Glos North by The Local Answer

The Local

ANSWER YOUR FAVOURITE, MOST USEFUL MAGAZINE

Gloucestershire North 20,000 DELIVERED OCTOBER 2015 www.thelocalanswer.co.uk

EATING OUT EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS HEALTH & BEAUTY HOLIDAYS & TRAVEL PROPERTY HOMES & GARDENS SERVICES PETS SHORT WALKS RECIPES VOUCHERS COMPETITIONS MOP UP THE FUN AT THE TEWKESBURY MOP FAIR

The Local

ANSWER

Gloucestershire North – 20,000 copies Gloucestershire South – 45,000 copies Gloucester – 42,000 copies Cheltenham – 43,000 copies Cotswolds – 28,000 copies Forest of Dean – 22,000 copies

Chris Raymond Sales Director

01242 541079 chris@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Editorial Lois Kingscott

Welcome to October ... 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 ...

editorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Helen Kingscott editorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Distribution Robert Kingscott – 01242 541071 distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Administration & Production Beverley Ellin admin@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Alison Hambling alison@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Accounts Kerry Fell accounts@thelocalanswer.co.uk

1 Ullenwood Court, Ullenwood, Gloucestershire GL53 9QS

01242 510500

Cocktail Time Wild Food Foraging Delicious Dishes Pet Care Health, Beauty & Care Looking Good Feeling Great Medical Health What’s On Homes & Gardens Interior Design In the Garden Sudoku Save the Planet Quick Crossword Word Search Motoring Money Matters Index, Competitions, Solutions

4 4 5 7 8 9 11 13 20 21 23 24 25 27 28 31 33 34

Competition on page 18 thelocalanswer

@thelocalanswer

www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk

Page 3

Cocktail Time with Lois Kingscott

Wild Food Foraging with Steven Hawley

Magically transform sour sloes 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

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.

www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk

The Local Answer

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

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 donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like prawns, replace with the same weight of diced chicken breast (this will need longer to cook).

Now Taking Christmas Bookings Tel: (01242) 602303

OPEN: Mon-Sat, 10am-Midnight & Sun 11am-Midnight FOOD SERVED Mon-Fri 12-3pm &6-9pm, Sat 12-9pm, Sun 12-8pm

CORNER CUPBOARD INN 83 Gloucester Street, Winchcombe, Cheltenham GL54 5LX. www.cornercupboardwinchcombe.co.uk

The Local Answer

To advertise call 01242 510500

Page 5

w 5 Ne 201 r fo

LUXURY LODGES

A beautiful environment exclusively for lodges Brand new family-run development Quiet, secluded position with stunning views ● Close to local attractions and amenities ● Excellent location for road networks ● 32 plots for high quality luxury lodges ● Choices of sizes and internal layout ● Spacious properties with two or more bedrooms ● Mains electricity, running water and sewerage ● Adjacent parking space and garden area ● Resident ‘on site’ warden ● Electric password controlled entrance gates ● Active CCTV for security and peace of mind ● Free Wi-Fi ● Pet friendly ● Finance Available - stage payments ●

LICENSED ALL YEAR ROUND

●

Sale prices start from just £37,500*

Please call to arrange a viewing of some of the luxury lodges already on site:

w nortonparkhomes.com t 01452 731285

Norton Park, Tewkesbury Road, Gloucester GL2 9LH

Our second park is 2 miles away, offering caravan, camping and secure storage ...

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

Page 6

www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk

The Local Answer

DRAGON

Pet Care

with Oliver Wilkinson of Dragon Vet Centre Established in 1904, Dragon Vet Centre in Cheltenham is a centre of excellence for pets – large and small – and offers a full range of services from routine vaccinations, worming and flea prevention to complex internal medicine investigations, orthopaedic and key hole surgery for dogs and cats. As one of the largest veterinary practices in Cheltenham, Dragon can draw on the expertise of a number of vets with a great deal of experience in all fields of veterinary medicine and surgery. Our Cheltenham Vet clinic is staffed 24/7 so in the event of an emergency, registered clients simply need to call and attend our surgery based at the Cheltenham racecourse where there is unlimited free parking.

THIS MONTH’S SPECIAL OFFER

CONSULTATIONS

ONLY £20 PLUS FREE FLEA & WORM TREATMENT FOR ALL NEW CLIENTS The above discount is available throughout October 2015 – limited to one DRAGON voucher per household

I’ve been working as a vet and in vet clinics for over twenty years so I’ve seen a lot cases of what we euphemistically call an “intestinal indiscretion”. Last week did seem to be a rather busy one with one dog having a sock removed from its small intestine, another having a corn cob extracted, a piece of cork in another dog and two more socks ingested one Saturday morning that fortunately we were able to retrieve by inducing a vomit rather than risking them getting wedged on their way through. Over the years I’ve seen all manor of items cause blockages – there is of course the occasional bone, stick or stone. Kids’ toys make an appearance from time to time and smallish balls are easy to swallow. I had a labrador once with half a dozen golf balls in its stomach – the owner brought it in because he could hear a clinking noise and thought its joints were arthritic! An engagement ring, chewed up bits of rubber dog toys, food skewers and underwear are just a few more examples!

