INSIDE FLINTSHIRE VILLAGES DECEMBER 2020 by Inside Magazines

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MERRY XMAS....

Welcome to our Christmas issue. This issue we are feeling extra festive with lots of interesting articles inside to help you through the Christmas season, including best tech gifts, best artificial Christmas trees, pets at Christmas, our choc chip mince pie cookies recipe by little Welsh foodie. Don’t forget to give her a follow on Instagram for more delicious recipes.

Please take a look at our shop local feature on pages 32-33. We’ve come up with a selection of local businesses you could use this Christmas when looking to buy gifts or even your christmas turkey. Lots more going on inside and we hope you enjoy our festive edition.

Please feel free to let us know how we’re doing. So all that is left to say is, everyone at Inside Flintshire magazine would like to wish all our readers a safe and merry Chrstmas. Don’t forget to give us a mention if you use one of the businesses inside as without them advertising with us, this magazine would not be possible. £25 Cash Winner - R Anstey - Vinnie Jones Book - G Davenport - Dilip Sarkar Until next month. Stay Safe & Merry Christmas, Reg, Editor Inside Flintshire Magazines

CONTENTS........ 6

Xmas Films on Netflix

10-11 Best Gift Ideas This Xmas

Edition 20 December 2020..... Best Christmas gifts 2020

Hover-1 Superstar Hoverboard Forget 2020, this present will transport your teen to 3020. The board is super easy to use, fun and - most importantly - safe, as the maximum speed is only six miles per hour. It comes complete with LED wheels and has a Bluetooth speaker built-in.

Present ideas for all the family

£179 | Amazon

he countdown to the most festive time of the year has begun and we’re here to help you sleigh the gift giving process. The festivities may be taking place virtually this year, but it’s still important to nail the gifting exchange - even if it via Zoom - and find that perfect present for your partner, parents and children. We’ve gathered ten of the best gifts to give Santa a run for his money.

Gaiam Be Free Reversible 6mm Yoga Mat In these uncertain times, any form of stress relief is welcome. Yoga boasts a host of healing benefits, from mental to physical. Whether they are an expert yogi or just mastering their Downward Dog, the stylish yoga mats from Gaiam will make a great gift.

Nintendo Switch 1.1 32GB Console with Joy-Con in Neon Gaming addicts everywhere will appreciate the Nintendo Switch and particularly the 1.1 model with a long battery life and more on-the-go flexibility.

£33.56 | John Lewis

£279.99 | John Lewis

Philips Airfryer XXL

Bombay Sapphire Home of Bombay Hamper

The Philips Air fryer offers a healthier alternative to traditional oil frying - it also cooks in a fraction of the time it would take in theoven. The device will allow you to bake, roast, and grill to your heart’s content. It’s even big enough to cook a whole chicken!

From Bombay Sapphire’s Laverstoke distillery is this stunning hamper, filled with enough of the spirit to sink a Royal Navy battleship. There are five bottles: the classic Bombay Sapphire, Bombay Dry, Bombay English Estate, Bombay Sapphire East and Bombay Bramble to keep you well hydrated through the festive season. A bar spoon and cocktail measure, or jigger, finishes the set.

£249.99 | Philips

Best Artificial Xmas Tree’s

18-19 Pets at Christmas 20 24

Choc Chip Mince Pie Cookies Best Tech Gifts

32-33 Shop Local This Xmas 40

Veja Campo Textured-Leather Sneakers Your youngsters really can’t go wrong with these universally appealing white leather trainers from Eco-conscious footwear label Veja that have a variety of colours for the logo detailing. These all-rounders can be dressed up either smart or casual. £115 | Net-A-Porter

£120 | Bombay Sapphire

Bakedin Bread Baking Club Mela Weighted Blanket For the uninitiated, a weighted blanket feels like being cocooned in a giant hug. While it offers all the cosiness of a traditional blanket, it is comforting and can reduce anxiety. To solve winter blues, Mela is on hand with its super soft iteration that aims to promote better sleep.

FITBIT Sense

If your teen worships pop star du jour Ariana Grande they’ll love one of her fragrances. Cloud EDP comes in an Instafriendly bottle shaped like the clouds and sun.

The latest smart wearable from Fitbit takes the step counter to the next level. It monitors your heart rate and thus can detect stress, tracks your skin temperature, your sleep to give information about your stages and scores, wake you up with a gentle alarm and even gives you a six month subscription to Fitbit Premium with fitness and nutrition programmes.

