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APRIL 2016
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GLOUCESTERSHIRE SOUTH WIN A £500 HOLIDAY GIFT CARD! – SEE INSIDE FOR DETAILS
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Gloucestershire South – 41,000 copies Gloucester – 46,000 copies Gloucestershire North – 20,000 copies Forest of Dean – 22,000 copies Cotswolds – 28,000 copies Cheltenham – 43,000 copies
Chloe Reynolds Publication Manager – Gloucestershire South
01242 541072 chloe@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Editorial Lois Kingscott editorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Helen Kingscott editorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Distribution Nik Chavda – 01242 500245 office@achda.co.uk
Production Alison Hambling alison@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Accounts Kerry Fell accounts@thelocalanswer.co.uk
1 Ullenwood Court, Ullenwood, Gloucestershire GL53 9QS
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Welcome to April ... We have a fantastic competition this month in which you could be the lucky winner of a £500 holiday gift card courtesy of The Local Answer! For more details and to find out how you can enter, see the centre pages. Take advantage of the glorious sunshine and get out and about in the countryside in April. Why not forage for gorse, or take up running as a hobby – our ‘Looking Good Feeling Great’ feature has some great tips on how to hit the track while avoiding injury! Alternatively, get out in the garden and follow Julia Smith’s tips on spring flowers, or if you’d prefer to take it easy, have a go at making this month’s cocktail – a Bloody Mary – and put your feet up.
Inside this month ... Cocktail Time 4 Food & Drink 4 Delicious Dishes 5 Wild Food Foraging 6 Looking Good Feeling Great 7 What’s On 11 Win a £500 Holiday Gift Card! 18-19 Homes & Gardens 20 In the Garden 23 Interior Design 25 Gadgets & Gizmos 27 Word Search 29 Quick Crossword 30 Sudoku 31 Money Matters 33 Index, Competitions, Solutions 34 Competitions: 16 & 18-19
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Cocktail Time with Lois Kingscott
“OUR BEEF IS OUTSTANDING IN ITS FIELD!”
Tipputs End, Horsley, Nailsworth, Glos
Bloody Mary The Bloody Mary is often called ‘the world’s most complex cocktail’ because of the vast number of ingredients it contains, and there are three different claims to who invented it. The first is a bartender from New York’s 21 Club named Henry Zbikiewicz, who supposedly invented the cocktail in the 1930s. The second, a frequent visitor of the 21 Club, is the comedian George Jessel. But the third comes from Fernand Petiot who claimed to have invented the Bloody Mary before the other two, in 1921, while working at the New York Bar in Paris – later known as Harry’s New York Bar. Petiot said that he adapted Jessel’s drink from being simply vodka and tomato juice by combining “four large dashes of salt, two dashes of black pepper, two dashes of cayenne pepper, and a layer of Worcestershire sauce”. He then added a dash of lemon juice, ice, vodka and tomato juice before shaking, straining and pouring. The cocktail’s name is associated with several historical figures – most prominently Queen Mary I of England, who gained the nickname due to the mass executions she carried out while attempting to re-establish Roman Catholicism in England. Ingredients: Ice; 50ml vodka; ½ lemon, juice only; 6 dashes Worcestershire sauce; 3 dashes Tabasco sauce; 150ml tomato juice; pinch salt and ground black pepper; celery and wedge of lime to garnish. Method: 1 Place the ice in a tall glass and add the vodka. 2 Add the lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce and tomato juice. Stir well. 3 Season to your taste with salt and pepper, garnish with celery and lime wedge, and serve immediately.
PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY Why not have a Mocktail? For a non–alcoholic alternative, simply omit the vodka. Page 4
01453 839949 info@tipputsgrill.com
www.tipputsgrill.com
The Old Rectory Re staurant
Cole sbourne , Che lte nham GL5 5SB 01242 870120 Private Dining Room
Ideal venue for parties of all occasions and friends get-togethers No hire cost!
Cotswold Country Dining
A warm welcome awaits in this charming cosy restaurant. Offering locally sourced meats, fresh fish & vegetables, as well as delicious home made desserts.
Traditional Sunday Lunch £18.50 3 course multi choice menu
Spring Lunches £12.95 2 course multi choice menu Dinner from 6pm Lunch from 12 noon
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www.theoldrectoryrestaurant.co.uk
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Delicious Dishes with Helen Kingscott
Rhubarb panna cotta served with roasted rhubarb Tangy, light and creamy – a perfectly simple spring dessert Ingredients (serves 4): For the roasted rhubarb: 500g fresh rhubarb, cut into 3cm pieces; 2 tbsp caster sugar; 4 tbsp apple juice For the panna cotta: 75g caster sugar; 150ml double cream; 2 gelatine leaves, soaked in a bowl of water until soft, squeezed dry; 300ml buttermilk. Method: 1 For the roasted rhubarb: preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F/Gas 6). Place the pieces of rhubarb onto a baking tray, sprinkle with sugar then drizzle over the apple juice. 2 Roast in the oven for 8-12 minutes, or until just tender. 3 Blend 125g of the roasted rhubarb in a food processor to make a purée. Keep back the remaining roasted rhubarb to garnish the panna cotta. 4 For the panna cotta: put the sugar and cream in a pan and gently simmer. Stir continuously until all of the sugar has dissolved. 5 Soak the gelatine leaves in a bowl of cold water for 3-4 minutes, or until softened. Squeeze out all excess water. Add the softened gelatine leaves to the sugar and cream mixture. Continue to simmer until they are dissolved. 6 Add the rhubarb purée to the pan and stir until well combined. Remove from the heat and put aside to cool slightly. 7 Add the buttermilk and stir until the mixture is combined.
