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Cheltenham: 43,000 43,000 copies copies Cheltenham: Cotswolds: 30,000 30,000 ccopies opies Cotswolds: opies G loucester: 49,000 49,000 ccopies Gloucester: Stroud District: District: 440,000 0,000 ccopies opies Stroud North Gloucestershire: Gloucestershire: 220,000 0,000 copies copies North

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

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March’s winning cover photo: Edwin Hewlett

W elcome Welcome tto oM arch March Spring has finally sprung and there are snowdrops and daffodils everywhere. Many of you will have been eagerly waiting to get out in the garden and tidy it up after the long winter.

Julia Smith shares her top pruning tips and the vegetables you should be looking to sow in her gardening article.

Oliver Wilkinson tells the tale of the dog that swallowed tights in his latest Pet Care article, while Roger Downes looks at how earnings and the cost of living have changed over the last 70 years in his Money Matters feature.

Gloucestershire Council Council are encouraging residents to be more mindful of what they throw away and to consider whether items could be repaired rather than being replaced.

For more details, see their advert inside.

Finally, we’re looking for distributors in various areas of Cheltenham – details can be found in our ‘Distributors Required’ advert.

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

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

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

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

SALES S ALES

Amber Enright amber@thelocalanswer.co.uk

DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION Jamie Kirby distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk ADVERTISING ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES: ENQUIRIES: info@thelocalanswer.co.uk LEAFLET LEAFLET DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION ENQUIRIES: ENQUIRIES: leaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk Page 3

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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.

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The Local Answer

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

T his ssimple, imple, ccreamy reamy This d ish iis sg reat ffor or a q uick dish great quick m id-week d inner. mid-week dinner.

P Pork ork and and mushroom mushroom stroganoff stroganoff IIngredients: ngredients:

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230g brown rice 2 tbsp olive oil 500g (approximately) pork tenderloin fillet 1 large red onion 230g chestnut mushrooms 1 tbsp fresh sage 2 tbsp white wine 1 tsp wholegrain mustard 120g light cream cheese

1 Put the rice on to cook according to the packet instructions – usually about 25-30 minutes.

2 Whilst that is simmering, slice the pork into thin strips.

3 Heat the oil in a large frying pan or wok and fry the pork in two batches over a fairly high heat to brown on all sides.

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4 Chop the sage and onion, slice the mushrooms, then fry together for 2-3 minutes until beginning to brown.

5 Stir in the wine, mustard and cream cheese. Pop the pork back in, heat through and season with salt and black pepper.

6 Serve with the brown rice and your choice of seasonal vegetables.

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TO SHARE SHARE YOUR YOUR SPORTING SPORTING WANT W ANT TO STORY ON ON OUR OUR WEBSITE? WEBSITE? STORY Please Please email email full full details details ttoo ssport@thelocalanswer.co.uk port@tthelocalanswer.co.uk

Twiston-Davies T wiston-Davies on on a mission mission It’s a remarkable 30 years since Nigel Twiston-Davies, one of the leading trainers of modern times, saddled his first winner at the Cheltenham Festival.

That day – March 12th 1992 – was a very special one for everyone connected with the stable, of course, as it was for plenty of punters from around these parts – now in all likelihood in their 50s, 60s and 70s – who will remember the race as if it were yesterday.

For those of you who are slightly younger, the Carl Llewellyn-ridden Tipping Tim saw off the challenge of Henry Mann and Gambling Royal in the William Hill Handicap Chase, sparking celebrations around Cheltenham and the Cotswolds that lasted well into the night and, in quite a few cases, the following day.

And that breakthrough win was just the start for the now 64-year-old Twiston-Davies who has since sent out a further 16 winners at the showpiece extravaganza, including that neverto-be-forgotten day in 2010 when Imperial Commander stormed home to win the To ote Cheltenham Gold Cup. Twiston-Davies will, of course, again be a major player at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, which runs from Tuesday 15th March to Friday 18th March, preparing runners for the 15mile journey to Prestbury Park, the home of jumps racing, from his Guiting Power stable.

And his supporters will believe he is due a winner at National Hunt Racing's flagship event – he’s not had one at the Festival since Blaklion triumphed in the RSA Chase six years ago – although few would bet against him adding to his impressive roll of honour this time around.

“A winner or two would be

Nigel Twiston-Davies has saddled 17 winners at the Cheltenham Festival

very nice,” he told The Local Answer, adding, “all the horses that are going have a chance.”

You’d expect nothing less, of course. Twiston-Davies is enjoying another stellar season and he’s been rubbing shoulders with the biggest and best names in the sport almost from the day he started training in 1981.

He celebrated his first winner the following year and such has been his success that he is a member of the select band of National Hunt trainers to have sent out more than 1,000 winners.

A good number of those have been ridden by his sons Sam and Willy, and although Willy has now retired, Sam, who has ridden more than 1,000 winners, is again up among the leading jockeys in the country.

They’ve both ridden winners for their dad at the Festival too and Twiston-Davies senior said: “It’s always special when Sam rides one for us and when Willy did.”

The desire to send out winners clearly burns as brightly as it did all those years ago for Twiston-Davies when the aforementioned Tipping Tim got the

bandwagon rolling, so what is it that keeps him going day after day, week after week, and month after month?

“The love of the sport and also what the future holds,” he said.

The immediate future is this year’s Cheltenham Festival, of course, a meeting that it’s fair to say is just that little bit more special than any other.

“It’s the Olympics of the racing calendar,” he continued.

“Being local adds to the excitement. It’s the history, I’ve got so many good memories of the racecourse.”

He certainly has and while the aforementioned win by Imperial Commander was the standout – that was one of three winners for him that day – there are so many other names that trip off the tongue, including Arctic Kinsman and The New One, winners respectively of the Spinal Research Supreme Novices Hurdle in 1994 and the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle in 2013.

Supporters of Twiston-Davies will be hoping the good times continue to roll this year and for many years to come.

FFor or full full articles articles aand nd m more ore sstories tories visit visit www.thelocalanswer.co.uk www.thelocalanswer.co.uk

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The Local Answer

Looking Looking Good, Good, F Feeling eeling Great Great with w ith W Will ill M Mbanga banga

In In iitt tto ow win in iitt We’re now in month three of 2022 and most of us are fully aware of how our New Year intentions are panning out.

I love Stephen Covey’s ‘7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ for its practical applicability – we all want to look good, feel great, lose weight, build muscle, make more money, be popular, etc. but we forget or don’t give enough cognisance to the why.

