The Conduit Magazine - February 2021

Crossing counties,

look inside for info on the best events and activities in

West Dorset and

Magazine

South Somerset

Issue 239 February 2021

Why Somerset’s Glastonbury Abbey is the perfect spot for now. See p20

INSIDE THIS MONTH

Snowdrop Festival | Tasty curry recipe | Bradfords remembers Charlie Bartlett Developing a sense of place | Avoid email fraud

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

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

From the Editor Keeping local and keeping safe is still a mantra we all need to follow, but I make no apologies for including information this month about a beautiful Snowdrop Festival. For those living close to East Lambrook Manor in South Somerset, Margery Fish’s iconic cottage garden with its joyful snowdrops makes an uplifting place for a visit. Another beautiful location offering peace and tranquillity is this month’s front cover landmark, Glastonbury Abbey. During lockdown the grounds are open to local visitors as long as they follow government guidelines. Taking exercise and getting some fresh air is particularly essential to our wellbeing and mental health at the moment – turn to Rachel Mead’s humorous take on doing the Covid Quickstep at the back of the magazine.

Also take a look at The Conduit’s well respected hypnotherapist’s article offering more great advice on coping with negative thoughts and read Sherborne Walks’ Paul Birbeck’s column on the benefits of creating a sense of place. I hope you enjoy this month’s magazine and remember it is also available to read online.

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

ARTS

p17-19 Exhibitions, online activities & Movies

GARDENING p8-10

Visit East Lambrook Manor

ASSISTANT EDITOR Julie Locke

MARCH DEADLINES News and Articles: FRIDAY, 12 FEBRUARY Advertisements: MONDAY, 15 FEBRUARY

FOOD p22

Early Spring Pruning

SNOWDROP FESTIVAL p10

EDITOR & ADVERTISING Jane Adkins

A Tasty Vegetarian Curry

TRAVEL p23-24 A visit to Hestercombe

COMPUTING p14 Coping with email fraud

WALKING p30

Doing the Covid Quickstep

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.

3 www.remousonline.com

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 Weekly Prize Draw The draw takes place every Friday (advance notice given if the draw day changes) and each chance costs just £1. All profits go to St Margaret’s Hospice Care in order to provide vital funding to help St Margaret’s support patients and families facing the challenge of a life-limiting illness. For further information, please visit www.stmargarets-hospice.org.uk/weeklyprize-draw.

SHERBORNE School Readers Required! 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 as soon as they reopen.

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 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 donated to this appeal; just over £1.64 million raised so far! A total of £2 million is required to build this much needed dedicated Breast Cancer unit. The charity is still collecting any unwanted or broken jewellery and watches to help raise the final amount.

To donate, please call Maggie (appeal committee volunteer) on 01963 250108. Yeovil Hospital

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)

4

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

Food MILBORNE PORT Milborne Port Co-Op is looking for volunteers to help distribute its surplus out-of-date food to people who need it - those who have hit hard times due to short hours at work or loss of jobs. The trustees of Church House have kindly allowed the distribution to be done from there. Volunteers will collect from the Co-Op in the evening and take the food to store in Church House. If interested, please contact Frank Wright via frank.wright1993@ outlook.com.

SANDFORD ORCAS The Mitre Inn Takeaway Meals Evening meals available from Wednesday to Saturday from 6.00pm to 8.00pm and Sunday lunch available from 12.00 noon to 2.00pm. The menu is published each Monday (see Restaurant section on website). A collection system is in operation (collect from the porch). Pre-order 24 hours prior to collection.

Deliveries available within a three-mile radius. For further information, call 01963 220271, email cheryl@mitreinn.co.uk or visit www.mitreinn.co.uk.

SHERBORNE Sherborne Food Bank relies solely on the generous food donations from the community and, under the current circumstances, urgently needs help. Please consider

Contact: Julie Locke

/theconduitmagazine

E: info@theconduitmagazine.co.uk

@conduitmag

heritage/heirloom seeds, plus a huge range of patio and tall fruit trees and bushes. For further information, visit www. pennardplants.com.

adding any of the following items to the shopping trolley: rice, cereals, dried pasta, tinned carrots, savoury biscuits, and squash. Donation points can be found at Waitrose, Co-Op and Sainsbury’s. For further information, visit www. sherbornefoodbank.org.

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, homemade pies and pasties, Swanky Cakes, freshly-cooked Thai food and sauces, and Jack’s Mac and Cheese. Contact 01963 351763. www.castle-cary.co.uk/market.

SOMERTON The Unicorn Hotel Takeaway Meals Available on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 5.00pm to 8.00pm and Sunday roast only from 12.00 noon to 4.00pm. To order online, click on the takeaway menu on the homepage. Collection from rear of Unicorn Hotel. For more information, visit www. unicornhotel.co.uk or call 01458 272888.

WEST CAMEL The Walnut Tree Hotel Takeaway Meals Available from Tuesday to Saturday from 12.00 noon to 9.30pm and on Sunday from 12.00 to 4.00pm.

See Facebook page for the full range of take-away meals (including meals with a Caribbean twist). Specials: Wednesday – home-made pies, Friday – fish and chips, Saturday – grill. Call 01935 851292 to order and arrange a collection time. www. thewalnuttreehotel.com.

Market ONLINE Pennard Plants The 16th annual Grown Your Own & Seed Potato Day for 2021 is going virtual! A vast array of online products is on offer to help kick-start the growing season; potatoes, onions,

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, as well as preserves and honey. 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, honey, desserts, savouries and plants.

Refreshments available. Free parking.

ILMINSTER Every Thursday from 8.00am to 5.00pm at the Market House is the Ilminster Town Market. Normally, this

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

/TheConduitMag

@conduitmag

WHAT’S ON

market offers Mediterranean food products and kitchen products, barber, bakery, fish mongers, and more. However, during lockdown, only market traders who have food stalls can be invited. For further information, contact Ilminster Town Council on 01460 52149.

MARTOCK On Saturday 13 February 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, cheese, coffee, chicken, beef, cordials, jams, bread, savouries and plants. 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, such as fruit, veg, bread, cheese, seafood, and cider. For further information, visit the market’s Facebook page or phone 07912 769731.

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! In the weeks ahead, the online sessions will include some gentle chair-exercise at home, so get ready to sing, smile and stretch! For more information, visit www.goldieslive.com.

Martock & District U3A is still as active as it can be, with members able to keep up with hobbies and interests online. The group is sourcing online talks for members, keeping in touch through online coffee mornings, and sharing news, stories and support through a members Facebook group. Struggling with lack of company? Completed the lockdown ‘to do’ list ages ago? Why not join the group? The focus is on fun and making friends. Membership open to anyone no longer in full-time employment. For further information or if interested in joining, visit the Facebook page, www.u3a.org.uk, email martocku3amembership@gmail.com, or phone 07510 178094.

Talk ONLINE On Thursday 11 February at 2.00pm on Zoom, Martock & District U3A

is hosting a talk by Nigel Rousell of Service Dogs UK. Nigel is a retired police dog handler and now works with Service Dogs UK to train dogs for ex-servicemen especially those with PTSD. For further information or if interested in joining, visit the Facebook page, www.u3a. org.uk, email martocku3amembership@gmail. com, or phone 07510 178094.

Walk ONLINE Sherborne Walks has developed a number of Zoom presentations that look at the beauty and interesting aspects of the local area. A catalogue of journeys around the area with booking details is available on the website. Under normal circumstances, Sherborne Walks offers professional guided walks and tours throughout Wiltshire, Dorset and Somerset. The group specialises in guiding around this historic town and the surrounding area, delving a little deeper into the stories, characters and people that make the area so fascinating. www.sherbornewalks. co.uk.

EAST LAMBROOK From Tuesday to Sunday in February from 10.00am to 5.00pm at East Lambrook Manor Gardens, enjoy mindful moments with a walk through the garden’s ‘Festival of Snowdrops’. Throughout February East Lambrook Manor Gardens in Somerset will be celebrating the snowdrop season with its third Festival of Snowdrops, an opportunity to see the fabulous snowdrops in the garden together with additional displays showcasing many of the 150 varieties grown there, and around 70 varieties will be for sale in the nursery. The festival will also feature steel snowdrop sculptures by Chris Kampf.

Garden entry £6.00, over 65s £5.50, under 16s free. Free entry to the nursery. Strict social distancing and online booking via www. eastlambrook.com will apply. A local event for local people!

On Sunday 14 February from 10.00am to 5.00pm at East Lambrook Manor Gardens, there is an NGS charity Snowdrop Open Day. Strict social distancing. Online pre-booking is essential via www.eastlambrook.com. A local event for local people!

MINTERNE MAGNA Every day from February to November from 10.00am to 6.00pm at Minterne House, visit the gardens - a haven of tranquillity to explore and inspire. The garden is full of interest throughout year, with its world-renowned and completely unique collection of Himalayan rhododendrons and azaleas, spring bulbs, cherries, maples and many fine and rare trees.

Wander the trail, around a mile in length, and enjoy the chain of small lakes, waterfalls and streams. Book online for tickets. Adults £12, under 12s free, season tickets available. For further information, visit www.minterne.co.uk or phone 01300 341370.

WELLS Every weekend from 30 January to 21 February from 10.00am to 4.00pm at The Bishop’s Palace, Wells, celebrate the arrival of Spring and head on down to the gardens for

their hugely popular Snowdrop Weekends.

Visitors can collect a printed Snowdrop Walk which will guide them around the Moat banks carpeted with spectacular snowdrops, and across the Willow Bridge to enjoy an Arboretum full of snowdrops of several varieties. Each weekend a children’s trail will also be available from the ticket office with a small prize upon completion. Head gardener James Cross has noticed that the snowdrop season seems to be beginning and ending earlier each year - so don’t leave it until the last day to visit, as the snowdrops may have already gone! Included with standard admission. Tickets available to purchase at www.bishopspalace.org.uk.

Workshop ONLINE From Thursday 21 January to Thursday 18 February from 2.00pm to 4.00pm, there is a five-week online workshop ‘Working in Oils’ with James Budden. This live virtual course costs £60. For further details, visit www.sherborneartslink.org.uk.

ACEarts has been able to produce more online workshops, with thanks to Arts Council England. Visit the website to find make-along videos – be inspired, be creative! For further information, visit www.acearts.co.uk.

ArtsLink Art at Home Visit the Art at Home page on the website to enjoy a series of activities to share with family or to do individually. Each activity uses basic art materials, just use whatever is at hand.

New activities will be added regularly; most include image and video links. Share creations on ArtsLink’s social media pages. www. sherborneartslink.org.uk .

REMOVALS & CLEARANCES

Contact us for your free, no obligation quote; Phone: 01935 509057 Freephone: 0800 2425012 Mobile: 07853 275379 Email: enquiries@back2market.com

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

5

BOOKS

BOOK REVIEW

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

By Wayne, Winstones

Still Life by Val McDermid

by Val McDermid pbck | £8.99

‘Sensational . . .Unforgettable’ Guardian ‘Compulsively readable’ Irish Times

It’s cold, we’re in lockdown, so something gripping to read to take our minds off it all would be most welcome methinks.

