The Local
ANSWER
JANUARY 2016
200,000 DELIVERED MONTHLY IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE
f o r l o ca l p e o p l e
GLOUCESTERSHIRE SOUTH WE WISH ALL OUR READERS A VERY HAPPY & PROSPEROUS 2016
The Local
ANSWER
Gloucestershire South – 45,000 copies Gloucester – 42,000 copies Gloucestershire North – 20,000 copies Forest of Dean – 22,000 copies Cotswolds – 28,000 copies Cheltenham – 43,000 copies
Georgina Dunlop Publication Manager
01242 541074 georgina@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Editorial Lois Kingscott
Happy New Year to you all! Now is the time that people will be attempting their New Year’s Resolutions – if you haven’t thought of one yet, check out our list of ideas inside and pick a goal for the year! For those of you looking to get fit or shift a bit of weight after the festive period, the Looking Good Feeling Great feature focuses on some of the hottest fitness trends for 2016. Alternatively, if you want to finally get your house in order this year, our Homes & Gardens section is full of local trades that can help you out. Or for those of you who want to give something back, why not do some volunteering for a local charity? The possibilities are endless!
Inside this month ...
editorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Helen Kingscott editorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Distribution Nik Chavda – 01242 500245 office@achda.co.uk
Administration & Production Beverley Ellin admin@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Alison Hambling alison@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Accounts Kerry Fell accounts@thelocalanswer.co.uk
1 Ullenwood Court, Ullenwood, Gloucestershire GL53 9QS
01242 510500 thelocalanswer
Welcome to January ...
Delicious Dishes 5 Cocktail Time 6 Food For Thought 7 Looking Good Feeling Great 9 Medical Health 10 Gadgets & Gizmos 13 What’s On 14 Wild Food Foraging 15 New Year’s Resolutions 18-19 In the Garden 21 Interior Design 23 Quick Crossword 25 Word Search 28 Save the Planet 31 Sudoku 32 Money Matters 33 Index, Competitions, Solutions 34
Competition on page 7
@thelocalanswer
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
Page 3
Delicious Dishes with Helen Kingscott
Pepper and chilli bean soup A comforting winter warmer with a bit of a kick! Serves 6 Ingredients: 2 tablespoons sunflower oil; 1 large onion, finely chopped; 4 garlic cloves, crushed; 2 red peppers, cored, deseeded and diced; 2 red chillies, deseeded and finely sliced; 900ml (1½ pints) vegetable stock; 750ml (1¼ pints) tomato juice or passata; 1 tablespoon tomato purée; 1 tablespoon sun-dried tomato paste; 2 tablespoons sweet chilli sauce; 400g red kidney beans in water, drained; 2 tablespoons fresh coriander, finely chopped; 75ml soured cream; salt and pepper to season.
Method: 1 Heat the oil in a large saucepan then fry the onion and garlic until soft but not coloured. 2 Stir in the peppers and chillies and fry for a few minutes. 3 Stir in the stock and tomato juice/passata, tomato purée and paste, chilli sauce, kidney beans and coriander. 4 Bring to the boil, cover the saucepan and simmer for 30 minutes. 5 Leave to cool slightly then purée in a food processor or blender until smooth. 6 Return the soup to the pan and season until happy with the taste. You could add extra chilli sauce if you prefer a spicier flavour.
W rit e rs re qu i red
We are looking for people to write monthly articles for us on a variety of different topics. If you have a passion for, or specialist knowledge of, any of the following topics and would like to be involved, please email editorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk for details.
Care & Mobility ● Property ●
The Local Answer
Motoring ● Style & Fashion ●
7 Bring to the boil then serve with bread rolls. Stir a little soured cream into each bowl.
The Local
ANSWER
Get i nvo lved!
To advertise call 01242 510500
Page 5
Cocktail Time with Lois Kingscott
10 educationpeople 10
Supplying Education staff to Cheltenham, Gloucester, Stroud, Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset If you are a teacher looking for temporary or permanent work we have a wide selection of vacancies in a number of Nursery, Primary, Secondary and Special Needs (SEN) Schools. Excellent rates of pay. If you are a school looking for short/long term cover or permanent staff, we will supply quality staff that match your school’s individual requirements. “Professional, efficient and friendly”
John Daly or Arnold Palmer A John Daly is an alcoholic cocktail made with lemonade, iced tea and vodka, which is based on the non-alcoholic Arnold Palmer consisting of iced tea and lemonade. Both drinks are named after professional golfers – the John Daly name is a tongue-in-cheek comment referring to Daly’s problems with alcoholism. According to the American golfer, Arnold Palmer regularly enjoyed drinking iced tea with lemonade at home. At the 1960 US Open at the Cherry Hills Country Club in Denver, Colorado, he ordered this drink at the bar. A woman sitting nearby overheard him and ordered “that Palmer drink”, hence its name. The drink is also referred to as a ‘Half and Half’ in many parts of the US, especially the South. Ingredients (John Daly): 50ml vodka; 100ml lemonade; 100ml iced tea; ice; slice of lemon to garnish. Method: 1 Fill a collins glass with ice. 2 Add vodka, then top up with equal parts iced tea and lemonade. Garnish with a slice of lemon.
Royal Talbot House, 2 Victoria Street, Bristol, BS1 6BB Tel - 0117 311 7333 Email - supply@educationpeopleltd.com
www.educationpeopleltd.com
Distributors Required For a few hours each month in the following areas:
Dursley & Central Stroud
Why not have a Mocktail?
Each round is made up of The Loc al 200,000 150-400 copies per month. ANSW ER for local people Depending on property types, our current team of people average between 100-150 copies/hour – good pence/copy rates paid based on the round. Magazines are delivered to Distributors’ homes towards the end of each month and we expect deliveries to be completed within four days GLOUCESTERSHIRE SOUTH between the hours of 7am and 9pm. You must be 13+ years old, flexible, reliable and sufficiently physically fit to perform the duties.
To make an Arnold Palmer, simply mix equal parts of iced tea and lemonade, and pour over ice in a tall glass. Garnish with a slice of lemon.
For details call Nik Chavda – 01242 500245 or email office@achda.co.uk
PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Page 6
JANUARY 2016
DELIVERED MONTHLY IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE
WE WISH ALL OUR READERS A VERY
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
HAPPY & PROSPEROUS 2016
The Local Answer
Food For Thought
WIN A MEAL FOR FOUR! WIN A TWO COURSE MEAL FOR FOUR PEOPLE COURTESY OF THE BLACK HORSE INN To enter our draw to win the meal for four either:
• Share our competition post and ‘like’ us on Facebook – The Local Answer
• Send your name, address and telephone number to editorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk stating ‘The Black Horse Inn’. One entry per household. See Index page for full competition rules. Closing date: Tuesday 12th January 2016.
