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ISSUE 156 - JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2018
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FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT
8 Local Veteran Launches Military Themed Coffee Company 10 Recipe: Chorizo & Prawn Paella 11 Local Charity Offers Support for Older People at Day Centres
Welcome to the latest edition of ‘In and Around’. Your LOCAL magazine, helping you to find businesses and services in and around your area.
DIRECTOR Fleur Abel
T: 01952 603457 E: fleur@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk
HEALTH & FITNESS
I would like wish all my advertisers and readers a very happy New Year!! Thank you for your continued support!
BEAUTY & FASHION
This magazine has helped many local businesses to grow by building their awareness with local people, if you have your own business and would like a little help to find more local customers then please get in touch to see what we can do for your business.
12 How to get a Good Night's Sleep 14 Soft Tissue Injuries 16 Fighting Colds and Flu: Myths and Magic Cures 18 Stressful Hospital Journeys 19 Developing a Healthy Mind 20 Baby It's Cold Outside 22 Beauty: Winter S.O.S
PROPERTY
28 Do Your Homework Before Selling 30 New Legislation Has Major Impact on Landlords! 36 Alternative Ways to Invest In Property
HOME INTERIORS
38 Light Up Your Winter 42 How Do I Tell If My Elderly Neighbour Needs Help?
CHILDREN, EDUCATION & ACTIVITIES
Enjoy your read...
HOME IMPROVEMENTS & SERVICES
66 Fabulous Fireplaces 70 New Year Revolutions 78 Gadgets Your Beloved Will Love 82 Choosing the Best Mobile Phone Plans in 2018
COMMUNITY & WHAT’S ON
M: 0785 44 70 343 E: kate@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk
Edgmond
Newport Church Aston
ine’ und Magaz ‘In and Aro reas
A41
nA
Distributio
Lilleshall
The Humbers A442
Bratton
A5223 M54
Oakengates
St Georges
Red Lake
J6
Lawley & Overdale
Booking/Copy deadline for the FEBRUARY 2018 issue is Tuesday 23rd January 2018
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J7
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J4
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Dawley Bank
A464
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A442
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Madeley
Total distribution to 30,000 homes across 2 months. 15,000 copies are delivered to Area A one month and then the next month to another 15,000 homes in Area B, so each area receives the magazine once every other month.
www.inandaroundmagazine.co.uk
M54
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92 Movies - Coming Soon
4
Kate Dalgliesh
Tibberton
GARDENS & OUTDOORS
McLaren 720S Honda Civic Type R The French Ardennes Winter Driving Tips
GRAPHIC DESIGN
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50 Helping Your Child To Become Money Savvy 52 Newport Male Voice Choir
MOTORS & LEISURE
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Fleur
BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL
60 62 64 65
Amanda Weston
Please continue to support our LOCAL businesses by using their services where possible.
44 Growing Up In A Digital World 47 How to Take Care for Your Pet in the Colder Weather 48 Making STEM Fun
56 Gardener's Resolve 58 New Technologies To Help You Make A Green Exit
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Precision Colour Printing Ltd, Haldane, Halesfield 1, Telford, Shropshire TF7 4QQ We gratefully acknowledge the support of businesses whose adverts appear in In and Around Magazine, and whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss, damage or omission caused by error in the printing of an advert. All artwork is accepted on strict condition that permission has been given for use in this publication. Adverts are accepted on the understanding that descriptions of goods and services are fair and accurate. Any reproduction of any material is forbidden without the written consent of the publishers. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for views expressed by contributors, or for the accuracy of claims made by advertisers.
FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT
THE
WHITE HOUSE HOTEL MUXTON
Wellington Road, Muxton, Telford TF2 8NG Food Served: 12pm - 9:30pm 7 days a week
T: 01952 603603 Lunchtime SAVER
15% off
Main Courses in the Bar or Restaurant (12-4pm Mon-Sat)
Visit our website to view our latest menu
www.whhotel.co.uk
2 Steaks & Wine for ONLY £25 (available everyday) 2 Succulent Prime Rump Steaks with a Bottle of House Wine
Tuesday & Thursday Treat yourself Tuesday for the over 60’s,
62 High Street Newport TF10 7AQ
Food served 10-3pm
50%from OFF FOOD the Main menu.
Friday
Fish Supper, Fish, chips and mushy peas with a soft or hot drink for
Only £6.99
Booking recommended.
T: 01952 820 810 DJ on Friday & Saturday nights
Look out for live music! Ideal venue for Birthdays parties, Christenings, etc..
Friday & Saturday Late Night Music Drink offers 2 Cocktails for £8 | Double up for a £1 Select Doubles £2.50
www.thebarleynewport.co.uk 5
Restaurant Review
FINDING THE BEST PLACES TO EAT IN AND AROUND SHROPSHIRE
The Woodbridge Inn Coalport, Telford TF8 7JF
T: 01952 882054 The Woodbridge Inn sits prominently on the banks of the River Severn, just a mile downstream from the famous Ironbridge. The pub was built around 1785 and was named for the wooden bridge that used to connect it to the village of Coalport on the opposite bank of the river. Inside The Woodbridge is warm and welcoming, offering the perfect remedy for the colder weather at this time of year. The expansive yet charming building offers several cosy nooks and corners to hunker down in or for larger parties and festive gatherings there are plenty of larger spaces available. There is an ample car park with space for 80 cars to the rear of the pub, from which it’s just a few steps down to the bright and welcoming entrance. You really can’t help but feel the charm and warmth of Woodbridge as soon as you walk in; with expanses of polished wooden floors, comfortable rustic furniture, roaring log fires and a well stocked bar, it certainly ticks all the boxes for me! On this occasion my Mom, Lynn, was the lucky plus one. On arrival we were greeted and shown to a table by a large window overlooking the bridge and River Severn flowing below. We settled in, ordered some drinks from the bar and took a look at the menu. The menu really has something for everyone; from light bites and sandwiches, right through to a decadent three-course feast. The overall theme is British classics, with the addition of several exotic dishes and a good selection of vegetarian and gluten free options for those with specific dietary requirements. The wine list is extensive and features several ‘wine of the month’ recommendations, there is also an impressive range of tap ales, spirits, soft and hot drinks available. For starter I ordered the Chinese five spiced chicken thigh (£6.50) and Mom
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FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT opted for the Chicken Liver Parfait (£6.25). The boneless chicken thigh was perfectly cooked; the meat was moist and juicy with the unmistakable flavour of the five spice giving a appetizing oriental flavour. It was accompanied by a crunchy Asian slaw and sweet plum chutney that complemented the spicy chicken perfectly.
and saffron dressing perfectly matched the delicate texture and flavour of the crispy sea bass. For dessert I couldn’t resist the Bread and Butter Pudding (£5.95) and Mom ordered the Triple Chocolate Brownie (£6.25). Our desserts arrived beautifully presented and believe me they tasted every bit as good as they looked!
Mom’s chicken liver parfait was served with granary toast, a plum and ginger chutney and a watercress, radish and orange salad. The parfait was smooth and tasty, the sweet and zingy plum and ginger chutney worked really well with the savoury flavour of the pate and the fresh granary toast added texture and crunch. Choosing the main course was no easy feat, as there were simply too many tempting options but in the end I plumped for the roasted red pepper, goats cheese and aubergine lasagne (£12.50). Mom went for the crispy sea bass, chickpea and chorizo salad from the light bites menu (£10.95). The lasagne arrived served with a vibrant olive and sun blushed tomato salad and slice of warm garlic bread. This lasagne was utterly delicious, the layers of aubergine, goats cheese, roasted red pepper and pasta combined perfectly to create a satisfying and flavoursome dish, I thoroughly enjoyed this take on a veggie lasagne and would highly recommend it to anyone. The sea bass salad comprised a crispy sea bass fillet sat on a bed of watercress, chickpea and chorizo salad, dressed with a saffron aioli. Being from the light bite menu the portion was ideal for my Mom, who fancied something lighter for her main course (she was clearly saving room for pudding). The salad
My bread and butter pudding had a wonderfully light and airy texture, not at all heavy or stodgy as can sometimes be the case with bread and butter pudding. It was dotted with plump, juicy sultanas throughout and drizzled with a delightful warm apricot sauce. The scoop of cool vanilla ice cream and fresh berries added an extra dimension of freshness to the dish. I thoroughly enjoyed this dessert and will definitely be saving room for it again next time I visit! The Triple chocolate brownie is literally a chocoholics dream and is also one of several gluten free options on the menu. It consisted a generous slice of irresistibly rich, gooey brownie, served with lashings of smooth chocolate sauce, a dusting of crumbly chocolate and a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream. Mom commented that this dessert was literally heaven in a dish, which says it all really! We both had a thoroughly enjoyable evening at The Woodbridge Inn, in addition to the wonderful food we enjoyed, The Woodbridge has such a lovely welcoming atmosphere, that once settled in we hardly wanted to leave.
Reviewed by Charlie Scott & Lynn Roulston
The Woodbridge Inn Coalport • Telford • TF8 7JF
T: 01952 882054
www.woodbridge-coalport.co.uk
PLEASE CALL OR GO ONLINE TO BOOK
Normal Opening Times:
Food Served:
Mon to Thu 11:30am - 11pm Fri to Sat 11:30am - 12 midnight Sun 11:30am - 10.30pm
Mon to Thu 12:00 - 9:30pm Fri to Sat 12:00 - 10:00pm Sun 12:00 - 9:00pm
To keep up to date with our events find us on Facebook or join our mailing list.
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Local Veteran A former Royal Marines Commando has combined his love of caffeine and the British Forces, to create a gourmet coffee business. The start-up company, which takes inspiration from the founder’s military background, is called Green Beret Coffee Company and launched at the beginning of December, 2017. The former small boat Coxswain has created a distinctive new brand, which is a roast-toorder small batch coffee company, based in the UK.
LAUNCHES MILITARY THEMED COFFEE COMPANY Green Beret Coffee Co. offers both blends and single origin coffees, in a variety of grinds. The first four coffees to be released are called Commando, Sniper, Veteran and Mercenary, and have been dubbed ‘The Hero Collection’ by the founder. “We worked very closely with a speciality coffee roaster to select the best beans and blends for our first coffees,” says Rus McDonagh, Founder of Green Beret Coffee Co. “When we were creating our business, great tasting coffee was definitely the goal but we also wanted to celebrate our armed forces and unite like-minded coffeeguzzling veterans and serving soldiers, to boot.” McDonagh has received encouragement and support from fellow veterans, former colleagues and active serving personnel, and is excited to start growing the Green Beret Coffee Co. community further. “It can be tough to find your place in the world once you leave the military, so the support for my new venture means a great deal to me. The military is a family, and luckily, one that loves drinking coffee!” Green Beret Coffee Co. is available to both retail and wholesale customers. To find out more go to greenberetcoffee.co.uk.
Mathematics Add Algebra Area Arithmetic Binary Circle Count Cubic Decimals Diameter Divide Formula Geometry Median Minus Numbers Plus Radius Statistics
Subtract Sums Tables Tangent Total Triangle
=
ra Algeb Geo met ry
Find the words associated with mathematics in the grid and the remaining letters will spell out a related phrase
8
+
FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT
Many of our readers love to eat out and try new restaurants - they could be booking a table with you! Be seen in 30,000 homes across Telford, Newport & Shifnal areas and entice some NEW customers to your restaurant!
For further details call Fleur on 01952 603457 or email: fleur@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk
The Bridge Inn Lower Bar, Newport TF10 7BJ
T: 01952 324481 www.thebridgenewport.co.uk
Always a Warm Welcome
New ownership, refurbished inside and out
Bar Opening Times:
Wednesday to Sunday 12-3pm & 4.30pm-Midnight
Good Quality Local Food Served:
Wednesday to Saturday 12-2.30pm & 5-9.30pm • Sunday 12-6pm 9
Recipe
CHORIZO & PRAWN PAELLA
This one-pan supper can be on the dinner table in less than one hour. Serve with a crisp green salad and some crusty bread for a delicious and filling midweek meal. Serves 4 Ready in 50 Minutes
INGREDIENTS: • 1tbsp olive oil • 250g chorizo sausage, diced • 1 large onion, peeled and chopped • 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed • 4 celery stalks, chopped • 225g paella rice • Few strands of saffron • 850ml hot chicken or vegetable stock • 200g raw king prawns (thawed if frozen), peeled with tails left on • Salt and freshly ground black pepper • 1 tsp paprika
1. Heat the oil in a large deep frying pan and fry the chorizo sausage for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently until browned. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add the onion, garlic and celery to the pan and fry gently for 8-10 minutes, stirring, until softened. 2. Stir in the rice and saffron strands and cook for 1 minute, then pour in the stock. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 20-25 minutes, until the rice is almost tender and nearly all the liquid has been absorbed, stirring frequently. 3. Add the chorizo and prawns to the pan and cook for a further 5-6 minutes, until the prawns are cooked through and pink. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper and serve in warmed bowls sprinkled with the paprika.
TIP Add some diced red or yellow pepper and a handful of chopped fresh parsley for extra colour and flavour.
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FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT
Local Charity Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin is inviting older people to visit their day centres in Hadley and Bridgnorth. The local charity runs 39 OPEL centres (Older People Enjoying Life) across Shropshire and Telford. Each of the day centres take place in community premises and give older people something to look forward to each week, having fun and socialising is the main attraction for many of its members. The Age UK STW volunteers running the day centres put on a variety of activities, arrange transport to and from the venue and provide a hot meal for everyone, all for just a small charge under £10.
OFFERS SUPPORT FOR OLDER PEOPLE AT DAY CENTRES Hadley day centre takes place at Hadley Rest Rooms on Hadley Park Road and meets every Thursday 10am – 2pm. Bridgnorth day centre meets at The Bungalow, Innage Grange by the fire station, every Monday 10am – 2pm. There is also a bathing project at Innage Grange where members can have an assisted bath with qualified staff. Heather Osborne, Chief Executive of Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin, said: “The day centres are a great way of encouraging loved ones to get out and about and meet people. There are over 650 older people attending our day centres every week taking part in informative and stimulating activities. We have a dedicated team of volunteers running the centres with support from our Service Development Officer so family and friends can be reassured their loved ones are being looked after in a safe environment.” There are 39 day centres operating in Shropshire, if you have someone in mind who may benefit from visiting a day centre then call Lois Clifford from Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin on 01952 201803.
or Supp
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• Fresh Bread • Milk, Tea & Coffee • Wenlock Edge, Fordhall Farm, Malcolm Wickstead’s • Huge Range of Cheese and Deli Products & Buttercross Meats • Beers, Wines & Ciders • Vegetables, Herbs, Salads, Fruits & Nuts • Rice, Pasta and Sauces • Home Made Cakes & • Special Dietary Products Goodies & much more...
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How to Get a Good Night's Sleep You may view a poor night’s sleep as just an inconvenience. But research has shown that insufficient or poor-quality sleep can contribute to serious health problems, including: • Weight gain and obesity. • Weakened immunity. • Increased risk of diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s Disease, heart disease, heart attack and stroke (over 45s who sleep less than six hours a night are 200% more likely to have a heart attack or stroke). • Reduced fertility and libido. • Reduced memory, concentration and reaction times. • Increased risk of depression, anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations and psychotic episodes. This means it’s vital that we all get enough good quality sleep, which for most of us means at least seven hours. However, it’s not always that easy. THE ENEMIES OF SLEEP • Burning the candle at both ends, trying to fit in work, domestic or family duties and that TV programme we don’t want to miss. • Sleep disorders: night terrors, sleep walking, sleep talking, sleep paralysis, teeth grinding, restless limb syndrome and sleep apnoea. • Needing the toilet. • Pain e.g. from arthritis. • An uncomfortable or unsuitable bed, mattress or pillow. • Hormonal changes: temperature control and production of melatonin (a ‘body clock’ hormone) are affected by hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, and pain or heavy bleeding can disrupt sleep too. • Stress or depression. • Snoring. • Too much blue light. • Smoking and alcohol. • GORD (Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease) or LPR (laryngopharyngeal or ‘silent’ reflux, in which stomach acid damages the airways rather than, or as well as, the oesophagus, causing asthma-like symptoms). TEN TIPS TO HELP YOU SLEEP: 1. Stop snoring. Maintaining a healthy weight can help to prevent snoring. You can try sleeping on your side, nasal strips, sprays or mandibular adjustment devices, but if these don’t work, consult your doctor. Not all snoring is harmless; you may be spending part of each night receiving a reduced oxygen supply, which can have serious health consequences. 2. Don’t go to bed hungry - but don’t eat late. Try to leave at least two hours between your last meal or snack and your bedtime. If you feel hungry in the evenings, choose something light and easily digestible. Milk can make you feel full and contains tryptophan, which can help sleep but it’s absorbed poorly (eating a carbohydrate-rich snack at the same time may help).
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3. Stop smoking and eliminate or reduce evening alcohol and caffeine. Both nicotine and alcohol can affect the quality and length of our sleep and caffeine is a stimulant. All three can also contribute to GORD and LPR, two of our ‘sleep enemies’. 4. Look after your body and your body clock. Our bodies are designed for, and need, exercise and daylight during the day and a more relaxed, dim environment in the evening. The hormones that regulate our body clock are responsive to these conditions. Try to make your environment as peaceful as possible during the evening, and… 5. Avoid blue light within two hours of bedtime. Blue light, more than any other type, interferes with production of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin. That means no TV, no tablets, no computers and no Smartphones. While blue light filters on these devices help, most reduce the blue light rather than eliminate it entirely. 6. Declutter your brain. Try talking your worries through regularly with a sympathetic friend or family member, or write them down before bed - if you can write a possible positive action beside your worries, even better. If your mind is full of to-do lists, write them down too; knowing you don’t have to try to hold those ‘must-dos’ in your head should help you relax. 7. Have a night-time routine. When bed time is just an hour or two away, choose relaxing activities like reading (titles that get your adrenaline pumping are best avoided). Try having a warm (not hot) bath and/or a massage, using relaxing aromatherapy oils. 8. Make your bedroom a haven. Try to avoid using your bedroom as a work space or dumping ground; being surrounded by work to be done or clutter to be cleared isn’t relaxing. Ensure your bedroom is well ventilated and not too hot or cold and keep the lighting low, using lamps and a blackout blind or lined curtains. Earplugs are useful if you have noisy housemates or neighbours.
Try to invest in a comfortable, supportive mattress and pillows. Adjustable beds can help if a fully horizontal sleeping position isn’t right for you, and orthopaedic pillows or memory foam pillows will ensure your head and neck are well supported.
9. Try not to worry about it. Lying there worrying about not sleeping isn’t helpful. If it’s just not happening, try to do something relaxing, such as reading a magazine or doing a jigsaw, until you feel sleepy. 10. Finally, see your doctor. If hormonal problems, night time toilet trips, mental health issues, GORD, LPR or pain are the problem, or these tips don’t work, visit your GP. They may be able to find an underlying cause you’re unaware of, and can recommend treatments and lifestyle changes to help.
by Alison Runham www.alison.runham.co.uk
HEALTH & FITNESS
Telford Foot Care Celia Crow BSc Hons DipCFHP Mobile Foot Health Practitioner Foot Health Assessment Corn & Callus Removal Verruca Treatments Ingrowing Nails
Nail Trimming Athletes Foot Treatment Cracked Heals Summer Feet Preperation
SHROPSHIRE'S
BIGGEST OUTDOOR FREE
TASTERS AVAILABLE
Tel: 01952 606 229 Mobile: 07977 548 957
The Body Barn, Moorfield Lane, Newport TF10 9EH
Call: 01952 455 541 E: info@thebodybarn.co.uk www.thebodybarn.co.uk
NEW YEAR,
NEW YOU! Join Telford Hotel & Golf Resort Health Club & receive £300 worth of vouchers. We know when life gets busy, your health and fitness can sometimes take a back seat. However it’s a New Year and it’s the perfect time to start focusing on YOU. Enjoy full access to: • • • • • •
Swimming pool Spa 24 hour gym Group exercise classes Sauna Steam room
• • • •
Spinning Free Wi-Fi Free parking Discounts throughout the resort • Free induction and fitness programme
Enquire today and also receive a FREE one day pass for two people!
Call 01952 422 977 or email telfordleisure@QHotels.co.uk Terms and conditions apply and offer subject to availability. Vouchers are available when you join for 12 months and pay an admin fee upon joining. Vouchers to use within the health club and are subject to availability. Offer ends 28th February 2018. For full terms and conditions speak to our health club team.
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Soft Tissue Injuries So the seasonal bad weather is upon us and so in this month’s article I thought I would talk about immediate post injury/first aid care for soft tissue injuries and with the frosty and snowy weather on its way it can often be a hazardous time. We do see an increase in injuries such as soft tissue injuries for example ligament injuries from patients slipping and falling in the cold and icy conditions. Obviously the best form of treatment is prevention so just simple things like making sure you have the appropriate shoes on and make sure paths in and around your property are gritted. If a fall or injury does occur, here are some tips to help ease the pain. Most of you will have heard of RICE this is an acronym for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation and is essential for management of soft tissue injuries.
REST: Rest is essential to help take the strain off tissues which
are trying to heal. Rest will prevent further swelling, pain and further injury. It should be used for a period of time which enables the limb or body part to begin to function better.
ICE: Ice can be a valuable treatment in easing pain and reducing
inflammation and swelling. Controlling the swelling can reduce the risk of increased scar tissue build up and further joint irritation. It is recommended that we ice for around 15 minutes at a time for up to 48-72 hours post injury. It is important to make sure you have good sensation as if you haven't you are at risk of ice burns. A good tip is to place a thin damp tea towel between the skin and
IN THE WINTER
ice and this will act as a barrier to the skin preventing ice burns.
COMPRESSION:
This again is useful in controlling swelling and managing pain. There are various supports and braces available but a simple tubigrip stocking from your local chemist will suffice. Usually used for extended periods but never through the night.
ELEVATION:
This is where the body part is placed in an elevated position to aid venous blood flow back to the systemic blood flow to aid in the reduction of swelling and in turn reducing pain. Remember if you do injure yourself and the pain and dysfunction is severe, it is advisable to seek medical attention. All our physiotherapists are state registered and qualified to assess and treat soft tissue injuries. If you are concerned about your mobility or the mobility issues of a friend or loved one, we do have a physiotherapist who specialises in mobility problems. She can provide specific exercises, balance re-education and falls prevention advice, which can help rehabilitate and maximise potential. This type of therapy can be carried out at the clinic or in comfort of your own home through our home visiting service.
If you do require advice or would like to book an appointment please call our reception on 01952 462330.
EARLY MORNING AND EVENING APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE WE ALSO OFFER ACUPUNCTURE, HOME VISITS NEURO AND MOBILITY ASSESSMENTS
JUST SOME CONDITIONS WE CAN TREAT
MALE & FEMALE BACK & NECK PAIN / SCIATICA / SPORTS INJURIES / HEADACHES PHYSIOTHERAPISTS FROZEN SHOULDER / TENNIS ELBOW / ARTHRITIS / TENDONITIS AVAILABLE ALL OF 10 YEARS PLUS EXPERIENCE
JOINT & MUSCULAR PAIN / WORK RELATED PAIN PRE AND POST PREGNANCY PAIN / STROKE / PARKINSONS / MS
FOR FREE ADVICE PLEASE CALL 01952462330 or email enquiries@shropshirephysio.co.uk or visit our website www.shropshirephysio.co.uk
SB Sports Injury & Physiotherapy, Broadway, Shifnal TF11 8AZ 14
HEALTH & FITNESS
Book a tour in our Leisure Club Fully Equipped Gym
For the more energetic, you will find the top of the range cardiovascular equipment and fully equipped weights room.
Personal Training
Get the most out of your workout with a personal training session just £20.00 per person per hour.
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Join our membership and benefit from 3 complimentary 1-2-1 training sessions, complimentary fitness classes, personal training sessions available and a members discount scheme.
Discover our fantastic heated swimming pool, spa pool, saunas and steam rooms.
Fitness Classes
Get in shape with many of our high-energy and conditioning exercise classes. Free for members (booking required)
Beauty Treatments
Our Beauty Within Salon is situated within Health & Fitness Club, providing a range of treatments in a comfortable and relaxing setting.
Speak to a member of our leisure team for further information on 01902 701260 Great location, convenient to J3 M54 and only 20 minutes from the centre of Wolverhampton and Telford.
Look us up on Trip Advisor
Pattingham, Nr Wolverhampton WV6 7HR
01902 700100
sales@patshull-park.co.uk
www.patshull-park.co.uk
Pa rt of the R other wo o d Gr o up
a new standard in healthcare
If you’d like to arrange a viewing or just need some advice - we’re here to help:
01952 619 850 Individual rooms all with en-suite | 24-hour care and nursing support VISIT
St George's Park, School Street, St Georges, Telford, TF2 9LL EMAIL
admin.stgeorges @rotherwood-group.co.uk
Reminiscence & sensory relaxation rooms | A Person Centred Approach to care Beauty, treatment & hair salon | Dedicated dementia unit | In-house cinema
St George’s Park is proud to be recommended by
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Fighting Colds and Flu
MYTHS AND MAGIC CURES
Colds can make our life a misery and flu can make us quite ill, particularly if we’re vulnerable due to our age or an existing condition. So it’s no surprise that a host of myths and supposed cures have sprung up around these ailments. But are any of them backed up by scientific evidence? If you have a high temperature, then it’s the flu – not a cold. MYTH. Colds can sometimes cause a high temperature, although it tends to be short-lived and mild (not above 38oC). However, if you’re suffering from sweats and chills, it’s probably flu. It’s pointless to avoid someone with a cold or flu. You’re bound to get it anyway. MYTH. Flu and colds are highly contagious, spread by both airborne and direct contact methods, but they’re avoidable. Avoid sufferers if you can, but if you can’t, you can still stay germ-free if you both practise good hygiene. This means: • Clean high-contact surfaces regularly (e.g. phones, door handles, touch screens). • Clean hands regularly and thoroughly, especially after touching the nose or mouth • Don’t share cutlery, cups or towels. • Ensure the contagious person has tissues close by to catch coughs and sneezes, and bin them immediately. They should use the ’vampire’ cough (into the inside of their elbow) if they’re caught tissue-less. The flu vaccine doesn’t always prevent flu, so it’s not worth having. TRUTH - and MYTH. It’s true that you may still get the flu. Flu vaccines are produced in advance, so experts must try to predict the three or four flu strains that will be prevalent next winter. This means you may catch an unexpected or rarer flu strain you’re not protected from. However, the vaccine is still worth having, as it will protect you from most strains you’ll encounter. It’s particularly recommended if you’re vulnerable or have low immunity, e.g. if you’re a carer, over 65, pregnant or have an existing medical condition. Getting very wet and/or cold can give you a cold or the flu. MYTH. Since both colds and the flu are caused by viruses, it’s pretty obvious that cold or wet conditions can’t give you either. But what cold and wet can do is put your body under stress, making it more vulnerable to germs it encounters. The flu vaccine gives you flu MYTH. Inactive viruses are used in the vaccine. But you may have a temperature and ache for a short time afterwards. If you’ve had a cold or flu for a while, you should ask the doctor for antibiotics MYTH. Your doctor may give in and prescribe them, although they know antibiotics won’t work; antibiotics don’t kill viruses. Patients sometimes take antibiotics for a week and declare smugly that they’re cured, when in reality, that extra week was all their body needed to finally fight off their virus. Antibiotics are only of use if you get a secondary bacterial infection.
