The Local
ANSWER
APRIL 2017
200,000 DELIVERED MONTHLY IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE
for local people
COTSWOLDS WISHING ALL OUR READERS A VERY HAPPY EASTER!
The The Lo Local c al
AN ANSWER SWER
CCotswolds otswolds – 228,000 8,000 ccopies opies CCheltenham heltenham – 443,000 3,000 ccopies opies G loucestershire N orth – 220,000 0,000 ccopies opies Gloucestershire North G loucestershire SSouth outh – 441,000 1,000 ccopies opies Gloucestershire G loucester – 446,000 6,000 ccopies opies Gloucester FForest orest ooff D ean – 222,000 2,000 ccopies opies Dean M anaging D irector Managing Director D Dave ave K Kingscott ingscott dave@thelocalanswer.co.uk dave@thelocalanswer.co.uk
EEditorial ditorial & PProduction roduction LLois ois K Kingscott ingscott eeditorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk ditorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk
H Helen elen K Kingscott ingscott H Helen elen R Robinson obinson production@thelocalanswer.co.uk production@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Distribution D istribution
Spring is finally here and now is the time to get out in the countryside and enjoy the beautiful flowers bursting into life. Julia Smith explains in her ‘In the Garden’ article how we can enjoy the beautiful nodding heads of bluebells in our own gardens, as well as giving some advice on bedding plants. Woodland and garden birds also become more vocal at this time of year, and Jenny Stevens shares how you can identify their individual calls and voices in ‘Wildlife Matters’. If your New Year ’s Resolutions haven’t quite gone according to plan, you may be looking to re-start your health and fitness regime now that spring has arrived. Matt Wagstaff gives his advice on how to shop better in order to support your health in ‘Looking Good, Feeling Great’. The Bird and Deer Park at Prinknash is hosting its annual Mad Hatter’s Tea Party Event this month, with face painters, refreshments and lots of excting activities for little ones! Our What’s On section is packed full of Easter activities and other events for the whole family to enjoy, so get out and about this April and enjoy all that spring has to offer!
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JJulia ulia B Ball all – 001242 1242 5541075 41075 distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk
R Robert obert K Kingscott ingscott rrob@thelocalanswer.co.uk ob@thelocalanswer.co.uk
SSport port R Roger oger JJackson ackson ssport@thelocalanswer.co.uk port@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Accounts Accounts K Kerry erry FFell ell aaccounts@thelocalanswer.co.uk ccounts@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Unit Unit I,I, CChurchill hurchill IIndustrial ndustrial EEstate, state, Churchill Churchill RRoad, oad, GL53 LLeckhampton, eckhampton, Cheltenham, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire Gloucestershire G L53 7EG 7EG
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Cocktail ime Cocktail TTime Delicious Dish ish Delicious D Looking Good, Great ood, FFeeling eeling G reat Looking G Wildlife Matters atters Wildlife M TLA ravel TLA TTravel Holidays ravel Holidays & TTravel What’s On What’s O n Word Word SSearch earch Homes Gardens Homes & G ardens In Garden In tthe he G arden Design esign IInterior nterior D Quick rossword Q uick CCrossword Gadgets Gizmos izmos G adgets & G SSave ave the the Planet Planet Sudoku Sudoku Money Matters Money M atters Index, Index , CCompetitions, ompetitions, SSolutions olutions
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C Cocktail ocktail Time Time with with Lois Lois Kingscott Kingscott
‘North Cotswold CAMRA’ Pub of the Year 2017 (Runner Up) g
Casual Dining – excellent food ser ved all day Passionate about well kept ales
Famous Inn located on the Fosse Way (A429)
9 beautiful en-suite bedrooms & two holiday cottages
01285 720721
W Whiskey hiskey SSour our The Whiskey Sour was first recorded in Jerry Thomas’ 1862 book ‘The Bartender’s Guide’, albeit being known for over a century prior. Back then, travel took forever, refrigeration was lacking and the concept of germs was unheard of. Sea travel was difficult – food and water would spoil over time, and water wasn’t considered safe due to the germs. Sailors suffered from scurvy, malnutrition and sea-sickness until an English bartender named Vice Admiral Edward Vernon mixed a few ingredients together to serve his crew. Within their rations sailors had lemons and limes to prevent scurvy and liquor for something to drink . The liquor, watered down with lemon juice, brought about an early version of the Sour. When brought to shore, this concept became popular and developed to the sour cocktail we now know. Egg white was added at a later stage as a creamy, frothy element to help the cocktail go down smoother and make it look better. This is sometimes called a Boston Sour. IIngredients: ngredients: 60ml bourbon; 30ml lemon juice; 15ml simple syrup; egg white (optional); ice; maraschino cherry and orange slice to garnish. M ethod: Method: 1 Pour ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake well then pour into a rocks glass over ice. 2 Garnish with a maraschino cherry and a slice of orange. 3 If using the egg white, dry shake (no ice) vigorously in a shaker to get it white and foamy. Then add ice and the other ingredients.
P PLEASE LEASE D DRINK RINK R RESPONSIBLY ESPONSIBLY W Why hy n not ot h have ave a M Mocktail? ocktail? For a non-alcoholic alternative, mix 25ml lime juice with 75ml Ginger Ale and pour over ice. Garnish with a wedge of lime. Page 4
Fossebridge | Cheltenham | GL54 3JS reservations@innatfossebridge.co.uk
www.fossebridgeinn.co.uk
Easter E a ste r Ce elebrations! Celebrations!
Enjoy E njoy sspecial pecial ffestive estive m enus menus unch for llunch for a nd d inner and dinner
Spring Lunch – £12.95
Cotswold Country Dining Traditional Sunday Lunch – £19.50 Private Dining Room
SUPERB DINING - EXCELLENT VALUE
www.theoldrectoryrestaurant.co.uk w ww.theoldrectoryrestaurant.co.uk
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D Delicious elicious Dish Dish with w ith Helen Helen Kingscott Kingscott
A Apricot pricot CCrumble rumble CCake ake Ingredients Ingredients For For the the ccake: ake: 250g dried apricots; 175g soft butter; 175g golden caster sugar; 2 large eggs; 80g ground almonds; 175g self-raising flour; pinch of ground cinnamon; few drops of vanilla extract. FFor or the the ccrumble: rumble: 100g plain flour; 75g butter, cubed; 2 tbsp demerara sugar, plus extra for the top; 3 tbsp jumbo oats; 2 tbsp flaked almonds; pinch of ground cinnamon; icing sugar to finish. M ethod: Method: 1 Preheat the oven to 160°C (fan 140°C, gas mark 3) and line the base of a 22cm round tin with non-stick baking paper. Put the apricots in a saucepan, cover with water and bring to the boil. Turn down the heat so they simmer gently for 20 minutes then turn off the heat and leave to cool for a little while. 2 To make the cake, beat the butter and sugar in a food processor for 5-7 minutes until light and pale. Break the eggs, beat them gently just to mix the yolks and whites and then add them gradually to the mix with the food
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processor on slow. Fold in the ground almonds, flour, cinnamon and the vanilla extract. Scrape into the lined tin and smooth the surface. 3 To make the crumble topping, blitz the flour with the butter to crumbs in a food processor (or rub them together using your fingertips). Tip the topping into a bowl, add the demerara sugar, oats and flaked almonds and mix lightly.. Next, add a few drops of water. Shake the bowl a little – or run a fork through the mixture – so t h a t s o m e o f t h e c r u m b s s t i c k to g e t h e r l i k e s m a l l pebbles. This will give a more interesting mix of textures. 4 Drain the apricots, then roughly chop them and scatter on top of the cake mixture in the tin, followed by the c r u m b l e t o p p i n g . F i n i s h by s p r i n k l i n g a p i n c h o f cinnamon and a little more demerara sugar on top of the crumble. Bake the cake for about an hour, checking for doneness with a skewer. Remove the cake from the oven and set aside. Dust with a little icing sugar and slice as required. Once baked, the cake will keep well for a couple of days.
