Test Valley Gazette - April 2023

Welcome...

Dear Residents,

It is Spring! I do so love this time of year. Flowers, the promise of better weather, lambs, new life - it has a huge sense of hope, which quite frankly I think we could all benefit from! Here at Modern Magazines we won an award! We are so proud of this. We won Best Business to Business company for 2023 in the WeyPort Business Awards. Fabulous! Daichi our wonderful Modern Magazines Campervan tells you all about us inside your local magazine this month. We do hope you enjoy reading this as well as our local and celebrity news articles. There is something for everyone here.

Not to mention of course our loyal and trusted trades and services who are here for you! From plumbers to window fitters, roofs experts to beauticians and gardeners to flooring specialists, we have them all. The index at the back gives you a quick guide to find who you are looking for, or if you have time to sit with your feet up and have a well earned cuppa, then the whole magazine should keep you interested for an hour or so. Enjoy.

If there is anything you would like to see in your little community magazine, or you know of a company that wants more business and to get their name out to the local residents, please let me know. We love to help and make your magazine as useful as possible.

Stephen, myself, Julie, Mel, Steph, Tracey, Pippa, Chris, Jaidan our wonderful new graphic designer, Beth and her 4 month baby are all here for you!

Debbie, Stephen & all of us here at Modern Magazines

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Call the sales team on: 01264 316499

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

Test Valley Gazette does not officially endorse any advertising material included within the publication. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval systems or transmitted in any form, without prior permission of the publisher.

A thoroughly Modern Monarch

Everything we know about His Majesty’s upcoming coronation.

King Charles III’s coronation will take place on Saturday May 6th 2023, at Westminster Abbey. Eyes around the world will focus their attention once more on this magnificent London institution where the King will be crowned – alongside Camilla, the Queen Consort –in a ceremony overseen by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

This opulent ritual is the last of its kind in Europe and has remained largely unchanged for the past 1,000 years. It is an honour of course, but for a King who wants to be a modern monarch there are a few wrinkles that must be ironed out with Buckingham Palace confirming that although the Coronation will be ‘rooted in long-standing traditions’, it will also reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future.

For starters, it will be a relatively modest affair, even compared to Queen Elizabeth’s coronation that came in the recent aftermath of World War II. The ceremony itself is expected to last around two hours – rather than the three for Liz’s ascension to the throne – and guests will be limited to 2,000 due to health and safety restrictions. That’s considerably less than the 8,000 dignitaries from 129 nations who were crammed into Westminster Abbey in 1953.

There will also be less pomp and formality. Prince William is the only Duke expected to carry out the traditional gesture of kneeling and swearing allegiance to the King, and His Majesty has apparently decided to swap the stockings and breeches worn at coronations by his male predecessors for a military uniform, possibly that of Admiral of the Fleet, which he wore for the State Opening of Parliament last May.

As for the crown, Charles will wear the solid gold 17th Century St Edward’s Crown.

It is exceptionally heavy and contains the Cullinan II diamond, sometimes called the Second Star of Africa.

At its heart however, the ceremony must fulfil its key role as being the symbolic religious ceremony during which a sovereign is crowned, as well as fulfilling the physical act of placing a crown on a monarch’s head. And despite cementing His Majesty’s role as Head of the Church of England, it is thought that representatives of different faiths will also be present – to uphold the King’s wish to reflect the ethnic diversity of modern Britain. He will also still pledge to be “Defender of the Faith”, but further words will be added that allow the King to show he serves all religious faiths.

Andover Set To Be Buzzing With FamilyFriendly Events in 2023

From markets to movie nights, Andover town centre has a jam-packed event programme lined up for this year.

Throughout 2023 Test Valley Borough Council, along with other local organisations and event organisers, will deliver an exciting set of events for residents and visitors to enjoy.

New events organised by the council will include family-friendly street theatre, secret car boot sales taking place in a unique location and summer evening entertainment featuring live music and street food.

Keen cyclists can look forward to the return of Andover’s cycling festival which will include a special cycle cinema experience this year. A giant outdoor screen will pop-up in Vigo Park, powered solely by some energetic volunteers who will cycle on static bikes to run a classic feature film.

Firm favourite Four Fun Fridays will once again liven up the High Street throughout August and the council will be running additional weekly events over the summer, hosting different activities for children to take part in.

In celebration of the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and the Queen Consort there will be special activities for children to enjoy in the Chantry Centre, as well as card-making competitions for schools to particate in. These activities will take place alongside street parties and local events that are being organised by Andover residents and community groups.

There will be festive fun to look forward to later in the year including the town’s popular Christmas lights switch on and Father Christmas will open the doors to his Grotto in the Chantry Centre.

As part of the town’s events offering, Andover’s

markets will give local independent businesses the chance to showcase their products and meet new customers.

The Chantry Centre’s indoor pop-up market will feature a variety of local traders selling handmade crafted items and artisan goods.