This is where Stephen’s habit number two comes in – ‘begin with the end in mind’. The most impactful way the military facilitates long-term, big picture thinking is by focusing on the end goal. While specialised formations focus on short-term goals like taking a beachhead or knocking out a key enemy position, the Army as a whole is always focused on achieving victory in the long term.

This is an important approach to adopt in your life; we can all maintain our focus on our end goals by becoming proactive and self-aware. Our many good intentions aside, what we spend the bulk of our energy striving for diverts our attention from the

underlying scripts which inform our desires and provide us with a more purposeful existence.

Many of these scripts manifest as goals/v values foisted upon us by society – family, peers, pop culture and social media.

Everywhere we look there are p e o p l e o r o r g a n i s a t i on s t r y i n g to influence us on how we should live, what our body should look like or what we should value.

These scripts are what cause us to participate in status competitions (e.g. ‘likes’ on social media) that deep down we shouldn’t even care about.

It’s for this reason that when we accomplish something special, we still feel like we haven’t achieved anything of significance.

Choose C hoose where where you you ffocus ocus y your our time time a and nd energy energy You only have a limited amount of time and energy in the day, so it’s important to choose where you focus them.

Stephen Covey’s habit number one comes in here – ‘be proactive’. Have a plan, act and review it to improve it!

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For those who chose the new year goal of losing weight, you’re either nearing the end of an 8-12 week ‘diet’ that may or may not have worked for you, or despairing at the thought of having to sustain a grim eating regimen to maintain your weight loss.

Fundamentally, if you want to lose weight, the most significant factor is creating a caloric deficit in your body. This means consuming fewer calories than your body needs to maintain a healthy weight while sustaining bio-energetic needs. If you don’t have that dialled in, it won’t matter if you do intermittent fasting, keto, vegan or any other ‘commercial’ diets – you won’t lose weight!

Whether you’re starting a diet or coming to the end of one, the key to your success lies in ensuring you’re maintaining a sustainable caloric deficit.

Remember, you must be able to adhere to your eating (and exercise) plan in order for it to be successful and sustainable in the long term because this is what brings the best health outcomes and results.

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Make a Will month If, like so many people, making or updating your Will is on your ‘to do’ list for this year, Cobalt’s Make a Will month is just what you need!

Having an up to date Will in place can offer peace of mind that your wishes have been made clear. Not having this in place could cause your loved ones a lot of extra stress at what would already be a very difficult time.

During April, our partner solicitors will be donating their expertise and time to support Cobalt. They will write or update straightforward Wills in return for a donation to Cobalt. The suggested minimum donation is a fraction of what you would ordinarily pay for this service.

Making a Will through this scheme is a wonderful way to not only be able to tick something off your ‘to do’ list but also save money and support Cobalt; every penny of the donations made through this scheme comes to Cobalt. This year, all donations made through the scheme will go directly into our new PET/CT scanner appeal.

Whilst the scheme runs during April, appointments are limited, so making contact with your chosen solicitor as soon as possible is recommended. For more information please visit our website www.cobalthealth.co.uk/support-us or call 01242 535922 to request a pack.

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The Local Answer

Mirror Mirror Mirror Mirror on on tthe he Wall Wall w with ith V Val al S Starr tarr

His H is aand nd h her er sspring pring preview preview Spring will certainly herald in some new looks for both men and women this year. Designers appear to be returning to the seventies and nineties for inspiration. Many of the catwalk shows present extreme looks to catch our attention, which are then copied by the high street. Let’s see what is in store this season!

M Men en I often feel men are neglected in fashion previews, but this isn’t the case for 2022. Sleeveless is the big buzz word; better to warn you in case you want to dig out the dumbbells!

This style isn’t limited to tshirts, though – you’ll see it on sweaters and even blazers.

Exposed biceps seem to be the order of the day for fashion houses like Prada, while Paul Smith is showing waistcoat styles with nothing underneath.

Hermes are offering three button suits in cotton and linen.

Forget dull grey and blacks; designers are going for a huge palette of incredible colours.

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Before the bare arms appear in the next few months, you’ll be able to get your fix of cardigan-coats – basically a very heavy knit cardigan, often in a coat length, and again in bright shades.

Oversized shorts are also popular. If you have a spare £550 in your wallet, head to Giorgio Armani for a stylish pair. Sadly, designer prices do not reflect the lack of sleeveless fabric, but you’ll be able to find more affordable alternatives when they hit the high street shops.

Women W omen Similar to the men, there will be a lot of cut outs, bare midriffs and see through materials.

Personally, after two years of staying mostly at home and potentially over-indulging, I’m not quite sure this was the right way for designers to go!

Fear not, as there are many more flattering alternatives, starting with the ever-popular denim. New denim styles are reminiscent of the 90s but with easy updates – not just different fabrics, but also different styling.

Forget skinny jeans – the new shapes are balloon style, which taper down at the ankles.

Cropped flares are a modern twist; Zara has a great pair of mid-rise, cotton flares for £22.99 (top right). Personally, I find a slight flare elongates the leg and is very flattering.

Not sure where to go? Marks and Spencer has magic shaping jeans and has sold over 2 million pairs in less than six months – they must be doing something right. These jeans are made using clever To advertise call 01242 510500

technology with super stretch fabric, making them soft and comfortable. Promising to lift your bottom and slim the appearance of any spare tyre, they offer a high waist option at £39.50.

Gap, now missing from the high street, still sell online and their ‘sculpt’ jeans range comes in at £54.95 a pair. They have contouring and support to make them super comfortable, and to give a smooth, sleek look.

When it comes to dressing yourself this year, personal style is really the key; nothing is either in or out and fashion is what you want it to be. Loud colours and shiny finishes are what you will find on the high street. I think colour cheers us all up, especially after a grey winter.

Lengths seem to be extreme – either really short or really long – and fringing is popular, from the hem of jumpers to hand bags. Fashion should be about having fun, so make sure you do so this spring!

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D Distributors istributors Required Required To join our waiting list for the following locations in Cheltenham:

Lansdown • Pittville • 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 always be available to take your call.

Become a host family for an international pupil at a local boarding school Attractive daily rates for occasional weekends and half terms To find out more email hostfamilies@pippasguardians.co.uk or call 01684 252757

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 The T h e Loca Local between 100-150 copies/hour A ANS NS W WER ER (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 CHELTE C HELTENHAM NHAM fit to perform the duties.

GLOUCES GLOUCESTERSHIRE’ STEERSHIRE’S B BIGGEST IGGES ST LLOCAL OCAL M MAGAZINE AGAZINE FFEBRUARY EBRUARY 2022 2022

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

G Getting etting out out and and about about Now your baby is growing and you are settling into motherhood, you may feel ready to ‘face the world’ and begin taking baby out and about – because let’s face it, you need to get out of the house and you are not going anywhere without your new appendage.

