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Gloucester – 46,000 copies Gloucestershire South – 41,000 copies Gloucestershire North – 20,000 copies Forest of Dean – 22,000 copies Cheltenham – 43,000 copies Cotswolds – 28,000 copies Sara Sheperia Publication Manager – Gloucester
01242 541076 sara@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Editorial Lois Kingscott
After an amazing response to last month’s Holiday Gift Card competition – congratulations to our winner Debbie Lee – we’ve got another brilliant prize to give away this month courtesy of the Spa-Kling Pool Company! Find out how to enter inside. With the weather getting warmer and wedding season just around the corner, Carolyn Nicholls’ has some great Style & Fashion tips on how you can perfect your outfit for the big day. With the sun making more of a regular appearance, you may be thinking about getting out and about. Check out Dan Wood’s review of the Music Angel Friendz Portable Speaker – perfect for picnics, trips to the beach or hosting your very own garden party. As always, we have a great selection of daytime and nighttime events in our What’s On section.
Inside this month ...
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Helen Kingscott editorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Distribution Robert Kingscott – 01242 541071 distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Production Alison Hambling alison@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Accounts Kerry Fell accounts@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Chris Raymond Sales Director
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Welcome to May ...
Food & Drink Delicious Dish Cocktail Time Holidays & Travel Mirror Mirror on the Wall Style & Fashion Medical Health Looking Good Feeling Great Leader’s Life Wild Food Foraging Parenting & Guardianship What’s On Win a BBQ & Bubble Spa! Motoring Homes & Gardens Interior Design Gadgets & Gizmos In the Garden Wildlife Matters Save the Planet Word Search Education Sudoku Quick Crossword Money Matters Index, Competitions, Solutions
4 5 6 9 11 13 15 17 19 20 21 29 34-35 39 41 43 47 51 55 57 58 61 63 64 65 66
Competition on pages 34-35
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Lunch Express Menu SPECIAL OFFER 2 COURSE MEAL £9.95 Select one main course and either a starter from 1-7 or a dessert from the menu (specialities not included) Takeaway available Sunday-Thursday 10% off menu prices
01452 535 185
www.so-thai.co.uk
Bearlands, Longsmith Street, Gloucester GL1 2HJ
F U S I O N R E S TA U R A N T A T T H E O L D B E L L - T W O B A R S , L O U N G E & R E S TA U R A N T
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Monday-Friday 12-3pm
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LUNCHTIMES ON LIGHT MEALS
*Offer applies to lunchtime menu only and valid at times shown above during May 2016. This advert to be handed in to redeem offer. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.
Opening hours Monday-Thursday 12:00-15:00 & 17:00-00:00 Friday & Saturday 12:00-00:00 Sunday 12:00-17:00 Closed Sunday Evening 9a Southgate Street, Gloucester GL1 1TG (Above Costa Coffee) Reservations 01452 332993 www.theoldbell-tigerseye.co.uk
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Delicious Dish with Helen Kingscott
Stir-fried ginger pork Ingredients (serves 2): 1cm fresh root ginger, peeled and grated; 1 garlic clove, finely chopped; ½ red chilli, deseeded and cut into thin strips (alternatively, use the lazy range that comes in jars – make meals even quicker and with less mess); 2 tbsp sunflower oil; 2 boneless pork steaks, cut into thin strips; 125g (4oz) mangetout; 50g (2oz) unsalted cashew nuts; 2 tbsp dark soy sauce; 1 tbsp dry white wine, rice wine or dry sherry; 1 tsp caster sugar; 1 tsp sesame oil. Method: 1 If serving with rice, start cooking this (follow packaging instructions) before you begin to stir-fry. 2 Measure and prepare all the ingredients. Set the wok over a high heat until smoking and keep the heat high throughout the cooking process. Add half the
A deliciously simple, one-pot dinner that is ready in minutes!
sunflower oil and swirl around once or twice to heat it through. 3 Add the ginger, garlic and chilli and fry for 10-20 seconds until they start to colour. Quickly add the pork pieces and continue to stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until just cooked through. Transfer to a plate. 4 Return the wok to the heat and add the remaining sunflower oil. Swirl again to heat through, then add the mangetout. Fry for 2-3 minutes until crisp but tender and beginning to catch the odd patch of brown. Add the cashew nuts and fry for another 30 seconds. 5 Return the pork to the pan. Add the soy sauce, wine and caster sugar, then stir-fry for 1 more minute. Add the sesame oil, season with freshly ground black pepper and mix. Serve with rice.
C OR NER CUPBOARD INN Freshly cooked food - from bar snacks to three course meals - served in the relaxed, warm environment of our beautiful 15th Century Inn 83 Gloucester Street, Winchcombe, Cheltenham GL54 5LX. Tel: (01242) 602303
www.cornercupboardwinchcombe.co.uk O P E N Mon-Sat 10am-Midnight & Sun 11am-Midnight. F O O D S E R V E D Mon-Fri 12-3pm & 6-9pm, Sat 12-9pm, Sun 12-8pm The Local Answer
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Cocktail Time with Lois Kingscott
The Old Rectory Re staurant
Cole sbourne , Che lte nham GL53 9N P 01242 870120 Private Dining Room
Ideal venue for parties of all occasions and friends get-togethers No hire cost!
Cotswold Country Dining
Amid scenic countryside & lovely gardens
Enjoy top quality local meats & poultry, fresh fish & seasonal vegetables Scrumptious homemade desserts
Best of British
Enjoy our special lunch menu to celebrate the
Queen’s Birthday
Wed-Sat from 12 noon. 2 course £12.95
Cosmopolitan The Cosmopolitan – or Cosmo – is said to have been created independently by many different bartenders since the 1970s. The general concensus is that John Caine – owner of several bars in San Fransisco – brought the popular pink drink to the west from Ohio in around 1987. Although the cocktail is widely perceived as a contemporary creation, there is a strikingly similar recipe for a Cosmo, which appears in the book ‘Pioneers of Mixing at Elite Bars 1903-1933’. The ‘Cosmopolitan Daisy’ substitutes cranberry juice and vodka for raspberry syrup and gin, as these are the ingredients that would have been readily available at the time. There are also many claims that the Cosmo was adapted from the Kamikaze cocktail, though is often presented very differently. The Cosmopolitan was popularised significantly among young women in the 1990s because of its frequent appearances on the TV program ‘Sex and the City’, where Sarah Jessica Parker’s character, Carrie Bradshaw, often ordered the drink when out with her girlfriends. Ingredients: 50ml vodka; 25ml triple sec; 50ml cranberry juice; 25ml fresh lime juice; orange peel and/or mint to serve; ice. Method: 1 Add ice, vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice and lime juice to a cocktail shaker and shake for about 30 seconds. 2 Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a sprig of mint and/or a twist of orange peel.
PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Traditional Sunday Lunch 3 course multi choice menu £18.50
www.theoldrectoryrestaurant.co.uk
Congratulations to our winner! Debbie Lee of Abbeydale
After her initial reaction of “Are you joking?!”, Debbie was over the moon to have won the £500 holiday gift card! She is planning to put the money towards a weekend away in Portsmouth with her husband and four children.
Why not have a Mocktail?
Why not try your luck in our latest competition?
For a non–alcoholic alternative, use 50ml cranberry juice, 25ml lime juice, 25ml orange juice and 25ml simple syrup (sugar and water, boiled then cooled).
You could win a Beefeater BBQ and PureSpa Bubble Spa together worth over £1000! – see centre pages for details of how to enter.
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01452 698770
Find us on
Unit 1-2 Kingsway Local Centre, Thatcham Avenue, Kingsway, Gloucester GL2 2GT
TRUE ORIENTAL DINING
Extensive selection of Cantonese, Szechuan & Thai dishes
OPEN 12-2pm 5-11pm
ay y-Sund Monda
www.blueorchidchineserestaurant.co.uk
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Tempted yet? With summer around the corner, what could be better for your next social gathering than to organise a BBQ in one of our fantastic gardens? We offer private hire of both gardens with your own personal chef cooking up delicious food, leaving you free to mingle with friends, family or colleagues. And at the end of the event, we’ll clear up – no scrubbing the BBQ for you!
