The Local
A NS W E R
GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S BIGGEST LOCAL MAGAZINE JANUARY 2020
GLOUCESTER HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR READERS AND CLIENTS!
The The Lo Local c al
AN ANSWER SWER
Gloucester: G loucester: 46,000 46,000 copies copies ~ Cheltenham: Cheltenham: 443,000 3,000 copies copies Cotswolds: Cotswolds: 330,000 0,000 ccopies opies North North Gloucestershire: Gloucestershire: 220,000 0,000 ccopies opies Stroud Stroud District: District: 41,000 41,000 ccopies opies
IInside nside tthis his m month onth ... ... D elicious D ish Delicious Dish M Medical edical H Health ealth Q Quick uick C Crossword rossword LLooking ooking G ood, FFeeling eeling G reat Good, Great EEducation ducation & EEmployment mployment LLeader’s eader’s Life Life Holidays H olidays & Travel Travel W Word ord Search Search TTLA LA S Sport port W What’s hat’s O On n TTLA LA EEntertainment ntertainment H omes & G ardens Homes Gardens IIn n tthe he G Garden arden S Sudoku udoku IInterior nterior D esign Design M Money oney M Matters atters IIndex, ndex, C ompetitions, S olutions Competitions, Solutions
5 9 10 10 11 11 13 13 14 14 15 15 1166 118-19 8-19 20 20 222-23 2-23 24 24 31 31 32 32 33 33 41 41 42 42
January’s winning cover photo: Mark Ziles
W elcome Welcome ttoo JJanuary anuary Happy New Year! We hope you enjoyed the festivities and are raring to go for a brand new decade! If you’re starting to plan your year already, check out our Entertainment section for a look ahead at what’s going on in 2020. Our online competitions feature has been very popular and we’ve had a fantastic response so far! Be sure to check back regularly for more brilliant prizes – this month we’ve linked up with Painswick Rococo Garden, Sandford Parks Lido and Hotel du Vin Cheltenham! Congratulations to our first cover winner of 2020 – Mark Ziles with his wonderful winter scene. Head over to our social media pages to find out what you can expect to see on the rest of this year’s covers. 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, where we have details of many more local businesses.
Visit www.thelocalanswer.co.uk
Online Online this this month month ... ...
Contacts C ontacts
E nter o ur ffantastic antastic ccompetitions Enter our ompetitions a and nd y you ou ccould ould w win: in:
M anaging D irector Managing Director
•A n aannual nnual ffamily amily m An membership embership ttoo P ainswick R ococo G Painswick Rococo Garden arden An adult adult season season ticket • An ticket ffor or Sandford S andford P Parks arks LLido ido • Sunday Sunday lunch for ffour lunch for our ppeople eople aatt Hotel Vin Hotel dduu V in Cheltenham Cheltenham 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
Dave Kingscott dave@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Marketing M arketing
Lois Kingscott lois@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Advertising Advertising Claudie Francis (01242 510500) info@thelocalanswer.co.uk
LLeaflets eaflets & D Distribution istribution John Overton (01242 541075) leaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk Louis Jordan distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk Page 3
C
é
R é f a Le Puben
& Restaurant
Steak & Grillhouse
WE WISH ALL OUR CUSTOMERS A
January J anuary Offer Offer
20% OFF FOOD WITH THIS VOUCHER*
HAPPY NEW YEAR! w Full Menu served 7 days a week 12pm-9:30pm 12pm-9:30pm
C Sunday roasts • Real Ales & Ciders
tel: 01452 309340 www.caferene.co.uk
*PRESENT SENT TTHIS HIS VVOUCHER OUCHER B BEFORE EFORE O ORDERING RDERING YYOUR OUR MEAL EAL TTO O RECEIVE RECEIVE A 220% 0% D DISCOUNT ISCOUNT O ON N FFOOD OOD VALID V ALID UNTIL UNTIL 31st 31st JANUARY JANUARY 2020 2020
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
Page
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
The Local Answer
Delicious Delicious Dish Dish w with ith H Helen elen K Kingscott ingscott
P Parsnip arsnip soup soup with with a hint hint of of spice spice Aq quick, uick, ssimple, imple, w warming arming rrecipe ecipe tto o ssee ee y you ou tthrough hrough tthe he rrest est o off w winter. inter. This This parsnip parsnip soup soup has h as a g gentle entle kkick ick and and will will make make plenty plenty of of portions portions to to last last you you the the week. week. Ingredients: Ingredients: 1kg parsnips; 2 large onions; 2 tbsp olive oil; 100g light soft cream cheese; 1½ litres vegetable stock; 1 tbsp curry paste (I bought a 200g jar of tikka curry paste and used the rest to make a chicken tikka curry); freshly ground black pepper to season and sprinkle on top; parsley to garnish. Method: Method: 1 Peel and dice both the onions and parsnips. 2 Heat the oil, add the onions and cook on a medium heat for 1-2 minutes until softened. 3 Add the parsnips and cook, covered, over a low heat for 5-8 minutes with the lid on to sweat the vegetables. 4 Stir in the curry paste, cook for a minute then
add the hot stock. Place the lid back on and simmer for 20-30 minutes until the parsnips are really soft. 5 Add the cream cheese then blend with a hand blender or in a liquidiser until smooth. 6 Season, then serve with a little chopped parsley, more black pepper and some lovely fresh rolls. Tip: Tip: If you’d like to make your own bread rolls, you can find a recipe on one of my previous Delicious Dishes – ‘Spinach soup and homemade ww.thelocalanswer.co.uk, go www.thelocalanswer.co.uk bread rolls’. Visit w to the News, Articles & Reviews tab, then click on Food & Drink. You’ll be able to search for the recipe, as well as browse many more dishes that I’ve cooked over the years.
We care about W ec are a bout tthe he environment environment
A fully fully-recyclable -recyclable pr product oduct
As As w well ell aass the the p paper, aper, the the iinks nks aand nd varnishes varnishes u used sed iin n producing producing T The he LLocal ocal A Answer nswer are are b biodegradable. i o d e g r a d a b l e. T The he p process rocess u used sed by by rrecycling ecycling ccompanies ompanies to to e extract xtract iinks nks aand nd coatings coatings including including U UV V varnishes varnishes ffrom rom the the paper paper render render the the p paper aper ssuitable uitable for for pulping pulping and and recycling. recycling.
The Local Answer
(our printer) printer) a re Precision C olour P rinting Ltd Ltd (our Precision Colour Printing are ouncil ((FSC) FSC) proud Council p roud to to be be a Forest Forest Stewardship Stewardship C certificate holder, and The Answer nd T he LLocal ocal A nswer iiss certificate h older, a proud p roud to to have have this this publication publication printed printed on paper with FSC o n p aper ccompliant ompliant w ith F SC demands environmentd emands tto o ssupport upport e nvironmentally beneficial, a lly appropriate, appropriate, socially socially b eneficial, and economically managea nd e conomically vviable iable m anagement off tthe world’s m ent o he w orld’s forests. fo orests.
To advertise call 0122 510500
Page 5
Specialists Specialists iin n bathroom bathroom safety safety and and design design
We can help you with any bathroom makeover, large or small, but have particular expertise when designing rooms for customers with mobility issues.
•W et rrooms ooms Wet •S hower rooms rooms Shower Bathrooms • Bathrooms Cloakrooms • Cloakrooms •T iles Tiles •W all boards boards Wall well known brands
Before
After bathroom fitters high standard of finish
friendly, polite
Save 20%
VAT*
*If you need to make changes to your bathroom due to disability or a medical condition, we are able to supply your bathroom VAT free, saving you 20%. Please ask for details.
Contact Rex on 07496 057281 or 01453 884167 for a free home visit to discuss your needs
rex@lifestylebathrooms.net
www.lifestylebathrooms.net
M Medical edical H Health ealth with w ith H Holly olly H Hannigan annigan
N New ew Year, Year, n new ew you you January is a month of change, where many people decide to have a clear out, detox or get rid of bad habits through New Year’s resolutions. There is the usual stop smoking, stop drinking alcohol for Dry January and dieting (usually after a lot of overindulgence during December), and 12% of gym memberships are signed up in January alone. It really is a great time for people to feel motivated to make changes to their lives. This January, instead of focusing on the negative, why not try beginning the year with a much more positive attitude and begin adding new healthy habits for your mind as well as your body?