I am sure you already realise that this is not as easy as it seems, as the smallest human in your world actually needs more ‘stuff ’ than you could possibly imagine, just to get through the day!

To this end I am talking about planning and preparation being your saving grace, and some ways in which you can get through the day and leave the house with some sense of order.

K Keep eep y your our b baby aby b bag ag ffilled illed a and nd rready eady tto og go o Preparation is key; so let’s focus on your baby bag. Ensure you have nappies, wipes, at least two changes of clothes, any feed requirements in addition to breast milk or formula which you may choose to use,

The Local Answer

tissues, a muslin cloth and some nappy sacks for disposing of waste items. Keep your bag filled by restocking before bed each evening; make it part of your bedtime routine.

Timing is also a huge issue once you introduce baby into your social schedule, as you can no longer simply ‘pop out’ at a moment’s notice. I am sure you already realise that no matter how hard you try, baby is guaranteed to poop at the exact moment you try to leave the house, necessitating yet another change of nappy and possibly clothing!

Sticking to a schedule with a baby is obviously easier said than done, so never worry about refusing to meet when you are asked to, but rather set the times that suit you and work with your baby’s normal routine. This way you will be more reliable, present and good company to those you are meeting, rather than potentially harried, stressed and distracted by a grizzly, hungry or tired baby.

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Don’t D on’t forget forget your your own own essential e ssential items items One more important thing to mention is to remember to plan for your own needs whilst out and about. Take a bottle of water so you can stay hydrated, as well as a few snacks to tide you over and keep your blood sugar level stable (nuts, seeds, bananas and apples are great).

You may also want to fold a spare t-shirt into your baby bag, just in case baby is sick or you have spills. I know only too well the awful feeling of walking around with stains on my shirt and no way to change.

Remember, things won’t always go to plan and it may be that you can’t establish a routine (or anything close to one) until your baby is older.

The most important thing is to do what is best for you and your little one, and don’t put pressure on yourself to have a perfect schedule.

Spring is coming and the weather is slowly improving, so enjoy getting out in the world together – you deserve it!

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Retirement Apartments in the heart of Cheltenham

OPEN MORNING Saturday S aturday 26th 26th March, March, 10.30am-12pm 10.30am-12pm

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

D Downhill ownhill through through the the Dolomites Dolomites It’s a sunny summer morning in Italy’s majestic South Tyrol.

After breakfast (at 838m/2,749 ft) we bade vibrant Brunico (Bruneck) farewell with a last glance up at its hilltop thirteenth-century castle.

Pedalling east along the Alta Val Pusteria, the route leads us through pine-scented forests towards Dobbiaco (Toblach), one of the gateways to the Dolomites. Along the way, we admire impressive Lago di Valdaora, then picnic on Weckerl, Heumilchkäse and delicious local strawberries in idyllic alpine meadows. Later still, towards day’s end, we imagine hearing Mahler’s Ninth as we pass his former composing cabin.

S Sky-scraping ky-scraping llimestone imestone ccrags rags The breathtaking scenery of the Alto Adige, fascinating Italo-Germanic culture and immersion in Süd-tirolers’ rich folklore typify the mainly downhill ride to Asola (210 m/690 ft), Veneto’s ‘City of a Hundred Horizons’, which lies ahead.

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A couple of days later, rolling into chic Cortina d’Ampezzo, we rub shoulders with northern Italy’s jet set. The town evokes memories of 1956’s Winter Olympics, Ford’s multi-million selling car and ‘For Your Eyes Only’, Roger Moore’s fifth Bond movie.

However, despite such fame, it’s the pale, sky-scraping limestone crags surrounding the resort that steal the show every time! It’s no wonder Swiss architect Le Corbusier reputedly described the Dolomites as the world’s most beautiful mountains.

Stage three of a trip that is comfortably doable in 11 days (including whole days in Asolo, Brunico, Dobbiaco and Cortina) begins with more leisurely valley riding to Calalzo di Cadore. From there, some organised cycle tours break the ride with a train journey.

Alternatively, historic Via Alemagna – part of the celebrated Munich-Venice cycle route – descends gently along the wooded Piave valley to the eastern Dolomites’ most impTo advertise call 01242 510500

ortant town. A further 24 miles (38km) on easy forest trails, between somnolent villages that beg you to stop and sample local gastronomy, brings you to Feltre and Asolo.

World-class World-class grappa grappa and a nd p prosecco rosecco The journey nearly complete, it’s time to toast your achievement with the region’s worldclass grappa and prosecco.

Then relax awhile in Asolo or visit nearby Bassano del Grappa to vi ew the im pr es si ve Br id ge of the Alpini over the River Brenta – imagine Lucerne’s Kapellbrücke on stilts!

With waning memories of 2021, days lengthen and thoughts turn to two-wheeled adventuring at home and further afield. For an unforgettable cycling experience, these ‘pale mountains’, the ‘monti pallidi’, could be perfect.

Will you travel independently or on an organised cycling holiday? Either way, maybe it’s the year to saddle up for the ultimate Dolomites cycling tour. Andiamo!

Page 15

COURTEOUS, COURTEOUS, E EFFICIENT FFICIENT A AND ND R RESPECTFUL ESPECTFUL •

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The Local Answer

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The Local Answer

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

70 70 yyears ears of of change change It was 70 years ago last month that Elizabeth II became Queen of England. We’re getting an extra day’s holiday in June to celebrate it and there’s an increasing number of TV programmes and media articles on the changes we’ve seen since the Queen came to power in 1952.

Money Matters has been looking at the price of things then and now, with some potentially interesting results. In round terms, inflation over those 70 years is 3,000%. You would therefore need £30 today for every £1 you needed in 1952.

Have H ave e earnings arnings kept kept pace pace with with tthe he rrise ise of of inflation? inflation?

The first question is clearly whether earnings have kept pace with that rate of inflation. The average weekly wage in 1952 was £9. It’s now well over £500, an increase of more than 6,000% – twice the rate at which inflation has been running. Add in the fact that most households have two incomes compared to one in 1952 and the idea that the current generation is much better off than their grandparents holds fairly true.

You also get to keep more of your earnings today with a basic rate of income tax at 20% compared to 45% in 1952. And in those days you hit higher rate tax once you earned £2,000 in a year!

