I&A Nov18 by In and Around Magazine

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ISSUE 166 - NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018

SPECIAL OFFERS BUY250+GET250FREE Design & Print

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“You need to ‘stand out in business’ now, more than ever”

Design & Print • • • • • • •

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More than just a kitchen and bathroom supplier...

Visit our showroom and be inspired... our kitchen and bathroom experts are on hand to help turn your design dreams into reality. MKM TELFORD

KETLEY BUSINESS PARK, TELFORD TF1 5JD 01952 947 888 | mkmbs.co.uk f l

BEAUTY & FASHION

6 Gifted Inspiration 12 Time for Some TLC 14 Christmas Gift Ideas

PROPERTY

16 16 18 20 22 24

Getting Ready for 2019 Now! Legionella and What it Means for Landlords Why it Pays to Have a Sensible Asking Price Double Gold for Shropshire Estate Agents Rural Retreat or Urban Hub Kitchen Design Basics

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

30 Don't Let Christmas Ruin Your New Year 34 Christmas Mincemeat Slice

Welcome to the latest edition of ‘In and Around’. Your LOCAL magazine, helping you to find businesses and services in and around your area.

Please continue to support our LOCAL businesses by using their services where possible.

HEALTH & FITNESS

Enjoy your read...

40 Healthier Festive Food Swaps 42 Winning Partnership at Shropshire Sports Club 43 Shockwave Therapy 44 Achieving a Better Work-Life Balance 46 Great Health, Wellbeing and Fitness Gifts

GARDENS & OUTDOORS

66 Get Fit and Garden 68 Beautiful Bulbs

Clear Up Your Kitchen Clutter Black Friday & Cyber Monday are the Deals Really Real? Great Beds for Guests Hallway Storage The Christmas Technology Survival Guide

COMMUNITY & WHAT’S ON

Kate Dalgliesh

M: 0785 44 70 343 E: kate@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk

Edgmond

Newport Church Aston

ine’ und Magaz ‘In and Aro reas

A41

Distributio

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The Humbers A442

Bratton

A5223

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Oakengates

homes

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Lawley & Overdale

The Booking/Copy deadline for the DECEMBER 2018 issue is Tuesday 20th November 2018

30,000

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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.

92 Movies - Coming Soon

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GRAPHIC DESIGN

HOME IMPROVEMENTS & SERVICES

70 74 76 78 80

Amanda Weston

Tibberton

BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL

60 Want to Save for Your Children? What are the Options? 64 Can you Still Get a Mortgage if you are an Older Borrower?

ADVERTISING SALES

AREA A

50 Becoming A Foster Carer 53 Making Christmas Extra Special

HOME INTERIORS

T: 01952 603457 E: fleur@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk

Fleur

CHILDREN, EDUCATION & ACTIVITIES

54 Making an Entrance 56 Create a Comfortable Guest Room

Fleur Abel

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.

MOTORS & LEISURE

36 The Wackiest Special Editions 38 How to Deal with Pothole Damage to Your Car

DIRECTOR

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. Advertisers details (other than those provided for inclusion in advertisements) are confidential and will not be given to any third party.

BEAUTY & FASHION

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TALENTED HAIR-DRESSERS We offer a full range of hair styling for women, men & children – including the latest colour fashions such as root drag, ombre, foils, t-section, bleach bath and much more. Hair extension also available.

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Beauty For fragrance fans If you’re looking to surprise someone with a new fragrance, Angel Muse could be a good choice. It might be Angel’s little sister, but it’s lighter, warmer and a bit more grown-up. The freshness of grapefruit and pink berries is combined with the warmth of hazelnut and the earthiness of patchouli and vetiver. The giftset is priced at £65, which gets you the full 50ml eau de parfum plus a handbag-friendly 9ml bottle.

For crackers Planning to swap the plastic fish and silver keyrings for luxe cracker gifts? Bobbi Brown’s Lip Crush Kit (£39.50) might be the answer. There are five mini lipsticks in a range of wearable shades. They’re pretty generously sized so

GIFT INSPIRATION Treatment Gel. Most are travel-sized. You’re getting over £58 worth of products for £32 so it’s fantastic value for money.

For teachers Teachers often need to wash their hands several times a day, so a soothing hand cream is likely to be gratefully received. Dr. Organic’s Shea Butter Hand & Nail Cream is full of natural ingredients, including shea butter, aloe vera, coconut oil and rose oil. It provides instant relief for sore hands and feels lovely and rich. £7.99 from Holland and Barratt.

For you! Green People’s Green Regime Beauty Box contains £125 worth of full-sized and mini goodies for £75. There are two exfoliators, three moisturisers, a lipstick, mascara, eyeshadow duo, shampoo, shower gel, night cream, cleanser, facial oil, reusable cleansing pad and organic cotton bandeau. All products are organic and cruelty-free. Treat yourself or add it to your Christmas wish list.

are good value if you consider that one full-size lippy is £24.50.

For chocoholics Chocolate lovers will adore Akamuti’s Chocolate Marshmallow Face Mask. Organic cacao, crushed rose petals, gentle marshmallow, warming vanilla and detoxifying pink clay combine to make this mask a real treat for skin and senses. Add a bar of Green & Blacks to the gift and you’ll really make their day. £7.96 from www.akamuti.co.uk.

For a Secret Santa gift Clarins Festive Treats crackers are just £10 each. The Eyes & Lips one is particularly good value for money as its contents (a mini Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector and Supra Volume Mascara) are

For stockings Some giftsets are just made for splitting up and adding to stockings. Korres’ The Greatest Mini Shower Collection is a case in point. Six gorgeous smelling 40ml shower gels are just waiting to be popped into individual stockings. Add Kneipp’s Herbal Bath Collection (£9.95) to your basket for another six stocking fillers. Both sets are available from www. biggreensmile.com.

worth a total of £17.33.

For your best friend Origins’ Best of the Best collection is a celebration of their most popular products. There’s the Mega-Mushroom™ Skin Relief Soothing Treatment Lotion, Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream, Ginzing Energy-Boosting Gel Moisturizer, Modern Friction™ Nature’s Gentle Dermabrasion, Clear Improvement™ Active Charcoal Mask, Checks and Balances™ Frothy Face Wash and Spot Remover Blemish

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BEAUTY & FASHION

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Turn-Up

the Glamour Sequin Dress £78. Little Mistress

Ombre Sequin Dress £55. Dorothy Perkins

Green Sequin Dress £38. Dorothy Perkins

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Sequin Ombre Dress £79. M&Co

Maxi Dress

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’Bridgette’ High Heels £170. Dune.

/Black Fluffy Heels £30. Dorothy Perkins.

Christmas Party Looks

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It’s time to party! So, forget the usual boring buys, step out of your style comfort zone and try-out a brand new look this festive season.

Lace Dress £99. Per Una

Satin Maxi Dress £75. Little Mistress

Maxi Dress £75. Little Mistress

Shimmer Foil Midi Dress £69

A Year of Awards Stephanie and I are very excited that Darcey has achieved such huge success so early on in her career. We are passionate about developing the future stars of our industry and Darcey epitomises the quality determination and dedication required to be the very best. Having trained as my personal assistant I feel Darcey’s success is only the beginning of what we can achieve when we have such a hard working individual that wants to achieve the same as the brand - ‘the very best’.

FOR THE ASHLEY GAMBLE TEAM

Winning ‘Midlands Ultimate Stylist’, ‘Colour Salon of the Year’ as well as ‘Newcomer of the Year’, in one year has been unbelievable, not to mention still being nominated for ‘British Colourist of the Year’ as well as ‘Midlands Hairdresser' and 'Beauty Salon of the Year’. Taking home ‘Junior of the Year’ with Darcey was particularly special for myself and can't wait for the future for such a talented young lady as a new stylist.

Steph & Ashley Gamble

Q & A's with Darcy Clarke - winner of 'Junior of the Year' 1. Why did you decide to enter the British Hairdressing Business Awards? As I grow my career, it’s important for me to get involved with projects outside of the salon. I want to develop in lots of different areas, like education, photoshoots and awards – I think it’s important to explore all of the aspects that make up the industry, so that I’m a more rounded and experienced stylist. Our salon had never entered the British Hairdressing Business Awards before – it’s about the only awards we haven’t competed in – so we wanted to get involved. This was my last year of being a junior, so it felt like a good fit to give this category a go.

2. Why was it important for you to get involved in the business side of things? I think the Business Awards are great because they celebrate the professionalism of the hairdressing industry and recognise all of the hard work which goes into being a hairdresser on top of the creative stuff. The hairdressing industry contributes £7 billion to the economy, so it’s big business and that’s important to remember and celebrate.

3. What was the application process like to enter? I had to put together an entry that outlined everything I’ve done in my career so far and why I’m so passionate about the hairdressing industry. That got me to the finals, and I then had to go down to London for an interview with a panel of judges. It was really nervewracking being in London by myself for something so important and also because I’ve never actually had a proper job interview before. When I got there, I immediately relaxed because they were all so nice, it felt more like a chat, which helped settle my nerves.

4. How did you prepare for the interview? I didn’t really do much! I thought it was better to go in with a clear mind and just answer the questions honestly and passionately. I know from experience that if I try and rehearse what I’m going to say, I’m more likely to panic and worry about forgetting things. If I answer from the heart, I know that I’m more likely to get my points across.

5. What did you learn from the interview experience? It definitely helped me consider how I present myself, and gave me confidence in talking to strangers and expressing myself. I became conscious of the fact that I sometimes talk too fast and I say ‘like’ too often, so I worked hard to be aware of that to stop myself from doing it. It was a great experience and really helped with my confidence, so I came away feeling that even I didn’t win, I’d learnt a lot.

6. How was the night of the awards itself? It was a great day because the whole team came and it’s just nice to spend some proper time together. All ten of us travelled down together and made a day of it, which made the whole experience

feel really special. I honestly didn’t think too much about winning because I just wanted to enjoy the day and being in the company of my brilliant colleagues. The only thing I was really thinking about was how I didn’t want to fall over on stage if I did win!

7. How did it feel when they announced your name as the winner? Completely surreal. It took me a minute to even register that they’d called my name and really the whole experience still feels like a bit of a blur. It’s only just starting to sink in that I won!

8. How have your clients and the rest of the salon reacted to your win? The whole team had posted the news on social media before I’d even sat down – so everyone knew pretty quickly! We’ve also got the award on the front desk, where it’s become a real talking point. Since winning, I’ve become a stylist and having the award has definitely brought clients to me – people have come in asking for me because they’ve heard about the win, which is amazing. All of my clients are really happy for me because I’ve been there since the beginning, lots of them remembered when I started. They’ve all been joking that they remembered when I was sweeping the floor and now look where I am!

9. Is there anyone you want to thank for the award? Ashley and Steph and the whole salon team, Schwarzkopf Professional, Hairdressers Journal and our PR company, LWPR.

BEAUTY & FASHION

BROADWAY SHIFNAL SHROPSHIRE TF11 8BB TEL - 01952 463661 WWW.ASHLEY-GAMBLE.CO.UK ASHLEYGAMBLELTD

_ASHLEY_GAMBLE

Time for Some TLC Central heating and cold weather can take their toll on your skin, so make the most of the darker evenings by indulging in a well-deserved pampering session. Relaxing in a warm bath with music, candles and a glass of wine is one of my favourite winter experiences. If you’re the same,

Tisserand Aromatherapy’s Ascot Bath Oils Collection (£35). As you’d expect from Tisserand, each of the five check out

bath oils is fragranced with pure essential oils, so they smell lovely but aren’t overpowering. Choose between Misty Mellow, Sweet Solace, Hope & Cheer, Blissful Joy and Happy Elation, depending on which mood you want to create. My personal favourite is Hope & Cheer with its uplifting blend of ginger, lemongrass and rosemary. The Ascot range launched earlier this year and also includes a body wash, hand lotion and more. See www.tisserand.com/ascotcollection. Many of us suffer from dry skin patches, chapped lips and sore hands in the winter. A multi-purpose balm can work wonders. Weleda’s Skin Food (£12.50) is my usual go-to balm, but I’ve been reaching for

ESPA’s Skin Rescue Balm (£29) lately. It’s made from

beeswax and a long list of plant and seed oils, including castor, orange peel and blackcurrant. The balm is incredibly moisturising and a little goes a long way, see www.espaskincare.com. I generally prefer a wash-off cleanser in the summer and a wipeoff one in colder months. I’ve switched to

Coconut Cleanser

Odylique’s Creamy

(£18) for winter. The cleanser has won

multiple awards and for good reason. The blend of extra-virgin olive oil and coconut oil do a great job of removing makeup (even waterproof mascara), and they also nourish the skin as they cleanse. Rose extracts help to soothe inflammation, while lemon detoxifies. The cleanser is suitable for all skin types, even those prone to eczema, rosacea or other skin complaints. It’s very light so won’t clog pores, but it’s still rich enough to leave skin feeling pampered, softer and more hydrated. Massage the cleanser in and then remove it with a damp muslin cloth for a daily cleanse and exfoliation session in one. See www.odylique.co.uk. Fancy a full spa experience? If a weekend away is out of the question, why not look into a day spa experience with a friend? Spas often offer 2 for 1 deals that work out at around £20 a person. You’ll usually get use of the pool and other facilities, as well as a dressing gown and slippers. Or why not splash out on a package that includes a treatment and lunch? Try searching for offers on www.spaseekers.com as you’ll often get a better deal than going direct to the spa itself. Buying a gift for someone who deserves a bit of pampering? Spa Seekers offers vouchers, or try www.

Smartbox Indulgent Pamper Treat costs £39.99 and gives the recipient the choice buyagift.co.uk for gift experiences. The

of a wide range of treatments at venues across the UK. So whether

they fancy a spa day in Berkshire or a massage in Manchester, they’ll have you to thank for the experience.

by Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk

M icro b la d in g

S e m i Pe rm a n e n t M a k e u p

M icro n e e d lin g

Fa c ia l Pe e l

BEAUTY & FASHION

Microblading

It’s A Brow Thing

Thing

Frame your eyes Love your Skin

It’s A Brow Thing

• 2 years experience of microblading and semi permanent make up • Over 17 years experience as a beauty therapist • Qualified teacher and assessor within the beauty industry • Fully insured and trained with the industries leading providers • I believe in attending up dated training courses through out the year to improve and refresh my own techniques Microblading £200 with this advert

Microblading

•

Ameson Chemical Peels

Benefits of Microneedling

• Reduces wrinkles and fine lines • Increase collagen and elastin • Reduces the appearance of pigmentation • Improves scarring • Reduces the appearance of stretch marks Microneedling £100 with this advert

Semi Permanent Make up

•

Thin skin looks immediately rejuvenated and glowing the treatment sheds the upper layer of skin reducing redness and blemishes. 3 to 6 treatments are recommended. Chemical peels can help treat: fine lines and wrinkles / enlarged pores / acne / scarring / rosacea / oily skin / dry skin Ameson chemical peels £40 with this advert

Microneedling

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Its a Brow Thing - Based at Home salon in Ketley TF1 5GG | The Vanity Room Wellington | Heaven Shifnal Contact: 07986 539 310 - or you can contact the two salons directly and ask to book Its a Brow Thing

Facial Peels • Facebook Its a Brow Thing • Instagram its_a_brow_thing

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.

GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE call for details

Shellac Nails £18 per set

ALSO AVAILABLE... • Lash Lift & Tint • Lash & Brow Tinting • Full Leg, Half Leg, Bikini, Underarm & Facial Waxing • Back & Shoulder Massage • Indian Head Massage • Manicure & Pedicure • Facial Treatments

Ladies

Lingerie & Swimwear Do You Know Your Bra Size? We offer a FREE measuring service!

Pamper Evenings Available from £10 Per Person Call for details

CALL JUDE INGRAM ON 07814 671 848 See Facebook for the latest offers: beautybyjudeathome

What Women Want • 12 High Street, Newport TF10 7AN

01952 820044

www.whatwomenwantuk.online 13

For her….

There’s something here to delight every lady in your life…

Perfect Presents

By Helen Taylor

Viktor & Rolf Boubon eau de parfum £90ml £105. Argos

Paintbox Flowers’ Purse £36. Cath Kidston

Reindeer Charm £95. Links of London

Nail Polish Set Bauble £10. Next Glitter Make-Up Brush Set £14. Next

Red Bag £259. Radley at Littlewoods

Elizabeth Arden Set £27.99. Very 14

Mug - £19.95. Emma Bridgewater at Daisy

They say that it’s better to give than to receive but there’s no doubt that everyone on your gift list will be thrilled with these fabulous festive buys. And, you’ll feel pretty good about yourself too.

For him…

Buying for guys isn’t easy, but we’ve got some bright ideas…

Grinch Xmas Jumper £14. Primark

Card Holder and Keyring £20.

Burton Versace Eros eau de toilette £69.99. Argos

Gloves £40.

Mens at Dune

Brown Strap Watch £99. Fossil Grant

Woodspice Washbag £14. M&S Paperweight £4.99.

Home Sense

Getting ready for 2019 now! If you are thinking of selling in the new year, there is plenty you can do now to get “market ready”. Firstly, you really need to appoint an agent now. That doesn’t mean putting your property on the market but it does mean you’ll in the best position to sell when the moment comes. The lack of available properties makes finding a new home a challenge so some vendors are marketing their properties but are reluctant to sell until they find a house they like. Others are staying off the market until they see a house they like, then approaching an agent. If this is you, appointing an agent now will mean you will be able to launch within hours, not days, enabling you to strike while the iron is hot. We have a check-list which will help you get ahead of the

Legionella and what it means for landlords... Property landlords have a responsibility to ensure homes are safe for tenants. Nearly all the things on the checklist are widely known and understood - but have you thought about the risk of Legionella? The chances of your tenants contracting Legionnaires disease are pretty low but there is a greater risk in properties which have remained empty for a while - it is certainly something to be aware of. In general, keeping cold water cold, hot water hot and water circulating regularly prevents the Legionella bug from developing. The problems are more likely to arise when a house has been unoccupied for some time between tenancies. It is in these cases that it’s important to carry out checks to minimise the risk of Legionella in the property. Installing electric showers and combi boilers will help, and flushing out the

A look at the Telford property scene with James Carlon

game and beat others to the launch. You will be competing against other house sellers and we can provide you with all of the tools to stand out and be noticed. The pressure will then off you over Christmas and the New Year and you can liaise with your agent as to when is the right time to go to the market in the new year. For more advice about selling your home in Telford, give us a call on 01952 292300 or visit the website at www. nockdeighton.co.uk

James Carlon Residential Sales Manager Nock Deighton t. 01952 292300 m. 07974 154950 e. j.carlon@nockdeighton.co.uk

Legislation update from Dawn Clarke

plumbing system before a new tenant moves in is another way of making sure there is nothing harmful in the water. Making these simple checks could safeguard the health of your tenant and prevent a potentially life-threatening situation. It is a landlord’s responsibility to carry out a Legionella risk assessment before a tenant moves in. For complete peace of mind you can engage a qualified contractor to carry out a full Legionella Risk Assessment. Full information can be found at www.hse.gov.uk/legionnaires/what-you-must-do.htm For more advice about lettings and property management, give me a call on 01952 290163.

Dawn Clarke Director Nock Deighton t. 01952 290163 m. 07976 209011 e. d.clarke@nockdeighton.co.uk

PROPERTY

17 Carlton Drive, Priorslee, Telford 4 bedroom detached house A superbly presented spacious detached family home with large gardens, pleasantly situated within a much sought after residential development. 6 viewings, 6 offers, under offer within 4 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

Why it pays to have a sensible asking price... Property tips from

Glyn McKenna of Nock Deighton in Ironbridge

When it comes to choosing estate agents, one of the most obvious differences people notice is the asking prices which agents recommend. It’s easy to be swayed by the temptation of asking for a higher price, which is why some agents make a habit of overvaluing properties to ensure they win the instruction.

If you then need to reduce the price, buyers will know that you have been on the market for some time and will be more desperate to sell - so your bargaining power reduces too.

“So when you are comparing estate agents, make sure you talk to them in some depth about how they have come to their valuation - and remember that higher is not always better.”

It’s really important not to fall into that trap! The consumer watchdog Which did some research recently and found that estate agents who overvalue properties actually leave sellers worse off because they have to make huge price cuts to eventually sell their home. Unrealistic pricing will put off potential buyers in the first place - meaning you miss out on the spike of interest when a property first goes on the market. 18

For more advice, give me a call on 01952 432533 or visit our offices in High Street, Ironbridge.

Glyn McKenna Branch Principal Nock Deighton t. 01952 432 533 / 07739 484952 e. g.mckenna@nockdeighton.co.uk

PROPERTY

6 Edith Close, Aqueduct, Telford 4 bedroom detached house Modern detached family home located in a sought after residential area. 7 viewings, 6 offers, under offer within 7 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

Double Gold

FOR SHROPSHIRE ESTATE AGENTS

A Shropshire firm has been awarded double gold at the 2018 Best Estate Agency Guide Awards - meaning it is in the top one per cent of estate agency branches in the country. Nock Deighton is one of the county’s longest-established estate agents and has offices in Telford, Ironbridge, Newport, Ludlow, Bridgnorth and just over the Worcestershire border in Kidderminster.

