Cotswold Link (West Oxfordshire) Mar-Apr 2016 by JKA / Cotswold Publications

CotswoldLink

FREE

West Oxfordshire

Your

www.cotswoldlink.co.uk

Bi-Monthly Royal Mail distribution: 18,050 homes & businesses

March / April 2016

Star Cottage, Little Compton

What Does a Successful Holiday Cottage Look Like? Cotswold Link talks to local holiday letting specialist, Character Cottages, to understand what the main drivers of a successful holiday cottage are.

Woodbine Cottage, Oddington

With proper preparation, a high quality holiday cottage has the potential to earn you significant income, when it would otherwise be lying empty.

Saintbridge, Barnsley

Larger properties, sleeping six guests or more,

the returns on such holiday properties.

are scarcer and, consequently, have less

To find out what your cottage can do for you,

competition and command comparatively

just get in touch with us for a free appraisal!

higher prices. These properties perform very well in the Cotswolds, typically outperforming

The majority of guests who rent high quality

smaller cottages in terms of revenue and

holiday homes in the Cotswolds are seeking

profit per guest.

cottages that blend traditional character features with modern, stylish finishes. Extensive

It is therefore important to look at the potential

feedback also shows that guests are willing

capacity of your property, as accommodating

to pay more for contemporary, inviting homes

just one extra guest can increase your gross

with unique touches, rather than for floral, or

annual income by more than five thousand

overly traditional cottages.

pounds. If you are confident that the house is not going to be overcrowded, ask yourself

Most period Cotswold cottages were built for

if you can turn a ground floor study or a loft

farm labourers, or wool and silk factory workers,

into extra sleeping space, possibly just by adding

and were quite small, typically with one or

a nice sofa bed.

Headford Cottage, Stow

two bedrooms. Because there are so many cottages that sleep two to four guests in the

There is very strong demand for modern-

Cotswolds, they have a lot of competition in

styled, high quality holiday cottages throughout

the holiday letting market.

the Cotswolds. At Character Cottages, we are very experienced at marketing and maximising

Your CotswoldLink

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

Please mention Your CotswoldLink when contacting any of our advertisers

Advertising - contact Christine: 01609 777401 or Dwight: 01609 779097 | www.cotswoldlink.co.uk

Your CotswoldLink

inside

Your CotswoldLink

Light A Beacon!

in West Oxfordshire are encourgaed to get involved with 20 Residents local events to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday in April

Career Path

A refreshing look at careers advice

Inside & Out

profile a local company 20 We covering all types of work

02 Holiday Cottage Letting success 16 Addictive Fitbit! garden view: local news 08 Five star service from charity cafe 18 Lovely Lillies business: news: 10 New Businesses & Services 20 local Light A Beacon for the Queen event news 12 Seasonal events across our area 18 local The UK’s biggest clean up astronomy 12 Closest dwarf planet to the Sun 20 advertorial: Reliable Maintenance Company local news link 14 New look for Cotswolds website 22 cotswold Magazine Distribution Details education: link 15 Which Career Should I Choose? 23 cotswold Magazine Advertiser Index advertorial: FEATURED

health

FEATURED

Welcome to the March - April issue

Spring is here and we welcome it with a number of exciting features and news stories from across the area. There’s news from a charity cafe on p8, whilst we look at several exciting businesses on p10 & 11. Page 14 has some great careers advice, whilst p20 looks at celebrating the Queen’s birthday in style! I hope you all enjoy this issue and I’ll see you again in May. 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 reports or advertising that appear in this publication and the views of the contributors may not be the those of the editors. Adverts and advertisers Your Cotswold Link carry no implied recommendation from the magazine or the publishers. All rights reserved. All information is appearing in Cotswold Link Magazine correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of going to press. Cotswold Link Magazine cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions.

Please mention Your CotswoldLink when contacting any of our advertisers

Advertising - contact Christine: 01609 777401 or Dwight: 01609 779097 | www.cotswoldlink.co.uk

Your CotswoldLink

Please mention Your CotswoldLink when contacting any of our advertisers

Advertising - contact Christine: 01609 777401 or Dwight: 01609 779097 | www.cotswoldlink.co.uk

Your CotswoldLink

Five star service from charity café A social enterprise café is going from strength to strength after picking up glowing reviews from customers. The cafe, operated by the Yellow Submarine charity in the Windrush Leisure Centre, has earned a string of five star reviews on TripAdvisor, as well as attracting a growing number of regular customers. One reviewer said: “Love this place and all that it stands for. Great ethos, friendly service, delicious food and excellent prices. Another added: “Great food and great drinks … do yourself and your community a favour!” The success of the venture just six months after it was officially opened by David Cameron, Prime Minister and Witney MP, has delighted everyone involved with the venture, not least the young people with learning disabilities who operate it. Ian Rigsby, 27, who has worked as an apprentice at the café since last September, said: “I used to have a job as a cleaner but this is much better as I feel my confidence has really grown. “I really enjoy working here - the best part is meeting customers and I would love to carry that on into a full-time job.” Yellow Submarine employs seven apprentices and four trainees in Witney and at its sister café in Oxford with local apprentices attending a customer service course at Abingdon and Witney College. Paul Stanton Humphreys, Head of Enterprises at Yellow Submarine, said: “We are delighted with our success in Witney and the café will continue to grow. “It is not just about the feedback we are receiving on TripAdvisor and social media, customers are coming back time after time and telling us about the brilliant service and how good the café looks.” The project is run in conjunction with West Oxfordshire District Council which provided more than £30k towards renovations and GLL, the leisure contractor which manages the centre on the Council’s behalf. Cllr James Mills, the District Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Health, said: “It is fantastic to see how the café is thriving in such a short space of time. “I am sure it will go from strength to strength with people enjoying great food and drink in the knowledge they are supporting a wonderful cause.”