We are closed for browsing but open for business. Please contact us by phone, email or order online from Winstone’s. Your books can be picked up from store, kerbside (nearest car park) or nationwide posting at cost. We are also offering free delivery within a 3-mile radius of the store.

So we heartily recommend the new book from ‘the queen of psychological thrillers’ Val McDermid.

Still Life is her most exhilarating, breath-taking thriller yet.

Stay well, Stay well read

A story about bodies that never stay buried forever . . .’On a freezing winter morning, fishermen pull a body from the sea.’

It is quickly discovered that the dead man was the prime suspect in a decade-old investigation, when a prominent civil servant disappeared without trace. DCI Karen Pirie was the last detective to review the file and is drawn into a sinister world of betrayal and dark secrets. But Karen is already grappling with another case, one with even more questions and fewer answers.

Free initial consultation

A skeleton has been discovered in an abandoned campervan and all clues point to a killer who never faced justice - a killer who is still out there. In her search for the truth, Karen uncovers a network of lies that has gone unchallenged for years. But lies and secrets can turn deadly when someone is determined to keep them hidden for good.

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

PLEASE PHONE OR ORDER FROM THE WEBSITE, WE ARE STILL DELIVERING AND INSTALLING

MARCH DEADLINES

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

ADVERTORIAL

IN MEMORY OF CHARLIE BARTLETT

– 3RD GENERATION BRADFORDS FAMILY

By Paul Harvey, Branch Director It was with great sadness that we heard the news just prior to Christmas of Charlie’s passing. Charlie remained until the end a part of the community in the town he loved, and at Bradfords we were lucky to maintain an association with him too.

Charlie was the third generation of Bartlett’s to work for Bradfords in Sherborne following in the footsteps of his father Bob and his grandfather William. Encouraged to join Bradfords by the impression that it offered a good honest day’s work, Charlie started his Bradfords’ employment in 1950. After a short break to explore another career, he returned in 1981 until his retirement in 1997.

Charlie’s employment with Bradfords across both spells was in excess of thirty years; collectively with his father and grandfather they served the business for over a century.

With such a magnificent family contribution we felt was there was only one person who could be our guest of honour at the open evening of our new site on Barton View Business Park in September of 2019. His speech on the evening really brought to life the progress that our industry has made and the reality of manual work in the early second half of the 20th century and before.

Recalling the facilities and conditions for him, his father and grandfather before him, he told of the bricks and bags that all had to be off-loaded by hand whether this be 6,000 bricks or multiple tons of cement or lime. In a recent interview back in December, Charlie recalled his first recollections of Bradford’s seeing his grandfather coming home in the evening with his rush basket on his shoulder and then visiting his father running the timber mill. Upon starting work, Charlie recalled that the horse brasses were still in the stable which would eventually become the mess room, and a distinct memory was going with a workmate to move ‘two-and-a-quarter hundredweight of wheat’ from a farm, again, all by hand. This was all good to hear from my perspective with Charlie’s memories acting as a stark reminder to those with us today of how fortunate we are now.

Following his retirement Charlie always remained interested in the business which

was lovely to see and any discussion often made me think of my first memory of Charlie when he was Transport Manager here at Sherborne. Whilst I was working at Yeovil, now more years ago than I care to remember, I had a need to go to Sherborne and Charlie was the person I was sent to see. His office was well organised with an abundance of folders and it was evident that he did his job with pride.

Whilst writing this article I caught out of the corner of my eye Shaun Coombes, one of our current longstanding customers whose father was a Bradfords customer before him.

He too remembers Charlie with fondness and the go-to person to sort out his delivery needs with his attention to detail and efficiency.

Efficient and committed he may have been, but Charlie talked fondly of the characters that existed in Bradfords. Tales of such by his grandfather and father were, he suggested, part of the motivation to join the company, whilst he enjoyed recalling to us the story of colleagues nailing sandwich tins to the mess table when left unattended in the mess room in times past!

Charlie set an enviable example of what being part of the Bradfords ‘family’ is all about. Charlie will be very much missed but I’d like to think that the spirit and celebration of individuals in Bradfords remains to this day, sustained and passed on admirably by Charlie throughout his remarkable 70-year association with our business.

7

GARDENING

EARLY SPRING PRUNING

By Mike Burks, Managing Director of The Gardens Group It’s now that time of year when on a nice day, there is an urge to get out in the garden and have a tidy up.

This can be a really good thing to do, but when the secateurs are taken out care needs to be taken as to how they are used.

If shrubs are in good order, then most pruning will be designed to promote flowering. In order to know when a particular plant is best pruned, we need to know when it flowers so that we can work out what sort of growth the plant flowers on. For example, plants that flower late in the year mostly flower on the growth they have made that year; the more prolific the growth, the more flowers. Early pruning will promote growth and therefore lots of flowers. Examples of shrubs that this applies to include the large flowered Buddleia, the Blue Spirea or Caryopteris, late flowering Spirea and the like. These may well be in need of pruning now and most can be hard pruned, which will promote fresh growth and lots of flowers.

Shrubs that flower in the early summer or spring are flowering on growth that was formed in the previous year and also wood that is two, three or four years old. This includes shrubs such as Weigela, Deutzia, Forsythia, Philadelphus and Ribes the flowering currant.

With this group, wait until flowering has finished and then select, say, a quarter of the oldest stems on an established plant and prune these right down to the base. This will encourage new growth that will start to flower the following year. With this method, the shrub is completely renewed every four years or so, and lots of flowers should be the result.

Some plants are not grown for flowers, but for their foliage or their stem colour. A number of these can be pruned in the early spring.

An example would be the Spireas with fantastic early spring foliage of golden or bronze. Wait until the shoots start to show and then prune them really hard. The plant will respond with a huge flush of fresh growth with really powerful colours.

This group of Spireas also flowers 8

THE GENIUS OF A SUNROOM

By Liv Sabat

late on in the year, so more blooms will be a consequence too!

Others in this group include the Dogwoods, such as Cornus alba varieties, which tend to have really good stem colours. Again, wait until the new shoots start to come and then either prune all of the stems back to within about nine inches of the ground or select a third of the total number of stems for the cull.

New growth will be vigorous and will be most impressive in terms of colour next winter.

Other specific examples of plants that need pruning about now include the Wisteria. This beautiful climber needs pruning in two stages once it is established. The first is in July when the new wispy growth needs taking back to about two or three buds of where it started that spring – usually around four to six inches. The plant will shoot again and the second round of pruning can take place in February where a similar procedure will take those stems back to a couple of buds of where you pruned in July. This reduces the vigour of the plant, promotes flowering and allows the flowers to remain clear of the leaves as they come out in the spring.

Roses too need to be tackled in the early spring, with Hybrid T and Floribundas being pruned hard back to promote new growth.

Once pruning has taken place, be kind to your shrubs with a small handful of Fish, Blood and Bone or Vitax Q4 fertilizer.

This month I’m talking sunrooms and how they can be utilised to help you enjoy your outdoor space to the fullest.

If you haven’t already got a sunroom then this article is still for you because it is full of reasons you might like to get one.

First of all, they are weather resistant so they can stand up to almost any weather condition, all year round.

You can opt to have weather sensors which will detect any adverse weather conditions, including extreme winds, and close the roof of the sunroom to protect you and your possessions. This gives you a space to enjoy no matter the time of year.

Secondly, there is the option to include radiant heaters. These heaters warm your body whilst maintaining the temperature of your surroundings, so there is no danger of burning yourself on anything. Even if you don’t incorporate the glass walls alongside the radiant heaters, you will still stay warm under the heat coming from the heaters.

Moving on to glass walls, you can opt to have these installed to create a fully enclosed glass room; the conservatory of the future. When open, these walls allow for the perfect natural air flow through the structure, keeping you safe and healthy.

If you want a little bit more atmosphere in your structure then you can opt to have LED spotlighting or LED strip lighting. The LED spotlights are dimmable so you can have more ambient tones, whereas the LED strip lights are RGB lights meaning you can change the colour of them and dim them, making them perfect for adjusting the atmosphere.

Another thing to think about is the installation of a brand-new, luxury floor for your sunroom comprised of composite decking. The decking is also designed to be resistant to just about anything, including stains.

Something else that fits seamlessly into the structure of the sunroom is a roller blind.

You can opt to have a roller blind fitted to every side of the sunroom for added privacy and protection from the elements.

The screens are durable and will hold up to extreme winds and rain; they are waterproof.

A sunroom, in all its varieties, is the perfect way to get more out of your outdoor space and to create a space which you can use all through the year, no matter the weather.

These structures really are the conservatories of the future and such a genius idea!

Thanks for reading today see you next month, Liv.

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

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

GARDENING

Sandhurst Garden Design

UP THE GARDEN PATH

Julie Haylock Garden Designer 20 Sandhurst Road, Yeovil, Somerset BA20 2LG

By Julie Haylock, Sandhurst Garden Design I love a garden magazine, and when I hear the letterbox rattle and the thud as it lands on the doormat, it is one of my favourite sounds of the month!

Magazines are a great source of information, ideas and inspiration allowing you to be transported to so many places without leaving the comfort of your own armchair, perfect in these current times.

Also this is the time of year when we begin to plan for our own gardens, and if this is something you are considering, I would be happy to discuss your ideas with you.

To view the latest projects and testimonials from clients visit www.sandhurstgardendesign. co.uk. Be assured, under current Government guidelines, I am operating through lockdown in a safe and fully COVID-19 compliant manner.

Garden designers take their inspiration from all sorts of things and recreating a little piece of some of the great gardens of the world is one of them.

the famous garden designer Capability Brown who created many of the impressive landscapes that we are familiar with today, such as Stowe Park, Bowood and Stourhead.

The Renaissance gardens of Europe, including the Villa d’Este in Italy and The Palace of Versailles in France, were built to delight and as a show of wealth and importance, perhaps this translates into the wow factor of our gardens today?

I have found clients are keen to do this in their own garden, and whilst they might just have a small garden, not a rolling parkland, they want to create a haven for wildlife and insects by carefully choosing plants, trees and shrubs to support their numbers, so even the smallest of space can make a positive difference.

The gardens of China and Japan were designed to work in harmony with nature and used rocks, gravel and water to symbolize this.

This style of garden is still extremely popular with its beauty and simplicity creating a tranquil place to relax and contemplate.

The notion to work in harmony with nature was not lost on

In 2021 sustainability will be one of the key factors to consider when designing gardens of the future, and the planting and landscaping will reflect this. Drought tolerant plants will be key to the amount of water we supply to our gardens as the climate gets warmer, so those Mediterranean gardens of

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

Europe will be a great source of inspiration.

Designing and building a new garden in 2021 will have its challenges as with all years, but this year perhaps more than ever the garden will symbolize hope for better times ahead.

Until next time, Julie

Garden Landscape & Construction Services

www.sherbornegardenangels.co.uk 01935 310302

LOW MA

ANCE INTEN

DITED ACCR E PROFESSIONAL

INSTALLATION

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

9

SNOWDROP FESTIVAL

FIND MINDFUL MOMENTS

AT EAST LAMBROOK MANOR GARDENS FESTIVAL OF SNOWDROPS Somerset’s famous cottage garden is celebrating the snowdrop season once again with its third Festival of Snowdrops, running throughout February. In addition to the many snowdrops growing in the garden, the festival will focus on special displays of unusual varieties so that they can be appreciated at close quarters. Sculptor Chris Kampf will also be exhibiting his popular steel snowdrops.