8 Place four ramekins onto a baking tray. Split the panna cotta mixture between the ramekins and chill in the fridge for 1-2 hours, or until set. 9 To serve, remove the panna cotta from the fridge. Briefly dip the base of each into a bowl of boiled water to loosen. Gently slide a knife around the edge of each ramekin and turn out into the centre of a serving plate. Spoon the remaining reserved rhubarb and juices around the edge of the serving plates.
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Wild Food Foraging with Steven Hawley
I’m sat on the sofa in my thermals with a rolled up piece of tissue lodged up each nostril. I’ve been kicked out of bed by my wife because – allow me to paraphrase for the younger readers amongst you – my persistent whimpering is causing her to seriously consider the benefits of a lifetime in jail! Even my dog has given up on me and remained in the warm, quiet bedroom. My only comfort is the eerie blue glow from the TV, which has been warning me of its inability to find signal for the last hour. A part of me knows I should get up and turn it off, but I take some comfort in knowing that I’m not the only one functioning incorrectly. My feverish melancholy is hardened by the knowledge that I’m quickly running out of hot herbal refreshments.
pay cheque away from financial ruin, I quickly write off the thought of a shopping trip in the morning to replenish my tea supplies and instead turn my attention to a gorse bush I spotted about an hour’s walk from home. It’s said that when gorse is out of flower, is out of fashion, so you can usually When gorse is out of flower, kissing be sure to get a good crop of the delicate kissing is out of fashion yellow petals most of the year. They can be Because the last week of the month is used to garnish a salad, or an unopened always a gentle reminder that I’m only one flower bud can be pickled and used in the
same way as you would a caper. But always partial to a hot beverage, I prefer to just steep a couple of flower heads in a mug of hot water before slurping noisily in plenty of com-pany. I mean, what good is being poorly if you can’t take every opportunity to announce it to the world?
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.
Saturday 7th May 10.00 – 13.00 Subscription Rooms Kendrick Street Stroud GL5 1AE
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Looking Good, Feeling Great with Matt Wagstaff
Prepare to run… don’t prepare to fail! Running is far and wide the most popular go-to activity to keep fit. It’s fairly equipment free, you don’t particularly need a gym or club, and you can generally do it all year round (if you’re not a fair weather runner!). Being prepared for running is something people often don’t address, believing it’s just a case of one foot infront of the other at an increased pace largely. Having this logic can often lead to injury, poor motivation and not hitting your personal best! Before starting, or as you build up the miles (slowly might I add), I suggest following some simple steps to give your body and mind what it needs to hit the road, track or treadmill – avoiding any undue barriers along the way!
Trainers for you Unless you have rock hard feet or regularly run on sand, trainers are going to come in handy! But you must make sure they are right for you – everyone’s feet are different, meaning certain trainer styles are good for you and some are not. Having an assessment in a local trainer shop or by a trained practitioner can give you feedback on what kind of gait you have and
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which trainers will be most appropriate. The wrong style and fit can lead to pain and injury!
Stretch & release to avoid injury Stretching regularly is a must for new and long-term runners – especially stretching the calf and lower leg muscles. Many runners who don’t perform enough stretching around runs suffer in the long-term with conditions such as plantar fasciitis, achilles tendonitis and shin splints. Stretching and releasing the upper thigh muscles is also key. Getting a regular sports massage along with foam rolling will lead to improved injury-free running performance.
Following a personally designed program from a club, trainer or a decent book will help you develop over time without over or under training. Prepare for a race with Follow a plan (don’t get enough time to build up your ahead of yourself) distance gradually, rather than being When beginning a running program under pressure, which generally or preparing for a race, following a leads to fatigue and injury. structured plan can be the difference between achieving the end goal and Strengthen the right bowing out early. People often build muscles up the miles too quickly when Running with good form works a preparing for a race due to time variety of muscles in the body and restraints or over confidence. leads to great overall fitness. Though due to an increased amount of runners working in sedentary jobs often seated for long periods, some vital muscles tend to weaken, leading to a dysfunctional running gait. Working on a specific rehab program, addressing common weak muscles such as your glutes and core musculature, will help improve running performance as well as all round posture. Being assessed by a qualified practitioner will address common dysfunctions, which in the long run can lead to knee pain, lower back pain and many other issues. Pain free running is the way forward!