Pets aren’t the only animals susceptible to eating foreign material One of the most dangerous blockages comes from stringlike obstructions, and cats are more prone to these as they like playing with string, cotton or tinsel. The ‘linear foreignbody’ stretches out through the intestine but as the gut contracts and tries to push the object through, the string-like object can cut through the side of the gut causing perforations. Sometimes the foreign body causes an ‘intussusception’. This is where one piece of bowel gets stuck inside a neighbouring piece. The foreign item stops the bowel contracting in one particular spot so that as the section of bowel immediately before it contracts, it ends up on top of the next bit and often the only solution is to cut out the affected area of bowel completely. But pets aren’t the only animals susceptible to eating foreign material. “Hardware disease” is a term used for cattle that munch down wire or similar metal objects that then get stuck and often perforate one of their stomachs. Captive animals aren’t immune either – tragically a hippo in a zoo in America in 1996 died after a racket ball thrown into its enclosure became lodged in its intestine and in 1993 a giraffe in a Shanghai Zoo died when plastic bags blocked up its digestive tract.

Retrieve the item if you can

DRAGON VET CENTRE Prestbury Park, New Barn Lane, Cheltenham GL50 4SH

01242 580 324 ~ info@dragonvet.co.uk Opening hours: 8.15am-7pm Mon-Fri & 8.15am-1pm Sat 24 hour On Site Emergency Service ~ 01242 522 022

www.dragonvet.co.uk The Local Answer

Pets eat the silliest things

Young pets are more inquisitive so as pet owners we can reduce the risk of a gut tragedy by being mindful of a puppy’s desire to explore the world with its mouth. Don’t leave socks lying around, make sure rubbish bins are dog proof, only give dogs toys that are designed for them and if they start tearing chunks off them it’s time to bin them and get a less destructible version. Corn cobs and corks are particularly notorious so if you see your dog chewing on something they shouldn’t be, it’s best to retrieve the item if you can. In an ideal world your dog should be trained to leave objects on command... I’m still working on that one!

To advertise call 01242 510500

Page 7

12 Ta F -1 ste RE 5t r E h W Oc e to ek be r

Free Joining Fee and Free membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; pack worth ÂŁ25*

weight loss, health & fitness by former Rosemary Conley franchisee Julie Panthin

www.slimfitness.co.uk 07886 486577 *when joining Premier membership (valid until 31/10/15)

julie@slimfitness.co.uk

Looking Good, Feeling Great with Matt Wagstaff

Why you should resistance train

Builds strong bones

improving the ability to burn fat – especially in the 36 hours after resistance training. This does not mean you will get ‘bulky’! Training against resistance helps develop a lean physique and improves health.

Strengthens joints This form of exercise also helps in strengthening muscles, tendons, ligaments and cartilage. In turn this helps protect the body’s joints from injury. Having strong tendons and ligaments helps prevent any misalignment of joints causing poor movement or even dislocation. Resistance training improves balance and stability, leading to less falls in the elderly population and a decrease in sprains with the joints’ ligaments. This training is also generally less impact based, which helps prevent the joints’ wear and tear.

Training against resistance at any age helps to build our bone density, helping them remain strong and prevent break down. This also helps protect against injuries such as fractures, and prevents the onset of osteoporosis and certain types of arthritis that attacks weak bones, especially around joints. Decreases blood pressure Structured resistance training improves posture, helping hold bones in a secure Blood pressure is an epidemic at the position for optimal movement and moment. Structured resistance training has been shown to reduce high blood stability. pressure, decreasing the systolic Aids body composition reading enough to decrease the risk of Resistance training, especially heavier heart disease and strokes. Resistance load resistance training, can help with training also improves heart function, weight loss goals. Increasing the helping increase its strength and amount of type II muscle fibers has leading to better arterial blood flow and been shown to increase metabolic rate, improved pulse rate.

Shipton Golf Course

“A 9 hole pay & play course in the Heart of the Cotswolds” No need to book – Open every day from 7am until dusk

Family run course offering affordable golf for all ● Coffee shop and terrace ● Small stock of ‘everyday’ golfing equipment and clothing ● PGA Fellow Professional PGA Approved Establishment available for lessons and advice ●

The Local Answer

Improves endurance Contrary to popular belief, resistance training can help increase aerobic endurance. It also helps build muscle function and strength, improving the contractile abilities of the muscle, helping each contraction go further as well as preventing early fatigue and lactic acid build up in muscles.

