My local stockton web 2017 02 by Jeremy Middleton

My Local Magazine ®

Issue 69 | February 2017 | The BEST of Stockton’s Business, News, Reviews and To-Do’s

An Interview with Andy Preston Page 17

Martin Lewis Switch Bank Account Earn £100s Page 24

News - 5 minute catch up Pages 14 & 15

Recipe Page 6

My Local Magazine TM

April/May 2015 | The BEST of Middlesbrough’s Business, News, Reviews and ToDo’s

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Quality in the materials that we use for all our installations and the fact that all our loft packages are fitted by time served tradesmen so our customers are assured of the best job. Integrity in that we will turn up at the time we The company, based locally, say and make sure the house is spotless when we leave, offers homeowners the opand Value in that we offer portunity to maximise their our services at a price people storage space with a loft can afford. Our business ladder, 50 sq ft of boarding relies on referrals and we got and a light all fully fitted in a huge amount of our calls less than a day from just £277 + VAT. But it’s not just from people who have been the affordability of the pack- referred to us by our existing customers - that simply age the company offers that wouldn’t happen if we didn’t makes Yorkshire Loft Ladadhere to our overriding ders stand out as manager principles. Paul Robson explains: These days most homeowners suffer from a lack of storage space. So many precious items that need to be kept – but where to store it all? That’s where Yorkshire Loft Ladders come in.

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At the end of the day the old adage that happy customers

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Editor’s Letter

Welcome to My Local Magazine. Most of us go into the new year with new hope and aspirations. Me personally I’m not fond of it. Maybe its a bit of in trepidation of not knowing what is around the corner. In January a very dear friend and a close friend to my wife of 30 years past away. It was of great shock and upset. It really knocked us off our feet. I know our good friend Lavinia would have not wanted us to keep looking back and to look forward.

Father in Law Norman “At some point in your life you will have more years behind you than infront” It’s a bit of a leveller to say the least when you hear that? So I make it my priority each day to enjoy it and not waste it. I plan for things in the year ahead and when ever possible have some impromptu treats, when the opportunity arises and I ensure it always involves my wife Debbie.

She would have insisted we don’t dwell on things, and get on with what you enjoy doing. Enjoy life, spend as much time with your loved ones and don’t let trivia spoil the day.

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Contents

I remember the wise words of my

Features Recipe

Jeremy Middleton Managing Director T: 01642 924847 M: 07533 265 475 E: jeremy@mylocal-magazine.co.uk W: www.mylocal-magazine.co.uk My Local Magazines Ltd, Office 4, Walker House, 3rd Floor, High Street Stockton on Tees TS18 1BG My Local Magazine does not endorse any advertisement with in this publication. My Local Magazine cannot be held responsible for breach of copyright arising from publication artwork supplied. It is the advertisers responsibility to ensure conformity wuth the Trades Description Act 1975 Business Advertisement Disclosure Order 1977 and The Consumer Act 1974. Reproduction of this magazine is in anyway is strictly prohibited. If you wish to use any of the advertisements or content with in this publication please contact Jeremy Middleton 01642 924847 Whilst we, the publisher take great care to be accurate, no liability will be accepted under any circumstances should any of the contents of this publication be incorrect.

St Patrick’s Day

Save your sight

Russell Grant

Motors

23-25

Gardening

Trades

27-32

NEW Advertiser Index

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pancake day This year Pancake Day is Tuesday 28th February. More traditionally known as Shrove Tuesday, this is the Christian feast day before Ash Wednesday, which is the start of Lent. Lent is a time of sacrifice, so Pancake Day historically was the perfect time to use up ingredients such as eggs and fats which are intrinsic to pancakes. Historically Christians went to Church on Shrove Tuesday to seek absolution, otherwise known as shriving for their sins. So Shrove is taken from the word Shrive. A bell would ring to call people to confession and this became known as the Pancake or Shriven Bell. The date of Shrove Tuesday varies because it occurs 47 days before Easter Sunday which also alters year on year based on cycles of the moon. In the UK there are various traditions associated with this day in addition to the eating of pancakes. These include: Pancake Races: - One of the most famous races takes place in Olney in

Buckinghamshire where is it believed the idea of the contest originated. It is said to be based on the story of a local woman who whilst she was making pancakes, heard the Shriven Bell and ran to church still wearing her apron and tossing her pancake in a frying pan to prevent it from burning. For this reason in Olney, racers must be local housewives or men dressed as such and wear an apron and a hat or scarf. During the 415 yard race they have to toss their hot pancake at least three times and the winner has to serve their pancake to the bell ringer and be kissed by him. Other variations of the race include the one held at Westminster School, where the cook tosses a huge pancake over a five metre bar in the playground and boys try to catch the largest piece in order to get a cash prize from the Dean. From the twelfth century onwards, Shrove Tuesday Football Games were played out in the streets and often referred to as mob football. Nowadays only a few games take place as highways legislation has

prohibited playing football on the road since 1835. In Scarborough on Shrove Tuesday, it is customary for a large skipping rope to be in place and for up to ten people to be skipping at a time. In some other countries, this date is known as Mardi Gras and is marked by carnivals. These are still linked to the concept of celebrating the last day of ‘fat eating’ or ‘gorging’ before the commencement of Lent. The French translation of Mardi Gras is Fat Tuesday. By Susan Brookes-Morris

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Garlic and Herb Prawns A light and tasty supper

Preparation time: 25 minutes + marinating time Cooking Time: 5-6 minutes Serves: 2 Ingredients 12 Raw prawns in their shells Juice of half a lemon 2 Garlic cloves - crushed 3 tbsp Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill 3 tbsp softened butter Salt and pepper Method Rinse the prawns. Use a sharp knife to slice along the back of each prawn from head end to tail and remove the thin black intestine. Mix the lemon juice with the garlic, herbs and butter to form a paste. Season well with salt and pepper and spread the paste over the prawns.