Galanthus, better known as snowdrops, have long been a feature of the garden, ever since the celebrated plantswoman Margery Fish created the iconic cottage garden at East Lambrook Manor, her home from 1938 to 1969. She planted her snowdrops in an area she named The Ditch, which was originally a drainage channel between orchards. She and husband Walter, a former editor of the Daily Mail, landscaped it to create a water feature but the water famously disappeared once they finished the work, although in wet weather water still flows.

‘The Ditch looks fabulous when the sides are carpeted with snowdrops,’ explains owner Mike Werkmeister, ‘so what better way to relieve the stresses of lockdown than to enjoy a peaceful walk around the gardens here during the February snowdrop season. Other gardens have carpets of the common snowdrop G. nivalis but we have a collection of around 150 varieties so our aim is to demonstrate the diversity of the genus in our displays.

Visitors are often surprised to discover some snowdrops have yellow in the flowers and can cost over £100 for a single bulb!’

Gardens are permitted to remain open during lockdown, therefore East Lambrook has decided to allow a limited number of visitors to come every day, provided they book online via its website or Facebook page and observe strict social distancing rules at all times. Around 70 varieties will be on sale in the nursery but there will be no guided tours this year.

Visit the iconic and beautiful cottage garden of gardening legend Margery Fish in February to enjoy the: * Snowdrop Ditch * Snowdrop displays * Snowdrop sculpture * Snowdrops for sale

Open 10.00am to 5.00pm, Tuesday to Sunday throughout February. Garden entry £6.00, over 65s £5.50, under 16s free.

NGS charity Snowdrop Open Day is on Sunday 14th February.

Free entry to the nursery. Visitors are advised to check the website for the latest information and to book tickets.

East Lambrook Manor Gardens, Silver Street, East Lambrook, South Petherton, Somerset TA13 5HH enquiries@eastlambrook.com www.eastlambrook.com

T J US TE S U E N I 4 M OM TH F R A303 UTH

O AT S ERTON H PET

Festival of Snowdrops 2nd to 28th February

Please book online at eastlambrook.com Garden and nursery open Tues - Sun | 10am- 5pm Entry £6.00 | Over 65s £5.50 | U16s free East Lambrook | South Petherton | Somerset | TA13 5HH 01460 240328 | enquiries@eastlambrook.com 10

GARDENING MOTORING

STYLE AND PANACHE FROM FIAT TIPO SPORT

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.

The older you get the more you realise that life is full of compromises; from where you live to what you drive. Ignore this fact at your peril.

others; just feast your eyes on the leather edged seats with their interesting raised fabric inserts. And it’s a fun driver’s car; one that warms to all the family.

And so it is with the Fiat Tipo Sport, the £18,000 warm family hatchback. It will propel you from standstill to 60mph in a shade under 10 seconds and on up to 124mph should you find yourself on a German autobahn trying to escape Covid-19...

Driving a petrol car always seems to be more responsive than a diesel and generally less noisy. Its six-speed manual gearbox is smooth and there’s a good driving position certainly enhanced by the welcoming leather steering wheel. Behind that steering wheel there is a button for searching radio stations on the left and the volume is on the right, helping to keep the driver’s concentration on the road. There’s a traditional handbrake. That TomTom sat nav is difficult to operate and I can’t get it to work. The engine start/stop ensures that the engine cuts out when at traffic lights, helping to save fuel. The cruise control is reliable within a few mph of the desired speed and there’s a speed limiter,

When worked hard the engine gives a beautiful rasping complaint. There are a great many mod cons as standard, such as all round electric windows, air con, cruise control, flash alloys, sat nav and even a reversing camera. But there are no power folding wing mirrors or heated front seats. Ah, the compromises. But to woo that prospective buyer back the Fiat incorporates style and panache missed by

too. Henry (4) discovers that the boot is large enough to hide in; it’s certainly on the more generous side. The helpful reversing camera comes into its own during the school run on a Monday morning. Parking is a nightmare but I spy a space and am able to parallel park without any scrapes whatsoever thanks to the camera.

Externally, the Fiat is finished in a delightfully sophisticated shade of grey that is quite unusual, really making the car stand out, so much so that drivers of considerably more expensive vehicles feel compelled to double take. Hints of sportiness include the low front bumper complete with fog lights and the distinctive 18-inch Mopar wheels.

The low profile tyres together with the sports suspension deliver quite a hard ride.

The children and I like this but it’s not my wife’s preference. There’s a good amount of room for the three rascals in the back and enough legroom for Harriett (9), who seems to wake up taller each day. It won’t be long before she’s looking down on me.

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Watch the video at www.testdrives.biz

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

11

CHILDREN

SKYGATE

Part IV: The Humans Before I became Red, Guardian of the Skygate, expert in flying and talking to trees, I was Jones. It was a simple name for a simpler, albeit, much lonelier time. A time when my name felt like a warning in the mouth of every angry foster parent, social worker or teacher that hissed it back at me: ‘Jones, how could you…Look at the state of him!...

Did you do this, Jones?...The police have called, Jones...Get out of my sight, Jones…’

You get the idea. I was in trouble. A lot.

You see, I’d enjoyed a fight, back then. Felt my blood boiling and would do nothing to dampen it. Let it spill over until the voices around me were silenced and all I could feel was my body moving, fists and feet pummelling hard against another.

But that was before I met my GreatAunt Agatha and her dog Ted; before I became the two-hundred-and-fifteenth Guardian of the Skygate; before the lighthouse, Mother Tree and the ancient forest of Wessex that needed my help.

I was different now. Had changed. Red didn’t fight. Jones fought, and I’d left that version of me behind.

Or so I told myself, as Ted and I set out at first light to meet with the human settlers. I say ‘meet’, but Mother Tree had made her high expectations quite clear to us last night. Basically, these humans were destroying whole swathes of the forest and I was the magical hero flown in to save the day. Oh, but did I mention these humans were super12

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 a suitcase, they have been pushed through to the Skygate, a magical ledge positioned hundreds of miles above oldWessex. Now, with only Agatha’s Labrador Ted for company, Red must become the newest Guardian of the Skygate and help Mother Tree save her forest from the human settlers…

friendly, trying to shoot me dead with arrows on my first flight?

Yep. It was going to be an interesting day.

I should have come clean last night.

Told Mother Tree the truth. There’s been a mistake. I’m just a useless orphan with a quick temper. There’s no way I can reason with these settlers. No way I can save your forest.

But it’s too late now. We are almost there and if I can’t pull myself together, what happens to Ted? to me? to this whole magical land? I gulp back my fear. Smooth Ted’s red coat to calm myself. He nudges me with his nose and gallops on ahead, yapping happily.

As if sensing my fear, Mother Tree’s words from the night before follow us, whispered from trunk to trunk, ‘Your voice holds more power than any of their weapons.’ The forest leans in, guiding us towards our destination.

Clacking their branches in a comforting song. Leaves wet with morning dew that we drink as the sun comes up.

We spot their camp easily. It is mounted high upon a hill. Wooden lookout towers peer down. Rough tree stumps left where they have cleared the forest without plan or care. Placing a palm open on one of those stumps, I feel a rush of aching sadness, a throbbing pulse that must be the last of life flickering against my skin. It is all I need. I am not scared of these people anymore.

Taking a deep breath, I stride out into the open, up the hill, towards the camp.

A shout echoes from the watchtower, but they do not shoot at us. Ted is by my side, wagging his tale in a very unthreatening way.

A wooden gate creaks open and two short men dressed in pale tunics walk out to meet us. They say nothing, grabbing and dragging me roughly into camp. Ted bounces around us, barking and licking their hands.

Everything happens quickly. Before I know it, I am stood upon a wooden platform. Hands and feet bound.

Thankfully, they have left Ted free. He is sniffing around an old fire looking for scraps. No help, but his presence keeps me hopeful.

A young man walks towards me. He is wearing a grey hood pulled tight over his head so all I can see is pale skin stretched into a worried mouth and cold hazel eyes. There is something familiar about the way he moves and I feel at once we have met before.

When he speaks, his voice is high and raspy. It is clear he is only a few years older than me, ‘We saw you fly into our forest, witch child. Why bring yourself back here? We burn witches.’

I gulp back a wave of sickness and steel myself, ‘I am here on behalf of the forest. You are destroying the trees… but there are ways you can survive alongside them. I am here to tell you how — ‘

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.

‘YOU mean to tell US how to use OUR forest? A forest my grandfather won in the great war of eighty-five?’ He curls one lip and turns away from me, ‘Burn it.’

It takes me a moment to realise the ‘it’ is me, but already the same men in grey are lighting branches at my feet. A small crowd has gathered. Women and children watch on with something like fear in their eyes. But the fire is struggling to take hold. The wood is too damp, I realise, thank you Mother Tree.

‘You cannot burn me,’ I say this to him, the hooded figure in grey, ‘these branches will not light while you mean to do me harm.’

Of course, I don’t know this for sure, but a bit of the old Jones — the fighter, the trouble-maker, the liar — is kicking in to buy me time.

He laughs, and the sound sends a lone flame licking up the side of my leg, ‘If I say you burn, you burn.’

I wince as the flames begin to grow. Smoke fills the air and so when he takes off his hood and stares defiantly at me, I do not trust my eyes.

His hair is red. As red as mine and now, with the hood off and the face exposed completely, it is clear why he is so familiar.

He looks just like me.

He must be my brother? A cousin? Surely he will not let me burn?

I open my mouth to tell him and he must see the shock, the realisation, the relief, written across my face, because he smiles another cold smile and says ‘There is only room for one of us, Red.’ He turns away, and the rising smoke and fire draws like a theatre curtain, marking the end of scene. He believes it is over. That he has erased me. The job is done.

I take a deep breath and pray to Mother Tree, to Aunt Agatha, to whatever God guards this world.

And then I scream his name, ‘TED!’

To be continued…

Rotary Launches Sherborne Area Primary Schools Laptop Appeal The Rotary Club of Sherborne Castles has launched a campaign to raise funds for primary schools in the Sherborne Area Schools Trust (SAST) so they can provide laptops to disadvantaged pupils enabling them to fully access remote learning during the lockdown.

Mr Ian Bartle, Head teacher of Sherborne Primary School, said; ‘Many of the families at our school do not have computers or tablets. The children are therefore unable to engage with the school’s provision for learning at home.’ The school has already distributed a significant number of devices, but Mr Bartle estimates that there is a need for about 40 more at Sherborne Primary School alone.

Pupils without computers at home can access the necessary resources by attending school. However, the demand for places for children who qualify to attend far exceeds the number schools can safely accommodate and teach. It is particularly important that children are properly supported to work at home, if they can - keeping themselves and their families safe.