£25 | The Perfume Shop

£299 | Currys

£99 | Mela

Ariana Grande Cloud EDP

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Have an animal friendly festive period

Here we’ll share some food safety tips for your pets, help you to ensure your pets remain safe and calm and you’ll even discover how to make reindeer food that’s safe for wildlife!

Helping pets feel calm at Christmas Christmas can be stressful for pets. The change in routine, visitors, children and decorations can all worry them. Here are our top tips for a stress-free pet Christmas:

Cats and dogs

Outdoor animals

Try to keep food, exercise, bed and toilet break routines the same, as consistency can help pets feel more secure. Give them somewhere cosy and quiet to retreat to, away from all the excitement, where they won’t be disturbed. Leave their toys there too.

Outdoor animals such as rabbits will need extra bedding in the cold weather. Keep their enclosures clean as wet bedding will freeze on cold nights, which could lead to illness. Ensure outdoor pets always have fresh, clean water to drink and check at least twice a day that it isn’t frozen.

For cats, you can provide hidey-holes for them to retreat to if they feel unsure. Try tops of wardrobes or under furniture - even cardboard boxes. Although Christmas is a busy time, be careful about leaving your pet alone.

Small furries Make sure nocturnal animals such as hamsters are kept somewhere they aren’t going to be disturbed during the day. Don’t put tinsel around cages and keep fairy lights and electrical cables out of reach to prevent them nibbling objects that could cause medical issues.

Christmas is great! There are presents, fantastic food and we (hopefully, this year) get to spend time with family. But Christmas food can be hazardous for your pets. Referring to the list below will ensure you’re not giving treats that can make your pet unwell: l Chocolate l Mince pies l Christmas pudding l Onion gravy l Alcohol l Bones from carcasses, which are a dangerous choking hazard.

What Christmas food can pets eat? Skinless and boneless white meat such as turkey is okay for dogs and cats, but be careful that it’s not covered in fat, salt or gravy.

Pets in cold weather With darker nights and colder days, your pets need to stay safe and warm this winter

Walking dogs in winter Stay safe when walking your dog in the dark, wear reflective clothing and think about a reflective collar for your dog.

Reindeer food mix

If you have an elderly or sickly dog, you can buy a special coat or jumper to keep them warm.

Looking for a wildlife friendly snack to leave out for Rudolph and his reindeer friends this Christmas? Follow our simple recipe for reindeer food that is free from glitter and suitable for reindeer and birds alike.

Keep your dogs away from ponds and lakes that are iced over. Thin ice may break under a dog’s weight. And, if it’s snowing outside, watch out for your dog’s paws becoming impacted with snow, which can cause discomfort. Be aware that antifreeze and rock salt can be poisonous to pets. After walking your dog in areas that may have been gritted with rock salt, ensure you wash their paws thoroughly.

Keeping cats warm In the coldest months it’s important that your cat has access to a warm environment, such as your home or another inside area with appropriate heating. Check that their bedding is away from cold draughts and stays warm and dry.

Taking care of Rudolph and his friends On Christmas Eve night, as Father Christmas is rushing from house to house to deliver presents, his reindeer helpers often need a quick snack to keep them going on their busiest night of the year. You don’t need to go and buy them special food (often the food you can Please mention Inside Flintshire Magazine when responding to advertisements

Enterprise House, Aber Road, Flint CH6 5TG Telephone: 01352 870 760 Email: reg@insideflintshiremagazine.co.uk Published by Inside Magazines.

buy in the shops is full of glitter, which is very bad for flying reindeer and other garden wildlife) - chances are you have just what they love in your store cupboards anyway!

Festive food for your pets

Wildlife friendly reindeer food

Get Your Garden Ready For Xmas

ARTWORK DEADLINE DATE 14TH DECEMBER

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Pets at Christmas e all love Christmas! But, whilst we’re busy getting wrapped up in the festive fun, we may forget to think about the effect Christmas can have on our pets and other animals too.

Encourage good habits with a subscription service from Bakedin. Not only will their monthly package create continual excitement but as the generous gift-giver, surely you will be at the top of the list to enjoy the fruits of their labour - it’s a true win, win. The boxes are compact enough to fit through the letterbox and contain all the correctly-measured ingredients needed to whip up masterpieces that would give this year’s Bake-off contestants a run for their money.

Ingredients and instructions l A handful of wild bird seed (which may include sunflower hearts, naked rolled oats, dried mealworms, yellow millet, kibbled peanuts and black sunflower seeds) - this is what helps the reindeers fly! l A few rolled oats l Some dried fruit, like cranberries (if you have a dog, please don’t use grapes, raisins, sultanas or currants as these can be poisonous for them) l Some dried insects - Rudolph and his bird friends love mealworms and waxworms l Some grated cheese l A hint of chilli powder - it helps keep Rudolph’s nose glowing red and will stop squirrels and rodents from stealing the food before Rudolph arrives! Mix it all together, then sprinkle it on your lawn or leave it in a bowl by your front door just before you go to bed.

