The Local
A NS W E R
GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S BIGGEST LOCAL MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
GLOUCESTER A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR READERS AND CLIENTS!
The The Lo Local c al
AN ANSWER SWER Gloucester: G loucester: 446,000 6,000 ccopies opies Cheltenham: C heltenham: 443,000 3,000 ccopies opies Cotswolds: C otswolds: 330,000 0,000 ccopies opies North Gloucestershire: N orth G loucestershire: 220,000 0,000 ccopies opies Stroud District: S troud D istrict: 441,000 1,000 ccopies opies
W elcome Welcome ttoo D ecember December
M anaging D irector Managing Director Dave Dave K Kingscott ingscott dave@thelocalanswer.co.uk dave@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Marketing Marketing LLois ois K Kingscott ingscott llois@thelocalanswer.co.uk ois@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Sales Sales C Claudie laudie FFrancis rancis iinfo@thelocalanswer.co.uk nfo@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Sport Sport R Roger oger JJackson ackson
It’s the most wonderful time of the year and we have a jam-packed Christmas themed issue for you this month. There are lots of festive editorials to enjoy and a What’s On section full of events to add to your Christmas calendar! We also have a special gift for you with our brand new Online Competitions feature! Read more about this inside and check out the fantastic prizes up for grabs. We had so many enquiries last month asking where the cover photo was taken so we thought we’d better include a mention this month! Martin Vincent’s image is of the Mill at Lower Slaughter – a great place to include on a winter walk. Thank you to all our readers and clients for your continued support throughout 2019. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Inside Inside this this month month ... ...
ssport@thelocalanswer.co.uk port@thelocalanswer.co.uk
EEntertainment ntertainment TTom om H Hadfield adfield eentertainment@thelocalanswer.co.uk ntertainment@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Administration Administration Helen Kingscott H elen K ingscott Distribution Distribution JJohn ohn O Overton verton – 001242 1242 541075 541075 leaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk leaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk
LLouis ouis Jordan Jordan ddistribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk istribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Accounts Accounts Rob R ob Kingscott Kingscott accounts@thelocalanswer.co.uk accounts@thelocalanswer.co.uk
U nit H hurchill IIndustrial ndustrial EEstate, state, C hurchill R oad, Unit H,, C Churchill Churchill Road, LLeckhampton, eckhampton, Cheltenham, Cheltenham, G loucestershire G L53 77EG EG Gloucestershire GL53
Telephone Telephone 01242 01242 510500 510500 @ @thelocalanswer thelocalanswer
w www.thelocalanswer.co.uk ww.thelocalanswer.co.uk
Delicious Dish D elicious Dish Online Competitions ompetitions O nline C Life LLeader’s eader’s Life Good, LLooking ooking Good, Great FFeeling eeling Great Medical Health M edical Health Parenting P arenting & Guardianship G uardianship EEducation ducation & EEmployment mployment Sudoku S udoku Holidays ravel H olidays & TTravel Wildlife Matters W ildlife Matters Mirror Mirror irror M irror M Wall all oon n tthe he W
5 7 10 10 11 11 1133 1144 1177 1188 1199 21 21 22 22
What’s Onn What’s O 2233 Quick Crossword Quick C rossword 2244 TLA TLA Entertainment Entertainment 228-29 8-29 Homes Homes & Gardens Gardens 3322 Motoring M otoring 3355 In Garden 3399 In the the G arden Interior 4433 Interior Design Design Save 4455 S ave tthe he Planet Planet Gadgets Gadgets & Gizmos Gizmos 4477 Word W ord Search Search 4488 Money Matters M oney M atters 5555 TTLA LA Sport Sport 556-57 6-57 Index, Index, Competitions, Competitions, Solutions S olutions 5588
C Competitions ompetitions o on np pages ages 7 & 2 26 6 If you use the services of our advertisers or attend the events listed, please tell them you found them in The Local Answer! If you can’t find the service you require inside, head online to our Directory. We have details of many more local businesses including: Mortgage Advisor Window Cleaning M ortgage A dvisor • W indow C leaning Hypnotherapy • M Hypnotherapy Magician Cake Maker agician • C ake M aker Visit www.thelocalanswer.co.uk
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TThe he HHome omee of om of RReal eal AAle le aand nd Great Great FFood oo oodd TTraditional radition onaal pub pub cclassics lassics D G FRIENDLY aand nd a w hol olee lot lot m or oree! FRIENDLY whole more! SUNDAY SUNDAY SPECIAL SPECIAL 2C Courses ourses ffor or £12 £12 C Choose hoose e either ither
Soup Soup of of the the Day Day & R Roast oast o orr R Roast oast & D Dessert essert Pork/Lamb/Beef/Nut Pork/Lamb/Beef/Nut
EEvery ver y Sunday Sunday 12-5pm 12-5pm BBooking ooking a advisable dvisable
Private Private FFunction unction Rooms Rooms AVAILABLE A VAIL ABLE FOR FOR HIRE HIRE We have two function rooms available daytime and evenings for occasional meetings, parties or regular club/group gatherings. With capacity to cater for 6-60 people, The Orange Room or The Long Room are excellent venues for private get-togethers with family, friends or colleagues. From simple snackss and refreshments to 3-course dinners, we provide a bespoke e, personal ser vice with flexibility to match your needs. Please P lease call call or or email email for for more more information information ... ...
STEAK STEAK S SPECIAL PECIAL 2S Steaks teaks & 2D Drinks rinks o orr B Bottle ottle o off H House ouse W Wine ine
FFOR OR O ONLY NLY £ £25! 25! FFridays ridays & SSaturdays aturdays 55-9pm -9pm Booking Booking a advisable dvisable
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 OPENING OPENING HOURS: HOURS: Sunday-Saturday Sunday-Saturday 11am-11pm 11am-11pm • FOOD FOOD SERVED: SERVED: 12-8pm 12-8pm Mon-Thur, Mon-Thur, 12-9pm 12-9pm Fri-Sat, Fri-Sat, 1 12-5pm 2-5pm Sun Sun
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Delicious Delicious Dish Dish w with ith H Helen elen K Kingscott ingscott
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4 Put the tinned tomatoes in a small pan over a medium heat and add the red onion and vinegar. Season, bring to the boil then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. 5 Heat 2 tsp olive oil in a large frying pan and fry the meatballs for 3-4 minutes until golden on one side. Then turn and cook for another 34 minutes or until cooked through. 6 Add the tomato sauce and return to the boil, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 5 minutes. 7 Meanwhile, put the butternut squash noodles in a separate frying pan and add 1 tsp olive oil, a splash of water, the remaining garlic and chopped sage. 8 Season then cover the pan and cook for 4-5 minutes until just tender. 9 Serve with the meatballs and tomato sauce, and scatter over the pine nuts.
11st st Choice Choice
AAerial erial & Satellites & Satellites
Reliable R eliable & Enthusiastic Enthusiastic
Examination Examination Invigilators Invigilators R Required equired @thelocalanswer @thelocalanswer
Interested? We would love to hear from you – please contact the school foor further infoormation: e sk@strs.org.uk / t 01452 338402
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Digital A Digital Aerial erial IInstallations nstallations Upgrades U pgrades and and Repairs Repairs
110% 0% o off ff with w ith this this a advert dvert Mark M ark H Hawkes awkes
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Meet the new arriv at Burley Fields Burley Fields Lakes has something new to offer this Christmas – an o p p o r t u n i t y f o r c h i l d re n ( a n d a d u l t s ! ) t o fe e d a n d p e t t h e i r beautiful tame deer. Let the kids experience the joy of selecting their o w n C h r i s t m a s t re e a n d y o u ’ l l b e able to visit these wonderful animals in their field – and, armed with a free deer treat given out with t r e e s , t h e y ’ l l s o o n w a n t t o m a ke friends with you! Owner S Kincart welcomed the d y Fields when their Prinknash Bird & sadly closed in “We’ve always r roaming our hop customd fishermen y seeing at es. We e re a l l y sed to a s afe to deer nkand, se they
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a re t a m e , w e t h meeting them would n i c e b o n u s fo r a n buying a Christmas t the kids will love th Trees will be on f ro m 1 s t D e c e m e v e r y d a y f ro m 1 0 late. The other great ro u n d a t t r a c t i o n F i e l d s L a ke s i s t farm shop. Set in the farm, the open for over 1 St e v e ’ s p a r t n e r P butcher Mark and stockman A All meat produced is from their own a n i m a l s ( e i t h e r b o r n o r re a re d o n s i t e ) a n d t h e y re g u l a r l y p re s e n t a v a s t s e l e c t i o n o f b e e f, p o r k , c h i c ke n , l a m b , m u t t o n , g o a t a n d venison. T h e y a l s o p ro d u c e s u p e r b s a u s a g e s w i t h a g re a t r a n g e o f flavours varying each week from Wild Garlic (picked from the farm’s f o re s t ) t o S p i c y C h i l l i , M u s h ro o m , St i l t o n , L e e k , R o s e m a r y & T h y m e , Beef, Lamb & Mint and Venison.
For th of free range turkeys a av a i l a b l e w i t h a l l t h e t r i m m i n g s , providing delicious flavour for the perfect Christmas dinner. T h e s h o p i s o p e n f ro m 1 0 a m t i l l 5.30pm on Thursdays and Fridays, and 10am-4.30pm on Saturdays. Why not visit Burley Fields Lakes for all three treats – a real Christmas nce with tree, a touching experien deer and to quality local pr
BBurley urley Fields Fields Lakes Lakes Farm Farm Shop S ho Leckhampton Leckhampton Lane Lane • Cheltenham Cheltenham • GL51 GL51 4XP 4XP • 01242 01242 861333 861333 / 07914 07914 940557 940557
O Open pen Thursday/Friday Thursday/Friday 10am-5.30pm 10am-5.30pm & Saturday Saturday 10am-4.30pm 10am-4.30pm www.burleyfieldsandlake.co.uk www.burleyfieldsandlake.co
OPEN EN D DAILY AILY 10am 10 till late for
CHRISTMAS HRISTMAS TR TREES REES
Wa Want ant to where your y to know know where meat comes m eat c omes ffrom? rom? HaMeat
m All meat and poultry A ll m eat a nd p o ul t availapbers Call ll 007341 7341 835151 835151 / 07831 07831 734683 734683 we sell stock w es ell iis s ffrom rom s to FREE LO le – C A born and/or born a nd/or reared reare L DELIVER Y on on site! site!
