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U nit H hurchill IIndustrial ndustrial EEstate, state, Unit H,, C Churchill C hurchill R oad, LLeckhampton, eckhampton, Churchill Road, C heltenham, Gloucestershire Gloucestershire G L53 7EG 7EG Cheltenham, GL53
01242 510500 510500 Telephone T elephone 01242 info@thelocalanswer.co.uk info@thelocalanswer.co.uk @thelocalanswer @ thelocalanswer
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April’s winning cover photo: Sophie Lodge
W elcome Welcome ttoo A pril April Gill Greenwell has all the Easter inspiration you need for decorating your home in her April Interior Design article – why not have a go at making our indulgent Delicious Dish to add to your Easter-themed tablescape? Dorothy Glen shares some interesting facts about snakes in her Wildlife Matters feature, while Val Starr reminds us of the importance of sun protection as the weather starts to improve. If you’ve been considering getting into fitness but would prefer to work out at home instead of in a gym environment, Fitness Superstore offer a wide range of equipment to help you build your own home gym. There’s lots to do in your garden this month, but don’t forget to feed your plants – especially any fruit you’re trying to grow. Read more in Julia Smith’s In the Garden article. And check out Toby Aiken’s latest Motoring review to see what he thought of the Toyota Highlander.
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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
Are you recruiting? Save money by promoting your vacancies in The Local Answer Other recruitment avenues can be costly, but The Local Answer can help you reach up to 183,000 homes and businesses across Gloucestershire for less. Promote your vacancies with a Full Page advertisement and reach 30,000 homes and businesses across the Cotswold District from only £420+VAT per month*.
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MONDAY Cirencester 9.30am
6pm & 7.30pm Cricklade 5.30pm 7pm Cricklade 5.30pm & 7 pm TUESDAY TUESDAY C Cricklade ricklade 9.30am 9.30am Tetbury 9.30am, Tetbury 9.30am, 5.30pm 5.30pm &7 7pm pm WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY C Cirencester irencester 9am, 9am, 10.30am, 10.30am, 4.30pm, 6pm 4.30pm, 6 pm &7 7.30pm .30pm 9 .30am SATURDAY S ATURDAY F Fairford airford 9.30am
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Delicious Delicious Dish Dish w with ith H Helen elen K Kingscott ingscott
E Easter aster chocolate chocolate cheesecake cheesecake Boil Boil the the kettle kettle a and nd ccut ut y yourself ourself a slice slice o off this this mouthwatering mouthwatering cheesecake, cheesecake, which which iiss ssure ure tto o go go down down a treat treat w with ith any any guests guests y you ou cchoose hoose to to share share iitt with. with. M My y ttaste aste ttesters esters lloved oved iit! t!
IIngredients: ngredients: 600g full-fat cream cheese 300g milk chocolate (I used supermarket own brand) 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 tbsp malted milk powder (I used a supermarket single sachet) 3 tbsp icing sugar 200ml double cream 200g bourbon biscuits 100g salted butter 150g maltesers
M Method: ethod: 1 Line the base and sides of a 20cm springform or loose bottomed tin with baking paper. 2 Pop the biscuits into a bowl and crush with a rolling pin until they resemble fine crumbs. Add 50g of maltesers and do the same. 3 Melt the butter and add to the biscuit mixture, stirring until well-mixed. Tip this into
the tin and press firmly all over. Chill in the fridge for 15-20 minutes. 4 Melt the chocolate in a bowl over a pan of hot water or carefully in the microwave. Stir until smooth then leave to cool for five minutes. 5 Put the cream cheese into a large mixing bowl and beat until smooth, ideally with an electric whisk. Add the cooled chocolate, the vanilla extract, malted milk powder and icing sugar and mix. 6 Drizzle the cream into the bowl and beat for a short
time until the filling is thick but smooth. 7 Spread most of the mixture over the base, smoothing it with a spatula but leaving a big dollop to roughly swirl over the top. 8 Cover and leave to chill in the fridge overnight, along with the remaining maltesers. 9 When you are ready to serve, carefully remove the cake from the tin and place on your serving plate. Roughly chop the remaining maltesers, leaving a few whole, and decorate your cheesecake.
