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Nov / Dec 2013
What’s On @ Saturday 2 November - Sunday 3 November, 7.30pm
DIANA (12A)
Oliver Hirschbiegel 113mins Celebrated and adored by millions, she was the Queen of people’s hearts, yet the bittersweet story of the last man to truly capture hers has never before been told. Starring double Academy Award nominee Naomi Watts as Diana, this probing drama from the oscar-nominated director of Downfall reveals the lady behind the legend. Tickets: Adults £7, Under 16s £5 A £1 booking fee applies to all tickets, unless otherwise stated.
Thursday 7th November, 7.30pm
RUSH (15)
Ron Howard 123mins Two-time Academy Award winner Ron Howard teams once again with Frost/Nixon and The Queen writer Peter Morgan for this spectacular big-screen re-creation of the merciless Formula One rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda. The epic action-thriller stars Chris Hemsworth as the charismatic Englishman and Daniel Brühl as the disciplined Austrian perfectionist, whose clashes on the Grand Prix racetrack epitomized the contrast between these two extraordinary characters. Tickets: Adults £7, Under 16s £5
Tuesday 19th November - Sunday 12th January, 10.15am
Jack and the Giant
The world famous Chipping Norton pantomime tells the biggest tale of them all! A boy and his cow, a giant and his castle in the clouds, beanstalks, bravery and beautiful princesses – all feature in our unique twist on this classic story. Steeped in the myths and legends of the English countryside, this show is a celebratory spectacular of laughter, music and lots and lots of sweeties. A multi-talented cast play a huge array of instruments to make this a musical extravaganza like you’ve never before seen. A show so full of beans it will have you laughing and singing until the cow comes home.
Tuesday 19th November - Tuesday 10th December, 11am - 3pm
The Owen Mumford Gallery - CAROLINE CHAPPELL
Caroline’s paintings celebrate the familiar. Everyday objects are carefully arranged in a setting, often complimented by a landscape as backdrop. Each painting uses colour and marks to link forms and highlight spaces. The flattened perspective helps to create a dreamlike quality to the narrative. Caroline is also working on a book of favourite recipes. This exhibition includes some of her lively mixed-media food illustrations. There will be a demonstration with Caroline 11am - 1pm on Sat 30th November. Tickets: FREE - No need to book, just turn up
Thursday 28th November, 7.45pm
Cotswold Comedy Club present: MAFF BROWN
Headliner Maff Brown leads the way in this hilarious mixed bill, he is a writing regular for Mock the Week and Shooting Stars and tours internationally with his upbeat, acutely honest and achingly funny comedy. His energy and humour pervades the stage and delights the audience every time. Maff is joined onstage by James Alderson and Tez Ilyas. Tickets: All Tickets £12. Suitable for ages 14+
Friday 29th November, 7.30pm
AUSTENLAND (12A)
Jerusha Hess 97mins Jane is obsessed with the BBC production of Pride and Prejudice, and all things Jane Austen. But when she decides to spend her life savings on a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-crazed women, Jane’s fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become more real than she ever could have imagined. A perky romantic comedy that echoes the themes and wit of the great writer herself. Tickets: Adults £7, Under 16s £5
Monday 2nd December, 7.45pm
GYLES BRANDRETH: LOOKING FOR HAPPINESS
When Gyles Brandreth set out to find the secret of “How to be Happy” he started in Las Vegas and ended up in the psychiatrist’s chair. What he discovered about who gets to be happy and how provide the essence of a unique one-man show that should make you laugh and could change your life. Award-winning raconteur, Just A Minute regular and One Show reporter Gyles has recently appeared on QI, Have I Got News For You and, of course, Countdown. Tickets: All Tickets £16. Suitable for ages 14+ Box Office: 01608 642350 Fax: 01608 642324 boxoffice@chippingnortontheatre.com www.chippingnortontheatre.com
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inside
Your CotswoldLink
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05 house & home 06 new businesses 08 10 education 12 out & about 14 recipe 15 house & home
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travel
Garden View: Surviving Christmas
The importance of Chimney Sweeps New businesses and services Who Controls the Private Tutor? Local Events this Winter The Perfect Christmas Pudding Keep Warm this Winter
16 garden 17 astronomy 18 18 feature 20 local news 21 safety 22 index garden
Mallorca: a world of its own
November Garden Maintenance Cotswold Sky The Poppy Appeal West Oxfordshire Council News Winter Tyres Cotswold Link Index
Welcome to the November - December edition of Your CotswoldLink In this issue we look at several aspects of Christmas and Winter, including a recipe for the perfect Christmas Pudding (p14), how to help your houseplants survive the festive period (p16) as well as how to keep warm during the colder months (p15). This issue is also packed with seasonal events, so make sure you get out and about and enjoy as many of them as you can! If you would like to advertise your business in this magazine then please contact me using the details below. Best wishes,
t: 01609 777401 www.cotswoldlink.co.uk
Christine Campbell | Editor
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Index See p22
facebook.com/YourCotswoldLink
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Mandy’s
Top Travel Tips In this issue...
Mallorca: a world of its own With a wide variety of culture, history and natural terrain it is not surprising that the sheer beauty of Mallorca captivates everyone who visits. From the North with its rugged mountainous region of Tramuntana, across a vast central plain towards the gentle hills of the Levante Mountain range in the East, Mallorca an island of contrast and a short flight away offers a succession of beautiful coves, sandy bays, rugged mountains and a coastline of 500km.