The flourishing Second Sundays market, which was developed by HemingwayDesign on behalf of the council in 2022, will also return to the High Street in March. Second Sundays features local designer-makers, artisan producers and street food sellers as well as entertainment and workshops, bringing a fresh new vibe to the centre of the town.

The 2023 programme has been developed to support the cultural and economic regeneration in Andover town centre by providing a colourful schedule of events and entertainment for residents and visitors.

Leader of Test Valley Borough Council, Councillor Phil North said: “Following the success of last year’s events, we have ensured there is a really packed calendar in place for this year. There will be lots of different events appealing to all interests, most of which will be completely free to attend and will have something for all the family to enjoy.

“This is a really exciting time for Andover, we have so much on our doorstep and these events will help to showcase local talent, bring the community together and help support local businesses in the town.”

For full details of Test Valley Borough Council’s upcoming events, visit testvalley.gov.uk/events.

Puzzle Page Quick Crossword

PIPE

Geography Quiz

1. What is the official currency of India?

2. Where is the world’s largest desert found?

3. What country formally ruled Iceland?

4. How many time zones does Australia have?

5. What is the highest active volcano in Europe?

6. What is the only country that borders the UK?

7. Which country has the most pyramids in the world?

8. What city is known as the Glass Capital of the World?

9. What is the capital city of Argentina?

10. Kathmandu is the capital city of which country?

The Full Monty

Even after four decades, green-fingered expert Monty Don’s passion for the outdoors shows little sign of waning, as he explains why gaining new inspiration is so important.

A lifetime of getting green fingers might be taking its toll physically on the 67-year-old broadcaster and writer Monty Don: aside from his bout of peritonitis in 2007, a stroke that could have killed him a year later, and battles with depression – for which he says gardening has been a better antidote than any prescription drug – the everyday rigours of flowering and weeding, pruning and digging have left his body as weathered as one would expect… not that he cares.

“It’s a strange day when you put the visual appearance of your garden over yourself,” he laughs. “For me, that was quite some time ago, but it all relates back to how passionate you are about a subject or a project.

“It’s a big job to keep my garden how I want it, and to keep going – you do that because it’s important not only for the future, but in respecting the effort you have put in previously.”

A renowned writer on all things horticultural since the early 1990s, Don has had over 20 books published and still pens a number of popular newspaper columns.

He became the welcoming, enthusiastic, all-knowing expert on the BBC’s Gardeners’ World

programme between 2003 and 2008, before taking on lead presenting duties for its flagship Chelsea Flower Show in 2014.

Well dressed in his ‘painterly’ style and with a sparkling demeanour, Monty’s garden at Longmeadow in Herefordshire has become something of a national horticultural staple, with fans sharing in the ups and downs of tending to an expansive plot that continues to throw up new challenges. “We’ve had all manner of issues over the past few years, especially some drainage issues.

“Where nature is concerned, you’ve got to expect the unexpected – it’s a fun part of the process… at least, fixing it is!”

When asked about his own inspirations, he admits to having been influenced by

aesthetics

the style and aesthetics of French gardener Nicole de Vesian, who passed away in 1996.

“Nicole had a great feeling for both colour and form, and then for space,” he says. “Her use of colours could look muted and faded at first, but when her gardens were in bloom they looked fantastic when the sun is shining. And she used the space in between plants and sculptures better than anyone. That’s been a blueprint I’ve used for Longmeadow for quite some time.

and

“I think it’s important to have heroes and inspiration, no matter who you are or for how long you’ve been in the game.”

Councillor’s Column

Exactly a year after Russia’s appalling invasion of Ukraine, Test Valley councillors met to discuss the council’s budget for 2023/24. Dressed in yellow and blue to show solidarity with the Ukrainian people and to raise money for their injured soldiers, our meeting was also dominated by the economic consequence of one of the world’s biggest gas suppliers waging war against one of its biggest grain producers. Because, just like any household budget, Test Valley’s finances have also been hit by high inflation, exacerbated by the conflict.

Thankfully our previous financial prudence as well as the decision to set up project enterprise, which has earnt the council an additional £8.5m over the last four years, meant we were able to table a council tax increase some 7% below inflation. The £5 rise on a band D property means an average bill of £158.91 for an entire year of Test Valley Borough Council services. At least £40 lower than the average for the rest of England. Not only to have your bin collected every week but to maintain the housing & homelessness, planning, licensing, countryside, parks & open spaces, environmental health, economic development and leisure services - as well as continuing with our ambitious plans to improve our town centres.

I do recognise though the impact that even a very small rise could have on the most vulnerable in our borough. Residents on the lowest incomes already receive help through our generous Council Tax Support

Scheme but thanks to some additional government funding we have been able to go further. Delivering an extra £55 discount to households that are facing severe financial hardship. Cushioning them against the rising cost of living and increases from other precepting authorities.

