Test Valley Gazette - March 2023

Welcome...

Dear Residents,

We have had a mixture of weather recently, with cold bright sunny days, as well as some breezy wet days. What do you think our Spring and summer will bring us this year? Last summer was pretty good, so I am ever hopeful (as always) that we once again we will be able to bask in the sun and enjoy some alfresco dining. For now, we can marvel at the snowdrops (my all-time favourites), the bluebells, tulips and golden / white delightful daffodils. Gorgeous.

Do you have a spring clean to do? Do you want to change the décor? We did a spot of redecorating ourselves this week. Do you need a carpet cleaned, a tidy of the garden, a new blind for the kitchen, or new windows? Well, our wonderful advertisers here can help you! Take a look through your local magazine and see who you can call to ask for advice and get them to come to you or visit them at their place of work and then let them do the work for you. That is what they are here for.

If you have a summer fete coming up, a barn dance, a community picnic in the garden, a local sing-song or amateur play to perform, please let us know as we can promote these for you for free. Anything which is local and has the purpose of bringing people together we want to support. Let’s get to know our friends and neighbours and create some social time. It makes all that working so much easier and gives us things to look forward to.

Happy March to you all!

Debbie, Stephen & all of us here at Modern Magazines

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

Apply for council grant and throw a coronation party fit for a king

Test Valley Borough Council is encouraging residents to come together to celebrate the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and the Queen Consort on Saturday 6 May.

And to help with this, the council has created a Coronation Grant Scheme, which will enable communities to apply for up to £500 towards local celebrations to mark the historic event.

Voluntary groups, not for profit organisations, clubs and societies, parish and town councils, and schools can all apply for a share of the pot. Residents looking to run street parties and other events in their neighbourhood can also apply, but are asked to contact their local community engagement officer first using the contact details at www.testvalley.gov.uk/

CommunityEngagementOfficers

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Friday 21 April and all activities must take place no later than Monday 8 May.

The council has also agreed to waive the fee for road closures for events linked to the coronation.

For more information, or to apply for a grant or road closure, visit www.testvalley.gov.uk/

TheKingsCoronation.

For bigger events, organisers can also

apply for a Councillor Community Grant at www.testvalley.gov.uk/ councillorcommunitygrantscheme Leader of Test Valley Borough Council, Councillor Phil North, said: “This is one of just a handful of truly historic events many of us will get to experience in our lifetime, and it would be wonderful to see as many people as possible coming together to mark the coronation.”

“We hope that the Coronation Grant Scheme, Councillor Community Grant and waiving the road closure fee will help to facilitate this and I am really looking forward to seeing people celebrate across the borough.”

Buckingham Palace has announced a weekend of celebrations to mark the coronation, which will begin with the official service at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6 May.

On Sunday 7 May, they are encouraging neighbours and communities to come together to hold a Coronation Big Lunch, while on Monday 8 May, people will be able to take part in the Big Help Out and volunteer for the day in their local area.

Council Unlocks £1M To Deliver Major Projects Across Borough

Test Valley Borough Council has unlocked £1M from the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to help local partner organisations to deliver six major projects in the area, including creating a new health hub in Andover and supporting community schemes in Romsey.

The government launched the UKSPF with the aim of reducing inequalities and supporting economic development and local communities through the provision of £2.6B of funding.

They had already allocated the six-figure sum to Test Valley, but the council had to unlock the funding by identifying projects that would help deal with local challenges, bring communities together and support economic growth.

The council submitted details of six proposed projects in August 2022 and received confirmation from the government last month that they would be releasing the money.

With the £1M now secured, a contribution of £240,000 will go towards extending the teaching facilities within the Andover College campus to help deliver T Level courses in construction skills, bricklaying and carpentry.

A sum of £280,000 will help council and health colleagues to expand the new Andover Health Hub in the Chantry Centre, which opened earlier this month. The hub will also be complemented by the creation of outreach worker posts, which will be part funded by a £110,000 contribution.