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PORK IS THE SWEETEST!
FFANTASTIC ANTASTIC P PRICES RICES O ON N EVERYTHING EVERYTHING W WEE SELL SELL – ALL ALL YEAR YEAR ROUND! ROUND!
WIN BIG! Our brand new online competitions feature is now live!
To kick things off in style, we’ve got SIX competitions with fantastic prizes up for grabs from some great local businesses! Two tickets to see Cheltenham Town Football Club play Morecambe on Saturday 1st February, plus a mascot package and a signed ball!
A three-course meal for two people with a bottle of wine at Café René in Gloucester!
A family game of bowling for up to five people at Hollywood Bowl Cheltenham in The Brewery Quarter!
Four tickets to see Promenade Productions’ pantomime ‘Robinson Crusoe and the Pirates’ at The Bacon Theatre on Thursday 16th January!
interior needs A family ticket to see the Peter Pan themed Spectacle of Light at Sudeley Castle!
A £100 voucher to spend on soft furnishings at Interior Needs in Gloucester!
To T o enter enter any any (or (or all) all) of of these these ccompetitions, ompetitions, visit visit
www.thelocalanswer.co.uk w ww.thelocalanswer.co.uk and and go go to to the the Competitions Competitions ttab ab
If you are a local business that would like to run a competition on our website, please email lois@thelocalanswer.co.uk for more details
Leader Leader s L Life ife
Superb Quality
M My y ffond ond farewell farewell
M MEN’S EN’S & B BOYS’ OYS’ SUIT SUIT H HIRE IRE
with with C Councillor ouncillor P Paul aul JJames ames
WEDDING SSUITS UITS M Magee agee Designer Designer S Suits uits
This will be my final Leader’s Life column because, by the time you read this, I will have stepped down as Leader of Gloucester City Council – but, at the time of writing, my successor has not been confirmed. It has been a huge pleasure to be Leader for the last 12 years, to write for The Local Answer for the last eight years and to see how it has grown. I’ve never struggled to find something to write about – which shows just how much is going on in the city.
A useful useful w way ay o off lletting etting p people eople k know now what what is is happening happening iin n tthe he ccity ity It’s been a really useful way of letting people know what is happening and seeking their views on important issues – whether it is regeneration, the environment or culture. I do get quite a lot of people contacting me or speaking to me about my articles, so I know that they actually do get read! On one occasion, someone wrote to me asking why we didn’t make more of Gloucester’s most famous son, Button Gwinnett. To be honest, at that point I’d never heard of him! A little research soon uncovered that he was the second signatory of the US Declaration of Independence who was born just outside Gloucester. Pinning down exactly where we should have a physical commemoration of his life has been difficult – but I think we now have the answer! This is just one example of where this column has made something happen.
We We have have achieved achieved a lot lot over over the the years years I’m proud of what we have achieved together over the last decade or so – recovering from the terrible floods of 2007, bringing in almost £1 billion of investment in regeneration including G l o u c e s t e r Q u a y s a n d a n e w b us s t a t i o n , a n d hosting the Rugby World Cup. Lots more is in progress, from Kings Square to The Fleece and government money to improve Westgate Street. My passion for the city is as great as ever. I’ve got lots I still want to achieve for Gloucester before I step down from the Council in May and beyond. Thank you for all your support over the years. On behalf of the City Council, I wish you and your family a very happy Christmas and everything you wish for in 2020. @cllrpauljames @cllrpauljames
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e: e: paul.james@gloucester.gov.uk paul.james@gloucester.gov.uk
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H Have ave y your our ssay! ay! D Do o yyou ou e enjoy njoy reading reading or or using using T The he Local Local Answer? Answer? H ave you you benefited benefited from from Have a dvertising in in our our magazines? magazines? advertising Would Would you you consider consider leaving leaving uss a review u review on on Google? Google?
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2.. T Type The 2 ype iin nT he Local Local Answer Answer 3.. C Click Write 3 lick W rite a review review (on (on tthe he rright ight h hand and side) side)
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Looking Looking Good, Good, F Feeling eeling Great Great with w ith W Will ill M Mbanga banga
Building yyour our summer summer Building body body – part part 2! 2! Following on from last month’s article (which you can read on The Local Answer’s website), for those who are focused on building or maintaining a highperformance body or for those whose aesthetics are the key driver for sculpting a summer body, a more complex nutrition plan needs to be designed. For most people, eating a nutritionally balanced meal one to two hours before exercise, and another within a similar period after exercise, will adequately meet their nutritional needs.
In terms of timing, you could look at pre-workout foods or supplements that will fuel your training and subsequent recovery. These will ideally be easily absorbed/digested so you don’t have any gastric discomfort. Even among advanced fitness enthusiasts, eating during exercise is only advisable/ beneficial in specific training situations, so you won’t need that shake during your spin • Wellness and health benefits class or CrossFit session! (minerals, vitamins, fibre) If, however, you are engaged in long duration training or Fuel mix refers to the combination of endurance events (anything up carbohydrates, fats, minerals and protein. Am more ore b bespoke espoke to and over two hours in a approach pproach iis s rrequired equired Replenish R eplenish e energy nergy a and nd duration) there would be a very ffor or ssome ome p people eople hydration h ydration llevels evels strong case for some in-training However, for some people or event nutrition. Post-workout, a good meal or this will not be enough and a s u pplement is critical to replenResearch R esearch the the best best more bespoke approach is reishing energy and hydration m method e t h o d a and n d s sources o u r c e s o of f quired. A good Sports Nutrition levels, sustaining a healthy nutrients for for your your body body metabolism, refuelling, repairing coach or Registered Dietician nutrients can assist with designing a The rise of precision nutrition and rebuilding muscle, and plan that meets your unique via specialists and performance therefore ensuring improved nutritional requirements and supplements has become a performance over time. appropriate timings to help you huge business and, with good You will need to ensure that meet your performance goals. research, can be of benefit to you eat at least two wellThe best way to provide the you in your search for optimal balanced meals (solid food level of nutrition you require to nutrition. The key areas to rather than shakes/smoothies) fuel your efforts is to optimise consider as you research the during the rest of the day. your feeding windows around b e s t m e t h o d a n d s o u r c e s o f Some people find eating your training, while ensuring nutrients for fuelling your body ‘main’ meals difficult or just that your regular meals are as are foods and a timing regimen prefer eating smaller meals nutrient dense and healthy as that provides you with: more frequently over the space possible. of a day – this is also fine. • Optimal hydration (water If there is a long gap between Whether you are advanced in and electrolytes) your training and a meal, the your training journey, have • Sustained energy release more substantial the meal can specific performance goals, or (carbohydrates and fats) be; the closer you are to a are just highly motivated to • P e r f o r m a n c e b o o s t ( f u e l m i x ) workout, the more important it achieve a certain aesthetic, is that your meal is easy to • Recovery benefits (fuel mix) having a more focused nutridigest – bananas, shakes and • Muscle building and repair tional approach will benefit you smoothies are good options. (protein) enormously. The Local Answer
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Page 11
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M Medical edical H Health ealth with w ith H Holly olly H Hannigan annigan
W Winter inter aaches ches o orr something something m more? ore? We all experience the odd ache or stiffness in our joints and bones, so when does the odd ache become something more? Arthritis is a common condition that causes pain and inflammation in a joint. In the UK, more than 10 million people have arthritis, affecting people of any age including children. There are many different types of arthritis and related conditions, the two most common types being Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Making Making m movement ovement more more d difficult ifficult tthan han u usual sual Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis in the UK, affecting nearly 9 million people. It most often develops in adults who are in their mid40s or older and is more common in women. This condition initially affects the smooth cartilage lining of the joint, which makes movement more difficult than usual, leading to pain and stiffness. Once the cartilage lining starts to roughen and thin out, the tendons and ligaments have to work harder. This can cause swelling and the formation of bony spurs called osteophytes. Severe loss of cartilage can lead to bone rubbing on bone, altering the shape of the joint and forcing the bones out of their normal position. The most commonly affected joints are those in the hands, spine, knees and hips. In the UK, rheumatoid arthritis affects more than 400,000 people, often starting when a person is between 40 and 50 years old. Women are three The Local Answer
times more likely to be affected than men. In rheumatoid arthritis, the body’s immune system targets affected joints, which leads to pain and swelling. The outer covering (synovium) of the joint is the first place affected. This can then spread across the joint, leading to further swelling and a change in the joint’s shape. This may cause the bone and cartilage to break down. People with rheumatoid arthritis can also develop problems with other tissues and organs in their body.
IItt iis s iimportant mportant tto og get et a an n a accurate ccurate d diagnosis iagnosis Depending on the type of arthritis you have, your symptoms may vary, which is why it is important to get an accurate diagnosis. Common symptoms include: • Joint pain, tenderness and stiffness • Inflammation in and around the joints To advertise call 01242 510500
• Restricted movement of the joints • Warm red skin over the affected joint • Weakness and muscle wasting There is no cure for arthritis, but there are many treatments that can help slow it down. These include lifestyle changes, medication, physiotherapy and surgery.
