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ANSWER A NS W E R

GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S BIGGEST LLOCAL OCAL BIGGEST M AGAZINE MAGAZINE DECEMBER D ECEMBER 22021 021

C CHELTENHAM HELTENHAM AV VERY ERY MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS FROM FROM THE THE LOCAL LOCAL ANSWER ANSWER

R R S

R Richards & Son Ltd FAMILY BUSINESS

ROOFING & SCAFFOLDING

SPECIALISTS Serving Gloucestershire and beyond

New Roofs ◆ New Builds ◆ Slate, Chimney & Tile Repairs New Valleys ◆ Felt and Battening ◆ Lead Work ◆ Leak Repairs ◆ Rubber Roofing ◆ Fibreglass Roofing ◆ Felt Roofing ◆ Guttering ◆ Soffits ◆ Fascias (range of colours) ◆ Carports ◆

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O One ne o off tthe he m many any reasons reasons tto o cchoose h o o se u us: s:

IIn n partnership partnership w with ith o our ur ssister ister ccompany, ompany, S Severn evern & W Wye ye S Scaffolding, caffolding, w we e ccreate reate a safe safe w working orking e environment nvironment w which hich e enables nables o our ur p professional rofessional tteam eam tto o ffocus ocus on on d delivering elivering a h high igh q quality uality sservice. ervice. T This his iis s more m ore ccost-effective ost-effective tthan han u using sing e external xternal sscaffolders caffolders Se evern vern & Wy ye e and a nd iis s far far m more ore cconvenient onvenient ffor or ccustomers ustomers – tthe he S SCAFFOLDING CAFFOLDING scaffold scaffold is is e erected rected a and nd rremoved emoved iin n a ttimely imely ffashion. ashion.

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Cheltenham: 43,000 43,000 copies copies Cheltenham: Cotswolds: 30,000 30,000 ccopies opies Cotswolds: opies G loucester: 46,000 46,000 ccopies Gloucester: Stroud District: District: 441,000 1,000 ccopies opies Stroud North Gloucestershire: Gloucestershire: 220,000 0,000 copies copies North

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U Unit nit H, H, C Churchill hurchill IIndustrial ndustrial EEstate, state, C Churchill hurchill R Road, oad, LLeckhampton, eckhampton, C Cheltenham, heltenham, G Gloucestershire loucestershire G GL53 L53 7EG 7EG

01242 510500 510500 Telephone T elephone 01242 iinfo@thelocalanswer.co.uk nfo@thelocalanswer.co.uk @thelocalanswer @ thelocalanswer

w www.thelocalanswer.co.uk ww.thelocalanswer.co.uk

W elcome Welcome tto oD ecember December The countdown to Christmas is now on! We’ve got loads of festive events in our What’s On section so if you’re looking for something to do in the lead up to the big day, make sure you check out the listings.

If you’ve still got Christmas shopping to do and you are in need of some inspiration, our articles have some great gift recommendations, from garden tools to travel books.

Gill Greenwell has some wonderful tips for decorating your home for the festive season in her Interior Design article, we have a tasty recipe to use up your Christmas leftovers, and Roger Jackson is back with great local sport stories.

If you’re considering promoting your event in The Local Answer, there isn’t long left to take advantage of our fantastic discount. You’ll need to book by Tuesday 7th December to save 35% on event listings. You can find more details inside.

The Local Answer team wish you a wonderful Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year!

If you use the services of any of our advertisers, please tell them you found them in The Local Answer!

Contacts C ontacts IRECTOR MANAGING MANAGING D DIRECTOR Dave Kingscott dave@thelocalanswer.co.uk

M ARKETING & EEDITORIAL DITORIAL MARKETING Lois Kingscott lois@thelocalanswer.co.uk

ACCOUNTS ACCOUNTS Rob Kingscott (01242 541071) accounts@thelocalanswer.co.uk

S SALES ALES

Amber Enright amber@thelocalanswer.co.uk ADVERTISING EENQUIRIES: ADVERTISING NQUIRIES: info@thelocalanswer.co.uk ISTRIBUTION ENQUIRIES: ENQUIRIES: LLEAFLET EAFLET D DISTRIBUTION leaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk ISTRIBUTION ENQUIRIES: ENQUIRIES: MAGAZINE M AGAZINE D DISTRIBUTION distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk

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THE MAYFLOWER

RESTAURANT A relaxed, safe dining experience

With a fully air-conditioned restaurant and seating capacity reduced by 40%, you can dine with us in a safe, relaxed environment. If you are not ready to join us in our restaurant, you can still enjoy your favourite dishes in the comfort of your own home with our Take-away service. We hope you are all staying safe and well, and hope to see you for a dine-in meal or take-away very soon.

OPENING HOURS: Monday to Saturday, 12-2pm & 5pm onward and closed on Sunday. Please note, we will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, but we are open on New Year’s Day!

We would like to wish all our customers, past and present, a wonderful Christmas!

32-34 Clarence Street, Cheltenham GL50 3NX – 01242 522426

www.themayflowerrestaurant.co.uk

Enjoy delicious Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine in our stylish restaurant

V Visit isit our our website website to to order order your your Takeaway Takeaway

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Delicious Delicious Dish Dish w with ith H Helen elen K Kingscott ingscott

Butter B utter turkey turkey ccurry urr y Jazz up your Christmas J azz u py our C hristmas lleftovers eftovers with w ith tthis his ttasty asty tturkey urkey ccurry! urry!

IIngredients: ngredients: 100g/3.5oz unsalted butter 1 whole garlic, peeled or use lazy garlic 40g/1.5oz fresh ginger, peeled or use lazy ginger 3 medium onions, finely diced 2 tsp salt 3 tbsp tomato puree Approximately 1kg/2lb turkey breast, diced 2 tbsp garam masala 2 tsp paprika 350ml water 150g/5oz salted cashew nuts Serve with: cooked white rice, fresh coriander and natural yoghurt (optional).

M Method: ethod: 1 Put the butter into a large pan and heat until melted.

2 Put the garlic and ginger into a food processor and whizz until it forms a paste. Or I used a pestle and mortar.

3 Add this to the hot butter and cook for 4 minutes until browned but not burnt.

4 Add the chopped onions, salt and tomato puree and cook for about 12 minutes until the onions are soft.

5 Add the chopped turkey and cook for 10 minutes with the lid off.

6 Add the garam masala and paprika and cook for a further 10 minutes stirring occasionally.

7 Add the water, stir together then pop a lid on and cook for a further 12 minutes, remove the lid, add the cashew nuts and cook for a further 10 minutes.

8 Serve on a bed of white rice, drizzled with some yoghurt and a sprinkling of fresh coriander.

We care care about about We environment the the environment

Precision P recision C Colour olour Printing Printing Ltd Ltd (our (our printer) printer) are are proud proud tto o be be a Forest Forest Stewardship Stewardship Council® Council® (FSC®) (FSC®) certificate certificate holder, holder, and and The The Local Local Answer Answer is is proud proud to to have have this this publication publication printed printed on on paper paper certified certified to to F FSC® SC® standards standards which which helps helps to to protect protect the the World’s Wo orld’s forests. forests.

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Page 5

Valuing V aluing sstaff taff at at National National Star Star National Star, a leading disability charity looking to employ more people in Gloucestershire, has introduced a package of measures to enhance staff benefits.

Recognising the efforts of its existing staff, and to attract people to work in care and education, the charity has just announced a generous 5% pay increase for all staff from January 2022.