Leave to marinate for 30 minutes. Preheat a frying pan. Fry the prawns until cooked, tossing them several times to distribute the heat evenly.

Turn out on to warm plates and drizzle with the juices from the pan. Serve with lemon wedges and crusty bread.

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Upcoming events for Stockton’s unpaid carers At Sanctuary Supported Living’s Stockton Carers Service we offer a wide range of support to adult carers in Stockton including practical day-to-day support, emotional support, accessing training, advice and information, benefits advice and referrals to other agencies that can provide additional support. We can assist you in many ways to ensure you look after your own welfare, as well as that of the person you care for.We also have a new carers’ room where carers can receive private and confidential one-to-one support with our experienced staff. Our weekly Carers Support Group is a chance for carers to meet other carers.We welcome new members, and there are no commitments involved, so you’re welcome to join us even if you can’t come regularly.We meet every Thursday from 1pm to 3pm at Five Lamps, 32 Dovecot Street, Stockton,TS18 1LN. Upcoming Carers Support Group activities: 23 February: Peer Support Session and Carers group consultation. 2 March: Guest Speaker - Loren Bellwood, from the Groundwork project, speaking about their gardening scheme for people with dementia

Stockton

Carers Service

9 March: Peer Support Session 16 March:Walk in Ropner Park (weather permitting) 23 March: Guest Speaker - Jackie Edwards, Occupational Therapist from the Independent Living Centre, speaking about disability equipment and services 30 March: Quiz and bingo - see if you can win an Easter egg! We also have a monthly Lunch Club, which meets at the Brewers Fayre at

Preston Farm from 12pm to 2.30pm, and offers carers a chance to get together, meet other carers and have a natter over lunch.The next Lunch Club date is Tuesday 14 February. If you are interested in coming along, give us a call and we will arrange to meet you as you arrive. For more information on Stockton Carers Service, call our freephone number 0800 917 0204 or visit us at 70-74 Brunswick Street, Stockton on Tees, Cleveland,TS18 1DW.

Supported Living

Free confidential information and support for adult carers who live in Stockton.

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www.sanctuary-supported-living.co.uk/carers Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees Clinical Commissioning Group

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Mother’s day This year we celebrate Mother’s day on 26 March. You may not realise, but Mother’s Day happens on the fourth Sunday of Lent and originally had religious traditions attached to it. In the sixteenth century, it was a celebration of the ‘mother church’ and people would return to the church in which they were baptised or where they attended as a child. Thus families would be reunited. This was known as going ‘a mothering ‘or Mothering Sunday. It was commonplace for the Lent fast which prohibited sweet, rich foods and meat to be lifted a little and for a Simnel cake to be shared. Years later, youngsters working as servants were given an annual day off to visit their mothers and would take gifts. This was called ‘Mothers Day.’ The celebrations of Mothering Sunday and Mother’s Day have generally combined into one annual occasion.

The first official Mother’s Day was organised by Ann Jarvis in 1908 in West Virginia as a memorial to her mum. By the 1920’s however Ann had become disillusioned by the commercialism of the day and especially the common use of printed greetings cards. Celebrating

the day became less popular. It wasn’t until the second World War when soldiers wanted to acknowledge their distant mothers, that the day grew in popularity once more. By Susan Brookes- Morris

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St Patrick’s Day an American invention?

Shamrocks, leprechauns and gallons of Guinness – St Patrick’s Day is nearly here. But why has this saint’s day become so popular? And who was Saint Patrick? Well, it may surprise you to hear that Saint Patrick (or Padraig to use the Irish spelling) wasn’t actually Irish. He’s believed to have been born to Roman parents, in Scotland or Wales, in the fifth century AD. At the age of 16, Patrick was captured and taken to Ireland to live as a slave. For six years, he herded sheep on Slemish Mountain, until he managed to escape and flee Ireland. A dream led Patrick to dedicate his life to converting people to Christianity. He returned to Ireland and began to spread his message. Today, St Patrick is regarded as the founder of Christianity in Ireland. It’s believed that St Patrick’s Day was first celebrated back in the 17th century. Held to mark St Patrick’s death, it was a humble, religious celebration up until the 1920s. An annual military parade started in Dublin in 1931, but the day remained

In the 20th century, corporations started to pay attention, and figure out how to take advantage of the celebrations. Pretty soon, T-shirts with embroidered shamrocks, inflatable bottles of Guinness, and even green McDonald’s milkshakes, started to become synonymous with St Patrick’s Day, at least in America. mainly a time for religious reflection, rather than painting oneself green and donning a funny hat. Bars were even closed on St Patrick’s Day, as a mark of respect, right up until the 1960s. Across the pond, in America, it was a different matter. There St Patrick’s Day became a day for Irish immigrants to celebrate their heritage. By the mid-19th century, parades and festivities were being held in major cities across the US. According to author and university professor Mike Cronin, ‘St. Patrick’s Day was a public declaration of a hybrid identity—a belief in the future of Ireland as a nation free from British rule, and a strict adherence to the values and liberties that the U.S. offered them.’