Practice Practice sself elf ccare are We are often very self critical and think, and even say, negative statements everyday to ourselves. This is highlighted by these New Year’s resolutions. So this year why not start with practicing self care? Your mental health requires just as much looking after, if not more, than your body.
The Local Answer
Scientists are learning that seemingly unrelated psychological and physical issues may actually be closely connected. Doctors once thought that the link between mental and physical health problems was purely behavioural, such as depressed people being less likely to take their medications.
Mental M ental and and p physical hysical health p health problems roblems ccan an b be e cconnected onnected We now know that high levels of cortisol are associated with depression and anxiety, and that they can contribute to an inflammatory state and to conditions like diabetes and heart disease. They also affect auto-immune conditions such as Psoriasis, which is commonly triggered by stress. It affects 1.8 million people in the UK and can impact on emotional as well as physical wellbeing. People with mental health conditions are less likely to receive the physical healthcare they’re entitled to, and mental health service users are statistically To advertise call 0122 510500
less likely to receive routine checks (such as blood pressure, weight, cholesterol, etc.) that might detect symptoms of these physical health conditions earlier. So what positive changes can you make now? • A simple morning meditation is a great way to start the day and if you are new to meditation there are plenty of free apps or CDs you can buy. • Positive affirmations such as ‘I am kind’, ‘I am brave’ or ‘I can be who I want to be’ are great to write down and stick around your mirror or on your bedside table to read aloud every day. • Practice mindfulness, trying to focus on the here and now. • Yoga and Pilates are brilliant for all ages, shapes and sizes to improve flexibility, strength and fitness, along with assisting with clarity of mind. • Get outside in the fresh air and enjoy nature. • Smile. Small changes can make a big difference to your life in every way, so start today. Page
Quick Quick Crossword Crossword 2
1
3
4
5
ACROSS ACROSS 1 Obtained by begging 5 Corpse 7 Stupid (remark) 8 Cable 9 At a distance 10 Improper 11 Hubbub 13 Told falsehood 14 North African desert 18 Available at premises (2-4) 21 Prompts (memory) 22 Phases 24 Fashionable fad 25 Indolent 26 Genuine, ... fide
6
7
8
9
10 10
11 11
12 12
14 14
1 5 15
16 16
13 13
17 17
21 21
1 8 18
22 22
19 19
2 0 20
23 23
27 Slithery reptile 28 Contributes 29 Word comparison DOWN DOWN 1 Scaredy-cats 2 Athenian 3 Numeral 4 Fiery pepper sauce 5 Fab Four group 6 Local lingo 12 Misjudge 15 Kept clear of 16 Pus-filled sore 17 Woolly llama relatives 19 Few, ... many 20 Entrap 22 Genders 23 Photo book
24 24
25 25
List your business in our brand new Online Directory from only £ per month! £12
26 26
27 27
28 28
29 29
© Lovatts Puzzles
Superb Quality
D Don’t on’t llook ook until until you’ve you’ve ffinished! inished! Solutions Solutions on on ‘‘Index Index ooff A Advertisers’ dvertisers’ page. page.
www.thelocalanswer.co.uk www .thelocalanswerr.co.uk
WEDDING SSUITS UITS
SA AINTBRIDGE INTBRIDGE HOUSE OUSE
M MEN’S EN’S & B BOYS’ OYS’ SUIT SUIT H HIRE IRE
N NURSING URSING & R RESIDENTIAL ESIDENTIAL H HOME OME
01452 01452 300307 300307
M Magee agee Designer Designer S Suits uits
OFFER L HIIRRE SPECIIAA .99
Offering single en-suite bedrooms for up to 36 residents Tasteffully 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.
£89
● ●
1 189 89 P Painswick ainswick R Road, oad, G Gloucester, loucester, G Gloucestershire loucestershire G GL4 L4 4 4QQ QQ iinfo@saintbridge-house.co.uk nfo@saintbridge-house.co.uk w www.saintbridge-house.co.uk ww.saintbridge-house.co.uk
Page 10
• OPEN SUNDAYS BY APPOINTMENT •
The The Grooms Grooms Room Room Menswear Menswear 7711 Northgate Northgate S Street, treet, G Gloucester, loucester, G GL1 L1 22AG AG www.thegroomsroom.net
01452 01452 5 520 20 644 644
enquiries@thegroomsroom.net
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
The Local Answer
Looking Looking Good, Good, F Feeling eeling Great Great with w ith W Will ill M Mbanga banga
K Keep eep fitness fitness simple simple this this New New Y Year ear The New Year is a good time to take stock as you look to optimise your diet and exercise routine toward being healthier. As any Personal Trainer or gym owner will tell you, this is the time of year where gyms see an increase in members and trainers gain new clients. It is the time when ‘slackers’ and ‘back sliders’ jump-start their lapsed training regimens and old memberships, as the siren call of summer holidays begins. Your summer body is built in winter and there’s no time like the present to stop feeling anxious in your baggy winter trackies and get to work! Getting started for a beginner can be quite daunting, whereas more seasoned fitness enthusiasts may simply require some guidance to go with their commitment.
Enjoyable, E njoyable, ssafe afe a and nd ssustainable ustainable Deciding on what fitness modality to employ is essential to ensure that not only is your training effective, but it’s also enjoyable, safe and sustainable. The term “functional fitness” has been bandied around the fitness environment a lot, but for a beginner, PTs can often over-complicate things using ‘fancy’ movements, when in reality there is nothing more functional than simply using your body to move naturally! Incorporating everyday objects and mimicking normal movement patterns is “functional training” – you don’t have to do one arm headstands while balancing a kettlebell above your head to train ‘functionally’! So be creative – use stairs for The Local Answer
step ups, chairs or benches for dips and push ups, hang off the bars at the local park for pull ups, and use logs and rocks as heavy objects to carry or move. Of course, training equipment, great background music, aircon and tv consoles on cardio machines is great, along with the mandatory gym selfies, post-workout smoothies or coffee to supplement your gains. But in reality, basic movements done well will give you an enormous fitness boost.
Ah hybrid ybrid of of cardio cardio and and sstrength trength training training As a busy, time-limited person (or equipment if you’re not a gym user), the most time efficient way to maximise your training is to use a hybrid of cardio and strength training via a modality commonly referred to as High Intensity Interval Training or HIIT. We already know that strength training gives you far more bang for your buck within a shorter time frame than just doing cardio on its own, and HIIT workouts incorporate full
body strength training with cardiovascular training with impressive results. The benefits of HIIT include: • Improved cardiovascular health and fitness. • Increased fat burning through post-exercise oxygen consumption (after a workout, your body continues to burn calories as it self-regulates). • HIIT has been shown to increase hormone levels, which aids in building and maintaining lean muscle. Ladies, please don’t be afraid – HIIT training won’t substantially increase muscle mass without additional specific strength training! It has been proven that HIIT is a highly effective method of increasing fat loss and developing lean muscle without spending hours in the gym or training space. The combination of short, high intensity blocks of work followed by a period of recovery provide the body with a highly effective physiological jolt. Happy training!
To advertise call 0122 510500
Page 11
Page 12
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
The Local Answer
E Education ducation & E Employment mployment w with ith H Holly olly P Prince rince
Training T raining iin n tthe he w workplace orkplace When coming back to work after the New Year, you may feel your skills are in need of some updating or that you could do with some fresh knowledge to enhance your working life. In an ever-changing world, it’s essential to keep your skills up to date by undertaking CPD – Continuing Professional Development. Some professions such as nursing, law or counselling require a certain amount of CPD in order to stay accredited to the professional body that oversees their role. For others, having more talents under your belt can be useful simply so that you can do the best job possible!