To advertise call 01242 510500
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ANTIQUES WANTED
We Buy 1800-1970’s single items, collections or complete house contents including: Old leather suit cases, Postcards, Dolls, Trains, Toys, Dinkys, Corgi, Match Box, Sporting items, Copper, Brass, China, Silver, Clocks, Watches, Boxes, Treen, Cutlery, Tapestries, Ephemera, Fountain Pens, Medals, Badges, Small furniture Please ask for a detailed list of items we buy Telephone: 01452 770409 evenings or Email ross.milne2012@btinternet.com WATERLANE GL6 7PL We travel to anywhere in the UK
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Full Renault Diagnosis Servicing all makes & models G Over 20 years experience G All work guaranteed G Free courtesy cars G G
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Norton Park, Tewkesbury Road, Gloucestershire GL2 9LH Page 10
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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 WEDNESDAY BEGINNERS MAT PILATES FOR LADIES NEW CLASS STARTS April 20th. Ashchurch Village Hall, GL20 8LA. Wednesdays 7.15pm (except every 2nd Wednesday of the month). Cost: £8. To Book: 0752 847 1091 or www.synergispilates.co.uk. 1-31 MARCH DAFFODIL & EARLY MAGNOLIA MONTH March is the perfect time to see the host of golden daffodils in all their spring glory! Wander through swathes of yellow and enjoy the spring sunshine from beneath the glorious tree canopy. Batsford’s 73 species of Magnolia will also start to bloom, filling the Arboretum with clouds of pink and white. Please call for an update on 01386 701441 or visit www.batsarb.co.uk. Batsford Arboretum, Batsford, near Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, GL56 9AD. 25 MARCH – 10 APRIL THE GIANT DUCK HUNT
A group of giant ducks will be landing at Slimbridge this Easter holidays, can your family spot them all? Pick up an activity
sheet on arrival then set off on a fun hunt which will take you all round the grounds. Spot them all and receive a yummy treat on your return. This Easter holiday there will also be some fun easter arts and crafts so you can make something to take home. While you are on the hunt keep an eye out for ducklings, handfeed some geese and go to hear an otter talk. 9.30am – 5pm. Price included in normal admission. 01453 891223. events.slimbridge@wwt.org.uk. WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire. GL2 7BT. THE BIG BATSFORD CHICKEN HUNT!
You may have heard of an Easter Egg hunt, now find the chickens that laid them! They’re all hiding in the Arboretum – simply mark their locations on the map provided to win a prize! The chicken hunt costs £2.50 per child, plus Arboretum admission fee (children must be accompanied by an adult). No need to book, just turn up and enjoy! Visit www.batsarb.co.uk for details. Batsford Arboretum, Batsford, near Moreton-inMarsh, Gloucestershire, GL56 9AD.
25 MARCH – 7 MAY MAMMA MIA Join the ultimate feel-good party at the world’s sunniest and most exhilarating smash-hit musical! Set on a Greek island, a story of love, friendship and identity is cleverly told through the timeless songs of ABBA. Various dates and times. 0844 871 3012. atgtickets.com/venues/bristolhippodrome. The Bristol Hippodrome, St Augustine’s Parade, BS1 4UZ. 3 & 23 APRIL CHELTENHAM CROQUET CLUB Try Croquet at Cheltenham Croquet Club, Old Bath Road. Taster Days from 10am3pm. All you need are flat soled shoes and a shower proof top. Just turn up or book your slot on 01242 512933 or email klimseabright@gmail.com. 4 APRIL BIG HERO 6 An action-packed comedy-adventure about the special bond that develops between Baymax, a plus-sized inflatable robot, and prodigy Hiro Hamada. From 1pm join Art Playground in the theatre foyer for super hero craft activities before the film starts at 2pm. Tickets £7. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. www.bacontheatre.co.uk. 16 APRIL CHELTENHAM’S 2ND VEGAN FAIR Fantastic range of stalls – all things vegan – food stalls, clothing, books, make up, animal rights stalls, animal charities, and talks throughout the day. Entry fee is donation only. 10am-4pm. St. Andrews Church, Montpellier Street, Cheltenham.
Vol unt eer wit h us a nd do som ethi ng a ma zi ng! If you have a few hours to spare each week, why not become an RDA Volunteer? No experience needed – we’ll train you on the job. For anyone with more experience, have you ever thought of teaching? Find out more on our website or give us a call, join us for a coffee and see our wonderful work.
• Call 01242 584420 to speak to Claire or Debbie • Visit www.cotswoldrda.org.uk Cotswold • Email info@cotswoldrda.org.uk Jackie Brutton Riding Centre, Prestbury Park Racecourse, Prestbury, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 4SH
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It’s what you can do that counts
Riding for the Disabled Association
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Celebrating five years The Cotswold Art & Antique Dealers’ Association (CADA) Fair will celebrate its fifth anniversary in the stunning setting of Blenheim Palace from Thursday 21st to Sunday 24th April 2016. Since its inception, the fair has cultivated an ardent following of collectors, art consultants, interior designers and the public alike, making it a ‘must-visit’ destination. A complimentary invitation is available to download from the CADA website – www.thecada.org – admitting two to the fair and Palace grounds. This is the only antiques fair to take place at Blenheim Palace, home to the 12th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, in the glorious setting of the Orangery and Campaign Rooms, overlooking the Italian Garden. Patron of the Association and Fair – and CADA member – is Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill, sister of the present Duke.