Prices start from £11.95 per person Menus tailored to your occasion and guests – please call for details or to book
Tewkesbury Road, Cheltenham GL51 9SY
The Burgage, Prestbury Cheltenham GL52 3DL
01242 680321
01242 522344
www.thegloucesteroldspot.co.uk Page 8
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Holidays & Travel with Al Hidden
Camping and cogs in Cornwall Cornwall, just a few hours down the M5 from Gloucestershire, offers every kind of accommodation. For a change, forsake smart hotels and cosy B&Bs, rediscover camping and make sure to bring your bikes.
A welcoming base for exploring Cornwall offers many camping gems, with sites such as Fowey’s Penhale Caravan and Camping Park or Court Farm Camping and Caravanning near St Austell. Pick wisely, read the reviews, and enjoy a great base for exploring this ‘county built on tin’. Court Farm is a welcoming, spacious, beautifully kept campsite off the A30 at St Stephens (they do lovely holiday lets too). After settling in, it’s time for a two-wheeled excursion. If the sea calls, drive to St Austell and follow the Pentewan Trail through woods and meadows to Mevagissey – the poster child of Cornish fishing villages. It’s mostly gentle riding, with opportunities to sidetrack to Pentewan beach or The Lost Gardens of Heligan. Don’t fear the final climb before coasting down to Mevagissey’s quays and hostelries.
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Fish and chips on the quay? If you’ve worked up an appetite, Mevagissey won’t disappoint. Dine at one of its restaurants (try Salamander on Tregoney Hill) or ocean-fresh fish and chips from harbourside Fisherman’s Chippy – just watch out for greedy seagulls! Whether cycling or driving, the Lost Gardens are consistently among Cornwall’s top attractions. Rain or shine, for exquisite gardens, go-
karting, the Eden Project’s geodesic biome domes, beaches or moorland walks, St Stephens is ideally located for both Cornish coasts.
A coast-to-coast adventure For a coast-to-coast adventure, the 14-mile Mineral Tramway Trail from Devoran (between Truro and Falmouth) to Portreath makes a great day out. Saddle up, peddle under the impressive Carnon Viaduct and explore a rich concentration of mining archaeology as you cross Cornwall to Portreath’s sandy beach, ice cream and delicious pasties. The trail isn’t as difficult as you’d imagine either. You'll find several pubs on the way – try the Plume of Feathers or The Fox and Hounds (where the trail crosses the A30 at Scorrier), Portreath’s Waterfront Inn or The Old Quay Inn at Devoran. You either love camping and cycling or you don’t! If you do, a good central campsite, sturdy mountain bikes or hybrids and a sense of adventure are the perfect mix for a few days’ Cornish exploration.
To advertise call 01242 510500
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Mirror Mirror on the Wall... with Katie Pollard
Seeing stars Festival season is fast approaching and before you know it fields will be full of festivalgoers rocking the latest trends, teepee tents and OTT make up. Think nails painted in glitter, eyelids drenched in sequins and bold colour blocking stripes. Even if you’re one to play it safe, you won’t get away from the razzle-dazzle that will be everywhere around you!
Models look like they’ve been caught in a rainbow shower This razzle-dazzle won’t only be in the fields though – the runways have been lit up with confetti clouds with the models looking like they’ve been caught in a rainbow shower! This trend can be taken on by anyone and the festival season is the time to experiment with it. Fill your beauty
bag with multi coloured stars, metallic shades and glittery shadows to create your own campfire style! A single strip of glitter will change the way you style this summer. Pair it with nude skin – a flash of fairy dust on the eyes and this will give the subtle seal of approval to this OTT trend. Match your eyes to your nails, your lips to your brows or your hair parting to your cheeks – there’s so many ways to have fun with this trend!
Don’t linger in the shadows Glitter is on everyone’s festival essentials list. Grab a colourful eye shadow, apply a little Vaseline on your eyelids to help keep it in place and simply sprinkle the glitter on top. Festivals are your chance to get playful with paint, so don’t be afraid to go colour crazy and dare to be different this year! No need to linger in the shadows – glitter doesn’t always have to be bright. If you’re more of an au natural, use a bronze or gold shade and wear the rest of your make-up nude for a chic take on the trend.
the scalp – anything with a waxy texture or thicker base, which is easily applied for the glitter and sequins to stick onto – and voila, you’ve created your own starry eyed style. Whether you’re heading abroad for the festival season or camping on the coast, get the shimmer palettes at the ready for those welliewearing-sun-dancing-days around the stage to the moonlit-starrynights around the campfire!
Share the magic with your hair Don’t be afraid to share some of the magic with your hair – this look doesn’t have to just stay on the face. Part your hair into a centre or side parting and dab a generous amount of product along the line of
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Style & Fashion with Carolyn Nicholls
The Wedding Party With the cost of weddings going through the roof, it’s not surprising that there has been a similar increase in the stress on wearing the right outfit. It used to be just the bride, groom and best man who had a virtual uniform, but nowadays brides are equally concerned that all the principals in the photos are dressed to perfection too.
Avoid disaster by careful planning Often bridesmaids have to buy their own outfit and the pressure of cost can cause friction – let’s face it, how many of us can afford to buy a dress to wear once only? The bride and groom set the tone of the wedding first of all – traditional, period, themed even casual. The rest of the principals must follow suit or fall foul of the happy couple before they have even got to the ‘I do’. Help is at hand – a wedding organiser can advise you, but equally you can avoid disaster by careful planning. Setting the tone has to be the starting point. Then let your guests know exactly
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what you are hoping to achieve to give them maximum opportunity to ‘get it right’. Tell everyone on the ‘save the date’ invitation whether you are planning a traditional wedding, a themed wedding based on ‘xyz’ or if you would like all guests dressed to attend a ball (I have attended one of the latter and it was truly amazing). If a colour scheme is important then get that information out there as soon as possible. It is only natural that the bride and groom want the wedding photographs to be amazing. The bride also needs to be the focal point and so it is really not appropriate for the groom’s mother to have a parrot on her head unless the theme is ‘Treasure Island’! Being the mother of the bride or groom is such an important role and it is a fact that, when these lovely ladies arrive at the ceremony, the guests will be casting a critical eye over their choice of outfit. If you have not had Colour Analysis then this may be exactly the right time to do so. We talked about the importance of wearing a good colour
next to your face in my previous article. The right colour will make you look younger, fresher and radiant on the big day. Your Image Consultant will also be able to advise you whether the colours you are considering will work well with the bride and bridesmaids and so ensure you won’t clash. They will also show you a style that works for your body shape and give you advice on the hat that is right for you personally.
Make sure your outfit fits well and is comfortable Some of us find weddings a clothing nightmare because we would normally live in jeans. You can of course get really smart dark indigo jeans these days but if you are a principal then a trouser suit is a great alternative. Whatever you choose, be happy in it. For everyone involved, make sure your outfit fits you well and is comfortable. Think about what the day involves – how much standing and sitting – and whether your shoes and your fabric choice will survive the day. And lastly – have a wonderful time!
To advertise call 01242 510500
Page 13
0800 046 1791
Medical Health with Holly Prince
Foot Health Our feet are a very important part of our body, but they often get neglected. Sore, achy feet can be caused by a number of problems – often due to pressure or friction on the foot. It is important to wear the correct footwear because if your shoes are too tight or too loose, this can cause your feet to swell and blisters to appear. Blisters are fluid-filled sacs caused by friction. If you have a blister, it is best to leave it to dry naturally and not burst it, as this can cause infection. Also, pressure on the foot over a longer period of time can lead to longer-term problems like joint pain. Sweating is normal and healthy, but can start to smell because of hormones – this is why teenagers
are well known for having smelly feet! A good idea is to change your socks regularly or use deodorisers. Ensure that shoes are dried out at the end of the day if they have been worn for hours, as damp shoes lead to an increase in bacteria, which can cause fungal infections.
Let some air get to your feet In the warmer weather, we need to let some air get to our feet. Leather or canvas shoes are better than plastic ones, but wearing sandals or flip-flops all the time is bad for your feet as these shoes do not provide much support to the
foot, and can lead to heel pain. Insoles to cushion the soles of your feet can help with this. Another alternative is to go barefoot, but going barefoot too much can cause corns and callouses, which are areas of thickened skin due to excessive pressure or friction on the foot. Bunions are also caused by friction, and they often form as a lump on the side of the big toe joint. Another disadvantage of not wearing any footwear is picking up foot diseases from public areas such as changing rooms at the swimming pool or gym – athlete’s foot is an example of this. And you may also spread infection if you have a wart known as a verruca as this is caused by the HPV virus, which means it is contagious. Prevent infecting other people by wearing a plaster on the affected area.