N National ational Star Star iis ss showing howing its its c commitment ommitment tto o iits ts s staff taff

In addition all new staff will be welcomed with a bonus of up to £250, upon successful completion of their probation.

Add to this a health cashback scheme to help pay for potentially costly health and wellbeing treatments, a Cycle to Work scheme and money off high street retailers and family attractions, National Star is showing its commitment to its staff.

Training and development is something that is done well at National Star. With a comprehensive induction programme for all staff, through to the chance for people to study towards healthcare and adult care apprenticeships, up to degree level, there are plenty of career development opportunities on offer.

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IInteresting nteresting and and varied varied work work

Not only that but the work is interesting and varied, with care and support workers spending large amounts of time out and about in the local community supporting people with disabilities to live their best life.

A recent staff survey revealed that 96 per cent of staff were proud to work at National Star. Is it time you felt motivated at work again?

You can view National Star ’s latest vacancies at www.nationalstar.org/jobs

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Police and Crime Commissioner Chris Nelson’s

POLICE & CRIME PREVENTION PLAN ~ 2021-2025

It’s time to put words into action I am immensely proud to be able to present my first Police and Crime Prevention Plan and, as I do, I am reminded of all those people I met during my campaign to become the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Gloucestershire. People who shared their views and concerns about policing and crime on doorsteps and at public meetings.

This Plan reflects what I heard whilst campaigning and what I have learned whilst in office.

PRIORITIES • Creating safer communities • Ta ackling violence against women and girls • Strengthening your Constabulary • Ta argeting the causes of crime • Supporting victims and reducing re-offending • Empowering local communities Whilst much of this plan will be related to my vision for policing in Gloucestershire, it should not be forgotten that my role as PCC is wider than simply holding the Chief Constable to account for the performance of the Constabulary, though clearly this is a significant part of the job. The role of PCC includes the commissioning of support services for those who

have been a victim of crime; working with partners to help keep communities safe; and a duty to collaborate with other forces and other emergency services with a view to keeping individuals and communities safe from harm.

I am committed to ensuring that this is truly a living document, and will undertake regular reviews to ensure that the priorities it contains remain fit for purpose and still address the threats, risks and concerns identified by the police, partners and - most importantly - by you who live or work in Gloucestershire.

I am not afraid to say I have learned so much over the last few months and that, even in the time between drafts of this plan, my thinking has evolved. Through consultation, for example, I have heard from members of the public

You can read the Police and Crime Prevention Plan in full here: https://www.gloucestershire-pcc.gov.uk/police-and-crime-plan-priorities For a printed copy, email the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner at PCC@gloucestershire.pnn.police.uk or call 01452 754348

who want to see their Constabulary doing all it can to tackle the climate challenge. For this reason, I can say now that I will continue previous commitments to reduce the Constabulary’s carbon footprint and lead the way nationally in being an exemplar ‘green’ force.

It is a huge honour and privilege to be the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire and as your PCC, I am here to listen. I am also here as your representative to hold the Chief Constable to account and to ensure that Gloucestershire continues to be one of the safest places to live and work in the country.

C Chris hris Nelson Nelson

Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire

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Lessons Lessons from from lockdown lockdown – why is king king why self-care self-care is As we go deeper into the winter season, amid all the doom and gloom with the continued impact of the pandemic, the energy crisis, and the economic effects of Brexit, looking after ourselves has never been more important.

Are you proactively focusing on your wellbeing or have you gone ‘back to normal’ and ‘business as usual’? Sadly, I’ve started to notice some old habits creeping back, many of them detrimental to our wellbeing.

While travelling across the country recently, I’ve noticed some behaviours and attitudes that resemble pre-pandemic concerns. The most noticeable is people working longer hours to get stuff done and neglecting their wellbeing. The slower pace of lockdown seems like a thing of the past, with many burning the candle at both ends.

T The he sstresses tresses o off llife ife h have ave m made ade ssome ome p people eople lless ess kind k ind a and nd ttolerant olerant I’m sure you’ll have witnessed something in your own sphere that made you pause – as the stresses of life have increased again, people are certainly less kind, tolerant and understanding now than they were a year ago. Self -awareness, empathy and a focus on improved selfcare can take care of this.

One simple, effective way to reduce stress is to ensure that we take care of ‘number one’.

Remember, you can only be great in all areas of your life and add value to others if you look after yourself first.

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During the lockdowns last year, a lack of self-care was probably the biggest issue many people recognised in themselves as we adapted to the situation. We lost the few things many of us had access to, but possibly took for granted.

A few pints at the weekend; recreational sport and exercise; games night; lunchtime gym; commutes to decompress the day’s work before we got home; access to babysitters to facilitate the odd date night. This definitely focused minds on the importance of self-care and wellbeing, and made us even more grateful when we could get out and about again.

When people first started working from home in large numbers, there was a certain romantic appeal. However, many people struggled with being ‘locked up’ and restricted because they lacked intention and a plan about their self-care and wellbeing.

Through many different posi-

tive interventions, we started realising that we need to be more intentional about taking care of ourselves first (which is not being selfish!). This then better places us to take care of our families, friends, business/ career, clients and the wider community.

S Self-care elf-care h helps elps tto o rreduce educe tthe he risk risk of of burnout burnout Practising self-care helps to build awareness of how our bodies respond to particular exercise regimes or nutritional plans, and reduces the risk of burnout, as we have a better idea of when to stop, rest and recover.

While you may feel like you always have to be switched on when trying to achieve a health or fitness goal, rest, recovery and mental ‘downtime’ are just as important as the activity you take part in, so make sure you factor this into your schedule.

I hope you have an enjoyable and restful time over the Christmas holidays.

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B Beauty eauty advent advent calendars calendars ’Tis the season when lots of the beauty companies pull out all the stops to entice you to purchase their advent calendars. It is a great opportunity to experience different brands which you may have been tempted to buy during the year but, owing to pricing, perhaps only one product.

Advent calendars give you the chance to sample top of the range products, in the hope that after you experience them you will become a regular customer. Frankly, the biggest issue is choice and you’ll need to consider if you prefer skin care ranges or cosmetics (some companies combine the two). These calendars often sell out fast, so be quick if you want to get your hands on one.

L Liberty iberty The famed London Tudor style shop, Liberty created the original beauty advent calendar.

Of course, it is perhaps the most special at £225, but it is beautifully boxed with contents worth £840. If you are feeling lucky, one box contains a golden ticket valued at £5,000 to spend in store – now that would be a fantastic Christmas present!

Men are not forgotten with a calendar at £215, with contents valued at over £620. It contains 25 generous must-have grooming essentials. No doubt a considered purchase, but a very special gift if you can afford it.

B Boots oots Another big favourite and reasonably priced at £85, the MacMillan Ladies calendar (online only) contains 24 beauty treasures, so is sure to The Local Answer

Image: Marks & Spencer

please the lucky recipient.

Contents include a great assortment of four Liz Earle items, Ted Baker, four of their own Boots No7 products, plus other well-known names. £2 from each sale goes towards MacMillan Cancer Support, so a worthy gift.

name in the UK nail industry.

Their products consist of creamy, easy to apply formulas with a pro-wide brush, ensuring chip resistant lacquers. In fact, you could share this with all your friends – mini bottles are perfect for travel and make great little gifts.

Nivea N ivea

L’Occitane L ’Occitane

Also available at Boots for £40, spoil the men in your life with 24 surprises including an eye mask, socks, Nivea skin care and even a bottle opener – this is a fun calendar.