O Opportunities pportunities tto og gain ain m more ore ccompetencies ompetencies Workplaces should offer their employees opportunities to gain more competencies – to do their job more effectively or to further their career. If you feel you lack know-
The Local Answer
ledge in a particular area, or are in need of some personal development to aid your professional life, ask your manager if there are any courses available. These may be practical skills such as first aid training or manual handling, or theoretical knowledge, for instance safeguarding or people management. Some organisations have inhouse training – courses run by fellow employees. For instance, if you work for a large employer in the public sector, they may have an IT department that runs courses on specific computer software. Your company may even have partner agencies such as a mental wellbeing organisation who can run courses in ‘life skills’ such as resilience, assertiveness or how to deal with stress. Alternatively, you could take it upon yourself to further your knowledge. Your public library may have courses in computer
To advertise call 0122 510500
basics, or a local college may run a ‘night school’, which you can attend in the evening. There are many subjects available out there, including languages, arts, cookery and hairdressing to name a few.
Online O nline learning learning or or a cclassroom lassroom e environment nvironment Courses may take the form of online learning, or be face-toface in a ‘classroom’ type environment. Both have their benefits and disadvantages. For example, in a classroom you can share knowledge and stories with others, but travel to and from the location takes up more time. With online courses, you can do them in your own time, usually from the comfort of your own home, but there is no one to offer immediate help if needed. Whatever method of learning you opt for, ensure the knowledge will further your overall learning, and make time to reflect upon what you’ve learnt and then apply it to your job role. Keep learning! It’s good for your brain, as well as looking good on your CV! Page 1
Leader Leader s L Life ife with with Councillor Councillor Richard Richard Cook Cook
Looking Looking to to the the future future A new leader presenting a new direction for the City Council is daunting for everyone concerned. Firstly, I would like to pay tribute to my predecessor Paul James, who has made huge strides in delivering regeneration and at the same time helping to show off history and heritage. These have both delivered huge improvements in visitor numbers, who contribute to the economic health of the city. Without Paul’s vision and passion, much of this would never have happened. Whilst Paul’s drive to deliver property and economic regeneration will be maintained, new challenges are becoming very evident, namely the environment. Climate change, reducing biodiversity, environmental degradation and air quality are all issues which are concerning increasing numbers of people.
S Sustainability ustainability iis sav vital ital ffactor actor iin n ffuture uture d developments evelopments Our drive for economic growth, which we strive to ensure will deliver improvements to all in the city, must come with sustainability at its core. Recycling rates in the city have risen from 4% in 2004 to 47% this year and we expect our recent contract changes with the City Council’s recycling contractor will drive rates up further, as well as improving the quality of the recycling, leading to better prices. Schemes have been introduced to reduce littering in the city and I feel they have been a success because the city centre appears much cleaner. We have ambitious schemes being considered in the city to supply renewable energy, potentially, directly to industrial premises, perhaps to battery storage to provide charging points for electric vehicles or perhaps directly into the grid. We are looking at plans to plant thousands of trees around the city, some because they will grow quickly, sucking tonnes of carbon dioxide out of the air, and then they can be used as biomass to produce energy, and some because they provide shade and beauty. But we mustn’t forget that the city can do nothing in isolation. We must remember that we have to work in a coherent and coordinated fashion with our neighbours and the wider world. And more importantly we have to make sure that all our citizens are on board with our plans. If we don’t ALL do this together, success may elude us. e email: mail: rrichard.cook@gloucester.gov.uk ichard.cook@gloucester.gov.uk
Page 1
FOSTERERS REQUIRED Gloucester & Cirencester Branch are looking for volunteers Fosterers provide our feline friends a safe, stable and loving environment in their home or in purpose built pens in their garden. Many of our fosterers care for one or two cats at a time and enjoy providing lots of TLC to cats which may of been pre-loved or have had a difficult start in life. If this is something that you may be interested in getting involved with then please call 0345 260 3280. For further information please contact:
T: 0345 260 3280 W: www.cats.org.uk/volunteer : catsprotection Reg. Charity 203644 (England and Wales) and SC037711 (Scotland)
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
The Local Answer
Holidays H olidays & Travel Travel w with ith A All H Hidden idden
Savour Savour the the joy joy o off fflight light We recently landed at Tokyo Haneda – except that it should have been Osaka! Unfortunately, as we approached, drone activity temporarily closed Kansai International and we were diverted. The unexpected upside was the magnificent views of Mount Fuji that we passed twice before eventually reaching our planned destination. It got me thinking about the aerial delights awaiting flyers. I never cease to marvel at the contrast presented by evening departures from Vancouver as the city’s lights soon give way to the darkness of British Columbia’s sparsely populated interior and Northern Canada’s barren wastes.
B Between etween m mountain ountain a and nd o ocean cean As with Vancouver, Los Angeles, or even little Sitka up in Alaska’s Panhandle, there’s something magical about airports located ‘twixt mountain and ocean. Many landlocked destinations are equally impressive. I’m thinking about the
sinuous approach to Bhutan’s Paro Airport. Or famously challenging Lukla’s steeply sloping 527m-long runway in Nepal, complete with sheer drops at one end and a rock wall at the other! Nearer home, how about the picturesque valley approach to Category C-rated Innsbruck? Destinations like these deliver amazing experiences for pilots and passengers alike. Spectacular natural surrounds guarantee breathtaking views. Sometimes, however, the built environment adds special magic. Picture, for instance, t h e u n f o r g e t t a b l e a p pr o a c h t o New York’s JFK with its views of Manhattan’s iconic skyline; or the needle-like Burj Khalifa glimpsed through the desert haze after leaving Dubai.
O Once-in-a-lifetime nce-in-a-lifetime v views iews Arguably, the most memorable ones are the once-in-alifetime views delivered by nature alone – helped by our aircraft’s altitude. Winter’s dancing northern lights on approach to Reykjavik-Keflavik The Local Answer
To advertise call 0122 510500
need no mortal help. Neither did my most enduring in-flight memory. It was a westward sunset view across Northern Canada’s myriad frozen lakes. And it came with the added bonus of being savoured from a Boeing 747 cockpit in the halcyon, pre9/11 days when flight deck visits were still possible. Unforgettable.
Amazing Amazing in-flight in-flight sights sights Will your airborne magic come after the short hop to Shetland or over mountainflanked Beagle Channel as you approach windy Ushuaia, Patagonia? Or perhaps it will be that first glimpse of French Polynesia after 6000km over the empty Pacific, or the reassuringly familiar view of Windsor Castle on returning to Heathrow? These and so many other examples remind us to look up from our book or the in-flight movie and take a moment to be awestruck by the joy of flight. What amazing in-flight sights await you in 2020? Page 15
Word W ord S Search earch A Z S C C G B R T L H E C N Q L W N W Q F G Q P
D L Q X K I E A G S Q Q P Q P O Q V O J D H C O
N H T K N N D K Y S E C K Q P D K K P Y X J H R
H I O I N V D R T H W R S A M G A K E P X V I T
L E A I T H N B O E Z Z N L E E U R C F I N D V
P J G T E U O J R N G K E K O P L Z A R T T E T
W E P L N O D A H K I K N B B P M N R E I C C W
B C M G T U K E Q A Q E I Q P H E N R E G C N F
P E G S V S O R U N H U P V E J N M T S L K A T
T W K T A S A M Q O W G L J J L E E U T F E V I
A X G M N V K J I M C E A R V D K B S Y M V D J
L I S O C S P A C L O P L R I M K Q P L R Z A E
X B W R Z U M C V T X D O A E R G K D E Y S V P
I S Q H A O A K F O F D T W W R I F T R O S E R
R G G C L E H E P O Y E Z M D Q W H F A S R V W
K U Z A R P T T N G R T B M A E T L G L V M L M
Q M L S Q C N O E H V M G M O R R A Y G X D Q S
P S C G G Z V A Y H Z C K B Y W L P M Y I H B P
Y L D G S C N G O W H U X E B Y L P A J J D V F
O P T R A I L S G H E C E E L F X I F L X L R X
N J F L P M E X Z S B N P I S T E E Y I F K J M
E A C K I P W I K O T F B D K O R T V X K H Q N
R D O W N H I L L L Y Y B I E Z R K D E S X B D
G D Y P M U J L N M J G Q B J X U J M A S K I G
Skiing S kiing ADVANCED ALPINE ALTITUDE BEGINNER BOOTS DOWNHILL FLEECE FREESTYLE HELMET
INTERMEDIATE JACKET JUMP LODGE MASK MOUNTAIN NORDIC PEAK PISTE
POWDER RACE RESORT SLALOM SLOPE SNOW TRAILS
Installers of top quality windows, windows, doors and conserva tories. conservatories. For a free no obligation quotation call
01242 511384
Showroom – Units 40 & 41, Space Business Centre, Tewkesbury Road, Cheltenham, GL51 9FL
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 1
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
The Local Answer
iinterior nterior needs needs
FRE PERSO E NAL IN NTERIIO OR DESIIG GN SERVIIC CE
Wishing W ishing yyou ou happy very happy a very ealthy &h healthy 22020! 020!
