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Editorial Lois Kingscott
Halloween is just around the corner so it’s time to get your house looking super spooky! Our Interior Design article has some great tips on decorating for Halloween whether you’re aiming for a simple look or going all out to impress your ‘trick-or-treaters’. If you’d rather not decorate your home with scary spiders and ghoulish ghosts, there may be a reason behind your fears. The Medical Health feature explains what phobias are and the different types, why we have phobias and how they affect us. Watch out for the terrifying tarantula! If you fancy a night with the Welsh National Opera, we have a fantastic competition for you to enter where you could win tickets to see ‘Sweeney Todd’!
Inside this month ...
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Welcome to October ...
Cocktail Time Food & Drink Delicious Dishes Mirror Mirror on the Wall Style & Fashion Medical Health Parenting & Guardianship What’s On Wild Food Foraging Wildlife Matters Interior Design Word Search In the Garden Sudoku Money Matters Quick Crossword Motoring Index, Competitions, Solutions
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Cocktail Time with Lois Kingscott
Whiskey Sour The Whiskey Sour was first recorded in Jerry Thomas’ 1862 book ‘The Bartender’s Guide’, albeit being known for over a century prior. Back then, travel took forever, refrigeration was lacking and the concept of germs was unheard of. Sea travel wasn’t as easy as journeys over land – food and water would spoil over time, and water wasn’t considered safe due to the germs. Sailors suffered from scurvy, malnutrition and sea-sickness until an English bartender named Vice Admiral Edward Vernon mixed a few ingredients together to serve his crew. Within their rations sailors had lemons and limes to prevent scurvy and liquor for something to drink. The liquor, watered down with lemon juice, brought about an early version of the Sour. When brought to shore, this concept became popular and developed to the sour cocktail we now know. The egg white was added at a later stage as a creamy, frothy element to help the cocktail go down smoother and make it look better in the glass. This is sometimes called a Boston Sour. Ingredients: 60ml bourbon; 30ml lemon juice; 15ml simple syrup; egg white (optional); ice; maraschino cherry and ½ orange slice to garnish. Method: 1 Pour ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake well then pour into a rocks glass over ice. 2 Garnish with a maraschino cherry and half a slice of orange. 3 If using the egg white, dry shake (no ice) vigorously in a shaker to get it white and foamy. Then add ice and the other ingredients.
PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY Why not have a Mocktail? For a non-alcoholic alternative, mix 25ml lime juice with 75ml Ginger Ale and pour over ice. Garnish with a wedge of lime. Page 4
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Delicious Dishes with Helen Kingscott
Thai green prawn curry A tongue-tingling curry with plenty of crunch. Serves 4 Ingredients: 200g onion; 2tsp coconut oil (or olive oil); 120g Thai green paste; 200ml coconut milk; 300ml vegetable stock; 200g green beans; 200g red pepper; 1 lime; 400g cooked king prawns; coriander. Method: 1 Dice the onion and fry with oil for 5 minutes to soften. 2 Add Thai green paste and heat through for 2 minutes. 3 Mix in coconut milk and stock and bring to a simmer. 4 Add green beans and diced red pepper to the sauce and leave to simmer for 10 minutes. Leave for longer
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if you prefer your vegetables to be softer. 5 Squeeze the lime juice into the pan and stir. 6 Add the prawns to heat through when nearly ready to serve. 7 Garnish with coriander and, if desired, serve with rice of your choice. If you don’t like prawns, replace with the same weight of diced chicken breast (this will need longer to cook).
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Why thousands of customers are choosing Wiltshire Farm Foods For people who want to enjoy life to the full, there’s not always enough time in the day to cook from scratch. With a delicious range of frozen meals delivered directly to the front door, Wiltshire Farm Foods helps people to eat well in their own home, in their own time. Wiltshire Farm Foods’ award-winning chefs have cooked up over 300 delicious dishes, using quality ingredients from approved suppliers. Over 90% of our main meals and hot desserts, and all of our cakes, are produced by our teams in Trowbridge – the county town of Wiltshire. These meals are delivered directly to your door for free by a friendly, local delivery driver and stack neatly in the
freezer. When you’re ready to eat, simply remove a meal and pop it straight in the microwave or oven – no need to defrost. As well as being quick and easy, the Wiltshire Farm Foods service is also completely commitment-free – customers can order as much or as little as they like.
Discover what’s new in the Autumn and Winter 2015-2016 brochure The new Autumn and Winter 2015-2016 brochure offers a wide range of customer favourites and some exciting new ranges, dishes and recipes – all prepared to the highest standards. Enjoying life and eating well has never been easier. For more information about Wiltshire Farm Foods in The Forest of Dean and the surrounding areas, you can contact Brian and Sara Stringer and their Award Winning team on 01600 892855 or visit wiltshirefarmfoods.com for a free brochure.
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Over, Gloucester, GL2 8DB | enquiries@thewharfhouse.co.uk
AWARD-WINNING WATERSIDE RESTAURANT WITH ROOMS
Christmas at The Wharf House serves acclaimed modern British and European cuisine with a twist. Booking strongly advised.