Putting your feet up after a long day helps circulation Give your feet some attention by washing them each day with warm soapy water and dry them well – especially between the toes as dampness can lead to a build-up of bacteria. After washing your feet, moisturise them to keep the skin soft. Similarly, remember to apply sun cream to your feet when they are exposed in the sun, as they can burn just like any other part of your body. Feet can get tired, especially if a lot of your time is spent standing up. Exercise your feet by wiggling your toes or circling your ankles to help the circulation. Putting your feet up after a long day also helps the circulation, as does massaging them – and if you can get someone else to massage them, even better!
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Page 15
Looking Good, Feeling Great with Matt Wagstaff
Exercise as we age To coin the phrase from Moshe Feldenkrais, “Movement is Life” and as we age we should not move any less. Regular exercise improves health, boosts mood and increases quality of life. As we age we become more susceptible to illness and injury. Keeping regular exercise in your weekly routine has been shown to combat the ageing process, reducing the likelihood of illness and injury, aiding in weight loss and muscle gain. Adding in a variety of exercise isn’t difficult, though initially maybe harder – the body adapts at a quick rate leading to progress in strength and fitness. Structure is key in exercise – below are some points to follow.
Mix it up Taking part in different kinds of training keeps your body guessing and improves different areas of fitness. Performing some aerobic training such as swimming or cycling, as well as some structured strength and balance training within a gym or class setting will give an all round workout for the body. This also prevents one getting bored following
the same exercise program all the time.
Resistance strength training Strength based training has been shown to have huge benefits as we grow older, improving and reducing the chance of developing arthritis, osteoporosis and diabetes. Having an increase in muscle improves one’s metabolic rate, leading to an increase in fat loss as well as improved daily function in moving around and performing daily activities. Resistance training can be tailored to any individual.
Exercise at home If getting out to exercise can be a problem, simple exercise training can be performed from the home. Using a chair for squats or stairs for some simple step up exercises can be beneficial when performed correctly. Simple equipment can also be bought – such as dumbbells or resistance bands – which allow for a wide range of strength and aerobic exercises to be performed from the comfort of one’s home. DVD exercise programs can also be followed from home, which cuts out the need to
visit a gym or go for a walk or cycle if the weather is poor!
Exercise classes Joining in with regular exercise classes has a great social element, and exercising with others has been shown to increase adherence to a program as well as improve results. A lot of sports centres and village halls host fitness classes such as aerobics or circuit training, which can again be tailored to most fitness levels and exercise preferences.
Personal training/GP referral Before buying into an exercise program – especially those who suffer with any medical conditions – a trip to the GP is advised. A lot of personal trainers are qualified to specifically train with those who are older or suffer with medical conditions. Performing a structured exercise program can help with a lot of debilitating conditions such as heart disease, arthritis, diabetes and many more. Enquiring with a registered fitness professional can go a long way in improving fitness and quality of life overall. It only takes small steps to make a big difference to one’s health!
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Charnwood House N URSIN G H OME
Charnwood House Nursing Home specialises in caring for elderly people, younger people with a physical disability and people with dementia. Warm and friendly atmosphere. Highest standards of nursing care provided.
Owned and managed by Wotton Rise Nursing Home Ltd ● Residents always treated with dignity and respect ● Registered nurses on duty 24 hours a day providing personal and nursing care ● Freshly prepared home cooked food from a menu of residents’ choice ● Activity programme to include regular external entertainers ● Attractive patio and garden for residents ● Close to shops ● Wheelchair access throughout the home ●
Contact Diana or Marina Martinez for more details
Tel: 01452 523478 01452 451249 email: wottonrisenursinghome@hotmail.co.uk 49 Barnwood Road, Gloucester GL2 0SD
Leader’s Life with Councillor Paul James
Pro m ot e y ou r bu s i n e ss i n 4 6,00 0 m a g a zi n e s Call Sara now!
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01242
ANSWER 541076
AVALON Residential Home We are a small friendly care home providing 24 hour care, respite care and day care for residents with physical and mental disability. We have recently added 6 rooms with en-suite shower facilities.
We have a team of dedicated and fully trained staff to deal with clients’ needs. Please call us on 01452 417400 for further details or visit our website
ARTI Care Homes (Gloucester) Ltd Quality - Independence - Dignity 17 Barnwood Road, Gloucester GL2 0RZ
Positive progress Whenever a new development in the city is unveiled, some people say, “It’ll never happen.” It’s perhaps not surprising when promised regeneration plans for the city in the past, particularly in the 1990s and early 2000s, weren’t delivered. It is a fact of life that not every artist’s impression makes it into reality and sometimes things take longer than we hope or expect. I remember when people said we wouldn’t be able to rid the city of the infamous Golden Egg in Kings Square, but we did. Some people claimed we would never raise the money to build a new bus station, but it’s now on site and will be finished next year as the first phase of the Kings Quarter development. Others said we would be stuck with the dereliction of the Railway Triangle forever. The first phase is now complete and phase two of more employment uses is now underway.
Several long-term vacant sites will be brought back into use Derelict for almost as long is Bakers Quay, next to the canal. Previous attempts to regenerate the site have failed, but the land has now been bought and planning permission obtained, with a start on site due in summer. Some people said Gloucester Quays wouldn’t happen and, when it did, claimed it would be a white elephant or would destroy the city centre. Its visitor numbers have risen from 2 million a year to over 5 million. While the city centre still has its challenges, the evidence is that the Quays brings people to Gloucester. Several other long-term vacant sites are about to be brought back into use – the ex-M&S store in Northgate Street where TK Maxx was will open this year; the former Jumpin’ Jaks in Brunswick Road, which will re-open as a club; and the old Kwik Save site in Northgate Street will be developed for housing. Progress is also being made with bringing Gloucester City Football Club back to play at its Meadow Park stadium. The Cathedral and Llanthony Priory have both been successful in their Heritage Lottery Fund bids, totalling over £7 million. There’s still a lot to do, but hopefully with progress like this even the harshest of critics will start to believe.
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Page 19
Wild Food Foraging with Steven Hawley
12,000 MILE/ANNUAL SERVICE with MOT is from inclusive of parts, labour and VAT 6,000/6 MONTHLY SERVICE with MOT is now from
MOT TEST £35 WINTER HEALTH CHECK £20
Navelwort When out for a walk on a lazy Sunday afternoon, you might never expect a number of tiny green belly buttons to be poking out at you from a nearby wall. But should you be fortunate enough to brush against these umbilicated oddities, you may just find your own belly button pokes out a little further by the end of your constitutional! Navelwort, or Wall Pennywort, can be found growing in stone walls or shaded rocky formations. Its leaves are green and round with a small dimple in the centre that mildly resembles an ‘inny’ belly button, hence the name. Though it is much too shallow of a dimple to resemble my belly button! The historical medicinal use for this plant, keeping in mind that medical research has come a very long way since the days of homemade hedgerow potions, was the treatment of epileptic seizures. Though I’m sure any modern day doctor would rather stick to prescribing sodium valproate and their variants.
Add a couple of leaves to a bacon sandwich It was also used to make a juice from the leaves, which are fleshy and moist, that is supposed to help a number of internal conditions such as an inflamed liver. No harm would come from trying this these days, but I am very sceptical of any worthwhile health benefits. Even though I’m willing to give anything a go that might help a hangover, I usually prefer to just add a couple of leaves to a bacon sandwich, which is sure to cure whatever internal problem I'm having at any given time. Like most leafy greens harvested in the countryside, they also work quite well in a salad. Be careful when harvesting this plant as it doesn’t have a very deep root system and often grows in a shallow patch of soil that has gathered in a wall. Pulling on a leaf could easily uproot the entire plant. If you’re not 100% sure that the plant you’re picking is safe for human consumption, don’t pick it. If you’re prone to food allergies, or pregnant, always seek medical advice before consuming anything foraged in the wild. Page 20
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Parenting & Guardianship with Roberta Smart
A good nursery is priceless All change Once your little one reaches three years old there are new opportunities opening for them. No longer confined to mummy and me sessions, they can now begin to step away and discover the world on their own terms, for a while. The real benefits of nursery or preschool are not confined to the academic training of young minds, but rather the chance to mix with other children – to develop their own will and learn to create personal boundaries. Suddenly they do not have ‘mind-reader mummy’ on hand to solve every problem, meaning language skills grow, communication techniques develop and personalities have the chance to flourish.