There will be a £100,000 fund created for community energy efficiency and decarbonisation projects across the borough, as well as £140,000 to help local rural land-based businesses to reduce their carbon footprint.

Thirty thousand pounds will go to the University of Southampton Science Park’s Catalyst Programme, to

provide innovationled businesses with commercial expertise and experience through mentoring and peer support from world-class business leaders.

And a new £100,000 fund will help deliver projects identified by Romsey Future to improve public spaces, deliver environmental and infrastructure improvements and increase footfall and visitors to the town.

Leader of Test Valley Borough Council, Councillor Phil North, said:

“This is such fantastic news for the borough and our partner organisations who will be leading on these projects. With a particular focus on improving the health of our local communities, driving down carbon emissions in the area and enhancing public spaces, we can expect toQ see some incredibly positive impacts on people’s lives.”

“And in the case of the Andover Health Hub, as well as providing a new facility in the short to medium term to help address poor health through early intervention and prevention, we’ll also be able to better understand the long-term accommodation requirements for those services as part of the town centre regeneration plans.”

“I am very much looking forward to following each of the projects as they progress over the coming years.”

The funding covers the three-year period from April 2022 to March 2025.

The aim of the UKSPF scheme is to support the UK government’s Levelling Up commitment through three investment priorities or themes, including communities and place, supporting local businesses and people and skills.

Why am I being asked to wait in the Waiting Room?

Attending a solicitor’s office can be daunting for many individuals. We see many clients who wish to bring a family member or friend into a meeting. This might be to provide moral support, take notes or provide additional insight into a matter. As solicitors we believe this is important as it can be intense going through personal, financial and particularly distressing matters. It is important that both during and after the appointment clients feel supported.

There are some instances where this is not always the best course of action and our solicitors must request the family member or friend to step out for a moment. Understandably this can cause upset but it is important to protect the client and any beneficiary who stands to benefit under the will. Solicitors have professional obligations to ensure that we are taking our client’s unfettered instructions. There are many instances of wills being overturned in expensive court proceedings as there is evidence of undue influence or a lack of understanding of the will contents. One example of this is a beneficiary overseeing the instructions and signing of a will. There could be a good explanation for this such as the person changing their will (testator) wanting to be open with the family member what the changes are, or needing them read over the document due to poor eyesight. This person could also be an executor of the estate and the testator may wish the solicitor to explain everything to ensure that all involved in the will understand what will happen after the testator dies. The problems come where the changes are in the beneficiary’s favour - or are to the detriment of someone not in the meeting

It is incredibly suspicious to an outsider (and certainly a judge!) looking at surface events and there is a risk of the new will being overturned.

It is also vital that the will wishes clearly come from the person making the will. Often family members will send in details notes of the instructions or follow up with emailed instructions. Be assured that we are not being intentionally difficult by refusing to take these outside sources without our client clearly understanding and confirming their instructions. It is simply to act otherwise puts the whole will at risk of being ruled invalid. The important thing to note is it is not a solicitor’s intention to cast aspersions on any individual. This is a requirement of all solicitors as above all it is important that any hint of a challenge can be avoided. If a family member is asked to step out of the office, rest assured it is for the best of reasons – to ensure that your Will wishes are properly recorded and carried out. This is intended for general guidance only. In all cases specific advice should be sought.

Bells are a specialist Wills, Probate and Conveyancing practice. The office opens five days a week Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm and home and hospital appointments can be arranged where appropriate. Our professional service is right on your doorstep. Join us again next time for another legal insight!

Tel: 01794 513328

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

Boyega on the attack

Via a galaxy far, far away, film star John Boyega is back within a few miles of where it all began - Peckham’s hottest property has been subtly talking up an Attack the Block sequel, something which reveals a few things about the 30-year-old social justice champion.

For many cinemagoers, John Boyega’s unveiling to mass popular culture was in the opening shot of the very first teaser trailer for 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which attracted a recordbreaking 58 million YouTube views in its first week.