M Maintaining aintaining a healthy healthy llifestyle ifestyle is is key key Living with arthritis isn’t easy, and carrying out simple, everyday tasks can often be painful and difficult. Many people with arthritis say their joints become more painful and stiff in the winter, though it’s not clear why. So, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is key through a balanced diet, keeping active and staying warm. There are also a range of services and benefits available, and remember to always seek support from your GP. Page 1
P Parenting arenting & G Guardianship uardianship w with ith R Roberta oberta S Smart mart
Image: Enchanted Christmas, Paul Box
The The magic magic of of trees trees at at Christmas Christmas It is that time of year again – midwinter, the darkest day, the longest night and for many a time of magic and festivals of light. To that end, rather than talk about Santa, I wanted to share with you what I hope could become a new family tradition for us all. Whereas last year I shared with you the Icelandic Tradition of Jolabokaflod – the buying of books for gifts on Yule Evening – this year I am suggesting something to get us outdoors and into nature. Many Arboretums across the region are now offering wonderful events called Winter Wonderland, Magical Christmas Festival or something along those lines. I recently bought a membership to a local Arboretum and am already planning my first visit to their festival of light. It is a great family event and I can’t believe it has taken me so long to get there. To make up for this, I am inviting my grown up children to join us, and taking a friend and his two Page 14
under 10s so we can really enjoy the kids’ faces. I find trees magical at any time of year, but add in a light show, characters in costumes, music, food stalls, mulled wine, hot chocolate, burgers and pork rolls, and you have a true festival atmosphere.
C Creating reating a ttrue rue ssense ense o off e excitement xcitement iin n tthe he run run u up p tto oC Christmas hristmas I love trees even more than books and cannot think of anything more magical than sharing nature with the children, enhancing their knowledge of the natural world and creating a true sense of excitement in the run up to Christmas. I love that it then leads to a different type of gifting. In my mind, kids who love nature will appreciate practical gifts like books, pens, science kits, art kits and craft activities. A child at home in nature is less likely to get their fix from pink or blue plastic, and in this modern world we really do need to help our kids underwww.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
stand about environmental impacts of gift giving. It’s not hard to see that the joy of nature, coupled with a gift of warm gloves, colourful welly boots, a bike or scooter, camera, magnifying glass, bird feeders, etc. can set an imaginative child off on a life of love for the natural world. And as our futures really do lie in the hands of the children, can there be a better gift to give them than a love for the world they are a part of? The only caveat to this approach, of course, is you must accept being lectured by your nine year old about recycling, running the tap when cleaning your teeth and not reusing your carrier bags at the supermarket! Add in a side order of potential vegetarianism and a sudden passion for saving the badgers, and you have your own Acme Instant Climate Activist. But that’s a small price to pay for a better future, wouldn’t you say?
Merry M eerrry C Christmas! Ch hrristm h ma ass! a
The Local Answer
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A personal letter from Martin Surl Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire I a m c o m m i t t e d t o m a k i n g o u r c o u n t y s afe r fo r a l l road users. No more so than at this time of the year. I h o p e y o u c a n h e l p m e b y c i rc u l a t i n g t h i s m e s s a g e amongst your family and friends about this year’s ‘Anti-Drink-Drug Campaign’. In the last 50 years, road casualties caused by drink driving have fallen dramatically, yet on average 3,000 people are killed or seriously injured each year in the UK in a drink drive related collision. Combining illegal drugs with alcohol is especially deadly since it has been found that drivers who have consumed both are 23 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than sober drivers. Last year in Gloucestershire, the police recorded 39 drink or drug drive collisions. Whilst this figure reflects a d o w n w a r d t re n d t h e re i s g ro w i n g a n e c d o t a l evidence that, in some parts of the county, people h av e b e c o m e c o m p l a c e n t b e c a u s e t h e y t h i n k t h e y can get away with it. This constitutes not only a d a n g e r t o t h e m s e l v e s b u t a l s o t o o t h e r m o re responsible road users. T h e p r i m a r y a i m o f t h i s y e a r ’ s p r e -C h r i s t m a s campaign is to educate drivers to make an informed decision not to drive under the influence of drink or drugs. You can help me by circulating the following advice and information: • That the drink drive campaign is about to launch
• Encourage people to make sensible plans to enjoy t h e i r c e l e b r at i o n s a n d h e l p t h e m g e t h o m e s afe afterwards • P ro m o t e t a x i s a n d a l t e r n a t i v e t r a n s p o r t o p t i o n s home in the lead up and during the campaign. • Perhaps local licensees could be encouraged to offer free soft drinks for drivers or some nonalcoholic drinks options, which could be published and promoted. • We would rather drivers did not get on the roads under the influence of drink or drugs in the first place, however if they do then the police will come down hard on those offenders. A period of enforcement will start on 3 December when those who decide to ignore this advice will be t a r g e t e d t h ro u g h o p e r a t i o n a l ro a d s i d e a c t i v i t i e s throughout the county in both urban and rural areas. Safe and Social Driving is one of my priorities and is aimed at getting all road users to behave responsibly towards each other. This campaign aims to get people t o t h i n k b e fo re d r i n k i n g o r t a k i n g d r u g s a n d t h e n getting behind the wheel and to understand the consequences of their actions. I hope you will be able to play your part and have a safe and enjoyable Christmas.
Best Best wishes! wishes!
D Distributors istributors Required R equired
SAINTBRIDGE AINTBRIDGE HOUSE OUSE NURSING NURSING & RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL H HOME OME
01452 01452 300307 300307
For a few hours each month in the following specific areas:
Brockworth • Coopers Edge Quedgeley Each round is made up of 150-400 copies per month. The rate of pay is 6 pence/copy. Depending on property types, our current team of people average between 100-150 copies/hour (equivalent to £6-£9/hour). Magazines are delivered to T The h e Loc Lo c al al ANS Distributors’ homes towards the A NS WER WER end of each month and we expect deliveries to be completed within four days between the hours of 7am and 9pm. You must be 13+ years old, flexible, reliable and sufficiently physically fit to perform the GLOUC G LOUCEESTER STER duties.
Offering single en-suite bedrooms for up to 36 residents
GLOUCESTERSHIRE G LOUCESTERSHIRE’’S S BIGGEST B IGGEST LLOCAL OCAL MAGAZINE MA AGAZINE DECEMBER DECEMBER 2019 2019
AV VERY ERY M MERRY ERRY C CHRISTMAS HRISTMAS TTO OA ALL LL
O OUR UR R READERS EADERS A AND ND C CLIENTS! LIENTS!
For details email John – distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk
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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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E Education ducation & E Employment mployment w with ith H Holly olly P Prince rince
Taking T aking a break… break… then th e n getting getting back back into into it it Winter is the time of year when the energies of nature slow down – trees shed their leaves to conserve energy and animals prepare for hibernation. But we as humans have such busy lives that it seems we’re on the go, non-stop, whatever season it is! With Christmas coming and the year drawing to a close, it is a good opportunity to pause and take rest. However, we may find that after our usual activities are put on hold for a week or two, it can be hard to get started up again when ‘normal life’ resumes in the New Year.
Remind R emind y yourself ourself w why hy y you ou sstarted tarted If you started a course in September, you may find you are losing interest or drive. If this is the case, remind yourself why you started the course in
the first place; remember the aspects that inspired your enthusiasm in the beginning and consider your long-term goals – what you want to get out of it. Also, doing a course is not just about learning the subject; it also teaches you skills such as problem-solving and perseverance – which can be useful in any area of life. Alternatively, you may be looking forward to a ‘fresh start’ in the New Year, which could include starting a course or seeking new employment. When Christmas is out of the way, the New Year is a good time to set in motion things you want to achieve over the upcoming 12 months ahead. Instead of setting New Year’s Resolutions, maybe set goals around personal or professional development, with a view to doing some training in order to increase your skillset,
enhance your abilities in a certain area, or perhaps to start your own business. In terms of working life, you may find it an effort to get up on time in the mornings if you’ve been enjoying lie-ins over the festive break. To make it a bit easier, aim to get up a little bit earlier each day on the few days before you have to go back to work, so that it’s not such a shock to the system.
F Focus ocus o on n tthe he p positive ositive a aspects spects o off y your our jjob ob If you’re not much looking forward to going back to work, focus on the positive aspects of your job – these may include being part of a team, or chatting with your colleagues, getting back into a routine and regaining structure to your days, or having a reason to get out of the house and away from family if you’ve been under each other’s feet too much over the holidays! It’s good to take a break over the festive period so that we can then be ready to emerge into the New Year and increase our activities once more as the energies rise towards spring! Happy Holidays!
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Holidays H olidays & Travel Travel w with ith A All H Hidden idden
Have Have a happy happy Christmas C hristmas iin n Adelaide Adelaide We started the year Down Under in Australia, facing the impossible challenge of mentioning every wonderful destination that Oz offers in just 400 words. So now, for our Christmas column, let’s end 2019 by celebrating Christmas in Australia. But not with that oh-so-predictable Christmas dinner on Sydney’s Bondi beach. Instead, we head 724 miles (1165km) east to Adelaide, South Australia’s magnificent coastal capital – a glittering jewel (or in this case a ‘Christmas bauble’) on the St Vincent Gulf.
Seasonal Seasonal a attractions ttractions aplenty a plenty As Australia’s fifth-largest city, Adelaide is a four-season joy with its vibrant Central Market, many churches, revitalising Himeji Garden, hikes up Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty, and seaside Glenelg’s breathtaking coastal views. Now add some seasonal attractions and see why Adelaideans c laim to do Christmas better than anyone else in Australia.
Start with the giant Christmas tree in Victoria Square and Grote Street’s towering Santa Claus. Don’t miss myriad Christmas lights in the mesmerising displays at Westminster School, Lobethal and Ninth Avenue either. Or the warm Christmas welcome at supercool Ebenezer Night Market. What about something completely different when other attractions are closed on Christmas Day? You could always head for Adela ide Zoo near the Karrawirra Parri (River Torrens) river to celebrate with its giant panda, Sumatran tigers, adorable penguins and mischievous white-cheeked gibbons – hang onto your crackers!