The meeting also gave us an opportunity to announce a proposal to reduce the council’s carbon emissions generated from our fleet vehicles by 95% by switching the fuel in our bin lorries from diesel to hydrotreated vegetable oil. Using this biofuel does not require expensive vehicle changes and is completely fossil-free, fulfilling the pledges we made in our Climate Emergency action plan.

My thanks go to council officers and fellow councillors who’ve put so much work into the budget-setting process. Despite global pressures, our sound finances have meant we’ve been able to keep council tax low and maintain frontline services, whilst doing the right thing for the most vulnerable and our environment.

Phil North Leader of the Test Valley Borough Council

Cllr.

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A Design for Life… e Kevin McCloud Column

Designer, writer and television presenter, Kevin McCloud leapt into our consciousness with his vastly successful Grand Designs show on Channel 4. This month, the affable architectural business owner talks about his love of modernism in interior design.

I often get people asking me why so many of the build projects on Grand Designs end up being decorated in a modernism style, with sharp lines, slick surfaces, uncomplicated decorative features and a view to celebrate space and light.

The answer to this comes not in the contents of a house, but its exterior. Simply, it follows that the architectural design of a building will often be mirrored by the interior design within it; and while developers may regularly seek to replicate Georgian or Victorian designs styles, most newbuilds still celebrate straight lines, clean shapes and hard edges. Aside from anything else, the build requirements are much easier!

Certainly, with people whose journeys we have followed on Grand Designs, this is very much the trend, although the advent of modernism in home furnishings was something that really took off towards the end of the 19th century. In essence, it was a rebellious response to the years of floral, ornate,

elaborate, elegant and largely curved, flowery styles that had patterned so much of people’s lives.

In modernism the modus operandum became creating something that much more straightforward. Within this, overuse of colour was discouraged, while the invitation was laid out to embrace textures and textiles not previously considered homely – consider steel, concrete, large expanses of glass and other materials once thought of as cold and unwelcoming.

Where colour did prevail, this was to be bold and statementgiving, so perhaps blocks and slabs of shades adjacent to blacks, greys and whites.

Where did this all come from? Well, the Industrial Revolution had a lot to do with a more measured and practical approach to living, and these

modernist statements extended to literature, art, music and more – countless areas where people were expressing a desire to rebel.

Although no end date for modernism has ever been noted, it’s perceived that postmodernism came into being in the late 1970s, and from there society has largely embraced a mass of contrasting and conflicting styles in elegant harmony. Yet modernist architecture has never gone away, and speaking personally, I love the perfection of modernism in interior design –its flow, simplicity, practicality and function.

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Test Valley Residents Struggling To

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Housing

Costs Urged To Apply for Household Support Fund

Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) is encouraging residents, who may be struggling to meet their essential housing costs, to apply for a one-off grant from the Household Support Fund.

One-off payments of £125 per household are available, for those who can show they are struggling to meet their housing costs and may be in arrears.

Residents do not need to be in receipt of universal credit or any other benefits to qualify for support.

If your application is assessed as meeting the criteria, then the grant will be paid directly into your bank account, or it can be paid directly to your landlord if that is easier.

Leader of TVBC, Cllr Phil North said:

“We appreciate how tough it is at the moment for some people just to pay for the essential items, with the rise in the cost of living. I know how difficult it can be to ask for help sometimes, but I would really

encourage anyone who may be in this situation to think about applying for a grant.”

“That money is there to support our residents and we want to be able to help as many people as possible.”

Applications for the scheme close on Tuesday 21 March 2023 and you will need to upload ID and proof of your rent liability when you apply.

You will hear about the outcome of your application within 28 days of submitting it.

If your application is successful, you will receive your grant within 28 days after that.

For more information, and to find the application form, visit:

www.testvalley.gov.uk/ HouseholdSupport

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The King’s New Groove

He was raised to one day be king, but can Charles III fully realise his vision for Great Britain? Only time will tell.

They say the best things come to those who wait, and King Charles III’s 70 years spent as heir apparent suggest he is well deserving of the throne. For His Majesty, ascension is bittersweet with the loss of his mother still laying heavy on the royal heart, but he is equally keen to finally execute his master plan to bring the Windsors into the 21st century.

But what does this actually mean? And what are the implications for the country as a whole?

One of the main tenets is to slim down the royal family. Over recent years this has happened somewhat organically anyway with the voluntary stepping back of Prince Harry and the less voluntary removal of Prince Andrew from official duty. However, King Charles III is expected to go one step further as he is reportedly seeking to change legislation that allows

non-working royals to be counsellors of state.

Her Majesty’s passing means that Queen Consort Camilla, as the King’s spouse, and Princess Beatrice, as the next adult in line to the throne, are eligible to fill these roles. But aside from Prince William, three of the five counsellors – Prince Andrew, Prince Harry and Princess Beatrice – are non-working royals. This is thought not to sit well with the King who may change the law to allow his siblings, the Earl of Wessex and the Princess Royal, to take on the duty alongside their current roles as working royals.

