Cotswold Link (North Cotwolds) Jan Feb 2018 by JKA / Cotswold Publications

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Bi-Monthly Royal Mail distribution: 15,800 homes & businesses

January / February 2018

Willow Tree Cottage, Chedworth

How Much Do You Really Pay To Market Your Holiday Home? I have just found out that my holiday letting agent is including a Booking Fee in the price guests are paying to book my property. The agent has told me not to worry, as “the guest pays the Booking Fee”, but I wonder if these fees are affecting my profits and if they are fair?

Teasel Cross Cottage, Painswick

Inglenook Cottage, Bourton-on-the-Water

When you sign up with a holiday letting agent they will typically discuss the prices and rental income that you can expect to achieve for your property, then quote a commission percentage for generating these bookings. What’s less well known is that when a guest books your property,

Agent A No Booking Fee

Agent B Booking Fee

Booking value paid by guest

£350

Booking fee (including VAT)

NIL

(£36)

Booking value quoted to owner

£350

£314

Commission paid to agent (including (£84) VAT)

(£75)

value for themselves, as well as taking their commission percentage

Net owner income

£266

£239

on the remaining amount. The fixed amount is typically referred to

Amount paid to agent

£84

£111

as a “Booking Fee” and is often only referred to in the detail of the

Real commission rate

20%+VAT

26%+VAT

the agent or website often takes an initial fixed amount from the

agent’s terms and conditions. Letting agents often say “Don’t worry, the guest pays the booking fee, not you”. In reality of course this is meaningless, as the guest is only interested in the total price of their holiday cottage, not in how this money gets split between you and your letting agent. This is best demonstrated by comparing the difference in the income you would generate from two identical properties, marketed via two different agents. Both agents charge a commission fee of 20%+VAT and agent B also charges a £30+VAT booking fee (See table opposite)

www.character-cottages.co.uk letmycottage@character-cottages.co.uk Tel: 0208 935 5375

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Assuming 55 bookings per annum, which is reasonable for the Cotswolds, the impact of using agent B is to reduce your profits by approximately £1,500. Alternatively, it is the same as paying a commission percentage of more than 26%+VAT. There is no doubt that if an agent or website asked for £1,500 as a fixed annual fee, or a commission percentage of 26%, no one would pay it, but by pretending that a booking fee is not a real cost to the owner, the agent is often able to get away with it.

Assuming that the financial performance of your holiday home is an important consideration, it is vital to calculate the cost of any booking fees or other “hidden extras” levied by your letting agent or website on top of their commission percentage. Character Cottages does not charge Booking Fees. If you are unhappy with your current arrangements and would like to chat, then please just pick up the phone and call 0208 935 5375, or email us using the contact details on the left!

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inside

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Couple receive award for 30 years of volunteering We find out how a local couple have supported “Cotswold Friends” for over 30 years

Overnight Oats

Enjoy our delicious, and easy to make, breakfast recipe

Best Pub Award

The Angel at Burford wins best pub award 2017

02 How to market holiday homes 18 Award for The Angel at Burford business health 08 New businesses and services 18 Get fit not thin in 2018! local news: garden view: 12 Award for 30 years of volunteering 22 Winter flowering shrubs local news: local news: 12 Funding for new Eastleach play area 24 Council pledges local fund help education recipe: 14 How did the months get named? 28 Try Overnight Oats for a fab breakfast events cotswold link 16 Seasonal events across our area 30 Advertising Details & Index advertorial

local news: FEATURED

FEATURED

Welcome to the January - February issue

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New Year. We welcome 2018 with some interesting news, updates and events from across the area. I’d like to wish Mr and Mrs Flexman a huge congratulations for their 30 years of volunteering for Cotswold Friends (p12). Don’t forget, if you have any news, events, updates or stories of local interest, please send them to editorial@jkanorth.com and we’ll do our best to publish them for you. I hope you all enjoy this issue and I’ll see you again in March. Best wishes,

01609 777401 01609 779097 cotswoldlink.co.uk

Christine Campbell | Editor Cotswold Link Magazine is published in good faith and the editors cannot be held responsible in any way for inaccuracies in reports or advertising in

or advertising that appear in this publication and the views of the contributors may not be the those of the editors. Adverts and advertisers Cotswold Link carry no implied recommendation from the magazine or the publishers. All rights reserved. All information is appearing Your in Cotswold Link Magazine 4reports mention Your CotswoldLink when contacting any of our advertisers correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of going to press. Cotswold Link Magazine cannot be held Please responsible for any errors or omissions.

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New Year...New Bathroom? Cotswold Link recently spoke to Country Bathrooms owners Ross & Deborah about their business and what makes it tick!

“For us it’s all about offering a personal service at a competitive price. People know that when they contact us they will speak to either Deborah or myself and that we are here to help”, says Ross. Deborah continues, “We specialise in all things bathrooms and I think that people really appreciate honest advice and traditional values when they are undertaking such important work as a new bathroom.” Country Bathrooms service all your bathroom needs, from minor repairs and tiling work only through to full

design, supply and re-fit.

All work is carried out with the customers needs in mind, from initial visit to the finishing touches, we always ensure that all of our work is carried out with the upmost professionalism and to the highest standards as we pride ourselves on keeping our customers happy and delivering their requirements. Their team of staff is now growing so more lovely bathrooms can be completed! For more information, give Ross & Deborah a call now on: 07776 145 878 / 01451 600301 or visit their NEW website: www.countrybathrooms.co.uk

Ross was born and raised in Witney and now lives in the Cotswolds. He is a fully City & Guilds qualified Plumbing and Heating engineer who specialises in bathroom installations, running his own bathroom fitting business since 2006.

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W E N businesses & servicearesa in & around our

“New To The Area” is a new business feature specifically designed to help new businesses and those that are offering new businesses and services to promote themselves cost effectively. Businesses are invited to submit their adverts to this feature at the regular price and they will receive the

equivalent space in complimentary editorial*. This editorial provides excellent business exposure to 15,800 homes and businesses and allows further explanation of the new business or services available. * Editorial must be supplied completed.