Vinyl Records WANTED LOCA LOCAL CAL BUYER PAYS PAY PA AYS YS CA CASH ASH FOR AS YOUR UNWANTED RECORDS YOUR U NWANTED R ECORDS
Most LPs, EPs & singles from the 1960s/70s/80s/90s considered. Especially large or small collections of Heavy Rock, Psych & Prog Rock, Punk & 90s Britpop.
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e-mail: e -mail: w willowpitch@blueyonder.co.uk illowpitch@blueyonder.co.uk 01242 0 1242 7 702947 02947 or or 0 07785 7785 5 515987 15987
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Mobility
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Midwest Mobility LTD, Midway House, Staverton Technology Park, Herrick Way, Glos GL51 6TQ Page 6
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L Looking ooking Good, Good, Feeling Feeling Great Great with w ith Matt Matt W Wagstaff agstaff
Shop Shop better better ttoo support support your your hhealth ealth Food shopping is often thought of as the monotonous job at the start of the week – the same dull routine of trawling the aisles not quite knowing what to go for this week . This often leads to over spending on food that doesn’t quite fit the healthy diet you want to follow, or products that end up lingering at the back of the fridge until the rot sets in! Breaking down this routine can be the first step in creating healthier d i e t a r y h a b i t s, s to p p i n g t h e temptation to buy and consume unhealthy products that don’t do anything for your health and fitness goals. Follow some simple steps to get the most out of your shop, thereby increasing your health!
P Plan lan a ahead head P l a n n i n g i s v i t a l i n s u st a i n i n g a healthy diet. Be sure to create a list o f a l l fo o d s , d r i n k s a n d i n g re d i e n t s y o u a r e g o i n g to n e e d f o r t h e coming week . Where possible, attempt to mix this up each week – different fruit and vegetables each week , for example. Having a
shopping list reduces the risk of grabbing any unwanted, potentially unhealthy snacks, but allowing yourself one ‘naughty’ product each t i m e t o h a ve p e r h a p s o n t h e weekend or after a particularly hard workout is perfectly fine to sustain motivation.
Break tthrough Break hrough tthe he marketing m arketing jjargon argon M a n y p ro d u c t s m a r k e t t h e m s e l ve s as being healthy, using jargon or perhaps unsound research to back up their claims. Be wise to this by doing your own research and having a read of the nutrients on the back . Be sure to note how many grams per portion are listed – some products show very small, unlikely serving sizes to appear more healthy than they a c t u a l l y a r e. A l s o b e c a re f u l o f products suggesting reduced fat or gluten free, as these are often laden w i t h s u g a r to i m p ro v e t a s t e . I n a d d i t i o n , s u g a r i n g re d i e n t s a r e n o t always labelled ‘sugar’ – words such as fructose or sucrose can be used, and are simple sugar molecules.
Use your U se y our ffreezer reezer effectively e ffectively Your freezer can be used very efficiently, helping preserve good food, and reducing the need for you to ‘pop’ to the shop every other day. Buying vegetables frozen can prevent wastage – if performed quickly after picking, the freezing process is suggested to maintain the nutrient content within foods. Meat a n d f i s h c a n b e b o u g h t f re s h a n d frozen at home. Take them out of the freezer the night before you intend to u s e t h e m – t h i s a l l ow s t i m e f o r them to thaw for ease of different cooking methods you may use.
M Meal eal d days ays As mentioned above, planning ahead is key in keeping a healthy diet . Having specific meal days can be effective in keeping a balanced, variable diet, especially for families. For example, have a fish-based dish on a Monday and Friday, such as grilled salmon and new potatoes, or have a healthy curry day on a Wednesday, such as a Thai green curry with lots of vegetables. Slow cookers can also be effective, saving cooking time and often increasing t h e a m o u n t o f m i c ro n u t r i e n t s (vitamins and minerals) that keep during the slower cooking process. The Local Answer
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Wildlife W ildlife M Matters atters
w with ith Jenny Jenny S Stevens tevens o off Gloucestershire Gloucestershire Wildlife Wildlife Trust Trust
TThe he D Dawn awn CChorus horus Spring is showing every which way you look and, if you listen carefully, you’ll hear it too. Woodland and garden birds are getting louder and louder, and the best time to hear the cacophony of chirps and tweets is first thing in the morning – otherwise known as the Dawn Chorus. This spectacular symphony is at its best this time of year, when our feathered friends are fighting to be heard over one another. The majority of t h e n o i s e i s m a d e u p of m a l e voices, and the reason they get up so early is that it’s the best time to warn other males away from their patch (and potential mates). The steadfast plan is to sing earlier and louder than the competition; find a female and build a nest , ready for breeding season.
G Get et u up p eearly, arly, g get et ooutside utside aand nd eenjoy njoy tthis his sseasonal easonal d delight elight To recognise the effort that goes into rehearsing and performing such a show each year, International Dawn Chorus Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of May. Reportedly started in t h e 1 9 8 0 s by b i r d e n t h u s i a s t a n d b r o a d c a s t e r C h r i s B a i n e s, t h e campaign encourages people all over the world to get up early, get outside, The Local Answer
and make the most of this seasonal delight. You can do this at home or find an event dedicated to the cause, usually headed up by an expert who’ll single out the great tits from the blue tits or the willow warblers from the chiffchaffs. Either way, expect to set yo u r a l a r m fo r a ro u n d 4 a m i f yo u want to catch the highlights.
twitters. The varied tones of the blackbird are melodic and enjoyable – t h ey o f t e n g i ve t h e d i s t i n c t i m p re ss i o n t h a t t h ey m i g h t j u s t b e improvising. Head into woodland and you’ll hear all of these birds and more. The very YYou ou m might ight sstart tart tto o rrecognise ecognise aptly named chiffchaff is kind enough rrhythms hythms aand nd ttunes unes t o s h o u t i t s n a m e a t yo u w h e n ev e r If you’re new to bird calls, once you given the opportunity. The great listen out for individual voices, you spotted woodpecker ‘kip’s in-between might start to recognise rhythms and the familiar hammering of wood. tunes that are sung frequently in your Don’t Don’t m miss iss tthe he jjoyful oyful patch. Some are more distinctive than celebration celebration others. Favourites include the ‘cheerThe willow warbler sings a beautiful up-cheerily-cheerily ’ of the robin – sweet, rich and strong to the ear, and song, and some say it sounds as the culprit is usually sat on a low though it glides down a waterfall as it branch nearby, to give a helping hand sings, the notes lulling and swaying in a downward scale. Last but not with identification. The ‘tea-cher, tea-cher’ is instantly least , the nuthatch’s distinctive recognisable as the garden regular, ‘TWEEP’s usually echo around great tit . While the ‘tsee, tsee, ch, branches before you catch sight of the churrrr ’ of a blue tit can be a little pastel blue-grey and orange-pink trickier to pull out straight away. For bodies, scooting skilfully up and down one of our smallest birds, the wren the trunks of trees. Don’t miss the joys of the Dawn has a mighty powerful set of pipes, putting many a larger bird to shame Chorus this year, wherever you with its long and loud churrs and choose to celebrate them.
