The Conduit Magazine - June 2020

Crossing counties,

look inside for info on the best events and activities in

West Dorset and

Magazine

South Somerset

Mask by

Issue 232 June 2020

Find out more in our fabulous vintage fashion feature on p15

INSIDE THIS MONTH

Conduit Community Corner | Wine Wizzard revelations | Re-inventing our business The Road through Milborne Port | When is a thatch, more?

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, Sat 10.00am-4.00pm Also at Clarks Village, Street

www.pittards.com

W e p sti by lea ll de are Ph se live on con rin e o ta g r W ct eb us sit e

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From the Editor Welcome to our June issue! I am proud we have managed to continue with printing a hard copy of The Conduit – as well as the online version. With more shops now permitted to re-open you will be able to find a copy of the magazine very easily. It should be a difficult one to miss with our stunning and appropriate front cover courtesy of a small indie business, Nancy Rose Hats. To read more about this innovative fashion designer go to our Vintage Fashion feature written by the marvellous Sarah Jane Lewis.

As always we are trying to serve up a mix of different features together with information on help and advice for those who are feeling particularly isolated at this difficult time. Many of you will be finding solace in your gardens and it is particularly good to see the re-opening of The Gardens Group outlets – check out Mike Burks’s feature on re-inventing his business and also Julie Haylock’s musings Up the Garden Path – always an inspiration for garden design.

Here’s to blooming June and a hopeful future!

Contents

ASSISTANT EDITOR Julie Locke

JULY DEADLINES News and Articles: FRIDAY, 12 JUNE Advertisements: MONDAY, 15 JUNE

CCC p4

Conduit Community Corner

EDITOR & ADVERTISING Jane Adkins

ARTS p18

covers Coronavirus help and support in your area

Choose from a number of online activities

WHAT’S ON p5

Info on businesses offering delivery, online workshops and social activities

HISTORY p8

LEGAL p20

A new way of working

More than a Thatch?

FOOD & DRINK p21

GARDENING p10

An easy chicken stir fry recipe to try

Re-inventing our business

FASHION p15 It’s all about Vintage!

HEALTH & WELLBEING p25

Oxley Centre says what to do next

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

CONDUIT COMMUNITY CORNER

• Listen to music: radio, CD, vinyl, streaming, or play, or sing • Move: stretching and breathing exercises can help relieve tension • Eat regular meals • Find a creative hobby: jigsaws, painting, colouring, crafts • Read or write a poem • Speak to someone via phone, Skype or social to find a local group. If unable media daily, if possible to find the necessary help, call • Fresh air and sunshine Dorset Community Response daily, if possible. Standing on 01305 221000 or Somerset at the door to look at the Coronavirus Helpline on 0300 sky and listen to the birds 790 6275. can help to feel a sense of A few suggestions for looking connection with life. after health and well-being If feeling alone, isolated during the coming months: or claustrophobic, call • Limit the amount of time Samaritans on 0330 094 listening to news bulletins 5717 or Silver Line helpline or looking at social media, for older people on 0800 as this can cause increased 470 8090. anxiety

Conduit Community Corner A number of community groups are emerging on Facebook/ WhatsApp to provide information, help and support, and to coordinate activities locally. To find a local group, visit www.covidmutualaid.org/ local-groups or the following Facebook pages: Coronavirus Community Help West Dorset; Coronavirus Community Support South Somerset. Also check with the local parish and town council or via social media DORSET Age UK are coordinating requests for help with issues relating to loneliness and isolation, or support in accessing items such as food, cash or medication. For further information, call 01305 269444.

Help And Kindness, part of the Dorset co-ordinated community response to COVID-19, aims to bring together information about help and support available to people living and working in Dorset. For further information, visit www.helpandkindness. co.uk.

BRUTON Coronavirus Local Resources Line provides people with the information they need to get help with the practical difficulties that arise from social isolation. Please note that this is only an information service.

Call 01749 717002, 24-hour answerphone and call-back service.

Bruton Phone Buddies offers telephone support for those who are feeling isolated, lonely or worried. Call 01749 321742, leave a message and someone will call back. Organised by St Mary’s Church and Harry Mills.

CASTLE CARY Cary Cares can collect medicines/shopping if in isolation (whatever age), provide a food box if circumstances have changed and currently unable to buy food, arrange for a phone call if feeling cut off, and more.

Call 01963 351362 any day 4

between 9.30am and 4.00pm.

For further information, visit the Facebook page or www. castle-cary.co.uk. Organised by Churches Together in Castle Cary and Ansford, endorsed by the Town Council.

CREWKERNE Be A Good Neighbour For those over 70, living alone or with underlying medical conditions, Crewkerne Community Church can offer regular telephone contact and a shopping service. Call 01460 77489 to register or email church@crewkerne.org.

CURRY RIVEL Curry Rivel Support Group If willing to help or in need of help, contact Steve Allinson on 07808 164068 or at steve@allinsonlaw.com.

Authorized by Curry Rivel Parish Council.

ILMINSTER Covid-19 Support Group can deliver essential shopping and prescriptions. For information about the group, local businesses offering a delivery service, and where to get food/essential supplies in Ilminster, visit www.ilminster. gov.uk. To request help, contact the Town Council on 01460 52149 or email itccovid19@ gmail.com. To volunteer, sign-up at www.corona-helpers.co.uk.

LANGPORT Langport Cares, run jointly by Rev Jess Pitman and Langport Town Council, offers support and help for residents of Langport and Huish

Episcopi through a confidential line. Call 01458 251881 or email jessicapitman@aol.com.

LEIGH Leigh Lifeline is available to help those in Leigh Village who are self-isolating. Call or text 07942 646052 (monitored 24 hours). For further information, visit www.leighvillage.org. uk/covid-19-support or email leighlifeline@gmail.com.

MARTOCK Parish Council Services Team Support available for those who are self-isolating.

Call 07946 121612, 07539 754413 or 07495 611417, leave a message and someone will call back.

MILBORNE PORT No-One Alone Whether in isolation or wanting to help those in isolation, this scheme puts helpers and ‘helpees’ in touch with each other safely. Phone 07721 360523 or email rector@ milborneportchurches.org.uk.

SHEPTON MALLET Shepton Mallet Coronavirus Network, managed by Shepton Mallet Town Council, is hosting a coronavirus Freephone number 0800 061 4089 (from 8.00am to 10.00pm every day) and will redirect calls to the appropriate sources of help throughout the coronavirus emergency.

For further information, email contact@helpshepton.info or visit www.helpshepton.info.

Shepton Mallet Coronavirus Volunteers If self-isolating or

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need help during the coronavirus outbreak with shopping, picking up medication, posting mail, a friendly phone call, or urgent needs, then call the Coronavirus Volunteer line on 01749 200200 (24 hours a day) or 01749 830132. For the collection of prescriptions, call 07934 263923.

For further information, email coronasupport@spiralvision. co.uk.

SHERBORNE Sherborne Viral Kindness is a network of volunteers offering support in Sherborne and the surrounding villages. Contact 07784 115987 or via Facebook @ sherborneviralkindness.

SOMERTON Somerton Community Lifeline Six local safe telephone numbers, manned by the local churches, will take requests for picking up shopping or prescriptions and will pass details to a co-ordinator. Call (area code 01458) 273403, 273568, 223094, 253414, 272029, or 273653.

SOUTH PETHERTON South Petherton Community Support Team offers a number of services to support the South Petherton and surrounding Somerset villages during the current isolation period: these include wellbeing call-backs, pharmacy collections, delivery of food boxes, milk and bread, and groceries. For further information, visit www.pethertonsupport. co.uk or call 01460 510022.

WINCANTON Visit www. wincantontowncouncil.co.uk for information about the Coronavirus Support Helpline (0300 790 6275) and for a list of Wincanton businesses offering home deliveries.

YEOVIL Yeovil Community Church, Community Help Yeovil, other Churches and Spark Somerset are providing support to those self-isolating or vulnerable, without family, friends or neighbours to help. Essential food shopping/delivery, collecting prescriptions, assistance with online shopping, dog walking, a listening service/friendly phone call, and delivery of food parcels. Call 01935 530084 or email coronaresponseyeovil@ gmail.com (should respond within 48 hours).

YETMINSTER For those in need, contact the community support network and volunteer group on 07563 883327, yetvirushelp@ gmail.com or via Facebook page.

@conduitmag

What’s On Craft SHERBORNE The Slipped Stitch is still posting out orders, and also looking into the possibility of running workshops online (keep an eye on the website for any updates). Place orders on www.theslippedstitch.co.uk, via Facebook or email info@ theslippedstitch.co.uk. For any queries, please call 01935 508249.

SOMERTON Mrs McGregor’s Craft Emporium An Aladdin’s cave of crafting! Haberdashery and handmade items, as well as yarns, papers, ribbon, fabric, buttons, felt making and a whole load more. The shop may currently be closed but please consider a phone order for yarn. Local delivery and contactless payment available.

To order, call 07599 025748. www.mrsmcgregors.com.

Delivery CASTLE CARY Deliveries in the town Some shops in the town will deliver food and other supplies. Many local pubs and restaurants are able to offer a free home delivery service for cooked meals. To find out which ones, visit www. castlecarychamber.org.uk/ Deliveries-Take-Aways.

SHEPTON MALLET To find details of local businesses offering delivery and collection services for groceries, hot food and specialist food, visit www.helpshepton.info/fooddeliveries.

SHERBORNE The following local businesses are offering local delivery in Sherborne (within 5-mile radius) to people in need during the Coronavirus pandemic: Abbey Pharmacy 01935 812060 Black Shed Flowers 07859 911817 Courtyard Salon 01935 816372

Elementum Gallery 07590 115414 Midwest Office Supplies 01935 814225 The Corner Shop 01935 815615.

SOUTH PETHERTON To find details of local shops offering local delivery, visit www.pethertonsupport. co.uk/directory or call 01460 510022.

WINCANTON Visit www. wincantontowncouncil.co.uk for a contacts list of Wincanton businesses offering home deliveries.

Food & Drink ALWESTON Oxford’s Bakery Freshly-made bread and other staples delivered or visit the ‘drive-through’ bakery at Alweston. To place an order and for delivery options, call 01963 23214.

BISHOP’S CAUNDLE Woodbridge Farm Blue Vinny, local Cheddar, West Country Brie, milk, soups, butter, fruit, vegetables and some store cupboard items. There is a

WHAT’S ON

Contact: Julie Locke

/theconduitmagazine

E: info@theconduitmagazine.co.uk

@conduitmag

milk vending machine, open from 8.00am to 4.00pm 7 days a week, dispensing the farm’s milk, so bring a container.

Call 01963 23133 or email orders@dorsetblue.co.uk to place an order for collection from the farm shop (open from 9.00am until 2.00pm). Or visit the farm for safe socialdistance shopping. www. dorsetblue.com.

