The Conduit Magazine December 2020

Crossing counties,

look inside for info on the best events and activities in

West Dorset and

Magazine

South Somerset

Dancers in Lockdown 2020

Issue 237 December 2020

See p24 for more fantastic images & info on the exhibition

INSIDE THIS MONTH

The Alternative Indian | Tales from the Vintner | Drinking in Milborne Port Local Christmas traditions | Skygate

Serving Bruton, Castle Cary, Crewkerne, Ilminster, Langport, Sherborne, Somerton, Wincanton, Yeovil & Surrounding Villages www.theconduitmagazine.co.uk

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Established in 1826, Pittards is world-famous for its high quality leather and still makes it locally in Yeovil today.

Visit the factory store to buy direct from a huge range that includes gloves, bags, accessories and leather for crafts.

Pittards, Sherborne Road, Yeovil, BA21 5BA Coffee shop, free car park.

Mon-Fri 9.00am-5.00pm

www.pittards.com

Crafting quality timber buildings and gates since 1912 Sparkford, Yeovil, Somerset BA22 7LH Tel: (01963) 440414 | Email: info@sparkford.com | @sparkfordtimber | www.sparkford.com

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From the Editor I hope you like this month’s front cover. We have such talent in our area, not least of which includes many creative and inspiring photographers. During Lockdown (version one!) the talented Somerset photographer Len Copland decided to capture a number of iconic images of local dancers. They will be on display at a gallery exhibition held at The Octagon from 11 December.

Go visit if you have the chance! December has been a tricky month in terms of knowing what is still on, but it is good to see that many towns and villages are doing their best to bring a slice of Christmas to their socially distanced residents – Langport’s Winter Light Trail sounds well worth a visit. For some food inspiration and winter warmth don’t forget to read our new Alternative Indian, Khrish Preston, who has some great recipes for left over chicken and turkey and turn to Tales from the Vintner for great wine suggestions from the Wine Wizzard. Finally, glass of red wine in hand, The Conduit wishes a Very Happy Christmas to all our readers and contributors!

Contents

EDITOR & ADVERTISING Jane Adkins

ASSISTANT EDITOR Julie Locke

JANUARY DEADLINES News and Articles: FRIDAY, 4 DECEMBER Advertisements: MONDAY, 7 DECEMBER

WHAT’S ON p5 Info on markets, online workshops and social activities

GARDENING

p10 All about Christmas trees

CHILDREN p12-13

Skygate, our children’s serial

ARTS p20-24

Exhibitions, online activities & Movies

TRAVEL p28

A visit to Knightshayes, Devon

WINE p30

The Wine Wizzard reveals more

BUSINESS

p15 A businessman’s guide to modelling

FOOD p31

The Alternative Indian

Visit our website for more Events, Services and Classifieds www.theconduitmagazine.co.uk Unit 4, Barton View Business Park, Sheeplands Lane, Sherborne DT9 4FW | 01935 424724 | info@theconduitmagazine.co.uk © The publisher is The Conduit Magazine Limited. The layout, format, design and all other aspects of this magazine are an original idea and therefore copyright of the publisher. No part of the contents may be reproduced in whole or in part without prior permission in writing. Whilst every care is taken in compiling the contents of this magazine, the proprietor assumes no responsibility for mistakes and omissions. The views of our contributors is not necessarily the view of the publisher.

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Events listed are correct as we go to press but we advise checking with organisers before attending any event as the Covid-19 situation may change.

WHAT’S ON

What’s On Charity ONLINE St Margaret’s Hospice Care Christmas Fundraising Campaign The charity’s brand-new ‘12 Days of Christmas’ campaign represents twelve days of fundraising, giving and acts of kindness, which will be very valuable this Christmas to bring peace, comfort and dignity to every patient the charity cares for.

Take part in any activity at any time, or start from Day 1 on Monday 14 December right up until Christmas Eve. All twelve ideas can be carried out virtually or non-virtually. To get involved, please visit www.st-margaretshospice.org.uk/12-days-ofchristmas.

CREWKERNE From Monday 14 to Wednesday 16 and Monday 21 to Wednesday 23 December from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, Rotary Club of Crewkerne District will bring Father Christmas on his Santa Float around Crewkerne for the annual Rotary Christmas Collection.

SHERBORNE Schoolreaders Required Now! The Schoolreaders charity provides volunteers to listen to children read in primary schools, at no cost to the school. Covid and lockdown have affected primary school literacy levels badly. The charity is asking for volunteers to sign up now (due to the recruitment process and DBS checks) in order to start in schools in January 2021.

No experience needed, just a good command of the English language and a spare hour or two a week in term time.

Illiteracy affects all areas of life! If willing to help, please complete the online application

TOP PRICES PAID FOR OLD TOYS - any condition

Trains, cars and lorries, soldiers, etc Britains, Dinky, Corgi, Hornby, Meccano, Tri-ang, etc

01935 816072 (07527 074343) Pastimes of Sherborne,

3 Westbury (in front of the Abbey)

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at www.schoolreaders.org or call the Schoolreaders team on 01234 924222.

YEOVIL Yeovil Hospital Breast Cancer Unit Appeal Yeovil Hospital Charity would like to thank everyone who has supported its fundraising for this appeal; £1.6 million raised so far! £2 million still required to build this much needed dedicated Breast Cancer unit. To donate any unwanted or broken jewellery and watches, please call Maggie (appeal committee volunteer) on 01963 250108.

Yeovil Hospital Charity would like to thank Acreman Street Antiques for their invaluable support.

Coffee Morning SOUTH PETHERTON On Wednesday 16 December from 10.00am to 12.00 noon at The David Hall, there is a Christmas Coffee Morning. Pop in for a cup of real coffee and a chat.

Look around the book and bric-a-brac stalls and more often than not, listen to some live music. Free entry.

WEST CAMEL Every Thursday from 9.15am to 11.15am at The Davis Hall, there is a coffee morning. Come for coffee and cakes, Post Office, books, cards, a selection from The West Camel Bakery, plus eggs and local produce as available. Free entry. Please follow the signs;

/theconduitmagazine

E: info@theconduitmagazine.co.uk

@conduitmag

hand sanitiser on arrival and departure; social distancing.

Food CREWKERNE On Tuesday 8 December at The Henhayes Centre, there is ‘Deal or No Deal’ - a socially distanced event for the over 55s. Welcome drink of tea or coffee, interactive entertainment, two-course lunch with tea or coffee to follow.

Price £12.50. Transport available at £3.10 per person. Booking essential, please email office@ henhayescentre.org or phone 01460 74340.

From Monday 14 December at The Henhayes Centre, Christmas Lunch is being served. Only £11.00 (members £9.50).

Booking essential, please email office@henhayescentre.org or phone 01460 74340.

On Tuesday 15 December at The Henhayes Centre, Christmas Lunch is being served - a socially distanced event for the over 55s. Welcome drink of tea or coffee, Christmas music, twocourse Christmas lunch with tea or coffee to follow. Price £14.50.

Transport available at £3.10.

Booking essential, please email office@henhayescentre.org or phone 01460 74340.

On Saturday 19 December at The Henhayes Centre, enjoy breakfast with Father Christmas.

Prices starting from £5.00. Full details to follow on the centre’s Facebook page. Booking essential, please email office@ henhayescentre.org or phone 01460 74340.

On Tuesday 22 December at The Henhayes Centre, there is a Christmassy Brunch followed by a trip to the panto - a socially distanced event for the over 55s. Enjoy a welcome drink of tea or coffee, a Christmassy Brunch then a trip to the panto. Price £22.50.

With transport £27.50. Booking essential, please email office@ henhayescentre.org or phone 01460 74340.

SANDFORD ORCAS The Mitre Inn Takeaway Meals Evening meals available from Tuesday to Saturday from 6.00pm to 8.00pm and Sunday lunch available from 12.00 noon to 2.00pm. A collection system is in operation (collect from the porch). The menu changes weekly. Picnic boxes and cream teas are also available for collection (pre-order 24 hours prior to collection). For further information, call 01963 220271 or email cheryl@mitreinn.co.uk.

The Mitre hopes to reopen on Thursday 3 December.

We are always keen to buy antique silver and old Sheffield plate at current prices Please telephone or call into the shop 38 CHEAP STREET, SHERBORNE DORSET DT9 3PX

01935 816828

enquiries@henrywillis.co.uk

www.henrywillis.co.uk

Follow us online: www.theconduitmagazine.co.uk

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Contact: Julie Locke

/TheConduitMag

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WHAT’S ON

Market CASTLE CARY Every Tuesday from 8.30am to 2.00pm at the Market House is a weekly open-air market. Having run for six years, it is heralded as possibly the friendliest market in Somerset! Food stalls: West Country sourced fish, extensive range of cheeses, greengrocery plus Roots Organic, artisan bread, home-made preserves, home-made pies and pasties, Swanky Cakes, freshlycooked Thai food and sauces, and Jack’s Mac and Cheese. General stalls: perennial plants (and advice!), creative household wooden items, as well as general crafts/giftware on a casual basis. Contact 01963 351763. www. castle-cary.co.uk/market.

CREWKERNE Every third Saturday from 9.00am to 1.00pm outside Henhayes Centre is Crewkerne Farmers’ Market. It has a comprehensive selection of around 16 stalls, offering bread and baked goods, dairy and eggs, drinks, fish, fruit, vegetables, meat, preserves and honey, speciality products, plants and flowers, and much more. For further information, visit www. somersetfarmersmarkets.co.uk.

DRAYTON Every third Saturday from 10.00am to 12.00 noon at the Village Hall is the monthly market. Produce includes bread, vegetables, meats, butter, cheese, cakes, preserves, crafts, honey, plants, desserts and savouries. Refreshments available. Free parking.

LANGPORT Every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 2 to 23 December in the Undercroft is the ‘Vintage Quarter’ Market.

Times: Wednesdays 1.00pm to 7.00pm, Fridays 10.00am to 3.00pm and Saturdays 10.00am to 4.00pm.

On Saturday 5 and Saturday 12 December from 10.00am to 9.00pm, there will be a Merry Christmas Market, with extended trading hours for everyone’s festive needs.

Every Friday from 9.00am to 12.00 noon at the Town Hall meeting room is the Langport Country Market. This market offers a wide variety of artisan produce. All baked goods are home-made and ingredients locally sourced. There are jams, marmalades, chutney and pickle unique to this market.

Locally sourced butter, cheese, meat and fresh vegetables in season. To order, email julia.jewell@mypostoffice.co.uk or call 01458 253508.

MARTOCK On Saturday 12 December from 10.00am to 1.00pm at the Moorland’s Shopping Precinct is Martock Farmers’ Market, with stalls selling all key foods such as vegetables, plants, cheese, coffee, chicken, beef, cordials, jams, bread and savouries.

Card payment preferred, but cash handled carefully. Please observe the advice on distancing and queueing. Any enquiries, please phone Fergus on 01935 822202.

SHEPTON MALLET Every Friday from 9.00am to 2.00pm at the Market Place is Shepton Mallet market. This historic market,

which dates back to 1318, offers a wide range of fresh local produce (fruit and veg, bread and cheese, seafood, cider) and crafts.

For further information, visit the market’s Facebook page or phone 07912 769731.

SOMERTON Until Thursday 24 December from 10.00am at ACEarts, there is an Artisan Christmas Market. ‘Gifted’ offers all the advantages of a Christmas Market - unique gifts, variety and a festive feel - without the crowds. 15 artists during November and a different 15 during December, so it’s worth visiting more than once! All artists are from Somerset, so visitors can support local small businesses whilst choosing unique gifts for everyone on their Christmas list. Private shopping is available on Tuesdays, phone to book a slot. Opening times: Wednesday to Saturday 10.00am to 1.00pm and 2.00pm to 5.00pm. Please note that the market is now online until Wednesday 2 December. For further information, phone 01458 273008 or visit www.acearts.co.uk.

On Friday 18 December from 9.00am to 2.00pm at the Market Place is the Somerton Vintage Market. Antiques, vintage, retro, artisan food, bike repairs and more. For further information, email somertonvintagemarket@gmail.com or visit the market’s Facebook page.

Every Saturday from 9.00am to 12.00 noon at The Unicorn Hotel skittle alley is the Wessex Country Market offering a wide variety of artisan produce. There are homemade baked goods using locally sourced ingredients, jams, marmalades, chutney and pickle unique to this market. Locally sourced butter, cheese, meat and fresh vegetables in season. Please note: until the end of lockdown, collection only is available from the Unicorn Hotel skittle alley on Saturdays between 9.30am and 10.30am for orders placed up to Thursday pm. Contact Julia on 01458 253508 or visit Scrumerton Facebook page. An extra market on Wednesday 23 December, usual times!

WINCANTON Every first Friday from 9.00am to 11.30am at The Barn (via the Peace Garden) is the Wincanton Country Market.

Enjoy locally homegrown produce including cakes, cheese, jams, vegetables, and flowers. www.somersetcountrymarkets.co.uk.

Social ONLINE Every Tuesday and Thursday at 11.00am, join in with the Goldies Online Sing-along. The fun, free online sessions are led by Rachel and Cheryl. The sessions are recorded and go ‘live’ on YouTube. The words of the songs are on the screen so join in and Sing&Smile from home! For more information, visit www.goldieslive.com.

On Sunday 13 December at 4.00pm on Facebook or YouTube, join the St Margaret’s Hospice ‘Light up a Life’ service of remembrance and celebration; everyone is welcome. This gentle uplifting service provides an opportunity to pay tribute to

cherished family members or friends. The service will be filmed in the Bishop’s Chapel in the Bishop’s Palace, Wells, and streamed through the St Margaret’s website. The charity is also using the event to raise money at a time when fundraising has been deeply affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. For further information, visit www.st-margaretshospice.org.uk/light-up-a-life.

CRANMORE From Saturday 5 to Thursday 24 December at East Somerset Railway, there are Santa Special train rides. Tickets from £19 are available online at eastsomersetrailway. com. For dates and time, and to book, visit the website, Facebook page or call 01749 880417 (phones not manned during lockdown). On Sunday 13 and 20 December, there’s also a chance to meet Santa by Starlight!

CREWKERNE On Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 December at The Henhayes Centre is Henhayes Christmas Grotto. Come and see Father Christmas and his helpers. Price £5.00 per child. Check Facebook page for full details. Booking essential, please email office@henhayescentre.org or phone 01460 74340.

MARTOCK Martock & District U3A hopes to be offering monthly meetings, and all 30-plus groups, as soon as possible (in the meantime some groups are currently meeting online). For sharing news, stories and support, there are online coffee mornings, as well as a special Facebook group Martock U3A Keeping in Touch. For further information or if interested in joining, visit the Facebook page, www.u3a.org.uk, email martocku3amembership@gmail.com, or phone 07510 178094.

Diana Davies from U3A Martock and District shared this little ditty on the benefits of U3A In the twelve months of each year Martock & District U3A (usually) offers me Twelve interesting speakers Eleven newsy newsletters Ten lunch club lunches Nine out birdwatching Eight playing scrabble Seven out cycling Six reading plays Five language groups Four types of craft Three music groups playing Two gardening and flower groups And a space for you to join the fun

To advertise – 01935 424724 • email: info@theconduitmagazine.co.uk • www.theconduitmagazine.co.uk 84293 Conduit (December 2020) rev1.indd 5

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Events listed are correct as we go to press but we advise checking with organisers before attending any event as the Covid-19 situation may change.

WHAT’S ON

Sport SHERBORNE/WINCANTON Subbuteo… Anyone fancy a game? Are there any Subbuteo players in the SherborneWincanton area who fancy a friendly game in a village hall or, better still, the private back room of a pub? The game would be kept simple by playing to the elementary playing rules from the early 1960s. The principle is 95% on having fun and 15% on winning (under FIFA rules, all football percentages have to add up to 110%!). If interested, please get in touch with Geoff McHugh at mchugh_hill@hotmail.com.