To advertise text ADVERT to: 01352 870 760

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r h i s C t m e a s s flm t s on u s M

The Christmas Chronicles Part 2

Available from November 25 Starring: Kurt Russell, Goldie Hawn, Darby Camp

Unhappy over her mother’s new relationship, a now-teenage Kate runs away and lands at the North Pole, where a naughty elf is plotting to cancel Christmas. Real-life long-term couple Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell reunite for this sequel, in which Mrs. Claus (Hawn) plays a more prominent role.

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey

Available from November 13 Starring: Forest Whitaker, Keegan-Michael Key, Hugh Bonneville An imaginary world comes to life in a holiday tale of an eccentric toymaker, his adventurous granddaughter, and a magical invention that has the power to change their lives forever. Forest Whitaker stars as legendary toymaker Jeronicus Jangle, who enlists the help of his granddaughter to ‘heal old wounds and reawaken the magic within’ after his most prized possession is stolen.

Let It Snow

Available from November 13 Starring: Isabela Moner, Shameik Moore, Kiernan Shipka

Hailed as 2019’s answer to Love Actually, Let It Snow is the heartwarming story of a group of teenagers whose lives collide when a snowstorm hits their small town on Christmas Eve. Starring Kiernan Shipka and Odeya Rush, Let It Snow is the festive rom-com you need in your lives. 6

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Igniting her potential

Best Christmas gifts 2020 Present ideas for all the family he countdown to the most festive time of the year has begun and we’re here to help you sleigh the gift giving process. The festivities may be taking place virtually this year, but it’s still important to nail the gifting exchange - even if it via Zoom - and find that perfect present for your partner, parents and children. We’ve gathered ten of the best gifts to give Santa a run for his money.

£279.99 | John Lewis

Philips Airfryer XXL The Philips Airfryer offers a healthier alternative to traditional oil frying - it also cooks in a fraction of the time it would take in theoven. The device will allow you to bake, roast, and grill to your heart’s content. It’s even big enough to cook a whole chicken!

£249.99 | Philips

Mela Weighted Blanket For the uninitiated, a weighted blanket feels like being cocooned in a giant hug. While it offers all the cosiness of a traditional blanket, it is comforting and can reduce anxiety. To solve winter blues, Mela is on hand with its super soft iteration that aims to promote better sleep.

£99 | Mela

Ariana Grande Cloud EDP If your teen worships pop star du jour Ariana Grande they’ll love one of her fragrances. Cloud EDP comes in an Instafriendly bottle shaped like the clouds and sun.

£25 | The Perfume Shop

Please mention Inside Flintshire Magazine when responding to advertisements

£179 | Amazon

£33.56 | John Lewis

Bombay Sapphire Home of Bombay Hamper From Bombay Sapphire’s Laverstoke distillery is this stunning hamper, filled with enough of the spirit to sink a Royal Navy battleship. There are five bottles: the classic Bombay Sapphire, Bombay Dry, Bombay English Estate, Bombay Sapphire East and Bombay Bramble to keep you well hydrated through the festive season. A bar spoon and cocktail measure, or jigger, finishes the set.

£120 | Bombay Sapphire

Bakedin Bread Baking Club

FITBIT Sense The latest smart wearable from Fitbit takes the step counter to the next level. It monitors your heart rate and thus can detect stress, tracks your skin temperature, your sleep to give information about your stages and scores, wake you up with a gentle alarm and even gives you a six month subscription to Fitbit Premium with fitness and nutrition programmes.

£30 | Bakedin

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The three best artificial Christmas trees for 2020 s lovely as the real thing looks and smells, the winter home is often not a welcome environment for a real tree. So let’s go faux for Christmas - forget vacuuming up pine needles every day, it’s far easier with an artificial tree.

B&Q 6ft Smart Natural Looking Christmas Tree - best smart artificial Christmas tree B&Q’s smart tree (main pic, right) comes pre-lit with 300 multi-function LED bulbs for a traditional look. The dual coloured bulbs can be changed from warm white to multicoloured lights. The smart design means the lights are compatible with both Google Home and Alexa devices. The voice control functionality allows control of the lights with a single spoken command. There are also seven multifunction settings. The stand is very robust, and when carrying out the push test this tree barely wavered.