BOILER B OILER S SERVICING ERVICING
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iinfo@indplumbingandheating.co.uk nfo@indplumbingandheating.co.uk • 01666 www.indplumbingandheating.co.uk 01666 503632 503632 • www.indplumbingandheating.co.uk The Local Answer
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Looking Looking Good, Good, F Feeling eeling Great Great with w ith W Will ill M Mbanga banga
C Creating reating a no-excuse no-excuse culture culture Have you ever found yourself saying, “I need to be more disciplined”? Most people have, if they are honest. A good, simple definition of discipline is “to keep showing up and consistently following through with the things you want or need to do”. For example, work tasks, chores, studies, training, goals, diet, responsibilities, etc. But there is simply too much going on and it’s hard to prioritise or stay focused/motivated. Our positive and negative selftalk impacts our discipline, as it directly impacts selfconfidence, which then affects self-discipline. The issue for most people is understanding what resources they need to gain results and a key ingredient is discipline or ‘will power’. Discipline and habit formation go hand in hand – the more disciplined you are about adhering to good habits, the more you can achieve.
T The he rreward eward o off g good ood d discipline iscipline iis s ffreedom reedom While discipline requires good routines, sacrifice, hard work or strong will, the reward is freedom. Freedom to be or do those things that are important to you; freedom from being held back by obstacles, excuses and doubt; freedom to work towards being your best self. Being more disciplined can help you get over any road blo cks yo u’re e xperi encin g, as well as giving you the edge you’re looking for in your life, work or wellness needs. Discipline is a non-negotiable if you want to be successful in anything – taking the easy way out is almost never the solution, The Local Answer
no matter how tempting it may be. For those of you struggling with discipline in terms of regular exercise, here is a 20 minute challenge to get you through the next month. If you can’t make or find at least 20 minutes a day to invest in your health and wellbeing, you’re focusing on the wrong things! The primary focus of this timesensitive workout is strength and power, with a cardiovascular endurance element so you’ll burn a mountain of calories (and fat!). Feel free to substitute exercises or switch to lower impact options according to your needs.
exercises. There are two options, depending on your ability and what equipment you may have available. Bodyweight Bodyweight option: option: push ups, squats, lunges, mountain climbers and jumping jacks.* E Equipment quipment option option (you’ll (you’ll need need 2d dumbbells umbbells and and 1 kettlebell): kettlebell): renegade row push ups, rocket burpees, goblet squat jumps, kettlebell swings and squat to overhead press.*
E Example xample rround ound Minute 1: 20 push ups Minute 2: 20 squat jumps Minute 3: 20 lunge kicks Minute 4: 20 (each leg) mountain climbers 20 2 0 iin n2 20 0d daily aily w workout orkout Minute 5: 20 jumping jacks Use any extra time at the end challenge challenge of each minute to recover before For the next 20 days, alternate starting the next exercise. your daily exercise between 20 Repeat three more times. minutes of cardio (walking, * If you’re not sure how to perform jogging, rowing, cycling, etc.) any of these exercises, watch a few and four rounds of strength videos on YouTube or consult a building, fat-stripping workouts, Personal Trainer. Do not use consisting of 20 reps on the equipment that is too heavy for minute every minute of five your current strength level.
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Dedicated D edicated care care for for older older people p e ople iin nah homely omely eenvironment nv ironment C Call all ttoday odayy ffor or more more iinformation nformation
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Mirror Mirror Mirror Mirror on on tthe he Wall Wall w with ith V Val al S Starr tarr
S Spring pring ssun un p protection rotection You may think it’s too early to be thinking about SPF and skin protection in April, but you should be protecting your skin from damaging rays throughout the whole year. Unfortunately, many people only think about applying SPF products during the summer months, which is a huge mistake. Sun protection should be a non-negotiable daily routine for every member of the family. I do appreciate that on a miserable, grey winter’s day it might be the last thing on your mind, but UVA rays can still seep through clouds and cause damage to your skin, even in dull weather. Up to 90% of skin ageing is caused by sun damage and this can easily be avoided with a little planning and preparation. Products to help prevent these harmful rays have come a very long way from the heavy creams we used to apply that left a dreaded white residue. Dermatologists who have incredibly long waiting lists are
seeing people of all ages with various sun damage to the skin; of course these can be from sun burns from years ago that are only now coming to the surface. Fortunately, we are better educated now, meaning with a little caution we can still enjoy the sun!
Staying ssafe Staying afe o on n holiday h oliday The sun’s rays are much stronger than you may imagine in the spring and while international travel might be back on the agenda for many, so are UK staycations. Whether you are planning a domestic holiday or simply playing in your garden, without applying protective products, you can be exposed to the same damaging rays that you would automatically protect against in hotter countries.
SPF SPF Sun protection factors range from as low as 2 to 50 plus. The NHS recommends using at least factor 30, which is what I use during the winter months, but by March I have graduated to factor 50. The key thing to remember is that it is the UVA light that causes deep damage, so when you look at SPF products, ensure you have at least a four, preferably five, star UVA rating.