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Magic Cures Prevention is the best cure. Cold and flu viruses are highly contagious and most of us touch hundreds of communal surfaces every day, so practice good hygiene and keep your hands squeaky clean – research shows this can work. Research also shows that stress and poor sleep can make us more prone to colds, so take positive action to reduce your stress and ensure you’re getting enough good-quality sleep. Boosting your immune system may help you resist colds and flu or fight them off more quickly. There is evidence that taking zinc regularly can reduce the number of colds children get each year, and although there is less reliable research on adults, it’s reasonable to assume it can work for them too. Regular intake of probiotics and garlic may also have some preventative effect, but the research so far isn’t reliable enough to confirm it. Vitamin C and echinacea have now been researched extensively and the consensus is that they don’t provide cold or flu prevention – and any lessening or shortening of symptoms is mild to non-existent. However, Vitamin C may be of negligible benefit to people already under physical stress (e.g. marathon runners). Decongestants and antihistamines: apologies to your wallet, but when used separately, research indicates these medications have very little or no effect. However, when used together, particularly with painkillers too, there seems to be a slight improvement in symptoms. Ipratropium bromide (Rinatec) nasal spray does seem to help alleviate symptoms, particularly a runny nose. Over-the counter cough suppressants: the jury is out, as much of the research is poor quality. But it seems that any benefits are negligible. Vapour rubs do seem to help a little in alleviating night time cough and improving sleep, but a review of clinic studies showed that over a quarter of users reported burning or itching at the application area. NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, e.g. ibuprofen) can reduce fever and help with aches and pains. If you have a cold or flu, stay hydrated, alleviate the symptoms and take heart; researchers are working to modify naturallyoccurring peptides with properties that can combat cold viruses. A cold cure may be on the (distant) horizon.
by Alison Runham www.alison.runham.co.uk
HEALTH & FITNESS
Anna Simons MCSP PHYSIOTHERAPY Friendly Professional Advice with Time to Listen Purpose Built Clinic Room Hands on Treatments
• Back Pain • Neck Pain • Whiplash • Arthritis • Sports Injuries • Tennis/Golfer Elbow
• Shoulder Pain • Foot/Ankle Problems • Plantar Fasciitis • Achilles Tendonopothy • Sciatica
NEW
Shock Wave Therapy Available
Treatments Offered: • Manual Therapy • Massage • Accupuncture • Electro-therapy • Pain Relief including Shock Wave • Kinesio Taping
Anna Simons MCSP Chartered Physiotherapist T: 01952 811 525 M:07887 930 642 Deer Park, Newport, Shropshire • E: info@annasimonsphysio.com • W: www.annasimonsphysio.com
One of our many exclusive ranges that are not available on the High Street 17
Stressful
A local healthcare consumer champion and charity are asking older people from Shropshire to share the difficulty they have in getting to and from hospital appointments. The ‘Painful Journeys’ campaign, which has been launched by Age UK, seeks to highlight the long, uncomfortable and often painful journeys that many older people have to endure when they are unwell, in order to have treatment or consultations. It calls for an urgent government review of essential transport services. Almost a fifth (18%) of over-65s who have attended a hospital appointment in the past year – more than one million people – reported feeling worse afterwards because of the stress involved in the journey, according to new research from the charity. This comes at a time when Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust have just increased their car parking charges, community transport schemes are facing an uncertain future with national discussions about changes to licensing and hospital non-emergency transport services are under pressure from increasing demand and budget constraints.
HOSPITAL JOURNEYS In order to gather evidence of this locally, Healthwatch Shropshire, the independent health and social care consumer champion, is asking older people in the county to share their experiences of getting to and from hospitals so these can be fed into the debate. Jane Randall-Smith, Chief Officer, Healthwatch Shropshire said: “Getting to hospital for an appointment or to visit a relative can be a long journey using public transport. Some services, such as neurology, are now being provided out of the county which can add to the difficulties of reaching hospitals for non-emergency treatment. We really want to hear from older people who are experiencing difficulties in getting to and from hospital.” Heather Osborne, Chief Executive, Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin, said: “As we grow older, so too do our chances of having multiple health conditions requiring regular outpatient appointments. If older people cannot actually get to the hospital services they need, or have to endure long, painful and stressful journeys in order to access them, this translates into extra costs for the NHS, which we know is already stretched to the limit.” To share your experience of a painful or difficult journey to hospital please call Healthwatch Shropshire on 01743 237884 or go to www. healthwatchshropshire.co.uk
Age UK warns that difficult hospital journeys are making older people feel more unwell and adding to NHS costs due to missed appointments and possible relapses, making the need for treatment at a point of crisis more likely.
For more information about local transport options for older people in Shropshire please contact Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin on 01743 233123.
Putting Care into Practice
Tern Vets
We offer a FREE health check for your new pet!
Pet Care • Farm Care • Equine Care
NEWPORT BRANCH
Audley Avenue Industrial Estate, Newport, Shropshire TF10 7BX
01952 820222
newport@ternvets.co.uk OPEN: Mon-Fri 8:30am-6pm / Sat: 8:30am-12pm
www.ternvets.co.uk
DD Neutering DD Dentistry DD X-rays
DD Laparoscopic Tern Vets understand that Surgery your pet is not just a pet, they DD Hospitalisation are a member DD Nurse Clinics of your family.
DD Pet Passports DD Microchipping DD Ultrasound DD Out of Hours with
Our Own Vets DD Home Visits DD Blood Tests DD Free Puppy Parties
WE PROVIDE 24 HOUR EMERGENCY CARE 7 DAYS A WEEK 18
HEALTH & FITNESS
Developing a Healthy Mind
Therapy for you...
Stress, Anxiety, Fear, Depression?
Concerns about poor mental health and the limited amount of NHS resources available to help are regularly in the news. We all recognise the value exercise and diet plays in maintaining our physical health so shouldn’t we place the same value on our minds? Affinity and Beyond offer unique sessions called Mind Maintenance that focus on maintaining positive mental health and developing mental resilience to help clients manage the challenges and stresses of everyday life. Lorraine Romney, a fully qualified Clinical Hypnotherapist based in Telford, uses a combination of therapies to help promote a healthy mind and wellbeing.
Affinity and Beyond use a combination of therapies to help promote a healthy mind and wellbeing, including: • Hypnotherapy
We can help you:
• Reduce stress and anxiety • Manage unhelpful thoughts, beliefs and memories • Be calmer and sleep well • Overcome fears, phobias or trauma • Develop confidence and self-esteem • Achieve a goal e.g. weight loss • Gain focus and direction
New Year Offer First session HALF PRICE
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy • Mindfulness
if booked before 31 Jan
• Psycho Sensory Therapy
lorraine@affinity-and-beyond.co.uk
T: 07898 823 339
Do you have habits, fears, doubts or anxieties that prevent you from being who you want to be?
Affinity And Beyond
“My aim is to help clients develop psychological skills that enable them to change the relationship they hold with their thoughts, which in turn affect their emotions and behaviour. Ultimately I want clients to feel empowered to effectively manage every day struggles and overcome barriers that stop them living a full and meaningful life.” For further information and an informal chat call 07898 823339.
Lorraine Romney MNCH (Reg.),CNHC Clinical Hypnotherapist
Therapies To Improve Your Emotional Well-Being Affinity
Beyond
www.affinity-and-beyond.co.uk
Experts in Treating Foot and Heel Pain!
You have most likely sought assistance for your condition, but have struggled to find an enthusiastic expert to help! Passionate and eager to reduce and cure your lower limb, foot and ankle pain. I have the latest equipment to assist your problem, what is more, I specialize in all Foot, Ankle, Leg and Achilles problems.
The latest Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) for non surgical treatment of Heel pain, Achilles Tendons and many other soft tissue injuries- 5 years experience!
achilles pain Policemans Heel
01952 677 063
Plantar faciiis
Unit 8 Horton Court, Hortonwood 50 TF1 7GY
www.TheFootDoctor.co.uk FASCIITIS
HEEL PAIN
Arch Pain Bunion/Arthriis
ORTHOTICS
PODIATRY 19
Baby It's Cold Outside Our pick of nourishing beauty goodies to see you through the winter months. Central heating, cold weather and seasonal celebrations can
Murad’s Hydra-Glow Aqua Peel can help to put some life back into it. First off – the leave your skin looking a bit ‘meh’.
Retexturizing Swab (basically a large cotton bud infused with
lactic and glycolic acids) to exfoliate your skin. Follow with the
Moisture Infusion Mask, which contains Hyaluronic Acid to lock in moisture and plump skin. Don’t let the words ‘peel’
and acid’ put you off, this is a gentle, pain-free solution to softer, healthier looking skin. I was really impressed with the results. The only downside is the sachets aren’t available individually – they come in a box of four at £40 from www.murad.co.uk. Battling with frizzy hair and split ends? Deep-conditioning treatments are ideal if you have the time. If you’re more of
RPR’s Smooth My Ends Treatment. It’s a leave-in conditioner and works to smooth a grab and go kind of girl, try
hair, add shine and repair split ends. The treatment is also ideal
for detangling if you have really curly hair (or a child who hates having their hair brushed). It’s £13.95 from www.lookfantastic. com. It’s not always easy to find a cleanser that can tackle mascara and other makeup, without stripping your skin of its natural oils. Cleansers that are too harsh can leave your skin feeling tight, uncomfortable and unbalanced.
Cleansers
PHB Ethical Beauty’s
are gentle, effective and packed with extra
The Hydrating Cleanser, £14.95, is particularly helpful if you suffer from dry ingredients to really nourish your skin.
patches. Ingredients include coconut oil, shea butter, apricot extract and both rosehip and rose petal oil. Numerous clinical
tests have shown these oils to make a significant difference to skin texture, scarring and wrinkles. As an added bonus, they make the cleanser smell really luxurious. See www.phbethicalbeauty.co.uk.
Neal’s Yard are moving away from the anti-ageing approach
taken by most beauty companies, and instead focusing on
Frankincense Intense Lift Serum Frankincense Intense Lift Cream (£65)
‘ageing well’. Their (£75) and new
are full of natural, skin-loving ingredients to help you to ‘look and
feel the best version of you, no matter your age.’ I’ve been using them for a month now and my skin feels much softer, smoother and altogether more loved. Admittedly the serum and cream are not cheap, but they are very rich, so a little goes a long way. I expect them to last for a good six months. Available from www. nealsyardremedies.com. If you’re looking for a new foundation that gives you great
Nude By Nature’s Flawless Liquid Foundation. It’s available in coverage, without making you look too ‘made-up’, try
20 different shades, is easy to apply and you’ll barely know you’re
wearing it. It’s also packed with antioxidants and other skinloving ingredients. I’m a sucker for pretty packaging, and this foundation is hard to beat in that respect. You’ll want to display it rather than hide it away in a makeup bag. It costs £25 from www. debenhams.com or buy direct from www.nudebynature.com.
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by Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk
BEAUTY & FASHION
Beauty by Jude
ALL IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME CND Shellac goes on like a polish but wears like a gel. A 14 day glorious high gloss shine with zero dry time, no nail damage and can be removed in around 10 minutes.
WAXING TREATMENTS
MASSAGE TREATMENTS
• Half Leg £12 • Full Leg £20 • Bikini £10 • Underarm £8 • Lip or Chin £6 • Lip & Chin £10 • Half Arm £10 • Full Arm £15
Swedish Massage £38 Head to toe sheer indulgence. As well as leaving you feeling extremely relaxed, massage can improve lymphatic drainage, helps to break down cellulite, loosen arthritic joints, soothe tired & aching muscles and generally improve sense of wellbeing.
EYE TREATMENTS
SHELLAC TREATMENTS Hands or Feet ........................... £18
• Eyebrow Wax £7 • Eye Lash Tint £10 • Eye Brow Tint £8 • Lash & Brow Tint £16
Inclusive of Polish Removal
Lash Lift & Tint £25
Shellac including Manicure ..... £23 Shellac including Pedicure ...... £25 Removal of Polish ...................... £5
Accentuate your natural lashes by giving them a tint and a lift. This 60 minute treatment will enhance your lashes, making them look longer & voluminous. A patch test will be required 48 hrs prior to treatment.
GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE call for details
NAIL TREATMENTS Luxury Manicure £15 Including Nail Shape, Cuticles Treated, Hand Massage & Moisturising Mask
Luxury Pedicure £20 Including Foot scrub, Exfoliation, Nail Shape, Cuticles Treated, Foot & Leg Massage & Moisturising Mask
Ladies Pamper Evenings Available from £10 Per Person Call for details
Back, Shoulder & Neck Massage £20 A relaxing massage releasing muscle tension and fatigue on the back, shoulders and neck - the main areas of stress & knots.
Indian Head Massage £18 A non intrusive treatment based around the head, neck & shoulders. It can give relief from headaches, eye strain, tension and improve hair & scalp condition.
BODY TREATMENTS Exfoliating Body Polish £35 A full body cleanse using peppermint exfoliating body polish after an invigorating skin brush.
Purifying Back Treatment £30 The back is deep cleansed, body brushed and exfoliated to help stimulate circulation and cell renewal, then calmed and relaxed with a luxurious massage. A final application of a light moisturiser will ensure the skin is left smooth and revitalised.
CALL JUDE INGRAM ON 07814 671 848 21
Winter S.O.S.
If your skin is feeling dry and tight at the moment, a sheet mask could be just the ticket. Look for one with hyaluronic acid, which helps skin to hold on to moisture and fight the signs of ageing. The skin689 BioCellulose Hyaluron Face Mask contains hyaluronic acid, along with coconut extract and an amino acid complex to nourish skin. As with all sheet masks, it’s a little fiddly to use, but feels lovely and refreshing when it’s on and the end results are definitely worth it. Softer, more hydrated skin, in just 20 minutes. And at £5.90, it’s an affordable weekend treat. See www.skin689.com.
An American skincare brand has released the world’s first vegan, plant-based topical collagen formula. Algenist’s serum is designed to replace lost collagen and contains Omega-rich microalgae oil. As with many things, there’s no long-term gain without short-term pain. In my case this meant that I had to contend with several large pimples breaking out in the first few days of using the serum. However, my skin soon got used to it, and did look plumper, smoother and much more refreshed after just a couple of weeks. All in all, I’m impressed. Genius Liquid Collagen is available from www.SpaceNK.com for £90.
BEAUTY GOODIES TO SEE YOU THROUGH THE COLD SPELL
such as wild harvested seaweed to ‘feed’ your hair with minerals and antioxidants. As with all Faith in Nature products, they’re free from parabens and harsh ingredients, so very gentle. Suitable for all hair types, they leave your locks feeling healthier, smoother and shinier. £5.35 each from www.faithinnature.co.uk.
Sore, cracked hands can be a real pain over the colder months. Unfortunately, some hand creams can actually make the situation worse, particularly if they contain artificial perfumes. Dermalex is a specialist skincare range aimed at sufferers of conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and rosacea. The Hand Irritation Cream can help with dry, cracked skin, itching and other signs of irritation. You’ll also want to look for a gentler hand wash or soap that doesn’t contain sodium lauryl sulphate, which can dry your skin and aggravate skin conditions. From £12.99, www.dermalex.co.uk.
Central heating and icy winds don’t just wreak havoc on your skin - they can also leave your hair feeling dry and lacklustre. Faith in Nature’s Seaweed & Citrus Shampoo and Conditioner include natural extracts,
It may be cold outside, but it won’t be long before it’s time to pack the winter woollies away for a few months. If you’ve been neglecting your nails under warm gloves, now’s the time to treat them to some TLC.
Nails Inc Superfood NailKale Base Coat is enriched with kale, aloe vera, lemon, ginseng, pomegranate and grape extracts to nourish and strengthen your nails. Use it on its own for a glossy nude finish, or as a base coat for your favourite coloured polish. £15, www.nailsinc.com.
by Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk
Song Title Translations Can you come up with the titles of 15 hit singles from the English translations of their foreign language titles and the years in which they were released?
1 The beautiful island (1987) 2 Long live the life (2008) 3 To fly (1958) 4 That's life (1998) 5 I don't know why (1988) 6 Let victory prevail (2009) 7 Pious Jesus (1985) 8 I love you… me neither (1969) 9 Do you want (1979) 10 None shall sleep (1990)
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BEAUTY & FASHION
January Packages designed for a new year and new beautiful you. Welcome the new year in with a FREE consultation for the month of January Removal of your skin tags, moles, milia, and blood spots £200
3 Smartxide treatments £1000
(Normally £550 each to be paid in Jan and taken within 8 months.)
Liposuction using Bodyjet for those impossible to shift Mommy Tummys, lumps and bumps from £3000
Get ready for summer please call for more information or to make an appointment.
Cedar House Clinic, Shrewsbury Business Park, Shropshire SY2 6LG 01743 271404 www.cedarhouseclinic.co.uk
It’s your
special day! Make your big day unique with stunning views over the countryside and iconic Ironbridge. Our team are on hand to take care of the day and make sure your wedding is everything you dreamed of.
Enquire today about our next Wedding Open Evening or order a brochure for more information. Call us on 01952 422 992 or email telfordweddings@QHotels.co.uk The Telford Hotel and Golf Resort, Great Hay Drive, Telford, TF7 4DT
Telford Hotel & Golf Resort Telford, Shropshire
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Best Wedding Venue
IN TOWN!
Whether you’re planning a Civil Ceremony, same-sex marriage or renewal of vows, it’s the most important day of your life so far, so your choice of venue needs to provide the perfect backdrop. Hadley Park House Hotel is an elegant Grade II listed wedding venue in Telford set within its own 2 acres of landscaped grounds. As you turn into the driveway of our romantic wedding venue in Shropshire you can’t fail to be impressed with our Georgian Manor House set within secluded grounds. Mature trees, manicured grass and a sunken pond make it an ideal wedding venue to capture photographs and video to treasure.
Once you step inside, the wood-panelled lounge, high ceilings and sash windows lend a sense of occasion to your very special day and confirms why, for three consecutive years, we’ve been awarded Best Town Wedding Venue in the West Midlands at the Wedding Industry Awards. Our colonial-style conservatory offers an atmospheric venue for ceremonies and receptions for up to 80 people whilst the Mulliner Suite is perfect for larger weddings seating up to 140 guests. Food is an essential part of the day and our Chefs have put together an extensive mouth-watering selection of menus to choose from. To ensure you make the right choice for you and your guests, you can try a selection of dishes before you make your final decision. With a choice of Honeymoon Suites, including feature rooms, some guests love a four-poster beds whilst others prefer a classic sleigh bed with double Jacuzzi bath. Both are
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exceptionally popular rooms and Hadley Park House Hotel is the perfect place to start married life and with 22 bedrooms, there is plenty of space for your wedding guests too. Hadley Park House Hotel will only hold one wedding per day. If you are looking for a wedding venue with exclusive use in Shropshire then this option is also available for a truly intimate occasion. Our dedicated wedding team is highly-experienced in ensuring your day will run as smoothly and enjoyably as possible, for you and your guests. We would be delighted to meet with you to talk through your ideas and share some new ones – we want to turn a great day into an unforgettable one. Please call us on 01952 677269 to make an appointment with one of our experienced wedding planners. For ideas and inspiration, come along to our Wedding Showcase on Sunday February 18th 2018 and meet with a host of professional wedding suppliers. 12 noon – 3pm. Free admission.
BEAUTY & FASHION
Wedding Open Days
7th, 14th and 21st January 2018 Pop in and view our conservatory dressed for a wedding. No appointment needed. 12 noon – 3pm
Valentine Wedding Showcase Sunday 18th February 2018 (12 noon – 3pm) A wide selection of around 30 wedding professionals to provide inspiration for the big day including cars, cakes, photographers and favours. Free admission • Free car parking
Hadley Park House Telford TF1 6JQ
01952 677269
info@hadleypark.co.uk
www.hadleypark.co.uk 25
Handbag £175. Guess
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In January we all feel like making some changes and there’s no better place to start that with your wardrobe.
Invest in a Quality Item
It’s easy to get stuck in a style rut, whether it’s opting for the same work wear, choosing comfort over style or settling for dated designs.
There are plenty of great budget buys on the high street but when it comes to your winter wardrobe there’s one item to splash the cash on.
Having a fresh look at what you wear every day and taking the time to treat yourself to something new can make a massive difference to how you look and feel.
Investing in a quality tailored coat will not only keep you warm on those cold winter days but will make any outfit your wear look special, and will be perfect for both formal and casual occasions.
Here ’s our guide to finding your new look this New Year:
Swap Flats for Heels We all love comfort but swapping those much-loved flats for a pair of heels instantly creates a glamorous look, whether you’re heading to the office or meeting friends for lunch. Serving to add height and make you appear slimmer, simply slipping on a pair of heels is a great way to transform your look. And, even a low heel will make a difference.
Try a Dress
Choose a flattering cut, in a subtle colour and enjoy wearing for years to come.
Don’t forget to Accessorise It’s easy to overlook your accessories and many of us are guilty of dragging the same battered handbag around year after year, but swapping those tired accessories for something new can really give your outfit a boost. Teaming a stylish handbag, scarf and pair of shoes with a simple outfit instantly creates a fresh new look.
There’s nothing more versatile than a simple, well-fitting dress. Perfect for everything from going to work to going for drinks, a flattering design in a plain hue can be easily dressed up or down. For the office accessorise with black tights and a cardigan for simple style and for the perfect evening look slip on a jacket and add a pair of heels.
Dress £180. Vera Mont
Scarf £55. Dune
Heels £45. Faith at Debenhams
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Do Your Homework Before Selling!
Brought to you by James Carlon James Carlon Co Author of ‘THE TELFORD PROPERTY BLOG’
Selling your house is really exciting but it can be rather daunting too - so it’s important to do your homework before putting your house on the market. By doing a bit of background research you can give yourself the best chance of achieving the maximum price - and ensure you have a reasonable expectation of what that price is.
The first thing you need to know is the average price of similar homes in the area. In Telford for instance, the current average value of a semi-detached house is just under £150,000. Although there are of course lots of different factors which affect a property’s value, it’s a good starting point to have a careful look at what is already on the market to see how they compare to yours. 28
The second thing you need to do is be prepared for some home truths about your property. Ask your family and friends to look around your house with a critical eye - find the weaknesses so you can improve them before you go on the market. Finally, think carefully about your next move and be prepared to act quickly if you get an offer. Do you have a property already in mind or will you move into rental accommodation while you look for your next home? There are plenty of things to consider too! Give me a call on 01952 292 300 for more advice.
James Carlon Residential Sales Manager Nock Deighton t. 01952 292300 m. 07974 154950 e. j.carlon@nockdeighton.co.uk
PROPERTY
15 Pembroke Drive, Wellington 3 bedroom detached house A well maintained detached family home, pleasantly situated within a sought after development. 9 viewings, 2 offers, sale agreed in 13 days
SOLD We have buyers waiting - more properties are urgently required!
Telford 01952 292 300
Newport 01952 570 222
www.nockdeighton.co.uk
Ironbridge 01952 432 533 PROPERTY AGENTS | VALUERS | SURVEYORS | AUCTIONEERS
TELFORD | IRONBRIDGE | NEWPORT | BRIDGNORTH | SHREWSBURY | LUDLOW | CLEOBURY MORTIMER | KIDDERMINSTER
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New Legislation Has Major Impact on Landlords! Brought to you by Dawn Clarke Dawn Clarke Co Author of ‘THE TELFORD PROPERTY BLOG’
New legislation is on the way which will have a major impact on landlords, tenants and letting agents. The biggest element of this legislation is the proposed ban on tenant fees, which will prevent letting agents and landlords from charging any fees when agreeing a new tenancy. At the moment, tenant fees (typically between £200 and £300) are charged to cover the costs of reference checks, credit checks, contract negotiation and so on. The Government wants to stop agents or landlords charging those fees to the tenant - on the face of it, saving the tenant a few hundred pounds. It’s an interesting conundrum. On the one hand, it seems like great news for tenants and bad news for landlords and agents, but it’s not as simple as that. Those checks at the start of a tenancy will still need to be done, and someone will still need to pay for them. There are two basic options: 1. The landlord pays for the checks and rights them off as an extra cost. 2. The lettings agent pays for the checks and takes the cost from their profits. But the issue is that any extra costs in a business will need to be offset by raising income. It’s basic economics. So if a landlord has to meet the cost of the tenancy checks, they will boost their income by increasing rent. 30
And if an agent meets the costs, they will increase their income by raising their fees. And how will the landlord offset the rise in agency fees? By increasing rent.
“So the cost is always going to eventually land on the tenant.” For proof of that theory, you just need to look at Scotland, where the tenant fees ban was introduced in 2012. New research has found that rents have risen by an average of £26pcm - so a tenant is now paying £312 more a year on rent since the ban on fees. As one of the largest lettings agencies in Shropshire, we are currently planning how to deal with the new legislation if and when it is introduced, and we are of course going to have our say by responding to the Government’s consultation document. If you are a landlord, we would be happy to have a chat with you about the best way forward - there are a number of different options to consider. Please give our lettings and property management team a call on 01952 290 163. Dawn Clarke Director Nock Deighton t. 01952 290163 m. 07976 209011 e. d.clarke@nockdeighton.co.uk
PROPERTY
44 Essex Chase, Priorslee 4 bedroom detached house A superbly presented 4 bedroom detached family home. 13 viewings, 3 offers, sale agreed in 22 days
SOLD We have buyers waiting - more properties are urgently required!
Telford 01952 292 300
Newport 01952 570 222
www.nockdeighton.co.uk
Ironbridge 01952 432 533 PROPERTY AGENTS | VALUERS | SURVEYORS | AUCTIONEERS
TELFORD | IRONBRIDGE | NEWPORT | BRIDGNORTH | SHREWSBURY | LUDLOW | CLEOBURY MORTIMER | KIDDERMINSTER
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Newport Property Agents With Christmas upon us at the time of writing this, we can genuinely say the instruction pace has increased. Unsure if this is due to our fee offer currently running until 31st January 2018 or our dynamic personalities!! It’s fair to say the consistent but slower pace we experienced during November 2017 is not continuing into December. We have heard the phone ringing continually with requests for valuations and purchasers still actively looking. In response to this activity we have launched our new "Newport Property Agents" page on Facebook, covering all new instructions and weekly updates, allowing you to follow us. Giving our vendors another avenue to showcase their properties, purchasers another tool to search and of course keeping up with current trends. You can contact us through our Facebook page, enquire about new instructions and generally interact with the team. We are keen to hear from potential vendors and have a definite shortage of more rural country properties, so would ask anyone considering selling in and around Newport to call us to carry out a free valuation, we have keen purchasers ready
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ON FACEBOOK
and waiting. It seems the large amount of new development in and around Newport is attracting more people into the area and the old supply and demand scenario is very evident. We are also pleased to offer FREE probate valuations. We felt that it was unfair to treat this differently to any other valuation, so have set the precedent in this area, carrying out the same professional approach with no charge. Again, call us for more information. We will be starting the New Year with positivit, and see no evidence the housing market is grinding to a halt due to "Brexit", so wish all a very Happy New Year. Should this be the year you decide to sell, call us and if you do this before the 31st January 2018, you will enjoy the discounted fee with no additional charges for photographs or floor-plans and VAT INCLUSIVE. If an Energy Performance Certificate is required this will be subject to a fee of ÂŁ60. (Terms and conditions apply) Ani Lowde Barker Healey Property Ltd
If you need any help or advice on buying, selling or lettings, contact Barker Healey Property on 01952 813625 or visit www.barkerhealey.co.uk
PROPERTY
Moooooving...?
Choose Barker Healey Property to sell your home and make sure your property stands out from the crowd!
WA N T E D PROPERTIES TO SELL
Reduce rate of 0.7d 5% Commissio n
X
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10 High Street, Newport TF10 7AN
01952 813625 www.barkerhealey.co.uk An immaculate 4 Bedroom detached property in a quiet cul de sac within easy reach of Newport centre. Being thoughtfully presented and tastefully decorated, the Garage has been converted into additional living space giving this property a versatile footprint. Briefly comprising Entrance Hall, open plan Lounge leading into separate Dining room, Study/ Play room, modern Kitchen with Utility off and Downstairs WC, and Conservatory, upstairs there are 4 good sized bedrooms (Master with En-suite) and a family Bathroom. Externally there is driveway parking for at least 2 vehicles, and pleasant, well cared for gardens with mature shrubs and trees. UPVC Double Glazing and gas CH.