As with most American exports, some of these products have now become popular in the UK (though not, thankfully, green milkshakes), and in other countries across the globe. St Patrick’s Day is now celebrated in pubs, shops and student halls across the world. This year, Greening the City will see iconic landmarks across Ireland, from Trinity College, to Donegal Castle, go green on 17th March. If you’re lucky enough to be heading to Ireland for St Patrick’s Day this year, you’ll certainly have plenty of choices for where to celebrate. Beannachtaí Lá Fhéile Phádraig daoibh go léir – Happy St Patrick’s Day! By Kate Duggan

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Save Your Sight! Most people don’t think about their eyes much until something goes wrong. It’s important to understand what happens to our eyes as we age. Your optometrist does so much more than provide spectacles.The following conditions are all detectable by optometrists during a routine eye examination. Cataracts These are caused by clouding of the lens inside the eye. They are not painful but vision may be smudged or blurry. Diabetics and those taking certain medications are more at risk, but in most cases they are caused by old age. Most cataracts may be treated successfully by surgical removal then replacing the cloudy lens with a clear, artificial one. Glaucoma This is a condition in which the optic nerve at the back of the eye is damaged. It is usually though not always, caused by raised pressure inside the eyeball. 99% of Glaucoma sufferers experience no symptoms until significant damage to their sight has occurred. The risk becomes more significant once you are over 40 and it increases with age. Anyone with a family history of the disease is more at risk,

along with diabetics, very shortsighted people and anyone from an Afro-Caribbean background. If detected early Glaucoma can be controlled with eye-drops, and in some cases surgery. Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) happens when the delicate ‘seeing-cells’ at the back of the eye stop working. It usually affects both eyes. The risk of getting it increases with age but poor diet, too much sun-exposure and smoking are all contributory factors.You are also more at risk if there is a family history of the condition. There are two types: Wet AMD is rarer and can be treated if caught early, and dry AMD, which is currently untreatable. The progress of dry AMD may be slowed by increasing the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables consumed and by stopping smoking. Diabetes is not an eye disease but eye problems are among its most

significant complications. An optometrist will check for signs that the blood vessels of the eye are leaking or not working properly. If problems are discovered then you will be referred for laser treatment at your local hospital. Even if you are not Diabetic and your eyesight seems fine it is important to have the health of your eyes checked at least once every two years, as changes may happen without you realising. Remember… Unlike teeth, eyes do not usually hurt when there is something wrong. Generally, the earlier an eye problem is detected, the easier it is to treat. If you drive, it is your responsibility to make sure you satisfy the legal visual requirements. Book an eye examination today. You have just one pair of eyes, and they have to last you a lifetime, so take care of them.

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Why do we change clocks? it’s time to turn the clocks forward an hour at 1 am on 26th March. This time when sunrise and sunset are one hour later on the clock is known as British summer Time, or daylight saving Time. It is believed that the concept was first proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1784 in an essay entitled; ‘An Economical Project for Diminishing the Cost of Light.’ Ancient civilisations had already been adopting similar concepts however by adjusting their routines in accordance with the sun’s schedules. The first official modern use of Daylight Saving Time was in Ontario

in 1908, and several other Canadian cities followed. At around the same time MP Robert Pearce proposed a bill in the House of Commons based on work done by British Builder William Willett around moving the clocks eight times a year to achieve similar results. This was rejected. Germany became the first European country to introduce Daylight Saving Time in April 1916. Its rationale was that the use of artificial light would be reduced and thus there would be more fuel for the war effort. Britain followed shortly after in May 1916. Daylight Saving Time is now utilised in over 70 countries world wide although dates of implementation and

clock adjustments vary. The main benefits of Daylight Saving Time are said to be: - The opportunity to make better use of natural daylight - The ability to conserve energy that would otherwise be used on artificial light - A decrease in road accidents because roads are naturally lit during the time when most vehicles are using them Some studies such as one carried out by the Belfast Telegraph also claim that the extra hour of daylight means that tourists stay out longer and spend more money - an extra £6.34 million in Northern Ireland alone. Some are not in favour though. For example, traditional dairy farmers claim Daylight Saving Time disrupts milking routines. This mainly affects developing countries as elsewhere milking is automated. Some research has also shown that there is a greater risk of people having accidents or being the victims of crime because they leave their houses in the morning when it’s still dark. Some studies have suggested that in the first few days after the clocks go forward there are more heart attacks too. Finally for those of us who struggle to remember when we turn the clocks forward and when they go back, this little phrase may help: ‘Spring Forward, Fall Back,’ as the time when clocks go back always happens in the Autumn. This year in the UK, the date when Greenwich Mean Time will begin again is 29th October. By Susan Brookes-Morris

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A Good Read Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight

school. Dropping everything is not always an option, and public transport can sometimes let you down. Life can let you down far more than you can dare to imagine. She arrives at Grace Hall too late. Too late to collect her daughter; her only child who is now lying on the concrete, covered by a sheet. What could make a normal, happy 15-yearold jump off a building to her death?