The very best of each discipline Twenty-seven of the Association’s forty-eight members are taking part in the fair, with new exhibitors including Parkside Antiques, Iona House Gallery, Greenway Antiques, Strachan Fine Art and Jeanette Hayhurst. Five guest dealers have also been invited to bring their expertise and additional contribution to the fair. The very best of each discipline will be represented, including furniture, pictures, silver, early needlework and
antique boxes, sculpture, bronze, clocks and barometers, carpets and textiles, glass, jewellery, English and Oriental ceramics, garden ornaments and statuary, as well as other decorative items. All works are for sale, with prices ranging from £100-£100,000+. The dates of the fair encompass major anniversaries of historical significance – HM The Queen’s 90th birthday on 21st April, St Georges Day on 23rd April, as well as Shakespeare’s birthday and the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death on 23rd April. Amongst the many art and antiques to be exhibited, participating dealers will bring works of art relating to these key dates. Embracing these themes, new member Parkside Antiques will exhibit an English Regency period needlework on silk, depicting a grieving lady laying flowers at the grave of William Shakespeare. Architectural Heritage will show a stunning mid 19th century painted and stained glass panel showing a portrait of Shakespeare. Legge Carpets will bring a fragment of an English roller-printed cotton plain weave entitled Shakespere's (sic) Seven Ages of Man. English pottery specialist John Howard will exhibit a pair of earthenware lions and a unicorn, as well as a rare glazed stoneware of St. George slaying the dragon.
Items of local interest Mary Cooke Antiques will exhibit a fine snuff box with illustration of Buckingham Palace. It is exceptionally rare to find this subject on a table Snuff Box and this example was made in Birmingham in 1846 by Nathaniel Mills, the finest of all the Birmingham box makers. Many items of local interest will also be exhibited, including an aquatint painting of Blenheim, after Joseph Farington, RA 1747-1821. John Howard, Chairman of CADA says: “This year’s fair promises to be an especially exciting one and is a much anticipated event in the antiques calendar, providing collectors and first time buyers with the opportunity to view and purchase outstanding antiques and works of art, showcased in the most stunning setting. The fair is now established as one of the best quality events in the country”. This year CADA’s chosen charity is The Soldiers of Oxfordshire Trust, which opened in Woodstock in June 2015. The main core of the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum is the collections – both objects and archives – of the two county regiments, the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and the Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars.
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17 APRIL VIENNA FESTIVAL BALLET: SWAN LAKE One of the best known love stories, performed by the ever popular Vienna Festival Ballet; lavish costumes, stunning scenery, international stars and the glorious music from Tchaikovsky make this a night not to be missed. Swan Lake is the most popular ballet in the world, capturing the full range of human emotions like no other – from hope to despair, from terror to tenderness, from melancholy to ecstasy. 5pm. £19 (£18, children £14). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. www.bacontheatre.co.uk. 19 APRIL FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD
Based on the literary classic by Thomas
Hardy, this is the story of independent, beautiful and headstrong Bathsheba Everdene (Carey Mulligan), who attracts three very different suitors. This timeless story of Bathsheba’s choices and passions explores the nature of relationships and love, as well as the human ability to overcome hardships through resilience and perseverance. 7.45pm. £7 (£6). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. www.bacontheatre.co.uk. 21-24 APRIL THE COTSWOLD ART & ANTIQUE DEALER’S FAIR The very best of each discipline will be represented, including furniture, pictures, silver, early needlework and antique boxes, sculpture, bronze, clocks and barometers, carpets and textiles, glass, jewellery, English and Oriental ceramics, garden ornaments and statuary, as well as other decorative items. All works are for sale, with prices ranging from £100 – £100,000+. 10am – 5.30pm daily. Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire OX20 1PP. 22 APRIL WE’LL GATHER LILACS – THE MUSIC OF IVOR NOVELLO An evening of Novello nostalgia, all those wonderful melodies from Glamorous
Night, Perchance to Dream, The Dancing Years and King’s Rhapsody. Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham. 7.30pm Tickets £17.50. Booking: 0844 576 2210 or www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk. 23 APRIL THE MERSEY BEATLES
Like the original Fab Four, Cavern Club favourites, The Mersey Beatles are Liverpool lads born and bred. They perform the best music ever made with the spontaneity, energy, excitement and respect which this fantastic music deserves, including Love Me Do, Let It Be, Beatlemania and Pepperland; for an unforgettable evening of Beatles classics in one concert. 8pm. £16.50. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. www.bacontheatre.co.uk.
