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Forest of Dean 22,000 DELIVERED
ANSWER
SEPTEMBER 2015
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EATING OUT EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS HEALTH & BEAUTY HOLIDAYS & TRAVEL PROPERTY HOMES & GARDENS SERVICES PETS SHORT WALKS RECIPES VOUCHERS COMPETITIONS RUGBY WORLD CUP 2015 FIXTURES LIST – CENTRE PAGE PULL-OUT
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DISCOUNTS available for winter installations We recently completed a gym in the Cotswolds in a narrow space between a garage and a fence proving how even small spaces can be utilised.
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DO YOU HAVE UNUSED ‘DEAD’ SPACE IN YOUR GARDEN?
You are welcome to visit our stunning showroom to see an example of our work, to discuss your requirements and to get a feeling of what a garden room can offer you. Located in Cheltenham only 5 minutes from junction 11 of the M5, please contact us to make an appointment.
In the majority of cases planning permission is not required.
Office: 01242 694041 Mobile: 07736 676074 Email: info@spagardenrooms.co.uk
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Forest of Dean – 22,000 copies Gloucester – 42,000 copies Gloucestershire South – 45,000 copies Gloucestershire North – 20,000 copies Cheltenham – 43,000 copies Cotswolds – 28,000 copies
Mark Shepherd Publication Manager – Forest of Dean
01242 541022 mark@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Editorial Lois Kingscott
If our Front Cover has inspired you to go blackberry picking this September, why not have a go at making our Delicious Dish – blackberry and apple mallow traybake! Chepstow Racecourse are hosting a Food and Countryside Day – a fun packed day for all the family including activities and demonstrations throughout the day, and guest celebrity chef James Tanner. The Rugby World Cup kicks off on Friday 18th September – we have a full pull-out fixtures list inside. Keep score of the final games with our easy to complete guide and make sure you really get behind and support your team!
Inside this month ...
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Helen Kingscott editorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk
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Cocktail Time 4 Food & Drink 4 Delicious Dishes 5 Medical Health 7 Parenting & Guardianship 9 Picture Perfect 10 Wild Food Foraging 11 Holidays & Travel 13 What’s On 14 Rugby World Cup Fixtures List 18-19 In the Garden 23 Interior Design 25 Word Search 26 Quick Crossword 28 Save the Planet 29 Motoring 31 Sudoku 33 Money Matters 33 Index, Competitions, Solutions 34
Competition on page 21 Page 3
Cocktail Time with Lois Kingscott
Tom Collins The Tom Collins recipe was first recorded in the book ‘The Bartender’s Guide’, which was written by Jerry Thomas and published in 1876. There is an amusing story surrounding the cocktail named ‘The Great Tom Collins Hoax of 1874’, which was used as a prank for months, fooling many people. According to the story, Tom Collins was a loud, boisterous man who frequented taverns and bad-mouthed almost everyone he met – and even those he hadn’t. However, those who fell victim to his wrath had good friends who would inform them immediately of the profanity directed at them. The victim would then be encouraged to find Collins and confront him. But in searching for Tom Collins at the tavern he was rumoured to be in, he was nowhere to be seen, as Tom Collins didn’t exist! Finally, seeking revenge, the victim would ask the barman for a Tom Collins and receive the sour cocktail instead. While this is highly unlikely to be true, it makes a great tale and one can imagine it would’ve been great fun to trick friends with! Ingredients: 50ml gin; 25ml lemon juice; 10ml sugar syrup; splash soda water; few slices of lemon; marschino cherry (optional). Method: 1 Fill a tall glass with ice. 2 Pour gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup into the glass and mix well. 3 Top up with soda water and garnish with a few slices of lemon and a maraschino cherry.
PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY Why not have a Mocktail? For a non-alcoholic alternative, pour 120ml lemon juice, 60ml soda water and 1 tsp sugar syrup over ice and garnish with lemon and a maraschino cherry. Page 4
BLUEBELL ROYALE
BLUEBELL ROYALE Charity Gala Evening Charity 14th Gala2015 Evening November November 14th 2015 6.30pm-11.30pm 6.30-11.30pm
Bond Evening Join us for a
Come Dressed to Kill (black tie and evening dress) A Martini Cocktail awaits (shaken not stirred)
Ticket
£39.95 per person
3 course meal, charity roulette table and live music. Book now if you can handle it
Forest House and Bluebell Restaurant Cinder Hill, Coleford, Gloucestershire GL16 8HQ
01594 832424 www.forest-house-hotel.co.uk
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Delicious Dishes with Helen Kingscott
Blackberry and apple mallow traybake Indulge in these sweet, fruity bites topped with chewy meringue. Makes 16 squares Ingredients: For the cake: 140g unsalted butter, softened, plus a little for greasing; 140g golden caster sugar; 1 whole egg; 2 egg yolks, beaten; ½ tsp vanilla extract; 100g self-raising flour; 100g ground almonds; 1 tsp baking powder; ½ tsp ground nutmeg; 1 large Bramley apple (about 200g), peeled and sliced (to give about 140g); 125g blackberries. For the mallow and to finish: 25g blackberries; 100g white caster sugar, plus 1 tsp for the ripple; 2 egg whites; 1 tsp lemon juice; a little icing sugar to dust (optional). Method: 1 To start, make the blackberry sauce to ripple through the mallow. Place the berries and 1 teaspoon sugar in a small bowl and cover with cling film. Microwave for 30 seconds on a high power. Alternatively, add 1 teaspoon water and soften in a pan over a low heat. Stir well until the mixture resembles a sauce, then leave to cool. 2 Heat oven to 160°C (140°C fan/gas 3). Grease and line the base and sides of a 23cm square traybake tin, leaving some overhang to make it easy to lift the bake out later. Using a hand whisk, beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl until pale and creamy, then
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add the egg and yolks, followed by the vanilla. Mix the flour, almonds, baking powder, nutmeg and a pinch of salt in a small bowl, then fold into the mix to make a thick batter. 3 Fold in the apple, spoon into the tin and smooth over the top. Scatter with the remaining blackberries, poke them in just a little, then bake for 45 minutes until golden and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Remove from the oven, but leave the oven on. 4 For the mallow topping, you’ll need a large piping bag with a 1cm nozzle, or a food bag with a corner snipped off. Whisk the egg whites, lemon juice and a pinch of salt to stiff peaks. Add the sugar 1 tablespoon at a time, whisking well after each spoonful to make a shiny, stiff meringue. Ripple with the cooled blackberry sauce, then spoon into the bag. Pipe 16 evenly spaced meringues on top of the cake (you’ll have some meringue mixture left over), then bake for 10-12 minutes until the meringues are just set. Leave to cool in the tin for approximately 30 minutes, then remove to a rack to cool completely. 5 Add a dusting of icing sugar then cut into squares and serve.