Your CotswoldLink

Please mention Your CotswoldLink when contacting any of our advertisers

Advertising - contact Christine: 01609 777401 or Dwight: 01609 779097 | www.cotswoldlink.co.uk

Your CotswoldLink

W E N businesses s e c i v r e s & in & around our area

“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 (Advert sizes available: 1/8 and

¼) and they will receive the equivalent space in complimentary editorial*. This editorial provides excellent business exposure to 18,050 homes and businesses and allows further explanation of the new business or services available.

‘Move from Surviving to Thriving’ Life today can often be fast paced, highly pressurised and constantly changing. We have lost the ability to stop and simply be. Human beings have become human doings and many of us feel like we are barely surviving. I work as a coach with many different people and they have one thing in common; they feel like they have lost touch with who they are. ‘Cotswold Coaching Retreats’ offer a chance to put your foot on the brake of life and stop to reflect on what is truly important in your life. Are the things in life that matter most to you getting your

full attention and energy? Fully giving our attention to anyone or anything is becoming more and more rare in our hyper connected world, where there are so many stimuli competing for our time and attention. Fourteen years as a coach has taught me that anything is possible, as long as we believe it is. It is possible to get back in touch with who you are and begin thriving Contact me, Shona, on 07803 029943 www.cotswoldcoachingretreats.com to explore what you would experience in your coaching session or retreat. 90 minute session up to 2 day retreats in the Cotswolds to reconnect with who you are, break those habits and thrive.

* Editorial must be supplied completed.

New Website Now Live With the launch of the new website for Homely Furniture 2 Go, we spoke to this local firm about their ethos and way of working. We are a small family business with over forty years experience in quality oak and pine furniture. Homely Furniture 2 Go was started by a business man called “David Curtis”, a family man that holds honest ideals and takes the time to sit down with every customer and work out the needs of all clients and helps to find them their perfect piece of furniture to help make a house a home, with the help of his wife Susan Curtis they built up a successful business, holding to their ideals of no pressure sales and doing your utmost for every customer. As time went on they started to employ family members and friends to help with the demand of happy customers and as the business grew and was able to deliver to further destinations and

Your CotswoldLink

accommodate more orders, all along the way Homely Furniture 2 Go kept receiving thank you letters from very happy customers that said the service was second to none. Here at Homely Furniture 2 Go our motto is still “happy customers come back” because its true, if you do your utmost for customers they recommend Homely Furniture 2 Go to friends, family, visitors and work colleagues. We as a company are happy

to say that we have built our business on good reputation from our pure quality of service. So if you are looking for high quality oak and pine furniture with no hassle, we invite you to come and visit, and see for yourself.

Call us on 01993 864999 68A Brize Norton Road, Minster Lovell, OX29 OSG www.homelyfurniture2go.co.uk

Monday - Saturday 9:30am - 5:00pm. Sunday Closed

Please mention Your CotswoldLink when contacting any of our advertisers

New business relying on experience Kingham Carpets has been established to provide the very best personal and professional service for the home and business flooring needs in the West and North Oxfordshire region and beyond. In only a short time we have already built a positive reputation for first class service and with over 15 years experience of fitting carpets and flooring. We can provide a comprehensive range of outstanding quality products to suit every requirement and budget. This is matched by our unrivalled flexibility which means that we can fit in with the timescales of our customers as we fully appreciate that there are times when home owners and businesses alike do not want disruption to their lives and daily schedules. In these instances we will work out of hours and weekends to

meet these needs without any added charges for this service. Nothing gives us greater pleasure than to see the amazing transformation our work gives new and older floors together with the excellent comments and testimonials we receive for a job well done. Why not give us a call on 07759 370983 or email us at kinghamcarpets1@ yahoo.com and we can arrange for you to borrow carpets samples to view in your own home or premises and once you have chosen what you need we can supply you with a no obligation quotation.