THE BLACK HORSE
17th century inn situated in the tiny Cotswold village of Cranham the Black Horse Inn is largely untouched by time. Serving home cooked pub food and great real ales
NOW UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP Cranham, Gloucester GL4 8HP 01452 812217
www.blackhorsecranham.co.uk
Looking Good, Feeling Great with Matt Wagstaff
Fitness trends for 2016 As 2016 commences many people are inclined to peel themselves off the sofa, dust off the trainers and start the New Year by losing that extra stone, or vowing to run a marathon or mud run! To avoid these goals getting side tracked how about trying on, trying out and focussing on some of the ‘fitness trends’ for 2016! What’s cool to work on this year? What should we be wearing? And who can help?
Wearable technology & apps
Physical activity has so many benefits for us, especially as we age. Education for exercise professionals about exercise for the elderly is also more prevalent. This means more trainers have the knowledge to improve the fitness of frailer adults, such as improving balance and increasing strength, which has shown to improve length and quality of life!
Yoga, flexibility &
Smart phone apps are mobility rollers fast becoming the Poor posture and tight best way to track and inactive muscles exercise goals and lead to pain and injury. get fitter quicker! This is where Fitness gadgets preventative such as watches activities such as can track heart rate, yoga and Myofascial run or cycle routes release have come and steps as well as to save the day! linking to smart Yoga is shown to phone apps to give improve muscle more data about diet strength and flexibility, and sleep. Brands such helping to improve as Garmin, Fitbit and Apple posture. Myofascial release is a form have developed wearable technology of self-massage discovered to help that can track your health and fitness improve muscle mobility and increase goals very easily! the muscles’ ability to move better, promoting pain free movement. This Fitness for older adults Fitness sessions and classes aimed at can be performed on foam rollers or the older generation are on the rise! even tennis balls (do get advice from a fitness coach before trying).
HIIT & circuit training High intensity interval training (HIIT) has been a fitness trend for a few years now due to its fast results in increasing fitness and fat loss. HIIT involves a short burst of high intensity exercise, followed by a recovery and repeating for a desired range. Circuit training can also be used along these lines, performing different exercises for a duration, and then swapping. Circuit classes run in many gyms and are a great way of getting fit.
Personal training Having a qualified fitness professional help you with your goals has been shown to increase adherence rates to exercise as well as achieving personal goals faster. A personal trainer will tailor a program to accomplish your desired goals, giving you motivation and home nutritional advice to improve health! Most gyms have a variety of personal trainers, often who specialise in certain fitness goals.
Strength & body weight training Increasing strength is no longer just for body builders and power lifters. There has been a surge in the amount of people – young and older – attempting to increase their strength due to the many benefits. Strength training can be incorporated easily using free weights or just your own body. Body weight training is on the rise due to its minimal need for equipment and range of exercises. People have used body weight training for centuries to increase strength and lose weight! The Local Answer
To advertise call 01242 510500
Page 9
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
New year, new beginnings! January is often when we make (and break) New Year’s Resolutions. But instead of making a specific goal that you may not be able to stick to, you could try making your resolution ‘to try something new’. Science has shown that learning new things is good for us – both mentally and physically. Our brains change throughout our lives. When we learn, new connections are made between neurons (the brain cells), and the more we do something, the more automatic it becomes. Repeated stimulation of these brain cells leads to a better and stronger connection between them.
your potential. This is also advantageous if you are planning to get a new job this coming year, and your self-esteem will increase as you develop a new appreciation of yourself and life.
Beat those January blues
Practice makes progress It can be likened to wearing down grass to make a path – the more you walk over it, the clearer the path becomes. Also, as you continue to learn more, the amount of effort and attention required decreases, so it’s less about ‘practice makes perfect’, and more about ‘practice makes progress’. There are many new things you could explore, like taking a short course at a local college or online, travelling more, doing some volunteering. Alternatively you could do puzzles like crosswords or Sudoku, try a different sport, or engage in music or languages. Any of these
The Local Answer
things are good for improving problem-solving, memory, creativity and lateral thinking. Be engaged and take an active approach to the new skill. An active mind promotes an active body, and the reverse is also true. This improves spatial awareness and co-ordination, which can also help to keep mental deterioration, such as Alzheimer’s disease, at bay for longer.
Set goals and targets to reach your potential
If your confidence is a bit low, take little steps towards stepping out of your comfort zone. Be brave and seize opportunities – it’s good for beating those January blues. Studies suggest that learning increases the levels of dopamine in our brains, which is the body’s natural feel-good hormone. Plus, if you do something you enjoy, it increases motivation and the reward of pleasure we feel reinforces the good effects, so we will want to continue what we are doing. In addition, learning a new skill can have a ripple effect in other areas of your life, so you may find you improve in another existing skill. So maybe for the next four weeks, make this your mantra – new year, new beginnings!
You may like trying new things on your own, or you may prefer being with others. Being part of a group or joining a class means you can meet people with similar interests and make social connections as well as neural connections. Trying new things, you may discover something you really enjoy, or a new talent! This is great for personal and professional development, and, as you’ll want to learn more about the subject, you can start setting goals and targets in order to reach
To advertise call 01242 510500
Page 11
Retirement Living in the Cotswolds Retirement care in the heart of the beautiful Cotswolds countryside.
Hotel-style accommodation with the highest standards of personal and nursing care. Small family run company.
The Hollies
at Littlecombe
If you would like to arrange a visit to look around our facilities please
call 01453 541400 or email us at info@littlecombepark.com
Littlecombe Park (Hollies Care), Drake Lane, Dursley, Gloucestershire GL11 5HA
Page 12
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
The Local Answer
Gadgets & Gizmos with Dan Wood
Keep your home safe and secure Response FTV10 Fake TV Simulator One of the best ways to keep your home safe and secure is to make it look lived in. Don’t become a victim this winter – consider the Response FTV10 Fake TV Simulator. About the size of a small bag of sugar and very light, all you need to do is plug it into the mains and turn it on. The item will automatically activate at dusk and, using a clever pattern of bright and low flickering LED light, will create the false impression that your TV is on and you are in! Retail price is roughly £20-25. Place strategically for maximum effect – by curtains or windows, or facing inward as your TV would normally.