Three Courses
01452 332 900 www.thewharfhouse.co.uk Directions: Turn off the A40 at traffic lights 250 yds west of Over Roundabout (junction A40/A417, GR SO 816197)
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All profits from The Wharf House will be used for the promotion and restoration of Hereford & Gloucester canal
per person
Fes ve Menu 3 courses – £26.95
BOOK YOUR CHRISTMAS MEAL NOW! STARTERS Pressed duck and apricot terrine, sweet date chutney and melba toast Cola braised Japanese style pork belly, poached pear and roasted chilli Thai curried tofu, spinach and avocado fri"ers Cream of wild mushroom soup drizzled with white truffle oil Tempura of so shell crab with homemade tartar sauce MAINS BLACK ROCK GRILL Served with salad and chips or wok-fried potatoes Choose from: 8oz sirloin steak, 8oz kangaroo fillet, fresh swordfish steak or haloumi cheese and vegetable pla"er (v) FROM THE KITCHEN Served with Christmas vegetables and roast potatoes Pan fried duck breast, wasabi mash and red onion jam Poached salmon served with smoked salmon mouse and mussel veloute Turkey paupie"e with a cranberry and cashew nut s!r fry Goats cheese and red onion tartle" with a pesto and rocket salad (v)
An old English setting with a modern twist!
F U S I O N R E S TA U R A N T
- AT T H E O L D B E L L TWO BARS, LOUNGE & RESTAURANT SWEETS White chocolate and poached strawberry cheesecake Xmas pudding with a brandy sauce Bailey’s crème brulee Trio of chocolate mousse Coffee/tea and mince pies/ chocolate truffles £2.95 suppplement
To book your Christmas meal call 01452 332993 or email info@theoldbell-tigerseye.co.uk The Old Bell - 9a Southgate St - Gloucester - GL1 1TG
www.theoldbell-tigerseye.co.uk 30 DIFFERENT VODKAS ● FANTASTIC COCKTAILS, ALES & BEER ● STUNNING WINE SELECTION Page 8
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Mirror Mirror on the Wall... with Katie Pollard
Nineties Halloween Revival Grunge. Not a word we hear and associate with ‘beauty’. However, back in the 1990s, this androgynous look crept its way into women’s (and men’s) grooming regimes. This was where you would purposely use your make up bag to create the ‘morning-after-thenight-before’ face of dark, smudgy eyes combined with nude lips and a pale skin tone.
Embrace the dark side The ultimate grunge statement was made with the eyes. All in all, it is the perfect look to recreate for trick-ortreating this Halloween season. Not all looks have to be horror – 90s grunge allows you to embrace the dark side whilst maintaining an ontrend edge! Here is where you would create heavily shadowed lids to achieve the desired effect. A dark – preferably black or dark coloured –
palette is used to smudge onto the upper and lower lids accompanied with eyeliner and lashings of mascara. As we all know, eye shadow has a way of sprinkling down onto the cheeks when applying! Therefore, ensure your eyes are the first port of call before you attend to your cheeks, then you can wipe off any unwanted smudges.
An obvious contrast to will accentuate the grunge inspired dark eyes eye make up. The best thing about For the second stage of grunge, the palette now tones down to the opposite end of the colour spectrum. The paler tones provide an obvious contrast to the dark eyes, which compliment one another perfectly for this look. Once you’ve applied your nude colour to the mouth, make sure you blot with your finger to create a matte effect. A tip for keeping it on a little longer is to put pressed powder onto the tip of your finger and dab over the lips.
a nude lip is that it allows a little drama and attention to be paid to the eyes. The smokey eye may be the most timeless look on record, yet it remains our favourite. What’s that old saying? ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’? Well, if it it’s still working, keep working it and this Halloween provides the perfect opportunity to trick or treat yours!
Allow a little drama For those who would prefer to inject a touch of ‘glam grunge’, sprinkle some glitter along the cheekbones and partner with glittery eye shadow as opposed to just black. The dark upper face in contrast with the paler complexion The Local Answer
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Style & Fashion with Sophie Perry
Keep your AW15 wardrobe alive and kicking This autumn faux fur is trending with force, but avoid playing it safe with your neutral browns and blacks, and instead follow designer Roksanda with bright, bold, block colours. This will certainly keep your Autumn/ Winter 2015 (AW15) wardrobe alive and kicking! Neo-Victorian is also trending – a mixture of Victorian and Edwardian inspired clothing with a modern edge. Take a look at Alexander McQueen and Givenchy AW15 collections – a great illustration of this trend featuring lots of lace leather and sheer fabrics. Fashionista FKA Twigs is great inspiration for how to wear this style on a day-to-day basis.
designers this season in both men and womenswear with his distinct and uniformed style evidently channelled on the catwalk. Lacoste had Royal Tenenbaums style tracksuits along with Richie Tenenbaum’s signature headband, polo shirt and Turtlenecks continue to be a staple two piece suit. Get inspired yourself piece in our autumn wardrobe. and marvel in Anderson’s unique Women can use this as a base layer filmmaking style- films include under any dress, jumpsuit or Moonrise Kingdom, The Life top for extra warmth and for Aquatic and The Grand Budapest men we continue to see it Hotel to name a few. styled with a tailored two piece suit. Transform any minimal
outfit
A versatile look
This season’s must have For the guys, there is accessory is oversized a big focus on tartan – Distinct and uniformed earrings. Worn on just one and lots of it! With style ear, this is a statement many designers Producer Wes Anderson has piece that will transform including Topman and become incredibly influential to our any minimal outfit, as Tom Ford creating designer Tibi showcased in tailored tartan suits, his recent collection. this is a versatile look Hosiery has also become that can be worn with very popular. This is a good subtlety if choosing way to add interest and softer tones or boldly texture into your wardrobe, with bright colour with quirky lazer cut patterns combinations. A great and lace prints. look for both workwear The 70s phenomenon still and socialising. remains, so men and women Print was also a layer up your summer pieces as recurring theme on the we continue into winter. Wear runways of London with a shearling jacket to Collections: Men 2015. complete this look. Women will These prints weren’t find this season’s latest 70s pieces subtle either, with bold have a more romantic feel with large graphics worn as a floor length, long flowing, floral coordinating jacket and trouser dresses. piece.
