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GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S BIGGEST LLOCAL OCAL BIGGEST M AGAZINE MAGAZINE AUGUST AUGUST 2021 2021

G GLOUCESTER LOUCESTER TTAKE AKE PART PART IN IN OUR OUR SMALL SMALL BUSINESS BUSINESS SUPPORT SUPPORT SURVEY SURVEY

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Gloucester: Gloucester: 46,000 46,000 ccopies opies Cheltenham: Cheltenham: 443,000 3,000 ccopies opies Cotswolds: C otswolds: 30,000 30,000 ccopies opies North North Gloucestershire: Gloucestershire: 220,000 0,000 ccopies opies Stroud District: Stroud D istrict: 441,000 1,000 ccopies opies

IInside nside tthis his month month ... ... D elicious D ish 5 Delicious Dish TTLA LA S mall B usiness S upport S urvey 5 Small Business Support Survey TTLA LA C over C ompetition 7 Cover Competition LLooking ooking Good, Good, FFeeling eeling G reat 9 Great all 1111 M irror M irror oon n tthe he W Mirror Mirror Wall 1122 W ord Search Search Word 1133 H olidays & TTravel ravel Holidays 1155 P arenting & G uardianship Parenting Guardianship 1166 M oney M atters Money Matters 1177 M otoring Motoring 1188 Q uick C rossword Quick Crossword 1199 Sudoku S udoku 19 LLeader’s eader’s LLife ife 19 Homes Gardens 22 H omes & G ardens 22 Distribution TTLA LA LLeaflet eaflet D istribution 2244 Garden IIn n tthe he G arden 2277 Design IInterior nterior D esign 2299 Gadgets Gizmos G adgets & G izmos 3333 Solutions IIndex, ndex, Competitions, Competitions, S olutions 3388 Unit Unit H, H, C Churchill hurchill IIndustrial ndustrial EEstate, state, C Churchill hurchill R Road, oad, LLeckhampton, eckhampton, C Cheltenham, heltenham, G Gloucestershire loucestershire G GL53 L53 7EG 7EG

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

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

W elcome Welcome ttoo A ugust August Many of us will be staycationing this year, but if you’re missing the smell of the sea breeze and the feeling of sand between your toes, why not try some of Gill Greenwell’s interior tips for creating a modern coastal style in your home? Alternatively, if you’re keen to get away in the UK, Al Hidden shares his trip to Dartmouth with us, including challenging walks and stunning views. After a year off in 2020, our Cover Competition is back! If you are a budding photographer and would like the chance to have your image on one of our 2022 covers, check out the competition details inside. We e’re also running a survey to determine how interested the public are in spending with and supporting small, independent businesses. Details are under the Delicious Dish and there is a chance to win a £50 voucher for taking part. Finally, we have a competition on our website for Frampton Country Fair with three pairs of tickets up for grabs. Head online to enter – www.thelocalanswer.co.uk/competitions.aspx

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

Contacts C ontacts DIRECTOR MANAGING MANAGING DIRECTOR Dave Kingscott dave@thelocalanswer.co.uk MARKETING & EDITORIAL EDITORIAL MARKETING Lois Kingscott lois@thelocalanswer.co.uk ACCOUNTS ACCOUNTS Rob Kingscott (01242 541071) accounts@thelocalanswer.co.uk ADVERTISING ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES: ENQUIRIES: info@thelocalanswer.co.uk LEAFLET LEAFLET DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION ENQUIRIES: ENQUIRIES: leaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION ENQUIRIES: ENQUIRIES: distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk Page 3

OldRectory Restaurant The

Colesbourne, Cheltenham GL53 L53 9NP 9NP 0 01242 1242 870120 870120

Cotswold Country Dining Locally sourced meats, fresh fish and vegetables.

Summer Lunch Traditional Sunday Lunch Private P rivate D Dining ining R Room oom

Ideal Ideal for for p parties arties of of all al l o occasions ccasions iincluding ncluding birthdays, birthdays, anniversaries anniversaries and and g get-togethers et-togethers w with ith friends. friends. N No oh hire ire ccost! ost! S U P E R B D I N I N G – E X C E L L E N T VA L U E

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The TTh he HHome om omee of of Real Reaall AAle le and and Great Great Food Foo oodd TTraditional radition onaal ppub ub cclassics lassics D G FRIENDLY and and a whole whol olee lot lot more! mor oree! FRIENDLY

Welcome! W elcome! We are delighted to be open again – ser ving old friends and new in our wonder ful, relaxed environment. We will continue to be Covid-safe even when restrictions are lifted.