Originally founded in Provence, L’Occitane make beautiful quality products, from fragrant oils and soaps to skin care and hair care. The calendar takes you on a magical journey into Provence with festive classic luxury, and it delivers! Each door contains old favourites plus exciting new treats in skin care, body care and fragrance. £55 gets you £99.50 of value and, without question, highend quality products you would be proud to give as a gift, or sample yourself.

Advent calendars certainly are good value and a special annual treat. Many are only available online so if you want to avoid the rush, why not peruse your favourite brands and see what special treats they have lined up for you this year! Happy Holidays.

Marks M arks & Spencer Spencer This is an annual favourite of mine. If you spend £30 on clothing, home or beauty in store or online, you can purchase their incredible beauty calendar for only £40. Since the retail value is £300, all I can say is “race you there!”

OPI O PI For those who love manicures, this is a really cute calendar. It contains 22 minis of their wellknown best nail lacquers in a gorgeous array of shades, plus three nailcare treatments, all for just £69.90.

OPI is considered a leading To advertise call 01242 510500

Page 15

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NEW

by local author

GUY SHEPPARD

The Raven & The Crow

Jaimie can’t breathe. Jaimie can t speak. i m.

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Unit of his local Gloucestershire hospital, having s mas k ke mask beak-like and beak-li PPE and full PPE in full dressed in ne dresse someone sees someo he sees night he Next Next night te… opposite… bed opposi the bed in the Ivona in called Ivona woman called young woman attack attack a young earch the wards, she When Detective Sergeant Alison Ellis arrives to s s talk of crime and ou i t i t s r e p u s s ’ e i m i a J y l e r u S . r finds no violent intrude r who lives in a care folklore is as confused as her own elderly fathe ho me? all.’ us all.’ kill us will kill Crow will ‘The Crow out ‘The cries out Ivona cries dying Ivona the dying Except the Excep the crow-man f o y r e t s y m e h t e v l o s p l e h o t d r i b l a e r Can Ellis enlist a ? s e i d before anybody else v e? detective? play detecti ever play raven ever Can a raven Can

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D Distributors istributors R Required equired To join our waiting list for various locations in Cheltenham including:

Benhall • Coltham Fields • Hesters Way Lynworth • Pittville • Ryeworth • Whaddon Please email d distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk istribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk with your name, postal address, telephone number and date of birth. A member of our team will respond with more information. Please do not call the office – our staff are only returning to work part-time, so may not The T h e Loc Lo c al al always be available to take your call.

AN A NSW S W ER ER

G GLOUCESTERSH LOUCESTERSHIIRE’S RE’’S B BIGGEST IGGEST LLOCAL OCAL M MAGAZINE AGAZINE D DECEMBER ECEMBER 22021 021

Each round is made up of 150-400 copies per 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 towards the end of each 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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CHELT CHELTENHAM ENHAM

A VERY VERY MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS FROM FROM THE THE LOCAL LOCAL ANSWER ANSWER

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P Parenting arenting & G Guardianship uardianship w with ith R Roberta oberta S Smart mart

A new new arrival arrival Christmastime celebrates the birth of a baby so what better time to talk about preparations for your new arrival?

Preparing for the birth of your baby – especially if it is your first – is so important, so I wanted to share a few top tips for new mums that I hope you will find useful.

Remembering that all mums are different and you should always do what feels right and good for you, here is a quick list of recommended steps to take to help you get the birth experience you truly want. If there is anything you’re unsure of, be sure to talk to your GP or midwife.

R Rest est In the last four weeks, rest as much as you can. Now is not the time to be redecorating, moving furniture or rushing to complete a project. There will be many sleepless nights ahead, so now is the time to bank some shut eye!

Please take your time to rest and give your body the loving attention it so deserves – you are growing a new human and deserve to be treated like a queen.

Personally, I think this is a great time to do some affirmations, to congratulate yourself on creating and growing a whole human, and allow yourself to feel proud of all you have accomplished.

Fill Fill up up Eat well and enjoy tasty, home-cooked, nutrient-dense foods to really shore up your metabolism and energy stores. If you have been struggling with sickness throughout your pregnancy, remember that just getting some food into you is important – try not to worry too much about how healthy it is. If all you can stomach is ‘beige’ food then don’t put too much pressure on yourself.

If you feel up to it, take light exercise such as walking or swimming every day, which will help keep you mobile, especially if you are struggling with loose ligaments.

U Unwind nwind Why not try meditation? Learning to quiet the mind, deep breathing, soothing the vagus nerve, massaging the belly and lower back all serve to bring you into a space in preparation for the coming experience.

The more relaxed, mentally, physically and emotionally you are, the better. There are lots of guided meditations online that will help you sleep and relax especially in these last months while you may feel most uncomfortable.

Be Be prepared prepared Pack your hospital bag and keep it in the car in case you go into labour when you are away The Local Answer

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from home. Include changes of clothes, notes, phone charger, nappies and have your car seat fitted well in advance of the birth. Keep the tank over half full so you are not caught out!

Make M ake a n note ote Finally, consider writing a birth plan – not with the intention of everything ‘going to plan’ of course, but rather to have your wishes made clear. When you go into labour, you may not be able to convey your thoughts properly, so it can help to have it written down.

Do you want pain relief, a natural birth, would you like to breastfeed immediately, do you want your birthing partner to cut the cord, do you want the birth time noted?

Preparing for your baby’s arrival is such an exciting time and impossible to plan entirely, so I’ll sum up by saying – take care of yourself, ask questions, make your wishes known and prepare for the ride of your life!

Oh, and congratulations to all new mums reading this – you are amazing! Merry Christmas.

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Holidays H olidays & Travel Travel w with ith A All H Hidden idden

S Seasonal easonal g gifting: ifting: books cclassic lassic ttravel ravel b ooks With Christmas approaching, travel books make perfect gifftts for aspiring adventurer s. Exploring the latest bestsellers is one approach.

This year ’s top reads include Monisha Rajesh’s ‘Epic Train Journeys’; ‘Winter Pasture’, Li Juan’s tale of life with Kazakh herders; and Tom Chesshyre’s ‘Park Life: Around the World in 50 Parks’.

Alternatively, explore antiquarian bookseller s for inspiring classic travel reads and the intoxicating bibliosmia of wellthumbed pages imbued with adventure. Here are some of my favourites, with no apology that several tales are from decades ago. They’re all worth the effort of tracking down a copy.

On O n ffoot oot across across Europe Europe With various travel modes in mind, we starrtt on foot with John Hillaby’s 1974 walking classic, ‘Journey Through Europe’.

Then there’s F. S. Smythe’s 1934

‘An Alpine Journey’, about the author ’s ski-mountaineering trip across Switzerland. You know a Swissophile? They’ll love it.

From a year before Smythe’s book, and now on four legs, Aimé Félix Tschiffely’s horseback trek from Argentina to New York (‘Tschiffely’s Ride’) documents a venture contemporaneously described as ‘Impossible!

Absurd!’ by the press. Saddle up for a wonderful read.

New York’s Floyd Bennett Field was the start and finish for Post and Gatty’s recordbreaking 1931 airborne circumnavigation, as recounted in ‘Around the World in Eight Days’. What an adventure it was in their tiny singleengine Lockheed Model 5C Vega named ‘Winnie Mae’.

Oh how aviation has changed since then. Check out airline pilot Mark Vanhoenacker ’s exquisite writing in 2015’s ‘Sk yfaring: A Journey with a Pilot’. You’ll never experience air travel the same way again. It’s an enchanting book.