Having lived through several tumultuous periods in the monarchy’s history, King Charles III is acutely aware of the Republican sentiment among certain Britons. Queen Elizabeth II was hugely popular, but there are some who are convinced that now is the right time to disband the monarchy and move forward into a fully modern, democratic Britain. Yet when you consider how much the monarchy generates for our economy, not to mention how valuable our traditions and illustrious

history are to us culturally, we would likely lose more than we would gain.

According to Forbes, the House of Windsor is estimated to be worth £19bn. And while the average annual cost for UK taxpayers in royal upkeep comes to around £500m a year, it’s estimated that the monarchy’s brand contributes £2.5bn to the British economy over the same period.

In short, His Majesty knows his worth, but he also respects the need to assimilate more with the everyday people in his kingdom - the recent cost of living crisis, environmental awareness and societal change being issues he must help solve if he is to have a peaceful reign.

Sound & Vision Combined

Guest artiste at the WEOS concert on 20 April is DAVID THOMAS from Thetford in Norfolk, making his sixth appearance at Weyhill. In common with several other players on the circuit, David is fully aware of the other side of entertainment, having been responsible (along with his wife) for the establishment and development of a similar music club near to his home. His ability as an electronic keyboard player is supplemented

by his skill and experience in creating additional screen graphics. He provides film coverage for some of the largest festivals and finds himself in demand at many events as both a player and technician.

He has been performing for dances and concerts for over thirty years and with his easy listening style, along with his gentle humour, he has been in demand throughout the UK and in Europe. More information can be found on his website:

www.dtkm.org.uk

The concert commences at 7.30 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.) and tickets at £6.00 are available at the door.

Further information about the Club can be obtained at:

www.weyhill-eos.co.uk or by phoning (01264) 323213.

Council Calls for Participants To Join New Andover Wellbeing Festival

Registrations are now open for participants to join Andover Wellbeing Festival, one of the new events being organised by Test Valley Borough Council for 2023.

Taking place on Sunday 25 June, the festival will provide an opportunity for local residents to discover new ideas and activities to promote a healthy mind and body.

The council are currently reaching out to local clubs, organisations and businesses that would like the opportunity to showcase their work and be a part of this event. Sports and fitness clubs, therapists, nutritionists, health food producers, mental health organisations, educational activities and voluntary projects are all invited to take part, as is anyone else whose work includes physical wellbeing, relational

wellbeing, financial wellbeing or mental wellbeing.

The public event will be held in Andover town centre and will offer visitors the chance to try new experiences and learn valuable information in a free and accessible environment. The day will include interactive sessions, such as taster classes and workshops, as well as talks and demonstrations. There will also be a pop-up marketplace as well.

For any organisations unable to attend the actual event, there may still be opportunities to be involved and event organisers are happy to discuss options.

Anyone interested in taking part in the new festival must register their interest before Sunday 19 March 2023, by going to the following link:

https://form.jotform. com/230314424560344

or contacting Rebecca Maddox at rmaddox@testvalley.gov.uk.

Full details about the new event and the programme for the day will be announced over the next few months.

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The Adventures of Daichi The Modern Magazines Camper Van

We won an award! Daichi was delighted. Having never entered any business competition before we did not know what to expect. Customer service and looking after all our valuable advertisers has been at the core of everything we do here at Modern Magazines. I have always had the viewpoint that we get what we give out in life. If we are helpful, want people to succeed and are willing to go that extra mile to make it all happen, the client is delighted. In return we get great local trades and businesses who also want to help their clients. Everyone wins. You the resident can rely on the people inside the magazine, which is after all what you need. Of course, we are not perfect. Daichi will vouch for that! Mistakes happen and sometimes a client gets cross. This happens in life doesn’t it! Well, how do we react to that? What do we say back? Shouting back creates more shouting and everyone gets upset. Listening, understanding and correcting a mistake, or quietly giving a suggestion back usually handles the situation and we all have a better day for it.

So, that was what this award was all about – our business to business ethos and attitude. How do we treat our advertisers? Well, it seems like we won with flying colours. How amazing is that! One area we work really hard is the creation of the adverts themselves. We have a new graphic designer, Jaidan and he is fantastic. He works quickly and professionally which at a young age of just 23 is brilliant. He is also a videographer and we have some exciting news about a new E-Magazine, which will be online and found through Google, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and even emailed out, where all the adverts will link to business websites, there will be interactive puzzles that can be done within the magazine online, competitions and there will even be talking pages where you will be able to listen to business owners talk about their business and how they can help you. Soon to be released! Keeping up with modern

technology is a must of course, however paper is still in fashion! Yes, print advertising is still seen as the most trusted source of finding a local trades person and business. Combining the two mediums will help all round and create a real hub of the place to go to find all that is local. I am very excited about that… as you can see!