The T he a average verage U UK Kh house ouse p price rice h has as iincreased ncreased b by y 14,000% 14,000% The most expensive thing that we buy is our own house and we don’t spend that money every year. So does house price inflation affect our comparative wealth? Prices vary by region much more now than they used to, making direct comparison more difficult.

But the average UK house price in 1952 was just under £2,000 and today the Nationwide Building Society, who regularly measure these things, say it’s close to £280,000. That’s an increase of 14,000%, dwarfing the increase in average earnings. It’s probably good news that we don’t have to buy one every year!

Some things, of course, cost no more now than they did 70 years ago. Love, common courtesy and goodwill to all people are as free now as they were then.

Enjoy the celebrations!

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UUNWRAPPING NWRAPPING THE THE M MYSTERY YSTERY OOFF CLOUD CLOUD HHOSTING OSTING We empower business owners and IT managers to transform their business with cloud technology C CLOUD LOUD D DESK ESK Desktop as a service, remote access from anywhere.

CLOUD CLOUD WIFI WIFI MANAGEMENT MANAGEMENT Centrally manage single or multiple sites with corporate and guest access O OFFICE FFICE 3 365 65 Unlock your email and files with Office GOOGLE G OOGLE W WORKSPACE ORK Your local managed locat access solution to

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Page 22

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everywhere!

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

L Lighting ighting tthe he way way This review has been a while in the making, but purely because the Volvo S90 it features was originally delivered to me in mid-November. About an hour after it arrived, I noticed it had a puncture so Volvo replaced it with an XC60 while they took it away and fixed it.

The S90 is very much an executive saloon that works well as a family car too, though perhaps not with the cream leather interior that this one had – a brave choice for those with kids, that’s for sure.

V Volvo olvo h has as o one ne o off tthe he m most ost d distinctive, istinctive, iidentifiable dentifiable iinteriors nteriors The cabin is a really nice place to be and is decidedly Swedish in its design. I think of all the manufacturers today, Volvo has one of the most distinctive, identifiable interiors, regardless of the actual model. Having tested both the XC60 and S90 specced at the same level, it was really interesting to see the similarities – and the differences.

Both were T8 spec, so a 300bhp petrol engine, and another 90bhp from the electric drivetrain too – that’s quite a The Local Answer

lot of poke for a saloon that is incredibly comfortable and wafts you along in near-silence.

I would have to say that the electric element isn’t massively practical, giving around 20 miles of range fully charged, but as a boost to the petrol and for city driving, it’s worth having, just not if you want something that has a decent electric only range.

From the outside, my test cars (both had the same colour scheme) looked great in dark grey, contrasting with the interior nicely, and with imposing grills at the front – another distinctive Volvo characteristic that has evolved from the early days, but stays recognisable.

But aside from the performance and the comfort, the thing that I loved about these cars – and I appreciate this sounds a little weird – was the headlights.

There are a few manufacturers that have lighting systems that feature automatically dipping main beam when a car is detected approaching, but the Volvo system goes a step further.

The lights dip around a car you’re following so as not to dazzle the driver, but maintain To advertise call 01242 510500

full illumination of the areas to the left and right of the car – effectively leaving the car ahead in a pool of darkness, while lighting up the rest of the road.

Adapting A dapting iincredibly ncredibly q quickly uickly a and nd e effectively ffectively It tracks around bends, adapting incredibly quickly and effectively, and I think this is a feature that we will start to see more and more of. There are a few others on the market that deploy similar technology, but I think the Volvo is the peak.

And let’s face it, the Swedish manufacturer has a history of innovation. They were the company that patented the three-point seat belt back in 1959 and, incredibly, left the patent open so others could use it free of charge, as they recognised the importance of the system as a safety device.

How many companies would act similarly now?

So to conclude: with all the models having a very similar interior and feel, it’s a question of picking the body style and size that suits you. For me, it’s the XC60, but really, once you have picked your colour scheme, the choice is yours!

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28 Narrow aperture ACROSS 29 Make certain 1 The ... Of Oz 5 Traditional wisdom DOWN 1 Rolls (in mud) 7 Frostily 2 Viper 8 Detective’s clue 3 Clock faces 9 Pen tips 4 Moved (hips) 10 Reasoning 5 Hangs unlawfully 11 Musical dramas 6 Bandits 13 Weeded 14 Crockery item 12 Gorilla or chimpanzee 18 Neglect 15 Liquor 21 Wound crust 16 Display case 22 Seniors 17 Tiny waves 24 Drive forward 19 Unwell 25 In comparison to 20 Concentrated scent 26 Take (baby) off bottle 22 Exclusive group 27 Wield (influence) 23 Ups & ...

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In celebration of our 25th year in business, we’ve pledged to donate £25 for every property instructed and sold/let* during 2022

Pet P et C Care are

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

T The he dog dog that that sswallowed wallowed ttights! ights!

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.

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A few weeks ago, a dog was brought in to see me looking extremely unwell. The poor pooch had vomited up a section of the owner’s tights a few days earlier, had been fine after this episode, but that morning had started vomiting again before promptly collapsing.

The clinical history was obviously quite suspicious, but before we operated on this very sick dog, we needed to know surgery was in the dog’s best interest.

Only certain objects will show up on x-rays and tights are certainly not one of them.

Diagnosing an intestinal blockage is sometimes challenging in the absence of a very obvious bone or object that is visible on an x-ray.

Sometimes you can feel a blockage by palpating the abdomen, but the stomach and upper intestines sit under the rib cage, which prevents being able to feel these organs, and in larger dogs it is difficult to feel as much anyway.

We W e had had to to risk risk an an operation operation I took a quick x-ray and although the stomach looked empty, I could see a build-up of gas in the small intestine that could indicate a blockage further along. We stabilised the dog with intravenous fluids and medication and decided that we had to risk an operation to discover the cause of the dog’s illness.

Sure enough, once I was able to operate I found another section of tights, but these had not only caused a blockage, they’d also resulted in an intussusception – where a section of the bowel gets trapped inside a neighbouring section of bowel. This section of trapped bowel was irreversibly damaged and explained why the dog had collapsed only a few hours earlier.

After some tricky surgery to remove the dead bowel and a night in intensive care, the dog was looking much happier and enjoying a tasty breakfast of ‘gastrointestinal’ food.

Eating strange, inedible items is a very common cause of trips to vet clinics. For this dog the tights were not only indigestible but resulted in major surgery and a near death experience.

Young dogs are more likely to eat silly things, so keep inedible items off the floor and washing in baskets whenever possible. Educate younger members of the household to keep an eye on socks and small toys, and give your pets safe alternative dog toys to play with instead.