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A AIR IR H HOLIDAYS OLIDAYS & B BREAKS REAKS • COACH COACH & RAIL RAIL BREAKS BREAKS • THEATRE, THEATRE, S SPORTS PORTS & EVENTS EVENTS FFAMILY AMILY FFUN UN B BREAKS REAKS • C CRUISING RUISING • R ROCK, OCK , POP POP & LIVE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT FOR FULL DETAILS ON ALL HOLIDAYS & TRIPS VISIT w www.newmarket.travel ww.newmarket.travel/llaa aa
Buckingham Palace Palace & Gardens Gardens 2 days from £145pp Departing August-September 2017 Take a guided tour of one of the world’s most enchanting hidden gardens. TTour our highlights highlights Admission to Buckingham Palace, ‘Royal Gifts’ Exhibition and a guided Buckingham Palace Garden Tour ‘Royal London’ sightseeing tour Visit to Royal Windsor One night’s bed and continental breakfast in a three-star hotel in the Heathrow/Slough area Coach travel from the local area Escorted by a friendly tour manager For full itinerary or to book visit
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Holidays H olidays & T Travel ravel w with ith A Al lH Hidden idden
W Waltz altz iinto nto V Vienna ienna Vienna is a classic weekend or week’s destination that is also a great day out if you’re holidaying elsewhere in Austria or even down the Danube in Slovakia… Its 09:00. You’ve caught one of the city’s ‘Park and Rides’ into the centre (don’t even think about trying to park in central Vienna), disembarked from t h e h yd r o fo i l o r a r r i ve d a t W i e n Hauptbahnhof. Here are some suggestions for a day in Waltz City.. Start with coffee and Sachertorte. The famous venues are Hotel Sacher Wien or Demel, but they can be a bit ‘touristy’. Instead, try Konditerai Heiner on Wollzeite near the cathedral, or Café Votiv. Then buy some delicious Mozartkugeln (‘Balls’) for later…
CCity ity w walks alks a and nd rromantic omantic ccarriage arriage rrides ides You love city walks? Vienna has lots, i n c l u d i n g s t ro l l s t h r o u g h B u r g g a r t e n , Heldenplatz and other parks flanking the Innenstrasse. You could hire a traditional Fiaker (horse-drawn carriage) for an hour – bring a bottle of s p a r k l i n g S e k t M a t h ä i to s h a r e w i t h someone special! You could also enjoy The Local Answer
a ro m a n t i c s t ro l l by t h e D o n a u k a n a l and admire the stunning graffiti art before reaching the famous Prater Park and testing your head for heights on the Wiener Reisenrad – the 65m big wheel made famous in 1949’s ‘The Third Man’. By the way, the Third Man M u s e u m o n P r e ss g a s s e 2 5 i s a l s o worth visiting. If heights aren’t your thing, the popular Zeiss Planetarium is nearby.
Other great family entertainments near central Vienna include the Haus des Meeres (Aqua Terra Zoo), the food and vintage stalls of the Naschmarkt, and the Schönbrunn Palace – a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. All this exploring is sure to build your appetite, and Vienna has a great range of places to eat at every price. The city can be pricy, and there are tourist traps, but be reassured that at the time of writing, TripAdvisor’s top rated restaurant was the ‘one -€’ Schactelwirt on Jugendgasse 5. As we always say, TripAdvisor is your friend and rarely disappoints.
History History o orr ccafé afé ssociety? ociety? Vienna shouldn’t disappoint either. Whether you overdose on history, see the famous dancing Lippizaner horses (book very early!) or join café society in the footsteps of famous Viennese such as Johan Strauss and Sigmund Freud, we’re sure you’ll have a (‘Mozart’) ball! As you board your train, return to your car or catch the hydrofoil back to Bratislava, we’re sure you’ll already be planning a longer visit – we did!
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What’s W hat’s O On n TThe he LLocal ocal A Answer nswer EEvent vent Listings Listings are are ccompiled ompiled and and presented preesented in in good good faith faith with with the the kind kind support support of of many many contributors. contributors. Wee re W recommend ecommend yyou ou uuse se tthe he ccontact ontact ddetails etails pprovided rovided to to check check event event information information uupdates pdates pprior rior ttoo pplanning lanning yyour our vvisit. isit. 1 APRIL APRIL EMU BIKE TRAIL EVENT Have you ever wanted to try out an electric bike? Electric bikes are one of the fastest and greenest way to travel around the city. Safely try out the bikes on the nearby cycle ways. Emu will support the WWT with a £100 contribution for every bike ordered following a test ride at the centre. 10am-5pm. WWT Slimbridge Car Park , Bowditch, GL2 7BT. 01453 891900. wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/slimbridge. ROTARY CONCERT AT TEWKESBURY ABBEY Featuring Gloucestershire Youth Orchestra, Gloucestershire Youth Wind Band and Gloucestershire Youth Choir. 7.30pm. Adults £10, under 16s £5. Church Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5RZ. 01452 330300. 1-2 APRIL APRIL 1-2 ORCHARD STREET FOOD & CRAFT MARKET Lovers of fine food and unique artisan products are in for a treat at the Orchard Street Food and Craft Market. The popular monthly markets which will be taking place at Gloucester Quays until November, showcasing the finest food and drink local producers have to offer. Saturday 10am6pm, Sunday 11am-5pm. Gloucester Quays, St Ann Way GL1 5SF. 01452 338933. 2 APRIL APRIL BENJAMIN BAKER One of the country’s best up-and-coming young violinists, a member of the Young Classical Artists Trust and a winner of numerous prizes and awards. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear him perform Bach’ss masterpiece for unaccompanied violin! 7.30pm. £15 (students/children £8). The Bacon Theatre, The Prince Michael Hall, Hatherley Road GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. CHELTENHAM HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY SPRING SHOW
Come and see the wonderful display of spring flowering plants at the Cheltenham Horticultural Society’s 75th annual spring show. There will be stalls selling crafts and
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plants, many of which are not available in garden centres and supermarkets. Refreshments available. Pittville Pump Room, East Approach Drive, Cheltenham, GL52 3JE. cheltenhamhorticultural.co.uk 6 APRIL APRIL YO OUR MUSICAL MEMORIES Enjoy classical pieces that have always lived in your heart, hear songs from musicals and arias from operas that have always been yours to cherish. 2pm. Tickets £7 to include tea and biscuits. Stroud Subscription Rooms, George Street, GL5 1AE. 01453 760900. NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE: TWELFTH NIGHT A joyous new production with Tamsin Greig as a transformed Malvolia, in a twist on Shakespeare’s classic comedy of mistaken identity. A ship is wrecked on the rocks. Viola is washed ashore but her twin brother Sebastian is lost. Determined to survive on her own, she steps out to explore a new land. 7pm. £16.50 (£14.50, students £12.50). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. 7 APRIL APRIL THE BEACH BOYS STORY
The fabulous five-piece Beach Boys Band reproduce the trademark orchestral arrangements and intricate vocals of America’s greatest pop group live on stage. Ride the wave of adrenaline and nostalgia from surf to sun and from hit to hit, including ‘I Get Around’, ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’, ‘Fun Fun Fun’ and more. 7.30pm. £17 (£15). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. 88-9 -9 APRIL APRIL SHIPTON QUILTERS EXHIBITION Rendcomb College, Rendcomb, Cirencester GL7 7HA . Saturday 8th 10am-5pm, Sunday 9th 10am-4pm. Entry £4, U16s free. Quilt displays, demonstrations, traders, sales table, raffle. Refreshments and parking available. Shiptonquiltgroup@gmail.com
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8-23 APRIL APRIL 8-23 DUSTY’S GIANT DUCK HUNT A group of GIANT ducks will be landing at Slimbridge this Easter holidays with our very own Dusty Duck – can your family find them all? Pick up an activity sheet on arrival then set off on a fun hunt which takes you all round the grounds. Included in admission price. WWT Slimbridge, Bowditch, GL2 7BT. 01453 891900. THE BIG BATSFORD CHICKEN HUNT!
