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FEBRUARY 2017
200,000 DELIVERED MONTHLY IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE
for local people
GLOUCESTERSHIRE SOUTH ENTER OUR DRAW TO WIN £5,000 FOR YOUR CLUB OR CHARITY!
The The Lo Local c al
AN ANSWER SWER
G loucestershire SSouth outh – 441,000 1,000 ccopies opies Gloucestershire G loucester – 446,000 6,000 ccopies opies Gloucester G loucestershire N orth – 220,000 0,000 ccopies opies Gloucestershire North FForest orest ooff D ean – 222,000 2,000 ccopies opies Dean CCotswolds otswolds – 228,000 8,000 ccopies opies CCheltenham heltenham – 443,000 3,000 ccopies opies
CChris hris R Raymond aymond SSales ales D Director irector
01242 0 1242 5 541079 41079 cchris@thelocalanswer.co.uk hris@thelocalanswer.co.uk
EEditorial ditorial & PProduction roduction LLois ois K Kingscott ingscott
For many, February is the month of romance. So if you’re l o o k i n g to i m p r e ss t h e s p e c i a l p e r s o n i n yo u r l i fe o n Valentine’s Day, why not have a go at making this month’s Delicious Dish. The luxurious but light chocolate mousse on a crumbly shortcake base is sure to hit the spot. Laura Nicklin takes us to a galaxy far, far away in ‘Gadgets & Gizmos’. Have a read of her sci-fi gizmo r ev i e w s i n s i d e – p e r f e c t fo r t h o s e o f y o u w i t h a k e e n interest in star-gazing or Star Wars! Don’t forget, there’s still time to enter our ‘TLA Charity’ competition. We’ve teamed up with ten of our generous a d ve r t i s e r s to d o n a te a n a m a z i n g £ 5 , 0 0 0 to a Gloucestershire-based charity or not-for-profit organisation. For more information, see page 7 and get your entry in before it’s too late!
IInside nside tthis his m month onth .... ..
editorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk editorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Helen H elen K Kingscott ingscott
D Distribution istribution N Nik ik CChavda havda – 001242 1242 5500245 00245 ooffice@achda.co.uk ffice@achda.co.uk
Accounts Accounts K Kerry erry FFell ell aaccounts@thelocalanswer.co.uk ccounts@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Managing Managing Director Director D Dave ave K Kingscott ingscott ddave@thelocalanswer.co.uk ave@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Unit Unit I,I, CChurchill hurchill IIndustrial ndustrial EEstate, state, Churchill Churchill Road, Road, GL53 LLeckhampton, eckhampton, Cheltenham, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire Gloucestershire G L53 7EG 7EG
T Telephone elephone 0 01242 1242 5 510500 10500 thelocalanswer thelocalanswer
W Welcome elcome ttoo FFebruary ebruary ......
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Food FForaging oraging 4 Wild Wild Food Cocktail ime 4 Cocktail TTime Delicious 5 D elicious Dish Dish TLA Win £5,000! Charity Competition Competition – W in £ 5,000! 7 TLA Charity Looking Great Good, Feeling Feeling G reat 9 Looking Good, Education 11 1 1 Education What’s On 13 What’s O n 13 ravel 17 Holidays 17 Holidays & TTravel TLA 18-19 TLA TTravel ravel 1 8-19 Wildlife Matters 20 W ildlife M atters 20 ardens 2 1 Homes Gardens 21 H omes & G 22 2 2 SSudoku udoku 23 he Garden Garden 2 3 IIn n tthe Quick 24 Q uick Crossword Crossword 2 4 Interior Design 25 esign 2 5 Interior D Save 27 the Planet Planet 27 Save the Gadgets Gizmos 29 izmos 29 Gadgets & G Word 30 earch 30 Word SSearch Money Matters 33 atters 33 Money M Index, 34 Index , CCompetitions, ompetitions, SSolutions olutions 34
CCompetition ompetition o on np page age 7 Page 3
W Wild ild F Food ood F Foraging oraging
Cocktail Cocktail T Time ime with w ith L Lois ois K Kingscott ingscott
w with ith S Steven teven Hawley Hawley
Sea Beet
If you were ever to look at my family tree, I would be somewhere near to the top, hanging from a dysfunctional branch like a perfectly ripened fruit just waiting for s o m e o n e t o b i t e i n t o a n d s a vo u r m y r e f i n e d d e c a d e n t qualities. Miles below my lofty position, just beneath the decaying husks of my siblings, down in the dirt near the roots, would be the first of my ancestors. Rugged, pioneering mainstays whose function I can only surmise was to eventually give me an existence. I’m aware this family tree doesn’t follow the usual template, artistic licence.
TThe he rrugged, ugged, p pioneering ioneering m mainstay ainstay o off e early arly ccuisine uisine Beta vulgaris (Beet plant) can be viewed in much the same way.. The sugar beet, for instance, has been carefully cultivated to provide everyone with a little sweetness in their lives, but if you look at its origins you’ll find the Sea Beet. The rugged, pioneering mainstay of early cuisine. E ve n t h o u g h t h e s u g a r b e e t w o u l d p r o b a b l y b e everyone’s preferred choice when it comes to applied kitchen science, it would be a shame not to remember where it came from. Since we’re already on the beach from last month’s Limpet forage, it would be worthwhile to take a little stroll and see if we can spot any of this ancestral throwback .
Use U se iin n tthe he ssame ame m manner anner a ass SSwiss wiss CChard hard Found growing on pebble beaches, sea defences or general rocky coastline, Sea Beet leaves can be used in the same manner as store bought Swiss Chard. When tasted, it should serve as a reminder that trying to improve something that is already pretty perfect could produce more problems than it solves. In the case of the sea beet, so called improvements have caused wide spread obesity, diabetes and cancer. I got lucky and avoided t u r n i n g i n t o a n o oz i n g p o l y p o n t h e b r o n c h i a l s a c o f humanity during my refining process. I ended up with only the best qualities – just ask my wife! If If you’re you’re not not 100% 100% sure sure that that w what hat you’re you’re ppicking icking iiss safe safe for for human consumption, consumption, don’t don’t pick pick it. it. If If you’re you’re prone prone to to food food human allergies, or or pregnant, pregnant, always always seek seek medical medical advice advice before before allergies, consuming anything anything fforaged oraged in in the the w ild. consuming wild. Page 4
Manhattan Manhattan
A Manhattan is a whiskey-based cocktail, stirred and strained into a cocktail glass and garnished with a maraschino cherry or orange twist. A popular story of origin for the Manhattan suggests that the drink was invented by Dr. Iain Marshall in the early 1870s at the Manhattan Club in New York City. It is said he created it for a banquet hosted by Jennie Jerome (Lady Randolph Churchill, Winston’s mother) to honor presidential candidate Samuel J. Tilden. The banquet’s success made the drink very fashionable, prompting many people to request “the Manhattan cocktail” – named after the club it originated. Unfortunately, Lady Randolph was in France at the time and pregnant, so the story is unlikely to be true. There are references to a similar cocktail recipe called “Manhattan” served in the Manhattan area. One story says it was invented in the 1860s by a bartender named Black at a bar on Broadway near Houston Street. An early record of the cocktail can also be found in William Schmidt’s “The Flowing Bowl”, published in 1891. He writes about a drink containing gum (gomme syrup), bitters, absinthe, whiskey and vermouth. Ingredients: Ingredients: 25ml Italian sweet vermouth; 45ml bourbon; dash Angostura bitters; orange twist or maraschino cherry to garnish. M ethod: Method: 1 Add vermouth and bourbon to a cocktail mixer and stir. 2 Pour the mix into a martini glass, add a dash of bitters and garnish with a maraschino cherry or a twist of orange peel.