Talk ONLINE On Wednesday 2 December at 3.00pm on Zoom, The Arts Society Sherborne presents a lecture ‘Dickens: The Man Through His Life and Characters’ by Bertie Pearce.

His talk explores the staggering array of characters that populate Dickens’s fiction – misers, starving children, murderers and

abusive schoolteachers – and is interspersed with readings from his work. The talk begins at 3.00pm (please join by 2.45pm). Members will receive links. Non-members (£5) contact theartssocietysherborne.org.

On Tuesday 12 January 2021 at 2.30pm on Zoom, Blackmore Vale U3A has a short AGM followed by a talk. The speaker is Arthur Coles, head gardener at The Newt in Somerset. Arthur will cover ‘The History, Present Day and Future of The Newt’.

Members will receive the Zoom link nearer the time. If interested in becoming a member (£10 annual subscription), contact the membership secretary at bvmembership@outlook.com or visit www.u3a.org.uk.

WELLS Every Thursday from 10.00am to 12.00 noon at The Bishop’s Palace, there is a Talking Café. These weekly sessions, held at The Bishop’s Table, provide vital support to local people, for example, carers and those managing complex health issues. The beautiful grounds lend themselves to creating a safe and relaxing atmosphere for the group to meet, with the added bonus that they can also

enjoy a stroll through the gardens afterwards. Organised by The Palace Trust in collaboration with Health Connections Mendip. For further information, contact 01749 988111. www. bishopspalace.org.uk.

Walk LANGPORT Every evening until 23 December in the town’s historic main street is a ‘Winter Light Trail’. Langport residents are invited to decorate one window per house, with twinkly lights, fairy-tales and silhouettes, to shine a little magic into the Winter darkness. Take a heartwarming evening stroll around town, and on the way look out for the window illuminations. Keep an eye out for Langport’s ‘Twinkle Team’ (Dancer the deer, Farley the fox, and Rocket the rabbit!)

– they’ll be looking for pretty windows and may leave a little ‘thank you’ for the best displays. #WinterLightsLangport.

Every Wednesday from 2 to 23 December from 1.00pm to 7.00pm in the town’s historic main street is ‘Winter Wednesday

Lates’. Langport’s many charming independent shops and the outdoor ‘Vintage Quarter’ market will also be open, offering an ideal opportunity to browse on the way.

WELLS From Saturday 5 to Tuesday 22 December from 10.00am to 4.00pm at the Bishop’s Palace, Wells, brighten up this winter with some festive cheer with a visit to ‘Christmas at the Palace’! There will be a Christmas-themed family trail which will take visitors through the palace and gardens, leading to a traditional nativity scene at

Abbey Bookshop Cheap Street Sherborne

Wide selection of Magazines, Periodicals. Also now stocking luxury Belgian chocolates

Have your daily paper delivered.

Ask in store for details.

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www.EB Marsh.com *Terms and Conditions apply. Sold as an agent of Euronics Limited. All rights reserved. All offers are subject to availability while stocks last. Delivery & Installation charges may apply.

Exclusions and Radius Apply. See in store for full details. Images for illustration purposes only. Copyright Euronics 2020. E&OE September 2020.

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To advertise – 01935 424724 • email: info@theconduitmagazine.co.uk • www.theconduitmagazine.co.uk

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WHAT’S ON

the end. The gardens will also be dressing up, with a winter woodland theme, and outdoor lighting and decorations in the formal gardens. The rooms of the medieval palace building will be festooned with decorations on a variety of themes, from medieval through to Victorian. Get into the Christmas spirit with festive music and German-marketinspired food and drink, whilst admiring the decorations. Tickets available to purchase at www.bishopspalace.org.uk.

Workshop ILMINSTER On Thursday 3, 10 and 17 December from 10.30am to 1.30pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, there is a ‘Portrait in Oils for Christmas’ workshop with tutor Heather Ford. In just three weeks, create a beautiful portrait, the perfect gift for a loved

one this Christmas. Heather will teach a variety of oil painting techniques. Suitable for all levels including beginners. £15 per session (plus £2 if using materials provided).

To book, email heatheraford@gmail.com. For further information, phone 01460 54973 or visit www.themeetinghouse.org.uk.

On Tuesday 22 December from 10.30am to 12.00 noon at Ilminster Arts Centre, there is a ‘Christmas Table Flower Arrangement’ workshop. Make this year’s table that bit more special with a Christmas table flower arrangement. No experience needed and plenty of guidance given. Bring special baubles or Christmas decoration to add to the effect, otherwise all materials provided (please bring secateurs). £25 including materials. Adults only. To book, email workshopbookingIAC@gmail.com. For further information, phone 01460 54973 or visit www.themeetinghouse.org.uk.

JANUARY DEADLINES News and Articles:

FRIDAY, 4 December

Advertisements:

MONDAY, 7 December

Wills of Sherborne

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RVS Knitted Teddy Bears’ Picnic During lockdown when all home visiting services were suspended Home Library Service volunteers kept in touch with their clients on the phone. And to keep everybody engaged and busy the idea of a Knitted Teddy Bears’ Picnic was born.

This involved calling on all crafters stuck at home during lockdown and beyond to help by making bears, picnic food and blankets – no limit to the imagination! The Royal Voluntary Service advertised across the UK and now handcrafted items have been flooding in from the whole area and beyond.

The organisation was invited

by Cards for Good Causes in Dorchester to display some of their creations in the temporary shop in Antelope Walk (the former Tourist Information Centre).

The teddies are sitting

there happily, enjoying their picnic and the attention they are getting from all the customers in the shop.

And of course people are able to buy them and take them home – all proceeds and donations will support the work of Royal Voluntary Service in Dorset.

Sadly due to the second lockdown the shop is now closed until 2 December, but the RVS is hoping that many people will read this, and come and see our teddies when the shops reopen!

If anybody in the community has made bears or other items for us and kindly held on to them until now, can they please get in touch with us on 01305 236666 or e-mail maria.jacobson@ royalvoluntaryservice.org. uk to let us know and we will arrange to pick them up!

Free initial consultation

A personal and friendly approach to business that will work for you www.chalmersaccountants.co.uk info@chalmersaccountants.co.uk Offices at Yeovil, Crewkerne & Langport 01460 279000 7

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BOOKS

BOOK REVIEW

By Wayne, Winstones

With another lockdown nearly behind us and a few weeks of shopping before the big day we could all do with some inspiration for Christmas gift buying. There are two titles that spring to mind, a beautifully illustrated nature book set in the southwest and a murder mystery by the irrepressible Lady Glenconner should delight.

Secrets of a Devon Wood My Nature Journal

by Jo Brown | £14.99 Artist and illustrator Jo Brown started keeping her nature diary in a bid to document the small wonders of the wood behind her home in Devon.

The pages in this book are an exact replica of those in her original journal, a rich illustrated memory of Jo’s discoveries in the order in which she found them. In enchanting, minute detail she zooms in on a bog beacon mushroom, a bufftailed bumble-bee, or a native bluebell. And she notes facts about their physiology and life history. Secrets of a Devon Wood is a treat for the senses, a hymn to the intricate beauty of the natural world and a quiet call to arms for all of us to acknowledge and preserve it.

It is a book that will stay with you long after you finally put it down.

Murder on Mustique

by Lady Glenconner | £16.99 hbck Lady Glenconner turns to cosy crime. The former Lady in Waiting to Princess Margaret and wife of the man who built the island paradise of Mustique turns sleuth as a fictional alter ego, revisiting the great set pieces of her own life for an authentic backdrop.

THE TAXIDERMIST’S LOVER

By Polly Hall £19.99 hbck

A modern Gothic tale of a woman obsessed with her lover’s taxidermy creatures and haunted by her past.

When Scarlett meets taxidermist Henry, a passionate love affair commences. One year later, on Christmas Day, Scarlett recalls the ebb and flow of their intense relationship and tries to unravel her obsession with Henry’s taxidermy creatures and the influence of his rival, Felix. Both enchanted and entrapped by the isolated rural environment on the Somerset moorland she calls home, Scarlett reaches out to her only remaining family, twin brother Rhett, to make sense of the secrets they share. Soon Scarlett realises that past promises have far reaching consequences.

Drenched in the torrential rains of rural South West England and the sensual pleasures of the characters, The Taxidermist’s Lover lures you ever deeper into Scarlett’s delightfully eerie world.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Somerset based Polly Hall has been published in various anthologies and won competitions for her poetry and flash fiction. She holds an MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University. A longstanding member of Somerset Writers’ group, she also teaches creative writing workshops. The Taxidermist’s Lover is her first novel. She lives next to a cider factory with her cat, Vishnu. You can find out more about her writing projects at www.pollyhall.co.uk or @ PollyHallWriter.

Combining her wealth of knowledge and love of storytelling with a strong dash of suspense and humour, Murder on Mustique will enthral and entertain. Anne Glenconner’s husband Colin Tennant, Lord Glenconner, bought Mustique in 1958 and together they transformed the island into a private paradise for the rich, often royal, and famous. Anne knows the island intimately, and it is one of her favourite places on Earth. It will now be the setting for a wonderfully escapist murder mystery featuring a cast of memorable characters.

STILL SHIELDING, WE CAN HELP...

We can deliver to the nearest car park, your home within a 3-mile radius of the shop and post outs nationwide.

PLEASE CALL, EMAIL OR ORDER ONLINE AT WINSTONE’S shop.winstonebooks.co.uk

8, Cheap Street, Sherborne, Dorset. DTP 3PX 01935 816 128 winstonebooks1@gmail.com www.winstonebooks.co.uk 8

To advertise – 01935 424724 • email: info@theconduitmagazine.co.uk • www.theconduitmagazine.co.uk

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GARDENING PET HEALTH

THINK OF YOUR PETS AT CHRISTMAS

By Peter Luscombe BVSc GPCert(Derm) MRCVS As you plan for Christmas, please think about your pets.

With changes in routine, a noisy environment and visitors, this can be a stressful time for them. Make sure your pets have a safe place to go and hide if they feel the need. Contact us for more advice if needed.

I would like to highlight some seasonal problems we regularly see in practice.

Digestive Upsets Probably the most common problem encountered by our pets in the aftermath of the Christmas period is vomiting and diarrhoea.

This usually results from eating strange rich foods or ¬finding discarded leftovers, so be careful to dispose of waste food safely.

Most digestive upsets are not serious and can be treated simply by fasting the animal for 12-24 hours but allowing free access to water to avoid dehydration (avoid milk). Then feed your pet small meals of a plain digestible

food, such as chicken and rice for a couple of days before slowly reintroducing the normal diet. If your pet is not bright and alert, is passing blood or not responding quickly to simple treatment, contact your veterinary surgeon for further advice and treatment.

Injuries Christmas trees, decorations, glass baubles, tinsel and electrical flexes are all extremely exciting to our pets and can lead to some surprising and in some cases potentially serious injury.

Remember not to leave your pets unsupervised.

Foreign Bodies Many animals love to chew on things and, if swallowed, this can result in a ‘foreign body’.

Any object small enough to be swallowed can act as a foreign body and, with many new and interesting things laying around at Christmas, the temptation to chew for some animals can be irresistible. Over the years I have been amazed by the variety of

objects removed from animals ranging from bones, toys and wrapping paper to socks and underwear! Objects such as string and cotton are especially dangerous if swallowed, and at this time of year string and nets used when cooking meat are a particular danger. If your pet does get an obstruction, he will need major, high risk surgery to save his life.

Poisoning Many apparently harmless substances can be toxic to dogs and cats. Their body chemistry is different to ours and being smaller they are less tolerant of toxic substances. Festive plants such as Poinsettia, Holly berries and Mistletoe can be poisonous.

Other notable seasonal hazards

are grapes and raisins (remember the Christmas cake!), batteries, Chocolate (especially dark Chocolate) and alcohol.

Fleas You might be surprised by how many flea problems we see in January after the heating has been turned up. Do not forget to continue with your routine flea prevention through the winter and seek veterinary advice if you are still encountering problems.

Many products are available but must be applied correctly. If you are encountering problems seek veterinary advice.

Hopefully by being aware of the hazards and thinking ahead your pets will remain safe and happy through the festivities.

142 Preston Road, Yeovil Somerset BA20 2EE Lower Acreman Street Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3EX www.newtonclarkevet.com

LOW MA

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DITED ACCR E PROFESSIONAL

INSTALLATION

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GARDENING

CHRISTMAS TREES

By Mike Burks, Managing Director of The Gardens Group This Christmas may well be very different, but hopefully some of the traditions will still be possible, like choosing a Christmas tree.

It’s a big event for many people, who see it as the start of their Christmas celebrations, with some families waiting until everyone is home before they call in to select their tree. It is often a very happy occasion with much laughter, but sometimes it can be contentious with debate going on about the merits of bushiness versus space to fit baubles, or whether a slim tree is better for the space than a wider tree! The selection process itself is a key tradition for many and it certainly is in our family.

Myself and my daughter decide, always in the evening, with the same discussions and the same decision – a Noble Fir – but the ritual has to be respected.

There are many versions of how the tradition of having a Christmas tree in the house came to be. Some say that its association with the Christian faith began in Germany in the seventh or eighth century, when St Boniface discovered a group of pagans worshipping an oak tree. In anger he chopped down the oak and to everyone’s amazement, a fir tree grew in its place.

a Christmas tree over from Germany for Windsor Castle and soon it became popular in Britain.

One of the difficulties nowadays is the number of choices available. Gone are the days when it was just the size of the Norway Spruce that was the issue. We now stock, from specialist growers in the UK, seven or eight different varieties and in lots of sizes and forms including cut, potted and pot grown trees.

The Norway Spruce is the traditional Christmas tree and it provides a distinctive Christmas tree scent to any home. The Nordman, Noble and Fraser Firs are the ultimate in Christmas trees. Their luxurious and wellproportioned appearance and feel make them second to none.

They also have little needle drop and the Fraser Fir has a wonderful scent. The Lodgepole Pine has a bushy shape, long green needles and a wonderful, natural pine scent. This is probably the best tree for needle retention.

Living pot-grown trees have a full root system. After Christmas, this type of tree has a chance of survival when planted in the garden. However, it’s not always straightforward because the way we treat Christmas trees is completely at odds with the way we treat any other plant!

We move it from cold outdoor conditions into a hot sitting room,

But it was not until the sixteenth century that conifers were brought indoors at Christmas, when apparently Martin Luther began to decorate trees to celebrate Christmas after he was inspired by the snow dusted beauty of some firs in the moonlight. He added candles to a tree that he set up in his house, Garden Landscape & Construction Services which he lit in honour of the birth of Christ. www.sherbornegardenangels.co.uk In the 1840s, Prince Albert brought

01935 310302

sometimes by the fire, with little water, and then when we are fed up with it, it gets put straight back out into the cold. No wonder the tree gets a bit distressed!

In order to get a potted tree to survive, bring it into the house as close to Christmas as possible, preferably after a period in a cold greenhouse or conservatory, and then take it back outside as soon as possible after Christmas. Keep it well watered throughout this time. The following year, lift it with as many roots as possible and pot it into a large container and keep well-watered throughout.

With cut trees, remove the netting we wrap them in when you arrive home and allow the tree to regain its natural shape.

Cut perhaps 1-2 inches off the bottom of the trunk and stand the tree in a bucket of water outside until you are ready to bring it into the house. The later it is brought into the house the better the needle retention for all types of trees.

Choose a position in your house away from direct heat and radiators, and keep it upright in a stand that will hold water. Keep the water topped up as regularly as you can.

Whereas many people now prefer to have an artificial tree, with none of the fuss and needle issues (and most now are very realistic), I think there is so much joy with a real tree. Real trees

are carbon neutral, they are recyclable and non-toxic. We only source Christmas trees from growers who have clear replanting policies in place, and they are usually grown in areas where very little else could be grown.

After Christmas, some local councils will collect trees for recycling and we do too, if purchased from one of our centres. The shredded trees can be used as mulch or for soil improvement.