fabrics C Curtains urtains & fabrics Tracks T racks & poles poles N I Interior nterior shutters shutters N P Perfect erfect fit fit blinds blinds N B Bay ay w window indow ttreatments reatments N Lighting Lighting N W Wallpaper allpaper N Mirrors Mirrors N N
Sandersons G Romo G Zoffany G Prestigious G Casadeco Bill Beaumont G Warwick G Hardy G Villa Nova G Harlequin G Luxaflex G James Brindley G Silent Gliss G Velux G Blendworth G
G
JANUARY SALE • JANUARY SALE • • • • • •
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
SHOWROOM SHOWROOM RE-OPENS RE-OPENS FOR FOR 2020 2020 ON ON THURSDAY THURSDAY 2nd 2nd JANUARY JANUARY
Normal Normal Hours: Hours: M Monday onday 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 JANUARY SALE • JANUARY SALE Fantastic Savings available until 31st January 2020 EEastern astern A Avenue, venue, Gloucester Gloucester GL4 GL4 3BU 3BU (Next (Next to to The The Weavers Weavers Shop, Shop, opposite opposite SMYTHS) SMYTHS)
e eenquiries@interiorneeds.co.uk nquiries@interiorneeds.co.uk w iinteriorneeds.co.uk nteriorneeds.co.uk t 001452 1452 5522 22 4422 22
S Sport port
with w ith R Roger oger Jackson Jackson
WANT W ANT TO TO SHARE SHARE YOUR YOUR SPORTING SPORTING STORY ON ON OUR OUR WEBSITE? WEBSITE? STORY Please Please eemail mail ffull ull ddetails etails ttoo ssport@thelocalanswer.co.uk port@thelocalanswer.co.uk
C County’s ounty’s 2020 2020 vision vision looking looking very very good good New year, new hope, and there’s certainly plenty of optimism around Gloucestershire County Cricket Club as they look ahead to 2020. Their reward for an outstanding 2019 is a place in the top flight of county championship cricket for the first time since 2004. And it wasn’t just the fact that they won promotion from Division Two, it was the way that they did it that had so many of their fans purring. “We did it playing the Gloucestershire Way,” said David Partridge, a former player and lifelong supporter who these days is on the club’s executive board. So what exactly is the Gloucestershire Way? “Everyone wants to play for each other,” said Partridge. “Everyone wants to play for the county. If two or three players fail, another two or three will pick it up.
“Winning promotion was a complete team performance.” It certainly was. They are a young side and, apart from the final three games when West Indies fast bowler Shannon Gabriel was brought in on a short-term contract, they achieved their goal without an overseas player. As it happened Gabriel only picked up two wickets – he was expensive too – and Partridge said: “The way we won promo-
A ttrue rue judo judo m man an
V Vintage intage performer performer
Dowty Judo Club has a long and proud history. It’s one that stretches back some 50 years or so but while the club has plenty to look back on with pride, it also has plenty to look forward to as well. And one of the club’s constant themes – certainly for well over 40 years – has been Pete Salter, who is Dowty’s chairman and head coach. The now 75-year-old was also recently awarded his 6th Dan, the only judo player in Gloucestershire to achieve this status. “I joined the club in the early 1970s and became chairman in 1981,” said Salter, who has been chairman of Gloucestershire Judo for close on 40 years as well.
Jo Willoughby enjoyed a vintage 2019 and she’s chasing more success in 2020. The Gloucester Athletic Club member is looking to build on a stellar 12 months that saw her win double gold in the European Masters in Venice. The 55-year-old finished first in both the long jump and the triple jump in the W55 category, and such was her impressive form that all the signs are that she will need to make more room on her mantelpiece for more medals in the coming year. Willoughby is a seriously good athlete. Back in the day she was rubbing shoulders with – and beating – some of the best in the land. She was good enough to
Ryan Higgins
tion is a huge credit to head coach Richard Dawson and the boys.” And while it was a true team effort, a quick look at the end-of season averages will tell you that one player above all others was key to their success. That player was all-rounder Ryan Higgins who scored more than 950 runs at close on 60 and took 50 wickets with his bustling medium pace at under 24. The soon-to-be 25-year-old joined the club from Middlesex for the start of the 2018 season and Partridge is a big fan. “He embodies the whole Gloucestershire spirit,” said Partridge, who lives in Birdlip. “He’s a top player and uses his head when he’s playing the game. “He gives it everything and he always seems to find a way whatever the situation in a game, he’s held in very high regard by all the players.” Full story online. compete for both Great Britain and Wales and was good enough to qualify for the Commonwealth Games some 30 years ago.
The The county’s county’s finest finest Nathan Lake is blazing a trail for squash in Gloucestershire all around the world. The undisputed county number one has been a professional for the best part of a decade and is a player who can go toe-to-toe with the very best on the planet. He’s very good – he’s enjoyed a world ranking best of 47 – but although he travels all over the globe to play the game he loves, he remains very proud of his Gloucestershire roots. For full verssions of all these storiies and more,, visit www.thelocalanswer.co.uk
Above Above is is a sselection election ffrom rom llocal ocal ssport port sstories tories aavailable vailable oonline nline ... ...
B Brockworth rockworth A Albion lbion aare re aaiming iming h high igh David Evans is Brockworth through and through. h He was born in the village, went to school in the village and still lives in the village today. He’s also a major figure at Brockworth Albion, the football club with big ambitions to regain a place in the County League. And those ambitions are certainly no pipedream because the club’s flagship team are going well in Northern Senior League Division One and their facilities at Mill Lane are these days up to the required County League standard. That was not the case when they last won the title in 2010/11 – Evans was still a player back then, although not in the first team – and Evans will clearly have a pivotal role to play if they are to clinch promotion this time around. That’s because he’s not only chairman of the club – a role he took on the season before last – but he’s also the first team’s assistant manager where he works alongside manager Mark Mulraney. “We’re aiming for promotion this season,” said Evans, “we’re ambitious, we want to climb the football pyramid.” So how far does Evans think the club can go? “I wouldn’t like to put a cap on it,” he said, “but realistically it would be hard to go much further than the County League because of the financial investment needed to sustain it. “The players would also have to be willing to travel a lot further and play a lot more midweek games.” Evans knows what he’s talking about, of course. He knows pretty much everything there is to know about Brockworth Albion because he joined the club back in 1998 as a 17-year-old in the days when the club were known as Brockworth AFC. “I played for all three of the club’s senior teams,” he said, “and I was first team captain for
David Evans
Brockworth Albion’s Dave Wilkinson
a while. When I first started I was a striker but when I was about 21 I moved to centre-back and I spent the rest of my career there.” So why the switch? “I don’t think I was a very good striker,” he said with a laugh, before adding, “it was something that just happened and it worked.” Evans had been playing for Brockworth AFC for seven years when they changed their name after amalgamating with nearby ICI Fibres. The club, which were formed in 1958, had spent half-a-dozen seasons in the County League before returning to the Northern Senior at the start of this century and they have remained at that level ever since. That’s something that the club’s supporters hope is about to change. Evans became Mulraney’s assistant at the start of the 2017/18 season after he’d finished playing and the two work well together. “Mark’s a Brockworth lad and has always played for Brockworth,” Evans said. “We played together and we were mates before we started working together, having known each other since we were kids. “The relationship works well, Mark is the lead voice in the changing room, he makes the team decisions, we bounce off each other.” Mulraney is clearly another who is Brockworth through and
through and Evans said the club has a hardworking committee who put Brockworth Albion first. “We’ve got some younger guys on the committee but we’ve also got some people with experience,” said Evans. “It’s a good mix, everyone chips in.” And everyone is certainly chipping in on the field as well after a bright start saw the first team up among the Northern Senior League pacesetters. “We’ve got some good players,” said Evans. “Liam Mayo at the ripe old age of 38 has played for Brockworth all of his career. He’s playing right midfield this season but in the past has played in centre midfield and in defence. “David Wilkinson, our first team captain, is still putting in a good shift in central midfield and is another one within reaching distance of the big four-0. He’s a great player who played for Gloucester City when Chris Burns was in charge.” Burns, of course, made it all the way to the top of the professional game, including playing for Portsmouth in an FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool in 1992, and as well as managing Gloucester he also played for and managed Brockworth. But while Mayo and Wilkinson provide experience along with Sean Payne, Evans says that Brockworth are a fairly young side. Full story online.