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Brand new look & focus for 2018 Cotswolds Visitor Guide The new 2018 Cotswolds Visitor Guide is now available on a far wider scale than in previous years, providing new ideas to tempt potential holidaymakers to the Cotswolds this year. With a print run of 200,000, and a smaller, handier A5 size, the new Cotswolds Visitor Guide will have a wide appeal both to people who think they know the Cotswolds and those who’ve never visited. The publication is Cotswolds Tourism’s main annual printed guide and provides a whole range of ideas for how to best enjoy the beautiful countryside, quintessential English towns and villages, as well as the huge array of fantastic places to stay and things to see and do. A new competition is included in the guide, supported by the Lygon Arms in Broadway, Batsford Arboretum and the Gloucestershire-Warwickshire Steam Railway – who reach a

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milestone this spring then they open their extended service to Broadway. As well as encouraging a greater pick up rate, the competition will also provide valuable data for Cotswolds Tourism, to help them understand the reach of the Visitor Guide and how it’s used by visitors. The 2018 visitor guide will be marketed through Cotswolds Tourism’s social media channels and the website www.cotswolds. com as well as taken to all travel trade shows, overseas shows attended by our partners, and via the VisitEngland and VisitBritain partnership. To capitalise on the weak pound and Royal Wedding, 5000 copies of the guide will also be inserted into copies of Britain magazine, distributed in the USA. For more information about the guide please contact Sally Graff on sally.graff@cotswold.gov.uk 01285 623050

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There’s a Fox in the Garden! Thomas Fox Landscaping has been trading since 1995 as one man, one van and his mower and has gone from strength to strength ever since.

We pride ourselves in offering a first class service, from your initial enquiry to our friendly office team through to completion of your job.

• Water features • Patio jet wash • Fencing • Leaf clearance (small or large scale)

From a handful of mowing customers and a busy milk round, soon word spread. The milk round was soon overshadowed by the requests for grass cutting and over time we now find ourselves with over 500 clients on our database.

We cover all aspects of landscaping and garden maintenance including the following; • Mowing • Strimming • Garden and grounds maintenance • Turfing • Garden waste collection & disposal • Shredding and composting • Lawn care • Hard landscaping – paving, patios etc. • Fencing • Decking • Border planting and maintenance • Tree Work • Pruning and cutting back • Gritting • Digging (vegetable plots, borders etc.) • Hedge cutting

We are based in rural south Warwickshire and are therefore very close to Shipston on Stour, Stratford upon Avon, Banbury, Moreton in Marsh and all of the surrounding villages.

As reputation grew so did the company, to form a strong team of reliable, dedicated landscapers. We are a local business, employing local people who are committed to providing a first class service. Thomas Fox Landscaping covers every aspect of your landscaping requirements, from mowing and garden maintenance, to building patios and erecting fencing in the domestic and commercial sectors.

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We have recently expanded the business to offer lawncare services including fertilising treatments, scarification and hollow-tine aeration. No lawn is untreatable, so please do get in touch with our friendly office team on 01295 680691 or email: office@thomasfoxlandscaping.co.uk for a free, no obligation quote. www.thomasfoxlandscaping.co.uk

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New Bookkeeping Business We spoke to Kirstie Fraser, owner of new bookkeeping business ‘Northcot Bookkeeping’. “Based in Chipping Campden, I have been working within accounts for over ten years, working and gaining experience with various businesses from sole traders, Limited companies and family run businesses, up to a large national PLC company Offering a personal service for others in business in the North Cotswold area to help with either their week to week accounts, preparing financial statements, end of year accounts and full preparation of accounts for your accountant at the end of your financial year, VAT returns, Credit Control and also offering advice on regulations and requirements set out by HMRC. I am experienced using Accounts systems such as Sage, Quickbooks, Xero, Kashflow and many more”. Not everyone in Business is like “Us”. And by “Us”, I mean one of those people who love numbers! Who love getting all those invoices organised...and who yelp slightly with delight when all those numbers balance! My main focus really is trying to make the accounts minefield a friendlier, less frightening place for business owners who simply want to focus on their business and doing what they love and feel passionate about”. For more details contact Kirstie on: 01386 257490

Mindfulness in the Cotswolds

Do you ever feel that your life is running away and you’re not really living it ? Mindfulness is not about controlling our experience or emptying the mind, it’s about changing our relationship to what is happening in our inner and outer lives. We all experience ups and down, joys and sadnesses. Mindfulness helps us to be more fully present with each moment of our lives, however that is, by ‘cultivating’ attitudes of openness and acceptance to ourselves and our experience. We know that our minds can make us happy or unhappy. We easily turn a minor difficulty into a crisis of resentment, feeling isolated and unable to enjoy the rest of the day. We also know that when we pause to recognise and appreciate the goodness in our lives, however small, it promotes feelings of happiness and connection. As humans, we are ‘hard-wired’

to be more sensitive to threats – especially the threats we create with our minds – than to happiness. Mindfulness training helps us to cultivate greater happiness and wellbeing: by recognising and responding more skilfully to habitual patterns that lead to stress and emotional difficulty; and by developing greater appreciation of the things that are already good in our lives. We can live more fully and respond to life’s inevitable challenges with greater balance and sensitivity. Courses at Puckham Barn offer an 8-week training in “Mindfulness for Life’, a course developed by the world-renowned Oxford Mindfulness Centre and taught by teachers who also train and teach there. “You can’t stop the waves but you can learn to surf” - Jon KabatZinn

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Award Presented for an Amazing 30 Years of Volunteering Service Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Flexman who received their long service award for an incredible 30 years of volunteering service to Cotswold Friends. Cotswold Friends is a local charity based in Moreton-in-Marsh, providing Community Transport, Befriending, Carer Respite and Community Activities to older and vulnerable people in the North Cotswolds. Mr. Flexman is a volunteer driver, taking those who cannot drive or use public transport to their medical and social appointments. Mrs. Flexman attends each drive providing additional help and support to those using the service. Mr. and Mrs. Flexman were presented with a beautiful picture of Upper Slaughter, painted by local artist Tom Asbridge. Following the presentation, Mr. Flexman said: “…..It is pleasing to have been able to serve the community… and I am cheered

to know that other volunteers are helping to keep this essential service alive. I offer my thanks to my wife and all those who have encouraged me in my period of service which I hope to continue while my health permits. We find this is not only a wonderful way of making friends but also, hopefully, encourages others in this service to the community.” Cotswold Friends urgently needs more volunteer drivers with over 1,100 members currently registered to use the service and almost 5,000 drives completed within the last year. Driving for Cotswold Friends is rewarding and flexible. As a volunteer driver, you will be

Council funding helps to create fabulous new public play area for Eastleach

resourceful, and groups including the

Residents in Eastleach have thanked

next 20 years or so. We arranged par-

Cotswold District Council and Gloucestershire County Council for helping to fund the refurbishment of the village’s public play area. Following an annual safety inspection in April 2016, the wooden play apparatus was found to be unsafe and it was clear that a major overhaul was required. The Parish Council saw this as an opportunity to create a modern public multi-age venture playground, blending in the new equipment with the existing play area. However, they knew that funding the improvements would prove to be a significant challenge. Chairman of Eastleach Parish Council, Pete McHugh, explains how they responded: “Quotes from contractors were quite daunting, but Eastleach people are

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reimbursed for the miles you drive, offered training opportunities and invited to social events. Please do get in touch for an informal chat if you think you could help: Pop into our offices inside the Moreton Area Centre, High Street, Moreton-inMarsh. Call or email Sheryl on Tel: 01608 697007, sheryl@cotswoldfriends.org Visit the Volunteers section of our website to apply at www.cotswoldfriends.org