Ultrasun U ltrasun Made in Switzerland, Ultrasun protects from over 95% of the dreaded UVA rays. I like that you only need to apply once daily for great protection, The Local Answer
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unlike many where you have to re-apply throughout the day. It might cost a little more but you use less for each application. The range has something for everyone, including children whose skin is incredibly vulnerable. This year they have a new SPF 50 spray, which you can spray anywhere on your body – great for tips of ears, hair lines and bald spots. It can also be sprayed over makeup without leaving any residue.
Boots B oots The Boots No7 Protect and Perfect range is reasonably priced with a good UVA rating. At £14.95, their 50ml advanced facial intense protection SPF50 is good value. Many of us are quick to buy every new anti-ageing ‘miracle’ product that comes to market – those that tempt us with the promise of younger skin. In reality, the best investment you can make for more youthful looking skin is a good SPF. Page
H Helping elping F Families amilies ffind ind tthe he rright ight h help elp We help families find high quality nannies, domestic help and child care professionals Mothers Help • Nannies • Housekeepers, Cleaners • Maternity Nurses • Babysitters One-off, short-term or long-term support Full-time, part-time, live-in or live-out A bespoke, personal and attentive service Initial consultation to fully understand your requirements All candidates thoroughly vetted, including relevant DBS and reference checks
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@ @thelocalanswer thelocalanswer
C Can an yyou ou spare spare a ffew ew hhours ours a month month to to support support ppeople eople w with ith llearning earning ddisabilities? isabilities? FFull ull training training & expenses expenses ppaid aid For more information call 0 1242 2 10950 01242 210950 admin@buildingcircles.org.uk www.buildingcirclesglos.org.uk
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F Fitness itness s suite uite • Studio Studio a and nd llarge arge w weights g area 15+ 15+ classes classes per per week week included included in in membership membership SSPIN PIN • PPUMP UMP FITNESS FITNESS • HHIIT IIT • VIBE VIBE CYCLE CYCLE • ZZUMBA UMBA • CCIRCUITS/HIIT IRCUITS/HIIT • CCONDITIONING ONDITIONING ZZUMBA UMBA KKIDS IDS 4-7 4-7 yyears ears • PPILATES ILATES • HIIT HIIT SSPIN PIN • CCLUBBERCISE LUBBERCISE KKIDS IDS • YOGA YOGA • FITNESS FITNESS YOGA YOGA U nit 1 | A ndoversford IIndustrial ndustrial Estate Estate | GL54 GL54 4LB 4LB Unit Andoversford a40fitness.com a40fitness.com george@a40fitness.com george@a40fitness.com Page 10
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Mrs S. – Blockley – Recent Client “My sale fell through after 3 months and I needed to move fast or lose my onward purchase. Cotswold Property Buyers were able to exchange on my property within 7 days! Completely no nonsense and hassle free!”
W WE EC CAN AN B BUY UY Y YOUR OUR P PROPERTY, ROPERTY, FAST! FAST! SSALE ALE FFALLEN ALLEN TTHROUGH? HROUGH? N EED TTO O SSELL ELL URGENTLY? URGENTLY? NEED ASSLE? SSELL ELL WITH WITH NO NO H HASSLE? A VOID REPOSSESSION? REPOSSESSION? AVOID PROBATE SALE? SALE? PROBATE
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C all o mail u Call orr e email uss ttoday have obligation discussion! bligation d iscussion! oday tto oh ave a no no o W ea re a local local business ith ccomplete omplete iintegrity, ntegrity, We are operate with business who who o perate w d iscretion & professionalism professionalism discretion h hello@cotswoldpropertybuyers.com ello@cotswoldpropertybuyers.com | w www.cotswoldpropertybuyers.com ww.cotswoldpropertybuyers.com Cotswold Cotswold P Property roperty B Buyers uyers iiss a ttrading rading name name o off C Cotswold otswold P Property roperty C Capital apital L Limited imited – C Company ompany n number umber 10829526 10829526
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D Do oy you ou h have ave a W Will? ill? Would you like to make changes to your Will? Have you considered what will happen to your estate when you die? Are you concerned that your children may lose your home to cover the cost of Care Home fees? Have you appointed Guardians for your children? WE WE CAN CAN ALSO ALSO ARRANGE ARRANGE L LASTING ASTING P POWER OWER O OF FA ATTORNEY TTORNEY COMPETITIVE COMPETITIVE F FEES EES For an appointment in your own home or by Zoom please contact Peter Aldous: 01367 01367 2 250289 50289 or 07795 07795 024431 024431
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There has been significant press coverage in recent months, but as from the start of this month the hurt really begins. We’ve all been told how much more our gas and electricity unit prices are going to cost from now onwards and it’s frightening. Regularly 40%-70% higher and there’s nothing we can do about it. Or is there? Shopping around for the best deal is still available, but it’s a cartel between the providers and one energy company is going to charge the same unit price as the next one. Looking for a better tariff has been a popular alternative over the years, but there’s now an obligation on the energy providers to check you are on the best version for your usage, such that there is little mileage left here either.