Beth will also be back soon, having had her wonderful baby boy a few months ago. We will then have two graphic designers. Beth has a woman’s touch to her designs (am I allowed to say that?) and I think we will have the perfect balance to get those all-important adverts right, depending on what the customer wants.

Our team of salesgirls… yes we are all girls there I am afraid… are incredible. We really don’t see ourselves in sales. Our purpose is genuinely to get more work for local businesses and to give you, the valuable resident, good trades and services to

Debbie with Cllr Ann Weaving, Mayor of Weymouth at WeyPort Business Awards

help you. Mel has worked with us for over fifteen years! Today this is what she told me,

“I love working at Modern Magazines. I am one of those rare people who looks forward to going to work. Great team. Great customers!”

Julie has been with us for over nine years. This is what she says,

“I just love working with Debbie and Stephen and the whole team. It really feels like we are a family, looking out for each other and looking after our clients. There is nothing better than knowing you helped a client get more business. Most of all the work is fun, getting to talk to lots of interesting people. I look forward to every day!”

Then we have Steph who is a delight to hear talking to customers on the phone and then our newest member is Pippa who runs our office in Weymouth and set up the new “Wonderful Weymouth Magazine”. She has been amazing. Her knowledge of the area and the people has enormously helped and without her that magazine would not be what it is. Pippa says,

“Having worked on the Wonderful Weymouth magazine the past 16 months, winning the WeyPort B2B category and supporting both local businesses and the local community of Weymouth and Portland, in which I’ve always lived, is an honour.

I would like to thank Debbie, Stephen and the rest of the Modern Magazines team for giving me the opportunity to be part of such a fantastic team with a passion to help others succeed.”

Amazing.

Chris, our distribution manager gets the magazines to the distribution company that delivers several of our magazines each month, drops off magazines to local shops, cafes and businesses in their respective areas, delivers magazines to our own distributors in a few areas and when he has some downtime, he posts photos on each of our Facebook pages. He is busy!

I started our first magazine in 2005. At that time Hayden was very young and I needed something to do. I walked around the streets with him in the pram and “touted for business” as Pat at Kingfisher Cleaning Services laughs. She was my first client ever. I will never forget that phone call. It gave me hope and a reason to continue… here we are today. Thank you Pat. Stephen, my husband, gave up his career in computer engineering to work alongside me in 2008 and we have not looked back.

The WeyPort Business Awards were such fun and we thank all our nominations for acknowledging us as “The Business to Business” business of the year! We love what we do and are here for any business wanting to expand. Most of all we are here to link you the homeowner, resident and VIP of your area, to these very important trades and services. We thank all of you for your support and loyalty. Let’s continue to work together.

www.modernmagazines.co.uk

By Debbie Corney

Pippa with the WeyPort B2B Business of the Year 2023 award

Debbie and Stephen with Daichi

What is a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)?

It’s an important legal document that lets you appoint one or more people to help you make decisions, or make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to.

Think of an LPA like an insurance policy, putting it in place while you’re fit and healthy gives you peace of mind knowing that, no matter how life plays out, your health and financial matters will be managed as per your wishes

Here’s how it works:

Margaret suffers an unexpected illness or accident, resulting in a loss of mental capacity.

Without an LPA

Next of kin doesn’t have the legal right to make decisions for Margaret

Sole bank accounts are frozen

Joint bank accounts are frozen in some circumstances

Bills can’t be paid from Margaret’s money

Investment decisions can’t be made (any previous authority given to make investment decisions is cancelled)

Property can’t be sold, meaning a co-habiting partner can’t move house if they wanted to

Next of kin don’t have the legal right to make decisions about medical treatment

Next of kin don’t have the legal rights to make personal choices, for example where Margaret should live

If you don’t plan ahead and you suffer an accident or illness which causes you to lose mental capacity, your next of kin can only get the legal authority to act on your behalf through a Court Order. This is a long, costly and intrusive process.

With an LPA

Margaret puts LPAs in place for both Financials & Health and Care Decisions appointing a representative

Margarethas legallyappointeda representativetomake decisionsabouther finances

Thebankrecognisesthe chosenrepresentative’s legalauthorityandNO accountsarefrozen

Investmentdecisions canbemadeby Margaret’s representatives

Bills can be paid as normal

Property can be sold if needed

The representative has the legal right to make decisions about Margaret’s medical treatment

The representative can make personal choices for Margaret, such as where to live.

By planning ahead, you can choose who should have legal authority to make decisions on your behalf if you’re unable to make decisions for yourself. A Lasting Power of Attorney costs far less than a Court Order and the people you choose can step in as soon as needed

Property Fraud : Protect yourself with property alerts

A fraudster can pretend to be anyone involved in a property transaction such as the owner, buyer, borrower, lender or conveyancer. Property fraud can be very attractive to fraudsters if they successfully persuade a buyer, their conveyancer or a lender into believing they are the true owner. They can then sell or mortgage the property to get cash from either the purchase monies or the mortgage advance. This often involves the impersonation of the registered owner and we highlight below who might be most at risk and what properties are seen as desirable targets.