We all think we know our children. We think we understand what makes them tick and we like to think that they would turn to us if they were in trouble. But do we really know what is going on in their lives? Kate certainly thought she knew about her 15-year-old daughter, Amelia. As a young law student Kate found herself pregnant and saw the chance to have the one thing she had always wanted: love. And so, she raised Amelia – with the help of a nanny – qualified as a lawyer and became successful in her career. She appears to have everything. A comfortable home in a desirable part of Brooklyn, and a place at Grace Hall prep school for Amelia: the perfect life. Of course, perfection is fragile, and it doesn’t take much to bring Kate’s world tumbling down. She receives a phone call from the principle at Grace Hall. There has been an incident and Amelia is to be suspended for three days. She requests that Kate comes immediately to collect her from

Alternating narratives draw us into the lives of Kate and Amelia, reconstructing the events that led to Amelia being on the roof of the school. Did she jump? Or is there something darker going on? Do any of us really know our teenagers? The World’s Worst Children by David Walliams

up this book, each one telling of the life of a particularly unpleasant child. In many ways it appears to be a straightforward case of morality. The unpleasant children don’t think things through and only behave in a way that THEY feel will be beneficial to them. Dip into a story at any point, or read the book from start to finish, it is entirely up to you. But be warned. These truly are the world’s worst children! There is Nigel Nit-Boy. He isn’t interested in super-heroes, but super-villains and there are none with a super skill like his. Find out what happens when he gets trapped in the Natural History Museum over night. I’ll give you a clue: it isn’t pretty. Perhaps Grubby Gertrude is more your style. Sure, we all get dirty as children – making mud pies, or splashing in puddles. Gertrude takes this to the next level. So dear reader, enter if you dare and read this book...or don’t…the choice is yours.

The quickest way to get someone to do something is to tell them not to. And as a reader you are certainly warned not to read this book. So of course, any child will pick this book up and do exactly the opposite of this advice. And they will certainly be glad that they did! Ten short stories make

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How to make your Conservatory Feel like a proper room if you’ve ever tried to use your conservatory in the winter, you’ll know that it can feel like a cold, damp and dismal part of the house. In all the glossy conservatory sales catalogues, the sun is always shining, the garden is blooming and everyone is having fun being in the bright and clean ‘new room’. The reality is that most conservatories are too hot to use in comfort in the summer, and certainly too cold to use in the winter. Condensation can be a problem in the winter, and it’s too bright to watch a tv in there in the summer. And when it rains, the noise can be deafening! Most conservatories have been built as temporary structures and usually as a less expensive alternative to an extension. This means that they don’t comply with the building regulations that an extension would have to do especially in terms of the thermal efficiency. The team at local specialists Inceil talk to homeowners every day

who want to be able to use their conservatory all year round and not on the handful of days when the temperature is just right! Their cost-effective solution is to fit an insulated ceiling fitted to the existing roof structure in just 1 or 2 days. The new plastered ceiling follows the contours of the existing roof and uses the most thermally dynamic insulation available. Your conservatory will feel like a proper room with a better temperature year round. And you don’t have to do anything to the external roof. It’s important when having any works done that you are happy with the people working in your home. Customers frequently comment on how polite and friendly everyone is in the Inceil team – and that they cleaned up when they had finished! On the Inceil informative website www.inceil.co.uk you can watch

an installation video which shows exactly how the process works, and request a free survey and quote. Or give them a call on 01904 891936. In just one or two days, your conservatory can be transformed into a comfortable and usable part of your home.

Is your conservatory TOO COLD to use this winter? An insulated ceiling from Inceil will transform your conservatory so it is warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer - so you can enjoy your conservatory all year round. Affordable, effective and fitted in just 2 days

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Writing an a* Essay Whether you’re 15 or 50, writing an academic essay can be pretty daunting. Hopefully our how-to guide might make the process a little bit easier. Start off with your notes. Get key points down, quotes, useful resources and so on. Don’t worry about grammar and spelling; at this point, it’s all about getting your ideas together in one place. Ideally, you’ll want to start your research well before your deadline, so that you can add to your notes when you hear something relevant in a lecture, or come across something when you’re reading. Make sure you include where you’ve found the information, so that you can cite the source in your essay. Try to identify any gaps in your notes. Do you need to find proof to back up an argument, for example? It can help to write yourself a set of questions that you need to answer.You’ll then know exactly what you’re looking for when you’re researching. Do use trusted sources as references. If you find something useful in a newspaper, check the background source, as some publications do have a habit of twisting facts.The same goes for websites such as Wikipedia. Once you have your notes, copy and paste them into a new document, and then start moving them into some kind of structure. Most essays will follow the following structure: Introduction (less than 10% of your total word count).This should give a brief overview of what you’re going to cover in the essay, and why. It should indicate that the essay is going to answer the set question, or expand on the title that you’ve chosen. Body of the essay Here you’ll want to fully explain the points you mentioned in the introduction.You’ll likely include quotes and refer to key research material.While you might include opposing views, the main body of the essay should support the conclusion. You might need to subdivide this section with subheaders. Conclusion (up to 15% of the total word count). Here you’ll summarise your main ideas and, if appropriate, answer the question set. While the saying ‘begin at the beginning’ might be true for many things, it’s not always helpful for essays (or magazine articles for that matter). It’s often

actually easier to leave writing the introduction until the end.That way you’ll know exactly what it is that you’re introducing. You’ll want to make sure the essay flows well, with well-structured paragraphs, and no spelling or

grammatical errors. Don’t rely on a computer spellchecker. It is difficult to proofread your own work, so ask a friend or family member to take a look at it for you if possible. Good luck!