The ‘Sherborne Area Primary Schools Laptop Appeal’ is seeking to raise funds so the schools can purchase additional laptops that can be loaned to pupils who need them. This means the schools will also provide support and maintenance for the devices. A laptop with the necessary specification can be purchased for less than £200, so any amount of funds raised will make a difference.

The appeal will benefit all of the Trust’s primary schools, which includes schools in Sherborne, Buckland Newton, Shillingstone, Yetminster, Bradford Abbas, Thornford, Gillingham and others. For more information on the trust visit: www.sast.org.uk.

If you would like more information or to make a donation, please visit: www.rcsc.org.uk/laptop.

13

FINANCE

COMPUTING

FAKE OR REAL EMAILS: HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE

By James Flynn, Milborne Port Computers Recently there has been an explosion of email and website frauds. The purpose is usually to get you to send them money or to give them enough personal detail for them to defraud you.

Fake emails often (but not always) display some of the following characteristics: • The sender’s email address doesn’t tally with the trusted organisation’s website address.

• The email is sent from a completely different address or a free web mail address (gmail.com, outlook.com, hotmail.com).

• The email does not use your proper name but uses a non-specific greeting like ‘dear customer’.

• A sense of urgency; for example, the threat that unless you act immediately your account may be closed, or threatening to send revealing pictures to your friends and family.

• A prominent website link. These can be forged or seem very similar to the proper address, but even a

single character’s difference means a different website (for example, barlcays.co.uk, nawtest.com).

existent account could have been hacked … and the penny dropped!!

• A request for personal information such as user name, password or bank details.

What should you do if you’ve received a scam email?

• The email contains spelling and grammatical errors. This is very common, and they may contain phrases that an English speaker would never use.

• You weren’t expecting to get an email from the company that appears to have sent it.

• The entire text of the email is contained within an image rather than the usual text format.

• The image contains an embedded hyperlink to a bogus site.

• Delete the email!

• Do not click on any links in the scam email.

• Do not reply to the email or contact the senders in any way.

• If you have clicked on a link in the email, do not supply any information on the website that may open, just close your browser and restart your computer.

• Do not open any attachments that arrive with the email.

• If you think you may have

compromised the safety of your bank details and/or have lost money due to fraudulent misuse of your cards, you should immediately contact your bank.

Sometimes, following a link in an email opens a fake website telling you your computer has been infected and you must call the number on the screen … DON’T CALL THE NUMBER! … no matter how dire the consequences might seem … without even trying to close the browser, shut your computer down and start again.

99% of the time you’ll be back to normal, can return to your emails and delete the offending item.

If in doubt or you need help, you know where to come!

• A begging email purporting to be from somebody you know.

I recently received a call from somebody that has received an email saying their PayPal account had been hacked. I asked if they even had a PayPal account, and they said, NO! I then asked them how they thought their non-

THE NEW NORMAL FINANCE

By Becky Rogers, Financial Planning After a turbulent 2020 many small and medium-sized business owners may now be looking at their business model afresh in what we are told is the ‘new normal’.

Many of you may be thinking about the need to increase revenue or drive down costs or, more likely, a mixture of both.

Whilst revisiting the way your business operates, protection is often overlooked, be it protection for the business, for the directors and their families or for your workforce, but 2020 has taught us to expect the unexpected and take nothing for granted.

When dealing with our small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) clients we ask ‘what happens to your share of the business upon death’ and ‘what would happen to the business if either yourself or a key member of staff was unable to work’. The typical responses range from a reliance on the other business owners ‘to do the right thing’ in respect of their family or 14

an admission that the business would be likely to wind up within 12 months of losing a key person.

Often SMEs are highly reliant on their people for their success which makes considering insuring against this loss highly important, but often overlooked. We tend to find that this either comes down to lack of time, confusion or simply a lack of awareness of the options available.

Business protection can be broken down in a simple way as life or critical illness insurance protecting: Profit - by releasing a cash injection into the company should a key person be unable to work through serious illness or death. This could be used to recruit a high calibre replacement and aid business cash flow during the recruitment process.

Debt – if a business loses a key person, the policy can help repay a business debt, including the repayment of a director’s loan

account.

Ownership – if the business loses a partner or shareholder, the policy proceeds can help the remaining business owners to buy the affected individual’s share of the business.

Business protection is normally tax efficient, with some policies meaning the premiums can be an allowable expense for corporation tax or the proceeds payable tax free.

In 2017, a survey carried out by Legal & General found that 26% of directors didn’t know the company had to repay the loan account upon death, add the cost of this to the high possibility that the director was also a shareholder and actively involved in the business – how would the business afford to meet its liabilities and keep trading?

The survey also highlighted that 75% of SME owners/directors wanted to find out more about

business protection from their financial advisor and 84% of businesses took out cover once they understood the benefits and had received advice to do so.

If you are interested in discussing your business plans and finding out more about your options, contact Fort Financial Planning on 01935 813322 for a free, confidential and no obligation chat.

BUSINESS

ONCE EVERY TIER IS WIPED AWAY

By Jim Rayner

When all this is over, and we’re allowed to leave our homes without first checking we have a reasonable excuse and a supply of face masks, will we find it’s back to business as usual? Or will we have to adapt to a new normal?

Some behavioural changes are probably permanent. A Ford dealer I know was surprised to sell a record number of second-hand cars in December despite not being able to offer test drives. And my 90-year-old parents have enthusiastically embraced online food shopping.

It will be interesting to see whether working from home becomes the new normal for office jobs.

It has been a year in which socially distanced businesses have flourished. We may not be able to pleasurably mooch around our favourite local bookshop but using a well-known website we can from the comfort of our own bed order a best seller at 3.00am without having to sanitize our hands, wear a face mask or suffer the inconvenience of talking to somebody who actually knows about books.

And to enhance the customer experience a helpful algorithm will tell us that people who bought Hilary Mantel’s The Mirror & the Light also bought hair straighteners, and based on our browsing history suggest we buy a 5-litre tub of raspberry puree.

The efforts of online businesses to provide customers with a personalised experience haven’t

yet been able to meet the Turing Artificial Intelligence test and interact with us in ways that make them indistinguishable from human behaviour. And personally, I want to buy books from businesses that are owned and staffed by people who love books.

And that’s where small businesses have a winning advantage. The online giants may have scored when it comes to efficiency and convenience but they struggle to compete on personal service and expert knowledge. There’s a real opportunity for local businesses to use the latest online tools and get the best of both worlds.

Here are a few suggestions: • Online stores work best for low ticket items with straightforward choices, such as size and colour.

• If you’re designing a unique solution to fit a customer’s specific needs and budget – maybe a dream kitchen or a package of business advice – face-to-face selling works much better.

• For businesses that involve regular client meetings consider offering the choice of faceto-face or Zoom, but price accordingly.

• A short video can work better than a long email for communicating with customers and colleagues. Loom.com is easy to use, allows you to record your screen as well as your face, and is free for videos of up to five minutes.

STAY ON TOP OF THE NUMBERS PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS SAVE LIVELIHOODS BUSINESS NUMBER EXPERTS WWW.JAMES-RAYNER.CO.UK

LEGAL

PATRICK MEARS JOINS BATTENS TO HEAD BATH COMMERCIAL OFFERING Leading South West law firm Battens Solicitors has announced the appointment of Patrick Mears as Head of Commercial Property, Bath.

Renowned for his considerable expertise in commercial law, servicing the Bath market for many years, Patrick will help focus and build the firm’s commercial offering in Bath.

Building on Battens’ reputation for excellence in commercial law, from its Yeovil headquarters and network of offices beyond, Patrick’s appointment comes in response to the growing number of Bath businesses needing post-Covid support with legal matters.

Commenting on Patrick’s appointment, Battens’ Chairman David Stephens said; ‘We are delighted that Patrick has joined the Battens team to head up our commercial proposition in Bath. The pandemic created an extremely challenging year for business owners and those involved in commercial property during 2020, so being able to call upon an experienced, hands-on legal team at competitive prices is crucial for the Bath market.

‘With the team we have in place and the mix of skills and experience they bring, we’re confident that our Bath office can plug this gap and help provide some much-needed support for local business and property owners.’

Patrick joins Edd Thompson, Property Litigation specialist and Vice President of the Bristol Law Society, and Brian Levine, Head of Media, Entertainment & Intellectual Property (IP) at Battens’ Bath office, which opened in 2016.

‘I am really excited to be joining the Battens team in Bath and look forward to working with Edd and Brian to build our commercial offering and help businesses in the area navigate the post-Covid landscape. As a small, but experienced team, each with our own areas of specialism across commercial law, we can help business owners and commercial landlords with all their legal needs, from commercial contracts to lease renewals to more complex dispute and IP matters. Our size and structure mean clients get senior, hands-on advice at a competitive price and that we can remain nimble, building our Bath team around what the market needs.

‘Last year was undoubtedly tough for businesses, but we are seeing some promising deals and commercial activity taking place. With this in mind, we feel confident about the outlook for our clients in 2021 and the part we can play to help them stabilise and flourish,’ said Patrick.

Battens’ Bath office is located at 7-9 North Parade Buildings and is operating in line with current Government advice.

15

LEGAL

LOOKING AFTER YOURSELF DURING DIVORCE

By Lisa Holden, Head of Pardoes Solicitors Family Team

It is a well-known fact that divorce is one of the top most stressful events in anyone’s life and the new year often the busiest time for divorce lawyers. Looking after yourself and making sure you emerge from the process without suffering mental trauma is very important.

We now share our tips to steer through the divorce process and make the most of the support your lawyer can offer.

COMMUNICATION Communication is key and works best if there is good clear understanding on both sides. Let your lawyer know if you are suffering from depression or anxiety, and they can then carefully help and guide you through the process.

If you have any reading issues such as dyslexia, tell your lawyer so they can communicate with you appropriately. Lawyers usually use emails or letters, so let your lawyer know if you need time to prepare before you receive a letter from the solicitor for your husband or wife. If you would rather your lawyer talked you through letters received before you read them, this too can be accommodated.

TIMING This is your divorce or separation and therefore it is important to go at your own pace. You may need a break from time to time but do let your lawyer know. Simply ceasing to provide instructions creates more stress and costs. It is not a sign of weakness to struggle with the process or to need a break.

Our team of family lawyers are uniquely placed to empathise and engage with the impact of mental health issues on relationships and divorce. We will always explore all non-court options with you and offer those services to you with a view to reducing conflict throughout the process wherever possible.

PRACTICAL STEPS If you are having your first meeting with your lawyer and are feeling nervous, bringing someone with you can be helpful. Let your lawyer know in advance if you are feeling anxious so they can take extra care in making sure the meeting is as stress free as possible.

Court hearings are still taking place using conference telephone calls or video link. If you find the thought of being on camera stressful, tell your lawyer. Alternatives can be arranged.

ALTERNATIVES TO COURT There are a lot of options available to help you resolve your differences. without going to court or engaging in lengthy correspondence. These include mediation where you can engage with a neutral mediator to work through your differences.

The collaborative process can be very effective as it allows for both parties with their lawyers to meet together (virtually in the current crisis) and discuss options for settlement in a constructive and supportive way.

GROW YOUR SUPPORT NETWORK This is a tough time, so do not be afraid to call for help and support from friends and family or counsellors, therapists, psychologists or other such professionals. Family lawyers will be sympathetic to your situation but they are not therapists.