There is something for everyone on Mallorca – Palma the lively capital of Palma with its dazzling nightlife offers an enjoyable weekend break where you can enjoy the vibrant and sophisticated city with its beautiful sea front. It is busy and bustling, you can take a walk through the meandering streets and wide avenues where you find a splendid selection of shops or stop at a little tapas bar that is tucked away and sample the delightful cuisine and wine on offer. A must also is to visit Palmas famous Cathedral and take in the stunning views from Bellver Castle. In contrast to Palma are the captivating little villages untouched by time surrounded by a multitude of trees species: ancient olive trees, carob trees growing on terraces and clinging tenaciously to the mountainside. Mallorca enjoys a temperate Mediterranean climate, whilst it is warm and sunny in March to November it is cooler from December to February so is enjoyable all year round. Mallorca is truly a world of its own and a world ideal for the independent – minded traveller in search of something unique. From the thriving coastal life boasting fantastic beaches to the many inland villages and mountain retreats, Mallorca truly has something for everyone.
CONTACT THE TEAM • Chipping Norton: 10, Middle Row - t: 01608 641 983 • Bourton-on-the-Water: Moore Road - t: 01451 822 048 www.carricktravel.com
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‘‘
‘‘
Chim-chim-cheree
The term ‘Chimney sweep’ may conjure up images of small, Dickensian type characters covered in soot, scrambling up enormous chimneys, and we might ask ourselves if there is really a need for this ancient trade in today’s modern world with its gas fires and centrally heated properties. Well, the short answer to that is ‘Yes!’ Even chimneys serving gas fires need cleaning on a regular basis – and if you are one of the growing number of householders returning to the cosy, romantic comfort of a traditional coal or log fire, it is essential that you spend a little time and money ensuring that your fireplace is functioning both safely and efficiently. As a fire burns, it releases numerous gases up the chimney which escape into the atmosphere. As they pass through the chimney, soot - which contains a flammable substance called creosote - begins to accumulate on the walls. Over time, these deposits can begin to obstruct and eventually completely block the chimney, which could lead to an inefficient and potentially unsafe fireplace and the risk of chimney fires. This is why regular cleaning of a chimney is essential. Although it is possible to clean the chimney yourself, you might prefer instead to hire a professional chimney sweep to do this tiring, messy job! In addition to cleaning the chimney, he or she will check for other problems which might
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lead to chimney fires or inefficient burning, and will also inspect your chimney for potential problems from the roof. A chimney that serves an open fire should be swept at least once a year, after a period of prolonged disuse (for example at the end of the summer) , and also at the end of the heating season to ensure that it is clear of animal nests and is prepared for the idle period. Chimneys that are used frequently may need cleaning more often, whilst those serving gas fires less often. A visit to the National Association of Chimney Sweeps or Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps websites will help you locate a local, reliable chimney sweep. These two organisations have worked together over recent years to introduce a National Code of Practice for Chimney Sweeps, designed to protect the public from untrained or poorly trained sweeps. Sweeps meeting the Standard are required to issue an Industry Standard certificate (the Standard being printed on the reverse) and where necessary, an Industry Standard Warning Notice and Label. A sweep typically takes around 45 minutes and costs around £40 per chimney, though this can vary according to location and the difficulty of the job. Before employing anyone to carry out the work, please check that they have full public liability insurance. By Debbie Singh-Bhatti
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W E N businesses
Expansion for the Laundry Company The Laundry Company is Chipping Norton has experienced a hugely successful 2013 and are now looking to develop and expand their business. Their commitment to improving quality and speed of service has been demonstrated by the leasing of two new machines. This will increase the capacity of work they are able to undertake, as well as improving the turnaround time for laundered items.
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The Laundry Company are a partner for Ironing Angel and work throughout the West Oxfordshire area on their behalf.
in
“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:
For more details call 01608 645582 / 07794 830703 Full price list available online: www.thelaundrycompanyuk.com
1/8 and ¼) and they will receive the equivalent space in complimentary editorial*. This editorial provides excellent business exposure to 15,200 homes and businesses and allows further explanation of the new business or services available. * Editorial must be supplied completed.
To feature within this section of the magazine please contact us on: 01609 777401 christine@jkanorth.com
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Whittington Dowdeswell Andoversford shipton Compton Abdale Withington
Chedworth
See p 22 for m ore detai ls
Moretonin-Marsh
Little Compton evenlode
Longborough Condicote
Oddington Broadwell
Stow-onthe-Wold
Great Rollright Little Rollright Over norton
Chipping Norton Cornwell
heythrop
Lidstone
KinghamChurchill Icomb upper slaughter Dean sarsden naunton Chadlington Wyck Bledington taston Lower slaughter Rissington Church Greenend spelsbury Westcote shorthampton nether Westcote notgrove shipton-underIdbury Little Wychwood Chilson Rissington Fifield Milton-under- Ascott-underClapton-on-the-hill Great Fawler Wychwood Wychwood turkdean Rissington Finstock Langley Ramsden Great Leafield Barrington Fulbrook taynton hailey Asthall Windrush Little Leigh eastington swinbrook Barrington Crawley
Bourton-onthe-Water
Charlbury
Northleach
Burford
Coln st Dennis Aldsworth
Asthall
Minster Lovell
Bradwell Village shilton
Brize norton
Carterton Please mention Your CotswoldLink when contacting any of our advertisers
Witney
Definitely not
‘run of the mill!’
