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August’s winning cover photo: Ella Faria

W elcome Welcome ttoo A ugust August While many restaurants and pubs remain closed at this time, you may be looking for inspiration for new meals to cook at home. Our Delicious Dish is packed full of flavour and is easy to make for a quick mid-week dinner. If you’re thinking of venturing out on day trips or a mini summer holiday, Louise Williams has some great tips to help you be a planet-friendly tourist in her Save the Planet article. One of our long-standing clients, Regency Cleaners, has spent the last few months investing in new cleaning technologies to make your home or business premises a safer environment for all who enter. Read more about this inside. We also have an overview of the Annual Report from the Police and Crime Commissioner, Martin Surl – the full report is available online. If you are a business looking to grow or reach more customers, we have a wide range of advertising packages for you to choose from. Call 01242 510500 or get in touch via email – info@thelocalanswer.co.uk

As always, our very best wishes go out to all those who have been afffected by the pandemic. If you use the services of any of our advertisers, please tell them you found them in The Local Answer!

Contacts C ontacts A dvertising & M arketing Advertising Marketing Dave Kingscott dave@thelocalanswer.co.uk Lois Kingscott lois@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Distribution D istribution John Overton (01242 541075) distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk Page 3

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Delicious D elicious Dish Dish with with H Helen elen Kingscott Kingscott

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IIngredients ngredients ((serves serves 4 4): ): 500g rump steak; 75g unsalted cashew nuts; 1 garlic clove, crushed or use lazy garlic; 4 spring onions, chopped into 2.5cm pieces; 4 spring onions for a flower garnish (optional); 1 large onion, chopped; 1 green pepper, cut into thin strips; 3 tablespoons vegetable oil; 1 teaspoon ground ginger; 1 tablespoon cornflour; 150ml chicken stock; 2 teaspoons medium sherry; 2 teaspoons soy sauce; salt and pepper. M Method: ethod: 1 Pat the steak dry then place between two sheets of greaseproof paper and flatten it with a rolling pin. Slice the beef into thin strips about 5cm long. 2 Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a wok, add half the beef strips and stir fry for about one minute.

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Remove with a slotted spoon and repeat with the remaining beef. Put to one side. Heat the remaining oil, add the garlic, spring onions, onion, cashew nuts and pepper strips. Stir fry gently for four minutes. Remove the wok from the heat and stir in the ginger. Blend the cornflour with the chicken stock, sherry and soy sauce and stir into the wok. Return to the heat, bring to the boil then lower the heat and simmer for about one minute whilst stirring. Season with salt and pepper. Add the cooked beef strips back in and stir over a gentle heat until heated through. Serve in individual bowls topped with a spring onion flower – slice down the spring onion several times then put in a bowl of iced water for about an hour. The top will curl back.

We care care about about We environment the the environment

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The The radical radical pursuit pursuit of of joy joy I love this phrase and it has become something of a mantra for me – especially when times get tough, and heaven knows we have all been through a tough time recently. When things get chaotic in the wider world we all turn to our instincts to guide us forward, we rely on those we are closest to and we hold those we love ever tighter. One thing that we rarely do, however, is to prioritise joy in life.

IIt’s t’s e easy asy tto o ttake ake tthings hings ttoo oo sseriously eriously As parents with responsibilities it is easy to take things too seriously: to watch the news avidly for updates, to be e ve r f e ar fu l fo r t h e s af e ty an d security of our children, and to micro manage every element of their life in an attempt to keep them safe. Top tip: stop watching the news – it doesn’t help anything! As summer is in full swing and a return to school around the corner, I would like to urge

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you to take on my mantra and consider committing yourself to the ‘Radical Pursuit of Joy’. To me this simply means that no matter what is going on, I am committed to finding a moment of joy within it, the silver lining if you will, the light at the end of the tunnel, or even a reasoning that makes it easier for me to accept current discomfort. This is a lot to do with mindset and attitude, of course, but also to do with habits and behaviours. By taking care of ourselves everyday and incorporating joy into every element of life, we can turn our daily routines into things of beauty and pleasure. Suddenly, a healthy breakfast becomes a delight because we choose to truly appreciate it and make the effort to be more creative. Our daily exercise becomes less of a chore and more of a treat as we include silliness and laughter into our walks, runs and bike To advertise call 01242 510500

rides. Believe me, there is not much which cannot be brightened by a silly voice or a funny walk! Try it!