16

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ARTS

ARTS

By Julie Locke

With the current state of affairs, many shows and attractions are now being offered free. Go online to find out about free access to Theatre, Opera, Musicals and Museums, as well as other online entertainment.

MOVIES Whilst cinemas and other venues remain closed until further notice, take advantage of the numerous opportunities to watch film and television shows online. For a list of useful film-related websites and information, visit Yeovil’s film society website, www. cinematheque.org.uk. Somerset Film, dedicated to empowering individuals and communities through film and digital technology, is focusing on 20 films from 20 years via its Instagram page; for further information, visit www.somersetfilm.com.

Explore www.moviola.org for ideas about what to watch and where to find it.

LITERARY ART

Until Friday 30 April is the 2021 international Literary Prize, an annual writing competition with cash prizes, launched by Yeovil Community Arts Association (YCAA).

Now in its 18th year, the Yeovil Literary Prize has matured into a highly regarded writing competition, attracting submissions from across the globe. The competition has four categories; Novel, Short Stories, Poetry and Writing Without Restriction - a recent addition popular with writers who like the challenge of thinking outside the box. The competition’s continued popularity means that this year’s cash prizes are bigger than ever. All money raised supports talented local youngsters training for careers in the performing and creative arts, who may not otherwise be able to continue their studies. Previous judges have included literary agents and publishers, as well as accomplished authors and poets. For further information, visit www.yeovilprize.co.uk.

VISUAL ART

On Tuesday 2 February is an online exhibition ‘World Wetlands Day’ presented

by The Chandos Society of Artists. This exhibition aims to help raise the awareness of the importance of wetlands. Members work will be promoted on the website after the event. For further information, visit www. chandosartistssociety.uk.

Evolver, the Wessex Arts and Culture Guide. For virtual exhibitions and online tours, plus entertainment, visit www.evolver. org.uk.

The Absent Gallery is a direct response to the Covid-19 pandemic; its aim is to provide professional and emerging Somerset-based artists and galleries with a platform to showcase their artwork in a series of curated virtual 3D exhibitions. It is a platform targeted to share and promote virtual exhibitions created independently by artists and galleries. The Absent Gallery offers a hub of virtual galleries to those in lockdown or in self-isolation. It is not designed to replace real world galleries, but to offer support during these difficult times. Created by an artist wishing to offer fellow artists the opportunity to continue exhibiting in a 3D virtual and interactive world. Take a look around at www.theabsentgallery.co.uk.

MUSIC

Bowjangles This intrepid string quartet presents its most magical show so far; a theatrical, musical journey through myths, folklore, legends and a portal in a cello case, in the quest to find the most priceless relic of all, a magical violin bow known as Excalibow. Expect tales of monsters, ancient gods, historical figures and characters of pure fantasy in this action packed show, all presented in Bowjangles’ own inimitable and unique style, full of comedy, energy, panache and almost every musical genre imaginable - may contain traces of Abba. Find out more at www. artsreach.co.uk. www.bowjangles.org.

Concerts in the West For wonderful music and dazzling performances, visit www.concertsinthewest.org. Planning has now begun to restart live concerts in May 2021. Donations to support performers and Concerts in the West would be very welcome.

Ninebarrow The awardwinning folk duo has toured three times with Artsreach, as well as being involved in various projects. To blast away those winter blues, Jon and Jay decided to host another online performance ‘Zunshine in the Winter’ from Ninebarrow HQ! Free to view, with donations welcomed. Find out more at www.artsreach.co.uk/news/digitaldiary or search Ninebarrow on YouTube.

Paprika, UK’s leading Balkan band, fuses together Eastern European, Balkan, Gypsy and Classical music in a whirlwind performance of frenzied virtuosity. Fiery melodies and foot-tapping rhythms are interspersed with lilting laments in highenergy sets. Specialising in bringing rare or lost traditional Balkan music back to life, both the curious listener and the wellversed aficionado are sure to enjoy a host of surprises and fast-paced entertainment. The band has performed all over the world, from New Zealand to Japan, including Womad and Glastonbury festivals and prestigious venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and the Sydney Opera House. Find out more at www.artsreach.co.uk. www.paprikamusic. com.

The People’s String Foundation, fronted by the virtuoso violinist Ben Sutcliffe with co-founder and composer Zaid Al-Rikabi at the core, mixes world, classical and urban styles. Their musical show ‘Res Publica’, recorded at The Hall for Cornwall in 2018, presents the live duo alongside a 32piece virtual gypsy orchestra. Using music, puppetry, cinematography and animation to create an immersive and exhilarating show, ‘Res Publica’ invites the audience on an incredible journey of discovery. In the second half of the show there is a chance to hear The People’s String Foundation’s most popular songs and compositions from their time working as musical directors for theatre

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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.

ARTS

companies such as Kneehigh, Rogue and Minack. Find out more at www.artsreach. co.uk. www.thepeoplesstringfoundation. com.

PERFORMANCE

Community, Radio Zummerzet, Rime of the Ancient Mariner, and Alternative Endings.

Help artists in Somerset continue making excellent theatre by donating to Somerset Emergency Theatre. For further information, visit www.wassailtheatre.co.uk/somersetemergency-theatre.

On Tuesday 2 and Tuesday 9 February at 12.30pm online, join the Octagon Tappers with Katey Leader. These fun sessions are great for developing rhythm, co-ordination and keeping fit. Warm up each week with some basic steps, then get into some jazzhands worthy routines! Some tap experience is helpful - join in with or without tap shoes.

Open to everyone. Book in advance online until 11.00am on the day of the class. A YouTube link will be sent to participants before the class starts. Tickets £4. Book online at www.octagon-theatre.co.uk.

Artsreach is sharing some of the brilliant cultural events that its artists have released digitally. Take a look online at past performance programmes from seasons gone by. 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.

Plays over the Phone is a live theatre experience between one performer and one audience, over the phone. Conceived and performed by Roxana Bartle for people who may be feeling isolated and would enjoy a live theatrical experience.

Roxanna is bringing back her live theatre experience for this lockdown. Check the website to find out how and when to book a play. ‘I was truly transported to another world’, ‘The best 10 minutes I’ve spent this year’, ‘Lovely to have some theatre again!’ are just a few of the comments. For further information, visit www.wassailtheatre.co.uk/ plays-over-the-phone.

Somerset Emergency Theatre was launched by Wassail, a registered charity, with the aim of keeping Somerset culturally connected. During Summer 2020 lockdown Wassail used 100% of grant income received from Arts Council England, South Somerset District Council and Somerset Community Foundation to commission, support or employ freelance theatre makers. As a result, there is plenty on the website to enjoy from home during this lockdown.

So far, Somerset Emergency Theatre has supported the following projects: Somerset’s One Minute Festival, In Search of Cinderella, Connecting Communities, This 18

Song Maps and Storylines Reworked folk songs and stories are combined with visuals from Somerset residents to make seven stunning films. Kesty Morrison and her creative team have taken seven folk songs and seven folk stories, each connected to a specific place in Somerset. They reworked them, sent them to people living nearby and asked them to send a visual response.

Storytelling and vocals by Kesty Morrison with beatbox, guitar and drones by Jack Salt. Watch at www.wassailtheatre.co.uk/ song-maps-and-storylines.

Songs of Friendship Award-winning storyteller James Rowland has toured his ‘Songs of Friendship’ trilogy (‘Team Viking’, ‘A Hundred Different Words for Love’ and ‘Revelations’) around Dorset in recent years.

Now James has released a unique audio series based on the shows. Listen to the audio series at www.artsreach.co.uk/news/ digital-diary.

Symphony of the Countryside captures the images, words, music and sounds that make up the rural landscape, featuring content collected by rural touring schemes across the country including Artsreach in Dorset. Armed with cameras and smartphones, volunteers from across the UK captured sound and video content from their communities during the March 2020 lockdown. These were stitched together by filmmaker Gemma Wearing to create a visual landscape overlaid with music and poetry. To enjoy this short film, go to www. artsreach.co.uk/news/digital-diary.

The Living Spit Podcast Living Spit has launched a podcast! Artsreach favourites, Howard and Stu (and the occasional special guest) look back at past shows and discuss a

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whole host of things from how they were conceived, to tour stories and more, all with a dose of their usual humour! Tune in and listen at www.artsreach. co.uk/news/digital-diary.

The One Minute Festival During the early stages of the first lockdown, Somerset’s theatre making community was inspired

by Ged Stephenson’s call-out to create a one-minute piece of digital theatre.

Wassail teamed up with Barn Theatre (Take Art’s theatre development initiative) to commission 35 one-minute films, all created at different stages of lockdown. Watch them all at www.wassailtheatre.co.uk/one-minutefestival.

The Thief’s Tale Take a listen to the second podcast from acclaimed storytellers, The Devil’s Violin. Through music and spoken word, The Devil’s Violin retell one magical adventure over five ten-minute episodes. In the best tradition of both Scheherazade and EastEnders, each episode will end with a cliffhanger. Be warned, this tale is definitely one for the grown-ups! Be prepared to be charmed, thrilled and chilled... To listen to ‘The Thief’s Tale’, click the link at www. artsreach.co.uk/news/digital-diary.

Twisted Tales in Lockdown Cornish company ‘Owdyado Theatre has been providing work for writers across the UK with a new writing competition ‘Twisted Tales in Lockdown’ and has created an epic series of short audio plays to enjoy from home ... or from anywhere really! There are many titles to choose from, such as: ‘Mountain Breeze’, a late night DJ on Mountain Breeze radio is desperate for a caller, when one finally does get through things begin to get a bit sinister; ‘Me, Myself and A.I’, a young woman utterly dependent on technology is terrorised by the resentful A.I that runs her home; ‘Mother Lode’, Barry and his old mum seem to be taking the lockdown in their stride, but tensions mount when Barry discovers his last Twirl is missing. Listen to the Twisted Tales at www.artsreach.co.uk/ news/digital-diary. www.owdyado.co.uk.

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ARTS

Windmill Hill: Life on top of the world! is a documentary by Tor Theatre that lifts the lid on Glastonbury’s best kept secret. How many towns in the UK can boast of a world famous hill? Glastonbury can. But Windmill Hill isn’t famous. Until now! Find out more at www.wassailtheatre.co.uk/windmillhill.

YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF TO BE SUCCESSFUL AS A RADIO PRESENTER

CHILDREN

By Steve Haigh, Station Manager, Radio Ninesprings 104.5 FM

On Tuesday 2 and Tuesday 9 February at 6.15pm online, there are Somerset Youth Theatre classes with David Reakes in association with Tor Theatre & Wassail Theatre Company. The Somerset Youth Theatre is for anyone interested in devising, writing or performing. No previous experience is necessary - just come wanting to be creative, have fun and make new friends. Somerset is full of funny stories, brilliant characters and strange myths. The time has come to turn these tales into plays, and bring some of the county’s best-kept secrets to life! Age 7 to 18. Book in advance online until 12.00 noon on the day of the class. A Zoom link will be sent to participants before the class starts. Tickets £5. Book online at www.octagon-theatre.co.uk.