How to begin resistance training If new to resistance training, a qualified personal trainer or coach is always necessary to learn the basics and avoid any injuries due to poor technique. If you suffer with any chronic conditions such as high blood pressure or arthritis you should consult your doctor first. Resistance training programs should begin with the basics and build up from there. Postural and muscular assessments should be performed before beginning a program to be sure of correct joint and muscle alignment.

Available for corporate days, birthdays and special occasions

Tel: 01242 890237

www.shiptongolf.co.uk

☎

shiptongolf@tiscali.co.uk

✁

Resistance training is classed as any form of training against a resistance, most commonly thought of as free weight training with dumbbells and barbells but also body weight training, resistance band workouts and resistance machine exercises. Forms of resistance training are used by physiotherapists, personal trainers, sports coaches and class based instructors, and can start from very basic movements with machines or rubber tubing, to more complicated movements such as the Olympic lifts. There are many benefits of resistance training for the whole population, moving past the simple ‘building muscle’ benefit!

✉

Shipton Golf Course

Nr Frogmill, Shipton, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL54 4HT

To advertise call 01242 510500

Page 9

For more information or to book an appointment hair@blowsalon.co.uk 8 High St, Tewkesbury

☎ 01684 291465

Over 23 years’ experience working in the health and social care sector Services to Tewkesbury and surrounding areas Fully registered with the Care Quality Commission We provide a range of services tailored to meet your individual needs, including:

PERSONAL CARE ● REABLEMENT SHOPPING ● SOCIAL INTERACTION HOUSEWORK ● CARER BREAKS Please contact us for a no obligation discussion about your requirements ...

01684 438188 07800 973025 07899 772431

enquiries@oraclehcs.co.uk www.OracleHcs.co.uk

Page 10

THE NEW YOU! WIN A MAKEOVER BLOW are giving away total makeovers for two very lucky ladies. Not only will you be made over from top to toe but the prize also includes photos and a meal out at the Boat House Tewkesbury for a friend and yourself. Are you free the day and night of Friday the 30th of October? Facebook page www.facebook.com/tewkesburyhairdresser LIKE, SHARE AND COMMENT TO WIN Names will be picked on the 12th of October. Names won’t count unless commented on the Blow page

Receive 10% discount for all bookings in Oct and Nov by quoting “Local Answer Discount” to welcome Rachael our newest beauty therapist

www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk

The Local Answer

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.

FREE CBT COURSES NEAR YOU

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue ● Emotional Wellbeing ● ● Low Mood ● Stress and Anxiety ● Panic ● Anger ● Sleep ● ● Irritable Bowel Syndrome ● Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ● ● Mindfulness ● Low Self Esteem ● ●

Book online

Foundation Trust For Gloucestershire

The Local Answer

https://courses.talk2gether.nhs.uk/ or call 0800 073 2200

To advertise call 01242 510500

Page 11

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. EVERY MONDAY MAT PILATES CLASS (STARTS 12 OCTOBER) At Outlaw MMA Gym, Unit A2 Northway Trading Estate, Northway Lane, Tewkesbury GL20 8JH. Mondays 10.30am. £8 pay as you go or course of 6 for £40. To book: 07528 471091. Please visit my website for details and information – www.synergispilates.co.uk. 27 SEPTEMBER THE FIVE VALLEYS WALK

Join us at this year’s fantastic Five Valleys Walk, charity Meningitis Now’s flagship sponsored stroll around the Cotswolds near

The Local Answer

Stroud, and help stomp out meningitis. It’s a guaranteed family, fun-filled day. Find out more at www.fivevalleyswalk.com. 3-4 OCTOBER CRAFT FAYRE Start your Christmas shopping early with beautifully hand-made local gifts at the Batsford Craft Fayre, in the new Education Centre. Browse a wide variety of products including cards, pottery, soaps, candles, fused glass 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

To advertise call 01242 510500

01242 532654 for more information. 16 OCTOBER TEDDY WHITE BAND The Teddy White Band will be playing live at 9pm. Free entry. All welcome. Also quiz night every Wednesday and Thursday – £1 to play. Hi 5 Poker league – free to play. The London Inn, 195 London Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham GL52 6HU. 01242 525606. 17 OCTOBER – 1 NOVEMBER AUTUMN PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS Join Alan Ranger on a half or one day photography workshop. Suitable for beginners and advanced photographers. Capture the wonderful autumn colours in the Arboretum. Half day workshops 8am12pm or 1pm-5pm – £79. Full day workshops 8am-5pm – from £130. Advance bookings only. For details or to book: www.alanranger.com/batsford.