PLEASE PLEASE 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 60ml cranberry juice, 60ml orange juice, ½ tsp maraschino cherry juice, few drops lemon juice, 2 dashes orange bitters.
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D Delicious elicious Dish Dish with w ith Helen Helen Kingscott Kingscott
TThe he w ay tto o way yyour our w oman’s woman’s h eart... heart... A luxuri Serves 2-3 Serves 2 -3 ou chocolate s but light vale Ingredients: Ingredients: nti d impress essert – perfec ne 75g unsalted butter; ing the t for sp 35g caster sugar; in your ecial lady ½ vanilla pod, seeds only; life! Makes 6 115g plain flour; individ 2 Divide into 6 portions and press each into a 7cm x Fresh strawberries or other desserts ual 3cm mousse ring on a lined baking sheet. . seasonal fruit to garnish; 3 Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. Check Extra cream (if required) to serve. the bases halfway through cooking – if they are For For tthe he filling: filling: 70g unsalted butter; rising, press them down with a teaspoon. Leave to 100g dark chocolate (70% or more cool. cocoa solids); 2 large free range eggs, separated; 60ml 4 To make the filling, melt the butter in a small pan, double cream; 20g caster sugar. then add the chocolate, whisking until smooth. Method: M ethod: Whisk in the egg yolks and set aside. 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C (gas mark 4). In a bowl, 5 In a bowl, whip the cream until soft peaks form and beat the butter, sugar and vanilla seeds until they set aside. form a creamy mixture. Fold in the flour, then form 6 I n a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites, adding into a ball. the sugar gradually to make a semi-stiff meringue. Fold the cream into the chocolate filling, followed by the meringue, being careful not to knock the air out. 7 Pour over the bases in the mousse tins and chill until firm to touch. 8 Serve with strawberries (or a seasonal fruit of your choice) and cream. Please note, this recipe contains raw egg. ● ● ●
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THERE’S STILL TIME TO
WIN £5,000 FOR YOUR LOCAL CLUB OR CHARITY
Your Club or Charity Five Thousand Pounds
February 2017
£5,000
The Local Answer ADVERTISERS
Last month we launched our second ‘TLA Charity’ rity’ ccompetition ompetition iin n p partnership artnership with with ten te n o off o our ur g generous enerous a advertisers dvertisers (below) (below) who who sshare hare tthe he ccommitment o m m i t m e nt w we e h have ave to to ssupport upport tthe he llocal ocal ccommunity. ommunity. B Between etween them, them, a an n iincredible ncredible £ £5,000 5,000 will wil l b be e d donated onated tto o a G Gloucestershire-based loucestershire-based ccharity harity o orr n ot-for-profit o rganisation – a not-for-profit organisation and nd tthe he llucky ucky w winner inner o off o our ur d draw raw w will ill g get et tto o choose choose which which one! one! SSo, o, w whether hether you you h have ave a p personal ersonal iinvolvement nvolvement orr just o just like like to to ssupport upport a sspecific lub, pecific local local ccharity, harity, cclub, ssociety, ociety, g group, roup, ttrust rust or or a association ssociation – p provided rovided iitt iis, s, e essentially, ssentially, a non-profit non-profit m making aking e enterprise nterprise – y you ou ccould ould h help elp b boost oost ttheir heir ffunds unds b by y£ £5,000! 5,000! What better way W hat b etter w ay to to kick kick start start the the year? year?
CClosing losing ddate ate 99th th FFebruary ebruary 22017! 017!
EEasy asy tto oe enter nter d draw raw .... .. For your chance to choose which organisation benefits from this prize, send their details along with your name, address (including postcode) and telephone number to ‘TLA Charity’, The Local Answer, Unit I, Churchill Industrial Estate, Churchill Road, Leckhampton, Cheltenham, GL53 7EG. Alternatively, enter via email by sending the organisation’s name and your details to competitions@thelocalanswer.co.uk stating ‘ T L A C h a r i t y ’ i n t h e s u b j e c t l i n e. C l o s i n g d a t e : Thursday 9th February 2017. In addition to our usual competition rules, by entering you agree to have your name and photograph featured in our March 2017 issue and online should you win. Only one entry per household accepted. The winner will be chosen at random (via a random number generator), but the more times an organisation’ss name is submitted, the higher the chance it has of being drawn. Good luck!
CCompetition ompetition & P Prize rize ccourtesy ourtesy o off ... ... T The he L Local ocal
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L Looking ooking Good, Good, Feeling Feeling Great Great with w ith Matt Matt W Wagstaff agstaff
Fitting Fitting fitness fitness iinto nto a b busy usy schedule schedule Whatever your goal, whether getting fitter, losing weight or packing on some muscle, it will involve a certain amount of preparation and training time. This part of the process can often be daunting. Having the time a n d e n e rg y l e f t p r i o r to o r a f t e r work , before social events and over family time can be a struggle. However, following some simple steps can make fitting in your fitness training and preparation that little bit easier without offsetting your social life and vital time to relax .
D Don’t on’t o over ver train train For most goals outside that of a professional athlete you don’t need to train anymore than 4 days a week (if that) to see results. Too much training puts excess stress on the body, and can lead to injury and l ow e r i n g o f i m m u n e f u n c t i o n – alongside many other factors, both physical and psychological. A good training session should take between 30 - 60 minutes, no longer,
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as this gives you time to w o r k h a rd , s t re s s t h e body to a good level and perform a good warm up and cool d ow n . Exercising too frequently can lead to underrecovery, which puts u n d u e s t re ss u p o n t h e body and can actual ly lead to weight gain!
forms of training can be completed in less than 20 minutes and – if done TThe he w world orld iiss y your our g gym ym effectively at a high intensity – can All physical activity does not have to increase your metabolism, burning be confined to a gym. Performing fat for up to 12 hours after exercise! exercise in your front room using Recovery ecovery is is key key yo u r b o d y we i g h t , o r u s i n g a l o c a l R hillside to perform hill walks or runs Recovering after exercise, especially can be extremely beneficial and if performing the above exercise, is easier to fit in with a busy schedule. vital. Getting the right food and fluid Exercising outside can actually burn in after exercise will help your body more calories due to your body using to repair and re-energise. Sleep and energy to keep you warm or keep rest is important, as this allows your cool, and with the added benefit of body to recover and exposure to clean air and vitamin D! adapt to the stresses of exercise, making IInterval nterval a and nd ccircuits ircuits you fitter and stronger Using a form of circuit training can be for your next very efficient if you are strapped session! for time. Choose 3-8 different exercises that work your w h o l e b o d y a n d p e r fo r m them back-to-back for a timed duration or repetition range. Interval training involves performing a period of exercise of 20 - 60 seconds at a fast pace, then performing a slower period to recover, before repeating. This can be done on an exercise machine such as a rower, or simply r u n n i n g o n t h e s p o t . T h e s e t wo
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Education Education with w ith John John B Beales eales
SStrategies trategies for for revising revising Your exams might seem to be a long way off, but those that want to do well need to begin their revision now. Studies by Psychologists have proven that spreading out revision improves t h e re te n t i o n o f i n f o r m a t i o n a n d improves grades – this doesn’t mean doing nothing in between though. It means working out a realistic programme, including building in time fo r r e l a x a t i o n , a n d s t i c k i n g to i t . Planning takes time, but without it you will undoubtedly waste time by not re v i s i n g t h e r i g h t m a t e r i a l , o r i n t h e right way.