Everyone at Radio Ninesprings was delighted when Jake Hunter won the ‘Young Aspiration’ category In the Somerset Business Education Awards.

Jake was just 16 years old and still at school when he joined us and within six months was presenting the Drive Show.

The award he won endorsed his potential as a broadcast professional and our efforts to kick-start his media career. Seeing him move on to work at a national radio station based in Manchester has made all of us feel very proud.

We have many others like Jake - people of all ages and young people in particular - who contact the station asking for the chance to DJ on the radio. But to be an effective and popular radio voice is not as easy as you might think. Before we put new people on air, we look at what they offer in terms of personality and local knowledge.

We do this to be sure they click with our listeners. And I’m happy to say that almost everyone who has applied has passed the audition.

MUSIC

you the gig. But the best advice I can give young people is ‘go with the flow’ and say ‘yes’ to everything.

People will tell you that radio presenting is easy but nothing could be further from the truth. Try being chatty, sitting alone in room for three hours, talking to a blank wall, because that’s what it’s like being in a radio studio.

To succeed as a radio presenter, you need confidence, a creative mind and a good voice. An interest in current affairs and knowledge of music helps and being able to operate the studio desk or learn very quickly the art of good conversation while opening faders and pressing buttons.

If you have these skills and you can entertain, then a career as a radio presenter could be waiting for you.

If you’re interested in hosting your own radio show or helping in other ways at the radio station, then please write to info@ radioninesprings.co.uk .

I’m often asked by young people about careers in broadcasting and the qualifications they need to get a foot in the door. Many presenters that I worked with at the BBC started in local radio, on newspapers, in education or had an acting background. A degree or HND in performing arts, media production or journalism can help when applying for a job but it’s not essential. I tell young people never plan a media career because the sector is unpredictable. I’ve seen colleagues rise to the top quickly and fall back in half the time. To survive requires determination and most of all talent. Being in the right place at the right time can get

New Local Radio Station for Yeovil and South Somerset

Gallivanting Goblins A charming three-part family-friendly creative project and podcast

by Alexandra Ricou, Danielle Sharp and Beth Fiducia-Brookes, inspired by Christina Rosetti’s Goblin Market. Escape into the Gallivanting Goblins story by listening to the sounds of the outdoors and the wonderful Somerset folklore whilst walking. There’s magic on the doorstep - ready to explore?

Or to listen along at home, click on the link at www.wassailtheatre.co.uk/gallivantinggoblins. Make goblin-inspired art and share online using #WassailGallivantingGoblins.

Draw, paint, collage or even sculpt a creative piece! Display the artwork in the windows at home and help share the Goblin Magic!

RADIO 104.5 FM

SPRINGS

You can’t get more Local!

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GLASTONBURY ABBEY

GLASTONBURY ABBEY -

AN ANTIDOTE TO LOCKDOWN Glastonbury Abbey’s 36 acres of grounds have been a place of exercise, reflection and calm throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Apart from the full lockdown in early 2020, the abbey has been able to make the grounds available to visitors so that local people can enjoy the peace and tranquillity that the space has to offer.

In August there were even some very popular reduced capacity events such as ‘Night at the Abbey’ and ‘One Enchanted Evening’. While the winter months are always quieter for visitors, this winter has seen a significant reduction due to the pandemic and this looks set to continue into the spring, while we all do what we can to reduce transmission of the virus.

As an independent charity, Glastonbury Abbey relies almost entirely on visitor income to maintain and conserve the grounds and ruins for public benefit. In order to raise much needed funds, the Glastonbury Abbey Recovery Appeal was launched where members of the public can adopt an artefact from the abbey collection or make a one-time

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donation to the abbey. For details of how you can support the abbey at this time please visit www.appeal. glastonburyabbey.com.

Membership is a great way of supporting the abbey at this time and benefits you with free entry on the days it is open. It also offers further benefits by the way of shop and cafe discounts, discounted events for ‘plus’ members, and more.

At less than £1 per week for an adult member, membership is great value and assists by supporting the abbey with its more than £3000 per day costs.

You can find out more about Glastonbury Abbey membership and the recovery appeal at www.glastonburyabbey.com.

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DEVELOPING A SENSE OF PLACE

By Paul Birbeck, Sherborne Walks & Blue Badge Tour Guide One lesson from the past year has been people gaining a deeper appreciation of our surroundings, whether they be inside our homes or outside whilst we exercise or simply ‘take the air’. The increased media attention upon our mental health, highlighting the benefits of appreciating and gaining contentment from interacting with our environment is fundamental to having a ‘Sense of Place’.

Decades ago, I was a member of group of teachers who developed a GCSE course called ‘Environment’. This involved encouraging teenagers to appreciate and value their surroundings, and understand how our decisions and actions have consequences upon the health of the earth and our everyday lives.

Since then, advances in science and technology have enhanced our understanding and we better appreciate our responsibilities to our surroundings. We are constantly reminded of the consequences of past actions by activists ranging from Sir David Attenborough to the young Swedish activist Greta Thunberg who has inspired and established the concept of Kids Rights Support Changement. Many of us have realised that we all have to do our part to help improve our surroundings, whether that be at a global, national or local level. But why does this matter?

Where is he describing? What point is he making? Well, it could be any small market town like Glastonbury, Bruton, Shaftesbury, Sherborne. This is a reflection of the changes observed during a lifetime of living in the area. It’s interesting to take away the things that would not have been there in the 1950s. The countryside would be recognisable today, but the town has seen dramatic and constant change, depending upon your point of view, not always for the better.

We all use different ways to reflect our sense of place, whether it be through art forms, music, poetry or simply actively experiencing our diversity of our surroundings. Many more people are now volunteering to help restore damaged sites, clear rubbish, and some actively voicing their concerns and demanding change from the decision makers. We all belong to a special place, but do we always understand its special features, value it and look after it as well as we could?

As the lockdown continues to limit our enjoyment of the world, Sherborne Walks has developed a number of Zoom presentations that look at the beauty and interesting aspects of our local area. A catalogue of journeys around the area with booking details is available at www.sherbornewalks.co.uk.

Stay safe and respect each other.

Having asked a close acquaintance to reflect upon his memories of life in the 1950s, I received the following reflection, titled ’Both sides of my town’.

Those invisible diesel fumes, Joined by smells of fish and chips, hot dogs.

They dance along to the raucous noise of human life.

See how discarded coffee cups, wrappers of all types Fight for a place decorating those hideous double yellow lines.

People hurrying in aimless way That is my home town. It is beautiful to me as they are all building my memories.

Now travel a short distance away and what do we see?

Green fields, open multi coloured land, birds, animals grazing Broken into a jigsaw with hedges. Big open blue skies.

Now use your ears, eyes and nose. what is the effect?

Bird song, country smells and natural beauty.

People moving in rhythm with all this. No rush.

A happy silence and pleasing views.

This is my home town where I am building memories.

Author:’ dorsetpeasant’

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FOOD & DRINK

Channa Nu Shaak Serves 3 - 4 people Cook time 35 mins

if using canned chickpeas or pre-cook the chickpeas as suggested above

INGREDIENTS 2 tbsp rapeseed or vegetable oil 1 tsp mustard seeds 1 tsp cumin seeds 4-5 black peppercorns 3 cloves 1 tsp ajwan seeds or a pinch of thyme 1 large onion, finely chopped 4 cloves garlic, crushed 1 inch fresh ginger, paste or grated 1½ tsp salt (adjust to personal taste) 1 tsp turmeric 2 tsp chilli powder or sweet paprika or 1 of each

A DELICIOUS VEGETARIAN CURRY

By Khrishma Preston, The Alternative Indian As a Gujarati Indian, I grew up in a vegetarian household. The ethical and environmental benefits of cutting, or at least reducing, meat and fish from your diet are well known.

However, a well-planned vegetarian diet can also support weight loss, improve quality of diet, and thus reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

The main meal at home is traditionally referred to as ‘dal-bhat-shaak-rotli’ which is essentially ‘lentils-rice-currybread’. This is where the concept of the Thali comes from - a plate of food consisting of a variety of different dishes. Thalis can range from a simple everyday meal to an extremely elaborate plate with several curries stir-fried and steamed, numerous savoury snacks and Indian sweets and puddings depending on the occasion.

This month I give you my budgetfriendly recipe on a Chola/Channa/ Chickpea and Courgette Curry.

Chickpeas, a legume, are an excellent source of complex carbohydrates, which are slow to digest and help maintain a more balanced blood sugar level. They are rich in many 22

antioxidants, minerals, nutrients, and vitamins (including magnesium, folate, vitamin C, calcium, zinc, phosphorous, vitamin B6, and potassium). For this recipe, I am using canned chickpeas as these are readily available. However, cooking your own batch of dried chickpeas is easy, they do taste better, and you can control the texture. You could also batch make this meal to portion and freeze more cost-effectively with dried chickpeas. Dried chickpeas will triple in size once cooked thus you get more bang for your buck with these. The best method I have found to cook chickpeas on a stove top is to soak them overnight (minimum ten hours) in the fridge with triple the amount of water to chickpeas.

Then wash, and simmer on the stove in salt water for at least two hours.

Traditionally a boiled potato would be added to this dish but instead I am using a courgette to lessen the bulk and increase the nutritional value. If you do not have a courgette, replace this with a medium-to-large diced boiled potato.

2 tbsp cumin-coriander powder Approx 1 tbsp jaggery or sugar or sugar alternative 1 courgette, diced small 1 x 400g tin chickpeas 1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes Juice of half a lemon 3/4 cup water (depending on how thick you would like the gravy) 2 tsp garam masala Fresh coriander

METHOD In a large pan over a medium high heat, heat the oil. Add the mustard seeds and let them cook until they start to pop consistently as popcorn would.

Add the cumin seeds, whole black pepper, cloves and the ajwan seeds - cook for a further minute before adding the onions. The onions shouldn’t brown, so lower the heat a little if needed and stir occasionally. As these soften introduce the garlic, ginger and half the salt and cook for 4-5 mins.

The powdered spices – turmeric, chilli and cumincoriander – are combined and mixed in along with the jaggery or sugar. Thus far it will be a pretty dry mix. To ensure the spices are cooked through, add a couple of tablespoons of water and stir. Once the water has evaporated, add the courgette and stir-fry in the spice mix for a few minutes. Add the chickpeas, tomatoes, lemon, additional water and the rest of the salt (to taste). Stir well, partially cover and simmer for 20 mins. Add the garam masala and stir well before taste testing. Make sure you adjust salt/jaggery/lemon to personal taste and stir in some freshly chopped coriander (if preferred) just before serving.

TRAVEL

A VISIT TO HESTERCOMBE

By Tim Saunders who visited Hestercombe before the current lockdown During these strange times we have had the privilege of visiting some of Britain’s finest gardens.

At Hestercombe near Taunton, Somerset, we find a truly special place. It’s just over 100 miles from home and the weight of traffic and roadworks ensure that the journey takes the best part of three hours. And as we arrive the heavens open, not just light rain but torrential. Some might have just given up there and then, but that’s not in our nature. And thank goodness we didn’t, because we find a little gem here offering four centuries of garden design spread over 50 acres including formal and Dutch.