The company was today celebrating news of its double gold award win in the Best Estate Agent Guide of 2018, compiled by industry expert The Property Academy supported by the UK’s largest property portal Rightmove, following a year of rigorous scrutiny and assessment. Ross D’Aniello, sales and marketing director at Nock Deighton, said: “We are absolutely delighted with this news, firmly establishing us as one of the premier estate agents in the country. “All our staff across the company have been working exceptionally hard in raising our already high standards of service to the next level. It is a tribute to their efforts that we have been able to feature so strongly in the latest guide. “We’re the ‘Best Medium Agent in the West Midlands for both sales

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

and lettings according to Rightmove and the Property Academy after being assessed independently by mystery shopping and scrutinising all marketing and response rates to enquiries. “This is against all 15,000 estate agents in the UK, and winning double gold places us in the top 0.5 per cent of all 15,000 agents! “Nock Deighton has a wealth of experience in the industry obtained over many years of providing an elite service to people during what is normally one of the most stressful times of their lives, moving home. “We always consider our clients to be top priority in any negotiations we undertake and I think our long-standing record and our inclusion in this most prestigious of guides only goes to strengthen that belief and maintains our position as the agent of choice for people in Shropshire and Worcestershire.” The Best Estate Agent Guide is collated over a 12-month period and includes in-depth analysis of performance data combined with more than 30,000 mystery shops of the top estate and letting agencies nationwide. Its goal is to improve the standards of estate agents. For more information about Nock Deighton, visit www.nockdeighton.co.uk

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

Members of The Guild of Master Craftsmen • Nationwide Service • Home Packing Service • Fully Trained, Uniformed Staff • Storage

• Piano Moves • Packing Materials • Commercial Moves • 7 Days a Week Service

Call us today for your free quotation 01952 289118 Unit 9 Horton Court, Hortonwood 50, Telford TF1 7GY

www.JaysRemovalsAndStorage.com

PROPERTY

Spend Christmas in your new Bovis Home and receive

£1,500 towards your Christmas festivities We’re adding to the excitement this Christmas by offering you £1,500 worth of Marks and Spencers Vouchers for you to spend on your dream Christmas in your brand new Bovis Home.

Iddeshale Gardens Shifnal TF11 8FY

Haygate Fields Wellington TF1 2DA Open daily from 10am - 5pm Visit our website to find out more

Available for a limited time only on selected plots, don’t miss out

bovishomes.co.uk Photographs shows a typical Bovis Homes interior. Available on selected plots only and subject to completion on or before 19th December 2018. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or purchase assistance scheme. Vouchers will be issued on completion. For further details please see your development specific sales advisor.

Rural Retreat or Urban Hub

WHERE WILL YOU RETIRE?

have better access to specialist doctors. On the flip side you can expect higher air pollution levels, which can increase your chances of stroke, lung cancer, heart disease, respiratory illness and possibly dementia. The faster pace of life can feel stressful if you’re moving from a quiet spot to a large town or city, so prepare yourself for life in the fast lane. Which one wins? If your health is good, living in the country is the better option, but people with long-term conditions may prefer to live in an urban area, within easy reach of medical services.

Having fun With Dorset, North Norfolk, East Devon and Lincolnshire still ranking amongst the UK’s top retirement spots, it’s clear that most people’s preferred option for a home in their later years is a seaside hideaway or rural retreat. In recent years, however, an increasing number of Baby Boomers have shunned a conventional ‘roses round the door’ retirement, taking the decision to move to cities like London, where they can enjoy a wider range of cultural activities. Good transport links, adequate healthcare provision and enjoyable leisure-time activities are all essential to a successful retirement, so if you’re making a choice between town and countryside, which one offers the best quality of life?

Getting around COUNTRY: Rural bus routes have been shrinking for many years and the Campaign for Better Transport has recently claimed that these services are “in crisis”, as older people can no longer rely on them to access healthcare, shops and social activities. If you are able to drive, this shouldn’t be a problem, but before you fall in love with that pretty, isolated cottage, remember that in winter some rural roads can get cut off by snow or floods. TOWN: Urban transport services are generally much better than those in rural areas and, as bus journeys are free to the over 60s, you may be able to get by without a car if you choose to retire to a town. A Senior Rail Card can reduce the cost of rail travel, but if you are planning to take frequent rail trips to visit friends and family, be aware that the costs will mount up.

COUNTRY: If you love the natural world, you’ll enjoy living in the countryside. You can also participate in outdoor pursuits such as Nordic walking, golf, riding or swimming, but trips to theatres, cinemas and shopping destinations will inevitably involve travelling to a town. While that’s no problem in the summer, getting around can be harder in winter, particularly if you live in an isolated location. Integrating into a community takes work, so prepare to join local societies and clubs, attend church or offer your services as a volunteer if you want to build up a social network. If you’re not a natural ‘joiner’, then country life may not be for you. TOWN: It’s natural for parents to want to be close to their children and grandchildren when they retire, and in many cases that means moving to a town or city. As a town-dweller you’ll benefit from more regular contact with your family and you’ll also be able to make the most of the cultural activities available. However, while many museums and art galleries are now free of charge, city life can be expensive in other ways. If you’re counting the pennies, don’t forget to factor in the total cost of a day or evening out in town, including snacks, meals and transport. Which one wins? Urban areas have the edge all year round when it comes to cultural facilities. If you’re the sociable type you’ll still find lots to do in the country, but poor transport services may affect your ability to get around in rural areas, particularly in winter. Time to choose: whether you decide on the town or the country, bear in mind that we are all living longer these days, so it may not be the last time you move house. Provided you are in good health and up for adventure, this is a time when you can focus less on the approach of old age and more on enjoying your welldeserved retirement.

Which one wins? Town-dwellers win on transport provision, but it’s relatively easy to get around in the country if you can drive.

Healthcare

COUNTRY: In a recent report the Local Government Association declared that “Overall, health outcomes are more favourable in rural areas than in urban areas” but went on to admit that there were “reductions in resources to care for the older population”. Living an active life is undeniably good for your health, but the downside can be poor public transport (making it harder for you to reach your doctor or local hospital) together with slower emergency response times. TOWN: Make your home in a town and you’ll probably live within reasonable travelling distance of a hospital; you’ll also

by Kate McLelland

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

1% ISSION

COMM

10 High Street, Newport TF10 7AN

01952 813625 www.barkerhealey.co.uk Boasting the most spectacular views across open countryside, this Bungalow offers fantastic potential to renovate and bring back to life all this home has to offer. Viewings are a must to appreciate the space and position of this wonderful property. There is ample parking for at least 3 vehicles. Entered via a very useful porch with additional storage, there is a generous Utility Room that accommodates all your white goods whilst the Kitchen would benefit from a re-fit, there is plenty of space to incorporate a breakfast bar. There are two main reception rooms - a Dining Room and Lounge (both with log effect gas fires) and a Conservatory which enjoys views over the open countryside. The Dining Room allows access onto a raised sun deck which is perfect to enjoy the westerly views. There are 3 Bedrooms, one of which benefits from an Ensuite, and a family Bathroom, all of which are separated from the main accommodation by a large central Hallway. Bertrene sits in a private plot which wraps around the whole property with gardens to the left and front, is mainly laid to lawn with a yard to the side overlooking the countryside. We understand the property also had a partial electrical rewire.

Bertrene Hillside, Lilleshall

Guide Price ÂŁ300,000

Kitchen Design

BASICS

Planning a kitchen Deciding where the sink will go is often a good way to start when designing a kitchen. Then place the main food preparation area between the sink and the hob, making sure that this worktop space is large enough to serve up a meal, and has plenty of power points nearby for mixers/blenders and other small appliances. Try to put the dishwasher near the sink, too. Depending on your type of hob/cooker, you may need to place it against an exterior wall or chimney for easy extraction. As for the fridge, it’s a nice idea to position it, if you can, at the end of a run of cupboards so that other members of the family can get to it without disturbing the cook.

The Logic kitchen in high gloss white and black glass. The 3m island unit provides storage, a preparation area and somewhere to sit. Prices start at £12,000 from Rational: 0800 160 1845; rational.de/en

A great kitchen is more than just a place to cook, but can also be the hub of the home. Good looks are important, but function is vital, especially when trying to maximise space. The key to success is plenty of research and careful planning. The starting point for any kitchen design is to ask yourself lots of questions. First, who will use the room, and how – family meals, lots of entertaining or just the occasional microwave dinner? And what about other activities – homework, watching TV, doing the laundry? Do you have lots of kitchen gadgets, and will you keep them on worktops or in cupboards? Do you prefer solid or glass-fronted cupboards, or open shelves? Will you have some unfitted elements, such as a dresser or sideboard? Would you prefer built-in or free-standing appliances? As you gather the answers to these questions, a bigger picture should start to emerge. You may even wish to start a scrapbook of images (you can do this online as well as on paper) and sketch out a scaled plan of the kitchen on graph paper. Be sure to mark in the position of doors, windows, radiators and power points, and experiment with different layouts to suit the space available (see below). Next, start thinking about colour, pattern and texture, and how to co-ordinate cupboards with worktops, flooring, lighting and tiling. Don’t forget the sink and taps, as well as details such as knobs and handles, the splashback and window treatments. Now is the time for research, research and more research. Look at magazines and websites for ideas, ask friends and family what works or doesn’t work in their own kitchens, and visit every showroom within reach. When comparing retailers’ prices, check exactly what’s included – design and planning, disposal of existing fittings, plumbing and electrical work, associated building work, fitting flooring, tiling, carpentry – and whether or not there is a guarantee or after-sales service. Finally, don’t skimp on fitting. Poor fitting really shows, whereas a really good fitter can make even an average kitchen look truly fabulous.

The underlying principle of good kitchen design is that of the ‘work triangle’, where you can move easily between the cooker, sink and fridge. The best way to ensure this is to draw a floor plan with lines connecting each point on the triangle, and avoid placing any obstructions (such as tall units) between them. The theory goes that the most efficient length for each side of the triangle is a double-arm span (about two metres), however large your kitchen space is in total. In practice, this doesn’t always work, but aim to leave uninterrupted space between the areas you use the most.

Kitchen layouts Single line The only option if you have to site your kitchen along one wall. Place the sink between the fridge and hob, and try to maximise the length of work surface, fitting built-in appliances below and wall units above. Galley In a narrow kitchen that ends in a window or dead end, you can fit a line of units and appliances along each side. When well designed, this can be extremely convenient, though it is best for a one- or two-person home. U-shaped Efficient, and gives plenty of storage and working space, but only possible if you have stretches of wall on three sides. In a large room, be wary of having to walk too far from one side to the other. L-shaped Useful in a square or rectangular kitchen, especially if you need space for a table. It works well if two people are likely to be using the kitchen at the same time. Plan the corner carefully to avoid a clash of doors. Peninsula Add a unit at right angles to one end of a U- or L-shaped kitchen, and you have a peninsula. Very handy as a breakfast bar or extra work surface that can be accessed from both sides. Island An island gives extra storage and work space, and sometimes an eating area, too. Don’t design an island that’s so big you can’t reach its centre, and plan the rest of the room carefully so that you are not constantly walking round and round.

by Katherine Sorrell

PROPERTY

FREE FLOORING & TURFED GARDEN when you reserve by the end of November

Help to Buy

Reserve one of our 5 Star award winning homes at Daisy Park before the end of November and get free ﬂooring and a turfed rear garden when you move in.

Only a few homes remaining so don’t delay! Daisy Park is located only a short distance away from Oakengates and just 3 miles from Telford Town Centre.

3 bedroom homes available from only £170,000. Buy with Help to Buy - pay just 5% deposit!

Daisy Park, Daisy Bank Drive, Telford, TF2 9UL Call: 0845 873 2891†

Showhome & Marketing Suite open 10am to 5.30pm daily www.lioncourthomes.com *All offers are subject to terms and conditions, please ask our Sales Executive for full details. Carpets from Lioncourt Homes standard range. Photographs show indicative images of Lioncourt homes. Help to Buy is a government-led scheme and availability is subject to qualification. For full terms and conditions visit www.helptobuy.org.uk. Prices and offers correct at time of print. †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.

Restaurant Review

FINDING THE BEST PLACES TO EAT IN AND AROUND SHROPSHIRE The Coach House Norbury

Bishop's Castle, Shropshire SY9 5DX

T: 01588 650846

The Coach House Norbury is located in the picturesque countryside close to the small town of Bishops Castle in the South Shropshire Hills, about 45 minutes’ drive from Telford. The 18th-century country inn is full of rustic charm and character with logburning fires and traditional beamed ceilings. The restaurant is impeccably furnished with dark wooden tables and chairs in the dining areas and if you want to enjoy a drink before or after your meal there’s a lounge area with comfy leather sofas and armchairs to stop and relax a while. On arrival we were greeted by the Manager Ben Wiseman and were shown through to our table in the restaurant. After browsing the extensive wine list we both chose a glass of Sauvignon, there is plenty of choice with 12 wines available by the glass, a carafe or the bottle. While we looked through the menus we were brought an appetiser of Humous with Parsnip Crisps. We were also served delicious homemade sourdough bread with salted butter. The menus are simple, offering a choice of 3 starters, 3 mains and 3 desserts which made selecting our choices nice and easy. Whilst waiting for our starters we were served an amuse bouche, which was Bishop Castle beetroot with truffle oil, beetroot ketchup and Hay on Wye cheese. The cheese had a lovely strong flavour and was delicious with the delicate cubes of beetroot. For starter Nik chose the Guinea Fowl (£8) and I ordered the Jerusalem Artichoke - velouté, toasted hazelnut and crispy sage (£7). Nik said, ‘The pressed cylinder of white guinea fowl meat was light and fresh with a hint of gaminess. The mushrooms three ways were a nice touch, with super delicate carpaccio of field mushroom, a pan-fried cep and a light mild mushroom puree. The blackberries added a nice sharpness to the dish." After my dish was served the waitress then poured over the warm velouté. The soft pieces of artichoke, crunchy hazelnuts and crispy sage gave a great

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT mix of flavours and textures and with the light creamy velouté sauce this dish was absolutely amazing!

the blackberry segments delivered the final hint of sharpness. We ordered a pot of Hundred House coffee and petit fours to finish our meal. We had a chunk each of creamy white chocolate fudge and a small scoop of cinnamon ice cream, a great end to such a splendid meal.

For mains Nik decided on the Grouse roasted on the crown, confit leg, beetroot, chard, plum compote and game sauce (£21). I selected the Halibut - pomme purée, roasted king oyster mushrooms, baby onions with white, caper and chive sauce (£19). The halibut was bright white and meaty, and pan fried to a lovely golden sear, served with a pomme purée which was silky smooth and creamy, the chopped oyster mushrooms and delicate pearl baby onions added extra depth of flavours. The sauce was wonderfully tasty complimenting all the flavours in the dish. Nik’s Grouse was roasted to perfection retaining a slight pinkness to the crown meat which was very tender with a gamey tang, the confit legs had more of a pronounced kick to the flavour which was wonderful with the sweet plum compote. The dish was completed with beetroot and chard and a light game sauce. For dessert Nik chose the Damson Posset with crunchy oats and toasted hazelnuts (£7). I was tempted by a favourite of mine, Ginger Bread - a black treacle ginger bread with slow cooked ginger ice cream (£7). My soft warm treacle ginger bread was divine, it was drizzled in a luxurious warm butterscotch sauce and the creamy homemade ginger ice cream soon started to melt – a really great dessert which I thoroughly enjoyed. Nik’s Damson Posset was incredibly light and fluffy and had a perfect balance of sweet sharpness. The toasted oats, hazelnuts gave a lovely satisfying crunch against the super light posset and

Chef Harry Bullock is Shropshire born and bred and likes to make the most of the amazing local suppliers that we have available in Shropshire, using seasonal ingredients and local artisanal producers. Harry is an exceptionally talented chef and previously worked in a Michelin star restaurant in Ludlow. The Coach House holds both the Visit England and the AA Breakfast Award, as well as a GOLD award from the AA for Restaurant with Rooms. They are extremely proud to also hold 2 AA Rosettes for Culinary Excellence. If you would like to stay over there are 7 rooms available which start from £89 and includes a sumptuous Shropshire breakfast for two. Pets are welcome in the bar and some rooms are pet friendly too, so feel free to bring your dog along with you. Taster Nights have become very popular and the next one will be held on the 12th October at a pop-up night at No.11, Fish Street in Shrewsbury. There will be a 7 course taster menu which is £60pp. At the restaurant there is also a game taster evening planned on the 15th November and a taster evening on the 15th December – please call or email The Coach House for more details or to book. We were blown away by the quality of the food and will be sure to return again, we would love to make a night of it next time by staying over in one of their elegant rooms.

Reviewed by Fleur & Nik Abel

THE COACH HOUSE

Restaurant opening times: DINNER - 6:00 till 8:30pm Wednesday to Saturday LUNCH - 12 till 2pm Friday & Saturday A daily bar menu is also available for more casual meals

NORBURY

Bishop's Castle, Shropshire SY9 5DX

www.coachhousenorbury.com E: bookings@coachhousenorbury.com

T: 01588 650846

TASTER EVENINGS:

17th November & 15th December

SPECIAL OFFER Dinner Bed & Breakfast Package 3 Course Dinner Bottle of Wine Bed & Breakfast

CHRISTMAS MENU AVAILABLE 1ST TO 23RD DECEMBER

ALL FOR £179* T&C's apply. Please book direct only, using code: IAAT18. *Price may vary depending on room choice.

THE

WHITE HOUSE HOTEL

Loyalty Points Scheme

MUXTON

Earn points as you dine with us and receive future discount

Wellington Road, Muxton, Telford TF2 8NG

T: 01952 603603

Food Served: 12pm - 9:30pm 7 days a week

2 Steaks and Wine for ONLY

£27.50

(available everyday) 2 Succulent Prime Rump Steaks with a Bottle of House Wine

MONDAY NIGHT MANIA

£7 MAIN COURSE

£3 Starter • £3 Sweet

You choose how many courses Served in the bar or restaurant between 5pm & 8pm every Monday night. Please book to avoid any disappointment

Visit our website to view our latest menu

www.whhotel.co.uk

OPEN from 10am for breakfast

Christmas

3rd December - 21 December 10am-3pm

2 courses for £8.95

62 High Street Newport TF10 7AQ

Food served 10-3pm

Roast Turkey

Freshly prepared homemade food available from 10am till 3pm, including healthy options, sharing platters and small appetites selection

Fish Supper Friday £6.50

T: 01952 820 810 Ideal venue for Birthdays, Parties, Christenings, Wakes, etc.. Free Wi-fi • Disabled Access Baby Changing Facilities • Pool Table

including hot or soft drink

Served with stuffing, pigs in blankets and gravy

Salmon Fillet

Served in a white wine and chive sauce

Vegetable Lasagne All served with roast potatoes, new potatoes and seasonal vegetables

Desserts

Christmas Pudding Served with brandy sauce or ice cream

Apple Caramel Pie Served with custard or ice cream

Lemon Sponge

Served with custard or ice cream BOOKING NOT ESSENTIAL BUT IS ADVISED

www.thebarleynewport.co.uk

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

Call for a copy of our Christmas Brochure View our menus and book online LAST FEW PLACES STILL AVAILABLE...

9TH & 10TH NOV

Faulty Towers - The Dining Experience

This globetrotting show is truly quite legendary, its 21st birthday year, so early booking is essential. Includes a 3-course meal. From 7:30pm • Fri 9th £45pp Sat 10th £50pp

CHRISTMAS

Festive Afternoon Tea Festive Lunches Festive Dinners

Festive Party Nights New Year's Eve

Post Christmas Party Night

CHRISTMAS CABARETS (DEC) THU 13TH

Amy Winehouse £29.95 pp - 3 course dinner, tribute show and disco. 7pm SUN 16TH

Neil Diamond

£27.50pp - 3 course dinner, tribute show and disco. 7pm

WED 19TH

One Man Rat Pack Lunch £18.50 pp - Includes 3 course lunch. 12:30pm THU 20TH

Sound of Motown

£29.95 pp- 3 course dinner, tribute show and disco. 7pm

Winter Wonderland Wedding Package

£3595

50 Day Guests & 80 Evening Guests - Available 7 days per week Nov 2018 to Apr 2019 inclusive & Nov 2019 to Apr 2020 All inclusive - to include Civil Ceremony/Room Hire, Winter Pimm’s, Canapes (3 per person), Chair Cover & Sashes, Twinkling Snow White Star Lit Backdrop, 2 Course Wedding Breakfast, Glass of Wine, Sparkling Wine Toast Drink, Table Centrepieces, Bridal Suite, Disco, Fish & Chip Cone Buffet or Bacon & Sausage Baps with Wedges, Toastmaster Services, Cake Stand & Bridal Knife, Red Carpet Aisle Runner, Services of Wedding Coordinator. Special accommodation rates.

Hadley Park House Telford TF1 6JQ

01952 677269

info@hadleypark.co.uk

www.hadleypark.co.uk 29

Don’t Let Christmas Costs

RUIN YOUR NEW YEAR

Even when you’ve budgeted for the presents, food, drink, and entertainment, it can be very tempting to throw caution to the wind and overspend at Christmas. In fact, Bank of England figures show we spend 20% more on food in December than in other months, and 30% more on alcohol. If you’re wondering how to manage your Christmas spending more effectively, saving, budgeting, and making a list is just the start. Here are three other ways you might not have considered to start the New Year with a healthy bank balance and reduced financial stress.

