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GLOUCESTER DON’T FORGET TO SPOIL YOUR MUM ON SUNDAY 11th MARCH!
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AN ANSWER SWER G loucester – 446,000 6,000 ccopies opies Gloucester G loucestershire SSouth outh – 441,000 1,000 ccopies opies Gloucestershire Gloucestershire N orth – 220,000 0,000 ccopies opies Gloucestershire North Forest ooff D ean – 222,000 2,000 ccopies opies Forest Dean Cheltenham – 43,000 43,000 ccopies opies Cheltenham Cotswolds – 228,000 8,000 ccopies opies Cotswolds
Managing Director M anaging D irector D Dave ave K Kingscott ingscott ddave@thelocalanswer.co.uk ave@thelocalanswer.co.uk
EEditorial ditorial & M Marketing arketing LLois ois K Kingscott ingscott editorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk editorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk
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SSport port R Roger oger JJackson ackson
W Welcome elcome ttoo M March arch ...... After a long winter, spring is finally beginning and for many of us it can’t come soon enough. We’ve been long overdue some pleasant weather so why not take advantage of this by going on a walk? You may spot a brown hare on your travels; Caroline Shelley tells us all about them in ‘Wildlife Matters’. With the new season also comes the traditional spring clean. Jade Wilce provides plenty of ideas for reviving a tired kitchen in this month’s ‘Interior Design’ article. Remember to show your mum how much you love her this Mother ’s Day. There are some great events featured in the What’s On section and you might also fancy giving this month’s Delicious Dish a go; it should provide a welcome treat for most mums! There are also plenty of Easter-themed events going on at the end of the month, so make sure you put them in your diary!
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Unit Unit H, H, 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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Dish Delicious Delicious Dish Quick Crossword Quick Crossword Holidays Holidays & TTravel ravel Life Leader’s Leader’s Life Motoring Motoring atters Money Matters Money M Distributers Required equired Distributers R Looking Great Good, Feeling Feeling G reat Looking Good, Style Fashion Style & Fashion Medical Health Medical Health Education Education Parenting Guardianship Parenting & Guardianship Word earch Word SSearch What’s On n What’s O Sudoku Sudoku Homes Gardens Homes & Gardens Wildlife Matters atters Wildlife M In Garden In the the Garden Interior Design esign Interior D Gadgets Gizmos Gadgets & Gizmos Save the Planet Planet Save the TLA Sport TLA Sport Index, Index , Competitions, Competitions, SSolutions olutions
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Yanto's Pancake House is one of the newest additions to Gloucester's city centre, highly recommended for the unique products on offer and distinctive atmosphere. This one of a kind restaura rant provides a range of pancakes, crepes and waffles with sweet and savoury toppings. Whether you're looking for somewhere to meet a friend for a coffee, grab some lunch or throw a birthday party, Yanto's has it all.
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D Delicious elicious Dish Dish with w ith Helen Helen Kingscott Kingscott
Sausage Sausage aand nd aapple pple ttraybake raybake P Pork ork aand nd aapple pple aare re a m match atch m made ade iin nh heaven, eaven, sso o tthis his ttraybake raybake iiss tthe perfect dish he p erfect d ish ffor or llittle ittle aangels ngels tto o ccook ook ffor or m mum um tthis his M Mother’s other’s Day! Day! IIngredients ngredients (serves (serves 4): 4 ) : 8 p o r k s a u s a g es ; 1 t b s p vegetable oil; 2 apples (we used Pink Ladies); 2 large parsnips; 2 large carrots; 200g shallots; mixed herbs; lazy garlic, drizzle of honey; sage. Method: Method: 1 Preheat the oven to 200°C (fan 180°C/gas mark 6). 2 Place the sausages in a large roasting tin with the vegetable oil and roast for 10 minutes. 3 Whilst the sausages start to cook , chop the apples, p a r s n i p s , c a r ro t s a n d s h a l l o t s i n to r o u g h c h u n k s – we’re going for a rustic looking dish, so don’t worry about being too precise! 4 After the 10 minutes, add the vegetables to the tin (leave the apples for later) with the mixed herbs and lazy garlic.
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Can Can you you spare spare a ffew ew hhours ours a month month to to support support ppeople eople with with learning learning disabilities? disabilities? FFull ull training training & expenses expenses ppaid aid For more information call 01452 01452 617346 617346 admin@buildingcirclesglos.org.uk www.buildingcirclesglos.org.uk The Local Answer
5 Mix everything together and spread it evenly on the tray, then drizzle a small amount of honey over each sausage. Roast for a further 30 minutes. 6 Add the apples to the tray for a final 10 minutes, as well as a sprinkling of sage (either fresh or dried). 7 Whilst your traybake is cooking, you can prepare some of your favourite seasonal vegetables to accompany the main dish. 8 Serve the traybake on a heat-proof mat in the middle of the table, surrounded by bowls of your chosen vegetables and a pot of gravy. Tip: Tip: Little angels will need some assistance from an adult when it comes to chopping the vegetables and transferring hot trays to and from the oven!
S Shipton hipton G Golf olf C Course ourse Shipton Golf Course, Nr Frogmill, Shipton, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL54 4HT
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NO NO NEED NEED T TO O BOOK BOOK – O Open pen ev every very day day from from 7am 7am until until dusk dusk
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Quick Crossword 2
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ACROSS 1 Penetrated 4 Net 7 Modern tune (3,4) 8 Uncanny 9 Spotted 12 Kerb 15 Tidiness 17 Obliterated 18 Provide with personnel 21 Took (revenge) 22 Traffic jam 23 Worthy novel
DOWN 1 Restricts movement (4,4) 2 Perches 3 Globule 4 Wise 5 Bomber attack (3,4) 6 Rim 10 Less moist 11 Short break 13 Plague 14 West Indies island 16 Menservants 18 Male heirs 19 Tripped over 20 Dusting powder
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Catering – iit’s t’s a Catering tall o rder! tall order! JJan an with with colleagues colleagues M Marie-Louise arie-Louise Wynn Wynn (left) (left) a and nd LLainey ainey G Gilkes. ilkes. Tall Order Catering was set up in 2015 by owner Jan van der Lely – 20 years after he first entered the food industry as a trainee pastry chef at Corse Lawn House Hotel. From the outset Jan knew he had fo u n d h i s n i c h e – b a k i n g h a d provided him with an opportunity to shine in creating delicious food that made people smile. Job satisfaction!
D a f fo d i l i n C h e l te n h a m , a s we l l a s mastering the variety of skills necessary for preparation and management of event catering – in particular weddings. After tasting success wherever he went – helping to develop brands and enhance customer experiences – Jan decided the time was right to take the plunge, and Tall Order Catering was launched. Jan has delivered great culinary satisfaction to many clients in the last two years, while simultaneously d e ve l o p i n g a s u p e r b s e t o f m e n u s and a team to match.
For larger event bookings Tall Order Catering prepare ‘tasters’ from some of their menus in advance, to help clients confirm they ’ve s e l e c te d t h e r i g h t d i s h e s f o r t h e i r g u e s t s . F ro m a b a r b e c u e o r h o g roast to canapés, a tailored buffet or s u m pt u o u s d i n n e r – J a n a n d h i s team have it covered.
‘‘You You n name ame iit, t, w we e ccan an deliver d eliver iit’ t’
Soon Jan was preparing and cooking starters, mains and desserts – learning all aspects of the day to day operations and m a n a g e m e n t o f a p ro fe s s i o n a l kitchen. Over the next couple of decades he a c h i ev e d fo r m a l c a t e r i n g i n d u s t r y qualifications and gained knowledge working with top chefs at a variety o f e s t a b l i s h m e n t s, i n c l u d i n g T h e
When asked about the company’s name, Jan explained: “I treat every job as a ‘tall order ’ to put pressure on myself and the team to deliver the very best . Whether it ’s fine dining for a small group in a client’s home, or catering for hundreds of guests at a wedding, we constantly push ourselves to make certain every customer is totally happy.” Jan also takes great pride in the flexibility of services and variety of dietary requirements he caters for – he says: “You name it , we can deliver it!”
So, whether you’re planning a wedding breakfast , anniversary party, birthday bash, life celebration o r a ny ot h e r t y p e of f u n c t i o n o r event – including corporate gatherings – Jan would love to hear f ro m yo u . M o r e i n fo r m a t i o n , i n c l u d i n g s a m p l e m e n u s, i s a l s o available on the Tall Order Catering website.
w www.tallordercateringltd.co.uk ww.tallordercateringltd.co.uk bbookings@tallordercateringltd.co.uk ookings@tallordercateringltd.co.uk FFor or enquiries enquiries pplease lease ccall: all: H ead C hef Head Chef 0 7841 6 20883 07841 620883 SSales/Administration ales/Administration 0 7725 7 40690 07725 740690
Cruise Cruise from from Bristol Bristol
H Holiday oliday inspiration inspiration from from Norad Norad Travel’s Travel’s award-winning award-winning expert, expert, Joe Joe Teixeira Teixeira
You might have been on a cruise before, but have you cruised from Bristol? With expert leading independent cruise line Cruise and Maritime Voyages (CMV), you can enjoy a host of benefits from cruising right from your home town. Right now, t h e re ’ s also incredible savings on these highquality cruises to some amazing destinations – including dramatic coastlines of Scotland, the sunny shores of the Canary Islands, and the snowy peaks of Norway. Sailing from Bristol, you’ll board one of CMV’s smaller, classic cruise ships, like the beautiful Magellan. Designed to provide an intimate, leisurely style of cruising, there’s a great emphasis on providing excellent and attentive service throughout your journey. Their special size enables access to unique ports of call which larger ships are unable to reach. From witnessing inspirational landscapes in floral Guernsey to relaxing in tranquillity along the beautiful River Seine, panoramic vistas will glide by you on every journey.
Sought-after S ought-after destinations destinations w with ith e exceptional xceptional v value alue s savings avings
Relax in the knowledge your accommodation, full board cuisine, afternoon teas, daytime activities, evening entertainment and full use of all the on-board leisure facilities are all included in the fare. And with a complimentary coach service from Temple Meads escorting you right to your cruise, you can start your h o l i d a y b e f o re you even arrive. For any extra treats, sterling is the on-board currency on most of the ships – so no need to worry about exchange problems! See the world with a traditional British cruising experience, straight from local, easy to access departure ports in Bristol.