OOD GREAT GREAT FFOOD EVERY DAY! DAY! EVERY

OPEN PEN M Monday-Saturday onday-Saturday 11am-11pm 11am-11pm O & SSunday unday 1 11am-6pm 1am-6pm FFOOD OOD S SERVED ERVED 1 12-8pm 2-8pm M Monday-Thursday, onday-Thursday, 1 12-9pm 2-9pm FFriday-Saturday, riday-Saturday, 12-5pm 12-5pm Sunday Sunday

TThe he FFountain ountain IInn, nn, 5 53 3W Westgate estgate Street Street Gloucester Gloucester GL1 GL1 2NW 2NW • 01452 01452 522562 522562 thefountaininngloucester@gmail.com thefountaininngloucester@gmail.com • www.thefountaininngloucester.com www.thefountaininngloucester..com Page 4

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The Local Answer

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

Cinnamon Cinnamon plum plum cake cake Fill your with F ill y our kkitchen itchen w ith tthe he wonderful off w onderful sscent cent o and enjoy ccinnamon innamon a nd e njoy tthis his llight, ight, ffruity ruity ssponge! ponge!

IIngredients: ngredients: 6 large plums, halved and stones removed 2tsp cinnamon 110g softened butter 200g caster sugar 2 eggs 190g plain flour 1tsp grated lemon zest 1tbsp lemon juice 3 tbsp milk 1tsp baking powder Pinch of salt

M Method: ethod: 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F/gas mark 4). 2 Grease and line a 20cm springform tin. 3 Whisk the butter and all but 2tbsp of the caster sugar until pale and fluffy. 4 Beat the eggs and slowly add to the butter mixture a bit at a time. 5 Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into the bowl, then add the lemon zest, lemon

juice and milk and fold through gently. Pour into the tin. 6 Mix the remaining sugar and cinnamon together then toss the plum halves in until well coated. Place cut side down on top of the cake mixture. 7 Cook for approximately 50

minutes, until golden brown on top and a skewer comes out clean. Leave to cool slightly before removing from the tin. 8 Cut into eight wedges and serve warm. Also delicious the next day when the plums have soaked into the cake.

SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT SURVEY

We are conducting research into how interested the public are in spending with and supporting small, independent businesses. If you would like to share your thoughts, please visit our website to take part in the survey. If you provide an email address you will be entered into our draw to win a £50 voucher to spend with a small, independent, UK‐based business of your choice (*criteria will apply and you must provide details of the business).

£50 Win a

voucher!*

www.thelocalanswer.co.uk The Local Answer

To advertise call 01242 510500

*The survey will close on Sunday 31st October 2021

Page 5

Ren afLeé Pub

& Restaurant

Steak & Grillhouse

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SPECIAL SUMMER SPECIAL OUR SUMMER OF OUR ADVANTAGE OF AKE ADVANTAGE TAKE T

20% 2 0% OFF OFF FFOOD OOD

en aiisfséT W WITH ITH TTHIS HIS The h e VVOUCHER OUCHER* Locals’ Answer Locals’ s A nswer

*Present *Present this this voucher voucher before before ordering ordering your your meal meal to to receive receive a 2 20% 0% D DISCOUNT ISCOUNT oonn ffood. ood. Valid Valid until until 31st 31st August August 2021. 2021. Avoid Avoid disappointment disappointment – eemail mail yyour our bbooking ooking ttoo info@caferene.co.uk info@caferene.co.uk

Drinks served Monday to Sunday • Food served Tuesday to Sunday • Please check our website for times

www.caferene.co.uk info@caferene.co.uk 01452 309340 Page 6

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BECOME A COVER STAR! The TLA Photography cover competition is back! If you’re a keen photographer and would like the opportunity for us to consider your photo to be published on our front cover, now’s your chance! We are running a competition over the next few months to find the cover photos for our 2022 publications, excluding the month of December. We’re looking for food, animals, plants, everyday objects, landscapes and more to represent the four seasons of the year. The winner for each month will have their photo published on the front cover of 180,000 magazines distributed throughout Gloucestershire.