JACQUELYNE MORISON HYPNOTHERAPY TRAINING The HYPNOTHERAPY PRACTITIONER COURSE with Jacquelyne Morison Hypnotherapy Training is designed for those who wish to become sincere and dedicated professional practitioners of analytical hypnotherapy as a psychotherapeutic and stress-trauma management discipline. The HYPNOTHERAPY PRACTITIONER COURSE focuses principally on Analytical Hypnotherapy or Hypnoanalysis – a therapeutic approach which Jacquelyne Morison has pioneered and promoted for 20 years. The analytic approach centres on dealing with the underlying originating cause of the client’s distress by providing a deeply investigative therapeutic environment. Analytical Hypnotherapy practice means not just treating the client’s symptoms superficially or providing a method of coping with life’s problems but actually handling cases of intense psychological malaise by resolving dilemmas naturally and effortlessly at the root of the problem. The client can thus deal with distressing conditions, such as really deep-seated fears, crippling anxieties, stubborn habit disorders, low confidence, stressful-traumatic manifestations, relationship difficulties, grief-bereavement issues and the devastating effects of childhood abuse, neglect and abandonment. Analytical Hypnotherapy can, of course, still equally be applied to relatively simple problems for which clinical hypnotherapy is popularly renown, such as weight management, smoking cessation and pain management, without inferring that hypnotherapy is a quickfix methodology and, thereby, giving the profession a disreputable name. Jacquelyne is a wonderful teacher whose approachable, accommodating demeanour makes studying to be a hypnotherapist a life-changing experience. I wholeheartedly recommend this course for anyone seeking a stimulating and holistic approach to hypnotherapy training. Kazia Tyszka-Baxter, Kazia Tyszka-Baxter Hypnotherapy, Kent

Advertising - contact Christine: 01609 777401 or Dwight: 01609 779097 | www.cotswoldlink.co.uk

Your CotswoldLink

CRAIG OGDEN at MILTON PARISH CHURCH

One of the UK’s most recorded guitarists Performing varied programme of classical and contemporary pieces “Brilliant and persuasive” The Guardian

Saturday 19 March 2016 at 7.30pm Tickets £15 to include a glass of wine under 16s £10.00 Tickets from the Library and Wychwood Benefice Office, Church Road, Milton-under-Wychwood OX7 6JL 01993 832467 office@wychwoodbenefice.org.uk

Out & About 4th - 19th March

n Chipping Norton Music Festival Events during the 104th Festival (in date order): Youth Jazz Band Challenge (in association with Chipping Norton Rotary Club) - 4 March. ‘Gin & Jazz’ - Helen Abbey Quartet - 6 March. Workshop and presentation for Year 5 children with Peter Hunt - 10 March. Ellipsis - wind trio - 13 March. Festival Concert - a showcase of talent from the 104th Festival - 19 March. The Festival, as always, features local talent of all ages performing a variety of music, speech and drama. The closing Festival Concert features highlights from the 104th Festival www.cnmf.org.uk ........................................................

9th March

n Charlbury Art Society Meeting Charlbury Art Society’s first meeting is on Wednesday March 9th, when well known Jackie Garnerwill give a talk on “Impressionist Ladies” at 7:30pm. CAS’s April meeting will take place on Wednesday April 13th; Prof Anthony Slinn will present an illustrated talk entitled “Dali Explained, at 7:30. Both meetings will be held in the Memorial Hall, Brown’s Lane, Charlbury. Everyone is welcome; refreshments are available at the interval. Entrance for Society members is free, but there is a £3 charge for non-members. Please phone Kati Eidenbenz for further information about the society on 01608 810911. ........................................................

13th March

n Jason Donovan LIVE Jason Donovan Ten Good Reasons + Greatest Hits. No Support. Artists performing: Jason Donovan.: Tickets avaliable. Doors open: 19:00: Under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult. New Theatre, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 2AG www.gigantic.com/jason-donovan-newtheatre-2016-03-13-19-00 ........................................................

17th March

n Live Comedy: Ed Byrne: Outside, Looking In 7.30pm - Cheltenham Town Hall The Dublin-stand-up and regular guest on Mock The Week returns with a new show of observational humor. ‘A masterful display of the comic’s art … This is a seamless and perfectly timed show that could stand proudly next to any Izzard, Bailey, Carr or Skinner stadium-filler’ – Sunday Times Cheltenham, GL50 1QA. £20.50 0844 576 2210 / www.edbyrne.com ........................................................

19th March

n Burford Orchestra’s Spring concert 7.30pm at the Methodist Church Hall in Witney. Come and watch this community orchestra of enthusiastic amateurs perform a fabulous selection of pieces by French composers: Poulenc- Les Biches Dukas- Sorcerers Apprentice (the music from the Disney cartoon, Fantasia) Saint-Saens- Symphony No.3 (Organ) Tickets: £8 adults, £4 children For more information see www.burfordorchestra.org.uk ........................................................

19th March

n Craig Ogden concert 7.30pm: Milton under Wychwood Church hosts concert by renowned guitarist (as heard on Classic FM) playing programme of classical and contemporary music. Tickets £15, under 16s £10 www.wychwoodbenefice.org.uk ........................................................

24th March - 21st April

n CNAAG public exhibition Theatre , Chipping Norton Chipping Norton Amateur Astronomy Group public exhibition in the gallery at the Theatre , Chipping Norton. Astronomy photography and more by CNAAG members. www.cnaag.com ........................................................

Come & join us at..