Local Flour Millers open specialist home baking shop for flour, bakeware, gifts and much more! FWP Matthews Ltd, The Cotswold Flour Millers, are a family owned business based in Shipton-under-Wychwood who celebrated their centenary last year. We have always sold flour and mixes to home bakers and have recently opened a purpose built shop to sell our range of flours alongside bakeware, gifts, biscuits baked by our customers and a selection of local food products. Please feel free to call in and browse our new shop. For more details contact us on: 01993 830 342 www.fwpmatthews.co.uk Email: sales@fwpmatthews.co.uk FWP Matthews Ltd, Station Road, Shipton under Wychwood, Chipping Norton, OX7 6BH
New Status for Country Park Country Park secures Queen Elizabeth II status Kilkenny Lane Country Park has been officially dedicated a Queen Elizabeth II Field. West Oxfordshire District Council nominated the Country Park as part of the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge, which aims to protect 2,012 outdoor recreational spaces in communities across the country.
local location for walking, jogging, horse-riding or simply relaxing with a picnic. Within the Park is an adventure play area for children. For more information about the Country Park, visit www. westoxon.gov.uk/countrypark.
The scheme was created as a grassroots legacy to celebrate 2012’s big events such as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympic and Paralympic Games as well as to promote the upcoming 2014 Commonwealth Games. Developed by the national charity Fields in Trust, the programme permanently protects recreational spaces to allow them to remain loved and used by their community and safeguard them for future generations. The Country Park will be honoured with a special commemorative plaque installed on the site. Cllr Richard Langridge, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “I am thrilled that the Park has been dedicated a QE II Field, it ensures that it will continue to give lots of enjoyment to everyone for years to come and is a wonderful legacy of the big events in 2012.” Kilkenny Lane Country Park is set within 21 hectares (50 acres) between Brize Norton and Carterton. It is a popular
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Who Controls the Private Tutor? According to the Times there are 1.5 million private tutors in the UK, this compares with an estimate of 1 million by the BBC. Whatever the number one thing remains certain and that is until now private tuition has been by and large totally unregulated. One interviewee on the BBC referred to the situation as being “The Wild West of Education”.
Definition of a Private Tutor This is trickier than one would initially envisage. I would imagine that the majority of the readers of this article associate a private tutor as one who teaches school children or students, but this is not the case. A private tutor can be defined as a person who teaches anyone of any age to improve their personnel skills this could include a whole range of hobbies and sports including: dancing, art, singing, playing an instrument, horse riding, speech, acting, motor cycling, typing, swimming, tennis, golf and other sports/activities. These tutors do not necessarily need a degree or a PGCE to carry out their duties, in fact many of them will not consider themselves private tutors but they carry out a similar function as one who teaches school children academic subjects.
The main purpose of the TTA is to promote the value of tutoring to parents, schools, and the general public. The improvement of guidance for parents is considered to be imperative.
In addition many people who teach privately are associated with respectable institutions but unfortunately not all. This is one of the reasons that The Tutors Association has been formed, to bring professional recognition to all private tutors.
Advice to Parents
The Tutors Association The Tutors Association (TTA) was launched in October of this year; it was founded by six leading providers of education, together with the Centre for Market Reform of Education, an education think tank.
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All members need to have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and the public have direct access to the TTA regarding any problem or query regarding an individual tutor.
It may take a while for TTA to become well known despite national media coverage. In the meantime there are a number of reputable companies and individuals offering private tuition on the internet. Regrettably there is also the odd rogue. My advice to parents and guardians is to ensure that your prospective tutor has: • Referees • DBS Registration (formerly referred to as the CRB)
• Teaching experience at the required level • Teaching experience in the required subject • Evidence of qualifications • A brief of his/her career • Membership of The Tutors Association For Further Information: www.thetutorsassociation.org.uk Wishing all readers a Happy Festive Season – John Harris
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Children’s Corner See if you can complete our Bonfire-night related puzzles!
Can you find all the bonfire-related words in the grid below? bang bonfire fireworks flash guy sausages sparklers toffee
Guy Fawkes needs your help!
Bonfire Suduko Can you arrange the letter FIRE in the grid so that no letter appears twice in each line or each 2 x 2 square?
I E F
I E
Answers: see page 22
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Out & About 7th November
• Art Fund Oxfordshire Christmas Fair Caswell House, Burford: 10am-4.30pm The traders, who have been specially selected from Oxfordshire and surrounding counties, will offer a fabulous collection of antiques, crafts, books, art, clothing for all, children’s toys, Christmas decorations, food, house wares, together with a few surprises! Advance tickets £5. Apply sue@hollebone.com. 10am4.30pm Advance booking £5 per ticket; £6 on the day. Tel: 01235 812052. . .....................................................................................................................
8th November
• Christmas Shopping & Pamper Night Charlbury Primary School This fundraising event in aid of Charlbury Primary School, will take place on Friday 8th November at the School. More information and further details will be posted in the near future. Any stall holder enquiries should be submitted to office.2100@charlbury.oxon.sch.uk ......................................................................................................................