Pre-arranged overdraft facility

Whether or not you already have an overdraft facility, Christmas expenditure can easily take you over the limit. Arranging a new overdraft facility with your bank, or extending an existing one to cover Christmas expenses, reduces the likelihood of incurring high fees that can create financial hardship in the New Year. Intended to be a temporary and controlled use of credit in line with your Christmas budget, an arranged overdraft facility that’s repaid over a few months helps gets you back on track financially. How do overdrafts work? An overdraft that’s pre-arranged with your bank means you can withdraw more money than is in your current account, up to an agreed limit. There is generally a set period of time that the facility is available, and typically a charge for each day you’re overdrawn. Overdraft fees vary between banks, but generally include a charge for setting up the facility, a fee for each day it’s used and a renewal fee if you need to extend it. Some providers offer fee-free amounts, whilst others base their daily charge on the level of your overdrawn balance. You may be able to sign up for text and/or email alerts that let you know when you’re approaching your overdraft limit. This allows you to control your exposure to the higher fees associated with unarranged overdrafts.

Daily deals websites and loyalty cards

Take advantage of the growing number of daily deals websites and you can save a significant amount at Christmas. Wowcher, Groupon, and Living Social are just a few of the sites where you’ll find great deals on gifts, experiences, fitness products and lots more. It’s straightforward to sign up, and you can receive emails with the latest deals. You’re also likely to see smaller businesses offering discounts on their products rather than purely household brand names. It’s easy to get carried away when you have access to so many discounts, but if you do your research and stick to your list, it should save you money overall. How do deals websites work? You simply sign up with your email address and you can get targeted gift ideas, often with a significant discount. Key in the home town of people you’re buying for and you’ll receive ideas that are local to them – meals out, afternoon teas or experience days, tailored to your family and friends.

Loyalty cards

Another way to reduce spending at Christmas is to use loyalty cards throughout the year. Tesco, Boots, and Nectar are just three popular schemes offering loyalty points that you can save and then spend on gifts or food and drink at Christmas. Most large stores run a customer loyalty scheme, so how do they work? How do loyalty cards work? You can sign up for most loyalty schemes online, and you’re provided with a card that you present at the till. A number of points are added each time you spend, and these points can be converted into vouchers to spend on food, gifts, days out, meals, and other items.

Prepaid debit cards

Prepaid debit cards are an alternative to bank debit cards and credit cards, and can help you avoid running up debt at Christmas. With a prepaid card you don’t have access to your entire bank balance, or the credit limit on your credit card – it’s preloaded with a specific sum of cash, and you can only spend up to this amount. There’s a wide choice of prepaid cards available so it’s advisable to carry out some research before you apply. You’ll need to factor in the fees charged by providers and not put an excessive amount of money on the card, as it isn’t protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) should the provider become insolvent. How do prepaid debit cards work? You won’t be credit-checked when you apply for a prepaid card, but a number of different fees may apply, including application and transaction fees. Some providers charge monthly fees and top-up fees, whilst a renewal charge may apply as these types of card expire after three years. It’s easy to be swept up in the spirit of giving at Christmas, but it can take months to recover from overspending. Whether arranging an overdraft with your bank, applying for a prepaid card, or taking advantage of a few daily deals works for you, they could all help you take control of your Christmas spending and enjoy a peaceful and financially harmonious New Year. https://edu.bankofengland.co.uk/knowledgebank/how-muchdo-we-spend-at-christmas/

by Ann Haldon

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

The Oakley Arms

Kiddemore Green Road, Brewood, Staffordshire ST19 9BQ

Christmas Fayre 2 or 3 Course Menu From Friday 30th November until Monday 31st December (exc. Christmas Day)

2 Courses £22.95pp • 3 Courses £ 27.95pp

New Years Eve

We are Taking Bookings for Small Intimate Tables or Larger Parties

£75.00pp

(includes 3 course meal & glass of fizz on arrival)

Drinks tickets only - £10pp (inc glass of fizz on arrival) Big band will be playing!

If you’d like to join us - call to book early to avoid any disappointment (no Christmas/New Year bookings taken on-line)

Food Served: Mon-Thu: 12 - 9:30pm • Fri-Sat: 12 - 10pm • Sun: 12 - 9pm Opening Times: Mon-Sat: 11am - 11pm • Sun: 11am - 10:30pm

To keep up to date with our events find us on Facebook or join our mailing list.

T: 01902 859800 • E: oakley@brunningandprice.co.uk • www.oakleyarms.co.uk

POST CHRISTMAS PARTY NIGHT - Saturday 5th January 2019 - £25.00 per person Three course & coffee and disco til 1.00am

WEDDING OPEN DAY - Sunday 6th January 2019, 10.00am til 3.00pm - Free Entry 80’S NIGHT - Saturday 26th January 2019 - £23.00 per person Two course & coffee and disco til 1.00am

VALENTINES DINNER - Thursday 14th February 2019 - £23.00 per person VALENTINES RESIDENTIAL - Available from the 14th to 17th February £150.00 per couple (standard), £170.00 (lakeview)

LITTLE MIX TRIBUTE NIGHT - Friday 22nd February 2019 - £25.00 per adult, £15.00 per child Two course & coffee @ 4.30pm followed by tribute

Call our Sales team on 01902 700100 to make your booking

Look us up on Trip Advisor

Great location, convenient to J3 M54 and only 20 minutes from the centre of Wolverhampton and Telford

Pattingham, Nr Wolverhampton WV6 7HR

01902 700100

sales@patshull-park.co.uk

www.patshull-park.co.uk

Best Chef Award

FOR NEWPORT RESTAURANT

On the 7th October, Taste of Paradise were delighted to win the Best Chef Award 2018 in their Region, presented to them at the Curry Life Awards, held at The Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. Taste of Paradise was established in Newport in 2001 and ever since has solidified its position as a reputable Indian restaurant in Shropshire. Aiming to provide the best quality food and service, Sujatur Reza strongly believes in only serving food that he is proud of. "I personally ensure that everything is fresh, clean and up to the mark", Reza asserts. The menu features popular dishes like Chicken Tikka Masala, and Chicken Naga. Chicken Rajasthani is their signature dish and both Reza and chef Alan Hussain never miss an opportunity to recommend it when asked for a suggestion. Having been in this business for 17 years, Reza believes his chefs and staff are key to his thriving restaurant. "This talented and dedicated team help serve fantastic meals day in, day out and a unique experience for customers", he says. The restaurant offers a set menu on Tuesday nights and also caters for events as per requirements. They can provide a full Indian dining menu for up to 250 guests within a 10-mile radius of Telford.

Quality Balti Restaurant & Take Away

TUESDAYS • 4 COURSE MEAL • £8.95pp *Not to be used with any other offer.

Book NOW for

CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCH

5 Course Meal

Choice of 3 Set Menus

£24.95

(children under 10 £14.95)

ONLINE ORDERS NOW AVAILABLE AT:

www.thetasteofparadise.co.uk

TAKEAWAY - FREE Home Delivery within a 6 mile radius (minimum order of £10)

15% Discount on Collections or 10% Discount on Delivery Open: Sun - Thu: 5pm - 11.30pm Fri & Sat: 5pm - Midnight

rear of 2-4 High St, Newport TF10 7AN

01952 825505

We are not licensed bring your own alcohol

£5 OFF Meal for Two

(2 main meals must be purchased, not valid with any other offers) Valid until 16-12-18

£10 OFF £15 OFF Meal for Four

(4 main meals must be purchased, not valid with any other offers) Valid until 16-12-18

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.

Meal for Six

(6 main meals must be purchased, not valid with any other offers) Valid until 16-12-18

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

Telford Hotel & Golf Resort

THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR

Special Nights & Tribute Nights

TRIBUTE SHOW

NIGHT

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

12TH DEC

13TH DEC

£35.00 PER GUEST To find out more or to book call our

Christmas Planner on: 01952 422992 or email: telfordevents@qhotels.co.uk

Abba

TRIBUTE SHOW

FRIDAY

WEDNESDAY

14TH DEC

19TH DEC

TheTayleurArms

When ordering from the main menu. Valid until 31-12-18 (Please present this advert)

THURSDAY

20TH DEC

Join us for one of our special nights - an evening you won’t forget! Enjoy a delicious Christmas Fare meal in our beautifully decorated Fire & Ice suite, and be entertained by the show of your choice and the supporting entertainment. The perfect evening for a party with family, friends and colleagues.

The Tayleur Arms Longdon Upon Tern, Telford TF6 6LJ T: 01952 770335 E: info@tayleurarms.co.uk

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The Review

Food serving times: Mon to Fri 12-2:30pm & 5:30-9:30pm Sat 12-9:30pm Sun 12-5:30pm

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CHRISTMAS FAYRE MENU

Available from December 1st - 23rd December. Booking essential, deposits required for parties of 10 or more

ONE COURSE £11.50 - TWO COURSE £15.75 THREE COURSE £18.95 FROM THE CARVERY Turkey, Roast Beef, goats cheese bake, butternut squash tart, salmon on croute

BOXING DAY Serving from 12 till 5pm Booking essential, deposits required for parties of 10 or more. Two Course £24.95, Three course £29.95, Children aged 6-12 half price, 5’s and under free. FROM THE CARVERY Turkey, Minted Leg of Lamb, Mustard covered glazed Ham, Walnut and Avocado Bake, Butternut squash Tart with Shropshire blue cheese.

OVER 50's FESTIVE FAYRE AVAILABLE PLEASE CALL FOR DETAILS 33

Recipe

CHRISTMAS MINCEMEAT SLICE This delicious festive slice can be served warm as a pud with custard, thick cream or brandy butter or simply cool completely and serve instead of mince pies. Makes 12 - 14 slices Ready in 1 hour 15 minutes, plus chilling and cooling

INGREDIENTS: • 225g plain flour • 165g unsalted butter, chilled and diced • 1 egg yolk blended with 1 tbsp cold water • 75g caster sugar • 300g good quality mincemeat • 50g ground almonds • 2 tbsp flaked almonds

1. Sift the flour into a large bowl and rub in the butter with your fingertips until the mixture resembles very fine breadcrumbs (alternatively pulse in a food processor until fine breadcrumbs). 2. Remove 100g of the breadcrumb mixture and cover and chill in the fridge. Stir 25g of the sugar into the remaining mixture, then stir in the egg and water and mix to a firm dough (adding a little more water if needed). Knead lightly then wrap in cling film and chill for 30 minutes. 3. Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas mark 6. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface and use to line a 23cm square tart tin. Prick the pastry all over with a fork. Line the pastry case with baking paper and baking beans and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the lining paper and beans and bake for a further 5-7 minutes until the pastry is crisp and pale golden. Cool slightly. Reduce the oven temperature to 180C/160C fan/gas mark 4. 4. Spread the mincemeat in the pastry case. Mix the rest of the sugar and the ground almonds into the reserved pastry crumb mixture and scatter over the mincemeat to cover completely. 5. Return the tin to the oven and bake for a further 25-30 minutes or until the crumble topping is pale golden. Scatter over the flaked almonds and leave to cool before removing from the tin and cutting into 12-14 thin slices.

TIP Add some finely chopped toasted hazelnuts or walnuts to the crumble topping for an extra nutty flavour.

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

The Bridge Inn Lower Bar, Newport TF10 7BJ

T: 01952 324481 www.thebridgenewport.co.uk

Selection of local real ales, bottled Belgium beer, craft beer and 25 gins. Freshly prepared, home cooked food, using local suppliers.

Daily

Specials Board Large selection of fish dishes & gluten free dishes

Always a Warm Welcome

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Wednesday to Sunday 12-3pm & 4.30pm-Midnight Monday and Tuesday 4.30 till closing

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Shropshire Craft Market

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A great day out for all the family, all undercover and plenty of free parking and no entrance fee! Featuring Live music

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Motoring Manufacturers love making special editions. Whether it’s to stir up a little bit of buzz around a single car, or simply stand out from the crowd, these weird and wonderful creations showcase what car makers can do when they let their imaginations run wild. Here, we’ve picked out eight of the wackiest special editions ever to have been created.

Bentley Bentayga by Mulliner Fly Fishing The Bentley Bentayga is a decent combination of luxurious craftsmanship and go-anywhere all-wheel-drive capability. However, what if you want to take your Bentayga fly fishing, and need specific storage for rods, reels and flies? That’s where the Fly Fishing by Mulliner edition Bentyga comes in. Fitted with bespoke rod tubes trimmed in saddle leather and a central storage station, as well as a waterproof wader stowage trunk, it’s a great option for those who want to spend time at the river but be able to head home in the very highest luxury.

Volkswagen Golf Harlequin The Volkswagen Golf is one of the best-selling cars of all time and appears across the globe in a variety of different colours, specifications and body styles. The Harlequin, however, was something slightly out of the ordinary. Created in 1996, the Golf Harlequin was produced for just one year. Just 264 of these colourful cars were produced and were made as a result of the immense popularity of the smaller Polo Harlequin.

Ssangyong Korando Sports DMZ The ‘regular’ Korando Sports proved to be somewhat of a success for South Korean-based SsangYong. The pick-up was impressive off-road and came with a generous amount of standard equipment too. However, the DMZ edition possessed something particularly special – camouflage paint. It either stood out from or blended into the crowd – whichever you preferred – and gave the Korando Sports a beefy, military edge. It was cleverly named, too.

Bentley Bentayga Falconry Yes, it’s another Bentayga – but we couldn’t ignore this special edition either. Catering for what can only be a very niche pastime, the Bentayga Falconry by Mulliner features a removable ‘transportation perch’ and has a variety of trim pieces crafted from cork. A veneer inlaid with a falcon graphic features on the car’s

THE WACKIEST SPECIAL EDITIONS passenger-side trim piece and is made up of 430 separate pieces which are painstakingly placed together by hand.

Skoda Felicia Fun

You won’t miss a Skoda Felicia Fun in a hurry. A bright yellow exterior was matched by an equally jazzy interior, with yellow accents used on the steering wheel, gearstick and even the main dials. However, the Felicia Fun had a trick up its sleeve – the rear bulkhead could be extended to reveal two rear seats with a convertible section above, meaning four people could come along for the ride.

Rolls-Royce Wraith ‘Luminary Collection’ Rolls-Royce is certainly one for creating staggeringly impressive – and staggeringly expensive – special editions. This, the Wraith ‘Luminary Collection’, was limited to just 55 examples and uses a specially-developed ‘Sunburst Grey’ exterior paint. Inside, the main dashboard is fitted with 176 individual LEDs, designed to resemble ‘the trailing light of a shooting star’. Which is nice, if you want stars on your dash.

Range Rover Evoque Special Edition with Victoria Beckham Back in 2012, Range Rover revealed a special edition version of its Evoque SUV made in partnership with Victoria Beckham. The exterior is hand-finished in matte grey paint, while the alloy wheels feature gloss black paint and rose gold detailing. Inside, the four seats are finished in high-quality leather with contrasting white ‘baseball’ stitching. Prices at the time were impressively high, with the special edition coming in at a weighty £79,995.

DS3 Black Lezard The DS3 is a car built on the ability to customise each and every aspect, and the Black Lezard edition is a more luxurious take on that. For instance, the Lezard design – created to mimic the look of lizard skin – is hand applied to each and every car, taking two hours per vehicle. The interior of the car is finished in high-quality leather, and gloss black trim is used to help lift the overall look of the cabin.

by James Baggott

MOTORS & LEISURE

The E-Class range now comes with 3 years free * servicing

Don’t miss out, visit us today or call us on 01743 537233 Mercedes-Benz of Shrewsbury Battlefield Enterprise Park, Vanguard Way, Shrewsbury SY1 3TG 01743 537233 Lookers.co.uk/Mercedes-Benz *All E-Class models must be registered until 31 December 2018. Vehicles must be purchased on a MBFS finance contract to be eligible. Offer includes Mercedes-AMG models.Offer applies to all private retail and small fleet (1-24 units) customers only. ServiceCare Plan is based on 3 services taken at the relevant service intervals – either 15,500 miles or 12 months whichever comes sooner. All services must be completed by an authorised Mercedes-Benz Retailer. This offer can be used in conjunction with all other applicable Sales Campaigns except other ServiceCare campaigns. No cash alternative. ServiceCare plan stays with the vehicle and therefore in the event of change of vehicle ownership, the ServiceCare plan cannot be moved to another vehicle, but should be given to the new owner of the same vehicle. Mercedes-Benz Cars UK Limited reserves the right to amend or withdraw this campaign at any time.

MERC0281Shrewsbury In & Around Magazine Oct 2018.indd 1

16/10/2018 13:16

How to Deal with Pothole Damage

TO YOUR CAR

Winter is the season of snow, woolly clothes and - at least on poorly - kept UK roads potholes. All motorists will know the struggles of trying to avoid potholes, but sometimes they’re either impossible to get around or go unnoticed. This can result in a little discomfort at best, and plenty of damage to your car at worst. We look at how you can report a pothole and, should you pick up damage, how you can claim money to cover repair costs.

Why do potholes form? Potholes are most commonly created when water creeps into the cracks in the roads and freezes. The expansion and contraction of water moves the asphalt around, weakening it as a result. The stress of vehicle movement over the road eventually causes the asphalt to give way, thus forming a hole. Although potholes can form at any time, colder winter temperatures make them much more likely.

What can a pothole do to my car? The uneven, sudden drop of a pothole puts significant stress on a vehicle’s tyres and suspension. As tough as modern cars are, there’s a chance a pothole could damage a tyre to the point of puncture, add excess wear to suspension components or break them entirely. Extreme holes could even damage alloy wheels and components underneath a vehicle.

How can I report a pothole? To report a pothole on a local road, you should contact the relevant council and inform them of the location of the hole.

entitled to compensation should your car be damaged due to going over a pothole. If the pothole has been previously reported, you’re more likely to receive some compensation that if it has not. Councils have a statutory defence that they cannot be held liable for defects they’re unaware of. There are some steps you can take before making a claim to increase your chances of a payout: • Make notes — write down key details, such as location, time of the incident, and the size and depth of the pothole if possible. You should also take a photograph as evidence. • Witnesses — if anyone else has seen the incident, get details from them. It could help your claim.

As for A-roads and motorways, the Highways Agency must be notified by calling 0300 123 5000.

• Get repair quotes — having accurate quotes for repair bills could help to ensure you get as much of the damage repairs covered as possible in a claim.

How can I claim for damage costs?

• Research — before making a claim, you should check to see what your council is and isn’t liable for.

At the risk of sounding like an insurance advert, you could be

To make a claim for pothole damage, contact the local council for local roads and the Highways Agency for A-roads and motorways

Can I claim pothole damage on my insurance? Your insurer may provide cover for pothole damage, and this is more likely if you have a comprehensive policy. It’s worth checking your policy documents and contacting your insurer before making a claim.

by James Baggott

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GENERAL KNOWLEDGE CROSSWORD Across

Down

1. Band of fabric worn around the neck as a tie (6)

1. Makes reference to (5)

4. Russian soup with a beetroot juice base (6)

2. Delivery from a plane or helicopter (7)

9. Semi-precious stone of a blue-green colour (9) 10. Spherical object (3) 11. Enchantress (5) 12. Chemical used in reactions (7) 13. Plant with flowers used in brewing (3) 14. Thick sugary liquid (5) 16. Once common insecticide, now banned (inits) (3) 17. Marine creature often used for fishing bait (7) 20. Jelly based on fish or meat stock (5) 22. Potato-like vegetable (3) 23. French Protestants of the 16th and 17th centuries (9) 24. Tidy up (6) 25. Toxic alkaloid used by South Americans as an arrow poison (6)

3. Male graduate (7) 5. Final Greek letter (5) 6. Plain dough cake, often griddled (5) 7. Natural home of an animal or plant (7) 8. Likeness in which left and right are reversed (6,5) 13. Marked by peace and prosperity (7) 15. Flat upland area (7) 16. Document certifying successful completion of a course (7) 18. Third letter of the Greek alphabet (5)

©Puzzlepress.co.uk

19. Earthy metallic oxide (5) 21. Social position or status (5)

Healthier Festive Food Festive treats are everywhere long before Christmas and it’s very easy to start the New Year a few pounds heavier and feeling far from fit. But the alternative isn’t avoiding treats altogether: it’s choosing the swaps you can live with. Better Breakfasts Skipping breakfast to ‘leave room’ for Christmas dinner? Bad idea. You’ll have the munchies long before dinner, making snacks and chocolates even more tempting. Have a light, lowfat, low-sugar breakfast to keep hunger at bay.

SWAP a full English fried breakfast for the healthy version. Grill mushrooms, a tomato or two and a single slice of bacon, poach an egg or two, and choose low-sugar baked beans and a slice of wholemeal toast rather than hash browns. SWAP sugary cereals for a small portion of healthier cereals and add fresh berries and/or a dollop of low fat yogurt.

SWAPS

• Some or all of your roast potatoes for crispy jacket potatoes (mashed potato can be just as fatty, if not more fatty, than roast potatoes, once you’ve added milk and butter). • Roasted vegetables for steamed or microwaved ones.

Your Just Desserts

SWAP high-sugar Christmas puds for healthier options. Some luxury Christmas puddings are lower in calories than classic puds, although higher in sugar, so check the label. 113g (a quarter) of a standard Christmas pud usually has 375400 calories and 40-50g of sugar, although they are high in fibre and relatively low in fat. Fancy something healthier? Try 113g of: • Morrison’s Very Berry Strudel (287 calories, 13g fat, 18g sugar) • Asda Raspberry Tiramisu (257 calories, 10g fat, 25g sugar) • Sainsbury’s Mixed Berry Trifle Desert (171 calories, 7g fat, 21g sugar) SWAP your sauces too. Say goodbye to • Ambrosia custard (98 calories, 11g sugar, 3g fat per 100g) • Elmlea double cream (351 calories, 4g sugar, 36g fat per 100ml) And hello to • Sainsbury’s low-fat yogurt (62 calories, 7g of sugar, 1g fat per 100g)

Time for Tea

Christmas tea can do more damage than dinner!