For For full full articles articles and and m more ore sstories tories vvisit isit w www.thelocalanswer.co.uk ww.thelocalanswer.co.uk
What W hat s O On n T The he L Local ocal A Answer nswer Event Event L Listings istings a are re ccompiled ompiled and and presented presented in in good good faith faith with with the the kind kind support support o off m many any ccontributors. ontributors. W We e recommend recommend you you use use the the contact contact details details provided provided to to check check e event vent iinformation nformation u updates pdates p prior rior tto op planning lanning your your visit. visit. 12 12 OCTOBER OCTOBER – 1188 A APRIL PRIL 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 9 NOVEMBER NOVEMBER – 2222 FFEBRUARY EBRUARY 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 3300 NOVEMBER NOVEMBER – 5 JJANUARY ANUARY 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 3311 DECEMBER DECEMBER – 3 JJANUARY ANUARY 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 22-12 -12 JANUARY 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! 110-11 0-11 JANUARY 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 1111 JANUARY JANUARY THE WEDDING PRESENT Leeds band The Wedding Present bring their alternative rock to Gloucester as part of a series of UK dates. 7.30pm. £20. Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, GL1 1NS. www.gloucesterguildhall.co.uk 1155 JANUARY JANUARY – 2233 FFEBRUARY EBRUARY SUBMERGENCE EXHIBITION – SQUIDSOUP Immersive walkthrough light installation in the Lady Chapel, to
recognise the contribution made to Gloucestershire by refugees through history. Part of the celebrations marking 20 years of Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers. Gloucester Cathedral, 12 College Green, Gloucester, GL1 2LX. www.gloucestercathedral.co.uk 16 16 JANUARY JANUARY STEPHEN K AMOS: EVERYMAN
Best known for his appearances on TV shows ’Mock the Week’ and ‘Live at the Apollo’, Stephen K Amos is on a mission to bring about world peace one venue at a time, with hilarious anecdotes and takes on everyday life. 8-10pm. £18. Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, GL1 1NS. www.gloucesterguildhall.co.uk 24-26 24-26 JANUARY JANUARY CAJUN AND ZYDECO FESTIVAL Back for its 27th year, featuring live performances from Sheryl & Russell Cormier, R.Cajun & The Zydeco Brothers, John Que Saute and The Bearcats Trio. £25-£70. Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, GL1 1NS. www.gloucesterguildhall.co.uk
Promote your 2020 events in the county’s largest magazine! Promote your event in print and receive a FREE equivalent listing on our website! For more details email
info@thelocalanswer.co.uk Event listings start from only £25+VAT in print or £12 online. Page 20
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
The Local Answer
2255 JANUARY JANUARY SING SATURDAY A friendly, informal session led by Adrian Partington, one of the UK’s most renowned choral conductors with the Gloucester Choral Society. 10am-12.15pm. £10, under 25s free. Chapter House, Gloucester Cathedral, 12 College Green, Gloucester, GL1 2LX. www.gloucesterchoral.co.uk BURNS NIGHT WHISKY TASTING Whisky Tasting to celebrate Burns Night, featuring six very different Scotch whiskies to try, plus a range of nibbles and, of course, a haggis. 7.45pm. £20. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL50 5NX. Full details at www.rosestheatre.org 2299 JANUARY JANUARY FILM: ‘LUCIAN FREUD – A SELF PORTRAIT’ AT CHAPEL ARTS
A compelling film giving an insight into the fifty or more self-portraits painted
over 64 years by Lucian Freud. Wednesday 29th January. 7pm. £7 in advance, £9 on the door, £5 NUS. www.thechapelarts.com 3311 JANUARY JANUARY A SHED LOAD OF LAUGHS A night of comedy featuring Nathan Caton, Roger Monkhouse and Lindsey Santoro, compered by local comedian Nik Hill. 7pm. £10 in advance. Kingsholm Stadium, Kingsholm Road, Gloucester GL1 3AX. www.funhousecomedy.co.uk KING GEORGE V IN THE GREAT WAR
Join us for a talk by Alexandra Churchill, author of ‘George V in The Great War’ in the Lecture Theatre at the RAU, Cirencester. 6.30pm for 7pm. Talk, fork supper and wine for £25. For tickets apply to ABF The Soldiers Charity, Bulford Office (Suzanne Hollis), 01980 672337 or shollis@soldierscharity.org
D Distributors istributors Required Required
1 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY HATHEROP CASTLE PREP SCHOOL OPEN MORNING Whole School Open Morning: Saturday 1st February 10am-12pm. Reception Open Morning: Saturday 14th February 9am-10.30pm. To reserve your space for either day, please email admissions@hatheropcastle.co.uk or call 01285 750206. 4-27 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 4-27 SEEN IN THE SHIRE A series of photos inspired by the natural landscapes and wildlife of Gloucestershire by Lesley Andrew who has lived and worked in education for the last 30 years. 9am5pm. Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, Gloucester, GL1 1NS. www.gloucesterguildhall.co.uk 6-8 6-8 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY TEWKESBURY WINTER ALES FESTIVAL Hosted by the Tewkesbury branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, the 25th Tewkesbury Winter Ales Festival will have 80 Winter Ales plus local cider and perry. The Thursday Night session is for card carrying CAMRA members, with the Friday and Saturday sessions open to all. £6 per session, £10 for all sessions. George Watson Hall, Barton Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5PX. www.tewkesbury.camra.org.uk
12,000 MILE/ANNUAL SERVICE with MOT is from inclusive of parts, labour and VAT
For a few hours each month in
Coopers Edge 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 he L Loc oca al l A NS WER Distributors’ homes towards the ANS 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. GLOUCESTERSHIRE GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S ’S BIGGEST BIGGEST LOCAL LOCAL MAGAZINE MA AGAZINE JJANUARY ANUARY 22020 020
6,000/6 MONTHLY SERVICE with MOT is now from
MOT TEST ONLY £35!
www.julianrogersautoservices.co.uk w ww.julianrogersautoser vices.co.uk
HAPPY HAPPY NEW NEW YEAR YEAR TO TO ALL ALL OUR OUR READERS READERS AND AND CLIENTS! CLIENTS!
For details email Louis – distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk The Local Answer
01452 526778 or 308006
To advertise call 0122 510500
Page 21
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
A look look ahead ahead to to 2020 2020 in in Gloucester Gloucester 2020 will see plenty of entertainment in Gloucester, as the city looks to build on what was a fun-filled year in 2019. Brand new events will be coming to the city this year, adding to the return of some very popular ones – here’s our guide on the best things to look out for.
Festivals F estivals Following a successful ‘taster weekend’ in 2019, the inaugural Gloucester Country Music Festival will be bringing some of the finest names in UK and worldwide country music to venues across the city in October. The Gloucester History Festival will be celebrating the city’s roots for a week in September, coinciding with Gloucester Day.
Music M usic Café René has built a reputation
The Café René Rhythm and Blues Festival is always popular
as a live music hotspot with bands and singers performing nearly every week. They also host their Renegade Festival in April and their Rhythm and Blues Festival every July. Both Little Mix and Westlife have announced that they will be performing at Kingsholm in July as part of their summer tours.
FFilm ilm Review Review – Joe Joe K Kennett ennett
Stage S tage Gloucester is home to some of the county’s best amateur theatre companies. The St John’s Players have announced their spring production will be ‘And Then There Were None’, whilst The Phoenix Players will be bringing ‘Sabbat’ to The Kings Theatre in February. Full story online.