Fresh fflowers Fresh lowers and and kitchen k itchen karaoke karaoke This summer, pay attention to the areas of stress and obligation in your life and try to inject a little more humour and delight. Fresh flowers bring joy to the sitting room. Lovely scented candles bring fragrance and joy to bedrooms. Kitchen dancing makes meal preparation so much fun and I guarantee after a game of kitchen karaoke you will never see your spatula in the same way again! When you next feel overwhelmed or fed up, ask yourself ‘where is the joy in this?’ Allow your quiet inner voice to whisper to you, and most importantly listen to it! It never lies and who knows, it may just reveal to you something you have never noticed before which might just change your life! Page 

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M Medical edical H Health ealth with w ith H Holly olly H Hannigan annigan

B Breastfeeding reastfeeding Bonus Bonus August marks the start of the world Breastfeeding Awareness month. The campaign aims to highlight the huge benefits breastfeeding can bring to both the health and welfare of babies and mothers, as well as a wider push for maternal health, focusing on good nutrition, poverty reduction and food security. As a mother of two, I was unable to breastfeed my first daughter, and expressed exclusively for three months then combined with formula. With my second daugter I was able to breastfeed for eight months. I have experienced both the stress and feeling like a failure for being unable to breastfeed, as well as the ease and joy of it happening. Most health authorities recommend exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months, and encourage mothers to continue through to a year, combined with weaning.

There There are are many many benefits benefits The main benefits of breastfeeding are: • Breast milk contains everything the baby needs for the first six months of life, in all the right proportions. • It is loaded with antibodies that help your baby fight off viruses and bacteria. • It may reduce your baby’s risk of illnesses and diseases, including colds, gut infections, allergies and diabetes. • Breastfeeding promotes healthy weight gain and helps prevent childhood obesity. • After three months of lactation, women will likely experience an increase in fat The Local Answer

burning and find they lose more weight than nonbreastfeeding women. • Oxytocin increases during breastfeeding. It encourages uterine contractions and reduces bleeding, helping the uterus return to its previous size. • Oxytocin also appears to have long-term anti-anxiety effects. It encourages bonding by affecting specific brain regions that promote nurturing and relaxation, reducing the risk of postpartum depression. • Women who breastfeed for more than 12 months during their lifetime have a 28% lower risk of both breast and ovarian cancer. Breastfeeding has also been linked to reduced risk of other diseases. Breastfeeding is completely free and requires very little effort, meaning you won’t have to: • Spend money on formula. • Calculate how much your baby needs to drink daily. To advertise call 01242 510500

• Spend time cleaning and sterilizing bottles. • Mix and warm up bottles in the middle of the night (or day). • Figure out ways to warm up bottles while on the go. Breast milk is always at the right temperature and ready to drink. There is support from midwives, doulas and local breastfeeding support groups that can help encourage women who may find it a struggle initially and help overcome common fears and problems.

IIt’s t’s important important tthat hat m mother other and and b baby aby are are ccontent ontent a and nd rrelaxed elaxed If you are unable to breastfeed, then feeding your baby with formula is still completely fine, as it will provide your baby with all the nutrients he or she needs. The most important thing for mother and baby is to be content and relaxed during the first few months, whatever way that may be. Page 11

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Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl’s

ANNUAL REPORT T April 2019-March 2020

PCC’s ‘Every crime matters’ mantra scoops multi-million pound dividend When the Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable decided to challenge serious organised criminals who target random urban and rural communities in Gloucestershire, they could not have expected how quickly the investment would pay-off. Not only have there been hundreds fewer burglaries but also cash savings worth more than £4,000,000 to the Constabulary and the public. The Home Office Research Report Economic and Social Costs of Crime, second edition (July 2018), puts the average police cost of both residential and commercial burglary at £530 per incident. It calculates that 900 fewer burglaries in Gloucestershire, the equivalent of a 21.3% reduction on the previous 12 months, equals a gross saving of £477,000 (900x£530). Take away the PCC’s cash injection in September towards burglary prevention campaigns and police operations, the net saving is £377,000. Yet those figures are dwarfed when the Home Office formula factors in the costs to victims, stolen property, repairs to damage and insurance claims, which takes the cost of each burglary to £5,220. Then the gross savings of 900 fewer burglaries in the county rises to £4,698,000; and when you factor out the PCC’s investment, the net saving to victims and the wider economy is estimated at £4,548,000. Gloucestershire Constabulary’s Head of Investigations, Det Supt Steve Bean said: “Obviously this is a purely financial calculation but

it is a good barometer of the success we’ve had in the period under review. “What is more important is the ‘human calculation’. The savings in terms of the distress, trauma, anxiety and inconvenience that the victims of 900 burglaries would have suffered. That is the real result”. Mr Surl said, “The Chief Constable and I agree that every crime matters and that every contact [with the public] counts. I refreshed the Police and Crime Plan to reflect this. “The investment I made went directly into the fight against burglary and serious acquisitive rural crime because that’s what the public were asking for and what the police wanted too. “Burglary is a heinous crime and must always be a priority for the police, no matter what else they happen to be dealing with. These are very encouraging results and I hope they dispel the misconception that the police are no longer interested in some levels of crime”.

