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GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S BIGGEST LLOCAL OCAL BIGGEST M AGAZINE MAGAZINE MARCH M ARCH 22022 022

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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!”

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C otswolds: 330,000 0,000 ccopies opies Cotswolds: Cheltenham: 443,000 3,000 ccopies opies Cheltenham: G loucester: 449,000 9,000 copies copies Gloucester: N orth G loucestershire: 220,000 0,000 ccopies opies North Gloucestershire: S troud D istrict: 440,000 0,000 ccopies opies Stroud District:

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W elcome Welcome ttoo M 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. Al Hidden is off to Italy to explore the Dolomites in his Holidays & Travel 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 across the Cotswolds – more details can be found in our ‘Distributors Required’ advert.

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

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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. Remove and set aside.

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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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.

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 WIFI MANAGEMENT C LOUD W IFI M ANAGEMENT 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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F Fitness itness s suite uite • Studio Studio a and nd llarge arge w weights eights area area 15+ 15+ classes classes per per week week included included in in membership membership UMBA • C IRCUITS/HIIT SPIN PUMP FITNESS HIIT VIBE CYCLE ZUMBA CIRCUITS/HIIT S PIN • P UMP F ITNESS • H IIT • V IBE C YCLE • Z ILATES • HIIT HIIT SPIN SPIN CONDITIONING ZUMBA KIDS PILATES C ONDITIONING • Z UMBA K IDS 44-7 -7 yyears ears • P CLUBBERCISE CLUBBERCISE KIDS KIDS • YOGA YOGA • FITNESS FITNESS YOGA YOGA

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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! The Local Answer

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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D Distributors istributors Required Required

H Helping elping F Families amilies ffind ind tthe he rright ight h help elp

Immediately in Andoversford, Cirencester, Moreton-in-Marsh, Quenington, Stratton 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 office – our staff are only returning to work parttime, 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 propertty The T he L Loca ocal types, our current team of people A ANS NS W WER ER 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 C COTSWO OTSWOLLDS DS perform the duties. GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S S BIGGEST LOCAL BIGGEST LOCAL MAGAZIINE MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2022 FEBRUARY 2022

HAPPY HAPPY VALENTINE’S VALENTINE’S DAY DAY FROM FROM THE THE

LOCAL LOCAL ANSWER! ANSWER!

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

Helping H elping N Nannies annies ffind ind tthe he right right jjob ob Nanny jobs in Gloucestershire We have a wide range of nanny jobs in Gloucestershire available, so if you are a childcare professional in this area then please don’t hesitate to get in touch. ontact L For For m more ore iinformation nformation p please lease c contact Laura: aura:

g loucestershire@mums-the-word.co.uk gloucestershire@mums-the-word.co.uk mums-the-word.co.uk • 07775 07775 309183 309183 mums-the-word.co.uk

£ £

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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,

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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. To advertise call 01242 510500

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! Page 11

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SEWELL MULLINGS LOGIE

Money Money Matters Matters

Legal for Legal services services for every off yyour e very sstage tage o our llife ife

70 70 yyears ears of of change change

SOLICITORS

Settlement Agreements Agreements • Property Property Settlement Family • Trusts Trusts and and Estates Estates Family W ills • LLitigation itigation Wills E mployment • C ommercial Employment Commercial 7 Dollar Dollar Street, Street, Cirencester, Cirencester, GL7 GL7 2AS 2AS t: t: 01285 01285 650000 650000 e: e: info@sml-law.co.uk info@sml-law.co.uk w: w: sml-law.co.uk sml-law.co.uk

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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.

H Have ave e earnings arnings k kept ept p pace ace w with ith tthe he rrise ise o off inflation? inflation?

A Abbey bbey W Wills ills

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!