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Let’s Talk Courses
Using CBT to Help You Manage
Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue
Mindfulness
Low Mood Anger
Panic
Getting Active Irritable Bowel Syndrome
L et ’s Ta lk
Stress and Anxiety Sleep Low Self-Esteem Emotional Wellbeing
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Let’s Talk is Gloucestershire’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service – free from your local NHS. We offer free psychological / educational courses across the county. They are based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and are intended for people with mild to moderate anxiety and depression as well as other common mental health difficulties. They are not group therapy and you don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to. You will have tasks to complete between sessions to help you make changes.
Find dates and book on a course near you by visiting our website
https://courses.talk2gether.nhs.uk or call 0800 073 2200 We request you only book on one course at a time.
I have enjoyed this course, lots of information and discussions.
It’s good spending time with people with similar issues.
I feel I can now manage my illness by changing some things in my life.
Foundation Trust For Gloucestershire
Medical Health with Holly Prince
Looking after your liver Sometimes, when people think about liver health, they relate it to the negative effects of alcohol. While it’s true that excess drinking of alcohol can have a negative effect, the liver has many more important functions in our daily lives to keep our bodies in top working order – many of which we are not even aware of. The liver is a large organ involved in digestion. After eating, there is a high level of glucose in the body, which causes our blood-sugar level to rise. The liver converts this into a substance that creates energy, which is immediately available for the body to use. This gives us energy for both physical and mental activity, which is why people can feel more alert a little while after eating. Conversely, we some-times feel tired after a large meal due to the effort the body has to put into digesting it! Metabolic rate and heat production increase after eating, and due to the liver’s processes using a lot of energy, this helps to keep our internal temperature warm. Another role the liver plays in digestion is secretion of bile to help soften fats and make them more easily absorbed into the blood. Fats are needed for storage of energy. Also in relation to food, the liver is able to make Vitamin A, which is found in carrots and green The Local Answer
Healthy Liver
leafy vegetables. Vitamin A is essential for healthy eyes and bones, cell growth and immunity. The liver is also able to store some vitamins and minerals for when the body needs them.
Getting rid of harmful substances Another job the liver has is to help to clean the blood, make blood clot when we have a cut, and to assist with immunity to fight disease. One of the liver’s most commonly known – and important – functions is to break down tiny molecules, and this includes getting rid of harmful substances such as alcohol and other poisons. Drinking too much alcohol leads to a rise in the blood-alcohol concentration, which is what makes us feel drunk. This causes the liver to have to work really hard, which puts
Liver with Cirrhosis
it under strain and over time it will lose its ability to regenerate, and this may lead to liver failure. There are many diseases that can affect the liver – either directly or indirectly, and these include liver disease, inflammation of the liver and hepatitis A, B and C.
Prevention is better than cure Most of these diseases develop slowly and have no obvious signs or symptoms until the damage is really bad. The causes of these include being overweight and not getting enough exercise, having type II Diabetes and not managing insulin intake properly, high cholesterol levels in the blood, and excess smoking and drinking. Prevention is better than cure – so look after your liver!
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Parenting & Guardianship with Roberta Smart
Why the word you hate to say might just save the day As a parent your main duty is to guide and support your child, building resilience, strength of character, empathy and love. We do this by helping the child create a meaningful identity, find his or her own way in the world and have strong boundaries. It is in the establishment and protection of our boundaries that we incorporate the deeper meaning of the word ‘no’. You, as a parent, make decisions for your child and stick to them. No means no! You create the rules of the house based on the values you hold most dear, and use your ‘no’ to enforce them. We also express ourselves to our children through our actions, modelling to them what we find acceptable and offering them a path to follow. For example, vegetarian
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parents are modelling a lifestyle without animal products, without ever saying a word about animal rights or world politics. A family that exercises by doing sports, playing outdoors, cycling, running etc will be modelling a fit and healthy lifestyle – that is ‘who they are’. As a result they are unlikely to be offered a cigarette – they don’t smoke – or to be invited to go binge drinking – they choose not to drink to excess. Others know the family and the individuals in it by their actions and treat them accordingly.
faced with challenges. If we offer our child descriptive praise upon their successful completion of a task, they learn to hold themselves in high esteem. These children are unlikely to become the victims of bullying – or if they do – they will know how to handle the situation without getting overwhelmed. They like themselves and expect to be liked. Children who are constantly growing and learning in a healthy way see the world as a joyful place and do not live in constant fear and limitation. This is the beauty of ‘no’. Far from being restrictive and punitive, used How do you deal with well, it actually builds strength, demands and tantrums? confidence, self awareness and Thus, if we help our child to goals personal power. Consider this the and they accomplish them, the child next time you are out with your feels confident and strong when child. How do you choose to deal with demands, tantrums and moodiness? What expectations are you placing on your children? Are you giving them the opportunity to grow in strength and character by expecting them to take personal responsibility, or are you simply saying ‘yes’ to anything just to keep them quiet? If so, how does that feel? A ‘yes’ parent often feels overwhelmed, dissatisfied and out of control, whereas a loving ‘no’ can create confidence and self esteem in both the parents and the child. Of course, the best situations occur when saying ‘no’ is unnecessary – where consistent modelling and expectation of acceptable behaviours, supported by descriptive praise, mean the demands and tantrums never happen, and both parties do not have to enter into conflict. And that, my friends, is the secret to a happy family.
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Picture Perfect Family Fun
Thanks to all of you who sent in your brilliant pictures to enter our ‘Family Fun’ competition. Congratulations to Helen Griffin of Cheltenham who submitted the winning image (above) of her family, including four generations having lots of fun at the Polurrian Cove Beach in Cornwall! She has won £500 worth of family activities in the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean! Thanks to Perrygrove Railway, Dean Forest Railway, Capture this Moment, Way2Go Adventures, Krazy Golf Lydney, Hillside Brewery, Cinderford RFC and Hot Pot Pottery for providing the wonderful prizes! Some of our other favourites are pictured below.