And if you can’t get to us, then we can choose a tree for you, deliver it free of charge on a day of your choosing and have it collected after Christmas for recycling.

Whatever happens this Christmas – and whatever tree you choose – we hope you have a happy and peaceful time.

CASTLE GARDENS New Road, Sherborne DT9 5NR Tel: 01935 814633 BRIMSMORE GARDENS Tintinhull Road, Yeovil BA21 3NU Tel: 01935 411000

POUNDBURY GARDENS Peverell Avenue, Poundbury DT1 3RT Tel: 01305 257250 www.thegardensgroup.co.uk

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GARDENING

UP THE GARDEN PATH

Sandhurst Garden Design Julie Haylock Garden Designer

By Julie Haylock, Sandhurst Garden Design

20 Sandhurst Road, Yeovil, Somerset BA20 2LG

Tel: 07899 710168 Email: haylock2lg@btinternet.com www.sandhurstgardendesign.co.uk

Seasonal greetings to you all – as I am writing this, England has just been put into lockdown, but on a positive note, there are still some jobs that can be done in your December garden to get you outside for some fresh air and restore calm to your thoughts.

Why not have a go at making a Christmas wreath for your own front door? You can gather all you need with a little respectful foraging in the hedgerows and on the ground when you are out for a walk and from your garden.

This year in particular, I think we have all come to realise the importance of being outside, whether in your own garden relaxing with the family or growing some vegetables for the first time or visiting a local park or a walk in the countryside, a safe space is priceless.

Try using ivy, winter jasmine, and the gorgeous seed heads from the wild clematis, Old Man’s Beard and just add some fir cones, spruce and holly for a seasonal look. To get started purchase a rattan or wire wreath ring from your garden centre and get weaving, a great way to spend a few hours creating something beautiful which you can proudly display to the world!

Many trees will already have lost their leaves, but there are those tough nuts that hold on as long as they can. Sweeping leaves and tidying your area is very therapeutic and a great way to keep warm. If you have the space, why not have a go at making some leaf mould to use as a mulch.

Any autumn hanging baskets and pots you planted up should still be looking good, keep dead heading flowers to encourage them to continue flowering, but it is not too late to create a winter-themed basket and the garden centre will have plenty of plants to choose from.

Cyclamen and winter-flowering pansies are always great for a splash of colour to brighten up the dullest of days, or you could try using hellebores and the red-berried Gaultheria for a seasonal touch.

Scented and structural planting come into their own at this time of the year in the winter garden, so now is a good time to think about revising your borders to ensure you have as much all-year-round colour and interest as possible. This is something I can help you with, just give me a call and we can discuss some ideas.

Now seems a good time to add - I now offer a Garden Design Consultation Voucher, perfect for a Christmas gift for a family member or friend.

Do not forget the insects! If you have some bits and bobs in your shed, you could have a go at making a bug hotel that will be appreciated by lots of little critters. Even a neat pile of logs in

Contact Julie for garden and border design, planting plans, plant selection advice and garden styling

BBC Gardeners’ World Live Gold Medal Award Taunton Flower Show Gold Medal Award and The Western Daily Press Cup for Best Show Garden

the corner of your garden will provide refuge from the cold wet winter months for all sorts of creepy crawlies and you are doing your bit to help nature. Keep bird feeders topped up with seed to attract a whole host of visitors to your garden each day, and remember they need a fresh supply of water even when it is icy.

How about brightening up the garden with some simple lights? Adding some lights will allow you to appreciate your garden from the warm indoors. Use tea lights suspended from tree branches in clear jam jars or some fairy lights wrapped around a tree or draped over garden shrubs to create a magical feel to your garden.

Perhaps you have a seating area which you could utilise into the winter months? Adding some lighting and perhaps a fire bowl to toast some marshmallows, wrapped up in a warm blanket with a hot drink makes the perfect place to be with the family making it the heart of your winter garden.

Until next time, Happy Christmas Julie

GARDENING TIPS FOR WINTER

By Liv Sabat

With what is already a tough winter, here are a few tips on how to keep your garden going all throughout the rough patches. Don’t forget that gardening can be a really nice release from the stresses of life.

Tip One: EXPAND! Winter is a ‘come together’ kind of time so why not expand so you can have more space to enjoy with your family? Glass extensions and sunrooms make a perfect expansion in my personal opinion; they have so many fancy little extras like sliding glass doors, roller blinds, heaters and weather sensors. I believe you can really get the most out of the winter by investing in one of these room so, if you can afford it, then why not think about it?

Tip Two: BENEFIT BY BRINGING THE OUTDOORS TO YOU! Everyone can benefit from this one; with a sunroom you can enjoy the outdoor space you have worked hard to create, from the comfort of

your favourite armchair. Our sunrooms help to keep you connected to the outdoors which is incredibly important, especially now. Practicing your mindfulness in one of our rooms can help reduce your stress levels and remain your healthy self through what we are experiencing now.

Tip Three: OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW! Basically, if anything is dead or on its way out, replace it! It sounds simple right? Well it is but you also have to pick the right plants and flowers otherwise it won’t work. You need to pick flowers that will actually flower in winter and plants that can hold up to the weather, for example, Pansies, Hellebores, Winter Cherry and Winter Jasmine. I know I said out with the old and in with the new, but why not bring some of the old back in? You should consider using some of these unusual pots you can find nowadays, anything from an old trough to a wine barrel would be perfect.

Tip Four: COLOUR! Winter is more or less devoid of colour, so why not change that starting with your garden? OR you could just roll with the seasons and stick to a colder, darker colour scheme; the choice is yours.

Let me make a few little recommendations though because some friendly advice never hurts. You could go with some greys mixed in with a few cream-type colours, or you can really brighten it up with reds and yellows!

Make sure you use colours you know you are going to enjoy though, no matter what they happen to be!

Hopefully this has given you a little bit of motivation to get out there this winter.

Stay safe!

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CHILDREN

SKYGATE

Part II: The Lighthouse About a year before I was sent to Sherborne, I was fostered, briefly, by an ex-RAF pilot. That was before I met my Great-Aunt Agatha and her dog Ted or Alexander, Third Keeper of the Lighthouse; before I became the twohundred-and-fifteenth Guardian of the Skygate; before old-Wessex, the tree people and— Sorry… I must slowdown.

Like I said, there was an ex-RAF pilot.

On her sixtieth birthday, she drank far too much red wine and, while staring over my shoulder, told me what it was like to fly. ‘Like being eaten by the sky,’ she had said. ‘As if the sky is one great blue mouth and it has eaten your body so that all is left are your eyes. You are lost to it. Completely lost.’

Her words came back to me, with a sharp twang, on my first visit to the Skygate. There I am, marooned on a golden ledge. Surrounded by the vast blue emptiness of sky. She’d been right about one thing, that pilot: I’d lost my body. Could no longer trust it to stand, or, God-forbid! walk.

I knelt beside Ted, wrapped my shaking arms around him. ‘This isn’t real. This can’t be real’.

He licked my face sympathetically then wriggled free, galloping towards the edge of the golden ledge, stopping in front of a rickety old gate. A sign told me this was the Skygate.

‘Ted! No! Come back!’

I crawl towards him. At the gate, Ted is

Red arrives in Sherborne, hoping to start a ‘normal’ life with distant relative, Great-Aunt Agatha. But Agatha has other ideas... Before Red can unpack her suitcase, she has been pushed through to the Skygate. Now, suspended hundreds of miles above a different time and place, Red (with help from Agatha’s Labrador Ted) must somehow find a way down…

panting expectantly and keeps nudging it with his nose. ‘Perhaps this is the answer’ I think hopefully and, before I can overthink, push the Skygate open.

All at once, a gusty wind is circling us and before I can say ‘Ted, what the hell is going on?!’ it’s a full blown gale, I’m lying flat on the golden ledge and clinging on for dear life with the edges of my bitten-down fingernails.

Moments before we are both torn from the ledge, I throw myself at Ted, wrapping my arms around him, so that the pair of us are sent into a spiralling downward spin, like helicopter seeds or a thousand pirouetting ballerinas. I try to release the parachute Aunt Agatha had given me but, of course, it’s not working. We are half wrapped inside it and still falling at a terrifying pace.

Suddenly, a bright light envelops us completely. You’ve died, Red, I tell myself, and all before you really got to try out this new name.

Inside the light, our fall is broken and we begin to float. At first, I think it is the parachute, but no, that’s still bobbing uselessly behind like a tired old cape.

Only then does Aunt Agatha’s strange parting come back to me: ‘…if you need help, head to the lighthouse.’

And then I see it. A beautiful storybookstyle lighthouse perched among the clouds; saving our skins with a great beam of floating-light. With a thump, we land on solid ground beside it. Ted immediately gallops off. I wrestle the useless parachute back into its canvas

bag and then, still shaken, go to find help.

‘Helloooo? Ted? Is anyone there?’

Inside, the lighthouse is cool and a little damp. The swirling rush of sky reverberating off the walls, as if I’m stood inside a shell and listening to the roar of sea.

I hear a voice, ‘— good boy Ted! Been a while since I’ve seen you laddie!

Who’ve you brought for me today? Are they any good? By Jove, they’ll need to be. Terrible mess…terrible business that needs sortin’ down there—‘ an old man’s voice. I steel myself, following the sound into a circular stairway that led up, up, up until, eventually, opening out onto a viewing tower.

An old man, wizened and stooped, turned and stared, ‘Ah! You took your time! ... Why! You have your mother’s hair, you know.’

I smooth my red hair self-consciously, ‘Uh, pleased to meet you? I…well, I’m in a bit of a pickle really.’

‘Ha! You can say that again!’ he gestures to the great viewing window behind him. ‘But that’s what I’m here for.

Guiding any Guardian of the Skygate to safety.’

Embarrassingly, I feel myself begin to well up (why am I crying? I’m safe. I’m alive).

He looks away and when he speaks again, his voice is soft and gentle, ‘Ah, bet you were scared, ey? Agatha tends to throw her Guardians in at the deep

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CHILDREN

SKYGATE AUTHOR BIO Zoe Gray grew up in the Somerset countryside where she and her brother made up whole imaginary worlds full of witches, troll-families and duck-queens.

She has always loved magical stories and spent her childhood either reading or writing them. Later she studied English at Lancaster University, going on to share her love of words teaching in a London secondary school. Although missing her wonderful students, she is happy to be back in the countryside with her husband, son and Labrador Teddy.

Zoe is currently writing her first novel for children.

end. It was what happened to her, you see? What’s your name?’

I hesitate for only a moment, ‘Red. My name is Red.’ ‘Suits you! Pleased to meet you Red. I’m Alexander, Third Keeper of the Lighthouse. Come this way… let me show you something.’

He walks to the side of the viewing tower and there, hidden in the corner, is a picture of a red-headed girl, about my height, and she is swooping, arms outstretched, bird-like, around the lighthouse.

‘I painted that,’ he said proudly, ‘that there is your mother.’

I gasp. Reach out. Trace the outline with my fingertips. I had never met her, seen her or even heard her described. My mum. Flying.

‘But— I don’t understand? What is this place? I was falling and the parachute—’ He begins to laugh, ‘Ahhh, my dear… you don’t need a parachute. Agatha sends that for rescue missions, just in case, you know? Only the Guardian can fly from Skygate…so if you had to help someone else, they’d need this old thing,’ he pokes the parachute. ‘It’s an enchanted parachute…only works when the Guardian is flying, you see?’

No. I did not ‘see’. In fact, now I was even more confused. ‘So…how do I— ‘ I point at the painting of my mother.

‘Ah, well, that’s easy. You simply… know it. You tell yourself it’s true— and

of course it is— and then— well… I’ve never done it myself, to tell the truth, but, according to Agatha and your Ma… well— it just…happens.’

Very helpful, I think to myself and then, they’re all mad! Agatha, this old chap, even the dog! They’re all stark raving mad.

Now I’m losing patience, ‘Right… anyway…I need to get home? So, if you could direct me…’

Alexander looks shocked for a moment, then quickly clears his face of all expression, ‘Right. Yes. Of course. Hang on a moment.’ He crosses to the side of the room and writes something onto a piece of paper, ‘Open this…when you need it,’ he says.

I shrug and follow him towards a door cut into the side of the viewing tower.

‘Open the door, will you, dear? Bit heavy for me these days. It opens outwards…give it a good old shove.’

I nod, lean all my weight into the door, which swings open with a creak. Beyond is the sky. And far below, the green rolling of old-Wessex. Before I can step back I feel two strong hands on my back and I am falling, falling, falling— ‘Sorry!’ Alexander’s voice is faint over the rushing of wind. ‘Don’t forget my note!’

I’m travelling downwards with such speed, saying my last goodbyes, my last prayers, tearing the note open and reading, desperately hoping for an answer:

‘When you land, head straight to the tree-people. There is trouble afoot and you are needed!

P.S. All Guardians of the Skygate can fly!

You just need to believe.’

I scream with frustration, close my eyes, grit my teeth and picture my mother in that painting. Reach my arms out, straighten my legs— ‘You can fly! You can fly! You can fly!’

Nothing changes. I’m still spiralling, my ribs compressed so I can barely breathe, let alone think— ‘Your name is Red now. Your name is Red and you can fly…so, just…FLY!’ The rushing of wind at my ears becomes softer, slower and then I hear a ‘woof!’ very close by.

I open one eye. But it is only dear Ted, floating beside me, the parachute strapped around his belly— and it’s working! He is floating which must mean… I can fly. I am flying!

I let out a ‘Whoop!’ of pure joy, summersault in mid-air, perform giant figures of eights. The smile across my face almost splits it in two and if it hadn’t been for Ted’s warning bark I wouldn’t have noticed the daggerended arrow sailing straight towards my heart.

To be continued……

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FINANCE

COMPUTING

PLANNING FOR CHRISTMAS

By Mark Salter, Financial Planning

Well, what a year 2020 has been, a memorable one but not perhaps for the right reasons.

Unusually this year has seen all our lives changed in some way or another whether it be home schooling, working from home or not being able to see our family and friends.

Most of these changes have been outside our control which has certainly felt unnerving at times.

This got me thinking about the similarities of planning for Christmas and what we do every day as lifestyle financial planners. Many people might have a plan for Christmas but very few have a plan for the rest of their lives.

Even a very basic plan is certainly better than having no plan at all.

Despite this, we do know that Christmas is still just around the corner and there are not many shopping days until Christmas.

A good place to start is creating a budget and thinking about the cost of your lifestyle now and how this might change in the future. What else do I need to pay for, such as, children’s education, more holidays, new cars, etc?

At this stage many of us start thinking about planning for Christmas and how much it’s all going to cost. You might begin by writing a list of all the people you need to buy presents for and then thinking about how much you will spend on each person. You’ll also be thinking about what extra food and drink you’ll need and the cost of the big Christmas food shop.

Whilst many people follow this approach, we all know someone that’s been buying presents since January and somebody else that will be leaving everything until the last few delivery days before Christmas.

Once you have an idea of the costs, you can then start thinking about how you might pay for it, how much you need to save or how long you will continue working for. It is also important for you to know how your income will change in retirement.

You then have a basic plan to work from. You’ll be able to calculate how much you can afford to spend or how much you need to save.

Unfortunately many people live day to day and leave it too late.

If you’re a business owner, have you thought about what happens when you want to stop work or perhaps reduce the number of days you work each week? In most cases, building an exit strategy from a business needs careful planning and time.

One important consequence of planning is that you’ll start feeling more organised, you’ll be less worried and start feeling happy and positive about the future.

A bit like the Christmas shoppers that start planning early – when everyone else is frantically looking for presents and worrying about how they’re going to afford it, they’re at home with a warm mulled wine and all the presents neatly wrapped under the tree, ready to enjoy Christmas.

COOKIES, T&C, PRIVACY POLICIES, AND SO ON…

By James Flynn, Milborne Port Computers I’m sure that many of you think that a cookie is an American type of flour-based baked food product, and if you’re British it would be called a biscuit and you’d be dunking it in your tea!