BOWER HINTON Old Dairy Café A farm shop with a ‘book a slot, come and shop’ service. Visit the Facebook page to book a slot or email theoldairycafe@mail.com. www.theolddairycafe.uk.

Rose & Crown takeaway service every Friday (from 5.00pm to 8.00pm) and Saturday (from 12.00 noon to 2.00pm and from 5.00pm to 8.00pm). Call or message 01935 822393 to place an order. See Facebook page for details.

CASTLE CARY Levant Restaurant New takeaway service available every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Open from 5.00pm to 6.00pm to collect orders from the kitchen door.

One in, one out, 2m distance policy. Delicious, fresh, safe restaurant standard cooked

food. 5* Food & Hygiene rating. To place an order, email tanya@levantcatering. com. For further information, call 01963 350248 or 07779 09302, or visit www. levantcatering.com. Stay safe and support local businesses.

CHARLTON HORETHORNE The King’s Arms Frozen meals to re-heat at home.

Fancy a night off? The King’s Arms can help. Orders taken Monday to Thursday from 9.00am to 1.00pm for collection the following day: Tuesday to Friday 10.00am to 1.00pm. Deliveries reserved only for customers who are unable to collect due to selfisolation/quarantine. To order, call 01963 220281 or via Facebook page.

CORTON DENHAM The Queens Arms Order a delicious meal and drinks to enjoy at home. Visit www. thequeensarms.com/eat to download the takeaway menu. Meals are available on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 5.30pm to 8.00pm and on Sunday from 12.00 noon to 2.00pm. Please place the order by 5.00pm the previous day; for a Sunday takeaway, please order by 5.00pm Friday. On arrival, drive to the front door of the pub, please remain in the car and the order will be placed on the table at the given collection slot.

Keep an eye on the website for menu updates and other news!

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

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

5

WHAT’S ON

HIGHER HOLTON Dorset Fine Dining A range of frozen dishes for cooking at home, bread, and grocery boxes available for delivery. Mixed veg boxes £25; mixed veg & fruit boxes £30. Check out the Facebook page. To order, text Nick on 07525 667687 or email eat@ dorsetfinedining.co.uk.

LOPENHEAD The Trading Post Farm Shop Food delivery service available to customers who are selfisolating. Please visit www. tradingpostfarmshop.co.uk for details.

MARTOCK Chirpy Cottage Home delivery service of hot meals every Tuesday. Call 07762 735071 or leave a message on Facebook page. www.chirpycottage.co.uk.

Ethic Street Pizza Home delivery service, Monday to Friday from 5.30pm to 8.30pm.

To order, call or text 07460 776476 or via Facebook page. Please visit www. ethicstreetpizza.co.uk for details.

Gould & Son, Family Butchers Call and collect service. Call 01935 822671 to place an order and get a collection time.

Cash still accepted but card payments preferred.

Kevin McAdam Butchers Home delivery service. Call 01935 826287 or via Facebook page.

MILBORNE PORT Wayne Pullen Family Butchers Quality locally-sourced meat and homemade pies. Call 01963 250222.

The Gainsborough Arms Meals on Wheels. For Sunday roast, please order before 3.00pm the previous Saturday. For all other

Abbey Bookshop Cheap Street Sherborne

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

Have your daily paper delivered.

Ask in store for details.

01935 812367

6

meals, phone the pub before 11.30am that day. Call 01963 250330.

ODCOMBE Odcombe Village Hall Fresh milk available from a 24-hour vending machine.

Eastfield Farm in Tintinhull is home of Holy Cow Organic milk, and they are working extremely hard to supply organic milk straight from the farm to the local community in south Somerset via 24hour vending machines. Holy Cow Organic milk is simply pasteurised, cooled and ready to drink so no heavy processing and no food miles. The milk from their vending machine is never more than 48 hours old.

Bring along a bottle, top up, and support local farmers!

NORTH PERROTT North Perrott Farm Shop Fresh milk available from a 24-hour vending machine. Eastfield Farm in Tintinhull is home of Holy Cow Organic milk, and they are working extremely hard to supply organic milk straight from the farm to the local community in south Somerset via 24-hour vending machines.

Holy Cow Organic milk is simply pasteurised, cooled and ready to drink so no heavy processing and no food miles. The milk from their vending machine is never more than 48 hours old.

Bring along a bottle, top up, and support local farmers!

SANDFORD ORCAS The Mitre Inn Evening meals available from Tuesday to Saturday from 6.00pm to 8.00pm and Sunday lunch available from 12.00 noon to 2.00pm. A collection system is in operation (collect from the porch). Deliveries are generally within a 3-mile radius of the Inn, depending on location and number of orders. The menu changes weekly. For further information, call 01963 220271 or email cheryl@mitreinn. co.uk.

The Story Pig To help customers during these difficult times, an Essentials box is available to order. Each box contains sausages, bacon, mince, eggs, milk, cheese, bread, fruit and veg. See the full range of products at www.thestorypig.co.uk.

Free delivery to the village or collection from the farm by prior arrangement. Call 07802 443905 or email james@ thestorypig.co.uk.

SHERBORNE Bean Shot Missing some really good coffee? Bean Shot is still roasting and will deliver by post (whole bean, filter or cafetière).

Call 07591 733126 or visit www.beanshot.co.uk.

Kafé Fontana Local delivery in Sherborne (within 5-mile radius) to people in need during the Coronavirus pandemic. Call 01935 812180.

Oliver’s Coffee House Local delivery in Sherborne (within 5-mile radius) to people in need during the Coronavirus pandemic. Call 01935 815005.

Parsons Butchers Delivery service only. To place an order for next day delivery, call 01935 812071 between 9.00am and 1.00pm or email parsonsbutchers@outlook. com. Delivery to Sherborne and local villages.

Seasons Restaurant at The Eastbury Home delivery for Sherborne residents. Enjoy dishes from the Brasserie menu at home, giving a little bit of foodie happiness in these uncertain times. Delivery times are from 12.30 to 2.00pm and from 6.30pm to 8.00pm.

For further information, call 01935 813131. www. dorsetfoodanddrink.org.

Sherborne Fruit & Veg Market Local delivery in Sherborne (within 5-mile radius) to people in need during the Coronavirus pandemic. Call 07515 554549.

The BakeOut Local delivery in Sherborne (within 5-mile radius) to people in need during the Coronavirus pandemic. Call 01935 507373.

The Cross Keys Contactless delivery in Sherborne (within 5-mile radius). Produce and meals delivered Thursday to Sunday with 24-hours’ notice. For further details, call 01935 508130 or email info@ thecrosskeyssherborne. com for an order form. www. thecrosskeyssherborne.com/ menu.

The Pear Tree Delivery service available. See the website for the full range of produce and locally-produced frozen ready-meals. Minimum order of £10 within the Sherborne area.

To place an order, call 01935 812828. Shop opening times from 8.30am to 10.30am. www. peartreedeli.co.uk.

The Three Wishes Local delivery in Sherborne (within 5-mile radius) to people in need during the Coronavirus pandemic. Call 01935 817777.

Vineyards of Sherborne Local delivery in Sherborne (within 5-mile radius). Home deliveries on Tuesdays and Thursdays only. To order by phone, call 01935 815544 between 10.00am and 12.00 noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays only. Order anytime via email shop@ vineyardsofsherborne.co.uk.

Delivery only, no collections. www.vineyardsofsherborne. co.uk.

SOMERTON The Courtyard Café would like to support the local community at this vulnerable time and offer a daytime delivery service for all those in need or choosing to stay at home. Visit the café’s Facebook page to view the takeaway menu or call 01458 273101. Cash or card payments available.

SOMERTON Unicorn Hotel Open for takeaway food and drink on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 4.00pm to 8.00pm and Sunday roast from 12.00 noon to 4.00pm. Please call 01458 272888 for the takeaway menu and to order.

YEOVIL Nick’s Fruit & Veg Delivery service of fresh fruit and vegetables. Call 07553 018989.

Take No Wrap Home delivery service. Yeovil’s first Zero Waste shop offering ecofriendly shopping offering dry foods, such as pasta, rice and grains, plastic-free toiletries, and eco-friendly alternatives to disposable products. Call 01935 474826. Visit Facebook page for details.

WEST CAMEL The Walnut Tree Hotel Helping as part of the community with nutritional takeaway meals and food boxes, including a delivery service to the village. The food boxes (vegetable & fruit box, and dairy box) contain a varied selection of goods, as well as the essentials. See the full range of takeaway meals (including meals with a Caribbean twist) and produce available at www. thewalnuttreehotel.com, Facebook page or call 01935 851292. Closed Mondays.

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

WHAT’S ON

Market SOMERSET Somerset Farmers’ Markets are not holding the usual monthly markets until it is deemed safe to do so. However, many farmers and food and drink producers are adapting their businesses to provide food and drink via delivery schemes or ‘click and collect’ from their premises/farm shops or have online shops. Please support local food producers during these challenging times. To find their details, please visit www. somersetfarmersmarkets. co.uk.

Quiz ONLINE Langport & District History Society The online ‘Out of this world’ quiz has been running every day for the past 50 days to help everyone stay occupied and amused in these difficult times.

Hope it’s been fun! But now it must come to an end. For a chance to win a £10 prize, please email the answers to langporthistory@fastmail. com, to arrive no later than midnight on Sunday 31 May. In the event of a tie, the name of the winner will be drawn from a Panama hat. All the clues are on the quiz page at www. langportheritage/ldhs/quiz.

Sale ONLINE ACEarts of Somerton is holding an online auction

at www.jumblebee.co.uk/ withlovefromaceandtheartist.

Bring art into the home, choose from a stunning selection of original ‘postcards’ generously donated by ACEarts’ supportive network of renowned artists and printmakers. All proceeds go to the ACE registered charity.

Postage in the UK is free, or collect from the gallery after the auction has finished on Saturday 13 June 2020. Visit the Facebook page to find posts of past exhibitions.

Social Goldies Online Sing-along Every Thursday at 2.30pm, join in with the Goldies Online Sing-along! The sessions are led by Rachel and Cheryl. The Goldies sing the popular hits of the 60s onwards as well as many favourite melodies. Watch on YouTube or via the Facebook page, visit the links below and remember to SUBSCRIBE/LIKE and FOLLOW to be notified of new videos. www.youtube. com/user/UKgoldies. Find out more information at www. facebook.com/goldiesuk and www.golden-oldies.org.uk.

The Martock & District U3A group is determined that social distance will not stop everything! Four groups now meet regularly on Zoom: Ukulele, Philosophy, French and Recorder. Some members are having virtual coffee mornings. A special Facebook group Martock U3A Keeping in Touch has been set up to share news and amusing anecdotes, as well as to offer support to members. The group is also exploring a new online

system that includes subtitles so those with less hearing can also join in. If interested in joining or wishing for further information, visit the Facebook page, www.u3a.org.uk, email martocku3amembership@ gmail.com, or phone 07510 178094.