Wild Food Foraging with Steven Hawley
The Giant Puffball I was six years old when I first introduced myself to wild mushrooms. My neighbour and I were playing in a nearby field when we stumbled across a patch of fresh fungi. Drawing childlike logical conclusions, we decided that they looked like the type our mothers brought home from the shop. From that point on we dared each other to try one, a dare that my then friend braved. After he chomped down on that white rocket shaped shroud we heard the shrill cry of his mother who had been watching us sporadically from afar. The look of hatred she gave me as she gathered up her son and rushed him to hospital is still vivid in my mind. From that moment on I have, and always will, avidly avoid picking my own wild mushrooms. That is, of course, with one exception.
Big and alien looking The Giant Puff ball, Latin name Calvatia Gigantea, is my own personal holy grail in foraging. I have yet to stumble across any but they are so big and alien looking I would trust my ability to identify this fungus on sight and happily take it home. They are large, about the size of a football or much bigger and are pure white all the way through. Imagine a massive ball of mozzarella and
you’re about there. As they mature they begin to turn yellow then brown and at this stage can cause stomach upsets or worse. If this now sounds too risky to forage, good. Paranoia always pays when it comes to picking mushrooms. That being said, they are perfectly edible so long as they are pure white all the way through and have no gills like those found on the underside of typical shop bought mushrooms. Cut into the mushroom to check. Shallow fry a thick slice in garlic butter for a simple meal. If you do happen to find some, be sure to let me know on Twitter – @PottyWhite! As a rule, I advise leaving any fungus well alone. In fact I strongly encourage it as it’s too easy to kill yourself if you make a mistake. My neighbour was fine by the way!
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. The Local Answer
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Holidays & Travel with Jamie Bending
Wispy clouds and turquoise skies When we think of Australia, we think in cliches: sunburn, Fosters, koala bears, bikinis, insects, indecipherable accents and your friend who seems to think himself a native whenever a BBQ wheels into view. We think of a lot of things, but rarely that it’s a reality, that a trip to that distant ‘down under’ is feasible, especially on a student budget. However, any paradise you care to bring up can be shortlisted for your next gap year getaway. In the next two issues we’ll also be tempting you with Thailand and New Zealand, but this month we start with Australia – looking at what to do when you visit, but more importantly why you should want to. We all know about Australian weather. We’ve gasped at its startling heats, wispy clouds and turquoise skies. Equally, we know all about its scenery – beautiful to the point that the sceptics amongst us are forever searching for the canvas it was drawn from! Once geologically evolving, but now inactive, Australia’s past activity has produced the wondrous legacy of glacial landforms (Cradle Mountain), humming rainforests with over 18,000 plant species, vast deserts (the Central Lowlands) and The Great Dividing Range, home to Australia’s highest mountains, deepest ravines and volcanic regions. A trip to Australia also lends you access to 18,000 kilometres of coast to explore, abundant with glowing bays, glistening sands, massive headlands and towering waves. And if scuba diving in the enchanting Great Barrier Reef with the Cradle Mountain
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Lord Howe Island
world’s largest submarine ecosystem, kiteboarding or surfing can’t tempt you into the waves, then you needn’t worry. The beaches buzzing through the day and night, partying in the infamous city of Cairns and shopping in the open air markets of Melbourne and Sydney will provide all the culture a mid-term holiday or an end of exams escape could ask for. For all those hungry for foreign heritage, Australia caters in spades. Australian geological history is exquisite, and totally free to visit with world renowned sites like Uluru and the fossil excavations in Riversleigh, not to mention The Tasmanian Wilderness – the archetypal heritage site. There are rocks from every geologic era, unique plant life, the world’s oldest trees and some of its deepest caves. Lord Howe Island will
satisfy even the most excitable of volcano enthusiasts and Kakadu National Park is a postcard location for tropical beauty! For less muddy culture, Brisbane can provide art and botanical gardens, Sydney the acclaimed Opera House and Harbour, Canberra some world-class architecture, relics and art, and Melbourne a sport haven inside a gardener’s paradise. The City of Hobart is also worth a trip if only for history’s sake, irrespective of the neighbouring FranklinGordon Wild Rivers National Park, white water-rafting and rock climbing. Australia has literally thousands of theme parks, galleries, museums, aquariums, aboriginal sacred locations, wineries, inexpensive hotels, hostels and wildlife spots. It is an eclectic place, but that just makes it all the more perfect. Almost all of the above, if not already free, can be made cheap with a bit of planning – from whole package holidays to camping, forethought really helps stretch those pounds out here. Overall, there’s more to Australia than simply sand and sun, but you can experience as much or as little as you want – that’s the beauty of it. Whatever you leave Britain searching for, from a crisp lager to another side of yourself, you’re sure to find it somewhere here. Australian life is more than a cliche, it’s a lifestyle – and it’s one you should definitely try.
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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. EVERY DAY RIVER AVON BOAT TRIPS On our 55-seater passenger boat available 7 days a week from the end of March to mid-October, 11am till 5pm (weather permitting). PLEASE TELEPHONE FOR CRUISE TIMES. Also available for Private Evening Hire! The Handsam Boat Company. 07860 895416. Explore the River Avon from Abbey Park, Evesham. EVERY DAY UNTIL 6 SEPTEMBER NATURE EXPLORERS This summer holiday, children of all ages can discover their inner adventurer by becoming fully fledged Nature Explorers. Here, they can follow in the footsteps of Scott of the Antarctic (father of WWT’s founder Sir Peter Scott) by going on an array of ‘wild’ adventures and recording them in a special Nature Explorer passport. Price included in admission.
9.30am-5.30pm. Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Gloucestershire GL2 7BT. 01453 891223. EVERY DAY UNTIL 30 SEPTEMBER CANOE SAFARI
Grab a paddle and sail the watery passages of our canoe safari trail – cruise down our kilometre long trail in a canoe. Your trip, here in Gloucestershire, will take you to see birds from around the world as well as wildlife native to these shores and unique to this area. Sit back and relax as you look out for wildlife along the way
such as water voles, dragon flies, warblers and ducks. £5. 11am-4pm. Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Gloucestershire GL2 7BT. 01453 891223. 31 AUGUST THE BIG FAMILY FUN DAY
Join us for our Bank Holiday Monday Family Fun Day – and you can meet Paddington Bear. Bring your own picnic (no alcohol). 17 and unders free. Tickets from £22. Gates open 12.10. Chepstow Racecourse, Monmouthshire, NP16 6BE. chepstow-racecourse.co.uk. 01291 622260.