The Local Answer
Belkin WeMo Home Automation Switch
product, this won’t look out of place in most home environments and blends Keeping to the theme of home well into the surroundings. security, why not take total control of Nanodots your home while you’re out and install If you enjoy a Belkin WeMo Home Automation science and Switch. Again, simply appreciate plugged into a new gadgets, socket this product Nanodots could is ready to go be just what you almost straight need. I’ve had away. For an mine a few days average price of now and can’t £35-39 and put them down. Made from the available online as world’s strongest magnetic material, a well as most good compound of iron, boron and home stores, this neodymium, these small balls can be plug needs to be manipulated to form all sorts of connected to your home shapes. Available in differing colours WiFi and you will need to and pack sizes, the possibilities are download the free WeMo app, endless. At roughly £15 for 64 these available on both Android and iOS. aren’t particularly cheap, but I think Once set up, you’ll have complete they’re worth it. Nanodots are control of whatever you then available mostly online but can be plug into the WeMo and you’ll found in one or two high street stores. be able to turn it on, off, or even set up a schedule for it, all via your mobile device and from any location. You’ll be able to view energy consumption too and can connect several devices for entire remote home control. Cheaper products from less established producers can be found, but generally, Belkin are a safe bet for quality and purpose. A nicely designed
To advertise call 01242 510500
Page 13
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. 31 DECEMBER NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY IN AID OF WOMEN V CANCER Celebrate with live music, buffet and bubbly at midnight. Fabulous raffle prizes. Tickets £20. 8.30pm–1pm. At St. Margaret’s Hall, Hatherley, GL51 3NU. Tickets from www.billetto.co.uk/pinkpedalersNYE or Sue 07798 746572. FIRE AND ICE BALL Welcome in 2016 with friends or family at either our Fire & Ice Ball or our Family Celebration. Prices start from £19.99 per person. Hallmark Hotel Gloucester, Matson Lane GL4 6EA. 01452 525653. gloucester.events3@hallmarkhotels.co.uk 5 JANUARY THE NUTCRACKER As snowflakes fall outside, the warm glow of the open fire sends flickering shadows across the boughs of the Christmas tree and all the presents beneath. When midnight strikes we are swept away to a fairy-tale world where nothing is quite as it seems, toy dolls spring to life, the Mouse-king and his mouse-army battle with the Nutcracker Prince and we travel through the Land of Snow to an enchanted place where the magic really begins. From £19.40. Time TBC. 0844 871 3012. The Bristol Hippodrome, St Augustine’s Parade, BS1 4UZ. 6 JANUARY CHELTENHAM CRICKET SOCIETY Cheltenham Cricket Society meets 1st Wednesday of each month September to May at the Victory Club. Excellent speakers: cricketers, writers and
commentators. Mike Procter and Michael Holding recently. Convivial atmosphere, bread and cheese, annual quiz, bar. Guests welcome. Contact Malcolm Brown – mb3456@blueyonder.co.uk. www.cheltcs.councilcricketsocieties.com 7 JANUARY SWAN LAKE
The greatest romantic ballet of all time is brought to life by Tchaikovsky’s haunting and unforgettable score. From the impressive splendour of the Palace ballroom to the moon-lit lake where swans glide in perfect formation, this compelling tale of tragic romance has it all. From £15.40. 2.30pm and 7.30pm. 0844 871 3012. The Bristol Hippodrome, St Augustine’s Parade, BS1 4UZ. 9 JANUARY MICHAEL BUBLE TRIBUTE NIGHT Come along and hear some Michael Buble classics with an arrival cocktail and 2 course buffet for only £25 per person! Hallmark Hotel Gloucester, Matson Lane, Robinswood Hill, Gloucester GL4 6EA. 01452 525653. www.hallmarkhotels.co.uk. 10 JANUARY HIPPODROME GLEE CLUB Aged between 8-18? Come and sing your heart out at The Bristol Hippodrome with our brand new Sunday Morning Glee Club.
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 Page 14
Learn harmonies and dance routines, improve your singing technique, performance skills and become a confident all round performer in a fun environment! No audition required. £120. 10am. 0844 871 3012. The Bristol Hippodrome, St Augustine’s Parade, BS1 4UZ. 13-30 JANUARY THE BODYGUARD
The Bodyguard, the award-winning musical based on the blockbuster film, is heading on tour in 2015 starring three-time Brit nominee and X-Factor winner, Alexandra Burke as Rachel Marron. Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge – what they don’t expect is to fall in love. From £18.50. 7.30pm (2.30pm matinees on Thursdays and Saturdays). 0844 871 3012. The Bristol Hippodrome, St Augustine’s Parade, BS1 4UZ.
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
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
The Local Answer
Thornbury Castle Thornbury BS35 1HH
7th February 2016 11am-3pm
Bridal Fair & Wedding Venue Showcase
OTHER WEDDING SHOWS SPRING 2016 The Holt Fleet, Worcester 07/02/16 12 noon-4pm The Elms Hotel & Spa, Worcester 28/02/16 12 noon-3pm The Wood Norton, Evesham 13/03/16 12 noon-4pm Rodbaston Hall, Penkridge 13/03/16 11am-3pm The Pear Tree, Worcester 20/03/16 11am-3pm Burlington Hotel, Birmingham 20/03/16 11am-3pm
ELEGANT ADDITIONS
Tamzin 07800 592038 : Alison 07808 923288 info@elegantadditions.co.uk www.elegantadditions.co.uk Luxury Chair Cover Hire & Bridal Showcase Management
2016 Tribute Nights at Tortworth Court Four Pillars Hotel Back by huge demand with more dates now added. Join us for one of our ever popular themed evenings at the idyllic Tortworth Court Four Pillars Hotel.
22nd Jan 2016 13th Feb 2016 25th March 2016 27th May 2016 19th Aug 2016 23rd Sept 2016 25th Nov 2016
with Steven Hawley
Pine Needles Foraging at this time of year often yields as much satisfaction as checking through a fridge you know to be empty. Eventually, after checking the sell by date on the cream cheese for the second time, you begin to lower your expectations on each subsequent pass of the kitchen in an effort to find something you fancy for dinner, until you surrender yourself to some disappointing beans on a toasted finger roll you found in the bottom drawer of your freezer from the last BBQ of summer. It’s not until you really tuck into your miserable meal that you realise it’s been ages since you last had beans on toast, that you had forgotten how much you like them and, now you’ve reminded yourself, will probably have them again tomorrow.
A fantastic winter warmer Unlike a barren fridge, the barren countryside will always offer up a tasty little morsel. Pine needles on their own might not sound very appetising – and you’re right – but pine needle tea is a fantastic winter warmer as it is very high in vitamin C, ideal for fending off seasonal colds or detoxing after your inevitable end of year binge. Simply grab five to six pine needles and place them in your favourite mug, then pour over boiling water and allow to steep for about ten minutes. I sometimes give my pine needles a light bruising to really unlock that fresh tasting goodness. Keep an eye out for globules of hardened sap on the tree trunk while harvesting your needles. With the pine’s antibacterial properties, the sap can act as a great treatment for a sore throat if sucked like a cough drop. It would probably do a good job of clearing out your sinuses too!