Christmas C hristmas dinner, dinner, Adelaide-style A delaide-style Feeling hungry? As well as checking out Adelaide’s acclaimed fine dining scene, you’ll want to sample all-yearround treats such as Kitchener Buns, late-night pie floaters or North Adelaide’s enigmaticallynamed ‘AB’ – South Australia’s
Picture: playandgo.com.au
answer, perhaps, to Canada’s poutine? Then, come the big day, savour a traditional Christmas lunch al fresco with friends and family. Make sure to book early before celebrating in style at a classy city restaurant such as the Rob Roy Hotel, Fullerton’s Arkaba or the stylish Stamford Grand on the beach in Glenelg. For a change of scene on Boxing Day, grab the leftover Christmas ham, a bottle of the Adelaide Hills’ finest (Adelaide is, arguably, Australia’s wine capital) and some Goodieson’s Christmas Ale. It’s the perfect recipe for a picnic at West Beach, in Elder Park or in the beckoning hills out east of town.
M Merry erry C Christmas hristmas everyone e veryone If you’re going Down Under, Adelaide really should be on your must-visit list. If not this Christmas, how about making a New Year’s resolution to celebrate Adelaide-style in 2020? Merry Christmas everyone!
Picture: www.adelaidezoo.com.au
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Give a little time and make a big difference Are you interested in becoming a Fosterer Cats Protection Gloucester & Cirencester Branch are looking for Fosterers. Give hope to local cats and kittens looking for their forever home. For more information please get in touch on 0345 260 3280 For further information please contact:
T: 0345 2603280 W: cats.org.uk/gloucester
Reg Charity 203644 (England and Wales) SC037711 (Scotland)
: GlosCatsProtection
Leaflet Leaflet Distribution Distribution • Delivering direct to over er Service Service 169,000 properties every ery m month onth •T Targeted argeted D Delivery elivery a across cross o our ur 5 500+ 00+ iindividual ndividual rrounds ounds •H Hassle-free assle-free S Storage torage and and Delivery Delivery (we (we accept accept d delivery elivery o off yyour our lleaflets eaflets d direct irect ffrom rom p printing rinting ccompanies) ompanies)
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F For or m more ore d details etails e email mail JJohn ohn a att lleaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk eaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk or or call call
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Wildlife Wildlife Matters Matters with w ith H Helen elen K Kingscott ingscott
Aw winter inter p project roject for for wildlife wildlife I have wanted an insect house in my garden for a while, so back in March I persuaded my husband to build one for me – well, two actually! They were really easy to make and I’ve enjoyed filling them with all kinds of materials to encourage wildlife to make themselves a home. I have been really surprised by how many people have commented on them as they walk past my garden, and most have asked to take a picture so they can make one themselves. So I decided to show you how I did it. The image on the right shows the nearly finished house (I am still filling some of the gaps) and you can find the rest of the photos online with instructions of how the y were made. I have also made a couple of natural hedgehog houses and, although I haven’t checked as I don’t want to disturb them, I hope my hedgehogs are fast asleep. I’ve also written an article about this, which you can find on our website.
H Hibernating ibernating species species Lots of people think squirrels hibernate, but they don’t. They just stay in their cosy beds and sleep for 18-20 hours a day, only popping out to eat some of the food they have buried for a rainy day. They will have grown a thicker coat and wrap their fluffy tails around them when they go to sleep. New queen bumblebees ‘hibernate’ alone underground or in long grass, with their vital fat stores helping them survive the winter. Come the spring, the warmer temperatures wake the queens and they seek nectar The Local Answer
to feed on before finding a suitable nest site for the year. This is why it is good to plant crocus, snowdrops, hyacinth and primroses for them to feed on when they wake. Solitary bees look for hollow stems or little holes in wood or bamboo canes, as you’ll see in my insect houses. Look at my pictures online to see them creating a winter home to lay their eggs. Toads, frogs and newts will usually leave their ponds to ‘hibernate’ in the winter. They love rockeries, woodpiles, compost heaps, old plant pots and greenhouses – they make you jump when you go to clean it out in the spring! If you read my ‘how to make an i nsect h ouse’ article, it explains about frogs using the gap under the pallets, where I’ve put old house tiles/slates for them to crawl beneath. If you have a deep pond they may also sleep on the bottom. Try not to tidy your garden too much this winter, as you will be removing most of the To advertise call 01242 510500
shelter for wildlife and leaving overwintering invertebrates homeless. So leave seed heads on your alliums, teasels, sea holly, echinops, and any hollow standing plant stems.
Hiding Hiding p places laces a and nd ffood ood for for beneficial beneficial insects insects Ladybirds, lacewings and wasps will wait out the winter under loose bark on logs, piles of stones and twigs. Leaf litter is mulch that also provides hiding places and food for beneficial insects like ground beetles, centipedes, millipedes and spiders. Eventually, the worms will drag the mulch down from the surface and eat it, enriching the soil. guide to to full sstep-by-step tep-by-step guide A full making your own house making y our o wn insect insect h ouse can be our can b e found found on on o ur website. website. V Visit isit www.thelocalanswer.co.uk www.thelocalanswer.co.uk and and h head ead tto o tthe he Pets Pets & Wildlife Wildlife category category iin n tthe he N News, ews, A Articles rticles & Reviews Reviews section. section. If you create one yourself, please send us your photos – admin@thelocalanswer.co.uk Page 21
Mirror Mirror Mirror Mirror on on tthe he Wall Wall w with ith V Val al S Starr tarr
H Holiday oliday season season fragrances fragrances Tis the season and no doubt many of us will be thinking that fragrance will make a perfect gift for that special person this Christmas. This is usually a safe bet and wellreceived. However this market has changed beyond recognition over the years, so before you spend your hard earned cash, read on about some fabulous innovative new ideas in the fragrance market.
Spray perfume perfume Spray Spray perfurme is the ‘norm’ and will remain a firm favourite for years to come, but this method has some downsides. Generally you spritz at home or the office and cannot carry a bottle around all day for obvious reasons. Why not consider Lancôme, the well known cosmetic range that has invented the world’s thinnest perfume spritz bottle at 15mm thick. It is called Idôle and comes in an elegant rose gold container, which you can purchase in
three sizes – 25ml, 50ml or 75ml. Most of the major department stores carry this range, so why not pop in and ask to sample it?
Solid S olid p perfume erfume T h i s w a s p o p u l a r m an y y e a r s ago and has made a resurgence in recent times, as it is easy to carry and apply when you have the desire to do so. Solid perfume is interesting as it smells different on each individual owing to the PH balance of our skin. Famed for her candles, Jo Malone has created a delightful range of solid scents, in what looks like a stylish mini coaster, at £14. The beauty of this is it’s great for those on the go – you can slip it into your handbag or pocket, with no need to worry about spillage. I like to pop mine into a drawer as I do with candles before I use them; the fragrance gently infuses my items.
Perfume P erfume p powder owder Armani has produced an elegant powdered perfume called Sì, which looks like a small compact. It’s another alternative that is easy to transport and dab on throughout the day or evening. At £35, it is certainly an unusual perfume idea for those who like to be different!
Perfume Perfume p pen en There are even perfume pens nowadays – Scent Republik have produced a range of fragrance pens for a reasonable £12.50. You apply the felt tip pen as little or as much as you want, Page 22
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and with over 600 applications per pen, this product will last you well. Just slip it in your pocket or purse to use as and when you need.
Shay S hay & Blue Blue Shay & Blue is a UK based brand focusing on being ‘real’ and authentic. Their fragrances are handmade from start to finish, and in a short period of time they have won several prestigious awards. The perfumes are unisex, vegan and cruelty free, bringing a contemporary twist to artisan fragrance. Each item is beautifully packaged and, although not cheap, you certainly get what you pay for. They have a beautiful box of their five top favourites in small travel sizes for £75, which would make an exquisite present. Also, their Kings Wood fragrance for men is a rich, woody, leathery aroma, and comes in impressive brown and gold packaging. Another great gift idea this Christmas.