Martin M arrttin S Surl url Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire

The background to the above story is contained in the PCC’s annual report, available in full online file:///C:/Users/243071/Downloads/OPCC-Annual-Report_2020__WEB-FINAL.pdf You can read more about the challenges facing the police in PCC Martin Surl’s annual report online: https://www.gloucestershire-pcc.gov.uk/reports/ For a printed copy, email the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner at PCC@gloucestershire.pnn.police.uk or call 01452 754348

Leader Leader s L Life ife with with Councillor Councillor Richard Richard Cook Cook

C Council ouncil cchallenges hallenges The delivery of council services throughout lockdown has been very difficult. Now we’re moving into the recovery phase, requiring risk assessments prior to services restarting, to ensure that it is safe for both staff and the public to engage. These include the reopening of markets and the Museum, the Council’s shopmobility service and, in the longer term, the opening of all shops, restaurants, pubs and outlets providing personal services like hairdressers, nail bars and others. The performance of the democratic function has also been radically changed. As staff found themselves having to work from home, so too did Councillors. Many also found themselves in shielded groups who were forced to stay at home. Meetings had to become virtual, which required the testing and useful functioning of new software platforms, such as Zoom and Skype. Within only a few weeks the new regime was coming together and a number of meetings have successfully taken place. Residents are also able to take part in these virtual meetings, as they could when they were physical meetings. Details of how to do this are available on the Council’s website. Dealing with the impact of the virus locally has increased costs for the Council, as we have had to spend much more on continuing to supply services. Of considerable worry i s the fact that some businesses have been unable to pay rates and rents, some residents are ha ving difficulty with their council tax, car parking revenue is severely reduced and many other fees and charges have dried up, which means the Council’s finances will be seriously disrupted unless government compensates. As we look forward to a hoped-for lifting of most aspects of the lockdown, we have to recognise that the virus still remains. This means social distancing has to continue and we must all continue to take care to protect ourselves and those we come into contact with. At the time of writing, this means we should try to keep a distance of two metres from all those outside our household, an d if that is not possible, a distance of one metre is acceptable, provided other means of keeping an adequate level of personal safety, such as masks, are employed. We can work together and successfully do this. e email: mail: rrichard.cook@gloucester.gov.uk ichard.cook@gloucester.gov.uk

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

Low-cost L ow-cost e electric? lectric? Okay, I know. £58,000 is not that affordable or low cost, but the Model 3 from Tesla starts at £42,000. Still not that cheap when you consider an electric Golf starts at £28,000 and an electric Mini from £27,000, but consider what you get and it starts to make more sense. Tesla has always been electric – nothing else. VW and Mini are, to all intents and purposes, conventional car manufacturers getting a (decent) toehold in the EV market. And that makes sense as it’s a growing market and both are well-known and loved cars.

Space, S pace, lluxury uxury a and nd a great great e experience xperience But they don’t offer the space, luxury and the experience of a Tesla. I hate to use that word – a car should be just that; a car. But there’s something about a Tesla that has always connected with me. They are intuitive, smooth, incredibly welldesigned and things of beauty. The big brother, the Model S, was one of the first cars I reviewed and I was instantly sold. The way they deliver so much power, so quickly and so silently still to this day puts a smile on my face. My son especially liked that you could display a map of Mars on the sat-nav instead of the roads you are driving on… not that it was very helpful. He was also quite taken by the ability to deliver a range of fart noises from a seat of your choosing. Again, not lending much to the driving experience. I’m going to fly through the practicalities because I want to talk about range… It’s comfortable, fast, smooth, The Local Answer

well equipped and incredibly spacious, as well as being good looking. Charging is easy, pretty quick and not a hassle at all. Which leaves range, again good. This model offers around 300 miles on a full charge. I took this Model 3 on a trip to a family event in Hertfordshire – a hefty dive for ‘there and back in a day’, but the comfort was great and it was an enjoyable drive. But later that evening, driving home knowing the range didn’t have much in reserve after we got home, was a little concerning. The kids had fallen asleep so stopping and charging was not ideal (if I could find a charger) but I had the comfort of knowing that once home, I could stick it on charge and by morning it would have a decent bit of range. So no issues, right? Wrong. The range indicator is pretty accurate – and of course driving at night means lights, and a little heat being taken from the batteries so slightly less range. With a petrol car, I would have eased off, coasted down the hills and known that To advertise call 01242 510500

I could pull into a petrol station, throw a tenner in the tank and be on my way in less than 3 minutes, sleeping kids none the wiser. But with an electric car, it was different. While the range was showing that there would be a small reserve when I got home, it wouldn’t take much for that to drop to a negative. And I for one don’t fancy finding out what happens when a Tesla runs out of juice completely.

“ “II w wouldn’t ouldn’t hesitate hesitate to to b buy uy a T Tesla” esla” So there was a degree of range-worry that you wouldn’t get in a petrol car, countered by the fact that it would charge while I slept that night. So is a hybrid the answer? No. I would be wary of buying a hybrid. I’ve found them to be a little lacking – two powertrains adds weight and doesn’t deliver. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy a Tesla though – the positives far outweigh a small negative that could have been avoided with better planning. And, quite simply, I love them. Page 15

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G Gadgets adgets tto oh help elp yyou ou recharge recharge If you’re a fitness enthusiast, or looking for ways to spend more time outdoors, don’t despair; there are gadgets aplenty to help you out. With more tech designed to help you unleash your inner Sporty Spice, you’ve got no excuse not to go out and get your blood pumping. Keep reading to check out some of the latest sports gizmos on the market.

comfortable to wear, but they’re even sweat-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about them getting damaged when you’re out for a run. Simply connect the headphones wirelessly to your smart device to enjoy highquality sound. These clever gizmos also ensure that you don’t get too lost in your own thoughts, as they include ‘Be Aware’ audio, which lets you hear any surrounding noises.