Witney Festival of Food and Drink Saturday 21st May: 9.00am - 5.00pm

A feast for foodies and a great day out for the whole family in a beautiful setting. 70 stalls of fabulous, local produce to browse along with other food related businesses, Children’s Tent, bar, cafe, tombola and raffle with cash prizes. Day long entertainment from local dancers and musicians. Visit www.witneyfoodfestival.co.uk for more information. Entrance fee £3, children under 12 free. Sy Mary’s Church, Church Green, Witney, OX28 4AW

Your CotswoldLink

Please mention Your CotswoldLink when contacting any of our advertisers

Having an event?

Email us your event details to: events@jkanorth.com and we’ll publish it for you. Magazine distribution dates are on p22.

24th March (9 weeks)

n Indoor Cricket Training Burford School Training for the Youth section and Adults (men and women) starts on Sunday 24th March 2016 for 9 weeks, taking us close to the start of the season, when we hope to continue training outside. These sessions are held at the Burford School (on the A40) from 6.00 – 9.00pm, with the Youth starting the early sessions and the Adults from 7.30 pm. Contacts: Richard Ede for the Youth (07803 603 051) and Josh Hornsby (07890 638 324) for the Adults. www.charlburycricketclub.com ........................................................

2nd April

n Charlbury Art Society’s Annual Spring Exhibition Exhibition of paintings and crafts will be held in conjuction with Charlbury Garden Society’s Annual Spring Show on Saturday, April 2nd, from 9am - 5pm. Further information available through the website: www.charlburyarts.co.uk ........................................................

7th April

n Saxon Brooches Family Drop-in:10-11am Worn by the Anglo-Saxons to decorate their clothing and keep cloaks in place. Come along and create your own Saxon brooch to take home. £1.50 per child Free for season ticket holders. Suitable for ages 3 and above. Corinium Museum, Park Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 2BX T: 01285 655611 E: coriniummuseum@slm-ltd.co.uk www.coriniummuseum.org ........................................................

9th & 10th April

n Charlbury Cricket Club: Cricket Force Weekend To be held over the Saturday and Sunday with lots of jobs to be done including a project to paint the ‘dressing rooms’, so Please note: the editors cannot be held responsible for any changes to events listed.

we will be looking for volunteers for both days. Please advise team captains of the day you will be available to help www.charlburycricketclub.com ........................................................

16th April

n AONB Cotswolds Dark Sky Campaign CNAAG public event at AONB headquarters Northleach to launch the Cotswolds Dark Sky campaign. www.cnaag.com ........................................................

21st - 24th April

n Chipping Norton Literary Festival We are hosting a range of events for readers, writers, children and young people, illustrators, Shakespeare fans and school pupils. We will be working alongside our partner bookshop, Jaffé & Neale, the Chipping Norton Theatre, our sponsors, funders and Festival Friends to create four days of wonderful literary events throughout Chipping Norton. Tickets are now on sale via the Theatre or call the box office on 01608 642350. www.chiplitfest.com ........................................................

7th - 9th June

n Bledington Music Festival 2016 The 16th Annual Series of Concerts in the Beautiful Cotswold Church of St Leonard’s, Bledington, OX7 6XD 7th June: Thomas Trotter, Organ. Catrin Finch, Harp. Come to see and hear our President and Vice President playing duos and solos. 8th June – ‘Brahms and the Gypsy’ ZRI re-work Brahms’ Clarinet Quintet with folk music which Brahms heard at The Red Hedgehog in Vienna. 9th June - The Marylebone Trio A popular programme for clarinet, oboe and bassoon. Tickets £20 for each concert, to include interval canapes, all seats unreserved. Tickets: 01608 658669 www.bledingtonmusicfestival.co.uk ........................................................ Please contact event organisers directly. All events correct at time of going to press.

Advertising - contact Christine: 01609 777401 or Dwight: 01609 779097 | www.cotswoldlink.co.uk

Your CotswoldLink

The

Cotswold Sky

Ceres the closest Dwarf Planet to the Sun Ceres is located in the asteroid belt, between the planets of Mars and Jupiter.

It is 950 km diameter and was discovered in 1801 by Giuseppe Piazzi who preferred to call in a planetoid. However; Sir William Herschel referred to Ceres as an asteroid and won the argument of the naming of the asteroid belt. Ceres was upgraded from asteroid to Dwarf Planet alongside Pluto in 2006. The Dawn spacecraft has taken some stunning photographs of Ceres. Prior to reaching Ceres, Dawn visited the asteroid Vesta. The objective of the mission is to help scientists understand the thermal history and the role of water in the evolution of asteroids and possibly establish if meteorites found on Earth come from these bodies.

The Dwarf Planet Ceres (Courtesy of NASA)

Astro News

New Planet Discovered – The major-

ity of our readers will be aware of the theoretical discovery of a 9th planet in our Solar System, but bear in mind that the planet referred to as Planet 9 has yet to be located. It is believed to be 10 times the mass of Earth and at a distance between 215 and 1,075 Astronomical Units from the Sun (remember 1AU is the distance between the Earth and the Sun). To give one an idea of the scale of our Solar System, Pluto is 40AU from the Sun. The new planet would take between 10,000 and 20,000 years to orbit the Sun. It is estimated that it may be as long as 7 years before the theoretical discovery is confirmed.