9th November
• Charities Christmas Sale of Cards & Crafts Charlbury Memorial Hall: 10am - 12 noon Twelve different charities selling not only Christmas cards but a huge variety of crafts, including jewellery, stationery, Christmas gifts, cakes, etc. Coffees, teas, snacks and delicious mince pies will also be on sale. ......................................................................................................................
16th November
• Chipping Norton Farmers Market Stalls with delicious, fresh, locally produced, seasonal food direct from farm to you! Time: 8.30am - 1.30pm. Tel: 01235 227266
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23rd November
• Christmas Fair Wychwood Wrought Iron, 4 London Lane, Ascottunder-Wychwood, OX7 6AN Mulled wine, festive treats and lots of Christmas gift ideas. Includes Christmas Crafts and Activities, Raffle, Flower Art and much more! Tel: 07807 263009 ...................................................................................................................... The editors cannot be held responsible for any changes to the events listed. All events are correct at time of going to print.
Charlbury Art Society November Meeting
Tickets available from Jaffé & Neale
Single £4 Children (under 16) £2 Family ticket £12 (2 Adults 2 Children) On the night: Single £5 Children (under 16) £3 Family ticket £15 (2 Adults 2 Children)
Charlbury Art Society’s November meeting will be with well known artist, book and DVD presenter, Terry Harrison, who will give a demonstration and short talk on “Boats and Harbours” showing painting techniques using water-based paints Friends Meeting House, Market Street, Charlbury, November 13th at 7:30pm. Members free, visitors £3 . Please note there will be no talk in December.
Brought to you by the Rotary Club of Chipping Norton
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30th November
• Christmas Craft & Gift Fair Carterton Community Centre: 10am – 4pm Admission is free & the Cafe will be open. Over 30 stalls with handmade crafts & lots of other great Christmas gift ideas. Plus bring the family along to visit Santa’s Grotto (money raised from this will go towards RAFA Calendar Girls). So this should be a great opportunity to pop along to the Centre buy yourself some lovely gifts, see Santa then relax in our friendly cafe with a drink & something to eat!! Call 01993 842807 for more details. ......................................................................................................................
1st December
• 4th Aldsworth Christmas Fayre Aldsworth, Glos GL54 3QS From 11.00am to 3.00pm in Aldsworth Village Hall. Locally produced Christmas food items and gift ideas. Raffle, refreshments and festive cheer £1 entry children Free. Tel Shona: 07803 029943 ......................................................................................................................
6th December
• Bourton’s annual late night shopping event A fabulous selection of bespoke shops and boutiques, offering unique gifts for all ages. Quaint tea rooms, stylish restaurants, bistro’s and bars all open till late. Marvel at our famous christmas tree in the river windrush with the lights being switched on at 6pm. See the school choir and local bands performing, childrens rides and street entertainement and much much more alongside an array of stalls and street food all situated along the high street. For more info contact Kirsty on 07912733193 or kirsty@bensonstotallyfruity.co.uk ......................................................................................................................
14th December
• North Cotswold Chamber Choir St Nicholas Church, Chadlington - 7.30pm The choir enjoys an enviable reputation for the excitement and panache of its performances, and has sung alongside soloists of international stature including Nancy Argenta, Catherine Bott, Jennifer Smith and James Gilchrist. Tickets: £12; concessions £10; 18 and under £5. MAIN BOX OFFICE: Jaffe and Neale Books & Cafe, Chipping Norton 01608 641033 ......................................................................................................................
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The Perfect Christmas Pudding
Ingredients 225g/8oz golden caster sugar
Makes 4 x 1 pint (450ml) or 2 x 2 pint (1 litre) Preparation time 30 minutes plus 5-6 hours steaming time, plus 2 hours re-steaming on the day of eating.
225g/8oz vegetarian suet
Method
120g/4oz chopped candied peel
340g/12oz sultanas 340g/12oz raisins 225g/8oz currants
• Mix together all the dry ingredients.
120g/4oz plain flour
• Stir in the eggs and brandy and mix to-
120g/4oz fresh white breadcrumbs 60g/2oz flaked almonds
gether thoroughly.
Zest of 1 lemon
• Scrape the mixture into 4 x 1 pint (450ml)
5 eggs, beaten
or 2 x 2 pint (1 litre) lightly-greased pudding basins.
1level tsp ground cinnamon 1level tsp mixed spice
• Put a circle of baking parchment and foil
1 level tsp freshly grated nutmeg
over the top of each basin and tie securely round the rim with string.
Pinch of salt 150ml/5fl oz brandy or rum
• Make a string handle by tying both round and
• Pour in boiling water to come a third of the
over the basin, to make it easier to pick out of the pan after cooking.
• Put the basins in a large steamer of boiling
• Change the baking parchment and foil covers
water and cover with a lid.
• Boil for 5-6 hours, topping the boiling water up from time to time if necessary so that it doesn’t boil dry. If you don’t have a steamer, you can use a large pan and stand the basins on inverted saucers placed in the base.
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way up the sides of the pudding bowls. Cover and steam as before. Cool. for fresh ones and tie up as before. Store in a cool cupboard until Christmas Day.