Motown & Soul Night Michael Buble Bee Gees Whitney Houston
Tom Jones Rod Stewart Take That
Priced at only £27.95 per person for a ticket only or £69 per person with accommodation* Meet and greet for 7.30pm with dinner served at 8pm, followed by entertainment and a disco until 1am. *Based on two people sharing a standard double/twin bedroom
Tel: 01454 263 000 Email:Tortworth.conference@four-pillars.co.uk Tortworth Court Four Pillars Hotel, Tortworth, Wotton-under-Edge, South Gloucestershire, GL12 8HH www.four-pillars.co.uk/tortworth
The Local Answer
Wild Food Foraging
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.
To advertise call 01242 510500
Page 15
19 JANUARY ROYAL ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERS OPEN EVENING The evening will consist of a short presentation followed by various stands to demonstrate our capability and what life is like as a Reservist. If you are between 18 & 45, male or female, and are interested in engineering we want to see you! 7.15pm-9.30pm. Army Reserve Centre, Eastern Avenue, Gloucester GL4 3BD. 20-24 JANUARY JACK AND THE BEANSTALK
Just when you thought the Christmas
festivities were over, the award-winning society Promenade Productions make certain you start the New Year with a bang! With all the fun-filled ingredients of a feel-good family show, no one will be too young or too old to enjoy the escapades of Jack and his mates. Will Jack reach the top of the beanstalk? What adventures await him at the top? 7pm (2.30pm matinees Sat and Sun). £10-£14 (concessions available). Tickets: Showcase – 01242 224144, the Bacon Theatre – 01242 258002 or online at www.promenadeproductions.co.uk. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk. 28 JANUARY NT LIVE: LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES Former lovers, the Marquise de Merteuil and Vicomte de Valmont compete in games of seduction and revenge. While these merciless aristocrats toy with others’ hearts and reputations, their own may prove more fragile than they supposed. Josie Rourke’s hotly anticipated revival production is broadcast live from London’s Donmar Warehouse by the National Theatre Live. £16.50 (£14.50, students £12.50). 7pm. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. www.bacontheatre.co.uk.
3 FEBRUARY FASHION SHOW/SALE Your chance to snap up a bargain! View and try on High Street quality clothes in all sizes. Payments by cash/credit or debit card. Refreshments available. Tickets £5. Proceeds to Help Medina (a charity run by local doctors in Sierra Leone). 7 for 7.30pm. Cirencester Ashcroft Church. Call Ros Burnip (01285 239054) or Anne Clark (01285 860291). 7 FEBRUARY BRIDAL FAIR & WEDDING VENUE SHOWCASE Come and visit the stunning Thornbury Castle, chat with the dedicated wedding co-ordinator, enjoy tours of the hotel and maybe even a cheeky glass of something sparkling! 11am-3pm. Prize draws, goody bags, free admission and free parking. Thornbury Castle, Castle Street, Thornbury, Bristol BS35 1HH. 07800 592038. www.elegantadditions.co.uk. 8-10 FEBRUARY CHINESE NEW YEAR Enjoy a wonderful 4-course Chinese meal to celebrate the Chinese New Year! Set menu (4 courses) – £20 per adult or £10 per child (under 11). Blue Orchid Chinese Restaurant, Unit 1-2 Kingsway Local Centre, Thatcham Avenue, Kingsway, Gloucester GL2 2GT. 01452 698770.
Do something amazing this New Year! Have you ever thought of volunteering for a charity? If yes, why not come down to Cotswold Riding for the Disabled and find out about the wonderful work we do here? We currently provide over 5,000 lessons every year to 180 children and adults with physical and/or learning difficulties. Our amazing team of 120 volunteers ensure we can continue to provide what can be life changing therapy to our riders.
We urgently need volunteers
Our services are in such high demand in Gloucestershire that we want to expand, but to do that we need people like you who will give up a few hours each week to help. We urgently need volunteers from 9am to 12:30pm and 1pm to 3:30pm Monday to Thursday. We are also hoping to open an after school club, but need help to launch this very much ‘in demand’ service from 4pm to 6:30pm.
If you would like to find out more please: • Visit our website at www.cotswoldrda.org.uk • Email info@cotswoldrda.org.uk or • Call 01242 584420 to speak to Claire or Debbie
Page 16
Cotswold
It’s what you can do that counts
Riding for the Disabled Association Jackie Brutton Riding Centre, Prestbury Park Racecourse, Prestbury, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 4SH
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
The Local Answer
New Year’s Resolution While many people don’t bother making New Year’s Resolutions any more, there are still an optimistic bunch who do. The Local Answer has compiled a list of ideas for you to consider choosing for 2016. Even if you don’t stick to a rigid goal, some of the ideas are great just for living a happier life. If you have a resolution in mind, why not tell us your plans? Tweet us @TheLocalAnswer or post your goals on our Facebook page – The Local Answer. We’d love to hear from you!
1
Spend more time with family and friends Whether this involves going out for the day, enjoying a meal together at your favourite restaurant or simply catching up at home with a cuppa, it’s important to stay in touch with loved ones.
2
Get fit Fitness has become so popular with both men and women over the past year, so why not vow to spend the next 12 months getting healthy and in shape? From losing weight to training for a marathon, it doesn’t matter what the goal is as long as you are active.
4 3
Quit smoking Whether you want to give up smoking altogether, or switch to the apparently less harmful alternative of vaping, this resolution is one that reappears each January – this year, try to make a real effort to stick to it.
Give up alcohol After the indulgences of Christmas and New Year, many people take part in ‘Dry January’ – often in aid of their favourite charity. See if you can put a stopper on your drinking habits for a few weeks and you may see a great improvement in your fitness, too!
Ideas for 2016 5 7
9
Enjoy life more
Get a new job Another year gone, another year wasted? Are you in a job that you don’t enjoy? Get out there and find the jobs of your dreams! If you’re lucky enough to find a career you enjoy that much, it won’t feel like work at all.
Try making your life stress-free and fun. Laugh more, take a yoga class, cuddle a puppy – anything that will help you relax and be happy.
8
Travel more This can also take a number of different forms. If you haven’t had a holiday for a few years, make it a priority – it’s important to take a break and recharge the batteries. Spend a few weekends traveling up and down the country visiting friends you haven’t seen for a while. If life is escaping you and you still haven’t visited that country you’ve been dreaming of, save some pennies, take some time off work and just do it before you run out of time!