Start as You Mean to Go On

Eating a huge three-course meal is likely to make you feel uncomfortable and/or sleepy, so if you do have a starter, keep it small and light. SWAP creamy soups or cheese-laden dishes for: • A small prawn cocktail with fresh lettuce and a little lowfat dressing (if you must add bread, stick to half a slice of wholemeal). • A small fresh fruit cocktail. It’s Christmas, so treat yourself to favourite or special fruits, whether that’s berries or a tropical mix. • A small bowl of cream-free soup with wholemeal croutons.

The Main Event

For dinner, choose turkey (lower in fat than duck or goose) or a low-fat cut of meat. Remove visible fat (before cooking, where possible) and remember that on a bird, most of the fat is under the skin. Removing the skin and avoiding butter-basting reduces a turkey’s calories by nearly a third and its fat by more than half. If you’ve concerned about it getting dry, baste it with a little oil and cover it. Can’t bear to remove the skin? Then cook your bird on a rack so that escaping fat drains away. Be sensible about portion sizes and ensure at least a third of your plate is veg and that carbs – like potatoes, sweet potatoes or Yorkshire puddings – make up no more than a third of your plate. Go easy on sweet or creamy sauces and stop eating just as you start to feel full, as it takes times for the ‘full’ message to reach you brain. SWAP: • Sausage meat for vegetarian sausage mix when making stuffing. • Standard gravy mixes for low-salt versions. • Goose fat, lard or anything equally unhealthy for a low-fat vegetable-based oil or spray oil to roast meat and vegetables.

SWAP traditional, pastry-heavy mince pies for lattices, filo parcels or open-top versions. SWAP breaded or battered snacks for marinated savouries or home-made herby snacks. SWAP rich, creamy dips for low-fat or tomato-based versions. Consider making your own with low-fat yogurt. SWAP crisps, salted nuts and chocolate for plain popcorn, rice cakes, pretzels, unsalted nuts and homemade chocolatecovered fruit (dark chocolate is healthier).

Raise Your Glass – Not Your Blood Pressure or Blood Sugar

Not only is alcohol usually laden with sugar and calories, but recent research has shown there’s no ‘safe’ consumption limit. The Government has reduced men’s ‘recommended’ limit to 14 units a week (the same as the recommendation for women). If you are going to indulge, think about the size of your glass and your consumption through the day, week and month! Consider swapping some alcoholic drinks for these delicious alternatives. For 175ml glasses: SWAP Bollinger champagne (133 calories) for • Shloer Sparkling White Grape Juice (53 calories) • J2O Spritz watermelon (35 calories) SWAP Dry River Pinot Grigio (158 calories) for: • Kedem Natural Grape Juice (88 calories) • Welch’s White Grape, Pear and Apple Juice (35 calories) SWAP Echo Falls Merlot (125 calories) for: • Asda Grape, Apple and Raspberry Juice (100 calories) Choose your swaps wisely and you could save pounds of both kinds. Merry Christmas!

by Alison Runham

HEALTH & FITNESS

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PAY NOTHING UNTIL 2019

Anytime Fitness Telford have a special offers for In and Around Magazine readers. The offer includes the following: • November and December are FREE

For this offer • Join now and pay NOTHING until 2019 pop in or call the club and quote: anytime19 • FREE Key Fob (RRP £30) or join online quoting • FREE Branded T-shirt anytime19 to redeem • FREE Anytime Merchandise this exclusive offer to readers • FREE ½ Hour 1:1 PT Session If you’re looking to join a supportive, welcoming gym community, with people of all fitness levels who want to see you succeed, then Anytime Fitness Telford is the right place for you. Support: Every member gets a free, personalised Get Started Plan when they join. Our friendly, professional staff are trained to help you along your fitness journey, no matter how much support you need. Tools & Training: Getting to a healthier place is about more than going to the gym. That’s why we offer personal training and classes when you’re here, and the right tools to keep you on track when you’re not. Convenience: With 24/7 access to more than 4,000 locations worldwide, you're joining the most convenient gym on the planet. Community: You’re not just joining a gym. You’re joining a supportive community of like-minded people who are here to give you the encouragement you need. For more information email: telford@anytimefitness.co.uk or contact 01952 787247.

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Winning Partnership An award-winning concrete block manufacturer has stepped up to help unveil the new kit it has sponsored for players - both little and large - at a Shropshire rugby club. Bosses at Besblock levelled the playing field on the latest match day at Newport Salop Rugby Club with the help of the firm’s bestselling Star Performer Blocks. Thanks to Besblock little five-year-old Bertie Smith got the chance to tower above second row regular Nathan Parker, 25, who at 6ft 5in is used to being the tallest in almost any line-out.

AT SHROPSHIRE SPORTS CLUB

Managing director Andrew Huxley spoke of his delight at signing the deal, adding that it was wonderful to now see the new kit in action. “Besblock enjoys a strong association with sport in Shropshire and we were absolutely thrilled to officially unveil the new kit at Newport,” said Andrew, who was a keen rugby player while at Wrekin College. “I am passionate about rugby and supporting the game at this level where we can help talented players to get the best possible start and encourage them to progress. We had great fun bringing together senior and junior players to help show off the kit but this also represents how Newport welcomes in all ages, levels and abilities.

The Telford firm also brought along their own flanker in the shape of a distinctive orange Scania five-axle lorry which has just joined the fleet at Besblock.

“They have proven success in bringing on players from a young age to compete at a high level and we are very proud to be supporting the foundations of communitybased sport in this way .”

The three-year partnership with Newport Salop Rugby Club was agreed earlier this year by the business which is based in Halesfield.

Winners of the highly competitive Midlands 1 last season, Newport is one of the most senior sides in the North Midlands division.

With the first team enjoying a consistently successful run this season it was decided to officially unveil the new kit with both senior and junior players taking part in a fun photoshoot.

They started this season in the Midlands Premier division in winning style now occupying top position in the league on points difference over Scunthorpe. Besblock also continues to support Shropshire Cricket Club, sponsoring jerseys for a second year in the 2018/19 season.

Besblock has a strong history of supporting sporting clubs having previously signed a two-year shirt deal with Shropshire County Cricket Club.

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HEALTH & FITNESS

Shockwave Therapy Shockwave therapy is a relatively new treatment modality that has been demonstrated to be invaluable tool in the treatment of tendon and soft tissue injuries.

First used in the 70’s for its use in breaking down Kidney stones and calcification deposits in the body it became more common place in the 80s and in the 90’s more research appeared into the treatment for soft tissue injuries, so in this form it is a relatively new technology. It is a modality which uses pressure disturbance to stimulate the recovery of chronic and sub-acute soft tissue injuries. It works by applying rapid repeated pneumatic pressures through a device applied directly to the painful tissues. Often it is used after conventional treatments have failed to stimulate recovery such as hands on manual techniques, ultrasound and exercise therapy although it can be used as a front-line treatment.

demonstrated to benefit Tennis elbow, Golfers’ elbow and shoulder pain so it does have a broad spectrum of uses. In terms of treatment its self, most of the research suggests between 3-6 treatments will achieve good improvements although in can take more in more chronic conditions. In all this modality will be of huge benefit to patients with tendon/soft tissue injuries especially if more conventional treatments have failed. It is regularly seen as the go to treatment prior to more invasive treatments. If you are experiencing tendon pain that has been on going, then please feel free to call for free advice as to whether this treatment may benefit you. We offer day time and evening appointments so please call 01952 462330 or email us at enquiries@shropshirephysio.co.uk

The effects on the soft tissues are: • Mechanical Stimulation • Increased local blood flow • Increase in cellular activity • Pain relieving effects on local nerves • Breaking down of calcific deposits There are several research articles demonstrating the benefits of the treatment and a rising number of articles supporting its use. A lot of the evidence centres around particularly tendon pain in conditions such as Jumpers’ knee (the exacerbation of the patella tendon), Achilles tendon problems and plantar fasciitis (pain from the sole of the feet). It has also been

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Health

ACHIEVING A BETTER WORK-LIFE BALANCE Finding and retaining work, selling your skills, doing your own book-keeping and admin, taking sole responsibility for the quality and completion of projects and having nobody else to motivate you can be overwhelming and stressful – not to mention lonely. If you work by yourself from home, you also need to think about where you will work and how you will avoid distractions, including family and friends. Some are inclined to see working from home as not quite real work, failing to appreciate that you still have deadlines to meet. • Whether you’re employed or self-employed, know when to say no and when to down tools. • Leave work behind when your hours are finished and don’t be tempted to open those work-related emails.

1st – 5th October is National Work Life Week, an event run by the Working Families charity and focusing on how employees and employers can improve work-life balance. The charity wants to create a society in which everyone can fully meet their work and caring responsibilities and has “real choice in balancing the interdependent demands of family, work and community at different life stages.” However, this vision seems a long way from being realised. In research undertaken by Working Families, half of parents said their work-life balance was a source of stress and one in ten said they were ready to resign without another job to go to. It also revealed that seven out of ten parents worked at home in the evenings and at weekends, due to increasing workloads, lack of time for planning, organisational culture, and manager attitudes. But working long hours is bad for our health. Research published in 2015 by Public Health expert Prof Mika Kivimäki showed that people working 55 hours or more per week have a 33% higher risk of stroke and a 13% higher risk of coronary heart disease than those who work a 35 to 40-hour week. While his study didn’t look at the potential reasons behind this link, experts have suggested that these increased risks are probably due to prolonged sitting, stress, less time for exercise and less time for relaxation and healthy eating. Working long hours can mean not enough time looking after your health and wellbeing. So, what can employees do to achieve a better work-life balance, and what can employers do to help their staff achieve it?

• Get enough sleep. Working into the night is ultimately counterproductive as your memory, response time and concentration will all suffer. You’re also putting yourself at great risk of mental and physical health issues. • Prioritise tasks and break them down into smaller steps so that you stay on track, avoid being overwhelmed and have a feeling of achievement.

Employers: Listen to Your Employees Some employers panic when employees ask for more flexibility, changes to working times, reduced hours or to work from home, but there’s no need to. It could be a positive change. To become a more flexible employer: • Investigate how technology could help your employees work from home or while travelling for work. Cloud-based apps and services can allow workers to access real-time financial data, message colleagues and collaborate on projects online. • If an employee requests a change to their working practice, listen to what they want with an open mind, but also express any concerns you have so that they have the chance to address them. Offer a trial period so that both of you can see how this new way of working performs in practice before making any commitment. • Consider job-share options for both existing and new roles. You should also consider the well-being of your employees and ensure you’re meeting your legal obligations to them. • Do your employees get the breaks they’re entitled to in a place away from their workstation – and your queries? • Do you signpost or offer mental and physical health services, such as counselling or lunchtime exercise activities? • Do you ensure that the equipment they use is positioned correctly to avoid physical strain and fatigue?

Employees: Think Flexibility

• Are employees encouraged to speak up if they feel the demands placed on them are too great?

The Working Families study showed that half of people in the UK want to work flexibly but currently, fewer than one in ten jobs advertised offer flexible working (even though it may be available in the role). Flexible working can become particularly important if you’re a parent or carer, but before you go looking for more flexible employment, be brave: approach your current employer. Discuss your requirements and possible solutions, such as more flexible working, changing work times, reducing your hours or working fully or partially from home.

• Do you encourage working smart, not working long?

You could also consider self-employment but be warned: this comes with its own downsides and doesn’t suit everyone.

Research shows that happier, healthier employees are more productive and likely to stick around and that millennials are increasingly looking for more flexible employers, so practising flexibility and caring about employee wellbeing is not just altruistic – it makes good business sense as well. To find out more, visit www.workingfamilies.org.uk.

by Alison Runham

HEALTH & FITNESS

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.

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HEEL PAIN

Charity Ball

TICKETS NOW ON SALE!

A Charity ball has been organised and is being held at the Park Inn Telford on 2nd March 2019 at 6pm. All the money raised is to go to the National Autistic Society. The event consists of an arrival drink, 3 course set menu meal, 2 live acts – 1 of which has appeared on Britain’s Got Talent Semi Final, a raffle consisting of prizes donated by local companies, a Silent auction and a Disco to end the night with. The main reason the organisers Brad & Charmayne Wynn have put this event together is both their sons are on the Autistic Spectrum, so this charity is close to their hearts. This event is also running alongside Brads 100 mile challenge which can be found at below address www.facebook.com/100-MileChallenge-for-NAS-680800682312056, where you can read all about what the challenge is about and more about the charity ball. Tickets are on sale for £25 per person and if you would like to book tickets please contact Brad or Charmayne on 07858514110/07849778840. Doors are open from 6pm and meal starts at 6.30 pm. Dress code for the event is Evening or Cocktail Dress/Suit for ladies and Suit/Smart shirt and trousers for men. No trainers or Jeans please.

Arch Pain Bunion/Arthriis

ORTHOTICS

PODIATRY

Telford Foot Care Celia Crow BSc Hons DipCFHP Mobile Foot Health Practitioner Foot Health Assessment Corn & Callus Removal Verruca Treatments Ingrowing Nails

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Great Health

WELLBEING AND FITNESS GIFTS

If you’re stuck for gift ideas for your nearest and dearest, here are some suggestions for presents that could bring them a happier, healthier new year. Mindfulness Gifts Mindfulness has gone mainstream and NHS doctors are now recommending it as a useful technique to help in the management of mental health issues and long-term pain.

• The Introduction to Mindfulness Gift Box breaks down mindfulness techniques to create simple task cards and a week-long challenge that helps users integrate mindfulness into their day simply but effectively. It includes four token gifts to help them celebrate their successes. Available from Amazon, priced at £4.95. • Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Finding Peace in a Frantic World by Mark Williams and Danny Penman is on the NHS ‘Books on Prescription’ list. It’s based on Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), which can deliver great benefits when practised for just a few minutes a day. It’s a powerful path to wellbeing and better mental health, not just for those struggling with mental health issues but for anyone wanting to improve their wellbeing amid the demands of hectic modern life. Available as a book, eBook, audio CD and CD-ROM from various retailers including Amazon and WHSmith.

Weight Loss Gifts

Warning: Only to be given to someone who has stated they need, want and plan to lose weight! • Slimming World offer gift vouchers. A 6-week gift card for a new member is £34.75 while a 12-week card is £59.50. Prices are lower if your recipient is an existing member or over 60 years old. Available on www.slimmingworld.co.uk/downloads/gift_ vouchers.pdf. • Weight Watchers don’t offer gift cards or subscriptions, but you can purchase a gift subscription for their magazine, starting from £8.25 for three issues. They also sell accessories, various Weight Watchers cookbooks and their handy SmartPoints Kitchen Scales, priced at £39.95, which automatically calculate the SmartPoints in food. Available from www.weightwatchersshop.co.uk. • LighterLife don’t offer gift vouchers either, but you can buy various food packs for a friend interested in trying the plan, starting from around £15. A larger starter pack costs £75. Available from www.lighterlife.com/shop/foodpacks/bundles. html.

Wellbeing Gifts • Spa Days

Red Letter Days have spa days starting at around £39 for one person and £50 for two. While these lower-budget options include full use of spa facilities, they only include 25 minutes of treatment. Or what about a floatation tank experience for one for just £25? If you want to splash the cash, though, there are more expensive options and you could even treat a special couple to a spa break. The cheapest at the time of writing is a two-night break in a luxury Mongolian yurt in Suffolk, including a light lunch and one-day passes to the nearby Atlantic Spa, for £390. Available from www.redletterdays.co.uk, who promise to refund 150% of the difference if you see the identical experience cheaper within 14 days of purchase.

• The Positive Planner This luxury, hardback 12-week planner and journal describes itself as “the mindful gratitude journal that inspires you daily and encourages mental wellbeing.” It features original artwork, inspirational quotes, art therapy, mindfulness activities and tools and a mood tracker; by noting what they do each day and how they feel, your recipient can connect cause and effect and make positive changes. There are also meal planners, shopping lists and monthly diary spreads to organise daily life and reduce mental clutter. Available from www.thepositiveplanner.co.uk notonthehighstreet.com at £23 plus p&p.

and

www.

Fitness Gifts

• Gaiam Beginners’ Pilates Kit This kit includes a body-sculpting ball, resistance band and an instructional workout DVD – everything a first-timer or improver needs. Available from John Lewis, Amazon and other stores, priced at around £26.49. • Weight Training Equipment We don’t have to harbour a desperate desire to be a bodybuilder to use weights as part of our fitness regime. Fitness and health experts recommend weight training for those who are physically able, as it’s scientifically proven that muscle burns more calories, even when you’re at rest, than body fat – and even active people can begin to lose muscle tone as they age. For beginners, some light dumbbells and/or wrist and ankle weights are a good gift, while kettlebells are a good choice for improvers. For more serious weight lifters, weight sets with a bar included (‘barbell sets’), which allow the user to add or remove weights to suit them, might be ideal. Dumbbells, kettlebells, wrist and ankle weights and barbell sets are available from many major retailers such as Argos, Amazon and John Lewis, although for more sophisticated or weighty equipment, consider a fitness specialist store or website. Pairs of low weight vinyl dumbbells, 2 kg kettlebells and pairs of wrist and ankle weights all start from around £5. Dumbbell ‘tree sets’, which usually consist of tree-shaped stand and three or more pairs of dumbbells, start at around £19.99. Expect to pay at least £28 for a barbell set but do check reviews, as some poorer quality sets have issues with their fixtures, meaning weights may slip off.

by Alison Runham

HEALTH & FITNESS

Mindfulness

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?

Lorraine, a Mindfulness Coach at Affinity and Beyond Therapy, answers some questions that help explain how practicing mindfulness can benefit us all. What does Mindfulness mean? - It means consciously paying attention in this moment – to your own thoughts and feelings, and to the world around you. It’s easy to stop noticing and valuing the world around us. It’s also very easy to become caught up in our thoughts and not notice how our thoughts are affecting our emotions and behaviour. An important part of mindfulness is reconnecting our minds and bodies to all sensations, feelings and thoughts we experience. How will that help me? - The way we think and deal with our thoughts plays a big part in our happiness, resilience and mental health. Mindfulness helps us become more aware of our thoughts and feelings so that instead of being overwhelmed by them, we're better able to manage them.

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Benefits of practicing mindfulness include: • Reducing stress and anxiety • Feeling calmer and better able to sleep • Improving focus and concentration • Managing depression and negative thoughts

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Mindfulness can help us enjoy life more, understand ourselves better and improve our mental wellbeing. Lorraine offers an introductory mindfulness course as well as a follow on programme, Calm Minds, which will help you cultivate mindful presence and inner stillness. Call Lorraine on 07898 823339 to find out more.

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Every Student is Individual

SO WHY RISK A STANDARD APPROACH TO SIXTH FORM?

Students spend 11 years working towards GCSEs, but in just 20 months at A Level they are confronted with a host of life changing decisions â&#x20AC;&#x201C; subject choice, work experience, Oxbridge or Russell Group, vocational degrees, international university courses, apprenticeships or perhaps a gap year? That first term in the Sixth Form is awash with university open days and the demands of personal statement deadlines and this is where the specialist careers, UCAS and university support team at Wolverhampton Grammar School can help. With unprecedented changes in traditional jobs, emerging new industries and the creation of a more varied global work landscape, the opportunities given to students and the choices they make are more important than ever before. Academic success is paramount, as it is in every school and Sixth Form college in the country, but students also need to demonstrate a wider set of skills beyond the classroom. Wolverhampton Grammar School works to ensure that Sixth Form students receive the individual care and attention that they need to leave as independent, selfmotivated learners, with the skills valued by leading universities and employers and wider society alike. Right from day one expert mentoring and coaching ensures that students stand out from the crowd whatever their next step might be. This, together with an extensive range of A level subject choices, the largest range of

extra and co-curricular activities, sports, clubs and societies and skill based provision of any independent school in the area ensures Wolverhampton Grammar School students have the best start possible. To hear more about life as a Sixth Former at Wolverhampton Grammar School join us for our Open Evening on Thursday 22nd November 2018 from 6.30pm - 8pm, visit the website www. wgs.org.uk or speak with our Admissions Registrar, Jane Morris or email jam@wgs-sch.net for further information.

CHILDREN, EDUCATION & ACTIVITIES

Independent Day School for Boys and Girls Junior School ages 7-11 Senior School ages 11-16 Sixth Form ages 16-18

“

Both our children have had an amazing educational journey at Wolverhampton Grammar School. They have developed into confident, self assured people, well prepared to make their way in the world

“

Parents’ Survey 2018

OPEN DAYS & EVENINGS Year 3 Open Day: Saturday 17th November, 10am - 1.30pm Sixth Form Open Evening: Thursday 22nd November, 6.30pm - 8pm Junior School Open Day: Saturday 26th January, 10am - 1.30pm

YEAR 7 ENTRANCE TEST Saturday 12th January 2019 For information about how to register for our entrance test or to learn more about our open events please contact Jane Morris, Admissions Registrar telephone 01902 422939, email jam@wgs-sch.net or register online www.wgs.org.uk JUDGED “EXCELLENT” IN ALL AREAS BY

THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS INSPECTORATE

TES INDEPENDENT SCHOOL AWARD WINNERS 2018

01902 421326

www.wgs.org.uk Wolverhampton Grammar School Compton Road Wolverhampton WV3 9RB

251x174.indd 2

10/10/2018 14:52

Becoming a...

FOSTER CARER find themselves in foster care. Many end up returning to their birth families or going on to be adopted. Some children have complex emotional or physical needs. Sometimes, foster carers specialise in a particular age group, whether it’s babies and toddlers, primary school children or teenagers. Some people focus on caring for disabled children or children seeking asylum. Your case worker will talk to you about what type of placement would be best for you.