You may have heard of an Easter Egg hunt – now find the chickens that laid them! Simply mark their locations on the map provided to win a prize! £2.50 per child (plus entrance fee). All children must be accompanied by an adult. No need to book , just turn up and enjoy! Batsford Arboretum, nr Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 9AD. EGGCELLENT EASTER ADVENTURE Do you know what happened on the very first Easter Day? Explore this amazing building with your friends and family to find the answer. The Easter Trail can be collected from a Cathedral Welcomer and is absolutely FREE to enjoy. When you’ve completed the trail visit the shop and claim a tiny egg!. Gloucester Cathedral, College Green GL1 2LX. 01452 768928. EASTER TRAIL
Come to Over Farm during the Easter holidays to take part in our children’s Easter trail – fun for all the family! The trail will take you on a short walk around the farm so look out for our friendly animals and don’t forget your wellies! Over Farm Market, Over, Gloucester GL2 8DB. 01452 341510.
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9 APRIL APRIL OPENING EVENT AT BERKLEY King Henry VIII, Queen Ann Boleyn and their courtiers welcome visitors back to the Castle for the 2017 season. Watch Medieval Falconry Displays on our Lower Lawns, and meet our falconer and his wonderful birds of prey. Berkeley Castle, Berkeley, GL13 9BQ. 01453 810303. www.berkeley-castle.com 110-17 0 -17 APRIL APRIL EASTER EGG HUNT Easter wouldn’t be Easter without an Easter Egg Hunt! Come and search for eggs all over our magical woods at Puzzlewood. High up the trees or perhaps down in our mossy gulleys. Find them all and complete the puzzle to win a small prize. No need to book , just come along. Puzzlewood, PerryGrove Road, Coleford GL16 8QB. 01594 833187. 1133 APRIL APRIL BUDDY HOLLY AND THE CRICKETERS For quarter of a century, this breathtaking show has rock ’n’ rolled audiences across the globe from Cardiff to California, Barking to Bangkok and Swindon to Sweden and is guaranteed to have everyone singing along to the music and dancing in the aisles. £14 (£12). 7.30pm. Stroud Subscription Rooms, George Street, GL5 1AE. 01453 760900. 1144 APRIL APRIL DUB PISTOLS AND SPECIAL GUESTS As they gear up to celebrate 20 years of riotous marauding, the Dub Pistols are prepping their seventh as-yet-untitled album in 2017 and there will be a documentary about the band dropping at some point in the year, too. £14 advance (£16 on the door). 8pm. Stroud Subscription Rooms, George Street, GL5 1AE. 01453 760900. 14-17 14-17 APRIL APRIL EASTER TRAIL Come and explore the Rococo Garden, have some Easter fun and win a chocolate prize! Pick up your trail for £1 at the Welcome Desk. Normal admission applies. 10am-12 noon. Painswick Rococo Garden, Painswick , GL6 6TH. 01452 813204. www.rococogarden.org.uk EASTER DRAGONS
Our incredible Dragon puppeteers will be here all over the Easter weekend – enjoy dragon tales, join a dragon procession and
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get up close and personal with the baby dragons. Call into our Arts and Crafts room and make something special to take home, or take part in our Jester Dragon Hunt. Berkeley Castle, Berkeley, GL13 9BQ. 01453 810303. www.berkeley-castle.com 1155 APRIL APRIL THE ROMANTIC DREAM Clare Deniz and Alan Brown’s ‘romantic’ programme was chosen to show both beauty and brilliance of the music written for their two instruments. The perfect ‘romantic dream’ concert programme. £10 (£8, under 16s £5). 2pm. Stroud Subscription Rooms, George Street, GL5 1AE. 01453 760900. 1166 APRIL APRIL MAD HATTTTER’S TEA PARTY Come and join the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party event this Easter! The main marquee will be open all day. Barbecue food, face painting and the activities tent are included in the price on this ‘Mad Day’. Children in fancy dress costumes will be admitted for half price! The Bird and Deer Park , Prinknash, Cranham GL4 8EX. www.thebirdpark.com. 01452 812727. EASTER JOUST
The rumours are true! Jousting returns to Sudeley this Easter Sunday! The Cavalry of Heroes will be providing family friendly entertainment with high energy skilled performances. Watch and cheer as your favourite knights take on the joust of their lives! A magical blend of theatre and horsemanship! 10am. Included in admission price. Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe, GL54 5JD. 01242 604244. 1177 APRIL APRIL EASTER ON THE GWR
Join the easter celebrations on one of the GWR ‘Easter Eggspress’ specials! Climb aboard at either Cheltenham Racecourse or Toddington Station for this ‘eggsellent’ event, meet the Easter Bunny, take part in fun Easter activities and win prizes. For info visit www.gwsr.com or call 01242 621405.