30 Shepherds Court, Newport
£265,000
Guide Price £265,000
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SALES
RENTAL
• Experience of over 30 years • Professional Photography • Energy performance certificates and floor plans prepared • Expert sales software • Good feedback after viewings • Plenty of client contact • Advice on Solicitors • Financial advisors available
Properties
WANTED For RENT or For SALE
“Service with a smile and a cup of tea”
• ARLA Agreements • Attended Move ins with pictures taken • Rent guarantee • Repairs programme in 40 different languages • Regular reports from our Happy Inspector • Monthly statements • No hidden charges or add ons • Client money protection • Accredited by Telford and Wrekin Council • Experience in Court Procedures • Pet Friendly Agent
Come and relax in our friendly office or call us and chat about your requirements
Tel: 01952 246622 or 01952 246633 • Fax: 01952 616677 Email: julia@juliaweston.co.uk • www.juliaweston.co.uk Julia Weston Estate Agents, The Stables, 43 Market Street, Wellington, Telford TF1 1DT
JAYS REMOVALS & STORAGE LTD We are a family run business and deliver a professsional removal to the highest standard. We ensure our customers are 100% happy with the work we do and offer excellent value for money.
YOUR HOME, SAFE IN OUR HANDS
Quiz - Review of the Year 1. Along with a portrait of Jane Austen, the new Bank of England ten pound note features a foil image of which cathedral? 2. Beginning with the letters "I" and "M", what were the names of the two category five hurricanes of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season? 3. 14 years after being voted first in a 2003 book called Crap Towns: The 50 Worst Places To Live In The UK, which city was the UK City of Culture for 2017? 4. An international football match in October saw three players with what first name playing for England despite no one of that name playing for them anytime from 1955 to 2014? 5. First used in the 14th century and used by Kim Jong-un in September to describe Donald Trump, what six-letter word is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as "an old person, especially one who has become weak or senile"?
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6. Of the three acts to headline the Pyramid Stage at the 2017 Glastonbury Festival, name the only one not to have won a Brit award. 7. Which city hosted the 2017 Invictus Games? 8. Name the two parties who won more seats in the 2017 general election than they did in 2015, but with fewer votes overall. 9. In April, which boxer became WBA World Heavyweight Champion after beating Ukraine's Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium? 10. Who said in July that she was "moved and honoured" after councillors unanimously agreed to make her Manchester's first honorary citizen?
PROPERTY
Matching the right people with the right homes. We keep it simple & cost effective, but it’s our relentless ideology for quality service that sets us apart: - Family run, family owned. - Award-winning estate agents. - Advertising on the UK’s most popular property sites. - All inclusive sales package (incl. solicitors fees). - Professional photography, EPC & Floorplan. - Your own dedicated property expert.
E: sales@colemanestates.com T: 01952 244 990 colemanestates.com
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Alternative Ways Although property remains a popular long-term investment, lending restrictions make it difficult for first-time buyers to secure a foothold on the property ladder. Furthermore, the introduction of a buy-tolet stamp duty surcharge, and reduction of mortgage interest tax relief, have made buy-to-let less lucrative. So are there any other options that could be suitable if you’re interested in property investing? Here are a few alternatives that might appeal, but as with any other form of investment, it’s crucial to carry out plenty of research. Property crowdfunding involves investing in property itself, as opposed to peer-to-peer lending where you invest in the mortgages provided to buy-to-let landlords and property developers. So how do these systems work?
Property equity crowdfunding
Each property is held within its own limited company, known as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). You purchase a share of the company and own a small part of the property along with fellow investors. After registering on a property crowdfunding website, you can search for properties of interest and then make the investment online. • You receive a return on your investment via rental payments and also, potentially, capital gains. • You can spread your investment across a number of different properties. • Fees include a fundraising/finder’s fee, along with property management fees. • A share of the profits is also deducted by the crowdfunding platform at the end of each investment term.
TO INVEST IN PROPERTY
Your money is combined with that of other investors and fund managers decide on the best investments. These could be solely in the UK or internationally, depending on the property fund you’ve chosen, and may be in retail, office or industrial property. • You’ll pay a fee for the fund to be managed. • Capital gains tax and tax on dividends received will need to be taken into account. • You may be able to hold a property fund within a stocks and shares ISA. • You can either pay a monthly amount or a one-off investment sum. Is it right for you? You may receive an income from rental payments, as well as a return from the capital growth. Leases on commercial premises in the UK are generally much longer than on residential properties, potentially offering a more secure investment over the long-term. You won’t be able to access your money quickly, however, should you need it. The concept of small investments spread over a diverse property or loan portfolio runs through these options, but what if you do want to purchase an entire property rather than use these ‘hands-off’ alternatives?
Is it right for you? If you want a ‘hands-off’ property investment, equity crowdfunding could be a good choice - it’s a quick and easy way to invest, but you must do your research beforehand. There’s no need for a large deposit, no landlord responsibilities, and no exposure to the risk of interest rate changes. Drawbacks include a lack of control over practical aspects such as setting the rent, choosing tenants and property maintenance.
Peer-to-peer lending
Rather than investing in the property itself, you and other investors provide the money for loans and mortgages that buy-to-let landlords and property developers use. • Return on investment comes from interest paid on the loan. • Platforms provide details of any payment default by borrowers, so you can make a more informed decision on where to invest. • Investments may be made over a shorter term than property crowdfunding, which is important if you don’t want to tie up your money for too long. Is it right for you? You don’t have to consider capital gains tax liabilities with this option, and although the risks can be increased if you’re lending to developers rather than buy-to-let landlords, the rewards are also potentially higher.
Direct commercial property funds
You can invest in commercial property via unit trusts or openended investment companies (OEICs), but you should seek professional advice on the best investments for your particular circumstances.
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Furnished holiday lets
Buying a property as a furnished holiday let avoids some of the drawbacks of buy-to-let investment. It offers specific tax advantages and can bring a higher overall return than buyto-let. Holiday let mortgage providers generally require a deposit of 25%-40%. The amount they’ll lend depends on the existing rental income, or the income as estimated by an experienced local holiday letting agent. To be classed as a furnished holiday let, you need to: • Make the property available for a minimum of 210 days a year. • Let it out for at least 105 days annually, for periods of less than 31 days. Is it right for you? Furnished holiday lets haven’t been affected by the clampdown on tax relief faced by buy-to-let investors. Although they require more work in terms of regular marketing, they’ve become a popular way to earn money from property. You can use the services of a holiday lettings agency to market and manage your property if necessary - they’re likely to charge a percentage of each booking, plus fixed costs for other services such as cleaning and laundry at changeover times.
by Ann Haldon
PROPERTY
why waste money on rent? when you can buy with help to buy!
With a government backed 20% loan, that’s interest free for the first 5 years, it’s never been easier to own your own home. And not just any old home, but a beautiful, brand new home from multi award winning Lioncourt Homes!
2 & 3 bedroom homes available from £136,000
Daisy Park, Daisy Bank Drive, Telford, TF2 9UL
Help to Buy
Buy with Help to Buy and pay 5% deposit - That’s only £6,800! Purchase price:
£136,000
20% interest free loan:
£27,200*
75% mortgage
£102,000
5% deposit
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Example based on the 2 bedroom Hawthorn plot 17
Showhome & Marketing Suite open 10am to 5.30pm daily Call: 0845 873 2891†
www.lioncourthomes.com †Calls will be charged at seven pence per minute from a BT landline and may cost considerably more from mobile and other phones. Contact your service provider for more details. *All offers are subject to terms and conditions. There is no fee charged on the equity loan for the first 5 years. At the start of year 6 a fee is collected of 1.75% of the market value of the property at the time the loan is entered into multiplied by the outstanding percentage under the equity loan, the annual fee of 1.75% will be uplifted by RPI +1% p.a. Conditions apply and mortgage is subject to status. Please ask our Sales Executive for full details.The pictures shown are indicative images of Lioncourt homes.
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Light Up Your Winter
by Katherine Sorrell
In the darkness of deepest winter, pay attention to your lighting. Could a quick update make it bright where necessary, cosy where wanted and as fashion-forward as anyone could desire? Smart lighting systems are easy to use and surprisingly affordable. Tradfri dimming kit, from £15, PS 2017 Table Lamp, £25; both Ikea.
This smoky glass and brass table lamp would make a great update for a modern or retro-style living room. Boho smoke grey and brass table lamp, £180, Alexander & Pearl.
Changing a pendant light can create a fabulous focal point in a room. The eight baubles on this contemporary chandelier cascade pretty, ambient light. Bubble chandelier, £79.99, Dowsing and Reynolds.
When Søren Rose Studio travelled to the USA searching for beautiful old lamps, they rearranged the parts into mix-and-match new pieces with a bold modern aesthetic, inspired by New York City glamour in the late 1930s. Reade table lamp in solid brass, £189.95, Black By Design.
This wonderfully sleek pendant light features a built-in, dimmable LED panel so you can adjust the light level to suit your mood. Shown here in Petrol, it is also available in Pearl, Forest, Anthracite, Ruby and Saffron. Asteria pendant, £179, Black By Design.
Great for a party – or even every day – plug in a colourful, neon lamp and illuminate your space with style. Lumosnap neon lights, £22-£50, Gingersnap.
Adding wall lights is not something that can be done every day, but as part of a renovation it is really worth the effort, spreading light around the room and providing options for different levels of light in different areas. This eye-catching brass wall lamp has a fashionable industrial vibe. Industrial Wall Lamp Socket in Brass, £120, Out There Interiors.
BRIGHTEN UP YOUR LIGHTING
• Using just one central pendant to illuminate a room creates a flat light with dark corners, making the space seem dull and small. If you are renovating, now’s the time to add wall lights, install some additional ceiling lights, or include some track lighting in cornices or bookcases. • To improve a boring lighting scheme quickly and easily, add extra lights at different heights – a table lamp in the corner, a floor lamp in other, maybe a clip light attached to a shelf. The aim is to create layers of light that come from different directions, and that you can adjust to suit your mood or the way you’re using the room.
A new paper shade will freshen up your scheme no end, and this one is screen-printed on vintage presses and handmade using the ancient art of paper crafting, each pleat hand-folded to create a bold sculptural design. Wild Wood paper lampshade, £35, Wild & Wolf.
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Illuminate a corner of your living room – and provide a snugly spot for curling up with a good book – by swapping a tired old floor lamp for a good-looking, on-trend new one. Slam Dunk floor lamp in antique brass, £175, Loaf.
• Think about bulbs – save money by changing to LEDs, which last for years and are very cheap to run. How ‘warm’ or ‘cool’ they are is marked in kelvins look for around 2,700K for a pleasant indoor light. Dimmer switches give flexibility to your lighting, but they’re not always compatible with LEDs, so check with your electrician. • ‘Smart’ lighting is the way to go – use a remote control or an app on your phone to dim your lights, switch them on and off or even change their colours.
HOME INTERIORS
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• Wall Lights • Table Lamps • Floor Lamps • LED Lighting and Lamps • Outdoor Lights and Lamps Wide range of Decorative Switches and Sockets also on display OPEN: Mon-Fri 10-3:30, Sat 9-5 & Sun 10-4
Authorised stockists of: Saxby, Endon, Dar, Elstead, JCC Lighting, Forum and Astro Lighting 39
Fitted Wardrobes
Lots of storage space at a fantastic price! Lots of designs for beautiful floor to ceiling fitted wardrobes to fit any size and shape of room.
For brochure & price list ring
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GENERAL KNOWLEDGE CROSSWORD Across
Down
1. Ruffian, yob (8)
1. Let droop (4)
5. Young, unmarried woman (4)
2. Killer whale (4)
9. Covered with lather (5)
3. Picture placed within the bounds of a larger one (5)
10. Frame of iron bars to hold a fire (5)
4. Slowly, in musical tempo (6)
12. Downy juicy fruit (5)
6. Rough (8)
13. Material effigy worshipped as a god (4)
7. Bag containing a small amount of ointment or shampoo, etc (6)
15. Art of growing miniature trees (6) 18. Flatfish with distinctive orange spots (6) 20. Organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in plants (4)
8. Ring road (6) 11. Primary colour (3) 14. Adversary (8) 16. Most secure (6) 17. Fin on the back of a fish (6)
23. Kitchen appliance used for cooking food (5)
19. Separate or cut with a sharp instrument (6)
24. Bottomless gulf or pit (5)
21. Hardy and sure-footed animal (3)
27. Cloak, often knitted (5)
22. Bundles, of straw or hay, for example (5)
28. Musical instrument (4) 29. Concerning someone’s private life (8)
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25. Be wide open (4) 26. Marine mammal (4)
©Puzzlepress.co.uk
HOME INTERIORS
FLOOR COVERINGS ACROSS THE NATION OPEN: Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm / Sat: 9am - 4pm (UK) LIMITED
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CARPET & FLOORING (UK) Ltd Email: info@carpetandflooringuk.com • www.carpetandflooringuk.com 41
How Do I Tell
IF MY ELDERLY NEIGHBOUR NEEDS HELP? You should also look out for signs of illness, such as drowsiness, slurred speech or an inability to feel the cold. If you think your neighbour would benefit from medical attention, you could ring NHS 111 for advice or try getting in touch with their doctor. Always call an ambulance if you believe there is an urgent need for treatment. If you’ve made several attempts to knock on the door but there’s no answer, you could ask people in neighbouring properties if they have seen or heard anything. Finally, ring round the local hospitals to see if your neighbour has been admitted. If you continue to draw a blank, it may be time to call the police.
Calling social services
When 51-year-old Rosemary Poulter thought she could smell gas escaping at her terrace property in Wythenshawe, she called her gas supplier’s emergency number. An engineer arrived within the hour and carried out a thorough investigation, but found nothing. Rosemary was relieved, but she and the engineer could still smell gas, so they knocked on the door of her elderly next-door neighbour, Derek. “As Derek opened his door, the smell was overpowering,” Rosemary explains. “The gas man went into his kitchen and found that one of the knobs on the gas hob had been knocked and gas had been leaking out all day, but Derek was completely unaware of it. We were just in time: he told the engineer that he had been about to light a match to start cooking his evening meal.” Rosemary’s story is typical of many people who become concerned about the actions of an elderly neighbour. According to Age UK’s report “Later Life in the United Kingdom”, published this year, 3.64 million people in the UK aged 65+ live alone. With so many older individuals living independent lives, it often falls to neighbours to sound the alarm when their behaviour gives cause for concern. So what are the signals that show something may be wrong?
What should I look out for?
If you haven’t seen your neighbour for a while, signs such as curtains remaining permanently open or closed, or newspapers left sticking out of the letterbox, can indicate that there may be a problem. The first step should be to knock on your neighbour’s door. If they answer, try to engage them in conversation, and if you are invited in, use your visit as an opportunity to check how they are living. Does the house look clean and tidy? Is it warm? Are pets being cared for properly or are there signs of neglect, such as overflowing litter trays? Question your neighbour tactfully in order to establish whether he or she is having any trouble bathing, laundering clothes or getting hot meals.
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If there’s no emergency but you suspect that your elderly neighbour may have developed a mental or physical health issue that puts them at risk, check if they have a relative or close friend that you can phone. If the answer is ‘no’, you could call the Age UK helpline on Freephone 0800 009 966 or contact the social services department at your local council. When a local authority is told that someone may be in need of care and support they are obliged to carry out a needs assessment, even if the individual in question has not requested one. Normally, an assessment is carried out before a service can be provided, but if someone needs care urgently, the local authority may be able to meet their needs without assessing them first.
Meals on Wheels
There is usually a clear course of action when an older person is found to be at risk or in distress. However it’s not always so straightforward when someone simply appears to be lonely or not eating properly. One solution may be to help them set up a ‘Meals on Wheels’ delivery. The Royal Voluntary Service (RVS), the original provider of the Meals on Wheels service, says: “Our homedelivered meals service provides friendly social contact for those who may be confined to the house, and a regular check that they are safe and well.” Between 6th and 10th November the National Association for Care Catering (NACC) celebrates Meals on Wheels Week. This is an initiative created to raise awareness and demonstrate how vital the service is, whether meals are delivered to the home or offered through day centres and luncheon clubs. Meals on Wheels is currently a discretionary service, not supported by all local councils, and NACC is campaigning for the government to make it a statutory, protected service for those considered most at risk in the community. As a concerned neighbour, you could make a real difference with a simple intervention, whether that’s starting a friendly chat or taking positive action to support the elderly person in question. If you’d like to hear more about the Royal Voluntary Service Meals on Wheels service, telephone 0845 608 0122 or visit royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk.
by Kate McLelland
HOME INTERIORS
GREAT SAVINGS IN-STORE TODAY
LOOKING FOR A NEW APPLIANCE
THIS WINTER YOUR LOCAL ELECTRICAL EXPERT IS HERE TO HELP
EXPERT KNOWLEDGE ● SUPER SERVICE ● COMPETITIVE PRICES ● PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATION
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TYLERS GAS & ELECTRICAL
40-42 St. Mary's Street, Newport TF10 7AB
T: 01952 825111
Also at: Bilston WV14 0EH - 01902 353200 & Wolverhampton WV1 3HG - 01902 422545
LOCAL DELIVERY*
www.tylersonline.co.uk
*T&C’s apply. Sold as an agent for Euronics Limited. All rights reserved. All offers are subject to availability while stocks last. Delivery & Installation charges may apply Exclusions and Radius Apply. Prices correct at time of print but can be subject to change. See in store for full details. Images for illustration purposes only. Copyright Euronics 2017. E&OE August 2017. Saving compared to a higher price charged for 28 days in the last six months unless otherwise stated.
Do You Need Help to GROW Your Business? Advertise in the In and Around Magazine and we can help local residents find YOU!
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Growing Up
IN A DIGITAL WORLD
Like it or loathe it, we’re leaving in a digital age, and many children have learnt to swipe, scroll and select long before they’ve mastered riding a bike. Screen time If you’re worried that your child is spending too much time staring at a tablet or smartphone, you might need to agree a daily time allowance. Most devices come with parental controls that you can activate. Alternatively, you can download software such as Qustodio (www.qustodio. com) to restrict usage and block inappropriate content. Some flexibility on time limits might be needed, when your child has homework for instance, or you’re desperate for a lie-in. Apps such as Habyts (www.habyts.com) allow you to offer extra screen time as a reward for chores and good behaviour. Teenagers need to learn how to manage their own time, and how to protect themselves online. So you may want to loosen the reins as your child gets older, and discuss what they should do if they stumble across anything that makes them feel uncomfortable.
Social media and instant messaging One in five 13-18 year olds say they’ve been the victim of cyber bullying. However, social media can also be a way for your child to connect with their peers, and they may feel ostracised if they end up missing out on conversations. If you do decide to let your teen have their own social media account, set some boundaries. For example, you may decide that they can only have an account if you’re their ‘friend’, with the understanding that you won’t post photos of them or publicly embarrass them online. You’ll also need to talk to your child about why they should never share their address or personal details on social media, and what to do if they’re being bullied or harassed. Be aware that teens often set up separate social media accounts to chat to their friends, and will block you from finding them. And instant messaging apps are even harder to monitor. No safeguards you put in place will bypass the need to talk to your child about online safety.
Online learning There are some really fun, educational sites and apps that might help to tear your child away from YouTube, including: Scratch (www.scratch.mit.edu) helps you child learn basic coding. Users can create simple games, animations and stories.
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Cbeebies (www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies) has a huge number of online games, puzzles and other activities. The Alphablocks School Words Quiz, for example, helps pre-schoolers and reception-aged children learn to recognise simple words. You can organise games by their educational focus, such as maths, communicating and emotions. Comics in the Classroom (www.comicsintheclassroom. co.uk) are a range of digital comics that teach children about history. They support the Key Stage 3 and GCSE syllabus and are interactive – children have to identify correct answers to unlock more pages. Sand:box by SmellyMoo (search the Google Play store) is an android phone app that teaches older children about physics and chemistry. The user can ‘play’ with different materials and see how they react with each other. If you do let your child download any apps, check that they can’t make in app purchases without your approval, or you could be in for a nasty surprise. For more advice about keeping children safe online, visit internetmatters.org. It offers a wealth of free guides and advice on everything from mental health issues to protecting children from adult content. www.internetmatters.org/issues/cyberbullying/learn-aboutit/
by Kate Duggan - kateduggan.co.uk
CHILDREN, EDUCATION & ACTIVITIES
The old hall school
WREKIN COLLEGE
independent prep school for boys and girls aged 4 –11
co-educational 11-18 day and boarding school
Please join us for our
Discover more...
PRE-SCHOOL, RECEPTION AND KS1
DISCOVERY MORNING Saturday 27th January 2018 10am –12.30pm
Open Morning March 24th 2018 10.30am - 1pm
Bring your family and friends – no appointment necessary.
“Both boys and girls make consistently good progress in lessons... because they receive supportive and well-informed teaching.”
Especially for families with younger children.
We look forward to giving you a warm welcome.
ISI Educational Quality Inspection February 2017
The Old Hall School, Wellington, Shropshire TF1 3LB
Wrekin College, Wellington, Shropshire TF1 3BH
admissions@oldhall.co.uk 01952 223117 www.oldhall.co.uk
admissions@wrekincollege.com 01952 265603 www.wrekincollege.com
Registered Charity No. 528417
Bears Den
Pre-School
New Extended Opening Times Monday-Friday 8:30am - 3:30pm (term time only) •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• ••
"Curious Cubs leave as Bright Bears" 2 Year Old Funding Available Forces and Non Forces children welcome
Ofsted Inspected Safe and Secure Site BCA Award Runner Up 2017 3 Spacious Rooms Plus Outside Play Area 30 Hour Funded New 30 Hour Funding - Enquiries Welcome Places Available, 15 Extended Funded Flexible Days Hours for 3+ Spaces Available Children Forces and Non-Forces Children Welcome (2, 3 & 4 year olds) Regular Yoga Lessons From a Fully Trained Professional
Fully Qualified Friendly Staff
Over 30 years experience, joyfully assisting years of generations through to their next stage in life where we nudge our children through introducing their first tastes of academic learning
For more information or to book a visit please call 01952 672 506
• Email: bears.den8@gmail.com
Bears Den Pre-School • North Gate • Venning Barracks • Donnington TF2 8JT (Find us near the Clocktower & Wyevale Garden Centre) 45
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CHILDREN, EDUCATION & ACTIVITIES
PETS: With colder weather now upon us, it’s worth thinking about how you’ll take care of your pet to minimise illness and make sure they’re safe. So what areas should you be thinking about? Paws Although dogs’ paws may be more at risk of damage from frost and icy conditions when they go for walks and runs, other animals also experience pain in this area. They can suffer from cracked paws, and pick up salt deposits, which if ingested could cause stomach issues and illness. • Check paws for build-up of snow or ice between the pads – wipe with a warm washcloth and dry well, checking for cracks or irritation, and keep fur between the pads clipped short. Your vet may be able to recommend balm or ointment/oil to soothe their paws.
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR PET IN THE COLDER WEATHER Arthritis If your pet suffers from arthritis, they’ll stiffen up in the cold weather and may find it difficult to walk. • Provide a heated mat in their bed – cosy sheepskin or fleece mats bring relief from arthritis, allowing your pet to enjoy the rest they need.
Older animals Older pets can suffer more at this time of year, even if they don’t have arthritis. They’ll be less flexible generally, and potentially more susceptible to picking up germs. • Make sure they exercise enough – carry on taking your dog out for regular walks, taking into account the wintery conditions. Take advantage of a break in the weather if you can, and choose your route carefully. www.fantasticpetcare.co.uk/blog/how-to-carefor-pets-in-cold-weather/ www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/15-wintercare-tips-for-your-dog/
er Toddl kage Pac Party ilable Ava
By Ann Haldon
Book a party in the month of January and receive a free upgrade to the next party package! Bronze to Silver, Silver to Gold. Let your child be the talk of the playground! With one of they’re party rooms and specialised host, you can sit back and let Airea51 run your whole event.
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Making STEM Fun
by Kate Duggan - kateduggan.co.uk
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) are the fastest growing industries in the world. Even if your child doesn’t fancy a career in STEM, they will need to use elements of it throughout their working life. According to The National Science Foundation, “To succeed in this new information-based and highly technological society, students need to develop their capabilities in STEM to levels much beyond what was considered acceptable in the past.” So how can you help your child to develop a real
• codecombat.com: while this American site is mainly aimed at teachers, you can sign up as a parent or student to access a free short course. • www.codeclub.org.uk, which lists coding clubs for 9-13 year olds across the UK.
Engineering K’Nex model building sets are a fun way to introduce engineering concepts. The K’Nex Education Introduction to Simple Machines: Levers and Pulleys Set, for example, contains more than 170 pieces, and instructions for building eight mini machines. You can also help your child to make simple structures using household items. Straws and play dough are ideal materials for building model bridges. Or try searching www.instructables.com for instructions on making structures out of lolly sticks or toothpicks.
enjoyment for STEM?
Science There are lots of children’s science sets available to buy, but you don’t actually need any fancy equipment to conduct simple experiments at home, such as: • Asking your child to add a few drops of oil to a glass of water. Discuss what they think will happen. Will the oil and water mix or stay separate? • Finding four old, dull two pence coins. Soak each one in a different liquid (water, coke, vinegar and lemon juice) for a few minutes to see which liquid cleans the coin the best.
Technology Computer programming now features in the National Curriculum and many schools offer basic coding clubs from Key Stage 2. Paul Lyons, IT Director at Ebuyer.com, explains, “Even if your child has no interest in becoming a software developer, they will benefit from skills such as problem solving and following instructions - which can be applied to other areas. Many parents may not know where to begin, but introducing educational aspects into children’s technology use at home can have a real impact on a child’s ability.” There are lots of resources available to help your child at home. Useful websites include: • scratch.mit.edu, which lets children aged six and up learn the basics of creating games online.
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Maths Kjartan Poskitt, author of Murderous Maths and Ambassador for the National Young Mathematicians’ Awards 2017, says, “I always say that maths is like broccoli. You either like it or you hate it, but you have to have some because it’s good for you. If learning the tables is driving your child mad, what can you do to sauce them up? The secret is to play around with numbers and get to know them. Here are a couple of little facts and tricks to get you started: • If you write out the digits 1 2 3 4, you can turn them into 12 = 3 x 4. You can also do this with 5 6 7 8 because 56 = 7 x 8. • Pick any three consecutive numbers (e.g. 4, 5 and 6). Multiply the smallest by the biggest, and then add one. (So here we get 4 x 6 = 24, then 24 + 1 = 25). The answer is always the same as the middle number squared (5 x 5 = 25).”
CHILDREN, EDUCATION & ACTIVITIES
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Helping Your Child
TO BECOME MONEY SAVVY
It’s never too early to get into the habit of saving up for what you want. Good habits learnt in childhood can last a lifetime.
returns. Do compare rates, as some savings accounts actually offer a better rate than a cash ISA, and are easier to access.
If it feels as though your children are constantly asking for new toys, sweets and gadgets, you might want to consider giving them weekly pocket money, with the proviso that once it’s gone, it’s gone. If they want to save up for something big, like a scooter, help them to focus by sticking a photo of it by their money box. You can also remind them about their goal when they’re tempted to spend their money on ‘tat’. Do they really want that Shopkins blind bag now, or would they rather buy a scooter in a few months’ time?
www.moneysavingexpert.com helps you to easily compare the rates of children’s savings accounts and junior ISAs. While the AER (annual equivalent rate) is important, you’ll also want to consider other aspects when choosing a provider, such as:
You can buy money boxes that have separate sections, such as short-term savings, long-term savings and quick spends. Or just make your own, with different labelled jam jars.
Children’s savings accounts It can be difficult to resist dipping into a money box, so you might want to think about opening a savings account for your child, particularly if they want to save up for something big, or you want to start putting some money away to help with university fees or a house deposit.
Easy access accounts Easy access accounts are handy for short-term savings. There’s no penalty to take the money out and the account can be in your child’s name if they’re aged seven or older.
Fixed-rate accounts Fixed-rate accounts often earn a higher rate of interest than easy-access accounts, but your child will be tied in to a set period before they can withdraw any money without a penalty.
Regular savings accounts If you or your child can commit to saving at least £5 each month, a regular savings account often pays a higher rate of interest than the accounts previously mentioned. However, the rate usually drops considerably if you make any withdrawals within a set period, and it often drops anyway after the initial bonus period ends.
Junior ISAs If your child is saving for a long-term goal, such as university, a junior ISA is a good way of locking the money away from temptation. As with adult ISAs, you can choose between a cash ISA and a stocks and shares one. There is a greater risk with a stocks and shares ISA, but there’s also the possibility of higher
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Which financial provider to go for?