Owners at greater risk are:

Unregistered owners, absent owners (eg. abroad, in hospital, in care homes), landlords, beneficiaries of owners who have died, long-time owners with more equity in their property, sole owners

Properties at most risk are:

High value properties, empty properties, properties without a mortgage, tenanted properties

The Land Registry are encouraging people to set up a property alert in order to warn them if someone attempts to alter key details of their property online.

• Scammers attempt to transfer your property into their name using false documents, or stolen identities, in some cases, even whilst you are living there.

• The scammers then raise mortgages against, or sell, your property without you knowing.

• Victims can find that they have to leave their home as there is nothing that can be done to get the property back.

• Victims are left with having to claim compensation from the Land Registry to replace their home.

Whilst the Land Registry have been able to stop some cases where fraudulent documents have been submitted, not all cases are stopped, so it is important to help protect yourself against property theft.

To protect yourself against the risk of property fraud, you should consider the following:

• Register your property on the Land Registry if it is not already registered.

• Sign up for the free Land Registry Property Alert service. You can get alerts for up to 10 properties, meaning you can help protect vulnerable family or friends as well as yourself.

• Put a restriction on your title: this will stop the Land Registry registering any sale or mortgage on your property unless a conveyancer or solicitor certifies that the application was made by you. This restriction:

• Costs £40 if you live at the property.

• Is free where you do not live at the property but own it privately.

• Is free if a company owns the property.

This simple process can help avoid you or someone you know being victim of property fraud. Tell your friends, family, neighbours, and clients.

Join us again next time for another legal insight!

Tel: 01794 513328

E: bells@bells-romsey-solicitors.co.uk

STAR GAZING

WRITTEN BY KATE EARL kateearlastro@gmail.com

Welcome to the April Stargazing Page. Highlights this month include a chance to spot elusive Mercury, and the Lyrid meteor shower.

International Space Station

The ISS can be spotted around 8.45pm on April Fool’s Day. Viewing then switches to our morning skies from the 23rd. To establish exact timings please refer to www.heavens-above. com or a similar webpage for up-to-date information, remembering to set the location to your observing area.

Events

The annual Lyrid meteor shower peaks on the night of April 22nd. The dust that causes these meteors comes from Comet Thatcher. The meteors, or ‘shooting stars’, originate from a point in the sky close to the bright star Vega, which lies northeast around 9.30pm, but meteors can be visible in any direction.

Mercury

The innermost planet can be spotted low in our evening skies during the first couple of weeks of April. Look to the lower right of dazzling Venus, between about 8.45 - 9pm (see figure).

Venus

Venus is nearly at its brightest this month and stays long into the night, setting around

midnight. On the 11th it passes close to the Pleiades star cluster (see figure), and lies near the Moon on the 22nd and 23rd (see figure).

Mars

The red planet tracks from Taurus to Gemini over the course of the month, and appears close to the Moon on the 25th. It is setting around 2.30am.

Jupiter & Saturn

Saturn becomes visible in our morning skies midmonth. It is visible just before sunrise, low in the ESE. Jupiter is too close to the Sun to be visible this month.

Moon

April’s full moon occurs on the 6th.

Star of the month

Visible in April an hour after sunset, Sirius is the brightest star in the sky. This is not because it is particularly large (it is only twice the size and mass of our Sun), but because it is relatively close to us. It never reaches very high in the sky from our viewpoint in the UK, but can be easily found by tracing a line towards the east through the three stars in Orion’s Belt. Sirius was an important marker star for ancient peoples. The Egyptians knew the flooding of the Nile was imminent when they noticed Sirius rise above the horizon before dawn. Some Australian Indigenous peoples can predict the onset of seasonal change by noticing how much Sirius twinkles, which is due to changing winds and approaching weather systems.

Greenfingers… The Alan Titchmarsh Column

He’s a brilliant presenter, accomplished gardener, talented novelist, and all-round horticultural inspiration. is month, Alan Titchmarsh discusses the uniqueness and the survival of our gardens.

ere is an argument to say the more complicated you make something, the more di cult it is to keep things constant. I am certainly guilty of pushing and pushing and adding so much more to an idea when I could have kept things safe and sane.

I think it’s important though to remind people, that whether your garden is some elaborate flourish of colour and texture and shape, or just a bit of grass and some simple shrubbery, absolutely everything about it is unique.

A er all, that space has its own unique history - for some, the flowers in it are a present; they may even come from another country; they might remind us of a special occasion or an event or story. We may just have spo ed them in the garden centre and gone from there.

e point is everything we have is full of memories and stories. e things we put in our gardens remind us of times in our lives, and when that garden is in full colour and full blossom in May, or in its full richness in autumn, or at some other point in the year, it creates and stimulates memories.