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2211 APRIL APRIL ALICE IN WONDERLAND Join Alice on a magical adventure as she tumbles into Wonderland! Guided by the White Rabbit, Alice meets astonishing characters, including the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts, and those mischievous twins, Tweedledum and Tweedledee. From £17. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. 01684 295074. 2222 APRIL APRIL HANSEL AND GRETEL Two children go on a journey of bravery and discovery to an enchanted forest, where all is not quite as it seems... Will Hansel and Gretel be able to use their wisdom, love for their family and, above all, courage, to fend off the Wicked Witch and find their way home? From £7.50. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. 01684 295074. 2233 APRIL APRIL ST GEORGE’S DAY
See authentic sword fighting displays, get to know our knights and the weapons they used in this unique ‘myth busting’ event. Berkeley Castle, GL13 9BQ. 01453 810303. www.berkeley-castle.com FOREST ACTIVITIES FESTIVAL A wealth of indoor and outdoor pursuits to try, live music from local musicians, a selection of food and drink from the region’s best producers and a fun dog show. 10am-5pm. Adults £5, under 18s £2, under 5s free. The Speech House Hotel Grounds, Speech House Road, GL16 7EL . 28 M MAY AY 2255 APRIL APRIL – 28 SELECT FESTIVAL Miserden Nursery will be hosting the SIT Select Sculpture Festival. Work from five leading artists will be on display in the nursery borders, as well as in our beautiful period glasshouses. Miserden Nursery, Miserden, Stroud GL6 7JA . 01285 821638. www.miserdennursery.co.uk 26 26 APRIL APRIL RSC LIVE: JULIUS CAESER Season Director Angus Jackson steers the thrilling action in Shakespeare’s epic political tragedy, as the race to claim the empire spirals out of control. Caesar returns from war, all-conquering, but mutiny is rumbling through the corridors of power. 7pm. £16.50 (£14.50, students £12.50). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. 01242 258002.
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Get up close to new spring life at Slimbridge. Meet lots of young animals and their families and find out more about how new life bursts into spring. Sessions last an hour and include a fun interactive talk in our Cinema before getting the chance to see species up close and ask further questions. Only £5.50 for members. Non-members can buy a special day pass, which includes admission to a Really Wild session. WWT Slimbridge, Bowditch, GL2 7BT. 01453 891900.
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£20. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. 01684 295074. 7 MAY MAY GLOUCESTER DOCKS DR RA AGON BOAT RACE The Dragon Boat Regatta Race returns to Gloucester Docks where several teams will battle it out in decorative 40 -foot long boats. A fun day out for all the family, with several exciting prizes up for grabs. Gloucester Docks, GL1 2EH. 01452 724144. 113-14 3-14 MAY MAY REALLY WILD WEEKEND
Arboretum, near Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 9AD. 01386 701441. www.batsarb.co.uk 2299 APRIL APRIL – 1 M MAY AY ST BARTHOLOMEW’S CHURCH, CHURCHDOWN 10.30am–5.30pm. There will be Floral Displays by the St Bartholomew’s and St Andrew’s flower arrangers. Light refreshment, art work displays, plant sale, car parking available. 28th April 6.30 8.30pm pre-view ticketed evening (£5) with cheese and wine. Tickets from St Andrew’s Church office. 3300 APRIL APRIL BERKELY JOUSTING Knights on Horseback and Jousting from ‘The Cavalry of Heroes’. Jousting displays and saddle stunts. Meet our valiant knights and their steeds, and have your photograph taken with them. Berkeley Castle, GL13 9BQ. 01453 810303. www.berkeley-castle.com 4 MAY MAY COCKTAIL AND CCA ASINO NIGHT Dress up in your finest party attire for a Casino Royale themed evening and have a go at the roulette and blackjack tables. You’ll be given a voucher to get you started and whoever ends the night with the most fun money is awarded a bottle of bubbly! We’ll also be mixing up some luscious cocktails with enticing flavours!
“A “A 9 hole hole pay pay & play play course course in in the the Heart Heart of of the the Cotswolds” Cotswolds” No N o need need to to book book – Open Open every every day day from from 7am 7am until until dusk dusk ● ● ● ● ●
Family Family run run course course offering offering affordable affordable golf golf for for all all Coffee Coffee shop shop and and terrace terrace golfing equipment equipment and SSmall mall stock stock of of ‘everyday’ ‘everyday’ golfing and clothing clothing PGA PGA Professionals Professionals available available for fo or lessons lessons and and advice advice Children’s Children’s holiday holiday workshops workshops
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2266 APRIL APRIL – 1 M MAY AY CHELTENHAM JAZZ FESTIVAL The Jazz Festival’s party atmosphere takes over Cheltenham’s picturesque Montpellier Gardens, as the town fills with music. Check out a workshop, sample some scrumptious street food; try a tipple from the on-site bars, and see some of the best talent in the jazz world! cheltenhamfestivals.com. 01242 850270. 27-30 27-30 APRIL APRIL SPRING GRAND SALE Come to the exclusive homes and gardens sale in a luxurious marquee with furniture for indoors and outdoors, decorative accessories, gifts and fashion items. There is also a food hall. For more information including opening times and ticket purchasing, visit www.ukgrandsales.co.uk. Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe, GL54 5JD. 29 APRIL APRIL 29 DAWN CHORUS WILD WALK Join birding expert Arthur Ball for a stroll through the Arboretum just before dawn to hear the beautiful dawn chorus. Arthur will keep you informed and entertained about our native and visiting birds and help you identify them through their song. 4am. £12 (£10 for Batsford Season Ticket holders), which includes a bacon roll and coffee afterwards. Please bring binoculars, sturdy footwear and a torch! Batsford
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Available for for corporate corporate days, days, birthdays birthdays and and special special occasions occasions Available
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Easter at The Bird
Mad ad Hatter’s atte s Tea ea Party a ty
The Bird Park’s Mad Hatter’s Tea Event on the 16th April has become a must do event for Easter and this year is no exception, with face painters at hand and a beautifully themed marquee for customers to use. Bring your own picnic or purchase hot food from the barbecue and enjoy the magical surroundings of the Mad Hatter’s Marquee. The activities area will be available and children in faancy dress will be admitted for half price! The birds and deer are all quite used to seeing Alice and her friends around the park on these event days so be sure to look out for them and take some photos! The ticket price includes admission to the Park, use of the Mad Hatter’s Marquee and activities tent, and face painting. Food will be available at an additional charge. Call us on 01452 812727 or book online. The Mad Hatter’s Marquee can also be hired for children’s birthday parties for up to 25 children.
T The he Bird Bird and and Deer Deer Park, Park, Prinknash, Prinknash, Cranham, Cranham, Gloucester Gloucester GL4 GL4 8EX 8EX • O
d & Deer Park What’s on at the V isitor Centre Centre Visitor
The Bird Park’s new Visitor Centre has been a real hit since it opened in 2015. With the beautiful balconies looking over the reindeer enclosure, where else could you enjoy a cappuccino and a tasty treat with family and friends? It’s comfortable with a relaxed atmosphere and a lovely gift shop for you to browse at your leisure.
Gypsy G ypsy Caravan Caravan
The Bird Park also has the charming Gypsy Caravan that can be hired for both children’s and adult bir thday parties for a maximum of 12 children and 4 adults.
It is a beautiful place to spend a special family day or gathering with a difference! Catering can be included in the hire price for all events booked in advance. For more details visit our website – www.thebirdpark.com.