VINYL RECORDS VINYL WANTED
Local buyer pays cash for your unwanted LP’s, EP’s & 45’s. Most 60’s, 70’s, 80’s & 90’s records considered, large or small collections. Prog, Psych, Punk, Heavy Rock, New Wave especially wanted. e-mail lists to: willowpitch@blueyonder.co.uk 01242 702947 or 07785 515987
Pro m ot e y ou r bu s i n e ss i n 2 2,0 00 m a g a zi n e s Call Mark now!
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ANSWER 541022
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31 AUGUST – 5 SEPTEMBER ANNIE
Set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression, brave young Annie is forced to live a life of misery and torment at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage. Determined to find her real parents, her luck changes when she is chosen to spend Christmas with famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks. Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search. 7.30pm (matinees Wednesday and Saturday 2.30pm). From £15. The Bristol Hippodrome, St Augustine’s Parade, BS1 4UZ. 0844 871 3012. www.atgtickets.com. 4-6 SEPTEMBER DIDMARTON BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL Kemble Airfield gears up for banjo and fiddle mountain music! One of the UK’s premier Bluegrass, Americana and Old Time Music Festivals. Concerts, dance displays, workshops, square dancing, open stage performances, craft and instrument
12 SEPTEMBER NEWENT ONION FAYRE
stalls, children’s area and the famous late night bonfires and jam sessions – bring your instrument and join in! See www.didmarton-bluegrass.co.uk for details. 5 SEPTEMBER ASHLEWORTH VILLAGE SHOW Traditional, fun afternoon for all!! Dog agility, falconry display, children’s races, log-sawing, magician, produce marquee, craft stalls, tea tent, bar, barbecue and much more. Entry £2 adults, £1 children. Held at GL19 4JS. 01452 700098 ashleworth.btck.co.uk/AshleworthVillageShow. 6 SEPTEMBER GL4 COMMUNITY SHOW Fun and entertainment for all the family, including fun dog show, hog roast stall, bouncy castle, fairground rides and attractions. Free entry. Open from 12 noon. Glevum Way Park, (behind Community Centre), Abbeydale, Gloucester GL4 4FF. www.gl4together.co.uk. FRANKLY SINATRA Featuring the swing, the swagger and the velvet vocals of Frank Sinatra in concert, enjoy an unmissable evening with Stephen Triffitt. Acclaimed worldwide as the master of his craft. 7.30pm. From £25. The Bristol Hippodrome, St Augustine’s Parade, Bristol BS1 4UZ. 0844 871 3012. www.atgtickets.com.
Featuring live music, a food festival, street entertainers, over 140 stalls, fairground rides, a dog show, exhibitions and lakeside events to name but a few. There’s more than just onions! 10am. Free entry. Details at www.newentonionfayre.org. ONIONFEST: THE AFTER PARTY To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Newent Onion Fayre, for one year only there is a fantastic after party held around the town’s picturesque lake, with live music from The Beat, 3 Daft Monkeys and Nizlopi, a laser light show, fairground rides, food and drink. 7pm. Newent Lake. Tickets available: newentonionfayre.net. 12-13 SEPTEMBER CHELTENHAM GREEN DOORS FREE EVENT. Visit local sustainable OpenHomes + OpenGardens to gain inspiration and ideas for your own property. Info, photos, videos and property location map – cheltenhamgreendoors.org.uk.
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ABBA TRIBUTE £35 27th & 28th November Due to the sell out in 2014 we are happy to announce the return of our Abba Tribute Party Nights. Whether you’re a Dancing Queen or just a Super Trooper, don’t miss out on this fantastic night of fabulous hits and dance routines.
HOLLYWOOD NIGHTS £29.95 4th, 5th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th December 9th January These Hollywood-themed parties let you feel like a star for the night, from the paparazzi on the red carpet to the walk of fame. Whether with friends, family or colleagues, you’ll enjoy a premier evening of delicious food and music from the resident DJ. LAS VEGAS CHRISTMAS BALL £38 4th & 5th December Transport yourselves back to the glitz and glamour of the Sands Casino in Las Vegas. Wearing your black ties and ball gowns, you will have the chance to meet some fabulous Vegas girls during the reception and then watch them perform some spectacular dance routines during your sumptuous three-course gala dinner. Fantastic swing vocalist Gary Grace and his band are followed by a disco and gambling at the casino tables.
2016 Weddings from
£3999*
*subject to availability
NEW YEAR’S EVE GALA DINNER £75 Enjoy the countdown with a magnificent six-course gala dinner, sensational 7 piece live band, resident DJ and casino tables. Black tie and cocktail dresses.
Book a visit with our wedding co-ordinator Hannah now. Mercure Gloucester BOWDEN HALL Bondend Lane, Upton St Leonards, Glos GL4 8ED Tel: 01452 632 632 E: 077cs@jupiterhotels.co.uk
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Mercure Gloucester Bowden Hall Hotel unveils refurbishment
The splendid Mercure Gloucester Bowden Hall Hotel has undergone an extensive refurbishment transforming the listed Georgian hotel. The hotel, which is set in 12 acres of sweeping parkland, unveiled its new look, following the second phase of its refurbishment, on 1st July, with a special event to launch the new look Mercure Gloucester Bowden Hall Hotel. The renova*on includes the transforma*on of the historic hotel’s recep*on area as well as the redesign of the Lakeside Suite, designed specifically to cater for people looking for a unique wedding or event venue. The second phase of the refurbishment comes a er new beds with a Kayfoam King Koil ma+ress were implemented across all 72 bedrooms at the stately country hotel at the end of May. The Lakeside Suite reflects the natural beauty of its surroundings decorated with so shades of contemporary greys. The elegant ligh*ng and luxurious textures make this stunning new suite the perfect space for dreamy weddings or extra special events, accommoda*ng up to 180 guests. Newlyweds can delight in the wonderful country views and take advantage of the suite’s own private entrance and bar, as the hotel provides an idyllic roman*c se,ng for their special day. There is also a state of the art sound system, fully air-condi*oned space and private dining available.