Getting social Social skills are honed in the group setting – learning to share, to wait, to take turns and to give space to others are not natural skills in infants and, for many children, they will continue to be a challenge. So practice – in a guided setting with experienced play workers – is invaluable.
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The nursery setting can also support the early detection of any blocks or challenges that you may have missed. My daughter was diagnosed with a speech issue at two years old and her nursery gave her speech therapy to support her development. At the same time she befriended a boy with profound deafness. She wore a speech box and he wore an earpiece, and they were inseparable – what a wonderful experience for her, one she’s never forgotten.
Freedom Free play is a wonderful gift for children, and the resources available at a good pre-school are priceless. Opportunities for painting, craft, growing seeds and cooking blend seamlessly with the development of gross motor skills using climbing frames, ball games, ball pits and bicycles. Nurseries also offer educational trips too – featuring everything from a trip to a local supermarket to learn about produce, to a trip to a farm park or visitor centre. A simple mini-bus to the park can be madly exciting for little ones, and sharing new
experiences – and yummy picnic lunches – with your friends is a big day out when you are three! As you choose your placement you will no doubt consider the childcare aspect as well as the facilities. Take your time to visit a few and observe both your child at play and the staff involvement to find the best fit. Don’t be swayed by reputation – I moved my daughter from an ‘Independent Nursery’ to an ‘Early Years Centre’ and discovered a much better environment for my child. Trust your gut and your child – they will soon let you know what works and what doesn’t. Even a three mile house move couldn’t persuade me to remove my daughter from her wonderful nursery, until school started.
Life long learning And while little one is in nursery, why not indulge in a little ‘Life Long Learning’ for yourself? Many family centres offer parenting, education or skills courses and it’s a great way to build your support network and pick up a few top tips. And, let’s face it, we can always do with some of those!
To advertise call 01242 510500
Page 21
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Page 22
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Gloucestershire’s Agent of the year
*Based on internal figures between June – December 2015
Your Local Personal Estate Agent
How we make the most of marketing your property
The internet is one of the most important tools available when promoting your property, along with a dedicated, passionate team of property experts. At House-moves we ensure the effectiveness of your online exposure is maximised with our experience and extensive local knowledge ... Your home is marketed on all the major portals – Rightmove, Zoopla & Primelocation. ● We make sure your advert stands out from the crowd by keeping it clear, concise, and using complementary high quality photography – after all, this is your shop window! ● We use bright, clear ‘front shots’ to attract buyers from the first photo. ● We include floorplans – many agents don’t. Research by Rightmove has shown including ●
a floorplan generated 30% more interest than without. ● We create and attach high quality brochures to your listing for potential buyers to save, email it to a friend or print out. ● We monitor and communicate online performance to you via detailed weekly reports. ● When necessary, we upgrade your exposure to a ‘Premium Listing’ completely FREE OF CHARGE – many agents do charge!
Board presence creates interest
Always working for you
The second best method of marketing your property is by allowing House-moves to erect a ‘For Sale’ sign for you. Although some customers don’t wish to alert nosey neighbours, a For Sale board markets your property to those naturally using the area. Whether they are visiting relatives or live nearby and, therefore, already know and enjoy your location – instant enquiries can often bring results.
We are not a 9-5 business. Ordinarily, High Street estate agents only answer buyer enquiries during standard business hours. Technology, and our commitment to succeed on your behalf, enables us to be responsive at any hour – ensuring buyer opportunities are never missed!
Contact us today to arrange a FREE no obligation valuation
01242 517800 – info@house-moves.co.uk 2 Rowanfield Road | Cheltenham | Gloucestershire | GL51 8AG
Who are House-moves?
Meet the team – Peter Brimfield, Michelle Ford, Joanna Ryland & Christine Mathers Mother and daughter Christine and Joanna launched House-moves in 2013. Each had developed their own extensive knowledge and experience within the property sales market, and decided to create their own opportunity to deliver the very best of services to customers. This emphasis on service has been key to House-moves’ continued growth, resulting in the
expansion of their team. Along with Christine, Michelle has a great understanding of the Gloucester housing market and they look forward to providing a personal, friendly solution to the city’s residents. Pete possesses a keen eye for detail and brings a wealth of enhanced and new skills in customer service, sales and marketing practices.
Why use House-moves to sell your home? Together we manage every aspect of your house sale from start to finish – initial valuation, EPC, floorplan, high quality photography, sales negotiation, after sales progression. We track, monitor and communicate with you during every stage of the process. At House-moves our growth has depended on our independent status, familiarity with the community we serve (we are local people) and our ability to work together on your behalf in a professional, friendly, personal and reliable manner.
We take great pride in giving honest advice – enabling you to make the right decision in marketing and selling your property. From our office near Cheltenham
train station we readily service the needs of people located around the county, and frequently visit all areas. House-moves is regulated by The Property Ombudsman, providing buyers and sellers with reassurance that they will receive the highest standards of customer service. We are also licensed members of the NAEA (National Association of Estate Agents). Our unique set-up dictates we can offer the most competitive rates whilst maintaining the highest standards of service without losing the personal touch we would expect ourselves.
Check out our testimonials online: www.house-moves.co.uk
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. THROUGHOUT MAY THE LONDON INN LIVE MUSIC HERE EVERY MONTH! 27th May – “THE BRIDGE”. Free Entry. Sunday Roast available in 2 sizes – £6.90 or £8 for a large. All freshly prepared. Wide selection of meats. The London Inn, 195 London Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham GL52 6HU. 01242 525606. EVERY WEDNESDAY BEGINNERS MAT PILATES FOR LADIES 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. 25 MARCH – 7 MAY MAMMA MIA
Join the ultimate feel-good party at Mamma Mia!, the world’s sunniest and most exhilarating smash-hit musical! Set on a Greek island paradise, a story of love, friendship and identity is cleverly told through the timeless songs of ABBA. Sophie’s quest to discover the father she’s never known brings her mother face to face with three men from her distant romantic past on the eve of a wedding they’ll never forget. Whatever age you are, you can’t help but have the time of
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your life at Mamma Mia! Various dates and times. 0844 871 3012. For more details visit atgtickets.com/venues/bristolhippodrome. The Bristol Hippodrome, St Augustine’s Parade, BS1 4UZ. 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 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.
To advertise call 01242 510500
8 MAY TEWKESBURY BOWLING CLUB OPEN DAY From 10.30am until 4pm with lots of support and help. All you need is a flattish pair of shoes. New to lawn green bowling? Membership free for 2016. 01684 294411. Gander Lane, Tewkesbury, GL20 5PG. 12 MAY A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE
Following its smash-hit original broadcast; the Young Vic’s ‘magnetic, electrifying, astonishingly bold’ production returns to cinemas due to audience demand. The great Arthur Miller confronts the American dream in this dark and passionate tale. This tragic masterpiece won a trio of 2014 Olivier Awards including Best Revival, Best Actor for Mark Strong and Best Director for Ivo van Hove. 7pm. £16.50 (£14.50, students £12.50). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. www.bacontheatre.co.uk.
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13 MAY RHYTHM & 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. 14 MAY VOODOO ROOM Peter Orr, John Tonks and Andy Tolman form the mighty, retro, rocking machine that is: Voodoo Room. Their mission: to deliver the all-time great Cream and Hendrix numbers with the true passion and energy worthy of these classic masterpieces. 7.30pm. £17 (£15). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. 17 MAY LOVE & MERCY
In the 1960s the band’s future is thrown into doubt when Wilson suffers a debilitating panic attack and, twenty years later, a now middle-aged Wilson is a broken, confused man who finds love and sanctuary in the company of car saleswoman Melinda Ledbetter. 7.45pm. £7 (£6). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. 19-21 MAY SHREDS A musical written and directed by James Williams. Musical Director David Last. University of Gloucestershire Performing Arts students. 7.30pm. The Playhouse Theatre, Bath Road, Cheltenham GL53 7HG. Box Office: 01242 522852. £8 normal (£7 concessions). 20 MAY BACH HITS LECHLADE A very special concert. Top Boston USA cellist Guy Fishman brings his 1704 cello and two wonderful Bach solo suites; noon at St Lawrence Lechlade; free admission, wine and light refreshments; donations to church restoration. 21 MAY CHARLTON KINGS CHORAL SOCIETY CONCERT Duruflé’s ‘Requiem’, Wright’s ‘In Praise of
Shipton Golf Course
The amazing true story of Brian Wilson, the legendary leader of the Beach Boys.