Village Hall Committee and The Parish Council set about fund raising to provide a safe and secure playground which would meet our requirements over the ties, church collections, and benefited from the village’s legendary Summer Fete. Additionally, we secured some funding from local benefactors such as the Ernest Cook Trust and the Bazley family, both of whom who have long-term contacts with the village. “Despite these laudable efforts, we were still some way off from our target and the local Cotswold District Council Ward Member, Cllr Ray Theodoulou, encouraged us to apply to the CDC Community Projects Fund and also to the ‘Fitness Together’ scheme run by Gloucestershire County Council. We were delighted to learn that our applications were successful on both counts and this enabled us to reach our grand total a lot sooner than we expected. “I was very impressed by the quick and

hassle-free response from both councils when we applied for the funding, and this enabled us to engage the chosen contractor, Macventure, very promptly. As a result, the work was completed by the start of the school summer holidays this year. We had a Grand Opening ceremony with tea and cakes and a ceremonial ribbon cutting – and, in true Eastleach style, everyone had a jolly good time. There were numerous people to thank, but without doubt, those who helped us at CDC and the County Council would be very high up that list.”

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From ÂŁ45 to ÂŁ450, we have options for all businesses to reach over 15,800 homes and businesses More details on p30 Call Christine on: 01609 777401 or Dwight on: 01609 779097 cotswoldlink.co.uk

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A NEW YEAR

A Good Read

HOW DID THE MONTHS GET THEIR NAMES?

The Earth Hums in B Flat n Mari Strachan

Gwenni Morgan is twelve, and every night she flies in her sleep – over the town and the countryside around, looking down on familiar and not so familiar scenes. She thinks she remembers flying while awake as a small child, but somehow she has lost the ability to do so, no matter how hard she tries. And she daren’t try too hard, because Mam doesn’t like any reminders that Gwenni might not be the same as everyone else. Set in rural Wales in the 1950s, Strachan’s debut novel follows Gwenni as the disappearance of a local man begins a chain of events, which reveal some of the secrets that lie under the surface of everyday life. The novel works in a number of ways. On the one hand, it is at times a darkly comic portrayal of small town Wales. On the other, it is a story about families, their secrets and the after effects of war. What holds these strands together is Gwenni herself as narrator, who sees more than she understands, and whose innocence is captured perfectly in Strachan’s often understated prose style. The supporting characters are equally well drawn – from highly strung Mam, to kind, patient Tada, from the mysterious Aunty Lol, to Alwenna, Gwenni’s best friend, old beyond her years and ‘with no shame!’ Although the solution to the main mystery of the story is clear to the reader from the outset, Strachan holds back just enough to keep us guessing at the other strands which she brings together for the conclusion – I guarantee she will keep you reading until the end.

Clown

The names of the months in the calendar go back to the first Roman king, King Romulus. In 732BC Romulus’s calendar had only 10 named months, the first month being that of what we refer to as March: Martius - after the Roman God of war Mars. Aprilis - from the Latin aperire, meaning ‘to open’ (flowers open in spring). Maius - after Maia, mother of Mercury. Junius - after Juno, Queen of the Gods. These first 4 months are from where our months of March, April, May and June originate. Then for some unexplained reason Romulus changed to numbering the months: Quintilis - from the Latin quintus, meaning ‘fifth’. Sextilis- from the Latin sextus, meaning ‘sixth’. September - from the Latin septum, meaning ‘seven’. October - from the Latin octo, meaning ‘eight.’ November - from the Latin novem, meaning ‘nine’. December - from the Latin decem, meaning ‘ten’. These are the origins of the months September, October, November and December. Romulus decided that the days of the dark months of the winter should be nameless. This must have caused some confusion because around 700BC King Numa introduced 2 additional months: Januarius - after the two-faced God Janus Februarius- from Februa, a Roman feast Consequently January and February where conceived. The Romans lived with this system for the centuries leading up to Julius Caesar. They then decided to honour Julius by naming a month after him. They changed the 5th month of their calendar from Quintilis to what we now call July.

n Quentin Blake Can you tell a story without words? Well, Quentin Blake can, and in Clown he does. The book consists entirely of illustrations, in Blake’s well loved and instantly recognisable style. Our hero, Clown, finds himself thrown into the dustbin, along with a number of other toys. He escapes, dusts himself off, and sets out to find someone who can help him to rescue his friends. Along the way he finds himself in a fancy dress competition, entertaining a rather fierce looking dog, and possibly finding himself a home – all without words. The beauty of the story is that while Blake’s illustrations carry the narrative forward, the reader can choose their own way of telling it. No two versions are ever the same, as each child brings to the book their own language and rhythms. Clown himself is wonderfully expressive, and the pictures are enough to have you laughing out loud in several places. An absolutely marvellous book, which every child should read – and which every adult will enjoy too.

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World Braille Day January 4th

Louis Braille was born in France on January 4th, 1809. When he was three he lost the sight in one eye due to an accident. Unfortunately the damaged eye became infected and this spread to the other eye, leaving him without sight. Louis worked hard to master his disability and despite being unable to see he excelled in his education and received a scholarship to France’s Royal Institute for Blind Youth.

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During his studies he was inspired by the military cryptography of Charles Barbier of the French Army. As a result of this Louis developed a system of tactile code that allowed the blind to read and write as efficiently as their sighted counterparts. Braille presented the results of his hard work to his peers when he was just fifteen years old in 1824. Five years later he published his first book about the system he had created, called “Method of Writing Words, Music, and Plain Songs by Means of Dots, for Use by the Blind and Arranged for Them”.

Ceasar was followed by Augustus who had the 6th month named after him, consequently the month of Sextilis was renamed August. This in itself created a problem for the Romans, the month of Sextilis had 30 days compared with July which had 31 days (as the following table shows). Augustus demanded that he was just as great a person as Caesar and his month should also have 31 days. This meant that there would be 3 consecutive months of 31 days in July, August and September which to the superstitious Romans was unlucky. Their way around this was to take one day off February and add it on to August, then take one day off September put it on to October and similarly do the same with November and December. This numbering system has remained with us ever since with the exception of leap years. Month

Days allocated

before Augustus

after Augustus

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

31 John Harris

The Braille system works by representing the alphabet letters (and numbers) in a series of 6 dots paired up in 3 rows. The idea was simple, yet genius and allowed books to be produced on a large scale in a format that thousands of blind people could read by running their fingertips over the dots. It is thanks to Louis Braille that blind students have the opportunity to be educated and work alongside their sighted peers, as well as read for pleasure just as easily as any seeing person can. By Sarah Davey

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Out & About n Fosseway Café Orchestra

(Shipston-on-Stour U3A group) meets every Tuesday from 10.00-12.00 in Todenham Village Hall @GL56 9PL. No auditions. We can write special parts for players of 4 notes, but generally players are Grade III - VI. Total cost is £3.00 per session. 07967 423550.

n Via Fossa (Shipston-onStour U3A group) Advanced Recorder Consort meet on Mondays @GL56 9SR. We play in 4 parts. Cost is 50p. Contact Christine: 07967 423550

n Recorder Ensemble Beginners (Shipston-on-Stour

U3A group) meet on Fridays @ GL56 9SR. Cost is 50p. Contact Christine: 07967 423550 ........................................................