6
10
Be kind This could involve regular volunteering at your local charity, donating unwanted toys or clothes now the kids have brand new shiny entertainment and you have a new wardrobe, or even just doing that long overdue favour for a friend. It’s nice to be nice, so give it a go this year.
Learn something new They say knowledge is power, so why not broaden your horizons. An instrument, a language, a sport – any new skill is a great achievement and something to progress with throughout your life. You never know, your new found love for football or the piano could help you realise the career you’ve been looking for.
Be more financially organised Most of us will cringe looking at our bank accounts after the yearend festivities. If you are a big spender and either want to reign it in or save for something important, it’s easy to set up a budget. Most banks have a feature online or on their phone app that will help you to curb your spending and set up savings goals.
HOME CARE ROOFING & BUILDING
FOR ALL YOUR PROPERTY NEEDS
Homes & Gardens
FANTASTIC OFFER
20% OFF for over 60’s
Our range of services include: New roofs and repairs ◆ Tiles ◆ Slates ◆ Felt and battening ◆ Lead work ◆ Repointing ◆ Ridge tiles and chimney repairs ◆ Flat roofs EPDM rubber ◆ Moss removal and fungicidal treatments ◆ Roof coatings ◆ Dry verge systems ◆ External painting ◆ uPVC fascias & soffits ◆ Gutter repairs and cleaning ALL WORK FULLY GUARANTEED
For a FREE QUOTATION please call: FREEPHONE 0800 474 8424 or 01242 809264 (Please dial area code when calling)
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
●
22 Wilson Drive, Cheltenham GL51 0GY
Page 20
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 ●
24 hou rs a day 7 days a week 365 days a year
Specialising in: •Oil and gas boiler installation •Central Heating installations •Central Heating repairs •Gas work and maintenance •Ground & Air Source Heat Pumps
CALL NICK ON
01453 569 415 FREEPHONE
0800 068 1216
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
The Local Answer
In The Garden with Julia Smith
Start the year with a garden clear up January is the right time to give wisteria its winter pruning. Cut back the whippy stems that have grown last year to two or three buds. This will create flowering ‘spurs’ to bloom in the summer. Do take care if you have to use ladders – make sure the bottom is secure on a flat surface and don’t lean over to make it unstable. If you have a vast wisteria that has gone beserk after being ignored for many years, it may pay to get in a specialist gardener who can get it back into some semblance of order and enable you to carry on with it yourself in future years.
but I still feel that we will have some really bad weather in the new year so this is just in case! If there is heavy snowfall, take a broom and knock snow off evergreens or bare tree branches where the weight can break boughs. If paths are icy sprinkle with sharp sand, which you can brush up and use to improve drainage in the garden later on. Salt is not good for the garden so avoid if possible. Mulch fruit trees, bushes and canes with organic matter unless the soil is waterlogged or frozen. This will give them a well-needed boost for the coming season. Be prepared for bad weather Vines – ornamental and grape – need As I write this article the weather has to be pruned now before the rising sap been so unseasonably mild that the makes them bleed from any cuts. Prune following advice may seem ridiculous, last year’s stems back to one or two buds.
Hedge & Grass Cutting ROOFING Garden Walls N GUTTERING Fencing N PAINTING A T I O S N REPOINTING P N PLASTERING N RENDERING
Sow a small window box If you have a greenhouse you can sow broad beans such as ‘Empress’ or ‘Witkiem Manita’ in pots. Lettuces can be sown into plugs in the greenhouse and transplanted outside later on if wanted, or sow ‘cut and come again’ varieties into pots or growbags in the greenhouse. This also goes for those of you lucky enough to have window sills (I don’t have any!) – you can sow a small window box inside and pick off leaves as desired. Lettuces can also be sown outside under a cold frame or cloche. Remember to recycle your Christmas tree if you have a real one. Garden centres will quite often take them, or the local recycling centre and Cheltenham council collects trees 4ft or under left out on the first refuse day after Christmas – I should imagine the other local councils do this too.
N
CT ROBERTS
For a free, no obligation quotation call Chris on
01453 548376 or 07597 780433 The Local Answer
Rectory Fields, Rudford, Gloucestershire GL2 8DT
Tel: 01452 668005/01453 297010/01285 238089 www.marshallsdriveways.co.uk Company registration: 090645563
To advertise call 01242 510500
Page 21
Fantastic range of quality flooring DJH Carpet Factory Warehouse is now in its 7th year of continuous successful business, and is run by a local family from The Stanlays. With over 30 years experience flooring homes and supplying customers throughout Gloucestershire – including Stroud, Nailsworth, Minchinhampton, Quedgeley, Cam and Dursley – they are proud of their reputation. The owners would like to thank everyone who has supported them during this period, and they hope that they can continue to satisfy their customers’ needs. The showroom in Bridgend, Stonehouse is improving month on month by maximising the level of stock to over 70 rolls, which provides customers with plenty of choice. With the added bonus of a huge selection of over 20 suppliers – including Karndean, Abingdon and Woodpecker – the team at DJH are confident that they can supply and fit almost any carpet or flooring into almost any space.
About their fitters, the owners say: “They are absolutely fantastic! We have recently added to our team due to the increase in business and we like to be able to get the job done at a time the customer prefers. We don’t subcontract as we like to control and ensure a high level of quality for all our customers”.
Patterns and sizes to suit all requirements DJH have also recently introduced a large selection of rugs to their ever growing collection, with many different patterns and sizes available to suit all requirements. The latest addition to the showroom is a fantastic Karndean range (pictured), available on display for your viewing. DJH offer a variety of services including professional sales advice, a wide range of high quality flooring products, design and planning (home visits available), expert flooring fitting and an after sales service. So why not visit their Gloucestershire carpet showroom and let them help you find the perfect flooring for your home or work space.
C arpe t Fac to ry W areh o us e
Un i t 2 , Rel ian ce Wo rks, B rid g end , S to neh o u se, G lo s. GL 1 0 2 AT
Te l: 0 14 5 3 8 21 5 8 2 G Mo bi le: 0 7 97 0 6 7 63 6 0 E mail : d j hl imi ted @ aol .co m G www. d jh carp etan df lo o rin g .co .u k
G
G QUALITY CARPETS G REMNANTS G KARNDEAN G RUGS G WOOD RANGE OF NATURALS G LAMINATE G VINYL G FLOTEX G EDGING SERVICE
FREE ESTIMATES & PLANNING FREE FURNITURE REMOVAL! G FREE DOOR CUTTING G FREE PARKING G ALL OUR OWN FITTERS G G
Monday-Friday 9.30am-5.30pm Saturday 9.30am-4.30pm
Over 100 rugs now available in store Page 22
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
The Local Answer
Interior Design with Caron Burrows
Small space living What seems small to one person can feel like a mansion to another. But with a little extra thought, clever design layouts, and – most importantly – the right kind of attitude, a small space can easily be transformed into a functional and attractive living space.