Image Criteria:

How to enter:

• The image subject must be local to Gloucestershire and relevant to the whole county. • Must have a specific focal point, which fits within a square shape. • Must have a colour contrast in order for us to select a colour theme for the month (the colour used on the front cover and various pages throughout the magazine). • Entrants may submit one image per month for up to three months of the year – you must specify which month you wish the image to be used for. Any additional images will be ignored.

Send your image(s) along with your name, address and telephone number stating ‘TLA Photography 2022’ to the following email: photography@thelocalanswer.co.uk. We cannot accept postal entries. Any photos sent in the post may not be returned. The closing date for entries is Sunday 17th October 2021. Entries received after midnight on this date will not be accepted.

Image Specifications: • High quality resolution – 300dpi (dots per inch) – and a minimum of 20cm wide when cropped. • We can only accept file sizes up to a maximum of 10mb and JPEGs are preferred. If you are successful we may ask if you have a larger version to send us, so please keep your original files.

Competition Rules: In addition to our usual competition rules (found below our Index of Advertisers), the image must be an original and owned by the entrant. Entrants must seek the permission of any people, or the owners of any property, featured in the photograph. We will accept photographs from professionals, though there will be a maximum of three professional winners, with the other eight winners being amateurs. In the case that we receive no entries for any month of the year, or none of a high enough quality, The Local Answer will supply an image for the cover in that month. The Local Answer reserves the right to exclude any photographs they believe may have been excessively edited. The entrant must not have used their images for any other competition or publication in the UK. Winning Entrants will be expected to comply with additional terms and conditions related to The Local Answer’s right to publish.

Shipton Shipton G Golf olf C Course ourse

A 9 hole hole pay pay & play play course course in in the the heart heart of of the the Cotswolds Cotswolds

SAINTBRIDGE AINTBRIDGE HOUSE OUSE NURSING NURSING & RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL H HOME OME

01452 01452 300307 300307

Everyonewelcome! Open every day dawn ’til dusk Friendly 9 hole golf course Hot food and snacks available all day

PAY & PLAY – NO NEED TO BOOK!

Available A vailable for for corporate corporate days, days, birthdays birthdays and and special special occasions occasions

Tel: 01242 890237

www.shiptongolf.co.uk

☎

shiptongolf@tiscali.co.uk

FFollow ollow us us on on Twitter Twitter – ‘Shiptongolf’ ‘Shiptongolf ’

Shipton Shipton Golf Golf Course Course

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N Nrr FFrogmill, rogmill, Shipton, Shipton, Cheltenham, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire Gloucestershire GL54 GL54 4HT 4HT

Page 8

Offering single en-suite bedrooms for up to 36 residents Tastefully decorated and homely Lovely patio and landscaped lawn area for residents to enjoy in the warmer weather ● Dedicated, caring and hardworking staffff ● Exceptional hygiene standards ● Weekly unisex hairdresser. Chiropodist, dentist, physiotherapist and optician visits arranged ● Activities Co - ordinator with an ongoing programme of events to keep residents occupied and maintain both physical and mental well being. ● ●

loucestershire G L4 4 QQ 1 189 89 P Painswick ainswick R Road, oad, G Gloucester, loucester, G Gloucestershire GL4 4QQ iinfo@saintbridge-house.co.uk nfo@saintbridge-house.co.uk w ww.saintbridge-house.co.uk www.saintbridge-house.co.uk

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The Local Answer

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The The role role of of carbohydrates carbohydrates aand nd ffats ats in in your your nutrition nutrition plan plan Carbohydrates (carbs) and fats are very important for muscle recovery and traditionally get a bad rap because of their potential for weight gain problems. Carbs are important for replenishing glycogen stores, which aid in providing muscles with energy, and there is evidence to suggest that they also play a role in optimising protein absorption in muscles. The amount you should consume depends on how active you are. For fairly sedentary people, 3-5 grams per kg of bodyweight may be enough carbohydrate to ensure healthy functioning and stable weight. For people focusing on fat loss in addition to building muscle, carbs should also be lowered proportionally and, ideally, complex carbs should be incorporated, as these supply the most ‘pound for pound’ nutrition of all carbs in supporting the recovery process. For the more active person, 810 grams per kg of bodyweight may be necessary to supply the body enough energy on an active recovery day (i.e. a nontraining or light training day involving low intensity exercise).