Opening Opening times: times: 10am-5pm 10am-5pm daily daily • 01452 01452 812727 812727 • www.thebirdpark.com www..thebirdpark.com
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IIn nT The he Garden Garden with w ith JJulia ulia Smith Smith
Aq quintessentially uintessentially English English experience experience N ow t h e G o l d Cu p i s b e h i n d u s t h e time will really start to fly by! April is a b u sy o l d m o n t h , b u t s o m u c h depends on the weather. The garden centre is full of small p l u g p l a n t s i n a l l s o r t s of e n t i c i n g colours, and buying bedding plants as plugs is a very good way to do it. If t h ey a re ve r y s m a l l t h ey w i l l n e e d p o t t i n g i n to s l i g h t l y l a rg e r p o t s to g r ow o n a b i t b e f o r e y o u t h i n k o f putting them out . Don’t just plant them straight out in the garden, as t h ey a re u s e d to a f r o s t f re e environment in the nursery and will need to be kept in a cold greenhouse or conservatory for another 3 or so weeks to acclimatise. This will also ensure they won’t be zapped by the frost, which still can come in April.
P Plant lant o ornamental rnamental g grasses rasses T h i s i s a l s o a g o o d t i m e to p l a n t ornamental grasses in free-draining sandy soil, but if your soil doesn’t sound like this you can add plenty of The Local Answer
g r i t t o c l a y s o i l s t o i m p r ove t h e drainage. Alternatively, create a raised bed with bricks or sleepers to aid drainage.
CCascading ascading h hummocks ummocks o off v vividly ividly sstriped triped b bright right y yellow ellow a and nd g green reen foliage foliage Some grasses look great in pots, like the Japanese Hakonachloa macra ‘Alboaurea’, which is an eye-catching small ornamental grass, forming c a s c a d i n g h u m m o c ks o f v i v i d l y s t r i p e d b r i g h t y e l l ow a n d g r e e n foliage. The narrow leaves keep their colour throughout the season, although it loses its leaves in winter, and often when the plant is grown in full sun it develops a reddish tinge. However, I prefer it grown in shade to keep the yellowy-green colour. A wood full of the beautiful nodding heads and scent of bluebells i s a q u i n te s s e n t i a l l y E n g l i s h experience and they will be coming
out this month. Unfortunately, they are under threat from the Spanish bluebell, which is grown in gardens as it was considered more decorative than its English cousin. How to tell them apart? Well, the English bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) has scented flowers borne on one side of the stem, the anthers are creamcoloured and unequal and the flower spike is nodding.
EEnjoy njoy tthe he ffragrance ragrance o off your o your own wn b bluebell luebell patch patch The Spanish bluebel l (H.hispanica) has unscented flowers borne on all sides of the stem. It has blue equal anthers and an upright flower spike. S o t a k e c a re w i t h w h a t y o u p l a n t – under no circumstances harvest any from the wild! Instead, source English bluebells from reputable retailers and you too could enjoy the fragrance of your own little bluebell patch.
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Does y Does your our home home need need ssome ome TTLC? LC? G Graeme raeme and and Diane Diane are are on on hand hand to to help! help!
Carpentry & Joinery Carpentry Joinery PPainting ainting & Dec Decorating orating • Maint Mainteenance nance & Plumbing Plumbing • Re efffu urbishment rbishment & Restoration Restoration • Kitche Kitchen nss & Bath Bathrooms ooms •
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BellBlinds Bella’s a’s IInterio nterrs ioors rs Blinds & Shutttteers W Where here q quality uality and and customer customer ssatisfaction atisfaction count count ALL A LL T TYPES YPES OF OF B BLINDS LINDS MADE MADE TO TO M MEASURE EASURE •R ROLLER OLLER • VERTICAL VERTICA AL • P PLEATED LEATED • SHUTTERS SHUTTERS •V VENETIAN ENETIAN • W WOODSLAT OODSL AT • C CANOPIES ANOPIES • R ROMAN OMAN •P PINOLEUM INOLEUM • A AWNINGS WNINGS • C CURTAINS URTAINS
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www.hatherleyworktops.co.uk w ww.hatherleyworktops.co.uk 1 18, 8, 1 19 9&2 20 0 Malmesbury Malmesbury R Road oad | Kingsditch Kingsditch Trading Trading E Estate state | C Cheltenham heltenham G GL51 L51 9 9PL PL
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Interior Interior Design Design with w ith Maddie Maddie Simpson Simpson
LLight ight uup p yyour our h home ome Lighting is a crucial part of i n te r i o r d es i g n and something there should be p l e n t y of i n o u r h o m es. A p o p u l a r t h e m e i n i n te r i o r design is the use of fairy l i g h t s o r st r i n g l i g h t s. However, fairy lights do not j u s t n e e d to b e s t r u n g o u t along a surface or wrapped around a mirror. Try to be a little creative – put some in a jar and pop t h e m a ro u n d y o u r ro o m , giving it a Peter Pan theme. W h y n o t c l i p s o m e p h o to s to your lights or even spell something out on the wall u s i n g t h e m ? T h e re a r e s o many things you can try, so you can’t really go wrong!
R Recycle ecycle e everyday veryday iitems tems ffrom rom tthe he h home ome tto o ccreate reate b beautiful eautiful llight ight ccreations reations Getting artistic with lighting can be fun as well as cost effective. I had t h e o p p o r t u n i t y to s e e a l i g h t s exhibition recently and it was a truly beautiful experience. Something that really took me by surprise was the beautiful loofah lamp shades that were hanging from the ceiling. The creativity I saw in them sparked an idea – why can’t we just use
• Fill a clear bottle most of the way with vegetable oil • Fill the rest of the bottle with water, leaving an inch at the top for the ‘eruption’ • Add a few drops of food colouring – any colour you like, but maybe choose one that fits with the theme of the room in which you’ll be using the lamp • Add a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda into the flask and watch your lava lamp erupt! • Hey-presto! We’re back in the 70s. You’d need to continue adding bicarbonate of soda for your homemade lava everyday items from the home and lamp to keep reacting, but it’s a fun recycle them to create beautiful light experiment to try. creations? U Use se llight ight tto oa add dd a sspecial pecial Take a newspaper for example, or ttouch ouch tto oy your our h home ome musical sheets. All you need to do is print your collage onto tracing paper, Lighting is a brilliant way to add a wrap your paper on the outside of special touch to your home, so being the lampshade and tape into place. able to make it personal will make The possibilities are endless, but you love your home even more. being able to create something so personal to you is what is exciting about ‘DIY-ing’ your home.
TThrowback hrowback tto o tthe he 7 70s 0s a and nd ccreate reate y your our own own lava lava lamp lamp I t h a s b e e n r u m o u r e d l a te l y t h a t the 70s style is coming back into fashion in the interior design world. Don’t panic! The 70s may be returning, but hopefully we can all f o r g e t a b o u t t h e o f fe n s i ve l y patterned wallpapers that took over the world and focus on other parts of the decade, which were actually pretty great . Take lava lamps for example – they were fun, weren’t t h ey ? M a k i n g o n e i s a l s o n o t a s difficult as you may think – have a go yourself...