Page 13

19-20 OCTOBER ALICE – THE MUSICAL

prepares for a war that he hopes will unite his country. 7pm. £16.50 (£14.50, student £12.50). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. 22 OCTOBER – 1 NOVEMBER SLIMBRIDGE SPOOKTACULAR

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. 7pm. Tickets from Showcase on 01242 224144 – adults £10, children £6. Parabola Arts Centre, Parabola Road, Cheltenham GL50 3AA. 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. Henry gathers his troops and

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. MACBETH Taking their cues from film noir, gangland Britain and the clowning tradition the critically-acclaimed Pantaloons Theatre Company put their own contemporary spin on Shakespeare's most dangerous play. Tragic and hilarious in equal measures this innovative play features femmes fatale, high-speed chases, killer lines, killer crimes and some seriously weird sisters. 7.30pm. £14 (£12). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. 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.

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

Page 14

www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk

The Local Answer

31 OCTOBER 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. Get to know their habits and quirks, and learn how much they contribute to the Arboretum. Walks (10.30am and 1.30pm) are limited to 25 people per session so book early – 01386 701441. Tickets £5 per person plus arboretum 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. 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, 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.

Page 16

7-14 NOVEMBER CHARLTON KINGS ANNUAL TOY SALE In aid of Acorns Children’s Hospice (Gloucestershire Support Group). Donated toys, games, books, etc. may be brought to the Baptist church on Friday 6th November between 1.30-4.30pm. Tombola, plus raffle drawn on Saturday 14th November – any donated prizes would be appreciated. 9.15am – 4.30pm every day except Sunday 8th. To be held at Charlton Kings Baptist Church. For further information call 01242 522559. 13 NOVEMBER THE KAST OFF KINKS The Kast off Kinks are 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 for a great night out. 7.30pm. £20 (£18). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. 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.

www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk

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. 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. For tickets call 0345 1204530 or visit www.meningitisnow.org/christmasconcerts. 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 Local Answer

WANTED D o es yo ur p o ny f i t t h e p ro f i l e ?

Cotswold Riding for the Disabled are seeking some very special ponies. Horse riding provides amazing therapeutic benefits to riders of all ages and a wide range of disabilities. All our ponies are special – they are blessed with endless patience and a calm temperament, but at the same time are highly trained by our equestrian team to ensure they meet our demanding requirements and earn their badge of honour.

Sadly, not all ponies are suitable. Ideally, we are looking for geldings that are between 14hh and 15hh, and between 7 and 15 years old. They must be able to live out and be good on and off the lead rein.

Cotswold

W h y n o t l o a n yo u r pony to us ?

If you have a pony that meets these very special needs but you don’t want to sell, why not talk to us about a loan agreement?

We work during the school term time leaving your pony free to return home to you during the holidays.

Please contact Debbie via email debbie@cotswoldrda.org.uk or call 01242 584420.

It’s what you can do that counts

Riding for the Disabled Association

Jackie Brutton Riding Centre, Prestbury Park Racecourse, Prestbury, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 4SH

t 01242 584420 w www.cotswoldrda.org.uk e info@cotswoldrda.org.uk

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.

shutters store

Live in style...

For the widest range of blinds visit Gloucestershire’s largest indoor showroom... Unit K Churchill Industrial Estate, Churchill Road, Leckhampton, Cheltenham GL53 7FD

Telephone 01242 526 189 or fill out form on website for showroom appointment or home visit

main dealer

Showroom open by appointment

FREE EASY PARKING!

NEW RANGE MADE IN BRITAIN DELIVERED WITHIN 3 WEEKS!!

www.shutterscheltenham.co.uk

R R S

R Richards & Son Ltd FAMILY BUSINESS

FR EE

SC A SU FFO PP LD LI IN ED G

ROOFING AND FASCIA BOARD SPECIALISTS Serving Glouc estershir e and beyond

◆ N e w R o o f s ◆ N e w B u i l d s ◆ S l a t e , C h i m n e y a n d Ti l e R e p a i r ◆ N e w Va l l e y s ◆ F e l t a n d B a t t e n i n g ◆ L e a d W o r k ◆ L e a k R e p a i r s ◆ Fi b r e g l as s Ro o f i n g ◆ Fe l t Ro o f i ng

FENSA

Fascias & Soffits and Guttering – Carports Replacement Fascias in a range of colours

15 Years Guarantee

Registered Company

FREE WRITTEN QUOTATIONS - NO OBLIGATION LOCAL REFERENCES SUPPLIED

Page 20

www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk

Insurance Backed Guarantee

The Local Answer

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

To advertise call 01242 510500

Page 21

• Tree work • Garden Design • Garden Maintenance • Turfing • Lawn Cutting • Hedge Trimming • Pond Work • Patios • Decking • Pergolas • Fencing • Sheds • Driveways Diploma in Horticulture ~ Established 1993

Free Quotes ~ Competitive Rates

01242 713800 / 07778 340485

www.markclifford-landscapes.co.uk ALL TYPES OF TREE SERVICES

Tree pruning & thinning ● Shrub shaping ● Hedge trimming ● Fencing ● Turfing ● Drives & Patios (block paving & gravel)

●

E SERVICE RE

Small long established family run business

Competitive rates Free estimates and advice

01242 802684/07900 155 086 email: sales@dwtrees.com

www.dwtrees.com

blinds store

Landscape C

Specialists in Paving and Turf Laying, Driveways, Fencing and Timber Work Andy Durrant 07786 602 992 Stuart Parker 07866 534 925 E: andydurrant7@hotmail.com W: www.landscape-creations.co.uk

Live in style...