Your CotswoldLink

For detailed information go to: www.caltech.edu/news/caltechresearchers-find-evidence-real-ninthplanet-49523 The Biggest Supernovae Ever?

Astronomers have witnessed a supernova of such power that it shatters the records of all previous supernovae. According to the journal Science the event was: – About 200 times more powerful than a typical supernova. – More than twice as luminous as the previous record-holding supernova. – As bright as 570 billion of our suns. For more information go to: http://earthsky.org/space/recordshattering-super-supernova-asassn15lh?utm

Sky Diary

New-look Cotswolds.com launched Cotswolds Tourism have launched a brand new website to promote and market the Cotswolds to the domestic and international travel market.

March 9th Jupiter is visible all night

The six month project to transform www.cotswolds.com follows consultation

– this is the best opportunity to observe the planet this year. Jupiter will be almost due south at Midnight. On this day there will also be a Solar Eclipse in Indonesia and the Pacific Ocean. March 20th 04.30 hours Spring Equinox, this is when the Sun crosses the Equator on its journey north. March 21st Jupiter can be seen close to the waxing gibbous Moon all evening. March 27th British Summer Time begins (clocks go forward 1 hour) March 29th At around 06.00 hours look due South to see Saturn, the Moon and Mars close together. April 8th Mercury can be seen close to a New Moon in the west at 20.38hours. April 15th – 30th at around 21.00 hours Mercury can be seen in the North West. Mercury is most difficult of the inner planets to observe. April 25th Once more Saturn, Mars and a waning gibbous Moon can be observed in the south, but you are going to have to be up early at around 04.00 hours. April 22nd / 23rd Lyrids meteor shower peak

with Cotswolds Tourism partners to create a new website that reinforces the area as one of the country’s leading tourist destinations. The emphasis on bold and beautiful imagery makes the website a great showcase of what the Cotswolds can offer visitors. It’s also easy to navigate and has a clean and contemporary look, all in a responsive format for optimum mobile browsing. Digital Marketing Manager for Cotswolds Tourism, Victoria Carman, who’s led the development of the new web-site said “The brand new website will be a fantastic promotional tool for the Cotswolds. It uses inspirational images and content, as well as a great navigation to help our visitors find the information that they require quickly. It also provides them with further information on all of the activities and accommodation providers in the Cotswolds to encourage them to visit this wonderful destination.” Cotswolds Tourism Chief Executive Robin Tjolle said “We are so pleased that the new site has gone live. It will enable the partnership and our businesses to attract more national and international visitors to the region. The Cotswolds has so much to offer our visitors and now they can easily find all the information they need to encourage them to choose the Cotswolds as their next holiday destination. Tourism to the Cotswolds is worth over £1billion per year and the new site will help us to encourage visitors to stay longer and support this important part our local economy. “

John Harris

Please mention Your CotswoldLink when contacting any of our advertisers

What Career Should I Choose? Arguably the first most difficult decision that a youngster is going to make in life is choosing which subjects to study for his or her GCSE’s. Parents and guardians frequently ask me why Y9 children have to make such important decisions at such an early time in life. Unfortunately the education system has allowed this system of choice to carry on for decades instead of tackling the problem head on. Therefore we are left with what may be challenging or even irreversible decisions to make regarding career paths. There are of course a number of software programmes that allow one to answer a series of questions and out pops a computerised answer that one is best suited to become an engineer, doctor, veterinary surgeon, nurse, linguist, teacher, painter, welder, driver, electrician etc. On top of this the youngster is reminded that s/he must be prepared in life to perhaps have several career changes. Should any youngster reading this be worried about this having an adverse effect on one’s future do not worry; I can vouch that it is possible to travel along a variety of successful career paths – in my case from the coal mines to Head of Science via the railways and the Army. Work experience is of great importance and will give one the insight to what your hoped for career entails. It is not always the photogenic scenario that is often portrayed in advertisements and I have come across a number of students who have been disappointed with their experience in a work placement. My advice to students of all ages is to choose the subjects that they feel happiest with. Employers are not necessarily looking for the brightest student with a string of A* or Level 9’s to their name. They will be looking for a person who can show that they have the ability to adapt in their business environment by having the potential to make a positive contribution to the company’s success. Yes there will be other attributes that they require and the candidate may not

have all of them but a good company will provide the required training and guidance for the successful applicant. A good example of this is in teaching where a school will put a newly qualified teacher under the guidance of an experienced senior teacher who will act as a mentor. So a career choice in the early part of life has to have a degree of flexibility should circumstances change. Guidance in making a decision: • Do not be afraid of changing your mind • Seek advice from parents and more important people in the profession that you wish to follow. • Be prepared for a long journey to master the skills required. • Never give in to the qualification requirements of the profession. You have more resilience and energy than you think you do, so you can attain your objectives. • Money should not be the only criteria of choosing a profession. I know a successful lawyer who gave up her career because she found dealing with other peoples’ problems so depressing. • Have an alternative plan or route just in case. Good Luck In Your Search, John Harris

Advertising - contact Christine: 01609 777401 or Dwight: 01609 779097 | www.cotswoldlink.co.uk

Your CotswoldLink

The Addictive Fitbit Want to make sure you’re completing your 10,000 steps a day, or looking to improve your training?