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Medical Health with Holly Prince
Overcome your phobias Sometimes scary things can be fun – such as Halloween, which is associated with monsters and ghouls and things that go bump in the night. But when we fear ordinary things in our everyday lives, this anxiety can turn into a phobia. A phobia is defined as an irrational fear of something, which many people wouldn’t be afraid of, but for the sufferer it produces an automatic and overwhelming response. This anxiety can interfere with the person’s daily life – for example, going out to work or socialising – as they will try to avoid the object or situation (stimulus) that they are fearful of. Fear is a natural reaction to danger. When we feel afraid, we experience the ‘fight, flight or freeze’ response, where we react by facing the danger, getting away from it, or doing nothing. This fear may be due to something real or a perceived threat, and the response is the body’s way of protecting us from it. But if there is no real danger and the response is an over-reaction, this is when people are said to have a phobia. To a person with a phobia, there is nothing
L et ’s Ta lk
irrational about it – it is a genuine fear response. Symptoms might include sweating, rapid heart rate, dry mouth and breathlessness, shaking, nausea, continual thoughts of dread, panic and powerlessness. There are many things that people can have a phobia of, and these are sorted into three types. The first two are ‘complex phobias’ – social phobias, and agoraphobia (fear of being trapped in a confined or inescapable place). The other type is ‘specific phobias’ and these are sub-categorised into fears about the natural environment – such as brontophobia (fear of thunder); animals – like cynophovia (fear of dogs); medical-related – like fear of needles or blood; and situational fears – such as fear of flying. An estimated 10 million people in the UK have a phobia, so if you’re one of them, you’re certainly not alone! Phobias can take over people’s lives if they do not take action to control the fear. Fortunately, there are many recommended treatments available that can alleviate the symptoms and feelings associated with the stimulus, or cure the fear altogether. Hypnotherapy can be used to tap into subconscious processes that are involved in the fear response, and to promote relaxation. Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) helps people to question and
challenge their thoughts and feelings about the stimulus and to modify behaviours in order to react differently and not avoid the feared object/ situation. Gradual exposure (desensitisation) involves confronting the fear little steps at a time – for example, seeing a picture of a spider, then being in the same room as it, leading up to touching the spider, until the person feels relatively comfortable around it. Anti-anxiety medications can also be used to suppress the physiological and psychological symptoms of fear, and your GP can advise you about these.
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Parenting & Guardianship with Roberta Smart
Keep busy on rainy autumn days It’s that time of year when, as the wheel turns, the nights darken and we head into deepest winter. But not without first relishing in the glorious golden gifts of autumn. As we step into October the leaves are turning from green to gold, conkers and pine cones litter the ground and we find ourselves searching for long lost gloves, hats and scarves to ward off the chill wind. Weekends are made for autumn fun so I thought I would share with you a few different ideas for getting the most out of the treasures of autumn.
Make a beautiful light display For rainy days at home there are some wonderful projects to try such as recycling jam jars. Remove all labels and use craft glue to stick golden leaves around the outside before placing tea lights inside to make a beautiful light display. Go for a walk and explore your local trees. Enjoy the gorgeous crunch and rustle underfoot before collecting some ‘special’ leaves and some fat brown conkers and full Page 14
pinecones to take home as decorations. I enjoy cuttings of ivy and berries too for floral arrangements, and can begin planning my natural Christmas decorations at the same time. Here in Gloucestershire we are lucky enough to have access to pumpkin growers and farmers markets where we can go the whole hog at Halloween, enjoying hay rides and haunted trails as well as purchasing the all important pumpkin for lanterns on the 31st. Back at home, there are plenty of ways to get busy at autumn time. Why not build a hedgehog house ready for little mammals to live in over winter, and set up a feeding station for your garden birds.
American cousins, to be grateful for all we have. We can notice the blessings we have in life and begin a season of rituals that we can take into winter. If you can manage it how about a last visit to the beach to enjoy a barbecue and hot chocolate on the rocks, overlooking the ocean, wrapped up in coats and scarves? What a bracing way to celebrate the turning of the year and build yet more memories for your children to treasure. This truly is my favourite time of year, and whatever you do I hope you find some unique ways to have fun with your family. Remember, Watch wildlife when all else fails there is always all year round the pure bliss of watching a favourite A bird table with film in your pyjamas! hanging feeders for nuts or fat balls is a great way to watch wildlife in your garden all year round, and gives the children inspiration for drawings and paintings on rainy days. I love to give my children a new journal at Halloween. After decorating the cover we put pictures and treasures in the pages, write seasonal poems, record events and remember family members on their birthdays. As Halloween is all about remembering those who went before it seems the right time to begin a fresh start and, like our
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What’s On The Local Answer Event Listings are compiled and presented in good faith with the kind support of many contributors. We recommend you use the contact details provided to check event information updates prior to planning your visit. 3-4 OCTOBER CRAFT FAYRE Start your Christmas shopping early with some beautifully hand-made local gifts at the Batsford Craft Fayre, in the new Education Centre. Browse a wide variety of products by local designers and makers, including cards, pottery, candles, and much more. Saturday 9am–5pm and Sunday 10am–5pm. Free entry. www.batsarb.co.uk. 01386 701441. Batsford Arboretum, Moreton-in-Marsh GL56 9QB. 7 OCTOBER FOSTERING DROP IN EVENT Interested in fostering? Gloucestershire County Council is holding a drop in event at Fairford Library on Wednesday 7th October from 2pm-5pm. Alternatively call 01242 532654 for more information. 8 OCTOBER WEDDING OPEN EVENING Recently engaged or just looking for the perfect venue, why not pop along to our Wedding Open evening from 5.30-8pm and view the fabulous Merlot Suite set up for a ceremony and Wedding Breakfast along with local suppliers. Hallmark Hotel, Matson Lane, GL4 6EA. 01452 525653. gloucester.events3@hallmarkhotels.co.uk. 9-10, 15-17 OCTOBER THE COTSWOLD PLAYERS PRESENT OEDIPUS AND HIS DAUGHTER ANTIGONE Driven from his home by a prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother, Oedipus defeats the Sphinx to become king of Thebes. Here is a rare opportunity to see a double bill of Greek tragedy staged in classic style but in a new adaptation. cotswoldplayhouse.co.uk/tickets 16 OCTOBER BEN WATERS AND VERY SPECIAL GUESTS One of Jools Holland’s top ten favourite pianists of all time. Jools even asked him to play at his wedding. Ben has also played at parties for Mick Jagger and performed with the greats: Chuck Berry, The Rolling Stones and Mick Hucknall. Ben Waters will perform at the Bacon Theatre with his band of equally fine musicians, in aid of Maggie’s Cancer Care. Support by Kyla Brox. 7.15pm. £24. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002.