IIndependent ndependent a and nd iinfluential nfluential ffor or over o ver 35 35 years years
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Holidays H olidays & T Travel ravel w with ith A Al lH Hidden idden
IInvestigate nvestigate Ironbridge Ironbridge In the last two issues, we planned s o m e Po r t u g u e s e s u n s h i n e a n d long-haul travel to British Columbia. This month we’re closer to home with a little gem just up the road in Shropshire…
Birthplace B irthplace o off tthe he iindustrial ndustrial rrevolution evolution What comes to mind when you think ‘UNESCO world heritage site’? Maybe Brazil’s Iguazu Falls or Norway’s Geirangerfjord, but surely not the picturesque, wooded Severn Valley near Telford. But it should, because Ironbridge Gorge was rated among the world’s favourite UNESCO sites! When planning a January getaway, we found cosy, beautifully appointed, ‘Flat on the Square’ overlooking the world’s first w ro u g h t i r o n b r i d g e – a l b e i t currently swathed in scaffolding b e fo re during re f u r b i s h m e n t reopening later this year. Despite this, the still usable bridge was rather romantic as we strolled across to eat , Mediterranean-style,
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at stylish, reasonably priced Darcy’s. modern ‘Silicon Valley’! It ’s just five minutes from the flat Do visit the fascinating Blists Hill and the food, including delicious Victorian Town – complete with Basque cod, was amazing. delicious 1900 -style fish and chips. A 12-month passport ticket gives M Many any g good ood rrestaurants estaurants unlimited access to many local We also loved the quirky La Casita museums ranging from Blists Hill tapas restaurant across the road and Coalport China Museum, to from our flat . There are numerous Coalbrookdale’s Museum of Iron and good, varied local restaurants, contemporary Enginuity. Your including a well-reviewed chip shop ‘passport ’ quickly pays for itself for budget eating and the pricier, before you save more with also well-rated, additional visits. It ’s a bargain, Restaurant Severn across especially with Ironbridge so close the square. to Gloucestershire. So what does one do in Bears B ears o on n tthe he SSquare quare Ironbridge? You could use t h e to w n a s a b a s e f o r In summary, we loved Ironbridge’s exploring Shropshire, but romantic, scenic, s o m et i m es not before discovering its ‘steampunk’ ambience with many local delights. excellent activities, accommodation Walking the River and dining. And if industrial history Severn’s banks is great isn’t ‘you’, bookshops, gift and for orientation, perhaps antique stores abound – don’t miss stopping at the Gorge Bears on the Square directly under Museum. This riverside your flat! m u s e u m i s o n e of For couples or families, there’s a several reflecting the lot to love about Ironbridge Gorge area’s key role in Britain’s and its museums. With luck , Industrial Revolution. It Abraham Darby’s iron bridge will be really was an eighteenth- uncovered in all its restored glory century equivalent to the when you visit!
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Leader’s L eader’s L Life ife w with ith Councillor Councillor Paul Paul JJames ames
IImproving mproving G Gloucester’s loucester’s rrailway ailway sstation tation The steelwork for Gloucester’s new bus station will soon be coming out of the ground, with completion currently on track for late August . When the city finally gets its 21st century, state of the art facility, it will be in stark contrast to the current state of our railway station – meaning the need to improve it becomes even greater. There have been some improvements in recent years, from new waiting rooms to the covered bridge between p l a t f o r m s a n d t h e s t a t i o n a r t p ro j e c t l e d by R i c h a rd Graham MP. In 2007, I unveiled another piece of art on Platform 4 – a series of mosaics created by the Look Forward Day Centre. But even the plaque to mark that event is starting to look a bit tarnished. More importantly, the station building is tired, the forecourt unattractive, the car park access less than ideal and the subway to Great Western Road as grim an experience as ever. The subway has been a problem for 30 years or so. I remember it being an issue in the 1997 general election, but despite the noise then nothing has ever happened apart from the odd coat of paint.
Creating Creating llinks inks w with ith tthe he ccity ity ccentre entre Thankfully there are plans to address these issues. The City Council, with the support of Great Western Railways and Network Rail, has put in a bid to the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) for £4.2 million of government funding. We were unsuccessful in the last round of bidding, but I’m hoping this time we will get a positive outcome. The project will see a disabled-friendly access to the subway, with it straightened out to improve visibility. The station building would be reclad, the forecourt improved and a new access created onto Metz Way to prevent huge traffic queues building onto Bruton Way. But this project isn’t just about having a better railway s t a t i o n a n d p re s e n t i n g a b e t te r f i r s t i m p re ss i o n o f Gloucester – it ’s about linking the city centre with the development sites on Great Western Road and achieving a s t ro n g e r l i n k w i t h t h e h o s p i t a l , w h e re t h o u s a n d s o f people work . A lot of preparatory work has been done already for what is a hugely complex project. If we are successful, there will be a lot more to do before we can start on site – so it will be 2020 before we see work get underway. But when we’ve been waiting for 30 years, what ’s another couple of years to wait? It would mean that we would get a railway station to be proud of, alongside our shiny new bus station. So it’s fingers crossed for a ‘yes’ from the LEP! When the station gets its much-needed revamp, I hope they don’t forget to polish my plaque on Platform 4! @cllrpauljames @cllrpauljames
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e: e: paul.james@gloucester.gov.uk paul.james@gloucester.gov.uk
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Motoring Motoring with w ith Luke Luke Edwards Edwa wards
TThe he sseason eason o off sspeed peed The month of March is when everyone i n vo l ve d i n B r i t i s h m o to r s p o r t g e t s i tc h y fe e t . A f te r a l o n g w i n te r t h e season of speed is upon us; teams and individuals are hoping their hard work and planning during the dark months has paid off. To blow away the cobwebs and catch up with everyone, u s m o to r i n g w r i te r s a t te n d e d t h e A u to s p o r t I n te r n a t i o n a l S h ow i n January and Race Retro last month.
SSuperb uperb llocal ocal m motorsport otorsport v venues enues a and nd e events vents Lo c a l l y we a re t r u l y s p o i l t w i t h superb motorsport venues and events. For Track action there is Castle Combe Circuit , near Chippenham, which has its opening race meeting “Howard’s D a y ” o n M o n d ay 2 n d A p r i l 2 0 1 8 , featuring action from its three home championships and also the Hot Hatch series. One of my favourite events at Combe is the Autumn Classic meet which takes place on 6th October and last year featured one of James Hunt’s Hesketh F1 cars lapping the circuit. Prescott Hillclimb, near Cheltenham, celebrates a very special anniversary in 2018; it will be 80 years since the first event was held at Prescott back in May 1938. They kick off events with the Bike Fest on 15th April and then on the 28th and 29th April their
motorsport calendar begins in earnest with the British & Mid land Hil lclimb championships. Motorbike competition classes will be featuring on the Saturday. I competed there last year i n a ro u n d o f t h e i r N ew B a r n L a n d Rover B-Licence championship and thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere. If you enjoy watching some serious straight line speed then keep an eye out for events at Shakespeare County Raceway. This is based on Long Marston Airfield, fairly near to Stratford-Upon-Avon. It ’s the sort of place you only know about if you follow motorsport, but they hold some fantastic drag racing events during the season.
For Rally fans a date for your 2018 d i a r y s h o u l d b e S a t u rd ay 1 0 t h November 2018, as this is when the Wyedean Rally will be taking place, run by the Forest of Dean Motor Club. It ’s always a spectacular event , with not only professional teams, but also amateurs running the course. Formula 1 begins its season this month with action from Melbourne, Australia on the 25th. Many British fans are hoping the dominant Mercedes team has kept its advantage and Lewis Hamilton can drive his way to a fifth World Championship. If Lewis does win he will match the record of legendary driver, Juan Manuel Fangio; leaving him with only Michael Schumacher’s record to catch at seven World Championships.
TThere’s here’s p plenty lenty on on offer offer I n t e r e s t i n g n ew s i s t h a t a G e r m a n Grand Prix, at Hockenheim, is back in 2 0 1 8 ( 2 2 n d J u l y ) a n d fo r B r i t i s h supporters who fancy a change from Silverstone, a French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard circuit will take place on 24th June for the first time since 2008. The American owners have done well and listened to the fans. If you haven’t yet sampled the delights of a motorsport day out, try it this year. There is plenty on offer and you never know, it might even encourage you to take part one day. The Local Answer
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Money M oney M Matters atters with with Roger Roger D Downes ownes o of fA Andorran ndorran
TTrust rust iin nB Business usiness It says it on my cufflinks – ‘Trust me…. I’m an accountant’ and, of course, you can! But there are many big businesses out there that have got themselves into deep water socially, financially or politically, who are desperate to rebuild the trust they once commanded from the great British public. Oxfam is the latest such case. Let’s not dwell on the wellpublicised cause of their latest difficulties, but instead consider that they have to rebuild public trust . There are many charities doing excellent work in numerous different fields and surely they are all set to benefit because no-one will want to support Oxfam if that’s what they’re going to do with our money. Right? In the short term, yes, of course that’s right and so it should be. But it set me wondering just how easy or difficult the rebuilding of trust can be. It was little more than two years ago that Volkswagen was found to have cheated emissions testing by fitting software which meant that completely false readings were generated when cars were tested. Deliberate and sy s te m a t i c m a n i p u l a t i o n o f t h e s y s te m . A f te r a n i n i t i a l downturn in sales, the company was reporting an increase in profits just over six months later. Does anyone think back to the scandal when considering which new car to buy? I doubt if it even comes into people’s thoughts for a split second.
M Many any ccases ases o off ssocial ocial cchange hange Many of the things that were deemed to be acceptable years ago have been shown to be socially unacceptable in more modern times. Think back to drink driving, which for years was deemed to be part of a night out, but quickly, and thankfully, turned those who did so into social outcasts. The well-publicised goings on in the entertainment industry are another classic example of social change. T h e s a m e h a s b e e n h a p p e n i n g i n t h e f i n a n c i a l wo r l d , firstly with money-laundering and more recently with tax avoidance. You can’t open a bank account now without a degree in form-filling and knowing the inside-leg measurement of the person who gave you the money you are trying to put into the bank for safekeeping. Tax avoidance used to be the domain of the ‘lucky few’ who had sufficient to make it worthwhile, but that’s no longer the case. Successive Chancellors have cracked down on i n d i v i d u a l s w h o h av e ‘ i n v e s te d ’ i n s c h e m e s, p a r t i c u l a r l y those offshore, that avoided them paying UK tax . We all moan when big companies appear not to pay their ‘fair share’ of corporation tax in the UK . They are villified in the press for their actions. But which search engine do we go to in order to look anything up online? The one after which the activity is now known – ‘I’ll g***le it’. And where do we buy our coffee or do our online shopping? Yes, those h o u s e h o l d n a m e s w h o h av e s t r u c t u re d t h e i r b u s i n e ss e s such that they aren’t seen to be making meaningful contributions to the UK Treasury. We’re an interesting bunch, the great British public, when it comes to trust in business. Page 12
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Distributors D istributors Required R equired For a few hours each month in
Innsworth Each round is made up The T h e Loc Lo c al a l 200,000 200,000 of 150 -400 copies per A NSW AN S W ER E R fforor local loca l people pe o p le month. The rate of pay is 6 pence/copy. Depending on property types, our current team of people average between 100 -150 copies/hour (equivalent to £6-£9/hour). Magazines are delivered to Distributors’ homes G GLOUC LOUCEESTER towards the end of each STER month and we expect deliveries to be completed within four days between the hours of 7am and 9pm. You must be 13+ years old, flexible, reliable and sufficiently physically fit to perform the duties.