However, as we’re talking about web speak, a cookie is little bit of text stored on your computer by a website that records what pages you’ve visited, so that when you come back again it knows what you’ve already looked at.

So, what’s wrong with that, and what’s all the fuss about? Years

ago, before we got bothered with security, cookies used to store all sorts of stuff like usernames, passwords and credit card details as well, so that if your computer became infected with a virus that information could be gathered and sent to the bad guys!

Happily, this doesn’t happen any more, but the cookie information does get used by web advertisers to bring up ads that are relevant to pages you have recently visited. Just try searching for a stairlift and see how you get bombarded by adverts for

stairlifts for a few days afterwards.

You can turn cookies off in your browser, but many websites require them or they may not work as expected; secondly you can use software to clean up cookies from your computer but this is a double-edged sword as you will see from what follows about T&C and Privacy Policies.

The advent of ‘we must protect the poor unsuspecting public at all costs’ brigade started a few years ago and, if your website uses cookies, you are required to have a stupid little disclaimer that pops up that you must agree to.

Now, here’s the catch, when you click the agree button, it saves a cookie on your computer so that it will know for next time. If you clear all your cookies, the next time you go to that website it will ask you to agree again! The same is true for the pointless

Terms & Conditions (in 10,000 closely typed words) that simply tell you what you’ve let yourself in for if you visit their website. And the same is true for the ubiquitous Privacy Policy, that simply tells you that they promise not to share your details elsewhere and that they will use your browsing history to bombard you with advertising!

So that’s it … Hobson’s Choice … you either agree to all the cookies, or go and live in a cave, and with Christmas coming up soon, I may just go and do that. Whatever your standpoint, there is nothing sinister about all this stuff, nobody is remotely interested in your personal habits or browsing, they just have to tick some boxes and harvest some marketing data.

As always, if in doubt or if you need help, you know where to come!

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BUSINESS

HAVE YOU TRIED MODELLING?

By Jim Rayner

This month I want to get into modelling – no, not that sort; I really don’t have the legs for it!

Until the SAGE scientists popped up with their doom-laden models you probably hadn’t given much thought to the wonders of mathematical modelling. And the last few months may not have persuaded you that it’s much more than numerical crystal ball gazing.

There’s a real danger for business advisors and mathematicians (and I’m both!) of diving into numbers before getting a deep understanding of how the business works. Modelling the effect of producing 20% more loaves if the bakers or ovens are already working at full capacity is just playing with numbers.

The SAGE modellers were faced with a lack of hard evidence about how this new virus spreads and then damages the human body.

But business modelling is on much firmer foundations. As business owners we have a deep understanding of how our businesses work.

But by working closely with the people who know the business best, its owners, we can build a model that reflects the business.

We can then start to try out ideas and help the owners answer ‘what if’ questions about the effect on profit and cash flow of different scenarios:

We talk about business models and modelling in two different but connected ways.

First it’s a description of how a business creates value for its customers, delivers value to them and finally captures value by getting paid. It’s the business story. Let’s consider an artisan bakery producing bread and pastries for its own shop and some local cafés. A description of its business model might include: • Customer segments – regular shoppers, café owners • Value proposition – both customer groups love their tasty, additive free, freshly-baked bread and pastries made from high quality ingredients • Customer relationships – they know and talk to their retail and business customers • Key resources – ovens, skills and experience of the bakers, established shop and reputation • Key activities – consistent quality baking, delivery, shop selling • Key partners – flour supplier Having outlined the business model we can then move on to the second meaning: converting it into a financial model with numbers • Cost structure – how much does each resource and activity cost and what if production levels change?

• Revenue streams and drivers – the sales value for each customer segment can be broken down into drivers. For example, number of customers, how frequently they buy, how much they buy each time, and at what average price

• What if café trade slumps by 50%?

• What if we start a home delivery service?

• What if we diversify into pie making?

• What if we tried market stalls?

We cannot predict the future, but with careful business modelling we can prepare for it.

Carey B

Antiques & Restoration 4a, Church Street, Ilchester BA22 8LW

Tel: 01935 841071 Mob: 07791 894937 Email: info@antiquerestoration.co.uk Antiques & collectables

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LEGAL

DIVORCE: IS BAD BEHAVIOUR A FACTOR IN DIVISION OF ASSETS?

By Lisa Holden, Head of the Pardoes Solicitors Family Team

‘It isn’t fair!’ is a cry often heard during divorce proceedings. Why cannot someone’s bad behaviour be taken into account when the division of assets is being considered?

The usual answer is that it can, but only if such behaviour is so ‘gross and obvious’ that it amounts to what is referred to in legal terms as conduct.

To date, conduct had to be really appalling to affect how the marital finances should be divided, for example, burning down the marital home or severely injuring the other party so they were left disabled, failing to disclose or hide significant assets.

However, a recent case has now widened that definition to include a refusal to negotiate

openly and reasonably. In the case of OG v AG 2020, the husband created a secret company to compete with the parties’ own company and thereby devaluing their business.

The wife found out and demanded the husband paid 93% of her costs as a penalty for his actions. She refused to negotiate or consider any alternative proposals.

The court found that although the husband had behaved badly, the wife was wrong to take advantage of this by

refusing to negotiate. The judge emphasised that parties are under an obligation to negotiate reasonably once the financial picture was clear and refusal to do so could amount to conduct.

Penalising both parties, the judge ordered husband to pay 45% of the wife’s costs, reducing the costs he had to pay because of the wife’s refusal to negotiate.

In making his judgment, the judge made it clear that the message from the court was that any party who refuses to negotiate could expect to receive a costs penalty.

Negotiation has always been a key part of our role in the family team to ensure parties avoid court as much as possible and save costs. It is therefore refreshing to see the courts are at long last underlining the need to negotiate with a costs penalty for those who fail to do so.

We at Pardoes also offer a mediation service with Lisa Holden, an accredited mediator, for divorcing and separating couples who wish to talk through their options and reach their own solution.

MINTERNE GARDENS STAYS OPEN A local Dorset estate steeped in history is proving welcomed sanctuary and safe environment for members of the public during lockdown.

Minterne House and Gardens has kept open its garden’s doors to the public until the end of lockdown. The Estate who normally wrap up for winter have extended their season to provide a safe and relaxing place for people to come and enjoy nature.

In a time when there is so much uncertainty and anxiety in the world one visitor who cares for her elderly mother thanked the House and Lord Digby explaining that it is “the perfect place where I feel safe and can be close to nature”.

The stunning woodland gardens, designed in the manner of Capability Brown, 16

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hosts a world renowned and completely unique collection of Himalayan Rhododendrons and many fine rare trees.

Trailing a mile-long loop, the gardens boast many picturesque features including a small chain of lakes, waterfalls, and streams to be enjoyed.

Remaining open until lockdown lifts, Lord Digby explains that “during this time more than ever it is important to get out and enjoy nature.

We wanted to provide a place for people to come and relax”.

Minterne Gardens are open from 10:00 daily until dusk.

Whilst pre-booking is not required, social distancing is requested along with respect of government guidelines. www.minterne.co.uk

@conduitmag 20/11/2020 11:41

BUSINESS

250 YEARS IN THE SOUTH WEST

By Paul Harvey, Branch Director

Hopefully many of us visited Bradfords in Sherborne over the course of October as they celebrated the South West company’s 250th anniversary. In his latest article for us, Paul Harvey, branch director at Sherborne, takes us into the extraordinary history of Bradfords in this historic year.

Looking at the history wall in our brand new bespoke builders’ merchant facility in Barton View, it’s hard not to feel a huge sense of pride and responsibility at being part such a long established business, particularly for me in what is my local town, and in a business that my father also worked for. Bradfords has been part of the South West Community for a quarter of a millennium.

Opening a depot in Sherborne didn’t occur until nearly 100 years after William Bradford started his business in 1770. Owning quarries in Pibsbury on the Somerset Levels and with direct access to the River Parrett from his home hamlet of Thorney, William, and later his wife Ann, started by selling stone, lime and coal to the local Somerset and Dorset communities.

And so started nearly 200 years of support, mostly to the agricultural communities of the local areas.

William was innovative: records show that he had worked out that he could make better use of the barges that supplied Welsh coal from its landing point in Bridgwater by backloading them with feed for the pit ponies back in Wales.

From Thorney, goods were moved onwards to customers by horse and cart on roads that one MP at the time stated would be better described as rivers. The flooding we associate with the Somerset Levels was as much of a challenge then as it has been in recent years.

There’s a wonderful story of Job, William’s son, being asked by his wife to build their house (still lived in by descendants to this day) in Thorney a little higher above the ground to minimise the chance of it being flooded. Jabez being worried that a taller house than its neighbours would be pretentious,

refused. Needless to say, it flooded!

Bradfords’ real growth occurred with the advent of the railways, and of course that’s where the story of our Sherborne depot starts. Established sometime between 1850 and 1870, the Sherborne branch resided at our trackside location on Digby Road until 2019.

At one point it was said that there was barely a station in Somerset, Dorset and East Devon that didn’t have a Bradfords depot right next to it. The focus then was still on coal and agricultural supplies, and Bradfords is almost unique in that the almost daily records of loads, movements and status of the over 200 wagons we operated all the way through to the point at which the lorry took over.

Although supplying heavier aspects of building materials such as timber and aggregate was a staple before, it was the 1970s that saw full entry to the building supplies sector that is Bradfords’ focus today. Sherborne was no exception and now 33 years into my career at Bradfords there is much that remains the same.

Our focus on being part of the communities we serve remains at the core of how we do business and testament to that is perhaps the fact that I followed my father into the business, as of course so did so many others. Charlie Bartlett, who came as guest of honour to the opening of our new facility here back in September 2019, was the third generation of Bartletts to work for Mr Bradford.

Stories like that make it all just a little bit more special, but of course also provide the context from which to continue the innovation and progress that was in the spirit of William 250 years ago.

KEEPING TRADES GOING THIS CHRISTMAS Monday 21st Dec 2020: Normal Trading Hours

Tuesday 22nd Dec 2020: Normal Trading Hours

Wednesday 23rd Dec 2020: Normal Trading

Thursday 24th Dec 2020: Closed

Friday 25th Dec 2020: Closed

Saturday 26th Dec 2020: Closed

Monday 28th Dec 2020: Closed

Tuesday 29th Dec 2020: Open 8am - 2pm

Wednesday 30th Dec 2020: Open 8am - 2pm

Thursday 31st Dec 2020: Open 8am - 2pm

Friday 1st Jan 2020: Closed

Monday 4th Jan: Normal Trading Hours Resume

Sherborne Branch Details: Unit 5, Barton View Business Park, Sheeplands Lane, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 4FW Tel: 01935 813254 Email: bbs.sherborne@bradfords.co.uk

From Everyone at

MERRY CHRISTMAS

To advertise – 01935 424724 • email: info@theconduitmagazine.co.uk • www.theconduitmagazine.co.uk Christmas & New Year Opening Times Sherborne Advert 2020.indd 1 84293 Conduit (December 2020) rev1.indd 17

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MOTORING

PROBLEMS WITH THE SAT NAV

By Tim Saunders, Motoring Correspondent

Tim Saunders is an advanced motorist and journalist. He has always been passionate about motoring and regularly reviews cars from the leading manufacturers.

His first report on a BMW 520i was published in the Dorset Echo when he was 17 (just after passing his driving test) in 1995. He went on to become business and motoring editor at the Bournemouth Echo.

This week I test the Seat Tarraco; a sports utility vehicle. It’s high up and can also transport seven occupants in comfort.

From a distance this Atlantic blue model looks just like a Skoda or VW but with Seat badging. But on closer inspection, unfortunately it’s not up to their standard of build quality. The driver’s seat isn’t as supportive; my back complaining after a 70-mile trip to Sherborne in Dorset.

The six-speed manual gearbox is notchy.

And don’t get me started on the sat nav.

Fortunately, I know where Sherborne is but the sat nav doesn’t. As always I give it the benefit of the doubt but when it keeps making mistakes I get fed up. When it tells me to turn off the A31 I think it must know a cunning shortcut that I don’t and I’ve been driving this route for over 25 years.

I quickly realise it doesn’t and curse as we get stuck in yet more traffic. It comes to something when my very cheap sat nav, purchased online for £20, is actually more reliable. When my wife inputs our destination once again the Seat system still insists on sending us back the way we’ve just come. Thank goodness

I’m obstinate. Eventually it simmers down and when it suggests taking us down the A357 I relent. These roads are some of the steepest and bumpiest I have driven on for some time but the Tarraco handles it well and its height provides wonderful views of the lush green fields to the left and right.

Heidi (7) and Henry (4) are sitting in the third row of seats in the boot while Harriett (7) has opted for peace and quiet in the middle row. I can see why large vehicles like this work well for families. In economy mode it is a slow vehicle.

There’s no 30 on the reading, and this is probably the most important speed. After driving it for some time I then discover that there is an exact speed reading underneath the 160mph. It’s just not logical. I don’t like it.

We take the Tarraco to Hestercombe near Taunton. On both directions the sat nav insists that there’s four miles of queuing traffic on the A36 heading towards Salisbury. I give it the benefit of the doubt on the outward journey but find that all it does is take us on a detour via some country lanes only to lead us back to the worst part of the A36 where there are always traffic jams. Absolutely useless.

It’s one of the worst sat navs I have come across. The Tarraco’s saving grace is its height because on our return trip there is torrential flooding that causes some roads to be completely impassable for some motorists. However, thankfully the Tarraco takes what is probably approaching two feet of water in its stride.

Brewers Garage.qxp_Layout 1 16/03/2020 14:23 Page 1

BRISTOL ROAD GARAGE Western Ways Yard, Bristol Road, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 4HR

• DIAGNOSTICS • MOT • SERVICING

• REPAIRS • AIR CON SERVICING • TYRES

Call us on 01935 18

812720

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84293 Conduit (December 2020) rev1.indd 18

FACTS AT A GLANCE Seat Tarraco 1.5 TSi EVO

Price: £29,670 Engine: 1.5-litre petrol CO2 emissions: 151g/km Economy: 43mpg during test 0-60mph: 9.7secs Power: 150bhp Top speed: 125mph

Watch the video at www.testdrives.biz 18

/TheConduitMag

@conduitmag 20/11/2020 11:41

LIFESTYLE

INSPIRATIONS FOR THE CURIOUS SHOPPER

By Dawn Woodward, The Emporium, Yeovil

As I write this, we are halfway through Lockdown Two and we’re very much hoping that we will indeed be reopening as planned on Thursday 3 December.

October was a particularly busy month for us at The Emporium, with record breaking sales and we’re anticipating a strong bounce back in December! The closure has pushed us towards the digital age and we’re thrilled to announce that our online shop is now alive and kicking.

An amazing range of stock from The Emporium is waiting to be shipped directly to you; every purchase supports a small independent business during these challenging times. Learn all about our 60+ independent businesses, each of our traders has a profile on the website.

Browse our various departments, antiques and collectables, fashion, art, upcycled, gifts, etc, there’s surely something for everyone! Find our online shop at www. theemporiumyeovil.co.uk.

Our beautiful Christmas window displays are on point this year! If you happen to find yourself in Yeovil throughout December, pop along to see our festive displays and perhaps pop up to our café for something warming and delicious...! Our late night

shopping events are going ahead on Thursday evenings in December, 3, 10 and 17 when we’ll be open until 7.30pm. Hope to see you at one of these evenings.

platform, drop us an email or pick up the phone; we’d love to hear from you and we’ll have you trading in no time at all.

Contact us as always in the following ways:

Our Festive Afternoon Teas are an indulgent treat that you might just have to try for yourself, everything is homemade by our cafe team.

Email: info@theemporiumyeovil.co.uk

The shop is full to capacity with our fabulous traders at the moment; it’s lovely that so many brave business owners are battling through these difficult trading conditions with us, we’re certainly all in this together! It’s amazing to see the support we offer to one another and the celebration of each other’s successes!