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17 OCTOBER BACK TO BROADWAY The all-singing, all-dancing, theatrical sensation that invites you to take a journey through the magical world of musicals; with unforgettable performances, dazzling costumes and original choreography. 7.30pm. £18 (£16). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. 17 OCTOBER – 1 NOVEMBER AUTUMN PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS Join Alan Ranger, an internationally acclaimed and award winning professional photographer, on a half or one day photography workshop. Suitable for beginners and more advanced photographers, Alan will work with each person individually to capture the wonderful autumn colour in the Arboretum. Half day workshops 8am-12pm or 1pm-5pm – £79. Full day workshops 8am-5pm – from £130. All bookings must be made in advance. For details and to book visit www.alanranger.com/batsford. 19-20 OCTOBER ALICE – THE MUSICAL
Alice – The Musical brings Lewis Carroll’s zany world to life. The nonsense of Wonderland is captured in this fast paced exciting production with its catchy songs. With a cast of 30 ranging in age from 6 to 16, the members of Young Promenaders have been enthusiastically rehearsing since June. Directed by Paul Avery, assisted by Heather Gallagher. Musical Director – Vicki Beauregard assisted by April Perrot and Poppy Storey. Choreography by Molly Champion-Pinchin. 7pm. Tickets from Showcase on 01242 224144 – adults £10, children £6. Parabola Arts Centre, Parabola Road, Cheltenham GL50 3AA.
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21 OCTOBER HENVY V Henry IV is dead and Hal is King. With England in a state of unrest, he must leave his rebellious youth behind, striving to gain the respect of his nobility and people. Laying claim to parts of France and following an insult from the French Dauphin, Henry gathers his troops and prepares for a war that he hopes will unite his country. Henry V will be broadcast live from the RSC in the 600th anniversary week of the Battle of Agincourt. 7pm. £16.50 (£14.50, student £12.50). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. 22 OCTOBER – 1 NOVEMBER SLIMBRIDGE SPOOKTACULAR
Fiendish fun is in store for little explorers. Find the missing pumpkins, make a magic potion, meet the wizard’s amphibian pets, enjoy creepy crafts and take a scarecrow selfie. Face painting and pumpkin carving will also be available (extra charge). Book online to save 10%. WWT Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, GL2 7BT. 01453 891223. 24 OCTOBER AUTUMN SALE Cheltenham Hospital League of Friends are hosting an Autumn sale with handicrafts, cakes, tombola, raffle, books, jams, gifts, bric-a-brac, bottle stall, refreshments and much more. 9-12am. Entrance fee 50p. Sacred Hearts Church Hall, Moorend Road, Cheltenham GL53 9AU. 30 OCTOBER HALLOWEEN MURDER MYSTERY Enjoy a fantastic three-course dinner with coffee whilst you flex your amateur sleuthing muscles solving a thrilling Halloween themed Murder Mystery. From £29.50 per adult. Mercure Gloucester Bowden Hall, Bondend Lane, Upton St Leonards, GL4 8ED. 0844 815 9077.
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Wild Food Foraging with Steven Hawley
Magically transform sour sloes As winter starts to rattle its sabre, hedgerow harvests become more scarce so it’s time to start preserving if you want a steady supply of free nosh to get you through to spring. I think you should prioritise and start by preserving some alcohol! During previous outings, you should have started to notice Blackthorn trees producing miniature plum like berries, called sloes, along roadsides or round the edges of fields. The Blackthorn can be identified by its long needle sharp spines and leaves, which are oval in shape and serrated round the edges. The sloes are a light blueish purple in colour and if you’re brave enough to bite into one your tongue will grow hair and your face will want to turn inside out! But soak them in gin and sugar for a couple of months and that astringent sourness transforms into something magical. Harvest sloes after the first frost of the year and, if you’re a fan of tradition, prick each sloe with the spine of the tree they were picked from. Failing that, a fork will suffice.
It should be ready at the end of January Half fill an old sterilised sauce jar with sloes, add about 100g of sugar per 1 pint of berries (pack as many as you can into a pint glass without bursting them to acquire that measurement) and pop in one or two cloves if you feel like it. Fill to the neck with gin and seal the lid on tightly. Store in a cool dark place, the under stairs cupboard for instance, and turn the jar over once a day for two weeks then once a week for about three months. It should be ready to drain into clean sterile bottles toward the end of January. Leave to stand for another month to let any sediment settle and carefully decant into some sterile decorative bottles, once more leaving the sediment behind for clarity. All that’s left to do is invite some friends round and enjoy your sloe gin! Please remember to drink responsibly. If you’re not 100% sure that the plant you’re picking is safe for human consumption, don’t pick it. If you’re prone to food allergies, or pregnant, always seek medical advice before consuming anything foraged in the wild. Page 16
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Win Tickets!