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Visit V isit o our ur website website to to see see o our ur full full range range of of building b uilding services services SAVE £ SAVE £’s ’s O ON NH HEATING EATING BILLS PROTECT BILLS & PROTECT YOUR BY YOUR BOILER BOILER FROM FROM BREAKDOWNS BREAKDOWNS BY POWERFLUSHING POWERFLUSHING YOUR YOUR EXISTING EXISTING CENTRAL HEATING CENTRAL H EATING SYSTEM SYSTEM P Please lease ccontact ontact u uss ffor or p professional rofessional advice advvice a and nd tto oa arrange rrange a free free q quotation uotation
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• Boiler Boiler sservicing ervicing • Boiler Boiler iinstalla ons nstalla ons • Hea ng Hea ng ssystems ystems • Bathroom Bathroom installa ons installa ons • General plumbing hea ng General p lumbing aand nd h ea ng maintenance maintenance • Gas Gas work work • Leaks bursts Leaks aand nd b ursts outs • Emergency Emergency ccall all o uts
BOILER BOILER SERVICES SERVICES FFROM ROM £ £55 55
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EEmail: mail: ashleynorthplumbing@gmail.com ashleynorthplumbing@gmail.com Phone: Phone: 01451 01451 509148 509148 FFind ind us us o on n FFacebook acebook
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Specialists Specialists in in bathroom bathroom safety safety
We can help you with any bathroom makeover, large or small, but have particular expertise when designing rooms for customers with mobility issues.
Save Save 20% 20% VAT* V AT*
• Change your bath for a large shower or walk in bath • Create a wet room with a completely flat surface • Increase storage with built in units • Redesign your layout to make the best use of space • Install underfloor heating to keep the floor dry • Add grab rails and fold away shower seat
With 30+ years of experience in the bathroom industry, and only offering well known brands, we can help you to achieve the bathroom you have always wanted. We work with friendly, polite bathroom fitters who are able to produce a high standard of finish. We offer the full bathroom service and can supply everything you will need to complete the job, including tiles, wallboards and accessories. *If you need to make changes to your bathroom due to disability or a medical condition, we are able to supply your bathroom VAT free, saving you 20%. Please ask for details.
E Easy asy a access ccess w walk-in alk-in bath ba t h
With time, you may ďŹ nd your bathroom becomes more diďŹƒcult to use safely. Several recent clients have wanted to retain a bath in their property, but they could no longer climb in and out of a standard bath, so the walk-in bath shown above has proved to be an ideal solution for them. This bath has the lowest door entry point available amongst walk-in baths.
It also has a centrally positioned door, which makes the bath more practical to ďŹ t in a tight space. The bath acts as a large shower tray if you prefer to shower. Alternatively, it could still be used in a conventional manner by visitors or other family members. Simply add some grab rails strategically pla on the wall fo extra safety.
Contact Rex on 07496 07496 057281 057281 or 01453 01453 884167 884167 for a free home visit to discuss your needs
w www.lifestylebathrooms.net ww.lifestylebathrooms.net
Gadgets G adgets & G Gizmos izmos with with Laura Laura Nicklin Nicklin
spring in in your Put Put a spring your sstep tep tthis his EEaster aster For the parents, this month will i n c l u d e h i d i n g E a s te r e g g s i n t h e g a rd e n f o r t h e k i d s ’ m o r n i n g e g g h u n t , w h i l s t t h e re s t o f u s s i m p l y take advantage of the celebrations by stuffing our own faces with chocolate. For the stronger-willed people, March 1st marked the b e g i n n i n g o f Le n t , w h i c h i s a chance to give up indulgences for six we e ks – h ow m a n y of you have stuck to your good intentions so far?! However, if yo u d o fe e l l i k e treating yourself – or s o m e o n e e l s e – h e re are some gadget ideas to consider (no chocolate included)…
H Hungry ungry B Bunny unny N Night ight LLight ight – £ £3.95 3.95 If you’re a parent and w o r r i e d a b o u t yo u r k i d s h av i n g a m a n i c sugar rush, then you could always swap out the chocolate e g g s fo r t h i s p re c i o u s little b u n n y ( e q u i p p e d w i t h h i s c a r ro t ) . This year, children can get a real-life visit from the Easter Bunny in the form of the adorable Hungry Bunny Night Light. With an LED night light, this cotton-tailed little guy comes w i t h t h re e L R 4 4 b u t t o n b a t t e r i e s included. At only £3.95, this is the perfect little something to get kids excited for Easter ’s arrival, or an excuse for the adults to embrace the Easter festivities. The Local Answer
Samsung Samsung R R6 6 Omnidirectional Wireless O mnidirectional W ireless Bluetooth Wi-Fi Multiroom B luetooth W i-Fi M ultiroom White hite – £ £279.00 279.00 SSpeaker, peaker, W Keeping with the Easter theme is the egg- shaped S amsung R6 Omnidirectional Wireless Bluetooth Wi-Fi Multiroom Speaker. Though it’s no chocolate egg, the sleek speaker does have a b a t te r y l i f e o f ov e r 6 hours, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections, and a clever Multiroom link that lets you control what music you play f ro m a n y w h e r e i n t h e house. Its 360 degree sound i s a s p e c i a l a d d i t i o n f ro m Samsung, who believe that the egg shape also helps the R6 spread its sound eve n l y t h ro u g h o u t yo u r home. As well as looking very st y l i s h , the R6 has practicality as a small portable speaker that does exactly what it says on the tin. It ’ll certainly last l o n g e r t h a n a ny e d i b l e Easter Eggs you have lying about.
tech gear such as cables, plugs, flash drives, USB cables and smart phones, as well as other essential items including first aid kits, make up and your passport if you’re planning to jet away.. The cases are w e l l - p a d d e d t o p ro te c t y o u r valuables and their varying sizes make storage even easier. Save yourself from the stress of tangled up cables and being unable to dig out whatever gizmo it is you’re searching for, so you can have more time to relax .
BUBM BUBM Gadgets Gadgets CCase ase – £23.99 £23.99 If you’re looking to escape the theme eggs and b u n n i es altogether, and are instead hoping to use the Easter break as a chance to get away, then you’ll be wanting some decent storage for your gadgets. Made of heavy-duty, durable and waterproof nylon, this 3-piece gadgets case is suitable for storing
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Save S ave t the he P Planet lanet with w ith A Annabel nnabel L Laughton aughton
Take Take ttime ime tto o de-clutter de-clutter It ’s April, and we can finally feel w i n t e r i s b e h i n d u s a n d w e h ave some brighter days ahead. It’s a great opportunity to take some time to declutter. Having too much stuff is one of the scourges of our modern lives, and now we can even pay people to rid our houses of all the items we’ve already paid to acquire! But don’t do that, de-clutter your home yourself. You might wonder why decluttering is a green issue. Well, if everyone in the world lived like we do in the UK , we’d need three planets. A part of that difference comes from the sheer amount of products we buy, which all contain natural resources (like oil, p l a n t s, wo o d o r m e t a l s ) a n d h av e contributed to climate change and o t h e r e n v i ro n m e n t a l p ro b l e m s through their production, packaging and transport . And while stuff is s i t t i n g t h e re u n u s e d , n o b o d y i s benefiting – it’s a lose lose. The point of decluttering is not just to achieve a more spacious, airy and pleasant home, it ’s to unlock the potential in all those unloved things.