• To serve the pudding on Christmas Day, steam for 2 hours and serve with brandy butter, rum sauce, cream or home-made custard.
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Keep Warm This Winter - Top Tips A drop in body temperature can lower the body’s resistance to germs, so if you are elderly or otherwise susceptible to cold-related illnesses, it is essential that you stay warm during winter. • First, keep your home warm. Consider creating a ‘warm room’ where you spend most of your time, and turn down the thermostat in other areas of the home. • Next, eliminate draughts. Place plastic sheeting over windows and fit foam seals and weather strips to doors. Use draught excluders and if you can’t successfully stop a draught rearrange the furniture so that you are not sitting in it. • Close the curtains at night to reduce heat loss and make sure that radiators aren’t blocked by furniture or curtains. • Wear several layers of thin clothing to insulate your body, keep feet warm in fleece slippers and use lightweight throws or fleece blankets to cover feet and shoulders. • Make sure you eat well as food creates energy which in turn creates heat. Hot meals and drinks can warm the body both inside and out. • Finally, stay active! Doing a little light cleaning or some other simple activity will increase your circulation and generate some heat. Follow these simple guidelines and hopefully you will not only stay warm this winter, but you will also remain illness free! By Debbie Singh-Bhatti
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Garden View
Surviving
Christmas Surviving a modern day Christmas can be challenge enough for humans, but just imagine how difficult it is if you’re a plant.
You’ve been reluctantly forced to flower, grown in a light controlled polytunnel and you’ve been force fed with growth stunting hormones to ensure you’re not too straggly when flowering on Mrs Cratchit’s table...and here’s me feeling sorry for the turkey! It seems such a shame that after all the effort, you go and kill the poor thing after just one week of taking custody. This year will be different though, because whether giving or receiving a houseplant this festive yuletide, help is at hand with my top tips for keeping them alive (until New Year at least!). House plants give such a wonderful display, and are sure to last longer than a bunch of flowers. Choose from large flowering Cyclamen, brightly coloured Azaleas, sweetly scented Jasmine and of course the traditional Poinsettia. Oh, and don’t forget about bulbs, ‘Paperwhite’ Narcissus are synonymous with Christmas, and forced Hyacinths too, but I can appreciate that their strong scent is best savoured in spring. Before we go on to the care of houseplants, let’s just clear one thing up, houseplants hate houses! Dry central heating, low light levels and draughts are all things houseplants really don’t like, as most of these plants come from very humid, tropical parts of the world.
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The best way to ensure your flowers bloom for longer and your leaves don’t go brown at the tips, is to ensure the right conditions for survival.
the compost heap in the sky - I don’t think there’s any worse house plant tragedy than a straggly Poinsettia in July with three stunted yellow leaves.
• Avoid placing plants in a draughty location such as windowsills, or near to a frequently opened door, (they won’t appreciate the large fluctuations in temperature) • Avoid hotspots, such as in front of or above a radiator or fire • Water plants by plunging them into a bowl of tepid (not cold) water, and then allowing the water to fully drain out from the pot before returning to its location • Azaleas like humid conditions, so stand these on a tray of gravel filled with water, (but ensure plants are not sat in water) • Create a ‘plant area’ where groups of plants can be stood together, this will create more humidity • Avoid direct sunshine • Ensure the compost never dries out or is too saturated, water little and often • Remove faded flowers to prevent disease and to promote flowering
Poinsettias are popular because they look wonderful, but here’s a little word of warning, be careful not to get the sap of a Poinsettia on your skin as they can cause irritation, and always keep them out of reach of pets and children. Have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year Lee
And finally, don’t get emotionally attached, think of flowering houseplants as a medium term bunch of flowers or a Christmas decoration, and after flowering if they look a little jaded, return them to Please mention Your CotswoldLink when contacting any of our advertisers
General tasks & garden maintenance Tidy borders
Cut down herbaceous stems and clear the tatty remains of annuals, but do leave a little cover of the perennials that fade relatively elegantly (sedum, astilbes and grasses for example). They will provide winter interest as well as some much needed wildlife shelter - ladybirds especially appreciate winter quarters and will repay your hospitality by disposing of aphids in industrial quantities next year. Leaving sodden debris and fallen leaves around plants will only encourage pests and disease. .....................................................
Clean out the greenhouse
Clear out the greenhouse, wash pots and trays, clean, mend and oil your tools and throw away anything that is beyond hope or reasonable repair! Wash the windows inside and out to allow maximum light in over the winter and scrub benches, fixtures and glazing bars with disinfectant, making sure you hose the whole place down really well, especially
dark and dusty corners. For really effective pest elimination, fumigation is the ticket. Move all plants outside, shut the windows, light a sulphur candle in the middle of the floor, (retreat at speed!), shut the door and wait until the smoke and fumes have completely dispersed several hours later. Your greenhouse should now be delightfully pest free! .....................................................
Drain and lag...
Save yourself untold irritation and expense by draining and lagging standpipes, outdoor taps, irrigation lines and water pumps in advance of sudden hard frosts. .....................................................
Prepare your soil for next year
For beds that lie bare in winter, carry on with the winter digging until the soil is too hard - use compost, manure, leaf mould - in fact as much organic matter as you can lay your hands on to replace the goodness in it.