How much could I earn?

Tens of thousands of children enter the care system in the UK every year. If you think you could help, read on to find out more about fostering, including how to go about it and how much you could earn. Who can foster? Foster carers come from a range of backgrounds. You’ll need to: • Be at least 21. • Have the right to live in the UK permanently. • Have a spare bedroom. • Have enough time to look after a child. You don’t need to be in a relationship or own your own home, and you can have a job. You don’t need any qualifications, but previous experience with children is beneficial.

What types of fostering are there? There are lots of different types of foster care. Some children only need a short-term placement. Others need a longterm home. You could even just offer emergency, overnight, weekend or respite care if you prefer. You could also choose to foster a young parent and their child. Both would live with you and you’d help the parent to develop their skills until they were able to care for the child independently.

What kind of children need fostering? Children from all backgrounds, and of all abilities and ages,

The minimum weekly allowance per foster child starts from £127. Older children have greater allowances, as do children with special needs. So, for example, if you fostered a nine year old and a 15 year old, you’d receive at least £302 for each week you looked after them. That money would need to cover the child’s food, clothes, toys and other expenses. Foster carers are sometimes paid a fee on top of the allowance. The amount you’ll receive will depend on the foster service you go through, and the needs of the child you foster. Many foster carers earn more than £500 a week for each child they foster. Foster carers get considerable tax relief on the money they earn from fostering. Foster payments also don’t usually have an effect on welfare benefits.

What support would I get? You’d attend training programmes and be matched with your own social worker, who would be there to support you. Some services also have additional support available, such as a 24hour helpline.

How do I apply? You can foster through your local council, or through an independent fostering service. The application and assessment process usually takes around six to eight months.

Where can I find out more? For more information about fostering, contact your local council or visit: www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk www.gov.uk/foster-carers

by Kate Duggan

CHILDREN, EDUCATION & ACTIVITIES

Bears Den

Pre-School

New Extended Opening Times Monday-Friday 8:30am - 3:00pm (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)

One One Word Word Christmas Christmas Lyrics Lyrics For For each each of of the the following following words, can you pick the only words, can you pick the only song in the list that has this song in the list that has this word word in in its its lyrics? lyrics? beautiful - burning - chimney beautiful - burning - chimney drunk drunk -- frosticles frosticles -- gay gay naughty numb snowy naughty - numb - snowy -- sober sober 11 22 3 3 44 55 66 77 8 8

99 10 10

Do Do They They Know Know It's It's Christmas? Christmas? Fairytale Of New York Fairytale Of New York Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

VICTORIAN Weekends 8,9,15 & 16 CHRISTMAS Dec 2018 Experience the magic of a Victorian Christmas at

BLISTS HILL VICTORIAN TOWN Enjoy Carol Singers and Brass Bands, buy unusual gifts in the shops, see the Falconry display and don’t miss the Reindeer!

Meet Father Christmas in his grotto

II Saw Saw Mommy Mommy Kissing Kissing Santa Santa Claus Claus II Wish Wish It It Could Could Be Be Christmas Christmas Every Every Day Day Merry Xmas Everybody Merry Xmas Everybody Mistletoe Mistletoe And And Wine Wine Santa Baby Santa Baby Santa Santa Claus Claus Is Is Coming Coming To To Town Town Winter Wonderland Winter Wonderland

IRONBRIDGE.ORG.UK for details 51

CHILDREN, EDUCATION & ACTIVITIES

Making Christmas Elf on a Shelf

The original idea behind Elf on a Shelf was that an elf would arrive at the start of Christmas to watch over children and report back to Father Christmas. However, the trend has changed in recent years to become a bit more fun (and a bit less creepy). Now the craze is for the elf to get up to mischief overnight, whether it’s making snow angels in flour, tying the children’s shoelaces together or wrapping the loo in Christmas paper. (Search Pinterest for inspiration.)

Digital calendars have different activities, images, videos or other features to unlock each day. The best one I’ve found is by Jacquie Lawson. It costs just £3 and will work on most computers, smartphones and tablets. Activities include making a snowflake, decorating a Christmas tree and solving puzzles. Each activity can be played as many times as you like. (Grown-ups tend to enjoy this calendar just as much as the kids.) See www.jacquielawson.com.

If your child loves crafts, the Mini Makes Christmas papercraft book by Half Pint Home will provide hours of entertainment. There’s an activity for each day leading up to Christmas, including mini-bunting, finger puppets, decorations and more. Mini Makes Christmas costs £12.99 from www.etsy.co.uk.

Elves, £1 each from Tiger Stores

Kindness elves

Not keen on the idea of a pint-sized prankster? Kindness elves have become a popular alternative. They still move each night but rather than tricks, they leave notes praising the child for a good deed or suggesting a kind act the child could do, such as visiting an elderly neighbour or making a card for a relative.

Advent calendars

EXTRA SPECIAL

Looking for an alternative to a chocolate advent calendar? If you have the time, you could make or buy a reusable calendar to fill with trinkets and second-hand small toys. A bundle of Shopkins characters, for example, can be picked up relatively cheaply on eBay. The calendar can then be brought out again each year, so becoming part of your family’s festive traditions. If you don’t have the time (or energy) to find 24 gifts, the advent calendars from Lego, Smiggle, Playmobil and the Early Learning Centre offer a decent selection of goodies for £20-£30. You can also sometimes find a previous year’s calendar for £10 or less on eBay.

Video messages from Father Christmas

Surprise your child with a personalised video message from Father Christmas, thanks to Portable North Pole (PNP). You can get a short video for free or unlock lots of different personalised videos, phone calls and stories for around £11. The videos are very well made and will keep your child believing for that little bit longer, see www.portablenorthpole.com.

Santa Spy Cam

With the Santa Spy Cam app, you can capture video evidence of elves and Father Christmas visiting your home. My daughter caught an elf on camera last year using the app and the experience made her a believer again. The app is available for Apple and Android phones. One video is free, the rest cost a few pounds, see www. santaspycam.com.

Christmas

Advent Angel Birth Cards Carols Coal Festive Gifts Hearth Hymns Ivy Joy Lights Love Manger Myrrh Noel Nutmeg Ornament

Party Turkey Peace Yule Priest Punch Santa Claus Sled Sleigh Snow Song Star Thanks Tree

Find the words associated with Christmas in the grid and the remaining letters will spell out a related phrase

Home & Interiors

MAKING AN ENTRANCE

Your hallway is an introduction to your home, the first thing you and your visitors see when entering. A well thought-out design, combining good looks with functionality, will help make the best impression. Hallways can often be an overlooked space but, in fact, they are crucial to the look and feel of a house, acting as a ‘welcome home’, a connection between rooms and – unless you are fortunate enough to have a separate boot room where everything can be kept neatly out of the way – a vital storage area for all sorts of necessary gear, from shoes, boots and umbrellas to coats, hats, gloves and scarves. Sometimes the entrance way is the best place to keep other items, too: maybe bottles of sun lotion for putting on just before you leave the house, a first aid kit, torches, dog leads, tennis rackets or other sports equipment… all kinds of things, in fact, that may not really have a specific place elsewhere. A carefully designed hallway, then, should be as much of a priority as a beautiful living room, kitchen or bedroom, and it is worth giving consideration to all the usual elements of interior design, including walls and floors, lighting and furniture, as well as finishing touches such as soft furnishings, books and art.

On the wall

In a narrow hallway (which, let’s face it, most of us are stuck with), using pale colours is a good idea in order to emphasise a sense of space. Specialist light-reflecting paints, now available in a range of colours, may help, or look for patterned wallpaper with a metallic sheen. Add large mirrors (ideal for checking your reflection just before you leave the house, too) in a style that complements your overall look. For halls that see a lot of wear and tear, choose an extra-tough paint, or add a dado rail and clad the walls below it with tongue-and-groove panelling, tiles or hard-wearing vinyl wallpaper. Period-style tiles or embossed wallpapers look particularly good in older properties with period features; their patterns could echo other elements of the house such as cornices or fireplace surrounds.

Durable floors

When choosing flooring for this hightraffic area bear in mind that it should be non-slip, durable, dirt-resistant and as easy as possible to maintain. While a good doormat will help, darker colours are generally a better choice than anything too pale, especially if you have pets and children. Stone, ceramic or quarry tiles, or Victorian encaustic tiles, are all easy to care for, while solid wooden boards or parquet simply require regular polishing or waxing (wood laminates, though cheaper, may not last long in such a well-used space). Linoleum or vinyl can look impressive, especially when laid in patterns. Carpet is more problematic. Choose a colour or pattern that won’t show the dirt, and make sure that the composition is suitable for a hallway: an 80:20 twist classified for heavy domestic use is often the best.

Lovely lighting

A welcoming light in the hallway is ideal and, while it doesn’t have to be bright

Millbrook wide cupboard, from £789; Richmond hall bench with baskets, from £499; both The Painted Furniture Company: 01285 656 041; paintedfurnitureco.co.uk.

enough to read by, it should illuminate any steps, stairs and thresholds clearly and help provide an even flow of light through your home. If your hallway has a high ceiling, a beautiful chandelier, or a series of interesting pendants, makes a great statement; if not, a row of downlights set into the ceiling will do the trick. Wall lights look great, too, but unless very flushfitting they are best avoided in a narrow hall where they will simply act as obstacles.

Sensible storage

For hallway furniture, built-in storage makes the most of every inch of space. Shallow, floor-to-ceiling cupboards with doors painted the same colour as the walls, or mirrored to maximise light, will hold masses yet be barely noticeable. On the other hand, you could make a statement with a choice of freestanding cupboards, sideboards, tables, benches, hooks or racks, chosen to suit your floor layout and your style. Urban cyclists might want to install a high-up hook for their bikes, while spacious country hallways suit umbrella stands, boot racks and dog beds. Whatever your style, somewhere to keep post and keys is always a good idea: perhaps a bowl and rack on a console table, radiator cover or shelf, or a small, wall-mounted cupboard and set of hooks.

Finishing touches

Tjusig bench with shoe storage, from £35; Tjusig hangers, £10 each; Ekby Valter brackets, £2 each; Ekby Järpen shelves, £8 each; Söften rug, £20; all Ikea: 020 3645 0000; ikea.com/gb.

Not all halls have windows, but those that do will benefit from shutters, blinds or curtains that complement the rest of the space. When selecting fabric, coordinate with cushions or upholstery on seating. A long, thin floor runner works beautifully on hard flooring, adding softness, pattern and texture. If you have lots of books, or delicate items you wish to show off, you could fit shelving above doorways or run a slim shelf along the length of the hall above head height. And, finally, add a personal touch with paintings, photographs or other artworks, arranging them so as to create a display that adds an extra touch of interest and flair to your practical, versatile space.

by Katherine Sorrell

HOME INTERIORS

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Create a Comfortable

GUEST ROOM

Some additional pillows and a snuggly blanket or two will always be welcome, as will a hair dryer, a full-length mirror and a waste paper basket. You could hang a spare dressing gown on the back of the door, too – especially useful if the room doesn’t have an en suite bathroom. Older bedrooms are often lacking in plug sockets, so add an extension lead or an adaptor, just in case. After all, everyone needs to charge their phone regularly, and some guests might also bring a tablet, laptop or other device. Speaking of which, another thoughtful touch would be to write out your router’s name and password on a small card and leave it somewhere obvious.

Spare room mattress, £345, Loaf: 020 3141 8300; www.loaf.com.

Is your spare room ready for Christmas? Our guide to setting up a cosy and welcoming space will help you ensure your guests feel completely at home. Hosting family or friends during the festive season can be as stressful as it is heart-warming. The best way to make sure everyone is relaxed is to start preparations well in advance. Your first task is to check the spare bedroom. Is it full of the clutter that inevitably accumulates over time? This is a good opportunity to have a clear-out and to sell, give or tidy away as much as possible. Create enough space in wardrobes and drawers for guests to unpack their clothes – or at least store your stuff neatly and leave them a few hangers on a hook on the back of the door. In general, is the room too hot or too cold? Address issues such as windows that are stuck or radiators that don’t work – if necessary, plug in a small standalone heater, which may be a welcome boost during a cold December evening. Another task, while checking out the room, is to draw the curtains during daylight hours to check whether they will adequately block early-morning light. Given enough planning time, you may even wish to upgrade your spare room window treatments by adding blackout lining for curtains or fitted blackout blinds. While it goes without saying that the room should be sparklingly clean and as clutter-free as possible, there are some key elements that will really enhance your guests’ comfort. First, test out the bed. How is the mattress? If it has seen better days, a topper or enhancer will probably help, at least in the short term. Now is also the time to have duvets and pillows dry cleaned, and to check that you have the necessary bed linen at the ready. Small tables either side of the bed are incredibly useful for guests to store a book, a glass of water, a phone and a pair of glasses. They need not be expensive – a folding tray table, a small chair, a stool or just an upturned wooden crate will all be fine (since this is not a full-time bedroom, a great deal of bedside storage space is not necessary). Though not essential, soft rugs beside the bed and some pretty prints on the walls are a lovely enhancement if you can manage it. Flamingo knitted hot water bottle, £25, Sophie Allport: 01778 560 256; www.sophieallport.com.

Custom-made blackout roller blinds, £28.98, English Blinds: 0121 439 6770; www.englishblinds.co.uk.

Not all of us are fortunate enough to have a spare bedroom, but no problem – a sofa bed, day bed, futon, bed-in-a-box or good quality airbed in the living room will all be fine, provided there is enough space to set them up without colliding with other items of furniture. If your living room is acting as a temporary bedroom, clear away as much as possible so your guests have room to put down their luggage, and place a small lamp near the head of their ‘bed’ and a spare throw or blanket nearby. A box, bag or basket into which they can stow bedding during the day will also help keep things tidy, while a note on the door will make sure they are not interrupted before they get up in the morning. Finally, think about the little extras that will make your guests’ stay a five-star experience. You might leave out for them a small alarm clock, a pen and paper, a carafe of water with matching glass, a few books or magazines, a hot water bottle, a sprig of flowers in a bud vase and a scented candle or diffuser. With such care and forethought, your guests are sure to be delighted – and will soon be back to stay again.

by Kathrime Sorrell

HOME INTERIORS

SUDOKU’S

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Pension Advice Although most of us will change jobs throughout our working lives, we only get one retirement – and it’s one of the most important decisions we will have to make. At Pensionlite our goal is to help people plan for their retirement and long term financial future by offering no obligation advice from our team of specialist pension advisers. Our advisers have a combined 140 years’ experience managing and advising clients’ pensions in both the accumulation of funds and accessing them post retirement. Pension freedoms has given people approaching retirement greater flexibility as to how they access their savings. As a Corporate Chartered company our clear, transparent and competitive fee-based structure is based on the

FROM OUR TEAM OF SPECIALISTS

time it takes our experts to produce individually-tailored pension advice and those fees are the same for clients’ right across the UK. The advice process begins with us gathering information and exploring a client’s attitude to risk and return, as well as their hopes and aspirations. We research various scenarios to make the best use of existing plans - if these are good then we’ll tell the client giving them peace of mind. If not so good then we will make recommendations to improve their position. If they choose to follow our advice then we will do the necessary work and apply any fees applicable, as detailed within the advice and recommendations. The value of pensions and the income they produce can fall as well as rise. You may get back less than you invested. If you have a question about pensions then you can contact Pensionlite on 01952 279 379 or email – support@pensionlite.co.uk

LOOKING TO REVIEW YOUR PENSION? Let our experienced team of specialist advisers help you plan for your retirement. ✓ No obligation ✓ Experienced advisers ✓ Detailed reports

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Come and visit us at our new premises on Stafford Court.

T 01952 279 379 E enquiries@pensionlite.co.uk www.pensionlite.co.uk

The value of pensions and the income they produce can fall as well as rise. You may get back less than you invested. Transferring out of a final salary scheme is unlikely to be in the best interests of most people.

P E N S I O N L I T E LT D Denby House, Stafford Court Stafford Park, Telford, TF3 3BD

Pensionlite Ltd Registered in England and Wales No. 10517547. Registered Address: Summit House, 13 High Street, Wanstead, London, E11 2AA. Pensionlite Ltd is an Appointed Representative of Intrinsic Financial Planning Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL

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E: info@chelseasofshropshire.co.uk www.chelseasofshropshire.co.uk

ALSO drop off and collection available at Green Fields in Donnington & Priorslee 59

Want to Save for Your Children?

WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS?

unlike other savings accounts aimed at children, you will not have access to the money once it has been deposited. Your child is able to manage their own account from the age of 16, however. Junior ISAs are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to a value of £85,000 per institution, as long as the account is held with a UK-regulated provider. • This tax year (2018/19) the savings limit is £4,260 for each account. • There is no tax to pay on the interest or investment returns in a Junior ISA.

Friendly Society tax-exempt plan

A child tax-exempt savings plan offers a guaranteed minimum tax-free lump sum at the end of the term from a share-based investment fund. This type of account is designed for saving over a relatively long period of time – usually 10-25 years.

Putting money aside for your children is a great way to offer them a little security as they get older. You do not need to save a huge amount – even a few pounds each week adds up to a nice little nest egg over time.

The proceeds could be used for significant future outlays such as university fees, or perhaps the deposit on a house, but your child needs to be over the age of 16 to receive the cash balance. • You can currently save £270 a year if you make ad hoc deposits, or £25 a month if it is on a regular basis. • Charges vary between Friendly Societies so it is worth shopping around.

You can teach younger children good money management skills by offering a little more pocket money as long as they save the extra amount. If they are old enough, get them involved in choosing a savings account and physically putting the money into it each month.

NS&I Premium Bonds

Ad hoc saving

This is an engaging way to make saving interesting to children, and you can help them make reinvestment/spending decisions if they win money in the draw. All winnings are tax-free, and to a young child even the smallest prize of £25 is a substantial amount.

You do not need to save regularly to make a difference, however – you could put some money away as and when it is available if that suits you better, and move it around if a better interest rate comes up.

Premium Bonds are an easy and very popular way to save money for a child. Instead of earning interest, each £1 bond you purchase has its own number that is entered into a prize draw each month and could win between £25 and £1 million.

The money is likely to come in very handy when it is time to pay for driving lessons, or a first holiday abroad with their friends. It is helpful to be aware of the different types of accounts and investments available, so what are some of the options when it comes to saving for your children?

• You need to buy a minimum of £100 in Premium Bonds, with the maximum amount that can be held being £50,000.

Piggy bank

You can set up a pension fund for your child and transfer it to them when they reach the age of 18. Starting a child pension offers a little stability when they become an adult, and gives them a valuable head start in their retirement savings.

Saving into a piggy bank is so simple, and a great idea for younger children. You might be surprised how much can be saved this way, and not only that, it teaches young children more than one important life lesson. Learning to take responsibility for putting money away safely, the value of money, and the fact that you have to save for the things you want from life are all important factors. • It is a straightforward way to save. • You can teach a young child the value of each coin.

Junior ISA

There are two types of ISA for children – a Cash Junior ISA, and a Stocks and Shares Junior ISA. They are available if your child is under-18 and living in the UK, and you can open one or both types of account. The money in a Junior ISA belongs to your child and is locked away until their 18th birthday, when the account upgrades to an adult ISA. This is a key feature of this type of saving, as

• Prizes totalling more than £2million are paid out each month.

Child pension

• The government tops up each contribution you make into a pension by 25% (up to a total of £2,880 in 2018/19), which considerably increases its overall value over time. • You can still contribute more than £2,880, but it will not attract the government’s top-up. However you decide to put money aside for your child, your attitude to risk may guide the decision as to whether to save or invest. You will also need to consider any fees and charges if you decide that investing is the preferable option. www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/childrenssavings-options www.gov.uk/junior-individual-savings-accounts

by Ann Haldon

BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL

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.

7 Church Street, Wellington, Telford TF1 1BX

The Forum, Victoria Road, Shifnal TF11 8FE

Tel: 01952 641 291

Tel: 01952 460 777

Mon - Fri 8.30am - 5pm Sat 9am - 12pm

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BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL

Telford Laundry LINEN AND WORKWEAR RENTAL

Home Laundry Service Telford Laundry provides collection and delivery right to your door; collecting on a regular basis or just on special occasions when you have loads of extra laundry. With Telford Laundry’s own fleet of vehicles you can be confident that your regular driver will collect and drop off your laundry items in the way that you would like. Telford Laundry drivers will arrange a convenient collection and drop off point for you which can include your place of work. Quality and professional laundry services are provided for bedroom linen – including bulky items such as duvets, bedspreads and sleeping bags, bathroom laundry and household items such as curtains and cushion covers. Talk to Telford Laundry about their professional dry cleaning service for men’s suits and wedding dresses.

Find out more...

Laundry Collection or drop off at B3 Stafford Park 11, Telford

Call: 01952 216 053 On-site Services at Your Home: • Dry Carpet Cleaning Removes Spills, Spots, Smells & Odours Deep cleans and lifts carpet pile – like new We leave your carpets clean, fresh and ready to use!

NOW providing on-site dry cleaning of carpets, upholstery and all hard floors!

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Telford Laundry Ltd • B3 Stafford Park 11, Telford TF3 3AY

Phone: 01952 216 053 Email: enquiries@telfordlaundry.co.uk / telford@zerodrytime.com

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The NLG are proud of the quality services provided and we believe th the core requirements is a well-trained and highly motivated workforce group companies participate in the Textile Services Association accre 63 training scheme.