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“A 9 hole pay & play course in the Heart of the Cotswolds” No need to book – Open every day from 7am until dusk ● Family run course offering affordable golf for all ● Coffee shop and terrace ● Small stock of ‘everyday’ golfing equipment and clothing ● PGA Fellow Professional available for lessons and advice PGA Approved ● Children’s holiday workshops Establishment
Earth’s Beauty’, Fauré’s ‘Cantique de Jean Racine’; Regency Sinfonia; Caroline Carragher (mezzo), Tom Hunt (bass), Fiona Brown (organ); conductor John Wright. 7.30 pm. £15/£10. Holy Apostles, Cheltenham GL52 6HW. 24-28 MAY PHEDRE The Phoenix Players present Racine’s powerful classic Greek tragedy in Ted Hughes’ acclaimed version. The Kings Theatre, Kingsbarton Street, GL1 1QX. 7.30pm. Tickets £9, £8, £5 from The Phoenix Players (01452 522795) or Gloucester Tourist Information (01452 396572). 26-27 MAY THE PENELOPIAD By Margaret Atwell. Directed by Fiona Ross. University of Gloucestershire Drama students. 7.30pm. Blackfriars, Ladybellegate Street, Gloucester GL1 2HS. Phone: 0370 333 118. £7 (£5 conc). 26-28 MAY A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM By William Shakespeare. Directed by Kate Littlewood. University of Gloucestershire Drama students. 7.30pm (bring portable chairs and rugs). Hailes Abbey, Winchcombe, Cheltenham GL54 5PB. Box Office: 01242 602398. £7.50.
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Page 30
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Spring has arrived at The Bird and Deer Park! Spring has finally arrived at The Bird Park and everything is brimming with life. The breeding season is in full swing as ducklings hatch and the deer prepare to calve – it’s all go! Since the arrival of the New Visitor Centre, the park has become ever more popular and never more so than for children’s parties. Parents can meet their guests in the centre prior to enjoying their child’s birthday in the famous Gypsy Caravan or the stunning Mad Hatters Marquee. Both locations have been designed with both parents and children in mind, so if your idea of hell is a bouncy castle then look no further! Where else can you be surrounded by nature in all its forms but still have all the trimmings for that special day?
The Bird Park is hoping to receive the Ben Moseley Sculpture this month, which will be situated in the first enclosure in the park on the first pool. We won’t spoil the surprise, but it’s going to be fab! For more information visit www.thebirdpark.com or call 01452 812727.
Open 7 days a week 10am-5pm • 01452 812727 • www.thebirdpark.com The Bird and Deer Park, Prinknash, Cranham, Gloucester GL4 8EX
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
27 MAY MURDER MYSTERY NIGHT Join us for an exciting Murder Mystery, delicious three course meal and disco for just £29.95 per person! 01452 525653. Hallmark Hotel Gloucester, Matson Lane, Robinswood Hill, Gloucester GL4 6EA. 28 MAY – 5 JUNE DOWNY DUCKLING DAYS
Go behind-the-scenes of our busy duckery to learn how we rear hundreds of young birds each year and see many of the fluffy ducklings, goslings and cygnets. You’ll even get the opportunity to see inside an egg using a technique called candling and visit the newly hatched ducklings inside the Duckery and in the outdoor enclosures. 9.30am-5.30pm. Included in normal admission. 01453 891900. WWT Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, GL2 7BT. 30 MAY VINTAGE & CRAFT FAIR TETBURY Over 20 stalls of vintage and handmade
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fashion, gifts, homeware plus lots more. Live vintage-inspired entertainment including family friendly burlesque, cabaret acts and solo artists, vintage tea party, bouncy castles plus lots more. 10am-4pm. Entry only £1, children free. Dolphins Hall, New Church Street, GL8 8DS. www.helsbellesboutique.co.uk. 2 & 4 JUNE SINS OF THE FATHER Directed by Karen Benjamin. Devised by University of Gloucestershire Drama students. 7.30pm. Kings Theatre, Kingsbarton Street, Gloucestershire GL1 1QX. Tickets on door. £7 normal (£4 concessions). 3 JUNE COTSWOLD CLAPTON Cotswold Clapton is an authentic tribute to the music and live arrangements of Eric Clapton, featuring a full 8-piece line-up performing everything from Cream, Blind Faith and Derek & the Dominoes material right through to Clapton’s extensive solo career. This really is the next best thing to seeing the man himself! The band comprises top local musicians with extensive musical careers behind them. From 7.30pm. Tickets £15. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. www.bacontheatre.co.uk.
To advertise call 01242 510500
7 JUNE BROOKLYN
Brooklyn centres on Eilis, who moves from small town Ireland to Brooklyn, New York in search of a bright future – and love. When family tragedy brings her back to Ireland, she finds herself absorbed into her old community and confronting a heart-breaking choice between two men and two countries. 7.45pm. £7 (£6). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. 8 JUNE HAMLET Hamlet has the world at his feet. Young, wealthy and living a hedonistic life studying abroad. Then word reaches him that his father is dead. Returning home he finds his world is utterly changed, his certainties smashed and his home a foreign land. 7pm. £16.50 (£14.50, students £12.50). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. www.bacontheatre.co.uk.
Page 33
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9 JUNE THE AUDIENCE
Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. www.bacontheatre.co.uk. 11 JUNE SACRED HEART’S SUMMER FETE “A Day at the Movies” noon till 3pm. Children’s fancy dress competition, bouncy castle, live music, games and stalls, large selection of food and drink. Fun for all the family. Sacred Hearts Catholic Church, Moorend Road, Charlton Kings GL53 9AU. DARKSIDE: THE PINK FLOYD SHOW
For sixty years, Queen Elizabeth II has met with each of her twelve Prime Ministers in a private weekly meeting, known as The Audience. No one knows what they discuss, not even their spouses. The smash-hit broadcast of the original West End production of The Audience, featuring Helen Mirren’s multi-award-winning performance, returns to cinemas in celebration of the monarch’s 90th birthday. These special screenings include an exclusive Q&A with Helen Mirren and director Stephen Daldry. 7pm. £16.50 (£14.50, students £12.50). The Bacon
For an y oc c a s ion ORDER ONLINE NOW
Darkside, the Pink Floyd tribute band, returns to Cheltenham with a brand new spectacular live show, Remember When You Were Young, featuring the sensational vocals of Faye Brookes. This promises to be another memorable evening of classic Pink Floyd performed with passion and empathy, complete with period film clips, projected images and a laser light show to
capture the essence of Floyd live. 8pm. £17. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. www.bacontheatre.co.uk. 17 JUNE QUEEN TRIBUTE
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. £38 per person. Bowden Hall, Bondend Lane, Upton St Leonards GL4 8ED. 01452 632632. 18-19 JUNE OPEN GARDENS WEEKEND LITTLEDEAN An eclectic range of gardens which should whet all appetites. Open from 11am-5pm. Entry £5, children free. For more information go to www.littledean.org
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To advertise call 01242 510500
Page 37
Motoring with Luke Edwards
A Swiss Spectacular May is a key point in the car year. The motoring world has visited Detroit, Chicago, New York and the key European Motor Show in Geneva. Geneva is still the show that manufacturers use to dazzle with their visions of present and future.
Revel in the sound from the new titanium exhaust system In the February 2016 edition I reviewed the Jaguar F-Type and at Geneva, Jaguar revealed the SVR. It’s a serious version of the F-Type, developed by their Special Vehicle Operations department with 567bhp and a 5.0-litre supercharged V8. Jaguar's Special Operations MD John Edwards (no relation) said: “The result is a 200mph, all-weather supercar that you can drive every day. We even made a Convertible version so that enthusiasts can revel in the sound from the new titanium exhaust system”. Bugatti showed their successor to the Veyron called the Chiron. It is named after the 1920s and 1930s grand prix racer Louis Chiron, whose results
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included victory in the 1931 French Grand Prix at the wheel of a Bugatti Type 51. The Chiron is bidding to be the fastest production car ever, with 1479bhp, 62mph in less than 2.5sec and a top speed of 261mph. Its engine is a quad-turbocharged 8.0-litre W16. Only 500 will be made, each costing around £1.9 million. The Maserati Levante SUV had a great reception at Geneva. It is a clear competitor to the Range Rover, Porsche Cayenne and forthcoming Jaguar FPace. Maserati’s European manager Giulio Pastore said: “Style is still the first reason to buy a Maserati. The second is the sound quality, and this sounds as good as our saloons with diesel or petrol. Then it’s vehicle dynamics and the pleasure to drive.” The SUV market is an interesting move for the Italian maker and there is a diesel Levante that does 39.2mpg, which will please many in the UK. Maserati expects one in four Levante’s in Europe to be sold in the UK and 95% of those to have diesel engines. MG’s forthcoming first SUV model, the GS, was also a discussion point amongst
Journalists at Geneva. Their cars have been a great success with a keen price and the GS could be a winner for MG.