To enter our draw to win a pair of tickets for 22nd October, send your name, address and telephone number to ‘Sweeney Todd’, The Local Answer, 1 Ullenwood Court, Cheltenham, GL53 9QS. Alternatively, enter via email by sending your details stating ‘Sweeney Todd’ to competitions@thelocalanswer.co.uk. Closing date: Thursday 15th October 2015.
31 OCTOBER HALLOWEEN BALL Celebrate Halloween whilst raising much needed funds for Midlands Air Ambulance. Monster Mash the night away to the band ‘Breeze’ after eating a fabulous 3 course meal. Fancy dress is optional but encouraged – prizes for the best dressed. £30 per person. Hallmark Hotel Gloucester, Matson Lane, GL4 6EA. 01452 525653. gloucester.events3@hallmarkhotels.co.uk. FUNGUS FORAY Join expert forayer Dave Champion along with the Cotswold Fungus Group for a walk through the Arboretum to discover the wonderful world of fungi. Learn how much they contribute to our thriving Arboretum. Walks (10.30am and 1.30pm) are limited to 25 people per session so book early – call 01386 701441. Tickets £5 per person plus entrance fee. Batsford Arboretum, Moreton-in-Marsh GL56 9QB. 5 NOVEMBER HAMLET Academy Award® nominee Benedict Cumberbatch takes on the title role of Shakespeare’s great tragedy. As a country arms itself for war, a family tears itself apart. Forced to avenge his father’s death but paralysed by the task ahead, Hamlet rages against the impossibility of his predicament. 7pm. £16.50 (£14.50,
student £12.50). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. 7 NOVEMBER 60S & 70S PARTY NIGHT Come and dance like you did ‘back in the day’. £15.50 per person to include a welcome drink, DJ and chef’s choice buffet. Hallmark Hotel Gloucester, Matson Lane, GL4 6EA. 01452 525653. gloucester.events3@hallmarkhotels.co.uk. 13 NOVEMBER THE KAST OFF KINKS Former members of the legendary band The Kinks, back together to play great music and to re-live the good times. Expect all the hits, including: ‘You Really Got Me’, ‘Sunny Afternoon’, ‘Lola’, plus many more. 7.30pm. £20 (£18). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. 17-21 NOVEMBER THE THRILL OF LOVE Phoenix Players present The Thrill of Love by Amanda Whittington. Mysteries surround the story of Ruth Ellis, the last woman hanged in Britain. Amateur production suitable 14 years+. 7.30pm. Tickets £9 (£8 conc) available at Tourist Information Centre. Call 01452 396572 or 01452 522795. Kings Theatre, GL1 1QX.
3-6 DECEMBER CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL 40 trees decorated by schoolchildren, organisations and businesses illuminate the church. Favourite trees chosen by public vote. Celebration service at 6pm on 6th December. St Edward’s Church, Stowon-the-Wold. 10am-5pm. 10 DECEMBER ANNUAL MENINGITIS NOW CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Performances from a male voice choir and local primary schools, the promise of snow and a visit from Father Christmas. Tickets – visit meningitisnow.org/christmasconcerts or call 0345 1204530. Prices: £10 nave seats, £5 aisle, £30 family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) in the nave, £15 family ticket in the aisle. 7.30pm. Gloucester Cathedral, GL1 2LX.
THE BIRD & DEER PARK WEEKENDS OPEN ON
PRINKNASH
• 28th & 29th November 2015 • 5th & 6th December 2015 • 12th & 13th December 2015
OPEN DAILY FROM 18th – 24th December 2.30pm – 6pm close
*Ticket price includes a visit to meet Santa with a gift, Christmas Fairy, illuminations, face painting, craft marquee and entry to the park. *Photographs are not included in the entry price
Hot food, drinks and gifts are available for purchase. Free parking. Group bookings available upon request.
Gifts are suitable for children over the age of one & are not gift wrapped.Tickets are non-refundable or exchangeable. Illuminations are turned on at dusk. Photographs are not permitted inside the grotto.
Open 7 days a week 10am-5pm • 01452 812727 • www.thebirdpark.com The Bird and Deer Park, Prinknash, Cranham, Gloucester GL4 8EX PARK OPEN AS NORMAL FOR HALF TERM
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Wildlife Matters with John Bromley
Creatures need home comforts too Summer is over and it’s time to tidy up the garden for the winter. Somehow it’s easy to visualise long, dark winter evenings keeping warm beside the fire listening to the wind and rain drumming against the windows. It’s even better with a nice mug of hot chocolate in hand to chase away those winter blues as you plan next year’s garden. However, spare a thought for the creatures stuck outside in the elements. They need home comforts as much as we do, and fortunately it is really easy to give them a helping hand and they will repay you for it.