In addition we have a robust Capital Investment Programme to ensure

Finance

CAN YOU STILL GET A MORTGAGE IF YOU ARE AN OLDER BORROWER? will be able to assess your financial situation, understand each lender’s criteria, and focus on those most likely to accept your application.

Mortgage affordability checks

New regulations introduced following the 2008 recession, known as the Mortgage Market Review rules, mean that lenders must make more stringent affordability checks prior to lending. As a result, all regular payments leaving your bank account will affect the affordability calculation, and reduce the amount you are able to borrow. An interest rate ‘stress test’ is also carried out to gauge whether you could afford repayments if interest rates rise over the term. It is a good idea to carry out this test yourself before applying, using a number of projected interest rates. If you have not retired yet, lenders will need information about your pension including its current value, the income you are likely to receive in retirement, and your intended retirement date. You will also need to provide proof if you have other income, such as that from investments, property, or shares.

Whether you are moving house or remortgaging an existing property, you may find it difficult to secure a mortgage as you get older. Some mortgage lenders are reluctant to take pension income into account, which means you could be refused if you have already retired, or want a mortgage term that continues past your retirement date. So what is the likelihood of securing a mortgage when you are 50+ and is there anything you can do to increase your chances of being accepted?

Is there an age limit for getting a mortgage?

Officially there is no upper age limit for a mortgage, but providers use their own in-house criteria when assessing a mortgage application. They may apply an age limit for older people taking out new mortgages, and another for when the mortgage must be paid off. These limits are typically 65-70 years of age, and 70-85 years old respectively. This means that if you are aged 60, for example, and looking for a mortgage term of 25 years, your options may be limited.

Is there anything you can do to increase your chances of securing a mortgage? • Consider

your overall financial situation

Mortgage lenders look for a good credit history when assessing affordability, and an income that offers reassurance of your ability to repay over the full mortgage term. They will assess your financial position as a whole, and use caution to control their own exposure to risk. • Reduce

your outgoings

Acknowledging longer life expectancies

There has been a trend in recent years for longer life expectancies to be acknowledged, along with the fact that, for a variety of reasons, people need to borrow money later in life. The higher cost of housing, helping children onto the property ladder, or late entry into the housing market, can all result in the need for a mortgage after you have reached 50 years of age. Gone are the days when mortgages were repaid well before retirement. Some lenders have reacted positively to this, and responded by extending their upper age limits for mortgage applicants.

Mortgages for older people

It is often smaller building societies that offer flexibility with regard to age, with high street banks remaining steadfast in their cautionary approach to mortgages in retirement. • The Family Building Society offers mortgage terms of up to 25 years for a 70 year old, and up to a five-year term for someone aged 90 years old. • Aldermore Bank is a specialist mortgage lender that allows repayments to continue up to the age of 99. • According to the Building Societies Association (BSA), some building societies operate with no upper age limit at all for mortgages. These include, but are not limited to, Cumberland, Bath, Chorley, Cambridge, Ipswich, and Buckinghamshire Building Societies.

Are there any alternatives to getting a mortgage? Equity release

Equity release is a financial product that releases money from a property under certain conditions. It may provide an alternative to a ‘standard’ mortgage or remortgage if you own your home outright, but you must seek advice from a qualified financial adviser before proceeding.

Downsizing

By reducing your spending, and paying down debt over six months or so prior to your mortgage application, you stand a better chance of success and may be able to access a wider choice of products that offer better terms.

Moving to a smaller home that you can buy outright, or in a cheaper area, may be an option, and would help you unlock a lump sum of cash.

• Use

Some mortgage lenders may be willing to consider a guarantor mortgage when you are older, whereby one of your children guarantees they will meet the repayments if you cannot afford them.

a mortgage broker

Obtaining the services of a mortgage broker who understands this particular market is a good idea. If too many mortgage applications are rejected, it can adversely affect your credit status, which then has a knock-on effect to any future applications you make. A knowledgeable mortgage broker

Guarantor mortgages

by Ann Haldon

BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL

Mortgage

Insurance

Investments & Pensions

Retirement

Take control of your financial journey Call us on 01952 455775 or visit our website www.cdfinancial.co.uk to book your initial meeting and get on track CD Financial home of professional, friendly face to face advice you can trust FINANCIAL LTD

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YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE Our fee for arranging a mortgage is £195.

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Change one letter at a time (but not the position of any letter) to make a new word - and move from the word at the top of the ladder to the word at the bottom, using the exact number of rungs provided.

Coaching & Mentoring

T R E E

Training & Development

Professional, friendly and down-to-earth team

Dawn Christie

MA Law, MA HRM, MA Coaching & Mentoring, MCIPD, ACILEx ©Puzzlepress.co.uk

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L E A F

dchristie@itsallaboutpeople.co www.itsallaboutpeople.co

PR OT E C T | G R OW | LE ARN 65

Get Fit

It’s been great to have a bit of a slow-down , but if, like me, you’ve done a bit too much slowing down, have been lazing about and perhaps eaten a little more than you should, then now’s the time to jump into action! There’s nothing like some time in the garden to clear your head, get the blood moving around your body and wear off a bit of the seasonal excesses. Fresh, cool air will wake you up and get you thinking positively, and your garden will appreciate what you do – plus you may also manage to escape from anyone who’s driving you round the bend. So jump to it and get out in the garden or down to the allotment. A rake over with a spring-tined rake will be just what the lawn needs to remove damp, clogged-up leaves that, if left in place, will cause patches of faded, miserable grass. It’ll be good for the upper arm muscles too! Make sure that you collect and bag up all the leaves, and allow them to rot down and make leaf mould, a brilliant and free soil conditioner. If the soil in cleared areas is sufficiently dry, take the opportunity to fork it over – this will help the frosts to break up heavier clay soils. It will also expose lurking grubs and other soil pests, giving the birds a useful snack and helping you to minimise pest problems next year. If the soil is not too wet, you can get some digging done too, but make sure you limber up well before you start. Keeping your back straight and your knees bent helps to reduce the risk of back injury and strains – but take it gently! Winter is a good time to carry out pruning of apple and pear trees. Make sure your secateurs are good and sharp and start by removing dead, dying and diseased branches, as well as those that are causing the crown of the tree to be too congested. While the garden is not being used that much, take the opportunity to re-set any loose brick or similar edging around paths, beds and steps, replacing any stones, pavers or bricks that have broken or cracked. Carefully clear debris, dead foliage and stems from flower beds. Some plants that were still living when you did an autumn tidy may now have died back, so a simple clear up will make the bed look so much better. Remember not to go too far, and do leave some dry foliage and stems over the bases or

AND GARDEN! crowns of plants, especially those of the more tender perennials such as penstemons. Smooth, hard surfaces in the garden such as patios, paths and steps can become really dangerous if algae and debris are allowed to build up on them over the winter. This layer may look insignificant but can become seriously slippery, especially when wet. A stiff brush or yard broom and plenty of elbow grease is the best solution I know. The combination of wet weather and extreme winds can cause a lot of shrubs and trees to become loosened in the soil. Use the heel of your foot to re-firm the soil around the root area, checking that the plant is still in the soil at the right level, adjusting if necessary. You’re bound to feel better after all that air and exercise in your plot, but do take time to wrap up warm again and reward yourself with a nice cuppa while you sit and admire your handiwork – before heading inside for a nice hot bath! Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com and you’ll find some great gardening items and perfect Christmas gifts for gardeners: a ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ gift card (great vegetable plants and weekly advice from Pippa), stylish cloches, the fantastic SpeedHoe, raised bed kits, gardening tools, Grower Frames, signed books and more! Or why not book Pippa for a gardening talk at your gardening club?

by Pippa Greenwood

LIMBER UP! After a bit too much time inside, and especially when the weather is cold, it’s easy to do yourself a bit of damage when you suddenly spring into action. Make sure you: • Wear plenty of clothing when you go outside – have lots of layers and remove them gradually as you warm up. • Do a few gentle limbering-up exercises before you start work to slowly loosen up your arms, legs and especially your back. • Don’t do any single task for too long – instead rotate the jobs, perhaps spending ten minutes on one thing, ten minutes on another, then ten on a third, and then go back to the first. This way you won’t put any one area of your body under too much strain. • Give yourself regular, short breaks and don’t forget to drink enough, especially once you start warming up! • Don’t forget to bend your knees when lifting and if in doubt call on a friend, relative or neighbour to give you a hand. You can always return the favour another time.

GARDENS & OUTDOORS

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Beautiful Bulbs Why not make your house all the more special this winter with some colourful bowls of bulbs, perhaps with some gorgeous perfume too? You can buy readyplanted bowls of bulbs later in the year, but act now for a stunning display at a fraction of the price. The best bulbs are those described as ‘prepared’, which means they will flower well, reliably and uniformly indoors. Although often pricier they are still great value, as results with standard bulbs may be unpredictable. I like to use prepared hyacinths, but I have bowls of non-prepared bulbs too.

Visit your local garden centre now and you should see a good array of bulbs for sale, plus all the other things you need. Special bulb bowls are a good buy, and are available in many colours. They’re like huge soup bowls, but in plastic or china, and have no drainage holes. You can use normal flower pots, but put a fully waterproof container or saucer beneath each pot to protect your furniture. Bulb fibre or special compost formulated for indoor bulb planting performs better in containers without drainage, but is more expensive, and you can use standard multi-purpose compost if you wish. Hyacinths for forcing are available in many shades, but use a single colour in any one container as there is often some variation in flowering times between the colours, and ideally you want all the flowers out simultaneously. Specially prepared crocus, paperwhite narcissus and some other daffodil types are also available. You can create a low-cost bowl with a large bag of inexpensive dwarf narcissus, such as ‘Tete-a-Tete’. Crocuses also work well.

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Fill your bowl about one third full of compost for larger bulbs to one half full for smaller bulbs. Firm the compost gently and position the bulbs pointed end uppermost. They can be quite closely packed, but not so they touch each other or the sides of the bowl. Nestle the bulbs gently into the compost and then top up with compost so that just the noses are poking out. Water the compost lightly until moist but not waterlogged. Cover the bowls loosely with a black bin liner and put them in a cool, dark place so that the bulbs can form good root systems. Check the bowls every week or so and apply a little more water if necessary. Bring the bowls out into the daylight once the shoots are about 2-3cm tall, which usually takes 3-5 weeks. Put them in a cool spot with plenty of natural daylight, where the shoots will continue to grow and develop a healthy green colour; they will now need a little more water. Put your bulb bowl in a warmer room once the flower buds start to colour up. For a really smart look, cover the compost with some moss or tie a seasonal ribbon around the bowl. Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com and you’ll find some great gardening items: stylish cloches, tunnels, the fantastic SpeedHoe, plant supports, raised bed kits, Easy-Tunnels, gardening tools, Grower Frames, signed books and more! Or why not book Pippa for a gardening talk at your gardening club?

by Pippa Greenwood

THE PERFECT FINISH

Driveway & Landscaping

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FREE QUOTES - No payment until 7 days after completion Contact Roy T: 01952 407838 M: 07976 458123 E: centralpaving@hotmail.co.uk • www.centralpavingtelford.co.uk 68

GARDENS & OUTDOORS

CLOSED DURING JANUARY Re-opening 1st Februray 2019

Fresh Holly Wreaths & Crosses made on-site daily

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Latch Pack

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Home Products

CLEAR UP YOUR KITCHEN CLUTTER

A well-designed kitchen has a place for everything, from cutlery to coffee pods. SAVVY IDEAS FOR KITCHEN STORAGE • Rails and wall grids are incredibly useful, and are available in a range of styles. Look for accessories such as spice racks, knife racks and hanging containers. •Internal organisers help prevent kitchen cabinets and drawers from becoming an overflowing mess. Take some time to research the types of organiser that will be most suited to whatever you are storing, from a simple cutlery tray or knife rack to pan lid holders, spice jar inserts or dividers. • Sometimes it helps to add extra shelves inside large cabinets, where space can easily be wasted. If that’s not possible, buy a free-standing rack to place inside instead. • It makes sense to store cooking utensils near the hob, whether in drawers, hanging from a rail, or just popped into a jar.

Vardagen glass jars with lids, from £1.50 each, IKEA. LSA International utility container with ash lid, £35, Amara.

• Transparent jars are useful for storing dry food such as rice, pulses and pasta. They can create an attractive display and you will easily be able to tell when you are running low.

Large storage drawers with ash heartwood internal organisers. Kitchens cost from £8,000, Rational.

Dutchbone Marley wall storage unit, £89, Cuckooland. LSA Utility utensil pot with leather handle, £32, Black By Design.

Brompton bread bin, £35, Garden Trading. Kitchen Craft Industrial Kitchen two-tier wire storage baskets, £22.99, Amazon.

Canister set, £30, Garden Trading.

Ferm Living set of three marble tin storage boxes, £30, Hurn & Hurn.

by Kathrine Sorrell

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

A LUXURY KITCHEN OR BATHROOM

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Whether its a new kitchen or bathroom you are looking for we offer a complete package for our customers including any building work, plasterers, tilers, electricians and plumbers Local Company with Over 21 Years Experience

Call Sal T: 01952 610999 M: 07976 467 830 www.kitchensbyrandr.co.uk

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R&R Kitchens & Bathrooms

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The Door Store @ Classic Fasteners (Est. 1991) Units 6&7, Redland Industrial Estate, Off Station Hill, Oakengates, Telford TF2 9JX 71

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Visit our showroom at Newport huwsgray.co.uk 73

Black Friday & Cyber Monday

ARE THE DEALS REALLY REAL?

One weekend in November is one of the most significant dates in the retail calendar. It’s Black Friday, an American import that’s become a big deal. On Black Friday, retailers – especially internet ones – promise incredible deals to save you a fortune.

Do the deals live up to the hype? That really depends on what you want to buy. Black Friday used to be a single day, and this year it’s Friday the 23rd of November. But it became too big for one day, and soon spread to include the following Monday, dubbed Cyber Monday. It’s since outgrown that too, so for example, in 2017 Amazon ran a series of sales over what it called Black Friday Deals Week. For many retailers, most of November now means some kind of discounting. Some of the deals are genuine and many aren’t. If you use a site such as PriceSpy.co.uk or CamelCamelCamel.com to research the price of things, you’ll often find that a Black Friday deal only appears to be good value because the retailers put the price up in the weeks before. Others quote manufacturers’ recommended retail prices that nobody has ever actually paid: a saving of 50% off the RRP is only a saving if the product was actually on sale for the higher price for a long time. In many cases it wasn’t.

However, there are good deals to be had across Super Mega Black Friday Fortnight Of Sales, or whatever your favourite retailer calls it this year. They include: • Video game console bundles. There’s a lot of profit in bundles that combine a console with some games, and as a result they’re often discounted heavily during Black Friday sales. Bundles for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 should attract big discounts this year. Expect discounts on memberships for gaming services such as PlayStation Plus too. • Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cookers. For some reason Amazon cuts their price every Black Friday. If you haven’t joined the Instant Pot cult, Black Friday’s a good time to start. • Amazon devices. Amazon slashes the price of its Kindles, Kindle Fire tablets, Fire TV sticks and Echo smart home devices every time it has a sale and Black Friday will be no different. • Older stock. As ever, sales are a great way for retailers to shift old stock to make room for new lines. The longer something’s been around the more likely it will be discounted. • Big-screen TVs. These plummet in price very quickly and retailers use big discounts on them to attract customers. The trick to bagging bargains on Black Friday is to know what you want but not to be too picky. For example, if you want a Sony 65-inch TV you can probably get a deal, but if you only want a very specific model there’s every chance you’ll be out of luck. Research the market so you know what things are actually worth and stick to a budget. It’s not a bargain if you don’t need or want it. Last but not least, use the price checking services on the day to make sure you really are getting the best price.

1. PlayStation VR virtual reality headset 2. Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker 3. Samsung 4K HDR TV

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

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

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Access Your Loft

THE EASY WAY

With Christmas approaching, more people need to safely access their loft to get their decorations down. Why struggle this year, when it could be so much easier with a Stira loft ladder fitted by Jakes ‘n’ Ladders? Jakes ‘n’ Ladders provide and install fully finished, wooden loft ladders. In addition to this, we offer a loft boarding service. We solely fit Stira loft ladders, all of which are BSI approved and come with a 10 year parts and 1 year labour guarantee. We are also the main distributer for Stira in the UK. We pride ourselves on providing an honest and high quality service, as all areas of the installation are overseen by our fitter, who has over 15 years of experience within the trade. We are happy to provide a free, no obligation quotation which includes a home-visit to survey the job. You are now able to find us on Facebook, by searching www. facebook.com/jakesnladders. Alternatively, you can find out more about the product on our manufacturer’s website, www.stira.com. Don’t delay, give us a ring, just in time for those sleigh bells to ring. You can contact us on 01952 282152 or 07817 431505.

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Great Beds

FOR GUESTS

Not enough bedrooms? A sofa bed – or other type of informal guest bed – is your answer. Make sure you invest in one that combines both comfort and style.

Sofa beds come in all shapes and sizes, including this sleek leather version with deep seating, wooden slats and a five-inch deep, fully sprung mattress. Sloane three-seater sofa bed in Old English Hazel, £1,861.50, Darlings of Chelsea.

Add cushions to turn this day bed into a sofa, pop on some bedding and it’s a single sleep space, or pull out the base and it transforms into a double bed. Hemnes day bed frame with three drawers, £239, Ikea.

A tempting spot for an afternoon nap, this refined and elegant daybed offers a touch of modern minimalism. Mabel daybed, from £625, sofa.com.

Get some bling on with this affordable, modern sofa bed with a sprung foam seat and back upholstered in hard-wearing PU leather. Vinci sofa bed in gold, £259, made.com.

This sturdy single guest bed can easily be folded away into a good-looking, upholstered box. Alison bed in a box, £560, Living It Up.

With an armless frame, this streamlined, one-seater sofa bed makes the most of small spaces – and modules could always be added at a later date to create a larger seating area. The Minety one-seater sofa bed in Shadow, £930, Willow & Hall.

This inexpensive and stylish sofa bed is ideal for occasional guests. The back folds down, creating a fourfoot-wide sleeping platform. Lunar sofa bed, £399, Carpetright. With deep-button detailing and a comfortably deep seat, this sofa bed would be a handsome addition to a sitting room as well as a great bed for last-minute guests. Truffle sofa bed, from £1,845, Loaf.

The legs slide out, the cushion unfolds and voila! Kipster daybed, £1,195, Loaf.

by Katherine Sorrell

CHOOSE THE RIGHT OCCASIONAL BED • Whether you are choosing a sofa, a day bed or a bedin-a-box, your first consideration is that it should be well made, comfortable to sit on (seats are often firmer than on conventional sofas), and suits the size, shape and style of your room when closed. • Look for a mechanism that is easy to open and don’t squeak, stick or feel overly loose. A lock-down bar is an asset, ensuring that the bed is properly closed. The inner workings should be smooth, with no parts sticking out that might catch on your sheets. • For a sofa bed to be really comfortable to sleep on, wooden slats with webbing offer the best support, while a proper sprung mattress is much better than a thin foam one, though similarly more expensive. Always test before you buy! • Size matters. A two-seater sofa will open out into a great bed for one person, but a couple will struggle for space unless you invest in a three-seater. That said, a large sofa does not inevitably transform into a large sleeping space, so always check dimensions. • If storage is an issue, look for a style that contains space for tucking away bedding.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

Don't move... improve!

Create that extra living space that you and your family deserve with one of our fabulous orangeries designed to suit you and your growing family's needs

THE COMPLETE HOME IMPROVEMENT COMPANY At R&R Services we specialise in creating that perfect living space within your existing home. Your garage could be converted in as little as 2 weeks into that extra room that you have always promised yourself.

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Admaston Firecraft Centre FIREPLACES WITH A SPARK

Need a new fire before the winter?

Take a look at the Flamerite Gotham range of Wall Mounted Fires. • Cinderwood log effect with radiant burn • Concealed 750W/1500W fan heater • OmniGlide 2 position front glass • Remote control with LED flame effect • Frameless • Inset wall mounted

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www.admastonfirecraftcentre.co.uk 77

Hallway Storage Coats, shoes, umbrellas and scarves – with so much to store in what is often a small space, it’s important to choose products that work hard as well as provide a good-looking welcome to your home. Simplicity is the key to this coat hook made from distressed wrought iron hooks and a wedge of reclaimed elm. Withnail coat hook, £65, Loaf.

Keep a hallway or utility room clutter-free with a unit that combines two shelves as well as drawers and a stylish zinc top. Aldsworth boot room unit, £345, Garden Trading.

A pivoting mirror is a great addition to a useful wall rack with hooks. Utilita mirrored silver wall rack with hooks, £225, Artisanti.

Robust and sturdy, this row of five aluminium hooks is ideal for heavy items and has an elegant, vintage style. Coat hooks, £24.95, live laugh love.

This minimal, hard-wearing design adds a bold accent of fashionable yellow. Essentials Alana shoe rack, £69, Made.com.

Add a touch of Scandi style with this compact pine and MDF organiser. VonHaus retro coat & umbrella stand, £19.99, Domu.

MAKE AN ENTRANCE

Inspired by neon lights, this powder-coated steel rack is a unique way to hang your coats, each letter acting as an individual hook. Block Design Hello coat rack, £38, Black By Design. Add character and heaps of storage with an industrialstyle bench stand, reminiscent of a school corridor. Harlem vintage industrial hall bench, £545, Alexander & Pearl.