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The Cotswold Sky Comet ISON – Comet of the Century or a Damp Squib? Astronomers have been excited by the possibility of one of the brightest comets of the past century coming into orbit around the Sun during November and December. Unfortunately predictions by astronomers can also be as unpredictable as weather forecasts and the latest predictions are that it may not be as bright as initially anticipated. Nonetheless it will still receive a great deal of coverage by the media, and will be well worth following.
The Poppy Appeal How the humble poppy came to symbolise remembrance and raise millions to help war veterans 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War. More than nine million soldiers were killed during the four-year conflict. Much of the worst fighting took place in Flanders, the western part of Belgium. The whole area was completely devastated, with homes, farms, roads and trees all completely destroyed. The land became a bleak, muddy graveyard for the thousands of soldiers who fell there.
Comet ISON Image courtesy of NASA
Comet ISON is a relatively large comet measuring approximately 6 km in diameter. The closest it gets to Earth is 63,000,000 km (39,000,000 miles). This compares with the distance between the Earth and the Sun of 150,000,000 km (90,000,000 miles). It reaches perihelion (its closest position to the Sun) on the 28th November, when it comes within 1,200,000km (720,000 miles) of the Sun’s surface. Consequently there is a possibility of it breaking up around this point or it may even blaze incredibly brightly in the Earth’s night sky as it eventually leaves us on its journey back to the outer Solar System.
Will it pose a threat to Earth should it break up? The Answer is a resounding NO because the gravitational pull of the Sun will ensure that the broken pieces will carry on in the same path as the main body. However other possibilities that could happen are: • It could produce a stunning tail because there are more pieces of comet for the Sun’s rays to reflect from. • Evaporate without trace. Should Comet ISON survive its close encounter with the Sun then during December it will be visible both in the evening sky after sunset and in the morning before sunrise and perhaps will be at its brightest from December 10th and 14th. Astro News Dark Skies – An increasing number of countries are taking advantage of obtaining areas of Dark Sky status. They recognise the value of the increase in tourism. Areas in the UK that have Dark Sky status include Lochniver in NW Scotland, Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park, Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve and the island of Sark in the Channel Islands.
Diary
November 6th at twilight note the closeness of Venus and the Moon November 12th The Taurids Meteor shower best viewed in the early morning. November 16th–17th: The Leonids Meteor Shower unfortunately clear viewing will be inhibited by a full Moon. December Venus will dominate the sky during the December twilight hours in the S/SW. Jupiter will rise earlier in the
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evenings from the East and will be almost due South as the New Year arrives. Comet ISON will appear in the West during twilight and SE in the morning. December 13th-14th The Geminids Meteor Shower December 21st Winter Solstice occurs at 17.11hours. Wishing all Readers a Happy and Prosperous Festive Season – John Harris
One plant, however, thrived in the disturbed soil and that, of course, was the poppy. Year after year, as the warm weather arrived, the poppies bloomed and turned the bare ground into a sea of red. Nowadays, we are all familiar with the poppy as a symbol of remembrance and a way to raise funds to support veterans. But how did the iconic flower make the journey from the fields to our lapels? It all began with Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian physician who fought in Flanders. In May 1915, his friend, a fellow soldier, was killed in action. Looking at the poppies growing alongside his grave moved McCrae to write the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’, which was later published in Punch magazine. The idea to use the poppy as a symbol of remembrance came from an American professor and YWCA worker, Moina Michael, in 1918. She wrote a poem in reply to McCrae’s called ‘We Shall Keep the Faith’ and started to sell silk poppies. The idea was adopted by the American Legion in 1920 and she became known as ‘The Poppy Lady’. In 1921, Anna E Guerin started making artificial poppies in France and gained the support of Field Marshal Douglas Haig, founder of the Royal British Legion. The first poppy appeal was held on Armistice Day 1921. It was hugely popular and, despite a recommended selling price of threepence per poppy, single petals sold for £5. In all, the appeal raised £106,000 – that’s nearly £30 million in today’s terms! Some people choose to wear a white poppy, either instead of or alongside a traditional red one. This symbolises pacifism and remembers the civilians killed in war, as well as the soldiers. The idea was initially put forward in 1926 by the No More War Movement, and the first white poppies were sold by the Cooperative Women’s Guild in 1933. They are now distributed by the Peace Pledge Union, a British pacifist non-governmental organisation that works for a world without war. And finally, did you know that there is also a purple poppy? It commemorates the animals that have been victims of war and raises money for Animal Aid. By Alex Brown
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New police front counter at Chipping Norton Following an agreement between Thames Valley Police and West Oxfordshire District Council, police front counter services in Chipping Norton will soon be moving to a more convenient town centre location, with extended opening hours. West Oxfordshire District Council’s Guildhall Reception in the centre of the town will double up as a one-stop shop for police and council services. Theagreementfollowstheannouncement made by Thames Valley Police to replace Chipping Norton police station with a more efficient building. Closing and replacing inefficient police stations is part of Thames Valley Police’s asset management strategy that is set to save £829k. Saving money on buildings enables them to protect frontline policing from cuts. Cllr Mark Booty, Cabinet Member at West Oxfordshire District Council responsible for Community Safety said, “We fully understand the financial challenges faced by the police, but, we are keen to maintain the valuable front counter police services for Chipping Norton residents. He adds: “This partnership approach at the Guildhall is a win, win solution for everyone. Residents will gain from longer opening hours and our town centre location has easy access with everything on the ground floor.” The move builds on the strong working relationship that already exists between Thames Valley Police and the District Council in areas such as community safety, licensing, enforcement, housing and emergency planning.