Practice Practice w what hat yyou ou w will ill be be tested tested o on n aand nd iin nw what hat w way ay The right way involves practicing what you will be tested on and in the way that you will be tested. If you learn material for an essay answer, but never practice writing the essay you are only doing half the job. Equally, yo u m ay h ave w r i t te n t h e p e r f e c t model answer,, but if you aren’t able to reproduce it within the time limits of the exam paper, you are jeopardising your chances of doing well before you even start. Exam boards provide past papers, marking schemes and examiners reports, and these should be used to g ro u p t o p i c s a n d p l a n r e s p o n s e s t o
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questions. Look at several years of exam past papers to identify the range of questions asked on any one topic.
Increase Increase yyour our cchances hances of of retaining retaining iinformation nformation
Answer Answer tthe he q question uestion that that has has been been asked asked
P re p a r i n g p ro m p t c a rd s, w r i t i n g paragraphs on key topics, drawing a ‘mind map’ of how subjects or themes relate to each other, and drafting model answers are all possible ways of increasing the chances that the information is lodged in your memory. Testing yourself on only the things you already feel confident about is a mistake. Sometimes you need to not do so well at something to maximise your learning – to be motivated to do your best you need something to aim for. It’s obviously better to do this in your revision that in an exam!
One well recognised error is for students to rote learn a model answer to a particular question and reproduce this in an exam, despite the exam question being worded differently. That is why you will have frequently been told to ‘answer the question that has been asked, not the one you want to be asked’. Recognise that whatever techniques worked for you for previous exams won’t necessarily work for the next exam, particularly if it i s a t a h i g h e r l ev e l . Just re-reading your notes is unlikely to be of m u c h u s e i n remembering them. You need to reorganise your notes in some way so that t h e i n fo r m a t i o n i s re t a i n e d i n t h e process, but this does not mean just copying them out again.
You’ll You’ll o often ften ffind ind tthat hat you you know know m more ore tthan han yyou ou think think There are plenty of online tests and mock exams around, and most teachers will encourage the submission of test questions, so make the most of them. Find someone who can test you or who you can try and explain something to – you will often f i n d t h a t y o u k n ow m o r e t h a n y o u think , and this can be a really useful way of structuring answers so that they are coherent and succinct , but contain all the key information.
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W What’s 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. We We re 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. 11-28 -28 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY SNOWDROP TIME
Wander through drifts of Snowdrops – plus Aconites, Crocuses and Hellebores – followed by lunch or afternoon tea in the Garden Terrace Cafe. Our Snowdrops should be at their absolute peak of floral gorgeousness during this time, but if you’re planning to make a special visit to see them, please call 01386 701441 to check how any unpredictable weather may have affected their flowering progress. Arboretum entrance fee applies. Batsford Arboretum and Garden Centre, Batsford, Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 9AD. 2 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY AMADEUS
Music. Power. Jealousy. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a rowdy young prodigy, arrives in
Vienna, the music capital of the world. Awestruck by his genius, court composer Antonio Salieri has the power to promote his talent or destroy his name. Seized by obsessive jealousy he begins a war with Mozart, with music, and ultimately, with God. 7pm. £16.50 (£14.50, students £12.50). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. 111-12 1-12 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY BRING YOUR VALENTINE TO BATSFORD
can produce the biggest splash from their puddle jump. Daily winners announced throughout the week and some lucky ‘super-splashers’ will receive a fantastic prize from Dusty Duck himself! Every contestant will receive a ‘splashtastic’ sticker to acknowledge their puddle jumping skills. 01453 891900. WWT Slimbridge, Bowditch, Glos GL2 7BT. 1155 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY BRAINIAC LIVE!
Bring your loved one to Batsford for breakfast in The Garden Terrace Cafe followed by a romantic stroll through our magical arboretum. Breakfast served 10am-11am. £20 per couple (£12 per couple for Batsford season ticket holders). Tickets available from the admissions desk or call 01386 701441. Batsford Arboretum and Garden Centre, Batsford, Moreton-inMarsh, Gloucestershire GL56 9AD. 11-19 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 11-19 SOUTH WEST PUDDLE JUMPING CHAMPIONSHIP Children of all ages are encouraged to grab their wellies, get outside and join in the puddle jumping championship at Slimbridge Wetland Centre. Children will compete against each other to see who
Strap on your safety goggles boys and girls, Science’s greatest and most volatile live show is returning with a vengeance. Based on the multi award-winning TV show, Brainiac Live! will take you on a breathless ride through the wild world of the weird and wonderful from the safety of your seat. Expect exploding dustbins, combusting microwaves and loads of live daredevil stunts. Age 6 years+. 2pm. £14 (£12, family £48). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. 01242 258002.
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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£ £29.95 29.95 per per person persson per per e event vent GLOUCESTER
Includes exciting Murder Mystery entertainment, delicious three course meal plus disco!
J Join oin u us s ffor or o our ur
M MURDER URDER MYSTERY M Y S T E R Y BOOK NNIGHTS IGHTS TODAY! 24th February 19th May 13th October
Hallmark Hotel Hallmark Hotel G Gloucester, loucester, R Robinswood obinswood Lodge, Lodge, G Gloucester loucester G GL4 L4 6 6EA EA e ggloucester.events@hallmarkhotels.co.uk loucester.events@hallmarkhotels.co.uk w hhallmarkh allmarkhootels.co.uk tels.co.uk t 00330 330 0028 28 33408 408
1166 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE: SAINT JOAN Bernard Shaw’s classic play follows the life and trial of a young country girl who declares a bloody mission to drive the English from France. As one of the first Protestants and nationalists, she threatens the very fabric of the feudal society and the Catholic Church across Europe. Gemma Arterton as Joan of Arc in an electrifying production. 7pm. £16.50 (£14.50, students £12.50). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. 1177 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY AN EVENING OF DIRTY DANCING: THE TRIBUTE SHOW
Now in its seventh record-breaking year, this tribute is a five star homage to the greatest movie soundtrack of all time. The original concert celebration of the iconic music from the multi-award winning soundtrack to Dirty Dancing. A high energy, emotional roller-coaster of an evening with breath-taking choreography
and buckets of nostalgia. Put your dancing shoes on and get ready to have the time of your life! 7.30pm. £21 (£19). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. 01242 258002. 1188 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY ELIZABETH’S FOOTPRINT CHARITY BALL Raising money for Wallace & Gromit’ss Grand Appeal children’s charity. Join us for a wonderful evening at Cheltenham Town Hall. Drinks reception at 7pm, carriages at 1am. Black Tie. Dancing, auction, raffle and more. £100 a ticket. For details email elizabethsfootprintcharityball@gmail.com. 2244 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY MURDER MYSTERY NIGHT
An exciting Murder Mystery with entertainment, a delicious three course meal and a disco! Only £29.95 per person. For details visit hallmarkhotels.co.uk or call 0330 028 3408. Hallmark Hotel Gloucester, Robinswood Lodge, Gloucester GL4 6EA .