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L Looking ooking Good, Good, Feeling Feeling Great Great with w ith M Matt att W Wagstaff agstaff
M Mix ix uup p yyour our d diet iet aand nd optimise health o ptimise yyour our h ealth What you eat and drink along with what you avoid consuming is often the main stay of a person’s health and wellbeing. People can often be ve r y p a ss i o n a t e a n d s t r i c t a b o u t their diet or conversely not give a c a re i n t h e w o r l d w h e r e t h e i r calories come from. There are a number of different dietary trends and interventions, which often have bold claims, however I believe it ’s very individual – certain foods may sit well with one person and poorly with another. Trial and error is fairly key here, apart from if you have a a sustained duration, whether that known allergy or intolerance. be for 12 hours or 24. These diets a re p ro p o s e d t o h e l p re s to re EElimination limination Certain elimination diets have hormones, allow time for gut become popular lately, specifically healing and restoration, and even wheat free or lactose free diets. help prevent neurological and These are often followed in order to cardiac diseases. It ’s worth starting slowly with either reduce high consumption of a certain food group such as these diets – begin by fasting for carbohydrates, or to explore gastro- for two days then build that up. You intestinal reactions to reducing a can also experiment with the time potential reactional food group. It is at which you fast; whether 7am worth exploring these diets with a until 3pm works, or if you workout nutritional expert in order to assess in the morning , 12pm until 8pm which foods you consume and what may be better. Be careful when maybe related to your personal exercising fasted, as energy stores reaction, whether that ’s bloating , could be low, which can lead to dizziness and exhaustion. weight gain or skin rashes. I t i s v i t a l t o m a k e s u re yo u F Flexible lexible consume good levels of micro and Flexible dieting is a type of diet macro nutrients during elimination which can take many forms, diets. Each nutrient has a role within whether you perform four fasting the body, such as protein for repair, days and three normal eating days and vegetarian or vegan diets can per week , or you alter the amount become relatively low in protein, so of calories or perhaps carbohydrates it ’s a good idea to explore alteryou consume dependant on how native foods to suit your diet. much exercise you do or how busy FFasting asting yo u r d a y i s . A t h l e t e s c a n o f t e n Fasting style diets involve halting benefit from this diet to suit their the consumption of mainly food training schedules, consuming less products and anything but water for calories from certain foods on nonThe Local Answer
training days to avoid gaining u n d u e w e i g h t w h i c h m ay n o t b e burned off, and to increase muscle repair through increased protein consumption following increased intensity training.
D Detox etox A d e t ox s t y l e d i e t w i l l i n v o l v e a reduction of a type of food group or solely eating one type of food or drink . One example is a smoothie d e t ox , w h e re o n l y h i g h f r u i t a n d n u t r i e n t b a s e d s m o o t h i e s a re consumed for a week or sometimes longer. These diets have certain b e n e f i t s, s u c h a s h e l p i n g u s f o c u s more on what we are eating, and often reducing common ‘bad’ foods. However, no research has shown big benefits on actually ‘detoxing’ t h e b o d y – we h a v e s y s te m s fo r that such as the liver, skin and kidneys. Choosing a variable, fresh and colourful diet is often best , and occasional flexible, elimination or fasting interventions can be beneficial. However, always be sure to keep on top of your nutrients as they all have a role in how the body runs, heals and supports us.
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CCharnwood harnwood H House ouse NURSING HOME
Charnwood House Nursing Home specialises in caring for elderly people, younger people with a physical disability and people with dementia. Warm and friendly atmosphere. Highest standards of nursing care provided.
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Style S tyle & F Fashion ashion with with Katie Katie P Pollard ollard
TThe he w wild, ild, w wild ild w west est Forget the ‘The Wild Bunch’ or Will Smith and Kevin Kline. I’m not talking cowboys on a mission to save their Western world from collapse, bandits on a bank robbery or villains loose on a runaway train. It’s not so much the narrative that’s the focus of this month’s trend, rather the attire in which they did it. Watch out, Western is back and for 2018, it’s here to stay.
this, and general all round take on trends, is Gucci. Their dusty pink , n a v y a n d w h i te p a i s l ey s i l k s a t i n dress (right) is a showstopper with its western detailing, blush collar and… a price tag of $4900. Not exactly a dress you could pick up on t h e h i g h s t r e e t , b u t a d r e ss , n e v e r t h e l e ss , t h a t e p i t o m i s e s t h i s very trend to a T.
G Get et rranch-ready anch-ready iin nn no o ttime ime
For more of high end, high street buy in, check out Hicks & Brown’s collection of accessories, which includes the Midnight Cow Hide Clutch and Flamingo Cow Hide Belt (below). Both are available in various popping colourways that were practically made for this SS18 trend, and at £45 each they ’re a steal of summer style. Something as simple as adding a gold buckle belt with a pop of colour to your trusty pair of jeans or carrying a clutch with that ‘yeeha’ factor will help you get ranch-ready in no time. A n o t h e r s t y l e s te p i n t h e r i g h t direction is a welcome F word, after ‘fashion’ of course, and that is fringing. Originating in the wild, wild west it sashayed down last year ’s SSubtle ubtle w ways ays tto ow work ork tthis his SS18 catwalks with a fun flare, ttrend rend iinto nto y your our wardrobe wardrobe daring you to take it on and be bold Now easy cowgirl, holster that this summer. Fringe trims swung Smith and Wesson if going in all from the hems of dresses, jackets guns blazing isn’t your style; there and cardigans, all styled with belts are subtle ways to work t h i s t r e n d i n to y o u r wardrobe. The western t a k e ove r swe p t t h e SS18 runways in a blaze of glory, showcasing the n e w – a n d i m p r o ve d – way to wear the allAmerican outfit; think more Rodeo Drive than actual Rodeo. My personal preference of designer for The Local Answer
and bags alike, shimmying down the runway and heel-toeing it in true western fashion was the classic cowboy boot. Think rich leather and a strong bohemian vibe, teamed w i t h m i d i d re ss e s fo r a f u s i o n o f romantic wild west allure and not a Daisy Duke in sight.
LLet et y your our iinner nner ccowgirl owgirl rrun un w wild ild Letting your inner cowgirl run wild doesn’t have to be a show down – be a showstopper in your own take on the ‘Wild, Wild West ’. After all, t h e s e b o o t s w e re m a d e fo r walking… right?
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M Medical edical H Health ealth w with ith H Holly olly Hannigan Hannigan
Start Start m making aking n noise! oise! Most people are aware of cervical cancer and have heard of ‘smear tests’, particularly after some recent c a s e s o f yo u n g e r wo m e n s a d l y losing their battle with cervical cancer. There have been numerous awareness campaigns to make sure women attend their routine cervical screening tests. However, a quieter female cancer that is not so commonly talked about , but is t a k i n g t h e l i v e s o f fo u r t i m e s a s many women every day, is ovarian cancer.
Women Women lleave eave it it too too late late tto o rrecognise ecognise ssymptoms ymptoms and and g get et cchecked hecked o out ut Cancer M a rc h is Ovarian Awareness month and this is something that, as a young mother o f t w o g i r l s , I f e e l p a s s i o n a te l y about. 11 women in the UK die from ovarian cancer every day, which is mainly because women are leaving it too late to recognise the sy m p t o m s a n d g e t t h e m s e l ve s
checked out , meaning that the cancer has already spread. One shocking statistic is that a woman in the UK has a 1 in 50 chance of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in her lifetime. I f a wo m a n i s d i a g n o s e d a t t h e earliest stage of ovarian cancer then her chance of surviving for 5 years or more is over 90%, so early diagnosis is vital. Symptoms of this type of cancer include: • Pelvic or abdominal pain • Increased abdominal size or persistent bloating • Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly • Needing to urinate more urgently or more often • Irregular periods or bleeding after menopause • Changes in bowel habits • Pain during sex Remember, most of these symptoms can also be a s i g n o f o t h e r i l l n e ss e s that are not cancer, so the recommended advice is to visit your GP if you have symptoms that are unusual for you a n d t h at h a p p e n o n m o s t d a y s fo r l o n g e r than 3 weeks, particu l a r l y i f y o u h av e a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer. Unfortunately, a common misconception is that the cervical screening programme will detect ovarian cancer. At this current
t i m e t h e re i s n o s c r e e n i n g t e s t fo r ovarian cancer, so accurate and quick diagnosis from health professionals is vital. You can help your GP: • Keep a diary of all your s y m p to m s a n d w h e n t h e y are occurring • You know your body b e s t , s o i f y o u fe e l s o m et h i n g i s s e r i o u s l y wrong then see your GP as soon as possible • Tell your surgery you a re wo r r i e d a b o u t cancer and need to be seen within a week • Tell your GP you are concerned about ovarian cancer • Check your family history and tell your GP
It’s It’s m more ore iimportant mportant tthan han ever ever tto o ttalk alk about about it it Research spend on ovarian cancer in the UK has dropped by a third in five years. This means that it is more i m p o r t a n t t h a n ev e r to t a l k a b o u t ovarian cancer and raise awareness a n d m u c h n e e d e d f u n d s fo r research. For more information about ovarian cancer or how to join the ‘Start Making Noise’ Campaign please visit the following websites: www.targetovariancancer.org.uk www.cancerresearchuk.org www.nhs.uk/conditions/ovarian-cancer
W Wee w would ould llike ike ttoo aapologise pologise ffor or tthe he ttwo wo errors errors in in last last month’s month’s ‘‘Medical Medical H Health’ ealth’ aarticle. rticle. U Underneath nderneath ‘Lifestyle ‘Lifestyle Changes’ Changes’ tthe he hheart eart rrate ate bbullet ullet point point should should have have read: read: ““Keep Keep your your blood blood pressure pressure nnoo hhigher igher tthan han 1140 40 oover ver 90 90 Hg’. Hg’. The The alcohol alcohol bullet bullet point sshould hould hhave ave read: read: “Drink “Drink no no more more than than 1144 uunits nits ooff aalcohol lcohol a w eek”. W e’re ssorry orry if if tthis his caused caused any any cconfusion. onfusion. point week”. We’re
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SSwallow wallow LLakes akes P PARK ARK
N No.1 o. 1
Swallow Lakes is a beautiful new development, conveniently located Gloucester ocated between Glouce ester and Ross-on-Wye. oss-on-Wye. Nearby, earby, tthere here aare re eexcellent xcellent roads transport ansport llinks inks ttoo major major roads andd tthe he M5 M5 and and M M50 50 motorways, otorways, w with ith rrail ail llinks inks ttoo ndon oonly nly a ffew ew m iles London miles aaway. way. SSwallow wallow LLakes akes iiss sset et aamongst mongst ooutstanding utstanding G loucestershire countryside, Gloucestershire countryside, nd iiss ffamily amily oowned, wned, w hich m aand eans nnoo which means iddlemen – you you always always sspeak m middlemen peak ddirectly irectly the ppark ark owners. owners. too the
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O OPEN PEN W Wed.11am-5pm, ed.11am-5pm, SSat. at. & SSun.9am-5pm un.9am-5pm O Other ther ttimes: imes: pplease lease pphone hone ttoo aarrange rrange vviewing iewing O OPEN EVERY DAY FOR PEN EVERY DAY FOR SHOWROOM SHOWROOM VIEWINGS VIEWINGS We We c can an supply supply a
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Education Education w with ith G Gemma emma D Drew rew
Benefits Benefits ooff llearning earning a llanguage anguage It ’s a well-known fact that schools encourage their students to learn a language at either GCSE or A level. It’s not necessarily for everyone, but doing so has its benefits. Learning a language gives you an i n s i g h t i n to a d i f fe re n t c u l t u re a n d provides a broader experience of life. One great memory I have of being at school is going on a trip to Málaga as part of my Spanish AS level. Speaking the language with the Spanish family we were living with and having them a c t u a l l y u n d e r s t a n d w h a t w e we r e saying was a great feeling.