We We associate associate fatty fatty ffoods oods a as s ‘‘bad’ bad’ When it comes to addressing fat intake, a lot of people switch off because we have become conditioned to automatically associate fatty foods as ‘bad’, which is only half of the story. Healthy fats are an important part of a balanced diet and should typically account for The Local Answer

between 20-35% of your total caloric intake. This range is variable depending on training goals and nutritional needs. Your fat intake on recovery days should be based on one of two options; you either lower your fat intake because you know you’re going to be less active, especially if weight-loss is a focus. Alternatively, you look at it as a recovery day and build in the option to have ‘cheat meals’ (and risk the temptation of over-indulging). Either way, it’s important to remember that there is a difference between healthy and unhealthy fats. Healthy fats include those found naturally in foods such as avocados, nuts, meat and olive oil for example, while unhealthy fats tend to be those found in processed foods (those yummy cakes, cookies, and crisps we love so much!). In addition to these two important macronutrients, ensuring you have adequate amounts of

the ‘Macro-nificent Seven’ (protein, carbs, fat, dietary fibre, vitamins, minerals and water) is key to optimising the relationship between your training goals and outcomes.

E Ensure nsure an an appropriate appropriate iintake ntake of of macronutrients macronutrients For some people, calorie counting and measuring macros is useful – for others, not so much! Either way, ensuring that your intake of appropriate levels of all macronutrients is sufficient for your exercise intensity, training goals and maintaining a balanced diet is critical. By optimising recovery day nutrition alongside your overall nutrition plan, you will give yourself the very best chance of meeting your training goals through being fuelled/refuelled for your next training session, providing sufficient nutrients for muscle growth and repair, and maintaining your exercise intensity levels.

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Page 

FAB F AB F EET FEET

LITTLE WHITE VAN MAN

S Sally ally C Chaplin haplin

Gloucestershire’s Gloucestershire’s ffriendly, riendly, cost cost eeffective ffective rremovals, emovals, collections, deliveries collections, d eliveries aand nd house house clearance clearance sservice! ervice!

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G Gift ift VVouchers ouchers aavailable vailable

F oot Health Health P Practitioner ractitioner Foot Ground Floor Clinic: 2a Hillview Road, Hucclecote, G l o u c e s te r G L 3 3 L D inn Silver Scisssors

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The Local Answer

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Fabulous F abulous feet feet Feet are our foundation, but sadly they are often overlooked as they are not always on display, particularly in cooler climates. August is perhaps a good time to reconsider how we look after this important foundation. To put it into perspective, if you live to an average age of eighty, with a daily step count of 7,500 – the amount of a moderately active person – you will have walked over 210 million steps in your lifetime (taking out the baby and toddler years)! We expect so much from our feet and often give so little, so maybe now is the time to start a ‘love your feet’ regime?

P Podiatry odiatry This is the treatment of the foot and ankle, often carried out by a professional, but some of the recommendations they offer are suitable for you to do at home. Foot hygiene is imperative, particularly during hot weather. In the shower or after exercise, wash thoroughly in between your toes and dry well afterwards. Moisturise your feet

generously to avoid dry,, cracked heels – the older we get, the more heels tend to dry out, causing cracks and sometimes leading to infections. Why not get some breathable cotton socks, which are not too tight on the ankles, add a good layer of emollient or foot cream and sleep in them. The next morning you’ll have soft, happy feet.

Shoes S hoes Try to choose footwear with a slight lift, even slippers, as flat, thin-soled footwear can cause heel pain. Trainers are now acceptable virtually everywhere, prominently featured on all the catwalk shows. From functional to glamorous, you can have comfortable feet and still look good!

Nails N ails Cutting nails correctly is crucial; you need to follow the natural curve of the nail and never over-cut or cut down the sides of your nails. This can be painful and lead to ingrown nails, which we need to avoid. If you do experience irritation from over-cutting, a warm salt The Local Answer

To advertise call 01242 510500

foot bath may offer some relief and help speed up healing.