Peugeot had three reveals at Geneva Peugeot, high from their Dakar rally win, had three reveals at Geneva – the 2008 compact SUV, the Traveller MPV (with up to 9 seats in various configurations) and a concept car, the Traveller i-LAB. The i-LAB hints business and travel with a giant 32” touch tablet, its own WiFi hotspot, charging docks and virtual reality headsets. Malvern based Morgan showed their fun side with EV3 – the manufacturers first ever all-electric production car. Based on their 3 wheeler sports car, the EV3 has a 62bhp electric motor, fed by a lithium battery and promises a zeroemissions range of 150 miles. Other cars of note included the Aston Martin DB11, McLaren 570GT, Ferrari GTC4Lusso (the new name for the FF), Alfa Romeo Giulia, Citroën C4 Cactus Rip Curl (with Grip Control), new Honda Civic, Porsche 911 R and the Ford Vignale.
To advertise call 01242 510500
Page 39
Homes & Gardens
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Page 41
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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
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Interior Design with Caron Burrows
Add spring colours to your home Spring is a time of year loved for many reasons. Longer days, warmer weather and, of course, colour. Bright green leaves appear on trees, yellow daffodils appear on grassy banks, and bluebells turn woodlands into a sea of blue. Here are a few ideas to bring the sunshine into your home.
Inspiration Take a long look at the outside at this time of year. Daffodils, bluebells, white blossom on the trees, daisies, and even the lush green of our parks and fields – the list is endless. Use these colours of nature to inspire the spring decor of your home. For example, pick a single spring flower such as a bold yellow tulip and make it the inspiration for an entire room – wallpaper, curtains or upholstery. Teamed with plenty of white, this will create a sophisticated, fresh colourful display of china, crockery, jugs, cookware and glassware in a spring feel. range of spring shades. Take China & Glass advantage of available fresh flowers Shelves, window sills and tables can – fill vases and jugs for an instant easily be brought to life with a touch of spring.
Furniture A lick of paint is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to make changes to your home. Choose a sunny shade or a pretty pastel to refresh a chair, table or bookshelf. You don’t have to paint the whole piece – just a dip-dye effect on the legs of a chair can refresh and revive, providing a fresh spring look.
Fabrics & Accessories A few metres of pretty floral or pastel fabric are easily turned into a tablecloth, and a few cushions provide an instant splash of spring to your kitchen table and chairs or lounge sofa. An oversized piece of art is a simple way to add a modern floral touch to your home. This could be in the form of a supersized artwork on the wall, or an accessory such as a bright printed cushion. Fluffy white towels teamed with yellow, blue or soft green will add a touch of spring to any bathroom. Team pastel cushions and throws with plain white bedding to achieve a crisp feel to your bedroom.
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interior needs Luxurious Curtains and Soft Furnishings
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Gadgets & Gizmos with Dan Wood
Money well spent Hoover WR71WR01 Whirlwind Choosing the right vacuum cleaner can be difficult with so many options and types, not to mention the price. I recently bought the Hoover WR71WR01 Whirlwind bagless vacuum cleaner, having been looking for a replacement for my Dyson and trying to keep costs down. I found this for £49.99 at Argos online, reduced from £99.99 and with £1 off having spent over £25 (every little counts!). With a 2.5l bin capacity and 2.5m hose, the WR71WR01 is perfect for most households. It works very well and lifts almost anything up from the carpet, and the build quality is good too, as you’d expect
from an established brand like Hoover. It is light-weight at 3.8kg, meaning cleaning the stairs is hassle free and its 5m power cord gives plenty of operating space. The environmental credentials are good too, with an A rating. Bearing in mind the extortionate pricing of many modern vacuum brands, for less than £50 this has impressed me and was money well spent.
Music Angel Friendz Portable Speaker From work to play, the Music Angel Friendz portable speaker is an excellent buy for £25 on average. Using a basic 3.5mm audio jack input/output, the unit connects to pretty much any mobile phone, tablet or other device you’d connect your average headphones to. The integrated 1000mAh Li-ion battery gives up to 100 hours play time – yes, 100! Charge time is 1-3 hours and sound quality is superb, with good bass and crystal clear clarity. Build quality is great too – highly recommended.
placing the box over your head. Watch a movie on your phone and enjoy the experience on the cheap. With card cutout audiences you’ll never know the difference for just a fraction of the price. In flat pack form and roughly £20, why not buy two and ‘go to the movies’ with someone else?
Cardboard Home Cinema Bored? Fed up of crazy cinema popcorn prices? Make use of an idle smartphone and create your own cinematic experience at home. The cardboard home cinema is as simple as it sounds! Just place your mobile in the slot and lie on the floor
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In The Garden with Julia Smith
Your garden should be bursting into life May is here already! The garden is bursting into life and any work that you have already done now comes into its own – you are ahead of the game!
Delicious in a salad or steamed until just cooked Runner beans are the mainstay of my vegetable garden in the summer. They are so delicious picked fresh and either sliced and eaten raw in salads, or steamed until just cooked. Sow them as the soil warms up, making a wigwam of bamboo canes for the beans to twine up, or buying one of the ready made obelisks in
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hazel or metal. These obelisks look good even in the winter, as they add structure to the garden. I make a hole before I sow the beans and empty my compost from the kitchen in there for a few days – peelings, tea bags etc. I then sow my bean on the top on a layer of soil the usual depth, and this helps keep the moisture in, which the beans so love. Clematis need constant tying in as they scramble up their supports. Use soft twine and tie in a figure of eight, being careful not to damage the delicate stems. They look superb growing up (but don’t let the mulch touch the through climbing roses and shrubs, stems as it may rot them). extending the season of interest or flowering at the same time as their Deadhead plants to make them stronger next year host but with contrasting colours. Shear over early-spring flowering Pruning is more simple for plants such as Brunnera, Iberis, late flowering clematis Cerastium and Aubrieta to keep Try Sambucas racemosa them tidy. If you don’t want your ‘Sutherland Gold’ with a beautiful Helleborus x hybridus to set seed, blue Clematis ‘Perle d’Azur’ growing now is the time to deadhead them, through it, or a lovely Rosa ‘Gertrude which will make them stronger Jekyll’ with Clematis ‘Etoile Violette’ plants for the following year. argutifolius needs scrambling up it. If you choose late Helleborus flowering clematis, the pruning is different treatment by cutting away more simple as they are Group 3 and the stems carrying the old flowers at just need to be chopped off about ground level. Apply a general 30cm high in early spring – very fertilizer and water and mulch. Do easy! Give the clematis a spring feed remember that Euphorbia produces with a high-potassium rose-type a milky sap, which can cause severe fertilizer, gently forked into the soil irritation so wear gloves when surface, and then water and mulch handling!
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Page 52
Worcester 29CDI Boiler installed with Filter, Sesi & Comfort Controls, including 10 year warranty from Worcester. All this for as little as £26.32 per month (offer based on like for like replacement boiler with horizontal flue, over 120 months with £300 deposit – 9.9% APR)
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Female Plumber
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Garden Sheds, Summerhouses, Home Offices, Garages, Workshops, Site Huts, Stables, Kennels, Aviaries, Pavilions or any large timber buildings! Page 54
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Wildlife Matters with John Bromley
Ladybirds: the aphid hunter Most people will be familiar with the commonly seen 7-spot ladybird, which is the epitome of the ladybird species with its bright red colour and seven black spots. It is this particular species from which their name is derived because early pictures of the Virgin Mary depict her in a red cloak, whilst the seven spots represent the seven Joys and seven Sorrows of Our Lady.