Garmin Vivosmart Garmin Vivosmart 4 Fitness F itness Activity Activity Tracker T racker

J JLab Lab A Audio udio A Air ir S Sport port IIn-Ear n-Ear H Headphones eadphones John Lewis: £69.99 Escape into your own world with these wireless in-ear headphones. Not only are they The Local Answer

John Lewis: £99.99 Track your activities and progress with the trendy Garmin vivosmart. This sleek gadget not only looks cool, but it helps you to stay in shape by monitoring your heart rate, stress levels and sleep patterns. When you’re not keeping track of your exercises, you can test out the relaxation breathing timer, or keep up to date with smart notificat through your mo This tracker is a water resistant, it can monitor yo activity when yo are doing laps the pool! With up to seve days of battery l and three colou to choose from, t Garmin vivosma will keep you in check and looking smart! To advertise call 01242 510500

IIndi ndi S S1 1A Adult dult Electric Electric S Scooter cooter Halfords: £199 Fancy a new method of transport? Then don’t assume that scooters are just for kids; with the Indi S1 Adult Electric Scooter, you not only get to enjoy a smooth ride, but you can also reduce your carbon footprint! So if you’re ecoconscious, this electric scooter is a must-have. It even comes with front absorption and an tail light, making r travels safer. This ly portable scooter simple to fold up d store away, aking it no-fuss. nd with a maximum eed of 14mph, ou can enjoy your ew mode of ansport at three fferent speeds. o whizz away! You ill certainly outrun any old-school scooters. Page 1

Specialis S pecialis for f or Ho Ho

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R REGENCY EGENCY Fully accredited biohazard B BIOCLEAN IOCLEAN

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Regency Cleaners have spent the l st few months investing in new eaning technologies and staff aining. They are now fully quipped to make your home or usiness premises a far safer vironment fo or all who enter. Owner Mark McClymont explained: “In addition to our usual high-standard cleaning practices, we felt it was important to help customers deal with the new challenges presented by Covid-19. We can now deliver the latest solutions to creating safer environments, giving our clients and their customers or visitors greater peace of mind.

Approved chemicals

“Covid-19 can be controlled through the correct application of anti-viral chemicals through our new fogging equipment and Texatherm® cleaning technology. This Biohazard ‘fogging’ service fills the environment with a vapour containing SARS-COV2 approved chemicals, preventing tranmissable forms of viruses surviving.” Ultra-low volume (ULV) fogging machines use large volumes of air at low pressures to transform liquids into droplets that are dispersed into the atmosphere. So Mark’s team are able to fully penetrate soft, hard and fabric surfaces in your rooms with chemicals that kill 99.999% of all viral and bacterial pathogens.

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during August 2020 Key workers at Regency have undergone full bioloical and viral decontamination training, enabling the company to achieve accreditation as a full operational decontamination centre. Mark is proud of this development: “This means we can guarantee customers our usual gold star services, with these fantastic enhanced additions, at a competitive cost. It’s brilliant news for our business and domestic clients – providing confidence for any visitors too.” The company has also invested in bespoke carpet and surface clean-

ing equipment from Texatherm . Mark said: ‘The patented technology allows us to operate at the highest standard possible, and well beyond those using earlier systems. Importantly, we are able to dry carpets and soft fur nishings within 30 minutes or less post cleaning, and hard surfaces are dried instantly. This saves an awful lot of time – a saving that makes the service extremely affordable for our clients. “We’d be delighted to hear from anyone wishing to make their home or business as safe e as it possibly can be for themselves and their visitors.”

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0 01242 1242 279590 279590 • 0 07754 7754 4 417650 17650 • ttalktoregency@gmail.com alktoregency@gmail.com w www.cheltenhamregencycleaners.co.uk ww.cheltenhamregencycleaners.co.uk 58 5 8H Harthurstfield arthurstfield P Park, ark, C Cheltenham, heltenham, G Gloucestershire loucestershire GL51 GL51 0TA 0TA

Homes & Gardens

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FFree ree qquotations uotations ~ FFree ree ssamples amples ~ Free Free brochures brochures

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All A ll Work Work Fully Fully Guaranteed Guaraanteeed • Specialise Specialise in in EDM EDM rubber rubber roofs roofs • NNew ew Roofs Roofs GG.R.P .R.P Fibreglass Fibreglass • Certified Certified CCURE URE IT IT IInstallers nstallers • Roof Roof Cleaning Cleaning & CCoating oating • Ro Roof oof & Chimney Chimney Repairs Repairs • Slate Slate Repairs Repairs • Dry Dry Verges Verges • FFlat lat Roof Roof RRepairs epairs • uPVC uPVC • FFascias, ascias, SSoffits offits & Guttering Guttering • uuPVC PVC RRepairs epairs • PPainting ainting & Decorating Decorating