More More than than just just a great great ttravel ravel b book ook I was torn between several favourites for my marine recommendation. Ultimately, eschewing gripping blue-water tales such as Rosie Swale’s ‘Children of Cape Horn’ or The Local Answer

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Captain Edward L. Beach’s ‘Around the World Submerged’, I chose Merlin Minshall’s tale of crossing Europe in ‘Sperwer ’, a Dutch sailing barge.

More than just a great travel book, ‘Guilt Edged’ quickly becomes a gripping spy thriller when the Gestapo tak e an nterest in the trip… Minshall later made the fir st motorcycle crossing of the Sahara. Though impressi ve, that is a short dri ve compared with the epic London to Singapore Land Rover adventure in T im Slessor ’s ‘Fir st Overland’. It was the first travel book I read and remains a favourite.

Whether you enjoy these titles or the latest travel books, look forward to some serious inspiration for 2022’s adventures.

Here’s wishing you a seasonal bon voyage, wherever the pages take you!

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w ith O liver W ilkinson with Oliver Wilkinson of Charlton Charlton K ings V et C entre of Kings Vet Centre

Avoiding A voiding a visit visit to to tthe he vvet et at at Christmas Christmas I know this is an unpleasant topic, but I seem to spend a large part of my veterinary time around Christmas inducing dogs to vomit, which is as unpleasant as you would imagine it to be.

There are only two times I can remember not feeling moderately queasy myself, as I watched mounds of semi-digested dog food being regurgitated. Once when a dog had eaten an entire pack of Guylian chocolates. The chocolates came up whole, as the offending labrador hadn’t even bothered to chew them. They were so pristine that one of the nurses wondered aloud if we should rinse them off and return them to the owner, but I decided that was unlikely to be appreciated.

The other time was a dog that had eaten several packs of chewing gum (containing xylitol – a sweetener but toxic to dogs). The whole room was filled with a sort of minty, fresh smell that was actually quite pleasant. Those occasions aside, it’s generally pretty grim and as soon as December approaches we get calls from owners whose dogs have eaten mince pies, fruit cake, chocolates and other inedible items – discarded face masks seem to be a current popular item.

Avoid A void grapes grapes and and chocolate chocolate Grapes and their dried varieties – sultanas, currants and raisins – can all be potentially toxic to dogs. Not all dogs suffer from a susceptibility to grape toxicity, but even small quantities can cause kidney damage. Likewise, chocolate can cause variable signs, but generally speaking the darker the chocolate the more dangerous.

Toxicities aside, there are countless temptations around Christmas; unattended food left on the side is too enticing for your average pooch.

A friend recently brought in his dog that had eaten most of an uncooked BBQ meat selection.

He would probably have been OK except for the fact that he had swallowed whole half a dozen wooden skewers along with the meat.

Christmas should be a time for enjoyment and treats, so take care with your festive preparations.

Keep all the fruit cakes and mince pies safely out of reach. Don’t leave food on work surfaces or tables that dogs can reach. Avoid giving fatty leftovers to dogs on boxing day, as that’s just as likely to cause digestion issues and, unless you like your chocolates regurgitated, keep them for yourselves.

Page 22

Dragon Vets Charlton Kings is fully equipped with a sterile operating theatre, digital radiography, ultrasonography and laboratory equipment. Drop in and have a look around. You will see many of the same friendly faces from our main surgery at Dragon Vets Cheltenham.

You can book your visits and pick up pet supplies, food or medications at either surgery if it’s more convenient.

OPEN MONDAY-FRIDAY 9am- 6.30pm 17 Lyefield Road West, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham GL53 8EZ

w www.charltonkingsvet.co.uk ww.charltonkingsvet.co.uk

01242 0 1242 2 220158 20158

OPEN SATURDAY 9AM-12 NOON Prestbury Park , New Barn Lane, Cheltenham GL50 4SH

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Sudoku S udoku Fill the grids so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.

Charlton Kings Kings Pa Parish rish C Council ouncil CK Charlton

Christmas Christmas in in Charlton Kings Kings Charlton Christmas C hristmas Fayre Fayre The Christmas Fayre and switching on the tree lights on Church Piece is on Friday 3rd December from 3-6pm.

This is our traditional, much loved winter event. Father Christmas and his Elf will be ready to say hello along with their Reindeer. We will have a variety of local businesses offering food, drink and gift ideas.

Scarrotts Funfair will provide lots of fun with rides and games, and we are delighted that Charlton Kings Infant and Junior schools will again be bringing music for us to enjoy.

V Victorian ictorian Christmas Christmas The Victorian Christmas and late-night shopping evening at Sixways, London Road is on Friday 10th December from 6pm onwards.

We are delighted to be working with the local businesses to promote Sixways as a wonderful place to shop and socialize. Join the fun with an evening of dressing up, festive food, Christmas carols and Christmas shopping.

P Pop-up op-up C Christmas hristmas M Market arket The Pop-up Christmas Market for local businesses is at Holy Apostles Church Hall, London Road on Saturday 11th December from 1-4pm.

We are looking forward to introducing lots of small businesses to the community to provide even more choice for your gift shopping whilst supporting local trade. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for more details of the businesses that will be taking part.

Dates of December public meetings Mondays in the Stanton Hall

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The legislation that permitted virtual meetings ended on 7th May 2021 so we are now required to hold in-person meetings for Full Council and all standing committees. Members of the public are warmly invited to attend these meetings subject to the guidelines that can be viewed on our website.

Planning: 6th and 23rd at 7pm Full Council: 200tth at 7pm Clerk – Joanna Joanna Noles Noles (01242 (01242 250087) 250087) Clerk Clerk@charltonkingsparishcouncil.gov.uk www.charltonkingsparishcouncil.gov.uk @CkParish Page 24

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Charlton Kings Parish Council The Local Answer

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w with ith R Roger oger D Downes ownes o off A Andorran ndorran

G Green reen ffinance inance You couldn’t avoid the television and press coverage last month as the world’s leaders met in Glasgow for the COP26 summit. You shouldn’t have wanted to avoid it; the importance of ‘going green’ is obvious and nobody rejects the idea.

Whilst the summit focused on how countries were going to deliver an adequate commitment and how quickly they will get there, Money Matters wondered exactly how much it was all going to cost and how we are actually going to afford to get there.

We can all make a contribution, of course we can. Governments will be expected to take the lead, but how much can the Chancellor really afford to commit to the cause when he’s still trying to pay for his furlough scheme and continue to invest in British infrastructure, not least of which is the NHS?

IInvestors nvestors sshould hould iinsist nsist their their money money gets g ets iinto nto ssustainable ustainable iinvestments nvestments I think the private sector should be taking the lead. A significant part of the UK’s wealth is generated through Financial Institutions. The amount of money in the City of London is well out of balance with poorer parts of the country, but that’s a different subject. Investors should be insisting that their money gets into sustainable investments. It’s beginning to happen, but it needs to become more widespread to the point of becoming the default approach for investors.

The government has created Green Bonds that individuals can buy and begin to make a difference at a basic level. It needs to do more to provide opportunities for individuals to make a statement in the form of further and better green investments, as well as considering whether tax breaks could support the efforts of individuals or small businesses.

There are some odd tax breaks enjoyed only by the better off in society. Remove them, Mr Chancellor, and replace them with breaks that the majority can enjoy and which might just do some good in the fight to protect the future of the environment.

You don’t need Money Matters to tell you the importance of the subject, but don’t go assuming there isn’t a cost to achieving it. In the meantime, on a cheerier note, have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.