Commen*ng on the refurbishment and relaunch, hotel General Manager Gavin Jones said: “We are delighted with this investment and were honoured that the Mayor of Gloucester cut the ribbon to officially relaunch the next chapter of the hotel’s story. We are very proud of the hotel’s heritage and the new design concept a+ributes to this, combining tradi*on with a contemporary edge.” Shane Harris, CEO Jupiter Hotels, added: “The investment demonstrates our commitment to the growth and transforma*on of our por)olio in the UK. Our commitment to these hotels con*nues as we invest and support the development of key hotels across the UK. ”
Interior designer Helen Hooper of HH Interiors, who has previously worked with Jupiter Hotels on renova*on projects across the UK, takes the lead. Helen explained: “We wanted to give the Lakeside Suite a complete refresh and open up the space so we’ve used so dove greys and muted blues to help elevate this. The artwork is quirky and fresh with bu+erfly designs and floral pa+erns. The ceiling now has interchanging led lights to tailor the mood for any occasion.” Mercure Gloucester Bowden Hall Hotel is located just three miles from Gloucester and the elegant house showcases exquisite views of its landscaped gardens.
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Answer
POOL A
AUSTRALIA
POOL B
ENGLAND WALES FIJI
URUGUAY
FRIDAY 18th SEPTEMBER
England v Fiji
Twickenham, London
SATURDAY 19th SEPTEMBER
Tonga v Georgia
Kingsholm, Gloucester
Ireland v Canada
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
South Africa v Japan
Brighton Community Stadium
France v Italy
Twickenham, London
SUNDAY 20th SEPTEMBER
Samoa v USA
Brighton Community Stadium
Wales v Uruguay
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
New Zealand v Argentina Wembley Stadium, London
WEDNESDAY 23rd SEPTEMBER
Scotland v Japan
Kingsholm, Gloucester
Australia v Fiji
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
France v Romania
Olympic Park, London
THURSDAY 24th SEPTEMBER
New Zealand v Namibia Olympic Park, London
FRIDAY 25th SEPTEMBER
Argentina v Georgia Kingsholm, Gloucester
Rugby World C SOUTH AFRICA
POOL C
SAMOA JAPAN
SCOTLAND USA
NEW ZEALAND ARGENTINA TONGA
GEORGIA
NAMIBIA
SATURDAY 26th SEPTEMBER
Italy v Canada
Elland Road, Leeds
South Africa v Samoa Villa Park, Birmingham
England v Wales
Twickenham, London
SUNDAY 27th SEPTEMBER
Australia v Uruguay Villa Park, Birmingham
Scotland v USA
Elland Road, Leeds
Ireland v Romania
Wembley Stadium, London
TUESDAY 29th SEPTEMBER
Tonga v Namibia
Sandy Park, Exeter
THURSDAY 1st OCTOBER
Wales v Fiji
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
France v Canada
Stadiummk, Milton Keynes
FRIDAY 2nd OCTOBER
New Zealand v Georgia
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
SATURDAY 3rd OCTOBER
Samoa v Japan
Stadiummk, Milton Keynes
South Africa v Scotland St James Park, Newcastle
England v Australia Twickenham, London
POOL D
FRANCE
IRELAND ITALY
CANADA
ROMANIA
SUNDAY 4th OCTOBER
Argentina v Tonga
Leicester City Stadium
Ireland v Italy
Olympic Park, London
TUESDAY 6th OCTOBER
Canada v Romania
Leicester City Stadium
Fiji v Uruguay
Stadiummk, Milton Keynes
WEDNESDAY 7th OCTOBER
South Africa v USA
Olympic Park, London
Namibia v Georgia Sandy Park, Exeter
FRIDAY 9th OCTOBER
New Zealand v Tonga
St James Park, Newcastle
SATURDAY 10th OCTOBER
Samoa v Scotland
St James Park, Newcastle
Australia v Wales
Twickenham, London
England v Uruguay
Manchester City Stadium
SUNDAY 11th OCTOBER
Argentina v Namibia Leicester City Stadium
Italy v Romania
Sandy Park, Exeter
France v Ireland
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
USA v Japan
Kingsholm, Gloucester
Cup 2015 Fixtures SATURDAY 17th OCTOBER
QUARTER FINAL 1 – Kick-off 4pm
Twickenham, London WINNER POOL B ___________________________________ versus RUNNER-UP POOL A ___________________________________
SCORE
QUARTER FINAL 2 – Kick-off 8pm Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
WINNER POOL C ___________________________________ versus RUNNER-UP POOL D ___________________________________
SCORE
SATURDAY 24th OCTOBER
SEMI FINAL 1 – Kick-off 4pm
Twickenham, London WINNER QF 1 ___________________________________ versus WINNER QF 2 ___________________________________
SCORE
SUNDAY 18th OCTOBER
QUARTER FINAL 3 – Kick-off 1pm
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff WINNER POOL D ___________________________________ versus RUNNER-UP POOL C ___________________________________
SCORE
QUARTER FINAL 4 – Kick-off 4pm
Twickenham, London WINNER POOL A ___________________________________ versus RUNNER-UP POOL B ___________________________________
SCORE
SUNDAY 25th OCTOBER
SEMI FINAL 2 – Kick-off 4pm
Twickenham, London WINNER QF 3 ___________________________________ versus WINNER QF 4 ___________________________________
FRIDAY 30th OCTOBER
BRONZE FINAL – Kick-off 8pm
Olympic Park, London LOSER SF 1 ___________________________________ versus LOSER SF 2 ___________________________________
SCORE
SATURDAY 31st OCTOBER
FINAL – Kick-off 4pm
Twickenham, London WINNER SF 1 ___________________________________ versus WINNER SF 2 ___________________________________
SCORE
SCORE
13 SEPTEMBER THE POSH CAR BOOT SALE Longdole Polo Club near Birdlip, GL4 8LH. Seventy stalls selling bargains galore. 11am-3pm. Adults £2, children free. Proceeds to Cotswold Riding for the Disabled and Brimpsfield Music Society. More Info 01452 864692. 19 SEPTEMBER LADIES NIGHT Hilarious, handsome guys will entertain you all night, on and off stage, in and out of costumes! Your evening includes a 3 course meal with coffee, the Ladies Night show and disco until 1am. £35 per person. Mercure Gloucester Bowden Hall, Bondend Lane, GL4 8ED. 01452 632632. 24 SEPTEMBER CORIOLANUS
When an old adversary threatens Rome, the city calls once more on her hero and
defender: Coriolanus. But he has enemies at home too. 7pm. £16.50 (£14.50, students £12.50). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. CONNECT BUSINESS 2015 Business conference and exhibition. 10am3pm. Free to attend, optional networking lunch £8. The Pavilion, Hatherley Lane, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL51 6PN. For more information and booking visit www.connectbusiness.org.uk, #CCBiz on LinkedIn or follow #CCBiz on Twitter. 26 SEPTEMBER VINTAGE & CRAFT FAIR GLOUCESTER 40+ stalls of vintage and handmade, a jammed packed schedule of live vintageinspired entertainment, classic cars, vintage beauty, vintage tea room, BBQ plus lots more. 11am–5pm. Adults £1 entry, kids go free. Blackfriars Priory, Ladybellgate Street, GL1 2HN. 07738 115572. info@helsbellesboutique.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 Stroud, and help stomp out meningitis. It’s a guaranteed family, fun-filled day. Find out more at www.fivevalleyswalk.com.