Thames Valley Police is keen to reassure residents that the availability and visibility of police officers to attend incidents in their areas will be not be affected by these changes. Supt Colin Paine, Commander for West Oxfordshire and Cherwell said, “This is great news for residents of Chipping Norton. They will keep the police front counter and it will be open an extra 15 hours per week, but will not cost the tax payer any more than at present. The service will be in a good central location and offer the opportunity for residents to access council services at the same time. “Obviously in due course the existing Chipping Norton police station will be sold and replaced with a smaller, more efficient building. We have not yet determined where that will be and are still exploring the options available. The police station will not close, the same police officers will be based in the new building and there will be no reduction in the service provided.” Council services will continue to operate as normal from the Guildhall. The
additional police counter services provided by West Oxfordshire District Council will include producing driving documents, reporting lost and found property as well as general advice when needed.
At present, the Police Station front counter is open from 10am to 2pm, Monday to Friday. The opening hours with the Council providing the service are: • Mon to Friday: 8.45am to 1pm and 2pm to 4.30pm (4pm on Friday)
Pictured: Cllr Mark Booty (left) and Supt Colin Paine at the Guildhall, Chipping Norton
Be ‘in the know’ about your bin collection dates The latest waste collection calendars providing details of bin collection dates for West Oxfordshire over the next year are available to view on the District Council’s website: www.westoxon.gov.uk Residents can see the relevant waste collection dates for their property by simply entering their postcode in the ‘My West Oxfordshire’ search on the website. The service also allows people to sign up for weekly email alerts of their collection dates, including which bins to put that week and helpful information about changes to collections, for example after bank holidays or during bad weather. Over 3,000 households are already registered for this. Although residents can get the information
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online, paper copies are available and can be picked up from the District Council’s Elmfield offices in Witney, the Town Centre Shop in Witney, the Guildhall Chipping Norton and from Carterton Town Hall. Or alternatively upon request by calling 01993 861000 Cllr David Harvey, District Council Cabinet Member for Environment said: “West Oxfordshire residents do a fantastic job with their recycling and the calendars are a helpful reminder for the collection dates for their different bins. “They are easy to view online and the weekly emails alerts service provides a really helpful prompt from week-to-week, as well as notification of bank holiday day changes. Once you go through the very simple process of signing up, you can sit back knowing you’ll get a reminder
straight into your inbox every week before your next collection.” As well as bin collection information, residents can use the email alerts service to receive information about planning applications registered near to their homes and other useful information, such as who their local councillor is.
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Winter Tyres I drive a lot and dread icy winter roads, but somehow the thought of parting with hard-earned cash for something as dull as tyres was a bit of a turn-off Then last November I had to hire a car in Switzerland, and I was amazed at the handling of the little vehicle and the confidence I felt behind the wheel, in what can only be described as lessthan-ideal weather conditions - for that read snow, snow and more snow. I mentioned it to the Swiss friend I was visiting. She looked astonished, ‘It’s the winter tyres,’ she said matter-of-factly. ‘We always wonder why British people don’t use them.’ I was sold. On my return I called in at my local tyre salesman and asked for his advice. He suggested buying a set of cheap steel rims for my car and putting the winter tyres on those, storing the originals in my garage.
The tyres improve handling on greasy roads, but will really come into their own in snowy and icy conditions, or wet conditions where the temperature is below 7 degrees. Braking and traction are improved immeasurably on winter tyres. If your car is rear wheel drive I’d say winter tyres are essential. If your car is front-wheel drive I’d still say they’re essential. Although the improvement in performance isn’t as great, it is still very noticeable. My friendly tyre-fitter suggests changing them over in November and running with them until February / March depending on the weather. This year try some winter tyres. You will never regret it. They may even save your life! By Sarah Davey
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West Oxfordshire January / February 2014
North Cotswolds January / February 2014
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Distribution: w/c 13th & 20th Jan ‘14 Copy: 13th December ‘13
March / April 2014
Distribution: w/c 3rd & 10th March ‘14 Copy: 7th February ‘14
Builders & Contractors
C Williams Property Maintenance: p21 Cliff Grove & Sons: p21 CN Glass: p7 Oxford Woodworks: p17 Prior Products: p3
Business Services New 2 U: p19
Children’s Services
Cotswold Tutor: p10 Registered Childminder: p10
Cleaning Services The Laundry: p8
Education
Burford School: p1 Cotswold Tutor: p10
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Entertainment
Heat Store: p6
Carrick Travel: p5 Frogmill Hotel: p3 Stow Scottish Dance Group: p13
Finance & Legal
MT Bookkeeping: p19
Food & Drink
Chipping Norton Tea Set: p13 Dormy House Hotel: p24 Frogmill Hotel: p3 FWP Matthews: p9 Wiltshire Farm Foods: p15
Furniture
Heartwood Furniture: p7
Gardening & Hard Landscaping
Hire
New 2 U: p19
Home & Interiors
Cotswold Frames: p5 Cotswold Stoves & Chimneys: p6 Fosse Fires: p24 Heartwood Furniture: p7 Heat Store: p6 Redlay Flooring: p4 Sewing Tuition: p14 West End Sewing: p14 Wychwood Wrought Iron: p12
Kitchen & Bathroom Design
Cliff Grove & Sons: p21 Heartwood Furniture: p7
Bartlett Tree Experts: p17 Cotswold Garden & Estate Consultancy: p17 H & H Groundworks: p17
Laundry
Gifts
The Locksmith: p5
Elderly Services
Electrical Services
Mark Vanner Hypnotherapist: p11
Cotswold Aerials: p19 P Wheeler Electrical: p21 Vision Repairs: p14
We also know that, particularly in these difficult times, businesses need to spend their advertising budget as wisely as possible and that is why our policy has always been to offer full colour, high quality advertising at black and white prices.