I have done so much in my gardens, but I don’t think I could pick one specific thing – everything has been my favourite part at some stage. And I believe the whole beauty of gardening is that it’s personal, and the freedom of choice really is with the person ge ing their hands dirty.

Ultimately, if you want to follow my advice and slavishly do as I say in my books, then that is perfectly fine. However, if you read something and think, ‘I don’t agree with that, I’m doing it my way,’ then that is good too, because it has at least made you think.

Gardening is private – it’s intimate. We all have di erent ideas in terms of what we think of as full or minimalist, and I am passionate about people exploring their own narrative, because anybody can do this. Simply decide what you’d like to grow – perhaps something

you want to eat, or smell, or just look at. Buy the seeds and do it. Don’t even worry about the process, just try it out.

When it succeeds, do it again; and most importantly, when it fails, do it again too!

OF THISADVERT

Spot the Difference!

There are 10 differences between the two images below. How many can you spot?

A Dispensing Optician (DO) is a registered healthcare professional with a degree level qualification in Ophthalmic Dispensing.

The DO has studied the anatomy and physiology of the eye and its focussing system, together with all the anomalies that may occur, as well as the Physics of light and the effect of Ophthalmic Lenses and materials on the path of incident light rays. A DO understands what happens to a ray of light when it has to pass through a lens before entering your visual system and how different densities and curvature of lens, affect the final image that your brain will experience. They will also have an in depth knowledge of all the health conditions that may affect your eyes and treatments for them. They will have studied the physical features of the face and how to take accurate measurements to provide the best fit for each facial characteristic and how to effectively communicate with patients to best understand and advise on their optical needs and much much more…..

Dispensing opticians (DOs) bring to their roles high-quality communication and problem-solving skills. A DO can help you if you have more complex needs for your eyewear

This means that the Dispensing optician is best placed to advise on, fit and supply the most appropriate spectacle frames and lenses for all, including

• Protective eyewear, such as prescription sunglasses, spectacles for screen use, and sports and safety eyewear.

• Spectacles for people who are visually impaired. Low vision aids, such as magnifiers, for people whose vision cannot be corrected by spectacles alone.

The Dispensing Optician is also qualified to:

• Advise on and dispense spectacles for children – children’s faces have different proportions compared to adults so need frames that are designed specifically for kids, not scaled down versions of adult frames.

• Provide NHS Opthalmic Dispensing services

• Provide clinical advice, guidance and monitoring on common eye conditions and identify and refer people who require emergency care.

• Advise children and their parents/carers about myopia (shortsightedness) management and the importance of addressing this as early as possible. They can dispense speciality lenses to control myopia progression.

• Modify the power of lenses supplied against a prescription, including for example: change in dispensed power due to a change in vertex distance or working distance.

• Communicate with both parents/carers and children.

• Provide a specialist dispensing service to people who may be vulnerable, have additional needs, or require adaptations to optical appliances.

• Have an in depth understanding of all aspects of the workings of the eye and it’s visual pathways to the brain

• Dispense spectacles to the partially sighted

So don’t leave it to chance when buying spectacles, seek the advice of someone with the qualified knowledge and experience, to provide you with the best solution for your visual needs.

The Three Bees Project - New Initiative for Andover

Britain’s bees and our other pollinating insects are in serious trouble and they need our helpFAST! Many of our native bee species are facing extinction¹ due to a number of different threats, climate change among them. But there’s one factor, habitat loss, which we all have the power to do something about right now

By creating a connected pollinator pathway we can benefit bees and many other insects, while also providing habitats for spiders, birds, small mammals and plants. This will also help to buffer the effects of climate change.

In recent times, more than any other time in history, communities are suffering from a loss of connection with each other and the natural world. The impact this is having on mental health is leading to a public health crisis.

The simple act of working together in the fresh air to improve our local environment, making a significant impact on the health and diversity of the ecosystem and forming positive human connections could bring immediate benefits to everyone involved, whether they have two legs, six or eight!

Join us in creating a pollinator pathway that will grow and develop

year on year to make a lasting contribution to the health and wellbeing of the people and creatures of Andover or where you live.

How to get involved.

Register and pledge your plot of land - anything from 1m x 1m to a football pitch at https:// thethreebeesproject.org or message us at Facebook.com/ thethreebeesproject

Fly solo or get together your teamreach out to people at work, school or a community group. It’s all about working together.

Prepare your patch.

Plant your seeds and watch them grow - check out the Seed Bank options

Join our facebook community to share pictures as your patch blossoms

Eat, sleep, plant, repeat next year… and the next… You get the idea!