On a wet day colours are subdued but there are still many different shades of green. Surprisingly some of the scents are strong, too. Ten minutes after arriving and we are all drenched but that doesn’t deter the children from racing round and exploring. The formal garden is a delight and is hailed as one of the finest examples of the worldrenowned partnership between garden designer Gertrude Jekyll and architect Sir Edwin Lutyens.

We all love the way that stone has been so richly incorporated in the design. It also frames a wonderful stream that flows throughout. At another point stone surrounds circles and water can be seen inside this. We do have to remind Henry (4) and Heidi (7) to be careful as they race off. Wet stones can be slippery. Nearby there is a wonderful water fountain that is incorporated into the stone wall above. Yet more character is

provided by the doorways that lead from one part of the garden to the next. Down at the bottom of the formal garden there is a pergola that provides a little shelter in such conditions and here grapes grow. Now, the thunder and lightning start. ‘What is that?’ Henry cringes.

He hasn’t been out in such harsh conditions for some time, but when he was small the only way he would have an afternoon sleep was in his pushchair at the bottom of the garden even in the pouring rain.

In the Orangery we admire the citrus plants and even spy some lemons that are growing. ‘I do like the way the daisies grow around the stone paths,’ Caroline comments. Yes, it does look very pretty. ‘This is so inspiring,’ she adds.

On a day like today there is absolutely no worry about social distancing. The weather forces us to cut our visit short because the children start to feel cold. But as we walk through the plant centre we spot a tulip tree for sale. During a trip to another garden some years ago an elderly gentleman bought one of these and was extolling their virtues. We have never forgotten and grasp the nettle. At £4.50 it’s a good buy and a lasting memory of our visit here. Certainly a garden we would like to revisit in the future.

For more information, visit: www.hestercombe. com Watch the videos at www.travelwriter.biz

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TRAVEL

LOOK FORWARD TO TRAVELLING AGAIN WITH MILES MORGAN TRAVEL…

We Are Main Agents For All Big Brands

As an award winning independent travel agent, we offer the widest choice of holidays and are proud to be a main agent for:

By Heather Muir, Manager – Miles Morgan Travel, Yeovil As you all know we are living in interesting times with a very changing picture across the UK and the world. After most of us losing out last year on getting away, we know many travellers are eager to make up for lost time in 2021 and 2022 and to start planning to see the world again. As an award-winning independent travel agent, we offer the widest choice of holidays and are proud to be a main agent for all the UK’s leading holiday suppliers. With this in mind, we have teamed up with many of them to bring you our ’Book with Confidence’ guarantees, these are holidays where flexibility is key. Low deposits, changing your date, changing your destination, all these types of things that allow you to book now at the best prices, safe in the knowledge that you can still change your booking without the normal amendment charges - a big plus.

Here we share with you a small selection of what is on offer with these ‘Book with Confidence’ guarantees, however, there are many more, so please do contact us for details.

Titan Travel offers UK, European and long-haul tours and relaxing river cruises. Each holiday booked before 1 March qualifies for Titan’s £49pp FlexiDeposit allowing you to book with confidence. If you have

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your heart set on one of their tours or river cruises but you are feeling a little uncertain about booking, their new £49 Flexi Deposit will help take some of that worry away. The ‘Flexi’ part means if your plans change later, you can choose to amend your tour or departure date with no extra fee*, giving you more control and security.

and many more...

Contact our Travel Specialists today Phone lines open until 10pm

01935 428488

www.milesmorgantravel.co.uk

14-16 Middle Street Yeovil BA20 1LY

With TUI we can offer low deposits from just £60pp and free amends up to 21 days prior to travel*. Also, with their Covid cover we can offer free amends if you contract Covid19, must self-isolate or your area goes into lockdown before you travel*.

As a main agent for all major brands we have many more reassurance and flexible booking offers available, please do call us for more.

Wherever you are thinking of travelling, good advice is essential, especially with the ever-changing restrictions, and that’s where we can help.

Here at Miles Morgan Travel in Yeovil we have an experienced team who, even if the shop is not able to open, are available seven days a week until 10pm from home. So, contact one of them today on 01935 428488 and we look forward to getting you travelling safely again. *Terms and conditions apply, please ask us for details.

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PET HEALTH

THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPLIANCE

142 Preston Road, Yeovil Somerset BA20 2EE

By Peter Luscombe BVSc GPCert(Derm) MRCVS

www.newtonclarkevet.com

In veterinary medicine, compliance describes the extent to which pets receive a treatment.

Almost all of us have heard of the idea of ‘finishing the course’ when it comes to antibiotic treatments, and with the media spreading the word about the risks of antibiotic resistance, the importance of this mantra has never been greater. Research suggests that over a third of pets are not receiving their medications correctly.

Many pet owners are not aware of why medication is prescribed the way it is or why specific instructions are important to successful treatment. Here are a few examples of the importance of medicating as prescribed to highlight why compliance is so key.

Antibiotics When prescribed ‘twice daily’, this means every 12 hours. The antibiotic needs to stay above a threshold concentration to kill bacteria. After a dose, medications are removed from the body by the liver and kidneys, until there is not enough antibiotic left to kill bacteria. The next dose is needed as a top-up, waiting too long between doses means bacteria are exposed to a sub-lethal dose, when the hardier bacteria

Lower Acreman Street Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3EX

can both survive and develop resistance to the drug. By dosing at the correct interval, we ensure more effective treatment.

Pain relief It may seem obvious to keep pain relief going all the time to provide comfort, it is also important because gaps between doses can cause problems. When pain relief dips, the body becomes sensitised to the pain signals we have been trying to control, a phenomenon called ‘wind-up’. This results in future doses of pain relief working less well. Under-dosing has the same effect and can often contribute to owners feeling that medication is no longer working.

Hormonal medications Hormone-based treatments, including steroids, affect the natural hormonal rhythms of the patient. By timing doses to match these cycles, as well as giving the body chances to rest and recover between doses, we achieve effective control while reducing the risk of adverse side effects.

There are many other examples of why dosing in the manner prescribed (including giving tablets with or without food) is

important. However, the key thing for all owners to remember is to openly discuss their pets’ medication with their practice, as understanding your medication and using it correctly will give the drugs the best chance to work.

Compliance involves both veterinary staff recommending treatments and pet owners following those recommendations. Poor medicine compliance means poorer outcomes for the pet and feelings of frustration and disappointment for the owner.

Talk to your vet about your pet’s treatment and any concerns you have. Other options may be available. Compliance is easier if you have agreed and taken ownership of your pet’s treatment plan. Veterinary staff should be training and supporting clients. Keeping in contact with regular consultations, telephone conversations and repeat prescription reminders all help.

If you are struggling with medicating your pet, be reassured that you are not alone. Please contact your veterinary surgery and speak to a member of staff.

We only carry out genuine individual cremations

Companions at Peace Pet Cremation Companions at Peace is an independent family run business offering a very personal, caring pet cremation service to bereaved pet owners.

We provide the very best in respect, care and dignity, giving you total peace of mind, knowing we will look after your companion from the moment you entrust them to us, through to the time they are returned to you.

Collection Service • Farewell Room

Contact us on: 07900 654 440 •

As a pet owner, you do have a choice - you can choose to leave your beloved pet with your vet surgery, or you can choose to entrust them with us at Companions at Peace

We do not conduct communal cremations or the incineration of veterinary clinical waste

Find us on Facebook • www.companionsatpeace.co.uk

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CARE

VALENTINE’S DAY AND GRIEF

By Tracey Warren, Stoodley and Son

The 14th of February, St Valentine’s Day, a time when the shops are filled with flowers, chocolates and expressions of love. Adverts on the TV show the romantic cards and jewellery which purport to be the perfect expression of affection to your loved one.

St Valentine was in fact a thirdcentury Roman saint who was thought to be a clergyman who ministered to persecuted Christians. St Valentine’s Day has only been celebrated by Christianity since the High Middle Ages.

But love and grief are intertwined, for many this Valentine’s Day will be the first without their loved one. Cupids arrows of love have been replaced by arrows of grief and a loss that seems unbearable.

We recall the first time we met, the first date, the first kiss, and planning our future together.

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Growing old, sharing hopes, dreams and expectations, but now these seem dashed.

When we meet someone, we are giddy with love, the fluttering of the heart, the huge amount of emotional energy that is expended. We struggle to concentrate, instead filling our head with romantic notions and daydreams. It is the same when we are grieving, we struggle to concentrate, we can’t think straight, and we think about the person we have lost. The parallel between love and grief is they both produce massive emotions, but neither produce intellectual logic.

For those grieving, the pain of loss is hard to bear and they often feel like they are going mad. They are told that they should be getting over it, that they should just get on with life and that there is a magic panacea for grief. But grief is like glitter, you can take up a handful of it and throw it into the air, but no matter how hard you try to clean it up there are always specks of it still there.

Being told by well-meaning people that they shouldn’t cry or be upset can cause the bereaved to protect themselves. It causes them to think there is something wrong

with them, and I have often heard the expression ‘I should be over this by now’.

However, as a society we need to ask the question ‘why do we allow people to be emotional in love but not in grief?’ The emotions we feel in grief and love are not logical. Grief and love can strike us at any time, and in many ways.

Without the feelings of grief and sadness we cannot appreciate the feelings of happiness and joy. We need them both.

HISTORY

EXPLORING OLD FAMILY COOKBOOKS

By Barbara Elsmore

When my neighbour Ruth suggested I might like to look at a collection of old family cookbooks, I checked to see the date of my oldest and it is 1962 – a school prize. This pales into insignificance when it comes to Ruth’s collection, so let us start with the most recent – the Stork Wartime Cookery Book. There is a section on ‘Making the Most of Tinned Food – Corned beef or tinned salmon will probably be found in your store cupboards’ and a recipe follows for corned beef loaf using one tin of corned beef, an onion and a carrot which is combined together with Stork, naturally, to make a meal for four to six people. It then proceeds to suggest making creamed corned beef with the remains of a tin of corned beef – plus some leftover macaroni. The war time cook certainly had to make a little go a long way.

Next is Favourite Recipes 1937.

This was published by the Cake and Candy Stall National Temperance Bazaar 1937 and printed for the Young Abstainers Union of Scotland. There is a wonderfully plaintive penciled message in the margin next to the publisher ‘however did I come by this !!!’ All the recipes have been supplied by individuals whose names sit at the foot of their recipes and as would be expected there are five different versions of shortbread to tempt the home baker.

Mrs Beeton’s Cookery Book does not have a date but it appears to have been republished in the 1930s as there is an advertisement for a ‘Kingsway New World Gas Cooker’ and an example c1935 can be found in the Science Museum. Her first book Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management appeared in 1861. There is much emphasis on the ‘Art of Using-Up’ in Ruth’s copy and so a number of recipes ‘for the utilisation of odds

and ends have been included showing how nourishing, tasty and daintily garnished dishes may be prepared from portions of fish, poultry, game and meat that have already made an appearance at the table’. There is still time, amidst all this careful economy, for napkin folding and decorating the table with fresh flowers.