There are benefits to doing something positive for nature A pile of leaves in a quiet garden corner will provide winter protection for mammals such as hedgehogs and voles as well as frogs and toads. If you don’t have trees or shrubs in your garden producing leaves, take a
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plastic carrier bag with you when you next go for a walk and fill it with leaves from a park or from under a roadside tree. Even when full of leaves it won’t weigh much and it will give you a genuine excuse to get outside for a stroll and a breath of fresh air. As always there are benefits to doing something positive for nature – even warty toads and prickly hedgehogs. For a start you will end up with a heap of leaf mold which gardeners call “black gold” because it is such a fantastic nutrient for your flower borders and potted plants. Meantime, the hedgehogs and amphibians you protect over winter will feed on nasty old slugs and snails in your garden, thus stopping them from munching your seedlings next spring. Don’t worry if you don’t have space for a leaf pile because there are lots of other things you can do, be it in a garden or on a balcony. Any hollow
plant stems from the likes of fennel, teasels or similar plants will provide a retreat for lacewings, ladybirds and earwigs. Break the hollow stems into 15cm lengths and tie them together in a bundle, then to a tree branch or balcony. These particular insects live on aphids so will be really beneficial in the garden next year.
Provide a little shelter for those important creepie crawlies Again, if you don’t have a ready supply of hollow stems at hand go foraging for them – it’s fun and gets you out and about. Alternatively you can loosely roll corrugated cardboard and pop it inside a cut down plastic drinks bottle and tie that somewhere safe for the winter. You can make simple shelters for beetles and other aphid eaters by piling a few thicker branches or small logs from your autumn pruning in a sheltered spot. Even a patch of grass left uncut over winter, or an upside down flowerpot filled with straw will soon become some creature’s winter refuge. So, as you tidy up your garden ready for winter have a look around and see what you can do to provide a little bit of shelter for those important creepie crawlies stuck outside in the rain and the cold.
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Just two miles from Norton Park Luxury Lodges is ‘sister company’ Court Farm Caravan & Camping, enjoying similar stunning views, shower blocks and electric hook-ups. There are also great hard standing secure storage facilities for large vehicles including caravans, motor homes, boats and horse boxes.
With an owner living on-site, secure lock-ups, key pad entry and 24-hour CCTV, you can rest-assured your vehicle will be looked after. This is a pay as you go service with no minimum or maximum time frame for storage. For further information please call: Bonnie 01452 731285 or John 07463 737404
w courtfarmcaravans.com t 07463 737404 Court Farm, Tewkesbury Road, Gloucester GL2 9PX
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Interior Design with Caron Burrows
Decorating for Halloween add candles and twigs for a natural display. The children will be excited by plastic spiders and witches hats added to a display. Perhaps you are not a fan of the typical orange and black Halloween colours? Try something a bit different with an alternative colour scheme. This can be easily achieved by Pumpkins spray painting pumpkins – An obvious choice is the trusted white painted pumpkins will pumpkin. If you want to add a few look smart, whereas gold and silver will layers and textures in a range of Halloween touches without going materials. Replace throws and cushions bring some sparkle. overboard, just concentrate on the with fur or knitted fabrics. Black doorway and entrance hall. Style a Soft Furnishing provides the traditional Halloween look table or dresser with pumpkins, and Create a sumptuous decor with multiple and autumnal colours offer an instant cosy feel. Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, providing the perfect opportunity to enter into the spirit of the season. Whether your home is the venue for a children’s trick or treat party, a formal party for friends and family, or you simply want to cosy up your home for autumn and beyond, here a few suggestions to inspire you further.
Candles An abundance of candles grouped together is one of the most effective ways to add atmosphere, whatever the occasion or time of year. For an autumnal effect, twist seasonal foliage around the base of large church candles or place them inside glass jars or lanterns.
Wall Art and Signs Instantly set the scene with spooky signs hung on your front door and dotted around your home. A more grown-up and long-term investment can be achieved by a large piece of appropriately themed wall art mounted in a prominent position – a great source of conversation.
Sophistication Decorating for Halloween can be elegant with a more ‘adult’ feel. Think about a few simple touches with a dark edge, such as serving drinks in black glasses or a decorative skull. Waterford Crystal offers a great range, which will add elegance and drama. For a more permanent fixture, quirky animal sculptures and rustic antlers can all add a spooky vibe to your home. Display them against a dark painted wall for extra spookiness. The Local Answer
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Cloudy2Clear Windows – Service With A Smile!
It’s been a crazy few months for Cloudy2Clear Windows. The company which specialises in repairing windows which are steamed up, broken or damaged by replacing the panes – not the frames – has grown rapidly as homeowners take advantage of their services. Managing Director Paul Spiller feels that it’s all about service: “Our product is simple. If your double glazing is misted up we can replace the glass at a fraction of the cost of a new window, in any type of frame, and with a new 5 year guarantee. But it’s not just
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about saving people money, although that obviously helps. “Many tradespeople have struggled since last year and I honestly feel that during the good times a minority perhaps didn’t focus on customer care as much as they should have done. We make sure we turn up when we say we will, do the job the customer requires and leave their house as clean as a whistle. I often get comments back from customers on how they really didn’t expect that sort of service which, in a way, is very sad for the service industry as a whole.”
Cloudy2Clear service Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds, and Paul is finding that his approach is a major factor in his success. “The truth is that it’s not just the personal satisfaction that I get from doing a good job but also it makes good business sense. I get a huge amount
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of business from friends and family of people I’ve done work for, which just goes to show how much a little bit of effort is appreciated.” So, if your windows are steamed up, broken or damaged give Paul a call for a free quotation on 0800 61 21 118 and he’ll be happy to help!