18 January th

n Griff Rhys Jones: Where Was I?

7.45pm - Chipping Norton Theatre Chippy favourite Griff Rhys Jones made his way into the country’s hearts as one half of Smith and Jones. Best known for his sketch

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comedy work he returns to Chipping Norton for another heartwarming and hilarious evening. Join the star of Not the Nine o’clock News, Smith & Jones and Three Men In A Boat as he airs stories, anecdotes, reminiscences and outright lies – from forty years of travelling - down rivers and up mountains, into Africa, out of India, and across the arid wastes of the BBC canteen. It’s a career, if you mean bouncing chaotically downhill without a map. All Tickets £18.50 BOX OFFICE: 01608 642350 Mon to Fri 10am - 6pm, Sat 10am - 2pm chippingnortontheatre.com ........................................................

18th – 21st January n Panto: Aladdin

The Bacon Theatre, Cheltenham Promenade Productions Traditional Family panto for 2018 is ALADDIN, a story full of Eastern promise, a ‘rags to riches’ tale– packed with adventure with some original twists and turns along the way. Aladdin will have all the ingredients that make it a

not-to-be missed Panto - a large cast of singers and dancers, lavish costumes, colourful scenery and lots of audience participation. Oh yes it will! Book early for the best seats Evenings 7.00pm. Matinees Saturday & Sunday 2.30pm Tickets £10 - £15 from Showcase 01242 224144 Concessions on block bookings ........................................................

19th January

n Rissingtons Local History Society

WRECKS TO RELICS - THE STORY OF MULBERRY HARBOUR. 2.30pm. An illustrated talk by Paul Barnett on the D Day flotilla of concrete ships that played a vital role in the success of the Normandy landings. Great Rissington Club GL54 2LW £3.50 to include refreshments. Contact 01451 820233. ........................................................

20th January

n Hare & Tortoise

2.30pm - Chipping Norton Theatre A delightful adaptation of Aesop’s fable about opposites,

time and friendship. Who is the fastest; who is the best? Who will finally win the race? Younger, fitter, faster Hare - tearing around, unable to wait - or slow and steady Tortoise - taking the time to look at the stars? All Tickets £8.50 BOX OFFICE: 01608 642350 Mon to Fri 10am - 6pm, Sat 10am - 2pm chippingnortontheatre.com ........................................................

25th January

n An Evening with Gervase Phinn

7.45pm - Chipping Norton Theatre With his keen ear for the absurd and sharp eye for the ludicrous, Gervase shares his hilarious and sometimes poignant tales of life as a schools inspector in the Yorkshire Dales. Comedian, author, poet, broadcaster, lecturer, educational guru, after-dinner speaker and ‘born raconteur’ All Tickets £18 BOX OFFICE: 01608 642350 Mon to Fri 10am - 6pm, Sat 10am - 2pm chippingnortontheatre.com ........................................................

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Having an event?

Email us your event details to: events@jkanorth.com and we’ll publish it for you. Magazine distribution dates are on p30.

25th January

n An Afternoon Michael Portillo

with

Venue: Cheltenham Town Hall Prices: £16.00 Michael Portillo was until 2008, in and out of the House of Commons, serving in Cabinet and as Shadow Chancellor. Since then he has made radio and television documentaries on a wide range of subjects, including eight series of “Great British Railway Journeys”, for BBC2. This event is by invitation of the Gloucestershire Federation of Women’s Institutes and any profits will go to the Denman College Appeal. cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk ........................................................

26th January

n The Blues Brothers: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly

St. Edward’s Church, Stow-onthe-Wold, GL54 1AB 7:30pm, Ticket Price £25.00 Paul was the original frontman with the group Manfred Mann, and co-composer of the signature tune for Ready, Steady,

Go! He was at the forefront of the 60s pop revolution, with millionselling records alongside the likes of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Animals. In 1979 he founded The Blues Band, which helped kick start another boom in Blues music. The band has now recorded about 17 albums, not counting compilations and repackagings”. On radio, Paul worked for five years on the BBC’s World Service, and has broadcast on all five BBC Radio networks as musician, DJ, actor, critic and Desert Island Discs castaway; he also contributed a set of questions to Mastermind. Free Parking in The Square, Stow after 6PM. Doors open for drinks 6:30PM Tickets from Borzoi Bookshop 01451 830268. www.WeGotTickets.com. More details: www.musicatstow.co.uk ........................................................

27th January

n Volunteer Open Day 10:00 - 15:00 Cogges Manor Farm

Free entry. Is volunteering at Cogges right for you? Why not come along and meet our volunteers and staff to find out. Volunteers make a huge difference to all aspects of life at Cogges, these are just a few of the roles you could help with: Welcome desk, farm shop, talking to the public; Admin support; Marketing - writing blogs, social media, or helping with postering and publicity. Events - stewarding, helping out on the bar, planning and setting up; Looking after the animals; Gardening in the walled garden; Giving cooking demonstrations, or preparing food and preserves; Taking tours in the house and grounds; Supporting family activity sessions during holidays and at weekends; Sewing and making crafts. Do you have a skill or craft you could use or share?There are many ways in which you can join in and help keep Cogges alive and vibrant, learn new skills and make new friends. Drop in any time 10am3pm when there will be a great team to welcome you and tell

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you how volunteering at Cogges works. Current volunteers and staff will be available to have a chat to, take a tour of the house with and tell you more about how you can get involved. www.cogges.org.uk Cogges Manor Farm Church Lane Witney OX28 3LA Tel: 01993 772602 ........................................................

16th February

n Rissingtons Local History Society

2.30pm TURNPIKES & TRANSPORT IN GEORGIAN GLOUCESTERSHIRE An illustrated talk by Nicholas Herbert highlighting the improvements made to our roads during the 18th and 19th centuries. Great Rissington Club Gl54 2LW £3.50 to include refreshments. Contact 01451 820233. ........................................................

Please note: the editors cannot be held responsible for any changes to events listed. Please contact event organisers directly. All events correct at time of going to press.

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The Angel, Burford voted Best Pub in the Cotswolds 3 years running

The Cotswolds Awards

Terence & Gemma said

2017 have awarded

“We will have spent six

The Angel, Burford the

years at The Angel in

award of Best Pub in the

December this year, and it

Cotswolds 2017. This

is so wonderful to win this

makes it three years

award, and know that our

running for the Angel, a

customers still love what

Hook Norton Brewery pub

we do”

nestled in the heart of Burford.