Past that, Boyega has strengthened his allegiance to the Star Wars brand in almost every way possible, as well as finding time to tread the boards, effectively making a

return to where his acting career started, describing his 2017 appearance in Woyzeck as “like riding a bike”.

“You’re on the stage and suddenly the lights are on and there’s an audience either clapping or throwing tomatoes at you,” he begins. “You have to adjust from being on a film set as there’s only one take!”

Boyega now looks to take that reconnection even further with the much talked-about return of Attack the Block, which came before Star Wars, albeit to a much more limited audience. The original 2011 sleeper hit became a cult film and launched both his and director Joe Cornish’s careers.

It’s therefore with some element of sentimentality, perhaps, that the multi-millionaire actor accepts the invitation to do it all again, at a time when his public profile suggests he should be doing something more status-driven.

“There is a romantic element to this, I don’t deny it,” he says. “You always want to reignite how the past feels, and it

gives you some perspective and appreciation of how far you have of come.

“No-one is doing this just for kicks. We are serious and we want to create something that isn’t just part of a sentimental journey. And it will be good. Better than good!”

Boyega’s return to the council estate also belies a growing reputation that he has become a stereotypical mouthpiece for a minority. “The things that matter to me – racism, equality, fairness – have mattered to me all my life,” he explains.

“I have never removed myself from who I am or what I stand for. What I do think is that the media are very good at painting you in one light, and that can be the go-to headline for everything you do.

“I don’t want to be that person,” he admits. “Sure, I want to champion equality, but that is not everything I stand by and stand for, and I think most people who know me, know that.”

Andover Town Centre Businesses Receive A Welcome Sale Boost

Businesses in the Andover Town Centre benefited from over 900 online referrals during the Christmas period, these were driven from Andover BID’s, InAndover online business directory, direct to their online presence.

Powered by InAndover’s Facebook, Instagram and TikTok social media videos, the directory helps people find the businesses that they need within the town centre.

The results for the Christmas period have just been published, this indicates how many people chose the InAndover directory to find the businesses and services they were looking for. The site provides information about businesses and links consumers to the businesses’ web presence such as their website or Facebook page. Shoppers can also access phone numbers and locations to visit.

The site was at its busiest on 12 December as people looked to the site to find Christmas Gifts. This year the Post Office strike and train strikes have encouraged people to shop more locally, a trend which has been increasing since Covid as shopping trends change.

Steve Godwin manager of Andover BID says

“it is great that we were able to help so many people find the services they were looking for over the Christmas period, and to help businesses with tangible help to get more people to buy from them. We continue to build on this and to encourage consumers to support local in their purchasing” .

You will find lots of useful information regarding Andover Businesses on the InAndover website.

From Food and Drink, Shopping, Professional Services and where to Visit as well as Upcoming Town Centre Events.

A user-friendly virtual business directory to help you find exactly what you are looking for.

InAndover website can be found by visiting:

www.inandover.co.uk

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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 favourite room in the house.

I often get asked what I believe is the most important room in any building and my answer is always the same – it’s the toilet!

Now then, I know that’s not the most glamorous of answers, but think about it - you can make a house or a building with any number of rooms; you could create a home with no lightbulbs and perhaps not even a single window; yet without basic sanitation you could never remain there.

Without running water, you have almost no chance of survival without risking poor health, disease and, ultimately, death.

I’m seen the evidence of this, too. I’ve visited places in the world where running water and basic sanitation doesn’t exist; where the absence of those two things creates utter chaos and would eventually bring about the end of civilisation as we know it.

The point of all this is that in this world of ambition and desire, and in our pursuit of homely perfection, we can very quickly and very easily lose sight of the true basic necessities that enable us to evolve and survive as human beings.

It’s for that reason that someone moving into a shoebox studio flat in a grubby backstreet in a dead-end town can actually feel like they have achieved something monumentally big…

and they would be absolutely correct in that notion.

When you have somewhere that offers sanitisation, somewhere to eat, somewhere to sleep – you essentially have created the building blocks preservation of life. That’s tremendously exciting, very special and, rightly, the most rewarding feeling you can have.