• When storage space is at a premium – as it so often is in a hall – use the full height of your walls as much as possible. Tall, shallow units are very useful, while little-used items can be stored on a shelf above hooks and racks. • Try to unify design so that your hallway blends seamlessly with the rooms it adjoins. A coat cupboard could have the same style doors as kitchen units, for example, or hooks could complement your door handles. A colour theme will tie the look together, too. • Cupboards or consoles with doors and drawers help conceal mess, while baskets are a great way to store bits and bobs. Storage benches are also great choices, providing somewhere to sit while putting on footwear and the chance to personalise the space with pretty cushions or upholstery. • Make it easy for children to keep their stuff tidy by hanging their coat hooks at a lower level and labelling shelves, baskets or boxes so they can kick off their shoes and (hopefully) pop them away instantly.

Made from steel, this handsome coat stand is available in black or white. Yamazaki black steel coat stand, £105, Black By Design.

by Katherine Sorrell

HOME SERVICES 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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Cartwrights Waste Disposal Services Ltd Unit 21, Halesfield 21, Halesfield, Telford, TF7 4NX • enquiries@cartskips.co.uk

13:02

Christmas Technology It used to be so simple. The only technology you needed to think about at Christmas was a bunch of AA batteries, and setting the video for Die Hard. Now, though, things are a bit more complicated. Even the humblest toys are packing processors, using obscure batteries or demanding an overnight charge before you can use them.

SURVIVAL GUIDE How to have ho ho ho, not oh no no

Investing in stacks of AA batteries is still a good idea – go for rechargeable ones; they’ll cost more to begin with but they’ll save you a fortune in the long term and they’re better for the environment too – but we’d also recommend having some smaller AAAs and a square 9V battery to hand too. That latter one’s for the smoke detector that’ll start beeping incessantly on Christmas Eve just after all the shops have shut. It’s worth checking individual gifts before you wrap them to see if they need particular batteries: while AA and AAA are the most common, some require LR44s or CR2032s – easy enough to get from the nearest shop, but unlikely to be sitting in your second drawer. If they’re gifts, providing the right batteries too will make you very popular. It’s wise to have a small toolkit handy, or at least a small crosshead screwdriver. Children’s toys, especially big plastic ones, are often screwed to the packaging. Even worse, some use cable ties so you’ll need scissors handy too. Don’t worry if devices such as Pay As You Go phones or handheld devices don’t come with chargers: most such devices use the same micro-USB chargers as Android tablets, Kindle e-book readers and other common bits of kit, so there’s no need to get more. If Santa’s bringing pre-owned Apple devices you might need to provide a lightning cable to charge them: not all preowned devices come with the original cables. One of the biggest technology pains at Christmas is the big download: from new tablets to games consoles, it seems that everything requires a software update before you can do anything. That’s a particular pain with Xboxes and PlayStations: games often won’t let you play online without the most recent version of the system software. Naturally, the worst possible time to download that is on Christmas morning when everybody in your street is doing the same – if you can, it’s a great idea to install the updates in advance so everything’s ready to go on Christmas Day. It’s also a good idea to prepare for the worst: make sure you have a note of and receipts for any expensive tech items that will be in your home over the Christmas period (some insurance policies automatically increase contents cover over Christmas, but not all do), and if younger children are being given anything droppable it’s a very good idea to invest in a protective case. That’s a lesson we’ve learnt the hard way – even a cheap case can protect an expensive iPad. If you thought the speed of light was fast, you haven’t seen how quickly a four-year-old can accidentally crack an iPad or smartphone screen.

Images above top to bottom: Amazon Fire Kids Edition tablet Energizer charger and AA batteries Sony PlayStation 4 special edition games console Boompods charging cables

HOME SERVICES

WE CAN INSPECT. If we find your gutters are clear, we will not charge you for unnecessary work.

GUTTER CLEANING SPECIALISTS

WE CAN CLEAR. We use a powerful vacuum to reach up and clear debris & even grass from your gutters. WE CAN CLEAN. From the ground we clean your guttering & fascia boards to remove unsightly staining.

Hello, I’m Karl I own & operate GutterPRO across Telford, Newport, Shrewsbury, Shifnal and the surrounding areas. Because it’s my business, you’ll get a personal service and be certain we’ll clear up thoroughly after the job.

How much is it?

We can quote instantly. No visit required. We just need to know how many bedrooms you have & your postcode. Call

01952 457 395

mobile: 07983 724 047 Fully Insured Uniformed Staff Before & After Photos Cards Accepted

Pets:

WHAT FOODS SHOULD YOU AVOID FEEDING YOUR DOG THIS CHRISTMAS?

As tempting as it is to share your favourite festive treats with your dog, there are certain foods they shouldn’t eat – and some are potentially deadly. So which ones should you avoid giving to your dog this Christmas? Turkey Turkey is a rich meat that can disturb a dog’s digestive system, potentially to the point of serious illness. Some dogs may be fine with a tiny amount of white boneless turkey meat, but the skin is very fatty and the bones are a choking hazard.

Chocolate Chocolate is one Christmas treat that needs to be avoided at all costs, unless you buy doggy chocs for your pet. Chocolate contains a compound that’s poisonous to dogs – in fact, chocolate poisoning is so serious that if they eat too much they’ll need to have their stomach pumped.

Mince pies, Christmas pudding, and Christmas cake Raisins are severely toxic to dogs, with grape and raisin poisoning being a common problem often requiring veterinary intervention to prevent further serious health issues – one of these being kidney failure.

Nuts Nuts can cause severe gastro-intestinal problems for your dog, with obstruction of the bowel being a particular issue. Some varieties of nut, including pecans and walnuts, can bring on seizures and should be avoided at all costs. Clearly there’s a case for watching your dog very carefully over Christmas. It’s all too easy to leave chocolate or nuts lying around, and they’re only too quick to take advantage of the fact. www.petmd.com/dog/emergency/digestive/e_dg_grape_raisin_ toxicity www.wagthedoguk.com/2014/08/22/bad-nuts-for-dogs/ By Ann Haldon

PLUMBER A Watson (ACIPHE) Registered Plumber

Home Improvements & Maintenance

Full Installation of Kitchens & Bathrooms - Including all Plumbing, Tiling (floor & wall), Electrics & Gas as required For a no obligation quotation

Andy on

01952 529765

68 Barn Road, Shifnal Email: mwats@blueyonder.co.uk

WORDWHEEL

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.

TARGET Excellent: 55 or more words Good: 46 words Fair: 40 words

M T

N I

T I

E P

HOME SERVICES

Electrical Contractors

DEL CORLEY ELECTRICAL SERVICES

A friendly family business offering a reliable and competitive service by fully insured NICEIC Registered Electricians

All Electrical Work Undertaken

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Clean up with

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Books

LITERARY GIFT GUIDE Stuck for the perfect present? Our literary gift guide might help…

Educated – Tara Westover

Tara Westover was born to strict Mormon parents who didn’t agree with school, modern medicine or women’s equality. Tara spent her childhood attempting to become the dutiful daughter her parents demanded, while keeping on the right side of her violent, manipulative older brother. Education was to prove a way out, but eventually Tara had to choose between becoming the Tara she wanted to be, and the one her parents would accept. A stunning memoir that will stay with the reader long after Christmas is over.

Girl On Fire – Tony Parsons

A terrorist attack on a shopping centre sees DC Max Wolfe on the hunt for the culprits before they can strike again. He also has battles closer to home to deal with in the form of his ex-wife, who wants custody of their daughter. A gripping story with plenty of twists to keep you guessing.

The Seeds of America Trilogy (Chains, Forge and Ashes) – Laurie Halse Anderson

It’s 1776 and the American Revolutionary War is raging. Isabel is offered the chance of freedom from slavery in exchange for spying on her owners. It’s an opportunity she can’t pass up, however dangerous. While Chains, Forge and Ashes are marketed as children’s books, this well-researched trilogy will appeal to teens and adults alike.

Do Fly - Find your way. Make a living. Be your best self – Gavin Strange Know someone who’s stuck on the wrong career path? Treat them to Do Fly. As the intro says, the “ultimate goal is to blend what you enjoy doing and what you get paid to do, so they’re one and the same.” Far from being a stuffy ‘how-to’ business book, Do Fly is a short, enjoyable read that feels like a conversation with a friend who’s achieved the life you want to lead.

The Distant Hours – Kate Morton

A long-lost letter sets Edie on a quest to uncover more about her mother Meredith’s experiences as an evacuee. Meredith was taken in by the three Blythe sisters, including the enigmatic Juniper. As Edie soon discovers, her mother isn’t the only one who’s been keeping secrets. An enjoyable, atmospheric novel that treads the line between family saga, gothic mystery and historical fiction.

Alice Dent and the Incredible Germs – Gwen Lowe

In Alice’s world, cleanliness is crucial, illness is not tolerated and laughter is strictly forbidden. So when Alice gets a cold and a case of the giggles, she’s in big trouble. She manages to escape the clutches of the Best Minister for Everything Nicely Perfect, but for how long? Alice Dent and the Incredible Germs is very funny and perfect for sharing at bedtime.

HOME SERVICES

Simons Decor

Painting & Decorating

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Local, Reliable & Friendly Service Call Simon on: T: 01952 413337 M: 07969 690149

Email: wedunnedec@btinternet.com

20 Pool Road, Trench, Telford TF2 6RL

4 Kingston Road, Trench, Telford TF2 7HT

FREE ESTIMATES • Over 30 Years Experience

Neil D. Rogers Painting & Decorating

Interior & Exterior 40 Years Experience City & Guilds Qualified

SHAW CLEAN

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Contact Neil on: 07800 66 55 96 E:neilrogers711@yahoo.com 34 Plant Close, Dawley Bank Telford TF4 2GT

FREE advice, quotes and fully insured. Tim Shaw recommended & used by leading home furnishing retailers since 1997.

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07976 559 072 0800 612 8817

Canada

ADVENTURE ON ATHABASCA

Spreading out from the ‘Columbia’, the largest icefield in the Rockies, Athabasca is among the world’s most accessible glaciers, a popular day trip from Lake Louise, Jasper or even Banff, though this involves a longer drive. Winding along the Continental Divide, past soaring peaks, forests, waterfalls and lakes, the Icefields Parkway leads almost to the very edge, near the meeting point of the Jasper and Banff National Parks. Up there the Discovery Centre is the first point of call with exhibits on the history and movements of the ice and the area’s natural world. It is the perfect introduction before tackling the day’s adventure but one should be prepared for changing weather and high altitude, with the glacier’s average height around 3,000 metres. There are walking trails for the brave and well-organised treats in season, led by knowledgeable and highly entertaining guides. First on anyone’s list is the award-winning skywalk, just a five minute bus transfer from the centre. Built into the rock, carefully integrated into the environment with near-zero footprint, it begins along a vertiginous cliff’s edge then steps out on a semi-circular look out with a glass floor, perched 280 metres above the valley. There you are, suspended between heaven and earth, the Sunwapta river meandering far below, the red

craggy rocks almost within arm’s reach, the soaring birds, mighty glaciers and snow-covered peaks rising all around. Even more exciting is the iconic ride on one of the giant Ice Explorers. The first few minutes include a steep scary descent on a stone track until you reach the edge of the Athabasca, a tongue of ice, six km long and thicker in places than the Eiffel Tower. Glacial vistas, snowy mountains etched into the sky, it’s like the end of the world, even though the Explorer can only venture so far on the crunchy surface. The ice is pure blue in places as this is the only colour it cannot absorb. Then the ‘giant’ stops, giving you ten minutes or so to walk around the safe icy section. No one ventures beyond the danger cones for untouched snow and ice are amazingly thick, dotted with hidden crevasses and water holes where lives have been lost. Sometimes a deep rumble echoes in the thin mountain air and you might spot an avalanche tumbling down the slope just ahead of you. Don’t expect to be alone on the glacier, it is highly popular, but whatever the crowds, you can switch off and commune with the natural world, so mighty and inspiring. Visitors leaving before dusk are likely to see bears and elks close to the road, and those on the way to Jasper might enjoy the last rays of the sun on the Athabasca waterfall. Meanwhile, high above on the edge of the glacier, the lucky ones settle down in the lodge for a starlit night. Strange noises in the dark may remind them that the Athabasca is always on the move, receding by around five metres a year.

by Solange Hando

HOME SERVICES

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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 Childrens Cooking Classes - Every Tuesday (term time) 4.15-5.30pm (Ages 2-12), Email: natalie@cookstars.co.uk 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. Wrekin & Telford Singers meet every Fri 7:30pm at Admaston House. We are a mixed voice choir - no audition just come along and enjoy singing with a friendly group of people. Contact Judi 01952 411801 or visit our Facebook @wrekin&telford singers or www.wtsingers.org.uk

Church Aston

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 Linda Browning 01952 876306 for further details. 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

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 Weds @ 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. 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 Tue Afternoon: Afternoon Teas, 2pm-5pm - more info Janis 01952 820572 / 07739 634703. Every 3rd Wed of Month - Edgmond W.I 7.30-10pm. Visitors welcome: £3.50, incl. refreshments. Contact Dianne: 01952 825564. 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)

Jackfield

17th Nov (Sat) - Tina Lou’s Vintage Fair - at Jackfield Village Hall, 10am-3pm. Free admission. Vintage stalls & music, home-made cakes & refreshments and reenactors.

Ketley

Childrens Cooking Classes - Every Saturday (term time) 9.30-11.00am at Ketley Community Centre (Ages 2-12), Email: natalie@cookstars.co.uk 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 & District WI meet on the 1st Tue of every month at 7.30pm StJohn’s Church Hall at Lawley. For more info. call Denise Edwards 01952 405756.

Leegomery

Childrens Cooking Classes - Every Thursday (term time) 4.30-5.45pm at Leegomery Community Centre (Ages 2-12), Email: natalie@cookstars.co.uk

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 Tamara on 01952 680030. 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). Tue: Tiny Tots (10am, 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: Forget Me Not Films 9.30am Monthly, Afternoon Fellowship 2.30-4pm monthly & Beacon 7.45pm Fri: Join us 4 a Cuppa! 11am Monthly plus litter pick, Lunch Club Over 50’s (1st Fri of mth) Sub:Zero – Youth Cafe, yrs7+ 4-6pm Sat: 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

The Probus Club of Newport meet on the first Monday of each month. If you are a retired gentleman then check us out. Very friendly bunch. Ring 01952 813433 for more details. U3A Newport - meet the 3rd Tue of each month at The Royal British Legion Club, Audley Road, Newport at 2pm. £1 entry to include refreshments, Members and visitors are most welcome to come along. Please visit our website to find out more. Beaumaris Singers - New members welcome. We are a chamber choir of around 20 voices. We meet every Tuesday at 7.15pm during term time at Cosy Hall, Newport. For more information call David 07710 005050 or visit our website www.beaumarissingers.org Newport Rotary Lite - We’re an active, informal and mixed club focused on doing things to help the community in Newport and beyond. Message us through Facebook - Newport Shrops Rotary Lite. Childrens Cooking Classes - Every Monday (term time) 4.15-5.30pm at Newport Cricket Club (Ages 2-12), Email: natalie@ cookstars.co.uk Childrens Cooking Classes - Every Monday (term time) 6.30-8.15pm at Burton Borough Home Ec Room (Ages 10-17), Email: natalie@cookstars.co.uk 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 Unit are collecting and recycling used printer ink cartridges to raise funds to subsidise Music Therapy for children with learning difficulties. Please drop off at Boots or Ace Computers, High St, 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 Friends Singles Club, 45+, established in Shropshire, now meeting in Newport. Full details from 07955 851256 or email: singlesfriends18@gmail.com 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 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.

Oakengates

FREE Art and Craft Sessions - at The Wakes, Oakengates - every Thursday 102pm no need to book just turn up, everyone welcome. Table top sale - first Saturday of each month, 10am -12pm at the Holy Trinity Church in Wrockwardine wood and Oakengates. Contact Tanya May 07990

COMMUNITY & WHATS ON

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

27th Nov (Tue) - Wrekin U3A. 2pm, Shifnal Village Hall. "The Kilted Tommy in Kitchener's army" a monologue by Simon Waterfield. Visitors welcome £1.50. 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 01952 461018 during Library open hours.. 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 the end of Nov. on the 1st and 3rd Sats and the 2nd and 4th Thurs 9.30am - noon. Enthusiastic helpers most welcome. Contact 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

2nd Mar 2019 - Charity Ball. at the Park Inn Telford to raise funds for the National Autistic Society. Drink on arrival, 3 Course set menu meal, 2 Live acts (1 appeared on Britain’s Got Talent), a Prize raffle, a Silent Auction and a disco to end the night with. To book tickets (£25), contact Brad or Charmayne Wynn on 07858 514110/07849 778840 . Craft Fair at Meeting Point House, Southwater - every 2nd Sat of the month (Oct to Dec) - lots of stalls and refreshments - free entry. To hire a table call 01952 292268

Afternoon Tea at Meeting Point House, Southwater - available Mon to Sat 12-3pm in the vintage inspired tea room. £8 for two, includes a pot of tea. The room is also great for birthdays and celebrations as well as local community groups. Call 01952 292268, visit www.meetingpointhouse.co.uk or email reception@meetingpointhouse.co.uk 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.

Room, Holyhead Rd, Wellington. For more info call 01952 251 364. Eyton & Wellington WI - Meet every 2nd Wed of the month at 7:30pm in the Belmont Hall, Wellington for speakers, friendship and tea & biscuits. Visitors welcome. Call Judi on 01952 411801 for more details. Grace Church Wellington - meets Sundays at 11am in the Wellington Library. An independent local fellowship. Visit www. gcwellington.com.

Trench

18th Nov (Sun) - Market Drayton Winter Fair. 10am-4pm, at Festival Drayton Centre, Frogmore Road, Market Drayton TF9 3AX. With array of local creatives, artisans and producers - peruse the many stalls and find the perfect Christmas gift. Free entry. For more info visit: www.chantillygrey.com Garden Club - Kynnersley Village Hall, Telford, TF6 6DX. Meet monthly, 2nd Friday of each month at 7pm, we welcome members from all around the Telford area Contact Hannah talksherlock@gmail.com 01743 341949. The Wolverhampton 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 entertainment and we also organise monthly lunches at local pubs, day trips and holidays. For more information phone Jim 01902 846696. 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.

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

Telford Stamp and Card Club Meetings - Stamp Club meetings are on the 2nd Monday of each month, 7.30pm to 9.30pm, in the Belmont Hall, Wellington. For more info call Richard Camp on 01952-405458. SPACES available at Wellington Brownies - for girls aged 7-10, Mon 6:30-7:45pm, Wellington Methodist Church - contact Joanne Martin on 01952 254555 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. Art for Enjoyment - at Wellington Methodist Church - Tue mornings or afternoons, and now on Thu afternoons as well, 1.30 - 3.30pm. Call Liz Doody, the course tutor for more info. 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. We meet at Belmont Hall in Wellington - see website for more details: www.stagstelford. co.uk or call 01952 417747 . 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

Other Areas

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)

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: 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

Have fun – keep fit. Short Tennis Prime Time Club (over 55’s). Tue and Fri 5-6pm at Phoenix Sport & Leisure Centre, Dawley. First taster is free, membership £5 and each sesssion is £2. Please contact Peter on 01952 274657 Margaret on 019852 274535 or Keith on 506616. 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 7.3010.30pm. Call Donna on 01952 567920 Dawley Badminton Club meets on Tues 7:30-9:30pm at Holy Trinity Academy, Teece Dr, Priorslee, Telford TF2 9SF. 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 Graeme Hughes on 07912 466207. 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 pay-asyou-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 & Yogalates Classes - in the new Studio at Edgmond Village Hall, Shrewsbury Road, Edgmond, Newport, TF10 8HU. Mon: Pilates at 6pm; Wed: Yogalates at 5.30pm and Yoga at 6.30pm. Cost: £6 PAYG or £30 (£5) in advance for 6 classes. Call/text Denise on 07875 661045 or email denisepheasant@hotmail.com to book.

Hadley

Gentle Exercise (for older people) - at the Methodist Church (Hadley) 2-3pm Mondays. £2.50 per session, all abilities welcome. Exercise Class at Hadley Community Centre (Hadley) Tue 1:00-1:45pm (for older people, but a little more physical). £2.50 per session, all abilities welcome. Slimming World - at HLC, Hadley - 5.30pm & 7.30pm Contact Sharon on 07775 512563

Daisy Birthing classes: Active Antenatal classes on Sat 1011:30am at HLC. Suitable for all pregnant mums. 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

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 - meet Mondays during term time, 6.30-7.30pm for Juniors, 7.30-9.30pm for Adults, in Jubilee/Ford Hall at Lilleshall National Sports Centre. Adults £5, Juniors £3 per week. Coaching available for all abilities. Call Louise 813924 or Don 416048.