Hook Norton Brewery Managing Director James

Run by Terence King and

Clarke said “We are ex-

Gemma Finch the Angel

tremely proud of Terence,

fought off stiff competi-

Gemma and the whole

tion to pick up their award.

team at The Angel and

The Cotswold Awards

what they have achieved.

receive nominations for

The Cotswolds is an ex-

businesses and people in

tremely competitive area

the Cotswolds who are all

to operate in and to win

just plain awesome and so

this award three years in a

fabulous at what they do,

row is a fantastic accolade,

that their customers felt

made even more so by

there should be an award

the fact that the award is

with their name on it!

generated through genuine customer nominations. “

Voted for by the public, The Cotswolds Awards is the only completely impartial and public awards in the Cotswolds.

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Fit not Thin in 2018 Many people will make a resolution to lose weight in 2018. To be fair lots of us made the same resolution on January 1st 2017...and 2016... What if we’re looking at it all wrong? What if a better resolution was to get fit in 2018? Fit not thin. I’m not saying you shouldn’t aim to lose weight. If your knees buckle when you try to stand up and you have a family history of cardiovascular disease maybe you should. But maybe that

positive reinforcement.

family history of cardiovascular disease should prompt you to think more strategically.

and thinness. If we get involved in more conversations about fitness rather than how to lose extra pounds, our fat-bias would diminish and maybe more overweight people would feel comfortable joining the gym or that exercise class they always fancied.

Obesity is linked to cardiovascular disease but that’s not the whole story. Lack of fitness also plays a role. Tackle the fitness and a side effect may be that you also tackle the obesity. And seriously, getting fit is way more fun than dieting. A friend once told me about the shift in her mindset when she decided to focus on fit not thin. “As I got fitter I became more than I was before. Whenever I’d tried to lose weight in the past I’d focussed on being less. That was the main difference for me.” Personally I think that if society paid more attention to fitness rather than weight loss, we’d actually have less obesity. If we (especially women) focussed on how far we could run or cycle, or how many push-ups we can do, we would naturally be more active and less obese because focussing on fitness actually makes weight loss easier. The fitter you get the more you view food as fuel and the more you want to eat high quality nutritious food because it helps you get fitter. It’s

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And let’s be honest, society is horribly biased against fat people. But if fitness was the Holy Grail we wouldn’t automatically assume that not-thin equates to not-healthy. We need to stop being obsessed with weight-loss

Both fat and thin people would be healthier if they aimed for fitness rather than thinness. Even if overweight people stay overweight weight, they still get all the protective benefits of exercise. And there are many thin people who are terribly unfit and are at risk of cardiovascular disease. Thin does not always or even often equate to healthy, in spite of popular myth. It’s not an either-or situation but if you only aim to end 2018 thinner you might succeed, you might not, but you’ll still be unfit. If you aim for fitness you will probably lose weight, gain confidence, friends, a new skill or two, and in the words of my friend be more than you were by the end of the year. I know which route I’m going to take. By Sarah Davey

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Forget Brain-Training, Learn an Instrument We are told we need to keep our brains active as we age, to help stave off cognitive decline and the risk of dementia. A whole industry has grown up around this, and we are urged to buy the latest brain-training apps and books. Yet research has thrown doubt on a lot of the hype surrounding these, with many now dismissed as useless gimmicks. But there is robust scientific evidence which shows that learning to play a musical instrument is not just beneficial to children: adults benefit too and it may even be helpful to patients recovering from brain injuries. Playing a musical instrument is a rich and complex experience that involves integrating information from the senses of vision, hearing, and touch, as well as fine movements. Musical training can induce long-lasting changes in the brain. Professional musicians are highly skilled individuals who spend years training, so they provide a natural

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laboratory in which neuroscientists can study how such changes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; called experience-dependent plasticity â&#x20AC;&#x201C; occur across their lifespan. Early brain scanning studies revealed significant differences in brain structure between musicians and non-musicians of the same age. For example, the corpus callosum, a massive bundle of nerve fibres connecting the two sides of the brain, is significantly larger in musicians, and the brain areas involved in movement, hearing, and visuo-spatial abilities also appear to be larger. Longitudinal studies (which track people over time) have shown that young children who undertake 14 months musical training exhibit significant structural and functional brain changes compared to those who do not. Learning to play a musical instrument not only increases grey matter volume in various brain regions, but also strengthens the long-range connections between those regions.

Other research shows that musical training enhances verbal memory, spatial reasoning, and literacy skills: professional musicians usually outperform non-musicians in these areas. More recently, it has become clear that musical training facilitates the rehabilitation of patients recovering from stroke and other forms of brain damage. It also seems to have a protective effect against the onset of dementia.

that are seemingly unrelated, such as working memory and language. Learning to play an instrument strengthens the brain in a way that nothing else does, so put down the Sudoku and pick up your ukulele. You know it makes sense.

One problem with commercial brain training products is that they only improve performance on the skills involved; musical training on the other hand has what psychologists refer to as transfer effects; in other words, learning to play a musical instrument seems to have a far broader effect on the brain and mental function, and improves other abilities

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GARDEN VIEW

Winter

Flowering Shrubs This month – Sniff! Sniff! No I don’t have a cold but this month I will be sniffing a lot. Mainly because of my winter-flowering shrubs.

yellow ‘Pallida’ and the deep red ‘Ruby Glow’ are equally lovely.

Every garden should have a couple of plants which bravely open their petals while winter is doing its worst.

My dad had a wonderful winter-flowering honeysuckle in his garden: Lonicera fragrantissima, which I adored.

Viburnum farreri or Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ or ‘Deben’ are upright shrubs which bear pretty clusters of pinkbuds on their bare branches, that open into honey-scented white flowers. They are incredibly tough, withstanding all but the harshest of frost. It’s lovely to cut a few sprigs to stand in a jam jar indoors. My favourite winter flowering shrub is the witch hazel plant Hamamelis mollis. It’s a delightful shuttlecock-shaped bush that explodes with citrus-scented spidery flowers right about now. I have the orange ‘Jelena’ in my garden but the pale

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A few years ago I discovered Lonicera x purpussi and fell in love. It has creamy white flowers and a really strong scent. Even if you have a tiny garden you’ll have room for a Christmas Box Sarcococca confusa. It produces white whiskery flowers from among its dark shiny evergreen foliage. I have two in pots on either side of my path and I’ve had people stop in their tracks and return back towards the house sniffing, in search of the source of the amazing sweet, heady scent.