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4 MARCH MARCH STORY SPACE: WATCHERS OF THE SKIES
Edna Leigh was born in Kansas in 1916. Her story takes us on a dramatic journey across the Atlantic, to post-war England where this ordinary woman stumbled upon a mystery in Homer’s Odyssey, decoding the hidden meaning. She kept her findings a secret throughout her life. Now Edna’s granddaughter shares this fascinating journey, combining her story with poetry, astronomy and a live cello soundscape. Afterwards join performer Carol Graham for an informal workshop: Exploring and Sharing Your Family History. 7.30pm. £12. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. 01242 258002.
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Holidays H olidays & T Travel ravel w with ith A Al lH Hidden idden
Sweden’s Sweden’s w west est ccoast oast iisland sland pparadise aradise Think Sweden, ABBA , Ingmar Bergman and Volvo. Well, maybe not Volvo so much, now it’s Chinese-owned! But as you head west past Volvo’s factory to the Lilla Varholmen ferry, you’re minutes from the beautiful, superr e l a xe d , n o r t h e r n a rc h i p e l a g o o f Öckerö. Welcome to Gothenburg’s entrancing getaway secret. Maybe you’ve visited Stockholm and experienced its myriad of islands. Or you love Swedish cinema and recall a sultry, sun-kissed, young Harriet Andersson skinny-dipping through Bergman’s ‘Sommer med Monika’? Öckerö Kommun is Sweden’s lesser known (to us Brits, at least) west coast counterpart to the island idyll portrayed in the 1952 film.
Staying more than a day? Try the Hönö Hotell, Klåva Hotell or Havskatten AB. Or the impressive Nimbus Öckerö hostel, or Grötö’s Västerhav Hotell. But book early, because part of the secret is that Öckerö isn’t heavily commercialised! Great opportunities fo r c a m p i n g o r m o to r h o m i n g a l s o abound.
Your Your hardest hardest ttask ask w will ill be be leaving leaving
Your Your coastal coastal playground playground Whether you have friends or family on Öckerö’s islands, stay in one of a few delightful accommodations, selfcater,, visit for the day, or arrive by yacht , 10 populated islands (Björkö, Fotö, Grötö, Hyppeln, Hälsö, Hönö, K a l v s u n d , K ä l l ö - K n i p p l a , R ö rö a n d Ö c k e r ö ) a n d m y r i a d t i n y s k e r r i e s a re your coastal playground for the duration – with delicious food and stunning sunsets too! The Local Answer
favourites is the consistently amazing quality and value at Nimbus (Öckerö). The delicious fresh fish is worth every krone – the mesmerising waterside location is free! If you self-cater, several small shops and an ICA s u p e r m a r k e t p r o v i d e a n y t h i n g f ro m Daim bars (invented by Sweden’s Marabou in the 1950s) to every conceivable shape and size of i n c re d i b l y m o re i s h Swedish Knäckebröd.
Delicious Delicious Swedish Swedish d delicacies elicacies For inner sustenance, delicious Swedish delicacies await . Try traditional Kottbullar (meatballs) and Gravlax , or the ‘Husets Fiskplanka’ at Öckerö’s Strandbaren. One of my
Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just Kanellebullar (cinnamon buns) for the ‘anytime’ Swedish institution of Fika (‘to have coffee’), you’ll need to build an appetite. That ’s easy when walking and swimming opportunities abound, sea-kayaking is a joy, or you can explore on a trusty Skeppshult bicycle. Getting around is simple and regular ferries connect the main islands where bridges don’t. On Öckerö, it’s easy to get away from it all to relax and recharge. The hardest work will probably be pulling yourself away and saying ‘Hej då!’ (‘Bye’ – s o u n d s l i k e ‘ H ey d o u g h ! ’ ) u n t i l yo u r next visit!
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T The he L Local ocal
AN ANSWER SWER
Air Air Holidays Holidays & B Breaks reaks • CCoach oach & Rail Rail Breaks Breaks Theatre, Theatre, SSports ports & EEvents vents • Family Family Fun Fun Breaks Breaks Cruising Cruising • Rock, Rock , P Pop op & LLive ive EEntertainment ntertainment
RHS Chelse Chelsea a FFlower lower Sho w Show & RHS Gar Gardens dens a att Wisle Wisley y 2 days from £175pp Departing 26th May 2017 Visit RHS Chelsea – the world’s most famous and bestloved flower show. Marvel at the fabulous show gardens, get advice and inspiration, and see the latest in garden design and equipment . Includes a visit to Wisley Gardens. TTour our highligh highlights ts Afternoon entrance to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Entry to RHS Gardens at Wisley One night’s bed and continental breakfast accommodation at a good hotel in the Greater London/Heathrow area Coach travel from the local area Escorted by a friendly tour manager For full itinerary or to book visit
www.newmarket.travel/laa17764
Dutch Highlights Dut ch Highligh ts & River Belgium Riv er Cruise
BUY ONE BUY GET ONE GET HALF PRICE PRICE**
8 days – 1st person from £1129pp, 2nd person from £564.50 Flying direct from Bristol in April 2017 Sound of Music sails gently through lowland waterways. TTour our highligh highlights ts Seven nights’ full board acommodation on board Sound of Music Call at Amsterdam – the delightful Dutch capital Half-day excursion to Keukenhof Gardens Calls at Hoorn, Arnhem, Antwerp, Brussels & Ghent On-board evening entertainment and English commentary Welcome Cocktail Party & Captain’s Farewell Dinner ly, experienced cruise manager Escorted by a friendly, Return flights and transfers For full itinerary or to book visit
*Book by 12 Feb 2017, quote promo code YGPXFF. Offer subject to availability & may be withdrawn any time.
www.newmarket.travel/llaa19796 aa19796
These holidays are organised and operated by Newmarket Air Holidays Ltd. ABTA V7812. ATOL protected 2325. Subject to availability. Single supplements apply. Standard phone charges.