Happy H ap a ppy Holidays Holliida ay ys to to all! alllll! a The Local Answer
What s 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. 12 OCTOBER – 18 APRIL THE MAGICAL WORLD OF WILLIAM SIMMONDS An exhibition on the life and work of local artist, woodcarver and puppeteer William Simmonds. 10am-5pm Monday to Saturday. £5/£3. Museum of Gloucester, Brunswick Road, GL1 1HP. museumofgloucester.co.uk 22 OCTOBER – 22 DECEMBER 2019 BRITISH WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS See images from this year’s British Wildlife Photography Awards following its launch in London earlier this year. 10am-5pm every day. Nature in Art, Wallsworth Hall, Sandhurst, GL2 9PA. www.natureinart.org.uk 9 NOVEMBER – 22 FEBRUARY A GLOSTER BOY ABROAD An exhibition of local boy Alfred Henry Hook, by acclaimed local historian L. P. Barnett in celebration of the 140th anniversary of the Battle of Rorke’s Drift. £5, £3 concessions. Museum of Gloucester, Brunswick Road, GL1 1HP. www.museumofgloucester.co.uk 23 NOVEMBER – 23 DECEMBER CHRISTMAS ON THE FARM Father Christmas and his elves will be at Cotswold Farm Park to help visiting children create a Christmas Eve Box, and pick a present from the Toy Room. Selected dates. Cotswold Farm Park, Guiting Power, Cheltenham, GL54 5FL. www.cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk 23 NOVEMBER – 24 DECEMBER SANTA’S FARMYARD GROTTO Meet the animals in the animal experience centre and take a festive
tractor ride to visit Santa in his Farmyard Grotto. Adults and children £8.50, toddlers and concessions £7.50. Cattle Country Adventure Park, Berkeley, GL13 9EW. www.cattlecountry.co.uk 29 NOVEMBER – 22 DECEMBER ENCHANTED CHRISTMAS Voted number one last year as Britain’s Favourite Christmas Light Display, see an all new illuminated woodland trail at Westonbirt Arboretum along with their Christmas village. The National Arboretum, Westonbirt, Tetbury, GL8 8QS. forestryengland.uk/westonbirt 30 NOVEMBER – 24 DECEMBER SANTA SPECIALS Travel from either Toddington station on a 1960s diesel train or from Cheltenham Racecourse on a steam train, and meet Santa and his elves. £16/£17. Full details at www.gwsr.com 30 NOVEMBER – 5 JANUARY THE BIG BATSFORD ELF HUNT Santa’s helpers have gone missing around the arboretum and if you can help find them all, you win a special Christmas prize! Normal admission applies. Batsford Arboretum, Moretonin-Marsh, GL56 9QB. www.batsarb.co.uk 3-10 DECEMBER THE BIG GIVE CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE For seven days, all donations to Cobalt through www.thebiggive.org.uk will be DOUBLED making a fantastic £50,000 available to support Cobalt’s Breast Cancer Research Nurses. From 12 noon on the 3rd to 12 noon on the 10th. 4 DECEMBER CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS Performances by St Peter’s Primary
School Choir, Sophia Guarino, Tewkesbury Town Band and the Instruments of Praise Gospel Choir, and a reflection by Johan Ackermann. 7.30pm. £1-£5. St Peter’s Church, 17 London Road, Gloucester, GL1 3EX. www.piedpiperappeal.co.uk 5-8 DECEMBER CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL Come and see the beautifully decorated Christmas trees at Hucclecote Methodist Church, Carisbrooke Road from 2-6pm. Following the theme Celebrating Christmas, decorations have been handmade by the Church Family. Refreshments served. All welcome. 6 DECEMBER – 4 JANUARY PINOCCHIO A magical adaptation of the classic tale of Pinocchio, with live music, song and puppetry. £8-£15. Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, GL1 1NS. Full details: gloucesterguildhall.co.uk 7-13 DECEMBER CRIB FESTIVAL Come and see a variety of Nativity Crib scenes in our church. Open daily 10am-4pm. Holy Trinity Church, Longlevens. GL2 0AJ. Queries to Trinity Hub on 01452 307871. 7-23 DECEMBER STORIES WITH SANTA Santa will be onboard a barge at the National Waterways Museum, telling stories and giving away presents. Selected dates and times. £10. National Waterways Museum, The Docks, Gloucester, GL1 2EH. www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/Gloucester
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DOWN DOWN 1 Restricts movement (4,4) 2 Perches 3 Globule 4 Wise 5 Bomber attack (3,4) 6 Rim 10 Less moist 11 Short break 13 Plague 14 West Indies island 16 Menservants 18 Male heirs 19 Tripped over 20 Dusting powder
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WIN W IN T TICKETS! ICKETS! c courtesy ourtesy of of The The Bacon Bacon Theatre Theatre
Win tickets to see the Flowers Band’s ‘A Christmas Celebration’ at the Bacon Theatre on Sunday 15th December at 3pm! Celebrate Christmas with Flowers, the West of England’s No 1 brass band, and their special guests, the Cheltenham based Beauregard Youth Choir. Get into the Christmas spirit and enjoy a host of Christmas classics and seasonal favourites. Tickets cost £12 (£8) and can be booked by calling the box office on 01242 258002 or online at www.bacontheatre.co.uk To enter our draw to win a pair of tickets, send your name, address and telephone number to ‘Flowers Band’, The Local Answer, Unit H, Churchill Industrial Estate, Churchill Road, Leckhampton, Cheltenham, GL53 7EG. Alternatively, send your details stating ‘Flowers Band’ to competitions@thelocalanswer.co.uk Closing Closing date: date: Thursday Thursday 5th 5th December December 2019. 2019. 7 DECEMBER DECEMBER HANDEL – MESSIAH Performed by Gloucester Choral Society, this concert tells the story of Jesus from prophecies of his coming to his birth, Passion, resurrection and glorification in Heaven. 7pm. £10-£25. Gloucester Cathedral, 12 College Green, GL1 2LX. www.gloucesterchoral.com THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS Rain or Shine Theatre present their fast paced comic retelling of the classic tale The Wind in the Willows. 7pm. £7-£11. St Barnabas Church Hall, Stroud Road, Gloucester, GL1 5LJ. www.rainorshine.co.uk 8 DECEMBER DECEMBER VEGAN CHRISTMAS MARKET The third Gloucester Vegan Christmas Market returns with vegan and cruelty free food, drinks and gifts and Santa’s Grotto. 11am-3pm. £2 entry, u16s free. Blackfriars, Gloucester GL1 2HS. facebook.com/veganeventsglos CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA Hosted by James Hopkins Trust. An array of stalls selling gifts for Christmas, games for both adults and children, Santa and some other exciting visitors. 1-5pm. GL2 9QA. Hatherley Manor Hotel and Spa, Gloucester, GL2 9QA. www.jameshopkinstrust.org.uk
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1111 DECEMBER DECEMBER RUZZ GUITAR’S BLUES REVUE Ruzz Guitar’s Blues Revue return to Cafe Rene with their blend of blues and rock ‘n’ roll. 9-11pm. Free entry. Café Rene, 31 Southgate Street, Gloucester, GL1 1TP. caferene.co.uk 1133 DECEMBER DECEMBER CHARITY QUIZ NIGHT In aid of the Pied Piper Appeal, there will be a prize on offer for the winning team. 7.30-10.30pm. £10 per table. The Ridge and Furrow, 20 Glevum Way, Abbeydale, Gloucester, GL4 4BL. www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ acornrecruitmentgloucester MAGIC LANTERN CHRISTMAS SHOW Experience traditional Victorian entertainment with this seasonal magic lantern show. 3pm-4.30pm. £7.50. Llanthony Secunda Priory, Priory Junction, Gloucester, GL2 5FA.www.llanthonysecunda.org 14 14 DECEMBER DECEMBER CHRISTMAS CAROLS AND MARKET Carols will be sung on the hour by Choirs of the Cathedral, with a festive market offering an array of gift ideas. Carols begin at 11am, market open from 10am to 4pm. Free entry. Gloucester Cathedral, College Green, GL1 2LX. gloucestercathedral.org.uk
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FUNHOUSE COMEDY CLUB Featuring some of the best stand up comedians on the local and national circuit, hosted by Gloucester’s own Nik Hill. 7-11pm. £10. Gloucester Brewery, West Quay, The Docks, GL1 2LG. gloucesterbrewery.co.uk CHRISTMAS MOVIE AFTERNOON Enjoy a free afternoon of Christmas films including The Grinch (2018) and Elf. 2pm-6pm. Free entry, pre-booking required. Hucclecote Community Association, Hucclecote Road, GL3 3RT. Email hca@care4free.net to book. TEDDY BEAR WORKSHOP AT REGENT ARCADE
Join the Elves in the Teddy Bear workshop. Your little ones will enjoy a fun filled session with dance and play, before getting to stuff and fluff their very own bear! With a birth certificate in hand, each child will get to take home their teddy. Free event. Registration required – visit regentarcade.co.uk
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17 DECEMBER CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION An evening of festive songs and carols to celebrate the Christmas season with the Heart of Gloucester Community Choir. 7pm. £6.50. Nature in Art, Wallsworth Hall, Sandhurst, Gloucester, GL2 9PA. natureinart.org.uk SING ALONG CHRISTMAS CAROLS Join in with all your favourite Christmas Carols with music provided by the Forest of Dean Brass. All proceeds will be donated to local charities Young Gloucestershire and Gloucestershire Young Carers. £6. 7.15-9.30pm. Blackfriars Priory, Gloucester, GL1 2HJ. 17 & 21 DECEMBER ROH THE NUTCRACKER A screening of The Royal Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker from the Royal Opera House. £15-£12.50. Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, GL1 1NS. Full details at gloucesterguildhall.co.uk 18-21 DECEMBER SLEEPING BEAUTY A take on the classic pantomime presented by one of Gloucester’s longest running theatre groups, The Crown Players. 7.30pm all nights, plus 2.30pm matinee Saturday. £5-£10. The Kings Theatre, Kingsbarton Street,
Gloucester, GL1 1QX. www.kingstheatregloucester.co.uk 20 DECEMBER CHRISTMAS PARTY NIGHT A delicious three course traditional Christmas dinner, live music from the band 4 On The Floor and a fully stocked and festive decorated bar. 7pm. £35. Hillside Brewery, Holly Bush Farm, Ross Road, GL17 0NG. www.hillsidebrewery.com 26 DECEMBER CAROLS FOR ALL Join the Gloucester Choral Society for a concert featuring traditional and modern carols. 3pm. Free entry. Gloucester Cathedral, 12 College Green, GL1 2LX. www.gloucesterchoral.com 31 DECEMBER NEW YEAR’S EVE AT TANK Welcome in the ‘Roaring 20s’ with a Great Gatsby inspired New Year’s Eve party, with entertainment from Rob McEwan. 7pm. £15-£20. Gloucester Brewery, Fox’s Kiln, West Quay, Gloucester, GL1 2LG. www.gloucesterbrewery.co.uk NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY Welcome 2020 in style with our New Year’s Eve party with champagne and canapés on arrival, a five course dinner, live music from The De La
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Bere Court and fireworks. 7pm. £150. Ellenborough Park, Southam Road, GL52 3NJ. Call 01242 545454 or email info@ellenboroughpark.com 31 DECEMBER – 3 JANUARY CHRISTMAS CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES AT NATURE IN ART Encourage your children’s creativity with a range of art sessions including Firework Salt Painting and mosaics. 10.30am-4pm. £6, pre-booking required. Nature in Art, Wallsworth Hall, Sandhurst, GL2 9PA. www.discoveryzone.org.uk 2-12 JANUARY CHRISTMAS CARDS AND STAMP RECYCLING Save those Christmas cards for recycling and all your used stamps, and bring them along to medical charity Cobalt at Linton House, Thirlestaine Road, Cheltenham, GL53 7AS. Don’t forget we accept greetings cards all year round! 10-11 JANUARY UNDER THE GREENWOOD TREE An adaptation by Hammerpuzzle theatre company based on the classic novel by Thomas Hardy. Friday 7.30pm, Saturday 2.30pm. £9-£10.50. The Kings Theatre, Kingsbarton Street, Gloucester, GL1 1QX. www.kingstheatregloucester.co.uk
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Entertainment E ntertainment
IIff you you hhave ave a sstory tory ttoo share, share, pplease lease eemail mail ffull ull ddetails etails tto o TTom. om. with with Tom Tom Hadfield Hadfield ‒ entertainment@thelocalanswer.co.uk entertainment@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Choral Choral society society rready eady ffor or ffestive estive shows shows With the festive season now well underway, one of the county’s oldest and most popular choirs are preparing for a busy schedule. The Gloucester Choral Society (GCS) have two events coming up in December and are also preparing for what is set to be a landmark anniversary year in 2020. The group, which performs at Gloucester Cathedral, is made up of around 150 amateur singers. “There are people of all different ages and backgrounds involved,” said Hamish Charters, marketing manager and member of the Choral Society. “Some of us have previously sung in cathedral choirs here and elsewhere, but we all just have a love for singing.” GCS was originally formed in 1845 and will be celebrating 175
The Gloucester Choral Society. Photo: Michael Whitefoot
years with a special concert in May of next year. But before they even begin to think about rehearsing for that performance, the society has two events in the near future which will require their full attention. On Saturday 7th December they will be performing
FFilm ilm Review Review – Joe Joe K Kennett ennett
Handel’s ‘Messiah’, and Hamish says the concert is always a popular one. “We perform this most years and it’s often a sell out,” he continued. “It’s a really nice way to bring in Christmas and it coincides with Advent.” Following this performance the choir will be holding their annual ‘Carols for All’ on Boxing Day. “We do this concert in aid of a charity every year,” said Hamish. “It’s always good fun, we do traditional and more lighthearted carols and the audience is encouraged to sing. “Everyone wears Christmas jumpers and reindeer ears, and it’s always very popular so you have to get there early even with a Christmas hangover!” Full story online.