01452 01452 8 899903 99903 07503 07503 8 858963 58963 www.a1roofing.uk w ww.a1roofing.uk

CCheltenham heltenham Rd Rd EEast, ast, Gloucester, Gloucester, GGL3 L3 11AE AE

WE OFFER HOME OWNERS: QUALITY UPVC Q UALITY U PVC FFASCIAS, ASCIAS, GUTTERING, SSOFFITS, OFFITS, G UTTERING, DOWNPIPES D OWNPIPES & CCLADDING LADDING REPAIRS REPLACEMENT R EPAIRS & R EPLA ACEMENT ROOFS, R OOFS, CCHIMNEYS, HIMNEYS, SSLATES, LATES, TILES TILES & BBRICKWORK RICKWORK EXTERNAL EXTERNAL DECORATION DECORATTION 007305 7305 066424/07305 066424 / 07305 088414 088414 nicheexteriors@outlook.com nicheexteriors@outlook.com www.nicheexteriors.co.uk w ww.nicheexteriors.co.uk

CARE CARE C Construction onstruction

family business business delivering delivering a professional professional A family and friendly friendly sservice er vice aacross cross G loucestershire and Gloucestershire

TONEWORK • EEXTENSIONS XTENSIONS • RRENOVATIONS ENOVATIONS • SSTONEWORK • BBARN ARN CCONVERSIONS ONVERSIONS • PPROPERTY ROPERTY MAINTENANCE MAINTENANCE • SSPECIALIST PECIALIST RRE-POINTING E-POINTING • LLANDSCAPING ANDSCAPING

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07843 07843 2 277723 77723 ~ 0 01242 1242 2 255043 55043 C Covering overing Gloucestershire Gloucestershirre

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01452 01452 621 621 3398 98 • 007794 7794 540 540 071 071 • 007834 7834 7728 28 7778 78 www.careconstruction.online w ww.careconstruction.online

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The Local Answer

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ROOFING & BUILDING • Roofing Repairs & Full Replacement • Slate & Tiled Roofs • Lead Work • Skylights • UPVC Fascias & Soffits • Gutter Replacement & Cleaning • Roof Cleaning • Chimney Repairs, Removals & Rebuild • Dry Verge Cops • Dry Ridge Copping

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TOO H HOT OT in the summer? TOO C COLD OLD in the winter? New roofs • Roof repairs Flat roofs • GRP & Felt EPDM rubber roof systems Felt & battening • Rotten timbers replaced • Chimneys Repointing • Rebedding Lead work • External painting & much more UPVC Roofline products Fascias • Soffits • Apexes Barge & cladding boards Guttering & downpipes ny oorders rders in in Roofs cleaned/demossed aany August A ugust 22020 020 Fungaseal treatments T T&Cs &Cs a apply pply Guttering cleaned & cleared from as little as £30

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A ALL LL W WORK ORK F FULLY ULLY GUARANTEED FULLY INSURED INSURED GUARANTEED • FULLY FFor or a F FREE REE Q QUOTATION UOTATION please please ccall: all: (Please ddialial aarea rea ccode) ode) 0 07786 7786 0 058696 58696 / 0 01452 1452 3 348487 48487 (Please

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Page 21

WB Home Home Improvements Improvements

Family run business ~ 40 years’ experience All aspects of roofing – new installations, repairs, cleaning, chimney repointing, ridge tiles, gutters, fascias, soffits and flat roof work Re-pointing and general brick work and garden wall replacement and repairs NO JOB TOO obligation’ NO J OB T OO SMALL SMALL – ffor or a ffree ree ‘‘no no o bligation’ estimate contact William e stimate please please c ontact W illiam .... ..

PPLEASE DIAL LEASE DIAL AREA CODE AREA CODE

01452 348760 • 07887 760801

w wbhomeimprovements427@gmail.com bhomeimprovements427@gmail.com

Danny Danny James-John James-John Building Contractor

b building uilding d dreams reams ffrom rom building building excellence excellence

We’d love to hear about your project and provide you with a free no-obligation us a call call ... fixed price – p please lease g give ive us 01452 371955 / 07914 511733 www.dannyjamesjohn.com ww w ww w w.dannyjamesjohn.com 39 Oak Drive, Brockwor th, Gloucester GL3 4DQ

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•N ew R oofs • R oof R epairs • FFlat lat R oofs ((GRP GRP & Felt) Felt) New Roofs Roof Repairs Roofs •E PDM R ubber • E aves P rotection ((EPS) EPS) EPDM Rubber Eaves Protection •D ry V erge & R idge S ystems Dry Verge Ridge Systems Chimney Repairs Re-pointing •C himney R epairs • R e-pointing UPVC Roofline Products Soffits, U PVC R oofline P roducts – S offits, Cladding, Guttering FFascias, ascias, C ladding, G uttering Gutter Cleaning Repairs •G utter C leaning & R epairs Brickwork Driveways Patios •B rickwork • D riveways • P atios Paths Block Paving Slabbing •P aths • B lock P aving • S labbing Exterior Washing Service •E xterior Painting Painting • JJet et W ashing S ervice