£120 from B&Q Hayes Garden World Yukon Snowy Pine Tree best snowy artificial Christmas tree

This tree (pictured left) wowed from the moment we got it out of the box. Standing at a statuesque 6ft tall, it’s made from a mix of PE/PVC, which creates a life-like illusion. With a smattering of large pine cones beautifully placed throughout, it gives the feel of a full bodied life-like tree in a snowy wooded forest. The snow coverage is excellent, with a soft textured feel, and branches are entirely snow-covered. It comes pre-lit with globe-shaped LED lights - far more decorative than normal fairy lights. They’re long-life, energy-efficient lights which will last for years to come.

£279.99 from Hayes Garden World

Balsam Hill Vermont White Spruce Flip Tree best luxury artificial Christmas tree This tree (right) is simply stunning, and so well lit it could happily reside in the lobby of a 5-star hotel. It’s not cheap, but it’s in a different league when it come to artificial trees to keep for life. The meticulously hand-crafted tree is made using Balsam Hill’s exclusive ‘True Needle’ technology, giving it subtle colour changes and a lifelike texture. It’s pre-lit, and the coverage is superb - the 850 warm white LED lights are on a remote control which adjusts the colour. Being such a premium tree, it comes complete with a repair kit, a spare set of lights, bulbs, heavy-duty canvas storage bags and even gloves to protect hands during assembly!

£949 from Balsam Hill 14

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Pets at Christmas Have an animal friendly festive period

e all love Christmas! But, whilst we’re busy getting wrapped up in the festive fun, we may forget to think about the effect Christmas can have on our pets and other animals too. Here we’ll share some food safety tips for your pets, help you to ensure your pets remain safe and calm and you’ll even discover how to make reindeer food that’s safe for wildlife!

Cats and dogs

Outdoor animals

Please mention Inside Flintshire Magazine when responding to advertisements

buy in the shops is full of glitter, which is very bad for flying reindeer and other garden wildlife) - chances are you have just what they love in your store cupboards anyway!

Festive food for your pets Christmas is great! There are presents, fantastic food and we (hopefully, this year) get to spend time with family. But Christmas food can be hazardous for your pets. Referring to the list below will ensure you’re not giving treats that can make your pet unwell: l Chocolate l Mince pies l Christmas pudding l Onion gravy l Alcohol l Bones from carcasses, which are a dangerous choking hazard.

What Christmas food can pets eat? Skinless and boneless white meat such as turkey is okay for dogs and cats, but be careful that it’s not covered in fat, salt or gravy.

Pets in cold weather With darker nights and colder days, your pets need to stay safe and warm this winter

Walking dogs in winter Stay safe when walking your dog in the dark, wear reflective clothing and think about a reflective collar for your dog.

Reindeer food mix

If you have an elderly or sickly dog, you can buy a special coat or jumper to keep them warm.

Wildlife friendly reindeer food Taking care of Rudolph and his friends On Christmas Eve night, as Father Christmas is rushing from house to house to deliver presents, his reindeer helpers often need a quick snack to keep them going on their busiest night of the year. You don’t need to go and buy them special food (often the food you can

To advertise text ADVERT to: 01352 870 760

Choc chip mince pie cookies

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re very grateful to Inside Flintshire reader Naomi for this crunchy Christmas recipe. Be sure to follow her on Instagram - the link is at the bottom of the page.

Ingredients l 110g unsalted butter l 200g light brown soft sugar l 1 egg

Step by step 1 Pre-heat the oven to 190Â°C. Line 3 baking trays with greaseproof paper.

l 2-3 tbsp of mincmeat from a jar

2 Cut the butter into cubes and cream together with the sugar until combined.

l 2 drops of vanilla essence

3 Mix in the egg, vanilla essence & mincemeat.

l 195g plain flour

4 Mix in the flour, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder, salt & the spices.

l 1/2 tsp baking powder l 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda l 1 tsp ground sweet cinnamon l 1/2 tsp mixed spice l Pinch of ground ginger l Pinch of salt l 100g milk chocolate l 100g dark chocolate

5 Chop the chocolate into chunks and pour into the mix. Use a wooden spoon to combine chocolate with the cookie mix. 6 Shape into small balls (about the size of a golf ball) and space out well on the baking trays. 7 Bake in the middle of the oven for 10-12 minutes. When you take them of the oven, tap the tray down on a surface - this give the cookies their crack! 8 Leave to cool for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool fully.