Nail Nail polish polish Many of us like a polished nail, especially in the summer when we often wear open toed shoes and sandals. Polish should not be left on for longer than a week, as most contain chemicals which, if left on for too long, can cause corrosion of the nails. Nail bars are a popular place to go for a pedicure, however it is imperative they work to approved hygiene standards. The equipment used should be new for each client. At home, nourish the cuticles as you would the rest of your hands – a good almond oil is effective. Always apply a base coat to avoid yellowing of the nails, and to help the polish last longer with minimal chipping. Remember, the darker the shade of nail polish, the easier it is to see when it is chipped. Our precious feet respond well to TLC, so try to make footcare a regular addition to your beauty regime. After all, hopefully we have many more miles to walk, so let’s walk them on happy feet! Page 11

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S Safari afari ADVENTURE BINOCULARS BUFFALO CAMERA CHEETAH CROCODILE ELEPHANT GAZELLE GIRAFFE

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

D Dart art V Valley alley delights delights As we climb steadily, the sign by the footpath warns of basking adders. To our left, billowing steam from another train rises ethereally between sunlit oaks and beeches. Beyond, another glimpse of sparkling estuary and moored yachts heralds the vistas ahead. We’re heading for Greenway House, onetime haunt of Sir Walter Raleigh and more recently, holiday home for the queen of detecti ve fiction, Dame Agatha Christie. Earlier, we began our walk beside the sheltered estuary – one of Britain’s best natural harbours. Moments later, driver and passengers waving, a Kingswearbound steam locomoti ve and

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its rake of cream and chocolate carriages evoked a bygone age. The smell of the coast, sylvan slopes, bobbing yachts, steam trains and the magnificence of Britannia Royal Naval College across Dartmouth Harbour define the 10-mile Dartmouth Greenway round walk…

IIn n Agatha Agatha C Christie’s hristie’s ffootsteps ootsteps In 30 0-acre National Trust grounds where Christie once plotted Poirot’s adventures, we picnic on a log and gaze back towards Kingswear and Dartmouth just across the water. By afftternoon’s end, we’ll be guzzling Devon ice cream by the town’s beautifully restored Grade 2 Listed bandstand. But fir st, our walk only half done, we must tak e to the water. Ringing Greenway Quay’s famous bell summons a tiny launch that whisks us over to Dittisham – locals say ‘Ditcham’. Today, with picnics packed, we resist the waterside temptations of the Ferry Boat and Red Lion pubs and continue up steep Manor Street. Maybe another time: the reviews and the food on pack ed tables both look good.

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Unfolding Unfolding estuary estuary views views Paradoxically, continuing another typically South Devonian c l i m b b r i n g s u s t o Lo w e r Dittisham. Higher still, and with more unfolding estuary views, we reach Fire Beacon Hill. Here, a weathered fire basket atop its pole marks the site of a beacon that signalled the Spanish Armada’s sighting in 1588. Then we descend, contouring down to sle epy Old Mill Cre ek before making one last ascent to Darrttmouth’s hilltop suburb of Townstal. Afftter that, it’s down again through narrow streets and stepped alleys to the bustling water side and that well-deserved ice cream – or something more substantial in Dartmouth’s former station, one that never saw trains – before catching the ferry back to Kingswear. Though sun-wor shipping adder s eluded us, a stunning walk gifted myriad amazing views and rich insight into estuary history. No wonder every Dartmouth estate agent’s window was bloody with ‘Sold’ tags. Whether you’re luck y enough to li ve here or just exploring for a day, the Dart Estuary’s delights are irresistible.

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AFTER The Local Answer

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

B Breast reast iiss b best, est, o orr iis s iit? t? It’s the oldest argument in the proverbial parenting book: is breastfeeding truly best for baby? But in this article I am asking a different question – is breastfeeding best for Mum? Of course, we understand that breast milk is created especially for the job, constantly available, free, needs no preparation and provides all of a new baby’s nutrition. But at what cost?