FOOD & COUNTRYSIDE DAY A fun packed day for all the family with activities and demonstrations throughout the day, including guest celebrity chef James Tanner. Music, dog show, donkey rides, face painting and a food and drink marquee showcasing local producers. 10am-4pm. Family ticket £18 (2 adults and 2 children). Chepstow Raccourse, Monmouthshire, NP16 6BE. 01291 622260. info@chepstow-racecourse.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 14 NOVEMBER BLUEBELL ROYAL CHARITY GALA EVENING Join us for a Bond Evening. Come dressed to kill (black tie and evening dress) – a martini cocktail awaits. 3 course meal, charity roulette table and live music. £39.95 per person. Forest House and Bluebell Restaurant, Cinder Hill, Coleford GL16 8HQ. www.forest-house-hotel.co.uk. 01594 832424.
Come and see, feed and stroke our beautiful fallow deer, our wonderful collections of peacocks, waterfowl, pheasants and the amusing pygmy goats ... all very tame and will feed from your hand!
NEW VISITOR CENTRE OPEN!
Give your child a magical birthday party in our beautiful gypsy caravan!
Open 7 days a week 10am-5pm • 01452 812727 • www.thebirdpark.co.uk The Bird and Deer Park, Prinknash, Cranham, Gloucester GL4 8EX Page 20
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The Local Answer
WIN TICKETS! courtesy of Over Farm
Frightmare is back!
Shipton Golf Course
With four scare attractions, live entertainment, a fullylicensed bar and food outlets, Frightmare Halloween Festival at Over Farm in Gloucester is the place to be this October! For 2015, the legendary Haunted Hayride is back to take you on a fun and terrifying journey with an all new theme – The Damned. New owners, new scares and new surprises make Fright House a play date you won’t forget! Whilst Séance is set to be even bigger, better and scarier than ever before. Caged is Frightmare’s brand new attraction – remember not to feed the inhabitants! Tickets start from just £16 and can be purchased online at frightmare.co.uk. Over Farm’s Halloween event is also open during the day for fun and friendly scares for all the family. Tractor rides, pumpkins, face painting, daily entertainment, quad train rides and more make this a great day out for all. To enter our draw to win a pair of tickets, send your name, address and telephone number to ‘Frightmare’, The Local Answer, 1 Ullenwood Court, Cheltenham, GL53 9QS. Alternatively, enter via email by sending your details to competitions@thelocalanswer.co.uk stating ‘Frightmare’. Closing date: Monday 14th September 2015.
RIVER AVON BOAT TRIPS
Check out www.handsamboatcompany.co.uk “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
✁
●
Handsam Too RIVER AVON TRIPS...
On our 55-seater passenger boat available 7 days a week from the end of March to mid-October, from 11am till 5pm (weather permitting). PLEASE TELEPHONE FOR CRUISE TIMES Also available for PRIVATE EVENING HIRE!
Self Drive Motorboat Hire
Our motorboats are available to hire by the hour, half day and full day.
Available for corporate days, birthdays and special occasions
Tel: 01242 890237
www.shiptongolf.co.uk
☎
shiptongolf@tiscali.co.uk
Follow us on Twitter – ‘Shiptongolf’
Shipton Golf Course
✉
Nr Frogmill, Shipton, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL54 4HT
The Local Answer
PLEASE TELEPHONE FOR BOOKINGS
THE HANDSAM BOAT COMPANY
07860 895416
Explore the River Avon from Abbey Park, Evesham
To advertise call 01242 510500
Page 21
In The Garden with Julia Smith
Bunches of little scented jewels If the weather allows, you can get on with lifting and dividing any perennials that have got too congested and stopped flowering as well as they had been – this can be done in spring but by then things can get very busy, so it is one less job to do. Lift the large clumps and, with a pair of garden forks back to back, prise them apart into smaller pieces. Discard the woody, congested centre of clumps, replanting pieces which look healthy and have a good root system and new shoots into compost enriched soil with some bone meal added. These will give a good show the following summer. This can be done up until Christmas depending on the weather. Buy sweetpea seeds ready for planting next month. I know I have a tendency to go on about things (or so my husband tells me!) but sweetpeas are such a great thing to grow. They grow up a wigwam of sticks so don’t take up much space, and if you enrich the soil with some compost before planting in their final position, they will reward you with flowers all summer long to cut. In fact you must cut them so that they keep flowering and you end up with bunches of the little scented jewels all over the house. Heaven! September can be thought of as coming to the end of the year in the garden, but it is also time for planning and planting bulbs for the coming year. It is a good time to order bulbs from catalogues such as Avon bulbs (www.avonbulbs.co.uk) who stock a delicious range of more unusual bulbs and who constantly win
gold at Chelsea for their amazing displays. Tulips are best left until November to plant, but other things such as narcissus and crocus can be put in towards the back end of September. Now is also a good time to plant Colchicums (autumn flowering crocuses). They like sheltered but sunny positions under trees (if too exposed they get beaten down by wind and rain). They look like crocuses but have six anthers instead of the three that crocuses have. You buy them as dry corms, and arrange in small groups of seven or more where they will be readily seen in the autumn and will make a lovely late display. Warning – all parts of the Colchicum plant are poisonous so wash hands after handling!
DRIVEWAY AND PATIO SERVICES 85 Cheltenham Road East, Churchdown, Gloucester GL3 1JN
BLOCK PAVING TARMACING ● GRAVEL ● SLABS ● FENCING ● ●
Telephone: 01452 712 368 www.laland1.com www.lsland1.com
*the customer is entitled to a 14 day cooling off period by law
The Local Answer
To advertise call 01242 510500
Page 23
awnings store
Live in style – inside and out... 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.