SHERBORNE ArtsLink is working hard to find alternative ways of bringing artistic opportunities to the public and to create more online learning opportunities. For further information, email office@ sherborneartslink.org.uk or visit www.sherborneartslink. org.uk.

ArtsLink: Art for Memory and Art for Parents groups have received creative packs in the post which provide materials, ideas and instructions, plus a little bit of contact with the outside world.

ArtsLink: Parkinson’s Dance exercises have been filmed by specialist Parkinson’s Dance tutors. The videos are now available online, so keep moving and dancing!

Winstone’s will provide a home delivery service within a 2-mile radius of the shop throughout the coming weeks.

Deliveries will be between 5.00pm and 6.00pm: the same day if the book’s in stock or the day after if it needs to be ordered. For those outside the 2-mile radius, the book will be posted using Gardners Home Delivery service. To order, call 01935 816128 or email winstonebooks1@gmail. com. Secure payment over the phone. For a list of titles worth being locked-down with, visit www.winstonebooks.co.uk/ Sherborne.

Workshop ONLINE ArtsLink Virtual Classrooms are now available weekly with James Budden.

Choose from Drawing, Oils and Portraiture classes. If interested in joining in, please contact ArtsLink at takepart@ sherborneartslink.org.uk or James at www.jamesbudden. co.uk. Please keep up the art practice at home! Take a photo and share it on social media; see the links at the bottom of the page on www. sherborneartslink.org. uk. Stay safe and keep on creating!

ArtsLink Art at Home Visit the Arts 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.

Darrell Wakelam: #ArtJumpStart Artist and maker Darrell Wakelam is always a favourite in the ArtsReach children’s summer workshop programme. Now children and families can get creative together at home.

Everyday Darrell is releasing free art home-schooling ideas on twitter, from loo roll Hogwarts and spaceships to pasta fish fossils and egg box monkeys! Join Darrell every day on twitter and get creative. Visit www.artsreach. co.uk/news/digital-diary.

Wills of Sherborne

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Free initial consultation

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

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

7

HISTORY

the preceding symmetry of Neoclassical Georgian architectural styles. Towards the late C19th, architects inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement also designed natural houses, but these are not Orné.

WHEN IS A THATCH MORE THAN THATCH?

By Paul Birbeck, Blue Badge Tour Guide.

Despite the current restrictions on our lives, we are lucky to live in such an interesting and attractive area containing the range of different landscapes associated with the Dorset/Somerset borderlands.

For centuries, local architecture has reflected the variations in underlying geology through the vernacular building styles and materials used. Our area has many beautiful thatched houses and thatcher’s can often be seen renewing buildings across the region.

So, the answer to the title question. A thatch is more than thatch once it becomes classed as Cottage Orné. So what’s the difference?

Essentially, thatched cottages are very common and usually built from local materials by local builders. The thatch on the roof is uniform, often with a distinctive local ridge pattern. Cottage Orné is something more complex and was very fashionable in the decade 1810-1820. The term is used to describe any small or medium sized house rustically situated in a countryside setting, and ornamented to convey a picturesque effect. All the buildings were individually designed, expensive and consequently relatively rare. They were generally built by the wealthy either as rustic retreats for themselves or as embellishments for their estates.

These “rustic” stylised cottage designs developed as part of the Romantic movement when some sought to discover a more natural way of living as opposed to the formality of

The bottom left picture is of Alice Lodge, near Hinton Parva, Dorset illustrates some of the key features.

The thatched roof was often built in several different levels for ornamental effect and the eaves overhang from the walls was always very wide.

There were normally thatched verandahs around the house and also thatched porches shielding the doors. Most of the low overhanging thatch was supported by a number of roughly cut timber pillars.

The ridges to the steeply inclined thatched roofs were often topped with large rustic thatched peaks or tufts. Leaded-light windows were also included and tall chimney stacks were sometimes used to emphasis the cottage style.

The area around Yeovil and Sherborne has a number of such buildings. A very picturesque thatched lodge can be found in Goathill, near Sherborne (Title picture). The Lodge to Sherborne Park was built mid-late C19. The lodge has a particularly massive height to the thatch. The roof is wired in, has wonderful waves that rise to a flat ridge. The thatch has a wide overhang from beautiful mellow-tinged stone walls.

Across the valley is another wonderful example of different roof level thatch at Readers House.

Round Lodge, the former gate house at Compton House midway between Yeovil and Sherborne is also an interesting example.

The original building has a sympathetic modern extension, but retains its original enchanting conical thatched roof and classic verandah.

Like everyone else, I can hardly wait to be allowed to get back out and about to find and explore more local delights. Until that time, look after yourselves and remember to look up and smile. www.sherbornewalks.co.uk E: paul@sherbornewalks.co.uk ALL PREVIOUSLY ADVERTISED SHERBORNE WALKS EVENTS ARE CURRENTLY SUSPENDED. Until they resume, look after yourself and stay safe.

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BOOKS

BOOK REVIEW

By Wayne, Winstones

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

WHAT’S ON

SHERBORNE STAFF RISE TO CHALLENGE

Perfect read for lock-down

The Well Gardened Mind – Rediscovering Nature in the Modern World

by Sue Stuart-Smith £20 hardback We are very lucky to live in a town that makes self-isolation bearable and this book can give further solace by taking advantage of the natural world around us and in particular our gardens.

How can getting outdoors help us to look after our mental health? In a powerful combination of contemporary neuroscience, psychoanalysis and brilliant storytelling, The Well Gardened Mind investigates the magic that many gardeners have known for years – working with nature can radically transform our health, wellbeing and confidence. Prisoners given the chance to grow plants are less likely to reoffend. At-risk young people who get their hands in the soil are more likely to stay in education. Elderly people who garden live longer and have a better quality of life. Sue StuartSmith tells brilliant, illuminating stories of people struggling with stress, depression, trauma and addiction, from asylum seekers to veterans, inner-city young people to the retired. This is a glorious book of science, insight and anecdote that shows how our understanding of nature and its restorative powers is only just beginning to flower.

‘The wisest book I’ve read for many years ... Much more than a gardening book, much more than a guide to better mental health, it is a wholly convincing story of how troubled minds might find a way of reconnecting to themselves and rebuilding confidence and hope by way of nature ... I’ve learned so much in the way of the history of psychiatry and psychology as well as practical tips for both mind and garden ... Hugely recommended’ Stephen Fry

Winstone’s Bookshop is open for business but closed for browsing, please call 01935 816128 or email winstonebooks1@gmail.com for FREE delivery within a 2 mile radius of the shop. We will be open again for browsing the second the Government allows us.

CLLR Jill Warburton and Paul Harvey

The staff at Bradfords Building Supplies Sherborne branch recently presented a £100 donation to Friends of the Yeatman Hospital, which was received by the charity’s deputy-chair, local Councillor Jill Warburton.

“Focus on working together as a community and supporting each other has never been more important than during this current situation, so I am very proud of my staff who decided they wanted to raise £100 for a local charity who provide much needed support to the local hospital.” said Paul Harvey, Bradfords Sherborne branch Director.

Cllr Jill Warburton received the donation on behalf of the Friends.

“It is particularly pleasing as this donation comes from the Bradfords’ staff themselves, who wanted to make a contribution to the hospital, and clearly put in effort to achieve this despite the operational pressures they’ve been under to continue to serve our local community of tradespeople throughout the Covid-19 situation.”

The money was used to buy fabric to make much needed hospital gowns, masks and scrub bags, all of which have already been put to good use throughout the hospital.

Sherborne

SELF STORAGE Centre of Sherborne. Flexible sizes and prices from £50 per month.

07398 624975

www.sherbornestorage.co.uk 9

Gardening GARDENING

REINVENTING OUR BUSINESS

By Mike Burks, Managing Director of The Gardens Group

We are living in unusual times, with no familiar marker points for us to gauge where we are in the year, so it’s getting tricky to recall when everything happened and in what order.

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

When we compare ourselves to other garden centres who tried the same service, we are at the top of the league table for orders dispatched, with around 350 per day. Those that received goods were generally hugely delighted and the feedback since we reopened has been fabulous. Some of course were frustrated by difficulties getting through on the phone, but we tried as hard as we could in the incredibly difficult circumstances.

When we closed on the 23 March the garden centres were full of the new season’s plants, all in fantastic health. We knew we wouldn’t be able to sell them before we re-opened, so we decided to give away what was left to local nursing and residential homes, to schools that were still open and to hospitals, both on the wards for NHS staff and also to brighten up their gardens. In the end there was virtually no waste.

For us, it started in mid-March while we were away in Yorkshire with tickets to a concert given to us by our children for Christmas.

Over that weekend we had received a few messages from the team which showed a little nervousness about some talks and other events that were planned for the coming week. We decided to head home early but it was a fifty-fifty decision and we missed our concert, which then was cancelled anyway. Four days later the announcement came that restaurants had to close. We had tears from the teams on the Friday evening, but by the time I had visited them all, there were plans in place to operate take-away services and produce ready-made meals for sale. Two days later, those plans turned out to be in vain as we decided that we needed to close, just hours before Boris told us all that we had to! That was the 23 March.

rdening

The following day, those of the team who weren’t already at home because they were vulnerable themselves, had kids or were caring for vulnerable relatives, all arrived for work to find out what the plan was. We had a back log of deliveries to sort, but by mid-afternoon we were ready with a new plan.

Although it would have made more financial sense to close completely, we felt that we had a duty to keep supplying those who were facing an unknown length of time locked down at home, keeping them gardening and having something to do. The dilemma was that no matter how we accepted orders, whether by phone, email or via our website, we just had no chance of being able to cope with the demand. On a busy day at Castle Gardens alone, we may have close to 1,000 visitors - the vast majority of whom select their own purchases, wheel them to the tills, pay for them and load them into their own cars to take home. We couldn’t possibly handle that number in any other way.

However, we decided that we should tackle as many as we could with just a third of the workforce left, but with six vans rather than the normal two-and-a-half.

10

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That was our brave new reinvented business, which ran for nearly nine weeks before permission was finally given for garden centres to re-open on 13 May. To re-open, though, we had to agree to a set of protocols which included limiting the number of customers at any one time, one-way systems, markings to keep social distancing, disinfecting trollies and baskets and screens at the tills, along with card only transactions. We worked hard to get everything ready and had several run throughs with staff to make sure everything functioned. I’m glad to say, when the day came, everything worked well, with just a few tweaks needed... it had to though, because BBC Breakfast TV arrived at 5am to film our re-opening!