H How ow m many any llanguages anguages d o you you do rrecognise? ecognise?
It It m makes akes ttravelling ravelling so so much much m more ore rrewarding ewarding Being able to speak the language of the locals when on holiday, even if its only a few phrases, makes travelling so much more rewarding. Some of my best memories of holidays abroad h a ve b e e n t r y i n g – a n d s o m e t i m e s failing – to speak with the locals. I’ve never not been met with a positive response. In fact , you’ll often find m o s t p e o p l e w i l l t a k e t h e t i m e to teach you more words and phrases. On a more professional note, a qualification in a language is great to have on your CV. The skills used when learning a language, including listening, reading, speaking, writing and gaining an understanding of the
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grammar rules, are very valuable and display to future employers that you have an array of communication skills. The variety of skills also helps to keep learning interesting. Sticking at learning a language, whether that be working towards a qualification or just a s s o m e t h i n g to d o i n y o u r s p a re time, shows that you have an i m p r e s s i ve l e v e l o f d e d i c a t i o n a n d motivation as you continue to develop your knowledge. A boost in self-confidence and creativity as well as improved memory are just a few more benefits of learning a language. Research has
s h ow n t h a t b e i n g b i l i n g u a l c a n d e l ay t h e r i s k o f Alzheimer ’s and dementia for an average of four and a half years. Problem-solving, logical thinking and experimentation with different words and phrases all lead to a higher level of creativity.
A great great cconversation onversation starter starter Successfully learning a new skill leads to an increase in confidence, especially if you continue to improve it . It can also lead to you meeting new people as you look for a chance to increase your speaking skills. If anything, being able to say you’re bilingual is a great conversation starter and certainly makes you a more interesting person! For students currently choosing their GCSEs, I would definitely recommend taking a language. Even if you barely remember any of it in your adult life, you’ll most likely always have a basic grasp of another language, which is great. Even though I’ve left school now, I’m still learning Spanish. I try to do a little b i t e v e r y d ay a n d m y a i m i s t o become fluent . Taking Spanish at G C S E a n d A S l e v e l h a s p ro v i d e d m e with a great foundation!
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Your life, your choices Our experience and expertise
Has your partner or spouse said they want to separate? Do you need some support on what to do next? Are you considering leaving your spouse or partner? Are you already in the process of separation or divorce? Would you like to know where you stand and what options are available to you without spending thousands on solicitors fees?
Do you need some support to get your life back on track following your separation or divorce?
info@absolute-clarity.co.uk www.absolute-clarity.co.uk Tel: 07814 009 408
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Parenting P arenting & G Guardianship uardianship with w ith R Roberta oberta Smart Smart
How How tto og get et iitt rright ight w when hen iitt goes wrong aallll g oes w rong You are a rock – I hope you know that. You are the foundation of your family’s world, their North Star, their firm footing. So if ‘the worst’ should happen and you feel like everything is falling away like a Californian m u d - s l i d e h ow c a n yo u m a i n t a i n some sense of confidence that you are still doing OK? I often hear from parents that are dealing with the fallout from a marriage breakup, health-scare or even a natural disaster (the 2007 Gloucestershire flooding is a thing of l e g e n d ) a n d m y j o b i s t o re m i n d t h e m o f a l l t h ey a re d o i n g r i g h t , even when it feels like everything is wrong.
Allow Allow lless ess iimportant mportant iissues ssues tto o ffall all a away way F i r s t l y t h e re i s p r i o r i t i s i n g – t h a t m o s t s u b t l e a r t o f a l l ow i n g s o m e less important issues to fall away whilst bringing the pressing and most urgent to the fore. For the psychologists amongst you, you may l i n k t h i s to t h e b a s i c l e v e l o f Maslow ’s Hierarchy of Needs –
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shelter, food, access to physical maintenance and functions. Sometimes it is a l l y o u c a n d o to g e t a meal in front of the kids, keep the place warm and dry, and manage at least one conversation without bursting into tears – as a n yo n e w h o h a s l o s t a partner will attest to. I s a y t h i s n o t to b e morose but to realise that beneath the veneer of respectability we put on for the public every day, we are all fighting our personal little battles with money, mental health, social situations or family nightmares – and n o t o n e o f u s i s i m m u n e f ro m a sudden and shocking change to our ‘normal.’ If this is you right now, I want you to know that you are not alone, you are certainly not weak and yes, you do deserve to be loved and supported through this transition. I urge you to reach out to someone – family if you have them, friends if you don’t , and if neither of these
appear available to you The Samaritans offer a space for you to be heard without judgement , and there is certainly no shame in utilising this incredible service.
There’s There’s m more ore support support out out there there tthan han y you ou rrealise ealise D o t a l k t o yo u r G P – j u s t t o k e e p them in the loop – even if you do not actually want medicinal intervention, and keep the kids’ schools informed of any changes at home. Not only will you get a chance to share your truth, but you might just f i n d o u t t h e re i s m o re s u p p o r t o u t there than you ever realised. Try to get outside every day and, if you can manage it, keep a diary of good things to help you remember that the whole world is not failing, just one little piece of it isn’t going according to plan at the moment. Children are resilient but they do need a safe place to process – and yo u a re u s u a l l y i t , s o i f t h ey a re d r i v i n g yo u m a d , ye t a g a i n , remember you are the safest space in their lives and they love you and trust you to be there no matter how horrible they feel. A n d i n c a s e n o o n e h a s t o l d yo u to d a y – y o u a re d o i n g a n a m a z i n g job!
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L E L B G O S E L O P D A T B R D U E G E L S I
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Waa nt to W t o hear h e a r mo m o re fro f ro m fr ca l Answe A n swer er ? T he h e L ocal
Sign Sign up up ffor or oour ur monthly monthly EE-newsletter! -newsletter! SSend end yyour our nname ame aand nd eemail mail aaddress ddress ttoo llois@thelocalanswer.co.uk ois@thelocalanswer.co.uk aand nd we’ll we’ll aadd dd yyou ou to to oour ur mailing mailing llist! ist!
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What’s On The Local Answer Event Listings are compiled and presented in good faith with the kind support of many contributors. We recommend you use the contact details provided to check event information updates prior to planning your visit. THROUGHOUT MARCH RIC JAMES, PAINTINGS, PRINTS AND SCULPTURE Local Artist Ric brings us a range of his work showcasing his years of experience across differing media. Many of the works capture his interest in New York’s art scene. Coffee Shop available. Wednesday – Saturday. 10am-4pm. www.thechapelarts.com 1 MARCH JOE BROWN Joe Brown MBE has a history that spans music halls, skiffle, rock ‘n’ roll, theatre, films, TV, radio and even circus. He commands a stage like no other. His musical skills are legend, his repartee renowned. Indeed, Joe Brown – up close and personal – what could be more entertaining! 7.30pm. £31.50. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, GL50 1QA. 0844 576 2210. cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk THE ROCKET MAN A tribute to Sir Elton John. Join us on a musical journey, charting the rise to fame of one of the biggest selling artists of all time. For times and prices visit www.everymantheatre.org.uk. The Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ. 01242 572573. 1-31 MARCH DAFFODIL & EARLY MAGNOLIA MONTH March is the perfect time to see our host of golden daffodils in all their spring glory! Wander through swathes of yellow and enjoy the spring sunshine from beneath our glorious tree canopy. We’ll soon be seeing pops of pink appear around the Arboretum too as our early flowering
magnolias start to blossom. 9am-5pm. Entrance fee applies. Batsford Arboretum, Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 9QB. 01386 701441. 1 MARCH – 15 APRIL LAMBING AT COTSWOLD FARM PARK With the first bleats of new arrivals and the anticipation of many more in the air, lambing is our favourite time of year! We hope you’ll come and share it with us. Farm park opening hours: 10.30am-5pm. Cotswold Farm Park, Kineton, Guiting Power, Cheltenham GL54 5UG. 01451 850307 2 MARCH THE MARLEY EXPERIENCE An eight piece Midlands based Bob Marley tribute band with a difference, with our lead vocalist Lionart and his undeniable vocal resemblance to the late great King of Reggae Bob Marley himself. 8pm. For prices visit www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk. 01453 760900. Stroud Subscription Rooms, George Street, Stroud, GL5 1AE. THE ELO EXPERIENCE The world’s foremost tribute to The Electric Light Orchestra. With a sensational string section, a stunning light show and large screen projection to further enhance the experience, why not come along and enjoy this incredible show. 7.30pm. £25. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, GL50 1QA. 0844 576 2210. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk 2-3 MARCH DEAR ZOO The timeless children’s classic book makes its stage premiere. This production will delight all those who have read the book (both young and old) as it unfolds with
child-engaging puppets, music and lots of audience interaction. For times and prices visit www.everymantheatre.org.uk. The Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ. 01242 572573. 3 MARCH THE MAGIC OF MOTOWN Music fans are invited to the biggest party of the year as this unstoppable show steams into town! Prepare yourself for 40 back-to-back classic Motown hits, glittering costume changes, dazzling dance moves and outstanding musicianship! 7.30pm. £28.50. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, GL50 1QA. 0844 576 2210. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk 4 MARCH SECRETS OF SILK WOOD GUIDED WALK Take in the stunning seasonal sights of the ancient Silk Wood. Our volunteers will guide you round the ancient woodland, and reveal some of the hidden gems of the arboretum. Guided walks set off from outside the Welcome Building. Please wear suitable clothing and footwear for outdoor walking. Dogs on leads are welcome. 11am. Free after admission. Westonbirt Arboretum, Tetbury GL8 8QS. 0300 067 4890. BOLSHOI LIVE: THE FLAMES OF PARIS In the era of the French Revolution, Jeanne and her brother Jérôme leave Marseille for Paris in support of the revolutionary effort that is taking over the capital. While fighting for freedom, they both encounter love along the way… 3pm. £15. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. rosestheatre.org
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7 MARCH MARCH THE MAGNIFICENT MUSIC HALL
With a show packed full of talent, we invite you on a journey down memory lane to the glorious and glamourous heyday of the great ‘British Music Hall’ – a truly golden era. An evening of rich entertainment of song, dance, magic and laughter. 7pm. £16 (£14, students £12.50). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk MACBETH All the drama, intrigue and madness of Macbeth in 80 high-octane minutes; more than 20 characters brilliantly and boldly brought to life by just two actors. 7.30pm. £14.50 – £19.50. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. www.rosestheatre.org. THE BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL 2018 Experience an extraordinary collection of short films from the world’s most prestigious mountain film festival. Follow the expeditions of some of today’s most incredible adventurers, see amazing footage of adrenaline packed action sports and be inspired by thought-provoking pieces shot from the far flung corners of the globe. 7.30pm. £14. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, GL50 1QA . 0844 576 2210. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk MOTHER’S DAY FLOWERS Would you like to handmake your mum a bouquet of flowers in time for Mother’s Day? If so, Josephine’s Fabulous Flowers will be here to help you do just that. £50pp including afternoon tea. Workshop starts at 11am with coffee and croissants. The workshops last two hours, and afternoon tea is served at 1pm. Tudor Farmhouse Hotel, High Street, Clearwell, GL16 8JS. 01594 833046. MARCH 77-13 -13 MARCH FROM TUNDRA TO TAIGA : LIFE IN ARCTIC RUSSIA The exhibition of Stu McKenzie’s photography aims to offer a rare glimpse into the traditional way of life of the Nenets people of the Russian Arctic and to tell the story of their daily fight, not only with the polar conditions but also with encroaching modernity. Montpellier Gardens, Cheltenham GL50 1UZ. www.gardensgallery.co.uk