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For March 2017

aquarius

By Astrologer Russell Grant

ariEs March 21st - april 20th Try not to make unfair demands on your nearest and dearest in early March. Temperamental behaviour could drive a wedge between you and your best friend, romantic partner or business partner.You’ll spend a little more money than usual during the first half of the month, possibly to replace some broken technical equipment. On the 12th, the Full Moon will help you wrap up a work assignment, paving the way for a possible promotion. Get ready to step into the spotlight. If you’ve been contemplating a makeover, schedule one for the 28th, when the New Moon will help you find a style that enhances your best assets.You’ll have difficulty balancing your personal and professional lives at the end of the month. No matter how much you ask for understanding, your partner will be irritated by all the time you spend at work. They won’t be gracious about the sacrifices you’re making to climb the ladder to success. TaUrUs april 21st - May 21st Overindulging in food and drink will be give you cause for regret at the start of March. Practice moderation or you could experience physical challenges. If you’re preoccupied with a past disappointment, find healthy ways to lift your spirits. Working on creative projects will be the best thing for you. Take a trip to the craft store and stock up on supplies. The Full Moon on the 12th marks an exciting turning point in your love life making this a good time to get engaged or married. If you’re in a serious relationship, your amour might give you a lavish token of their appreciation. An unexpected expense will arise during the second half of March; resist the temptation to borrow money from a friend. On the 28th, the New Moon could land you a lucrative opportunity that allows you to repay a debt. Don’t discuss this assignment at your regular job; it’s best to keep it under wraps. GEMini May 22nd - June 21st At the start of the month, friends will try to pressure you to do something irresponsible with your hardearned cash. Keep your money safe in the bank, where it will be protected from chancers and opportunists. If you’re single, a friendship could turn romantic when someone you’ve known for years will make a move on you. Relocating to a different neighbourhood is a possibility on the 12th, due to a supportive Full Moon. Although you’ll enjoy living in a more cosmopolitan area, it will take time 16

for a good friend or romantic partner to get used to this shift. Toward the middle of the month, your social life will be abuzz with excitement. Go to as many parties and casual get togethers as possible.You’ll enjoy mixing and mingling with a wide variety of people. The New Moon on the 28th will mark the beginning of a group association that is very stimulating. Join a book club or volunteer organisation. CanCEr June 22nd - July 23rd An erratic boss or manager will put too many demands on you in the early days of March. Don’t be too quick to agree to overtime.Your family need you close to home. By standing up for your rights, you’ll earn the respect of your superiors.You might even be given a surprise promotion.You’ll make great career strides after yielding impressive results with a tight budget. The Full Moon on the 12th could find you graduating from a class or making some other kind of step forward professionally. Someone who is impressed by your work will offer to form a partnership with you. If you’re put in charge of a group, don’t bother copying the competition. The secret to your success will be offering unique products and services. On the 28th, you’ll be given an exciting career opportunity. Your personal life will suffer in the early stages of your new job.Your loved ones will have to become more selfreliant. LEo July 24th - august 23rd It’s difficult finding an opportunity to use your expertise. Instead of holding out for the perfect job, it will probably be best to accept some part time or temporary work in early March. With a little patience and persistence, you’ll find the sort of position you are looking for. It’s simply a matter of making the right connections. Money from an inheritance, insurance refund or legal settlement will help tide you over during the first half of the month. A big pay cheque could arrive near the 12th, when the Full Moon ensures you are handsomely paid for a job well done. Don’t let a loved one pressure you into buying something you can’t afford in the middle of the month. It’s important to conserve your cash at this time. On the 28th, the New Moon will attract an opportunity to travel, study or both. This is a great time to apply to an academic program that is possibly located overseas. VirGo august 24th - september 23rd Throwing money at a problem will not be an instant fix.You will need to have a difficult