Colour
make a small room feel bigger and brighter. Position it opposite a window for maximum light-boosting power. Alternatively, fixing mirrors to cupboard or wardrobe fronts offers a double function when space is at a minimum.
Furniture
A round dining table with a pedestal base will tuck into smaller spaces with ease. The round edge means there’ll be no more bumping into sharp corners, and the single leg base makes it easier to squeeze one more friend around the table. A stack of stools neatly kept in a corner Reflect the room is a perfect solution when extra seating If you were only going to purchase one is required. Poufs are a must for any item, a large mirror should definitely be small home – use them as footstools, it. Hanging an oversized design will extra seats or side tables (topped with a tray). Stacking tables – otherwise known as a ‘nest of tables’ – are a versatile choice for compact rooms. Easily split when more than one table is required, and neatly restacked when not in use. A small neat sofa will provide cosy seating without the bulk of a large design. Place a small table in front of the sofa to double as extra seating when entertaining. Anything made of clear acrylic, such as coffee tables and dining chairs, is an excellent choice for small spaces. The transparent nature of the material means your furniture will ‘disappear’ providing that much needed illusion of space, and will look super stylish. Flashes of vivid colour will add a wow factor to a small space. White provides a good background for neon shades, which will stand out fantastically. Be careful to work with a restricted palette to avoid your space looking too busy.
● ● ●
SAL
IR S ES SER VICI NG & REPA
●
Storage Shelving provides essential storage and display space in any room, large or small. Under bed storage is an absolute must when it comes to a small bedroom or studio apartment. Many beds come with storage included but if yours doesn’t, there is the option of having some tailormade. Custom made fixtures and fittings will help you capitalise on every inch of space, while well designed storage and furniture will help your small space function well and feel ordered. Join me next month for tips on dealing with small space children’s rooms.
New & Re-conditioned Stairlifts & Warranty Removals & Relocations Free Surveys & Quotes – No Obligation Rentals for Straight Stairs
Independent, Professional & Friendly Advice Over 24 years practical experience
Independent Stairlift Specialist
01454 413748 07833 318722 www.thornburystairlifts.co.uk The Local Answer
To advertise call 01242 510500
Page 23
C C O
Making Carpet Affordable
WE WON’T BE BEATEN ON PRICE DISCOUNT CARPET WAREHOUSE SAME DAY TAKEAWAY ALDI TOYS R US
JD KARTING
Bristol Road
Call now for the cheapest quote in Gloucestershire!
B4 07 GLOU CEST 2 CARP ER OU ET ENTRTLET ANC E Clifto n Ro ad
GLOUCESTER CARPET OUTLET Entrance Opposite Aldi (Not to be confused with any other carpet shops at Morelands)
Philip St
OPENING TIMES: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm. Saturday 9am-4pm
NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH ANY OTHER CARPET SHOPS IN MORELANDS Ask for Dan or Ben Unit 6G, Morelands Trading Estate GL1 5RZ
☎ 01452 413513 www.gloucestercarpetoutlet.co.uk
Find us on:
facebook®
Quick Crossword 1
2
3
4
5
ACROSS
6
1 5 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 18 21 22 24 25 26 27 28 29
7
8
9
10
11
14
12
15
16
13
17
18
21
22
19
20
23
Infuriate Shed tears Filter Long story Mosquito bite irritation Fossil resin Apple, ... Smith Dull Ferocious Partition Current units Dog breed Move on knees Relinquish (territory) Dress-up toy Velocity Requests, ... for Takes place after
DOWN 1 Flags 2 Anew 3 Short prose piece 4 Small stones 5 More peculiar 6 Parcel 12 Scold repeatedly 15 Without purpose 16 Infected sore 17 Encloses in shell 19 Reminder 20 Sewing spikes 22 Knife part 23 Assistants
24
25
Vol unteer s Ne e de d !
26
Cotswold
27
28
29
© Lovatts Puzzles
Don’t look until you’ve finished! Solutions on ‘Index of Advertisers’ page.
Save 20% VAT*
Recent bathroom project completed for Mr & Mrs Gill, Chalford
• Call 01242 584420 • Email info@cotswoldrda.org.uk • Visit www.cotswoldrda.org.uk
Lifestyle
Is bath time a struggle?
BATHROOMS
Bathing and showering can be made so much easier with a Lifestyle Bathrooms makeover.
Walk-in Showers and Baths ● Grab Rails ● Comfort Height WCs Single Touch Electronic Showers ● Anti Slip Floor ● Tiles Wall Tiles ● Underfloor Heating ● Super Bright Lighting ● Shower Seats ● Cloakrooms ● Ensuites ● New Bathrooms Created in Bedrooms etc ● ●
*For anyone who qualifies as disabled or has a chronic mobility condition – please call us for more details
Contact us on 07496 057281 or 01453 884167 for a free home visit to discuss your needs
www.lifestylebathrooms.net
The Local Answer
To advertise call 01242 510500
Page 25
A commitment to quality Albany Windows is a high quality, local company that provides affordable double glazed windows, doors and conservatories to homes throughout Gloucestershire. Established in 1999 as a family run double glazing company, Albany Windows has grown in strength and size to accommodate a team of fitters, builders and home improvement advisors – all with the aim of continuallly providing a great service for the company’s customers. Director Peter Knox (second from right) has 40 years’ experience in the glazing industry and has passed on his knowledge and expertise to a fantastic team, including his son Nathan (far left), who are eager to help you make your home look wonderful.
Striving for complete satisfaction Albany Windows take on any size or budget job, from supplying Gloucestershire’s leading builders with their glazing, to conservatory repairs and replacing misted sealed units. They strive to leave every customer feeling totally satisfied with their experience and the whole process is undertaken with a commitment to quality. From an initial discussion about your home improvement project, to the final installation of your windows, doors or conservatory, Albany Windows will ensure you’re happy with the price and your choice of product. Peter explains: “We aim to be quick and professional throughout the installation process, whilst providing you
The Local Answer
with quality customer service. Our staff are polite and tidy, and will always clean up post-installation, leaving your home ready to go.”