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• Heating installations • Complete bathroom installations • Gas Safe and Oftec (oil) registered • Free no obligation quotations

T: T: 001452 1452 4452002 52002 E: E: Office@gloucesterplumb.co.uk Office@gloucesterplumb.co.uk www.gloucesterplumb.co.uk w ww.gloucesterplumb.co.uk

Paving & Tarmac Specialists Block Block Paving Paving • TTarmac armac • Landscaping Landscaping riveways FFencing encing • Patios Patios • D Driveways & Sons Ltd

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aintenance • Low M Maintenance • Choice Choice ooff Colours Colours • Durable Durable & Long Long Lasting Lasting • Weed Weed Free Free • Porous Porous for for Drainage Drainage

Rectory Rectory F Fields, ields, R Rudford, udford, G Gloucestershire loucestershire G GL2 L2 8 8DT DT

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w www.marshallsdriveways.co.uk ww.marshallsdriveways.co.uk

Company Company rregistration: egistration: 1 11415390 1415390

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The Local Answer

EEBLE R F T ILAY S E VAPPL R A TE IT Cs A N I ED T& CR

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A ALL LL A ASPECTS SPECTS O OF F ROOFING ROOFING SERVICES! SERVICES! WE SPECIALISE IN ... EEps ps S upport TTrays rays Support D ry R idge Dry Ridge System D ry V erge System Dry Verge N ew R oofs New Roofs FFlat lat R oofs Roofs R idge Tiles Tiles Re-bedded Re-bedded Ridge Valleys Valleys U pvc FFascias, ascias, S offits & G uttering Upvc Soffits Guttering B ird S toppers Bird Stoppers C himney Repairs Repairs Chimney

A e-pointing Work Work Allll R Re-pointing LLeaky eaky Roofs Roofs Repaired Repaired Moss Removal Removal and and Treatment Treatment Moss Lead Work Work Lead N ew P orches New Porches A ur d r y rrange ange iiss Fit Fit & Forget Forget Allll o off o our dry ADVICE GIVEN DVICE G IVEN FFREE REE QUOTES QUOTES & A 14 1 4 DAY DAY COOLING OFF PERIOD PERIOD COOLING OFF FULLY INSURED LXBI2536182XB LXBI2536182XB FULLY INSURED REGISTERED R EGISTERED WASTE WASTE CARRIER CARRIER RATING COMPANY COMPANY WE WE ARE ARE A 5# 5# RATING

C Contact ontact Mr Mr Woodward: Woodward: 01242 01242 802 802 838 838 TText ext or or call call out out of of hours hours 07534 07534 455 455 762 762 EEmail mail w woodwardroofingandcladding@gmail.com oodwardroofingandcladding@gmail.com www.woodwardroofingandcladding.co.uk w ww w..woodwardroofingandcladding.co.uk 11 Midwinter Close, Cheltenham GL50 4PQ 1 1M idwinter C lose, C heltenham G L50 4 PQ

20% DIS IS

COUNT O N NE W ROOFS

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THA A NK YOU! & ALL KEY WORKERS

JH Garden Care All Aspects of Gardens & Trees

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0 07985 7985 2 297713 97713 jhgardens93@hotmail.com jhgardens93@hotmail.com

Jones and Sons

Trees & Landscaping We specialise in all aspects of trees

G GRANT GRANT FENCING FENCING & LLANDSCAPING ANDSCAPING

Topping, Pruning, Trimming, Pollarding, Felling, Shrub Pruning, Hedge Trims & Shaping Landscaping: Drives and Patios, Bark Chips and Turf, New Fences & Repairs All garden maintenance work undertaken and all rubbish removed Free Estimates with No Obligation

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~4 40 0 yyears’ ears’ e experience xperience ~

01452 722548 01452 722548 07841 0 7841 753082 753082

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£60

All aspects of Tree and Garden work undertaken Hedges R Hedges Reductions, eductions, T Trimming rimming & Removals Trees T rees Pruning Pruning & F Felling el l i n g Garden Garden Clearances Clearances Domestic Domestic & C Commercial ommercial Tree W T Wood-chipping d hi i S Services i FENCING • PATIOS • TURFING • JET-WASHING

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• LLandscape andscape D Design/Advice esign/Advice • Garden/Commercial Garden/Commercial Maintenance Maintenance •G Grass rass Cutting Cutting • T Turfing urfing •A Artificial rtificial Grass Grass • FFencing encing • Decking Decking • P Patios atios • Planting Planting • P Pruning runing P PROFESSIONAL ROFESSIONAL • TRAINED TRAINED • COMMITTED COMMITTED

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

Look Look after after your your ffruit ruit aand nd vveg eg Maybe you are not heading off this August as usual. Keep gardening and you will reap the benefit in the weeks to come, and perhaps you will get to eat all your own runner beans, which usually run to seed whilst you are away! If you want some spinach to overwinter, late August is the time to start. Sow it in a spot in full sun and, before sowing, apply a general fertiliser like pelleted chicken manure to give it a good start. Follow the directions on the packet for distances, etc. To prolong flowering displays, carry on feeding your tubs and window boxes with a weak solution of liquid fertiliser every week, and dead-head the spent flowers. This can be fiddly but it really is worth doing.