To advertise call 01242 510500

Page 27

Charlton Kings Kings Parish Parish Council Council CK Charlton

P Parish arish P Precept recept 2 2022-2023 022-2023 A parish tax used in our parish Your Parish Council is proud to report that the National Association of Local Councils (NAL has awarded us the top, ‘Quality Gold’, awa in its Local Council Award Scheme.

In NALC’s words, this award demonstrates that we are “at the forefront of best practice by achieving an excellent standard in community governance, community leadership and performance management.”

For the third year, councillors met together away from the usual round of meetings, to decide what we wanted to achieve as Council, and what our priorities should be in new 4-year term after elections on 5th May. Our costed programme to deliver these priorities is not immune to the rising cost of living as a result of the pandemic and global price increases. Unlike County and District or Borough Councils, we have received no emergency pandemic support funding from government to make up lost revenues from hiring the Stanton Suite.

A ffinancially inancially cchallenging hallenging y year ear ffor or many many residents residents We are nevertheless acutely aware that this will again be a financially challenging year for many residents, and that we must have good reasons to ask for any additional funds from the 1.5 % of your Council Tax bill we receive.

Last year, the national average Precept was £71.86 and for Gloucestershire’s 264 Parish Councils, £46.43. In 2022/23, Charlton Kings Parish Council will be asking Band D households to pay £34.50. With the Precept being a ‘progressive’ tax, households in lower bands will pay less, while some are exempt. In order to continue to deliver services and restrict the increase, we will be taking money from our reserves.

A summary of how we plan to spend your money is shown above, and a full programme, with detailed budgets, is on our website.

BUDGET 2022-23 osts: 5 1% S taff C Staff Costs: 51% Administration: 11% A dministration: 11% Loan Repayments L oan R epayments Suite): uite): 3% 3% ((Stanton Stanton S Stanton Suite uite & S tanton S Public 7% P ublic Toilets: Toilets: 7% Community C ommunity Assets: 15% 5% A ssets: 1 Community C ommunity Engagement: 13% E ngagement: 13% Our Precept income will be £177,000, with a further £20,000 from reserves. We will regain some hiring income and our allotments now pay for themselves. Additionally, we will continue to seek external grants to support some important projects and in 2022/23 we will be in year two of the major National Grid funding programme for biodiversity and landscape enhancement works on our Commons.

The Parish Council works hard to develop strong and trusting partnerships with individuals, the voluntary sector, and statutory organisations.

Our CK Futures project offers help and advice to people who want to make their own contributions to combatting Climate Change, and CK Health Connect will focus on loneliness and digital exclusion of older residents, as well as supporting our young people.

We have employed an additional part-time post this year, a Community Development Officer, who creates our monthly newsletter and social media posts. Residents have more information about, and can often contribute to, working with our many partners on highway improvements, tree planting in green spaces, keeping the public toilets open despite continuing and costly vandalism, maintaining St. Mary’s churchyard, footpath improvements, and other initiatives.

Dates D ates o off M March arch public public meetings meetings iin n tthe he S Stanton tanton H Hall all Planning: Mondays 7th and 21st at 7pm Community Assets: Thursday 10th at 7pm

Clerk: Joanna Joanna N oles ((01242 01242 2 50087) Clerk: Noles 250087) Clerk@charltonkingsparishcouncil.gov.uk Clerk@charltonkingsparishcouncil.gov.uk

www.charltonkingsparishcouncil.gov.uk www.charltonkingsparishcouncil.gov.uk

Finance & General Purposes: Monday 14th at 2pm Full Council: Monday 28th at 7pm

@ @CkParish CkParish ouncil C Charlton harlton K Kings ings P Parish arish C Council

Whatʼs 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.

1 MARCH CULT FIGURE: KENNETH WILLIAMS Kenneth Williams was one of the most unique and beloved figures in British comedy history. A rare talent who could turn from broad slapstick to erudite within a split second. Celebrated actor Colin Elmer reprises his role, telling the great man’s story in his own words, using anecdotes, writing and some of the material for which the comedy legend was so well-known.

7.30pm. £14 (conc £12). The Kings Theatre, Kingsbarton Street, Gloucester, GL1 1QX. kingstheatregloucester.co.uk 4 MARCH STROUD FILM FESTIVAL LAUNCH Stroud Film Festival will run from 4th27th March at venues around Stroud district. Now in its eighth year, the Festival aims to appeal to an even wider range of film tastes, offering a varied programme of films and events – from award winning recent features and classic movies, through to films with a distinct Stroud flavour.

For more details, please visit www.stroudfilmfestival.org 5 MARCH MIND BODY SPIRIT SHOW Over twenty fantastic exhibitors: 1-1 tarot, psychic, shamanic & clairvoyant readings, holistic therapies, massage, self-help, crystals, jewellery, books, arts and crafts, healthy living products, aura imaging, the paranormal. Food and refreshments onsite. 11-5pm. The New Inn, 16 Northgate Street, Gloucester City Centre, GL1 1SF. www.deerspirit.co.uk

JIVE TALKIN PERFORM THE BEE GEES The timeless repertoire of the Bee Gees is brought to life in this stunning stage production. This charismatic ensemble boasts stars from TV and London's West End and is fronted by real-life family members Darren, Gary and Jack Simmons making for an unrivalled vocal harmony blend.

7.30pm. Tickets £21 (concessions £19).

01242 258002. The Bacon Theatre, Dean Close School, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 9 MARCH COMEDY SHOWCASE Come and see the latest graduates from Chris Head’s Stroud stand-up course perform their first 5 minutes of stand-up. An uplifting and hilarious night. 7.30pm. Tickets £6.50. The Subscription Rooms, George Street, Stroud GL5 1AE. thesubrooms.co.uk 10 MARCH RIGOLETTO – THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE In his first work for his own Company, Director of The Royal Opera Oliver Mears brings Verdi’s masterpiece into the modern world. The thrilling Rigoletto pits power against innocence, beauty against ugliness, conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano. 7.15pm. £15. (£12.50 conc). Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, GL1 1NS. gloucesterguildhall.co.uk 12 MARCH THE MANFREDS The Manfreds are considered one of the finest and most respected bands

from the 60s era and their numerous hits were not just ‘pop’ songs. Many were R&B based with an undercurrent of jazz – a very unusual but winning combination of playing style and substance. 7.30pm. £27. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. 01684 295074. rosestheatre.org WILLOW PIGLETS WORKSHOP Spend an enjoyable day weaving your very own willow piglet. We will start with the body, then add a snout, two floppy ears, four trotters and a curly tail – the only thing we won’t be making is the squeak! All tools and material provided by the tutor so the only thing you need to bring is enthusiasm and £15 for materials (payable to the tutor on the day).