• How easy is it to deposit money? • How often can you withdraw money without paying a penalty? • Does the provider align with your values? For example, do they have an ethical policy that says they won’t invest your child’s money in companies that use child labour or test on animals? • How easy is it to manage the account? Depending on your child’s age, they might also benefit from an account that comes with an app for their smartphone and a cash card.
Family budgeting The Money Advice Service is a useful resource if you need to improve your own finances. It offers free advice on everything from budgeting to pensions. Visit www.moneyadviceservice. org.uk or call 0800 138 7777.
by Kate Duggan kateduggan.co.uk
BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL
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CD Financial Limited is an appointed representative of Openwork. Limited which is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. Your home maybe repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Our fee for arranging a mortgage is £195.
Free Will Writing Service Parry Carver Solicitors are supporting Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s Free Will Writing Service, which is available for those aged 55 and over. Whether you are looking to make your first Will or update an existing one, it’s important that you properly plan your financial affairs to ensure your loved ones are looked after. Talk to us at Parry Carver today about having your Will written for free, for that extra peace of mind.
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Newport & District Male Voice Choir It’s that time of year when we reflect on the efforts we should be making in order to achieve a healthy lifestyle, and perhaps resolve to do better in future. However, the mere thought of flogging round the roads in the rain, pumping iron in some sweaty gym or knocking seven bells out of a punch bag seems so awful that we reach for the remote and settle for an evening in front of the TV. "Here’s a better idea... Singing is good for your health!"
INVITES YOU TO SING!
Here’s the thing: on Saturday 24th February, Newport Male Voice Choir offers you and your friends the opportunity to come along to Trinity Church in Newport for a free workout! Starting at 10.30, all of us, including present choir members, will endeavour to learn three new songs from scratch, specially chosen for accessibility and tunefulness. You will be greeted and welcomed by an exceptionally friendly group of people who will do their utmost to make you feel comfortable. You need no previous experience of singing, just enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Fear not! If you can find the courage to give it a try, you will be amply rewarded. It’s really a no-brainer….
It doesn’t involve feeling you’re about to gasp your last. It doesn’t involve working up a sweat. It doesn’t involve paying a fortune for sports equipment. It doesn’t involve competition of any sort. The health benefits of simply singing for pleasure are widely accepted and well researched. It counts as an aerobic activity that increases oxygenation in the blood stream. It exercises lungs and heart, muscles in the upper body, and that’s even when you’re sitting down! It reduces stress levels, produces ‘feel good’ hormones and helps promote a sense of community and psychological well-being. What’s not to like? Newport Male Voice Choir invites you to sing!
Word Ladder
Wills • Lasting Power of Attorney • Funeral Plans
Make the most of the start of this New Year! Resolve family issues before they happen... 1. Write Your Will 2. Complete Lasting Powers of Attorney 3. Consider a Pre-paid Funeral Plan
It’s that time of year when we reflect on the efforts we should be making in order to achieve a healthy lifestyle, and perhaps resolve to do better in future. However, the mere thought of flogging round the roads in the rain, pumping iron in some sweaty gym or knocking seven bells out of a punch bag seems so awful that we reach for the remote and settle for an evening in front of the TV.
Change one letter at a time (but not the position of Here’s a better idea. Singing is good for your health! any letter) to make a new word - and move from the It doesn’t involve feeling you’re about to gasp your last. It doesn’t involve working up a sweat. It doesn’t involve paying a fortune for sports equipment. It doesn’t involve competition of any sort. word at the top of the ladder to the word at the bottom, The health benefits of simply singing for pleasure are widely accepted and well researched. It counts as an aerobic activity that increases oxygenation in the blood stream. It exercises lungs and heart, using the exact number of rungs provided. muscles in the upper body, and that’s even when you’re sitting down! It reduces stress levels,
D U C K
produces ‘feel good’ hormones and helps promote a sense of community and psychological wellbeing. What’s not to like? Here’s the thing: on Saturday 24th February, Newport Male Voice Choir offers you and your friends the to come along Trinity Church in Newport for a free workout! Starting at 10.30, all canopportunity find the courage to give it atotry, you will be amply rewarded. It’s really a no-brainer…. of us, including present choir members, will endeavour to learn three new songs from scratch, specially chosen for accessibility and tunefulness. You will be greeted and welcomed by an exceptionally friendly group of people who will do their utmost to make you feel comfortable. You need no previous experience of singing, just enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Fear not! If you
We will offer you friendly guidance and advice in plain English. Here to help you and your family.
Contact Alistair at ACW Wills and Estates Limited on
07768 643225 or 01952 670534
E: alistair@acwwillsandestates.co.uk • www.acwwillsandestates.co.uk 52
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Divorce Day The tinsel has only just come down and the last remains of the Christmas turkey have finally been polished off, and the thoughts of Family lawyers are already turning to “D-day”. Depending on whom you believe, D-day (or “Divorce Day”) is either the first Monday or the first day back at work in January, after the traditional Christmas break. The theory is that this day is likely to be the busiest day of the year for matrimonial solicitors, with people deciding to beat a hasty path to the solicitor’s door as soon as their offices re-open. The reality is a little less dramatic but it is true that there is often a spike in demand for Family lawyers’ services in early January. If you feel that it might be time to bring an end to your relationship, then it is very important that you receive considered practical advice regarding how to manage your separation appropriately. Here at Terry Jones solicitors we have a team of specialist Family law advisors who can point you in the right direction. We also offer free initial 30 minute appointments at our offices, upon request.
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Books
INTO THE NEW YEAR Books about awakenings and new beginnings to see you into 2018.
The Power – Naomi Alderman
Not a new release this one, but well worth a read if you missed it back in 2016. Teenage girls across the world discover they have the power to hurt, and even kill, with just their bare hands. And they have the ability to awaken that same power in other women. Now that men are the weak ones, how will the gender balance shift? An engaging read that twists modern day happenings and examines the dark side of power. Gripping, thought-provoking and a real conversation starter, The Power is ideal for book clubs.
Me. You. A Diary – Dawn French
This book combines writing your own diary with taking a peek into Dawn French’s. She shares her thoughts each month, along with various insights into her life, and invites you to do the same. The idea is that, by the end of the year, you’ll have a ‘fatter, scruffier book that is written by me but totally personalised by you.’ With various writing prompts, this book makes keeping a diary altogether easier. The perfect start to the new year.
How to be Champion: My Autobiography – Sarah Millican
Sarah Millican’s autobiography is like a glorious ramble through her life. The book is split into chapters with headers such as ‘Things I’ve Been Bullied For’, ‘Why I’m Not A Criminal’ and ‘My Love Of Stationery’. It’s part autobiography and part self-help guide. Nothing is off limits, so it’s probably not the book for you if you’re not keen on swear words or reading about bodily functions. However, if you want a book that’ll make you feel good about yourself and is snort-your-tea-out-of-your-nosefunny, buy it now.
History of Wolves – Emily Fridlund
14 year old Linda lives in an ex-commune out in the woods. Lonely, socially-inexperienced and left to her own devices by her parents, Linda craves friends and a sense of belonging. When a new family moves nearby, she befriends the young mother and regularly babysits the four year old child. But she soon discovers that all is not right. The choices Linda has to make to keep her new found family could have tragic consequences. Compelling reading.
The Art of Hiding – Amanda Prowse
Nina seems to have the perfect life, but it soon starts to unravel when her husband is killed in a car crash. Left with two children to care for, a mountain of debt, and the growing realisation that her husband wasn’t all he seemed, Nina has to fight to rebuild a life for herself and her family. An enjoyable easy read – perfect for long winter’s nights.
Mrs Osmond – John Banville
Banville picks up the story of Isabel Osmond (née Archer) from where we left her in the classic The Portrait of a Lady. While this novel will likely appeal most to fans of Henry James’s work, Banville retells enough of the original story for Mrs Osmond to work as a stand-alone piece. Upon learning of her husband’s betrayal, Isabel has journeyed to London, leaving him behind in Italy. Away from her husband and reunited with her friends, Isabel starts to rediscover her desire for independence. Lively characters, elegant prose and engaging dialogue combine to make this a very enjoyable read.
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Gardener's Resolve Happy New Year! Now that 2018 is here, what are you going to resolve to do (or not do!) in the year ahead? I could write a book about what I need to do in the garden, but like those non-garden resolutions, I’ve long since realised that it is best to stick to things you’ve got at least some chance of achieving! So I’ll probably not say I’ll re-turf the lawn or create the much wished for wildlife-friendly pond…I’ve been planning both of these for years with no sign of progress!
Re-cycle pots
I’m sure that there is virtually no need to buy another plastic plant pot...and I’m sure that landfill sites would breathe a sigh of relief if we could all stick to this resolution: save all the pots you get when you buy new plants, and any plug-style trays that house bedding plants. Rinse them out and let them dry off, and next time you need a pot there will already be one there, free of charge as well as saving you a trip to the local garden centre. Pots stored away from sunlight will last much longer as they will be protected from the harmful rays of the sun which make many types of plastic disintegrate.
Cover it up!
Mulch more
Make use of any organic matter that is bulky – mulch with it. Whether it is well-rotted manure, garden compost, leaf mould, or the used compost from a seasonal bedding display or growing bag, make it into mulch! Applied a couple of inches or more deep over the soil surface, a mulch like this will improve the soil’s ability to conserve moisture (saving you both watering time and water) and may also help to keep weeds at bay. A win-win situation.
Make a resolution to dry off and cover up garden furniture once the summer is over. Left out there throughout the worst of the weather, pretty well all furniture will take a serious battering – from rain, cold, ice and, in some cases, even fungi! Shop around for furniture covers that won’t break the bank or, better still, store the furniture in a shed or garage if you have one. Stored properly, it will last much longer and you’ll save yourself a fortune.
Pause before you buy
Grow your own
Seasonal saver
This needn’t mean total self-sufficiency for twelve months of the year, but aim to grow more of your own fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs. It might mean buying yourself a couple of tomato plants for the first time, or creating a small herb planter, or it could be larger scale and more complex plans if you’re already big on grow-your-own...but increase what you do! Don’t forget that if you’d like UK-grown vegetable plants accompanied by my weekly advice and tips emails, you will find a great choice of some of my favourite varieties at www. pippagreenwood.com/grow-your-own.
Compost more
It is easy to put things that should be composted in the waste bin, but once you get in the swing of it composting will soon become second nature. Make it easier to compost kitchen waste by putting a container in the kitchen for vegetable peelings, apple cores and so forth. Empty it regularly and there won’t be problems with smells. The amount of extra compost you’ll generate will be well worthwhile. Many local councils offer a really good deal on basic plastic composters.
Use that space!
If you have a cold frame, porch, conservatory or greenhouse, put it to use! Far too many of these potentially great gardening structures are left abandoned for much of the year, perhaps just being graced with a handful of tomatoes for the summer months. Any sort of protected growing area has the ability to increase what you can grow and when you can grow it. So raise your own summer flowers in it, force some bulbs in it in the winter or make off-season sowings of salad crops…make it work, but whatever you do, don’t use it as the family rubbish dump!
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When you’re looking through the seed, plant and bulb catalogues, browsing online or wandering around a garden centre, pause before you buy. I know I’m not alone in having eyes that are much bigger than my plot! It is very easy to order more seeds than you’ll ever be able to sow and plants that you’ll never be able to squeeze into your garden.
Make sure you recycle your Christmas tree. Real trees can be recycled at locations up and down the country – many garden centres and councils offer the service. The trees will be shredded and added to other green materials to make a great soil conditioner and planting mix. I asked some of my well-known gardening friends on BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time for their New Years’ Resolutions: Eric Robson, our Chairman on the show: ‘I’ve joked about it lots in the past but I’m definitely – and I mean definitely – going to found the Ground Elder Appreciation Society. Great ground cover plant, wonderful as an alternative to spinach and the variegated version should have an Award of Garden Merit. ’ Bunny Guinness, garden designer and Chelsea gold medallist: ‘To reap all I sow. My pigs have had rather too good a diet this year - copious quince, grapes, apples and even peaches! It is quite difficult to find time to eat or store it all, but at least they were extremely appreciative reciprocates!’ Anne Swithinbank, panellist: ‘My resolution is to tackle some serious decluttering. In the gardening department, this means sorting a horrid muddle of fleece, netting, twine, hand tools, gloves, propagator lids and flower pots filling my sheds. I’m sure I can throw half of it away, then give everything its special place. It’s silly to waste precious time looking for these things, when it would be better spent sowing, weeding and planting.’ Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com and you’ll find some great gardening things: ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ (where you receive your chosen garden-ready vegetable plants in the spring accompanied by weekly advice and tips from Pippa) plus gardening tools, raised bed kits, Grower Frames, signed books and more!
by Pippa Greenwood
GARDENS & OUTDOORS
CLOSED DURING JANUARY Re-opening 1st February 2018 We would like to thank all our customers, new and old, for all their support during 2017. Although we are closed during January we will still be working hard to bring you quality plants, including lots of new additions for 2018. Come and view our quality products and be amazed at our fantastic prices... Bloomsbury Nursery Ltd, Weston Heath, Bloomsbury TF11 8RT
01952 691203 • www.bloomsburynursery.co.uk
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New Technologies
TO HELP YOU MAKE A 'GREEN' EXIT
Even with the best of intentions, it’s almost impossible to avoid leaving a carbon footprint during your lifetime. Use any form of motor transport, throw away an item destined for landfill or switch on your heating on a cold day and by these simple actions you will be contributing to environmental pollution and - it is widely believed climate change. “But it’ll all stop when I’m dead!” I hear you say. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that. There is one final hurdle to jump before you can truly claim to have passed beyond the point of affecting the environment, and that’s the way you choose to dispose of your earthly remains. In the UK today, cremation is probably the most common form of disposal. It began to win favour in the crowded towns and cities of the Victorian era when one of the queen’s physicians, Sir Henry Thompson, stated that it was “becoming a necessary sanitary precaution against the propagation of disease among a population daily growing larger in relation to the area it occupied”. He also believed that cremation would prevent the risk of premature burial, make funerals less costly and protect mourners from having to stand by the graveside in bad weather! Last year a survey carried out by the government website YouGov discovered that while 17% of people in the UK want to be buried when they die, almost six out of ten would prefer to be cremated. It takes a huge amount of energy to reduce a human body to ashes, and crematoria use industrial furnaces capable of generating temperatures of 870-980 °C (1,6001,800 °F). Despite the generation of so much heat, it can take between one and three hours to complete a cremation. As well as using energy, the process also releases toxins in the form of gases, including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen chloride, dioxins, furans and formaldehyde. Despite strict filtration rules, a small amount of mercury also manages to escape into the earth’s atmosphere. In the UK, 16% of all mercury pollution results from the cremation process. Most people assume that burials are less likely to damage the environment and it’s true that they can be more eco-friendly, provided the coffin and everything inside is made of natural materials. However, some of the processes involved in burial can release damaging chemicals; for example, embalming fluid - a recognised carcinogen - will eventually leach into the soil, while coffins made of hardwood take a long time to break down and any plastic fittings attached will probably release toxins as they degrade. That’s not to mention any concrete or steel used in the creation of burial vaults, nor the upkeep of burial grounds, where energy and resources are required to maintain the lawns, pathways and flowerbeds. Less maintenance is required if bodies are interred in a natural environment, and many woodland or meadow burial sites offer the added benefit of a lovely view, providing tranquil surroundings for visitors to the grave.
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Despite the potential of burial to create fewer environmental hazards, it is not for everyone: once the body is interred, natural processes get to work, gradually breaking it down until only the bones remain. Not all of us like the thought of allowing our bodies to degrade in this way, but recently families in the USA and Canada have been able to sign up to methods of disposal that offer an alternative to conventional burial or cremation. Alkaline hydrolysis - known as Resomation and often dubbed “green cremation” - is a chemical process similar to natural anaerobic digestion (a process already used in medical clinics). The body is placed in water inside an aluminium container and the soft tissue is then broken down into a nontoxic liquid, using a combination of potassium hydroxide, heat and pressure. While flame-based cremation reduces the body to a relatively small amount of ashes, this method leaves the skeleton, as well as any medical implants, completely intact. The bones can subsequently be buried, or ground to a powder similar to cremated ashes. For many the idea of being immersed in a water-based solution is preferable to conventional cremation and there are indications that the technique may soon become available in the UK, although currently there are only around 14 funeral directors in the world offering this ‘green’ option. Further ‘green’ methods in the pipeline are Cryomation - where a body is freeze-dried in liquid nitrogen then broken up into granules for burial - and ecoLegacy, where the body is cooled, then reduced to powder using pressure waves. Just 5% of the respondents in YouGov’s survey said they were looking for “something else” when it came to the disposal of their mortal remains, so it’s difficult to predict what the level of take-up will be when all these new options become available in the UK. Although the British public may initially be slow to break with established tradition, the introduction of ‘greener’ forms of burial and cremation will at least provide a wider choice for those of us seeking to leave the lightest possible carbon footprint on our planet.
by Kate McLelland
GARDENS & OUTDOORS
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30836 Advert for Telford Bricks.indd 1
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Using only the letters in the Wordwheel, you have ten minutes to find as many words as possible, none of which may be plurals, foreign words or proper nouns. Each word must be of three letters or more, all must contain the central letter and letters can only be used once in every word. There is at least one word that uses all of the letters in the wheel.
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McLaren 720S
I’ve just exited a roundabout – one I’ve left many times before in a variety of cars – and I’m heading down a familiar straight; I know it leads to a 90 degree right and yet more well-sighted, beautifullysurfaced road, but this time it’s different.
Unfortunately it’s not all good news. The electronics, while much better and easier to use than the cars they have featured in before, are still buggy. Our test car warned us of impending suspension failure, when it was fine, and of power steering catastrophe, again when there was nothing wrong. You wouldn’t forgive that on a car costing a tenth of a price, let alone one knocking on a quarter of a million pounds.
I’m sat behind an exquisitely-crafted steering wheel, in a plum pudding purple leather cabin, and things are happening faster than they’ve ever happened before. Behind me, a 4.0-litre twinturbo V8 is converting 710bhp into forward thrust that has to be experienced to be believed.
The second disappointment is the noise. It’s all sucking, blowing and wind roar - there’s no start up, high speed thrum, or deep bellowing exhaust note. Just a rush of air intake and utterly ballistic forward motion. OK, it’s no Tesla, all silent propulsion, but then at the same time it’s no rival for Ferrari’s now equallymuted, but still much better, 488 soundtrack.
Just a look at the numbers gives an indication of what the new darling of Woking has in its arsenal: 60mph in 2.8 seconds, 124mph in 7.8 seconds and 186mph in 21.4 seconds. That’s a lot of numbers that need perspective. Take the 124mph time as just one example: that’s just a few tenths slower than a Volkswagen Golf GTD manages to hit 60mph. In the same time, the 720S is doing double that speed. Double. While those figures give you some reference, what they can’t explain is the feeling that translates to when you’re sat behind the wheel. The g-force such explosive acceleration exerts on your body under foot-to-the-floor power is like a roller coaster, like free falling from a plane as the world becomes a blur in your peripheral vision. Braking is sharp, shockingly sudden and painfully precise.
Thankfully, the out-of-this-world looks make up for some of those foibles. The dramatic doors stop petrol station punters in their tracks as you arch them skyward. It can feel like you’ve livepaused passers-by in a TV show, their mouths slowly drifting towards the floor as they wake back up. Rarely does a car send pedestrians into a dreamlike state quite like this McLaren. Huge air scoops, slits and slants in the bodywork add to the visual drama, while also playing an important part in directing the huge gulps of air the revised power plant needs to keep it cool. Sadly McLaren still has a lot of work to do in wiggling its way into the public consciousness - as much as those we encountered fell instantly in love with it, few knew what brand it belonged to, let alone which model it was.
The McLaren takes countryside sweepers, motorway miles and But back to what the McLaren does best. I’ve got dials turned to quick changes in direction and road surface in its stride. It’s slippery sport mode, and Wales to cross. The rain is just starting incredibly capable and a huge step on from the 650S it replaces. to cover the road with a glistening dew-like Steering is pinpoint direct, well weighted and coating and the 720S is twitching in the trembling with pins and needle-like feedback. THE KNOWLEDGE bends, squirming as it hunts for traction. It’s Model: McLaren 720S The seven-speed automatic gearbox rifles palm-dampening, but exciting, and about to Price: £218,020 through gears like a sharp shooter - OK, maybe create a journey that’ll be indelibly marked on at load speeds it can be a bit grabby as shunt Engine: 4.0-litre, twin turbo V8 my memory. This McLaren may not be quite through the transmission is felt in the cabin, but Power: 710bhp, 770Nm perfect, but my word is it getting incredibly at speed, in maximum attack, it’s rapid, slick 0-60mph: 2.8 seconds close. and enjoyable. The rocker mechanism to the Top speed: 212mph paddles is a joy too. Pull one and you can feel Economy: 26.4mpg the other move away from you, and vice versa. Emissions: 249g/km by James Baggot It’s a classy touch.
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MOTORS & LEISURE
Mercedes-Benz E-Class All Terrain. Seek the Spirit of Adventure
Call us on 01743 600 363 to book a test drive. Mercedes-Benz of Shrewsbury
Vanguard Way, Battlefield Enterprise Park, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 3TG
The model shown is an E-Class Estate All-Terrain. Official government fuel consumption figures in mpg (litres per 100km) for the new E-Class Estate range: urban 34.9(8.1), extra urban 48.7(5.8), combined 41.5(6.8). CO2 emissions 179 g/km. Official EU-regulated test data are provided for comparison purposes and actual performance will depend on driving style, road conditions and other non-technical factors.
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Motoring
HONDA CIVIC TYPE R
THE KNOWLEDGE
Model: Honda Civic Type R Model as tested: Honda Civic Type R GT Base price: £32,995 Price as tested: £33,520 Engine tested: 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol Power (bhp): 316bhp Torque (Nm): 400 Max speed (mph): 169 0-60mph: 5.5 MPG: 36.7 Emissions (g/km): 176
In the look-at-me stakes, Honda’s new Civic Type R screams attention-seeker louder than an Instagram influencer. With trying-too-hard fins, wings and ice-white paintwork, it’s the sort of car you need to be sure you don’t mind people pointing out, and sometimes laughing at, when you’re driving it down the street. You see, when it comes to looks, Honda appears to have added needless frippery to its new Type R. The manufacturer will tell you it’s about aerodynamics and downforce, but does that really matter on the A34? No, what matters is the fact people will think you’ve added the adornments yourself after a binge credit card spending spree in Halfords. Inside, it’s far less shouty and much more traditional Honda formula. It’s a combination of harder plastics, an infotainment system that isn’t up to the standards of rivals and a seating position you’ll either love or hate. All that is soon forgotten on the road. Honda has sprinkled magic dust on this Type R and generated a machine that’s utterly fabulous to drive. Fast, grippy and with a gearbox that delights, it’s a hot hatch to take the fight to the very best in its class. The large, winged bucket seats are immediately comfortable, and the driving position suits us. Thumb the large starter button and there’s a real cackle from the exhaust – it’s exactly how every hot hatch should sound when they fire into life. Moving off, on to the surprisingly smooth asphalt that only occasionally crops up in the area of south Wales we’re testing in, and the Type R feels well set up. The ride is firm, that’s for sure, but then you almost expect that with a car like this. A small amount of jostling is part and parcel of a hot hatch – particularly a fast Honda. Though the Civic Type R feels quick, the real surprise is just how much speed you can carry through corners. The body is 38 per cent stiffer than the car it replaces, and this added rigidity makes itself known almost everywhere.
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The turn-in is quick, but the limited-slip differential means that you can fire the R into bends and it’ll just grip and grip. The whole experience is helped no end by the car’s seating position, which is now 50mm lower than the older Civic Type R. This gives you the ability to get low in the car, and completely transforms the entire drive. When the non-R Civic was launched sometime last year, most people knew that it featured a chassis which could benefit from an awful lot more power. The R saw to that – and then some. There’s next to no body roll, and the front two wheels cope admirably with the 316bhp being sent through them. You won’t torque steer either – the steering stays unaffected even when accelerating hard, and this gives you a huge amount of confidence. You could argue the location played into the hands of the Type R – green, rolling hills (or mountains, this is Wales after all) coupled with tight, technical roads contributed heavily to the hot hatch experience. It’s a match made in driving heaven. However, the Type R has always been slightly tarred by that ‘boy racer’ brush. But despite that needlessly big wing, this car has got a real character to it, something lacking in quite a few others on sale today. Even the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine has its own personality, popping and growling as you push it harder through the bends. When the rain came, boy did the R get better. Yes, there’s a good degree of scrabble from the front tyres once the tarmac gets a soaking as the rubber struggles for traction, but after that the Civic continues to impress. Everything about it feels alive, particularly along the wide open sections of the A4059 north of Penderyn. The short, notchy six-speed manual is a joy to use, while the characterful engine provides more than enough shove to keep things interesting. Put simply, it’s a far more involving car to drive than you’d expect. On these roads, the Type R seems perfect. Yes, the interior foibles could make it a difficult one to live with day-to-day and you’ll have to get used to the strange looks from passers-by, but on Welsh A-roads when the sun is (occasionally) shining, there are few cars quite like it.
by James Baggott
MOTORS & LEISURE
THE NEW COMING SOON
Commutes feel cooler. Getaways get greater. Adventures become reinvented. Step up to Grandland X’s extra ride height, premium design, enhanced safety assistance and smart infotainment, and you’ll find it’s more than just another SUV. Isn’t life brilliant. Greenhous Shrewsbury Old Potts Way Shrewsbury SY3 7ET 01743 231321 www.greenhousvauxhall.co.uk
Greenhous Telford Trench Lock Telford TF1 5SU 01952 265400 www.greenhousvauxhall.co.uk
Official Government Test Environmental Data. Fuel consumption figures mpg (litres/100km) and CO2 emissions (g/km). Grandland X Launch Edition 1.2 (130PS) Turbo Start/Stop: Urban: 44.1 (6.4), Extra Urban: 57.6 (4.9), Combined 52.3 (5.4). CO2 emissions: 124g/km.# Model shown Grandland X Launch Edition 1.2 (130PS) Turbo Start/Stop OTR £28,245. #Fuel consumption information is official government environmental data, tested in accordance with the relevant EU directive. Official EU-regulated test data is provided for comparison purposes and actual performance will depend on driving style, road conditions and other non-technical factors. Correct at time of going to press.
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Travel
THE FRENCH ARDENNES
French Ardennes, Meuse valley, Monthermé Montherme©D.Truillard
In north-eastern France, the Regional Nature Park of the Ardennes rises towards the Belgian border, festooned in hills and vales, fast-flowing rivers, dramatic rocks, lush hedgerows and deep forests home to wild boar and deer. Haunted by ancient legends, laced with trails and glorious views, it is largely undiscovered and a haven for nature lovers, covering 117,000 hectares. Trekking, cycling, horse riding, kayaking or sailing on the rivers, there are myriad ways to explore and maybe spot the beavers at work, a black stork or a peregrine falcon, a black woodpecker or a hazel grouse sitting on a branch. Wild orchids and carnivorous sundews peep here and there and golden broom and purple heather splash colour on the higher slopes. The scenery is forever changing but most endearing is the green finger of land pointing north and the valleys of the Meuse and its tributary the Semoy. Tumbling down from the Belgium uplands, the Semoy meanders through verdant countryside on its way to the Nature Park across the border. There, from the village of Hautes-Rivières to the confluence with the Meuse, a 20km long cycle path follows every bend of the river, punctuated by rocky outcrops and viewpoints such as the ‘Cross of Hell’, a name which leaves plenty to the imagination. By clear weather, you might just see the Croix Scaille, at 503 metres the highest point in the French Ardennes. The Meuse meanders on and on, revealing its most stunning panoramas when you follow the trails along the crest. For
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many visitors, the true icon of the valley is Monthermé, nestling crescent-shaped at the tip of a peninsula, stretching out like a green dragon’s tongue as the river almost closes a perfect loop. The water glistens as blue as the sky and densely wooded hills roll as far as you can see in all shades of green. A path climbs through the forest to a series of precipitous rocks where you can look down on Monthermé and one of the most spectacular river loops in France. In the distance the silhouettes of the ‘Four Sons of Aymon’ rise on a rocky ridge above the village of Bogny. According to legend, the knights escaped from Charles the Great on a magic horse, taking refuge in the Ardennes where they were turned into rocks. In this fantastic landscape legends abound, from the Devil’s Castle to the Spinner’s Bench or the rocks of the Ladies of the Meuse, petrified for being unfaithful during the crusades. In the spring, Monthermé comes into its own with a popular festival dedicated to the legends of the Ardennes and the ‘little people’ who hide among the rocks. Festival over, it is time to ramble along the trails, 47 of them from easy strolls to more demanding climbs, criss-crossing the park all the way to Givet at the northern tip, taking in the star-shaped citadel of Rocroi, the lakes, the laurel forest and the slate route around Fumay. The people of the valley are proud of their heritage and that includes the industry which remains a valuable source of income. Just like the wartime memories, it is part of the Ardennes but in this little corner of France, off the beaten track, you’ll discover sleepy villages of yellow or blue-tinged stone, fortified churches, castles, abbeys or isolated farms with a beautiful backdrop of verdant hills and valleys.
by Solange Hando
MOTORS & LEISURE
Winter
DRIVING TIPS
Iain Betson passes on some winter driving tips Stop! When snow is falling fast, don’t drive unless you really have to. In terrible weather, putting things off until conditions improve is best. Winter ailments can leave you exhausted and sluggish. If you don’t feel like you can drive safely, don’t risk it.