We W e need need to to think think about about how how we w e can can manage manage usage usage But cost is a combination of both usage and unit price. If we can’t do anything about the latter, perhaps we can cope better with the increase in energy costs by controlling usage? I’m not suggesting we need to turn the heating off for large chunks of the day to the detriment of our well-being, but maybe more active management of switches in the house will reduce usage and compensate for the unit price increases? We can’t all simply afford to shrug our shoulders and pay the higher costs. We need to think about how we can manage usage downwards and then actually do something about it. The government suggested that we should all have a smart meter for our gas and electricity consumption and that, as a result, our costs would go down. What a nonsense! A smart meter doesn’t save you money – it simply tells y ou h o w m uch you a re sp e nd in g . I f y o u w an t to save, you have to change your behaviour and then the smart meter will tell you how successful you have been. The concept of using modern technology to help control costs is good, but it’s not the solution on its own. Will there be ‘winners’ out of the debacle? The energy companies for sure, but hopefully not manufacturers of woolly jumpers or hot water bottles as we resort to other means of keeping warm. Nobody wants that, but we have to think about how we manage our daily actions in the face of such an aggressive hike in basic prices.
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Making M aking sselling elling yyour our u used sed c car ar a as s ssimple imple a ass p possible ossible Approved Car Buying Centre is here to make selling your used car as simple as possible, whatever the make, model and age. With no appointment needed, you can just drop in to our Buying Centre at Coombe Hill (A38) GL19 4BD where we will be able to appraise your car or van and give you our best possible price. If you prefer, we are more than happy to come to you at your home or workplace free of charge and often within the same day. We buy and collect vehicles in every corner of Gloucestershire, including the Cotswolds. No fees are charged for our service and 100% of ou r v al u at i o n w il l b e p ai d directly into your bank account.
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Motoring M otoring w with ith T Toby oby A Aiken iken
There T here can can be be only only one... one... Back in the summer, we had a family holiday booked to Cornwall – along with most of the rest of the UK as it appeared. As usual, taking two kids on holiday with the standard barrage of equipment meant the family 5-door Mini wasn’t going to cut it. Enter stage left: the brand-new Toyota Highlander. Toyota have always been good at making both tiny and massive cars – the Yaris has long been a stalwart for new drivers (and more recently, with the GR, which was incredible) and the likes of the Rav4 and Landcruiser for those who want something on the larger end of the scale.
Targeted T argeted at at families families The Highlander is therefore not technically breaking new ground for Toyota, but unlike the Landcruiser which is the closest large offering, this feels more targeted at families. The Landcruiser is more utilitarian, but the Highlander had genuine comforts on offer, and seven seats that still lefftt a decent boot space. So a big, family-focused 4x4, with hybrid technology and enough space to pack the kitchen sink meets the notoriously narrow lanes of Cornwall. What could possibly go wrong? As it happened, nothing did, but there were a few moments when I wasn’t sure if it was going to fit through gaps. Luckily, the very accurate parking sensors and rear camera were there to help me out. Sometimes, sensors can be marginally helpful at best – alerting you to objects that are still a foot or two away – but The Local Answer
the Highlander’s were very useful, especially in one particularly narrow Cornish seaside town where parking was at a massive premium. I took a wrong turn and ended up half a mile outside of the village before I could turn around! Certainly, without the sensors, parking such a large vehicle would have been a lot trickier.
“The “ The H Highlander ighlander n never ever llet et m me ed down own o once” nce” The great thing about taking a car like this away on holiday is that I get to test it under pretty much all conditions – motorways, tight lanes and car parks a-plenty. I have to say, the Highlander never let me down once. Good in any situation or weather condition, it is capable over pretty much anything (as you’d expect from the people who brought us the Landcruiser) but also incredibly comfortable to drive and be driven in. To advertise call 0122 510500
Glowing reviews all round from the whole family meant it had a clean sweep of appreciation.