@littlewelshfoodie 20

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The five best tech gifts this Christmas Bose Frames Tenor Yes, Bose sells sunglasses and, yes, they play music but not in the way you’d think. Unlike other sunglasses that either use built-in earbuds or bone-conduction tech, Bose’s shades use the company’s Open Ear Audio design, which consists of a super-thin acoustic speaker setup housed in the frame. £239.95 at bose.co.uk

Theragun Pro This year’s been more stressful than most, so why not treat someone (or yourself) to this powerful massage gun. The Theragun is described as a “percussive therapy device” that essentially means it thumps your muscles at high speeds to provide the same relaxing results as a soft-tissue massage. Aches and pains be gone. £549 at theragun.com

Samsung Galaxy Fold 2

Sony WH1000XM4 Headphones

The future of smartphones is both bendable and poseable - open this handset and it’ll transform into a 7.6-inch tablet, one that you can tuck into a jacket pocket with no trouble at all. The Fold 2 also features an accomplished triple-lens camera and a markedly more durable design than its predecessor. £1,799 at samsung.com

Sony’s over-ear cans are, simply put, one of the best pair of headphones ever made. Improving on last year’s already class-leading model, the XM4s feature a tweaked design for extra comfort, even better sound and incredible, borderline magical noise-cancelling technology for drowning out the outside world. £349 at amazon.co.uk and

johnlewis.com

8Bitdo Arcade Stick Do you need an arcade stick for your Nintendo Switch and/or PC? Probably not. But would you like one? We thought as much. Housed in a robust, retro-fuelled case, this ultra-modable arcade stick has wired and wireless support, dedicated buttons for the Switch and the ability to create custom macros - a perfect choice for retro gamers and tinkerers. £81.99 at amazon.co.uk

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Your bumper

Christmas Quiz

Who's Santa?

Christmas TV

Can you name the famous Father 1 When Ross can't find a Santa outfit in time for Christmas in Friends, what does Christmas and the festive film? he dress up as instead to impress his son Ben? 2 Who proposes to who in the 2008 Gavin And Stacey Christmas special? 3 Which celebrity won the first ever Strictly Come Dancing in December 2004? 4 Who was killed off in 2012's Downton Abbey's Christmas special cliffhanger? 5 The Snowman was shown on TV for the first time on Boxing Day of which year?

Christmas films

6 How old is Kevin McCallister in Home Alone? 7 According to 1946's Christmas classic It's Wonderful Life (pictured), what happens every time a bell rings? 8 In Mean Girls, what song do The Plastics perform a risquĂŠ routine to in front of their school? 9 In Will Ferrell's Elf, what's the first rule in the Code of The Elves? 10 What feel-good song is everyone dancing to in the final scene of The Holiday?

Christmas literature

11 Which March sister opens LM Alcott's Little Women by grumbling "Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents"? 12 In Harry Potter and the Philsopher's Stone, what do the Dursleys give Harry for Christmas? 13 In what classic novel does the protagonist set sail for a sea voyage on a cold Christmas day? 14 Which character declares "Merry Christmas, one and all!" in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol? 15 In which children's classic is it 'always winter but never Christmas'?

Christmas music

16 Which Christmas hit originally released in 1984 has been no.1 in the UK charts three times? 17 Cliff Richard had his 12th number one hit with his sing-along Christmas classic "Mistletoe and... ? 18 Mariah Carey's iconic Christmas hit All I Want for Christmas officially signals the start of the festive period - but what year was it released? 19 Which group sang "Don't leave me alone like this, Don't say it's the final kiss" in their bell-tolling Christmas no.1? 20 What comes next in Wham's Last Christmas: "Once bitten and twice shy, I keep my distance..."

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Get Cooking Ready for Christmas

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This Christmas

It's been a diﬃcult year for us all but none more than our Local Shops & High Streets, so let's keep supporting them as we head into the Christmas shopping season. Here are just a few of what Flintshire has to oﬀer...

SIMMI Simmi Woman is a hidden treasure in Mold, North Wales, stocking French Connection, Great Plains, Joma Jewellery, Katie Loxton, Envy, POM, Simmi silver, East of India gifts and more. 18 Grosvenor St, Mold CH7 1EJ www.simmiwoman.co.uk 01352 218162

VAUGHAN DAVIES LTD. One of the UK’s top independent menswear and ladies’ wear retailers, located in the small historic market town of Mold, North Wales, which we have called home for 60 years, establishing ourselves as an important part of the community.