Member of the Society of Will Writers & Fully Insured

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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 0 1367 2 250289 50289 or 07795 07795 024431 024431

paldousabbeyfs@inbox.com paldousabbeyfs@inbox.com The Local Answer

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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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. He was a rare talent who could turn from broad slapstick to erudite within a split second. Celebrated actor Colin Elmer reprises his role in this brand new production, 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 8th 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 details, please visit www.stroudfilmfestival.org 5 MARCH JIVE TALKIN PERFORM THE BEE GEES The timeless repertoire of the Bee Gees is brought to life in this stunning stage production that is taking the country by storm. 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 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. Verdi’s thrilling Rigoletto pits power against innocence, beauty against ugliness, conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano. This special anniversary screening of Verdi’s Rigoletto celebrates 171 years since its premiere in 1851. 7.15pm. £15. (£12.50 concessions). Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, GL1 1NS. gloucesterguildhall.co.uk 12 MARCH SPONTANEOUS SHERLOCK An award-winning, entirely improvised Sherlock Holmes comedy play based on an audience suggestion of a title. Performed by some of the UK's most critically-acclaimed comedy improvisers, with live Victorian musical accompaniment. 7pm. £25. Sundial Theatre, Cirencester, GL7 1XA. www.sundial-theatre.co.uk 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 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. Tickets £27. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. 01684 295074. rosestheatre.org 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.

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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 2 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. 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

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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 12-13 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 another all-singing, all-dancing ribtickling show starring Easter panto favourites Kerry Katona and Basil Brush, who this year will be joined by Blue Peter’s Barney Harwood! Various times. Tickets £16-£18. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. 01684 295074. rosestheatre.org 23 APRIL 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. Buckle up and get ready for a ride into hell! 8pm. From £17.50. Sundial Theatre, Cirencester, GL7 1XA. www.sundial-theatre.co.uk

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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.

For For full full articles articles aand nd m more ore stories stories vvisit isit w www.thelocalanswer.co.uk ww.thelocalanswer.co.uk

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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. Page 23

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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 25

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Tel: T el: 01242 01242 523398 523398 / 01452 01452 2 290458 90458 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 & 20 20 Malmesbury Malmesbury 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!

Get G et iinto nto decoupage decoupage

Image: La Redoute

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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. The Local Answer

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 2

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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 31

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Don’t Don’t look look until until you’ve you’ve finished! finished! S Solutions olutions oon n ‘‘Index Index ooff A Advertisers’ dvertisers’ ppage. age. Page 32

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Index of Advertisers EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS Severn Vale Bathrooms 24 KITCHENS

LEGAL & FINANCE

26 McGills Accountants 12 Responsible Equity TV, AERIAL & SATELLITE 12 Sparkes Audio:Visual 30 Release Sewell Mullings Logie 13 WINDOWS, DOORS &

Cotswold Driving BUILDING SERVICES Experiences 16 Marshalls Driveways 21 22 Falklands War 1982 Talk 15 R. Richards & Son Roofcure 247 20 HEALTH & BEAUTY RS Cladding 20 A40 Fitness 8 Slimming World 4 FURNISHING & APPLIANCES 26 Well Human 4 Bella’s Interiors Dream Doors 35 INFORMATION Interior Needs 28 Gloucestershire County Severn Shades Blinds 26 Council 7 GARDEN SERVICES A. Luddite 30 PROPERTY 24 Cotswold Property Buyers 2 Darren & Jamie’s Mark Clifford 24 SPORT MC Gardens & Shipton Golf Course 15 Landscapes 24 Stumps-R-Us 24 HOMES & GARDENS

Hatherley Worktops

BATHROOMS

COMPUTER SERVICES

HEATING & PLUMBING

AHM Installations

PUBLISHING

CONSERVATORIES

10 Albany Windows 32 & 36 Lois Kingscott Clearway Windows 33 RECRUITMENT Garolla 21 Wall’s Ice Cream Factory 19

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SKIP HIRE & RECYCLING Stevens Recycling 16 WILL WRITING Abbey Wills 6

AUCTIONEERS & VALUERS

Mallams CHARITIES

Cobalt Health CHILDCARE

Mum’s The Word Nanny Agency 10

30 IND Plumbing & Heating 30 Hooble

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Competition Rules 1 Prizes are as stated and no cash or prize alternative will be offered. 2 Employees of The Local Answer and their families or households are not eligible to enter. 3 The first correct entry drawn at random after the closing date will win the prize as stated. 4 The winner will be notified by telephone after the closing date has passed. 5 The Editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. 6 Entrants must be over 18 years, unless stated. 7 Proof of posting is not regarded as

proof of receipt of entry. 8 The Local Answer accepts no responsibility for the provision of the prize, which remains at all times the full responsibility of the prize donor(s). 9 By entering any competition you agree to have your name published in the next issue of The Local Answer should you be drawn as a winner of the prize. 10 By entering any competition you agree to have your details passed to a third party. 11 One entry per household.

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