Book Book Review Review – Aloÿse Aloÿse of of Daylesford Daylesford Book Book Club Club
Terminator: T erminator: Dark Dark Fate Fate
The T he Winter Winter Soldier Soldier
Set in the original timeline of ‘Terminator’ and ‘Terminator 2: Judgement Day’, the sixth instalment in the franchise restores faith in what was once such an epic saga of films. We return to Sarah Connor’s (Linda Hamilton) storyline some 18 years since we last saw the iconic heroine, but it’s clear she hasn’t forgotten her roots. Connor makes a dramatic return looking as badass as ever, but the machines have, of course, become more advanced than ever before. Where previous films in the franchise have fallen flat, ‘Dark Fate’ excels, bringing to screens a story which emanates with the original plot. Newbies Dani (Natalia Reyes) and Grace (Mackenzie Davis) bring fresh energy alongside the original stars Arnold Schwarzenegger. of the saga. Photo: Paramount Pictures Full review online.
by Daniel Mason It is easy to forget the Eastern Front of the First World War but this novel describes in great detail the agony of war in this region. Lucius is a young medical student of Polish extraction living in Vienna with his prominent family. He decides to enlist as a medical officer but realises when he arrives at the field hospital that he is illequipped to deal with the wounded he finds there. Sister Margarete, a young nun, is his saviour. She teaches him how to be a battlefield surgeon and as time goes on their relationship blossoms. Interwoven with this narrative are insights into the anomalies of war in 1914. There is dry humour, the writing is beautiful, the detail sometimes hard to take, but the author doesn’t dwell on it. Full review online.
Above Above is is a selection selection ffrom rom local local entertainment entertainment stories stories available available online online ... ...
A Art rt • E Events vents • E Experiences xperiences • F Film ilm • L Lifestyle ifestyle L Literature iterature • M Music usic • R Reviews eviews • T Theatre heatre • T TV V
C Crown rown Players Players b bring ring p panto anto tto oG Gloucester loucester The Crown Players are one of Gloucester’s longest running amateur dramatic groups. Founded in 1956, the group is based at The Kings Theatre in Gloucester and puts on three productions each year. Every other year the company marks the festive period with a pantomime, and this year will be bringing their take on a classic to the stage. “Our next production is Sleeping Beauty which I have written and am directing,” said longstanding member Joy Davis. “We have a great cast who are working very hard to bring everything together for a fantastic show.” Joy has been a Gloucester local all her life, and has been involved in theatre for over 40 years, in acting, directing and writing roles. “Originally we were called St
The Crown Players will present Sleeping Beauty at The Kings Theatre
Barnabas Players as we were located in St Barnabas Church Hall in Tuffley,” she continued. “We have approximately 2530 members of all ages, and we do a range of plays but mostly comedy.” The Players will be bringing
‘Sleeping Beauty’ to The Kings Theatre from Wednesday 18th to Saturday 21st December, with a Saturday matinee performance at 2.30pm. Rehearsals began at the end of September and Joy says they have been going very well. “The cast are still laughing at the jokes and antics and we are having fun in rehearsal. “There are quite a few differences when preparing for panto, as the group is much bigger and we rarely get a full cast to rehearsals until nearer the performances. “Personally pantomime is my favourite as it appeals to my sense of humour. The songs we do in the panto are modern songs with the words rewritten by my husband Simon, so that the songs carry the story onwards.” Full story online.
Emi E mi McDade McDade o on n a ffun-packed un-packed year year Emi McDade is a singersongwriter who has had a very busy year. The founder of the popular monthly Limelight Sessions at Gloucester Guildhall, which see musicians from all over the country come to perform in the city, Emi says the success of the nights has been a really pleasant surprise. “They’ve been really lovely performances with plenty of special moments,” she said. “We’ve got a growing core of audiences who come to every show.” The idea for the Limelight Sessions came to Emi as she herself was travelling around the country doing gigs. She wanted to bring more music into her home city, and set out to organise the gigs,
Emi McDade
despite her self-confessed lack of experience behind the scenes. “There’s been some learning curves,” she continued, “but I’ve been so pleased with how smoothly they’ve all gone.” Emi has also been doing plenty of performing this year. She recently supported folk duo The Black Feathers at
Bingham Hall in their hometown of Cirencester, as well as plenty of other private and public gigs throughout the year. She has been performing since she was a teenager and started writing music after being metaphorically thrown in at the deep end. “I was in a choir called ‘Rock Choir’ when I was 14,” she explained. “We did all sorts of covers from 80s music to modern day stuff. “One day our conductor decided he wanted us to do some original songs, and delegated me the job of writing a song. “I’d never done it before and I was given until the next week to come up with something, and somehow I did!” Full story online.
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Wafting Wafting around around the the Cotswolds Cotswolds Cullinan iin naC ullinan Time for a big one. And not just in terms of price, but the sheer scale of this car. I was surprised when Rolls Royce announced they were building an SUV because it didn’t quite seem to make sense for the brand. But I’ve thought that before and been proven wrong, so when I was invited to a test drive event, I went with an open mind. I should highlight that this article isn’t headed with a price – partly because I had no indication of how much the model I drove was, and partly because it’s not as simple as taking the list price and adding extras. You see, you don’t order a Rolls Royce; you commission it. They don’t come with a list of options; you tell them what you’d like and they build it. That said, they start at £264,000, so it’s safe to assume that this press demonstrator was probably close to £400,000, but once you’ve passed a quarter of a million you kind of stop counting! But on to the car… can Rolls Royce, the maker that brought us the true definition of luxury, handle the concept of driving The Local Answer
off road? This is a manufacturer that includes decanters and champagne flutes in its vehicles for the incredibly discerning owners – surely one cannot sip a glass of bubbly while ‘Parker’ negotiates the Cotswolds’ green lanes? Actually, with the pillow-like suspension as good as it is, I suspect you could. But I also think this is a Rolls that will be driven more by its owner than a chauffeur, so that’s probably not so relevant. On to the design elements…
R Refinements efinements a and nd g gadgets adgets What do you get for a quarter of a million in terms of refinements and gadgets? Put simply: a lot, so I’m going to pick up on a few of the more unusual. Let’s start with the doors – they entirely encase the door sills, so the sills stay clean and dry even through the worst the muddy, wet English countryside can throw at it. So, when you reach your destination and open the door, there’s no risk of getting mud on your trousers as you get out. Nice touch. What if it’s raining when you get out? There are umbrellas To advertise call 01242 510500
housed in the door frame, and the holster for the umbrella is heated so that if you put it back in still wet, the warm air will dry it before you use it again. One other thing I’ll mention is the gearbox, which is connected to the sat nav. Seems odd? It’s so that the automatic gearbox ‘knows’ if there’s a hill coming up and can change gear before the engine is required to waft the car up the incline, ensuring the smoothest of rides for the driver and occupants. Overkill? Perhaps, but also something I’d expect from the designers at Rolls Royce. Overall I was impressed with the Cullinan. Yes, it’s huge, yes it’s powerful – the 6.7 litre V12 delivers around 560bhp – but when you’re driving, it doesn’t seem massive. Large, but manageable – even on narrow Cotswolds B roads. Luxurious, powerful, massive and deceptively quiet. But that price tag is immense, and I’m not convinced you get any more for your money than you would from a Range Rover – other than the prestige, and you get a lot of that from the Cullinan. Page 5
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IIn n tthe he Garden Garden w ith JJulia ulia S mith with Smith
Be Be inspired inspired by by your your g garden arden tthis his ffestive estive season season As we get closer to the big day, make sure your garden doesn’t look like ‘The Nightmare before Christmas’ this year! I know it gets dark early and sometimes the weather is not conducive to being outside for long, but it is nice to look out and see something a bit cheerful. You can dress up your garden for the festive season by putting outdoor fairy lights in trees, which can be seen from the house, and hanging homemade wreaths in prominent places. Don’t forget the birds either – tie up a tasty fat ball or seed feeder to keep them happy through the colder months (remember to take off any netting).