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.com The Bird and Deer Park, Prinknash, Cranham, Gloucester GL4 8EX Page 14
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ÂŁ29.95 per person per event GLOUCESTER
Includes exciting Murder Mystery entertainment, delicious three course meal plus disco!
Join us for our
MURDER MYSTERY NIGHTS BOOK TODAY!
27th May 17th June 22nd July 19th August
23rd September 21st October 18th November 11th December
Hallmark Hotel Gloucester, Matson Lane, Robinswood Hill, Gloucester GL4 6EA e gloucester.events@hallmarkhotels.co.uk w hallmarkhotels.co.uk t 01452 525 653
WIN TICKETS! courtesy of the bacon theatre
Far from the Madding Crowd The Bacon Theatre film season opens on 19th April with ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’ [12A]. Based on the literary classic by Thomas Hardy, this is the story of independent, beautiful and headstrong Bathsheba Everdene (Carey Mulligan), who attracts three very different suitors. This timeless story of Bathsheba’s choices and passions explores the nature of relationships and love, as well as the human ability to overcome hardships through resilience and perseverance. Tickets cost just £7 (£6) and may be booked online at bacontheatre.co.uk or by calling the box office on 01242 258002. To enter our draw to win a pair of tickets, send your name, address and telephone number to ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’, The Local Answer, 1 Ullenwood Court, Cheltenham, GL53 9QS. Alternatively, enter via email by sending your details to competitions@thelocalanswer.co.uk stating ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’. Closing date: Monday 11th April 2016. 25 APRIL BLUNDERBUS: THE OWL WHO WAS AFRAID OF THE DARK
Plop is a baby Barn Owl. He has big round eyes and very knackety knees. Plop is exactly the same as every barn owl, except for one thing… he is AFRAID of the DARK. Join him as he journeys into the night-time world of campfires, fireworks, and moonlit adventures. With an irresistible blend of live music, puppetry and storytelling, this funny, gentle and reassuring tale is written especially for small people aged 3-7 and grown-ups who sleep with the big light on! Based on the classic children’s book by Jill
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Tomlinson. Ages 3yrs+. 10.30am. £10 (£8, family £32). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. www.bacontheatre.co.uk. 28-30 APRIL WUTHERING HEIGHTS BY CHARLES VANCE Wychwood Players embrace the power, pain and torment of Heathcliff and Cathy’s heart breaking relationship. 7.30pm at New Beaconsfield Hall Shipton under Wychwood. Box office opens 11th April. Tickets £8.50. 07817426305 or wychwoodplayersboxoffice@yahoo.co.uk 3 MAY WOMAN IN GOLD
Woman in Gold is the remarkable true story of one woman’s journey to reclaim her heritage and seek justice for what happened to her family. Sixty years after she fled Vienna during World War II, an elderly Jewish woman, Maria Altmann (Helen Mirren), starts her journey to retrieve family possessions seized by the
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Nazis, among them Klimt’s famous painting The Lady in Gold. 7.45pm. £7 (£6). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. www.bacontheatre.co.uk. 7 MAY PAWS ON PATROL
Paws on Patrol in Gloucester Park from 12 noon. Displays from Police Dogs, The Quack Pack, LG Agility and Ali Magic. Free to enter novelty dog show, lots of stalls and fun activities. Free entry. See www.safergloucester.co.uk. 13 MAY RHYTHYM & BLUES NIGHT Enjoy a martini cocktail reception followed by a divine three course dinner, with the serenading sounds of our five piece live Rhythm & Blues band, then dance the night away with music provided by the DJ. £38 per person. Bowden Hall, Bondend Lane GL4 8ED. 01452 632632.
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QUEEN TRIBUTE
RHYTHM & BLUES
NIGHT Enjoy a martini cocktail reception followed by a divine three course dinner, with the serenading sounds of our 5 piece Live Rhythm & Blues band, then dance the night away with music provided by the DJ.
Enjoy a divine three-course dinner followed by a breathtaking performance from the champions of tribute Queen II. Then you can dance the night away with music provided by the resident DJ.
Friday 13th May 2016
Friday 17th June 2016
£38 per person Bed & Breakfast from £70 per room
£38 per person Bed & Breakfast from £70 per room
MASquerade
ball Join us for a truly spectacular night of mystery, charm and intrigue at our Masquerade Ball. Why not try your luck on the casino tables, or take to the dance floor with the fabulous sounds of the resident DJ until 1am. Your evening will also include a luxurious 3 course meal followed by coffee and chocolates.
MURDMEYRST ERY DINNER Enjoy a delicious three-course dinner with coffee whilst you flex your amateur sleuthing muscles solving a thrilling Murder Mystery plot! Followed by dancing the night away to the Resident DJ.