10am-4pm. The Subscription Rooms, George Street, Stroud GL5 1AE. thesubrooms.co.uk 16 MARCH UNDERWATER A beautiful dance piece, created especially for babies aged 0-2 years and their parents or carers. A ballerina wakes from a dreamy sleep and finds herself in the ocean, a comforting world of blue lights and bubbles. As she explores her new home, she meets an octopus and the pair quickly form a loving friendship beneath the waves, dancing a duet to a twinkling sound-track that features familiar melodies. Various times. Tickets £12.50 for an adult and a baby. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. 01684 295074. For more details please visit www.rosestheatre.org

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FFor or ffurther urther iinforma"on nforma"on aand nd tto ob book ook p please lease ccontact ontact Helen Helen Nash Nash fi finance@nauntonpark.gloucs.sch.uk nance@nauntonpark.gloucs.sch.uk

01242 01242 513114 513114

SSupport upport your your llocal ocal ccommunity ommunity The Local Answer

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17 MARCH BC CAMPLIGHT Fired by his ongoing battle with mental illness, Shortly After Takeoff is the final, and finest, chapter of what Christinzio calls his “Manchester Trilogy”. It spans singer-songwriter classicism, gnarly synth-pop and 50s rock’n’roll, with Christinzio’s distinctive, flexible vocal carrying a fearless approach to lyrical introspection – a major leap forward in songwriting sophistication. 7.30pm. £15. Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, GL1 1NS. gloucesterguildhall.co.uk 20 MARCH FLATS AND SHARPS A four-piece bluegrass outfit from Penzance, Cornwall, delivering energetic, enthusiastic and spirited bluegrass to audiences all around the world. Their music perfectly blends strong harmonies and stonking solos, their incredible stage presence and energy create an evening that’ll have you dancing, laughing and singing along. 7.30pm. Tickets £15.50. The Subscription Rooms, George Street, Stroud GL5 1AE. thesubrooms.co.uk 25 MARCH THE TINA TURNER AND ARETHA FRANKLIN STORY A spectacular double bill celebrating the music and life stories of two of the world’s most iconic female superstars.

Both shows feature Cleopatra Higgins, a UK and US top 5 artist, who delivers these timeless songs with raw passion and endless energy. 7.30pm.

Tickets £24 (£22 concessions). 01242 258002. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. bacontheatre.co.uk 26 MARCH ART EXHIBITION Churchdown Art Group are holding an art Exhibition at The Churchdown Community Association, Parton Road, Churchdown, GL3 2JH. 10am-5pm.

Come along and support the local

artists. Refreshments will be available.

Entrance is free and there is free parking on site.

27 MARCH DOM JOLY’S HOLIDAY SNAPS – TRAVEL AND COMEDY IN THE DANGER ZONE Dom will be talking about his exploits as a serial globe-trotter and seeker of dangerous travel spots. From North Korea through the Congo and Syria to Chernobyl, he’s visited some of the most unusual places on the planet.

Armed with a trusty Powerpoint, fans can expect his holiday snaps to provide comedy and a sense of danger. 7.30pm. £19. Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, GL1 1NS. gloucesterguildhall.co.uk 28 MARCH THE GREATEST MAGICIAN A dazzling new magic show presented by the magician most famous for jamming the BBC switchboards when he correctly predicted the lottery. This astonishing, enigmatic, five star rated magic show will leave you aching from laughter and dizzy in disbelief. 8pm.

From £12.50. Sundial Theatre, Cirencester, GL7 1XA. www.sundialtheatre.co.uk 31 MARCH FEAST OF FIDDLES Feast of Fiddles was born in Nettlebed on Valentine’s Day 1994 as a one-off special concert. Since then the band has done 26 spring tours, 25 festivals and has 7 CDs to its name. Not bad for a bunch of old folk-rockers! A group of friends that puts on a show of huge dynamic range performed with passion, joy and a liberal dose of fun.

7.30pm. Tickets £22-£29.50. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. 01684 295074. rosestheatre.org 2 APRIL MIND BODY SPIRIT SHOW Back at Gloucester Guildhall. Over thirty fantastic exhibitors: 1-1 tarot,

psychic, shamanic and clairvoyant readings, holistic therapies, massage, self-help, crystals, jewellery, arts, crafts, healthy living products, aura imaging, dance and movement. Talks/ workshops/mediumship demonstration.

11-5pm. Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, Gloucester, GL1 1NS. www.deerspirit.co.uk CHARITY TABLE TOP SALE Family fun with a mixture of raffle, stalls and tombolas. Refreshments available. 12 noon to 4pm in Longlevens Church Hall (GL2 0AJ).

Free entry. In aid of The Land Trust and Holy Trinity Church, Longlevens.

2-3 APRIL MODEL RAILWAY EXHIBITION Layouts, refreshments, children drive yourself Thomas. Raising funds for Children v/s Cancer, CLIC Sargent.

At St. Margaret’s Hall, Coniston Road, off Windermere Road, Hatherley, Cheltenham GL51 3NU. 10am-5pm. Full details at www.cheltmodrail.org.uk 3 APRIL NATIONAL STAR’S SUNRISE WALK Join National Star’s Sunrise Walk on Sunday 3rd April 2022 from Ullenwood, Cheltenham. By putting your best foot forward you will transform the lives of young people with disabilities with every step. The beautiful 12k circular route will give plenty of opportunity to soak up the stunning views around the Cotswold Way. Registration from 4.30am with the walk starting at 6am. nationalstar.org/get-involved/sunrise-walk 8 APRIL TWIRLYWOOS LIVE Join Great BigHoo, Toodloo, Chickedy, Chick and friends as they discover the wonderful world around us! Expect mischief, music and plenty of surprises as they set sail in their big red boat.

1.30pm & 4pm. Tickets £16 (children £14, family of 4 £56). 01242 258002. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. bacontheatre.co.uk

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Homes & Gardens

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ROOFING & BUILDING

U UPP TO TO 30% 30% off o ff a all ll rranges anges o off fflat lat rroof oof ssystems, ystems, U UPVC PVC ffascias, ascias, ssoffits offits & guttering guttering

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Page 38

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Telephone 07929 587751

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Page 44

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Page 46

EXPERIENCED AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE • Artificial Grass • Gravel • • Block Paving • Tarmac •

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The Local Answer

IIn n tthe he Garden Garden w with ith JJulia ulia S Smith mith

Pruning Pruning season season We’ve done it! We can see the Holy Grail of warmer weather and the long sunny days approaching. I know the weather can still be breathtakingly sharp at times in March, with ‘beasts from the east’ etc. but we also have mild, sunny days, which really lift the soul.