Book Book Review Review – Aloÿse Aloÿse of of Daylesford Daylesford Book Book Club Club
F Frozen rozen IIII
The T he P Pianist ianist of of Yarmouk Yarmouk
In the second Frozen instalment, Elsa (Idina Menzel), Anna (Kristen Bell), Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) and Olaf (Josh Gad) journey to an enchanted forest in a quest to find the origin of Elsa’s icy powers, following a mysterious voice that calls out to her. While it’s hard to beat the plot twist of Hans’ villainy of the first film, the sequel’s plot packs in enough of a punch to keep children and adults alike on their toes. Directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee return along with the majority of the first film’s creative team, which is most likely what keeps the original flame (or snowflake, in this case) alive. In short – Frozenmania has returned. ‘Frozen II’ stands tall as one of Disney’s greatest sequel successes. Could it be that the franchise powers that be have mastered the sequel? Full review online.
by Aeham Ahmad In 2013, a video was posted on YouTube of Aeham Ahmad playing the piano in the ruins of Yarmouk, a suburb of Damascus. This is the story of Aeham’s life. His father was a talented violinist and carpenter who was totally blind, and his family had a renowned music shop. Aeham showed great musical ability and won a place at the prestigious music academy in Homs. Then the bombing began. The family like many others lose everything. Ae ham pu shes a piano out on to the stree ts to escape from the misery, and surrounded by children and neighbours, he plays to them. There is no food and life is unbearable but still he continues to play. The story is heart wrenching but the power of music shines through. 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
on why JJPDL PDL o nw hy he he makes makes music music JPDL is one of the most recognisable names on the music scene in Gloucestershire. Best known for rapping and his collaborations with local producer Yogi Beats, JPDL – also known as Dave – has become something of a go-to man for local gigs and events like the Rooftop and King’s Jam Festivals. With gigs and festivals all around the county, it’s safe to say last year was certainly a busy one. “2019 was definitely a lot of fun!” he said. “Me and Yogi put out an album that got pressed to vinyl and was featured as a small exhibition in the Wilson art gallery.” JPDL has been performing for over a decade, first getting on stage aged 17, and now runs rap and beatbox workshops for people all ages.
JPDL
He continued: “I would describe what I do as hip hop, but like the genre of hip hop itself I tried to be as versatile as I can. “I do a lot of acapella, spoken word poetry and also double time rap on everything from UK garage to ska to reggae and funk.” When it comes to writing new
music, Dave says the process is not only enjoyable, but also a way to fully express his feelings, something that he admits can be a struggle. “I find the song writing and creative process very therapeutic and cathartic. I can talk about how I really feel in this form of rhythmic rhyme in a completely real context, which is something I find really hard to do in conversation. “There is something very free and honest about rap. For example, writing about losing my dad when I was a teenager was a really important learning curve for me. “I realised that writing your thoughts down on the page can help you assess them in a different way and lift the pressure they can have a little bit.” Full story online.
T The he group group creating creating accessible accessible theatre theatre The Velcro Collective is a Gloucester-based initiative, focused on bringing accessible performances to audiences across the country. The programme began in 2016 and is made up of contemporary dance artists turned producers, Louise Brown and Lucy Ellis-Howell. “We’ve worked together for over 20 years on dance and theatre projects,” said Louise. “We share a passion for creating high quality, accessible performance work that connects with a diverse range of people.” The Velcro Collective collaborates with different artists to bring a range of skills and experiences to the group and the work they make. Louise continued: “We are currently working with Glouc-
The Velcro Collective at the Gloucester History Festival. Picture: Jack Offord
estershire-born theatre director Nicola Miles-Wildin and Bristolbased visually impaired dancer Holly Thomas, as well as a Creative Access Designer from Cardiff and four performers from across the UK and Europe. “Accessibility is at the heart of our work and we are currently developing methods of com-
bining movement with sound to embed audio description for visually impaired audience members into the creative process.” The Velcro Collective is funded by Arts Council England and Blueprint: Without Walls R&D Investment Fund. This, says Louise, has allowed them to research and develop a new interactive outdoor family show about camping, called ‘Pitch Up’. She added: “It will be an immersive and participatory experience where the audiences influence different elements of the show through joining in. “We will be inviting audiences to explore some of the fun parts of camping as well as the bits where things don’t go to plan!” Full story online.
For For full full articles articles and and m more ore sstories tories vvisit isit w www.thelocalanswer.co.uk ww.thelocalanswer.co.uk
Homes & Gardens HOME CARE ROOFING & BUILDING
FFREE REE Quotations, Quotations, Advice, Advice, Samples Samples & Brochures Brochures
FOR ALL YOUR PROPERT PROPERTY TY NEEDS • Roofs repairs & full replacement • Tiles & Slates • Felt & battening • Ridge tiles & chimney repairs • Lead work • Flat roofs • EPDM rubber F FREE REE 330% 0r% OFF OduFrinFg • Repointing SCAFFOLDING! SCAFFOLDING! aany ny oorders ders during • Roof coatings JJanuary anuary 2020 2020 T&Cs T&Cs a apply pply • Dry verge systems • uPVC fascias, soffits & gutters • Moss removal/fungicidal treatments • External painting and much more!
berudman@yahoo.co.uk ber udman@yahoo.co.uk
ALL WORK FULLY LY GUARANTEED • FULLY INSURED INSUURED FFor or a F FREE REE Q QUOTATION UOTATION p please lease ccall: all:
•D Driveways riveways •P Patios atios •R Resin esin B Bonding onding •A Artificial rtificial Grass Grass •F Fencing encing •L Landscaping andscaping •T Turfing urfing •G Garden arden Walls Walls
5 Year Guarantee with all works Many local refe erences available
C Covering overing C Cheltenham heltenham & G Gloucester loucester
07843 07843 277723 277723 ~ 0 01242 1242 255043 255043
07768 07768 5 528944 28944 / 01452 01452 3 348487 48487 (Please (Please ddialial aarea rea ccode) ode) o orr e email mail m mitchelldavishomecare@hotmail.com itchelldavishomecare@hotmail.com
47 4 7W WORCESTER ORCESTER STREET, STREET, GLOUCESTER GLOUCESTER G GL1 L1 3 3AW AW
CPA G PAVING P A AV VING
LANDSCAPING L ANDSCAPING D DRIVEWAYS RIVEWAYS PATIOS P ATIOS
&
Block Paving • Tarmac • Gravel Drainage • Kerbs • Steps • Paths Turfing • Fencing & Decking
r 99le ca £r7singrive fo d T& Cs ap ply
1A0LL%WOOFRKF
BOOKED IN JANUARY 2020
5Y YEAR EAR G GUARANTEE UARA RANTE EE WITH WITH ALL ALL WORKS WORKS
FULLY F ULLY IINSURED NSURED Page 2
NEW NEW Resin Resin B Bound ound D Driveways riveways
FFREE REE q quotations uotta ations
01242 0 1242 801706 801706 01452 0 1452 341699 341699 candgpavvinguk@gmail.com
w w..cg-paving.co.uk w www.cg-paving.co.uk w ww
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
The Local Answer
R ROOFING OOFING & D DRIVEWAY RIVEWAY SSPECIALIST PECIALIST NEW ROOFS & REPAIRS FLAT ROOFS • CHIMNEY WORK • TILES & SLATES FASCIAS • GUTTERING • SOFFITS • UPVC