Due to increased demand, and a desire to deliver the best service possible, our showroom is now only open by appointment. You will be free to browse at your leisure, without pressure. Experienced staff will be on hand to help and advise. For the widest range of blinds visit Gloucestershire’s largest indoor showroom... Unit K Churchill Industrial Estate, Churchill Road, Leckhampton, Cheltenham GL53 7FD

Telephone 01242 526 189 or fill out form on website for showroom appointment or home visit

main dealer

Showroom open by appointment

FREE EASY PARKING! www.newblindscheltenham.co.uk Page 22

www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk

The Local Answer

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

SSGarden Landscaping Gloucestershire GARDEN MAINTENANCE LANDSCAPING FENCING BRICKWORK DRIVEWAYS TURF & TOPSOIL TREE WORK DIGGER WORK From a simple tidy up around your garden to a full make-over SS Garden Landscaping (Gloucestershire) tackle all jobs! 20+ years in Landscaping and Garden Maintenance For a FREE quotation please call

07753 411871 or 01242 679437 www.gardenlandscapinggloucestershire.co.uk

The Local Answer

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.

Cotswold Garden & Landscaping Garden Maintenance • Turfing Hedge Cutting • Fencing Patios • Block Paving Tree Felling All waste taken away References available

All areas of work undertaken

01242 898398 / 07967 713488 Manor Farm, Stoke Road, Cheltenham GL52 7RY cgl.chelt@gmail.com

To advertise call 01242 510500

Page 23

awnings store

Live in style – inside and out...

Sudoku Fill the grids so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.

Telephone 01242 526 189 or fill out form on website for showroom appointment or home visit Showroom open by appointment

FREE EASY PARKING!

Unit K Churchill Industrial Estate, Churchill Road, Leckhampton, Cheltenham GL53 7FD

www.awningscheltenham.co.uk

Christopher Rixon

Don’t look until you’ve finished! Solutions on ‘Index of Advertisers’ page.

PROFESSIONAL

The sign of a quality decorator

PAINTING & DECORATING

Your local Dulux select Approved Decorator

Wallpapering G Clean and reliable G All work guaranteed

07765 413997 Page 24

www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk

The Local Answer

Save the Planet with Tamsin Bent of Stroud Valleys Project

Create your own wild space For a long time conservation has relied on the idea of creating nature reserves to protect areas for nature. Although reserves play an important role, they cannot successfully conserve wildlife on their own. Just 7% of land in the UK has any sort of formal protection for nature and many species cannot survive and prosper in these small isolated pockets of land. To put it simply, many of the UK’s nature reserves, wildlife sites and Sites of Special Scientific Interest are simply too small to ensure the The Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust long-term conservation speak to many wildlife enthusiasts, of the plants and animals they are a lot of whom would love to create a designated for. community wildlife area but are not Everyone has the power to sure where to begin. They dearly want to help, but simply don’t have make a difference the resources to visit all the If we are to preserve and restore potential sites and help Britain’s wildlife we need to connect people plan, fund and expand our special wildlife sites. and undertake This is easier said than done because improvements the vast majority of land in the UK is for wildlife. This in private ownership. However, this is why they have teamed up with also means that nearly everyone has the Gloucestershire Environmental the power to make a difference, Trust (GET) to launch the ‘My Wild whether it is creating a wildlife area Space’ fund. in your garden, cutting verges Help conserve wildlife in less often or adding a wildlife your local area feature to a local green space. Creating a small The fund is targeted at community island of wildlife groups who wish to help conserve habitat in your wildlife in their local area. These local area can groups – including schools and parish make a councils – can apply for grants of up difference. to £5,000 to help cover costs such as equipment, professional labour and education materials. Applicants will also have the opportunity to receive expert guidance from a Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust Community Wildlife Officer to help them decide The Local Answer

what to do and complete the application process.

Autumn and winter are perfect seasons for creating wildlife areas Even relatively small spaces can be transformed into wildlife areas – whether it is a pond, beetle bank, wildflower area, hedgerow or small orchard, there are endless possibilities. Autumn and winter are the perfect seasons to create wildlife areas and ‘My Wild Space’ is open for applications now. For more information and to download application forms, call 01452 383333 or visit www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk.