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
Page 24
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The Local Answer
Interior Design with Caron Burrows
Wallpaper for every style and budget Wallpaper is one of the most common tools used in interior decoration. The creation started as a cheap alternative to wall-hung tapestries of the wealthy and remains to this day one of the best ways to bring character into your home. With plenty of options on offer, wallpaper helps us to achieve an endless list of decorative schemes and is easily updated when you fancy a change. From bold statement prints, to do-it-yourself, wallpaper is a versatile way to add elegance, fun, statement or surprise. The most well-known method of using wallpaper is as its name suggests – adding to walls. This will provide interest and depth to a room. However, the use certainly does not end here.
Do it yourself Want something unique? Create your own wallpaper by pasting up old magazines, vintage posters, road maps or newspapers – these are all great ways to create a warm and intriguing focal point, and give guests an insight into your personality.
Mix old and new Combine classic wallpaper, such as a William Morris, with ultra-modern kitchen fittings. This will provide an elegant, characterful design.
Decoupage
A great way to use wallpaper scraps is by way of decoupage. You could Wallpaper can go almost anywhere cover a small table, a cabinet, or and creates a fresh look in the most even a headboard – the choice is unexpected places. Try replacing stair yours. carpet with a repeating pattern that New to the market creates a sense of space. Always on the lookout for something A sense of drama new, I stumbled across a write-on A woodland backdrop added to a wipe clean magnetic wallpaper. This cloakroom encourages interest and product is designed to liven up a drama to an otherwise uninteresting child’s room, although could be used space. Tropical scenes could also anywhere and would work work well in bathrooms. particularly well in a kitchen for shopping lists and notes.
Unexpected places
Where to buy and how much will it cost? These days wallpaper, like any other product, can be sourced quickly and easily via the internet. A sample of your chosen paper can be requested and sent to your home, generally free of charge. If online shopping is not for you, all DIY outlets and well known stores such as John Lewis sell many brands of wallpaper design. Wallpaper falls into any budget from a few pounds, rising to several hundred pounds and more. Certainly wallpaper is a product that comfortably falls into every style and budget. The Local Answer
To advertise call 01242 510500
Page 25
WORD SEARCH E X C E F J E G P O C G M W E Q U M T K M Q B H
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N Q G B C X X K L A C T S U S E A S O N L R H D
R O F L E O C D K U S S X I M E D V C G E V D O
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O X Y I R I N L L G C G G G Y P T R M S G U Q O ltd
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A C N B W E I K D O C Y A B S P J T W V I H B X
CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CARE & CLEANING
£10 OFF! AUTUMN OFFER
using code A010
www.ecocleancarpet.co.uk hello@ecocleancarpet.co.uk
Don’t look until you’ve finished! Solutions on ‘Index of Advertisers’ page. Page 26
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ADVERTISEMENT
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 27
Quick Crossword ACROSS 1 5 7 8 9 12 15 19 21 22 23 24
DOWN 1 Hospital workers 2 Paging device sound 3 Follow next 4 Front of neck 5 Big dipper, ... coaster 6 Subtract 10 Vocal solo 11 Sri Lankan robe 12 Male title 13 Type of saxophone 14 Large amounts 15 Roadside channel 16 Dairy product 17 Come into view 18 Biblical prayers 19 More docile 20 Dislike intensely
Most agile Peel Uncouth Walked Go by (of time) Aspiring actress River of ice Grills Wired message Salute Went on horseback Hearing membranes
W h y n ot u s e t his s pa ce t o a dve rt is e yo u r b u s i n e ss ? For details please telephone Mark on
The Local
© Lovatts Puzzles
Don’t look until you’ve finished! Solutions on ‘Index of Advertisers’ page.
R R S
01242
ANSWER 510500
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
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Page 28
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Save the Planet with Tamsin Bent of Stroud Valleys Project
Get growing with your children and help reduce food miles As a child I traipsed around garden centres with my dad. He has been a keen gardener for as long as I can remember and I am now one too, allbe-it after a pretty reluctant start! We always grew a few types of fruit and vegetables including my dad’s obsession, tomatoes. However, as an adult with a garden of my own, I have played it safe and mainly stuck to flowers, although of course in honour of my dad I have always grown tomatoes as well. That was until four years ago when, through work, I started gardening with children and was given the task of how to encourage and support local schools to grow their own food. There has been a resurgence in growing your own food in recent years, not only because of concern regarding the origins of our food but
The Local Answer
also the environmental impact of transporting food around the world, known as ‘Food Miles’. Ninety five per cent of our fruit and over half of our vegetables are imported, with 25% of all journeys made in the UK involving taking food from destination to destination, all of which contributes to carbon dioxide emissions which are linked to climate change. Many of us find the thought of growing vegetables quite a daunting prospect, let alone involving children, but just keep it simple. At first all you need is a flower pot or a small plot outside – the sunnier the better. In my experience, starting off with a plot about a metre wide by a couple of metres long works really well. This way a child can reach the middle of the bed without having to resort to
standing on the soil, which compacts it and impedes drainage. Raised beds are very popular at the moment and keep everything a bit neater and more contained, but they are not essential.
Narrow it down by voting – the ‘Veg Factor’! Next you need to decide which crops are most suited to the conditions in your garden to give you a better chance of success. Get your children to list their favourite fruits and vegetables then, after eliminating things like bananas, unless you live somewhere very sheltered, look through seed catalogues and online to see if they will grow in your garden. In schools we end up with a dozen or so then narrow it down by voting – christened the ‘Veg Factor’ by the children! Once you’ve decided what to plant, consult the back of the seed packet to see if they need to be sown in pots first or if they can be sown directly in the ground. We’ve found that planting in straight rows helps identify seedlings from weeds. Weeding between the rows may be necessary, as may some sort of slug control, whether it is going out at dusk and collecting them or wildlife friendly slug pellets. My son and I never had success with carrots until we used wildlife friendly slug pellets, as the seedlings were always eaten just as they emerged! You will encounter many other animals intent on digging up or devouring your precious seedlings but persevere – the joy of your child harvesting their first carrot which they have cared for and which has only travelled a few metres to their plate, without being packaged within an inch of its life, is well worth it.