And so, a second re-invention of the business took place in the space of a couple of months. We are now settling down into another new rhythm, but of course we have no way of knowing for how long…

THE FENCING & GATE COMPANY Domestic Fencing Specialist All types of fencing and gates supplied and erected Over 30 years experience Free Survey and Quotation 10 year guarantee • No VAT

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N R I C

W th te

N

T

GARDENING

FIVE POINTERS ON BUYING A NEW FENCE As you work through your gardening checklist you may notice that your fence needs some TLC. Shelley Stewart from ColourFence Dorset & South Somerset shares what five things to check for when buying your new fence.

1. Durability

You want to know that your new fence will stand the test of time, including withstanding harsh weather. ColourFence panels withstand gusts of wind up to 130mph, ensuring after a night of heavy rain and storms, your fence will still be standing the next morning. “You should consider buying metal fencing over traditional timber. It’s stronger and fares better in our unpredictable British weather,” Shelley said. “When shopping around check the length of your warranty – this is a good sign of whether it’s a worthwhile investment or not. Our fence panels are guaranteed for 25 years and will not warp, crack, shrink, rot, peel or fade.”

2. Minimal maintenance and easy care

ColourFence is a metal garden fence solution that once fitted requires no treatments or repairs. Virtually maintenance-free, just an occasional hose down with water twice a year will keep your fence looking as good as new. Panels are made from Colorbond high tensile steel with a layer of Zincalume that doesn’t rust and if scratched the layer forms a waterproof barrier. You will never need to repaint, stain or repair your fence again.

3. Attractiveness and versatility

Both sides of the panels are the same colour so you and your neighbour have a stunning fence to look at year after year, helping build good neighbourly relations.

The fence panels come in four colours – cream, green, blue or brown and trellis comes in the same colour as your panels or a contrasting shade.

“Our panels are eight feet wide and include the intermediate posts, unlike standard wooden panels. Whatever the shape of your garden we can step, rake or cut your ColourFence to size, allowing your boundary to follow the natural contours of your land,” Shelley explained.

4. Added security

The panels have no footholds and a smooth finish, helping deter intruders and maintain privacy. The traditional metal garden gates are ideal for front gardens or driveways. Choose from simple drop bolts to key operated deadlocks guaranteeing the safety of your garden.

5. Ensures privacy

The team can install fence panels from one metre to 2.1m tall*, allowing you to enjoy your garden in peace and privacy. *It’s worth noting that consent is usually required for a garden fence measuring over two metres in height.

Can I install my new fence during lockdown?

Yes! We’ll coordinate with you and ask for you to coordinate with your neighbours; we will let you know how long the job will take and when we’ll arrive. We can let ourselves in, minimising our contact and keeping to social distancing guidelines. When visiting homes, we’re extra careful to clean everything down before we leave and are following all government recommendations to keep our staff and you safe and well.

For a free no obligation quotation call Shelley or Andy 01935 481013 www.colourfencesouthsomerset.co.uk

ANCE INTEN LOW MA

DITED ACCR E PROFESSIONAL

INSTALLATION

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11

GARDENING

PET HEALTH

UP THE GARDEN PATH

By Julie Haylock, Sandhurst Garden Design What glorious spring weather we are having and I am so lucky to have fabulous countryside walks right on our doorstep to enjoy as part of our daily exercise. Whilst walking I remembered a lovely holiday we had in North Devon a few years ago. The verges and hedgerows were jam packed with wildflowers attracting all sorts of wildlife, there is something quite magical about seeing a field of poppies gently swaying in the breeze.

Wildflowers provide that early essential nectar boost for our pollinating insects as well as providing food for butterflies and moths. Bluebells, cowslips, foxgloves and Speedwell are just a few of the species that grace our roadsides and fields, and if you take time to look, they are all around us.

Planting an area of wildflowers in domestic gardens has become very popular. You can simply scatter seed directly over a prepared area of soil, or purchase wildflower turf mats which are already established.

The area you choose will need lots of sunshine, and when flowering has finished, simply cut down the stems and leave on the ground for Garden Landscape & Construction Services a time before you gather them up. www.sherbornegardenangels.co.uk This will ensure 01935 310302 that all the seeds from the flowers

have gone back into the soil to germinate again for next year.

So what have I been up to lately? Well gratefully still busy with existing and new garden design projects. Like others, I am adapting to a new way of working with clients, complying with government guidelines and taking care to observe the social distancing rules. I am very lucky to have an established team around me from landscapers to plant nurseries, and working together we are still creating beautiful spaces for our clients to enjoy.

On 8 May we celebrated the 75th Anniversary of VE Day, the sun was shining and I think this helped to lift people’s spirits. We had a smashing day with flags, bunting, cream tea in or own garden and a sing song in the street!

I would be really interested to know what you have been up to in your own garden during lockdown; perhaps you have created a new border or even a garden pond? Maybe you have decided to grow vegetables for the first time or build an insect hotel with your children? Why not email me a photograph and a few lines to describe what you have done Sandhurst Garden Design and maybe I can share some Julie Haylock Garden Designer in my column next month?

20 Sandhurst Road, Yeovil, Somerset BA20 2LG Email me at: Tel: 07899 710168 Email: haylock2lg@btinternet.com haylock2lg@ www.sandhurstgardendesign.co.uk btinternet.com Until next time stay safe Julie

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

AN UPDATE ON URGENT, EMERGENCY AND ROUTINE PROCEDURES

By Matt Saunders BVetMed MRCVS, Newton Clarke Veterinary Surgeons Firstly, I’d like to thank everybody who has co-operated and followed our guidelines in these challenging times. Our primary concern is for the health of our teams and the wider population whilst maintaining your pets care and the standards you have come to expect of us. Please continue to be patient as we have often been trying to do this with only a third of the workforce!

• As always we will continue to see urgent and emergency cases at the surgeries but please telephone in advance and on arrival. We are still operating a closed door policy and cannot yet allow pet owners into the building.

• In the first stages of lockdown we were delaying any procedures or investigations that could wait 2-3 weeks.

However, given the extended period of time we will be living with restrictions and social 12

distancing, we now have to consider procedures that will impact on pet’s welfare if not carried out sooner rather than later. Please contact the surgery to discuss any concerns you have regarding procedures that have been delayed or have recently arisen. We are here to help and do not want your pets illnesses to go untreated, despite restrictions.

• We are carrying out primary puppy vaccinations. Our preference is to start these at 10 weeks old with the second vaccination four weeks later.

A first vaccination at 10 weeks allows socialisation at 11 weeks but please note Leptospirosis protection will not be until three weeks after your pets 2nd vaccination.

• We are carrying out primary kitten vaccinations but these are to be delayed until 12 weeks old and the 2nd vaccination four weeks later

• First year annual boosters will be carried out in both dogs and cats that go outside.

• Adult dog Leptospirosis vaccinations will be carried out but can be delayed up to two months to help manage our workload. This will not result in any break in protection for your pet.

• We are not currently carrying out adult cat vaccinations but this guidance will change.

• We are vaccinating rabbits against both Myxomatosis and VHD due to the disease risk in unvaccinated pets.

• We are continuing to send booster reminders on their annual due date to keep you informed and aware.

• Neutering is to be carried out on a case by case basis.

For example, if you have unneutered pets in a mixed sex household or cats that need to go outside. We do not want unwanted pregnancies occurring as this is both a welfare risk and potentially creates extra unnecessary veterinary intervention.

Please take note of these guidelines but feel free to discuss your individual pets requirements especially if you feel your pets are at higher risk. Once again, we appreciate your co-operation in these difficult times. Your support is helping to keep both your pets and us healthy, together.

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

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COMPUTING

SYSTEM UPDATES

By Jimmy Flynn, Milborne Port Computers Since the beginnings of computer time there have always been new versions, program updates and system updates. In the old days it was a way to get you to spend money continuously by buying new, better, improved products (just like washing powders), but today, it’s much more about keeping you secure. Think of it this way, all software is imperfect as amongst the millions of lines of code, there are errors, omissions and oversights that must be corrected. The primary driver behind all updates is to improve security and the news is full of reports of “good guys” finding flaws in the operating system. If the “bad guys” find these flaws first, they can develop new ways of infiltrating your PC or network, or just mess with your life with ransomware.

The Windows operating system is as bad (or as good) as any of the rest as it’s riddled with bugs and security holes. Don’t get me wrong, it’s perfectly

functional on a day-to-day basis, but every now and then it’ll crash for no apparent reason or refuse to operate in a proper way until you restart the PC. Whilst on the subject, it’s a great idea to “Restart” your PC or laptop at least once a week: By this I mean clicking on the window in the bottom left hand corner, clicking the power button and choosing “Restart” (not “Shut Down”). This is a different process to shutting down and powering on again and it often fixes little issues that may have been bugging you for some time.

Back to updates - Windows has two different types of update; little day-to-day ones and then major version updates. The little ones download in the background and get installed without you being aware of it and they are usually of little importance to the user. The major version updates include not only a roll-up of all the little ones that may have been missed, but also fundamental

GOOD LISTENERS REQUIRED

By Faye Dimdore, Yeovil Samaritans

The principal of listening to people in emotional need hasn´t changed since Samaritans was first established in 1953.

And this is because, even though the world is evolving around us at such a fast pace, universal feelings of loss, bereavement, depression, disconnection and loneliness never change.

We all need to be heard. But sometimes feelings, particularly if they are overwhelming, can be difficult to share with people close to you. This is when Samaritans can step in, accepting every caller unconditionally and providing a safe and confidential space to talk and to explore feelings and emotions.

But Samaritans are not entirely passive in their listening. We gently encourage people to be open to how they really feel and to explore what options they may have in relation to their life or the situation they find themselves in.

Whilst we cannot ever really know exactly what it feels like to be that person, we do our best to walk in their shoes by being as close and present in those confidential shared conversations people choose to have with us Callers reach out to us about the most intimate aspects of their lives and we feel privileged that they do so, be it anything from bereavement to issues about their sexuality – or they might simply need to hear a human voice because their lives are so isolated.

Samaritans’ training focuses on the quality of being really present for the duration of every conversation with our callers. Treating

changes and upgrades to how Windows works. Since Windows 10 was released in 2015 there have been sixmonthly version updates and we’re expecting spring 2020 any time soon. These updates should normally download themselves and Windows will offer to install it at a convenient time. There is no good reason not to do it, but it’s worth noting that if your computer has issues before the update then it’ll probably have issues after the update as well. These updates can take an hour or so to install and there may well be more to follow afterward so be prepared.

You can check your windows version by right-hand clicking the window in the bottom lefthand corner, clicking on “Run” and then typing “winver” and click OK. If you’re not on at least 1909 or higher, then I would suggest downloading the Windows Update Assistant that will lead you through the update process and do it all for you. In addition to updates from Microsoft for Windows, Microsoft Office has its own update procedure and other software you use should be checked regularly for updates as well.

The choice, as always, is yours, but if you think you need advice, you know where to call.