Prevent Prevent butterflies butterflies llaying aying e eggs ggs o on n lleaves eaves The cabbage white butterfly caterpillar is often a nuisance on the vegetable plot in August. It feeds on cabbages, as well as nasturtiums,

sprouts, turnips and swedes. You can use insect netting to prevent the butterflies laying the eggs on the underside of the leaves, or you can remove them by hand. What you then do with them is up to you! Keep your tomatoes and peppers consistently moist throughout the growing season or the roots don’t a b s o r b n u t r i e n t s p r o pe r l y a n d can get blossom end rot (light brown spots appear at the flower end of the fruit). Only apply a liquid fertiliser when the soil is moist.

C Cut ut b back ack rrambler ambler rroses oses If grown in a restricted space the old flowering stems of rambler roses should be cut close to the ground now and the new branches tied in to replace them using loppers or a sharp pruning saw. One of the best ways to grow ramblers is to let them have their head and climb up large established trees, but you do The Local Answer

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need to have plenty of room. In this situation they can just be left to, well, ‘ramble’, which is what they do! The large ones like ‘Kiftsgate’ love this treatment.

Grow Grow plants plants for for free free Why not try to save your own seed – collect ripe seed of aquiegias, poppies, alliums and any other summer flowers that you have. Clean them, removing the pods and bits and pieces, and store in little envelopes in the fridge. Look online to see when and how to sow. It’s nice to have plants for free and you’ll feel a real sense of accomplishment growing your ‘own’ plants rather than those from garden centres. I recently read an old tip in a book to stop birds pecking the fruit on your trees – tie a bag of mothballs to the lowest branch. Does it work? Well, who knows but perhaps one of you will try it and let me know! Page 25

FEMALE DECORATOR

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to IIff you you need need to to make make changes changes to or y our bathroom bathroom due due to to disability disability or your medical am edical ccondition, ondition, we we are are able able to to ssupply upply your your bathroom bathroom VAT VAT free, free, saving saving you you 20%. 20%.

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www.lifestylebathrooms.net www.lifestylebathrooms.net

Page 26

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AFTER The Local Answer

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

Be B e bold bold with with colour colour Lockdown has made us focus on our homes more than ever before, and with the summer ahead of us it’s a perfect time to embark on a redecoration project. I have been thinking about our relationship with colour and the way we use it in our homes. One thing I have learnt from working in interior design is the importance of being courageous and confident with colour. To quote Terence Conran, “decorating is fun”, but many of us lack the confidence to follow our creative instincts. Follow my tips on living with colour to make your home space somewhere to enjoy.

Colour C olour cconfidence onfidence There are so many paint colours to choose from – it’s bewildering – we tend to fall back on “greige” because it’s the safest option. A good way to work out what colours you like is to look around you, start with your wardrobe and your choice of clothes – the chances are if you are comfortable wearing a colour you will be

comfortable living with it. Cut out pictures you like from magazines or create a mood board on Pinterest. You’ll soon start to see the same colours emerging. Don’t be afraid to be flamboyant – so good for Instagram pics – if you like it now the chances are you will continue liking it, and you can always repaint, but you probably won’t!

Furniture with Furniture with ffizz izz Another way to liven up a room is to use a contrasting or toning colour on a sofa, chair or item of painted furniture. It’s amazing what a difference you can make by recovering a tired chair in a zingy modern fabric. For a recent project, we recovered my client’s vintage dining room chairs in a bright orange zig-zag fabric – they look amazing. A shot of unexpected colour on a piece of furniture can also inject real personality into a space – I painted my outside garden seat a lovely teal colour – it really makes the deep pink roses on my terrace zing.

Accent A ccent with with accessories accessories If you want to play safe you can always inject some bold colour by experimenting with objects and furnishings that can be easily changed. Inject some bold colour or pattern into a scheme with cushions, glassware or lamps.

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Image: Mylands

I love a bright pleated, patterned lampshade (check out pooky.com). My daughter’s mustard raffia placemats and sunflower arrangement liven up her table and contrast with the deep blue walls in her modern dining area. A friend’s lime green utensils add a pop of colour to his grey neutral kitchen.

Something Something tto o make make you you h happy appy For that individual touch, add something unexpected – I recently invested in some fun waste paper bins made of recycled paper in bright coloured funky prints – they look so good in my sitting room and home office. It’s time to give your creativity free rein – have fun with your summer decorating projects!

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Tel: T el : 0 01452 14 52 5 522 22 4 422 22

en e nq quiries@interiorneeds.co.uk uiries@interiorneeds.co.uk

iinterior nterior needs needs

Luxurious Luxurious C Curtains urtains aand nd S Soft oft F Furnishings urnishings

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T TH HR RO OU UG GH HO OU UT T A AU UG GU US ST T

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It’s a perfect time to brighten a y from a lick of paint to a full home makeover, you can find what you need at Interior Needs.