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The Local Answer
FFor or m more ore iinformation nformation o orr tto ob book ook ccall all
QUOTE QUOTE
AA 0330 0 330 1 160 60 7 7938 938 LLAA Poldark’s Po ldark’s C Cornwall ornwa all England’s d’’ss SStunning & England’ tunning South West West 4 days from £265pp Departing 28th April 2017 Discover the rugged beauty of Cornwall on this Poldark-inspir p ed break – a feast of stunning coast and countryside d . Cruise ruise highligh highlights ts Scenic ‘Poldark’ drive through Perranporth & St Agnes Visits to Padstow, Botallack , Porthcothan & Charlestown Poldark Mine tour Cross Poldark’s Bodmin Moor and visit Jamaica Inn & St Breward Hotel entertainment on one evening Three nights’ half-board hotel accommodation in the Torquay area Coach travel from the local area Escorted by a friendly tour manager For full itinerary or to book visit
www.newmarket.travel/laa19490
Donegal & the Gian t’s Cause Cau way Giant’s Causeway 6 days from £525pp Flying direct from Bristol, Birmingham & East Midlands from April to October 2017 One of nature’s most iconic sites. CCruise ruise highligh ts highlights Visit the Giant’s Causeway and the Visitor Centre Explore bustling Donegal town Visit the Glenveagh National Park and Glenveagh Castle A scenic coastal drive A tour of the rugged Inishowen Peninsula including a visit to the fascinating Doagh Isle Famine Village Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager Five nights’s three-star half-board hotel accommodation, return flights and transfers For full itinerary or to book visit
www.newmarket.travel/laa15884
FOR FOR DETAILS DETAILS OF OF THE THE ABOVE ABOVE A AND ND M MANY ANY M MORE ORE FFABULOUS ABULOUS H HOLIDAYS OLIDAYS A AND ND TTRIPS RIPS V VISIT ISIT
w www.newmarket.travel ww.newmarket.travel/laa laa The Local Answer
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Wildlife W ildlife M Matters atters
with with Jenny Jenny S Stevens tevens o off Gloucestershire Gloucestershire Wildlife Wildlife Trust Trust
G Great reat ccrested rested grebes grebes Great crested grebes are present in the UK throughout the year; each season gracing our lakes and reservoirs. They were nearly hunted to extinction in the UK in the 19th century, their elegant feathers desirable for adorning hats, but they ’re thankfully now a regular sight on our waterbodies, and always a pleasure to spot. They are the largest grebe in Europe and are easily identifiable in the breeding season, when they show off an impressive black plume on the head and orangey ruff with black tips around the white-fronted neck and chest.
the other underwater. Appearing suddenly, they ’ll begin dipping and shaking their head, mirroring each Watching them for any period of other’s actions. A game of ‘hide and time, you’ll see them dive below the seek’ ensues; the birds diving and surface, in search of small fish and chasing each other for a period. aquatic invertebrates to feed on – TThe he elaborate elaborate ‘‘weed weed often popping up in a different place cerem c e r e m o ony’ n y ’ s strengthens t r e n gthens entirely to where they disappeared. their their p pair air b bond ond February, going into spring , is Even more delightful is the ‘weed when they ’re at their most spectacular. Spend some time at ceremony ’ – grebes will approach your local wetland reserve and you each other carrying weeds in their may just be treated to their courtship beaks, in anticipation of building a displays. During the early stages of nest . On reaching each other they courtship and on being reunited after rise up, as though standing on water, a time apart, one bird will approach chests touching and heads shaking
TThey hey a are re a att ttheir heir m most ost sspectacular pectacular iin n FFebruary ebruary
© Steve Waterhouse
once more. They tread water and hold this upright position for a time. These elaborate actions are said to strengthen their pair bond. Late in the spring, around two-four eggs will be laid in a nest made up of vegetation and weeds, carefully constructed on a floating platform. T h e m a l e a n d fe m a l e s h a re parenting duties – each sit on the e g g s fo r p e r i o d s o f t i m e a n d w i l l cover the eggs with vegetation if they must be left alone, such as in the case of a predator threat . The h a tc h l i n g s w i l l e m e rg e a f te r a b o u t four weeks.
N Newly-hatched ewly-hatched sstripytripyh headed eaded cchicks hicks ttravel ravel on on ttheir heir p parents’ arents’ b backs acks More delights are yet to come for watchers of this fascinating bird, as newly-hatched stripy-headed chicks w i l l b e c a r r i e d a ro u n d o n e i t h e r parents’ back for a time – a way of getting the vulnerable hatchlings away from the nest as quickly as possible. They are then encouraged to swim independently quickly; the adult diving and leaving the chick on the surface of the water; reemerging a short distance away and encouraging the youngster to swim towards them.
Page 20
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The Local Answer
Homes & Gardens HOME H OME CARE CARE ROOFING ROOFING & B BUILDING UILDING FOR ALL YOUR PROPERTY NEEDS Our range of services include: N New
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ibreglass N ew RRoofs G.R.P. .R.P. FFibreglass New oofs G Felt Flat Flat RRoofs oofs G CCertified & Felt ertified IInstallers nstallers G Roof Roof & Chimney Chimney RRepairs epairs G Slate Slate Repairs G Flat Repairs Flat RRoof oof RRepairs epairs G Lead Lead Repairs Repairs aand nd SSealing ealing Gu uPVC PVC Fascias, Fascias, Soffits Soffits & Guttering ● uuPVC Guttering PVC Repairs Repairs G High High Pressure Pressure CCleaning leaning G Painting Painting & D Decorating ecorating 01452 0 1452 8 899903 99903 0 07503 7503 8 858963 58963
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Rectory Rectory Fields, Fields, R Rudford, udford, G Gloucestershire loucestershire G GL2 L2 8 8DT DT
Tel: T el: 01452 01452 6 668005/01453 68005/01453 2 297010/01285 97010/01285 2 238089 38 0 89 www.marshallsdriveways.co.uk www.marshallsdriveways.co.uk C Company ompany rregistration: egistration: 0 090645563 90645563
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Sudoku Fill the grids so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9. P
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For For a free, free, n no o obligation obligation quotation quotation call call Chris Chris on on
01453 0 1453 5 548376 48376 or or 07597 07597 780433 780433
85 Cheltenham Road East, Churchdown, Gloucester GL3 1JN
BLOCK PAVING TARMACING G GRAVEL G SLABS G FENCING G G
T Te elephone: 0 1452 7 12 3 68 Telephone: 01452 712 368 www.laland1.com w..ls aland1.com w ww w w
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www.draindoctorglos.co.uk g
All dr d ains an d blo l ckages G All emergency plu l mbing work G Pre-fixe d prices G Saniflo blockages & installations G High pressure jetting/drain repairs/relining G CCTV sur veys/homebuyers’ sur veys G Local Author ity insurance & wate r co mpany appro ve d G
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CALL NICK ON
01453 569 415 FREEPHONE
0800 068 1216 The Local Answer
IIn nT The he Garden Garden with w ith JJulia ulia Smith Smith
Brighten B righten uup pad dull ull d day ay This year, why don’t you grow some early potatoes? You will find early seed potatoes in the garden centres – the variety ‘Accent’ is a good one, but there are plenty of others. Put them individually in egg boxes to ‘chit’ in a cool, bright place. Don’t let them get frosted in an unheated greenhouse – if frost is forecast, cover in fleece and then uncover again in the morning.
really brighten up a dull day. They n e e d t o h a ve b e e n p l a n t e d i n l a t e a u t u m n i n a s u n ny s i t u at i o n , w h i l e keeping their roots cool, as they are very shallow. Mulching around the p l a n t w i l l s o r t t h i s p ro b l e m o u t b u t n o t r i g h t u p to t h e s te m . I f yo u r garden is small, prune immediately after flowering to two or three buds on last summer’s shoots.