For F or m many any m mums ums b breastreastffeeding eeding iisn’t sn’t doable doable Personally, I happily breastfed both of my children for the first year, but I didn’t return to work quickly and I had no other calls on my time. I was able to literally sit and feed for hours on end without much aggravation, but for many mums that just isn’t doable. For a lone parent, working mum or otherwise stressed mother, maybe with several children to care for, the very idea of breastfeeding might

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feel overwhelming. Some are simply unable to breastfeed. So what are the benefits of ‘supplementary feeding’ or ‘bottle feeding’ for a new mum? Well for one, it isn’t all on you to provide for your baby. You can literally let any trusted person (partner, grandma, best mate) hold your baby and give them a feed, maybe even whilst you are having a nap! Bliss! Secondly, you can feed anywhere without fear of stigma or criticism, because yes, there are still people out there who seem to think that breastfeeding is disgusting and should be hidden away. Somehow the image of a small person sucking on a bottle is not quite so alarming to them, and if you are particularly socially anxious you may want to avoid all and every possibility of being attacked in public. Sad but true! Working mums can feel very torn at leaving their baby, so often choose to To advertise call 01242 510500

breast-feed for the first few months, to support bonding and initial growth, before moving onto bottles as they return to the workplace (or, more recently, their laptop). And when it comes to babysitting, you can feel happy in the knowledge that your baby is safe and well-fed, without the need to hurriedly express before you leave or panic to get home in time to feed them. Let’s face it, if you want any kind of social life, breastfeeding kinda cramps your style!

Choose Choose w what hat is is right right ffor or you you In summary, you must choose what is right for you. Whether you decide to exclusively breastfeed, supplement with a bottle, or just go straight to formula, you can create a routine that fits both your life and your temperament. Because at the end of the day, a happy, healthy mum is paramount in order to raise a happy, healthy baby, and that’s all anybody wants, right? Page 15

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

S State tate p pension ension For some people, the state pension is all they have to look forward to as income in later life. For others it’s a helpful top up to their workplace pension, savings income, etc. Either way, it’s an important issue both for those in receipt of it and the government that has to finance it. Under a manifesto promise, the current government has pledged to increase pensions in line with inflation, measured in the highest of three ways. One of these is wage rate inflation, which is currently much higher than the others as a quirk of the runout of the pandemic. Forecasts are anything between 5 and 8%. At the upper end of that range it would cost the Treasury around £3bn more than their forecasts, a staggering amount for them to have to find when they are working out how to fund their covid support programmes. So does the government stick with its manifesto pledge and find other ways of financing its recent spending or dispense with the ‘triple lock’ as the inflation promise is generally known? It may be a one-year only blip, with the increase returning to ‘normal’ levels next year. If the government could be sure it is, I think they would opt to retain the system, rather than risk the political fallout from going back on their promise.

A ‘hot ‘hot potato’ potato’ for for the the g government overnment It’s a commitment that divides public opinion. Pensioners argue it’s crucial to them coping with rising costs and point out the UK state pension is amongst the least generous in Europe. I’m surprised at that statistic, but apparently it’s true. Opponents of the triple lock argue the majority of people drawing state pension have other incomes and don’t need the security of the inflation guarantee. Goodness knows who is right, but it is a real ‘hot potato’ for the government. The cost of providing state pensions is clearly something that troubles our politicians, enough for the current government to offer the guarantee as part of its strategy for winning the Election. Successive governments have looked at ways of reducing the annual outlay, including equalisation of pension ages for men and women, extending the qualifying age from 65 to 66 (and soon 67) and increasing the number of years you need to pay in before you qualify for a full pension. It’s a ‘hot potato’, that’s for sure, and one that will burn the hands of those trying to catch it for generations to come. Page 16

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

Aw wolf olf in in sheep’s sheep’s clothing? clothing? Let’s face it, there are countless reviews of the RS4, Audi’s monstrously powerful estate, that describe how it handles around a track; the wolf of a V6 in the sheep’s clothing of a family estate, but it’s that second element that I think need a little closer inspection. If this truly is what it is hyped as, then it should be able to function as a family wagon as well as a track weapon. So does the car live up to the brief? Surprisingly (and thankfully, considering it costs north of eighty thousand pounds) the answer appears to be yes.