Jackfield

Madeley

‘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 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 and Legs, Bums & Tums - Tuesdays Lawley Primary School Arleston Lane TF4 2PR. All fitness levels welcome age 16+. Contact Kim - 07724 087516. Or find us on Facebook 'Clubbercise Telford with Kim' 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: 7.30-8.30pm & 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: 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

Friendly flat green bowling, based at The National Sports Centre. Come along to club afternoon sessions on Thursdays 2:30pm to 4:30 during the summer and try your hand at a new sport. Further information on the club website www.lilleshallbowls.org.uk or contact Rod on 01952 590963 or Liz on 01952 814671. Lilleshall Trampoline Club - Tuesdays at Lilleshall National Sports Centre: (8-14 year olds) excluding school holidays - Trampoline Foundation: 6 - 7:30pm & Trampoline Development: 7:30 - 9pm. £5 a session. Contact us on 01952 603003 Lilleshall Quick Sticks Hockey - Sundays 10-10:45am (7-9 year olds) at Lilleshall National Sports Centre. £30 for 7 weeks. Contact us on 01952 603003

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) 12.30-2:15pm (fortnightly), sessions £1.50 Slimming World - Mon (9.30, 5.30pm & 7.30pm) contact Celia Powell 07575 123666 Wed: Over 50’s Aerobics (10am) If you would like further info. on the above activities contact the church on 01952 670033

Newport

Groupfit, Women Only and Boxfit classes at The Body Barn in Newport, Shropshire's biggest outdoor fitness facility see website for full details at: www.thebodybarn.co.uk or call Danny on 07894 569571. 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 Yoga, Pilates, Zumba, Clubbercise, Box-Fit, Circuits, Kettlebells, Body Pump, Fit-Steps, Yummy-Mummy’s, Relaxation, Tone & Sculpt ALL available at Pulse Fitness The Ballroom High Street Newport. Pay As You Go Classes Available Plus Pre-Paid Class Cards. Call Nikki 07967 343728 or email nikkiwitty@ymail.com 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 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 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 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 for you. 1st Fri of month in Newport – Contact Romella 07894 812440

& Fitness Classes 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

Oakengates

Have fun – keep fit. Short Tennis Prime Time Club (over 55’s). Wed 7-8pm at Oakengates Leisure Centre. First taster is free, membership £5 and each sesssion is £2. Please contact Peter on 01952 274657 Margaret on 019852 274535 or Keith on 506616. 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. 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-as-you-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 and Legs, Bums & Tums - Wednesdays at St Georges Sports & Social Club TF2 9LU. All fitness levels welcome age 16+. Contact Kim - 07724 087516. Or find us on Facebook 'Clubbercise Telford with Kim' 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 Friday's 7.30pm to 8.30pm. Family-orientated, from beginner to black belt and beyond. Adults £3 Under 16s £2.50. 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

Clubbercise - Mondays at Grange Park Primary School Grange Avenue, Stirchley. All fitness levels welcome age 16+. Contact Kim - 07724 087516. Or find us on Facebook 'Clubbercise Telford with Kim'

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

Calm Minds Workshops - cultivate mindful presence and inner stillness. Weekly workshops incorporate mindful activities, meditation and relaxation, which will enable you to rejuvenate mind, body and spirit. Tue's 7 - 8pm at Wellington Methodist Church. Session price £7.50. Contact Lorraine: Lorraine@affinity-and-beyond.co.uk or 07898 823339 for more info or to reserve a place. 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 (47yrs), 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

Taoist Tai Chi Society of GB - All ages and abilities welcome. See taoist.org.uk for information and availability of classes or phone 01952 597685. 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)

MOVIES THE GRINCH

‘The Grinch’ lives alone in a cave, and he likes peace and quiet. When his neighbours’ Christmas celebrations threaten to disrupt his tranquillity, there’s only one option: to steal Christmas. They’re going to make this Christmas three times bigger than usual, so the Grinch’s only choice is to be even more mean to teach them a lesson. And so he disguises himself as Father Christmas to carry out his scheme… Release Date: 9th November 2018 Genre: Animated Cast Members: Benedict Cumberbatch

CREED II

‘Creed II’ continues the story of Adonis Creed, as the newly-crowned light heavyweight champion faces off against a new foe – Viktor Drago, the son of Rocky’s old nemesis Ivan. Trying to balance his life inside and outside of the boxing ring is proving a challenge for Donnie, but his biggest test is still to come. And with Rocky by his side, they’ll face this new adversary from both their pasts together. Release Date: 30th November 2018 Genre: Drama Cast Members: Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson

COMING SOON...

FANTASIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD

‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald’ sees the powerful dark wizard having escaped custody, and in the process of gathering his followers. Newt Scamander and Albus Dumbledore must stop him. Dumbledore can’t move against Grindelwald himself, and has sent Newt to Paris to help in his place. Newt has accepted this task unaware of the dangers that wait for him – but fortunately, he won’t be facing them alone. Release Date: 16th November 2018 Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy Cast Members: Eddie Redmayne, Ezra Miller, Johnny Depp

RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET: WREKC IT RALPH 2 ‘Ralph Breaks The Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2’ follows Ralph and Vanellope von Schweetz on their latest adventure after their arcade gets connected to the World Wide Web.

It’s like nothing they’ve ever seen before, and they’re off on an amazing journey of discovery. Travelling through this virtual metropolis on a quest to save Vanellope’s game, how can these two misfits hope to succeed in this huge, strange world? Date: 30th November 2018 Genre: Animated Cast Members: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman

Please note that release dates are subject to change and some previews may be shown earlier.

Notes from your local Ironbridge Gorge Councillor It’s an exciting time in the Ironbridge Gorge, as over 600 people attended the public consultation this month to contribute their ideas towards the future of the Ironbridge Power Station. This journey, which will set the vision for this iconic site has begun and it was fantastic to see so many people engaged in this process, as it is important that our communities shape the future of the former Power Station through meaningful consultation. Many residents are in support of the reintroduction of rail into the site, a mixed-use development that compliments the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site, enhances our natural green spaces and our sustainable transport links which we also put forward to Harworth as part of the technical workshops stakeholders undertook and will continue to contribute to.

STOP!

Advertising does NOT have to break the bank Prices starting from just £45 ~ advertise in your LOCAL magazine

It is now time for you to have your say and you can view all the proposals and submit your views via the website www. ironbridgeregeneration.co.uk. Harworth will then look to develop a more detailed masterplan to present in Spring 2019 and undertake further public consultation on a preferred option in Summer 2019. Telford Steam Railway is also thinking big with their ambitious project ‘Steaming to Ironbridge’, which would see steam trains returning to the Ironbridge Gorge. The railway wants to extend southwards from its recently opened Lawley Village station, and create an expansion of the TSR’s current operation into a major tourism attraction for the region and want to hear your view on their proposals at steamingtoironbridge.co.uk

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

So leave piggy alone! Contact: Fleur Abel T:01952 603457

E: fleur@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk www.inandaroundmagazine.co.uk No piggy banks were harmed in the production of this advertisement

PUZZLE - ANSWERS SUDUKO (EASY)

SUDUKO (HARD)

CODEWORD

CROSSWORD Across: 1 Cravat, 4 Borsch, 9 Turquoise, 10 Orb, 11 Siren, 12 Reagent, 13 Hop, 14 Syrup, 16 DDT, 17 Lugworm, 20 Aspic, 22 Yam, 23 Huguenots, 24 Neaten, 25 Curare. Down: 1 Cites, 2 Airdrop, 3 Alumnus, 5 Omega, 6 Scone, 7 Habitat, 8 Mirror image, 13 Halcyon, 15 Plateau, 16 Diploma, 18 Gamma, 19 Ochre, 21 Caste.

HIDATO

WORDWHEEL IMPATIENT

4 Letters DELI DIET DUEL DUET EDIT IDLE LIED LIEU LITE LUTE TIDE TIED TILE 5 Letters TILDE TILED 6 Letters DILUTE

KIDS PAGE You collect 10 mince pies going on the possible route to the finish.

QUIZ - One Word Christmas Lyrics

TRIAL

3 Letters DIE DUE LED LEI LET LID LIE LIT TIE

1. burning:”Here’s to them, underneath that burning sun” 2. drunk: “It was Christmas Eve babe, in the drunk tank 3. gay: “Make the Yuletide gay, from now on our troubles will be miles away” 4. snowy: “I saw Mommy tickle Santa Claus underneath his beard so snowy white” 5. frosticles: “Now the frosticles appear, and they’ve frozen up my beard” 6. sober: “Does he ride a red-nose reindeer? Does a ton-up on his sleigh? Do the fairies keep him sober for a day?” 7. numb: “Dreams of Santa, dreams of snow, fingers numb, faces aglow” 8. chimney: “Hurry down the chimney tonight” 9. naughty: “He’s making a list and checking it twice, gonna find out who’s naughty and nice 10. ” beautiful: “A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight, walking in a

winter wonderland”

WORD LADDER Here is one possible solution (others may exist)

TREE thee them teem team teak leak LEAF

COMMUNITY & WHATS ON

Second Chance Careers

CAN YOU MAKE IT AT 50+?

Turning your back on a career path you’ve worked hard to establish isn’t easy at any time of life, but switching jobs in your fifties and sixties can be particularly daunting. At a time when one in four people between age 50 and the state pension date is out of work, it’s encouraging to hear about two people who have successfully reinvented their careers, gaining a new lease of life in the process. Jo Good is best known for presenting a successful show on BBC Radio London, but she recently took the bold decision to step away from the microphone and try her luck as a YouTube vlogger.

Vlogging (short for ‘video-blogging’) is the practice of posting videos of yourself on the internet, with the intention of building up an audience. As you might imagine, the world of vlogging is fairly diverse – while some vloggers focus on beauty tutorials or video gaming tips, others simply use their channel as a platform to express their personal views. However, while the type of content may differ, one thing most of today’s vloggers have in common is their age. Search Google for a list of the world’s top twenty vloggers and a succession of fresh-faced Millennials will appear, headed up by ‘PewDiePie’ (aka Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg), a Swedish vlogger who currently boasts over 64 million subscribers. While exploring the work of these young YouTubers, Jo was struck by the lack of vlogs aimed at an older audience. Consequently last year she set up her own YouTube channel, ‘Jo Good – Middle Aged Minx’: a diary-style vlog that records everything in her life from red carpet celebrity events to visits with family and friends. “It’s the raw, unedited, rough round the edges way of recording my daily life that attracted me to vlogging,” Jo explains. “I’m really trying to prove that a sixty-three-year-old has a life worth watching. My channel is not about sitting in my bedroom putting on makeup ... I call it a rollercoaster of middle-aged antics.” Jo can also thank two rather unlikely co-stars for the success of her channel. Her bulldog Matilda regularly features in her videos, as does her 93-year-old mum, whose outspoken comments have proved popular with viewers. Although Jo’s subscribers can currently be counted in their thousands rather than millions, her strategy is clearly working. A growing list of followers – mainly aged between 50 and 70 – prove that there’s an appetite for vlogs designed to appeal to an older audience. However, while Jo has made a conscious decision to forge a new career path, 59-year-old Matthew Holderness was forced into a change of direction when ill health forced him to leave the teaching job he loved.

“My condition made it hard for me to find a conventional job, so I decided to focus on my transferable skills instead,” he says. “As an English teacher my work was mainly focused on creative writing, so I began to wonder how I might be able to use that commercially.” Matthew signed up to a freelancers’ website, offering his services as a copywriter, and quickly began to build up a list of clients. Now, after several years of freelancing, he has been taken on by a digital marketing agency as a fulltime copywriter. “When I was teaching I loved helping children to write creatively, but I can’t deny that I’ve enjoyed having the time to develop my own techniques as a copywriter. I’m part of a workforce based in several different countries, and although I operate from home, I feel globally connected. It’s a very different life.” Age discrimination in the workplace is still a very real obstacle to employment for older workers, but over the past twenty years the number of older people in jobs has grown substantially. Whether career change is driven by a desire to try something new – as in Jo’s case – or born out of necessity, like Matthew’s, it seems that older people can now feel a little more confident about their prospects. If you are over fifty and considering a different field of work, the advice is to research your chosen path carefully, re-train if necessary and try to gain some hands-on experience before committing to a new direction. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources available to help. A guide to finding work at over fifty is available on the Shaw Trust’s website (shaw-trust.org. uk/Services/Fifty-Plus) while Age UK (ageuk.org.uk) offers further guidance for older jobseekers. Perhaps the last word should go to Debra Bednar-Clark, who left a high-profile career at Facebook to become a leadership developer and coach. “You are the totality of your experiences,” she told US media site nextavenue. “The key to success and fulfillment in your career is taking everything you’ve learned over the course of your life and bringing it to your next role.”

by Kate McLelland

NPB Garden and Ground Maintenance 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

Installation of Fires & Stoves ALPINE

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Call Lee on 01952 276417 or 07813 921907 • 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

General Garden & Household Maintenance • All Types of Fencing • NPTC Qualified - All Types of Tree Work Undertaken • House Clearances • All Work to a Very High Standard For a Free Quote call Andy on..

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JBO Services

GARDENHAND

call Karl on: 07914 492367 E: cknhomeservices@gmail.com

Audio Visual Installations Expert Help & Advice FREE Quotations

Call Jeremy on 01952 228936 or 07860 577169 E: jbo.services@yahoo.co.uk

All work carried out is guaranteed for 12 months

Are you interested in delivering this magazine? Contact us to join our waiting list for delivery people? Call Fleur Abel on 01952 603457

No job too small!

Switches, Sockets & Lighting Replacement Consumer Unit Outdoor Lighting Full and Part House Rewires Emergency Call Outs

Contact: David Copeland M: 07866 455 993 T: 01952 404 635

E: copelandelectricals@gmail.com

TELFORD Triathlon CLUB Have you ever wanted to take part in a triathlon or a multi sport activity?

If you’re interested in joining our club or would like to come along to try one of our coached training sessions either at Oakengates Leisure Centre or Much Wenlock Swimming pool then we’d love to see you. We aim to encourage our members to achieve their best, whether it is improving on race times, entering their first triathlon, or simply trying something new.

or email: fleur@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk

www.inandaroundmagazine.co.uk

swim. bike. run

f facebook.com/telfordtri e E: info@telfordtri.co.uk w www.telfordtri.co.uk

U L D I E T 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: 9 4 letters: 13 5 letters: 2 6 letters: 1

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).

FIONA REILLY

YOGA INSTRUCTOR

Micropigmentation Specialist

Classes and 1-1 Sessions

• Eyebrows • Eyeliner • Lip Liner or Full Lips

Class at The Arts Centre Telford Holyhead Road, Ketley, Telford TF1 5AN

on Sundays 10-11am - £5

07720 233 034

1-1 Private Lessons at TACT or Home Visits

fiona-reilly@outlook.com @fionamicropig

T: 07528 690335 Email: rshyoga@yahoo.com

Fiona Reilly Micropigmentation Specialist

TEL: 01952 604285

d o o w h c Wy

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www.wychwoodkennels.co.uk

BOARDING KENNELS & CATTERY

Kynnersley Drive, The Hincks, Lilleshall, Newport TF10 9HS

07904 717898 info@dog-jogs.co.uk www.dog-jogs.co.uk

Evenett and Bishop Opticians Doggy Day Care • Home Boarding • Dog Walking • Pet Sitting

All types of contact lenses

10% o�

fitted

your ﬁrst booking

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

North Shropshire

01952 798513 07379 369163 www.mybestfrienddogcare.co.uk/north-shropshire/

Large range of Frames including Childrens

Registered with the General Optical Council.

35 High Street, Newport. TF10 7AT • T: 01952 810 808

www.evenettandbishopopticians.co.uk

PJ's Re-upholstery Services Grandfather, Father & Son - 3rd Generation Upholsterer

If your spring goes ping give us a ring! Antique or Modern Sofas & Chairs Dining Chairs Springs & Repairs

07802 491651 01952 610828

NO JOB TOO SMALL

For all your domestic cleaning needs

Call Tracey on 07411 610 401 or Samantha on 07812 438 574

Card payments now accepted

www.pjsreupholsteryservices.co.uk

Est. 1976

LEAFLET DISTRIBUTION Delivered monthly within this magazine

Reaching a total of *30,000 select homes across Telford, Newport & Shifnal areas You can choose the areas you want - call for a list of areas to choose from WE CAN ALSO DESIGN AND PRINT THEM FOR YOU TOO!

£40

+VAT

per 1000

*Delivery rotated between 2 areas reaching 15,000 homes each month.

For further details please contact Fleur Abel on 01952 603457 E: fleur@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk • www.inandaroundmagazine.co.uk

Quality Domestic Cleaners Weekly or Fortnightly Cleans End of Tenancy Cleans Very Reliable Fully Insured References can be supplied

MASALA

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FEEL FREE TO BRING YOUR OWN ALCOHOLIC DRINKS *Please present this voucher. Valid until 16-12-18 Maxiumum 6 people. Not to be used with any other offers.

Adams House, 7 High St, Newport TF10 7AR

Index of Advertisers Audio / Visual Goods & Services JBO Services.................................................. 96 Bathrooms A. Watson Home Improvements.............82 MKM..................................................................... 3 Telford Maintenance Ltd.............................87 Beauty Ashley Gamble...........................................10-11 Beauty by Jude...............................................13 Fiona Reilly Micropigmentation...............97 Park Street Clinic............................................. 7 Simply Perfect.................................................. 5 Bedrooms Instyle Wardrobes.........................................57 Bricks & Building Materials Huws Gray........................................................73 Jewsons............................................................67 MKM..................................................................... 3 Builder Louka Home Care.........................................79 CCTV Telford CCTV...................................................87 Car Hire (Luxury Cars) Dream Cars......................................................38 Car Sales (New/Used) Mercedes Benz of Shrewsbury................37 Carpet, Rugs & Floor Coverings Carpet and Flooring.....................................55 Oakengates Carpets....................................57 Children’s Parties/Family Activities Ironbridge Museums.....................................51 Chimneys Alpine............................................................... 96 Cleaning Active Cleaning..............................................87 Shaw Clean - Tim Shaw..............................85 Sutherlands Clean Carpets........................83 Tracey & Samantha Domestic Cleaning.....97 Councillors Local Councillors.......................................... 94 Decorating Neil Rogers......................................................85 Simon’s Décor ...............................................85 WE Dunne........................................................85 Design & Print TEAL Design & Print...................................... 2 Doors The Door Store................................................71 Driveways & Patios Central Paving............................................... 68

YOUR QUICK GUIDE TO EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING IN YOUR LOCAL MAGAZINE...

Estate Agents & Property Barker Healey.................................................23 Bovis Homes....................................................21 Lioncourt Homes...........................................25 Nock Deighton..........................................16-19 Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture SB Sports Clinic............................................ 43 Farm Shop/Markets/Food Fayre Green Fields Farm Shop.............................35 Financial Services CD Financial....................................................65 Fireplaces, Fires & Stoves Admaston Firecraft Centre........................77 Alpine............................................................... 96 Grate Ideas..................................................... 99 Footcare The Foot Doctor........................................... 45 Telford Footcare........................................... 45 Garden, Plants & Building Supplies Bloomsbury Nursery................................... 69 Emerys............................................................. 69 Huws Gray........................................................73 Jewsons............................................................67 MKM..................................................................... 3 Gardening/Landscaping A J Landscapes..............................................67 Gardenhand.................................................... 96 NPB Garden & Ground Maintenance.... 96 Glass & Glazing Darwin Glass & Glazing...............................79 Gutter Cleaning Gutter PRO.......................................................81 HR Consultancy It's All About People....................................65 Hairdressing Ashley Gamble.................................................11 Simply Perfect.................................................. 5 Health & Fitness Alpha Athletics...............................................42 Anytime Fitness..............................................41 Body Barn.........................................................41 Patshull Park Hotel........................................31 Telford Hotel & Golf Resort.......................33 Kitchens (Supply & Fit) Kitchen Depot............................................. 100 R & R Kitchens.................................................71 Laundry Telford Laundry..............................................63 Lingerie & Swimwear What Women Want.......................................13

Dry Cleaning Chelsea's of Shropshire..............................59

Loft Ladders/Boarding Jakes n Ladders.............................................75 Reveal a Space...............................................72

Education Bears Den Pre-school...................................51 Wolverhampton Grammar School......... 49

Log Burner Installation Alpine............................................................... 96

Electricians Buzz Electrical................................................83 Copelands Electrical................................... 96 Del Corley Electrical Services...................83 Entertainment / Events Hadley Park House.......................................29 Wolverhampton Racecourse....................32

Logs Holts...................................................................67

Pensions Pensionlite.......................................................58 Pet Care (Dog Care, Kennels & Cattery) Dog Jogs..........................................................97 My Best Friend...............................................97 Wychwood.......................................................97 Physiotherapy SB Sports Injury & Physio. Clinics.......... 43 Plumbing & Heating A. Watson Home Improvements.............82 Printing TEAL Design, & Print..................................... 2 Property Maintenance CKN................................................................... 96 Louka Home Care..........................................31 Telford Maintenance Ltd.............................87 Removals Jays Removals............................................... 20 Restaurants/Pubs/Cafes Hadley Park House.......................................29 Masala................................................................97 Patshull Park Hotel........................................31 Taste of Paradise...........................................32 Tayleur Arms...................................................33 Telford Hotel & Golf Resort.......................33 The Barley........................................................28 The Bridge Inn................................................35 The Coach House Norbury................. 26-27 White House Hotel.......................................28 Wolverhampton Racecourse....................32 Skips/Waste Disposal Cartwrights Waste Disposal Services ...... 79 Spa Telford Hotel & Golf Resort.......................33 Sports Massage SB Sports Injury & Physio. Clinics.......... 43 Solicitor Parry Carver Solicitors.................................61 Terry Jones Solicitors..................................59 Therapy Affinity & Beyond..........................................47 Tool Hire Jewsons............................................................67 Tree Care Holts Tree Care...............................................67 Upholstery PJ’s Re-Upholstery Services......................97 Websites ETAK Creative................................................62 Kalidescope......................................................61 Weddings Dream Cars......................................................38 Hadley Park House Hotel...........................29 Patshull Park Hotel........................................31 Telford Hotel & Golf Resort.......................33 Will Writing Parry Carver.....................................................61

Optician Evenett & Bishop Opticians......................97 Tim Vanes Opticians....................................47

Windows/Doors/Conservatories APH Windows................................................75 R & R Services................................................77 Trotfield Windows.........................................72

Oven Cleaning Active Cleaning..............................................87

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

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