Y You ou d don’t on’t e even ven need need a g garden arden tto og grow row p potatoes otatoes
G Globe lobe a artichokes rtichokes llook ook g great reat iin nm mixed ixed fflower lower borders borders
Chitting is just a term for sprouting, and you want sprouts about 1.5cm long ready to plant out in late March. You don’t have to even have a garden, as there are many different companies selling sturdy bags or bins which have been designed to grow p o t a to e s i n a n d c a n b e k e p t o n a p at i o – a d u st b i n w i t h h o l es i n t h e base would do fine. I f yo u r g a r d e n i s l o o k i n g a l i t t l e dismal, perhaps it might be an idea to plant a Witch Hazel (Hamamelis), w h i c h i s at i t s b est i n J a n u a r y a n d February. They have scented, spidery yellow, orange or red flowers and
I love the architectural height of globe artichokes, which look brilliant i n t h e m i xe d f l owe r b o rd e r s – especially if underplanted with lowg row i n g f l owe r s i n b l u e s o r r e d s to contrast with the grey foliage. You can grow them from seed now, sowing two seeds to an 8cm pot and germinating at 18°C .
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P Plant lant iin n tthe he m middle iddle o off a ssunny unny b border order Remove the weakest of the two s e e d s a n d g row t h e o t h e r o n t h e window sill inside, or in a heated greenhouse until all risk of frost has
passed. Then plant outside towards the middle of a sunny border. If in a group, space them 45cm apart. They c a n b e r e t a i n e d to g r ow o n t h e following year but will need more space, so thin out to 90cm apart. Cut the flowerheads whilst they are still c l o s e d to g e t t h e te n d e re s t f l e s h . Sarah Raven recommends soaking them in salty water for an hour or so before boiling to dislodge any hiding earwigs!
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Quick Crossword ACROSS 1 5 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 18 21 22 24 25 26 27 28 29
Puzzle Wharf Spree Inheritor Bread portion Not explicit Film star dog Serving platter Join in half-heartedly Ran rapidly Printing fluids Afraid Remove completely Grant Injure with horns Recurrent period Legend Torrid
DOWN 1 Expelled air 2 Disease agents 3 Higher than 4 Caught on barb 5 Crosses out 6 Absurd pretence 12 Sick 15 Yearly stipend 16 Implore 17 Increase in attractiveness 19 Rainbow shape 20 Frail with age 22 Genders 23 Debate
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M a k ing Mak i n g Carpet C a r p e t Affordab Affordable
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Call Call DAN DAN o orr B BEN EN now now o on n 01452 01452 413513 413513 OUTLET O UTLET PRICES PRICES ~ S SAME AME DAY DAY T TAKEAWAY AKEAWAY M Mill ill P Place lace O One, ne, 9 90 0B Bristol ristol R Road, oad, G Gloucester loucester G GL1 L1 5 5SQ SQ
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Interior Interior Design Design with w ith Lois Lois Kingscott Kingscott
Create Create a ssummerhouse ummerhouse rretreat etreat It may seem an odd time of year to be thinking about summerhouses, but it pays to b e p re p a re d ! A f te r a l l , wouldn’t you rather have your place to escape ready and waiting for you come June, rather than having to b u i l d i t d u r i n g t h e l o ve l y sunny months?
great starting point . From t h e r e yo u c a n a d d b o o k s, p h o to s, m o o d b o a rd s a n d anything else that will help your creativity flourish. An unlined curtain or blind can help to shield you from the sun, while still letting in e n o u g h l i g h t fo r yo u to work . And if you ’re the type t o wo r k i n t o t h e n i g h t , a desk lamp is a must-have.
SSee ee where where y your our iimagination magination ttakes akes you y ou
Kid’s Kid’s ccorner orner
Whether it ’s for escaping reality and enjoying the peace and quiet with a good book , or for hosting summer p a r t i es w i t h f r i e n d s a n d family, a summerhouse is a great environment in which to relax and be close to nature. You can transform yo u r s u m m e r h o u s e i n to w h a t ev e r you want – a studio for writing or painting, a gamesroom for the kids, or simply a space to take a breather from gardening. The beauty of summerhouses is you can create any theme you want. If you’re using it for escapism, try capturing the essence of your favourite place – perhaps a beach look with nautical decor, or why not turn it into a tropical hideout with an array of plants and a small water feature? Be inventive and see where your imagination takes you.
Country Country cchic hic w with ith w wicker icker cchairs hairs and and windowboxes windowboxes Pastel shades in blue or green have a calming effect, and can be painted with intricate flowers and leaves. Alternatively, let nature take its course outside with climbing plants such as wisteria or Campsis radicans, which displays fantastic red flowers in the summer. Windowboxes with flowers and your favourite herbs will The Local Answer
create a lovely scent around the summerhouse, and a simple table decoration of a few garden flowers can be changed every few days to keep a fresh look . W i c k e r c h a i r s a n d a fo l d i n g wooden table are ideal furnishings, as they can easily be moved outside on sunny days. Accompany the chairs with light coloured cushions in floral patterns and either dress the table with a white or cream cloth, or leave it bare for a more natural look .
A An na artist’s rtist’s e escape scape For those creative souls out there, yo u r s u m m e r h o u s e m ay b e y o u r personal studio. Writers, artists and musicians often need a natural e n v i ro n m e n t t o b e a b l e t o f u l l y express themselves, and can sometimes find inspiration from nature’s sights and sounds. As with most masterpieces, you have to start with a blank canvas. A white room with a simple desk and chair placed next to a window is a
Families with young children m ay d e c i d e to b u i l d a summerhouse as some w h e re to k e e p m e m o r i e s t h a t c h i l d re n c a n re t u r n t o when they are older. Marking children’s heights on a wall as they grow up n o t o n l y l e t s y o u s e e h ow fast they grow, but their cousins and friends can join in too – perhaps with a competition as to who will be the tallest by the time they ’re a teenager! Pinning up pictures and displaying creations that the kids have made at school is a great way to show them h ow p r o u d yo u a re o f t h e i r w o r k – and it’s funny to look back on when t h e i r a r t i s t i c s k i l l s m a y h av e improved with age. Keeping children’s books and toys in the summerhouse means they have a little retreat too, and it can also be the perfect place to host a birthday party. With fun and games set up in the garden, and food and drink laid out inside, kids will love s h o w i n g o f f t h e i r s u m m e r h o u s e to their friends. There’s loads of inspiration online and you can keep it as simple or as complicated as you like. Get cracking now and you’ll have plenty of time t h ro u g h o u t t h e s u m m e r to e n j oy your summerhouse retreat.
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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. The photographs below illustrate a conversion of a ground floor cloakroom. Our clients could foresee that in future they may not easily be able to use their upstairs bathroom, so they decided to have a walk in shower installed downstairs. The finished job produced a practical and stylish looking room, which is easy to use and keep clean.
Save Save 2 0% 20% VAT* V AT*
Before
After
*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.