The bright colours are part of their defence mechanism Ladybirds belong to the beetle family and are distinctive due to their round or oval shape and relatively small size, ranging from 1mm to 10mm. There are, however, 46 ladybird species found in the UK, but only 27 of these actually look like ladybirds – being brightly coloured in shades of red, orange, cream and yellow, and having anything from 2 to 22 spots. The remaining species are rather dull by comparison and are not readily identified as ladybirds. The ladybirds’ bright colours are part of their defence mechanism to remind potential predators that they are very unpleasant tasting due to a yellow coloured strong smelling alkaline excretion they produce when threatened. That said, swifts and swallows are able to eat ladybirds, catching them on the wing. Ladybirds only live for a year, the adults overwintering anywhere they can find shelter such as in leaf piles, bark crevices, long grass and so on. They become active in February and March and breed from late spring to early summer, laying eggs that hatch into a black grub-like
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larva, which do not look anything like a ladybird. However, the larvae are voracious hunters, feeding on aphids (greenfly, etc.), so are extremely beneficial to any garden.
7-spot ladybirds eat an average of 5000 aphids during its yearlong life cycle The larvae grow quickly, shedding their skin four times before they pupate, and about a week later the new generation of adults will begin to emerge. The adult ladybirds also feed heavily on aphids to build up their reserves to enable them to successfully overwinter. On average a single 7-spot ladybird will eat around 5000 aphids during its year-long life cycle, making it a welcome sight in the garden. The native ladybird species have few predators but are hunted by some spiders and wasp
species, and they are also attacked by a parasitic fungus. However, in 2004 a new ladybird species was found in south east England. It is called the Harlequin Ladybird and originates from Asia, but was introduced by growers to various European countries to help manage aphids and inevitably it has now spread to the UK. This particular ladybird is very variable in colour and spot numbers and so is also called the Multicoloured Asian Ladybird. It is about 8mm in size, but its wide ranging colours make it difficult to distinguish from some of our native species.
Harlequin Ladybirds outcompete our native species Sadly, the Harlequin Ladybird is both invasive and aggressive and will not only attack native ladybird species, but is able to outcompete them for food, and is a rapid breeder with adults laying eggs within five days of pupating. It is spreading rapidly and will ultimately cause a huge imbalance in the UK ladybird population. Further information regarding this threat to our native ladybird species is available at www.harlequin-survey.org.
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FOR ALL YOUR ELECTRICAL NEEDS
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Save the Planet with Kate Cole
Press the restart button Are you a handy with a hammer, a sewing supremo, or a techietinkerer? Or is your attitude to bin stuff when it’s broken? We throw away vast quantities of things in Gloucestershire every year. Many items could have been repaired, but unfortunately lots of people don’t have the skills, or have forgotten how to repair things themselves. And, if you’ve ever tried to find a spare part for your electrical gizmo, only to be told by the shop assistant that it would cost more to fix it than it would to upgrade to a shiny new one, then you’ve been at the sharp end of ‘planned obsolescence’. These are the intentional design flaws planned into sent off to be recycled. But items by manufacturers who are dismantling and recycling waste that always keen to sell more stuff to us! has the potential for further use is that makes little sense Sending repairable items something both financially and environmentally. to landfill creates Sticking waste that has the possibility an even bigger problem of being repaired in the rubbish bin You could argue that it’s OK, and sending it to landfill creates an because all of the Household even bigger problem. So, in 2009 a Dutch journalist called Recycling Centres in Gloucestershire accept electrical and electronic items Martine Postma decided that she’d which – assuming householders put had enough of feeling powerless to them into the right bin on site – are do anything other than send things she knew could be revived off to the tip. She organised the very first ‘Repair Café’ in Amsterdam and invited people from her local community to come along to share their ‘fixing’ skills, or to bring along household items such as burnt-out toasters and frazzled fairy lights, to see if they could be mended – for free!
events in Malvern and Nailsworth, and there’s a new one planned for Cheltenham soon, which will be run by Product Design students from the University in the town.
A growing interest in learning simple skills
Since Martine came up with the Repair Cafe idea, similar projects such as the Restart Party – which focusses on fixing just electronics – have sprung up. Alongside this there is a growing interest in learning simple skills, which can then help people to repair or create their own things. Local Men’s Sheds (women allowed!) are great examples of this, and several charities in Gloucestershire also run regular carpentry and metalwork workshops. So maybe our new attitude to broken bits and bobs should be to the restart button. More A collaborative way to save press information on reducing, reusing and money and reduce waste recycling waste can be found at Everyone loved the event and very www.recycleforgloucestershire.com/ soon the idea of a collaborative way article/118786/Repair-Cafes. to save money and keep things from Kate is a member of the being wasted caught on. Today there Gloucestershire Environmental Education are many similar projects across Partnership (GEEP). To find out more Europe, including ‘Repair Café’ about their work visit www.geep.org.uk.
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B O A C O N S T R I C T O R P C B G F V Q J H L
CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CARE & CLEANING
USING CODE JL25
07804 610105 01452 898247 www.ecocleancarpet.co.uk hello@ecocleancarpet.co.uk
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Cloudy2Clear Windows – Service With A Smile!
It’s been a crazy few months for Cloudy2Clear Windows. The company which specialises in repairing windows which are steamed up, broken or damaged by replacing the panes – not the frames – has grown rapidly as homeowners take advantage of their services. Managing Director Paul Spiller feels that it’s all about service: “Our product is simple. If your double glazing is misted up we can replace the glass at a fraction of the cost of a new window, in any type of frame, and with a new 5 year guarantee. But it’s not just
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about saving people money, although that obviously helps. “Many tradespeople have struggled since last year and I honestly feel that during the good times a minority perhaps didn’t focus on customer care as much as they should have done. We make sure we turn up when we say we will, do the job the customer requires and leave their house as clean as a whistle. I often get comments back from customers on how they really didn’t expect that sort of service which, in a way, is very sad for the service industry as a whole.”
Cloudy2Clear service Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds, and Paul is finding that his approach is a major factor in his success. “The truth is that it’s not just the personal satisfaction that I get from doing a good job but also it makes good business sense. I get a huge amount
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of business from friends and family of people I’ve done work for, which just goes to show how much a little bit of effort is appreciated.” So, if your windows are steamed up, broken or damaged give Paul a call for a free quotation on 0800 61 21 118 and he’ll be happy to help!
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SAFE STYLE HOME IMPROVEMENTS When Quality Counts You Can Count On Us
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Education
with Ross Sanger of UCAS
Spring in to action with your university offers Spring is an exciting and nerveracking time of year for university applicants waiting for their offers to come through, and right now UCAS is receiving more calls about responding to offers than about any other topic.
1 Wait for all your decisions You need to wait for all your decisions before you can reply to any of them. This means you have got all the information you need to make the best available choice for you.
2 Send your replies There are three types of reply: Firm acceptance (for your first choice – this should be the course that is your top preference); Insurance acceptance (a back-up choice, with lower grade requirements); or Decline (any offers you don’t want).
You can have one firm acceptance, than expected, you might still meet and one insurance acceptance only – the conditions at your insurance you must decline all the other offers. choice and have your place Firm acceptance – your first choice. confirmed there. • You’ll only attend your insurance • If it’s an unconditional offer, the choice course if you don’t meet the place is yours! So that course conditions of your firm choice, but provider will expect you as their you do meet the conditions of your student – you won’t need to make insurance or your insurance choice an insurance choice. was unconditional when it was • If it’s a conditional offer, the place is originally accepted. yours if you meet the offer Decline – you’ll need to decline any conditions. So just in case you don’t, other offers you get. you can pick a second offer as a backup – your insurance acceptance. 3 What if you don’t like Insurance acceptance – the back-up choice to a conditional firm acceptance. • Choose something with lower offer conditions, but make sure it’s somewhere you’d still be happy to go to. • That way, if your results are lower
any of your offers, or don’t get any offers? If you don’t want to accept any offers, you can decline them all and add more courses in UCAS Extra, one at a time. This is a process available as long as you have used all five of your choices on your UCAS application. Alternatively, you can see what courses still have vacancies later on in Clearing – which found courses for 64,000 people last year!
4 Reply on time When your last decision comes in, UCAS will send an email to say there’s an update and you can view this on UCAS Track where you can make your replies. Your particular deadline depends on when UCAS receives the last decision in from your university or college choices, and you need to check UCAS Track to see your personal deadline.