Friday 23rd September 2016 £36 per person £44 per person including half a bottle of wine Bed and Breakfast from £70 per room
Friday 28th October 2016 £33.50 per person
Mercure Gloucester BOWDEN HALL Bondend Lane, Upton St Leonards, Glos GL4 8ED Tel: 01452 632 632 E: 077cs@jupiterhotels.co.uk
Quote ‘LOCAL’ when you make a booking
WIN A £500 HO
LIDAY GIFT CARD courtesy of
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ANSWER
It’s easy to enter our draw... How many copies of The Local Answer are distributed in Gloucestershire every month? For your chance to win a £500 Thomas Cook Gift Card to use on a UK or foreign getaway, send your answer to the above question, along with your name, address (including postcode) and telephone number to ‘TLA Getaway’, The Local Answer, 1 Ullenwood Court, Cheltenham, GL53 9QS. Alternatively, enter via email by sending your answer and details to competitions@thelocalanswer.co.uk stating ‘TLA Getaway’ in the subject line. Closing date: Monday 11th April 2016. In addition to our usual competition rules, by entering you agree to have your name and photograph featured in our next issue and online should you win.
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• Driveways • Patios • Drainage • Fencing • Landscaping • Turfing • Decking • Repair Work
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Exterior Painting Free es mates Contact Neil
01453 826811 07812 393922 nsdecora ng11@aol.co.uk
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ALL TYPES OF TREE SERVICES
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Hedge & Grass Cutting ROOFING Garden Walls ◆ GUTTERING Fencing ◆ PAINTING A T I O S ◆ REPOINTING P ◆ PLASTERING ◆ RENDERING ◆
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Tel: 01452 668005/01453 297010/01285 238089 www.marshallsdriveways.co.uk Company registration: 090645563
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CT ROBERTS
For a free, no obligation quotation call Chris on
01453 548376 or 07597 780433
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In The Garden with Julia Smith
Green green grass As daffodils finish flowering the faded flowerheads can be removed. The small daffodils which are being grown to naturalise can be left to form seedheads. Don’t cut off the foliage as it needs at least six weeks dying to replenish the bulb underneath so it can flower the following year. Moreover, don’t tie it up in strange bundles with elastic bands, as this can damage the leaves. This could be a good time to buy winter flowering trees and shrubs whose price may be reduced in garden centres – giving you a good show next winter. This is also a good time to plant evergreens into wellprepared soil with a balanced fertilizer added. Make sure you keep plants that have been sown in them well-watered during the baskets will have become pot-bound summer if it is dry. and need dividing and repotting with Reinstall pumps and filters ordinary garden soil (not rich compost which will contribute to the Now is also a good time to reinstall growth of algae) and top dressed pumps and filters in your pond that with grit to keep the soil in place. have been kept out of the frost since If you have a pond that gets autumn. Some of the marginal several hours of full sun a day you should consider growing water lilies. They like still water with no fountains or waterfalls and have large leaves that spread over the surface of the water, creating shade, which reduces algal growth. The flowers come in lots of colours and even sometimes have a scent as well.
mown don’t apply weedkiller for two or three days. Don’t compost the clippings that have been treated with weedkiller. However, I personally don’t mind seeing a lawn containing daisies and other flowers and life is easier if you learn to love them!
Keep a look out for red lily beetles Keep a look out for the red lily beetles on newly emerging lily shoots. Pick them off and squash them and, if you want, use a systemic spray like Provado Ultimate Bug Killer to keep them safe for up to six weeks.
Encourage the grass to grow Begin feeding the lawn in April when growth starts again. Apply a proprietary spring/summer lawn fertiliser in two applications. It should be high in nitrogen to encourage the grass to grow nice and green. If you need to apply a weedkiller on the grass apply it two or three weeks later when everything is growing strongly. Don’t mow for two or three days after applying, and if you have
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Page 23
interior needs Luxurious Curtains and Soft Furnishings ◆ Curtains
Frrseoneal
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Eastern Avenue, Gloucester GL4 3BU (Next to The Weavers Shop opposite PC World)
www.interiorneeds.co.uk
Interior Design with Caron Burrows
The home office The way we work is changing. As technology improves, more and more of us are embracing the opportunity to work from home. Alternatively, to have a dedicated space where bills and emails can be dealt with and crafting can take place is becoming increasingly popular.
Where
task light placed on your desk or attached to the wall provides extra light for close work.
Window treatments A blind is a good idea to help with glare. Venetian blinds are a good choice as they can be tilted at differing levels, and also come in many colours and finishes to blend with your chosen or existing colour scheme.
Not everyone is blessed with a spare room that can be turned into a home office, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up the dream of having a dedicated work space – you just need a bit of imagination. Perhaps you have an alcove that isn’t being used, a spot under the stairs, or an area within the kitchen that can be transformed into a Colour work space? An office doesn’t have to If you are using the corner of an existing room, try to integrate your be huge, so anywhere will do. colour choices to avoid the office area Lighting standing out like a sore thumb. The Natural light has many benefits when colour blue is believed to encourage positioning your laptop or computer intellect, while yellow stimulates screen – the last thing you want is glare thinking and orange triggers creativity affecting your vision. Choose a good – these are all common choices for general light that will match your office or study environments. existing decor. A dimmer switch will also help you regulate the light Seating strength and is adjustable throughout Your choice of seating is the most the day depending on natural light. A important and should be chosen
carefully. Comfort is paramount to support and protect your back, especially when you’re spending long periods of time sat at your desk. There are many choices available that can be purchased from charity shops and DIY outlets, as well as specialist shops. Fit your seat into your chosen colour scheme with cushions that will also help support your back and provide comfort for long days at the office.