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8 MARCH MARCH THE MEDIEVAL FOREST WITH TIM PORTER The romances of Robin Hood give us one version of the Forest, but the reality is even more intriguing. This talk is a tour through the medieval greenwood – its landscapes, inhabitants and savage laws. £6.75 per adult, £5.75 for season ticket holders. Corinium Museum, Park Street, Cirencester, GL7 2BX. coriniummuseum.org BBC NATIONAL ORCHESTR RA A OF WALES
Possibly the highlight of our 17-18 series is the visit of one of the great polymaths of the modern international classical scene – pianist, composer, writer and painter, Stephen Hough. 7.30pm. Prices vary. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, GL50 1QA . 0844 576 2210. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk 9 MARCH MARCH GARDEN DESIGN FUNDAMENTALS We will take a look at some of the fundamental principles of garden design, examples in real gardens and how to apply them in your garden at home. An opportunity to go home full of ideas to start thinking about different design elements in your own garden. 10.30am. £30. For more details please visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hidcote Hidcote Manor Garden, Hidcote Bartrim, Chipping Campden GL55 6LR. 01386 438333. ONLY FOOLS AND BOYCIE An intimate evening with ‘Only Fools and Horses’ actor John Challis. In this one-off show the national treasure will reveal secrets from the set with stories and anecdotes from his dazzling career. He will also meet fans after the show to sign autographs and copies of his autobiography and novel. £17. 01452 503050. Guildhall Theatre, Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, GL1 1NS. ABBA SENSATION A stunning stage show, which combines costume changes, lighting effects and a faithful reproduction of the ABBA sound. The band love audience participation, so you can sing along, clap or even get up and dance. 7.45pm. £13. The Kings Theatre, Kings Barton Street, Gloucester GL1 1QX. 01452 300130 1100 MARCH MARCH LUCCYY PORTER: CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES In these combative times, it’s easy to be irritated, offended or downright enraged
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by other people. How do we know which causes are worth fighting for? Lucy uses her hilarious experiences to help you decide. £14 (£12). 7.30pm. Over 16s. 01452 503050. Guildhall Theatre, Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, GL1 1NS. 110-11 0 -11 MARCH MARCH MOTHERING SUNDAY FAMILY EVENT This Mother’s Day we’ll be celebrating family ties with our very special family event. Head to the Learning Centre in the Old Arboretum to discover folklore links between trees and family, and have a go at making spring flower crafts for someone special. Free after admission. 11am-3pm. Westonbirt Arboretum, Tetbury GL8 8QS. 0300 067 4890. 11 11 MARCH MARCH MOTHER’S DAY LUNCH Treat your mum this with a special three course lunch in our Bar and Brasserie along with tea/coffee and a special gift for Mum! £28 per adult. £14 per child under 12 (under 5s eat free). Mercure Gloucester Bowden Hall Hotel, Bondend Road, Gloucester GL4 8ED. 0844 815 9077. MOTHERING SUNDAY AT BATSFORD We’ll be spoiling Mums rotten with free entry to the arboretum when accompanied by a paying child (includes grown-up ‘children’!). If you’re planning on making a day of it, why not stay for lunch or afternoon tea in the Garden Terrace Café? No need to book , just turn up and enjoy! Batsford Arboretum, Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 9QB. 01386 701441. OPEN GARDENS – MOTHER’S DAY AT MILL DENE GARDENS Enjoy a relaxing afternoon in this 2.5 acre country garden with a difference. A mill pond, grotto, herb garden and fruit trees are just a handful of the delights here, along with tea and cake. 11am-4pm. Tickets £5 (available on the gate). Mill Dene Garden, Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 9HU. MOTHERING SUNDAY CONCERT This special concert of music for upper voices includes works from Lassus to Britten. Dame Sarah Connolly joins the girls in a joint performance of Schubert’s Zögernd leise. A complimentary glass of pink fizz will be served at the end of the concert. 4pm. Adults £16, under 12s free. Tickets available from the Cathedral shop (01452 768928). Gloucester Cathedral, 12 College Green, Gloucester GL1 2LX. MOTHER’S DAY AFTERNOON TEA Take a seat in our Swan Café and enjoy a Caribbean flamingo backdrop and views of the reserve as you celebrate Mother’s Day with your family. Places are limited so please book in advance online. Adults £17.95, children £9.95. Full details at wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/slimbridge WWT Slimbridge, Bowditch, Gloucester GL2 7BT. 01453 891900.
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Mother’s Day S Sunday unday 1 11th 1th M March arch £28 per adult £14 per child under 12 (under 5 eat free) Treat your mum this Mother’s Day with a special three course lunch in our Bar & Brasserie at Bowden, along with tea and coffee and a special gift for mum!
Absolutely Fabulous Friday F riday 1 13th 3th A April pril 3 course dinner and dancing £35 per person ffyy and Eddie as they take you Come and join Patsy, Saff down memory lane, the only problem is they are not invited, but Patsy has a plan! What could possibly go wrong? Anyone for champagne?
M Mercure ercure B Bowden owden H Hall all H Hotel otel • Bondend Bondend Lane Lane • Upton Upton St St Leonards Leonards • Gloucester Gloucester • GL4 GL4 8ED 8ED www.mercuregloucester.co.uk ww.mercuregloucester.co.uk e events@mercuregloucester.co.uk vents@mercuregloucester.co.uk 0 01452 1452 255 255 012 012 w 13 MARCH JONATHAN PIE: BACK TO THE STUDIO The frustrated news reporter is back and angrier than ever. Pie attempts to host a night of serious discussions on current affairs whilst simultaneously attempting to smash the system from within. 7.30pm. £24.50. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, GL50 1QA. 0844 576 2210. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk THE SLEEPING BEAUTY When the wicked Carabosse casts a deadly spell on Princess Aurora, the Lilac Fairy changes the spell to instead consign the entire palace to a deep sleep. A century later Prince Désiré revives the Princess with a kiss, the palace awakes, and a parade of fairy-tale characters attend a most joyous wedding. 7.30pm. £17.50 – £25. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. rosestheatre.org 14 MARCH SKERRYVORE SKERRYVORE have been on a meteoric journey that has taken them from the remote Isle of Tiree on to International tours that have included performances in Central Park NYC. They create a unique fusion of folk, trad, rock and Americana. 8pm. £18. 01453 760900. Stroud Subscription Rooms, George Street, Stroud, GL5 1AE. www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk
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15 MARCH WOMEN IN PRINT: BRIDGET RILEY, JOAN WILLIAMS, JANET FISHER AND MORE Come and learn how The Wilson acquired these artworks, how the artists made them, and how we continue to look after them today so that generations can continue to enjoy them tomorrow. £12, £10 conc (includes a glass of wine and nibbles). 6pm. The Wilson, Clarence Street, Cheltenham GL50 3JT. 01242 237431. DEREK ACORAH The pioneer for Spiritualism and Mediumship on television, Derek is arguably the world’s most renowned Spirit Medium, having demonstrated to hundreds of thousands of people in theatres throughout the UK. 7.30pm. £20 (£18.50 conc). 01453 760900. Stroud Subscription Rooms, George Street, GL5 1AE. www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk 16 MARCH FLIGHT OF THE SWANS – THE POWER OF A GOOD STORY A key challenge to save a species is to stimulate and coordinate the activities of the species experts. A bigger problem is to engage others – hunters, farmers and authorities – who also have a part to play. Flight of the Swans was WWT’s novel approach to achieve this. Event organised by the Forest of Dean Group of the GWT. 7.30pm. £2 including refreshments. Free
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for children (7+ years). Catholic Church Hall, Cinder Hill, Coleford, GL16 8HN. MALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS: A WHODUNNIT IN WONDERLAND Six months after Alice first tumbled down the rabbit hole, all hell has broken loose in Wonderland. Join us for an interactive sleuthing evening in the Cathedral nave and help to solve the mystery of Malice through the Looking Glass. 7.30pm. £23 (includes welcome drink and cheese platters). Tickets available from the Cathedral shop (01452 768928). Gloucester Cathedral, 12 College Green, GL1 2LX. SUPERSTARS OF WRESTLING Come and experience the excitement and atmosphere first hand as top names in British wrestling battle it out in an evening of high impact wrestling action, suitable for all the family. 7pm. £10-£13. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. www.rosestheatre.org 16 MARCH – 15 APRIL THE SECRET GARDEN: A MUSICAL After losing both parents to cholera in India, young Mary Lennox is sent to England to live with her hermit uncle, Archibald Craven. Everything changes when Mary decides to revive the beauty of her Aunt Lily’s overgrown secret garden. For times and prices visit barntheatre.org.uk. The Barn Theatre, 5 Beeches Road, Cirencester GL7 1BN.
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1177 MARCH MARCH BREWERY TAP – IRISH NIGHT Our monthly Brewery Tap celebrates St Patrick’s Day with an Irish themed night – Irish music and Irish themed food and cocktails! Come and enjoy great beer and food with us. 6-11.30pm. Hillside Brewery, Holly Bush Farm, Ross Road, near Longhope, GL17 0NG, 01452 830222. 1177 & 2244 MARCH MARCH CANTORES CHAMBER CHOIR Cantores Chamber Choir presents a concert of music on the theme of Light on March 17th in Cirencester Parish Church at 7.30pm, and 24th March in St Peter’s Church Leckhampton, Cheltenham at 7.30pm. The main work is ‘Lux Aeterna’ by the American composer Morten Lauridsen, with other pieces by Brahms, Byrd, Gretchaninov, Rutter, Tallis and Wood. Tickets £15 (concessions available) via our website: www.cantores.net, Andrew Gummer (01242 573193) and on the door. 20 MARCH MARCH – 15 15 A PRIL 20 APRIL THE HARRIS DYNASTY EXHIBITION The first ever ‘Harris Dynasty’ exhibition, showcasing 50 years of unique studio glass designs by the late Michael Harris and his two sons, Timothy and Jonathan, both independent glassmakers, worldrenowned for their own unique and individual styles. 10am-5pm. Nature in Art, Wallsworth Hall, Sandhurst, Gloucester GL2 9PA . 01452 731422. 2222 MARCH MARCH AN ILLUSTRATED TALK BY STEPHEN DUNLEAVY Fat Kangeroos to Jumbo’s Blues, working with David Attenborough to tell stories from the past. Dunleavy’s credits include David Attenborough’s ‘Life in the Undergrowth’, ‘Saving Planet Earth’, ‘Natural World’ and ‘Little Prairie Dogs’. £8 (includes buffet supper). Tickets must be booked in advance. 7pm. Nature in Art, Wallsworth Hall, Sandhurst, Gloucester GL2 9PA . 01452 731422. 2244 MARCH MARCH BACH – B MINOR MASS The Cheltenham Bach Choir and the Musical and Amicable Society Baroque Orchestra perform JS Bach’s magnificent Mass in B minor in Cheltenham Town Hall at 7.30pm. www.cheltbachchoir.com. Tickets £10 -22 from the Town Hall box office, website, or call 0844 5762210. BAKE BACK IN TIME Join our historic cook as she makes a variety of dishes from Mrs Beeton’s 1880 Shilling Cookery. Visitors are able to try the dishes themselves. Tea is also served in the basement. Free with normal admission. Drop-in any time from 11-3pm. Holst Birthplace Museum, 4 Clarence Road, Cheltenham GL52 2AY. 01242 524846.