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1-3 Wrexham Street, Mold, Flintshire, CH7 1ET www.vaughandavies.co.uk 01352 752632

MOLD BOOK SHOP With over 4,000 titles in stock we have something for everyone, but if the book you are looking for isn't in stock you can search from a vast range of titles on bookshop.org. You can then either contact us to place an order for collection from the shop or order online for home delivery. 18 Grosvenor St, Mold CH7 1EJ www.mold-bookshop.co.uk | 01352 759879

LIVI-LOUS SHOP Our Products are Top Quality catering for Newborn to 2 Year, although we do occasionally get stock for up to 5 Years. Rita can also make to order and mend or alter. Gift Sets also available, some already made and on show in our shop. 46 Church Street, Flint, CH6 5AE www.livi-lousboutique.co.uk Email: livi-lousboutique@hotmail.com

LIFE ON WHEELS Looking for bike specialists in North Wales? You've come to the right place! We love hearing from fellow cycling enthusiasts, whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for advice, to check about a product or to ďŹ nd out more about our services so please get in touch. Hillcrest Garage, Holywell, Flintshire CH8 7SJ www.lifeonwheels.co.uk | 01352 715716

QUEENSFERRY SPORTS Now an established retail business, specialising in football, cricket, schoolwear, workwear, running and more, Queensferry Sports stock leading brands and are part of the Intersport group. 18 Station Road, Queensferry, Deeside, CH5 1SX www.queensferrysports.net 01244 812040

BISTRE FARM SHOP Bistre Farm Shop is a family-run butchers owned and run by the Jones family, who have been serving the local community with various forms of farm produce for over 100 years. 10 Buckley Shopping Centre, Brunswick Road, Buckley Flintshire, CH7 2EF www.bistre.co.uk | 01244 547835

MOSTYN KITCHEN GARDEN This walled kitchen garden is being used to grow fresh fruit and vegetables for our range of preserves. Local people can be involved by volunteering in all aspects of commercial growing. Set in the grounds of Mostyn Hall www.facebook.com/mostynkitchengarden 07734 739513

The new PHEVourite: Land Rover Discovery’s New Sport hybrid

Few brands epitomise automotive Darwinism like Land Rover, with the latest addition to the Discovery Sport range - a BIK-friendly plug-in hybrid, no less - illustrating the point.

Spoiler alter: for city dwellers who need a rugged SUV and company car drivers looking for something upmarket, but not too flashy, this is the pick of the ‘diddy Disco’ range.

Doesn’t it just look like any other Discovery Sport?

EV (battery only) and a third to maintain the battery’s reserves until you’re in a zero-emission driving area. Technofans will enjoy the introduction of the new Pivi (on S specification models) and Pivi Pro (SE and HSE versions) multimedia system. Running on its own battery system and featuring over the air updates, the new package is significantly quicker to operate with far less lag than its predecessor. All barring the first handful of models will have the new system.

Land Rover styles its electrified models virtually identically to its petrol and diesel ones, working on the theory that owners are more interested in knowing that they’re doing their environmental bit rather than broadcasting the fact. You will spot that there’s a filler flap on both rear wings of the plugin hybrid models: one side’s for petrol, the other being the façade for the charging port.

Is it a similar story inside? Very much so, and for the same reasons cited above. This isn’t a bad thing as the latest dashboard looks and feels of a higher material quality than the 2014 edition. There are a couple of modifications necessary for PHEV operation, such as scrolling between driving modes of Hybrid,

Usefully, the navigation system will determine not only the most efficient routes, but also where on the journey it’s best to be EV-only, use both power sources or even stick to just the engine. It’s around the back of the cabin where you’ll find a significant change, though: the Discovery Sport P300e is a strict fiveseater with no option to spec those ‘plus 2’ rearward births. Clearly that combination of engine, fuel tank, electric motor and batteries have to go somewhere.

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Specifications: Price when new: £47,000 On sale in the UK: Now Engine: 3-cyl, 1.5-litre petrol plus electric motor, 305bhp, 398lb ft Transmission: 8-speed automatic, four-wheel drive Performance: 6.6sec 0-62mph, 130mph, 141mpg, 44g/km Weight / material: 2168kg/steel Dimensions (length/width/height in mm): 4597/2173/1727mm

What are the plug-in stats? How do numbers like up to 34 miles of electric driving range and CO2 emissions of 44g/km grab you? Not bad, but the numbers only tell part of the story. More impressive is the seamless way the Discovery Sport plugin hybrid juggles its power systems when left to its own devices in Hybrid mode. It’s also pleasingly hushed compared with the PHEV version of Ford’s latest Kuga. While the Kuga’s installation employs a CVT, the Discovery Sport P300e is equipped with a conventional eight-speed automatic alloying it to be quieter. Even when the petrol engine does kick in - it’s a turbocharged 1.5-litre triple version of the Ingenium family - it rarely disturbs the cabin’s equilibrium, only sounding coarse as opposed to characterful when very hard acceleration is demanded of it. On the more rigorous WLTP cycle it’s rated at 141mpg, but run it without any electrical assistance and you’ll struggle to approach 40mpg. Don’t forget, this is a 2168kg car suddenly only propelled by a 1.5-litre mill, albeit one punching out 197bhp.