Interior shutters are becoming more and more popular timeless elegance. Good advice is essential, we can guide you through our many different options finding the shutter to suit your practical needs and style.

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How H ow to to be be a better, better, more more planet-friendly p lanet-friendly ttourist ourist There is a great likelihood that many of us will be taking our holidays in the UK this year, and it’s been sad to see that so far, too many people seem to be taking our planet for granted again. It is as if we have learned nothing from this experience, with scenes of littering and overcrowding across the nation’s beauty spots. Wherever you’re planning on holidaying this year, here are a few ways you can make your trip more eco-friendly.

Look Look u up p llocal ocal b bus us ttimes imes Research before you go and find out local bus times. Often in the quieter villages, bus services can be few and far between, but if you know when and where to catch them, you will be able to utilise public transport when away. The benefits of this for you would be the removal of parking worries, and a far more relaxing experience, not having to navigate narrow country roads yourself.

Take T ake your your rubbish rubbish h home ome w with ith y you ou This seems to be something really that people are struggling with. If you can carry something there, you can surely carry it back empty. If you are worried about a sandwich packet having mayonnaise on or something being sticky for example, just make sure you always have an empty bag with you, solely for the purpose of bringing The Local Answer

rubbish home. Pop a few into the bag that you usually take your lunch in, or into a pocket of your rucksack now, so you always have one with you. Often the bins are overflowing in popular places so be prepared to take it home. You wouldn’t go to your friend’s house and leave it looking dirty and untidy, so why leave our beautiful public spaces like that?

Recycle R ecycle y your our rrubbish! ubbish! When you take your rubbish home, be it to your own house or your holiday accommodation, recycle it!

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use the proper facilities. If you know there won’t be facilities, or think they might be really busy, just be prepared. Forward planning is key and really doesn’t take much extra time or energy if you have a little kit ready just to pop in your bag for trips.

Cycle C ycle or or walk walk If you can, take bikes and cycle around when you get to your use a destination. Or combination of bus and walking (if it’s possible for your family) to get around, meaning you get to leave your car at your accommodation for most of your trip. These are just a few of the ways you can be a better tourist. We owe it to our planet and to each other to have some care and consideration when we go away from home. Page 29

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Work/life Work/life balance balance For most small business owners, it’s the one question that they can never seem to answer successfully. And yet it’s the one they really do need to resolve. As I have documented regularly in this column, technology is no help. It means that, unlike in the ‘good old days’, you can never really be away from work, however hard you try. Ask your CEO to leave his/her handheld device behind when he/she goes on holiday and you will be met with all sorts of ‘I’d love to’ statements but no acceptance of the idea.

Y You ou don’t don’t have have to to answer answer messages messages a as s soon soon as as you you rreceive eceive tthem hem The first thing to remember is that just because somebody sends you a message, whether it be text, social media or email, you don’t have to answer it there and then. Watches that receive these messages are the latest device. I hate them. People cannot ignore them and I find it rude. Perhaps we should develop the equivalent of parental controls for adults who cannot leave their device alone? Simply switching them off at a certain time of day would be a good start. Think what it would do for you – give you more time with the kids, do all those things you never seem to find the time for, or even relax and do nothing.

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Having spent the last four months working from home whilst the office has been largely ‘locked down’, I’m convinced that it’s a much harder balance to achieve for those whose work base is also their home. There are no clean lines of what is work and what is play. Work/life balance is much easier to achieve in a ‘9 to 5’ environment when you simply put your coat on, leave work and go home. But a small business owner can never do that. At least not without a huge dose of discipline that most of them don’t possess. For them it’s probably a question that they love their work and find it incredibly difficult to tear themselves away. There is no one answer for everyone. We must all deal with it in our own sweet way. But it’s important we do before we are consumed by it all.

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Index of Advertisers FOOD & DRINK Primrose Vale

HEALTH & BEAUTY Love Your Feet

INFORMATION Police & Crime Commissioner 13

PROPERTY The Property Centre

BATHROOMS 26 10 & 35

BUILDING SERVICES A1 Roofing BE Rudman C&G Paving Care Construction Danny James-John Home Care Roofing JHD Roofing & Building Marshalls Driveways Niche Exteriors Skyline Roofing WB Home Improvements Woodward Roofing

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26 16 28

GARDEN SERVICES G. Grant Landscaping GS Landscape Solutions JH Garden Care Jones & Sons Lawn Doc Mark Clifford Landscapes Master Sheds Rob Cockburn Tree & Hedge Southwest Landscapes Woodlands Landscapes

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FURNISHING & APPLIANCES Bella’s Interiors Dream Doors Interior Needs

HOMES & GARDENS Lifestyle Bathrooms Severn Vale

CLEANING SERVICES

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Y I U A G R X Y Y V A A E Z Y H A G N U U E E K

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B M O N Q N P F K X L R F G O V E W B A B M I Z

Competition Winners TLA Photography – August 2020 Cover: Ella Faria

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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