Not the oldest book but certainly the book with the oldest recipes is Cornish Recipes Ancient and Modern issued by the Cornwall Federation of Women’s Institutes.

It is inscribed ‘Mother from Douglas Xmas 1929.’ Mother is Ruth’s grandmother. As expected this book has much on the importance of the Cornish Pasty: ‘Pastry rolled out like a plate, Piled with turmut, tates and mate, Doubled up and baked like fate, That’s a Cornish Pasty!’

Remedies for common ailments are included and a piece of turnip ‘as hot as may be’ could be placed behind the ear to ease toothache.

By far the oldest of Ruth’s recipe books is Five-O’Clock Tea published in 1886 containing ‘recipes for cakes of every description, savoury sandwiches, cooling drinks etc.’ Sandwich filling suggestions range from nasturtium leaves to lobster mayonnaise. Having a glass of something fizzy with a celebratory afternoon tea may seem rather decadent today but not so in 1886 as there were any number of alcoholic cups and punches to take with your five o’clock tea.

HEALTH & WELLBEING

PROTECTING MENTAL HEALTH IS VITAL!

By Niki Cassar

There’s no denying that 2020 was a year of challenges and massive change affecting us all.

It started as a year of promise, with encouraging growth in the UK economy and IMF predictions that Britain would grow faster than any other major European country. Lockdown came as a huge and unexpected shock, and the ongoing consequences will be felt worldwide for many years to come.

The New Year always brings a sense of hope, and this year it is more important than ever to feel hopeful about the future, and remind ourselves that we human beings are proven survivors, having experienced every possible natural and manmade disaster in our history. Like Pandora’s Box, once all the bad things have escaped, hope still remains.

We can look back and remind ourselves about the bad things we went through, but we will only sink deeper into the depths of depression and despair. Whatever each one of us experienced, whether it be job loss, illness, loss of a loved one, loneliness and isolation, the fact is that if you’re reading this article, you are the proof that you came through it, even if somewhat battered and bruised.

Despite having little idea of what 2021 might bring, we can make the choice to focus on the positive rather than the negative. Rather than looking back to 2020 with anger, regret, fear or sadness, perhaps we can

remember some of the good things that came out of the lockdowns. For some, it might be the community spirit; for others, more time at home alone or with family, doing things that we would never have found the time for previously. Many people used the enforced period of isolation to do online courses or learn new skills. Some totally redecorated their homes or redesigned their gardens; others used the time to catch up on reading or dressmaking or DIY. Each and every one of these apparently ‘little’ things has allowed us to grow stronger and wiser.

Forget about New Year’s resolutions because it’s a known fact that we never stick to them.

Don’t mourn for what we cannot change in the past. Rather, let’s start the year by celebrating what we have learned, and give gratitude daily for the many good things in our life, no matter how small or mundane. Although I am not a subscriber to any particular organised religion, I love this Serenity Prayer: ‘Lord, grant me the strength to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.’

For those who are seriously struggling to stay afloat, please give me a call on 07973 346747 for a free, confidential chat to find out how Hypnotherapy can help you, or email mail@nikicassar. com. Wishing you all a very Hopeful New Year!

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

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

PLANNING AND GOAL SETTING

By Hector Rigby, Fitness Instructor at Oxley Sports Centre Many of you will be keen to dive straight into a strict training regime to ‘burn’ off your Christmas indulgence, but before we start spending hours slogging away on the treadmill or spin bikes let’s have a think about why it is specifically we are training and what it is we would like to gain. Of course, weight management is an important aspect of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and losing weight (or more specifically losing fat) can be a powerful tool for motivation, but here are a couple of things to consider when planning and performing your exercise routines.

Try and break the idea of exercising just to burn calories! It is of course true that exercise of all forms burns calories (energy) and some kinds of exercise will require more energy than others, attributing to a greater expenditure. The issue with consistently exercising just to burn calories by repeating the same exercise over and over is that there is little to no scope for progression and eventually you will reach a plateau. By establishing goals and challenging your body in new ways via a training plan you will adapt, becoming fitter and stronger. This is known as progressive overload and is an essential part of progression in exercise.

Instead of training to burn calories then, let’s have a think about what we would like to achieve from our training. If you are enjoying our daily spin classes for example, why not focus on trying to improve your FTP (functional threshold power) or even train towards your first sportive bike ride.

You could consider adding some resistance training into your routine to improve your strength and power which will attribute to an increase in performance on the bike.

Or if you are enjoying picking up the weights either in the gym or kettlebell classes, (all our fitness classes are now

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available online), how about setting some resistance-based goals such as improving your one rep max squat or achieving your first pull up. These are known as product goals and can be set as short, medium, or long term. Often when we make our training more specific by setting ourselves goals and following a plan, the results will follow, often aesthetically.

Another factor to consider is overtraining. As we all know, too much of a good thing can be bad and the same applies to exercise. Symptoms of overtraining include broken sleep, persistent injuries or muscle pain, lack of motivation and a decline in performance.

Overtraining is unhealthy and will certainly inhibit performance and obstruct us in reaching our goals. It is therefore important to factor in rest days as well as recovery sessions at a reduced intensity.

Why not try one of our Pilates or Yoga sessions for a bit of a change and to improve core stability and joint mobility.

Oxley Sports Centre has a fantastic online platform using the MyZone App which streams a variety of classes taught by our own instructors including Pilates, Yoga, HIIT, Zumba, Core, LBT and many more.

For more information, please go to www.oxleysc.com/ myzone.

NEW virtual membership available.

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

www.oxleysc.com

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.

LG Monitor, 22” Flat Screen £15.00 Logitech Remote Keyboard & Mouse £5.00. Both in good condition Tel: 01963 33160 Ex-rental Toshiba e2820c office copier/ scanner/fax with spare toner cartridge. Was working but needs servicing. Dimensions and weight 699 x 774 x 759 mm (W x D x H), approx. 121 kg. £199.00 ono.

Collection only from Yetminster Tel: 01935 872846 or 321712 Various vintage wooden step ladders. Ideal for displaying plants either inside or out.

From £12.00 Photos available Tel: 01460 55105

Vintage industrial storage bin which is very well made and strong with wooden top rails and riveted corners. Many uses as clean inside and has grab handles for easy moving. A piece of industrial chic. 20” wide 41 long and 34 high. Does not have a lid £45.00 Photos available Tel: 01460 55105 Black two seater leather settee, excellent condition: £50.00 Tel: 01935 413517 (Yeovil) WITTER Swan Neck TOW BAR .New .

Never Used. Part No. ZD 3022. Class A50 - X for Citroen C3. + Key & Carrying Bag. Buyer Collects. Only £25.00. ono Tel: 01935 414677 or Mobile 07974 516 218 anytime.

Hotline Harrier 12v Battery Electric Fencing Organiser. Includes 25 Hotline Pigtail Posts. Also Reel with Wire and Support Stand and Brake. Purchased for emergency fencing so little used.

Complete with brand new battery. £170.00. Tel 01458 442747.

Standard double bed, metal frame plus mattress. Hardly used VGC £75.00 Mob: 07960698089 (Sherborne) 6’x3’ metal framed day bed with (hardly used) mattress £50.00 Mob: 07891344214

WIN £10 in our WORDSEARCH

competition INDOOR GAMES

Outside the weather is looking very grey and murky and as we are still being advised to stay indoors we are all finding it quite challenging to keep ourselves occupied. However there are some silver linings to be had and one of them is a revival of what are known as ‘indoor games.’ This has been the inspiration for this month’s Wordsearch.

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 22 February. Good luck.

AIKIDO BILLIARDS BO-PEEP BRIDGE CANASTA CHARADES CHECKERS CHESS

DOMINOES DRAUGHTS FIVES I-SPY MAH-JONG MARBLES PELOTA PING-PONG

POOL ROULETTE SCRABBLE SEVENS SNOOKER SOLITAIRE

Name:__________________________________________________________ Tel :_________________________Email:______________________________ Address:_________________________________________________________ 29 ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________

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

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WALKING

‘AND. FIVE. SIX. SEVEN. EIGHT…’

By Rachel Mead

There’s a new dance in town, in fact it’s probably being performed across the whole country, and possibly worldwide when you come to think of it, but what with the UK closing its borders I can only tell you about the dance which is being choreographed within my local area.

It’s a dance which you will have completed countless times already. It can’t be performed solo, and it is one which you have undoubtedly shimmied and shuffled your way through many times with varying success. The level of the performance isn’t entirely down to the ability of your twinkle toes because this dance involves unknown partners or sometimes whole troupes, and to take it to another level, you have never strutted your stuff with these folk before and you are highly unlikely to partner with them again. If you have small children or a dog then the technical level of your dance routines is inevitably much higher.

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The daily dance is of course the Covid Quickstep. Depending on where you live will affect which moves are required by you, and the challenge, as with any genre of dance is of course to keep to the time. For those of you who live in a town you will know that you can’t perform this Pandemic Polka without a warm-up. A quick walk to the shop for the newspaper now involves a series of ‘doorstep neck rotations’ which are crucial for scoping out the immediate paved dance floor to see how many fellow dancers are in your midst. Taking the leap out onto centre stage involves precision, the throng of the cast ebbs and flows around you, and you know that no amount of double reverse spins are ever going to get you a solo in this show.

what drives this Viral Volta and extra points are awarded for showcase hedgerow heel-turns and driveway dosey-does. The whole performance involves an intricacy whereby all dancers within this unofficial company are reacting to one another’s movements, and a chain reaction of twists and turns can ricochet along the pavement.

On the whole, the dance when performed in England is traditionally polite, one utters thank you to their momentary dance partner as they gracefully side-step to allow them to pass.

Another adds a fleeting wave of the arm or perhaps a nod of

The Lockdown Lambada, whether performed on city pavements or country lanes, has strict rules. If you are wanting a ’10 from Len’ then be sure not to stray into another competitor’s dance space. The two-metre rule is

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the head in place of a curtsy in their impromptu routine. Some dancers, shy in their ability, turn their back on you as you boogie past, others cautiously chassé along - treading lightly and softly, whereas the parent with dog lead in one hand and child’s hand in the other almost pirouettes past in a whirl, commanding the commuter limelight in a flurry.

As ever, with Covid being very much part of our lives, the show must go on, so stay safe and, perhaps in the confines of your home, you can continue to dance like nobody is watching.

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

Wills

FEBRUARY DEADLINES

ACREMAN ST. ANTIQUES

of Sherborne

SHERBORNE

PlumbinG &Heating ltD

FINE ART, COLLECTABLES & GENERAL AUCTION Friday 26th February

Auction

Local & Reliable Plumber Gas safe registered, fully insured New Build, Renovations, Gas boiler installations Bathroom installations, LPG Vented and Unvented Cyclinder Installation Free quotes – competitive prices Email: wills.plumbing@hotmail.co.uk Telephone Malcolm: 07885 420609

WANTED

ONLINE ONLY

through easyliveauction.com

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

We are now taking in for our 26th March Auction For all enquiries please contact Gill Norman 07908 333577 / 01935 508764 auction@acremanstreetantiques.co.uk

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

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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

01935 475962 www.princesstreetdental.co.uk