To advertise call 01242 510500

Page 25

CHIMNEY SWEEP

1st Choice Digital Aerial Installations Upgrades and Repairs

10% off with this advert Mark Hawkes

Tel: 01242 649120

Female Plumber

Traditional & Power Sweeping Wood Burners G Solid Fuel Stoves Open Fires G Rayburns & Agas CCTV Chimney Inspections

Aerial & Satellites

Fully Insured Insurance Certificates Issued Book your chimney sweep today!

Paul Horton: 07921 214492

Severnside Sweeps

ICS

Kerry Baker

Professional qualified plumber Fully insured No job too small

Mobile

www.severnsidesweeps.co.uk REGISTERED MEMBER

07880 258 158 kerry@thefemaleplumber.co.uk

DO YOU HATE OVEN l cal CLEANING? EST 2004 Tel: 01242 227 067

For more information please visit the website @

www.ovenbusters-cheltenham.co.uk

COOKER OR OVEN NOT WORKING? www.fix-my-oven.co.uk

COTSWOLD REWIRES

DOMESTIC ELECTRICAL SPECIALIST • Full & Part Rewires • Fuseboards • Interior/Exterior Lighting • Complete shower installation • Extra Sockets • Fault Finding • Small repairs/maintenance Local references available No call-out charge ~ Free Quotations FRIENDLY • RELIABLE • PROFESSIONAL

Call Carl on 07970

919 764 or 01242 790072

cotswoldrewires@hotmail.co.uk 12 Holmer Crescent, Up Hatherley, Cheltenham GL51 3LR

Page 26

SPECIAL OFFER

50% OFF FIRST CLEAN FOR NEW CUSTOMERS

Professional, hardworking, trustworthy and friendly company who offer a CUSTOMISED CLEANING SERVICE also see our PF Landscaping & Decorating services Terms & Conditions Apply

NVQ Level 2 in CLEANING

pinkfairycleaning@hotmail.co.uk

07833 311 688

FULLY INSURED

Plumbing Services

-INSTALLATION

SERVICE-

AUTUMN OFFER BOILER SERVICE only £65

+ VAT

Our business is focused on customer service and expert knowledge. ● Landlord gas safety certificate £65+VAT appliances depending ● Boiler repairs ● Gas Safety Inspections ● Install Central Heating Systems and Renewable Technology

e: mail@platinumplumbingservices.co.uk www.platinumplumbingservices.co.uk

Our team are here to help. Contact us today

01242 676974

www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk

Find us on

Facebook

The Local Answer

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

Andy Edwards

Painter & Decorator

Free Quotes Expert Service at Aﬀordable Prices Domes c and Commercial © Lovatts Puzzles

Don’t look until you’ve finished! Solutions on ‘Index of Advertisers’ page.

07761 503818 andyedwards1980@outlook.com

Abbey Group, Units 23/24, Neptune Business Centre, Tewkesbury Road, Cheltenham, GL51 9FB

www.abbeybusinessequipment.com

The Abbey Business Lounge at Gloucester Rugby’s Kingsholm Stadium sponsored by Gloucestershire’s leading business solutions provider

The Local Answer

To advertise call 01242 510500

Page 27

WORD SEARCH Z E T N G G L C D R B R O M T D C K N X N L K K

A K Z H M H A L E O I E O C O S T U M E W R I C

K Z O V K U W D O R L X R V D N N T E G L N S A

C S L O L V Q L X H H L I R T I S W N J F H R N

T R A D K A J Z H L Z F R T K P O T I V Y F K D

L O R M C M K M R G J X G P L L K Z E S C D S Y

B O B A F P J H G Q G V M P L L H C T R N X W W

N W E J D I D A Y T H U Q A Q N W W S W V C V Q

Z Y U B O R D T M H P F H Y E F I F F S T G L B

A V E Z Y E O C E F T A B K S K T U P O D Y G T

N K W M G A T C F I Z M J O M T C N H H I E J F

H O T S M L Q A F J B M C O Y R H B L B C Y E X

C A T V I Q B P N W U M U P K I C E I T R M C R

Halloween BAT BLACK CAT BLOOD BOO CANDY CAULDRON COSTUME FUN GHOST

HALLOWEEN HAUNTED HOUSE JACK-O’-LANTERN MAGIC MASK MONSTER PUMPKIN SCARY SKELETON

SPIDER SPOOKY TRICK OR TREAT VAMPIRE WEREWOLF WITCH ZOMBIE

O R U E N N W F X P Z Z O S Z C I A U A E Q J X

F T N N L I S D Z V G L T Z X K G U C T Q M V B

E L B P T E F W H A X V U A G O A S N A B R K U

Q G O G Y E K K G N V K M I Z R M Q R B F Y P V

B L O O D X D S V V V T T I Z T I S D F L X P J

J Q F G C N W H X Y B W T P X R J G B E O B P I

T A C K C A L B O Y L U R F J E O A U K W C H G

J T K A M A C W P U K E P M P A Z H V G E K B Z

ecoclean 07804 610105 01452 898247

L O I H V K N A O M S R M X K T W X S H R H I Q ltd

U V F W P V P Y L Z S E R R E D I P S L E S B L

E M C J A C K O L A N T E R N E H J K K W E W O

CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CARE & CLEANING

£10 OFF! AUTUMN OFFER

using code A020

www.ecocleancarpet.co.uk hello@ecocleancarpet.co.uk

Don’t look until you’ve finished! Solutions on ‘Index of Advertisers’ page. Page 28