Car maintenance Keeping the car well maintained is doubly important in winter. Worn tyres won’t hold the road in wet conditions as well as those with a good, deep tread. Make sure all exterior lights are working and that windscreen wiper blades are in good condition. Check the oil, coolant and washer fluid levels.
In the wet Take simple precautions when driving in heavy rain. Slow down: the wetter the roads, the longer your braking distance, and the heavier the rain, the worse your visibility. Drive cautiously and leave a good distance between you and the vehicle in front.
In snow and ice Again, slow down and leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front. Use your headlights if necessary. Brake and accelerate gently. It’s not always easy to tell if you’re driving on ice, though if your tyres are making less noise than usual you may well be. If you do skid, don’t brake – you’ll lock the wheels and lose control. Instead, depress the clutch and steer into the direction of the skid. When the car straightens, steer as normal.
Emergency Stopping Apply the brake, without locking the wheels. If the vehicle starts to skid, ease pressure from the pedal and then reapply. Press the clutch in just before you stop.
Safe winter motoring!
By Iain Betson
CLASSIC CAR
ROLLS ROYCE SILVER SPIRIT Gold Metallic Paint Leather interior | Air con
JAGUAR XJ LUXURY LWB
Luxury travel for Your Wedding Day
The Jaguar XJ oozes modern luxury and refinement, its lavishly equipped with full leather interior, dual zone climate control and twin glass sunroofs, it is the long wheel base version so has extra legroom in the back for extra comfort. This is a beautiful vehicle in a stunning cashmere gold colour. All our bespoke packages include a fully uniformed chauffeur service and bows and ribbons. We have various other luxury vehicles available if you have guests to transport to the Venue.
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Fabulous Fireplaces
by Katherine Sorrell
It’s time to put another log on the fire, get cosy and snuggle up until winter is over. Our ideas will help ensure your fireplace looks as good as it makes you feel. Refresh your fireplace, and the wall around it, with carefully chosen wallpaper or a fresh coat of paint. Walls: Dimpse No.277 Estate Emulsion, £43.50 for 2.5l; woodwork: Wevet No.273 Estate Eggshell, £24 for 750ml; fireplace: Mole’s Breath No.276 Estate Eggshell, £24 for 750ml; all Farrow & Ball.
Perfect for kindling or newspapers, this hand-made leather bucket is made in a family co-operative in Rajasthan using natural dyes. It costs £89.95 from Decorator’s Notebook. Sturdy yet easily portable, this Scandinaviandesigned fire screen is both smart and practical. Garden Trading Jutland fire screen in steel, £75, Black By Design.
In a country cottage or a traditional townhouse, an oldfashioned basket is just the thing for storing logs beside the fire. Rustic log basket, £55, The Farthing.
Every open fire deserves a chestnut roaster, and this one has been hand forged from mild steel with a traditional rat’s tail, £44, Moore Designs.
Every ‘real’ fire needs a tool set. In wrought iron with an antiqued finish, this trio of poker, fork and grabbers will help you get the flames going on a chilly evening. Fireside tool set, £44.50, Garden Trading.
A reindeer hide is just the thing for throwing down in front of the fire. This extra-large one is a natural by-product of the meat industries in Finland and Norway, and costs £170 from The French Bedroom Company.
IMPROVE YOUR FIRESIDE DÉCOR
• The fireplace wall is often the focal point of the room, and can look amazing when treated as a feature wall, using either striking wallpaper or a paint colour that contrasts with, yet also complements, the colours used in the rest of the room. • Fireplace accessories can be quite distinctive and are usually on display, so choose pieces, whether contemporary or traditional, that co-ordinate both with your room as a whole and with each other.
The right mirror – whatever style you like, from glamorous to minimal, elegant to industrial – can turn an average fireplace into a stunning one. Solis spiked sunburst mirror, £62, Audenza.
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If a rustic log basket isn’t your look, consider a minimal metal holder instead. Lodge round log carrier in steel, £57, Garden Trading.
• Above the fireplace, add either a work of art or a mirror that is proportionate to the space. A mirror is very useful for reflecting light around the room, but don’t feel it has to be a traditional overmantel – something more contemporary may fit better with your style. • Think about what is displayed on your mantelpiece. Photographs, candles, small ornaments and vases of flowers, collections…anything goes provided it fits. A formal, symmetrical arrangement is easy to achieve and suits a traditional room, or else something more freeform can be eye-catching and intriguing. • Not using your fireplace? It can still be a great feature. Stack logs within it, prop up a framed picture, display a large ornament such as a shell, a piece of coral or antlers, set up a group of candles, or simply use the space for a display of flowers in a simple vase.
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
Installation of Fires & Stoves
As seen on C4’s tion Restora n Ma
W CALL NO UR YO TO GET NER R LOG BU ! FITTED
ALPINE
Hetas approved installer of Solid Fuel Chimney Systems
DDFlue Linings DDLog Burners DDStoves DDChimney Work DDRoof Work
The installation of all Wood Burning Stoves or other Solid Fuel Burning Appliances MUST comply with building regulations, HETAS installers are qualified fitters who can self-certify their own work, ensuring the installation is safe and legal.
Call Lee on 01952 276417 or 07813 921907 E: lee.alpine@yahoo.co.uk
Admaston Firecraft Centre NEW EVONIC
Inset Fires Now on Display
Beat the Cold - Stay Warm this
Winter!
Visit our NEW showroom: Unit 49, Atcham Business Park, Atcham, Shrewsbury SY4 4UG FREE PARKING
Stoves, Fires, Surrounds & Accessories Full fitting service for wood burners and gas/electric fires Est: 23 Years
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Authorised dealers for: Stovax, Woodwarm, Evonic, Dean Forge, Hunter, Dimplex, Legend & Gazco
Email: admastonfirecraft@mail.com
www.admastonfirecraftcentre.co.uk 67
A.P.H Windows
Family Run Business Est 1981
01952 680441 • www.aphwindows.co.uk Manufacturers & Installers of High Quality: • Fully Welded uPVC Windows, Doors & Conservatories • Internally Glazed with high Security Locks • Composite Doors • Garage Doors • Fascias, Soffits & Guttering • Building Extensions
ROOM NEW SHOW Orangery,
upstairs with Conservatory with solid tiled effect roof & y Composite doors displa
Why Choose A.P.H Windows? All uPVC products are made in our own factory Deal direct with the owner • No pressure Salesmen Directly employed craftsmen • Full after sales service No deposit required Our showroom is full of ideas to help you decide on the style & design of your windows, doors and dream conservatory
Open 9-5.30pm Mon-Fri & 10-3pm Sat Unit H1, Halesfield 19, Telford TF7 4QT
Registered Company 16299
Safely Access Your Loft! for only
£399
aphwindowsltd
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This price is for a standard height ceiling with an 8ft drop, width 22-30”
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♦♦Each ladder has a 10
year parts guarantee and can be installed in approx. 2-3 hours.
♦♦We offer a loft boarding
service if required at an additional cost.
The Local Distributor & Installer for For more information visit: www.stira.co.uk CALL TO ARRANGE A FREE QUOTE
T: 01952 282152 or 07817 431505 68
Facebook: jakesnladders
Hard
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
Celebrating 35 Years in Business
Est 1982
Shropshire’s first choice for ‘A’ Rated Replacement Windows, Conservatories and Doors Approved Profiles
Mon-Fri 9am - 5pm Sat 9am - 4:30pm
01952 301062 Sunday & Evenings 01952 510595
E: sales@trotfieldwindows.co.uk www.trotfieldwindows.co.uk
PVCu Brilliant White, Woodgrain Replacement Windows • Doors • Conservatories Leaded, Stained or Georgian Glass Night Ventilation • Internally Glazed for Security 15 Year Insurance Backed Guarantee Manufactured in accordance with BS EN ISO 9002
(Certificate No FM 30164 - Quality Assurance Scheme, severe Weather Rated to British Standards)
Impressive Showroom at: 1 Madeley Road, Ironbridge, Telford TF8 7PP
Plumbing & Electrical Services
Bathroom Installations by AquaSpark
Aquaspark can supply and install your bathroom Visit our photo gallery at www.aquasparkservices.co.uk
Local Family Run Business based in Telford
Up & Over Garage Doors Roller Garage Doors Side Hinged Garage Doors Sectional Garage Doors Repairs and Servicing
Domestic Electrical and Plumbing Work Undertaken
No call out charge (within 15 miles radius of TF4) All work guaranteed Free no obligation quotation and survey
Offering a reliable, friendly and professional service by a fully insured Part P registered Installer AquaSpark are proud to be a Which? Trusted Trader
For a Free estimate call Neil on 07976 097598 or 01952 605996 Email:neil@aquasparkservices.com www.aquasparkservices.co.uk
Showroom: Unit 42, Heath Hill Ind. Estate, Heath Hill, Dawley, Telford TF4 2RH
T: 01952 872552 • M: 07519 923335 E: info@barrettgaragedoors.co.uk • www.barrettgaragedoors.co.uk
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Technology
NEW YEAR REVOLUTIONS
The gadgets that’ll help you keep your promises in 2018 It’s that time of year again. The gyms will soon be full of New Year’s resolutions, running like mad on treadmills. People will be signing up for all kinds of self-improvement, but within a few months many of them will have changed their minds. So how can you make sure you stick to the promises you made yourself about 2018? Technology is here to help. There’s been an explosion in fitness technology over the last few years. The most attractive fitness gadget is Apple’s Watch Series 3 (£329), which you can keep on while you swim as well as when you run, and thanks to apps it can help motivate you in all kinds of ways: it can deliver workouts or track your everyday fitness, and it can even turn ordinary activity into a game with its steps, distance and calorie tracking. Third party apps can deliver punishing 7, 4 or even 1-minute workouts if you’re short of time, and there’s a whole host of apps for tracking your food intake and other health factors too.
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Some of the best fitness gadgets are designed for specific activities, such as TomTom’s Runner 3 (£220). As you’ve probably guessed from the name it’s for runners, with built-in GPS, heart rate tracking and music playback to make your efforts more bearable. It’s suitable for weight training and swimming too, and the battery lasts for about 3 weeks between charges. If your resolutions were more about mental wellbeing, there are plenty of phone apps to help you. The free Mindfulness App (available for Apple and Android) can help you meditate to escape everyday stress, while Headspace (iPhone and Android, free with in-app subscriptions) has attracted millions of users with its newcomer-focused approach, rewards system and a clever buddy feature that enables you to share progress and motivation with your friends.
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Apps can be great for fitness and healthy eating too. One of the world’s favourite such apps is MyFitnessPal’s Calorie Counter and Diet Tracker. Available for Apple and Google devices, it’s free, with a £7.99 prosubscription offer. The big plus here is its database of more than 6 million foods and a barcode scanner: scan your ingredients or the menu and it’ll automatically calculate and record the calories. If you promised to eat more healthily and/or to waste less food in 2018, we’d love to introduce you to our very favourite gadget: the Instant Pot. There’s a whole community of Instant Pot fans online including popular food blogs such as The Kitchn, and that’s because it’s brilliant: it’s an electric pres-sure cooker that sautes, boils, steams, slow cooks, pressure cooks…if the idea of cooking a whole chicken or pulled pork in half an hour appeals you’ll love it, and it’s great for minimising waste: chuck the leftovers in with some vegetables and water and you’ve got effortless stock or soup. It’s a fantastic time saver too: again and again we’ve gone from can’t-be-bothered-to-cook to eating a healthy and nutritious meal in less time than it takes to order a takeaway. It pays to shop around, though: Amazon in particular frequently offers huge discounts on the Instant Pot, as you can see from sites such as uk.camelcamelcamel.com: you don’t want to be the person who buys it for £155 when it’s usually on sale for less than £95.
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3 1. TomTom Runner 3 GPS smartwatch 2. Apple Watch Series 3 3. Instant Pot cooker.
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
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CALL FOR A FREE QUOTATION www.summerhousebathrooms.co.uk Summerhousebathroomsandkitchens
VISIT OUR SHOWROOMS OPEN: MON-FRI 9-5 SAT 9-5.30
Haybridge Road Telford TF1 6JE
01952 261 317
Charlies Retail Park Shewsbury SYI 3GB
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Sleep
VITAL FOR GOOD MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH
We’ve known, vaguely, for a long time that losing sleep can make us struggle to concentrate and keep smiling. Even Shakespeare knew the value of sleep, describing it as the ‘balm of hurt minds’ and the ‘chief nourisher in life’s feast’. But research is increasingly proving that a lack of good quality sleep can seriously damage our physical and mental health. More than 20 large-scale studies have proved conclusively that the shorter your sleep, the shorter your life - and it’s not hard to see why…
How a lack of sleep affects physical health Weight gain and obesity Research shows that insufficient sleep is a factor in weight gain and obesity. This is probably because sleep deprivation reduces levels of leptin (the hunger-inhibiting ‘you’re full’ hormone) and increases levels of ghrelin (the hunger-stimulating hormone). It’s a vicious circle, too, as you’re more prone to sleep problems if you’re overweight.
sex. This may partly be linked to sleep apnoea, which disturbs sleep, as men who suffer from sleep apnoea also tend to have lower testosterone levels, which can lower libido. Regular sleep disruption can also reduce the secretion of reproductive hormones.
Increased diabetes risk People who usually sleep less than five hours a night, particularly those lacking deep or ‘slow-wave’ sleep, are at increased risk of developing diabetes. Their body processes glucose differently, reacting as though suffering from insulin resistance (a condition in which your body doesn’t react properly to insulin). Tiredness causes you to secrete more stress hormones (e.g. cortisol), making it harder for insulin to function correctly and leaving excess glucose in your bloodstream.
Increased risk of depression and anxiety Many studies have linked anxiety and depression to poor quality and insufficient sleep. Daniel Freeman, co-author of major research on the link between mental health and sleep published in Lancet Psychiatry, says that having insomnia doubles your chances of developing depression and that treating insomnia is shown to reduce depression.
Increased cancer risk Professor Matthew Walker, author of Why We Sleep, says that after just one night of only four or five hours’ sleep, your natural cancer-attacking cells drop by 70%. US researchers have discovered that when people work nights, they produce 80% less of a chemical which is a by-product of DNA tissue repair, indicating that their bodies aren’t carrying out the crucial cell restoration which should happen naturally overnight.
How a lack of sleep affects mental health
Increased risk of paranoia, hallucinations and psychotic episodes The same study also showed that when people sleep better, they’re far less likely to suffer from paranoia, hallucinations or psychotic episodes. General mental health is much improved in people given therapy to improve their sleep. Reduced memory, concentration and reaction times While we can usually cope with the odd late or broken night, the effect on our mental health and abilities becomes far more pronounced after several nights or frequent occurrences of poor sleep.
Increased risk of Alzheimer’s Disease Long-term insufficient sleep significantly raises your risk of Alzheimer’s disease. During deep sleep, amyloid deposits (a toxin that accumulates in the brains of Alzheimer’s sufferers and kills surrounding cells) are ‘cleaned’ from the brain. Without sufficient sleep, these plaques build up, especially in deep-sleep-generating regions – meaning you sleep even less and are even less able to destroy the plaques. It’s a vicious circle.
Your ability to concentrate and make decisions will decline and your reaction times will slow significantly. This can be dangerous, affecting not only your health and safety, but that of others you work with, care for – or drive past.
Increased risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke Persistent sleep deprivation is associated with increased heart rate and blood pressure and higher levels of inflammation, which can all put extra strain on your heart. Over-45s who sleep less than six hours a night are 200% more likely to have a heart attack or stroke.
A Change of Attitude
Weakened immunity Sleep deprivation damages production and distribution of immune factors. Reduced fertility and libido Research has revealed that men and women who don’t get enough quality sleep have lower libido and less of an interest in
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Studies show that sleep deficiency harms your driving ability as much as, or more than, being drunk. Less than five hours’ sleep? You’re 4.3 times more likely to be involved in a crash. Four hours’ sleep? 11.5 times more likely. It’s estimated that driver fatigue is responsible for around 100,000 car accidents and 1,500 deaths each year.
“No aspect of our biology is left unscathed by sleep deprivation,” says Professor Walker, who fears sleep loss is costing the NHS and our economy dearly. “Things have to change: in the workplace and our communities, our homes and families.” He believes that sleep “needs to be prioritised, even incentivised” and that we have “stigmatised sleep with the label of laziness” because we want to seem busy; “It’s a badge of honour.” That’s an attitude we need to change.
by Alison Runham www.alison.runham.co.uk
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All Above Board Few games can inspire family arguments and grudges like Monopoly. Maybe it’s all that pretend money or the main objective being to bankrupt all of your opponents. But my biggest issue is that the game is riddled with inaccuracies.
• Everyone starts off with the same amount of money and makes their fortune in the property game on a roll of the dice. No business plan, no building regs / planning permission and not even a licence for a skip.
To start with, it’s called Monopoly but there are dozens of versions. As well as the various locations, you can also get special editions for: Batman, Alice in Wonderland (go to jail and off with your head?), Formula One, Star Wars (take a Chance card you must…), FIFA World Cup, Pirates of the Caribbean (community treasure chest?), and even a Dinosaur Edition (I make no bones about it).
• Affordable utilities? In your dreams.
Here are some anomalies:
of
the
other
• The idea that anything can be insured for a £50 insurance premium.
Some elements are true to life though. It’s not unusual to visit a railway station and end up spending £200 for the privilege (seating optional!), and selling stock these days may well only net you around £50. They’ve even replaced some of the pieces, bringing in a T-Rex, a penguin and a metal ‘rubber’ duck. Is nothing sacred! By Derek Thompson
• Even the traditional London version has Free Parking. In London? I ask you!
www.alongthewritelines.blogspot.co.uk
• Whoever heard of a bank error in your favour?
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Hobbies
YOU’RE NEVER ALONE WITH A BOOK CLUB
Who said reading was a solitary occupation? These days, thanks to the popularity of book clubs, you’ll find book lovers throughout the world coming together to socialise and share their views. And avid readers who can’t meet face-to-face will find plenty of online platforms where they can discuss the books they have enjoyed with others. The main objective of a book club is to invite a group of people to read a novel or work of nonfiction in their own time and then come together in a social setting in order to discuss it. Some book clubs meet in group members’ homes where food and drink matching a book’s theme is often served - while others meet in libraries, pubs or community centres. These gatherings are usually informal in nature, with few set rules, although limits may be set on the time allowed for conversations that are not related to books!
A history of book clubs
Although it’s hard to pin down the actual date when book clubs emerged, it has been suggested that the trend really began in the USA in 1996, when TV personality Oprah Winfrey added a book club segment to her hugely popular TV show. Eight years later presenters Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan - the hosts of a similar, magazine-style British TV programme - decided to launch their own book club. It immediately captured the imagination of UK audiences, pushing sales of books reviewed from thousands of copies to millions, virtually overnight. Today it is estimated that there are over 50,000 book clubs in Great Britain.
Joining up
Many clubs are set up by word of mouth, so you could ask friends, family or work colleagues if they know of any groups operating locally. Your local library can also be a good source of information. If your library doesn’t already run its own club, it may provide space for an independent group to meet, or carry a list of book clubs operating in the area. Websites such as readinggroups.org or my-bookclub.com also carry lists of local groups you can join.
Starting your own book club
If you’ve researched your area and found that there are no groups that meet your needs, you could always set up your own club. Here are a few ideas to get you started: Choose what type of book club you’d like to run. Should it be seriously academic, or light and frivolous? The answer may depend on the type of people who will be attracted to join: their ages, gender and areas of interest.
Meeting on a monthly or six-weekly basis works well for most people and gives time for books to be read. It is best if the timing of meetings is agreed through discussions with other members, in order to accommodate their work or childcare commitments. Once you’ve decided on a schedule that works well for the group, try to stick with it. An ideal length for each meeting is two to two and a half hours, allowing plenty of time to discuss the book, but also including time for summing up, setting reading tasks and socialising. There are many different ways to keep in touch with members but the quickest and most efficient way to communicate is via email or social media. Set up a Facebook group for your club or sign up to the website bookmovement.com, which lets you set up a private book club page to keep track of book selections, send out meeting invitations and track acceptances.
Here are some dos and don’ts for holding successful meetings:
DO choose two or three books at a time so members can read at their own pace. Don’t get locked into a 12-month programme of book choices as you’ll miss out on the chance to introduce new and exciting books that you hear about. DON’T keeping reading the same type of book. Variety is key to keeping your group engaged, so try interspersing fiction with non-fiction books, including poetry, history or biography. DO try selecting books by theme: focusing on a specific author or choosing particular genres such as childhood memoirs, detective thrillers or books on food. DON’T give in to someone who begs the group to read their favourite novel. Adverse criticism can lead to hurt feelings, so it’s best to stay on neutral ground. In addition to all the pleasure you’ll get from reading and discussing a wide range of books, by joining or starting up a book club you will also enjoy linked activities such as visits to literary festivals, meeting local authors or trips to the cinema to see the film version of a book you’ve read.
Decide how many people should be invited as members. A group of between 8 and 16 is a comfortable size, allowing you to continue even if several members are absent. If the group is larger than that, conversations can become harder to moderate.
It’s the perfect activity for socially-inclined book lovers. If you ever thought reading was a lonely pastime, there’s no doubt you’ll revise your opinion when you join a book club.
Think about when and how often the club should get together.
by Kate McLelland
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HOME IMPROVEMENTS
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The Door Store @ Classic Fasteners (Est. 1991) Units 6&7, Redland Industrial Estate, Off Station Hill, Oakengates, Telford TF2 9JX 77
Gadgets Your Beloved Will Love It’s that time of year again: mountains of chocolate and teddy bears in every shop, too-busy restaurants churning out tenuously-themed Valentines meals, awful romantic comedies at the cinema, supermarkets full of really horrible cards and garages licking their lips in anticipation of panicking guys who forgot to place an Interflora order. Why not show your love for your partner by giving them the gift of gadgets instead?
HOW TO CHOOSE GIFTS THAT’LL LAST MUCH LONGER THAN FLOWERS 1
Let’s start with the basics: pinkified, prettified versions of ordinary things such as MP3 players or power tools are a no-no unless your partner genuinely loves pink products, and you should steer well clear of anything that could be misinterpreted no matter how clever it may be. Leave the fitness watch (subtext: you’re fat!), the Wi-Fi scales (you’re fat!) and the cordless vacuum cleaner (I don’t think of you in a sexy way any more!) for another day. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get something practical. Quite the opposite: a thoughtful, well chosen present is much better than something useless with a love heart and a teddy bear on it. Think noise cancelling headphones for their travels (£159 for a set of BOSE QuietComfort 2, or £59.95 for in-ear ones that won’t give them headphone hair; other manufacturers such as Sony can be even cheaper) or a nicer case for their laptop. Barbour does a particularly luxurious leather one for £249, but there are plenty of options in all kinds of fabrics ranging from the fashionable to the fully functional. Watch out for fake leather, though: “bonded leather” is synthetic leather, aka pleather. If you’re struggling for ideas it’s always worth looking at their existing gadgets to see if they’re worth upgrading or replacing. An old Kindle is a great device, but the newest versions have much sharper screens and much better backlighting. The mid-range Paperwhite is currently £109.99, rising to £229 for the top-end Oasis, but Amazon discounts Kindles regularly so it pays to plan ahead and try to nab an early bargain. Just be careful if you’re browsing eBay or other sites for used devices: older Paperwhite models don’t have the same hi-res screen as the 2017 model, so read the specifications carefully. If the gadget itself is still current then accessories can be worth considering: for example NotOnTheHighStreet does some lovely leather Kindle cases for around £23, and iPad cases from as little as £13 to £360 for a personalised leather case that comes with power bank, travel adaptor and a Moleskin notebook. If you think that’s expensive, the RRP is even higher: £450. Once again there’s a huge range of products from various manufacturers at all kinds of prices. Of course, there’s another kind of gadget for the one you love: what used to be described euphemistically as “marital aids”. The Amazon of that market is Britain’s LoveHoney.co.uk, which takes a cheerful and down-to-earth approach to a potentially embarrassing subject and provides straightforward advice and reviews from real people. We’re no prudes but we’d offer some well-intentioned advice: don’t order anything if you’re not sure your partner would appreciate the sentiment let alone the product, and maybe leave the most expensive and faintly frightening products for when you’re window shopping together.
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2
3
4
1. BOSE QuietComfort headphones 2. Barbour leather laptop bag 3. Amazon kindle oasis 4. Stow Personalised Luxury Leather Travel Tech And Tablet Case
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LEAFLET DISTRIBUTION Do you have leaflets or flyers that you would like delivered with this magazine?
Prices from £40 per 1000 WE CAN ALSO DESIGN AND PRINT THEM FOR YOU TOO! For further details please contact
Fleur Abel on 01952 603457 E: fleur@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk www.inandaroundmagazine.co.uk
HOME SERVICES
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GUTTER CLEANING SPECIALISTS
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81
Choosing the Best Mobile Phone Plans Choosing the right mobile phone plan can be quite daunting, especially if you don’t understand how they work. Perhaps you’ve always bought a contract with a phone included, but you might find that choosing a SIM-only contract is better thanks to its flexibility.
With so many different plans available these days, here’s an idea of what to look out for.
Mobile phone plans explained
There are essentially three types of mobile phone deal:
Pay monthly contract
IN 2018
accessed, and Sky let you roll back data in 1GB volumes. Additionally, if you have more than one member on a Sky Mobile account, the unused data from all account members can be rolled over into the piggybank, and used as needed by each individual.
Flexible SIM-only deals Giffgaff
Giffgaff’s ‘goodybags’ offer flexibility and choice if you’re looking for a SIM-only deal. A goodybag is basically your allowance of minutes, texts and data, and it lasts for one month. This means you can change your goodybag if it doesn’t offer quite enough minutes, for example, or you need more data that month.
Pay monthly contracts are the most cost-effective if your phone bills are high or you want a top-of-the-range handset. Contracts generally last for 12 or 24 months and you pay a fixed minimum monthly amount by direct debit. This is for your inclusive calls, texts and data allowance. Pay monthly contracts incorporate a free or subsidised handset.
Current SIM-only deals (October 2017) at Giffgaff include: • £5 per month: 100MB data; 150 minutes; 500 texts • £12 per month: 4GB data; 750 minutes; unlimited texts • £18 per month: 9GB data; 2,000 minutes; unlimited texts
SIM-only deal
The Three network offers a useful ‘Go Binge’ facility with some of their mobile phone deals. This allows you to stream music and films from Netflix, Deezer, SoundCloud and TVPlayer without using up your monthly allowance, as long as you have some of your data allowance left. (If adverts are shown on these apps, they may use up your allowance.)