AQ QUALITY UALITY SSERVICE ERVICE FFROM ROM TTOP OP TTO OB BOTTOM OTTOM Winter Sale GENUINE
10% OFF T&Cs apply
TARMAC
BLOCK PAVING
REGULATED & INSURANCE APPROVED
FFREE REE QUOTATIONS QUOTATIONS GLOSBUILD GLOS BUILD 01242 500918 00918 Professional Professional & R Reliable eliable 01242 5 L LTD TD
General General Builders Builders OVER OVER 40 40 YEARS’ YEARS’ EXPERIENCE! EXPERIENCE! The Local Answer
ALL A LL M MAJOR AJOR CREDIT CREDIT CARDS CARDS ACCEPTED ACCEPTED
info@glosbuild.co.uk info@glosbuild.co.uk w www.glosbuild.co.uk ww.glosbuild.co.uk Court Court FFarm, arm, TTewkesbury ewkesbury Road, Road, Twigworth, Twigworth, G Glos. los. G GL2 L2 9 9PX PX
To advertise call 0122 510500
Page 25
JHD D
ROOFING & BUILDING • Roofing Repairs & Full Replacement • Slate & Tiled Roofs • Lead Work • Skylights • UPVC Fascias & Soffits • Gutter Replacement & Cleaning • Roof Cleaning
• Chimney Repairs, Removals & Rebuild • Dry Verge Cops • Dry Ridge Copping • Fully Insured • All Work Guaranteed • Professional & Reliable • Free Quotes
UPP TO U TO
30% 3 0% o off ff
all all rranges anges of of flat flat rroof oof ssystems, ystems, UPVC UPVC ffascias, ascias, ssoffits offits & gguttering uttering
Many Many llocal ocal references references available available upon upon rrequest equest F Fully ully Insured Insured ~ All All work work guaranteed guaranteed We’ll We’ll b beat eat any any ‘like ‘like for for like’ like’ quotation! quotation! For For a F FREE REE ESTIMATE ESTIMATE p please lease ccall: all: Please ddial ial 001452 1452 347643 347643 ((Please 07879 3370178 70178 aarea rea ccode) ode) 07879
or or email: email: jhdroofingandbuilding@gmail.com jhdroofingandbuilding@gmail.com
BIG BIG JOB J L Little ittle Job J
All Work All Work Fully Fully Guaranteed Guaranteed • Specialise Specialise in in EDM EDM rubber rubber roofs roofs • New New Roofs Roofs GG.R.P .R.P Fibreglass Fibreglass • Certified Certified CCURE URE IT IT IInstallers nstallers • Roof Roof Cleaning Cleaning & CCoating oating • Ro Roof oof & Chimney Chimney Repairs Repairs • Slate Slate Repairs Repairs • Dry Dry Verges Verges • FFlat lat Roof Roof RRepairs epairs • uPVC uPVC • FFascias, ascias, SSoffits offits & Guttering Guttering • uuPVC PVC RRepairs epairs • PPainting ainting & Decorating Decorating
Property Property M Maintenance aintenance
••Painting Painting ••Decorating Decorating ••Bathrooms Bathrooms ••Kitchens Kitchens
01452 01452 8 899903 99903 07503 07503 8 858963 58963 w www.a1roofing.uk ww.a1roofing.uk
07900 07900 923888 923888
CCheltenham heltenham Rd Rd EEast, ast, Gloucester, Gloucester, GGL3 L3 11AE AE
E.P.S E .P.S Ellis Property Solutions FFREE REE
Fitted Fitted B Bathrooms athrooms F Fitted itted K Kitchens itchens E Electrical lectrical Plumbing Plumbing
Laminate Laminate Worktops Worktops oon n all all Kitchens Kitchens
email Scott@epsuklimited.co.uk
mobile mobile
07976 0 7976 090247 090247 llandline andline
www.eps‐glos.co.uk 001452 1452 5549213 49213
Paving & Tarmac Specialists B Block lock Paving Paving • TTarmac armac • Landscaping Landscaping Driveways FFencing encing • Patios Patios • Driveways & Sons Ltd
Garden Walls Walls Garden
A ALSO LSO
All our work is G Guaranteed uaranteed ffor or 5 y years! ears! Guaranteed to beat any genuine quote
Resin esin Driveways, Driveways, P Patios atios & P Paths aths
aintenance • Low M Maintenance • Choice Choice ooff Colours Colours • Durable Durable & Long Long Lasting Lasting • Weed Weed Free Free Drainage • Porous Porous for for Drainage
Rectory Rectory F Fields, ields, R Rudford, udford, G Gloucestershire loucestershire G GL2 L2 8 8DT DT
Tel: T el: 01452 01452 6668005 68005 / 001453 1453 2297010 97010 / 001285 1285 2238089 3 80 8 9
Reduces Puddles •R educes P uddles • Firm, Firm, attractive attractive Surface Surfface Can •C an bbee aapplied pplied oover ve r Surface EExisting xisting S urface Cost •C ost Effective Effective
w www.marshallsdriveways.co.uk ww.marshallsdriveways.co.uk
Company Company rregistration: egistration: 1 11415390 1415390
Page 2
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
The Local Answer
SK KYLINE YLIN NE
R ROOFING & OOFING & P PROPERTY CARE ROPERTY CARE
AAllll rroofing oofing w work ork uundertaken ndertaken aand nd ffully ully gguaranteed uaranteed •N ew R oofs • R oof R epairs • FFlat lat R oofs ((GRP GRP & FFelt) elt) New Roofs Roof Repairs Roofs •E PDM R ubber • E aves P rotection ((EPS) EPS) EPDM Rubber Eaves Protection •D ry V erge & R idge S ystems Dry Verge Ridge Systems Chimney Repairs Re-pointing •C himney R epairs • R e-pointing UPVC Roofline Products Soffits, U PVC R oofline P roducts – S offits, Cladding, Guttering FFascias, ascias, C ladding, G uttering Gutter Cleaning Repairs •G utter C leaning & R epairs Brickwork Driveways Patios •B rickwork • D riveways • P atios Paths Block Paving Slabbing •P aths • B lock P aving • S labbing Exterior Washing Service •E xterior Painting Painting • JJet et W ashing S ervice
0 01452 1452 3 347720 47720 • 0 07984 7984 5 592457 92457
C CARE ARE C Construction onstruction
family business business delivering delivering a professional professional A family and friendly friendly sservice er vice aacross cross G loucestershire and Gloucestershire
Eleven Eleven Builders Builders Ltd Ltd
Construction, Construction, iinstallations nstallations and and ffinishing inishing touches touches – all all work work is is ccompleted ompleted tto o tthe he highest h ighest sstandard tandard
A ffamily amily rrun un building building ccompany ompany offering offe ering a w wealth ealth o off experience experience and and ap passion assion for fo or excellence excellence
P Please lease gget et in in ttouch ouch for for a ffree ree quotation: quotation:
iinfo@elevenbuilding.co.uk nfo@elevenbuilding.co.uk w www.elevenbuilding.co.uk ww.elevenbuilding.co.uk R Renovations enovations E Extensions xtensions LLoft oft Conversions Conversions K Kitchens itchens B Bathrooms athrooms GGarage arage CConversions onversions
0 07572 7572 3 389186 89186
TONEWORK • EEXTENSIONS XTENSIONS • RRENOVATIONS ENOVATIONS • SSTONEWORK • BBARN ARN CCONVERSIONS ONVERSIONS • PPROPERTY ROPERTY MAINTENANCE MAINTENANCE • SSPECIALIST PECIALIST RRE-POINTING E-POINTING • LLANDSCAPING ANDSCAPING
PPlease lease eemail mail oorr call: call: info@careconstruction.online info@careconstruction.online
001452 1452 649 649 7754 54 • 007794 7794 540 540 071 071 • 07834 07834 7728 28 7778 78 www.careconstruction.online w ww.careconstruction.online
Property refurbishments • Kitchens and bathrooms Wet floor showers and disabled adaptations Extensions • External works Electrical testing and upgrades SSatisfying atisfying C Customers ustomers aacross cross G Gloucestershire loucestershire ssince ince 1 1998 998
We are a local company with a proven track record of delivering excellent customer service, great value for money and the very highest levels of workmanship for every one of our customers.
C Contact ontact u uss tto o ssee ee h how ow w we e ccan an h help elp yyou... ou ... e info@nkscontractscentral.co.uk info@nkscontractscentral.co.uk t 01451 01451 861155 861155 w n nkscontractscentral.co.uk kscontractscentral.co.uk The Local Answer
To advertise call 0122 510500
Page 27
WB Home Home Improvements Improvements
ELITE LOFT FT FT LADDERS
Family run business ~ 40 years’ experience All aspects of roofing – new installations, repairs, cleaning, chimney repointing, ridge tiles, gutters, fascias, soffits and flat roof work Re-pointing and general brick work and garden wall replacement and repairs NO JOB TOO obligation’ N OJ OB T OO SMALL SMALL – ffor or a ffree ree ‘‘no no o bligation’ estimate please contact William e stimate p lease c ontact W illiam .... ..