A tthorough horough ttest est iincluding ncluding m motorways, otorways, k kids ids a and nd B B-roads -roads Naturally, in investigating this, a trip to my parents’ in North Devon over half term was called for to give it a thorough test, including motorways, kids, traffic, B-roads, the no to rio us g radien t of P orlo ck Hill, and even the roughest of unsurfaced farm tracks that included potholes deep enough to swim in and the odd meandering sheep. I am surprised to be able to say that the RS4 took it all in its very capable stride and ate up the miles, spitting out a growl from the exhausts as it went. Oh, and it ate up quite a lot of petrol too, given the V6 is in 2.9 litre twin turbo form with four-wheel drive. One more thing about the engine before I move on – I think someone at Audi went a little to far on the theme of ‘4’… It’s an RS4, with 4-wheel The Local Answer

drive, and the power output? Allegedly 444bhp. Seems a little convenient to me, but attention to detail is important!

A Audi’s udi’s g great reat iinfotainment nfotainment system system The cabin is everything you would expect – properly premium materials abound, incredibly comfortable and supportive seats and Audi’s great infotainment system. The rear seat legroom is also good, making it a strong contender for a family car (if you can live with the fuel economy), as does the three zone climate control, so the kids in the back can adjust their temperature zone independently of both front seat passengers, who can also set their own preference. So it works as a family car, and can handle pretty much any terrain you throw it at. I did take it very carefully on To advertise call 01242 510500

the rough roads and while it didn’t feel like it was threatening to ground out at any point, it must have been close. What I was most worried about was the alloys. The RS4 has a very aggressive, wide stance, and while the arches flair to accommodate the huge wheels, the low-profile tyres and grey multi-spoke alloys meant I was convinced I was going to grind them to pieces on potholes, curbs and pretty much anything else.

Fantastic Fantastic cameras cameras make make it it easy easy to to park park But in fairness, despite the width of the car, it is really quite driveable and the fantastic cameras (360 degree aerial view type thing) make it easy to park too. Just keep in mind that having paid out more than £80k, the fuel economy you’re likely to get is in the mid to low 20s… ouch! Page 1

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Page 18

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

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

A day day in in the the life... life... In the past I have written about significant events occurring in the City and how we’ve had to deal with or manage them. This month I am going to write about today. My first appointment was with the BBC at 8am who wanted to talk about the Levelling Up Fund application, which was submitted last week by the City Council, supported by the MP. The bid is for £20 million, which we have agreed to invest in regeneration projects. Those investments in the Forum, the former Debenhams building and in the Fleece hotel are the necessary adrenaline to kick-start them. Following that interview I had to rush up to the office where I met a young man who had requested to meet some of the politicians on the Council as part of his work experience. He listened thoughtfully and asked some penetrating questions about how the Council functions, how it’s funded and what it does for residents.

“II always “ always a admire dmire such such dedication.” dedication.”

D Don’t on’t look look until until you’ve you’ve finished! finished! Solutions Solutions on on ‘Index ‘Index of of Advertisers’ Advertisers’ p page. age.

Then I had certificates to sign for officers of the Council who have reached 25 years of service. I always admire such dedication. Before I left the office I had to say goodbye to the Corporate Director of the Council who is leaving into a form of early retirement after a number of years of excellent service. After that was a meeting of the Gloucestershire Airport Shareholders Forum, which meets periodically to oversee major activities at the airport. For example, the plans to rebuild the runway and building of the new business park – CGX – which will fund the airport’s ability to repay the loans they have received from shareholders, which are Gloucester City Council and Cheltenham Borough Council. I’ve just had a short meeting to discuss the planned visit of the Mayor of Paju in South Korea in September. These ceremonial visits are extremely important and recognise great contributions from the city of Paju to Gloucester and Gloucestershire such as £92,000 for the Soldiers Museum and 1,000 sets of PPE sent for use here early in the pandemic when they knew there was a shortage throughout the country. Finally, I’m just about to end the day with a briefing in preparation for the next Cabinet meeting, where we have a robust discussion with officers about the reports which the Executive have to agree. Every day is full on, but no two days are the same! e email: mail: rrichard.cook@gloucester.gov.uk ichard.cook@gloucester.gov.uk

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

Keep Keep plants plants well-fed well-fed aand nd w watered atered Hopefully this month will see you harvesting plenty of beans and tomatoes, or coming back from holiday and finding the tiny little courgette you left on has now assumed the proportions of a very large barrage balloon! If you are going away and haven’t got anyone to water your pots, move them to a shady position – I used to use an old rigid paddling pool and put some water in it just to tide them over.