If you haven’t pruned your hybrid tea and floribunda roses, do so now using clean, sharp secateurs, which you cleaned, sharpened and oiled during the winter – didn’t you?!

Get rid of all the weak, spindly growth and any dead, diseased or damaged stems.

Shrub roses don’t need such hard pruning, but saw off a third of the oldest and thickest stems at the base, and trim the remaining stems by about 10cm.

Tidy Tidy u up p llace-cap ace-cap and and mophead mophead H Hydrangeas ydrangeas You can hard-prune late flowering shrubs such as Lavatera, Leycesteria and Buddleja now. Also tidy up the lace-cap and mophead Hydrangeas, cutting off the old brown flowerheads, which have protected the buds through the winter, cutting above a nice strong

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pair of buds. Hydrangea paniculata is better with harsher pruning, leaving just two pairs of buds on each stem.

Agapanthus don’t need dividing very often, but every 4-6 years you may notice the flowering deteriorating. Divide in spring and replant in freedraining soil. They may take a year or so to resume flowering, but will get better with time.

Don’t repeatedly divide clumps as they will suffer.

S Sow ow e early arly v vegetables egetables llike ike tturnip urnip a and nd b beetroot eetroot In the vegetable garden, if you cover the soil with some

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clear polythene for a few days to warm up the ground, you could sow some early vegetables and then cover them with fleece. Try turnip ‘Purple Top Milan’, carrots ‘Adelaide’ or beetroot ‘Action’ to name but a few.

Don’t sow a whole packet of anything or you will end up with things going to waste.

Also, don’t sow anything your family won’t want to eat – it will make you furious (believe me, I know!).

It is time to plant chitted potato tubers – traditionally a job for Good Friday. Don’t do it until the soil has had a chance to warm up (sandy soils warm up quicker than clay ones). The chitted tubers need to be planted about 10cm deep, rose end up.

They can be planted either in a drill or in individual holes.

They will need earthing up when the shoots are 20-25 cm tall, or you can cover the soil with a black plastic sheet and plant through this, which excludes the light and the weeds. Early potatoes will be ready to lift in about 13 weeks.

Page 47

Woodlands W oodlands Landscapes Landscapes All types of gardening work undertaken For a FREE FREE PPATIOS ATIOS•FFENCING ENCING•TURFING TURFING For no obligation no o bligation PRUNING PRUNING•TTOPPING OPPING•FELLING FELLING quote quote call: call: HEDGE HEDGE CUTTING CUTTING 001242 1242 GARDEN GARDEN CLEARANCES CLEARANCES 6 49647 649647 A family run business – we won’t be beaten on price! leewoodlands@hotmail.com

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The Local Answer

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

H Hairy air y ffeet eet and and fflies lies in in disguise disguise There’s nothing quite like that first mild day of the year, when you leave the house and the air just smells sweeter. The sun has a little more warmth in it, and there’s movement where in the winter there was stillness. Leaves twitch, birds sing, suddenly it’s spring.

Closing your eyes to feel the warm sun on your face, you may also notice the beginnings of buzzing returning to our gardens. One of the first bees to emerge in early spring is the hairy-footed flower bee.

These little insects, which appear similar to small bumblebees (although they are a type of solitary bee), are likely to be the source of the first buzz of the year, from February onwards.

I have a little patch of lungwort (Pulmonaria) in my garden, which is their top food source of choice. It’s also very pretty, with pink and purple funnel-shaped flowers and spotty leaves – I encourage you to plant some if you’d like to encourage early pollinators and have a bit of spring colour.

The Large Bee-Fly (Bombylius Major)

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Hairy-footed flower bees are easily identified. They do indeed have hairy tufts on their lower legs, giving them their name.

Unusually, females are almost entirely black. Males are gingery and more typically ‘bee coloured’. Each also has an endearing patch of pale hair on his face, like a fluffy cream moustache.

The other insect bringing an early buzz to spring gardens is in fact not a bee, but a bee-fly. Beeflies also resemble small bumblebees, but have their own distinguishing features.

You may become aware of a highpitched hum close by, and look around only to find yourself face to face w i t h a t i n y r o u nd b a l l o f fluff, hovering in mid air, with a long and slightly disconcerting stinger.

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In fact, this ‘stinger’ is a proboscis, or straw-like tongue, for feeding on nectar, and the fly is completely harmless, not to mention characterful and pretty cute. Once you see one you’ll recognise them anywhere.

Bee-flies Bee-flies ccan an b be e sseen een sunbathing sunbathing o on n tthe he ground g round The common species you’re most likely to see in the garden is the dark-edged bee-fly, with dark panels along the tops of its wings. In flight, the wings are almost invisible with speed, but bee-flies can also be seen sunbathing on the ground, with wings resting out to their sides, giving it a distinctive shape reminiscent of a stealth bomber. Although, of all the ways to describe a bee-fly, stealthy would not be one of them!

Enjoy those first signs of spring and keep an ear out for buzzing in your garden or local green space.

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GREEN GROW LAMB LILAC MARCH NEST PUDDLES RAIN RAINBOW

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HATHERLEY ATHERLEY HW H WORKTOPS W ORKTOPS LLTD TD

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Tel: T el: 01242 01242 523398 523398 / 01452 01452 290458 290458 email: email: info@hatherleyworktops.co.uk info@hatherleyworktops.co.uk web: web: www.hatherleyworktops.co.uk www.hatherleyworktops.co.uk U Units nits 1 18, 8, 19 19 & 2 20 0M Malmesbury almesbury Road, Road, K Kingsditch ingsditch Trading Trading E Estate, state, C Cheltenham heltenham G GL51 L51 9 9PL PL

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

M March arch into into spring spring To celebrate my daughter’s birthday this year we went to a restaurant called ‘Spring’. The calm and fresh décor was the inspiration for this month’s article. Spring is the season of re-awakening and renewal.

What better time to think about refreshing your home interiors?

The The n new ew ccollections ollections Many of the new spring/summer 2022 wallpaper and fabric collections are inspired by the countryside. Think dainty floral fabrics and prints. Zara Home and La Redoute have affordable pretty bedlinen and cushions in soft spring colours – perfect for a bedroom refresh.