In the coming year, we will all dream and plan and design… and do all those other things as far as the perceived improvement of our homes is concerned, and of course that’s the way we are as people – we are almost always forwardthinking and aspirational.

However, sometimes, it really is rewarding to take a step back – to look not at what you don’t have, but what you do have. It’s to say, ‘I am here, and I am covered’.

To have the basic necessities in life is actually 99% of survival and success… everything else on top is just decoration.

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Boost for Andover woman as new interior design business receives grant

A new business, set up by a woman in Andover, has been given a boost by Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) in the form of a £750 grant.

Maria Marin received a Business Incentive Grant for her company ‘Irresistible Room’, which specialises in offering virtual interior design services.

Maria started trading in the middle of last year after previously working in finance.

She said it was her dream to start her own company and has always had a passion for interior design.

Founder of Irresistible Room, Maria Marin, said:

“I am really thankful of this grant and would really encourage other people out there thinking about opening their own business to apply, it is really easy process, and you get all support you need from the Planning Policy & Economic Development team.

“Interior Design has always been my passion and I have dreamt about starting my own company for years, and now I can say this is my everyday job. I am glad to see how Test Valley Borough Council is helping and supporting small businesses around the area. I hope this Business Incentive Grant keeps motivating other people to start their own venture.”

Andover

Romans ward councillor Tracey Tasker, added:

“I was delighted to be able to hand over the Business Incentive Grant to Maria and Irresistible Room and talk to her about her new adventure. It’s wonderful to see any new businesses in Andover and I’m proud that we’re able to support them on their journey.

“I look forward to following Maria’s progress and echo her words about encouraging anyone planning on making their own business to apply for a Business Incentive Grant.”

The council’s Business Incentive Grants are available to anyone looking to set up their own business in Test Valley. Anyone who successfully applies for the grant will receive £750 if their business is still going strong six months later.

These funds have become available to the community as a consequence of the council’s prudent investments, financial management and the use of the New Homes Bonus.

For more information about the council’s grant schemes, visit www.testvalley.gov.uk.

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From the page to the mind

For March, four books that will entertain, engage and heal the soul.

Hello Beautiful

by Ann Napolitano

When William meets Julia Padavano, a lively girl extremely close to her parents and three sisters, he quickly becomes a part of the close-knit Padavano family. Although cracks start to appear in the family, William never imagined he’d be the wedge to drive them apart.

A homage to Little Women, Hello Beautiful gorgeously describes family and sisterhood, mental health, and forgiveness, in such a way that you will never forget this story.

Published by Random House on March 13th

The Women Behind the Few by

Sarah Louise Miller

This is the little-known story of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, the women’s branch of the Royal Air Force in the Second World War, and the vital work they did behind the scenes to ensure the success of some of the most important missions of the war.

During the Battle of Britain, WAAF personnel worked in the radar network and the Dowding system, while across the Blitz, they operated with ground-controlled interception radar to aid Fighter and Bomber Commands in protecting Britain’s civilian population from German area bombing.

The list goes on, with this book aiming to recover missing

pieces of history, granting the WAAFs the recognition they deserve for their wartime contribution to British military intelligence. Published by Biteback on March 23rd

Finding the Words

by Colin Campbell

Finding the Words: Working Through Profound Loss with Hope and Purpose, is a powerful account of Colin Campbell’s navigation through unimaginable grief, with the author offering readers a vision for how to embrace and mourn indescribable loss, drawing on his personal experience of losing his two teenage children in a car crash caused by a drunk driver.

Finding the Words offers a vocal, lively path for processing pain and keeping memories of lost loved ones alive. Campbell

says, “I wrote this book in the hopes of making grief less frightening, mysterious, and lonely for those of us who suddenly find ourselves on this difficult journey.” Published by Michael Joseph on March 14th

I Will Find You

by Harlan Coben

International bestselling author Harlan Coben has been a tearaway on Netflix since his show Stay Close launched this summer, but it’s on the page that his stories are the most compelling – and his forthcoming novel is no different.