And don’t forget that there are scented snowdrops and tiny Iris reticulata which are deliciously perfumed too. Time to get sniffing. Happy gardening. By Rachael Leverton

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Council allocates £200,000

for community projects Members of Cotswold District Council have agreed to allocate £200,000 to a long-standing Community Projects Fund which helps local residents update community buildings and invest in play facilities for children.

retain thriving community hubs across the District. Local residents benefit from upgraded facilities which are more

The scheme awards projects sums ranging from £1,000 to

sustainable. Without further

£10,000 on the basis that the CDC grant would constitute up

investment by the Council there is a

to 25% of a project’s total cost. However, experience shows

huge risk that much needed community

that these grants could be much more valuable because they

projects would struggle to find financial

often enable bidders to attract further contributions to the

support, and I am sure that this new allocation of funding will

costs from various charitable sources. Based on previous

be welcomed across the District.”

Above - Leader of the Council Cllr Mark Annett

funding, the Council estimates that an allocation of £200,000 should meet demand over the next four years.

For more information about eligibility criteria for the Community Projects Fund, and the related application process, please

Commenting on the decision, Council Leader Cllr Mark Annett

see: www.cotswold.gov.uk/media/1541704/September-2017-

said:

criteria-for-applications.pdf

“We were very pleased to approve £200,000 for this admirable scheme. It means we can invest in much needed community assets such as village and community halls, and help

Have your say on our budget strategy Cotswold District Council is seeking comments from local residents

ance from Revenue Support Grant and New Homes Bonus. This is a key

and businesses regarding the budget strategy which will be con-

strand of the Government policy to localise financing of local authori-

sidered at the Council meeting on 20 February 2018.

ties and brings the potential for increased risks or increased rewards,

The deadline for commenting on the proposals is 5pm on Friday 19

depending upon the Council’s ability to raise business rate income.

January 2018. You can provide feedback in a number of ways: · By filling in the online consultation :www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ budget2018-19 on budget and corporate strategies 2018/19 · By emailing your views to budgetconsultation@cotswold.gov.uk or · By sending written comments to: Mrs Jenny Poole, Chief Finance Officer at Cotswold District Council, Trinity Road, Cirencester, Glos, GL7 1PX

The budget strategy 2018/19 The Council is updating its medium term financial plan and spending plans for 2018/19. Local government funding was significantly changed from 1 April 2013 when the Government introduced the new Local Government Resource Regime. Under the new regime, around 40% of the Council’s Government funding comes directly from Business Rates with the bal-

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The

Cotswold Sky

Explore the Orion Nebulae - A Steller Nursery where stars are being born During the months of January and February if you look south from around 19.30 hours you will see the constellation of Orion.

RNLI SOS

Fundraising for coastal safety

Diary

31st January – We have a Blue Moon. The second Full Moon to appear in a single month is referred to as a Blue Moon and derives from American farming almanacs. Also on this day is a total Lunar Eclipse but alas it is viewable from the USA not the UK.

Planets

The Constellation of Orion

Note the 3 stars in alignment which represent Orion’s belt. Directly below you will notice a “fuzzy” area. This is the Orion Nebulae known as M42; it is one of the most popular areas of observation for astronomers. In this part of the sky new stars and planetary systems are presently being born, but remember the process takes millions of years. The beauty of Orion is that it is plainly visible on clear nights with the naked eye, binoculars or better still with a telescope from which spectacular detailed views can be observed particularly with a camera attached. Amazingly we are observing the Nebulae as it was 1,500 years ago because that is how long it has taken the light to reach Earth. Equally astonishing is that travelling at the speed of light it would take 25 years to cross it, and yet this is only one small part of the sky which holds such fascination for not only astronomers but those who have inquisitive minds wishing to broaden their knowledge.

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Mercury –At the start of January Mercury can be observed before dawn, very low in the south east. It will not then be observable until the latter part of February to the lower right of Venus at dusk. Venus – Too close to the Sun to be observable during January, but by mid-February it will be observable as it appears very brightly at dusk on the western horizon. Mars – In early January Mars stays very close to Jupiter in the very early morning. For the remaining weeks to the end of February Mars continues to be observed close to the south/south east part of the sky. Jupiter – During January Jupiter rises in the south east at around 03.00 hours and continues to rise earlier each week so by the end of February it can be observed from 01.00 hours. Saturn – Starts to rise in the south east at 07.00 hours from mid-January so will be difficult to observe as it competes with a rising Sun. By mid-February Saturn can be observed to the lower left of Mars from 05.00 hours each morning for the remainder of the month.

Meteor Showers

Quadrantids – Visible between 1st and 10th January peaking 3rd /4th January. John Harris

Last year while holidaying near Salcombe I witnessed real-life lifeboat rescue. I was humbled by the professionalism of the crew and realised that living inland I had never really thought about lifeboats before. British and Irish coastal waters can be treacherous. During the 18th century around 1,800 ships were wrecked around the coasts of Britain and Ireland – everyone who put to sea accepted the risk and assumed there was little anybody could do to save lives. A London coachbuilder, Lionel Lukin, paved the way for the first purpose-built lifeboat when he designed the world’s first unsinkable boat in 1785. Lukin wanted to improve boat-safety and experimented with a Norwegian yawl (a sailing dinghy) on the River Thames. Lukin incorporated pockets of air in watertight bulkheads, used cork and other lightweight materials in the structure, and included a false iron keel for additional weight to help keep the boat upright. In 1786 Lukin was commissioned to convert a coble - a type of fishing boat - into an ‘unimmergible’ lifeboat for Bamburgh. The result was the first known ‘lifeboat’, and Bamburgh Castle thus became the first lifeboat station. In 1789 a ship named Adventure ran aground at the mouth of The River Tyne during a violent storm. The sea was too rough for the local men and their boats, so people had to stand by helplessly as Adventure’s crew drowned. South Shield’s private Law House committee launched a lifeboat design competition with a reward of 2 guineas (around £2.10) for the best design. A parish clerk called William Wouldhave and a boat-builder called Henry Francis Greathead both entered. Wouldhave’s design was for a boat made out of copper and cork that would right itself in stormy seas. Greathead’s model was built out of wood and was an excellent design, though it didn’t self-right. As neither design was an outright winner the committee blended ideas from both to produce a final lifeboat design. The entrants were offered half the prize money each. William Wouldhave took offence and rejected the offer. So Henry Greathead was asked to build the lifeboat from the final design and went on to become known as the inventor of the first lifeboat. It was called The Original, measured 9m by 3m (around 29 feet by 10 feet) and could carry 20 people including a crew of 12. Henry Greathead went on to build 31 Original type lifeboats over the next 2 decades for communities around the British coasts, and also abroad. He never took out a patent on his invention, preferring to share his plans for the good of others and lifesaving at sea.