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25-26 25-26 MARCH MARCH COMMUNITY WEEKEND To celebrate English National Tourism week Dean Heritage Centre invite you to discover the history of the Forest of Dean, from the Ice Age to the present day. 10am-4pm. Dean Heritage Centre, Camp Mill, Soudley, Forest of Dean, GL14 2UB. APRIL 2277 MARCH MARCH – 22 22 A PRIL ICE BOUND EXHIBITION Darren Rees received the Artist in Residency honour from the Friends of The Scott Polar Research Institute, travelling to the Antarctic Peninsula. This display presents some of his sketches and paintings executed in situ, plus some studio pieces completed on his return. 10am-5pm. Nature in Art, Wallsworth Hall, Sandhurst, Gloucester GL2 9PA . 01452 731422. 30 APRIL 30 MARCH MARCH – 2 A PRIL EASTER EGGSTR RA AVAGANZA This Easter’s activities are set to delight visitors with the opportunity to experience fantastic dragon puppetry, get face-to-face with a baby dragon and take part in the colourful Chinese Dragon Parade. For full details visit www.berkeley-castle.com. Berkeley Castle, GL13 9BQ. 01453 810303. 3300 MARCH MARCH – 14 14 A APRIL PRIL FAMILY EASTER TRAIL A brand-new trail for the Easter holidays featuring specially-created characters by author and illustrator Hannah Shaw. Collect the clues around the Garden and use them to work out where to find your chocolate prize! £1 (plus normal admission). 10.30am. Painswick Rococo Garden, Gloucester Road, Painswick , Stroud GL6 6TH. 01452 813204. 3300 MARCH MARCH – 15 15 A APRIL PRIL THE BIG BATSFORD BUNNY HUNT! The Easter Bunny’s helpers have escaped and they’re hopping around the Arboretum – find them to win a prize! £2.50 per child (plus Arboretum entrance fee). All children must be accompanied by an adult. No booking required – just turn up and enjoy! Batsford Arboretum, Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 9QB. 01386 701441. EGGSPERIENCE EASTER Do you know what happened on the very first Easter Day? Come to the Cathedral this Easter and you can follow a trail around the building and find out for yourself. The ‘Eggsperience’ Easter Trail can be collected from a Cathedral Welcomer or downloaded from our website. Mon-Sat 10.30am-4pm. Sun 12-2pm. Gloucester Cathedral, 12 College Green, GL1 2LX. 01452 528095. DUSTY’S GIANT EASTER DUCK HUNT Help Dusty find our cheeky GIANT yellow ducks hiding around our stunning grounds this Easter! You’ll have a quacking time exploring the Centre. You’ll need to use all your special detective skills to track down these cheeky ducks and claim your prize!
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For full details visit wwt.org.uk/wetlandcentres/slimbridge WWT Slimbridge, Bowditch, Gloucester GL2 7BT. 01453 891900. 3311 MARCH MARCH EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA Join us for a day of Easter-themed, familyfriendly activities and crafts. 11am-2pm. Free entry. Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, Crickley Hill, Birdlip, GL4 8JY. 01452 863170. HEDGEROW EASTER BASKETS Come and learn how to make a simple basket out of hedgerow material to hold all your Easter eggs or just to enjoy for the rest of the year. 10am-5pm. £45 members/£55 non-members. Nature in Art, Wallsworth Hall, Sandhurst, Gloucester GL2 9PA . 01452 731422. APRIL 1 APRIL EASTER ANTIQUES & VINTAGE FAIR A great day out for avid collectors, casual browsers and families looking for an alternative day out. An opportunity to find alternative gifts, affordable retro home decor and the missing piece to a collection. 10am-4pm. Free entry. Taurus Crafts, The Old Park , Forest of Dean, Lydney GL15 6BU. 01594 844841. 2 APRIL APRIL THE EASTER EGGSPRESS This ‘eggsellent’ event will be taking place at Winchcombe Station. You will have the chance to meet the Easter Bunny and take part in lots of fun Easter activities and win prizes. For full details please visit www.gwsr.com. 01242 604134. 4-8 APRIL APRIL 4-8 CHEPSTOW WALKING FESTIVAL Grab your walking boots for 5 days of walking fun! 35 walks varying in length between 2-15 miles led by experienced walk leaders. For full programme and how to book visit www.walksinchepstow.co.uk 1133 APRIL APRIL AN EVENING OF BURLESQUE & CCA ABARET
Hundred Watt Club presents a dazzling evening of vintage inspired burlesque and cabaret. With sublime showgirls and ridiculous comedy, it’ll be naughty…and very, very nice! Over 18s only. This show employs and embraces adult themes and partial nudity. 8pm. Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, GL1 1NS. Tickets £15 plus booking fee. Call the box office on 01452 503050 or visit www.seetickets.com and search ‘Hundred Watt Club’.
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Mix & Match this Easter at The Bird & Deer Park Ginger, Heather & Basil – the newly released, hand tame fallow deer – are ready to welcome you. The naughty Pygmy Goats also love being hand fed and can be found next to the Castle Folly on the hill. The friendly birds meet and greet upon arrival, with the peacocks displaying their beautiful trains and the ducks waddling around trying to catch your attention. The Reindeer are fed at 11am daily and can be viewed from the visitor centre’s charming balconies overlooking the park whilst enjoying a relaxing cup of coffee, or why not have a browse in the shop!
T The he Bird Bird and and Deer Deer Park, Park, Prinknash, Prinknash, Cranham, Cranham, Gloucester Gloucester GL4 GL 4 8
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We have special offer tickets exclusively available every day during the Easter holidays – PLUS 20% off other entrance tickets! Mix & Match a ‘Granny or Gramps Gets in Free’ ticket with a 20% discounted Adult entrance ticket for a total saving of £9.90! Alternatively, Mix & Match a ‘Granny or Gramps Gets in Free’ ticket with a ‘Marvellous Mum’ ticket for a saving of £8.20, you’ll also receive a free bag of bird food and a hot drink! All special offers have been extended throughout this holiday period and a 20% discount will also be applied to other online purchases of entrance tickets. Gypsy Caravan Party bookings are currently being offered at an exceptional 20% discount for a very limited time only – book your party now! We’re offering fantastic value on tickets so make re you visit www.thebirdpark.com to pick up a eat offer this Easter! hese special offers are applicable for advance nline ticket purchases and are valid for use ring this Easter holiday period only (31st arch to 15th April 2018).
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Wildlife W ildlife M Matters atters with with Caroline Caroline Shelley Shelley
Mad Mad M March arch H Hares ares March has arrived and in doing so heralds the official arrival of spring, a n d n o t a m o m e n t to o s o o n . T h e clock change will mean gradually l i g h te r e v e n i n g s a n d a l l a ro u n d winter will start to release its grip as the spring flowers drag t h e m s e l v e s f ro m t h e i r s l u m b e r to brighten our countryside, gardens a n d to w n s . A s we l l a s p l a n t s , animals will become easier to spot as ‘spring-fever’ takes hold and one such example is the brown hare.
IIdentifiable dentifiable b by y ttheir heir llonger onger e ears ars a and nd llegs egs
Unlike rabbits, hares do not live in g r o u p s u n d e rg ro u n d b u t t a k e s h e l te r i n d i t c h e s o r i n s h a l l ow depressions called ‘forms’ and live solitary lives. A young hare is called a leveret and they are born with a full coat of hair and open eyes. From a young age the leveret will be left alone for prolonged periods of time so, if you should ever find a young hare, do not assume it has been abandoned. Watch for the mother from a distance as it is u n l i k e l y s h e w i l l re t u r n to t h e leveret if she is aware of your presence.
Brought to Britain by the Romans, h a r e s a re c l a ss i f i e d i n t o t h e s a m e family as rabbits but are identifiable by their longer ears, which have black tips, and their longer back l e g s. T h es e l o n g e r b a c k l e g s make them excellent runners and they can reach speeds of up to 45 miles per hour. Their habitat tends to be grassland and at woodland edges.
Brown hares were once a common sight but their population has decreased dramatically over the last century. March, however, is a g o o d t i m e to s p o t h a r e s a s t h e y
© Simon Stirrup
become very active as the breeding season commences. The expression ‘mad as a March hare’ suddenly m a k e s s e n s e a s yo u s e e t h e m leaping and bounding around the fields and, if you are lucky, frantically ‘boxing’ each other. I t w o u l d b e l o g i c a l t o a ss u m e t h a t w h e n yo u s e e t w o h a re s going head to head that you are s e e i n g a d i s p u te fo r te r r i to r y between two males but this is n o t t h e c a s e. W h a t i s a c t u a l l y h a p p e n i n g i s a s t h e fe m a l e s (known as jills) come into season, the males (known as jacks) are in hot pursuit and it is their overenthusiastic endeavours that result i n t h e f e m a l e s fe n d i n g t h e m o f f with a box round the ears.
LLoss oss o off h hedgerows edgerows a and nd hunting h hunting have ave influenced influenced ttheir heir d dramatic ramatic d decline ecline
© Daphne Davis
The Local Answer
The dramatic decline in the brown h a re p o p u l a t i o n i s p a r t l y d u e to changes in farming practices. Hares require a year round food supply as they do not hibernate, and modern farming practises make this c h a l l e n g i n g . T h e l o ss o f o u r hedgerows has also played its part as they provide important shelter. Finally, hunting has taken its toll on hare numbers. There are however s o m e o rg a n i s a t i o n s, s u c h a s T h e Hare Preservation Trust , working h a rd to p r o t e c t t h e h a r e a n d p r eve n t i t b e i n g l o s t f ro m o u r landscapes completely. To advertise call 01242 510500
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A All ll Landscaping Landscaping and and Horticultural Horticultural work work undertaken undertaken • FFull ull LLandscape andscape D Design esign &C Consultation onsultation •G Garden/Commercial arden/Commercial M Maintenance aintenance • LLawn awn C Care are & T Treatment reatment • FFencing encing • P Patios atios • SShrub/Hedge hrub/Hedge P Pruning runing P PROFESSIONAL ROFESSIONAL • TRAINED TRAINED • COMMITTED COMMITTED
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IIn nT The he Garden Garden with w ith JJulia ulia Smith Smith
IIt’s t’s ttime ime tto op prune! rune! I t i s m y h o p e t h a t by t h e t i m e you’re reading this, spring will have s p r u n g a n d we m a y h a ve s l i g h t l y better weather than the first two months of the year – finger ’s crossed! March is the time to prune your bush-roses (hybrid teas and floribundas) if you haven’t done so already. Cut off all the spindly twigs and anything dead, damaged or diseased. Cut to an outward facing bud, leaving about 2.5cm of last year’s growth on weaker stems and a bit more on stronger stems.