Coming Up Next Month …

PC & Laptop Screens – Size Matters!.

every person who contacts Samaritans with dignity and respect for how they are feeling the moment they pick up the phone and call us, lies at the heart of what we do.

I am immensely proud to be a Samaritan, working as part of a network that can offer 24/7 service to our callers.

I am supported and surrounded all the time by likeminded people, many of whom have become close friends, and I feel privileged to belong to a community that is held in such faith and trust by the people who continue to make contact with us every minute of every day.

Could you volunteer with the Yeovil Branch of Samaritans? Please note that our monthly open evenings are currently suspended but we would still welcome your enquiry by email at recruitment@ yeovilsamaritans.org.uk or you can visit our website at https:// www.samaritans.org/branches/samaritans-yeovil-sherborneand-district.

Volunteer with us We will train, mentor and support you all the way.

To find out more and apply, visit

samaritans.org/volunteer Email yeovil@samaritans.org

Yeovil Sherborne & District

Samaritans of Yeovil, Sherborne & District is a registered charity.

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13

FINANCE

NOW MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME TO REVIEW YOUR FINANCES?

By Mark Salter, Financial Planner As we’ve all been spending more time at home and we’re getting to the end of our to do lists, now could be a good time to review your finances and take some useful steps in becoming financially well organised. It could make you wealthier or it could just make everything easier for you and your family.

Here are some essential questions to consider to help you through the process.

Do I need so many different accounts?

How many passwords do you really want to have to remember? There are many people with several different bank accounts or ISAs which makes keeping track of your savings more difficult. During our working lives, we can also build up a number of different investments and pensions, sometimes even forgetting how many pensions we have.

Reducing the number of bank accounts, investments or consolidating your pensions could help simplify everything for you and get your money working harder.

Do I keep good records of everything?

If something happened to you tomorrow, would your family know where to find everything? Keeping an up to date record of your mortgage, credit cards, savings and investments will help provide you with a clear picture of where you are and updating this regularly or even just once a year will enable you to see the progress you make (or aren’t making). It can either be written down in a notebook or a basic spreadsheet which does the maths for you.

What’s the plan?

Do you have a plan? What are your goals?

Are you looking for short-term security or long-term gains so you can retire early?

Thinking about your objectives is a crucial 14

starting point when reviewing or making decisions on your finances. As well as short term goals such as holidays or changing the car, think about your long term plans such as how long you might want to work for or how much you would like to help your children or grandchildren.

How much am I paying for my investments?

Can I save money by changing my investment or by switching funds? Check your costs because the less you pay each year, the more of your annual investment return you’ll be able to keep for yourself and the more your investment or pension pot can grow over time. When it comes to investing, costs are one of the only things you can control.

Do I have the right mix of investments?

Do I have a Will and Lasting Powers of Attorney in place?

Who would you like to benefit from your estate and who will deal with it? Setting up a Will is never a nice job to do but it’s so important. If you haven’t reviewed your Will for many years, then checking it would also be a sensible idea. Checking the executors, the beneficiaries and whether tax rules have changed could help your family enormously when you’ve gone. We also suggest setting up Lasting Powers of Attorney so if you can’t make decisions on your finances then someone you trust can help deal with this on your behalf.

There’s so much you can do yourself but if you’re interested in speaking to a financial planner then please contact Fort Financial Planning on 01935 813322.

Are they aligned with your investment goals and plans for the future? In general terms, the longer your savings horizon, the more you should consider investing in higher-risk assets such as shares and the less you should invest in lower-risk assets such as cash and bonds – and vice-versa.

Also, it’s better to be invested across the market and globally too rather than having all your eggs in one basket.

Are my family and I protected?

Would my family be financially secure if something happened to me or I couldn’t work? Have a look at any plans you already have and see what benefits they provide you with. Speak to your employers and find out what benefits you or your family would be entitled to. Ask yourself whether it’s enough and if it isn’t then consider setting up life assurance or income protection so your family are well protected.

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Fashion

FASHION

VINTAGE & PRE-LOVED FASHION ONLINE

By Sarah Jane Lewis (former Vogue Magazine Fashion Retail Editor)

Now more than ever on-line shopping is increasing and Vintage/Pre-loved clothing stars with some fabulous vibrant, colourful websites and Instagram accounts. Everybody is trying so hard and understandably it is the way forward in the future. Many high street shops have become so innovative capturing the market desire for nostalgia, romance and sustainability available online. Here are just some of them:

Heartfelt Vintage photo by Kayleigh Gresty

Vintage Somerset, Wells

Frome Vintage Bazaar

A great selection of traders offering a variety of vintage delights including clothing, records, accessories, jewellery, homeware, lighting, furniture, gifts and a whole host of things you didn’t know you needed. In the current circumstances, new fair organiser, Rachel Humphrey is starting to plan an online/virtual fair from 20th June.

She is also considering starting a weekend Showcase on one specific local business per weekend to help traders get over this difficult time and push some traffic to their sites. It’s going to be a free offering and will hopefully generate some trader goodwill for the fair attendance going forward.

Foxtrot Vintage, Salisbury have a

All Fairs are held at Wells Town Hall, Market Place, Wells BA5 2RB, 9.30am to 4pm obviously to be resumed when allowed – hopefully 19 September!

Rachel: 07988 846880; visit: www.vintagesomerset.co.uk; Tweet @VintageSom

Next scheduled market Sat 22 August, meanwhile see their amazing instafair: https://www.instagram.com/ thevintagebazaarevents/ busy and lively Instagram site ‘drip-feeding’ images of their current stock - and they have been compiling a list of items reserved for customers as they make contact, which they can then act on once things are up and running again! They also offer Foxtrot Vintage Clothing vouchers which are easy to post. So by keeping awareness of their business out there through social media and selling to valued local customers, they are keeping business afloat!

Tel: 01722 326633; www.facebook.com/foxtrotvintageshop; Instagram: @foxtrotvintage1

Facebook: VintageSomersetUK; Instagram: vintagesomerset

Heartfelt Vintage, Bristol have set up a dedicated Instagram sales page and been uploading nine looks on nine squares every Thursday at 6pm. @heartfeltvintagefashion Co-owner Kate thinks now more than ever people are needing markers in their week so they are trying to create a sense of occasion with the weekly upload. Their business has always been about the experience so they are working hard to find ways they can still create an experience for their customers albeit a virtual one.

They have also set up virtual bridal appointments to give brides an opportunity to ask questions, find out more about what they offer and see some of their collection via Zoom. This isn’t a substitute for a face to face bridal appointment, but with so much uncertainty in the wedding industry they are keen to do something that helps people still feel connected with their wedding planning process. https://www.heartfeltvintage.co.uk/ vintagebridalappointments

Grace & Ted, Bath is very busy offering online shopping with much more added since the pandemic started. They are currently offering 10% off everything and free worldwide shipping with the code ‘CoroNO’. See: https://graceandted.co.uk/ Grace & Ted is run by mother and daughter Sharon and Emma Savage.

“We love nice things – whether it’s a Gucci handbag, a Missoni dress, a vintage watch, an amazing cake or a new bubble bath; we truly believe in the magic of life’s luxuries (both big and small.)

Foxtrot Vintage Clothing

heartfeltvintage Wedding Dress Photo by Evoke pictures

“We know how good it feels to wear an outfit that fits you perfectly and is exceptional quality. How carrying that gorgeous designer bag you’ve coveted

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15

FASHION

Darwen, Lancashire they have an impressive online vintage emporium of unique vintage clothing, designer vintage, 50s clothing, indie clothing, vintage accessories including costume jewellery, vintage collectables and homeware. They also stock a wide and varied range of alternative clothing, brand new vintage retro and reproduction pieces including accessories, jewellery, retro clothing, fifties style and vintage style rockabilly dresses. https://www.instagram. com/myvintageuk/ www.myvintage.com Tel: 01254 774701

Grace & Ted accessories

Nancy Rose Lucky Numbers hat and mask

since you saw it in Vogue for the first time can make you walk taller…and we love being the people that can help make that happen! We specialise in affordable luxury and enabling our customers to own the things they truly love, without having to feel guilty about the price.”

grade masks and limited runs on fabric designs, but nonetheless, cheerful! The sole high street stockist of Nancy Rose Millinery is Sumptuous Designerwear in Bath, selling fabulous new and pre-loved designer wear and accessories. Nancy Rose Hats @Sumptuous designerwear, 68 Walcot St. BATH. Instagram/facebook nancyrosehats. /nancyrosehats@yahoo.com.

Also see The Conduit Front Cover featuring a colourful mask from Nancy Rose Hats, photographed by: Andy Stott at Illim8ing Images; contact: illumin8ing@gmail.com

Swan Vintage, Bruton still has one

of the most colourful and eclectic choice of vintage clothing and accessories. Owner Zoe Ford has a fantastic eye for quality and a top notch client list – both sellers and buyers! Instagram: @swanvintagebruton

The Real McCoy, Exeter Established

in 1984, The Real McCoy is a leading vintage destination with fabulous vintage clothing and American retro from the 1880’s to 1980’s’. It also stocks a large range of men’s’ formal wear for sale or hire. www. therealmccoy.co.uk @realmccoyexeter; Tel: 01392 410481

Rock n Romance Vintage is the place for Classic 1940’s & 50’s styled clothing – A huge online site only. Some original garments and others made to style. See their fabulous rain macs from £29. These beautiful rain macs are made in England using traditional methods of production, They are made still using the same machines today that were originally used at the ‘Marks Bros of Ardwick’ Old Mill factory. They are one of the last companies in Europe that still produce rain wear in this manner. Tel: 02392 750404 www.rocknromancevintage.com

My Vintage UK features Vintage

& Retro fashion, accessories and home accessories with worldwide shipping.

Although their shop is many miles away in

Nancy Rose Hats has diversified

from bespoke millinery into making fabulous facial masks, in fun fabrics and ornamentation! Masks are made from two layers of cotton fabric and have an aluminium strip at nose for fit and adjustable elastic round ears. Not medical

Romantica Violet Semi Transparent rain mac at RocknRomance Vintage 16

My Vintage £30

My Vintage dress

Romantica semi transparent rain mac at RocknRomancevintage.com

RocknRomanceVintage Rainmac

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Motoring HAS KIA XCEEDED?

By Tim Saunders

MOTORING CARE

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.

Call me shallow but it’s the design of a car that gets me every time. And so it is with the Kia XCeed. I just can’t take my eyes of its curvaceous rear. It takes me a few days to fully appreciate the boxier but nevertheless characterful front. I like the way that a good amount of space has been devoted to the beefy black mesh grille. This is also angled in a similar but more subtle way to those American muscle cars of the past. So this design is different to the competition and that’s important.