• Change your bath for a large shower • Redesign your layout to make best use of space • Increase storage with built in units • Warm your feet and keep the floor dry with underfloor heating • Add grab rails and fold away shower seat • Tiles, wallboards, mirrors and accessories supplied • Experienced polite installers • Free design service and advice • 30+ years of experience in the bathroom industry
07496 0 0572 572 281 81 or Contact Rex on 07496 01453 884 4167 0 1453 8 84 167 for a free home visit to discuss your needs
w www.lifestylebathrooms.net ww.lifestylebathrooms.net e
Save S ave t the he P Planet lanet with w ith A Annabel nnabel L Laughton aughton
Kerbside Kerbside R Recycling ecycling Recycling means processing waste materials to turn them into useable products. Reducing our consumption and reusing items are preferable to r e c yc l i n g , because re c yc l i n g processes use energy and produce carbon. However, as most retailers still seem intent on wrapping p ro d u c t s i n a s m a n y l a ye r s o f packaging as possible, recycling is o f te n o u r b e s t o p t i o n . T h i s m o n t h let’s focus on kerbside collections of household waste.
G Gloucestershire loucestershire h has as a ttarget arget o off 6 60% 0% b by y2 2020 020 Nationally, around 45% of household waste is recycled, and Gloucestershire County Council wants our county to hit 60% by 2020 – that target is already being achieved by other European countries, and we can all help make it happen here in Gloucestershire. T h ro w i n g re c y c l a b l e p ro d u c t s i n to the rubbish bin means they end up in landfill or being burned. Both of these options are expensive and less than ideal. Landfill takes up finite space, generates greenhouse gases, and wastes the energy and resources locked inside materials that will never biodegrade, but will
s i t i n t h e g ro u n d f o r mil lions of years. Incineration can pollute the air and water supply with heavy metals and carcinogenic compounds. In Gloucestershire, we c a n re c yc l e a w i d e variety of packaging and household items in o u r k e r b s i d e s a c ks a n d b o xe s . Kerbside collection is the responsibility of the city, district and borough councils. It varies widely by area, and new items are added all the time, so check your local city,, district or borough council website for a list – you might be surprised what you can recycle at the kerb.
EEmpty mpty ffood ood ccontainers, ontainers, ccrush rush ccans ans a and nd fflatten latten ccard ard You can help speed up collection a n d e n s u re eve r y t h i n g i s r e c yc l e d by e m p t y i n g a n d r i n s i n g f o o d containers, crushing cans, flattening card and separating different types of materials. Councils will provide extra containers for free to help you recycle as much as possible. S o m e t i m e s i t c a n b e t r i c k y to work out if an item is recyclable or
not , but most items will have one or more symbols to explain if and how it is recyclable or compostable, or to warn you it cannot be safely disposed of with household waste. Electricals are one example of products that should not be put in the bin when they break . This is because t h ey can contain d a n g e ro u s c h e m i c a l s t h a t , i f p u t into landfill, could eventually end up in our dinner. They also contain small amounts of very rare metals, which need to be retrieved. Look for the crossedout wheelie bin symbol and recycle these items at household recycling centres, unless you’re in the Forest of Dean, where you can bag up small electricals and leave them on to p o f y o u r b l a c k re f u s e b i n fo r recycling. Visit recyclenow.com for an explanation of all the different symbols.
Many M any iitems tems w will ill b be e recyclable a recyclable att y your our local local household h ousehold rrecycling ecycling ccentre entre M o s t o f u s w i l l f i n d we e n d u p w i t h r e c yc l a b l e p r o d u c t s w h i c h aren’t accepted into the kerbside collection, and many of these items w i l l b e r e c y c l a b l e a t yo u r l o c a l household recycling centre – check recycleforgloucestershire.com for locations, opening times and what you can recycle there. Let’s all try to s t a r t re c y c l i n g e v e r y t h i n g w e c a n , and get to 60% well before 2020. The Local Answer
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N.S DECORA N.S DECO OR RA ATI TTIIING N NG G Interior and Interior and
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7 High Street, Thornbury BS35 2AE 01454 418003 www.hardpressedfoortime.co.uk
Free es mates Contact Neil
01453 826811 07812 393922 n nsdecora ng11@aol.co.uk sdecora ng11@aol.co.uk
www.nsdecora ng.com w ww.nsdecora ng.com
● ●
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Ser vicing & Repairs Design & Installation OFTEC/Gas Safe Certification Planned Maintenance
AND JOINERY
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Call Martin Hill on 01285 651482 Mob: 07985 708863
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ordy’ dy’s Carpet Carpet Outlet tlet Store Store
• New c carpet arpet store! store! •Q Quality, y affordable dable c carpets arpets a and nd rrugs ugs •R Room size oom s ize remnants remnants & llarge arge selection off s samples s election o amples • Over 80 off carpets Over 8 0 rrolls olls o carpets & vinyls vinyls iin n stock! stock!
SPECIALISTS IN BUILDINGS OF AN HISTORICAL NATURE INCLUDING CHURCHES Opening O pening ttimes imes Mondays: Mondays: C Closed losed • T Tuesdays-Fridays: uesdays-Fridays: 9am-5pm 9am-5pm Saturdays: Saturdays: 9 9am-1pm am-1pm • S Sundays: undays: 1 10am-1pm 0am-1pm Trading for over 43 years
0 01453 1453 8 890626 90626 U Unit nit 6 W Wisloe isloe Road Road Business Business Park, Park, Cambridge, Cambridge, Gloucester Gloucester GL2 GL2 7AF 7AF Next N ext tto o ‘Buildit’ ‘Buildit’
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Gadgets G adgets & G Gizmos izmos with with Laura Laura N Nicklin icklin
EEscape scape tto oag galaxy alaxy ffar, ar, ffar ar aaway… way… February always feels like an awkward month; almost like that awkward middle child nearly every family seems to have. It ’s still winter, still grey, officially too late to h ave a n y C h r i s t m a s l i g h t s l e f t hanging up, and usually that time of year when we’re ‘on a break’ from our New Year Resolutions. Thankfully, it ’s also the shortest month of the year and the perfect opportunity to distract ourselves from the gloomy winter weeks with some new sci-fi gizmos…
2 iin n1G Globe lobe CConstellation onstellation
If you’ve got a keen interest in geography or star-gazing – or just fancy a new hobby – then this product can offer some educational i n s i g h t , a s we l l a s l o o k i n g p re t t y cool. By day, the 2 in 1 Globe Constellation looks like any other ordinary globe, but as the name gives away, it has an alter ego. Once exposed to darkness, the globe transforms from Earth into space, revealing a display of stars and constellations. With its light sensor automatically turning on the LED i l l u m i n at i o n i n t h e d a r k , t h i s c l eve r contraption shows us the magic of the galaxy. It a l s o i n c l u d e s a n ov e r r i d e s w i tc h , w h i c h l e t s y o u t u r n o f f the night-time globe to save battery power. At £39.99, the dual globe includes a socket for optional power and requires 4C batteries, which are Vizor Vizor VR VR Glasses Glasses not included. For the astronomy Affordable virtual reality used to lovers, the night globe also includes seem like a fantasy in itself, but the stars’ and constellations’ Latin now you can live vicariously names. through different worlds thanks to Star W Wars ars B BB8 B8 D Droid roid these Vizor VR Glasses. At just Star are This adorable little droid was the £ 1 4 . 9 9, t h es e g l a ss e s compatible with most smartphones, real break-out star of the new Star come with adjustable lenses for Wars franchise and quickly became maximum comfort and even have a fan favourite. Now you can have 360° tracking. The 360° tracking your own BB8 to follow you on makes it even easier to immerse your adventures, as the droid yourself in an alternate reality and is available at £99.99. BB8 is enjoy the realistic experiences of controlled via a smartphone adventure and exploration right using Bluetooth, and even reacts to interactions and voice from your living room. The Local Answer
commands. There are three different modes available – drive, patrol and holographic messaging. The drive feature allows BB8 to go wherever you command, while p a t r o l l e t s h i m i n ve s t i g a te o n h i s own. And you can feel even more like you’re in a Star Wars movie by recording a video on your smartphone and letting your droid turn it into a hologram. May the force be with you!