Visit the showroom for ideas Having also been recognised by Which? Trusted Traders as a reputable and trustworthy provider, you can be sure you will receive high quality service and products. The company offers a large selection of windows, doors and conservatories through a beautiful range of uPVC and aluminium home improvement products – so there’s something for everyone. Why not visit their showroom to get ideas and see the quality for yourself.
To advertise call 01242 510500
Page 27
WORD SEARCH A Z S C C G B R T L H E C N Q L W N W Q F G Q P
D L Q X K I E A G S Q Q P Q P O Q V O J D H C O
N H T K N N D K Y S E C K Q P D K K P Y X J H R
H I O I N V D R T H W R S A M G A K E P X V I T
L E A I T H N B O E Z Z N L E E U R C F I N D V
P J G T E U O J R N G K E K O P L Z A R T T E T
W E P L N O D A H K I K N B B P M N R E I C C W
B C M G T U K E Q A Q E I Q P H E N R E G C N F
P E G S V S O R U N H U P V E J N M T S L K A T
T W K T A S A M Q O W G L J J L E E U T F E V I
A X G M N V K J I M C E A R V D K B S Y M V D J
L I S O C S P A C L O P L R I M K Q P L R Z A E
Skiing ADVANCED ALPINE ALTITUDE BEGINNER BOOTS DOWNHILL FLEECE FREESTYLE HELMET
INTERMEDIATE JACKET JUMP LODGE MASK MOUNTAIN NORDIC PEAK PISTE
X B W R Z U M C V T X D O A E R G K D E Y S V P
I S Q H A O A K F O F D T W W R I F T R O S E R
R G G C L E H E P O Y E Z M D Q W H F A S R V W
K U Z A R P T T N G R T B M A E T L G L V M L M
Q M L S Q C N O E H V M G M O R R A Y G X D Q S
P S C G G Z V A Y H Z C K B Y W L P M Y I H B P
Y L D G S C N G O W H U X E B Y L P A J J D V F
ecoclean POWDER RACE RESORT SLALOM SLOPE SNOW TRAILS
O P T R A I L S G H E C E E L F X I F L X L R X
N J F L P M E X Z S B N P I S T E E Y I F K J M
E A C K I P W I K O T F B D K O R T V X K H Q N
R D O W N H I L L L Y Y B I E Z R K D E S X B D
G D Y P M U J L N M J G Q B J X U J M A S K I G
ltd
£10 OFF! WINTER OFFER
USING CODE NJ20
CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CARE & CLEANING
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
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
The Local Answer
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 29
Unlock the room in your garden ...
A bit more space, it’s what everyone seems to crave. Whatever your reasons Spa Garden Rooms can help you solve your space shortage by creating exactly the right, lasting solution.
A space of your own, just outside your home, designed especially for you. We provide unique, bespoke garden rooms designed and built to individual customers’ requirements. Timber framed, fully insulated rooms clad in your choice of finish and to your exact specification. Using quality, locally sourced materials our rooms are built to the highest standard and exceed current building regulations requirements. We offer a full turnkey service so all you have to do is decide how you will use yours? Home office, gym, studio, playroom, den etc. 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
www.spagardenrooms.co.uk
Save the Planet
with Gillian Traverse of Outdoor Learning Solutions
Conservation by observation – monitoring your local wildlife can help save it! You may be able to guess what the giant panda, the golden mantella frog and the western lowland gorilla have in common. But what about the comma butterfly, the house sparrow and the humble hedgehog? Animals on the former list are, perhaps, well known as iconic species on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ‘Red List’ of animal populations facing declining numbers in the wild. The list establishes how wild animal populations are coping with the combined effects of habitat loss, climate change and human activity. However, animal and plant species closer to home may be struggling to survive those changes, too. The second set of animals will be known to many, but may also be in decline or under threat.
Managing impacts with wildlife in mind So, how do we know what’s happening to the wildlife on our doorsteps? Wildlife surveys are one way to gauge how different species are coping with change, and the information provided can guide our response so that impacts are managed with wildlife in mind. However, there simply aren’t enough professional ecologists out there to record in detail the amazing diversity of wildlife around us. In principle, the more
The Local Answer
data we collect, the more reliable the results will be, and trends will become more obvious. That’s where individuals and groups can make a huge difference.
contracted at garden feeding stations, so it’s worth giving bird feeders and tables a regular clean and removing any uneaten food.
Become involved with monitoring surveys
The Big Garden Birdwatch recorded over 8.5m birds In 2015, more than half a million people across Britain took part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch and together they recorded more than 8.5 million birds. Scientists were able to analyse results and establish trends in populations across the UK, helping us to understand more about the decline of the house sparrow and work towards remedial action. Since 1979, the survey has grown to become an annual event involving schools, community groups and individuals – and it’s really easy to take part! Choose a place to sit and watch for bird visitors to your garden (or local park) for just one hour over the weekend of 30th and 31st January 2016. Record the highest number of each type of bird seen at any one time (so you avoid counting the same bird more than once), and send your results to the RSPB via their website or post. Packs are available to help you prepare, too. Simple! Using data gathered in this way, scientists have identified a 53% drop in greenfinch numbers since 1979 – a change probably resulting from trichomonosis. This disease can be
Of course, it’s not just birds that need our help. Across the UK, and locally in Gloucestershire, there are many monitoring surveys with which to become involved. Contact Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust with your hedgehog sightings, the Open Air Laboratory (OPAL) for hedgerow ecology, The Woodland Trust with seasonal observations (phenology), or take part in a local BioBlitz event, butterfly count or amphibian survey. The opportunities are endless and ‘citizen ecologists’ are making a truly valuable contribution to our scientific understanding of the animals and plants around us. Why not resolve to join them in 2016? Gillian is a member of the Gloucestershire Environmental Education Partnership (GEEP), a group of organisations aiming to help educate people in the county about the environment. For more information see www.geep.org.uk.
To advertise call 01242 510500
Page 31
Sudoku Fill the grids so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.
N.S DECORATING Interior and
Exterior Painting Free es mates Contact Neil
01453 826811 07812 393922 nsdecora ng11@aol.co.uk
www.nsdecora ng.com
STEVENS RECYCLING Domestic and Industrial Skips
Don’t look until you’ve finished!
ATTENTION!
Solutions on ‘Index of Advertisers’ page.
Let us lighten your load!