We have a number of new businesses launching on Thursday 3 December - see our social media for details.

Website: www.theemporiumyeovil.co.uk

Phone (shop): 01935 579482 Phone (office & cafe) 01935 411378

If you’re hoping to launch a new business idea with a retail

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ARTS

By Julie Locke

VISUAL ART

From Wednesday 2 to Wednesday 23 December from 10.00am to 2.00pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, there is an exhibition entitled ‘Made-in-Glastonbury’. This exhibition features seven artists from the Vale of Avalon and includes paintings, photography, and works in glass, ceramics, wood and recycled items. The artists are Artists Sue Allen, Yulia Allen, Sam Bull, Kate Dimambro, Beblinda Miers, Stephen Spraggon and Don Storey. Gallery open: Tuesday to Saturday (exhibition closes at 1.00pm on final day). On Thursday 10 and 17 December until 6.00pm, there’s a late night shopping opportunity to buy gifts from the exhibition, and have a glass of mulled wine and a festive treat from the café. Box Office 01460 54973. www.themeetinghouse. org.uk.

Hall, bringing joy and festive celebrations to audiences this holiday season. The Welsh singing sensation performs seasonal favourites and carols with full nostalgic Hollywood musical glamour. Katherine is joined by actors Vanessa Redgrave and Bill Nighy, operatic icon Sir Bryn Terfyl, Italian tenor Alberto Urso, Broadway star Marisha Wallace, English National Ballet Lead Principal Erina Takahashi, the Royal Air Force Regiment Band and many more, to share an unforgettable and enchanting experience this Christmas. Tickets £8.50 to £14.00.

Book in advance 01935 422884. www. westlandsyeovil.co.uk.

From Tuesday 8 to Wednesday 23 December from 10.00am to 2.00pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, there is a ‘Christmas Collection’ exhibition. Craft artists from the West Country will have on display a wide variety of hand-made items - ideal as gifts for family and friends. Gallery open: Tuesday to Saturday (exhibition closes at 1.00pm on final day). On Thursday 10 and 17 December until 6.00pm, there’s a late night shopping opportunity to buy gifts from the exhibition, and have a glass of mulled wine and a festive treat from the café. Box Office 01460 54973. www.themeetinghouse. org.uk.

MUSIC

On Wednesday 2 December, celebrate Christmas online with Julia’s House in an all-new festive concert. The ‘Christmas Cracker’ concert is a big night in for all the family. There will be live music, comedy sketches, Christmas readings and much more, introduced by special guests and, of course, the children and families that have helped by Julia’s House. Throughout the evening, there will be the opportunity to bring some Christmas cheer to the children and families supported by this charity by donating live. For further information, visit www.juliashouse.org or on the charity’s Facebook page.

On Saturday 5 December at 2.30pm and 7.00pm at Westlands Entertainment Venue, Yeovil, classical music superstar Katherine Jenkins OBE presents a magical and unique Christmas Spectacular from the Royal Albert 20

Each ticket buys a private YouTube link to the live performance (the link will be sent the day before the concert). Tickets are offered on an ‘honesty’ basis, so if more than one person is watching the concert on the same device, please buy a ticket for each person; this helps to support not only the band but also the venue. Each ticket £15. To purchase tickets, go to www.whileandmatthews. com. For further information, visit www. thedavidhall.org.uk. Box office 01460 240340.

On Saturday 12 December at 3.00pm and 8.00pm at The David Hall in South Petherton, don’t miss Richard Digance’s farewell Christmas Tour. Richard ends his final year of touring with two very special Christmas shows for grown-ups who still believe. Enjoy an afternoon - or evening - of festive merriment and audience participation to celebrate the end of over fifty years of touring up and down the country without the aid of Santa’s magical sleigh! A fabulous performer who will have the audience laughing one minute and in thoughtful mood the next. Tickets £14.50 to £15.50 (48 tickets allocated to each show, so book early). To book, visit www.thedavidhall.org. uk. Box office 01460 240340.

On Saturday 5 December from 7.30pm to 9.30pm on YouTube, watch Chris While and Julie Matthews and their Virtual Tour from the comfort of home. Chris and Julie, along with their expert soundman Richard Harrison, have raised the bar on live streaming concert quality performances.

Richard Digance

Chris While and Julie Matthews

On Monday 14 December at 7.30pm on Facebook or YouTube, Concerts in the West presents an online Christmas concert performed by CarmenCo. The ensemble comprises Emily Andrews (flute/voice), David Massey (guitar) and Francisco Correa (guitar). Exploiting the rich texture of two guitars, with or without flute or voice, as well as their skilful arrangements, CarmenCo performs vibrant and visual programmes, all from memory, so they can move around and dance while playing. Check the website (select the Concerts tab) for programme details. To watch the performance, click on the Facebook or YouTube link at www.

To advertise – 01935 424724 • email: info@theconduitmagazine.co.uk • www.theconduitmagazine.co.uk

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Events listed are correct as we go to press but we advise checking with organisers before attending any event as the Covid-19 situation may change. concertsinthewest.org/events. Donations to support performers and Concerts in the West would be very welcome.

Zora Bishop, Adrian Bower. Tickets £8.50 to £14.00. Book in advance 01935 422884. www.westlandsyeovil.co.uk.

Concerts in the West Although the Online Concert Series has come to an end, most of the concerts are still available to watch until Saturday 19 December. Donations to support performers and Concerts in the West would be very welcome. For wonderful music and dazzling performances, visit www. concertsinthewest.org. Planning has now begun to restart live concerts in April 2021.

From Thursday 10 to Sunday 13, Thursday 17 and Sunday 20 December at Westlands Entertainment Venue, Yeovil, there Is a National Theatre Live screening of ‘War Horse’. The show starts at 11.00am, 2.30pm or 7.00pm depending on the day, so please check the website. The story is based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo and adapted by Nick Stafford in association with the award-winning Handspring Puppet Company. At the outbreak of World War One, Albert’s beloved horse, Joey, is sold to the Cavalry and shipped to France. Though still not old enough to enlist, he embarks on a treacherous mission to find him and bring him home. Age 12+. Tickets £11.50 to £17.00. Book in advance 01935 422884. www.westlandsyeovil.co.uk.

PERFORMANCE

On Sunday 6 December at 2.00pm and 7.00pm at Westlands Entertainment Venue, Yeovil, the Castaway Theatre Group is celebrating its 15th Anniversary this year.

So what better way to mark a really special anniversary than a Christmas Spectacular with a cast of 85 at this wonderful venue. Come along and be a part of this Christmas Extravaganza! Tickets £11.00.

Book in advance 01935 422884. www. westlandsyeovil.co.uk.

From Friday 11 to Sunday 13 December at Westlands Entertainment Venue, Yeovil, there is a screening of ‘That’ll be the Day Christmas Show’. The pre-recorded show will include the best pop Christmas classics and traditional Christmas songs along with hilarious comedy routines. For many, this Christmas Special is the essential start to their festive season. Let this year be no different! Come along and join in for a rollercoaster sleigh ride through the ‘golden’ age of Rock & Roll and Pop - a sparkling mix of Christmas hits, fun and nostalgia with that guaranteed ‘festive feel good’ factor. For the various performance times, visit the website.

Tickets £15.00. Book in advance 01935 422884. www.westlandsyeovil.co.uk.

Castaway Christmas Spectacular On Thursday 10 December at 2.30pm and 7.00pm at Westlands Entertainment Venue, Yeovil, there Is a screening of Shakespeare’s ‘The Winter’s Tale’, filmed live from The Globe Theatre in 2018. This play illustrates how uncontrollable emotions can range across gender, country, class and age. Its universe is full of monsters, gods and natural disasters with a colossal sweep that takes audiences from the stifling atmosphere of the Sicilian court to the unbuttoned joy of a Bohemian festival. A great play of the irrational and inexplicable! Director: Blanche McIntyre. Cast: Annette Badland,

The Winter’s Tale

ARTS

Bishop’s Palace, Wells, there will be costumed readings of Dickens’ seasonal classic, ‘A Christmas Carol’, performed by members of Wells Theatre Company.

The shows will last around an hour and will involve costumed actors bringing this timeless tale to life in a wholly unique way.

The performance is included with entrance to the palace and gardens but tickets are strictly limited and must be booked in advance. Tickets for ‘A Christmas Carol’ will be available to book from Tuesday 1 December at www.bishopspalace.org.uk.

On Wednesday 16 December and Saturday 19 December at 11.00am, 2.30pm and 7.00pm at Westlands Entertainment Venue, Yeovil, there Is a screening of The Royal Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker’. Peter Wright’s interpretation of The Nutcracker has been enchanting children and adults alike since its first performance by The Royal Ballet in 1984.

The ballet begins in the nineteenth-century German home of the Stahlbaums, where they are hosting a lively Christmas party. The period setting is captured in opulent detail

by Julia Trevelyan Oman’s designs, which include authentic Christmas tree decorations that are magically brought to life. The combination of Lev Ivanov’s 1892 ballet and Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score presented in a festive setting makes this a charming and magical production. Tickets £8.50 to £14.00.

Book in advance 01935 422884. www. westlandsyeovil.co.uk.

From Friday 11 to Sunday 13, Friday 18 to Thursday 24 and Saturday 26 to Wednesday 30 December at the Octagon Auditorium, Yeovil, watch as ‘Nurse Nellie saves Panto’! Don’t miss this fun-sized festive treat for the whole family starring the Octagon’s regular panto stars, Gordon Cooper, Jack Glanville and Thom Ford.

When a baddie steals the joy of pantomime, will Nurse Nellie and her friends manage to rescue it? Oh yes they will! Joyous, funny and uplifting, this really is a must-see show and the perfect antidote to 2020! With a reduced number of tickets available, please book early for this show! For the various performance times, visit the website. Tickets £15.00 to £19.50. Book in advance 01935 422884. www.octagon-theatre.co.uk.

On Saturday 12 and 19 December at 11.00am, 1.00pm and 3.00pm at the

The Nutcracker

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ARTS

On Saturday 19 December from 7.30pm at The David Hall, South Petherton, it is the monthly Acoustic Night. Petherton Arts Trust is encouraging more local performers of all genres to come to The David Hall and perform on a professional stage. This is an evening full of extraordinary skill, talent and variety – and it doesn’t cost the earth: just £2 for audience members and £1 for performers to cover the cost of heating and lighting. All types of performance welcome – The David Hall has had music, comedy, poetry, dance and more! Everyone has the opportunity to deliver for 10 to 15 minutes with full PA and lighting. To attend as a performer or audience member, please email Chris Watts at folk@chriswatts.org or call 07715 501157. Please pre-book so the evening can be managed properly under current conditions. Payment is on the door.

On Tuesday 22 December from 5.00pm to 6.15pm at Royal Bath and West Showground, Shepton Mallet, there is a drive-in car park Christmas panto ‘Horrible Christmas’. Horrible Histories comes to the rescue with their own unique take on the great British tradition. Not strictly speaking a panto, ‘Horrible Christmas’ is the next best thing; enabling families to enter into the festive spirit in a safe, socially distanced manner from the comfort of their own sleigh car! Doors open 4.30pm.

Tickets are available from the Ticketmaster website. For further information, visit www. bathandwestshowground.com/events.

Every week Artsreach will share some of the brilliant cultural events that its artists are releasing digitally. The page is constantly changing so keep checking and keep sharing it. For more information, check What’s On and Digital Diary at www. artsreach.co.uk.

Wassail Theatre presents ‘Radio Zummerzet’ online. This play pays homage to the way rural communities have responded to the Covid-19 crisis.

Devised by the cast, it features eclectic radio personalities and bombastic local news stories, exploring a picture of the country through local voices and rural responses to the crisis. The three initial episodes will be the forerunner for a live, rural touring theatre production. Listen to all three episodes at www.wassailtheatre. co.uk/radio-zummerzet. Wassail Theatre is a registered charity, so any donation will be most welcome.

CHILDREN

On Saturday 5 December from 10.30am to 12.30pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, there is a ‘Children’s Art Chest’ session with Margaret Micklewright. Have a bit of festive fun and make Christmas decorations for the family tree. £6 per session (materials included). Age 8+. To book, phone 01460 54973. www.themeetinghouse.org.uk.

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MOVIES AROUND THE TOWNS AND VILLAGES A CHRISTMAS GIFT FROM BOB 12A)

From the day James (Luke Treadaway) rescued a street cat abandoned near his sheltered accommodation, they began a friendship which transformed both their lives. In this film, James looks back at the last Christmas he and Bob spent scraping a living on the streets and how Bob helped him through one of his toughest times - providing strength, friendship and inspiration. The ‘purrfect’ Christmas sequel to the international hit film ‘A Street Cat Named Bob’!

SHOWING AT Yeovil on Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9 December, Westlands Entertainment Venue, 11.00am, 2.30pm, 7.00pm. Tickets £5.00 to £10.00. Book in advance 01935 422884.

BROOKLYN (12A)

A young Irish immigrant Eilis Lace (Saoirse Ronan) lands in 1950s Brooklyn, where she quickly falls into a romance with a local. When her past catches up with her, however, she must choose between two countries and the lives that exist within.

SHOWING AT Yeovil on Friday 4 December, Westlands Entertainment Venue, 11.00am, 2.30pm, 7.00pm. Tickets £5.00 to £10.00. Book in advance 01935 422884.

Yeovil on Saturday 5 December, Westlands Entertainment Venue, 11.00am. Tickets £6.50 to £10.00. Book in advance 01935 422884.

ELF (PG)

Buddy (Will Ferrell) was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood among Santa’s elves. Unable to shake the feeling that he doesn’t fit in, Buddy travels to New York, in full elf uniform, in search of his real father. This turns out to be Walter Hobbs (James Caan), a cynical businessman, who reluctantly attempts to start a relationship with the childlike Buddy with increasingly chaotic results.

SHOWING AT Yeovil on Tuesday 22 December, Westlands Entertainment Venue, 11.00am, 2.30pm, 7.00pm. Tickets £5.00 to £10.00. Book in advance 01935 422884.

HOME ALONE (PG)

On the evening before the McCallister family sets off for a Christmas holiday, eight-year-old Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) gets into a scuffle with his brother and is sent to his room. In a rush to catch the flight, the McCallisters accidentally leave without Kevin. His excitement at being home alone sours when two con men try to rob the McCallister residence. He realises that he alone must protect the family home!

SHOWING AT Yeovil on Monday 21 December, Westlands Entertainment Venue, 11.00am, 2.30pm, 7.00pm. Tickets £5.00 to £10.00. Book in advance 01935 422884.

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (U)

George Bailey (James Stewart) spent his life giving up his big dreams for the good of his town. After misplacing a $8000 loan, he is suicidal – then his guardian angel, Clarence, falls to Earth and shows him how his town, family and friends would have turned out if he had never been born. George meant so much to so many people; should he really throw it all away?

SHOWING AT Yeovil on Monday 14 December, Westlands Entertainment Venue, 11.00am, 2.30pm, 7.00pm. Tickets £5.00 to £10.00. Book in advance 01935 422884.

LOVE ACTUALLY (15)

Nine intertwined stories examine the complexities of the one emotion that connects everyone: love. Among the characters explored are David (Hugh Grant), handsome newly-elected British prime minister who falls for a young junior staffer (Martine McCutcheon), Sarah (Laura Linney), a graphic designer whose devotion to her mentally ill brother complicates her love life, and Harry (Alan Rickman), a married man tempted by his attractive new secretary.

SHOWING AT Yeovil on Friday 18 December, Westlands Entertainment Venue, 11.00am, 2.30pm, 7.00pm. Tickets £5.00 to £10.00. Book in advance 01935 422884.

To advertise – 01935 424724 • email: info@theconduitmagazine.co.uk • www.theconduitmagazine.co.uk

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MOVIES

MILITARY WIVES (12A)

With partners away serving in Afghanistan, wives left at home need to find a way to deal with the stress until the tour of duty is completed. They form a choir and quickly find themselves at the centre of a media sensation and global movement. As unexpected bonds of friendship flourish, music and laughter transform their lives, helping each other to deal with their fears for loved ones in combat. Starring Kristin Scott Thomas and Sharon Horgan.