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conversation with someone close to you in early March. Finding new ways to save money is critical to the health of your relationship. If you’re single, stop trying to buy people’s affection.You deserve to be with someone who loves you for your personality, not your bank account. Be compassionate and encouraging to those you love. By tempering your criticisms with kindness, your bond will grow stronger than ever. The Full Moon on the 12th will find you reaping the benefits of a self-improvement program. Splash out on a new outfit, tablet computer or smart phone; you’ve earned a reward. A brilliant idea for an invention could occur to you in the middle of the month. On the 28th, the New Moon will mark a fresh beginning in a relationship. Let down your defences with someone who has proven their loyalty. LiBra september 24th - october 23rd You’ve been enjoying being in the spotlight, but this has made a close friend rather jealous. An angry outburst could occur at the beginning of March, making you worried about the future of this relationship. Try imagining what this situation must be like for your loved one. A little care and compassion will go a long way. On the 12th, the Full Moon will bring important information to light. At long last, you’ll be able to address an important family matter or wrap up a property deal. A demanding relative’s behaviour will create problems in your personal life. Be ready to defend your best friend or romantic partner to your kin. The New Moon on the 28th is excellent for signing an agreement, embarking on a relationship or hiring a professional. Don’t lend money to a loved one at the end of the month or you will regret it. You don’t want to feed someone’s bad habit. sCorpio october 24th - november 22nd Work will be erratic at the start of the month. Costly outings with friends won’t be an option. Do everything in your power to conserve your resources during the first half of March. Trust the advice of your best friend, romantic partner or business associate. With their encouragement, you can get out of this financial slump. A group project will come to a successful conclusion on the 12th, thanks to a supportive Full Moon. Employment prospects will dramatically improve after this; you could land a job with terrific benefits. The New Moon on the 28th could mark the first day of an exciting new role.Your ability to think on your feet will serve you well in this position. It will be a relief to escape the boring routines that have dogged you at previous companies. Working with unusual situations and offbeat people will bring out the best in you. saGiTTariUs november 23rd december 21st Friends probably won’t approve of a romantic relationship at the beginning of March. Being torn between these two spheres will be difficult. Be good to yourself during this stressful time. Brisk exercise will help you relieve tension, even if it’s taking a fast walk in your lunch hour. The Full Moon on the 12th will mark an exciting staging post in your career. Don’t be surprised if you’re given a rise, promotion or both. Landing a new job is another possibility during the middle of the month.Your love life will heat up near the 28th, thanks to an energising New

Moon.You’ll have to make the first move on the object of your affection. If you’re already in a relationship buy your amour a token of your appreciation. Choose something geared toward their tastes, not yours. If you don’t have any good ideas, ask their best friend for advice. CapriCorn december 22nd - January 20th Throwing your weight around will be a big mistake in the early days of March. Having a reputation for honesty, fairness and generosity will open more doors than pulling power plays. Dealing with some serious business for a family member will be helpful during the first half of the month.Your tenacity will help you cut through the red tape of a big bureaucracy and officialdom. Near the 12th, the Full Moon could mark a legal decision being given in your favour. This will strengthen your position and give you a greater measure of control over your personal life decisions. Go out and celebrate this victory with your nearest and dearest. Domestic life will be especially rewarding toward the middle of the month. The New Moon on the 28th would be a perfect time to make some home improvements or buy a piece of property. There will be money available for some beautiful fixtures or furnishings. aQUariUs January 21st - February 19th Angry words will be exchanged on social media. Think twice before posting a sarcastic remark on Facebook or Twitter.You don’t want a bad joke or a thoughtless comment to undermine your reputation. A home repair project will be completed faster than you expect during the first half of March. By the 12th, the Full Moon could send a nice windfall. If you have a business or romantic partner, they’ll get a pay rise that greatly improves your standard of living. Alternatively, you could receive an inheritance, tax refund or royalty payment. Use this money to take a relaxing vacation. You’re long overdue for a break. The New Moon on the 28th may prompt a passionate declaration of love. It’s a great time to propose, get engaged or exchange marriage vows. Do you already have a partner? Taking a mini-break will be a wonderful opportunity to reconnect. Escaping the pressures of home will allow you to fully focus on each other. pisCEs February 20th - March 20th At the beginning of March, unexpected expenses could come thick and fast. Money will be tight and there won’t be many opportunities to enjoy creature comforts. Professional demands will be significant. If you play your cards right, you could negotiate a pay rise. The Full Moon on the 12th will signal a turning point in a relationship.You may decide to move in with a lover or even a good friend. Getting engaged or married is another possibility. If you already have a serious partner, you can realise a goal you’ve both had since the early days of your courtship. Work assignments will be more plentiful during the second half of the month; you’ll be able to build up your savings account again. The New Moon on the 28th will give you a chance to earn a steady salary from artistic efforts.You’ll enjoy getting paid to create beautiful things for others.

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Martin Lewis

Mortgages - find the cheapest deal The biggest single personal financial risk in 2017 is that mortgage rates will rise rapidly. This isn’t primarily about UK base rates, set by the bank of England, it’s far more about the City’s long term prediction of interest rates – which new cheap fixed and long term variable rate deals are set based upon. Mortgage rates are near all-time historic lows and have been for a couple of years, and we’ve got used to that.Yet there is a plausible chance that 2017 is the year that will change. We’ve already seen some cheap deals such as HSBC’s 0.99% two-year fix being pulled. The five-year swap rates have increased from 0.35% back in September to 0.9% now – and we’re already seeing longer fixes start to get more expensive on the back of this. Of course, there’s no certainty here. Yet UK rates are so cheap that even if things reversed and they dropped again, the likely gain to mortgage holders would be limited. But if they did rise, the cost could be huge. The savings available right now can be huge, like Kperat’s who emailed: “Fixed at 1.24% for 2 yrs, reduced term to 13 yrs without paying much more a month. Will be saving about £20,000 even after fees. Thanks.” So, this is my clarion call for ALL mortgage holders, to check NOW if you’re on the cheapest deal, and, if not sort, it. Here’s what to do to find your cheapest deal. How much could I save? If like many people, you’re on your lender’s standard variable rate (SVR) – the default rate most fixes and trackers revert to when the intro deal ends – then the savings can be huge. Most SVRs are at 4% or higher. Yet the cheapest two-year fix is just 1.2% (you’ll need a top credit score and it’s got a big fee). Five-year fixes start at around 1.8%. All, of course, depend on how much of your home’s value you’re borrowing. So, someone moving a £150,000 mortgage from 4% SVR to a two-year fix at 1.2% would save £4,000+ over two years, even after fees. 20