Turn T urn to to nature nature for for your your hristmas d C Christmas decorations ecorations Dress the house with stems from the garden, using the bare twisted branches of corkscrew hazel or willow for a vase. Use the red or yellow stems of Cornus (dogwood) or Salix (willow), which can be used inside or, alternatively, pushed into pots outside to add height to flowering displays. The RHS do this in their gardens and it looks very effective. The long rope-like stems of clematis can be used to fashion a front door wreath. Use florist wire to add sprigs of holly or other items like dried Hydrangea heads, cones, etc. Add a tartan bow and there you have it – much nicer than those you can buy from the shop, and cheaper! The Local Answer
G ifts ffor or g ardeners Gifts gardeners If you have a gardener for whom you wish to buy a gift, a book is always welcomed. Some books I have really enjoyed and found useful include the RHS ‘Propagating Plants’ by Alan Toogood – easy to read and lovely clear illustrations on how to get plants for nothing – and ‘The Well-Tended Perennial Garden’ by Tracy Disabato-Aust – also very informative with plenty of advice and tips. If you’re trying to think of stocking fillers for the gardener in your life, labels and twine always come in handy.
Look L ook a after fter h houseplants ouseplants Check all houseplants regularly as the light levels reduce. To advertise call 01242 510500
Some might have to be moved to somewhere a little brighter, especially those with variegated leaves. Houseplants don’t like fluctuations in temperature, so keep them away from radiators and fires (not easy in a small house) and away from windows where the nighttime temperature can fall dramatically. They do like being grouped together as they make a microclimate to benefit each other. Now is a good time to plant new rhubarb (now there is a gift idea for the person who has everything!) and to divide large clumps. Replant in enriched soil and wait for the plant to take off in spring.
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IInterior nterior D Design esign w with ith G Gill ill G Greenwell reenwell
Dress Dress yyour our table table ffor or Christmas Christmas I am always inspired by the Cheltenham Literature Festival, and this year I was lucky enough to hear Nina Campbell, doyen of interior design, talking about her life in design and her love of ‘tabletops’. Listening to her made me think of how I create a dining table. It really doesn’t have to be time consuming or expensive to be stylish. If, like me, Christmas is a very special time for you when friends and family come together, there is nothing more fun than setting the table for Christmas dinner. Make yours a focal point and dine in style this festive season.
Set S et tthe he m mood ood Start by picking a theme, be it Scandi simplicity, traditional, glamorous or country style – use Instagram or Pinterest for inspiration. Follow through with your table colour scheme – white and pale, red and green, silver and gold, green and natural – it’s up to you. Buy proper napkins if possible, as they do make a difference. A friend bought some beautiful white Irish damask linen ones especially for Christmas – they look so chic tied with silver ribbon.
The T he p perfect erfect ccentrepiece entrepiece I always make my own table centre. A florist friend showed me how and it really isn’t difficult – you just need a plant pot painted to match your scheme, some Oasis, moss and a votive candle. Gather foliage from your garden, sprigs of evergreen like ivy or holly. Add flowers to match your chosen theme (I love simple white roses with lots of The Local Answer
Image: Daylesford
greenery) or nuts and fruits sprayed silver or gold. Get creative!
Add Add some some sparkle sparkle Coloured glasses are a must for a Christmas table. I always remember the cranberry and emerald coloured wine glasses that came out every Christmas at my parent’s home. This year, bottle green glasses are trending, and champagne coupes are back. Gold edged wine glasses add a touch of glamour and mismatched antique ones add sparkle. You can find multicoloured drinking glasses at Habitat. I have swirly white and green ones from Daylesford, or check out your local supermarket or charity shop.
Create C reate an an atmosphere atmosphere Candlelight always creates a magical glow; candelabra are having a bit of a moment, especially for a contemporary To advertise call 01242 510500
Scandi style setting. Tealights in silvery holders add glamour – The White Company is a good source for these. Their black dinner candlesticks would make a real style statement matched with all white tableware and simple greenery.
A Add dd a p personal ersonal ttouch ouch Why not put a smile on your guests’ faces with an element of surprise? It is those individual elements that make a difference. Search out quirky napkin rings, little birds or reindeer are fun. Personalise place settings with hand-written place names and napkins wrapped with simple twine and sprigs of herbs, or make your own colour-themed crackers. Make your Christmas Day this year an occasion to remember. Don’t forget to take some time out for yourself to enjoy that festive glass of bubbly – you deserve it! Page 4
QUALITY KITCHEN Q UALITY K ITCHEN MAKEOVERS M AKEOVERS b byy ssimply imply rreplacing eplacing tthe he d doors oors a and nd w worktops orktops
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S Save ave the the P Planet lanet with w ith L Louise ouise W Williams illiams
H How ow to to have have a lless ess Christmas iimpactful mpactful C hristmas Christmas is a time for celebrating and joy, but it can also be a time when our usual planet-friendly tendencies go out of the window in the name of tradition. Here are some tips for you to limit your impact on the planet this festive season.
Have a p Have pre-Christmas re-Christmas cclear lear o ut out Not only will this leave you space for all the new things coming in (parents particularly will know what I mean!), but your unwanted items might make the perfect Christmas gift for someone else. Also, charity shops are often overwhelmed after Christmas and temporarily stop taking donations, so items can end up going to landfill to create space.
Forgo F orgo tthe he p printed rinted w wrapping rapping p paper aper When I was a child my lovely Mum wrapped everything in brown paper and then decor-
ated it with stamps or sprigs of holly she’d painted gold. At the time I was horrified and longed for the patterned shiny paper I saw in the shops, but now I absolutely get it. You can’t recycle most wrapping papers and actually, her patterned brown paper looks so effective. Just don’t tell her I said that after all my years of moaning!
Make y Make your our own own ccrackers rackers This is another activity we used to do when I was young that I didn’t understand! We used to make our own decorated crackers filled with chocolates or little treats (not plastic) and make the bang noises ourselves. For the hats, we would have a competition after presents were opened to make them f r o m t h e d i s c a r d e d wr a p p i n g , with a prize for the most creative. We’d wear them for lunch, always a source of great hilarity when someone (usually my Dad!) made a g re a t b ig b on ne t th at d angled in his food!
Use U se tthose hose ttrimmings rimmings Start a compost bin if you don’t already have one and put all the Christmas veg peelings in to create fertiliser for your plants.
Source S ource y your our meat meat As a vegetarian, I am passionate about my husband and children choosing good meat (as they aren’t looking likely to join me anytime soon!) and ensuring that they have less, The Local Answer
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but better quality from animals that have at least had a good life.
Buy e Buy experiences xperiences iinstead nstead of of ‘things’ ‘things’ Sometimes I feel suffocated by the amount of ‘stuff ’ we have accumulated. Instead of buying yet more things that my children don’t need, we try and get a few nice but useful items to open – luckily, Santa always brings socks! Then we get something that will give us year round use, like a farm park ticket or just some family time with a weekend away somewhere.
Use U se public public transport transport We all know parking is a nightmare in towns at Christmas so it’s actually less stressful to ditch the car and, if possible, use public transport to do your Christmas shopping. Thank you for reading my column this year. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Page 45
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G Gadgets adgets & G Gizmos izmos w with ith L Laura aura N Nicklin icklin
IIt’s t’s the the most most wonderful wonderful ttech ech of of the the year year With busy jobs, family life and other obligations, it’s easy to put off Christmas shopping, especially when it seems like there is still so long to go. But, as always, time flies, and if you’re finding yourself in a festive conundrum, here are some gadgets you can gift your loved ones.
Anki A nki Vector Vector Smart Smart R Robot obot Menkind.co.uk: £119 Don’t be fooled by his adorable appearance; the Anki Vector Smart Robot is a fountain of knowledge, with built-in Amazon Alexa, so you can ask him anything. And not only does he answer your questions, but he communicates by creating a custom text-to-speech voice. Vector is self-aware, being able to react to his surroundings and move about with ease. He recognises objects and rememb ers peopl e too! Using his HD camera vision, Vector can identify faces. His impressive technological advances also include an Infrared Laser Scanner, WiFi connection and a High-Res Colour IPS Display. Vector can even hear and feel; he has a four-microphone The Local Answer
array for directional hearing, as well as touch sensors, so you can pet him. Introduce your family to Vector, the curious robot who is small but stout.
Kindle Kindle O Oasis asis Amazon: £299.99 This gizmo is a great gift idea for any bookworm, with a light, portable design that will save you from weighing down your bags with books. To aid your nighttime reading, the Kindle Oasis is equipped with an adjustable warm screen light, which ranges from paperwhite to amber. It is even waterproof, so if you’re jetting off for a tropical Christmas getaway, this gadget can tag along and not risk damage via the pool. Or, if you are staying at home and feeling the festive stress, why not have a relaxing read in the bath? This Kindle will help expand your personal library, with access to millions of books, audiobooks and newspapers, and can be paired with Bluetooth headphones or speakers.
To advertise call 01242 510500
Apple A pple W Watch atch Series Series 5 John Lewis: £339 The Apple Watch Series 5 GPS has it all: it lets you send and receive text messages, answer calls and receive notifications when it’s connected to your iPhone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. It tells you when you’ve started a workout and monitors your heart rate throughout the day. If it detects any unusually high or low heart rates, it will alert you. The built-in GPS measures your workout accurately, so you can leave your iPhone at home and review your route when you return. Distance, speed and pace are all accurately recorded. The Apple Watch Series 5 is also water-resistant for up to 50 metres, so you can even wear it when you swim.