www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk

The Local Answer

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

The Local Answer

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

To advertise call 01242 510500

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 29

STEVENS RECYCLING Domestic and Industrial Skips

Gloucestershire’s VW AUDI Group Specialist Servicing From £95.00 MOT £39.95 Cambelts From £249.00 Air Conditioning regas £45.00 Free Courtesy Cars – Collection & Delivery

www.v-hubservices.co.uk

ATTENTION!

01684 214444

Let us lighten your load! Stevens Recycling

Ham Villa Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham GL52 6NB

NOW SUPPLYING

TOP SOIL

AT GREAT stevensrecycling584@gmail.com PRICES 01242 522647/529397

Page 30

Sales: Mon-Fri: 9am-6pm Sat: 9am-4pm Sun: Appointment only

Service: Mon-Fri: 8.30am-5.30pm Sat: 8.30am-12.30pm Sun: CLOSED

UNIT 8A: Beta Close, Delta Drive, Tewkesbury, Glos. GL20 8SR

www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk

Like us on Facebook

The Local Answer

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 best selling cars for seemingly forever, so what’s the secret of its success? There’s no doubt that it’s a great car, but its unwavering popularity also stems from its rich history and haloed badge. Ford’s Focus sells more in the UK, but it can’t compete with the prestige that many associate with the VW roundel or match the Golf’s 30-year legacy of rock solid reliability. In fact, so dependable was the Golf that Volkswagen felt confident enough to engineer a TV advert around it – anyone remember Paula Hamilton ditching the fur and fancy jewels but

hanging onto the keys to her MkII Golf GTi? Admittedly, many believe it all went a little bit wrong with the MkIII and MkIV variants that Volkswagen launched in the 1990s and early 2000s, but the latest MkVII version sees the Golf back at its best. Importantly, its extensive range includes something for everyone, the line-up spanning three- and fivedoor hatchbacks, a cabriolet version, spacious estate and even a MPV-esque model. Very few of the Golf’s so-called rivals can come close to offering such a variety of body styles, and it’s the same story when it comes to a choice of what powers it.

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 A sizeable selection of to 166mpg together with a 0-62mph power outputs to pick from time of only 7.6 seconds or, for those Such is the array of engines, what to seeking the ultimate in performance, choose can pose a bit of a dilemma. the 2.0 TSI 300PS engine that propels Together with traditional petrol and the family hatchback from 0–62mph in a mere 4.9 seconds. 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.

Your local friendly garage offering

s ’ e i d Ed

MOTS ● TYRES ● SERVICING AND REPAIRS ●

Opening Times: Monday-Friday 8.30am-5.30pm

help@eddies-autos.co.uk Old Station Yard, Station Road, Beckford, Tewkesbury, Glos GL20 7AN The Local Answer

To advertise call 01242 510500

Page 31

Page 32

www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk

The Local Answer

Matt Grimshaw Carpentry Ltd Your local Carpenter/ Kitchen Fitting Specialist

with Roger Downes of Andorran

All aspects of carpentry undertaken Kitchens ● Doors ● Timber Flooring ● Stairs ● Roofing ● Bespoke Joinery 10% ● Decking ● Fencing ●

01242 604423/07792 088822 mattgrimshawcarpentry@live.co.uk www.mattgrimshawcarpentry.co.uk

ON KITCHEN FITTING WHEN QUOTING TLA

up Boi to ler 10 S Ye erv ar ice Bo ju ile st r £ repairs Warr50 an an d ty

F F E R

Plumbing & Heating

Installations, servicing &

DISCOUNT

M TU AU

HANBURY

‘BE GAS SAFE, NOT SORRY’

Always use a registered Gas Safe engineer

T: 01684 275883 M: 07786 324987 E: mhanbury79@me.com

curtain store Due to increased demand, and a desire to deliver the best service possible, our showroom is now only open by appointment. You will be free to browse at your leisure, without pressure. Experienced staff will be on hand to help and advise.

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

Telephone 01242 526 189 or fill out form on website for showroom appointment or home visit Showroom open by appointment

FREE EASY PARKING!

Unit K Churchill Industrial Estate, Churchill Road, Leckhampton, Cheltenham GL53 7FD

www.curtainscheltenham.co.uk The Local Answer

Money Matters

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?!