IIncredibly ncredibly frugal frugal Being a Toyota, it’s also a hybrid. I’ve said before that Toyota’s hybrid system is one of the better on the market. This car measures almost 5 metres long, has a 2.5 litre petrol engine and weighs more than two tonnes before it’s loaded with a family-holiday worth of luggage, but it’s still incredibly frugal. I forget the actual MPG achieved, but it was surprisingly good, all things considered and much better than I expected. To sum up, the Highlander is an incredibly versatile, comfortable and economical offering from Toyota and my only surprise is that I haven’t seen more on the roads. It is genuinely impressive and even given the £50k price tag, offers better value than most rivals I can think of. Page 15
Whatʼs W hatʼs O On n T The he L Local ocal A Answer nswer Event Event L Listings istings a are re ccompiled ompiled and and presented presented 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 your your visit. visit. 2 APRIL APRIL MIND BODY SPIRIT SHOW Back in Cirencester. 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. Talks/ workshops/mediumship demonstration. 11-5pm. Bingham Hall, King Street, Cirencester GL7 1JT. 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. 22-3 -3 APRIL 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 APRIL NATIONAL STAR’S SUNRISE W WA ALK 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 112-13 2-13 APRIL APRIL THE WIZARD OF OZ Join Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and the cowardly Lion as they journey on a panto-filled adventure through Oz to meet the legendary Wizard and defeat the Wicked Witch of the West. Anton Benson Productions return with an all-singing, all-dancing rib-tickling show starring Easter panto favourites Kerry Katona and Basil Brush, and Blue Peter’s Barney Harwood! Various times. Tickets £16-£18. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. 01684 295074. rosestheatre.org 2211 APRIL APRIL MEDICO Italian NHS intensive care doctor and comedian (yes, she really is both) Dr Stefania Licari brings to the stage her comedy alter-ego Dr Anna LaRosa for an hysterical and moving exploration of the medical world, immigration and what it means to become British. Physical gags, silly jokes and true stories from the medical frontline combine with Stefania's own experience of being an Italian doctor in the UK. 7.30pm. Tickets £10. The Subscription Rooms, George Street, Stroud GL5 1AE. thesubrooms.co.uk 23 APRIL APRIL 23 MEAT LOUD The Ultimate Tribute to Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman. Including a performance of the Album ‘Bat Out of Hell’ in its entirety as well as songs from other
Meat Loaf albums and other artists, penned by musical genius Steinman. 8pm. From £17.50. Sundial Theatre, Cirencester, GL7 1XA. www.sundialtheatre.co.uk 13 13 MAY MAY STUART SINGERS CHARITY CONCERT IN AID OF BEAT The Stuart Singers welcome you to a one-off charity concert in aid of Cirencester based eating disorder charity, BEAT. The Choir comprises up to 65 voices in four parts and we sing a wide and constantly changing repertoire spanning spirituals, theatre, sacred and secular, classical and modern. 7.30pm. From £12.50. Sundial Theatre, Cirencester, GL7 1XA. www.sundial-theatre.co.uk 1-3 1-3 JULY JULY LINTON FESTIVAL
Celebrating 20 years of great music and beer! Proceeds to local charities. Headliners include The Counterfeit Stones, Walter Trout and One Night of Queen plus many more amazing international bands/artists. Tickets from £22. Camping available. Full lineup on website www.lintonfestival.org
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S Shipton hipton G Golf olf C Course ourse
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Falklands War 1982 – Talk (40th Anniversary) Friday 29 April 2022
Bacon Bacon rroll oll and and hot hot drink drink aafter fter your your rround ound alid until until O Only nly £ £4 4 with with this this aadvertisement! dvertisement! VValid 3 30/4/22 0/4/22 Tel: 01242 890237
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Speaker Speaker LOCATION L OCATION R Royal oyal A Agricultural gricultural U University, niversity, Sir Hew Hew Pike Pike L Gen Sir Ltt Gen C irencester G L7 6 JS Cirencester GL7 6JS DSO MBE K CB DSO MBE KCB T ICKETS TICKETS £ 15 ffor or ttalk alk & w elcome drink drink £15 welcome £ 19 ffor or m eal • ((£34 £34 Total) Total) £19 meal C ONTACT DETAILS DETAILS CONTACT RRegistered egistered w with ith S usanne H ollis Tel: Tel: 01980 01980 672337 672337 Susanne Hollis F or tticket icket a pplication fform orm e mail For application email sshollis@soldierscharity.org hollis@soldierscharity.org ABF ABF The The SSoldiers’ oldiers’ Charity Charity isis a registered registered charity charity iinn England England and and WWales ales (1146420) (1146420) & Scotland Scotland ((SCO39189). SCO39189).) Registered Registered aass a ccompany ompany FUNDRAISING FUNDRAISING llimited imited bbyy gguarantee uarantee iinn EEngland ngland & WWales ales ((07974609). 07974609). RRegistered egistered OOffice: ffice: MMountbarrow ountbarrow HHouse, ouse, 1212 Elizabeth Elizabeth Street, Street, Lo London, ondon, SSW1W W1W 99RB. RB. R REGULATOR EGULATOR
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IIn n tthe he Garden Garden w with ith JJulia ulia S Smith mith
F Feed eed your your garden garden April showers notwithstanding, there is now the real promise of lovely bright days to come, with all the plants in the garden shooting up to make the most of the sunshine. Start feeding the fruit in the garden, as most soft fruits will be flowering soon. Applying a balanced general fertiliser – such as Growmore or blood, fish and bone – at the rate of about 70g per square metre will give them a real boost.