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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 48
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interior int in erior needs neeeds
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We would We would like like to to wish w aall of our our ccustomers ustomers a vvery ery of Merry Merry C Christmas hristmas and New and a Happy Happy N ew Year! Year! Curtains Curtains
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Sandersons Romo Zoffany Prestigious Casadeco Bill Beaumont Warwick Hardy Villa Nova Harlequin xaflex James Brindley Silent Gliss Velux Blendworth
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20% off Fabric on M.T.M. orders 220% 0% ooff ff B Blinds linds Shutters 220% 0% ooff ff S hutters Lighting Mirrors 220% 0% ooff ff L ighting & M i r ro r s Tracks Poles 220% 0% ooff ff T racks & P oles Wallpaper 110% 0% ooff ff W allpaper
JANUARY SALE • JANUARY SALE
CHRISTMAS HRISTMAS
O Opening pening H Hours: ours: SSaturday aturday 221st, 1st, 10am-3pm 10am-3pm tthen hen Closed Closed until until Thursday Thursday 2nd 2nd January January Normal Normal Hours: Hours: Monday Monday Showroom Showroom closed closed ((open open bbyy aappointment ppointment oonly) nly)
TTues-Sat ues-Sat 110am-3pm 0am-3pm S unday C losed Sunday Closed
Sale starts 1st December 2019 until 31st January 2020 E Eastern astern A Avenue, venue, G Gloucester loucester G GL4 L4 3 3BU BU ((Next Next tto oT The he W Weavers eavers S Shop, hop, o opposite pposite S SMYTHS) MYTHS)
w www.interiorneeds.co.uk ww.interiorneeds.co.uk
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STEVEN Domestic and Industrial Skips
Money Money Matters Matters w with ith R Roger oger D Downes ownes o off A Andorran ndorran
C Contractors ontractors – ouch? ouch? Whilst the minds of politicians and most of the country were tied up with the UK’s exit from the EU and more recently the impending General Election, the government has been working away at changes to the tax rules for many of our small businesses. The widely-publicised change in 2019 was the introduction of Making Tax Digital for VAT. By now, VAT-registered businesses that are required to comply have filed two quarterly returns under the new system and are beginning to get used to life in the new technological world in which they are obliged to operate. So what will 2020 bring in terms of significant changes to the tax rules for small businesses? The answer is IR35 or ‘off-payroll working’ as it is now more correctly known. Many contractors operate through forming a limited company and selling their services through invoices to their customers rather than being on the customer’s payroll as an employee. Why would they do that? Well, for purely commercial reasons only of course (just in case anyone from HMRC is reading this article!). The fact that the customer doesn’t have to pay employers’ national insurance and the contractor gets some decent tax breaks are purely co-incidental benefits, you understand!
Taxing T axing contractors contractors as as if if they they were were employees e mployees
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HMRC has called time on this practice by requiring, from the start of next tax year, the ultimate customer to tax the contractor as if they were an employee, even if the contractor continues to submit invoices. It removes the tax breaks for both the customer and the contractor. As you can imagine, it doesn’t sit well with either the contractors or the customers, although there are a number of people who are unaffected by the change who think it’s about time. My issue with it is that we are four months away from its implementation and the government hasn’t even issued draft legislation yet, let alone got it through parliament. They are all too pre-occupied with the B word and now the election. It’s just another example of uncertainty in the world of small business.
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J Josh osh Lyons Lyons happy happy to to lead lead from from the the front front Josh Lyons is still only 23 but he has achieved plenty in his rugby life. For a start he is captain of Longlevens Rugby Club, the place that has been a second home to him since he first joined up as a 10-year-old. And he was part of the team that won the RFU Junior Vase back in 2014, beating Rugby Lions 23-12 in that never-to-be forgotten final at Twickenham. Lyons was just 18 on that memorable day at the home of English rugby, the greatest day in the club’s 63-year history. Ask him if he thinks he can better that afternoon in years to come, he answers: “We’ll see, hopefully, you never know.” This season has certainly begun well for Longlevens with the club challenging at the top of Gloucestershire Premier. Lyons is in his first season as
One One o off RFU’s RFU’s ttop op m men en As rugby résumés go, Nigel Gillingham’s is pretty impressive. The one-time Leicester second row – he played for the Tigers when they were the undisputed kings of the jungle back in the 1970s – is these days playing as big a role on the administrative side of the game as he did all those years ago as a player. So much so that in less than two years’ time he will take over as president of the Rugby Football Union, a position currently held by England and British Lions great Peter Wheeler. It’s primarily an ambassadorial role, but as one of the faces of the RFU it’s clearly a very important position and one for which Gillingham, a former Royal Air Force man, is obviously very well suited. Gillingham is currently the
Josh Lyyons
captain having taken over from Jed Holmend-Jones, who led the side out at Twickenham and who packs down alongside Lyons in the second row. “He’s still playing,” said Lyons. “He got injured last season and I think now he’s back he just wants to concentrate on playing.” Back row Jake Kitson took over RFU’s junior vice-president and will become senior vicepresident next year before taking on the top job on 1st August 2021. He’s also a hardworking member of Gloucestershire’s RFU – he’s their RFU representative – and on Saturday afternoons is a regular spectator at games around the county.
Ab big ig n netball etball ffan an Kirsty Wingate is a big supporter of netball, a very big supporter. She plays the game, she umpires and she also works tirelessly as a volunteer administrator. The 49-year-old took over as chair of Gloucestershire Netball at their AGM in May and she has previously served on Kirsty Wingate the management committee as honorary, league
as skipper last season but Lyons is happy to take on the extra responsibility this time around. “I’ve always wanted to captain the club,” said the former Churchdown School pupil. “I captained the club’s age group sides at under-16s and under17s.” Ask him what sort of captain he is and he’ll say: “I’ve yet to find that out!” before adding, “I don’t tend to shout much, I like to let my rugby do the talking. Hopefully the lads follow me.” They’ve certainly been doing that this season and Lyons enjoys playing in the engine room with long-time partner Holmend-Jones. “We’re similar sorts of players,” he said. “We both like to get around the park, we carry the ball and we make our tackles.” Full story online. and tournament secretaries. Throw in the fact that she is also chair of her club Survivors, who play in the Gloucestershire League, and it’s fair to say it’s a big part of her life. Wingate, who lives in Hucclecote with husband Andy, first played netball when she was at Barnwood Primary School.
Playing P laying ffor or ffun un Jonny Taylor is pretty well known in squash around Gloucestershire. The 27-year-old captains Riverside’s number one team in the Gloucestershire Squash League and is also in his second year as captain of Gloucestershire. He’s been playing the game for some 15 years after starting off as a junior at Riverside Sports & Leisure Club in Gloucester. For full versions of all these stoories and more please visit our website: www.thhelocalanswer.co.uk
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M Miles iles of of smiles smiles for for Joel Joel T Townley ownley aas sh e jjumps umps iinto nto rrecord ecord b ooks he books If Joel Townley isn’t jumping for joy around his parents’ home in Hucclecote pretty much day in, day out, then he probably should be because he’s got plenty to be happy about. The 18-year-old Gloucester Athletic Club member is a hugely talented triple jumper, someone who has risen to the top of the pile in this country in his age group. Earlier this year he was crowned English Schools’ senior boys triple jump champion in Birmingham, 12 months after winning a silver in the same event. And two years ago he won gold in the English Schools’ intermediate competition, so young Townley – he’s not 19 until April – is seriously good. Good enough, in fact, to have broken a record belonging to one of the great names in the sport – Jonathan Edwards. Edwards won Olympic gold for Great Britain in the 2000 Olympics and is still the world record-holder today, but Townley took his senior boys’ record when he was competing at the South West Schools’ Championships last year. “He acknowledged the performance by congratulating me on his Twitter,” said Townley. In fact it’s not just triple jump that Townley is good at because he’s also a decent long jumper and high jumper. “When I started with Gloucester Athletic Club I used to think that my best event was the high jump,” said Townley, who left Crypt School at the end of the last summer term and is now doing a four-year engineering apprenticeship. “Now the triple jump is my speciality.” Townley joined Gloucester AC at the tail-end of 2014. “I’d broken a few school
Joel Townley
records on sports days so it was suggested that I joined the club,” explained Townley. And he’s not regretted it for a minute, as under the watchful eye of his coach Jo Willoughby he has produced some very impressive performances. “My PB in the triple jump is 14.80 metres, but I’ve jumped 14.93 with a little bit of wind assistance,” he said. “This year I was sixth overall in the under-20 boys’ rankings in this country.” That’s some going when you consider that Townley is still a year young in that age group and his stats at long and high jump are pretty impressive too. “My best in the high jump is 1.87 and in the long jump I’ve jumped 6.87,” he said. He still competes in both those events for his club but says the triple jump is his number one these days. “There are so many different elements to it,” he said. “I find it a very interesting event, it’s exciting.”
And it’s not just the jumping, Townley has to work hard on his running too. “That’s very important,” he said. “I do a lot of running sessions – Richard Blackwell is my sprint coach – and I also do a lot of strength and conditioning work.” He certainly does because a typical week will see him do three track sessions a week, which can last from one-and-a-half to two hours each, and two gym sessions a week, which will last for a similar length of time. Next year he’s targeting the Under-20 UK Championships but he also want s to qualif y for the senior championships as well. “I’d like to have a go at the big boys,” he said. Young Townley, understandably, is not short of confidence and he has already competed in international schools’ events in Dublin, Loughborough and Cardiff with considerable success. That’s given him a taste of international sport and he certainly wants more. “I’d love to get a Great Britain vest,” he said. “That’s one of those experiences I really want to enjoy. “If I did get the chance I’d love to compete in a Commonwealth Games or higher, I’d like to go as far as I can. “To compete at senior international level would be really nice.” But while clearly ambitious, Townley also has a sensible head on his shoulders because he adds: “My career in engineering is my main priority. “I want to have a career to fall back on, I won’t go full-time in athletics.” And it’s fair to say he’s doing pretty well as a ‘part-timer’ anyway!
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