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Overnight Oats Have you made healthier eating a part of your New Year plan? If so you should definitely try this healthy, hearty breakfast. A friend introduced me to overnight oats and I have to say I’m hooked. First, it’s the easiest breakfast ever. There’s nothing to cook; you make it the night before in under 5 minutes, and when you wake up, it’s there waiting. All you have to do is eat it! The basic recipe is very adaptable; you can do so many different things with it. I tend to eat mine cold but if you like things hot, heat them up in the microwave Oats help to reduce cholesterol and are a whole, unprocessed source of carbohydrates, which release energy slowly so are a great start to the day.

Basic Overnight Oats Ingredients • 1/2 cup dry oats (the actual cup size doesn’t really matter. It’s about proportions…just use a bigger cup if you have a bigger appetite) • 1 cup of unsweetened milk (I like almond milk but cows’ milk, soya milk, plain yoghurt or a mix of yoghurt and milk is all good) • Fruit of choice (fresh, frozen or even tinned) • 1 tbsp chia seeds or flax seeds (optional but good for healthy omega 3 fats) • Nuts (optional)

Method 1. Combine everything into an airtight bowl or jar (I leave nuts out as I like them crunchy) 2. Leave in the fridge overnight 3. Eat in the morning! You can heat them if you like.

Variations: Fruit: apples, banana, nectarines, blueberries, strawberries, figs, redcurrants (most fruits taste great). Flavourings: flaked or desiccated coconut, ground almonds. Sweeteners: If you have a sweet tooth you can add maple syrup, honey or jam. My kids experimented with chocolate milk too – lovely with bananas. Healthy fats: flax, nuts, nut butters Toppings to add in the morning: granola, nuts, raisins, sour cherries, additional fruit, chocolate chunks

The Big Garden Birdwatch The Big Garden Birdwatch is world’s largest garden wildlife survey, and 2018 will mark its 39th year. It is run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and will take place on 27th , 28th and 29th January 2018. All we have to do is spend just one hour watching and recording the birds in our garden or a local green space. Then we send our results to the RSPB. Close to half-a- million people joined in last year counting more than eight million birds and providing valuable information about the wildlife using our gardens in winter. We’re all familiar with the sight of bluetits on a bird feeder or a cheery robin hunting for grubs but it might come as a shock to know that some of our most-loved species are in desperate need of our help because their numbers have dropped dramatically. Species such as starlings and greenfinches have seen their numbers decline by 79 and 59 per cent respectively since the first Birdwatch in 1979. 40 years worth of data allows the RSPB to monitor trends and helps us under-

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stand how birds are faring, and what potential issues they might be facing. With results from so many gardens, they are able to create a snapshot of the visiting birds at this time of year across the UK. So even if you see nothing at all during your Big Garden Birdwatch hour, that’s important information too! The RSPB also asks participants to log some of the other wildlife they have seen throughout the year. In 2018 people are being asked to look out for badgers, foxes, grey squirrels, red squirrels, muntjac deer, roe deer, frogs and toads. To take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch 2018, participants should watch the birds in the garden or local park for one hour at some point over the three allocated days. Only the birds that land in the garden or local park should be counted, don’t count those just flying over. There is also a parallel event; Big Schools’ Birdwatch takes place which takes place during the period 2nd January-23rd February 2018. Further information about this can be found at

www.rspb.org.uk/schoolswatch Both the Big Garden Birdwatch and the Big Schools’ Birdwatch are part of the RSPB Giving Nature a Home campaign. This is aimed at tackling the habitatcrisis facing the UK’s wildlife. The charity is asking people to provide a place for wildlife in their gardens or outdoor spaces: this could involve putting up a nest box for birds, creating a pond for frogs, or building a home for hedgehogs. There is a free Big Garden Birdwatch pack, which includes a bird identification chart, plus advice to help you attract wildlife to your garden. Text BIRD to 70030 or visit www.rspb.org.uk/ birdwatch. Registration opens on 13th December 2017. By Tom Hancock

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National Trail Guide The Cotswold Way by Anthony Burton Full route information for the Cotswold Way including Ordnance Survey maps. Aurum (£12.99) ISBN 978 1 84513 914 9

National

Cotswold Way

Trails

in England and Wales

Cotswold Way National Trail Companion All the essentials for planning your walk, including places to stay, how to get there and where the local services are. (£4.95) ISBN 978 0 9555422 0 6

Ordnance Survey Maps OL45 - The Cotswolds, 155 - Bristol & Bath, 167 - Thornbury, Dursley and Yate, 168 - Stroud, Tetbury and Malmesbury, 179 - Gloucester, Cheltenham and Stroud. www.orndancesurvey.co.uk Explorer Maps (1:25,000 scale) (£7.49)

Walk and Explore the Cotswold Way by Public Transport A free leaflet updated twice yearly with detailed information about how to reach points on the Cotswold Way by public transport. Available from the Cotswolds Conservation Board, Tel +44 (0) 1451 862000 or as a download from the Cotswold Way National Trail Website. Cotswold Way National Trail Website Comprehensive information about the Trail, including planning information, accommodation, downloads, image gallery, news and much, much more. www.nationaltrail.co.uk Cotswold Way Circular Walks A range of short, convenient, approachable circular trails designed to introduce you to all the Cotswold Way has to offer. Available to download from the website or as a printed set from the trail office (address overleaf).

The Cotswold Way National Trail is a 102mile (164 km) long distance walk between Chipping Campden and Bath along the Cotswolds escarpment.

Cotswold Way National Trail Cotswolds Conservation Board Fosse Way, Northleach Gloucestershire GL54 3JH Tel +44 (0) 1451 862000 Fax +44 (0) 1451 862001 Email cotswoldway@cotswoldsaonb.org.uk

www.nationaltrail.co.uk

Supported by the Friends of the Cotswolds www.friendsofthecotswolds.org

Stunning views, charming villages...

The Cotswolds is a popular holiday area with a good variety of accommodation available, from camping to luxury hotels.

Where to stay, planning your trip and local information

For a comprehensive booklet listing accommodation and local services along the Trail, plus information about planning your walk, organised holidays, luggage transfer services etc. you need look no further than the Cotswold Way National Trail Companion. Accommodation details and other useful information about the Trail can also be found on the Cotswold Way National Trail Web Site.

www.nationaltrail.co.uk/cotswold

Getting there Your journey will take you through quintessentially English countryside, rich in history, yet very much a living, working landscape. The walk offers a variety of scenery for you to enjoy – limestone grasslands, Cotswold stone villages, grazing pastures with dry stone walls, majestic beech woodlands, quiet valleys and stunning views over the Severn Vale to the Malverns, the Forest of Dean and Wales.

The Cotswold Way is well served by public transport. The Walk and Explore the Cotswold Way by Public Transport leaflet and the Short Breaks and Day Walks on the Cotswold Way information sheets have been prepared and are regularly updated to make it easy for you to reach either end of the Trail and points in between. Travel information can also be found at

www.traveline.org.uk +44 (0) 870 608 2 608

It is a Trail that can be walked as one continuous journey, or in shorter sections as you choose. Walking along the Trail is an ideal way to explore this beautiful part of the country and enjoy the local hospitality away from the bustle of the crowds.