R Replant eplant a tthird hird o off y your our sstock tock e every very y year ear Strawberries decline after two or three years, so it is good practice to replant a third of your stock every year. You could buy them in or you could use the runners produced towards the end of the season by pegging them down. Do this either into the soil or into small pots of compost like John Innes No.1, using bits of wire coat hangers to make a Ushaped piece about 15cm in length.

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Plant up your new runners as soon as they have rooted, but at least by the second week in September to give them a good start next year.

Tidy Tidy up up rambling rambling roses roses August is the time to tidy up climbing and rambling roses after they have flowered. Roses grown over arches or pergolas can become dangerous if the long whippy growth is not tied in and catches someone passing underneath. As the new shoots are pliable when they are young it is easier to wind or tie into the desired space. Winding the shoots in a spiral increases the flowering and stops the perennial problem of roses that just flower at the top. At this stage of the game, remove poorly performing annuals and bedding plants, as they won’t have time to improve, and replace To advertise call 01242 510500

with some bargains from the garden centre! Feed your pots with a weak solution of liquid fertiliser every week – I use a seaweed one. Doing this and deadheading the flowers will extend the lifetime of your displays, meaning you get to enjoy the results of your hard work for longer.

Get Get ahead ahead of of the the game game for for winter winter Plant ‘Paperwhite’ narcissi bulbs for winter indoor displays – I know, it is strange to think of winter already but you will be ahead of the game. If your container has no drainage holes, use special bulb fibre. Plant the bulbs close together with the tips just showing and keep in a cool dark place for 812 weeks while the roots develop. It is nice to find shallow, old-fashioned vegetable dishes, etc. from the junk shops to give them a vintage look. Page 2

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Page 28

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

Modern M odern ccoastal oastal sstyle tyle As many of us will be holidaying by the English seaside this summer, I have been thinking about how we can capture some of the magic of time spent by the sea back in our own homes. Traditional coastal style can get a bad rap, often deservedly so, but approached the right way you can create a stylish, beachy-inspired interior, wherever you live. Here are my top tips to help you nail this tricky trend.

E Easy asy lliving iving I fell in love with coastal style when I first visited Australia – the Aussies really do know how to do chic beach house interiors. Essentially, it’s all about simplicity and relaxed, easy living spaces with a laid-back vibe. Forget obvious nautical themes, no portholes, anchors or seagulls please. Instead go for a neutral palette, natural timbers, and plenty of texture, paired with a few well-chosen vintage pieces.

Image: Cream Cornwall

Am muted uted p palette alette

F ocus o n ttexture exture Focus on

For a sophisticated look choose muted coastal inspired colours – we live in a northern clime so think stormy seas and windswept dunes. A watery palette of soft whites, misty greys, and washed out blues works well. Add in a pop of contrasting sandy yellow for a Skandi feel. Alternatively, Australian interiors expert Darren Palmer suggests black as an accent colour to avoid a scheme that looks too bland.

Texture is a key element of this laid-back style. Classic white or pale grey linen for soft furnishings (ideally with removeable covers) always look timeless. Add in some soft coloured wool cushions and throws, or an on-trend chunky knitted pouffe. I love Ian Mankin’s striped cotton ticking for simple roman blinds. Woven lampshades and plenty of baskets for storage will complete the look. Check out the driftwood lamp-bases at Not on the High Street.

Keep K eep iitt n natural atural Natural materials create a relaxed look – think weathered or bleached timber floors covered with wool or cotton rugs in a subtle pattern, or softly coloured stripes. Search out vintage items of furniture and paint them white or grey (Annie Sloan chalk paint works best). Look for pieces made from wicker, bamboo or rattan for a natural feel. Fit shiplap timber cladding to the walls for added visual interest – this works particularly well in bathrooms.

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It’s It’s all all in in the the detail detail Keep your accessories subtle. Bunches of soft coloured dried flowers, soft white or blue coloured stoneware, recycled glass vases and lamp-bases always look chic. I love my coastal inspired artworks framed in pale wood and white, and my artistic sister-in-law has even used old navigation charts as wallpaper in her kitchen. If you stay away from the obviously nautical, your coastal inspired decor will look stylish, and not clichéd.

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