Use U se a b balanced alanced g general eneral ffertiliser ertiliser Three major elements are required by plants to grow successfully: potassium (K) for successful flower and fruit production, nitrogen (N) to promote good foliage, and phosphorus (P) for strong roots. A balanced general fertiliser contains the right amount of all three. April is the time to thin peaches, almonds, apricots and nectarines. It seems heartbreaking to do this, but if you allow too many fruits to develop it will weaken the plant and only produce small fruit.
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Protect strawberries from frost at night when they are flowering with fleece to make sure you have a good crop – frosts can still happen even in April! Sow sunflower seeds into 9cm pots and provide some bottom heat if you have a propagator. Once the plants are established, grow them on in a cooler environment. Make sure you put a cane in the pot and attach the plant at regular intervals. Put in a cold-frame in May to allow them to harden
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off and you can plant them outside in nicely prepared soil in late May. If we have a dry patch during April, make sure that any newly planted trees and shrubs have sufficient water whilst their roots establish. Windy weather can be very drying too and goodness knows we have had our share of that!
Harvest H arvest a asparagus sparagus ffor or ssix ix weeks weeks Start harvesting asparagus when the spears are 15-20cm tall. New spears will soon emerge, so you can keep harvesting for six weeks and then leave the plants to rest. If you have any of the lovely perennial penstemons that have overwintered and look scruffy and woody, you can give them a trim until they are about 1015cm high. New shoots will soon come up from the base. They are a really good plant for the mixed border and flower all through the summer. Penstemon ‘Blackbird’ is a lovely dark purple variety that I particularly like. Page 23
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Wildlife Wildlife Matters Matters with w ith D Dorothy orothy G Glen len
Snake Snake or or fake? fake? There are so many wonderful signs of life that appear through April, as our wild world really wakes up and surges towards the summer. I had planned to write about adders, and then found a couple of interesting other snake-ish things too. And what better month to include a few April fool type facts? So – true or false?
Image: Robin Word (Alamy Stock Photo)
F Female emale a adders dders sswallow wallow ttheir heir young young w when hen u under nder threat, threat, and and regurgitate regurgitate them them later, later, unharmed. unharmed. False. This is folklore, along with the amusing belief that holding a pigeon or chicken on an adder bite would act as a remedy. Adders, with a striking dark zig-zag down their backs, are our only venomous snake here in the UK. Males emerge from hibernation in March and can be seen basking in the sun to s tore ene rgy fo r ma ti ng when the females emerge in April. Males then engage in elaborate ‘dances’ to fight for access to females.
Rather than laying eggs, the females incubate their young internally (thought to be an adaption to a cooler climate) and birth live young in late summer. Adders won’t bite unless provoked – do look out for them basking, and keep dogs on leads.
Snakeshead Snakeshead fritillaries fritillaries are a re a actually ctually named named after a fter guineafowl. guineafowl. True. Snakeshead fritillaries are one of the UK’s most exotic-looking wildflowers. Blooming in late April, their nodding flowers do look a little snake-like, and their chequerboard pattern is reminiscent of scales. But their latin name – Fritillaria Meleagris – actually means ‘spotted like a guineafowl’. Fritillaries are classified as vulnerable and can only be found in specific sites in central and southern England. I have
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seen them at Gloucestershire’s Batsford Arboretum, and one of their big success sites is Iffley Meadows in Oxford.
Slow Slow worms worms are are ssnakes, nakes, not not worms. worms. False. Slow worms are neither snakes nor worms – they are, in fact, legless lizards. Slow worms are commonly found in gardens and allotments where they are often mistaken for snakes. They grow to 40-50cm long, whereas adders – themselves half the size of grass snakes – grow to 60-80cm. Slow worms are recognisable as lizards because they blink, whereas snakes don’t have eyelids. They also have no neck region behind the head like snakes do. Like many lizards, they can shed their tails as a defence mechanism. The tails continue to thrash, distracting the predator, and another eventually grows in its place. Now you can enjoy showing off these interesting facts and impressing your friends! Page 25
HATHERLEY ATHERLEY HW H WORKTOPS W ORKTOPS LLTD TD Your Y our Local Local Worktop Worktop and and Kitchen Kitchen Specialists Specialists Cheltenham Cheltenham based based Quartz Quartz & Granite Granite Factory Factory with with Showroom Showroom I I I I
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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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D Distributors istributors R Required equired Immediately in Andoversford, Cirencester, Moreton-in-Marsh, Quenington and Stow on the Wold 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 offfice – our staff are only returning to work part-time, so may not always be available to take your call. 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. Page 26
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T h e Loc Th Lo c al al
A AN NS SW WE ER R
G GLOUCESTER LOUCESTERS SHIRE’S HIRE’S B BIGGEST IGGEST LLOCAL OCAL M MAGAZINE AGAZINE APRIL 2022 APRIL 2022
COTS COTSWOLD WOLDS
H HAPPY APPY E EASTER ASTER F FROM RO M E EVERYONE VERYONE A AT T
T THE HE L LOCAL OCAL A ANSWER! NSWER!