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T The he H Highbury ighbury C Club lub

NEW MEMBERS WELCOME & Vo olunteer Drivers too!

The Highbury Club (HC) is a community group in C h e l t e n h a m w h i c h m a ke s p r o v i s i o n f o r s i g h t impaired people and is run by a fantastic team of trusted, trained, kind volunteers.

For anyone feeling a bit isolated and who may be having difficulty getting out, it offers an opportunity to enjoy a social occasion in a safe e n v i r o n m e n t w h e r e y o u c a n m e e t a n d m a ke new friends.

HC is a not-for-profit group and relies solely o n s u b s a n d t h e g e n e ro s i t y o f o t h e r s t o c o v e r costs. We have been supported by some great e n t e r t a i n e r s a n d e n d e a v o u r t o ke e p t h e programme as varied and interesting as possible.

We also arrange occasional outings.

There are no age or ability barriers and a warm, friendly welcome is guaranteed – and of course meetings always include afternoon tea and cake!

We meet on the first Wednesday of every

Page 28

m o n t h 2 p m - 4 p m i n t h e h a l l at T h e H i g h b u r y Church, Priory Terrace (top of Oxford Street), Cheltenham, GL52 6DU. We have to ask £4 per meeting to cover costs, t h e re a re n o j o i n i n g f e e s a n d n o o b l i g a t i o n t o come every month (though we hope you will).

We may be able to offer transport or arrange it for you.

I f y o u w o u l d l i ke t o j o i n u s e i t h e r a s a n e w member or volunteer driver, please get in touch.

Call C all 0 07835 7835 2 251647 51647 orr jjust o ust come come tto oo our ur n next ext m meeting eeting

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What W hat s O On n The The Local Local Answer Answer Event Event L Listings istings a are re ccompiled ompiled a and nd p presented resented in in good good faith faith with with the the kind kind support support o off m many any ccontributors. ontributors. W We e recommend recommend you you use use the the contact contact details details provided provided to to check check e event vent iinformation nformation u updates pdates p prior rior tto op planning lanning y your our v visit. isit.

2255 NOVEMBER NOVEMBER & 55-7 -7 D DECEMBER ECEMBER CHRISTMAS ARTISAN MARKET This special festive four day event will celebrate local makers and producers at Cheltenham’s iconic pump room.

The market launches on Thursday 25th November as part of the switchon of the pump room’s Christmas lights display, complete with carol singers and choirs, live entertainment and special guests. For more details visit www.cheltenhamtrust.org.uk DECEMBER 2266 NOVEMBER NOVEMBER – 2211 D ECEMBER ENCHANTED CHRISTMAS

Set out on an adventure through the illuminated trees of the arboretum and look out for clues to reunite Father Christmas with his lost reindeer!

Experience mesmerising light displays amongst amazing trees but watch out for the storm, and don’t get lost!

Relaxed sessions available, with adapted trail for those who require additional needs, such as autism.

Advance booking essential. www.forestryengland.uk/westonbirt Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, Tetbury, GL8 8QS.

2266 NOVEMBER NOVEMBER – 3300 D DECEMBER ECEMBER SPECTACLE OF LIGHT 2021 Discover the new Light Curve and the flickering flames of the Queens’ garden.

Gaze at the sparkling water features and the mesmerising Carpet of Colour.

Light beams, lanterns and much more.

Sip festive warmers of spiced mulled wine and sprinkled hot chocolate as you join the magical trail around these wonderful grounds. Takeaway hot food and delicious donuts available.

For more details and to book tickets please visit www.sudeleycastle.co.uk 22-5 -5 DECEMBER DECEMBER CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL Come and see our wonderful display of beautifully decorated Christmas Trees. The decorations have all been handmade by the Church Family, including the young and not so young!

Refreshments available including homemade cake. Current Covid restrictions will be observed. 3pm-7.30pm.

Hucclecote Methodist Church, Carisbrooke Road, Gloucester, GL3 3QP. 4 DECEMBER DECEMBER WINTER WONDERLAND WITH GROTTO A truly magical afternoon of Christmas market stalls, grotto, refreshments and lots of festive fun whilst supporting local charity Heart Heroes. There will also be the launch of the Heart Heroes minibus and a visit from the Mayor of Gloucester. 12-4.30pm. To visit Father Christmas (one ticket per child), book online: buytickets.at/heartheroes/602371 Gloucester Carpet Outlet, Unit 4, Mill Place, Bristol Road, Gloucester GL1 5SQ.

TEWKESBURY TOWN BAND’S CHRISTMAS CONCERT Tewkesbury's very own brass band once again gathers at The Roses for a magical Christmassy celebration of music and song. 7.30pm. Tickets £1315. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, Glos, GL20 5NX. 01684 295074. www.rosestheatre.org 6 DECEMBER DECEMBER DIE HARD “If this is their idea of Christmas, I gotta be here for New Year’s!” New York City policeman John McClane (Bruce Willis) is visiting his estranged wife and children in Los Angeles on Christmas Eve when her office party is interrupted by a group of terrorists (led by Alan Rickman) who take over the skyscraper and everyone in it.

There’s only one person who can try to save the hostages – him. Tickets £7.50. 7.30pm. More details at www.cheltplayhouse.org.uk Cheltenham Playhouse, 47-53 Bath Road, Cheltenham, GL53 7HG. 10 DECEMBER DECEMBER 10 FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK With an international cast of singers, musicians and dancers, Fairytale of New York has all of your favourite Christmas songs including Driving home for Christmas, White Christmas and Silent Night. This magical Irishinspired Christmas show will have you singing, laughing and dancing in the aisles. 7.30pm. Tickets £24.50-26.50.

The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, Glos, GL20 5NX. 01684 295074. www.rosestheatre.org

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1111 DECEMBER DECEMBER CHRISTMAS MARKET Local gifts, kids’ craft, Father Christmas, refreshments. Outside in Cambray Place and inside Cambray Baptist Church, Cambray Place, Cheltenham GL50 1JS. 10am-3pm. www.cambray.org 1122 DECEMBER DECEMBER PET PORTRAIT PAINTING WORKSHOP

Come and enjoy a relaxed day of painting in a beautiful venue. Working from your photos, professional artist Hazel will show you how to create a masterpiece for yourself or as a gift for someone special. Tickets: £85 including lunch and materials. Book online at www.hrhpetportraits.com/workshops and enter code ’friend10’ to get 10% off 2 or more tickets. Workshop gift vouchers also available. 10am-3pm.

Stonehouse Court Hotel, Bristol Road, Stonehouse, Stroud GL10 3RA.

ORCHESTRA PRO ANIMA CHRISTMAS CONCERT The concert will be preceded by a 5pm reception in the Long Drawing Room where you can enjoy wine, mince pies and other festive fare by the roaring log fire. The Christmas trees and twinkling lights create a truly special atmosphere. The programme comprises beautiful music spanning over 200 years played by Orchestra Pro Anima and directed by Michael Bochmann MBE, with the outstanding French Horn player Stephen Roberts.

Tickets £42, including the Reception and refreshments in the interval. Full details at www.berkeley-castle.com.

Berkeley Castle, GL13 9BQ. 14 DECEMBER DECEMBER 14 SANTA’S BEST EVER CHRISTMAS Dotty the Elf thinks Santa is planning a surprise Christmas party, Pompom the Penguin thinks Santa has been making Christmas crackers, and Dasher the Reindeer thinks Santa has got their biggest Christmas tree ever – do you think they’re right? Join Father Christmas and friends in this brand new, festive, interactive adventure! A family show most suitable for 2-7 year olds, where every child will receive a specially wrapped present from Santa!