An activity tracker can help. The FitBit is probably the best known brand on the market, with several models to choose from: The entry level Zip, at around £50, tracks your steps, distance walked and calories burned. “So it’s a fancy pedometer then?” I hear you ask. Well, yes, basically, but it’s more responsive and you can sync it to your computer or smartphone to see your activity presented as a graph. This makes it much easier to monitor your activity levels over time and track you progress.

The Zip also acts as a watch, and there are various other extras, such as the ability to log your food intake. Feel like you’re getting your full eight hours of sleep, but still feel tired? You might want to opt for One or Flex, which track your sleep as well as your activity. They also have silent alarms, to wake you up, but not your partner. One clips onto your clothing, while Flex is worn like a watch. There are some differences in what they offer – Flex doesn’t have a clock, for example. Charge is similar to Flex, in that you wear it like a watch, but it comes with some added extras, such as a clock. If your phone is nearby and it rings, the caller ID will come up on the Charge display. It also has a better battery life, of up to 10 days. Charge HR is designed for people who work out regularly, as it can recognise different exercises, and has an automatic heart-rate

Your CotswoldLink

monitor to help maximise your training. Top of the range is Surge, at around £200. It’s been designed for people who are really serious about their sports performance, and want to monitor every aspect of their training. For instance, you can track the route you’re running using GPS. You can also control music and read texts that come through to your smartphone. So which one to go for? Well Zip is a great choice if you just want to check whether you’re walking those recommended 10,000 steps a day. If you cycle, run, or enjoy another sport, you’ll want to opt for a more advanced model. Now, a warning… It is possible to get ever so slightly obsessed with the FitBit. You can easily find yourself checking it hundreds of times a day, which can distract you from real life, and you can find yourself pushing ever harder, unnecessarily. On the positive side, it does encourage you to increase your activity levels and build up your fitness. Like so much in life, the key is moderation. Tempted? Head to: www.fitbit.com By Kate Duggan

Please mention Your CotswoldLink when contacting any of our advertisers

Advertising - contact Christine: 01609 777401 or Dwight: 01609 779097 | www.cotswoldlink.co.uk

Your CotswoldLink

GARDEN VIEW

Lovely Lillies

(& a spot of hard-pruning!)

The first day of spring this year is officially March 20th. Trees are blossoming and daffodils are in bloom. The garden has woken up from its winter sleep and is full of promise. But promise is not enough. A beautiful garden does not happen by chance. So what are the top jobs for March gardeners? Pruning features large! Hard-prune those late flowering shrubs like Buddleia, Leycesteria and Lavateria, but only if the risk of heavy frost is past. Spring-flowering plants such as Forsythia and Winter Honeysuckle should be pruned immediately the flowers fade. If you haven’t already pruned your bush roses, now is the time. Leave about an inch of last year’s growth to encourage bushiness and lots of flowers. Shrub roses don’t need such radical treatment but would benefit from losing a third of their old, thick, woody stems.

Ok, we’ve dispensed with the hard work, now it’s time to look ahead. I have one word for you...Lilies. I always thought they were tricky to grow, and so they proved, mainly because my garden doubles as a slug sanctuary! Then I had an epiphany. It dawned on me that if I grew them in pots, slug prevention would be easier, plus I didn’t run the risk of slicing through the fat, scaly bulbs or tender shoots with my hoe while enthusiastically weeding my plot. Even better, it means you can grow them even if you only have a balcony. There are loads of varieties in the garden centres right now. Three bulbs fit nicely into an 8inch / 20cm pot and five fit into a ten inch / 25cm pot. I’ve found terracotta pots best because they provide enough weight to prevent these tall plants tipping over.

Lift congested clumps of snowdrops while they still have leaves showing.

Lilies need an open planting mixture which drains well so I use a mixture of potting compost plus a soil-less multi-purpose compost. The bulb tips should be a couple of inches below the compost.

Finally, stay on top of the weeds. If you leave them, weeding quickly becomes an insurmountable chore.

Keep in a sheltered spot and water when the surface of the compost looks dry. Once the buds have formed, feed weekly with dilute tomato food

March: Spring arrives Spring usually arrives by mid-March and the frequent sunny days provide the opportunity for an increasing range of gardening tasks. It’s time to get busy preparing seed beds, sowing seed, cutting back winter shrubs and generally tidying up around the garden.