In I Will Find You, the worst tragedy strikes a family of three when their toddler goes missing – and all evidence points to his father, Will, having killed him.

So when his sister-in-law arrives five years later with a life-changing bombshell, Will is set on a mission to clear his name – and find his son.

Published by Penguin Books on March 14th

Harrow Way’s Green Power Challenge Go Kart Is Race Ready

Harrow Way’s Green Power Challenge Go Kart, donated to the school by the Joseph Stannah Foundation, is race ready. The Year 8-11 students recently took the Go Kart on its maiden voyage as they test drove it around the school’s tennis courts, putting both their Go Kart building and driving skills to the test.

Since September, Harrow Way’s STEM Club students and the Stannah STEM ambassadors have been meeting weekly as students assembled the Go Kart before designing, building and fitting its exterior.

Commenting on the value of the project Donna Robertson,

Curriculum Leader of IT and Computer Science

said:

“This whole process has been an incredible learning experience for these students. They’ve got hands on and learned so much about mechanics and electronics, which tools to use and how to interpret instruction manuals.

“They’ve also been hugely privileged to spend a couple of hours each week being guided and mentored by the Stannah STEM ambassadors. They are seeing first-hand how the lessons and skills learned in school and in STEM Club translate directly into careers with a leading

company.”

For the Go Kart’s first official outing it was taken through a rigorous health and safety check by the students, the Harrow Way team and Stannah engineers. Students received an in-depth how-to on wearing the crash helmet and the start/stop function. Once fully briefed and good to go each team member enjoyed driving the Go Kart around the tennis court a couple times cheered on by their peers and Stannah engineers.

Richard Baugh, Engineering Programme Manager at Stannah, adds:

“Projects like this are key to our Joseph Stannah Foundation aim of promoting engineering and related sciences as a career. Working with the students and seeing them apply what they have learnt to this project has been extremely rewarding. It is a wonderful opportunity to relate theoretical work to a practical application and the students have been fully engaged. We now look forward to the next stage where we will help the students develop the go kart further with testing and ultimately taking part in the Greenpower race days.”

Greenpower Education Trust is a UK based charity which gets young people enthusiastic

about science and engineering by challenging them to design, build and race an electric car. The Trust supplies age appropriate kit cars, which can be built in school, college or elsewhere and raced at motorsport venues at Greenpower organised events. The Challenge is adapted to suit three age appropriate categories: 9 to 11, 11 to 16 and 16 to 25. It is the only STEM enrichment provider to run the same basic concept across such a wide age group, allowing for excellent progression throughout.

Donna Robertson concludes:

”This is such an exciting time for the team. We’ve got track practice in April, which will help identify potential drivers for when we’re racing the car, and we still have some further work to do on the aerodynamics. Students also need to have the correct kit to race in so some fundraising is on the agenda too.”

For more information on Harrow Way Community School, please call 01264 364533 or visit

www.harrowway.hants.sch.uk.

Visits to the school by appointment are always welcome.

Green ngers… the Alan Titchmarsh column

He’s a brilliant presenter, accomplished gardener, talented novelist, and allround horticultural inspiration. This month, Alan Titchmarsh discusses garden design and spontaneity.

They say that a builder’s home is always unfinished, and much the same is true of any gardener in regards to his or her outside space.

We have been in our current home for almost 20 years, and I am still evolving, adding, altering – every day. And that’s what makes each passing year so special – the fact you never go back to a blank canvas, but each spring there are new opportunities, ideas and spaces that emerge here and there, that can be formed into whatever takes your fancy at that particular time.

While variety and versatility are definitely important in a garden, I do find it’s necessary to follow some familiar boundaries. One

of those, for me, is to ensure the inspiration for the style of my garden comes from the feel of my house, and I think this is true for any

outside space. The two must complement each other or you may find you end up with an awkward juxtaposition between the building and nature.