10.30am. Tickets £10 (£8 conc). 01242 258002. The Bacon Theatre, Dean Close School, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 17 17 DECEMBER DECEMBER THE KATE’S HOME NURSING CHRISTMAS CAROL CONCERT Seasonal music, reading and carols with Richard Coxon (Tenor), Imogen Cox (Violinist), Katy Treharne (Soprano) and David Harrington (Pianist). Tickets £15, from Gabrielle Kubale – email gabriellekubale@hotmail.com – or at The Borzoi Bookshop, Stow-on-theWold. 6.30pm. St Lawrence’s Church, Bourton-on-the-Water. www.kateshomenursing.org FIREWORK FEST(IVE) – SPECIAL CHRISTMAS EDITION Join us for a firework display with a difference. Wrap up warm and get yourself in the Christmas spirit as we light up the skies. The event is expected to sell out quickly so do not miss your chance to be part of the action. An unmissable Christmas event for your diary that promises to be a family friendly and exciting evening out. Walls Club, Hammond Way Barnwood, Gloucester, GL4 3YL. For more details and to book tickets visit www.chaselanefireworks.co.uk/events

PATESIANS P ATESIANS SPORTS SPORTS & SOCIAL SOCIAL CLUB CLUB W WISH ISH Y YOU OU A ALL LL A V VERY ERY

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1188 DECEMBER DECEMBER

BY THE LIGHT OF A STAR Your Christmas starts here! The Saint Cecilia Singers will serve up traditional German Christmas music and audience carols with a warming glass of mulled wine. Finishing with a sparkling world premiere by Andrew Millington, Gloucester Cathedral’s chamber choir will send you home full of seasonal cheer. 7pm. Tickets £15/£17 students/U16s free from www.saintceciliasingers.org Gloucester Cathedral, 12 College Green, GL1 2LX. MAJESTY – A TRIBUTE TO QUEEN “Majesty – a tribute to Queen” formed in 2010 with a passion to pay tribute to the greatest Rock band in the World.

Their mission was to bring to the stage all the magic and energy that Queen were renowned for during their iconic shows. 7.30pm. Tickets £25 (£22.50 conc). 01242 258002. The Bacon Theatre, Dean Close School, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 1199 DECEMBER DECEMBER CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT Carols, candlelight, mince pies and mulled wine. Cambray Baptist Church, Cambray Place, Cheltenham GL50 1JS. 6.30pm. www.cambray.org

18-24 18-24 DECEMBER DECEMBER CHRISTMAS AT TOAD HALL

Christmas time is approaching and the animals are preparing for the big event. With Mole keen to decorate the Wild Wood in readiness for Santa’s visit, Ratty looking forward to skating on the river, and Badger preparing for his traditional Christmas at home, all seems to be going well – until Toad insists everyone comes to Toad Hall where he promises a Christmas to remember! Surely nothing can go wrong? Dreamshed Theatre, in conjunction with Playhouse Arts, proudly present this enchanting show for the young and young at heart!

Tickets £9. Various times. More details at www.cheltplayhouse.org.uk Cheltenham Playhouse, 47-53 Bath Road, Cheltenham, GL53 7HG. DECEMBER 19 19 DECEMBER FLOWERS BAND – CHRISTMAS WITH FLOWERS Join the Flowers Band and their guests the Beauregard Youth Choir as they return to the Bacon Theatre for their annual Christmas celebration of seasonal favourites, Christmas film music and carols for all, which are guaranteed to give you that festive feeling. 3pm. Tickets £14 (£10 conc).

01242 258002. The Bacon Theatre, Dean Close School, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 33-6 -6 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 2022 2022 PANTO – DICK WHITTINGTON At the Cheltenham Playhouse, Promenade Productions present their traditional family panto Dick Whittington, the story of the boy from Gloucestershire who sets out to find fame and fortune in London.

Performances Thursday and Friday at 7pm, Saturday and Sunday at 12pm and 4.30pm. Tickets £16 (adults) and £12 (children) from the box office at Cheltenham Playhouse – 01242-522852 or online: www.cheltplayhouse.org.uk

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Wildlife Wildlife Matters Matters with w ith D Dorothy orothy G Glen len

Lovely Lovely llong-tailed ong-tailed tits tits There is something very comforting to me about seeing our garden birds during winter and over the festive period.

Robins are one of the stars of the Christmas show, and their cheerful song keeps us company and brightens the chilliest days.

At my daughter’s forest school the local robin is a regular attendee; it sits and watches the children digging and disturbing the ground in the hope of spotting something tasty for its lunch, and serenades us during story time.

But although robins are one of the joys of our winter, my favourite birds at this time of year are the characterful (and impossibly sweet) long-tailed tits.

L Like ike llighter-than-air ighter-than-air p pom-poms om-poms I remember these from my childhood, drifting through the garden in cheeky gangs every now and again, like lighterthan-air pom-poms with ridiculously long tails. If someone

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saw one we’d all rush to the window to watch them pass through, bobbing about in the trees and shrubs, popping over to the bird feeder for a snack before moving on to the next stop in their journey.

It still feels like a rare treat when I see them, and they’re always gone too soon.

Unusually Unusually ssocial ocial b birds irds Long-tailed tits are unusually social birds. In the spring when they breed, many nesting pairs have helpers in the form of other birds whose own nests have failed. Their nests are made largely from moss, and the birds then layer the inside with as many as 1,5002,000 feathers.

Outside they disguise the nest with cobwebs and lichen. Despite the camouflage they suffer a high predation rate, To advertise call 01242 510500

but chicks raised in a nest with a helper are more likely to survive than those without.

They ttravel They ravel iin ng groups roups o off 2 20 0 iin n tthe he ccolder older m months onths In the winter we see them more regularly in our gardens, and if you are familiar with their chatter you can hear them coming. They are particularly noticeable because of their numbers; if you see one, there will almost certainly be more around, especially at this time of year. This is because they travel in groups of around 20 in the colder months, behaviour which isn’t seen in our other garden birds. roost They hunt and together, forming huddles to keep warm. The young birds that hatch in the spring stay with their parents and helpers during the winter, meaning that, rather romantically, they spend Christmas with their family. Enjoy looking out for them in your garden!

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Page 44

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Tree & Hedge Services

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Great G reat g gardening ardening gifts gifts Christmas always seems to come around so quickly and this year has flown by! After spending the festive season in lockdown in 2020, we’re looking forward to marking Christmas properly this year!

If you’re trying to think of last minute gifts for your family and friends who may have got the gardening bug during the last year or so, why not give them a project to get their teeth into?

C Create reate a an na affordable ffordable lliving iving ffeature eature w wall all Growing Revolution sell troughs made from recycled plastic that stack against the wall and contain a self-watering feature. They are amazing when planted with either ornamental plants or used for vegetables or fruit, like strawberries. They can also be used inside the house to make a feature green wall at a very affordable price.

High quality garden tools are always well-received. Sarah

Raven does a nice range of mid-handled tools, which are ideal for sorting out crowded borders where a large fork or spade might damage some plants.

If your family member or friend is more into interior gardening, perhaps a nice house plant might be welcomed? You can find lovely house plants in most garden centres and, if the recipient is not really up to caring for anything alive, you could always get a faux plant. Some look so real that unsuspecting people end up watering them!