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To advertise call 01242 510500
Page 61
David Stevens
FOR ALL YOUR PROPERTY MAINTENANCE, REPAIRS AND REFURBISHMENTS Plumbing and Electrics
Fully Insured Fully Qualified CRB Checked
STEVE HOLLAND ELECTRICAL LTD The po wer to ligh t u p you r h om e
Design • Installation New Fuse Boards from • Repairs Testing • Inspection • Maintenance £260
Wall and Floor Tiling
t 01242 250058 e steve@shelimited.co.uk w shelimited.co.uk
Kitchen and Bathroom Fitting
General Building Repairs & Maintenance
Paul’s Plumbing
Roofing Repairs and Maintenance Guttering & Upvc Cladding And much much more For more details please call
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Cherry picker hire available with free site surveys
Massive range of sale items including
and
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7.30am-5pm and 8am-12pm Saturdays
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www.ermin.co.uk Branches in: Gloucester, Cheltenham, Stroud, Cirencester, Worcester, Ross-on-Wye Page 62
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1st Choice
Aerial & Satellites
Digital Aerial Installations Upgrades and Repairs
10% off with this advert Mark Hawkes
Tel: 01452 311511
Pro mo t e y ou r b u s i n e ss i n 4 6,000 m a g a zi n e s
Sudoku Fill the grids so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.
Call Sara now! 01242 541076
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ANSWER
Computer Services
r Transfe ➛ Data hones P rt a ts/Sm ➛ Table Fixed labour repair fee £40 orking ➛ Netw s when you deliver and collect /Repair s e d a r your computer. ➛ Upg t uppor Remote support for only £15 iness S s u B ➛ 25% discount on labour Design ➛ Web for anyone over 60
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OVEN & RANGE CLEANING OVENS ● EXTRACTOR FANS ● MICROWAVES ● HOBS ● AGAS ● RAYBURNS
Local independent oven cleaning specialist 100% biodegradable and non-caustic products. Tidy, clean, and efficient system.
£5 OFF* Don’t look until you’ve finished! Solutions on ‘Index of Advertisers’ page.
01452 404600 07958 383366
* Please mention this advertisement for your £5 discount
THE SOLUTION FOR YOUR NEW BATHROOM ...
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Your local family business
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Quick Crossword 1
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W h y n ot u s e t his s pa ce t o a dve rt is e yo u r b u s i n e ss ? For details please telephone Sara on
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01242
ANSWER 541076
Abbey Group, Units 23/24, Neptune Business Centre, Tewkesbury Road, Cheltenham, GL51 9FB
www.abbeybusinessequipment.com
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Eversure Accounts
Accountancy, Payroll & Bookkeeping Services
T: Lisa on 07941 682361 info@eversureaccounts.co.uk www.eversureaccounts.co.uk
SELF ASSESSMENT TAX RETURNS Licenced Bookkeeping Services for Sole Traders including VAT/CIS. Competitive Rates and Free Quotation.
Money Matters with Roger Downes of Andorran
Nicola Hamlin
AICB CB.Cert PM.Dip
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Bookkeeping Services
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This year’s Budget
STEVENS RECYCLING Domestic and Industrial Skips
ATTENTION! Let us lighten your load! Stevens Recycling
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AT GREAT stevensrecycling584@gmail.com PRICES 01242 522647/529397 The Local Answer
There was a time when the Chancellor opened his red box to present his March Budget and produced a series of measures that would come in overnight or a few weeks later at the end of the tax year. We all rushed off to fill up with petrol, buy our cigarettes or drown our sorrows in the pub before the prices went up. Not any more. Many of the far-reaching tax changes that came in this month were announced a year ago. That’s much better in many ways as it gives us time to plan for them and get used to the idea. But it’s not so much fun is it? It’s rather like knowing what your Christmas presents are – it takes away the fun of unwrapping.
A few giveaways that will benefit large numbers of the population So what gems did Mr Osborne have for us? Well, apart from not raising the price of alcohol and fuel, he did manage a few giveaways that will benefit large numbers of the population and others that will be welcomed by those running their own business. The personal allowance (the amount you can be paid before you start paying tax) continues to rise at a rate well above inflation. The rate of capital gains tax you pay when you sell assets that you own has been reduced from 28% to 20%. It won’t benefit everyone but it’s a definite plus for those who are affected. A new lifetime ISA has been introduced, with the government offering a 25% bonus to participants, as well as giving them the usual tax breaks associated with saving via ISA’s. The amount you can put into an ISA has been increased by over 30% to £20,000 a year from next April. For small businesses, one of the most positive moves was the removal from business rates on any property with a rateable value of less than £12,000 and tapered relief for those between that threshold and £15,000. Not everyone will benefit from all his measures, but unlike his 2015 offering, which contained a string of nasty announcements, there was a lot more to like about this year’s Budget.
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Index of Advertisers FOOD & DRINK
RETAIL
Blue Orchid Cafe Rene Corner Cupboard Inn Cotteswold Dairy So Thai The Old Rectory The Royal Oak Prestbury Tiger’s Eye
7 7 5 22 4 6 8 4
WHAT’S ON CLUBS & SPORTS Gloucester Ski & Snowboard 37 James Newdeck Guitar Lessons 30 Shipton Golf Course 30 EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS Bowden Hall 32 Hallmark Hotels 36 The Bird & Deer Park 31 Uni of Glos Performing Arts 33 WWT Slimbridge 29
HEALTH & BEAUTY Cambridge Weight Plan Gloucester Wigs Happy Feet John Weygang
10 10 10 12
PROPERTY & STORAGE Alistair Bone Estate Agents 23 David Stevens Property Maintenance 62 House-moves 26-27 Norton Park 24 Park Home Life 22 Storage King 28 TwoCan Estate Agents 25
14 Ableworld Antiques Wanted 10 Assured Mobility 16 10 Bicko’s Bike Shack Bow Bells 37 Chamberlain Plant Centre 50 Ermin Plant Hire 62 30 Quartzsonic The Spa-Kling Pool Company 34-35
HOMES & GARDENS BATHROOMS Severn Vale Bathrooms 63 & 67 BUILDING SERVICES A1 Roofing & Contractors 52 BE Rudman 41 Davey’s Building Maintenance 48 Elite Loft Ladders 44 G Kelly Plastering 44 Glos Build 2 Home Care Roofing & Building 41 LA Landscapes 52 Marshalls Driveways 50 Roofing & Building Solutions 56 CARPENTRY Matt Grimshaw 54 Rhodes Carpentry 52 CLEANING SERVICES Cleaning Plus 48 Ecoclean 58 Oven Busters 56 The Oven and Range Cleaning 63 Tidy Homes 52 ELECTRICAL SERVICES Dane Palmer 56
GRP Electrical Steve Holland Electrical FURNISHING & APPLIANCES Bella’s Interiors Chosen Curtains Gloucester Carpet Outlet Interior Needs Quedgeley Carpets Sapphire Carpets GARDEN SERVICES Challenge Fencing Chosen Lawnmowers DW Tree Services Glos Garden Services Handylink Joe & Jamie Lawn Doc Lawn Man Mark Clifford Landscapes Master Sheds MCB Garden Services Phoenix Gardeners Prestbury Tree Services HANDYMAN SERVICES CB Home Improvements Safe Style Home Improvements HEATING & PLUMBING A M Nelmes Drain Doctor KB Female Plumber Paul’s Plumbing PBT Installations The Combi Man Town & Country KITCHENS Hatherley Worktops
54 62 41 48 42 45 46 44 56 50 50 50 56 50 60 50 48 54 54 50 56 60 60 56 54 54 62 52 52 60 44
PAINTING & DECORATING Karl Dewick TV & AERIAL 1st Choice Aerials WINDOWS & DOORS Albany Windows C&L Windows Clearway Doors & Windows Cloudy 2 Clear Glassfix Glazing Inceil
48 63 68 49 53 59 44 41
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CARE SERVICES Avalon Residential Home Barnwood Trust Charnwood House Help at Home Lifelink Samaritans COMPUTER SERVICES Abbey Group Computer Cookie Shiraz Badat LEGAL & FINANCE Eversure Accounts NJH Bookkeeping MOTORING SERVICES Cinderella Dreams Julian Rogers Warners of Gloucester RECRUITMENT & TRAINING Klifestyles SKIP HIRE & RECYCLING Stevens Recycling
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COMPETITION WINNERS Thank you to all who took part in our April 2016 competition and congratulations to the winner! TLA Getaway – £500 Holiday Gift Card – Debbie Lee of Abbeydale.
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.
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