The engine?

Charging the 15kWh lithium-ion battery pack is relatively time efficient, too: 0-80% charges take as little as half an hour on a 32kW public charger and a smidgen under an hour-and-a-half on a dedicated 7kW wallbox that you would have installed at home. Overall power is rated at 305bhp, with 398lb ft of torque aided by the on-tap nature of the electrical drive - ensuring a swift 0-62 blast of 6.6 seconds. Top speed, as academic a figure as that is in an SUV like this, is 130mph. Suffice to say the P300e powertrain is swift, but this Land Rover encourages you to drive it with consideration, not aggression, a factor that merely amplifies the attractiveness of the plug-in hybrid arrangement.

The verdict? Given that most Discovery Sports are subjected to little more adventure than a school run or commuting to and from work, the P300e plug-in hybrid fulfils the needs of its key demographics consummately, providing their journeys aren’t significantly over 34 miles between recharges.

It looks after the front wheels, while the 108bhp motor powers the rears, allowing for four-wheel drive security. To advertise text ADVERT to: 01352 870 760

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Bumper Christmas Quiz Answers Who's Santa?

Christmas literature

1 Holiday Armadillo 2 Dave proposes to Nessa 3 Natasha Kaplinsky & Brendan Cole 4 Dan Stevens' Matthew Crawley 5 1982

Christmas music

Christmas TV

Christmas films

6 Eight 7 An angel gets its wings 38

8 Jingle Bell Rock 9 'Treat every day like Christmas' 10 'You Send Me' by Aretha Franklin

A Richard Attenborough (Miracle on 34th Street) B Jim Broadbent (Get Santa) C Tom Hanks (Polar Express) D Jake Gyllenhaal (Jarhead) E Kurt Russell (The Christmas Chronicles)

11 Jo March 12 A 50 pence piece 13 Moby Dick 14 Tiny Tim 15 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe 16 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' 17 Wine 18 1994 19 East 17 20 "... but you still catch my eye."

Five tips to get your garden ready for Christmas ake your festive garden from boring to blissful this festive season with some simple yet effective DIY projects for the garden! Short days and poor light mean that even the brightest of shrubs and perennials look dreary and lifeless, especially in the lead-up to Christmas. However, with a sprinkling of festive inspiration and some determination, you can transform your garden into a winter wonderland.

Merry Planters and Hanging Baskets

Put those leftover planters and hanging baskets to good use by creating some cheery holiday displays (right). Simply fill with garland (or use real life spruce sprigs if you have access to a tree) and dress it up with colourful baubles, artificial poinsettia flowers, cones or holly sprigs for that warm fuzzy yuletide feeling. The great thing about these is that you can add as much or as little as you like!

Hanging Chandeliers

Here’s another great idea for those out-of-commission hanging baskets! Fix two together to form a ball using cable ties or gardening wire. Jazz it up with some silver or gold spray paint and wrap a string of outdoor fairy lights around it in different directions. Hang from your porch or hanging hooks.

Festive Fountains

Add some Christmas cheer to your fountain with some trailing garland, artificial mistletoe, baubles and cones (bottom left). Or float some artificial poinsettia flowers in the water. If you have an fountain or water feature that’s no longer in use, go a step further and add some outdoor fairy lights for an extra magical touch.

Rustic Reindeer

Build your very own handmade reindeer family (left) with some birch logs and branches. All you need is a large log for the body, a smaller one for the head and some branches for the neck and legs. Finish off with some coal for eyes, twigs for antlers and a pine cone for the tail!

Trees, Trees, Trees

Jolly up any tree in your garden with a string of fairy lights or, if you prefer, oversized baubles designed for hanging on outdoor trees. If you don’t have trees in your garden, why not improvise with a driftwood tree made from different lengths of branches or pallet wood?