P Prune rune y your our ffruit ruit ttrees rees Now to get back to your December garden duties. Prune apple and pear trees when you fancy spending some time outside to get away from the television and the festive chocolates. Cut this year’s whippy stems back to leave about five buds on each, and take out crossing or damaged branches. It is a good idea to apply some slow-release general fertiliser to the ground around the root area to give it a boost.

Plant P lant rhubarb rhubarb for for crumbles a crumbles and nd p pies ies December is a good time to plant new rhubarb, or to divide large clumps. Those of you who follow this The Local Answer

To advertise call 01242 510500

column will get fed up of me singing the praises of rhubarb, but it is a wonderful thing to grow. It not only looks amazing with its huge leaves, but it will provide you with the makings of pies and crumbles, or just the joy of picking a stick and dipping the end in sugar. I’m sure this is not something that one should encourage children to do nowadays, but I loved it!

Hard prune late flowering clematis such as C. viticella, texensis and tangutica species and their hybrids. Cut back to near ground level above a strong pair of buds on each stem and get rid of the tangle of growth above. Don’t prune spring-flowering clematis now or you will lose next year’s flowers.

Here’s to a Happy Christmas and a healthy New Year!

Page 4

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FEMALE DECORATOR

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T:: 01242 693051 M T M:: 07786 480005 E E:: info@tcd-decorators.co.uk w ww.tcd-decorators.co.uk www.tcd-decorators.co.uk 45 Fairview Street, Cheltenham, GL52 2JF •R Residential exterior esidential iinterior nterior & e xterior painting decorating p ainting & d ecorating Colour •C olour cconsultation onsultation New builds extensions •N ew b u il ds & e xtensions Paper Spray •P aper hanging hanging • S pray painting painting Period property •P eriod p roperty rrestoration/renovation estoration/renovation

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IInterior nterior D Design esign w with ith G Gill ill G Greenwell reenwell

Deck Deck the the halls halls As I write this, I am preparing to visit my daughter in the USA. When I’m there Thanksgiving will be well underway and the shops will be full of Christmas goodies. Americans love to decorate their homes at times of celebration, and this year will be extra special for those of us who can celebrate all together as a family again.

What will your decorating style be this Christmas? Here are my suggestions.

A American merican ffolksy olksy Inspired by my trip, I plan to decorate my home US style this year with lots of home-crafted decorations. I will be looking out for tablecloths and napkins in bright folksy patterned textiles, coloured candles and hand painted candlesticks.

Check out Anthropologie for more festive ideas. I particularly like the frosted bottle brush trees and gingerbread house tree ornaments. Be sure to book early on a wreath making course – no American home is without a wreath on the door at Christmas.

Nostalgic N ostalgic charm charm

Image: Sophie Allport

Christmas will be so much more family focused this year and many of us will be looking back to Christmases past. Our image of a traditional Christmas originated in Victorian times. If you love the idea of a scene straight out of a Nutcracker ballet, go for a green and red scheme.

Invest in the biggest tree you can; load it with much loved decorations you have collected over the years (I add to my collection every year), and pile up presents wrapped in bold festive colours under the tree.

Nordic N ordic ccool ool For a soft, romantic feel, look to Scandinavia for inspiration.

Think light, natural driftwoods and faded textiles in white, cool blues and soft mauves for this simple pared-back style. Decorate with cut-out snowflakes and festoons of twinkly lights. I love the paper Christmas stars from Nordic Nest.

Create a Christmas tablescape with lots of glass and soft candlelight, using silvery olivegreen foliage, eucalyptus, dried sea lavender and frosted berries. Invest in an on trend natural willow tree-skirt to complete the look.

Natural N atural country country

Image: Cox & Cox

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If you love a calm and natural style, choose soothing colours like soft green and white. Add rustic touches with garlands of To advertise call 01242 510500

foraged evergreen branches, pinecones and ivy. Accessorise with silver baubles and soft white twinkling lights.

For your Christmas table, create a centrepiece with natural greenery and ivory church candles, fill little terracotta pots with seasonal white hyacinths and paperwhites. For my daughter’s winter wedding, we hung huge bunches of mistletoe from the ceiling, they looked really effective.

Contemporary C ontemporary cchic hic For a more contemporary look, add personality with pops of bright purple or neon pink for candles and table decorations.

Search out unusual or humorous Christmas tree ornaments.

This year I have seen exotic animals, bright iridescent sea creatures and even hipster pugs on Instagram. Whatever your Christmas style, have fun and enjoy your preparations!

Page 5

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Page 54

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01 45 2 5 22 42 2

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es@interiorneeds.co.uk

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23rd December CHECK OUT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE!

We We would would like like to to wish wish all all of of our our customers customers a

Very Very Merry Merry Christmas Christmas and and a Happy Happy New New Year Year

• Sandersons • Romo • Zoffany • Prestigious • Casadeco • Bill Beaumont • Ian Mankin • Hardy • Villa Nova • Harlequin • James Brindley • Luxaflex • Silent Gliss • Velux • Blendworth

INTERIOR NEEDS SALE

• 20% off Fabric Venetian Blinds linds • 20% 20% off off Wood Wood V enetian B All Other ther Blinds Blinds ll O • 15% 15% off off A • 20% 20% off off Shutters Shutters Awnings • 20% 20% off off A wnings Tracks Poles • 20% 20% off off T racks & P oles • 15% 15% off off Lighting/Mirrors/Wallpaper Lighting/Mirrors/Wallpaper

INTERIOR NEEDS SALE

• Curtains Curtains & fabrics fabrics Tracks & poles po es • Tracks Interior shutters hutters • Interior Perfect fit fit blinds bl nds • Perfect Bay w window indow • Bay ttreatments reatments •L ighting Lighting Mirrrrors • Mirrors Wallpaper • Wallpaper HOUR CHRISTMAS ISTMAS HOURS OPEN Thursday Thursday 23rd, 23rd, OPEN 10am-3pm 10am-3pm then CLOSED CLOSED until until then Tuesday 4th 4th January January Tuesday USUAL HOURS HOURS USUAL SHOWROOM OPEN OPEN B Y SHOWROOM BY NLY APPOINTMENT ONLY APPOINTMENT O Tues-Sat Tues-Sat 10am-3pm 10am-3pm Sun-Mon Sun-Mon Closed Closed

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Be eacon acon eLe ec cTTRI RIc ca aL LLTD TD DOMESTIC & C COMMERCIAL DOMESTIC O MM E LECTRICAL IINSTALLATIONS NSTA ELECTRICAL RENOVATIONS & REPAIRS RENOVATIONS ELECTRICAL SAFETY SAF CHECK ELECTRICAL P ORTABLE A PPLI PORTABLE APPLIANCE TESTING

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w www.lifestylebathrooms.net ww.lifestylebathrooms.net

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THREE THREE PIECE PIECE JOINERY JOINERY

Bespoke Bespoke Joinery Joinery Staircases Staircases Windows Windows Timber Mouldings Mouldings Timber C onservatories Conservatories D oors & G ates Gates Doors F urniture Furniture Listed B uildings/Renovation Listed Buildings/Renovation

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G Gadgets adgets & G Gizmos izmos w with ith L Laura aura N Nicklin icklin

Merry M err y techy techy Christmas Christmas Once again, it’s time to get the tree down from the loft, unpack the baubles and go crazy with the tinsel. Yes, the festive season is upon us, making many people question “Where did 2021 go?”

If you’ve found that Christmas has come around way too fast and are in need of some inspiration for festive gifting, don’t panic; keep reading to find out which gizmos Father Christmas will be carrying down the chimney this year…

so you can narrate a tale to your kids even while you’re relaxing downstairs!