SHOWING AT West Camel on Friday 18 December, The Davis Hall, 7.30pm. Admission £5 on the door.

SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (U)

It’s 1927 in Hollywood and matinee-idol star, Don (Gene Kelly), is caught in the bumpy transition from silent films to talkies. When the studio’s attempts to make a talkie turn disastrous, it’s down to Don, his songwriter best friend Cosmo (Donald O’Connor) and young aspiring actress Kathy (Debbie Reynolds) to save the day. With great songs and fantastic dancing, this film is a joy to watch.

SHOWING AT Halstock on Saturday 5 December, Village Hall, 7.30pm. Tickets £6.50 from Halstock Shop or on the door. For information: 01935 892485.

THE CHORUS (12A)

Pierre (Jean-Baptiste Maunier) is an aimless child at an austere boarding school in France. The students and faculty are constantly at odds, until a music teacher, Clément Mathieu (Gérard Jugnot), arrives and starts a choir. Clément, who has troubles of his own, tries to change reactionary school policies, choosing instead to encourage his students. His efforts have a particular impact on Pierre, who shows great musical promise. In French with English subtitles.

SHOWING AT Yeovil on Monday 7 December, Westlands Entertainment Venue, 11.00am, 2.30pm, 7.00pm. Tickets £5.00 to £10.00. Book in advance 01935 422884.

THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL (U)

The Muppets perform the classic Dickens tale, with Kermit the Frog playing Bob Cratchit, the put-upon clerk of stingy Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine). Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Fozzie Bear, Sam the Eagle and many others weave in and out of the story, while Scrooge receives visits from spirits of Christmas past, present and future to show him the error of his ways. But the miserable old man seems to be past any hope of redemption and happiness - or is he?

SHOWING AT Yeovil on Wednesday 23 December, Westlands Entertainment Venue, 11.00am, 2.30pm, 7.00pm. Tickets £5.00 to £10.00. Book in advance 01935 422884.

THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD (PG)

An award-winning modern take on a Charles Dickens classic. Armando Iannucci (director) and Simon Blackwell (screenplay) lend their wry comedic storytelling-style to revisiting Dickens’s iconic hero, David (Dev Patel), on his quirky journey from impoverished orphan to burgeoning writer in Victorian England.

SHOWING AT South Petherton on Friday 18 December, The David Hall, 8.00pm.

Tickets £5. To book, phone 01460 240340 before 3.00pm on the Friday.

WHITE CHRISTMAS (U)

Successful song-and-dance team Bob (Bing Crosby) and Phil (Danny Kaye) join sister-act Betty (Rosemary Clooney) and Judy (Vera-Ellen) to perform a Christmas show in rural Vermont. There, they run into their former commanding general, General Waverly. His quaint country inn is failing, so the foursome plans a yuletide miracle: a fun-filled musical extravaganza that’s sure to rescue Waverly and his business!

SHOWING AT Yeovil on Tuesday 15 December, Westlands Entertainment Venue, 11.00am, 2.30pm, 7.00pm. Tickets £5.00 to £10.00. Book in advance 01935 422884.

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ARTS

Dancers in Lockdown 2020

by Len Copland

Octagon Gallery: 11 December 2020 - 4 January 2021 When lockdown occurred in March 2020 and theatres and dance schools closed across the country, well-known local photographer and friend of the Octagon Theatre Len Copland embarked on a personal project capturing young dancers carrying on their passion for dance at their homes around South Somerset.

Alyssa Ashton, 13 from Martock

Chloe McCoy, aged 12 from Yeovil

The pictures were taken where possible on the front doorstep of their homes and in their gardens. This project soon escalated after the first picture of well-known dancer, James Bamford, was posted and Len’s inbox was soon full of young dancers willing to take part.

This project was all about bringing a feel good factor back to the dancers, something to break the monotony of being stuck at home, and also stopped the photographer from going crazy. A huge thanks must go to the dancers whose passion and energy was infectious. Len’s only regret was that there was not enough room for all the photographs and that he couldn’t get around to all the amazingly talented young dancers who wanted to take part.

James Bamford, aged 16 from Yeovil

The first floor gallery is open Monday to Saturday from 10am - 5pm or until 9:30pm on performance evenings.

Front Cover Photo: Lisha Allen, aged 18 from The Yeovil Dancentre and Yeovil College

Paige Travers, aged 14 from Yeovil Dancentre

Rosie 10, and Poppy Joynes, from South Petherton

Hanna Young , aged 9, from Yeovil 24

Exhibition dates are correct as we go to press but we advise checking with The Octagon before attending as the Covid-19 situation may change opening times.

84293 Conduit (December 2020) rev1.indd 24

20/11/2020 11:41

MUSIC

WRAPPING UP

By Ross Owen Williams,

Presenter on Radio Ninesprings, 104.5fm Despite the challenges of the year, we’ve plenty to celebrate and be thankful for at Radio Ninesprings as we approach the end of a most unexpected 2020.

A year that began with seven presenters has ended with eleven, and we’ve added 20 hours of hosted programming to each week’s schedule – to put that in perspective, it’s an increase of almost 50% from the beginning of 2020 and thanks go not just to our fantastic newcomers Victoria Welton, Robson James, Brad Butterworth, Steve Bulley, Darren Daley and Neil Quigley, but also to those behind the scenes who work hard to ensure we have the platform to perform, so to speak, and Steve Haigh, John Baker, and Adrian Dening are unsung heroes of the station. Steve Carpenter, as well as hosting Breakfast each day, works tirelessly as the programming manager and deserves a hearty helping of festive cheer.

We’re now looking forward to 2021, continuing to support local artists and events and bring you the best of what’s happening within our community, and also finishing the project to expand our signal with two new transmitters so that we can bring you more of what you love over a wider area on FM.

Oh, the cold winter mornings are frightful But Breakfast with Steve is delightful With the volume turned high or low Radio... Radio... Radio!

If the afternoons leave you weary Ross and Vicky will keep you cheery So at home or on the go Radio... Radio... Radio!

When your weekend is underway You can catch Greg, Huggy or Ray Brad, Neil, Darren and Robson too with Steve Bulley’s BIG question for you Local news, great music and much more A community station to adore From the Ninesprings studio Radio… Radio… Radio!

Have a happy (and safe) holiday season, and best wishes for a positive and successful 2021.

Ross Owen Williams hosts Drivetime each weekday from 4pm to 7pm on Radio Ninesprings 104.5FM, as well as the Lucky 13 on Friday between 7pm and 8pm and the Sunday Spotlight between 4pm and 6pm.

New Local Radio Station for Yeovil and South Somerset

This’ll be my last article for Ninesprings within the pages of the Conduit, so I’ll thank Jane for the ongoing column space (and apologise for always missing deadline by at least a day…!) and all who’ve delved into my scribblings over the past year. As the saying goes, if you’re gonna go, go out with a song – so I’ve taken the liberty of rewriting a popular Christmas song for your friendly community radio station…

RADIO 104.5 FM

SPRINGS

You can’t get more Local!

Somerset

Musician makes CD for MIND A Somerset musician and record producer is working on an album to bring people together to focus on mental health.

“The music is meant to #breakthestigma and trigger a vital, long overdue conversation about mental health,” says Bristol-based Mark Hamilton.

All proceeds from the CD out next Spring will go to Mind in Somerset, the mental health charity, which has been dealing with 90 calls a day to its MindLine support service during the Covid Crisis.

Mark has released 11 tracks and the album will cover songs by artists including Jimi Hendrix, The Doors and Nirvana. Already since June he has had over 1 million streams on Spotify and 291,000 views on YouTube.

“It’s well documented that music can be an effective therapy for those struggling with mental health, whether making music or listening to it. It brings people together in a shared experience,” he adds.

The 14 tracks all deal with issues such as depression, anxiety and addiction and Mark hopes that they will show people suffering this last year from Lockdown that they are not alone. He himself has experienced great stress as he had to shut down his music events business.

But returning to making music has proved a therapy and he has produced all the songs with fellow professional musicians, as well as the videos – all for free.

“We want the proceeds of the album to go to Mind in Somerset because they do a great job helping the community across the county,” says Mark. “We need to tune into mental health and break the stigma about discussing it.”

Anne-Marie Russ, Community Fundraiser at Mind in Somerset, commented: “This is a wonderful project and we’re very grateful to Mark for his fantastic support.”

Mark’s YouTube Channel is at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCIdXF8JeeYXNXcFFXysuK1g Mindline is on 01823 276 892. www.MindinSomerset.org.uk

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20/11/2020 11:41

HISTORY

OUR MARKET TOWNS CAN HELP BEAT THE ‘BLEAK MID-WINTER’ BLUES

By Paul Birbeck, Sherborne Walks & Blue Badge Tour Guide

enduring life, and a faggot kept in the house through the year is said to deter evil spirits. This custom is thought to date back to the festival of Jol as the ash tree was regarded as the tree of life in Norse mythology.

As 2020 comes to an end the rich variety of seasonal events around the area are curtailed. Winter usually provides opportunities to experience the festive season in our market towns – no, I’m not just talking about Christmas shopping.

In a normal year our market towns host a variety of events which build upon traditions which are centuries old.

In the early Middle Ages, people in northern Europe celebrated a midwinter festival called Yule or Jol. The festival is thought to have celebrated the turning of the wheel of the year and the lengthening of days after the winter solstice. Yule became synonymous with the ‘Christmas season.’

Since the eleventh century to the present day, towns have seen Christmas services and celebrations which have allowed a variety of traditions to be observed.

Essentially, all religious celebrations, including Diwali and Hanukkah are about bringing light into darkness, which can be twinkling lights, candles, glittering baubles, shimmering tinsel, but also being together and connecting with family and friends by sending cards, messages on social media and coming together to give gifts - traditions enjoyed by many of us.

The current limits on large gatherings and social distancing mean all seasonal events will be severely curtailed or cancelled.

The popular Christmas light and lantern displays associated with our country estates like Stourhead, Montacute, Barrington and Longleat have all been affected, although some are advertising pre-booked groups.

In recent years our market towns have had dedicated annual Festive Shopping Days and markets when the town centre comes alive as it hosts a variety of different musical, fun and entertaining activities incorporating all of the light displays which often coincides with the official tree-lighting. These events are usually a Christmas shopper’s paradise, as they host a wide array of stalls selling

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The Digby Tap invited customers to pay a pound to guess how long it would take the faggot to burn. Something that might brighten up a family group event.

fresh local produce and artisan gifts.

There is often seasonal street food to sample, as well as regionally produced drinks.

Sadly, it’s just impossible to say if any event will go ahead in December 2020.

Some organizers are cautiously planning much smaller scale events in early December but most are already innocent victims of the pandemic. The important thing will be to check if any event is going ahead before you travel.

However, we mustn’t let the ‘blues’ get to us. Less obvious smaller attractions will be found like a visit to a reindeer or maybe a garden centre light display and grotto.

Historically, such local events and centres add to seasonal variety.

Last year, the ancient tradition of Burning of the Ashen Faggot was revived with a twist in the Digby Tap, Sherborne.

We all need to adapt to ensure we stay safe as 2020 draws to a close, and be aware that many people will be feeling and experiencing the ‘winter blues’. We need to look out for each other.

From ancient customs to modern ashen faggots and chasing-a-pudding along Weymouth beach, the West Country knows how to celebrate the festive season in style. I hope the current pandemic does not become too restrictive and that we all have some opportunity to beat the winter blues by exploring, supporting and enjoying some local activity this ‘Bleak Mid-Winter’.

Traditionally, the faggot, a bundle of green ash bound with nine straps of withy, is thrown on the fire by the oldest person in the room and, as each band burns through, a toast and a wish is made plus a glug of cider consumed from ‘a mighty jug of sparkling cyder’s brought, with brandy mixed to elevate the guests.’

Sounds like fun.

In some areas, damsels claimed a withy band and the girl whose band was first to break would be first to marry. Some half-burnt ash is reserved to form the basis of next year’s faggot, representing

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84293 Conduit (December 2020) rev1.indd 26

Goose Markets were once associated with early winter, in particular, Michaelmas, the celebration associated with encouraging protection during these dark months.

According to tradition, a well-fattened goose, fed on the stubble from the fields after the harvest, is eaten to protect against financial need in the family for the next year. Something many of us need.

/TheConduitMag

@conduitmag 20/11/2020 11:41

HISTORY

DRINKING IN MILBORNE PORT

By Dr Lesley Wray

When the new lockdown measures meant pubs closed again, I remembered that the English have always been a nation of drinkers, and the inhabitants of Milborne Port were no different. The Romans were horrified that the Britons drank their wine without watering it down, and in the eighth century the Pope complained that many English bishops indulged in an excess of drink. (The clergy were well known for a wine called Theologicum, said to be the best in England.) Water was unsafe to drink, turning it into ale involved boiling, rendering it much safer.

In 975 King Edgar tried to limit drinking; ruling that no village could have more than one alehouse and all drinking horns must have pins at roughly half pint intervals. No man was to drink beyond the pin before passing the horn on. Inevitably, it became a game to see how many pins each drinker could uncover.

Last year the original ‘Church House’ was discovered in Milborne Port. It would have been used to brew beer, bake bread and hold parties to consume the goods produced, the funds raised being ploughed back into the parish. Church Ales were held at weddings and funerals, as well as tithe-ales, lamb-ales and leet-ales.

Milborne Port has had many pubs over the years, and when I moved here in 1980 it was possible to drink in three pubs, two social clubs and a nightclub. (Two pubs and a social club remain.)

The oldest inn was first recorded in 1550; the George Inn on Church Street. In 1824 a man died after an incident there. Another inn, the Star, was mentioned in 1574. By 1630 an inn called the Tippler was in business. When Robert Boyle, scientist and philosopher, returned to live at Stalbridge Park in 1644, he often drank there so it became known as the Tippling Philosopher, the name it bears today. It was renamed the Kings Head following the coronation of George IV in 1820, but returned to its original name in the late twentieth century. In 1837 one hundred local men were given supper in an upstairs room, showing how large the inn was. In 1866 the Gainsborough Inn opened, this is the other pub still open today.

Other pubs, now gone, include the Queens Head on the corner of East Street, still a meeting place when open, although no longer a pub.

Sherborne House on the A30 was once the Red Lion Inn; it was claimed to be a notorious haunt

of highwaymen, but even so the Quakers used to meet there! The Angel Inn, on Station Road, ceased trading in 1796, but soon became a beer house run by William Fudge.

The Wood and Stone Inn was demolished in 1866 to make way for the Methodist Chapel. The Rose and Crown, the White Lion, the Dolphin, and the Five Bells were all mentioned in the early eighteenth century, although no record exists of where these inns were. In 1738 seven Beer House licences were granted in Milborne Port; the licensees had to keep order, serve the correct measures and ‘not permit any unlawful plays or games to be used in his house or outhouses, garden, orchard or other ground, or suffer any such person to be or remain therein drinking or tippling contrary to law, or willingly harbour in his house etc. any rogue vagabond or sturdy beggar or other notorious offender whatsoever.’ Inevitably the large number of places to drink led to much drunken brawling, and every Petty Session held at Wincanton heard plenty of such cases, leading to attempts to enforce Temperance on the village, although this never happened.

So don’t despair, pubs will always return.

Have as good a Christmas as you can, and if you would like to know more about the village, email les_wray@yahoo.co.uk to organise a personal tour of the village museum, with a new display on the ‘Importance of Gloves and other Accessories’.

To advertise – 01935 424724 • email: info@theconduitmagazine.co.uk • www.theconduitmagazine.co.uk 84293 Conduit (December 2020) rev1.indd 27

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20/11/2020 11:41

TRAVEL

CHILDREN LOVE A GARDEN!

