hours: Mon - Fri: 9am – 5.30pm | Sat: 9am – 2pm | Sun: By appointment Unit 1, Enterprise Park, Blackmoor Road, Ebblake Industrial Estate, Verwood, BH31 6YS

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GOLF

NEW FOREST

MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS AVAILABLE CONTACT

Brokenhurst Manor Golf Club Sway Road, Brockenhurst, Hampshire, SO42 7SG Phone—membership: 01590 623332 option 3 Phone-lessons or visitor bookings: 01590 623092 E-mail: admin@brokenhurst-manor.org.uk

The Brockenhurst Guide Tel: 023 8065 9309