To advertise call 01242 510500
Page 29
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
Page 30
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Motoring with Christian Tilbury
Golden Oldies Once seen as the preserve of only the mechanically minded, classic cars are becoming increasingly sought after as more and more people realise that they’re great fun, can be maintained by a competent garage and, unlike a modern car, don’t tend to depreciate. In fact, a good deal of the surge of interest can be attributed to people seeking a better return on their money than savings accounts currently deliver, but unless you’re buying at the top of the market and know exactly what you’re doing, it’s best to view any classic car purchase as something which is going to cost you money rather than make it! Buying a car that’s many years old – especially if you’re not too handy with a spanner – can be daunting, but for anyone who’s dipping a tentative toe into classic car ownership, there’s plenty you can do to ensure you end up with a peach rather than a lemon. Before you start trawling the internet and specialist magazines for the car you maybe craved when you were young or spent your childhood being ferried around in, the one essential thing to do is carry out plenty of research. You need to know exactly what model you want to buy and, more importantly, the weaknesses of your desired classic. If you haven’t a clue where to start, don’t worry – someone, somewhere will share your passion and there are
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owners’ clubs for the vast majority of old cars. Tap into their knowledge and you will be able to draw on their experience, while another bonus is that you’ll often come across good, well maintained cars that are up for sale by like-minded enthusiasts.
Buy the very best condition car that you can afford Parts availability is something else to consider. Finding parts, notably interior trim and body panels, for once common cars can be surprisingly tricky and expensive. For example, the 1960s Ford Anglia 105E used to be one of the country’s cheapest cars but a new reproduction wing will cost over £600. Cars like old MGs, Minis, Morris Minors, Triumphs and Fords are probably the most well supported classics, but the golden
rule is always buy the very best condition car that you can afford. As for running a classic, drivers aged over 25 can usually take advantage of special classic car insurance policies and vehicles over 40 years old are also exempt from the annual road fund licence. It’s advisable to add an agreed value on a classic insurance policy and do check to see if any car you’re considering has been converted to run on unleaded fuel – otherwise you’ll need to pour in an additive whenever you fill up to avoid damaging the engine. Oh, and there’s one other thing you need to budget for – breakdown cover. Old cars do like to have the odd wobbly, but as many classic car drivers will tell you, that’s all part of the fun of owning one!
To advertise call 01242 510500
Page 31
w 5 Ne 201 r fo
LUXURY LODGES
A beautiful environment exclusively for lodges G
Brand new family-run development LICENSED Quiet, secluded position with stunning views G Close to local attractions and amenities. G Excellent location for road networks G 32 plots for high quality luxury lodges G Choices of sizes and internal layout G Spacious properties with two or more bedrooms G Mains electricity, running water and sewerage G Adjacent parking space and garden area G Resident ‘on site’ warden G Electric password controlled entrance gates G Active CCTV for security and peace of mind G Free Wi-Fi G Pet friendly G
FOR 365 DAYS A YEAR!
Sale prices start from just £27,500 Rental prices only £550pcm* *includes ground maintenance and security
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 32
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The Local Answer
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
Help for small businesses Well, that’s what the new government is calling it. Let’s hope they mean it. New legislation has been introduced and new Ministers have been appointed specifically to champion the cause of small businesses. But having listened to some of the announcements and read the proposals, I can’t help thinking it’s more of the same rhetoric that we have heard previously. The new Minister for Small Business has never run one, but then there probably wasn’t a candidate in the senior Tory ranks that has, so you can’t blame the individual. It’s the system.
Lack of consistency is a big problem Then there’s the question of whether the government knows what a small business really is. For VAT purposes, you are only small enough to avoid registration if your turnover is under £80,000. For accounting purposes small is about to be defined as £10 million! Consistency? There’s another of the problems. So exactly what help is promised to those of us who run a small business? The government’s flagship proposal is the setting up of a Small Business Conciliation Service, which will apparently help small businesses to settle disputes with large companies ‘quickly and cheaply’. What world do they live in? There are never ‘disputes’ between large and small businesses. The big boys pick on the little ones – they decide how long they are going to take to pay your bill, they give you no help with cash flow generally and when they want to promote your product in the retail sector, they demand that you make a contribution to it.
Don’t pass on the cost of price wars to small suppliers Don’t look until you’ve finished! Solutions on ‘Index of Advertisers’ page.
THE SOLUTION FOR YOUR NEW BATHROOM ... Your local family business
The Local Answer
I’ve seen it from all of the big retailers to a number of my clients. They do it in different guises, but it all comes back to the same thing – they want to reduce their selling prices on your products, so you have to suffer the financial consequences. My simple interpretation of the argument between the supermarkets and the farmers over the price of milk is that it is yet another example. Let the supermarkets have a price war – that’s good for all of us – but don’t allow them to pass the cost of that war on to the milk suppliers. Let it come out of their own profits – they are plenty big enough given recent results.
To advertise call 01242 510500
Page 33
Index of Advertisers FOOD & DRINK
PROPERTY
WHAT’S ON
CLUBS & SPORTS Shipton Golf Course 21 EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS Bowden Hall 16-17 Chepstow Racecourse 22 Hype Agency 14 Over Farm 21 Prinknash Bird Park 20 The Handsam Boat Company 21
HEALTH & BEAUTY NHS Let’s Talk
LA Landscapes 32 Spa Garden Rooms
4 Norton Park 4 RETAIL Vinyl Records
Forest House The Cross
6
23 2
HEATING & PLUMBING Pete T Plumbing 24 HOMES & GARDENS WINDOWS & DOORS BATHROOMS Albany Windows 36 Severn Vale Bathrooms 33 & 35 Cloudy 2 Clear 27 BUILDING SERVICES PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Marshalls Driveways 23 R. Richards & Son 28 CARE SERVICES Barnwood Trust 8 CLEANING SERVICES 34 Marshall Dry Cleaners 12 Samaritans Ecoclean 26 COMPUTER SERVICES Abbey Group 30 FURNISHING & APPLIANCES Gloucester Furniture 24 MOTORING SERVICES New Blinds – Awnings 24 ETB Tyres 30 GARDEN SERVICES Severnside Taxis & Private Hire 15
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COMPETITION WINNERS Thanks to all who took part in our August 2015 competitions and congratulations to the winners: Chepstow Racecourse – Rowena Griffiths of Fishponds. Picture Perfect – Helen Griffin of Cheltenham.
W O R C E R A C S P I M N V J S P W H E H B A Z
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A C N B W E I K D O C Y A B S P J T W V I H B X
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 – Tuesday 15th September 2015
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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 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.
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 can’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