So my property is a classic, square Georgian farmhousethus I felt I had to do something that complemented that in the garden. I like straight lines anyway, which cross each other, and have softened this by planting throughout, creating a sort of billowing chaos in beds and borders. You essentially have one giving structure to the other.

Remember, gardening is very different to

architecture, because what you are dealing with isn’t just shape and form, it’s time as well –it’s a rapid adjustment and change between how something looks on day one and how it will look on day 100.

And while I know you’ll hear gardeners talking all the time about planning out an area, the types of plants you’ll have, and the tone and feel of a space; very often the reality is you are inspired by something off the cuff, and it is that instinctive appeal that’s exciting.

Whatever you’re going to do in your garden space, I would suggest it is gradual and over time. It really pays to observe and watch how nature embraces things – see what grows and what outgrows, and only when you are absolutely sure you want to adjust a certain area, only then proceed.

It’s about a steady progression rather than the wholesale demolition… such is life!

The Adventures of Daichi The Modern Magazines Camper Van

I think you know how much we love the sea and outdoor living. Well Daichi was very generous last month and booked us a trip on the MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) cruise line, the Grandiosa! We have never been on a ship so big. Oh my, there are enough rooms for up to 6000 passengers as well as several thousand crew. It is magnificent with shops, a chocolate cafe, where they make their own chocolate, restaurants, spa, two theatres, bars and an ice-cream parlour, which of course we had to try… after all it is competition to our own ice-cream and waffle parlour in Weymouth, Wafflicious! I think I am getting a little over excited there… But really it is a splendid vessel. The crew are incredible. From all over the world and each has their own story.

We flew to Rome and got a taxi to Civitavecchia an hour away, where the port is. Staying overnight is a good idea as it takes away the stress of travelling, we find. Especially as this time we were in the plane for three and a half hours before we took off! Better to be safe than sorry though, I would say.

We had a leisurely morning, including coffee and a pain au chocolat at a local bijoux cafe. Just had to be done - we really were now on holiday. Once we were through customs and all the checks were complete, we very excitedly found our cabin and dropped our hand luggage off. The big cases were taken on board

by a crew member. We were on the thirteenth floor! Balcony and all. At 5pm off we set. You can hardly tell you are moving, but at night, being so high up there was an unusual side to side motion which I actually found quite soothing after I got used to it.

Palermo in Sicily! Our first stop. Having never been here before it was a delight to see. Stephen and I decided to take our own tours. The ship does provide great excursions, but we wanted to be independent. Google not only tells you where you can go but also how long it takes to walk there, so we (well actually Stephen) were able to work out exactly what we could do and how much time we had. We walked all the way around the centre of Palermo. The twelfth century cathedral is splendid. The horses and carts are delightful. The Massimo Theatre is glorious. I could really feel the splendour, opulence and dramatic setting of this magnificent Italian town. We so enjoyed our walk, gazing in awe, and of course the coffee sitting in one of the narrow streets complete with small, elaborate balconies and music you could almost hear from times gone by.

Malta was our next stop. After an evening of dining and on-board entertainment, we slowly and majestically arrived at our next destination. My dad was in Malta as part of his two-year conscription many years ago. There is a concept… compulsory enlistment, in his case, into the Royal Navy at the age of eighteen. He remembers it well. Today the

An ice-cream sundae... Grandiosa style!

Sunset sailing from Valletta, Malta

area has many museums and artifacts in memory of the second world war. There are even hidden underground passages you can now visit, that were once used by important military leaders and politicians. Lots to do. We chose again to take our own path and in fact we walked over 20000 steps that day! A glorious walk around Valletta with fantastic views across the bays. The new square surrounded by street food vendors and a really attractive fountain were in contrast to the military background and gave you hope for the future.

A day’s sailing was next on the agenda! We chose to have a spa day and watch a movie while we glided our way through the deep waters of the Mediterranean. So relaxing.