Quickly find what deals are available For an easy benchmark of what’s available in your circumstances, start with a comparison site that includes all deals, including ‘direct only’, which aren’t offered by brokers. Full market comparisons include my own www.MoneySavingExpert. com/mortgagebestbuys, and www. totallymoney.com’s mortgage tool. Finding a cheap deal isn’t the end – you need to get accepted The days when lenders would fling out deals to all and sundry are long gone. Getting accepted is now the challenge. There are two key elements to this: - Is your credit score good enough? Your credit history is a huge part of whether you’ll be accepted for any type of credit, including a mortgage. So take precautions. Avoid any applications that leave a footprint on your file – such as credit cards, contract mobile phones or monthly car insurance – in the few months before applying for your mortgage. Never withdraw cash on credit cards or take payday loans. For full help on this, join my free Credit Club www.mse.me/CreditClub, which gives your credit score, affordability score and tells you what needs improving. - Are the repayments affordable? For the past couple of years, lenders haven’t just checked if you can afford the monthly repayments at the current rate, but they also stress test affordability if rates were 6% or 7%. Crucially, this doesn’t only apply to new mortgages, it’s also for re-mortgages too (which is ridiculous and, on an aside, I am campaigning against this). So, if this is a problem, it’s important to reel in your spending months before applying. Lenders will want evidence of income, big bills, expenses and even eating out. Use a mortgage broker to match your situation to a top mortgage. The information about what different lenders are looking for isn’t available to the general public. But it’s something that most mortgage brokers have and, of course, their job is to find you the best product. So, they’re a good

way to work out what the best deal available to you is.Yet do ask if the broker will check all deals available to them and not just a panel of lenders. Also, check how much it will cost and use a qualified one. Some phone-only brokers such as www.LandC.co.uk are fee-free. If you want face-to-face help, ask friends for a local recommendation or find one via www.unbiased.co.uk or www.VouchedFor.com. Don’t ignore the fees The smaller your mortgage, the bigger the impact of fees. A good way to compare mortgages is to divide the fee across the discount or fixed period. So, a £1,200 fee on a two-year (i.e., 24-month) deal is £50 a month. Then add that to the monthly repayment. I designed a “Total Cost” tool that does this automatically for you within the www.MoneySavingExpert.com/ mortgagebestbuys comparison. Fix or variable rate? A fix’s advantage is you get price and budgeting certainty that the rate won’t move for a set time, whereas variable deals move with the UK interest rate (and sometimes just on the provider’s whim). Generally, you pay a little more to fix, but not much. Ask yourself how much you think rates will rise over the period. If safety’s what’s important to you, err on the side of fixing, and fixing for longer. Right now, with fixed deals being outrageously cheap, it’s great time to do it. Got savings? They could get you a better mortgage For this, you need to find your current loan-to-value (LTV) – the proportion of the value of your home you’re borrowing, so £80k on a £100k property is 80% LTV. At every 5% LTV threshold, from 95% down to 60%, deals tend to get better, so a little extra can have a big impact on your rate. For example, if you’ve a £150,000 home, and want a £137,000 remortgage, that’s a 91% LTV, and the top five-year fix is 3.98%.Yet use £2,000 of savings to reduce the borrowing, and you’d be at 90% LTV – where the top five-year fix is 2.54%, saving c. £1,100/ year in payments.

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LISTEN TIDDLES. I DON’T CARE IF YOU’VE GOT A ‘BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE’ VOUCHER, YOU’VE HAD YOUR NINE LIVES AND THAT’S THAT!

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AUTO-BIOGRAPHIES Range Rover Evoque Convertible

You have got to ask why people spend so much on a piece of metal with a wheel attached to each corner. It almost seems a bit nutty when all most of us want is a tool to get us from A to B. But cars aren’t always about transportation.They can be about our emotions and our egos. Some of us use a new car as a status trophy – a badge of honour to show how well we’ve done in life. I suppose if we have a head-turner of a car in the Western world it’s about pleasure-seeking, too – and having an easier life. Let’s face it; we would rather have a shiny, luxurious car to travel around in than a rust bucket. And that need for self-satisfaction can overrule the down-to-earth side of us when we are selecting a car. Some of us kick the word ‘practicality’ to the kerb anyway. I mean, good grief, in Great Britain we purchase more convertibles than many other countries in the EU.Why is this? After

all, the UK is often dank and cloudy. Again, it comes down to that feel-good factor. Going topless when there’s sunshine in our country produces a massive rush - well, it does for me, anyway. It’s a better remedy for melancholia than a happy pill from the GP, I’d bet. But being prescribed a drop top car isn’t likely to happen at the doctor’s! Speaking of fresh-air motoring, the Range Rover Evoque Convertible has been launched recently.The looks of this SUV take a bit of getting used to, but they grow on you. As the fifth fellow of the Range Rover club – and the first convertible – Land Rover believes the all-new car will play a key part in continuing Range Rover’s tale of success, forging a fresh SUV sector. If industry professionals’ prophecies about a 20 per cent expansion in the international SUV market over the next five years prove accurate, then, the car firm has nothing but sunbeams heading towards it. The Range Rover Evoque Convertible has a material roof that can be triggered on the move – as long as the