Kia has created a car for a new market; the compact sports utility vehicle. For those who might be bored of their popular hatchbacks but find that traditional sports utility vehicles are a little too large, the XCeed is the solution, according to Kia. Despite its flash styling the model tested does seem a little on the basic side. Listen to me… no longer do all round electric windows and air conditioning cut it. It’s the lack of a sat nav and having to fold in the wing mirrors by hand that give me this feeling.

Especially as the rain pours down and I have to park on the roadside. It’s just one more thing you don’t want to worry about.

This is the basic model and these extra refinements can be added for more money.

Inside, it’s spacious and there’s a good size boot. The driving position is good and the seats are supportive. My first journey sees me twice stalling – embarrassing - but it’s just down to the bite of the clutch compared to other cars I’ve been driving. On a cold day the engine feels lethargic until it’s warmed up.

It’s encouraging that this model is just a 1-litre petrol but if we were playing Top Trumps it would be pipped to the post by the likes of the Honda Civic 1.0T EX Sport Line MT, which boasts the following stats: 0 to 60mph: 10.6secs Top speed: 124mph Power: 126bhp

Economy: around 40mpg CO2 emissions: 110g/km

However, the Honda loses on price at a considerably more £27,435.

The cruise control is of the basic variety so although the driver can set it at say, 30mph, it won’t automatically brake and accelerate. When the engine is worked hard there’s an attractive rasp from the exhaust. During one trip into the New Forest, I realise that I’m in the wrong lane and waiting at the traffic lights indicate accordingly, but to my surprise the female motorist next to us is far from courteous. Shame but the Kia has enough power to teach her a lesson, manoeuvring safely in front of her. Whether it’s a weekend thing or not I cannot tell but there are many discourteous, impatient motorists on the roads.

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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

Moviola is offering ways of continuing to share films together with #MoviolaTogether.

To find out more, visit www. moviola.org.

MUSIC

Every day whilst in lockdown, Dan Baker has been recording a ‘song-a-day’ from his home studio. When not confined to home, he is the violinist from gypsy-swing/French chanson band Petites Annonces. His song-a-day project covers a comprehensive range of genres and is always delightful with that gypsy-swing toe tapping feel!

All songs are available to view via the link at www.artsreach. co.uk/news/digital-diary or on his YouTube channel.

Concerts in the West have created a section with pages of links to music performed by wonderful musicians, some of whom have previously performed for Concerts in the West, and others who are due to perform for the group at some point. Visit www. concertsinthewest.org to see what is available.

PERFORMANCE

ArtsReach’s Digital Diary and the ArtsReach YouTube playlist will be regularly updated on the

18

website. The page is changing so keep checking back and keep sharing it; there have been some wonderful performances so far.

Past performances can also be viewed at www.artsreach.co.uk/ whats-on.

Every first Monday at 7.00pm, Miracle Theatre is releasing past Miracle productions online to enjoy for free! Available from Monday 1 June is ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’.

A great mix of eccentric, contemporary and classic comedy; this is a faithful (though invisibly trimmed) interpretation of Oscar Wilde’s perfectly formed and funniest play. Each Miracle Monday show will available to view for 30 days from its release date via the link at www.artsreach.co.uk/ news/digital-diary or via Miracle Theatre’s YouTube channel.

Every Wednesday at 8.00pm on ArtsReach’s Digital Diary, see poet Luke Wright Live.

Luke has appeared as part of The Inn Crowd (a project which helps rural pub landlords put on live spoken-word shows in the comfort of their pub).

Now, every Wednesday during lockdown, Luke is taking to twitter and performing his poetry live. ‘His performances rumble with rage, passion and humour’ (The Guardian). Go to www.artsreach.co.uk/news/ digital-diary and click on the link to watch Luke Wright Live.

Every Friday at 2.00pm on ArtsReach’s Digital Diary, Pentabus Theatre is sharing recordings of past productions on its website to enjoy for free! Click on the link at www. artsreach.co.uk/news/digitaldiary and click on the link or visit www.pentabus.co.uk/whats-on.

‘Milked’ by Simon Longman is a riotous comedy which charts the experience of being out of work in the countryside; how the emptiness can be a safe haven as well as a dark terror. Brilliantly sharp and funny, and ultimately unexpectedly moving. A terrific, unmissable new play. Suitable for ages 14+.

‘Each Slow Dusk’ by Rory Mullarkey is a startling play about action, humanity, and the legacy of war. This astonishing production immerses the audience in the reality of conflict in vivid thrilling detail. It offers a fresh way of thinking about war, from the soldier’s perspective then, and the women’s perspective now.

Every Sunday at 8.00pm, The Devil’s Violin presents ‘A Month of Sundays’. Storyteller Daniel Morden, fiddler Oliver Wilson-Dickson and cellist Sarah Moody have previously toured Dorset as The Devil’s Violin.

During lockdown the friends are keeping creative and releasing new short stories every Sunday at 8.00pm on YouTube. Each

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By Julie Locke

ARTS

story is 10 to 20 minutes long and features music created and recorded from their homes.

These will be free to share and enjoy as long as the lockdown continues. Listen via YouTube or via the link at www.artsreach. co.uk/news/digital-diary. www. thedevilsviolin.co.uk.

Pip Utton toured his awardwinning solo play ‘And Before I Forget I Love You, I Love You’ to Dorset just once back in the spring. Pip’s now taken the show online, so there is another chance to see it. This play explores the effects of dementia on those who suffer and the ones they leave behind.

‘A richly human story, laced with unexpected humour and a message to seize the day’ (The Stage). Go to www.artsreach. co.uk/news/digital-diary and click on the link to watch Pip’s new show on YouTube.

The Living Spit Podcast Howard and Stu continue their weekly podcasts looking back at past shows, and discussing a whole host of things, with a dose of their usual humour!

Tune in every week. Go to www. artsreach.co.uk/news/digitaldiary and click on the link to listen to the Living Spit Podcast.

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ARTS

CHILDREN

Paddleboat’s Journalist Challenge Last year, PaddleBoat Theatre toured its show ‘Clare Hollingworth and the Scoop of the Century’. At the same time, the company made some videos for schools, which are now available online, meaning children can watch parts of the show, learn more about Clare and have a go at being a journalist themselves! Go to www.artsreach.co.uk/news/ digital-diary, click on the link and have a go at Clare’s Journalist Challenge.

Theatre Alibi is making online content available for free, including past productions and weekly activities for young people, in response to the current crisis. Download education packs for each show full of creative and stimulating content relating to each of the productions, perhaps as extra home-schooling content or just a way to spend a fun afternoon!

MUSIC

DUVET DAYS AND FLYING VISITS ‘I believe in Unicorns’, by Michael Morpurgo and adapted

by Daniel Jamieson, is a magical story about the extraordinary power of books. Tomas didn’t like books or stories. He was happier clambering in the mountains like a goat or tobogganing with his Dad, until the Unicorn Lady came to town and reeled him in with her irresistible magic tales. A spellbinding and moving story.

For 5 to 11 year olds.

‘Table Mate’ by Daniel Jamieson is a show all about food! Three cooks, three very different lives.

They are Starter, Main and Pudding and each night, without fail, they cook each other a delicious meal. Each course tells a story. Vivid storytelling, live music and a good old boogie to bring this funny and creative household to life.

Watch the productions, then complete activities from the education packs. Go to www. artsreach.co.uk/news/digitaldiary, click on the link to access Theatre Alibi’s online resources or visit www.theatrealibi.co.uk/ things-for-now-2.

FORCED TO CLOSE DUE TO THE CORONA VIRUS, THE DAVID HALL LAUNCHES CROWDFUNDING APPEAL The David Hall in South Petherton has been forced to close its doors and it’s unclear when this popular performing arts centre will be able to re-open. However a crowdfunding appeal has been launched with the aim of raising £10,000 to help with interim costs.

Cliff Keating, Chairman of Petherton Arts Trust (PAT) which owns and runs The David Hall – explained that the venue is not supported by Arts Council England, or any other funding body. “Under normal circumstances, income for The David Hall comes from ticket sales and regular fundraising events such as monthly coffee mornings. As all events have had to be cancelled till July – with the probability that this will have to be extended – the venue is currently receiving none of its usual income. Funding through donations and grants is therefore the only way we can survive. ”PAT was extremely grateful to receive £10,000 from South Somerset District Council, which was provided to pay for essential overheads during the lockdown. This has proved to be an absolute lifeline as our limited reserves would not have seen us through this unprecedented situation.”

The crowdfunding page can be found at https://www. crowdfunder.co.uk/big-funds-for-the-david-hall

By Ross Owen Williams, Presenter on Radio Ninesprings, 104.5fm The last couple of months have been strange times for sure, to which any number of diverse adjectives can be applied and, at Radio Ninesprings, they’ve presented challenges and progress, as well as surprise and astonishment.

Our first concern, naturally, was to ensure the safety of our presenters while ensuring listeners continued to enjoy the pre-eminent quality of broadcasting to which they have grown accustomed. Wily veteran Steve Carpenter had all the gear in place at his place long before the lockdown began (perhaps he knew something and will be hosting a clairvoyance show before too long?), and whilst I was initially using the singing microphone from my days fronting a local covers band to record my lunchtime and weekend sessions, I’ve since been able to upgrade to a more purpose-specific set up.

Station Manager Steve Haigh, however, faced a different issue – disproving the theory that all radio presenters love the sound of their own voice; Steve found that his home set up meant he could hear himself too much, due to an unwanted echo.

Employing the height of technology to keep standards high, he now records his news updates in the makeshift playhouse he has created with a duvet cover. Terry Wogan always talked about radio listeners being togs, but Steve’s bedding penchant is a different angle on ‘tog’ for sure.

Another strange lockdown story from the station centres around an impromptu interview. Perhaps inspired by Vicky Welton recently joining Ninesprings (as our first female show presenter), a pigeon stopped by in an attempt to become the station’s first winged presenter – no doubt having a role as wildlife correspondent in mind, or perhaps to offer a bird’s-eye perspective to the traffic and travel updates in our Breakfast and Drivetime shows. The feathered interloper was found perched on the presenter’s chair when Stuart Hughes arrived in the studio for his Sunday morning show and, despite Stu’s initial surprise, the pigeon was kind enough to stay put long enough for him to grab a snap before it was up, up and away. We can confirm that no radio presenters, birds, or studio upholstery were in any way compromised during the encounter.

Now with more hosted programming than ever before, tune in to Radio Ninesprings each weekday for Breakfast with Steve Carpenter from 7 – 11am, Lunch with Ross Owen Williams from midday to 2pm, the Home Run with Vicky Welton from 3 – 4pm, and Drivetime with Jake Hunter from 4 – 6pm. Find us locally on 104.5FM, listen live online at radioninesprings.co.uk, or on Amazon Smart Speaker by initially instructing ‘Alexa, enable Radio Ninesprings skill’, thereafter simply say ‘Alexa, play Radio Ninesprings’ whenever you want to join us.