I t a l s o p re ve n t s wasteful duplicate p u rc h a s e s . H ow m a n y t i m e s h av e you unearthed a f o r g o t te n i te m i d e n t i c a l to o n e you recently bought? So here are my boxes nearby – for ‘resell/charity shop’, ‘keep’, ‘mend’ and ‘chuck’ (by top tips for your April clear out. which I mean, recycle). If it ’s a 1 1.. D Decide ecide tthe he sscale cale o off tthe he wrench to get rid of some things, add o operation peration a n o t h e r o n e – ‘ re v i e w ’ . A f te r o n e If you’re like me, you’ll suddenly get month, go and check that box – a zeal for decluttering and start anything you’ve forgotten about, get tackling several rooms at once, rid of. Someone else will love it more. skimming off the easy things then 3 3.. Don’t Don’t b buy uy m more! ore! m ov i n g o n w h e n t h e d e c i s i o n s g e t Too many attempts to clear stuff start tough, leaving a trail of destruction with buying more stuff! By all means everywhere you go. Stop! Decide on get some new hangers or drawer one area – be it a shelf, a wardrobe or a whole room – and don’t stray dividers or even furniture if that will outside that area until everything is help you – but only after you’ve sifted through everything and know exactly looking spick and span. what you need.
2 2.. B Be eh honest onest w with ith yyourself ourself
4 4.. Notice Notice w where here yyou’re ou’re
Pick up each item and think honestly d duplicating uplicating about whether you will use it enough i f you’re constantly buying black to warrant keeping it . Have four skirts, soap, lightbulbs or gift wrap, forgetting you already had some, something’s gone wrong. You need to think about the first place you would look for these items, and store them there.
5 5.. Take Take pride pride in in your your a achievements chievements There’s a real satisfaction to be had with the final stage of this process, whether it’s mending a torn dress and hanging it back up in your wardrobe for spring, or handing a bag of items to one of our wonderful charity shops for the next person to love. Don’t neglect this final stage – this is where you reap the rewards of all your labours. Happy decluttering! Page 32
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Sudoku Fill the grids so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.
Money Money M Matters atters with with Roger Roger D Downes ownes o of fA Andorran ndorr ran
Not Not m much uch ooff a bbudget? udget? The new Chancellor, Phillip Hammond, delivered his first, and the nation’s last, Spring Budget last month. For those hoping for giveaways, there were none of significance; on the other hand, those worried about measures that might cost you money needn’t have fretted. It really wasn’t much of a Budget. There were, however, a couple of interesting sub-plots. It’s really difficult at present for the Chancellor to plan for the next few years. He knows he needs to address the country ’s deficit – estimated at a staggering £130,000 per household – but he has no idea what the financial impact of triggering Article 50 and the UK subsequently leaving the EU will be. How can he? He has no idea as to what the terms of our exit will be as there have been no serious negotiations.
The The biggest biggest cchange hange tto oo our ur ttaxation axation system system iin nag generation eneration As with every Chancellor in recent times, Mr Hammond announced a series of consultations over the summer on a variety of fiscal matters. He will have time to digest the results before he presents his first Autumn Budget in November this year. I suspect we will see a lot more measures introduced at that time. But it’s perhaps a couple of the consultations that are already in motion on which the greater focus will be in the coming months. Labelled ‘the death of the tax return’ by former Chancellor, George Osborne, a couple of years ago, the introduction of ‘Making Tax Digital’ in April 2018 is set to be the biggest change to our taxation system in a generation – certainly since the introduction of selfassessment in 1997. There will be a lot more to bring you on this subject in the coming months. Most people in my profession, including me, are concerned that it is being rushed through by the Treasury, b u t , i n t h e m a i n , M r H a m m o n d i s n o t b a c k i n g d ow n . Watch this space.
N Narrowing arrowing tthe he g gap ap iin n ttax ax b breaks reaks
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The second ongoing consultation is into the alleged disparities between taxation of the employed and selfemployed. Currently self-employed people, including those who operate through their own limited companies, enjoy greater tax breaks than employed people. The government seems intent on narrowing that gap, with the Chancellor announcing (and subsequently changing his mind on) increased national insurance for the selfemployed and an increase in tax on dividends for those operating through a private limited company. However, he seems to have overlooked completely the risks taken by the self-employed, with the measures that he announced flying in the face of the government ’s intention to fuel the entrepreneurial spirit. It may not have been much of a Budget , but there’s plenty going on in the tax world!
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IIndex ndex o of fA Advertisers dvertisers FOOD FOOD & D DRINK RINK The Inn at Fossebridge The Old Rectory
H HOMES OMES & G GARDENS ARDENS 4 4
W WHAT’S HAT’S O ON N CCLUBS LUBS & SSPORTS PORTS Shipton Golf Course EEVENTS VENTS & A ATTRACTIONS TTRACTIONS The Bird & Deer Park
17 18-19
H HEALTH EALTH & B BEAUTY EAUTY Arnica Dental Care
6
P PROPERTY ROPERTY Inspired Villages
35
R RETAIL ETAIL Assured Mobility MidWest Mobility Vinyl Records
8 6 5
BATHROOMS BATHROOMS Lifestyle Bathrooms 28-29 Severn Vale Bathrooms 33 B UILDING SSERVICES ERVICES BUILDING Belgrave Property Solutions 24 Care Construction 22 Marshalls Driveways 22 Property Creations 24 R. Richards & Son 22 Resindrives.co.uk 36 FFURNISHING URNISHING & A PPLIANCES APPLIANCES 24 Bella’ss Interiors Just Fabrics 27 LUMBING HEATING H EATING & PPLUMBING 26 Ashley North Plumbing 26 Mark Benson BS Ltd 24 Sarsen Energy
KKITCHENS ITCHENS Hatherley Worktops & Kitchens 24 W INDOWS & D OORS DOORS WINDOWS Albany Windows 30
PROFESSIONAL P ROFESSIONAL SSERVICES ERVICES CCARE ARE SSERVICES ERVICES The Orders of St John
9 & 10
EEDUCATION DUCATION & TTRAINING RAINING Cheltenham College Preparatory 15 LEGAL & FINANCE FINANCE LEGAL Thomson Bancks Solicitors
2
SKIP HIRE HIRE & RECYCLING RECYCLING SKIP Stevens Recycling
34
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BE BE T THE HE FFIRST! IRST! TToo aadvertise dvertise ttelephone: elephone:
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CCOMPETITION OMPETITION R RULES ULES 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
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B BOOKING OOKING D DEADLINE EADLINE FFOR OR N NEXT EXT IISSUE SSUE – Monday Monday 1 10th 0th A April pril 2 2017 017
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ATTENTION A TTENTION! Let us lighten your load!
Domestic and Industrial Skips Ham Villa Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham GL52 6NB
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