Your CotswoldLink

Top 10 Garden jobs this month:

1 Protect new spring shoots from slugs 2 Plant shallots, onion sets and early potatoes 3 Plant summer-flowering bulbs 4 Lift and divide overgrown clumps of perennials 5 Top dress containers with fresh compost 6 Mow the lawn on dry days (if needed)

until late summer. When the blooms fade, cut the stems down and place in a sheltered spot. Each spring, scrape away a couple of inches of compost and add fresh mixture, then repeat the instructions above. Treated like this your lilies will reward you for three or four years before they need re-potting. There are a plethora of colours and scents available, so there is a lily for everyone. Try them. I guarantee you’ll be as in love with lilies as I am. By Rachel Leverton

7 Cut back Cornus (dogwood) and Salix (willow) grown for colourful winter stems

8 Weeds come back in to growth - deal with them before they get out of hand

9 Start feeding fish and using the pond fountain; remove pond heaters

10 Open the greenhouse or conservatory doors and vents on warm days

Please mention Your CotswoldLink when contacting any of our advertisers

Advertising - contact Christine: 01609 777401 or Dwight: 01609 779097 | www.cotswoldlink.co.uk

Your CotswoldLink

Light a beacon for the Queen’s 90th birthday!

An official guide (www.brunopeek.co.uk/ Queens-90th-birthday-beacons.pdf) is now available providing information about plans to light beacons across the country on 21 April when Her Majesty The Queen celebrates her 90th birthday. West Oxfordshire District Council is encouraging local community groups to get involved in this initiative.

Sir Barry Norton, Leader of the Council, said, “Britain has a long history of lighting beacons to mark important national occasions and I am sure that parishes and community groups across West Oxfordshire will want to show their support for our Queen on the 21 April.” Instructions about joining the national event are in the official guide: www.brunopeek. co.uk/Queens-90th-birthday-beacons.pdf Registration is open now and closes on Friday 18 April. For more information please go to www.brunopeek.co.uk West Oxfordshire District Council is also asking communities and groups to let them know if they are taking part as the Council will be publicising where the beacons will be lit on its website – www.westoxon.gov.uk. This can be done by emailing communications@westoxon.gov.uk or by calling 01993 861000.

West Oxfordshire joins UK’s biggest clean-up West Oxfordshire District Council is encouraging its residents to take action against litter by joining in with the nation’s biggest ever clean-up. In the run up to The Queen’s 90th birthday celebration in 2016, Keep Britain Tidy is urging millions of people to spend a few hours litter-picking to make the places where we live more beautiful. The campaign is calling for action during January, February and March with a grand litter picking weekend on the 4-6 March 2016. The District Council can supply free refuse sacks and will collect any bagged up litter after the community clean up from agreed collection points. It also has limited supplies of litter picking equipment (litter grabbers, gloves and hi-visibility bibs) that can be loaned to volunteers.

Your CotswoldLink

Cllr David Harvey, Cabinet Member responsible for the Environment, said: “Although there are many groups in West Oxfordshire already dedicated to keeping their local environment clean and carrying out regular litter picks, we hope that even more will be inspired to do this as part of the Clean for the Queen campaign. “When the Queen was born, litter was not the problem that it is today. Used food packaging, plastic bottles and, takeaway meals have all contributed to a growing menace that affects our wildlife, streets and countryside. However, compared to other districts, our levels of littering are low and our standards are much higher than the national average. With the support of the community, our aim is to keep it that way.”

Call 01993 861000 to join in with West Oxfordshire District Council’s response to the ‘Clean for the Queen’ campaign. Groups can register to be listed on the national ‘Clean for the Queen’ campaign map by visiting www.cleanforthequeen.co.uk . Publicity resources can also be downloaded from this website.

Please mention Your CotswoldLink when contacting any of our advertisers

Looking for a reliable Property Maintenance Company? Are you looking for one company who can carry out all trades of work, without the hassle of getting in touch with different companies?

At FFH Trade Services - Painters

to each individual customer to

Decorators and Property

get the job done right.

Maintenance, we are proudly based in and around Witney, Oxfordshire. We are known by our customers for being reliable and hard working, providing you with outstanding results. We are committed to offer quality work for every job we carry out and we work to the customer’s satisfaction. Offering you quality work doesn’t mean you pay out

Do you want a company in

more, it simply means you get

your home who are honest,

a better service with us and

professional and affordable?

you get outstanding results,

Don’t take our word for it, check out our feedback and see what our customers think

with the reassurance that we will leave you with an impeccable standard of work.

about FFH Trade Services. The

We are a professional and

company who offer you building

experienced local family run

services and much more, at an

business. We take pride in all

affordable rate.

our work and listen carefully

See our feedback for your peace of mind, then feel free to get in touch. We can be found on Google, MyBuilder and all major search engines. You can find our testimonials on our website.

With FFH Trade Services you get: • Professional on-site visits to suit your needs • Quotes emailed within 48 hours • Protection to your property while we carry out work • High quality workmanship • Friendly, respectful and honest service • Receipts on request • Guarantee on all work

Please feel free to contact using the details below for a chat and to arrange a site visit or for a free quotation: 07766 575721 www.ffhtradeservices.co.uk

Advertising - contact Christine: 01609 777401 or Dwight: 01609 779097 | www.cotswoldlink.co.uk

Your CotswoldLink

There are

thousands of reasons to

West Oxfordshire

Aston Magna Blockley Bourton-on-the-Hill

Moretonin-Marsh

Little Compton Evenlode

Longborough

advertise with us...