When you already own a phone and don’t want to change it, or are happy to buy your own new handset, a SIM-only deal can offer flexibility and cost-savings if you make a significant number of calls. You can choose between a rolling one-month deal and a fixed 12-month contract. Opting for a fixed-term contract will be cheaper than renewing each month, however, because you’re tied in to a specific timescale, but it doesn’t offer as much flexibility.
Pay-as-you-go (PAYG) If you don’t use your mobile phone very much, pay-as-you-go helps to avoid spending money when you don’t really need to. You simply top up your phone using a credit card or top-up card when you run out of minutes, texts or data, and you don’t need to be credit-checked as you do when you take out a contract. When you’re considering these deals, you’ll also need to think about your phone usage – do you use it mainly for calls and texts, do you browse the internet, and how often do you want to change your handset?
Data rollover
If you don’t use your full data allowance each month, you can buy a plan that lets you rollover what is left and use it the following month. You obtain better value for money from your monthly payments and can plan ahead if you think you’ll need to use more data in a particular month.
Three’s ‘Go Binge’
Current SIM-only 12-month contracts with ‘Go Binge’ include the following (prices mentioned include a monthly discount of £5 for paying by direct debit): • £14 per month: 12GB data; unlimited minutes and texts • £18 per month: 30GB data; unlimited minutes and texts • £26 per month: 100GB data; unlimited minutes and texts
Pay-as-you-go (PAYG) If you’re not a heavy mobile phone user, or are worried about being credit-checked, a pay-as-you-go deal may be the best choice. You can opt for ‘traditional’ PAYG or a bundle of data, minutes and texts. As an example, PAYG deals from Asda Mobile currently include: • 8p per minute for calls to any UK mobile or UK landline • 4p per text • 5p per MB of data • Pay-as-you-go bundles from Tesco Mobile include: • £5 for 150 minutes • £5 for 5,000 texts • £10 for 2 GB data
So which networks offer this facility? At the time of writing, iD Mobile, O2, Virgin Media, Vodafone, Freedompop and Sky Mobile all offer plans with data rollover. It isn’t a new concept, but until recently providers have only allowed you to rollover your data from the previous month.
As you can see, there’s a wealth of choice when looking for mobile phone deals – it just takes a little time to compare them and decide on the best option.
Now, however, Sky Mobile has come up with a very useful online ‘piggybank’ facility that lets you store your unused data at no additional cost for up to three years. You’ll need to have a minimum of 1GB saved in the piggybank before it can be
www.sky.com/shop/mobile/features#feature-roll
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www.uswitch.com/mobiles/guides/what-is-data-rollover-and-whichnetworks-offer-it/ www.sky.com/help/articles/your-sky-piggybank www.three.co.uk/go-binge/details
by Ann Haldon
HOME SERVICES
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Building Work Carpentry Tiling Plastering TURN AROUND Painting & Decorating FROM ENQUIRY TO Plumbing START OF JOB Electrics Roofing/Gutter Cleaning Laying of Laminate & Wooden Flooring Assembly of Flat Pack Furniture Put up Shelves Hang Curtain Poles & Blinds Hedge Trimming Garden Clearance Decking Fence Painting and much more - just call and ask...
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Contact: Michael 07970 019977 | Sean 07886 880963 Email: loukahomecare@gmail.com CODEWORD
Each letter in this puzzle is represented by a different number between 1 and 26. The codes for three letters are shown. Once you have filled these throughout the grid you can start guessing words and reveal other letters. As you find the letters enter them in the grid to the right.
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5
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9
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DARWIN GLASS & GLAZING
Complete Glass and Glazing Service ;; 24hr Boarding Up Service ;; Broken Glass Replaced ;; Same Day Repair ;; Replacement Double Glazed Units ;; Secondary Glazing ;; uPVC Windows & Locks ;; Window and Door Maintenance ;; Glass & Mirrors Cut to Size ;; Mirror Etching ;; Safety Filming for Glass
Broken
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New Year January 1st 2018 brings us a new year and a new name for the Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin Trader Register.
The Register, which has been successfully running for 10 years, is now called 'Trading Standards Accredited' (TSA). The Scheme is operated by Telford & Wrekin Council's Trading Standards department and has a brand new website www. tsaccredited.co.uk. Here, customers can search for a TSA registered business and businesses can apply for membership via a simple on line process. In addition, there is a new TSA logo - look out for it in members shop windows, works vehicles, business websites and adverts. Whereas Trader Register was limited to home improvement traders, Trading Standards Accredited is open to all trade areas which will provide much greater choice for customers when looking for a trader they can trust. All TSA members sign up to a Code of Practice which sets
SHAW CLEAN Superb Cleaning
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NEW NAME! out minimum standards for customer care and standards of workmanship. In the unlikely event of a problem, members have agreed to work with Trading Standards in line with a step by step complaint procedure. The TSA website contains all the information you need on the Scheme, just follow the links on screen. It will also include member reviews which is a new feature that will give additional assistance to customers trying to find the right business for them. The website is really easy to use however you can also telephone the Telford & Wrekin contact centre on 01952 381818. A representative will be happy to carry out a search for you and can even email you the results. They can also submit an on line review if you would like to feedback on the service you received from a member. Do you feel your business could meet the requirements of the TSA Code of Practice? Applications will be open to become a member of Trading Standards Accredited from 1st January 2018. Take a look and apply on line at www.tsaccredited.co.uk.
PLUMBER A Watson (ACIPHE) Registered Plumber
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01952 529765
68 Barn Road, Shifnal Email: mwats@blueyonder.co.uk
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Quirky Britain
CAT CAFÉS Cruel or kind? Nottingham’s Kitty Café which has recently opened a second branch in Leeds - offers a home to abandoned cats, rescue cats and cats with medical issues that need some TLC. It also acts as a rehoming centre, so customers who bond with their furry table companion can join the café’s adoption programme with a view to taking their favourite feline home. Cat cafés are big business, but not everyone feels the love. There has been a lot of criticism from animal charities, including Cats Protection and the RSPCA.
As you sip your skinny latte in Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium, you never know who might appear on your lap. It could be fluffy ‘Petra’, soulful ‘Tink’ or any of the other celebrity rescue cats (with hundreds of Twitter followers) who live in the quirky East London café. In this strange combination of restaurant and luxury cats’ home, the feline inhabitants can exercise on a giant ‘hamster wheel’, scamper along walkways or snooze on various raised platforms around the venue as customers eat and drink.
An a-mews-ing trend? Lady Dinah’s - the first ever cat café to open in Britain - was the brainchild of Australian Lauren Pears, who set out to create a relaxing retreat where young professionals living in rented accommodation (where pets are not allowed) could interact with the resident moggies. Although Lauren’s original vision was to create a peaceful urban retreat where customers could relax with a book, chat with friends or even hold meetings, she hadn’t bargained for the enthusiasm with which British cat lovers would greet her new enterprise. Within the first two weeks of opening in 2014 Lauren had received a staggering 20,000 bookings, and the café turned out to be anything but the tranquil enclave she had originally imagined. It has since become more of a tourist attraction than a place where local office workers can pet a friendly feline, and she has now been forced to limit visits to 90 minutes to accommodate all of her customers. Although the world’s first cat café opened in Taiwan in 1998, Lauren Pears was ahead of the curve when she started making plans to open Lady Dinah’s in London. “After I did some research, I saw there were a few popping up in Europe and spotted that a trend was on its way,” she recently told the website thisismoney.co.uk. But since 2014 a number of copycat ventures (no pun intended) have sprung up in towns and cities across the country. You can now call in to a cat café in London, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Derby, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, Newcastle, Oldham, Oxford, Aberdeen or Edinburgh, and it’s almost inevitable that we’ll see more of these cat-themed eateries opening up in future.
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Cats Protection refuses to accept donations from cat cafés due to concerns about “the welfare implications of having a number of cats in a limited space with groups of people unknown to them coming and going throughout the day.” The charity goes on to explain that “(Cats) have evolved as solitary animals and generally do not choose to live in social groups.” The RSPCA has equally strong views about placing cats in what it considers to be an unsuitable environment. In its Science Group review of 2016 the charity writes: “Our aim is to dissuade new cafés from opening and to advise those already in operation of the appropriate and necessary steps that should be taken to minimise potential feline stress. We have also raised our concerns for the welfare of cats living in cat cafés through media opportunities.” However most café owners claim they are doing their best to keep their star turns happy and healthy. At Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium guests are asked to follow a set of rules when interacting with the cats. This includes not picking them up or stroking them when they are asleep and avoiding flash photography. Owner Lauren Pears comments: “Our concern for the cats’ wellbeing governs pretty much every decision we make.” She admits that on occasions she has been forced to retire cats from café life if they have exhibited signs of unhappiness or stress, and she has now reluctantly decided to ban younger children because she lacks the staff numbers to supervise them. The Kitty Café has devised a set of rules for customers and publishes separate guidance for adults and children. The adult rules include no carrying hot drinks, vaping, playing music or using laser pens. Adults are reminded to respect that the café is “the cats’ home” and warned not to pick up cats, corner them or touch their “eyes, mouths, whiskers or tummies.” Children are requested not to shout, scream and “push or pull” the cats. They are asked to stoke them “nicely and gently”, while adults are reminded to make sure their children follow the rules. If the public’s enthusiastic response is anything to go by, cat cafés are likely to remain a feature of our high streets for many years to come. However, given the difficult balance between keeping cats and customers happy, it seems unlikely that the controversy surrounding these feline-focused establishments will end anytime soon.
by Kate McLelland
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Admaston
at Admaston House Comm. Centre: Mon: Yoga; 6.30-8pm Tue: Pushchair people 9.30am-12pm, Guitar lessons 4.30-7pm, Brownies 5.30-6.45pm, Guides 7-8.30pm, Rangers 7-8.30pm Wed: WI 2-4pm (1st Wed of mth), Weight Watchers 5:30&7pm, Bollywood Dancing 6.45-8.30pm Thu: Scouts 7-9pm, Explorers (age14-18) 7.30-9.30pm, Ladies alpha 7.30-9.30pm. Fri: Youth club 7.30-9pm. If you would like further info. on above visit www.admastonhouse.org.uk or contact Moira Hoath on 07722 213264.
Church Aston
Church Aston Gardening Club meets the 3rd Mon monthly 8pm, Church Aston Church Hall. New Members welcome. Sylvia 01952 812092 Crafty Sew and Sews - we meet for sewing, knitting and other crafts at the Church Hall, Church Aston on Tuesdays from 2-4pm. New members welcome. Church Aston Thursday Club meet fortnightly Thu afternoon 2pm till 4pm, speakers, outings. Contact Sylvia 01952 402744 or 812092 at Church Aston Village Hall: Mon: 10-11am Zumba, 11.30-12.30 Beg. Pilates, 2-4pm U3A Sewing/Craft Grp (alt. wks), 7-10pm Whist Tue: 10-12 Tai Chi, 6.30-9.30pm Line Dancing Wed: 9.30-10.25 Easy Tone, 10.30-11.15 Kettle Bell Class, 4.30-4.30 Kids Dance Classes, 7-10pm Whist Thu: 2-4pm Whist, 6-8pm Cubs Fri: 2-4pm Tea dance, 4.15-6 Twinkle toe dance, 6-7 Beavers, 7-8 Scouts Sun: From 7pm Ballroom Dance Lessons
Dawley
at St Paul's Roman Catholic Church: 24th Dec (Sun): 9am Fourth Sunday of Advert, 5pm Christmas Vigils 25th Dec (Mon): 9am Christmas Day Mass Telford Hot Trax Radio Controlled Car Club - Meets every Wednesday at Dawley Social Club, King St, Telford TF4 2AG @ 7.30pm to 10pm. Contact: 07834 808943 Dawley Traditional Market - Every Friday, Meadow Rd car park. Contact 01952 380934 Telford Christian Fellowship, Christian Worship & Prayer for Healing, Sun 10:30am12pm at the Dawley Hse, 2 Burton St, Dawley TF4 2ES. Contact Giles Higgins 01952 272961 www.tcfonline.org.uk Dawley Christian Centre: Mon: 5-8pm Brownies & Rainbows, Tue: 9.30-11.30 - Stay & play groups for under 5’s Fri: 2-4pm - Computer Club (3rd Fri each mth) 9-12 Table Top Sale
Donnington
Players wanted - Tickled Pink Ukulele Band Practice nights Wednesdays Asda Donnington. Uke players needed Contact us at: tpinkukes@gmail.com or call 07939 021162 Oakengates Rangers Colts U11’s Football Club - are looking to recruit male and female players for the 2014/2015 season if you are currently aged 10-11 please feel free to come along.Training every Thursday, 6pm to 7:30pm at Donnington football pitches (near Little Theatre). Contact Nik: 07506 722488 or Saul: 07411 467341. Telford Sea Cadets – Tue & Thu nights 6.459pm, Cadets is for ages 12-18, Juniors 1011. See website for details or contact us by email: Telford.seacadets@yahoo.com Thu - The Creation Station ‘Little Explorer’ pre-schooler arts & crafts sessions.
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Cordingley Hall, Wellington Road. 10.15 to 11.05 (term-time) Call to book your place 0844 854 9128. at Donnington Methodist Church: 2nd Sunday of every month - Messy Church (3-4.30pm). Everyone invited. If you are a child you will need to bring an adult with you! An hour of fun, games & craft activities, don’t wear your best clothes. Donations welcomed. We don’t expect you to belong to a church.
Edgmond
at Edgmond Village Hall: Toddler group 10.30-11.30 (term time only) - Contact Lindsay 07739 161269 Mon (term time only): Painting - drawing classes 1.00-3.30pm. More details Cynthia James 07722 624 210. Every 3rd Wed of Month - Edgmond W.I 7.30-10pm- visitors £3. Contact Diana Wright 01952 811561 or Diane Renshaw 01952 825564 for details. Every 1st Sat of Month - Table Top Sale 9.30am-12.30. Bacon sandwiches, tea/ coffee & cakes. £5 table, free entry contact Janis 07739 634703 Antoaneta's Writers' Edgmond meet on 1st Wed of month at 5.30pm in members own homes. New members are welcomed. We are a small and friendly group keen to advance our writing. Contact Mark Pearce on 01952 550557 or email markpearce17@ hotmail.com for more info.
Hadley
Hadley Five O Club - for over 50s meets most Mondays 9-45am to 12-noon at Hadley United Services clubroom. Talks, entertainers, trips out, refreshments etc Call in, or ring Keith on 01952-244804. Hadley Traditional Market - Wed every week, Hadley Local Centre. Contact 01952 380934 Telford Wine Making & Home Brewing Club - at Hadley Rest Rooms, (by the Sikh Temple) on the 1st Thu of month 7.45 to 8pm. For info contact Chris Hall on 01384 345408 or Annette Jones on annette. jones234@yahoo.com Parkinson’s Telford & Wrekin Support Group - We offer support and friendship to people living with Parkinson’s, their families and carers. Come along to our friendly group, meet other people affected by Parkinson’s and get involved in a range of events and activities. Castle Farm Community Centre in Hadley, 1-3pm on the last Tue of every month. T: 01952 253877
Horsehay
Horsehay and District Townswomen’s Guild meet on the 3rd Mon of each month at Horsehay Village Hall at 7.30pm. Call 01952 503535 for more info. Horsehay Methodist Church - coffee morning on Wed 10.30-noon. Parents & toddlers on Fri mornings 10-11.30am. Youth group Fri 7-8.30pm (10 to 14 yr olds) National Organisation of the Widowed meet every 4th Wednesday of the month at Horsehay Village Hall at 7.30pm. Anyone interested call Keith on 01952 598924 or Doreen on 01952 502551.
Ketley
Telford Stamp and Card Club meets on the second Monday of each month (except July and August) at 7.30pm at Ketley Community Centre, Telford, TF1 5AN. Visitors welcome.
Lawley
Learn to Play Bridge - at Lawley Community Centre. For further information contact Peter Seager on 01952 419999 Lawley WI meet on the 1st Tue of every month at 7.15pm StJohn’s Church Hall at Lawley. For more info. call Jill Gould on 01952 597994.
Lilleshall
Lilleshall Women’s Institute - Open to all age groups - speakers, demonstrations, refreshments and raffle. At Lilleshall Memorial Hall 3rd Tue of month 7.30pm. Guests £2 per session. Contact Francis Taylor 01952 604718
Madeley
Madeley Art Club - meets every Mon (exc. Bank Hols), 9:30am-12 noon @ Jubilee Hall, Madeley - all over 55’s welcome. For more info call Aneita on 01952 590304. Madeley Traditional Market - Tue & Sat – every week, Russell Square. Contact 01952 380934 Life Drawing - every Tuesday 7pm - 9pm at Jubilee House, Madeley. Excellent tutor. For more info. call the WEA 01952 614451 or email telfordcentre@wea.org.uk. 1st Wed each month - Madeley Townswomen Guild meets 7.30pm at the Common Room, Bridle Court, Bridle Rd. Madeley, TF7 5SG Contact 01952 878069.
Muxton
Muxton Movers walking group - meet on a Tue & Thu evening, 7.15pm at Muxton School for an hour of fairly flat walking. Sundays, at 6.30pm, cover approx. 7 miles, in 1.5hrs. New members are welcome! at St John’s Church Muxton: Mon: 12:30-2:15pm NCT Bumps and Babes group - for parents and carers with children under 2, £1.50 donation Painting Club 2-4pm (term time), 4.15om onwards Blue Branches Drama Academy. Tue: Tiny Tots (10am, 1pm term time), Rainbows - followed by Brownies & Guides Wed: In Stitches 2pm (1st & 3rd Wed) Embroiderers Guild 8pm (every 4th Wed) Muxton Ladies 7.45pm (1st Wed each mth) Thu: Afternoon Fellowship 2.30-4pm monthly & Beacon 7.45pm Fri: Lunch Club Over 50’s (1st Fri of mth) Sub:Zero – Youth Cafe, yrs7+ 4-6pm Sat: Young Embroiderers (Mthly), Prayer Breakfast (bi-monthly) Available for hire for parties etc.. Sun: Church Services 11am Available for hire for parties etc.. If you would like further info. on the above activities - contact the church on 01952 670033
Newport
9th Jan (Tue) - Shropshire WIldlife Trust (Newport) - A photographic talk by Ben Waddams about Shropshire’s Meres & Mosses. Meet 7.30-9pm on 2nd Tue of month (exc. Dec), Church Aston Church Hall, Newport TF10 9JG. £2 members, £3 non-members, inc. refreshments. Gnosall, Newport & District Lions Club. 1st Mon monthly at 8pm - Community Room, Gnosall Fire Station, Wharf Road ST20 0DB. For people interested in helping in the community. Contacts: Pat 01785 780032 or John 01952 273919. Newport Writers' Circle meet on 2nd Wed of month (except Aug), 10.30am in the library. New members welcomed. A friendly group who share their stories in a warm and welcoming way. Contact Mark Pearce on 01952 550557 or email markpearce17@ hotmail.com for more info. Newport (SALOP) and District Male Voice Choir - seeking new members for well established friendly choir, meet 7.30pm on Mondays at Trinity Church Wellington Rd Newport. Novices are welcome, come along for a taster session. You do not to be a Tom Jones, just someone who can hold a note and fit in to the choir. For more infor visit our website, or call 01952 813267. Newport Afternoon Guild meet on the 1st Wed 2-4pm at the Cosy Hall in Newport. Call 01952 825 287 for further infomation. Newport Bridge Academy - Meet Mondays 7pm at Royal Naval Association, Bellmans Yard, Newport. All standards welcome very friendly club. Expert tuition every week from EBU Grand master & qualified teacher, followed by duplicate bridge. Easy parking and tea/coffee included. Please call Grahame on 07541 048785 or Bob on 07907 887010 or email newport.bridge. academy@outlook.com Newport Bridge Club meet Tue & Thu 7pm at The Hub St Mary Street Newport. We welcome duplicate bridge players of all standards. Interested? Come and join us. Call 01952 814474 for more details or e-mail info@newport-bridge-club.co.uk The Dalen Singers is a small, friendly, mixed voice choir founded 30 years ago
in Newport. Rehearsals on Tue evenings, 7pm at Trinity Church, Wellington Road, Newport. If you would like to meet us just come to rehearsals, you will be very welcome, or ring secretary 01952 811741 for more information. Cygnus Book Club – Come along and join a friendly group as we discuss a spiritual book or theme of the month – all whilst enjoying drinks and cake! Contact Romella 07894 812440 Used Toner Cartridges - Shrewsbury Music Therapy Trust are collecting and recycling used printer ink-jet cartridges in order to raise funds to support children with learning difficulties. Drop off in the pharmacy side of Boots in the High Street, Newport. Dressmaking Classes at Cosy Hall, Newport on Thu’s - 10am-12.30pm and 7.309.30pm ‘Saturday Sewing Bee’ 2-5pm, monthly. Details and booking contact Catherine on 01952 276061. catherine@ lovedressmaking.co.uk www.facebook. com/lovedressmaking Toy Library in Cottage Care Centre, Newport, every Friday 9.45-11.30, preschool age. Contact Steve Ravenscroft 01952 811935 or just call in. Newport RNA Club - Excellent venue with warm friendly atmosphere. Function room for hire. Mon - bridge club, Tue - open mic, Wed - pool, Thu - bingo, Fri - dominoes/ quiz nights/live entertainment, Sat - live entertainment. Pay on door. Non-Members £3. 07772 611540 Newport French Evening Classes For Adults - At Adams` Grammar School - Conversational Classes Thursdays. For further info call Lynn on 01952 812944 or email lynnjones2@freeuk.com Serendipity Singles, 45+, established in Shropshire, now meeting in Newport. Full details from 07704 792610 Newport Scouts, Longford Road HQ. Beavers, Thu’s at 6pm; Cubs, Wed’s at 6pm; Scouts, Wed’s 7.30 pm. Contact: Liz on 07780 611260 Newport Flower Arranging Class - held every Thursday (starting 25th Sep14) 1:303pm at Newport Cricket Club. Qualified teacher, all welcome, inc. beginners. Contact Catherine Bentley on 01952 811989. The Guild of Silk Painters - meetings are held from 7-9.30pm on the third Monday of each month atCosy Hall, Water Lane Newport. Contact - Margaret 01785 254803, Diana 01785 223339 or Anethia 01952 813101. Female 77 - Meetings held every Wednesday during term time at Newport Cottage Hospital 8pm. Speakers,demonstrations and outings. New members welcome. Contact Chris 01952 811533 Newport Wine Appreciation Group meet from 7pm-9pm on Tue’s at Cosy Hall, Newport. Beginners and more experienced enthusiasts welcome. Contact Geoff on 01743 884658 Newport Life Drawing and Figure Sculpting Workshops – Saturday mornings at Adams’ Grammar School. For further information please call Michael on 07528489320 or email michaeljamespotter@hotmail.co.uk Newport Farmers’ Market – 3rd Thu of every month, The Square and The Buttercross, Newport – Contact Tel 01952 380934 Newport Trefoil Guild meets monthly on a Thursday at Cosy Hall, Water Lane. All members/ex members of Girl Guiding welcome. Contact Cris 01952 253960 for further details. Newport Photographic Club - meet 7.45pm on Tues (Sep-Jun) in the Baptist Church Hall in Water Lane, Newport. See www. newportphotoclub.com for details. Pitchcroft & Church Aston WI - Meetings held 3rd Wed of month in Church Hall, Church Aston at 7.30 pm. Variety of speakers & demonstrations. Guests admission is £3.50. Contact Sheila Johnstone 01952 820294 for further details.
Oakengates
1st Feb (Thu) - Oakengates History Group - Meeting at 7pm "show & Tell" and a Membership Drive The Wakes, Theatre Square, Oakengates, further details 01952567500
COMMUNITY & WHATS ON
Table top sale - first Saturday of each month, 10am -12pm at the Holy Trinity Church in Wrockwardine wood and Oakengates. Contact Tanya May 07990 767855 (visit our facebook page for events: Holy Trinity Church Wrockwardine Wood) Oakengates Traditional Market - Saturday – every week, Limes Walk. Contact 01952 380934. The Telford & District branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society hold a Monthly Social on the 2nd Thursday of each month from 12.30pm to 2.30pm at the Salvation Army Hall in Oakengates. There is a short chair based exercise session followed by refreshments & a chance to chat - open to anyone affected by MS. Branch Helpline number: 07866 628593. Boys’ Brigade - Tue at Oakengates United Church - 6pm Anchor Boys, 7pm Junior Boys Section. Friday - 7pm Company Section (boys and girls school year 7+). Contact Dave on 07548 574901. Oakengates Townswomen’s Guild meet on the 4th Thu of each month at the United Reform Church at 7pm. Call 01952 261 207 for more info.
Priorslee
Sewing For Pleasure - Sewing Machine Classes every Tuesday 7pm - 9pm, University Campus Telford, Conference Centre, Priorslee. TF2 9NN All abilities welcome. Call Nicky on 01952 201502 for more details or see our Facebook page facebook.com/MaudeandRose. Tea & Natter at St. Peter’s Church, Church Rd, Priorslee, 2pm-3pm, bring & buy with a draw. Every 4th Thu of the month. Come and join us for a chat with drinks & refreshments 50p – all are welcome. AgeUk over 60’s Pub Lunch Club at the The Lion Inn, Priorslee, meet 2nd Monday of each month. Please contact Pauline Comley for further details 01952 200359 Family Praise at St Peters Church, Church Rd, Priorslee: All-Age Worship, 2nd Sunday of each month, 1/2hour service, 10-10:30am, ideal for children! Contact Chris Harris 07941 961461 or email stpeterspriorslee@ btinternet.com Priorslee Lions Chess Club Monday nights from 7:30pm The Lion, Shifnal Road, Priorslee www.priorsleelionschessclub.co.uk Whist Drive - Every Sat, at Priorslee Scout Hut, 7pm prompt - everyone welcome, Call 01952 242009 for details. Carers` Group meets every last Tue of month, 2.30-4.30pm at the Old Fire Station, Shifnal. Contact Ivy 01952 750228 (day only) for more details.
Shawbirch
Shawbirch Community Centre: Mon-Fri: Little Chicks Pre-School 9am 3pm Mon: Youth Club 10-15 yrs (6–8pm) Wed: Bridge Club (7pm – 10pm) Fri: Telford Stage School - 5.45pm The community centre is available to hire evenings & weekends. For further info. call 01952 248538.
Sheriffhales
Sheriffhales W.I. - Meet every 4th Thursday, 7.30pm at Sheriffhales village hall. For further info contact Janet 07964 370679.
Shifnal
23rd Jan (Tue) – Wrekin U3A. 2pm, Shifnal Village Hall. "The River Severn Part 2 Bridgnorth to the Sea" with Brian Draper. Visitors welcome £2. Details at: https://. u3asites.org.uk/wrekin Shifnal in Stitches - Informal knitting and crochet group meeting at Odfellows every 3rd Tue of the month, 7-9pm. All ages and all skill levels welcome. Find us on facebook.com/shifnalinstitches or email shifnalinstitches@gmail.com Shifnal Senior Citizens meet every Friday afternoon in the Social Club in Curriers Lane, Shifnal at 2-4pm Membership £6 per year. All Senior Citizens are welcome. Shifnal Tots and Toddlers meet every Thursday 9:15am til 11am in term time at the Youth Club, Bridgnorth Road. Children 4 years and under with their carers welcome.