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19

LEGAL

A NEW WAY OF WORKING

By Catherine Murton, Head of Private Client, Pardoes Solicitors LLP Lockdown is a time for contemplation; a chance to reassess what is important and to discover new skills and ingenuity. How many of us took hugs from our loved ones or a walk along the beach for granted?

As they say: ‘You don’t know what you’ve got until you’ve lost it’.

As a solicitor I have always worked very traditionally, in an office during normal working hours, attending clients face-to-face, sending letters of advice and crowding into board rooms for meetings and training.

Suddenly my profession (and I am sure many other professions) have had to learn new ways of working whilst still providing a high quality, efficient service to our clients. My dining room is now my office, my dog my work colleague, my hours are as long or short as needed and I have had to face the brave new world of near total electronic communication. Of course, we have used email for many years but, as a Private Client solicitor dealing with many elderly clients, there has been reluctance to move away from hard copy letters. But that has suddenly changed dramatically with lots of clients even embracing WhatsApp and Zoom video conferencing.

For those of us quite content with the traditional methods of communication this has been quite a learning curve. I was initially

unsure of the etiquette of video conferencing. Did I need to wear a jacket? How close did I need to sit to the screen for people to hear me? One colleague made me smile when she said that, as her hairdresser was closed, she had been concerned about not getting her hair coloured and clients being able to see this on the screen.

Her solution was a DIY job on just her fringe as no-one could see the back!

From adversity comes opportunity and I hope that when we come out of the other side of this awful crisis we will all have learnt things that we can utilise moving into the future. In the meantime Pardoes are open for business providing a full legal service to our clients.

We can offer telephone appointments, video conferencing and, of course, we are happy to correspond via email as well as post. Initial consultations are free so please do call me on 01935 389680 or email at catherine.murton@pardoes.co.uk. Together we will come out of the other side and those hugs will be all the more treasured.

Solicitors

Specialist legal advice and solutions For whatever life brings - at home or at work At Battens, we are here to help at this difficult time.

From Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney, to employment, divorce and family matters.

We are able to offer telephone and videoconference (Skype, Zoom, WhatsApp, etc) meetings to take instructions regarding any legal matter.

For our full list of services for individuals and businesses visit our website www.battens.co.uk or call us on 0800 652 8373

enquiries@battens.co.uk 0800 652 8373 www.battens.co.uk Yeovil, Sherborne, Castle Cary, Dorchester, Wareham, Bath and London 20

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FOOD & DRINK

Food & Drink CHICKEN WITH VEGETABLES AND EGG NOODLES

by Sarah Ali Choudhury

Try this recipe from The Curry Queen, who this month is serving up delicious egg noodles cooked with strips of fried chicken and vegetables for readers of The Conduit

Ingredients: I breast of chicken cut into thin strips 1/4 green pepper finely chopped 1 onion finely chopped 3 spring onions finely chopped 3 cloves fresh garlic (crushed or finely cut) 1 carrot finely chopped 1 small tin sweetcorn Salt Pepper 1 tsp garlic powder 1.5 tbsp seasoning 2 tsp dark soy sauce 1 tsp tomato puree 4 tbsp oil

Method: Firstly, season the thin strips of chicken breast with 1 tsp soy sauce, 1 tsp garlic powder salt to taste, pepper and 1 tbsp seasoning (any chicken seasoning).

Mix well and shallow fry in 2 tbsp of oil until sealed (about 5 mins).

Empty all contents of pan into a bowl and set aside.

In the same frying pan used to fry the chicken, add the remaining oil, add the onion and fresh garlic. Stir well.

Add the carrot, pepper and 2 spring onions.

Add the remaining teaspoon seasoning, salt, pepper, soy sauce and tomato puree.

Then add the juices from the bowl with the fried chicken and mix well. You can also add a quarter cup of water if there isn’t much juice from the chicken.

When the sauce thickens, add all the chicken from the bowl into the pan.

I used 100g fine egg noodles and broke the noodles up by hand before adding to the pan.

Mix well and add half a pint of boiling water.

Stir well When water has reduced and noodles are soft, sprinkle with spring onion.

Serve with crisp, fresh salad.

At The Conduit we believe in supporting our local businesses and here is a message from one of our favourite pubs, The Queens Arms at Corton Denham.

A MESSAGE FROM THE QUEENS ARMS

We do hope you and your family are keeping well in these very difficult and unusual times.

I am sure like many people, you are missing going out and socialising with family and friends. However, we know we will be able to return to these times when the pandemic has passed.

Whilst you can’t eat out, why not try some of our locally sourced homemade dishes in the comfort of your own home from our new hot and cold takeaway menu. We are also launching our licenced bar with a selection of our wines, beer and ciders o you can order a delicious meal and drinks to enjoy at home knowing that our quality and ethos about measuring our food in meters not miles is being supported.

Safety has been at the forefront of our decision making process and we didn’t want to rush into a scheme that would put you and our team members at risk. Every precaution has been taken to ensure that all our staff has the proper protective equipment to ensure their safety and yours. We have also been piloting a new scheme and now have the new software tools, which will enable us to receive and process your orders without any personal contact whosoever.

Please visit https://thequeensarms.com/eat/ and download our takeaway menu, for your choice. On this page you can enter your personal details, place your order and pay online and select your collection slot.

When you come to The Queens Arms please remain with your car and drive to the front door of the pub, your order will be placed on the table at your given collection slot.

We do hope you will support us and our local suppliers by using our takeaway service and experience The Queens Arms food in the comfort of your own home.

Our takeaway service is live and we’ll be updating the menu on a regular basis, so do keep an eye on our website https:// thequeensarms.com/eat/ and social media channels for all The Queens Arms news!

As a family run business, we are extremely grateful to you, our loyal customers, friends and supporters for your continued support. We truly look forward to warmly welcoming you back into The Queens Arms very soon!

Best wishes,

Jeanette, Gordon and Kyle Reid.

21

FOOD & DRINK

A VINTNER’S TALE (ACT 1, SCENE IV)

By Peter Law, Chairman & MD at Wine Wizzard, Castle Cary ........having reluctantly resigned from ODDBINS, but undaunted in my determination of a career in the Wine trade and now married to a talented but penniless art student, I had little option but to earn more and started working for an upmarket hotel and restaurant-supplying wine merchants in London’s Haymarket.

This started well and I was promoted to assistant sales manager, still in my early twenties and transferred to their Liverpool outpost. I was kicked out of the management dining room on the first day and treated like an office boy The company’s computer was about the size of two ping-pong tables and I discovered that it gave out larger discounts than the profit margin!

Unknown to me, the company had recently been taken over by LONRO and my boss, the sales manager, had been repatriated from Africa, where he had been in charge of supplying metal parts and didn’t know one end of a bottle of wine from the other.

He told me that computers didn’t make mistakes, to which i agreed adding that the correct information had to be fed in in the first place, knowing full well that he had been in charge of that! I have had a strong mistrust of computers ever since.

I lived in Liverpool 8, the bohemian quarter. The newly built R.C. Cathedral was within easy walking distance and the organ recitals were phenomenal –a great city for art, theatre, music, poetry (and life). The redeeming feature of a dreadful job!

I went to work each day, took off my suit jacket, grabbed some files and made myself look busy, whilst the maintenance man fixed me up with an unused attic office and telephone where I started looking for jobs. I left shortly before they went bankrupt.

Whilst writing this (mid May 2020), I have been self-isolating for nearly nine weeks and the rules may well have changed by the time it is published.

At WINEWIZZARD we are adeptly fortunate in buying mostly from small family owned vineyards that have been able to remain open, even with diminished staff.

Linda has been overworked on sales, with very strict distancing and a very limited number of people permitted in the shop at a time and has done many local deliveries of six bottles or more.

She has been awarded a gold star!!!!

We would like to thank all our many existing customers for their loyal support and also to welcome the many new ones.

We have a courier service outside the local area.

At home, with help from secretarial cats, I have run up a huge telephone bill calling vineyard owners, international haulier and bonded warehouses and so far have managed to successfully import a thousand cases in the past few weeks.

So some ideas for raising a distanced glass over the garden wall, fence, estate boundary or moat.

A LA BONNE FRANQUETTE Rose 2019.

Chateau bottled in southern France at £7.99, our house wine is also available in white and red (2018), this excellent rose is twice as good as the Provence samples we have received at about a third of the prices.

CHATEAU CLEMENT-TERMES GAILLAC PERLE 2019 at £10.25 is a delicately made white wine with a tiny natural sparkle on first opening- a little like a proper Muscadet-sur-lie.

A delight on its own, as an aperitif or with delicious shellfish and LES BULLES (French for bubbles) at £15.95 is rare being: a Chateau bottled sparkling wine. Made in the ‘ancestral method’ which is difficult and complicated, the result is an excellent fizz with a natural slight sweetness, which is not trying to imitate Champagne.

KEEP WELL. KEEP SAFE Drink well!

If you missed the previous Vintner’s Tales please go to www.theconduitmagazine. co.uk where you can find many of the back issues.

After a number of unappealing offers my interview in Sweetnam’s City Oyster bar over a bottle of Grand Cru Chablis and a lot of oysters, resulted in my appointment as manager of the very recently opened London office Rigby & EVENS Wine Shippers. It is said that Paul McCartney’s Eleanor Rigby was so named after their Bristol office, near the Old Vic where Jane Asher was at the time.

It is also possible that the name came from their Liverpool office which was very close to the Iron Door Club.

22

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

FEAR – MORE CONTAGIOUS THAN CORONAVIRUS?

By Niki Cassar After many weeks of being told to remain mainly in our homes and have minimal contact with the outside world, many people are going to find it challenging to walk out of their front door and start relating with people again in the coming months. Social phobia is likely to be rampant, with ‘Coronaphobia’ now officially added to the phobias list. Those most affected are likely to fall into one of the following groups: • If you’re someone who has constantly listened to the news, and through repetition has absorbed vast amounts of negative information enthusiastically pedalled by the media.

• If you’re someone who lacks confidence, especially about meeting people, or has suffered anxiety of any sort in the past.

• If you’re the child of an anxious parent who has repeatedly warned you of the scary consequences of failing to wash your hands thoroughly and often.

• If you are living alone with no face-to-face contact since the start of lockdown.

• If you are someone who is just plain terrified of stepping back into the outside world and catching coronavirus.

The common denominator for all the above is FEAR. We’re constantly warned about the consequences of the pandemic, but no-one tells us about the potentially worse long-term consequences of fear, which can cause your brain to release stress hormones on a regular basis, resulting in panic attacks, fatigue, breathing problems, IBS, clinical depression, immune system dysfunction, sleep/wake cycle disruption, eating disorders and PTSD. In children, persistent fear and anxiety can affect their learning and development, and may also result in early-onset OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder).

Fear is contagious –probably more so than any virus. What I’d like to encourage us all to do is to stop spreading the Fear Virus and instead start focusing on all the good and positive results of this remarkable phase in our history. Limit your media intake to the bare minimum.