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Mae’n gyfnod anodd a gwahanol iawn i lawer ohonom o hyd, wrth i’r coronafeirws barhau i effeithio ar ein ffordd o fyw a gweithio, gan gynnwys y gallu i dreulio mwy o amser gyda theulu a ffrindiau. Roeddwn am fanteisio ar y cyfle i sicrhau etholwyr, grwpiau cymunedol a busnesau fy mod i bob amser wrth law i wneud popeth posib i’ch helpu dan amgylchiadau mor ansicr a digynsail. Gydol y pandemig, rwyf wedi parhau i gynorthwyo trigolion gyda phob math o bynciau o dai i iechyd ac addysg yn ogystal â gweithio’n galed i roi’r manylion diweddaraf trwy ddiweddariadau rheolaidd, cylchlythyrau a sesiynau holi ac ateb byw.

ers 2016 mae gen i Cynorthwyo dros 2300 o etholwyr gyda gwaith achos

Ymgysylltu â 1000au o etholwyr ar gyfryngau cymdeithasol

Cefnogi dros 100 o fusnesau a sefydliadau

Cynhaliwyd dros 130 o ddigwyddiadau

I gael rhagor o wybodaeth am y canllawiau cenedlaethol, ewch i llyw.cymru/rheoliadaucoronafeirws-canllawiau Rwy’n paratoi e-gylchlythyr rheolaidd sy’n rhoi’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am fy ngwaith yn y Senedd a’r etholaeth, yn ogystal ag unrhyw ddiweddariadau am faterion a godwyd gennych. Cysylltwch â mi os hoffech dderbyn y rhain. Os gallaf fod o gymorth i chi neu’ch anwyliaid, cysylltwch â mi drwy’r manylion isod. Cymerwch ofal a chadwch yn ddiogel.

Talwyd costau’r cyhoeddiad hwn gan Gomisiwn y Senedd, o gronfeydd cyhoeddus

SUT I GYSYLLTU Â MI

hannah.blythyn@senedd.cymru

01352 762102

HannahBlythynMS

@HannahBlythyn

These are still different and often difficult times for many of us, as coronavirus continues to impact on the way we live and work, including being able to spend time with friends and family. I wanted to take the opportunity to reassure constituents, community groups and businesses that I remain on hand to do all I can to support you in these uncertain and unprecedented circumstances. Throughout the pandemic, I have continued to support residents on a range of issues from housing to health and education as well as working hard to keep constituents fully informed though regular updates, newsletters and live question and answer sessions.

Since 2016 I have... Assisted over 2300 constituents with casework

Engaged with 1000s of constituents on social media

Supported over 100 businesses & organisations

Hosted over 130 events

For information on the current guidance here in Wales, please visit www.gov.wales/coronavirus-regulationsguidance I produce a regular electronic newsletter updating on work in the Welsh Parliament and here in the constituency, as well as providing updates on any matters you may have previously raised. If you would like to receive these updates, please get in touch If I can help you, or your loved ones, then please get in touch on the details below. Take care and stay safe,

The costs of this publication have been met by the Senedd Commission from public funds

HOW TO CONTACT ME | SUT I GYSYLLTU Ă&#x201A; MI hannah.blythyn@senedd.wales

01352 762102

HannahBlythynMS

@HannahBlythyn

A HORSE, A SWORD AND A RIFLE AUTHOR: Mary Watkin Jones This book tells the story of three of my family who went to three wars on horses. Joseph Dodd rode in the Boer war as a dispatch rider while also serving as Batman to Lord Dudley who was third down from Lord Kitchener. During his time in South Africa he rode with Winston Churchill, Churchill’s words being ‘you ride with me Dodd’. After his return he set up a racing stables in Marbury, near Whitchurch were, in 1928, he trained a grand national winner, Tipperary Tim, a hundred to one outsider. He is quoted as saying that was the best day of his life. He also received a telegram from Winston Churchill congratulating him. His son-in-law, Sydney Williams rode in WW1 pulling the guns to the front. He was an asthmatic before he left, and the experience did not help his health in future years. He didn’t let this bother him. On returning he rented 20 acres to start farming and when he retired, he was farming over 200 acres. There are many stories about his farming career in the book. Sydney’s son, John was called

46 46

up on day one of WW2 with the Shropshire Yeomanry which he was already a member of. When horses were not required on the front this regiment was converted to a gunner regiment which fought its way up Italy. John also had asthma and his health ment he was deemed not fit to fight at the front. He was posted to the only Allied Ski Training camp in the Lebanon where he taught himself Arabic and liaised with the locals and bought fresh food in the markets in Beirut. All these men lived at some point in their lived in the small village of Marbury where the church bells told them the time. I tell of some of the many changes in the village which centres on the local pub, the Swan where we have our annual family reunion parties. John was my uncle and Sydney my grandfather making Joseph my great grandfather. I have put this book together with the help of all Sydney’s grandchildren as a tribute to the parts they have played not just in our lives but in so many more by helping to keep Britain safe.

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WIN A COPY

To enter the competition simply answer this question, The Book tells a story about how many families? Send your answer to reg@insideflintshire magazine.co.uk along with your full address, contact details and the date you received the magazine.

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Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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