Page 25
ROOFING & CONTRACTORS chartered accountants
ACCOUNTANCY & TAXATION SERVICES
for new & existing businesses
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accountancy@andorran.co.uk 6 Manor Park Business Centre, Mackenzie Way, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL51 9TX w w w. a n d o r r a n . c o . u k
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In The Garden with Julia Smith
Provide a show through the winter Now is the time to plant wallflowers which will give foliage all winter and flower in the spring next year. You see the bundles of wallflowers in greengrocers and garden centres – choose fresh ones and plant out immediately. Orange wallflowers look brilliant with dark tulips such as ‘Queen of Night’ or ‘Havran’. October is a good time to prepare the ground for new fruit trees and bushes. If planting on heavy soil add plenty of grit to ensure drainage is adequate. Work in plenty of well-
rotted manure into each planting position and add a handful of slow release fertiliser when you plant the new trees. As mentioned last month you can now sow sweet-peas ready for next year. Soak them for a few hours in some water to help them germinate, then sow 1.5cm deep in seed compost in a 13cm pot, several seeds per pot. Cover with glass or polythene until the seeds germinate and then stand out in the garden in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse over winter. Now is also a good time to empty your hanging baskets and replant window boxes with winter pansies and primroses to provide a show through the winter into spring. It is good to clear away the excesses of the summer boxes and baskets that have gone over, and replace with something fresh and tidy – it always makes me feel very organised! Pop in a few dwarf daffodils like ‘tete a tete’ or ‘February
Gold’, or perhaps some Iris reticulata. Add some fresh young ivy and maybe a small conifer or two. It is nice if possible to pick out the colour of your front door with the planting. Mulch is a term that is bandied about by garden articles, and it basically means a layer of material laid over the earth to keep moisture in and deter weeds. The composted leaves you make are perfect to lay down around Hydrangeas, and especially other plants which prefer an acidic soil (pH of under 7) like Azaleas and Camellias. Bark can also be used, as can gravel, slate chippings etc. The golden rule is to make sure the soil underneath is moist before you lay down the ‘mulch’, and to remove perennial weeds such as dandelions, etc. October is a good month to mulch as the soil is still warm, and it will improve the condition of your soil in the future.
DRIVEWAY AND PATIO SERVICES 85 Cheltenham Road East, Churchdown, Gloucester GL3 1JN
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*the customer is entitled to a 14 day cooling off period by law
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Snap up a bargain at Gloucester Furniture With new stock arriving all the time, Gloucester Furniture is the place to check out first when looking for a good quality sofa or bed at a bargain price. Based in the Barton area of the city, the company sources items from suppliers all around the world to help you turn your house into a home. From corner sofas to three-piece suites and recliner chairs, there are hundreds to choose from in an extensive range of colours, patterns and fabrics. Starting a £199 for a sofa and £69 for a bed, customers will find it hard to find cheaper prices anywhere else in Gloucestershire. A corner sofa with a RRP of £1,399 is currently in the showroom for sale at just £650. A king-
size orthopaedic bed starts at £269 while a 2-seater sofa bed can be snapped up for £499.
Browse at your leisure Owner Nick Barnes prides himself on his ‘no pressure’ policy when it comes to selling. Customers are left to take their time and browse at their leisure with staff discreetly on hand to answer any questions. When buying such a major item the company understands customers want to take their time and be absolutely certain of their purchase. A limited stock of tables and chairs can also be viewed at the showroom, and the company also offers a bespoke sourcing service. If a customer has their sights on something specific for the home, Gloucester Furniture will provide a website link for a choice of possibilities. If the item is suitable the company can often pick it up from the supplier and deliver. Most deliveries can be made within a couple of days if the item is in stock.
S IRE SH ES R TE IC D ES R EE UC ST P ANT O GL BE AR GU
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WINDOWS I DOORS I CONSERVATORY SPECIALISTS
Ready for a cold hard Winter? Why not install energy efficient ‘A’ rated Windows in readiness for the cold harsh Winter? Stop those draughts and start saving money straight away, energy bills will never come down, but with energy efficient windows you will constantly be saving. The other benefits to having new windows are;
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Albany Windows is a local family business. First and foremost we are installers, which is important because installation is the difficult bit and we are small enough to maintain close control over every job.
But we are big enough to obtain supplies directly from large, high quality manufacturers of PVCu and aluminium windows, doors and conservatories. WINDOW AND DOOR SYSTEMS
Whatever your requirements, we have glazing options for every need and budget, from a single window to a large conservatory. We supply some of Gloucestershire’s leading builders of quality homes with their glazing, but we also carry out double glazing and conservatory repairs and replace misted sealed units.
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Sudoku Fill the grids so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.
Money Matters with Roger Downes of Andorran
A living wage Chancellor George Osborne was not a popular man amongst many of my clients with the proposals outlined in his summer Budget, the first allConservative offering for nearly 20 years. Now George isn’t the most popular man anyway, so what was it about his announcements this July that created so much dismay?
Anti-small business measures It’s fair to say that his additional 7.5% tax on dividends drawn by small business entrepreneurs as from next April has hit at the very heart (and pockets!) of ownermanaged businesses. And his statement that interest on buy-to-let mortgages will be gradually restricted to standard rate tax relief went down particularly badly with those people holding property portfolios, many of whom see that as their pension provision. No, it was neither of those anti-small business measures. It was one that will affect businesses large and small – the idea of replacing the current ‘minimum wage’ with ‘a living wage’. It matters not the size of your business, the minimum hourly rate that you pay your staff is set to rise steadily over the next few years from £7.20 an hour to £9.35 for the over 25’s, a rise of around 30%. Bigger businesses will simply increase their sales prices to compensate and no doubt add a little bit more for themselves. Retailer Next has already forecast price increases of 6% per annum in the run-up to 2020 and other household name retailers will undoubtedly follow suit.
Expect to see an increase in small business failures
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W h y n ot u s e t his s pa ce t o a dve rtis e y ou r bu s i n e ss ?