By Tim Saunders, Travel Correspondent

From our home in Hampshire we travel two-and-half hours to Tiverton in Devon to visit Knightshayes, a magnificent National Trust property with extensive gardens.

Covid has forced the closure of the house at the time of writing but the grounds are so large it really doesn’t matter to us. We arrive at just after 1pm and have eaten in the car. The traffic could have been better and a long queue to one Hampshire visitor attraction causes long delays as we head towards Salisbury to eventually pick up the A303.

When we arrive at Knightshayes we drive through the entrance that takes us through the estate to the car parks at the rear. It is an exceedingly grand stately home designed by William Burges for the Heathcoat-Amory family, notable in business and politics. Nikolaus Pevsner describes it as ‘an eloquent expression of High Victorian ideals in a country house of moderate size’. Certainly this grand Gothic revival architecture is a statement of wealth.

It would cost a fortune to live in such a place and to maintain it. And like every 28

property that the Trust has been given, it looks after it for the nation. We make our way round the grounds with the help of a map and our first port of call is the Kitchen Garden, full of wonderful flowers and a good deal of rhubarb. The Douglas Fir Walk sees little Henry (4) and sister Heidi (7) tearing ahead of us down the path and hollering because there is a little echo and they love it. The trees are enormous. Then we spot what looks to be like a little castle roof and they both worry that it might be a witch’s house. No bad thing because Henry is starting to flag and we need him to continue walking. Of course tired time is fast approaching and so it is not long before we come to a standstill. ‘I’m not walking anymore,’ he protests. ‘But you’ve been sat in the car for two-and-a-half hours,’ we plead. It’s no good, I have to go back to the car to collect the pushchair.

On my return Caroline and the children have struck up a conversation with a fellow

visitor, Jonathan, who has enjoyed quizzing Henry about how many fingers and thumbs he has. Of course at this time of day the answer to Jonathan’s question of: ‘How many fingers have you got, Henry?’ is ‘89’.

For a brief time our cheeky little comic sits in his carriage but as we make our way round the formal gardens of the main house, he becomes bored and as we turn a corner and the grounds seem to be endless. Henry leaps up to accompany his sisters as they run down the steps past the ornamental pond. Heidi stretches her arms out as if to fly. I remember doing that when I was her age. It doesn’t matter that it’s raining. This is what childhood is all about.

For more information visit: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ knightshayes Watch the videos at www.travelwriter.biz

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84293 Conduit (December 2020) rev1.indd 28

20/11/2020 11:41

TRAVEL TRAVEL

TRAVEL ROUND-UP FROM MILES MORGAN TRAVEL….

By Heather Muir, Manager – Miles Morgan Travel, Yeovil With travel pretty much paused since March, I thought I would bring you an update on what the team here at Miles Morgan Travel in Yeovil have been busy working on the last few months.

Thankfully, with our customers’ support, we have risen to and overcome the many challenges that have come our way, and our biggest selling product by far over the last few months has been ocean cruising.

In September, Saga launched its 2022 ocean cruise programme, and the demand took us all by surprise (even Saga themselves reported the best launch ever!).

People clearly were missing their normal holidays and wanted something to look forward to. Saga’s reassurance guarantee with flexible cancellation cover and its included travel insurance, covering Covid 19, has certainly given our customers the confidence to book.

November saw P&O cruises launch its 2022 programme too, well ahead of its normal schedule. With thousands of customers having had their 2020 cruises cancelled and transferred to 2021, availability is already tight, so this launch gave customers a much wider selection of dates.

Sales again exceeded all expectations, with hundreds of our customers taking advantage of the low 5% deposit to ink

in something to look forward to in their diaries.

Cunard followed in mid-November putting its 2022 on sale and a fabulous programme of inspiring itineraries which included cruises from Southampton and a huge range of fly cruises to Alaska, Caribbean, Canada, and the Mediterranean.

As I write, Princess Cruises and Fred Olsen will launch their 2022 programmes very soon and we are expecting the demand to be similarly high.

Other exciting news this year has been the launch of some other package holidays and destinations. We have been appointed as a main agent for easyJet holidays and TUI holidays from Bristol with holidays on sale now for 2021 and 2022, respectively.

Our team in Yeovil has adapted over the last year to work from home when necessary, so whatever the guidelines are as you read this, we are there for you on 01935 428488.

May I take this opportunity of thanking all our loyal customers for all their support this year and hope that you all have a healthy and happy Christmas and that we see you soon.

We Are Main Agents For All Big Cruise Brands As an award winning independent travel agent, we offer the widest choice of cruises and are proud to be a main agent for:

Lastly, we have a new ‘partner in town‘, Jet2holidays has just launched a huge new programme from Bristol Airport for 2021 – with over 30 destinations available.

Jet2holidays is the UK’s second largest tour operator and offers package holidays with 2 to 5-star hotels and villas, and we are really excited about this new partnership.

So, as you can see even though travel has been pretty much paused in 2020 there is lots to look forward in 2021/22 and beyond.

Plus many more...

Voted ‘The Best Travel Agent’ in the South West & Wales

01935 577294

www.milesmorgantravel.co.uk

14-16 Middle Street, Yeovil, Somerset, BA20 1LY yeovil@milesmorgantravel.co.uk

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20/11/2020 11:41

FOOD & DRINK

A VINTNER’S TALE (ACT 2, SCENE I) Peter Law, Chairman and MD at Wine Wizzard in Castle Cary, continues with his fascinating tales of life in the wine trade…. .....back in Kent in the early 1970s, the business got off to a fantastic start, with a very busy sixday-a-week shop supplying local and London restaurants, which were easy to drive to outside of rush hours. My business partner, Nicholas, had a Pharaoh hound, the only one I have ever known, whose speciality was eating customers’ cheques and my packets of Gitanes!

On my first French buying trip, I accidentally became the first UK importer of Sauvignon de St. Bris and the wines of the now legendary Georges Vernay in Condrieu, Rhone. Both were great successes. On my first trip, I also collected a number of samples in Provence, which I discovered did not travel well in the back of my Renault 4 van. I discovered that wine traffic in French (vin traffique) meant adulterated wine, ooops! Luckily no one in England knew this, as it was the antithesis to the ethos of my new business. ....... Nearly 50 years later, WINEWIZZARD has now been trading in the wonderful Castle Cary for almost 26 years, and Linda and I would like to give a massive thank you to our many lovely customers in Cary and environs for their trust and fantastic support which has continued through this particularly difficult year - working on the basis that GOOD WINE IS ESSENTIAL. At the time of writing, we have just taken delivery of thousands of bottles into the bonded

warehouse in Essex, with other shipments en route from Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne in time for the run-up to Christmas, whatever that may bring.

The 2015 vintage (one of the greatest of recent years) Clos de May (which is technically a cru Bourgeois Haut Medoc) is a snip at £24.50.

It is my favourite wine in the shop and tastes more like a £60 bottle. Wonderful drinking now; suggest opening an hour or two in advance and decanting to allow it to breathe.

It should also keep for at least another five years, by which time we will have long sold out.

Amongst other wines en route: Chateau Dimacy 2016 Grand cru St. Emilion at £20.95, along with other fine clarets, Burgundies and award winning Fallet Dart Champagne, plus our usual range of affordable quality wines. We also stock 20-year-old Bas Armagnac in beautiful gift boxes, fabulous local Gin, sloe gin, a new lightly spiced rum with a hint of oak, plus Belgian chocolate liqueur - a real indulgent treat and lovely stocking filler. Also look out for sherry, port and hand rolled Havana cigars.

Despite being a very difficult year, I am pleased to tell you that (to date) it has been a very successful one - all thanks to you. We wish everyone a merry, peaceful Christmas with hope for a much better New Year.

The Wine Society’s Bellini Case Looking for inspiration for Christmas presents? If classy, delicious gifts delivered to the door of the wine/spirits/beer/food lover in your life is what you need, then look no further than the world’s oldest wine club – The Wine Society. The arrival of a box in The Wine Society’s smart livery is sure to bring festive cheer to any lucky recipient.

The Bellini Case which comes in a smart gift box costs £22.50 including UK delivery. For the ultimate thirst-quenching fruity cocktails, add a dash of Van Nahmen rhubarb or peach nectars to the Wine Society’s delicious Prosecco, sourced from small family holdings on prime hillside vineyards. The results strike a mouth-watering balance between tart and sweet. The entire range of 34 gifts can be found at: www.thewinesociety.com .

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20/11/2020 11:41

FOOD & DRINK

THE ALTERNATIVE INDIAN I am Khrishma Preston, The Alternative Indian, and I grew up in a traditional Gujarati (Indian) home where my mum only cooked Indian (with some Tanzanian influence) home-made vegetarian meals from scratch. No eggs, no fish. Just beans, pulses, lentils, fruit and vegetables.

Looking for a new path in life and influenced by my mother’s love of cooking and her ability to bring family and friends together through food, I took the leap to open my own restaurant in November 2018. The Alternative Indian, Tiffins and Tapas, was based out of ‘The Bistro’ Bar in West Coker.

With this fabulous opportunity I was able to demonstrate just some of the variety available in Indian/East African cooking.

My aim was to be not just an average curry house. My ethos – Local, Ethical, Sustainable Indian Food.

I have a passion for conservation and instituted a no plastic policy for our take-aways. Instead we used Indian Tiffins on a deposit-based system. As a new business, and only open three nights a week, I was extremely conscious of waste. The ambulance service, and NHS, has always been dear to my heart and early on I began cooking a few meals and sides for the Ambulance Crew in Yeovil on a Saturday night after service with what I had left in my fridges. Thankfully these were well received and when I had surplus I would also drop some off to the Fire Station next door.

I started to build the business and 2020 was set to be a busy year. However, as with so many other businesses, Covid 19 hits us hard. My landlord decided to take early retirement as the restaurant and the bar couldn’t have feasibly survived as we had been. So as the first lockdown eased and businesses opened back up, we closed our doors. However, thankfully that isn’t the end for The Alternative Indian, Tiffins and Tapas.

I have recently bought a beautiful classic horse-box to convert into a mobile kitchen, and work is underway on that. We have plans for some exciting events through 2021. In early November, I also launched The Alternative Indian, YouTube Channel. The channel aims to provide updates on the business and recipes, as well as reviewing Indian food products in the market that you can find at any supermarket. On the channel you will find a series of videos coming up to Christmas for a spiced-up Christmas Dinner. All the main ingredients for these came from local suppliers who I have built great relationships with through the business.

With Christmas fast approaching, I wanted to provide you with an alternative way to use up your leftovers on boxing day. Both the Curry and the Pakora Patties can be ready in an hour. They can be adjusted to your left-overs and will feed around six people. *Tip: Prepare spices first and have them ready Find the recipes overleaf

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20/11/2020 11:42

FOOD & DRINK

Boxing Day Turkey Curry Gluten and Dairy Free

Prep time 10 mins; Cook time 25 mins; Total time 35 mins

INGREDIENTS 2 tbsp sunflower oil

2 tsp mustard seeds 2 cloves 1 tsp coriander seeds 2 tsp whole cumin seeds 2 inches cinnamon 1 whole star anise 1 -2 whole large green chilli, halved I large onion, roughly diced or chopped 1 large tsp root ginger, minced

2 tbsp coriander/cumin powder 2 tsp chilli powder (optional) 2 tsp salt Approx 600g left-over turkey or chicken (or any left-over meat of your choice), and up to 50g of any other meat like bacon or sausage, all chopped 2 handfuls cherry tomatoes 1 can coconut milk 2 tsp garam masala 1 tsp sugar

Left-Over Chunky Veggie Pakora Patties Gluten Free and Vegan

*The veggies can consist of whatever you have left over from the night before.

Prep time 5 mins; Cook time 30-35 mins; Total time 40 mins

INGREDIENTS 4 small boiled or roasted potatoes, roughly mashed

Batter

5 Brussel sprouts, sliced

2 tsp garlic granules

5/6 stems or florets of purple broccoli, roughly chopped

¾ tsp turmeric

¾ cup parsnips, diced

1 cup gram flour

2 tsp chilli powder

Half a raw red onion, diced

1 tsp maple syrup (optional – if not added to your roasted veg already)

4 garlic cloves, crushed

½ tsp nutmeg

1 inch of ginger, grated

½ tsp cinnamon powder

¾ cup carrots, diced

5 garlic cloves, chopped

Juice of a lemon

3 tbsp tomato purée

salt to taste

1 tsp salt

1 tsp turmeric powder

Green-leaf garnish of choice

1 tsp baking powder

METHOD In a heavy-bottomed pan, heat oil, add mustard seeds and when they begin to pop, add remaining whole spices, stir, and then add the onion. Stir the onion through the spices and cook until softened and beginning to go brown around the edges. Add ginger, garlic and tomato purée and stir. Next add the dry spices and salt, and mix together. The spices will start to stick to the onions, add a little water and let it evaporate - the bottom of the pan should remain relatively dry. Add a little more water as the spices fry off. When the oil begins to separate from the mix the spices are cooked. Add the left-over meat, add a little more water to the mix and cook for 5 mins, then add tomatoes and coconut milk.

Mix in the garam masala, add the sugar, cook a few minutes more, and then add lemon juice and salt to taste. Cook for 25 mins on medium to low heat with lid on.

2 tsp garam masala

METHOD

2 tbsp vegetable oil

Pre-heat oven to 180C (Fan) and line a baking tray with greaseproof paper. Mix up batter adding water to the consistency of a thick pancake batter. Leave to stand while you prepare your veg. Chop the veg into similar-sized pieces and fold through the batter. Make into patty shapes and place on the baking tray. Close on middle shelve until golden brown for approximately 30-35 mins.

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20/11/2020 11:42

CARE

COPING WITH CHRISTMAS

By Tracey Warren, Stoodley and Son

It is the time of year when our thoughts turn to Christmas and the TV adverts portray happy families sitting down to dinner and opening presents together.

But for those that are bereaved, Christmas will be a different feeling. How can you wish people a ‘Merry’ Christmas when you feel anything but?

Writing Christmas cards from one person instead of two, or not laying a place at the dinner table, Christmas can be one of the most painful reminders of what we have lost.

and lonely. Friends and family that have supported you through the loss may now have ‘moved on with their lives’. Act rather than react is good advice.

Phone others who may also be on their own, or call friends you would want to meet up with. Let people know what you need, especially those that offered help initially.

There is always so much pressure surrounding Christmas, putting up the tree, writing cards, buying and wrapping gifts, these are just a few of the many tasks that add to the stress. If we are grieving, we may find we are simply just too exhausted to do this, or we just don’t feel motivated.

You may be tempted to shut yourself away and spend Christmas alone, but resist the temptation. We avoid social gatherings because we are afraid we will get upset, but its perfectly ok to do that. If it is too overwhelming, speak to the host and say ‘If I find this too emotional, I know you’ll understand if I have to leave’ – people do understand.

So, it’s important to ask yourself – ‘How much can I do?’ and ‘What do I want to do?’

You need to acknowledge your limitations, and find a balance.

Plan ahead and decide what is important. Christmas shopping can be upsetting, so try and go with a friend or family member.

Shop online or telephone one of the independent shops and ask them to make up and send a hamper of things directly to the recipient or order gift vouchers.

There are so many traditions, each unique to the family, for example decorating the tree, watching the Queens Speech, eating dinner at a certain time.

After a loss you may not know whether to maintain these, we may feel guilty. There is no right or wrong – it is what’s right for you! Do the things that are important and special to you.

When someone we care about dies, we can often feel isolated

On the day itself remind yourself: It’s not going to be easy but: •

I am doing what I decided I wanted to do

•

Tears are not a sign of weakness but an indication of the bond you shared

•

I must be patient with myself and not put too many expectations on others

•

I will focus on happy memories

•

I will try and make the best of my situation

•

I will hold onto hope that next Christmas will be brighter.

From Colin, Ellie and myself at Stoodley & Son, we wish you all a very peaceful Christmas.