Encourage Encourage n new ew sshoots hoots to to e emerge merge Shrub roses don’t need such drastic pruning , and with these if they are looking a bit congested, cut out about one third of the thickest , oldest branches at the base with a pruning saw, thus encouraging new shoots to emerge. Take about 10cm off the to p o f t h e re m a i n i n g s te m s to finish, and feed with a handful of rose fertiliser. Winter flowering heathers look b e t te r fo r a n a n n u a l p r u n i n g to keep the plants compact and bushy.
The books recommend using secateurs but if there is a large area of heathers it is easier to use shears. Don’t cut into the old wood but just prune off nearly all of the previous season’s growth. N ow i s a g o o d t i m e to t r i m ornamental grasses. Evergreen grasses like Festuca glauca or Pampas Grass are pruned annually in early spring. The small ones like the Festuca just need their tips trimmed to remove dead bits, whilst the large Pampas can be cut
hard back to the base, and dead material raked out to let light and air into the plant centre. You will need strong gloves for this as the leaves are razor sharp! Deciduous grasses like M i s c a n t h u s a n d St i p a c a n b e cu t down to about 10cm now to get rid of the old brown stems and allow the new green growth to take over. Trim winter-flowering heathers with shears as they stop flowering to keep them compact .
Cacti Cacti a are re p popular opular a and nd demand demand little little a attention ttention C a c t i a s h o u s e p l a n t s a re becoming very popular as they suit a contemporary home and demand little attention, but can need a bit of TLC by the end of the winter. Don’t just leave them to get dusty and forgotten on a windowsill, but p u t t h e m i n s o m e f re s h s o i l ( y o u can get cactus compost from the garden centre) and put in a slightly larger pot. Watch your hands on the spines – you can use some card to make a handle to wrap around the plant . Finally, water very sparingly just around the edge, making sure not to wet the plant .
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HATHERLEY ATHERLEY HW H WORKTOPS W ORKTOPS LLTD TD Your Y our Local Local Worktop Worktop and and Kitchen Kitchen Specialists Specialists C Cheltenham heltenham b based ased Q Quartz uartz & G Granite ranite Factory Factory with w ith Display Display A Area rea I I I I I I I
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Interior Interior Design Design w with ith JJade ade W Wilce ilce
How How tto o rrevive evive yyour our kkitchen itchen The kitchen seems like the biggest project in any home, but it really doesn’t have to be; with planning and preparation key, you can give your kitchen a facelift without the extraordinary bill.
o r a l te r n a t i ve l y p a i n t t h e d o o r s another colour to make the kitchen d i f fe re n t . fe e l completely R e m e m b e r to s a n d a n d p r i m e s o the upgrade is of the best quality.
Paint Paint tthe he w walls alls
K i tc h e n h a n d l e s a r e o n e o f t h e most used things in our home and c a n s t a r t t o l o o k wo r n a n d o l d . Replace the hardware on your k i tc h e n c u p b o a r d s to s o m e t h i n g Update pdate tthe he ssplashback plashback sleek and modern in chrome, or U upgrade to on-trend brass or Remove those tired old tiles behind the sink or cooker and replace with copper. something bright and new. Try U Update pdate tthe he ffloor loor laying the tiles in a contemporary This may seem like a huge project, pattern, like herringbone, for a real but it doesn’t have to be; there are on-trend look and feel, and so many ways to update your remember the grout too. This year flooring now. Go for a complete it ’s all about coloured grout; grey overhaul and update the floor to a looks fantastic against bright whites patterned tile to give your kitchen and lights.
One of the easiest ways to update any room is to give the walls a lick of paint . With many brands now offering durable paint for kitchen walls the world is your oyster. Go light for a fresh look to brighten up the room or go dark for a dramatic contemporary feel in your kitchen space.
R Revamp evamp tthe he u units nits T h e i n s i d e o f m o s t k i tc h e n cupboards are fine, but it ’s the doors that need the facelift . You could completely replace the doors The Local Answer
Replace R eplace tthe he h hardware ardware
space a real dramatic upgrade. Alternatively, replace tiles with wood flooring for a warmer look and feel. If those options sound a little too much, paint over existing wooden floors with floor paint to make the ro o m f e e l l i g h t a n d b r i g h t . T h e r e are so many different colours to c h o o s e n ow f o r f l o o r p a i n t – yo u might find picking a colour a little tricky!
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QUALITY Q UALITY KITCHEN K ITCHEN FACELIFTS F ACELIFTS
F For or a b beautiful eautiful new new k kitchen itchen ... ... jjust ust change c hange the the d doors oors
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Installed by local skilled tradesmen G Save £1000s with a makeover G Trusted reputation G
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1 18 8H High igh Street, Street, Stonehouse, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire Gloucestershire GL10 GL10 2NA 2NA
Transforming T ransforming K Kitchens itchens a across cross G Gloucestershire loucestershire
L R: LR Bill Owen (Director, Dream Doors), ) Theresa Wa W tt (Mayoress of Stonehouse), ) Charlene Herbert, t Simon Herbert (Owner), Jane Arther (Showroom Assistant) and Troy Tappenden (Managing Director, Dream Doors)
M ake yyour our d ream kkitchen itchen a rreality eality – Make dream vvisit isit Dream Dream D oors’ n ew sshowroom howroom Doors’ new Get ready for Dream Doors to inspire you to transform your kitchen. They’re the largest retail franchised kitchen door replacement company in the UK and their success is only increasing. The company are proud to have opened their newest showroom in Stonehouse to serve Gloucestershire, meaning they now have over 80 outlets across the UK – an impressive figure! S i m o n H e r b e r t , ow n e r o f t h e Gloucestershire franchise, is ready to p ro v i d e a s o l u t i o n f o r t i r e d k i t c h e n s across the county. He’s certainly made a good start and received a warm reception at the official opening with Mayoress of Stonehouse Theresa Watt saying she was “delighted to welcome a new business.” A very motivated individual, Simon had no difficulty expressing his passion for the company he works for – “they’re a m a z i n g , a n d s t i l l g r ow i n g ” . H e s a i d : “Customers across Gloucestershire will receive the personal approach that comes with a family-run showroom, w h i l s t a l s o b e i n g s e c u re i n t h e knowledge that Dream Doors is a trusted national brand.”
It hasn’t all been easy, though. “It was a challenge. We operated from home for six months, so we’re thrilled that we’ve now got this base,” said S i m o n . “ W h e n we f i r s t s t a r te d , t h e room was in a very poor state – damp and dreary. The team have been great – we all pulled together and put a lot of work in to making the premises fit for purpose, so we’re really excited about showing it off to the public.”
You’ll Y ou’ll b be e sspoilt poilt ffor or cchoice hoice T h e f i n i s h e d s h o w ro o m i s , i n d e e d , something to be proud of – the pristine, we l l - l i t a n d m o d e r n e n v i ro n m e n t i s ideal for housing the variety of made to measure kitchen designs that cater for different tastes. The displays range from traditional to ultra-modern designs, with plenty of colours and materials to choose from, so you’ll be spoilt for choice. It ’s a good thing Simon rose to the challenge, because Dream Doors’ latest d i s p l ay i n i t i a t i v e i s s u re to p rov i d e a n enhanced c u s to m e r experience. “Creating this new facility helps to endorse the great products and fantastic
service we’ve been providing in Gloucestershire. With no need for appointments, people can now relax as t h e y v i s i t to v i e w a n d fe e l w h a t we have to offer, making it easier for them to decide on their new kitchen,” he said. The team at Dream Doors know how important it is to have a kitchen that re f l e c t s yo u r p e r s o n a l s t y l e a n d a re dedicated to providing a space you’ll be proud of. And if you’re after a client e n d o r s e m e n t , S i m o n s ay s n u m e ro u s c u s to m e r s p rov i d e s at i sf i e d confirmation of the high quality service he and the team deliver – including Roger and Hazel who recently described Dream Doors’ work as “fantastic from start to finish”. If Simon and his team can transform their outlet , they can certainly transform a kitchen. They displayed v i s i o n a n d p u t a h u g e e f fo r t i n to making a great quality showroom, so imagine the same level of expertise and commitment going into your kitchen! You may not have to imagine fo r l o n g t h o u g h – by p a y i n g t h e m a visit now, your dream kitchen could become a reality very soon.
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Gadgets G adgets & G Gizmos izmos with with Laura Laura N Nicklin icklin
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GAME G AME
With the impending release of Steven Spielberg’s latest blockbuster ‘Ready Player One’, many devoted gamers are going to be able to relive the nostalgia of their favourite g a m e s . Fr o m t h e ‘ 8 0 s h e yd ay o f Pacman and Street Fighter, to more modern gaming franchises like Tomb Raider and Sonic The Hedgehog , these games have proven they have lasting impact on our culture. For those looking to experience more of w h a t t h e g a m i n g i n d u s t r y h a s to offer, take a look at some of these g a d g e t s t h a t c a n b r i n g t h e f u n to your living room.
built-in games, you can always use the cartridge slot for any Mega Drive G a m e s y o u m i g h t s t i l l ow n . E n j oy t h e m u l t i p l ay e r a c t i o n a s y o u compete in Boss Battles, or even b a t t l e a g a i n s t yo u r f r i e n d s fo r t h e ultimate gaming championship. At £69.99, the Sega Mega Drive Classic a l l ow s y o u t o e n j o y a m o re o l d school style of gaming.
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SSega ega Mega Mega D Drive rive CClassic lassic with w ith 8 81 1g games ames If you’re seriously into your retro gaming devices, then you’ll a p p re c i a te t h e S e g a M e g a D r i v e Classic. This 2-player console comes f u l l y p a c k e d w i t h u p to 8 1 c l a ss i c built-in games, including the Phantasy Star series, Mortal Kombat, Sonic The Hedgehog and Golden Axe. And if you don’t find yourself completely spoilt for choice from the The Local Answer
This unique video game console has already proved itself to be ground-breaking with its variety o f g a m e p l a y o p t i o n s, w h e t h e r you’re looking to use it as a handheld device or connect it to play on your TV. This console is p e r fe c t fo r those looking to enjoy games with the family and to permanently keep the kids (and grown-ups) occupied. The Nintendo Switch has seen a dramatic change in recent fortune for Japanese v i d e o g a m e d ev e l o p e r s, with games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, S u p e r M a r i o O d y s s ey a n d Overcooked bringing fastpaced lasting fun that ’s s u i t a b l e fo r a l l a g e s . I f you’re looking for the latest in innovative gaming, then this is a must for all old and
new gamers alike. Available from GAME at £279.99
P Pac-Man ac-Man P Pixel ixel G Ghost host Lamp Lamp If you’re wanting real old-school, then this familiar chap really shows it in his 3D glory. The iconic ghost from Pacman is perhaps one of the most memorable game characters of the ‘80s and immediately reminds you of arcade mania in its heyday. The ghost lamp comes in normal and party mode, alternating through 16 different colours, and can be plugged into a laptop’s USB port . The party mode feature makes the lamp change colours according to music, also making it a cool gadget for parties. At £22.49, this adorable lamp makes for a quirky addition to your home and a great collector ’s piece for any ‘80s kids who miss the days of hanging out at arcades at the weekend.
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The Local Answer
Save S ave t the he P Planet lanet with w ith L Lily ily C Curle urle
Recycling: Recycling: bbehind ehind tthe he sscenes cenes For many people, recycling is a day to day activity that they don’t put much thought into. Simply rinse the can, jar or bottle, put it in a box that g o e s a t t h e e n d o f t h e d r i ve a n d have somebody else take it away for you. However, behind the scenes a lot more goes into it than many people think . Here’s what really happens to your recycling , and some tips to make the most of what you can.