Barcelona in Spain was our next destination. My parents had their honeymoon 59 years ago in this amazing city. As I was born early and 3 weeks less than nine months later, I do laugh and say, “I was made in Barcelona!” La Sagrada Familia is quite a feat. I thought there were building new on top of old and was dismayed, however that is not the case at all. It is still not complete and is the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world. Started in 1882. The new architecture is looking quite splendid and complements to older stones well. I always remembered that mum and dad went to a bull fight all those years ago, so a walk to Plaza de Toros Monumental de Barcelona was a must for me. It is quite an eerie place really. You can walk in the footsteps of both the matadors and the bulls, as well as enter the ring itself. Cultures change and it is interesting to see old traditions and look back on history, where we were and where we have come from.

The next time we got off the ship was at Genoa! Another unknown town to us and one we really

enjoyed walking around. We did not go in the huge aquarium there, but I hear it is highly recommended. Did you know (a bit controversial) that ‘our’ St George’s flag was apparently ‘stolen’ from here? We saw the flag a few times, flying high, and according to Google… “The symbol was adopted by England toward the end of the religious wars, in the 13th century with our ships flying the flag of Genoa as a deterrent to enemies.” Oops… Again, how interesting our history is.

Well, it was time to take our last cruise back to Rome. On disembarking we had a day to explore. Sitting, overlooking the Colosseum having an Italian lunch was awe inspiring. It ended our eight-day, seven night break on a high.

Sailing is not for everyone and certainly I would generally prefer a smaller ship, but we thoroughly enjoyed our self-generated European excursions, coffees in places we had never been before, nights singing to Abba, Italian Opera and the Addams Family in the all-inclusive entertainment each evening. Waited on hand and foot in the restaurants and having as much food as you want in the buffet. We love cruising. Let’s see if Daichi can top that this coming month!

By Debbie Corney

A bull’s eye view inside the Monumental

The flag of Genoa at the cruise terminal Lunch & coffee overlooking the Colosseum

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

Puzzle Page Answers

Quick Crossword Solution

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Yotam Ottolenghi’s Chocolate, Banana and Pecan Cookies

Famed for the gigantic, raspberrydusted meringues that adorn his shop windows, Yotam Ottolenghi is a patisserie expert, and these deliriously fudgy cookies are no exception.

Ingredients

(makes 24 cookies)

• 110g unsalted butter at room temperature, cubed

• 110g caster sugar

• 1 large egg, lightly beaten

• 125g plain flour

• ½ tsp baking powder

• 20g cocoa powder

• ½ tsp ground cinnamon

• ¼ tsp salt

• 100g 70% cocoa chocolate chips (or 100g dark cooking chocolate in 0.5cm pieces)

• 50g mashed banana (½ small banana)

• 170g pecan halves, finely chopped

• 100g icing sugar

Method

1. In the bowl of an electric mixer with the paddle attachment in place, beat the butter and sugar on a mediumhigh speed until light and fluffy, then add the egg and beat to combine.

Sift the flour, baking powder, cocoa powder, cinnamon and salt into a bowl, then add to

the butter mix, beating on low speed for 15 seconds. Now beat in the chocolate and banana until combined, then transfer to the fridge for two hours to firm up.

2. Once firm, form the dough into 24 3cm balls, about 20g each. Put the pecans in a bowl, then drop in each ball, rolling it around to coat, which will press the nuts in as well, so they stick.

Put the cookies on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper and refrigerate for at least an hour.

3. Heat the oven to 190°C/375°F/gas mark 5 and line two oven trays with baking paper. Put the icing sugar in a bowl and roll the cookies one by one in the sugar, pressing it in as you go, so it sticks. Arrange the cookies on the trays 2-3cm

apart, then flatten them to about 1cm thick.

4. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove: the cookies will be soft to the touch. Leave to cool for 10 minutes, then move to a rack. Serve warm or cool.

Top Tips

Maintain that fudgy factor by ensuring you don’t overbake these cookies.

You can also freeze them for up to three months once you have rolled them in to balls. Simply add one extra minute on to the baking time when you are ready to use them.