To advertise – 01935 424724 • email: info@theconduitmagazine.co.uk • www.theconduitmagazine.co.uk 84293 Conduit (December 2020) rev1.indd 33

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CARE

HOW LISTENING CAN HELP MAKE A LONG NIGHT SHORTER

VOLUNTEERING AS A TUTOR AT THE RENDEZVOUS

By Christine Sullivan, Samaritan Volunteer

by Helen Devonshire, Rendezvous English Tutor

Until I started to take calls as a listening volunteer with Samaritans, I had no idea just how much distress there was out there; nor how long, lonely and terrifying a night could be. It is humbling to hear a caller, grateful that there is someone there. Whether it is terminal illness, debt, a tragic anniversary or an almost infinite variety of painful situations, our callers need to be heard. We cannot solve their problems, but we can make a long night shorter by listening and not judging them.

We left the South East in search of peace and to make a garden.

However, talking to friends and neighbours, it became apparent that there was anxiety and distress and unmet need everywhere. I thought ‘someone should do something about it’. Samaritans, like Lifeboats, was important and underfunded and deserved support.

Then I read an article about Samaritans and decided being afraid of water and unable to swim meant I was unlikely to be useful on a lifeboat team, but I might, with some support and training, learn to listen; that my time might be more useful than my money.

As I set off in the dark for a night shift, I know that there are people looking at their phones and deciding whether to ring Samaritans. I also know that someone being there can make a difference. As I explained to a policeman who stopped me to ask where I was going in the middle of the night, ‘there are people out there awake who need someone to talk to’.

Night-time can feel especially long and miserable around Christmas time. It is a very difficult time for many of our callers, and this year especially so. The world of family warmth and universal joy depicted in the adverts is often so far removed from their reality that it makes them feel even more isolated and that they have failed to achieve success. We don’t try and solve people’s problems, but just the fact that someone is at the end of a phone and willing to listen to them can make all the difference.

Samaritans in Yeovil needs volunteers to listen at all times of the day or night but we especially welcome applications from people who can volunteer at night. To find out more, email yeovil@samaritans.org and visit our website www.samaritans. org/support-us/volunteer .

Yeovil Sherborne & District

I’ve been a volunteer English Tutor at The Rendezvous for just over three years, helping young people with their Functional Skills Qualifications which they need to move on to college, jobs or apprenticeships. It’s made a difference to the lives of several young people as well as my own. It’s amazing. I really enjoy it!

I meet my Learner for 2-3 hours a week at our Centre in Sherborne, or online during Covid. Unlike school there is no pressure or anxiety - they work at their own pace and take the exam when they’re ready. One young person I worked with went on to an apprenticeship in optometry and is excelling so well she is now training as the branch manager. Another needed his Level 2 in English to complete his apprenticeship, and is now fully employed by that company and doing really well. And another, after a rocky start, gained her Level 2 English and is studying to be a paediatric nurse at university.

It’s great to see young people’s confidence grow in regard to their learning. I’ve also seen them begin to think for the first time about how they fit in with the world and what mark they want to make. At the same time, it’s been life changing for me, as I’ve found something I’m really passionate about and it has helped shape me into the person I am now.

I’m a single mum with two boys aged 18 and eight, and full time carer for my eldest son, who has mental health issues and is awaiting an assessment for autism. Life has not always been plain sailing and it’s been a rollercoaster to get my eldest son’s needs met or heard. I made a decision that I wanted to work with young people to help them through difficult times, especially those not as fortunate as my son to have a parent that supported them.

So that’s when I became involved with The Rendezvous.

When I started I wouldn’t have said boo to a goose. Now I feel like there is no stopping me! As well as tutoring I am currently working towards my Level 3 Diploma in Youth work, along with being supported by one of the other volunteer tutors with my Functional Skills in Maths (as I never got my GCSE Maths).

I’m planning in the future to do a Level 5 diploma in Education and Training. Eventually I want to do paid work with young people, once my son is fully settled within his life.

Seeing young people succeed and their confidence grow means everything to me.

If you’d like to find out more about volunteering as a tutor in English or Maths for The Rendezvous in Yeovil, Sherborne or Gillingham, please email Julie and Faye on Learning@therendezvous.org. uk. www.therendezvous.org.uk.

MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE TO A YOUNG PERSON’S LIFE Volunteer as a 1:1 English or Maths Tutor Yeovil I Sherborne I Gillingham

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Teaching qualification not needed To find out more email: Learning@therendezvous.org.uk www.therendezvous.org.uk

20/11/2020 11:42

HEALTH & WELLBEING

DOWNSIZE CHRISTMAS – AND STILL HAVE FUN!

By Niki Cassar Christmas approaches fast, after a year in which most people have suffered the aftereffects of the two ‘lockdowns’.

I’ve heard from people with anxiety, depression, social phobias, alcohol problems, weight gain, panic attacks, agoraphobia, PTSD, and more.

Many people have suffered considerable financial losses, and now we’re being subjected to constant marketing pressure by companies desperate to boost their sales, shouting at us

to BUY BUY BUY! There is huge temptation to borrow money to pay for gifts and all the luxury food temptingly displayed on TV ads. Parents feel hugely guilty they can’t give their kids the presents they’ve set their hearts on, and so are more likely to purchase on credit. In reality, after weeks of pressure and hype, Christmas is over in a couple of days, and we’re into the dark and gloomy days of January. The food has been eaten, the gifts discarded, and

we are faced with the reality of having to pay the bills, and severely curb our spending for several months. Anxiety, depression and other issues, briefly suppressed, are then likely to resurface big-time.

I’ve heard many people bemoan the increasingly commercial aspect of Christmas, and wistfully wish for the return of the time for people to come together to ‘eat, drink and be merry’. I’m old enough to remember the tree being put up on Christmas Eve, and mostly just one ‘special’ present from each member of my family.

(Well, OK, they weren’t always that great – like the scented, padded clothes hangers from my Great Aunt.) Yes, we ate and drank to excess, and there were plenty of treats, but most of the goodies were lovingly home-made, and there was little left over, except for a load of nuts and the ubiquitous pack of dates. We played silly games, went out for a walk in the fresh air, and later the oldies dozed in front of the fire while we kids

played with our toys or watched some TV. Yes, of course people spent more money at Christmas, but I doubt they experienced the pressure of modernday celebrations, or hocked themselves up to the hilt to pay for it.

Maybe we can all find one positive aspect to the lockdowns, and make a universal decision to simplify Christmas, to discuss with our families the idea of making it a time for caring, sharing and fun, whilst spending as little money as possible?

To those who are really struggling with any of the issues I’ve mentioned, both now and in the New Year, please be assured that hypnotherapy can help you to overcome rather than suppress them. Call me for a free, confidential chat on 07973 346747 or email me: mail@nikicassar.com. Wishing you all a truly peaceful and joyful Christmas, however you may decide to celebrate it!

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20/11/2020 11:42

HEALTH & WELLBEING

HERE WE GO AGAIN!

By Samantha Welch, Centre Manager A week ago, this would have been a very different article. I was confident that we were surviving the storm and were beginning to get used the how things are now, just getting on with life. Businesses, shops, sports centres, pubs and restaurants were all jogging along nicely. I must admit that for us, in this part of the world, I felt that we were not in fear of the tier system and only just last week, Yeovil was declared the safest (in COVID terms) place to live in the country.

As Centre Manager of Oxley Sports Centre, I felt that, after three months of hard work, determination and team work, we had got to a place where customers felt happy and safe.

We had just got the Coffee Pod back to full strength and all classes were now available for Swim School. We had got to the top of the hill, tantalisingly close to going over the top and feeling a small sense of relief, now we feel that the rug has been pulled out from under us. We have been dealt a body blow with a second national (England) lockdown. Especially in light of the recent statement from UK Active responding the Prime Minister’s announcement on 31 October: ‘This announcement is deeply disappointing due to the track record of safety and hygiene that the sector has sustained in response to the challenge of COVID. From over 1,900 facilities and five million visits in the week of 5-11 October, just 156 customers reported attending a facility before being confirmed positive with COVID-19. This indicates an incidence rate of 2.88 cases per 100,000 visits whereas the

UK case rate in the general population, as reported by the Government for 5- 11 October was 150.83 cases per 100,000 people’ UK Active 31 October 2020 However, we will continue with our Oxley ethos of making our customers feel welcome, continue with our holistic approach to wellbeing and encouraging good physical and mental health. The Centre has moved online! The Myzone App, that many of our customers have been using for over a year now, has enabled us to live stream many of our classes direct into your home, so that customers never need to miss out on their classes while we are not able to open to the public. We may have had a few technical issues in the beginning (we are still new to this too!) but we have opened up a new digital membership to new and existing customers so that they are able to continue when we are back up and running again.

We have been able to get back to a sort of normal since July, including social interaction, which is so important to so

many people and to now be confined to home again may be a very scary prospect.

Connecting to the Myzone App allows you not only to partake

in the classes but to chat to fellow my zoners and those who were regulars in your class.

It is a great way to still be social and keep your distance!

NEW virtual membership available.

For more information please email osc_info@sherborne.com or see our website

www.oxleysc.com

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20/11/2020 11:42

Bargain Hunters Corner

If an item/items are valued at more than £200 there will be a £6 charge. Wanted adverts are also charged at £6.

Pair of unlacquered solid brass door handles £50. 6 sided brass effect/glass ceiling light fitting £20.

2 new Bonsoir cream/grey check double pure wool blankets/throws. £30 each. New headboard for 5 ft bed, upholstered in fawn jacquard material £95. Round table with drop leaves 106 cm, on cream pedestal base, wooden finish top (from J Lewis) £80. 2 electric plate warmers £10 each Tel. 01935 817662 Stacking beds, converts to 2 single or one double, had very little use. £50.00 o.n.o.

01458 241771 (Long Sutton)

Olivetti portable typewriter Lettera 32. Good condition £75.00 ono Tel: 01460 52645 (Barrington) Aicok Citrus Juicer, new in box £10.00. Primark grey winter coat. New, without labels. Size 20 length 36” £5.00 Tel: 01935 426404 Antique hunting, sporting and racing prints, pub memorabilia. Offers Tel: 01963 350840

WIN £10 in our WORDSEARCH

competition HAUNTED HOUSE

A treat this month for those who love to scare themselves silly – and programmes like Most Haunted and even the spooky castle in I’m a Celebrity are testament to the fact that a lot of us do – with this month’s Wordsearch about words associated with a haunted house.

Just find the hidden words in the grid below, ring each word until you have found all of them and when you have completed the puzzle send it to: The Conduit Magazine, Unit 4, Barton View Business Park, Sheeplands Lane, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 4FW. The lucky winner receives a £10 cheque. The closing date is: Monday 21 December.

Good luck.

BANSHEE BLACK KNIGHT CLAIRVOYANT CLANKING COBWEBS CREAKING CURSE FRIGHT

GHOST LABORATORY MYSTERY NOISES OUIJA BOARD PHOTOGRAPH SCARED SCREAMS

SPECTRE SPELL TERROR THUNDERSTORM VAMPIRE WAILING

Name:__________________________________________________________ Tel :_________________________Email:______________________________ Address:_________________________________________________________ 37 ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________

If you would like to know who has won our Wordsearch Puzzles see our website.

84293 Conduit (December 2020) rev1.indd 37

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WALKING

RACHEL’S RAMBLES

By Rachel Mead

The post-ramble log fire is kicking out its heat, my soggy trail shoes are drying on the hearth, and Oakley is stretched out on the rug in the prime spot. The fairy lights on our Christmas tree are adding their festive flavour and, in combination with a glass of red wine, I feel warmly sated. We’ve explored new trails again today and now we have that delicious lazy, late Sunday afternoon lull going on.

We have parked up in the small village of Bayford, just east of Wincanton. A footpath opposite the old pub marks the start and it’s not long before paws and shoes are all muddy. We’re currently on low-lying ground; the OS map shows a myriad of rivulets weaving their way across the open countryside and soon we are even traversing the water over a very narrow footbridge. True to her labrador traits, Oakley temporarily halts proceedings with a mid-walk bathe in the River Cale before 38

we continue on our way. The hedgerows here are generously loaded with hawthorn and sloe berries, a Christmas gift to ramblers perhaps?! It’s surprising to see how the water droplets are still clinging to the bounty at this late hour of the day, the lack of a breeze enabling this particular part of nature to go slow.

Just like a child overly excited for Father Christmas to arrive, Oakley’s attention is taken by another exciting opportunity to play for she has found her next adventure within a tree hollow.

The old oak, possibly the longterm home to local badgers or rabbits, is her perfect hide and seek place, her very own subterranean sanctuary. This oak, like its neighbouring beech, is both showing the seasonal marcescence typical of these tree types. The lower limbs are holding on to their leaves whereas the branches stretching higher are denuded by the slip into winter. Gentle

Oakley gives the primeval cavern a good sniff before leaping back above ground again, rejoining me on our way to climb Windmill Hill.

Despite the afternoon’s lowlying mist which is struggling to lift, I can tell the views would have been plentiful in this part of the county. The footpath, at its peak, takes you about 140 metres above sea level which although isn’t hugely high gives you a vast view north across to the local racecourse, Charlton Musgrove and Bruton beyond.

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84293 Conduit (December 2020) rev1.indd 38

For those of you after a walk less than an hour, covering perhaps three miles or so, you can follow the footpath westwards and head back towards the high street of Wincanton. The bonus of this, whether in lockdown or otherwise, is that you can grab a takeaway hot chocolate for the homeward straight. A post-walk cockle-warming before you head home to toast your toes, or paws.

To find some more inspiring walks in the countryside: www.visitsouthsomerset.com /menu/inspire-me/ brochures.aspx?parentNodeName=Brochures# If you would like to recommend a ramble for Rachel then please email rachel@zestbureau.co.uk You can also see more photos from each walk on instagram: rachelsrambles /TheConduitMag

@conduitmag 20/11/2020 11:42

FRIDAY, 4 Dec

MONDAY, 7 Dec

Call THE BLINDMAKER any time on 01460 281527 / 07779 010939 www.theblindmaker4u.co.uk

WANTED

PO

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Outside Awnings and Blind Repairs FREE Measuring and Fitting

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Roller • Vertical • Venetian Roman • Conservatory

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FOR ALL YOUR BLIND NEEDS

RABT C R IL

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Advertisements:

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News and Articles:

PH

JANUARY DEADLINES

K E JOI N

Dry Stone Walling and Paving

Dave buys all types of tools.

All types of stone walling undertaken www.yenstonewalling.co.uk

Tel: 01935 428975

Patrick Houchen - DSWA member

01963 371123 Professional & reliable service

GUNS WANTED FOR CASH Any Condition. SOS to all air rifles and pistols any maker or model.

We collect in any area. Top prices paid in cash

07970 742471

IAN CROSSLAND

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE Tel: 01935 411813 Mob: 07811 070 498

• Interior and exterior decorating

• Carpentry and small cabinet work • Restoration of timber windows

• Making/restoring leaded windows • Hanging doors

• Fitting fences and gates • Exterior lime mortaring

With over 20 years’ experience for a friendly reliable service please give me a call

01935 808052

Domestic and contract flooring specialists 34 Princes Street, Yeovil BA20 1EQ

Tel: 01935 478100

walterwallyeovil@hotmail.co.uk To advertise – 01935 424724 • email: info@theconduitmagazine.co.uk • www.theconduitmagazine.co.uk 84293 Conduit (December 2020) rev1.indd 39

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Providing Dental Care for the Yeovil area since 1864

NEW PATIENTS WELCOME Princes Street Dental Practice are an independent private practice where you will see the same dentist at each visit. We keep up to date with, and like to invest in, new technology. We have invested in a CEREC technology which allows us to fit crowns and bridges in just one visit no impressions!

We are proud to be members of the Denplan Excel scheme.

Please feel free to ring and ask any questions, or come in and meet our lovely staff.

45 Princes St, Yeovil BA20 1EG 84293 Conduit (December 2020) rev1.indd 40

01935 475962 www.princesstreetdental.co.uk 20/11/2020 11:42