Shifnal Tennis Club - Social play every Mon & Wed 6.30 onwards. New members always welcome including beginners or ‘back to tennis’ , junior coaching available throughout the week. Contact Merill Holt 07762 15270 or Head Coach Ian Gillespie 07761 970759 for juniors. LIVE AT HOME - Support for older people offering friendship and company, activities and entertainment, outings and visits, theatre trips and exercise. Contact Rachel on 01952 879873 Shifnal ART Group - Fri’s 10am-12. £5. Senior Citizens Hall, Curriers Ln. T&C. contact Jim 01952 463211. Get Shifnal On Line - Free computer lessons are on offer from local volunteers in Shifnal library. If you have no knowledge of computers, but would like to learn at your own pace, call 07805 632225. Carers` Group meets every last Tue of month, 2.30-4.30pm at the Old Fire Station, Shifnal. Contact Ivy 01952 750228 (daytimes only) for more details. Shifnal Men’s Link - Meet 3 times a year (Feb, Jun & Oct) at Haughton Hall for a meal with a guest speaker. Contact Chris Blake on 01952 463171 or email: info@ shifnal-mens-link.co.uk Shifnal Ladies Link - Meet 3 times a year (Feb, Jun & Oct) at Haughton Hall for a meal with a guest speaker. Contact Sue Blake on 01952 463171 or email: info@ shifnal-ladies-link.co.uk Stagekids of Shifnal - for 6–16s meet every Thu during term time at The Youth Club, Bridgnorth Rd, Shifnal, 6–11 yr olds meet at 6.45pm-8pm, 12–16 yr olds meet 8pm9.45pm. Contact Sandra on 01952 462759 Shifnal Millennium Sensory Garden - The working party meets each month from March through to end of Nov on the 1st & 3rd Sat’s 9.30am-noon and the 2nd & 4th Thu’s 9.30am-noon. Enthusiastic helpers welcome as supervision given. Contact Pauline - 01952 460914 or Angela - 01952 462627 for more details or just turn up on the day. Shifnal Flower Club meet 4th Tue of every month at Shifnal Village Hall at 7.30pm. Professional Floral Art Demonstrations, Garden Visits & Outings, if you love flowers, come & join us. Call Sue Munslow on 01952 461076 Shifnal Flower Club Workshop is 3rd Tue of every month at Curriers Lane Room, Shifnal - 7.30pm. Learn how to produce your own floral arrangement. Members £2, non members £4. Call Chris Finlan on 01952 750312. Shifnal & District Male Voice Choir meet on Thu at 7.30pm at Idsall School (6th form common room). New recruits welcome. Contact Ged Heyes on 01952 586968, for further details. St Andrews Church, Shifnal - Every Tue 10am – 12 noon Coffee and a listening ear in the Brooke Room. Trinity Methodist Church, Shifnal - Every Wednesday 10am - 12 noon all welcome to drop in for a drink & a chat. Ladybirds tots and toddlers meet every Friday from 10-11.30am at Trinity Methodist Church, Shifnal. All children under 5 and their carers are welcome. St Mary’s Church Presbytery, Victoria Road, Shifnal - Coffee Morning every Thu. All welcome for a drink and a chat.
St Georges
Telford & Wrekin Arthritis Support Group, meet monthly at St. George’s Sports & Social Club, Church St. 7.30–9.30pm. Also organize trips with side lift coaches and a 5 days holiday once a year with disabled access. Hydrotherapy sessions Thu 5–7pm, by appt only. For further details contact Mrs. Pat Watkins on 01952 618381. at St Georges Methodist Church: Mon - 4pm Rainbows / 5.45pm Brownies (Contact: 01952 293944) Wed - Snedshill & District Over 60’s Club meet 1pm (T: 618221 - Lois Bull) 1st Wed of every month - St Georges WI meet in the Church Hall at 7pm - contact A. Chetwood 01952 618353 for further details. Thu - 6pm Guides / 7.45pm Morningside Ladies Choir (Contact 01952 619347)
Thu - 9:30-11:30am - Little Fishes under 5’s group. For all pre-school children and their carers. Meets in the St Georges Methodist Church Hall. £1.50 per family to include snacks and drinks. Contact Kate on 07976 460777.
Telford - Town Centre
Tuesday Group lively discussions in a good humoured atmosphere. Women meeting 10:30 to 12:30 on 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month. Venue subject to change. Contact Brenda on 01952 610939.
Trench
ATC meet at TA Centre, Territorial House, Trench, Telford between 18.45 - 21.30 every Tue & Thu night. Contact number for Sqn 01952 670720
Wellington
13th Jan (Sat) - Telford Stamp, Card and Coin Fair - Belmont Hall, Wellington Centre, Telford, TF1 1LU, 10am to 3pm, free entry, good range of stalls, free valuations, buy and sell, home made refreshments. Free adjacent car park, train station close by, bus via Telford Centre to nearby local bus station. Further details from Bob Pilkington, T: 01299 211737. sbpilkington02@outlook.com. Severn Harmony Ladies Barbershop Chorus meets every Monday from 7.30-9.30pm at Wellington Methodist Church,New Street,TF1 1LU for singing and fun. For more info. contact Membership Secretary, Carol Shore on 01952 597851 or 07792 862826. Wellington, the home of The Telfordaires Barbershop Harmony Chorus. For the MALE voice. If you can or can’t sing, just like to try, or need some entertainment for an event. Contact us on 0845 463 1618 Art and Craft fun for toddlers - every Friday at 11am at Wellington Methodist Church. Contact Kirsty on 07741 066858 or kirsty@art4tots.com or visit www.Art4Tots. com for further details. Evening Art Classes - at Wellington Methodist Church - Thu mornings 10.30 – 12.30pm. Call Liz Doody, the course tutor for more information or to book your place, on 07970 709116. SUNNYCROFT - 200 Holyhead Road, Wellington. House, gardens and tearoom open Fri-Mon 10.30am-5pm, last admission to house 4pm. Telford Lions Club - Meet on 2nd & 4th Monday each month at 8pm, at the Whitehouse Hotel, Watling Street, Wellington. To find out more about us, our activities and how to join us, t: 0845 833 9585 or email telford.lions@yahoo.com Car boot sale – Every Sunday, Victoria Road and Nailors Row car parks – Contact Tel 01952 380934 U3A Wellington - 2nd Thu of each Month meeting at Belmont Community Hall, Wellington - 2pm. Just come along and see what’s on offer, or visit our website. S.T.A.G.s (Strategic Tactical Adventure Gaming Society) one of the biggest wargaming clubs in the country. Historical as well as Sci/Fanasty wargaming. Open every other Sun from 11am to 15.30pm, first visit is free, we meet at Belmont Hall in Wellington. www.freewebs.com/telford_ stags/ T 01952 417417 Questing Knight Games Wellington Jade Singers ladies choir, meet weekly on Thu evenings 7.30-9.30pm Union Free Church Hall, Constitution Hill, Wellington, TF1 3BA, contact Chris Harris 07941 961461 or email jadesingers@ btinternet.com Wrekin Arts Photographic Club meets every Friday at 8pm at the Belfrey Arts Centre Wellington (Sep to Jun). Details from Sheila Thomas on 01952 617170 or www.wrekinartspc.com Eyton & Wellington WI meet 2nd Wed of every month, 7.30pm at Belmont Hall. Belmont Community Hall in Wellington meet every Fri 11.45am-4pm - Over 50’s, tea, raffle, speakers, bingo etc.. £1.50 entry, also lunch available at £3.50 at 12pm cooked on the premises. All welcome. For further details contact Margaret Atkinson on 01952 877409.
The Wellington Girls’ Brigade meet every Tue in term time from 6-8pm at Wellington Methodist Church. All girls welcome from 5yrs+. For more info. call Tracey on 01952 405178. Wellington Evening Townswomen’s Guild meet on the 1st Tue of each month at 7.30pm at Belmont Community Hall, Wellington. Visitors welcome. Call 413686 for more info. Wellington Central Townswomen’s Guild meet on the 2nd Tue of each month at 2.15pm at the Carvers Close Community Room, Holyhead Rd, Wellington. For more info call 01952 251 364.
Other Areas
Phoenix Club for the widowed - a club for both men and women who are widowed and are ready to restart their social life in a friendly supportive atmosphere. We meet the 2nd Sunday of the month at Codsall Village Hall at 7pm in the summer afternoons and 2.30pm in the winter. We have a varied program of entertainmentand we also organise monthly lunches at local pubs, day trips and holidays. For more information phone Anthea 01952 462905 or Ray 01785 840959. Age UK Lunch Clubs - are held every month at 10 different locations. Ring Age uk Telford (01952 201803) for more details or check out the website: www. ageukshropshireandtelford.org.uk IT Class (for older people) run every Wednesday 3-5pm at Brookside Community Centre. Contact Diane Douglas 01952 201803 ext 001 or diane.douglas@ ageukstw.org.uk Whist Drive - Every Fri, at Buildwas Village Hall, 7pm prompt - everyone welcome, Call 01952 242009 for details. Telford Sign Cafe - want to practice your signing or are you a Deaf Sign Language user who would enjoy helping us! Enjoy a coffee and a chat. All abilities welcome. Meet 3rd Fri of month from 7pm, at The Home Organisation Coffee Shop, Lightmoor. Contact Nikki: nikkibackhouse@ googlemail.com, 07791 724827 Wrockwardine and District Garden Club - Meet on 1st Thu of each month at Wrockwardine Village Hall at 7.30pm. Little Wenlock WI - meet 1st Wed of every month - in the Village Hall at 2pm, new members welcome - contact Diana on 01952 244136 for further details. Severn Sisters WI - Meet every 3rd Wednesday, 7pm at Longdon On Tern Village Hall. For further info contact Paula Pierce 07841 528543 Volunteer and Make a Difference - if you could help Guide Dogs locally with fundraising, sighted guiding or other volunteer roles, please contact Valerie Jobes on 01189 838 756 or valerie.jobes@ guidedogs.org.uk. Further info can be found at www.guidedogs.org.uk. Temponilla a small S.A.T.B. vocal ensemble meet weekly on Monday evenings 7:309pm at Sutton Hill Church, please see web www.temponilla.co.uk for calender of this years events, and contact details if you are intersted in joining the choir. The Wrekin Decorative and Fine Arts Society meets at the Cold War exhibition hall at RAF Cosford Air Museum on the 3rd Mon of the mth at 2pm. Visitors £5. Contact: Louise Nixon 01746 783517 - www. nadfas-wm.org.uk/wrekin.html Telford and Wrekin Ladies Circle is all about fun and friendship – trying something new, relaxing with friends, fundraising & great days out. If you are between 1845 and want to know more contact us at: tandwladiescircle@hotmail.com - 07961 961475 or find us on Facebook. Wrekin Writers meet 3rd Sat of month 9 till noon. Large friendly group that’ll help to motivate you with your writing. Visit www. wrekinwriters.co.uk or call Darren on 01952 405178.
To submit an entry to this feature please email your details to: fleur@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk please put subject as WHATS ON on the email. (Space is VERY limited, so brief details ONLY)
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Local Health, Sport
Admaston
at Admaston House Community Centre (for further info. contact Moira Hoath on 07722 213264): Mon: Yoga (evenings) Contact Janet Evans on 01952 245983 Wed: Weight Watchers 5.30pm & 7pm Thu: Gentle seated and standing exercises for older people. 10.30-11.30am. Qualified tutor £2.50, call Diane Douglas on 01952 201803 for details. Thu: Slimming World - 9.30am, 5.30pm & 7.30pm Contact Sharon on 07775 512563
Church Aston
at Church Aston Village Hall: Mon 10-11am Zumba (easy) @ Village Hall with Nikki 07967 343728 Wed 9.30-10.25am Easy tone - over 50s & beginners Wed 10.30am-11.15 - Kettlebells Class - all over body workout using kettle shaped weight. Contact Kim on 07795 225017 Thu 11am Medau Movement & Dance exercise with Rosemary 01785 822442.
Dawley
Clubbercise - Mon 6.45-7.35pm Dawley Social Club Kings Street TF4 2AG. All welcome no need to book. Contact Kim - 07724 087516 Touch Rugby - Telford RFC, Hinkshay Road, Telford TF3 3BZ. Wed 7pm ages 14 to adult Men and Women no previous experience required. £free. Just fun and fitness to be had! Ballroom Social Dance Class - Dawley Town Hall, Sun 7.30-10.30pm. Call Donna on 01952 567920 Dawley Phoenix Badminton Club meets on Tues 7-9pm at the Hadley Learning Community, Crescent Rd, Telford, TF1 5JU. We support a good club standard of play using feather shuttles. New members and visitors are welcome. Please come along on Club Night or contact Clive Roscoe on 07552 761896. Slimming World (Tue 9:15am & 11:15am) at Dawley Bank - Call Paula on 07791 743509 Pilates Mon 7-8pm at the Pheonix Sports Centre, Telford Langley School. £33 block of 6 classes or £6.50 payas-you-go. Contact Beryl on 01952 462896 or 07971 875372, email: beryl.feely@gmail.com. Mons’ - 8-10pm - The Ironmen & Severn Gilders Morris dance team – great fun, all welcome, men and ladies, at The Telford Langley School, Duce Drive, Dawley, TF4 3JS. Contact us through our website www.imsg.org.uk or e-mail secretary@imsg.org.uk Dawley Christian Centre: Mon - GKR Karate 6.30-8pm Tue - Keep Fit 10-11am, Badminton Grp 7-9pm Wed - Zumba 8-9pm Thu 9am-12pm Help 2 Quit Smoking
Donnington
Bums n Tums fitness class - at Silver Threads Hall, Donnington 6.30-7.30pm. It would suit all fitness levels and is great fun! Contact Cheryl on 07714 610591 or cheryljauncey2@gmail.com
Edgmond
Yoga, Pilates & Legs, Bums & Tums Classes - held in the new Studio at Edgmond Village Hall, Shrewsbury Road, Edgmond, Newport, TF10 8HU. Mondays: Pilates at 6pm; LBTs at 7.15pm; Wednesdays: Yoga at 6pm. Cost: £6 PAYG or £30 in advance for 6 classes. Call/text 07875 661045 or email denisepheasant@hotmail.com to book. Circuit Training - every Wed 5.45-6.45pm (Ladies only) £4 a session, contact Chris Bailey on 07866 641227.
Hadley
Slimming World - at HLC, Hadley - 5.30pm & 7.30pm Contact Sharon on 07775 512563 Daisy Birthing classes: Active Antenatal classes on Sat 10-11:30am at HLC. Suitable for all pregnant mums.
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Email: janette-davey@thedaisyfoundation.com or phone 07808 066786. Thu mornings at Telford Thai Boxing, Hadley - 10-11am Yoga and 11:15-12:15pm Pilates. All ages and fitness levels welcome, including complete beginners. Contact 07852 144119 or email iandglittleford@btinternet.com. Indoor Bowls - Mon & Tue 2-4pm, at Hadley Restrooms. New members VERY welcome, free trial available. For more details contact Peter on 01952 242873. Gymnastics Classes - Monday to Saturday, for beginners - advanced gymnasts. Contact: 07905 956644 or email shootingstarsonline07@yahoo. com Piloxing (Boxing, Pilates & Dance) - Mon 6.30-7.30pm. Zumba - Thu 6.30-7.30pm. Hadley Methodist Church, £3.50. All abilities welcome! Debbie 07891 686812
Jackfield
‘Tap into Health’ - EFT tapping workshops. Relief from stress, pain and more. Wednesdays 10.30 - 11.30 at The Gorge Therapy & Training Centre. £5 or whatever you can manage on the day. Caroline 01952 881151 www. carolinerolling.com Mindful Meditation - Sooth mind, body and spirit. £5. At The GorgeTherapy & Training Centre. For more info contact: Diane 01952 881151 www.you-in-mind.co.uk
Ketley
Yoga - Wednesdays 7-8pm at Ketley Community Centre, Holyhead Road, Ketley, TF1 5AN. Friendly class, suitable for all abilities and beginners are especially welcome. £5 per class, no need to book. Contact Debbie on 07790 006815, email debbieyogaone@gmail.com or see my website: www.yogaone.co.uk Stretch & Tone Class - Sunday 9-10am at Ketley Community Centre on Holyhead Road. Class is aimed at increasing and maintaining flexibility and can help with joint discomfort too. Classes are £4 and MUST be booked in advance due to demand for spaces. Call/text Vikki Connell on 07510 186982 Over 50’s Class @ Ketley Methodist church, Waterloo Road, Ketley. Thursday 10-11am. Suits all fitness levels and is a great place to meet new people. £3 per session. Contact Cheryl on 01952 371325 or email cheryljauncey@yahoo.co.uk Slimming World - Ketley Methodist Church on Tue at 5.30 & 7.30pm.
Lawley
Clubbercise - Tue 6.45-7.35pm Lawley Primary School Arleston Lane TF4 2PR (next to community centre) All welcome no need to book. Contact Kim - 07724 087516 Baby Yoga at St. Johns Church Hall, Lawley – Mon 1-2pm, Adult Yoga Mon 8.15 to 9.15pm. Contact Michele on 07970 731174 or email info@mitchytitch.co.uk. www. mitchytitch.co.uk Mummy Movers - St Johns Church Hall, Wed: 7.308.30pm & Thu: 10.15-11.00am. Call: Laura 07929 154 536 / laura@mummymovers.com Website: www. mummymovers.com Stretch & Tone Class - Tue - Lawley Village Primary Academy - 6:30-7:30pm Call/text Vikki Connell on 07510 186982, or email vikkiburnell@ymail.com. Zumba - Mon & Wed - Lawley Community Centre 6pm Call/text Vikki Connell on 07510 186982, or email vikkiburnell@ymail.com.
Leegomery
CJ's Dance Fit - Mon & Wed 6.30pm and Thu 9.45am & 11am at Leegomery Methodist Church, Hadley Park Road, TF1 6QG. Also an Age UK class on Thu at 1:30pm. Call 07793 777659 or email: claire.jervis74@gmail.com for more details.
Lightmoor Village
at Oak Tree Centre, Lightmoor Village: Mon: Hatha Yoga 7-8.30pm, drop-in £4 per session. Call/ text Emma on 07590 437712 or emabyoga@yahoo.co.uk Wed: Help to Quit Smoking 5.30-6.30pm - for app’s call Rachel 07979 540496 Sat: Dance Classes 9-10.15am (7yrs+), 10.15-11am (3-6yrs)
Lilleshall
Adult Yoga class, Mon 10-11am at the Memorial Hall in Lilleshall. Contact Michele on 07970 731174 or email info@mitchytitch.co.uk. www.mitchytitch.co.uk Lilleshall Village Tennis Club - Welcomes new members, Tues, Thurs evenings & Sunday mornings. Junior & Adult Coaching – Saturday afternoons. Complete beginners course for Adults - Tues pm. For further details contact Pauline Coffey on 01952 604757
Lilleshall National Sports Centre - Sutherland Badminton Club - Tue evenings 8.30 - 10.30pm New members welcome. Contact: Amanda Haselock - 01952 677590 Premier Badminton Club are seeking new members. Tue evenings from 7:30pm at Lilleshall National Sports Centre. Contact Anthony 01952 526520 or Rob 01952 840453 www.premier badminton.co.uk Lilleshall Hall Table Tennis Club - meets Mon 7.15-10.15pm in the Ford Hall, Lilleshall National Sports Centre, 12 tables - coaches for juniors & beginners. Sessions £5 adults, juniors. Call Vicky 810355 or Don 416048.
Madeley
Bootcamp/Interval training classes at Bridal Road, Bridal Court, Madeley. Every Tue & Thu 7-8pm. Suits all fitness levels and great fun. Contact Cheryl on 01952 371325 Slimming World- Jubilee House, Madeley High St, Wed at 3.30,5.30 & 7.30 and Sat 8.30 & 10.30am.
Muxton
at St John’s Church Muxton: Bumps n Babes (NCT) 1-2:45pm (fortnightly), sessions £1.50 Slimming World - Mon (9.30, 5.30pm & 7.30pm) contact Celia Powell 07575 123666 Wed: Over 50’s Aerobics (10am) Newport Little Dragons Karate 5.30-6.30pm Fri: Sequence Dancing 8pm If you would like further info. on the above activities contact the church on 01952 670033
Newport
Tai Chi - Gentle exercise to improve flexibility and balance, relieve stress and aid relaxation. Suitable for adults of all ages and abilities. Cosy Hall Tuesday am. Contact Dilys 01952 588838 / dilysd407@gmail.com Groupfit, Women Only and Boxfit classes at The Body Barn in Newport - see website for full details at: www. thebodybarn.co.uk or call 01952 455541. Forton Cricket Club - Fancy playing cricket, we have two senior teams, ladies team and junior teams - for more info contact Clive 01952 825447 or cliverjones1958@ gmail.com Nova Utd FC based in Newport, looking for new players for 2017/18,Training Saturday mornings 9-10.30 Shuker Fields, Ages 7 to 16yrs, all abilities welcome, for more details visit our website www.novaunitedfc.co.uk Martial Arts Club (Aikido) - Aikido at Burton Borough Sch, Newport. Mondays 7-9pm - Adult classes. Contact sensei@meijyukan.co.uk website www.meijyukan.co.uk T: 0845 678 0091 Yoga - Mon 5.30-6.30pm @ Burton Borough School Hall and Wed 10.30-11.30am @ Cosy Hall - with Nikki 07967 343728 Clubbercise Mon 7-8pm @ Burton Borough School Hall with Nikki 07967 343728 Tone & Sculpt - Wed 9.15-10.15am @ Cosy Hall - with Nikki 07967 343728 Junior Badminton Club - we have places available for U11’s who want to learn how to play badminton. It’s £4 per week and includes coaching by a Badminton England accredited Level 2 coach. Saturday (10-11am under 11’s and 11-12 under 15’s) in term time at Burton Borough School, Newport. Contact Des Machin on 07949 192038, E: desmachin@hotmail.co.uk Zumba Gold (easy) Fri 9.30-10.30am @ Cosy Hall Contact Nikki 07967 343728 Farmhouse Shotokan Karate Club, Moreton Millennium Community Centre and Burton Borough School, Newport - Tues, Fri & Sun. For all ages and abilities. Fully qualified and insured Instructors. First Lesson Free. Contact 07890 349451, email shropshirekarate@gmail. com or visit www.shropshirekarate.com Yoga Classes at Trinity Church, Wellington Rd, Newport: Mummy & Baby Yoga - Thu 1.30 – 2.30pm. Dru Yoga classes - Fridays 7 - 8.30pm. Contact Kate on 07989 514317, yogamebaby@yahoo.co.uk www.facebook.com/ yogame4families Zumba @ Cosy Hall, Newport. Tue 6.30-7.30 Contact Nikki: 07967 343728. Salopian Skimmers Frisbee Club are looking for new Male & Female players of all abilities. Wed night at Adams Grammar Sports Hall. 18.30 to 20.00. First 3 sessions Free. For more info email drew.barlow@live. co.uk or join us on Facebook. A small friendly group of people meet every Friday evening from 6-7pm in Burton Borough School to play social badminton and volleyball. If you're interested please contact Mark Pearce on 01952 550557 or email markpearce17@hotmail.com for more information. Women’s Circle for Spiritual Development – are you looking to connect to like-minded spiritually awake women & deepen your connection - then this group is
& Fitness Classes for you. 1st Fri of month in Newport – Contact Romella 07894 812440 Meditation for Calm Classes – held every Tuesday 2-2.50pm @ Tina’s Wellness Studio, New Street, Newport, drop in for £10 or prebook 4 weeks @ £9 a class (£36) - Book Romella 07894 812440 Free essential oil classes – every Mon (& other days) Learn how essential oils can support your wellbeing goals, families health needs, emotions, sleep and even be used for cleaning. Contact Romella 07894 812440 Fit 4 the Future exercise classes (at the studio near Focus). Mon: Jump ‘n Pump 7-8, Tue: Energize 6-7, Bootcamp 7-8, Wed: Box ‘a’ Blast 7-8, Thu: Energize 6-7, Box ‘a’ Blast 7-8. £4.50 per session. Please call Craig for details 07796 426299.
Oakengates
Telford Fight Factory - Muay Thai, Boxing, Strength & Conditioning. At The Ice Lounge, Eden Complex, Cannongate Road, Oakengates. Fun, family friendly class, age 7-70yrs, Mon 6-7, Wed 7-8. Contact Stuart Whiston 07786 115899 or fb Clubbercise - Excercise in disguise. Easy to follow routines to Banging Club tunes from the 90s with L.E.D Glow Sticks. At The Ice Lounge, Eden Complex, Cannongate Road, Oakengates. Tue 7-8, Thu 7-8. Contact Amanda Whiston 07780 515350 or fb Telford & Wrekin Lawn Green Bowling Club - Est 1982 at Hartshill Park - Oakengates. Club nights Thurs starting 6pm. Competitive and social bowling against other Midlands clubs. New members welcome. Contact Roger Rowley on 01952 612574. Slimming World (Sat - 8am & 10am) at Oakengates Rest Rooms, Charlton Street, Oakengates, Telford TF2 6BD - Call Paula on 07791 743509 Martial Arts Club ( Aikido ) at Oakengates Leisure Centre. Mon & Fri 7.45 / 8.45pm Juniors ( 7yrs+ ). Mon & Fri 7.45 / 10.00pm Adults. New members always welcome. First lesson is free. If you would like more info contact us on: 07929761302. Email us on suekeithhayward@sky.com
Shawbirch
Shawbirch Community Centre: Tue - Antenatal Yoga (5:30-6:30pm), Yoga (7-9pm) For further info. contact us on 01952 248538.
Shifnal
Swimming Lessons - Duck N Dive Limited - Baby, preschool, afterschool & adult swimming lessons across various locations in Telford & Shifnal. T: 01952 301012, Email:info@dndswim.co.uk, Web:www.dndswim.co.uk Line Dancing Classes at Shifnal Memorial Club on Tue at 7.30pm. Slimming World - Shifnal Village Hall - Wed (9.30am) Call Paula on 07791 743509 Meditation followed by group activity every Thu 7.309.30pm at Citizen’s Hall, Curriers Lane, Shifnal. £8pp. Contact Norma on 01952 463876 or email Jehandra@ yahoo.com or Facebook -Jehandra Holistic Healing for more details. Zumba at Shifnal Scout Hut, Thu 6-7pm with Nikki 07967 343728 Clubbercise Thu 7.30-8.30pm @ Shifnal Primary School with Nikki 07967 343728 Tue mornings at St Andrews Youth Club, - Yoga 9:30 10:30am and Pilates 10:45 - 11:45am. £5 per class or £8 for both classes. Thu mornings at Shifnal Village Hall - Yoga 10-11am, £5 per class. All ages and fitness levels welcome, including complete beginners. Contact Gill on 07852 144119 or email iandglittleford@btinternet.com. YOGA every Thu at Trinity Methodist Church, Shifnal Adults - 7.10-8.10pm, Pregnancy 6-7pm, Baby Yoga at St. Andrews Church, Shifnal every Wed 1-2pm. Contact Michele on 07970 731174 or email info@mitchytitch. co.uk. www.mitchytitch.co.uk Laughter Yoga - The fun way to good health. Mon 7-8 pm. Tues 10.30 - 11.30 at Shifnal Seniors Club, Curriers Lane. All ages, all abilities. All welcome. £6 on the day or £24 for 6 weeks. Contact Caroline: 07868240605 info@gorgetherapycentre.co.uk Adult Fitness Classes at Idsall Sports Centre – METAFIT - Mon 6:30-7.15pm, YOGA - Tue 5.30-6.30pm, CIRCUITS - Wed 7.30-8.15pm, METAFIT - Thu 6.30-7.15pm. Everyone welcome! 1st Class FREE !!! 01952 460499 Shifnal Bowling Club - Social Bowling every Thu morning 10.30am-12.30pm. Junior Coaching Sat morning 11-12. All are welcome to our club young & old. Contact Graham McCarthy 01902 372 955 for details. DANCE class 10.30 Wed at St Andrews Youth Club Hall. Exercises & routines for fitness & fun, over 50s, £5. More info www.shifnaldance.moonfruit.com Spaces limited so please contact Sally 01952 461768. Pilates Mon 10-11am (starting 5th Sep) at the Trinity Methodist Church Hall. Tue 7-8pm at Kemberton Village
Hall. £33 block of 6 classes or £6.50 pay-asyou-go. Contact Beryl on 01952 462896 or 07971 875372, email: beryl.feely@gmail.com Shifnal Cricket Club - Junior cricket coaching - Mon 6.30 to 7.30 for boys aged 8-11, 7.30 to 8.30 for boys aged 12 and 13. Girls coaching and boys aged 14 and 15 Fri 6.30 to 7.30. For details please call Kevin Humphreys 07983 120061. Idsall Badminton Club meet at Idsall Sports Centre, Shifnal - Tue 7-9pm. All we ask is that you play to a reasonable standard. Ceroc Modern Jive and Salsa class nights at Shifnal Village Hall. Every Monday (exc Bank Hols) 7.45pm 11pm. New members always welcomed and no need to bring a partner. Contact Mike on 07990 554459, email cerocmidlands@aol.com or visit www.cerocmidlands. co.uk
St Georges
Clubbercise - Wed 6.15-7.05pm St Georges Sports & Social Club TF2 9LU. All welcome no need to book. Contact Kim - 07724 087516 HIITPad Fitness 4 week Intensive Academy. Morning and Evening groups. Held at Bailang, St Gower Street Trading Estate George's, Telford. For more info and next course dates visit www.hiitpad.co.uk Karate and Self-Defence at 1st Priorslee & St. Georges Scout Hall, Snedshill Way, St. Georges on Sun 11am to 12 noon. Family-orientated, from beginner to black belt and beyond. Contact Zanshin-do Karate Chief Instructor Steve Lowe 6th Dan Black Belt for further information by emailing stevelowe59@blueyonder.co.uk "Koshi Wind-Chime Relaxation and Healing" Come for Healing and Relax to beautiful sounds. £5 each. St Georges & Priorslee Parish Centre. London Rd, TF2 9LJ. Every 4 wks Thu 7.30pm. Booking essential 07974 196 421 Nikki Slimming World - St Georges Sports & Social Club. Thu 9.30am, 11.30pm, 5pm and 7pm. Contact Celia Powell on 07575 123666 at St Georges Methodist Church: Tue 5-7pm Synergy Dance Troop (Contact: 01952 612776) Wed - 10.30am Pilates (Tel: 412924) / 1.30pm
Stirchley
Have fun – keep fit. Short Tennis Prime Time Club (over 60’s). Tues 4.45-5.30pm and Sat 2-3pm at Stirchley Recreation Centre. Also Wed 7-8pm at Oakengates Leisure Centre and Fri 5-6pm at Phoenix Academy, Dawley. Novices very welcome. Call Kevin on 01952 825239, Tony on 07837 986059 or Vicki on 01952 618256 for further details.