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Abbey Group, Units 23/24, Neptune Business Centre, Tewkesbury Road, Cheltenham, GL51 9FB
www.abbeybusinessequipment.com
The Abbey Business Lounge at Gloucester Rugby’s Kingsholm Stadium sponsored by Gloucestershire’s leading business solutions provider
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Little White Van Man
See See oour ur ggreat reat reviews reviews on on B IGGER V VAN AN A AVAILABLE VAILABLE BIGGER COURIER WORK UNDERTAKEN THE C A LL T HE CALL “JOLLY “JOLLY BOYS” BOYS” C Cost ost eeffective, ffective, reliable reliable rremovals emovals in in and and around around Gloucestershire G loucestershire
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AAerial erial & Satellites & Satellites
Digita Digital al A Aerial erial IInstallations nstallations U pgrades Upgrades a nd R epairs and Repairs
110% 0% o off ff with w ith tthis his advert advert Hawkes Mark M ark H awkes
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Pro m ot e y ou r bu s i n e ss i n 4 1, 0 0 0 m a g a z i n e s Call now!
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FREELANCE FREELANCE WINDOWS WINDOWS Discover D i s co ve r the t h e ccontemporary o nt e m po ra ry wway a y ttoo eenjoy nj oy yyour ou r cconservatory o n s e rrvvat o ry – every e ve ry dday ay
EEquinox quinox R Replacement eplacement TTiled iled R Roof oof System System •Fully • Fully insulated insulated ttiled iled rroof oof system system • •Energy-saving Energy-saving d design esign ffor or o optimum ptimum ccomfort omfort • •Less Less w weather eather nnoise oise ffor or p peace eace a and nd ttranquility ranquility • •Attractive Attractive styling styling – inside inside and and out out • •No No ccompromise ompromise o onn llight ight
0 01453 1453 5 547340 47340 info@freelancewindows.co.uk info@freelancewindows.co.uk www.freelancewindows.co.uk www.frreelancewindows.co.uk / www.fairtraders.co.uk www.fairtraders.co.uk The Local Answer
Money Money M Matters atters with with Roger Roger D Downes ownes o of fA Andorran ndorr ran
Tough Tough ttimes? imes? It’s not often that you are asked to spare a thought for the boss’s finances, but that’s what Money Matters is going to invite you to do. There has been plenty of publicity over recent years about the struggles of employees trying to keep pace with the cost of living, as businesses have found it increasingly difficult to afford pay rises in different economic times. But what about the boss him/herself? How has he or she fared across these uncertain times.
SSelf-employed elf-employed workers workers earned earned 20% 20% lless ess iin n2 2014/15 014/15 tthan n1 1995 han iin 995 Not very well is the answer, if you believe the results of recently published research into the earnings of the selfemployed. It appears that self-employed workers earned 20% less in 2014/15 than they did in 1995, and that ’s without factoring in the effects of inflation, which would nearly double that figure. How has the self-employed community coped? Well, not giving pay rises to their staff for one and cutting their costs, whilst at the same time searching for efficiencies, is the obvious other explanation. What intrigues me a little more is WHY the self-employed are earning less. Markets have widened – certainly if your product or service can be sold abroad – and interest rates have helped to keep finance costs at record low levels. So surely all the ingredients are there for success? The research threw up some interesting data, not least of which is that self-employed business people are working a lot less hours than they did 20 years ago. It’s no surprise then that they are earning less; it’s a well known fact that self-employed profits are generated first and foremost from your own hard work . It appears that the number of self-employed people employing others has also fallen. If that’s going to be your business model, surely it has to be coupled with doing more hours yourself? These two elements just do not make sense put alongside each other.
R Red ed ttape ape a and nd llegislation egislation iiss ttying ying e entrepreneurs’ ntrepreneurs’ h hands ands One thing that was not highlighted by the research, but which I believe has had a major impact on small business profits is the amount of red tape and legislation that ties an entrepreneur ’s hands. Whether it is health and safety, employment legislation, EU bureaucracy or corporate governance, compliance all costs time and money. Not all small businesses have seen their earnings and profits fall of course. There are many success stories out there, making money for themelves, rewarding their hardworking employees and investing in the future. They are the entrepreneurs whose examples should be followed by anyone looking to succeed as their own boss.
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Index of Advertisers WHAT’S ON
BUILDING SERVICES A1 Roofing & Contractors 21 EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS 21 Cheltenham Activity Camps 10 C&G Paving Hallmark Hotels 14 Dykes Builders 21 16 Home Care Roofing & Building 21 The Bird & Deer Park Marshalls Driveways 21 HEALTH & BEAUTY Arnica Dental Care 8 CARPENTERS Hallam Dental 8 2H Carpentry and Joinery 28 CLEANING SERVICES PROPERTY 28 Park Home Life 6 Hard Pressed For Time Richmond Villages 12 FURNISHING & APPLIANCES The Property Centre 36 Gloucester Carpet Outlet 24 Kordy’s Carpet Outlet 28 RETAIL 5 Vinyl Records 13 Thornbury Stairlifts GARDEN SERVICES HOMES & GARDENS CT Roberts 22 BATHROOMS 22 Lifestyle Bathrooms 26 LA Landscapes 21 Severn Vale Bathrooms 22 & 35 Lawn Doc
HANDYMAN SERVICES 22 Handylink HEATING & PLUMBING Austin Heating & Air Conditioning 28 Drain Doctor 22 PAINTING & DECORATING N.S Decorating 28 TV & AERIALS 1st Choice Aerials 33 A-Z Aerials 21 WINDOWS & DOORS Albany Windows 2 Cloudy 2 Clear 31 Freelance Windows 33 Inceil 32
EDUCATION Cheltenham College Prep School Dean Close School MOTORING SERVICES Bridgend Garage Lady Cars REMOVAL SERVICES Little White Van Man SKIP HIRE & RECYCLING Stevens Recycling
6 13 33 34
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BOOKING DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE – Friday 10th February 2017
STEVE
ATTENTION A TTENTION! Let us lighten your load!
Domestic and Industrial Skips Ham Villa Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham GL52 6NB
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