Desk Let your imagination run wild when choosing a desk – it does not have to be the conventional desk that we all relate to in an office environment. A kitchen table, leftover kitchen worktops fitted to the wall, a vintage find in a charity shop – the list is endless.
Walls/storage Make the walls work hard. Blackboard paint is a wonderful thing and is a popular choice of mine – not only is it fun, it also means you can keep updating the wall with notes. You can also use clipboards in a new way by fixing them to the wall – this is a fantastic method to display ideas, memos and photos. By using labelled boxes you’ll keep all your documents easily to hand, meaning you can work in an orderly and organised manner. Empty coffee jars are a great up-cycle – use for pens, pencils and paint brushes.
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Page 25
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Gadgets & Gizmos with Dan Wood
A great range of home security options Yale HSA6400 Series It’s true but sad to say that you only need to make your home look less appealing to any potential intruder than your neighbour and you should never take home security for granted – ask any victim of burglary. Expensive installations by specialist engineers are history. The Yale HSA6400 series comes in one tidy box with everything you need for self set up. The entire system is wireless and battery powered, including the external siren box. The standard package comes with a siren box, one dummy box, two PIR sensors and two door/window contacts as well as control panel. The telecommunicating version will also phone you if the alarm is activated, up to a maximum of three telephone numbers, so you’ll always know if the alarm is set off! Batteries last for roughly 18 months to two years and you can add up to 20 devices to the system so you have complete control over the extent and range of your set up. I found this very simple to install, easy to maintain and hassle free. The yellow Yale siren boxes can be seen from a distance and for an average price of £150, I can’t
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recommend this alarm system enough. You can even buy more complex versions, which include remote smartphone app operated CCTV PIR sensors so you can see inside your home if the alarm is triggered while you are away! Generally, Yale offer a great range of home security options from alarms to home CCTV and smart locks. I recommended this system to
relatives following a burglary next door last month and since then all three properties in the row have installed the Yale HSA6400.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10” Tablets are increasing in popularity and I recently bought the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10”. Available in black or white and costing around £250 it offers excellent sound quality with speakers inbuilt either side, a slim housing, wide vibrant screen and the ability to increase storage via the inbuilt micro SD tray at the top. 1280 x 800 pixels, 1.2GHz and a 10 hour battery life mean not a day goes by without it being used or played on. Be careful though if you buy one or already have one – the rear plastic casing is slippery on cold hands and can be easily dropped by accident. The tablet is tough though – I dropped mine screen-down onto tiles a month ago having let it slip and there isn’t a single scratch or mark on it and it works perfectly.
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ecoclean
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D M X Q L G N T H B X Y J D E R O L I A T H B T
CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CARE & CLEANING
USING CODE JL25
07804 610105 01452 898247 www.ecocleancarpet.co.uk hello@ecocleancarpet.co.uk
Don’t look until you’ve finished! Solutions on ‘Index of Advertisers’ page. Page 28
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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
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about saving people money, although that obviously helps. “Many tradespeople have struggled since last year and I honestly feel that during the good times a minority perhaps didn’t focus on customer care as much as they should have done. We make sure we turn up when we say we will, do the job the customer requires and leave their house as clean as a whistle. I often get comments back from customers on how they really didn’t expect that sort of service which, in a way, is very sad for the service industry as a whole.”
Cloudy2Clear service Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds, and Paul is finding that his approach is a major factor in his success. “The truth is that it’s not just the personal satisfaction that I get from doing a good job but also it makes good business sense. I get a huge amount
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!
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For details please telephone Chloe on
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© Lovatts Puzzles
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01242
ANSWER 541072
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
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ROOFING & CONTRACTORS New Roofs G.R.P. Fibreglass & Felt Flat Roofs ● Certified Installers ● Roof & Chimney Repairs ● Slate Repairs ● Flat Roof Repairs ● Lead Repairs and Sealing ● uPVC Fascias, Soffits & Guttering ● uPVC Repairs ● High Pressure Cleaning ● Painting & Decorating 01452 899903 07503 858963
Sudoku
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Nailsworth Stroud Gloucestershire
07790 883780 . Windows/doors . Tiling . Flooring . Wood work . Whole property restoration . Shop fitting & commercial olivermeadandassociates@gmail.com
www.olivermeadbuilding.co.uk
Fill the grids so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.