TThe he p process rocess Dry recyclables are taken to one of m a n y M R F ( M a t e r i a l s R e c yc l i n g Facilities) where they are sorted into individual items: mostly paper, plastic and glass. From here, the items are sent off to their relevant plant to be recycled; food tins are m e l t e d d ow n to m a k e c a r components and parts of large electrical items, and drinks cans are melted and reformed into new cans which can be in shops again in six weeks. G l a ss b o t t l e s a re c r u s h e d a n d r e m o d e l e d i n to n e w i te m s ,
although some crushed glass is also u s e d to h e l p m a k e ro a d s . P l a s t i c bottles are shredded and made i n to a m u l t i t u d e o f p l a s t i c items, including your recycling bins, and paper is pulped and re fo r m e d , b a c k o n the newsstand in as little as two weeks.
What’s tthe What’s he point? p oint? R e c yc l i n g household waste, as well as p r eve n t i n g u s f ro m u s i n g m o r e v i r g i n m a t e r i a l s, a l s o stops a large amount of waste b e i n g p u t i n to l a n d f i l l , a l t h o u g h currently, only around 17% of our household waste is being recycled. When waste goes into landfill, it breaks down far more slowly and releases chemicals into the soil a ro u n d i t , m a k i n g i t u n u s a b l e f o r a ny t h i n g ot h e r t h a n d u m p i n g waste. There’s also a chance that these chemicals can reach the water system and contaminate water for both us and animals.
L a n d f i l l s i te s r e q u i r e h u g e amounts of space for everything to be gotten rid of, causing deforestation and the destruction of g re e n l a n d , a n d a s l a n d f i l l s i te s expel large amounts of greenhouse gases, this means that there are also less trees and plants to absorb the CO2. Recycling means that less energy is required to create new products, which helps decrease the amount of CO2 a product creates during its manufacture.
H How ow ccan an I rrecycle ecycle better? better? Make sure you know the recycling rules in your area: different councils will have slightly varying rules, and recycled items are collected on d i f f e re n t d a y s d e p e n d i n g o n yo u r location. Making the effort to know what you can recycle curbside and what needs to go to your nearest p l a n t w i l l s ave yo u t h e h a s s l e o f having things left on your drive at the end of the day. Try to buy recycled products to reduce the a m o u n t o f v i rg i n m a te r i a l s b e i n g used, and don’t forget that you can also recycle garden waste and food waste! The Local Answer
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O OVEN VENE& RANGE RANGFAENCLEANING CS •LMICROWAVES EANING O OVENS VENS • EXTRACTOR XTRACTOR FANS MICROWAVES HOBS HOBS • AGAS AGAS • RAYBURNS RAYBURNS
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WANT W ANT TTO O SSHARE HARE Y YOUR OUR SSPORTING PORTING SSTORY TORY O ON NO OUR UR W WEBSITE? EBSITE? Please Please e email mail ffull ull d details etails tto o ssport@thelocalanswer.co.uk port@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Ag golfer olfer w who ho played played ffootball ootball for for keeps keeps Alan Taylor has rubbed shoulders with some pretty decent footballers over the years. He was a good goalkeeper back in the day, good enough to share a pitch with one-time England internationals Mike Summerbee and Larry Lloyd, as well as Ernie Hunt , who went down in football folklore for his ‘donkey kick’ goal for Coventry City against Wolves in October 1970. “I played against Summerbee and Hunt when I was playing for Gloucestershire,” said Taylor, who will be 80 this year and lives in Brockworth. “The match was at Stonehouse. They were on Swindon’s books at the time and were playing for Wiltshire.” So how many did they score against him that day? “They didn’t ,” laughed Taylor. “Neither of them scored and I think we won 2-1.”
Taylor played 14 times for Gloucestershire, something he is rightly very proud of, and it was through the county set-up that he remembers coming up against Larry Lloyd, the big centre-half who went on to win pretty much everything in the game with Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in the 1970s and all the way through to 1980. “It was a Possibles v Probables game at Sharpness,” said Taylor,
who once broke three ribs and his nose playing for the county. “I was playing for the Probables and Lloyd was in the Possibles side. Tony Townsend was selected in front of him and he went on to play for Shortwood and Forest Green.” Taylor also became good friends w i t h fo r m e r M a n c h e s te r U n i te d goalkeeper Alex Stepney who he met at a Golden Wedding party. “I did mention to him that I was probably a better goalkeeper than him,” laughed Taylor. And what was his reply? “I quite believe that , but no one has ever heard of you!” Taylor has certainly crammed a lot of sport into his near 80 years. He’s been a regular figure at Cotswold Hills Golf Club since the mid-70s – he was club captain last year – and also played a lot of cricket for Chalford back in the day. Full story online.
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Talk to Jack Petelo for half-an-hour and you come off the phone feeling pretty good about life. That ’s because the soon-to-be 39 -year-old is one of life’s warm, Jack Petelo engaging characters. The current player/coach at Old Richians has a ready laugh and is one of those easy-to-interview types who has a story to tell and is happy to tell it. Born in Samoa, he is the cousin of Gloucester legend Tarry Fanolua who these days heads up the coaching setup at Old Richians. Like 43-year-old Fanolua, Petelo learned his rugby in the country of his birth and he certainly has fond memories of those early days. “We used to roll up a T-shirt and use that as a ball,” he laughed.
I n s p o r t , t h e re a re a h a n d f u l o f superstars where reference to them by a single name is all that is required to kick-start a conversation. Think Ali, Cruyff or even Freddie – the one-time E n g l a n d c r i c k e t a l l - r o u n d e r Fr e d d i e Flintoff. In the world of jump racing there’s Jonjo O’Neill… except that you don’t need the ‘ONeill’ of course. Jonjo is known simply as ‘Jonjo’ and a quick look at his record over the past five decades or so as a jockey and a trainer tells you everything you need to know about the greatness of the man. Even though the 65-year-old has been at or near the top of the tree for the best part of half a century, the hunger to produce winners from his Jackdaws Castle home in the heart of the Cotswolds is still driving him forward, particularly at this time of year when the four-day Cheltenham Festival, which gets under starter ’s orders on Tuesday 13th March, is just around the corner.
Clive Wilkes has taken up the whistle again… and there’s not been a VAR in sight! But before anyone gets too carried away, the one-time top Gloucestershire referee, sadly, has not been able to roll back the years and take charge of matches in the Premier League. Instead, if you want to see the now 63-year-old running a game of football a s i t s h o u l d b e r u n , yo u n e e d t o g e t y o u r s e l f d ow n to the leisure centre in Newent. Strictly speaking, it’s walking football, a n d n o t fo o t b a l l , a n d W i l k es s a i d of the increasingly popular sport : “There’s more to it Clive Wilkes t h a n m e et s t h e eye.” For full versions of all these stories and more, please visit our website: www.thelocalanswer.co.uk
Alan Taylor, left, with ex-Manchester United goalkeeper Alex Stepney
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SSimpson-Daniel impson-Daniel iiss tthe he rreal eal d deal eal It ’s now three-and-a-half years since James Simpson-Daniel was forced to retire too soon from rugby because of a serious ankle injury. And while these days he is no longer r u n n i n g r i n g s ro u n d o p p o n e n t s a t Kingsholm – the place that became his second home for 13 years – in some ways not much has changed in his life. That ’s because he’s now working in t h e wo r l d o f b i g b u s i n e s s i n Lo n d o n and although physically he is no longer p u t t i n g h i s b o d y o n t h e l i n e fo r t h e team, anyone who has worked in finance knows just how competitive an environment it is. “Yes, there are similarities,” said S i m p s o n - D a n i e l , n o w 3 5 . “ I f yo u d o well, you are rewarded. If you’re underperforming you’re out the door. “It was the same in rugby, if you didn’t perform you weren’t in the team.” S o h ow i s i t g o i n g i n t h e b u s i n e ss world? “Touch wood, it ’s going well,” said Simpson-Daniel. No surprise there, then, because Simpson-Daniel, one of Gloucester ’s f i n e s t e ve r r u g by p l a ye r s , i s o n e o f those impressive, highly articulate sorts who seems to adapt to any given situation. O n t h e f i e l d , h e h a d d a n c i n g fe e t with pace to match, could pick a pass that was beyond most players and could see a gap in the opposition’s defence almost before it was there. And when he pinned his ears back , boy could he finish. Off the field, he enjoys working for a couple of national radio stations talking about all things rugby, has been a pundit on TV and also had part ownership of 2013 Welsh Grand N at i o n a l w i n n e r M o n b e g D u d e w i t h fellow ex-international rugby players Mike Tindall and Nicky Robinson. Simpson-Daniel has always led a fullon lifestyle and nothing has changed now that he’s swapped boots and a gumshield for a collar and tie working as a foreign exchange risk manager for Afex , a global payment and risk management specialist. These days he deals with some big clients and some even bigger sums of money. The job is based in the heart of
James Simpson-Daniel in his Gloucester days. Picture: Stroud News and Journal
London and he’s been there for eight months after working in PR for bespoke betting firm Fitzdares for a year and a half. H e e n j oye d wo r k i n g a t t h e b o o k m a k e r s, s p e n d i n g m u c h o f h i s time rubbing shoulders with the great and the good of the racing world up and down the country.
TToo oo g good ood a an no opportunity pportunity tto o tturn urn d down own But when Afex came calling it was to o g o o d a n o p p o r t u n i t y fo r t h e upwardly mobile Simpson-Daniel to turn down. Mind you, it sounds pretty hard work . ”I’m based in The Strand and I need to b e at my d es k at 7 a m b e c a u s e t h e m a r k e t s h a ve b e e n g o i n g a l l n i g h t , ” said Simpson-Daniel, who lives with his wife Lucy and two children in Prestbury. “It’s quite full on and it’s not the sort of j o b I c a n i m a g i n e d o i n g at 6 0 because of burn-out.” While burn-out is a pressing concern in all walks of life, it’s a particular issue in rugby today, of course, although it was not such a big talking point when S i m p s o n - D a n i e l s t a r te d o u t o n h i s professional rugby journey in 2001. Born in Stockton-on-Tees in County
Durham, he learned his rugby at Sedbergh School in the Yorkshire Dales where he was a boarder. That was the start of a rugby journey that took him all over the world and one that would s e e h i s n a m e g o d ow n i n E n g l i s h folklore when he danced round the great Jonah Lomu at Twickenham before scoring a scintillating try for England against the Barbarians. That was a non-cap international and he won only 10 caps for his country – a ridiculously low number for someone so talented. B u t w h i l e i n j u r i e s we re l a rg e l y to blame for his stuttering England career, his time with Gloucester was altogether more successful. “ I p l ay e d a l o t o f g a m e s , ” s a i d S i m p s o n - D a n i e l of h i s C h e r r y a n d Whites career. “I’m not a stats man but I played more than 270 games which averaged out at more than 20 games a year. “I’m proud to have been a one-club player. It ’s one of my biggest achievements. I’m very proud to have played for Gloucester. “I was a professional for 13 years, I g o t c a p p e d a n d p l a y e d a l l o ve r t h e world. I had a great time.” Full story online.
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