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ANSWER
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541072
But what chance does the small business, already burdened with the additional employee costs associated with pensions auto-enrolment, have of simply passing on this cost to its customers? None at all, so expect to see an increase in small business failures over the next few years. Whilst I support the principle of ensuring that the lower-paid receive a fair wage for a fair day’s work, we need to be a little careful of the potential consequences. What good is it going to be to them if it forces the hand that feeds them to shut down and £7.20 an hour suddenly becomes zero? The reductions in the rate of Corporation Tax and the increase in Employment Allowance, which Mr Osborne says will help to defray these costs, are nothing more than tokens. Come on George, what do you take us for?!
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Quick Crossword ACROSS 1 7 8 10 12 14 16 17 20 23 24 25
Desert wanderer Scandal Cape Logically Bluffing Unit of land Grassed section Canines Unwillingness Inuit canoe Provoking Group of musical notes
DOWN 1 Rock face recesses 2 A great distance 3 New Zealand bird 4 Acute pain 5 Bolted (of gate) 6 Rewrite on keyboard 9 Buddhist fate 11 Careless pedestrian 13 Opposite of aye 15 Protruded, ... out 16 Tempting 18 Chopped wildly 19 Rough-skinned 21 Female relative 22 Apiece
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Motoring with Christian Tilbury
A part of the family With such a vast array of models to choose from, family car buyers have arguably never had it so good. But while the market is awash with suitable, quality cars, there’s one model that always figures near the top of many a family’s wish list – the Volkswagen Golf. In production for over 40 years, the Golf has been a mainstay in Britain’s top 10 Admittedly, many believe it all best selling cars for seemingly went a little bit wrong with the MkIII forever, so what’s the secret of its and MkIV variants that Volkswagen success? launched in the 1990s and early 2000s, but the latest MkVII version Unwavering popularity There’s no doubt that it’s a great sees the Golf back at its best. car, but its unwavering popularity Importantly, its extensive range also stems from its rich history and includes something for everyone, the haloed badge. Ford’s Focus sells line-up spanning three- and fivemore in the UK, but it can’t compete door hatchbacks, a cabriolet version, with the prestige that many spacious estate and even a MPVassociate with the VW roundel or esque model. Very few of the Golf’s match the Golf’s 30-year legacy of so-called rivals can come close to rock solid reliability. In fact, so offering such a variety of body styles, dependable was the Golf that and it’s the same story when it Volkswagen felt confident enough to comes to a choice of what powers it. engineer a TV advert around it – A sizeable selection of anyone remember Paula Hamilton ditching the fur and fancy jewels but power outputs to pick from hanging onto the keys to her MkII Such is the array of engines, what Golf GTi? to choose can pose a bit of a
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dilemma. Together with traditional petrol and diesels, there’s the option of electric and hybrid units, while there’s also a sizeable selection of power outputs to pick from. For example, you could choose the BlueMotion 110PS 1.6 diesel that returns up to 88mpg, the 1.0 TSI 115PS BlueMotion that is exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty, the 1.4 TSI 204PS PHEV that gives you up to 166mpg together with a 0-62mph time of only 7.6 seconds or, for those seeking the ultimate in performance, the 2.0 TSI 300PS engine that propels the family hatchback from 0–62mph in a mere 4.9 seconds.
World Car of the Year 2013 It’s no wonder then that the newest MkVII version scooped the World Car of the Year 2013 award shortly after its launch and that Volkswagen has sold more Golfs than any other model. For anyone considering a family car, that’s more than enough to recommend it and goes a long way to explaining the Golf’s loyal following – for many owners it isn’t so much a family car, more a part of the family.
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Index of Advertisers FOOD & DRINK Forest House So Thai Tennessee Chicken The Cider Tree The Cross The Wharf House Tigers Eye Wiltshire Farm Foods
WHAT’S ON EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS Bristol Hippodrome 18-19 Forest Warrior 16 Over Farm 16 Prinknash Bird Park 20
HEALTH & BEAUTY NHS Let’s Talk
GARDEN SERVICES 27 17 LA Landscapes HEATING & PLUMBING PROPERTY 26 Norton Park 22 Pete T Plumbing WINDOWS & DOORS HOMES & GARDENS AJ Windows 36 BATHROOMS Albany Windows 30 Severn Vale Bathrooms 35 C&L Windows 29 BUILDING SERVICES Cloudy 2 Clear 25 A1 Roofing & Contractors 26 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Marshalls Driveways 27 R. Richards & Son 26 CARE SERVICES Barnwood Trust 12 CLEANING SERVICES 34 Marshall Dry Cleaners 10 Samaritans Ecoclean 24 & 32 LEGAL & FINANCE Andorran 26 FURNISHING & APPLIANCES Gloucester Carpet Outlet 2 MOTORING SERVICES 32 Gloucester Furniture 28 ETB Tyres
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COMPETITION WINNERS COMPETITION RULES Thanks to all who took part in our September 2015 competition and congratulations to the winner: Over Farm – Pair of tickets to Frightmare – Ben Browning of Blakeney.
1 Prizes are as stated and no cash or prize alternative will be offered. 2 Employees of The Local Answer and their families or households are not eligible to enter. 3 The first correct entry drawn at random after the closing date will win the prize as stated. 4 The winner will be notified by telephone after the closing date has passed. 5 The Editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. 6 Entrants must be over 18 years,
unless stated. 7 Proof of posting is not regarded as proof of receipt of entry. 8 The Local Answer accepts no responsibility for the provision of the prize, which remains at all times the full responsibility of the prize donor(s). 9 By entering any competition you agree to have your name published in the next issue of The Local Answer should you be drawn as a winner of the prize. 10 By entering any competition you agree to have your details passed to a third party.
BOOKING DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE – Thursday 15th October 2015
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