22 Wilson Drive, Cheltenham GL51 0GY
Don’t look until you’ve finished! www.draindoctorglos.co.uk
All drains and blockages All emergency plumbing work ● Pre-fixed prices ● Saniflo blockages & installations ● High pressure jetting/drain repairs/relining ● CCTV surveys/homebuyers surveys ● Local Authority insurance & water company approved ●
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THE SOLUTION FOR YOUR NEW BATHROOM ...
CALL NICK ON
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Your local family business
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Matters 1st Choice Money with Roger Downes Aerial & Satellites
Digital Aerial Installations Upgrades and Repairs
10% off Mark Hawkes Tel:
(with this advert)
01453 222181
Dying without a Will. Now that’s a real tragedy
My name is David Mar#n and I’m the local consultant for one of the UK’s premier professional Home Visit Will Writers. I have 28 years’ experience advising clients on personal financial ma$ers and specialising in Wills. Wri#ng a Will is easier and cheaper than you think and ensures that your wishes are carried out efficiently. If you would like to redra an exis#ng Will, discuss your Will arrangements, Las#ng Powers of A$orney or other associated legal services, at a mutually convenient #me in the comfort and privacy of your own home ... Call David Mar#n your local Steele Rose & Co consultant 01453 836699/07973 405997 dcmar#n@hotmail.co.uk www.steelerose.co.uk
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of Andorran
Would you believe it? Regular readers of this column will be familiar with my view that big is certainly not beautiful, as I champion the cause of small and medium sized businesses. So it was with gaping mouth that I read statistics recently on some of the very biggest organisations on the planet. Top of the lot, the biggest corporation (as the Americans like to call them) in the world is Alphabet. Who? I hear you cry. Well, it’s the ultimate parent company of Google, amongst others. Ah, makes more sense now. At the start of this year its £379 billion valuation saw it overtake Apple at the top of the tree, with Microsoft lagging behind at number three. You can see the connection as to market sector very easily. In the UK there are a range of industries in the top ten, with banks, pharmaceuticals, telecoms and oil companies all doubly represented. Royal Dutch Shell (do they only add Royal into the name to make us think they are from these parts?) top the list and have done so for some time, but they are only a fraction of the size of the USbased high tech companies.
An uncaring, dispassionate attitude towards customers Sadly I am not privy to the list of biggest companies ranked by the amount of tax that they pay in the UK, which would make interesting reading when you consider some of the stories circulating about the world’s new number one force. The presence of HSBC and Lloyds in the UK top ten, with Santander, Barclays and RBS all hot on their heels, serves to confirm my long-held view that the banks are in it for their shareholders not for their long-suffering customers. Even my own profession doesn’t escape the plague of over-exaggerated size. Last year PricewaterhouseCoopers rose to the summit of the accountancy world in terms of fees charged – a staggering £24.3 million for doing accounts and tax returns! Not really – they are essentially consultants rather than accountants these days, but their annual turnover is still phenomenal. What’s the key to their success? Monopoly. Not the board game (although this is the source of its name), but control over the markets in which they operate and what appears to be an uncaring, dispassionate attitude to customer service, because as soon as one customer leaves, another three come along. Rant over – see you next month when I will look at some of the key issues arising from the Chancellor’s recent Budget.
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Page 33
Index of Advertisers FOOD & DRINK
36 CLEANING SERVICES Ecoclean 9 FURNISHING & APPLIANCES 26 DJH Carpet Factory Warehouse Interior Needs HOMES & GARDENS Thornbury Stairlifts BATHROOMS GARDEN SERVICES Lifestyle Bathrooms 21 Adrian Gibbs Severn Vale Bathrooms 31 & 35 Bartlett Tree Experts CT Roberts BUILDING SERVICES A1 Roofing & Contractors 31 DW Tree Services BE Rudman 20 Handylink Glos Build 2 Lawn Doc Home Care Roofing & Building 21 HEATING & PLUMBING LA Landscapes 22 Drain Doctor Marshalls Driveways 22 PAINTING & DECORATING Oliver Mead & Associates 31 N.S Decorating CARPENTERS TV & AERIALS 2H Carpentry and Joinery 26 1st Choice Aerials
The Property Centre 5 RETAIL 4 Antiques Wanted 4 Cotswold Framing Designs
Corner Cupboard Inn The Old Rectory Tipputs Inn
WHAT’S ON EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS Bacon Theatre Bowden Hall CADA The Bird & Deer Park Hallmark Hotel
16 17 12-13 14 15
HEALTH & BEAUTY Confident Dental Implants
6
INFORMATION Cotswold Riding for the Disabled 11
PROPERTY Norton Park Park Home Life
10 9
WINDOWS & DOORS 28 Albany Windows 32 29 Cloudy 2 Clear 26 Inceil 20 24 26 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CARE SERVICES 8 21 Barnwood Trust 9 22 Lifelink 34 22 Samaritans 22 COMPUTER SERVICES 31 Abbey Group 30 31 MOTORING SERVICES M+N Motor Services 9 31 SKIP HIRE & RECYCLING 33 20 Stevens Recycling WILL WRITERS 33 Steele Rose & Co
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