SUV isn’t doing more than 30mph.The five-layer top will fold down in around 18 seconds and it will go back up in approximately 21 seconds. Inside, the colossal InControl Touch Pro nav is pleasing – and, more crucially, it works very well. Genuinely, the pinch-to-zoom function is as quick as Apple’s iPad or iPhone. The Range Rover Evoque droptop will seat four people and, for a convertible, it has an adequate 251-litre load area, too.The other good thing is that the roof opens and closes inaudibly and it tucks away compactly, instead of piling-up on the car’s tailgate. You can go for either a petrol unit or a diesel engine, buoyed by turbo power. This is all linked up to a smoothoperating nine-speed automatic ‘box, and all-wheel drive.The 2.0 turbo diesel is the best engine if you’re after economy, returning around 49.6mpg on average. The diesel Evoque Convertible shifts from zero to 62mph in 10.3 seconds, which is 1.3 seconds longer than the hard-top Coupe’s sprint - but both

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manage a top end of 121mph.The 240PS petrol propelled power unit is nippier, getting to 62mph in 8.6 seconds. On and off-road, the non-tin-top SUV seems just as gifted as its hardtopped sibling – with indistinguishable clearances, and a mutual 500mm wading depth. Indeed, at the car’s European launch in the French Alps, the Evoque Convertible worked its way up, down – and through everything asked of it – including deep snow.

• Pleasurable √

• 0-62 mph: 10.3 secs

• Sophisticated √

• Combined mpg: 49.6

• Talented on and off road √

• Engine layout: 2.0 litre 4—cylinder turbo diesel electric motor

• Pricey X Fast Facts (Evoque HSE Dynamic Lux Convertible - Diesel)

• Max. power (PS): 180

• Max speed: 121 mph

• Price: £51,700

• CO2: 149 g/km

I doubt many motorists going for a roofless Range Rover will take the trouble with the off-roading part – but it is reassuring to know the SUV can do more than just look sexy in affluent suburbs. The all-new Range Rover Evoque Convertible is being made at Land Rover’s Halewood plant, alongside the five-door and Coupe versions, and it is on sale in over 170 markets around the world. Prices kick off at around £47,500, which is £5,200 more than a Range Rover Evoque Coupe with a roof. Pros ‘n’ Cons • Good Looking √ www.mylocal-magazine.co.uk | E: jeremy@mylocal-magazine.co.uk

GardEn ViEW Spring has sprung

The other day someone said to me, ‘you are so lucky…you have a beautiful garden.’ I thanked her of course, but I really wanted to say, ‘Luck has very little to do with it. A beautiful garden does not happen by pure chance. It takes a bit of work and planning.’ As the spring equinox looms, the trees blossom and daffodils bloom.The garden is waking up from its winter sleep and is full of promise. I am excited to be outside in it but I’m aware for non-gardeners it can seem daunting when everything (including the weeds) starts growing at once! So where to begin? There are three fairly simple tasks which will get you off to a flying start. Pruning is the first task. It’s time to hard prune late-flowering shrubs like Buddleia, Leycesteria and Lavateria, but only if the risk of hard frost is past. Spring flowering plants such as Forsythia and Winter Honeysuckle should be pruned immediately the flowers fade. If you haven’t already pruned your bush roses, now is the time. Leave about an inch of last year’s growth to encourage bushiness and lots of flowers. Shrub roses don’t need such radical treatment but would benefit from losing a third of their old, thick, woody stems.

If you have a bit of a slug problem like I do grow them in pots. Pots also have the advantage of protecting the bulbs. I hate slicing through them accidentally when hoeing. And pots mean you can grow them even if you only have a balcony. There are loads of varieties to choose from.Three bulbs fit nicely into an 8inch / 20cm pot and five fit into a ten inch / 25cm pot. I’ve found terracotta pots best because lilies are tall and terracotta provides enough weight to prevent them tipping over. Lilies need a well-drained open planting mixture so I use a mixture of potting

compost plus a soil-less multi-purpose compost.The bulb tips should be a couple of inches below the compost. Keep in a sheltered spot and water when the surface of the compost looks dry. Once the buds have formed, feed weekly with dilute tomato food until late summer.When the blooms fade, cut the stems down and place in a sheltered spot. Each spring, scrape away a couple of inches of compost and add fresh mixture, then repeat the instructions above.Treated like this your lilies will reward you for three or four years before they need re-potting. By rachael Leverton

Then a bit of lifting is required. Lift congested clumps of snowdrops while they still have leaves showing. Finally, stay on top of the weeds from the outset. If you leave them, weeding quickly becomes an insurmountable chore. But of course gardening is about planting things and one of the best things to plant now is lilies.

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pLanT oF THE MonTH primula

These cheerful bedding plants are an economical and easy way to fill flower beds and patio pots with colour to welcome in the early spring months. Bursting with shades of sunshine yellow, bright pink and vibrant purples, Primulas will flower for weeks with litle maintenance needed, creating instant, colour and brightness to gardens and displays. Keep watered if the weather should be dry and these hardy perennials will bloom, lasting for several years and covering large areas. They can handle frost and will provide a rainbow of colour until the weather warms up.

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Local Middlesbrough Builder Based in Acklam | No Sales Nonsense

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