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Next issues

West Oxfordshire Mar / Apr 2018

Aston Magna

Dist: w/c 26th February ‘18 Copy: 2nd February ‘18

Blockley Bourton-on-the-Hill

Moretonin-Marsh

............................................

Little Compton Evenlode

Longborough Condicote

Oddington Broadwell

Winchcombe

Stow-onthe-Wold

Little Rollright Over Norton

Chipping Norton Cornwell

Dist: w/c 26th February ‘18 Copy: 2nd February ‘18 Heythrop

Lidstone

KinghamChurchill Icomb Upper Slaughter Dean Sarsden Naunton Chadlington Wyck Bledington Taston Lower Slaughter Whittington Rissington Church Greenend Spelsbury Westcote Shorthampton Nether Westcote Notgrove Shipton-underIdbury Dowdeswell Andoversford Little Wychwood Chilson Rissington Fifield Shipton Milton-under- Ascott-underClapton-on-the-Hill Great Fawler Wychwood Wychwood Turkdean Rissington Compton Finstock Abdale Langley Ramsden Great Withington Leafield Barrington Fulbrook Taynton Hailey Asthall Windrush Little Leigh Eastington Swinbrook Barrington Crawley Chedworth Asthall Minster Lovell Coln St Dennis Witney Bradwell Village Aldsworth

Bourton-onthe-Water

North Cotswolds

North Cotswolds Mar / Apr 2018

Great Rollright

Charlbury

West Oxfordshire

18,400 homes & businesses

Northleach

15,800

Burford

homes & businesses

Shilton

Brize Norton

Carterton

Index Art & Antiques Seasons Art Cotswolds: p1 Attractions & Events Bookkeeping North Cot Bookkeeping: p11 Builders & Contractors Bonner & Milner: p7 Calarel Developments: p7 Hill-top Joinery: p4 Hooper Joinery: p24 Morgan Roofing Services: p3 N & D Construction: p25 North Cotswold Builder: p25 Stable Build Company: p25 Thomas Contracting: p23 Children’s Services Cotswold Tutor: p15 Cleaning Services Casio Oven Clean: p13 Chem Dry: p3 Maid in the Cotswolds: p20 MRK Services: p23 Dental Cirencester Dental Practice: p21

Education Cotswold Tutor: p15 Youth Education Service: p15 Elderly Services Hearing & Mobility Store: p20 Electrical Services ARC Electrical: p6 Cotswold Aerials: p27 KR Electrical: p3 P Wheeler Electrical: p25 Vision Repairs: p4 Fencing Logs & Fencing: p23 Flooring Parsons Flooring: p5 Food & Drink Horse & Groom: p16 Shaven Crown: p31 Watercare: p32 Furniture Armstrong Interiors: p5 Cottonwood Interiors: p3 Graham Lane Furniture: p5 Hooper Joinery: p24 Hooper Joinery: p5 Phil Dadge: p4

Burns Night Robert Burns was a Scottish bard, born in 1759 who wrote many poems and lyrics during his life.

Roundabout: p13 Gardening & Outdoors Adrian Hale Tree Work: p23 Luke Dadge Drystone Walling: p25 Logs & Fencing: p23 Mower Medic: p23 Thomas Contracting: p23 Thomas Fox Landscaping: p10 Healthcare & Wellbeing Charles Wright Massage: p20 CIRE Aesthetics: p9 Cirencester Dental Practice: p21 Feng Shui Engineer: p20 Paul Brookes Foot Health: p21 Runnerbean: p19 Yiangou Mindfulness: p11 Hearing Aids Hearing & Mobility Store: p20 Home & Interiors Armstrong Interiors: p5 Country Bathrooms: p6 Country House Curtains: p4 Parsons Flooring: p5 Paul The Painter: p32 Holiday Cottages

Character Cottages: p2 Internet Provider Gigaclear: p27 Locksmiths Just Carpentry & Locks: p5 Logs & Fuel Cotswold Logs: p1 Logs & Fencing: p23 Motoring Cotswold Garage: p1 Oven Services Casio Oven Clean: p13 Cookers & Co: p13 Painters & Decorators Richard Luckett Decorators: p6 Pets & Animals Dial A Dog Wash: p17 Vets Home Visit: p21 Plumbing Chris Smith Plumbing Services: p6 Gas & Oil Services: p32 Property Maintenance Coln Clearances: p25 Hill-top Joinery: p4 Hooper Joinery: p24

date was later changed to January 25th, which marks his birthday. Burns suppers gradually became a tradition and are now held by people and organizations with Scottish origins worldwide.

Christine 01609 777401 07742 595747 christine@jkanorth.com Dwight 01609 779097 dwight@jkanorth.com www.cotswoldlink.co.uk Elspeth 01904 709462 elspeth@jkanorth.com

Just Carpentry & Locks: p5 Property Sales Retirement Apartments: p8 Removals Coln Clearances: p25 Sewing Sewing Tuition: p15 Sports & Leisure Cotswold Archery: p17 Cotswold Riding: p17 Runnerbean: p19 Sound & Vision ARC Electrical: p6 Cotswold Aerials: p27 Vision Repairs: p4 Taxi Andy’s Taxis: p17 Travel Holidays Please: p13 Tree Surgery Adrian Hale Tree Work: p23 Tuition Cotswold Tutor: p Seasons Art Cotswolds: p1 Sewing Tuition: p15

though artificial casings are more commonly used now. It can be baked or boiled and although it sounds quite revolting is surprisingly delicious, at least to this author! It’s served with a whisky sauce and some neeps and tatties - a mixture of swede and potato which works beautifully with the rough, oaty haggis. Cranachan is the traditional desert of cream, raspberries and oatmeal. It should all be washed down with a good whisky.

At Burns Night events, many men and women wear kilts or other clothes made from their family tartan. At the centre of the supper is the haggis, which brought to the table to the tune of bagpipes. For the uninitiated haggis is a savoury pudding Have a great Burns night. Gun cuireadh do containing ‘sheep’s pluck’ (the heart, liver, chupa thairis le slainte agus sonas. (TranslaRobert Burns’ friends and acquaintances and lungs of the animal) which are minced tion: May your cup overflow with health and held the first Burns supper on July 21, the an- with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, stock and happiness) niversary of his death, in the late 1700s. This salt, then encased in the animal’s stomach By Tracey Anderson 30 Your CotswoldLink Please mention Your CotswoldLink when contacting any of our advertisers His most famous work is probably Auld Lang Syne, sang at New Year and which translates as ‘times long past’. Burns is one of Scotland’s most important cultural icons as many of his works addressed the political and civil issues of the time.

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