As soon as the story is finished, the box will automatically fall asleep too. And as an added bonus, the Toniebox is made from softly woven sustainable fabric, making it ideal for snuggles.

Sega Star Sega Star Theatre T heatre Planetarium P lanetarium Projector P rojector

Toniebox Toniebox John Lewis: £69.95 If you’re struggling to think of gift ideas for kids, then the Toniebox might be just what you need! This magical box is packed full of entertainment for the little ones; all you need to do to get started is switch it on, pop the Tonie toy figure on top and let the box do the rest.

The Toniebox narrates classic bedtime stories like The Snowman, provides educational pieces on subjects like the deep sea, and will even let you record your own stories, The Local Answer

Menkind.co.uk: £129 Fall asleep under the stars with this interactive projector from Menkind, which lights up your room with a dazzling display of the constellation.

Now you can appreciate the beauty and wonder of the cosmos all from the comfort of home.

The Sega Star Theatre Planetarium Projector features two slides to pick from, so you can either relax under the gaze of the constellations or admire the Milky Way, depending on your mood. This gizmo also includes a timer so it can turn itself off after a certain period, making it perfect for when you just want to drift off. You don’t have to be an astronomer to appreciate this gift!

gift. The Instax Mini 11 Instant Camera comes equipped with a built-in selfie lens and mirror to help you achieve instant small prints. Thanks to its automatic exposure, this clever contraption can calculate the brightness wherever you are and can adjust its shutter speed.

Not only is it a nice gift idea, but the charming design makes it rather adorable as well, with colours including lilac purple, sky blue, blush pink, ice white and charcoal gray. This Christmas, capture all your favourite moments on camera in an instant!

IInstax nstax Mini Mini 1 11 1 IInstant nstant C Camera amera Argos: £69.99 This miniature gadget proves that you don’t have to go big if you want to buy the perfect

To advertise call 01242 510500

Page 5

Motoring M otoring w with ith T Toby oby A Aiken iken

N No o time time tto o buy? buy?

We’ve certainly been through it over the past couple of years and many people are now sitting on savings, wondering if they should upgrade or buy a new car.

But for once, having the money isn’t the key requirement. Finding the right car, never necessarily easy, is now harder than ever. New cars are in short supply and used cars are more expensive than usual, and ultimately the reason for this? Covid. Again!

Let’s start at the top. New cars today are more technologically advanced than ever before and, as such, use a lot of silicon chips – semiconductors.

W With ith ccountries ountries e entering ntering llockdown, ockdown, tthe he n new ew ccar ar market m arket w was as sslowing lowing Semiconductor fabrication is centred in the Far East – Taiwan mainly – where a lot of today’s tech originates from. Rewind to the first quarter of 2020, and with countries entering lockdown, the automotive industry needed to slow production down, needing fewer chips as the market for new cars was slowing.

The foundries that make the chips therefore suddenly had a lot of capacity and not a lot else on… until makers of smartphones, tablets and laptops suddenly saw demand for their products increase dramatically, as people started working and teaching from home. They got in touch with the foundries and placed orders. Large ones.

Months passed, and as the world slowly raised its head above the parapet and eased restrictions, many people found The Local Answer

that they had saved money through not going out, not buying new cars (obviously) and not going on holiday.

Automotive manufacturers saw this and quickly picked up the phone to their suppliers, asking to resume production, and quickly. But the foundries had full order books. Their capacity had been taken up by other customers (naturally) and they couldn’t just start up again for the car manufacturers.

L Limited imited a availability vailability a and nd llong ong llead ead ttimes imes As this played down the line, we get to today, where almost every manufacturer has a notice on its website about limited availability and long lead times.

Time to buy used then, right?

If it were only that easy.

Because there are far fewer new cars around, there is a knock-on effect on the rest of the market and used car prices are soaring.

Anecdotally, someone who was contemplating upgrading their car in mid 2020 and was To advertise call 01242 510500

offered around £6k as a partexchange price has now, more than 12 months on, been offered almost £9k for the very same car by the same garage.

That’s an extreme example, to be fair, but all around the country, and at all levels, used car prices are on the rise.

Restarting R estarting ccomplex omplex ssupply upply cchains hains ttakes akes a llong ong ttime ime And new cars aren’t about to suddenly flood the market next month. Restarting long and complex supply chains takes a long time, and shipping goods from Asia to Europe is currently undergoing a crisis of its own.

So even when the foundries are back up and running, there’s still an issue in getting the semiconductors to the manufacturing plants.

So is it the right time to buy a car? Well, if you need to (and I do), be prepared that the bargains you might have expected are fewer and farther between, but your current car might be worth more than you think.

Page 1

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Peter Peter Kingston Kingston has has been been a major major name in in the the county county ffor or decades decades name Peter Kingston, ex-rugby player, former rugby coach and onetime PE teacher, is a bit of a legend around these parts.

The now 70-year-old is too modest to say so himself, of cour se, but his is one of the most instantly recognisable names in Gloucestershire.

He was a top drawer rugby player back in the day. Starting off at his hometown club Lydney, he went on to play for Gloucester, Gloucestershire – in the days when playing for the county was a big deal – and England for whom he won five caps back in the 1970s.

And the former scrum-half built an equally impressi ve CV as a rugby coach once he had hung up his playing boots, including lengthy spells at both Gloucester and with England Schools.

Throw in the fact that he was also a teacher at Pates Grammar School in Cheltenham for a remark able unbrok en 33-year period from 1976 and it’s easy to see why he is so well-known and so well-regarded by so many.

And though he is now happily retired, he still retains close links with the great game of

Peter Kingston in his Gloucester days

rugby because these days he is president of Newent Rugby Club, the fiercely ambitious South West One West club.

Kingston’s rugby journey started when he went to Lydney Grammar School at the age of 11.

“That was the fir st time that I pick ed up a rugby ball,” Kingston told The Local Answer.

“In those days there was no mini rugby but I took to it straight away, I don’t know why.

“Before that I was always football mad but then I became rugby mad!”

Kingston made his debut for Lydney’s first team at the age of 18 but no sooner was he in the Lydney side, he was out of it because his studies took him to St Paul’s College in Cheltenham where he trained to become a teacher.

“I played for the college during term-time and then played for Lydney in the holidays,” said Kingston.

But while he was established as the number one number nine at St Paul’s – playing for England under-19s and British Colleges along the way – he found himself out in the midfield when he went back to Lydney.

Not that he had any complaints.

“I used to play outside centre,” he said. “My old teacher John Morris was scrum-half at Lydney. He was captain of the club for 12 year s and was a much better player than me.”

Kingston, meanwhile, would go on to mak e his Gloucester debut in 1974 after spending a couple of seasons with Moseley.

Kingston loved life at Glouceter and what made it even more special was that he knew he

played behind a pack of forwards that was widely regarded as the best in the land.

“The pack was superb, they really did give me an armchair ride,” said Kingston. “Mik e Nicholls was hook er and you had Mike Burton, Phil Blakeway and Keith Richardson in the front row.

“Alan Brinn, Jim Jarrett, John Fidler and Nigel Jackson were in the second row and then we had Mike Potter, John Watkins, Dick Smith and John Haines in the back row.

“I’m sure I’ve forgotten some player s but they were a great pack, I don’ t remember any occasion when they were bettered, it wasn’ t difficult to play scrum-half.”

Kingston was never the biggest player but what he lack ed in size he made up for in other areas.

“I was only 10-and-a-half stone but I was quite quick around the fringes,” he recalled. “I was quite quick over 10 or 15 yards.”

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