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Yellow Hat Tribe: p1
The Langston Care Home: p15
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Distribution: w/c 3rd & 10th March ‘14 Copy: 7th February ‘14
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Cotswold Falconry: p13 Finstock Events: p13 Hilltop Garden Centre: p24
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Index
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Besides being a medium for our advertisers to showcase their businesses in high quality print, we also include regular features, such as a double page events spread, garden diary and ‘New to the Area’ feature, as well as local stories of interest, to help give our publications retention value.
Healthcare & Wellbeing Heating
Cotswold Oil & Gas Services: p5 Cotswold Stoves & Chimneys: p6 Fosse Fires: p24
The Laundry: p8
Locksmiths
Pets & Animals
Dial A Dog Wash: p11
Property Maintenance
C Williams Property Maintenance: p21 Cliff Grove & Sons: p21 CN Glass: p7 Cotswold Oil & Gas Services: p5 Oxford Woodworks: p17
P Wheeler Electrical: p21 Prior Products: p3 The Locksmith: p5
Solar Energy My Power: p1
Sound & Vision
Cotswold Aerials: p19 Vision Repairs: p14
Children’s Corner Answers
Sports & Leisure Runnerbean: p11 TY Cycles: p4
Travel & Tourism Carrick Travel: p5 Witney Shuttle: p13
Tree Surgery
Bartlett Tree Experts: p17
Tuition
Cotswold Tutor: p10 Sewing Tuition: p14
Weddings
Chipping Norton Tea Set: p13 Dormy House Hotel: p24 Frogmill Hotel: p3
Windows
A Vue Installations: p3 CN Glass: p7 Prior Products: 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
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Fantastic films & Music in
Charlbury
Films & Music in Charlbury this Winter All our films and live performances are held in the Memorial Hall, Browns Lane, Charlbury.
Live entertainments are booked further ahead.
Refreshments: please be aware that the bar is an essential part of the financial viability of many of our events. These are not BYOB occasions, and we ask our audience to respect this. We plan our film programme a couple of months ahead, and we list films as soon as we can. We try to be flexible and not commit ourselves too far in advance, so we can respond to the ever-changing deadlines in the film industry and bring you the most interesting films as soon as we can. Our bar opens 45 minutes before the film. Many people come early to meet with friends and have a drink together. ChOC is a sociable occasion as well as an entertainment -- and sometimes a cultural event.
For information about our films, or about ChOC generally, email the secretary, Jon Carpenter, at secretary@chocfilms.info For information about ChOClive email the coordinator, Jackie Hague, at: jackie@chocfilms.info Full details: www.chocfilms.info
Sunday 10th November
Sunday 14th December
“Saturday Night Fever”
“Graffiti Classics”
Memorial Hall, Charlbury 7.30pm, doors and bar open 6.45. Cert 18. Duration 2hrs.
Memorial Hall, Charlbury 7.30pm, One of the best music/comedy shows around – unforgettable entertainment. Sixteen strings, 8 dancing feet and 4 voices with one aim – to make classical music wickedly funny and fantastically exhilarating for everyone. Graffiti Classics burst the elitist boundaries of the traditional string quartet with their hilarious all-singing, all-dancing musical comedy show.
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Sunday 8th December “hugo”
Memorial Hall, Charlbury 7.30pm, doors and bar open 6.45. Cert U. Duration 2hrs.
Suitable for ages 8+
Crossword Corner
November Crossword Clues Across
Down
1 Tragic Shakespearean hero (6)
1 Expecting, desiring (6)
4 Chill until solidified (6)
2 Slender (4)
7 Darcy Bussell (9)
3 Gift (6)
9 Press, smooth (4)
4 Neglect, obliterate (6)
10 Turquoise (4)
5 Dame ____ Everage (4)
11 Leg joints (5)
6 Grow (6)
13 Red gemstone (6)
7 Management meeting place (9)
14 Knight’s tunic (6)
8 Fish tanks (9)
15 Brief (6)
11 Preserves, saves (5)
17 Sequence (6)
12 January _____ (5)
19 Closes (5)
15 Beast (6)
20 Symbol (4)
16 Ponders (6)
22 Ends a prayer (4)
17 Stable, immoveable (6)
23 Peaks (9)
18 Did wrong (6)
24 Eyelid hairs (6)
21 Built an ark (4)
25 Tugged (6)
22 Any minute now (4)
Answers will be printed in the next issue.
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