Seed Bank

https://www.gofundme.com/f/ pollinator-pathway-seed-bank

Puzzle Page Answers

Quick Crossword Solution #026

Answers:

Across: 2. Sew, 5. Bleach, 7. Earbud, 9. Weave, 10. Carom, 11. Append, 12. Marina, 14. Target, 18. Attire, 21. Leapt, 22. Cubit, 23. Agenda, 24. Noodle, 25. Nod.

Down: 1. Blowup, 2. Shield, 3. Webcam, 4. Summon, 6. Aware, 8. Rarer, 11. Act, 13. Age, 15. Allege, 16. Grain, 17. Titian, 18. Ascend, 19. Taboo, 20. Rattle

Geography Quiz Answers

6. Ireland

7.

8.

9.

10.

Spring Sale

1. Indian rupee

2. Antarctica

3. Denmark

4. 3

5. Mount Etna

Sudan

Toledo

Buenos Aires

Nepal

Vets Column: Feeding Rabbits

Sadly many of the problems we see in pet rabbits stem from their diet- often these are the results of long-term issues and so are almost impossible to correct. Fortunately, it does mean that these problems are preventable!

In particular, dental disease and gut stasis are commonly associated with dietary issues. Even fly strike risk is increased by poor diet resulting in failure to remove the edible faeces from round the back end.

A recent study performed by Edinburgh University confirmed these findings- different groups of rabbits were fed diets ranging from all fibre (especially hay) to all muesli concentrate diet.

Unsurprisingly, those in the all-fibre group had the healthiest teeth and the healthiest guts. They were also in best overall shape. Sadly some of those in the all-muesli group had to be removed from the trial as they began developing severe dental disease even in a few months: many of these rabbits also became clinically obese. Of the rabbits in the mixed diet group, there signs of dental disease developing and they were fatter than those having just fibre.

Are we surprised? Not really- rabbits evolved to eat fibre (ie. Grass and hay) so it makes sense that they are happiest and healthiest when eating these. Concentrate and muesli rations were basically developed for feeding production rabbits (ie those destined for food and fur) and are not designed for longevity. They have become popular amongst pet rabbit owners as they are so easy to feed. However, it is becoming obvious that something must change- one major pet store now no longer stocks muesli-type diets, and as

rabbit owners we need to be looking to give a much more natural diet.

If possible, this should be all-fibreunlimited hay and grass should be the basis of all rabbit diets from as young an age as possible. Contrary to some advise, rabbits do not get diarrhoea if fed grass, unless they are suddenly given large amounts of fresh wet grass when they have never seen grass before: to avoid this? If your rabbit is unused to grass, then introduce it gradually over 5-7 days! Greens should be added for interestdandelions and garden herbs are excellent, but a range of dark green leaves and brassicas can be given. To avoid dietary overload, used mixed greens each day.

Carrots are not a staple of the rabbit diet (apart from Bugs Bunny, of course!) but can be given in small amounts along with apple or pear as treats.

There are some situations where concentrate food is desirable- eg. growing rabbits; pregnancy/ nursing; and in the coldest parts of winter. In these cases, use one of the high fibre nuggets or a top brand pellet and do not exceed a level of 25g/kg bodyweight per day. Muesli diets encourage selective feeding as well as causing the problems described earlier, so should be avoided completely. It would be wonderful if we could prevent dental disease in rabbits. While genetics do play some part, improved nutrition would make the biggest difference.

John Chitty

Royal Pastry Chef’s Spiced Easter Biscuits

Back in 2020, Queen Elizabeth’s royal pastry chefs released the family’s sacred ‘Spiced Easter Biscuits’ recipe.

What better way to honour her late Majesty, than by baking these delightful and delicious Easter treats?

Ingredients

Biscuit base:

• 350g plain flour

• 5g bicarbonate of soda

• 10g ground ginger

• 5g cinnamon

• 125g unsalted butter

• 175g light soft brown sugar

• 1 egg

• 60g golden syrup

Icing:

• 2 egg whites

• 600g icing sugar

• Food colouring of your choice

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 170°C/340°F/gas mark 3 then mix together the flour, bicarbonate of soda and spices in a bowl. Add the diced butter and mix until it reaches a crumb-like texture.

2. Add the sugar, then once combined add the egg and golden syrup. Mix until a dough is formed.

3. Roll the dough to a thickness of 5mm then use biscuit cutters to cut into desired shape such as Easter eggs, chicks or bunnies. Place the biscuits on a non-stick mat or baking paper and bake on the middle shelf for 12-15 minutes until they are golden in colour. Leave biscuits to cool completely before decorating.

4. Add 1 egg white to 600g of icing sugar and beat until smooth. Spoon mixture into a piping bag - the icing should pipe smoothly and be able to

Top Tip

If you don’t have biscuit cutters in the shapers you require, simply draw or print the ones you need and cut out the dough around them.

hold when piped as a line – and pipe around the edge of the biscuits. To cover all the biscuits with icing add extra egg white to thin the mixture. Decorate and enjoy!