Close your ears to friends’ negative comments and stories – change the subject to something positive. Talk to your kids in an encouraging way and explain that it won’t be long before they can run and play with their friends like they used to. Watch only cheerful or humorous programmes on TV. Do exercise – any exercise at all – ideally outside in nature. Stand in front of a mirror and force yourself to laugh out loud. Keep going until you start laughing at yourself laughing!

And if you’re still in need of outside help, then please do call me on 01963 371695 or 07973 346747 for a free confidential chat to see how I can help you. Always quote The Conduit for your special discount – even bigger than usual if you’re struggling.

HISTORY

THE ROAD THROUGH MILBORNE PORT

By Dr Lesley Wray

Like most of our local organisations, the Milborne Port History & Heritage Group (email: mphhgroup@gmail. com) cancelled the various events that would normally occupy us offering more time for research; we have unearthed some interesting stories. Now we can travel again I was reminded that the A30 bisects Milborne Port, and why this is.

In Anglo-Saxon times the village sat to the south of the main road from Exeter to London, and only later developed to the north. This main road originally ran along East Street, across Broadmoor, over East Hill, and on to Gospel Ash. Old routes used to keep to high ground as much as possible, to avoid getting bogged down during winter. As roads and the use of carts and carriages developed so did attempts to improve the muddy tracks that made travel slow. In 1823 a new road to Salisbury opened, when Toomer Hill was lowered by the Turnpike Trust. This road swept past the house at Ven, crossed the arch over the stream at Crendle, and took the new road over Toomer Hill, avoiding the ‘tremendous steep called East Hill.’

Two years later, in 1825, Thomas Telford was engaged to survey the road from Salisbury to Honiton, to decide where further improvements could be made.

Following his advice, in 1829 the Sherborne Turnpike Company built up the level of the road at the stream crossing, and cut away the end of the High Street to reduce the slope. Before the work the steepness of the old Sansomes Hill can be pictured by comparing the ground level of the garden of the Old Forge to the threshold of the house at the end of the High Street.

Having dropped to stream level, traffic then had to climb to the top of Vartenham Hill, some 35metres height in just over 700metres distance! This hill required passengers to disembark from coaches, and extra horses to be harnessed to goods wagons, to make it passable. Halfway up, where the bus shelter now stands, was the Traveller’s Rest, an area with a seat where weary travellers could rest before attempting the remainder of the climb. To improve the road, the company blasted through the rocks at Crackmore to reduce the hill by between 15 and 17 metres in height. High above the brick lined cutting the Crackmore Lodge to the Digby Estate still stands alongside a short stretch of the old road. The Turnpike Company boasted when the road opened that the hill had now been rendered ‘perfect trotting ground’ and that the route was now shorter.

Another benefit of this new road was the Chestnut Avenue planted by Sir William Medlycott at Crackmore towards the end of the 1880s, some of which still remains. This became a popular parade but it was spoilt in June 1902, when a pile of manure, 1.5 metres high and 20 metres long was placed beside the road there. The pile stank due to the hot weather, and a Mr White was censured for leaving it there.

23

TRAVEL

A WEEKEND IN THE NEW FOREST

by Travel Correspondent Tim Saunders We are now allowed to travel to places a little further afield and the New Forest is an ideal distance. Although we can’t yet stay over in accommodation as our travel correspondent did before the lock down, hopefully it will not be too long before we can do this too, particularly if we keep in our family units. See how Tim got on….

During A-level studies my sociology lecturer recommended I take up yoga as a good way of relaxing. I bought a book and became quite enthusiastic about it. This distant memory is rekindled on stepping inside the Zen lodge at Sandy Balls holiday resort in the New Forest.

It is certainly a tranquil location underneath the tall trees. The accommodation itself is very comfortable with a calming interior that incorporates quite a few images of trees; bringing the outside in.

Addled parents such as my wife and I embrace this selfcatering experience as a way of temporarily restoring ourselves.

For me the outdoor hot tub is another useful way of winding down and all the well placed jets are good for my bad back too, I tell Caroline after she has settled the little urchins for a long sleep. The setting is really quite magical, sitting outside in the pitch black looking up at the tall looming trees overhead I savour the warm water pumped out at a constant 39 degrees Celsius. Regardless of how the weather is behaving this is a year round experience. It’s fortunate though that it isn’t raining during our visit.

Back inside the lodge there are two bedrooms. One is 24

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equipped with three beds including a top bunk, which Harriett (8) sleeps in. It takes Henry (3) until the second night to properly settle in and go to bed at a sensible hour.

They all have a good night’s sleep, though.

Our master bedroom includes an en-suite shower room with two washbasins and two showers.

The kitchen diner provides everything you need and I enjoy a spot of birdwatching while washing up.

Caroline and I relax and watch Love Actually on the 55-inch flat screen television and an interesting documentary about Michael Hutchence. The television is so large that although we thought we knew Love Actually pretty well it feels like we’re watching a completely different film. The children watch a good choice of their programmes, too. In the mornings they all enjoy watching television in their bedroom (there’s a separate one for the top bunk). Before you think we’re telly addicts, we don’t have a television at home, out of choice, so it’s a luxury when we have four at our fingertips.

There’s an indoor heated pool at Sandy Balls and we make sure that we spend as much time in it as possible, visiting every day of our stay. This commitment ensures that both Harriett and Heidi (6) improve their swimming skills and by the time we leave, Harriett swims many widths competently on her back unaided while Heidi is able to swim some widths on her back without float or armbands.

They’re now at the point where we need to work on the front strokes. Henry, with his arm bands, is showing promise of becoming a fine swimmer, too.

We visit one of the onsite parks with various rope bridges, swings, a slide and a zip wire that all the children love using.

For more information visit: https://www.awayresorts.co.uk/ways-to-stay/indulgent/zen/ Watch the video at www.travelwriter.biz

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

TIMES ARE CHANGING..........

By Samantha Kirk, Centre Manager Oxley Sports Centre

How are you all? Times have been very challenging over the past nine weeks and everyone has had to find a new normal. The silver lining, if there is one, is this has been a rare chance to just stop, take a breath and think, learn new things, a chance you may never get again. So if like me, you were a technophobe then there has been the necessity to learn how to work Zoom, WhatsApp, Teams, run a virtual quiz and organise the WiFi better at home whilst trying to juggle two 9 month old puppies and the technical difficulties of living in a stone cottage in a village and trying to work at home all at the same time!

There have, however, been brighter moments; like the weather, if you are lucky enough to have outside space to enjoy the rays of the sun on your skin, playing virtual bingo, talking with people you’ve not seen for ages, now you video call them once a week to catch up. Maybe you enjoy taking part in online classes or just embrace the peace and quiet when out for your exercise. So now the wardrobes have been cleared, the kitchen cleaned to within an inch of its life, the gardens are looking very well groomed and you’ve discovered a new passion for the arts; Inevitably there will be a time when we all return to a new type of normal and when we do, I have a feeling it will be with a bump!

As from Sunday 10 May it’s all change again. We are now allowed to continue to exercise (the best decision the Government made was to allow us to exercise in the first place) but we can do it more than once a day and can drive and play sport, albeit with members of our own family, but things are on the mend.

Oxley would like to say a big thank you to all the key workers.

Here at Oxley, we are working hard on a new kind of normal and a new way of operating to accommodate all the new provisions that need to be put in place. It may not be the Oxley of old but it will be a brand new, social distancing, safe and encouraging place for you to visit in confidence, to still enjoy the ethos of what exercising and participation entails and enjoy the company of the fitness industry whilst in the knowledge that you are in a safe environment.

Oxley will be here for you, waiting for your return to give you those friendly words of encouragement you have come to expect from us; we have missed you as much as you have missed us (hopefully!)

Keep in touch with us on Facebook, Instagram and our website.

*

We can’t wait to see you all.*

* We hope to be back open soon.

Check out our social media and website for updates and virtual workouts.

www.oxleysc.com

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25

WALKING

RACHEL’S RAMBLES

By Rachel Mead

Blow-ball. Cankerwort. Lion’s tooth. Priest’s Crown. Milk Witch. Swine’s Snout. These are just a few of the nicknames given to the common dandelion in its two forms – be it floral or seed. Of course those of you with gardening knowledge may perhaps know it by its scientific name Taraxacum. However you refer to the dandelion and/or its clock, they are without quibble out in abundance this year.

A recent sunset walk along a local footpath took us partly along the Monarch’s Way – a 625 mile footpath which supposedly follows the approximate escape route taken by King Charles II in 1651.

The whole route runs from Worcester and wiggles across the UK via the local towns and villages of Yeovil, Hardington, East Coker, Sherborne and Trent before heading off to finish in Brighton. A 21 year old King who would remain in exile for nine years spent over six weeks on the run from Parliamentary troops, taking on various guises to foil his enemies. There must have been many a story told after such a venture!

And it is on this particularly warm and hazy May evening that we unfurl the blanket and picnic on the edge of Charles II’s escape route surrounded by countless dandelion clocks.

The dandelions’ close companions are meadow buttercups, red clover and daisies which create a colourful and embellished foreground against the submerging sun. Oakley leaps like a puppy and chomps at the air as the clocks shed their seeds in the wisp of a breeze. We sit and watch as the sunshine sleepily sinks, momentarily hidden by a solitary cloud before re-emerging again out of fluffy concealment. A short-lived and drowsy game of peeka-boo.

The wine bottle cork pops, we unpack our rucksacks with our evening meal of vegetable curry and we appreciatively compare

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the simplicity of the moment against the majesty of nature. The rye and common sedge grasses are intermingled with the more colourful floral stars of the show, and yet without their interspersed presence, the performance would not be so vivid. How fortunate we all are to live in an area where footpaths are plentiful giving us access to enjoy what is without doubt free entertainment.

We are now, as Lockdown eases, relatively free to roam and yet one does not need to go far from one’s home to value the footpaths at our disposal. Any escapism from the pandemic is welcome and walking through a spring meadow is a healing tonic which cannot be taken for granted: an overall sense of calm and gratitude.

It is of course entirely impossible to walk past so many dandelion clocks without a step back to one’s childhood to re-check if the old timekeeping adage is true! The softly blown seeds disperse and float, heading on the journey for their debut at the next seasonal show.

All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.

Apology

The Conduit apologises for inadvertently including the last two paragraphs in last month’s article by Rachel Mead which were not meant for publication.

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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

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WIN £10 in our WORDSEARCH

competition WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!

The politicians keep telling us that during this time of Coronavirus we are all in this together. The many initiatives designed to help those struggling to cope and the kindness shown by so many in our various communities seems to reflect this. So this month’s Conduit Wordsearch is about words that mean all together.

Just find the hidden words in the grid opposite, 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 June. Good luck.

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27

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