To advertise call 01242 510500

Page 33

Index of Advertisers FOOD & DRINK

HOMES & GARDENS

Corner Cupboard Inn

WHAT’S ON CLUBS & SPORTS Shipton Golf Course EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS Batsford Arboretum Billy Danter’s Fun Fair Bristol Hippodrome Over Farm Prinknash Bird Park

9 16 13 18-19 16 14

HEALTH & BEAUTY Blow NHS Let’s Talk Slim Fitness

10 11 8

INFORMATION Cotswold Riding for the Disabled 17 Fastershire 15

PROPERTY & STORAGE Norton Park Park Home Life

6 10

BATHROOMS Severn Vale Bathrooms BUILDING SERVICES Marshalls Driveways R. Richards & Sons CARPENTRY Matt Grimshaw CLEANING SERVICES Ecoclean Oven Busters Pink Fairy Cleaning Severnside Sweeps ELECTRICAL SERVICES Cotswold Rewires FURNISHING & APPLIANCES New Blinds New Blinds – Awnings New Blinds – Curtains New Blinds – Shutters GARDEN SERVICES Cotswold Garden & Landscaping DW Tree Services

35 22 20 33 28 26 26 26 26 22 24 33 20 23 22

Landscape Creations Mark Clifford Landscapes SS Garden Landscaping HEATING & PLUMBING KB Female Plumber Mark Hanbury Plumbing Pete T Plumbing Platinum Plumbing PAINTING & DECORATING Andy Edwards Christopher Rixon TV & AERIAL 1st Choice Aerial WINDOWS & DOORS Albany Windows Clearway Doors & Windows Cloudy 2 Clear

22 22 23 26 33 24 26 27 24 26 36 2 29

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CARE SERVICES Barnwood Trust Oracle Home Care Services Samaritans

COMPUTER SERVICES Abbey Group MOTOR SERVICES Carsmetix Eddie’s Autos V Hub Westlands Hyundai PET SERVICES Dragon Vet Centre SKIP HIRE & RECYCLING Stevens Recycling

27 30 31 30 32 7 30

The Local

ANSWER

Great ex po s u re f o r y o u r b u s i n e s s! To advertise telephone:

12 10 34

01242 510500

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS Z E T N G G L C D R B R O M T D C K N X N L K K

COMPETITION WINNERS Thank you for all who took part in our September 2015 competition and congratulations to the winner: Over Farm – Pair of tickets to Frightmare – Lauren Lawley of Tewkesbury.

A K Z H M H A L E O I E O C O S T U M E W R I C

K Z O V K U W D O R L X R V D N N T E G L N S A

C S L O L V Q L X H H L I R T I S W N J F H R N

T R A D K A J Z H L Z F R T K P O T I V Y F K D

L O R M C M K M R G J X G P L L K Z E S C D S Y

B O B A F P J H G Q G V M P L L H C T R N X W W

N W E J D I D A Y T H U Q A Q N W W S W V C V Q

Z Y U B O R D T M H P F H Y E F I F F S T G L B

A V E Z Y E O C E F T A B K S K T U P O D Y G T

N K W M G A T C F I Z M J O M T C N H H I E J F

H O T S M L Q A F J B M C O Y R H B L B C Y E X

C A T V I Q B P N W U M U P K I C E I T R M C R

O R U E N N W F X P Z Z O S Z C I A U A E Q J X

F T N N L I S D Z V G L T Z X K G U C T Q M V B

E L B P T E F W H A X V U A G O A S N A B R K U

Q G O G Y E K K G N V K M I Z R M Q R B F Y P V

B L O O D X D S V V V T T I Z T I S D F L X P J

J Q F G C N W H X Y B W T P X R J G B E O B P I

T A C K C A L B O Y L U R F J E O A U K W C H G

J T K A M A C W P U K E P M P A Z H V G E K B Z

L O I H V K N A O M S R M X K T W X S H R H I Q

U V F W P V P Y L Z S E R R E D I P S L E S B L

E M C J A C K O L A N T E R N E H J K K W E W O

COMPETITION RULES 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

Always there if you need us

E GLOUCESTERSHIR Page 34

08457 909090 jo@samaritans.org

www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk

The Local Answer

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 Gloucestershireâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading builders of quality homes with their glazing, but we also carry out double glazing and conservatory repairs and replace misted sealed units.

Registration No: 12011

Registered through: FENSA

We have all the accreditations you could wish for and of course offer a ten year insurance backed guarantee. And, with no long sales pitch or pressure to buy, we make the entire process hassle free from start to finish.

You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t buy better! So why pay more?

For a free no obligation quotation call 01242 511384

Brand New Showroom Now Open Unit 41, Space Business Centre, Tewkesbury Road, Cheltenham, GL51 9FL