THE SOLUTION FOR YOUR NEW BATHROOM ... Your local family business
Page 32
Stevens Recycling
Ham Villa Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham GL52 6NB
NOW SUPPLYING
TOP SOIL
AT GREAT stevensrecycling584@gmail.com PRICES 01242 522647/529397
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
The Local Answer
1st Choice
Pro mo t e y ou r b u s i n e ss i n 4 5,000 m a g a zi n e s
Aerial & Satellites
Digital Aerial Installations Upgrades and Repairs
Call Georgina now! 01242 541074
10% off with this advert
The Local
ANSWER
Mark Hawkes
Tel: 01453 222181
Kristin Hawker Plumber Bathroom Fitter, Shower & Underfloor Heating General Maintenance 07976 459759 Any size job is worth a free quotation kristinjhawker@gmail.com
01453 860153
www.mandmmotorservices.co.uk
Monday-Friday: 8.30am-6.00pm Saturday: 10.00am-5.00pm
Full Renault Diagnosis Servicing all makes & models G Over 20 years experience G All work guaranteed G Free courtesy cars G G
Davids Lane, Nympsfield, Gloucestershire GL10 3UG Email: info@mandnmotorservices.co.uk
The Local Answer
with Roger Downes of Andorran
Take it easier or work harder? It’s a brand New Year. May it be a healthy, happy and prosperous one for you all! We have all spent Christmas relaxing with our families and over-indulging in festive cheer. Before we go back to the day job, we will have decided what resolutions we are going to make, and probably break, before January is out. For me those considerations start, and possibly finish, with me thinking about my business and what I can do with it in order to improve my lot. There are always two schools of thought – take it easier or work harder. Many of my friends and family, all of whose opinions I respect, suggest that I should concentrate on the former, but it’s never simple to tear yourself away from the job you love – maybe I’m the minority, but I enjoy my work and want to continue to do so for a while yet.
Perhaps we should work smarter
RENAULT SPECIALISTS
Money Matters
Perhaps then I need to work smarter, rather than harder, in order to allow me to follow that advice to take it easier. So that’s where my resolutions come in and maybe it’s where you should be thinking about yours too. The answers are not rocket-science; they have been around for years. For example: • Personal time management – avoiding distractions and those time-stealers. • Delegation – using the skills of those around you, who are probably more able than you allow them to be. • Technology – in a modern world it’s unavoidable, but you need to control its influence rather than let it dictate to you. • Playing to your strengths – which is so much more rewarding than counting the cost of time wasted on things you are not good at. • Recharging the batteries – the human ones are no longer lasting then the ones in your camera, alarm clock etc. Think about it and put it into practice. You will enjoy yourself, be more popular with the family and friends, and almost certainly make more money. However you do it, have a fabulous 2016.
To advertise call 01242 510500
Page 33
Index of Advertisers FOOD & DRINK
HOMES & GARDENS
7 BATHROOMS Lifestyle Bathrooms 25 WHAT’S ON Severn Vale Bathrooms 32& 35 EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS Army Reserve Open Evening 17 BUILDING SERVICES 20 Elegant Additions 15 A1 Roofing & Contractors 20 Tortworth Court 15 DW Roofing Home Care Roofing 20 HEALTH & BEAUTY Marshalls Driveways 21 NHS Let’s Talk 10 CLEANING SERVICES Ecoclean 28 INFORMATION Cotswold RDA 16 & 25 FURNISHING & APPLIANCES DJH Carpet Factory Warehouse 22 PROPERTY Gloucester Carpet Outlet 24 Park Home Life 12 Thornbury Stairlifts 23 The Property Centre 36 GARDEN SERVICES RETAIL Bartlett Tree Experts 20 Antiques Wanted 14 CT Roberts 21 Vinyl Records 14 Spa Garden Rooms 30 The Black Horse
HEATING & PLUMBING Drain Doctor 20 Kristin Hawker 33 Pete T Plumbing 20 PAINTING & DECORATING N.S Decorating 32 TV & AERIALS 1st Choice Aerials 33 WINDOWS & DOORS Albany Windows 26-27 Cloudy 2 Clear 29
FUNERAL SERVICES The Co-operative Funeralcare 2 MOTORING SERVICES 33 M+N Motor Services Westlands Hyundai 4 SKIP HIRE & RECYCLING Stevens Recycling 32
If you don’t see your goods or services listed here – take advantage and
BE THE FIRST!
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CARE SERVICES Barnwood Trust Samaritans The Hollies at Littlecombe EDUCATION & TRAINING Education People
8 34 12
To advertise telephone:
01242 510500
6
PUZZLE SOLUTIONS E
N R
G
S
S
A G A
S
A
A
V
I A M P L C
E
D
S
K
V E
P
T
C H K
R
L
D R
A
E
G
A G E
S
C R
Y
N
S
C
A W L
E
S P
S
E S
E
E
A G
L
B
E
D O
E
L
N
S
L E
E
D
E D
I
A E
B N E
U
B C R
A Z S C C G B R T L H E C N Q L W N W Q F G Q P
T
A
E I
B
E
S
S A
E
A
N N
N S
I
A M B
I
I G R
W E
P
A G E
N
U
E
S
COMPETITION WINNERS Thank you for all who took part in our December 2015 competition and congratulations to the winner: Promenade Productions – Jemma Hatherall of Stroud.
D L Q X K I E A G S Q Q P Q P O Q V O J D H C O
N H T K N N D K Y S E C K Q P D K K P Y X J H R
H I O I N V D R T H W R S A M G A K E P X V I T
L E A I T H N B O E Z Z N L E E U R C F I N D V
P J G T E U O J R N G K E K O P L Z A R T T E T
W E P L N O D A H K I K N B B P M N R E I C C W
B C M G T U K E Q A Q E I Q P H E N R E G C N F
P E G S V S O R U N H U P V E J N M T S L K A T
T W K T A S A M Q O W G L J J L E E U T F E V I
A X G M N V K J I M C E A R V D K B S Y M V D J
L I S O C S P A C L O P L R I M K Q P L R Z A E
X B W R Z U M C V T X D O A E R G K D E Y S V P
I S Q H A O A K F O F D T W W R I F T R O S E R
R G G C L E H E P O Y E Z M D Q W H F A S R V W
K U Z A R P T T N G R T B M A E T L G L V M L M
Q M L S Q C N O E H V M G M O R R A Y G X D Q S
P S C G G Z V A Y H Z C K B Y W L P M Y I H B P
Y L D G S C N G O W H U X E B Y L P A J J D V F
O P T R A I L S G H E C E E L F X I F L X L R X
N J F L P M E X Z S B N P I S T E E Y I F K J M
E A C K I P W I K O T F B D K O R T V X K H Q N
R D O W N H I L L L Y Y B I E Z R K D E S X B D
G D Y P M U J L N M J G Q B J X U J M A S K I G
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 – Friday 15th January 2016
Always there if you need us
E GLOUCESTERSHIR Page 34
08457 909090 jo@samaritans.org
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
The Local Answer