Telford - Town Centre
AQUABABIES - Swimming lessons for children aged 12 weeks to 3 years. Lessons held at The Park Inn hotel on Mon, Tue, Thu and Sat from 10am. To book your FREE trial lesson contact Lisa on 07598 617442 or Stuart on 01543 572855
Trench
Yoga - Mondays 7-8pm at Our Lady of the Rosary and St Luke Church Hall, Church Road, Trench, TF2 7HG. Friendly class suitable for all abilities and beginners are especially welcome. £5 per class, no need to book. Contact Debbie on 07790 006815, email debbieyogaone@gmail.com or see my website: www. yogaone.co.uk Interval Training class that suits any fitness levels 6:30 to 7:30pm. At The Labour Club, Gibbons Rd, Trench. Proven to burn more fat than any other form of exercise. Also great fun too! Class costs £3.50. Contact Cheryl 07714 610591.
Wellington
Wrekin Shotokan Karate Club, at Wrekin College Sports Hall, Wellington: Wed 6:30pm; Sat 10:30am; and at Sport TCAT Mondays 7:30 pm. Learn authentic Japanese Shotokan karate from team of black belts lead by 6th Dan, Shotokan Karate International Federation, Japan. Contact: Tony on 07841 839372. Severn Spokes Cycling Group - We are a small, friendly and welcoming group of cyclists who run regular, easy paced rides from Wellington through the quiet lanes of Shropshire and beyond. Contact severnspokes@gmail. com or visit www.facebook.com/severnspokes and/or our website www.severnspokes.com Telford STAGS Walking Football - Normal Football rules except NO RUNNING! We play on a Monday morning 9.45 at the 4g pitches to the rear of AFC Telford Utd. All over 55's welcome. Also summer sessions Thu at 18.45. Contact Roy Vincent 01952 245407 for further details.
KAPAP - Martial Arts Club held at TCAT, Haybridge Rd, Telford, TF1 2NP on Tuesday evenings from 7-9pm. First session free trail. Contact Paul - paul@kapaptelford. co.uk or 07737 825263. Immerse School of Diving - we have a training and club diving session on a Friday evening at 8:30pm at Wrekin College pool. Call 0777 377 1619 or email: info@ immersediving.com; visit www.immersediving.com find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/immersediving. An active and friendly scuba diving club, we cater for beginners through to professional level divers, and charge no membership fees or surcharges on your club diving. Slimming World - Wed & Thu at The Glebe Centre, Glebe St, Wellington, 5.30 & 7.30. Call Heather on 07737 734347 01952 289386 or just pop along! All welcome. Piloxing - techniques of boxing and vertical pilates with some dance moves. Fridays 6-7pm at Charlton School £4. For more info contact Annette on 07866 021030. Wrekin Tennis Club - Social play every Tuesday & Thursday evening starting at 7-9pm & Sunday 11am1pm. Based at Oakengates Leisure Centre New players welcome, Contact Alan Pritchard at: alanp52@yahoo. co.uk or 07596 984442 or visit our website, www. wrekintennisclub.co.uk Telford Community Tennis Club, Junior tennis coaching lessons at Bowring Park, Wellington on Sun - 10-11am (4-7yrs), 11-12am (8-10yrs), 12-1pm (11-16yrs). We also have sessions for adult members of all abilities. www.telfordcommunitytennisclub.co.uk E: bob.kerr@telfordcommunitytennisclub.co.uk Friendly Badminton group playing 7-9pm every Thu at TCAT Sports Hall are seeking new players to join them. Come along and try a few taster sessions at £5 per night. Contact Jenny Varley (evenings 6-7pm) on 01952 249277. Wellington Badminton Club - Sports Hall at Ercall Wood Academy, Wellington. Club nights - Tuesday 8 - 10pm. All welcome. Contact Jerry Seymour (Chairman) on 01952 261008 or email jeremy.seymour9@gmail.com Website: www.wellingtonbadminton.co.uk
Other Areas
Swimming Lessons - Duck N Dive Limited - Baby, preschool, afterschool & adult swimming lessons across various locations in Telford & Shifnal. T: 01952 301012, Email:info@dndswim.co.uk, Web:www.dndswim.co.uk Dance Fit at Hollinswood every Friday 2.45pm-3.30pm, call Diane Douglas on 01952 201803 for details. Sutton Heights - Music4health singing for all ages and stages every Sat. Fee £10. 11am-12 and sound healing at 2pm-3pm please book before day. Contact Linda 01952 680232 or visit www.lindaangelis.com Telford Green Gym - Want to get and have Fun? Don’t like the Gym try the Green Gym.Improve your fitness and general well being by getting involved in practical conservation.The Telford Green Gym offers activities all over Telford On Tue, Wed and Thu. Contact The healthy Lifestyles Hub 01952 382582 Arriba Wellness Club - Community Weight Loss Challenge at Fitness First, Telford. Call Lisa Harris on 07580 434325. Yoga for Pregnancy in Albrighton - Weekly classes every Mon 8-9.15pm. Gentle exercise from weeks 15-40 of your pregnancy. Methodist Church Hall, High St, Albrighton WV7 3JA. Classes from £7. Call Rebecca Jenks on 07890 543 508.
To submit an entry to this feature please email your details to: fleur@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk - please put subject as CLASSES on the email. (Space is limited so brief details please)
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MOVIES
INSIDIOUS: THE LAST KEY
Brilliant parapsychologist Dr. Elise Rainier returns once more for ‘Insidious: The Last Key’, which sees her tackle her most terrifying and personal haunting yet: in her own family home. To break the curse, she first needs to find out what the monster that’s menacing the house actually is. And to do that, she’ll need to travel deeper into the Further than she’s ever gone before. Date: 12th January 2018 Genre: Horror, Thriller Cast Members: Lin Shaye, Javier Botet, Josh Stewart
MAZE RUNNER: THE DEATH CURE
The epic finale to the saga, ‘Maze Runner: The Death Cure’ sees Thomas and the Gladers going on one last, desperate mission to find a cure for the Flare. They spent three years behind walls, trying to break out. Now they need to break into the legendary Last City, a WCKD-controlled labyrinth that may be the deadliest maze of all. And Thomas will be faced with a terrible choice: he can save his friends, or he can save everyone else. Release Date: 26th January 2018 Genre: Action, Adventure Cast Members: Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Nathalie Emmanuel
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COMING SOON... COCO
‘Coco’ follows the adventures of a 12-year-old boy named Miguel, who finds himself in the Land of the Dead while on a quest to prove his talent as a musician. His family has banned music for generations, but Miguel is determined to defy them and follow in the footsteps of his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. But when he’s magically transported to the vibrant and colourful Land of the Dead, he sets out to discover the true story of his family’s history. Release Date: 19th January 2018 Genre: Animated Cast Members: Anthony Gonzalez, Gael GarcÃa Bernal, Benjamin Bratt
EARLY MAN
Set at the dawn of time, ‘Early Man’ follows young caveman Dug on an epic quest to save his tribe from a mighty enemy and his Bronze Age city. Dug’s tribe are still in the Stone Age, and they’re no match for people armed with bronze. So he sets out for the mysterious city with his sidekick Hognob to try and save them all, and finds himself caught up in an incredible journey unlike anything he’s known. Release Date: 26th January 2018 Genre: Animated Cast Members: Eddie Redmayne, Tom Hiddleston, Maisie Williams
Please note that release dates are subject to change and some previews may be shown earlier.
93
New Football Team
Notes from your local Ironbridge Gorge Councillor
GETS LOCAL SPONSORSHIP
2017 was certainly a defining year for the Ironbridge Gorge. In November, we saw the Iron Men at the Coalbrookdale foundry finally hang up their boots as AGA closed its doors and the furnaces were extinguished. Coalbrookdale was where the birthplace of the industrial revolution originally began and the foundry at the heart of our community has a rich industrial history. I hope a buyer is secured with the vision to recognise the prestige and opportunity within this site to establish a revolutionary and innovative industrial use that realises our aspirations for the future. Uniper have recently announced that the planning application for the main demolition of the decommissioned power station at Ironbridge has been approved by Shropshire Council. No contractor has yet been appointed to carry out the demolition work, but the full demolition of the main power station site is set to begin in spring 2018 with the project being expected to take about 36 months. This is a significant milestone within the former Ironbridge Power Station’s history and will be the defining moments for such an iconic and strategic site that not only has the potential to benefit our local area, but to influence and contribute to the prosperity of the wider region.
Weston Motors is proud to have sponsored and helped a budding new football team 'Shifnal Harriers U13'. The team has been formed for the new 2017/18 season and is being managed by John Hall as part of 'Shifnal Junior Football Club'. The team is set to have an exciting first season and are thrilled to have managed to secure a sponsor such as Weston Motors who have provided the team with a brand new kit! Andrew Smith the Managing Director of Weston Motors was delighted to be asked to help a local team out and wishes the team the best of luck for a successful season.
I continue to promote the potential for either a heritage steam railway or mainline rail service into the Ironbridge Gorge as the future use of the power station provides a golden opportunity to expand our sustainable transport links into our internationally renowned World Heritage Site.
Cllr. Nicola Lowery (Ironbridge Gorge Ward) T: 01952 380 718 M: 07583 041 568 E: nicola.lowery@telford.gov.uk @Nic_Ironbridge
Nic.Ironbridge
Cllr Nicola Lowery
PUZZLE - ANSWERS SUDUKO (EASY)
SUDUKO (HARD)
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
CODEWORD
CROSSWORD Across: 1 Hooligan, 5 Lass, 9 Soapy, 10 Grate, 12 Peach, 13 Idol, 15 Bonsai, 18 Plaice, 20 Leaf, 23 Range, 24 Abyss, 27 Shawl, 28 Lute, 29 Personal. Down: 1 Hang, 2 Orca, 3 Inset, 4 Adagio, 6 Abrasive, 7 Sachet, 8 Bypass, 11 Red, 14 Opponent, 16 Safest, 17 Dorsal, 19 Cleave, 21 Ass, 22 Bales, 25 Yawn, 26 Seal.
HIDATO
KIDS PAGE The safe number that needs entering is ‘16’.† Reading down column 1, the numbers increase by 9. Column two they increase by 6 & column three they increase by 3.†
94
QUIZ - Review of the Year
QUIZ-Song Title Translations
La Isla Bonita (Madonna) Viva La Vida (Coldplay) Volare (Dean Martin) C’est La Vie (B*Witched) Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi (Kylie Minogue) 6. Jai Ho (A R Rahman featuring The Pussycat Dolls) 7. Pie Jesu (Sarah Brightman and Paul Miles-Kingston) 8. Je T’Aime...Moi Non Plus (Je T’Aime... Moi Non Plus) 9. Voulez-Vous (ABBA) 10. Nessun Dorma (Luciano Pavarotti)
1. Winchester Cathedral (where Jane Austen is buried)
2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Irma and Maria Hull Harry Dotard Radiohead Toronto The Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru 9. Anthony Joshua 10. Ariana Grande (honoured due to her response to the terror attack at her gig at the Manchester Arena)
WORDWHEEL ORGANISE
WORD LADDER Here is one possible solution (others may exist)
DUCK buck back bark barn darn dawn DOWN
TRIAL
POI PIKE 3 Letters POL PLOT LEI POT POET LET TIE POLE LIE TIP TILE LIP TOE TOIL LIT TOP LOP 5 Letters LOT 4 Letters PILOT OIL LEPT OPT LITE 6 Letters PET POLITE LOPE PIE PELT PIT
Don't Leave Your Clutter
TO THE KIDS!
If you have children, you’ve probably thought about what you might leave them when you die. Maybe your home, if you are lucky enough to own a property? Some money? Or perhaps there are precious family heirlooms that you’ve planned to share out between them? Most of us are happy to make a will, setting out how we will dispose of these assets, but not enough of us stop to consider what will happen to the rest of our possessions: the bits and pieces we accumulate throughout our lives. Every item, including furniture, ornaments, clothes, framed pictures, souvenirs, books and papers – not to mention boxes of stuff that you’ve been meaning to sort out for years – will need to be picked over and subsequently sold, given away or discarded. Almost inevitably it will be your children who are left to scale this mountain of possessions. Most people who have had the job of clearing a parent’s home will tell you that having to sort through the myriad objects that represented a person’s life is not an easy task, particularly when you are still grieving. As well as organising your funeral and dealing with all the legal and administrative tasks that accompany a death, your children will have to spend hours at your property, emptying the contents of cupboards and drawers into black plastic sacks.
Whose responsibility is it anyway? When a person dies, a grant of probate is needed for the executor of the will to act on important financial matters, but there is no official framework in place to handle the disposal of household items and possessions – legally known as ‘chattels’ or ‘fittings’. While chattels may have little monetary value, they can nevertheless hold great significance for family members on an emotional level. If two or more family members can’t agree what to do with mum or dad’s possessions, it may lead to arguments and even to the break up of relationships. If there is a difficult family dynamic to begin with, the effort of clearing out a parent’s home may make things even worse, particularly if there is pressure to act quickly because the property is being sold. When Joyce Petersen died, her two sons Peter and Daniel – who had previously fallen out and no longer spoke to one another – needed to clear out her two-bedroom house in Broadstairs, Kent. Unfortunately there was a stand-off over the house clearance as her sons couldn’t agree who should be responsible for undertaking the work. The house had still not been cleared by the completion date for the property sale, so the new owner was forced to take on Joyce’s possessions – including a set of family photographs – when she became the legal owner of the house. Some days after the sale had gone through, Joyce’s younger son Daniel sent an emotional message to the owner via his
solicitor, asking her to save the photographs, but there was no happy ending to the story. The owner told him that the album had been dumped at the local waste and recycling centre, along with many other deeply personal possessions that belonged to his mother.
How can I cut my clutter? While it’s unreasonable to expect older people to clear out possessions that they still need and value, over time we all accumulate items that we seldom use, or even look at. If that applies to you, start by working systematically through cupboards and drawers, making three piles – things you want to keep, things you can recycle or give to a charity shop, and items you can throw away. Check through your clothes, eliminating anything that hasn’t been worn in the past two years: if you haven’t put it on within that period of time, it’s unlikely you’ll ever wear it again. Do an audit of your furniture. Once you’ve managed to sort through your possessions, you may find that some cupboards and drawers are now half empty. If so, think about combining your remaining possessions in one place so you can eliminate at least one piece of furniture. One way to avoid arguments after your death is to call the family together to discuss how they would like you to divide up the pieces that they value. You don’t have to give those things away now – just agree who will receive each item, encouraging family members to take a photo of the pieces they will take when the time comes. As you grow older you may need mobility aids to get around, so you’ll be glad of the extra space you have created through your de-cluttering efforts. You can also be reassured that by taking time to sort through your possessions now, you’ll be saving your family a lot of time, effort and heartache in future.
by Kate McLelland
95
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NPB Garden and Ground Maintenance
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Optional full installation service Family business with over 75 years experience.
If you would like a polite, friendly person to tend to your gardens on a regular basis at an affordable price, do not hesitate to contact Nigel today!
Grass Cutting Hedge Maintenance Garden Borders Turf Laying Fence Painting Paths Cleaned
CALL Nigel: 07753 690 141 E: nickybiddulph791@hotmail.co.uk •• Lawn mowing & care •• Weeding & pruning •• Tree surgery •• Path & driveway clearance •• Hanging baskets •• Soft garden design •• Border development •• Plant selection & Call Jack Wells on placing •• Grass cutting 07792 556479 •• Weeding of flowerbeds 01952 402647 •• Strimming E: enquiries@wellsgardenservices.com •• Garden Clearance www.wellsgardenservices.com •• Garden tidy up •• Ground care
View our range of products online or look out for us at local events!
Home Inspirations No job too small
CKN Property Maintenance Call today call Karl on: 07914 492367 for your free quote. E: cknhomeservices@gmail.com
Call Michelle on 01952 670067 or 07961 848467 E: michelle@homeinspirations.biz
www.homeinspirations.biz
O I P E L T Call us free on 0808 808 00 00 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 8pm) or visit macmillan.org.uk Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604).
You have two minutes to find all the words of three or more letters that can be made from the letters above. Plurals are allowed, proper nouns are not. The 6 letter word will always be just a normal everyday word.
3 letters: 19 4 letters: 10 5 letters: 1 6 letters: 1
01952 825505
YOGA INSTRUCTOR
Classes and 1-1 Sessions Quality Balti Restaurant & Take Away
Class at The Arts Centre Telford
Order Online: www.thetasteofparadise.co.uk Tuesday Special - 4 Course Meal £8.95pp
Holyhead Road, Ketley, Telford TF1 5AN
on Sundays 10-11am - £5
£5 OFF
1-1 Private Lessons at TACT or Home Visits
Meal for Two
Ladies and Gents hairdressing since 1978
Grandfather, Father & Son - 3rd Generation Upholsterer
If your spring goes ping give us a ring!
Card payments now accepted
Operating mobile to your home or visit my secret salon Est. 1976
Call or text KAREN on 07970 901375
Audio Visual Installations Expert Help & Advice FREE Quotations
For all your domestic cleaning needs
Call Jeremy on 01952 228936
Call Tracey on 07411 610 401 or Samantha on 07812 438 574
or 07860 577169 E: jbo.services@yahoo.co.uk
All work carried out is guaranteed for 12 months
Evenett and Bishop Opticians All types of contact lenses
fitted
3D Eye Scans NOW Available Our new OCT Scanner captures both a photograph and a cross-sectional scan of the eye at the same time Registered with the General Optical Council.
Awesome Hair by Karen
All services carried out following a comprehnsive consultation
www.pjsreupholsteryservices.co.uk
• TV Aerials, Satellite Installations • Plasma LCD TV Installations • Multi-Room Video (HD) Distribution • High Definition FreeView / FreeSat • Surround Sound System Setup • Full Home Cinema Installations
Meal for Six
(6 main meals must be purchased, not valid with any other offers) Valid until 28-02-18
Trained in: • Precision Cutting Experienced • Blow Drying / Setting Freelance Hairdresser • Permanent Waving • All Types of Colouring (including Colour Correction)
NO JOB TOO SMALL
JBO Services
Meal for Four
(4 main meals must be purchased, not valid with any other offers) Valid until 28-02-18
rear of 2-4 High Street, Newport TF10 7A
PJ's Re-upholstery Services
07802 491651 01952 610828
£10 OFF £15 OFF
(2 main meals must be purchased, not valid with any other offers) Valid until 28-02-18
T: 07528 690335 Email: rshyoga@yahoo.com
Antique or Modern Sofas & Chairs Dining Chairs Springs & Repairs
We are not licensed so bring your own alcohol
Large range of Frames including Childrens
d o o w h c Wy
www.wychwoodkennels.co.uk
BOARDING KENNELS & CATTERY
Kynnersley Drive, The Hincks, Lilleshall, Newport TF10 9HS
www.evenettandbishopopticians.co.uk
Contact us to join our waiting list for delivery people? Call Fleur Abel on 01952 603457 or email: fleur@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk
www.inandaroundmagazine.co.uk
Weekly or Fortnightly Cleans End of Tenancy Cleans Very Reliable Fully Insured References can be supplied
TEL: 01952 604285
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Quality Domestic Cleaners
MASALA
INDIAN RESTAURANT & TAKEAWAY
T: 01952 820085
Adams House, 7 High Street, Newport TF10 7AR *
20% OFF MAIN COURSE WHEN DINING IN - PRE BOOKING ONLY
FEEL FREE TO BRING YOUR OWN ALCOHOLIC DRINKS
*Please present this voucher. Valid unti 28-02-18 (excludes Valentines Day)
Maxiumum 6 people. Not to be used with any other offers.
Index of Advertisers Audio / Visual Goods & Services JBO Services...................................................97 Bathrooms A. Watson Home Improvements............ 84 Aquaspark....................................................... 69 Summer House Bathrooms & Kitchens.....71 Telford Maintenance Ltd.............................85 Beauty Beauty by Jude...............................................21 Cedar House Clinic.......................................23 Bedrooms Easy Living..................................................... 40 Blinds PJ Blinds.......................................................... 43 Bricks & Building Materials Huws Gray........................................................75 Jewsons............................................................59 Builder Louka Home Care.........................................83 CCTV Telford CCTV...................................................85 Car Hire / Executive Travel Image Luxury Car Hire ...............................65
YOUR QUICK GUIDE TO EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING IN YOUR LOCAL MAGAZINE...
Estate Agents & Property Barker Healey.................................................33 Coleman Estates............................................35 Julia Weston................................................... 34 Lioncourt Homes...........................................37 Nock Deighton......................................... 28-31 Farm Shop/Markets/Food Fayre Green Fields Farm Shop...............................11 Financial Services CD Financial.....................................................51
Oven Cleaning Active Cleaning..............................................87 Physiotherapy Anna Simons Physiotherapy......................17 SB Sports Injury & Physio. Clinics........... 14 Plumbing & Heating A. Watson Home Improvements............ 84 Aquaspark....................................................... 69 Printing TEAL Design, & Print..................................... 2
Fireplaces, Fires & Stoves Admaston Firecraft Centre........................67 Alpine................................................................67 Grate Ideas..................................................... 99
Property Maintenance CKN................................................................... 96 Louka Home Care.........................................83 Telford Maintenance Ltd.............................85
Footcare The Foot Doctor.............................................19 Telford Footcare.............................................13
Removals Jays Removals............................................... 34
Funerals Shropshire Funeral Plans............................53 Garage Doors Barrett Garage Doors.69Garden, Plants & Building Supplies Bloomsbury Nursery....................................57 Huws Gray........................................................75 Jewsons............................................................59
Restaurants/Pubs/Cafes Hadley Park House.......................................23 Masala................................................................97 Patshull Park Hotel........................................15 Taste of Paradise...........................................97 Telford Hotel & Golf Resort.......................23 The Barley.......................................................... 5 The Bridge Inn.................................................. 9 The Woodbridge Inn.................................. 6-7 White House Hotel......................................... 5
Care Home St Georges Park Nursing Home................15
Gardening/Landscaping A J Landscapes..............................................57 Gardenhand.................................................... 96 Jack Wells....................................................... 96 Long Fox Landscapes.................................59 NPB Garden & Ground Maintenance.... 96
Carpentry Select Joinery.................................................73
Glass & Glazing Darwin Glass & Glazing...............................83
Taxis / Executive Travel Image Luxury Car Hire ...............................65
Carpet, Rugs & Floor Coverings Carpet and Flooring......................................41
Granite Worktops Granite Transformations............................... 3
Therapy Affinity & Beyond...........................................19
Children’s Parties/Family Activities Airea51 Trampolining Park........................47 Gaming 2 U..................................................... 49
Gutter Cleaning Gutter PRO.......................................................81
Tool Hire Jewsons............................................................59
Hairdressing Awesome Hair by Karen.............................97
Trampolining Airea51 ..............................................................47
Health & Fitness Body Barn.........................................................13 Patshull Park Hotel........................................15 Telford Hotel & Golf Resort........................13
Tree Care Holts Tree Care...............................................57 Shropshire Oaks Tree Care....................... 96
Car Sales (New/Used) Greenhous Vauxhall.....................................63 Mercedes Benz of Shrewsbury.................61
Chimneys Alpine................................................................67 Cleaning Active Cleaning..............................................87 Shaw Clean - Tim Shaw............................. 84 Sutherlands Clean Carpets........................85 Tracey & Samantha Domestic Cleaning.....97
Home Accessories & Gifts Home Inspirations........................................ 96
Councillors Local Councillors.......................................... 94
Kennels & Cattery Wychwood.......................................................97
Decorating Neil Rogers..................................................... 80 Simon’s Décor .............................................. 80 WE Dunne....................................................... 80
Kitchens (Supply & Fit) Kitchen Depot............................................. 100 R & R Kitchens................................................77
Design & Print TEAL Design & Print...................................... 2 Doors The Door Store...............................................77
Lighting Choice Lighting..............................................39 Loft Ladders/Boarding Jakes n Ladders............................................ 68 Reveal a Space...............................................74
Education Bears Den Pre-School................................ 45 The Old Hall School..................................... 45 Wrekin College.............................................. 45
Log Burner Installation Alpine................................................................67
Electrical Goods Tylers Gas & Electrical................................ 43
Oak Structures Select Joinery.................................................73
Electricians Buzz Electrical................................................87 Del Corley Electrical Services...................87
Optician Evenett & Bishop Opticians......................97 Tim Vanes Opticians.....................................17
98
Logs Holts...................................................................57
Spa Telford Hotel & Golf Resort........................13 Solicitor Parry Carver Solicitors.................................51 Terry Jones Solicitors..................................53
Upholstery PJ’s Re-Upholstery Services......................97 Vets Tern Vets............................................................18 Websites ETAK Creative................................................55 Kalidescope.....................................................55 Weddings Hadley Park House Hotel...........................25 Image Wedding Cars...................................65 Patshull Park Hotel.........................................11 Telford Hotel & Golf Resort.......................23 Welding/Compressors/Sales & Hire Telford Group..................................................79 Will Writing ACW Wills........................................................52 Parry Carver.....................................................51 Windows/Doors/Conservatories APH Windows............................................... 68 R & R Services................................................73 Trotfield Windows........................................ 69 Yoga RSH Yoga.........................................................97
A range of Solid Fuel Stoves are NOW available
Choose from a wide range of Fires and Surrounds Authorised Dealer for: • Paragon Fires • Montpellier Marble • Gazco and Stovax • Worcester Marble • Esse and many more... • Wonderfire Premier
www.grateideas.co.uk
One of the finest Showrooms in Shropshire
FULL FITTING SERVICE AVAILABLE
Castle Trading Estate, Holyhead Road, Priorslee, Telford TF2 9NP
T: 01952 620189
Email: enquiries@grateideas.co.uk 99
Family owned with family values
A friendly, professional service to offer you a wide range of high quality bespoke kitchens, manufactured locally, at great prices.
Contemporary
Modern Classic
Traditional
Call into your local showroom: Global House, Off Trench Road, Telford TF2 6PD. We also have showrooms in: Hemel Hempstead Shrewsbury Wolverhampton
Visit us online at:
thekitchendepot.co.uk 100