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IInterior nterior D Design esign w with ith G Gill ill G Greenwell reenwell
E Easter aster p parade arade Easter is a time to be together with family and friends, and it feels like there is even more reason to celebrate this year with a return to ‘normal’ life. When we were young, my sister and I loved making decorations in the Easter holidays. Why not bring some seasonal joy to your family gathering and impress your friends with an Easter-themed tablescape?
Set S et tthe he ttone one Think about your theme – will it be a pastel palette inspired by spring flowers, or perhaps a bolder scheme taken from the colour of your tablecloth or plates? I like classic spring combinations of soft blues and yellows, pale pinks and greens, but I’ve seen some amazing Mexican-inspired table settings on Instagram in bright greens, hot pinks and cobalt blues.
A llayered ayered llook ook Layer up, starting with your tablecloth (Dunelm has a great range of checked and striped table linens). Create place settings in toning hues – I have
a collection of coloured, handwoven placemats for added texture. I like a proper napkin for an occasion, so why not make your own hand blocked ones (check out Molly Mahon’s website to find out how). A centrepiece of spring flowers is a must. Think jugs of yolkyellow daffodils mixed with bright blue hyacinths or paleyellow primroses in pots. Create a German-style Easter tree from branches of sofftt pink and white hedgerow blossoms and hang with coloured eggs.
Eggs Eggs ffantastic antastic
Image: Talking Tables
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Enjoy painting and decorating eggs for the table with your own design, using oil pastels, acrylic paints or paint pens. Make herb printed eggs by attaching herbs like parsley to the egg, wrapping tightly with muslin and string then soaking in vegetable dye (beetroot for pink eggs, red cabbage for blue, onion skins for yellow). To advertise call 0122 510500
Vintage Vintage finds finds For a charming vintage Easter vibe bring out favourite old family pieces, or search out coloured glassware and antique style jugs and plates at charity shops. Use jam jars or mini milk bottles as vases and fill with flowers from the garden. Mix materials and textures – nothing needs to match for this look. Dried rose petals and mini eggs strewn around the table will look pretty, and you can eat the chocolate ones later!
S Seasonal easonal ttouches ouches And now for the fun bit – add some seasonal cheer to your table with some Easter bunny style decor. Create your own bunny ear napkins and personalised place-cards decorated with baby rabbits or chicks. I love Mrs Alice’s Bo-Peep lambs and the cute ‘Bunny in a Carrot’ from The Danes. Check out Etsy or Pinterest for more ideas. Happy Easter! Page 2
S Sudoku udoku Fill the grids so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.
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Keep u Keep up p to to date date on on ssocial ocial m media! edia! @thelocalanswer @ thelocalanswer
D Don’t on’t look look until until you’ve you’ve finished! finished! Solutions Solutions on on ‘Index ‘Index of of Advertisers’ Advertisers’ p page. age.
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G Gadgets adgets & G Gizmos izmos w with ith L Laura aura N Nicklin icklin
Gizmos Gizmos aplenty aplenty Whether you are looking for gadgets as gift ideas, out of boredom or to treat yourself, we’ve got you covered. Check out some of the latest offerings on the tech market that might just be what you’ve been searching for.
Google G oogle N Nest est C Cam am John Lewis: £89 If you’re looking for some additional security in your home, Google’s Nest Cam might just be the handy little gizmo you need. By downloading the Google Home app, you can get notifications immediately if anything occurs while you are out. And don’t worry about the nest cam being triggered by the cat; it can tell the difference between people, animals and passing cars. Simply set up the cam on its built-in stand, whether you decide to mount it on the wall or place it on the shelf. The
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nest cam’s camera can do a 6x zoom and has a 135 degree field of vision, as well as night vision, ensuring nothing gets missed. Feel free to check in on the live feed while you’re at work, or even talk via the camera if you want to chat to your pet!