Condicote Oddington Broadwell

Winchcombe

Stow-onthe-Wold

18,050

Great Rollright

homes & businesses

Little Rollright Over Norton

Chipping Norton Cornwell

Heythrop

Lidstone

KinghamChurchill Dean Sarsden Naunton Chadlington Wyck Bledington Taston Lower Slaughter Whittington Rissington Church Greenend Spelsbury Westcote Shorthampton Nether Westcote Notgrove Shipton-underAndoversford Idbury Dowdeswell 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 Upper Slaughter

Icomb

Bourton-onthe-Water

15,350

from only

£180!

Charlbury

Northleach

North Cotswolds

1/2 Page

1/4 Page from only

£105!

Burford

homes & businesses

Shilton

1/8 Page

Brize Norton

£65!

Carterton

Royal Mail Delivered / FREE Index Service Free Advert Design Christine 01609 777401 07742 595747 christine@jkanorth.com

Index

Beauty Cotswold Beauty: p1 Builders & Contractors CN Glass: p7 Cotswold Stoves & Chimneys: p7 Elite Garage Doors: p19 Eynsham Park Sawmill: p3 FFH Trade Services: p21 JA Shirley Building Services: p23 PJC Services: p7 The 50 Plus: p16 Business Services Country Estates: p6 Carpets & Flooring Chipping Norton Flooring: p9 Cotswold Carpets: p24 Kingham Carpets: p11 Children’s Services Cotswold Tutor: p15 Chimney Services Cotswold Stoves & Chimneys: p7 Mr Sweep Chimney Services: p6 Cleaning Services The Laundry: p16 MRK Services: p19

Your CotswoldLink

Dwight 01609 779097 dwight@jkanorth.com www.cotswoldlink.co.uk

Dentist Cirencester Dental Practice: p17 Education Cotswold Tutor: p15 Elderly Services The Langston Care Home: p16 Electrical Services Cotswold Aerials: p23 Mayday Aerials: p6 PJC Services: p7 Finance & Legal Lionheart Later Life Planning: p17 Furniture Cottonwood Interiors: p3 Eynsham Park Sawmill: p3 MRK Services: p19 Gardening & Outdoors Cotswold Tool & Plant Hire: p19 Eynsham Park Sawmill: p3 FFH Trade Services: p21 MRK Services: p19 Healthcare & Wellbeing Cirencester Dental Practice: p17

Next issues

West Oxfordshire May / June 2016

Dist: w/c 2nd & 9th May ‘16 Copy: 8th April ‘16 ............................................

North Cotswolds May / June 2016

Elspeth 01904 709462 elspeth@jkanorth.com

Cotswold Coaching Retreats: p10 Footworx Clinic: p17 Jacquelyne Morisson Hypnotherapy Training: p11 Ramona Gogolos Foot Health Professional: p17 Heating Cotswold Oil & Gas Services: p23 Cotswold Stoves & Chimneys: p7 Fosse Fires: p24 Gas & Oil Heating Services: p4 Heat Store: p4 Hire Cotswold Tool & Plant Hire: p19 Holidays Character Cottages: p2 Home & Interiors Amanda Winstone Curtains & Soft Furnishings: p6 Associated Blinds: p24 Chipping Norton Flooring: p9 Cotswold Carpets: p24 Cotswold Stoves & Chimneys: p7 Cottonwood Interiors: p3 Country Bathrooms: p8

from only

Dist: w/c 2nd & 9th May ‘16 Copy: 8th April ‘16

Fosse Fires: p24 Heat Store: p4 Sewing Tuition: p15 Woodentop Restoration Company: p3 Kitchens & Bathrooms Country Bathrooms: p8 Cottonwood Interiors: p3 Woodentop Restoration Company: p3 Laundry The Laundry: p16 Logs & Fuel Walkers Logs: p5 Painters & Decorators Paul Dadge: p1 PMO Decorators: p8 Pets & Animals Dial A Dog Wash: p13 Plumbing PJC Services: p7 Property Maintenance CN Glass: p7 Cotswold Oil & Gas Services: p6 Cotswold Stoves & Chimneys: p7

Please mention Your CotswoldLink when contacting any of our advertisers

FFH Trade Services: p21 Gas & Oil Heating Services: p4 JA Shirley Building Services: p23 Mr Sweep Chimney Services: p6 PJC Services: p7 The 50 Plus: p16 Sewing Sewing Tuition: p15 Sound & Vision Cotswold Aerials: p23 Mayday Aerials: p6 Travel & Tourism Character Cottages: p2 Tuition Cotswold Tutor: p15 My Computer Tutor: p15 Sewing Tuition: p15 Windows CN Glass: p7 Workwear First Avenue Supplies: p3 The Index is a free service offered to our customers. No responsibility can be held for errors or omissions. Multiple entries included on a space available basis

Advertising - contact Christine: 01609 777401 or Dwight: 01609 779097 | www.cotswoldlink.co.uk

Your CotswoldLink