Birds and butterflies also feature strongly in the new ranges. I’m coveting a rug strewn with butterflies for my bedroom. The new homeware collections have a floral theme too – search out Emma Bridgewater’s flower inspired jugs and the cheerful pink and yellow painted vases in Anthropologie.

accessories. Sunny burnt ochre and sand tones are great for switching up a predominantly grey scheme. I’m also seeing everywhere natural looking terracotta vases, rugs and cotton throws in a variety of warm earthy hues. Pair with oversized green plants and natural rattan or cane furniture to lighten the look. Check out the new SS22 H&M home collection for inspiration.

all important personal touch.

DIY projects are currently trending. Why not learn to reupholster, search out scraps of beautiful fabric and invest in a staple gun (Tacwise are good).

Give your furniture a new lease of life with the latest decoupage look – paper shapes glued to a hard surface. Check out Annie Sloan’s flowers and birds decoupage kits inspired by Kew Gardens.

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There’s a trend towards natural earth tones in paints and

I always think green is a wonderful colour for spring. A friend has painted her dining/ living room wall in Little Greene’s ‘Sage Green’; it makes a real statement. Jewel toned greens work well on a velvet sofa, and a pop of fresh zesty green on a table lamp or painted side table enlivens a sitting room. A set of fern themed botanical prints will also brighten up any wall.

I love paper white narcissi flowers; their fragrant scent really is the essence of spring.

Create an amazing centrepiece by filling a huge bowl with lots of narcissi plants. A dining table decorated with soft blue grape hyacinths and paper whites in individual glass bud vases, mingled with tea lights can’t fail to lift your spirits.

Small terracotta pots of individual grape hyacinths and miniature daffodils are lovely for a more rustic look. Finally, what could be more spring-like and welcoming than a beautiful vase of scented white hyacinths in the hallway!

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Image: La Redoute

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Being sustainable is integral to modern interior design. Don’t forget to upcycle and re-use where you can – it will add that To advertise call 01242 510500

Page 53

All internal and external painting for domestic and commercial premises including private houses, period residences and schools Wallpapering and coverings undertaken Spray painting available ~ Established over 30 years ~

FOR F OR A FREE FREE Q QUOTATION UOTATION ccontact ontact S Stephen tephen on on

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’ Contact Tom:

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

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Page 55

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• leaking taps • burst pipes • emergency call-outs

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

9 to to 5 g gadgets adgets If you find yourself struggling emotionally or physically, then it may be related to your current work-life balance. Whether you are going to bed stressed, not keeping hydrated or simply feeling overwhelmed, you are not alone. To help you out, we’ve listed some useful tech that might just restore some much-needed balance to your day-to-day routine.

HidrateSpark HidrateSpark Smart Smart W Water ater Bottle Bottle Currys: £72.99 Remembering to drink plenty of water every day is easier said than done, especially if you work full-time or are often on the go. However, keeping hydrated is essential if you’re going to be performing at your best, and it shouldn’t be skimmed.

To make it easier on yourself, try out the HidrateSpark Smart Water Bottle. Not only does the stainless steel bottle keep your water cold for hours, but it al how much wate drink! Just con to the HidrateS app via Blueto keep track of ho you drink a reminders for w forget. The LED puck will then remind you to d

P Play lay Light Light B Bar ar (Base k kit) it ) Phillips Hue: £64 If you’re worki home and want a certain ambien to help you focus then check o The Local Answer

the Play Light Bar from Philips Hue. You can set the smart lights up with the included bars, mount them to your TV or just lay them down.

Whatever you decide, these gizmos will help your home office match your vibe.

Using the Hue app or Hue Bluetooth app, you can control the light bars via the motion mmer switch. ht be small, but hty. With a 10pan and an A+ rating, this will have you en in no time.

Kensington gton ate P lus SoleMate Plus st Footrest £35.99 back is feeling ain of being d over your day, it might to make an ent. Most of us are guilty of having bad posture, even To advertise call 01242 510500

if we don’t always realise it.

Enter the trusty footrest, which not only helps to improve your posture, but also sets about enhancing your blood circulation by keeping your feet on the ground (or near enough).

The Kensington SoleMate Plus Footrest goes even further by including a textured, antislip surface and being height adjustable – it can tilt up to 20 degrees, so you can find your ideal comfort level, plus it comes with a lockable tilt control.

Soon you’ll be taking the pressure off your lower back, and hopefully, some of your workload.

Page 59

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Index of Advertisers FOOD & DRINK The Mayflower Restaurant The Old Rectory

4 4

WHAT’S ON EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS Abbey Mill Bacon Theatre Talk on Christian Science CLUBS & SPORTS Patesians Sports & Social Club Shipton Golf Course Sandford Parks Lido

32 31 33 33 33 31

HEALTH & BEAUTY 8 10 8 8 8

Atlantic Home Eyecare Encompass Health Michael Foot Health The Guild Hairdressing The Haven

INFORMATION Charlton Kings Parish Council 28 Gloucestershire County Council 29

PROPERTY Honeybourne Gate 14 Move Property Sales & Lettings 25 The Property Centre 26

RETAIL County Building Supplies

41

HOMES & GARDENS ARCHITECTS PSK Architect 43 BATHROOMS AHM Installations 58 Lifestyle Bathrooms 56 Severn Vale Bathrooms 51 & 60-61 BUILDING SERVICES A1 Roofing 44 Applecrush Construction 40 BE Rudman 36 C&G Paving 36 Cheltenham & Gloucester Roofing 44 Cheltenham Town Roofing 44

Craftsmen Builders Ltd G Kelly Plastering Home Care Roofing I.D. Godwin JHD Roofing & Building Leckhampton Plastering Marshalls Driveways Niche Exteriors R Richards & Son Ltd Redgrove Scaffolding RND Renovations Roofcure 247 RS Cladding & Roofing S.J. Lewis & Sons Summertown Roofing SWS Plastering CARPENTRY Nick Burton Carpentry Three Piece Joinery CLEANING SERVICES Molly Maid Ovenbusters Ovenclean Regency Cleaners WeClean All Roofs ELECTRICAL SERVICES Beacon Electrical Cleevely Electrics Ltd Cotswold Rewires Itectric TJE Electrical Services FURNISHING & APPLIANCES Bella’s Interiors Cotswold Bespoke Flooring Dream Doors Space Master The Fireplace Gallery GARDEN SERVICES Blooming Planters Garden Design Cheltenham Town Landscaping Darren & Jamie’s Services David & Heather DBS Fencing Jameson Tree Surgery

39 44 37 38 37 45 38 46 2 38 39 39 39 40 42 38 58 62 56 56 62 56 36 58 58 58 56 58 55 51 67 52 51 45 48 44 48 46 46

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The Local Answer

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