G Graffiti raffiti L Lava ava L Lamp amp Menkind.co.uk: £30 Remember these home accessories from the 90s and early nough The cool lamps t were all the rage a featured in bedroom in teen movie making you imme iately want one? We I do and I think the need to make comeback (althoug technically they hav been around sinc the 60s, but my poi stands). Lava lamps give o that cool retro vib and the Graffiti Lav Lamp from Menkin is one that is sure to add some style to your home. Whether you appreciate items To advertise call 0122 510500
with a bit of a ‘vintage’ aesthetic, or just think it will look cool, why not consider making this the next addition to your bedroom decor.
Portable Portable D Digital igital S Shower hower Radio Radio John Lewis: £49 We’re all guilty of singing in shower from time to me, but if you really want to make the most of your solo, you need he portable digital hower radio from ohn Lewis. This cute tle gadget is the perct shower accessory; h its splash-proof 3W eaker, easy on/off ttons and handle, you n just leave it hanging. ot to mention the radio cks up to 12 hours of ttery life! And if you nt to enjoy your favrite station out of the shower, you can use the headphone jack. When you’re done, just use the lock setting. Page 2
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Graveney Graveney ccloses loses o on nm milestone ilestone David Graveney, one of the best-known names in Gloucestershire’s long cricket history, will mark 50 years in the firstclass game this summer. And while the 69-year-old says “it’s just a number”, it’s something that makes him very proud, justifiably so, because it’s been some career both on and off the pitch. On the pitch he captained Gloucestershire for six-and-ahalf years in the 1980s when they twice went close to winning the county championship, was part of two Lord’s cup final-winning teams in the 70s and played alongside four of the county’s all-time greats – Mike Procter, Zaheer Abbas, Courtney Walsh and Jack Russell – while also taking almost 1,000 first-class wickets himself in a 20-plus year playing career. Off the pitch he stepped seamlessly onto the international stage in 1997 when he was appointed England’s chairman of selectors, a position he held for 11 years and a period which embraced that never-to-be-forgotten Ashes triumph in 2005. He was deservedly awarded an OBE for services to cricket on the back of that success but there’s been controversy for Graveney along the way too, most notably when he was part of Mike Gatting’s rebel tour to South Africa in 1990 when he was very much in the line of fire as the tour’s player/manager. That was obviously a tough time for Graveney but it’s fair to say that over the years there have been many more highs than lows for the former leftarm spinner and he’s done an awful lot for cricket at all levels, particularly his support for former cricketers in his past role as chief executive of the Professional Cricketers’ Assoc-
David Graveney. Image: Gloucestershire Cricket
iation and his current role as president of the Professional Cricketers’ Trust. Talk to Graveney for just a few minutes and it’s easy to see why he’s held so many highprofile roles over the years. He’s obviously intelligent – he is a q u al i f i ed a c c ou n t ant – and he’s a good, positive communicator, although even he admits that it was an awfully long time ago that he made his county championship debut for Gloucestershire at the age of 19. That was on Saturday 5th August 1972 – a time when Ted Heath was Prime Minister, Leeds United were the best football team in the country and Donny Osmond was top of the UK singles charts with Puppy Love. And it was something of an inauspicious start for Graveney because he finished wicketless in that game at Cheltenham against Lancashire, a Lancashire side that included the great Clive Lloyd. A few days later he was centre stage again, this time against Derbyshire. Again it was at Cheltenham but this time he was the hero of the hour as he
took five second innings wickets to set up a winning run chase. That got the 6ft 4in Graveney up and running. His tall, upright bowling action, extracting any spin and bounce that a wicket may offer, was already in evidence and he was offered a one-year contract at the end of the summer “for the princely sum of £900,” he laughed. Almost half a century later, he continues to be a familiar face around the club because he was voted onto Gloucestershire’s Executive Board in 2020 and has played an important role not only in the recruitment of new head coach Dale Benkenstein, but also in attracting high-profile overseas players to the club such as Australian opening batsman Marcus Harris and Pakistan pace bowler Naseem Shah. Graveney, of course, is the son of former Gloucestershire captain and seam bowler Ken, and the nephew of Tom, the majestic batsman who also captained Gloucestershire and played 79 Tests for England. Tom Graveney had retired from county cricket a couple of years before David started playing for Gloucestershire, but although they never played against each other at first-class level, David does remember bowling to his uncle in one particular game. “It was in 1986, my benefit year,” said Graveney. “We were playing a game at Sheepscombe. It’s a lovely ground. “Tom was nearly 60 and hadn’t played for years and years. I was bowling at him from the pavilion end, he blocked my first ball and then the next one he hit high over the sightscreen, much to the amusement of all my team-mates. He did it so easily too.” Full story online.
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