Safe and easy access
LLOFT OFT LADDERS LADDERS SUPPLIED SUPPLIED & INSTALLED INSTALLED LLOFT OFT HATCHES HATCHES EENLARGED NLARGED 01452 526040 07972 777876
PPLEASE DIAL LEASE DIAL AAREA CODE REA CODE
01452 348760 • 07887 760801
wbhomeimprovements427@gmail.com w bhomeimprovements427@gmail.com
mark@eliteloftladders.co.uk www.eliteloftladders.co.uk
JOE & JAMIE
~ Established 25 years! ~
LANDSCAPE GARDENERS All garden work undertaken and guaranteed! Fencing, Patios, Block Paved Drives & Gravel Surfaces Tree & Hedge Pruning, Trimming, Felling 10% OFF Turf supplied and laid ~ Lawns removed for OAPs Retaining Walls Built/Repaired
No job too small or too large ~ All waste removed For a FREE ‘no obligation’ estimate, call Joe or Jamie on
01452 500942 or 07724 159342
CHOSEN C HOSEN LAWNMOWER L AWNMOWER SERVICES S ERVICES S SERVICING ERVICING & REPAIR REPAIR of of d domestic omestic lawnmowers lawnmowers Mower Mower collection collection and d and delivery elivery For a reliable, friendly service please speak to Graham on
07771 07771 783528 783528
or to leave a message call
Woodlands W oodlands Landscapes Landscapes 0 01452 1452 7 731967 31967
All types of gardening work undertaken For a FREE FREE PPATIOS ATIOS•FENCING FENCING•TURFING TURFING For n oo bligation no obligation PRUNING PRUNING•TOPPING TOPPING•FELLING FELLING quote quote call: call: HEDGE HEDGE CUTTING CUTTING 001452 1452 GARDEN GARDEN CLEARANCES CLEARANCES 8 99771 899771 A family run business – we won’t be beaten on price! leewoodlands@hotmail.com
or or
007919 7919 8837765 37765
DIY & TRADE GREAT WEEKEND HIRE OPTIONS
Turf Lifters
Lawn Scarifier
Plate Compactor
Long Reach Hedge Trimmer
£50
£40
£26.25
£35
Post Hole Borer
£37.50
Cherry picker hire available with free site surveys
Massive range of sale items including
and
and all gardening and hand tools
Byard Road, Gloucester GL2 5DF 01452 526616 7.30am-5pm and 8am-12pm Saturdays
www.ermin.co.uk Page 28
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
The Local Answer
GRASS
SCAPE
SPECIALISTS IN
STEVEN
&
15% 15% OFF O FF
Domestic and Industrial Skips
ork b ooked allll w a work booked iin n JJanuary anuary 2 020 2020
BLOCK PAVING • TARMAC • GRAVEL • ARTIFICIAL GRASS
ATTENTION! A TTENTION! Let us lighten your load! Stevens Recycling
✆ sales@grassscape.co.uk www.GrassScape.co.uk Manor Farm • Stoke Road • Cheltenham • GL52 7RY
Ham Villa Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham GL52 6NB
01242 522647/529397
stevensrecycling584@gmail.com
SPEC IAL O FF on En ER CLEARA d of Line NCE UP T O 35 STOCK
O OVER VER 20 20 YEARS YEARS E EXPERIENCE XPERIENC DIS COU %* *T&
Cs Ap ply
NT
RESIN IVEWAYS & PATIOS
W Weed eed Free, Free, No Maintenance, No Maintenance, P Porous o ro u s S Surface urface
e yourself the cost igging up your old e and apply to your existing surface
C COST OST EFFECTIVE EFFECTIVE S SOLUTION OLUTION
LANDSCAPING • PATHS PAT PA ATHS • PATIOS PA ATIOS • DROP KERBS • GARDEN WALLS AT WA • FENCING FENC CING RESIN BOUND BOUND DRIVEWAYS CHIPPINGS DRIVEWAYS • RESIN DRIVEWAYS • HOT HOT TAR TAR SPRAY SPRAY & CHIPPINGS DRIVEWAYS SURFACE DRESSING DRESSING • CARPARK CARPARK REPAIRS, CLEANING & S EALING S ERVICES REPAIRS, CLEANING SURFACE SEALING SERVICES DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL COMMERCIAL DOMESTIC
01452 0 14 5 2 7 757836 5 7 83 6 • 0 07867 78 6 7 9 910377 1 03 7 7
OFFERS ANTASTIC OFFERS View View our our gallery gallery at at w www.pave-drive.co.uk ww.pave-drive.co.uk FFANTASTIC ON FENCING FENCING AND AND ON ARTIFICIAL LAWNS LAWNS ARTIFICIAL
5Y YEAR EAR G GUARANTEES, UARANTEES, FREE FREE NO NO OBLIGATION OBLIGATION WRITTEN WRITTEN QUOTATIONS, QUOTATIONS, FULLY FULLY INSURED INSURED
The Local Answer
To advertise call 0122 510500
Page 2
Phoenix P hoenix Gardens Gardens
A All ll Landscaping Landscaping and and Horticultural Horticultural work work undertaken undertaken
Let L et u uss d doo tthe he g groundwork roundwork ffor or y you ou
◆ Fencing ◆ Tu urfing ◆ Garden Landscaping ◆ Decking ◆ Patios ◆ Plant Advice ◆ Complete Garden Makeovers ◆ Hedge Cutting & Planting Call C all Mark Mark on on MOB: MOB: 07979 07979 421 421 501 501 T EL: 0 1452 549 TEL: 01452 549 2 286 86 www.phoenixgardenersgloucester.co.uk
andscape D Design/Advice esign/Advice • LLandscape • Garden/Commercial Garden/Commercial Maintenance Maintenance •G Grass rass Cutting Cutting • T Turfing urfing •A Artificial rtificial Grass Grass • FFencing encing • Decking Decking • P Patios atios •P Planting lanting • P Pruning runing P PROFESSIONAL ROFESSIONAL • TRAINED TRAINED • COMMITTED COMMITTED
C Call all Garry Garry on on 0 07398 7398 1 162908 62908 or or 01452 01452 6 612379 12379 www.gslandscapesolutions.co.uk www.gslandscapesolutions.co.uk
• Tree Work • Garden Design • Garden Maintenance • Turfing • Lawn Cutting • Hedge Trimming • Pond Work • Patios • Decking • Pergolas • Fencing • Sheds • Driveways Diploma in Horticulture ~ Established 1993
Free Quotes ~ Competitive Rates
01242 01242 713800 713800 / 07778 07778 340485 340485
www.markclifford-landscapes.co.uk w ww.markclifford-landscapes.co.uk
Rob Cockburn
Tree & Hedge Services
Master Master Sheds Sheds Each structure is custom built to your own requirements – perhaps to fit a corner of the garden or a difficult location.
• Take down, reductions, crown lifting & thinning, bracing FIREWOOD • Stump grinding • Tree and hedge planting • Hedge laying, trimming and reductions A LOAD • Site clearance & excavations
£60
ALL TREE WORK OPERATIONS UNDERTAKEN
Fully NPTC Qualified and Insured
m: 07787 578845 t: 01452 700388 e: rob.cockburn16@gmail.com
01452 314011 07831 762644
www.mastersheds.co.uk
Unit D, Sudmeadow Road, Hempsted, Gloucester GL2 5JA
Garden Sheds, Summerhouses, Home Offices, Garages, Workshops, Site Huts, Stables, Kennels, Aviaries, Pavilions or any large timber buildings! Page 0
All aspects of Tree and Garden work undertaken Hedges R Hedges Reductions, eductions, T Trimming rimming & Removals Trees T rees Pruning Pruning & F Felling el l i n g Garden Garden Clearances Clearances Domestic Domestic & C Commercial ommercial Tree W T Wood-chipping d hi i S Services i FENCING • PATIOS • TURFING • JET-WASHING No job too small or big · Professional, Local, Reliable Service
We We are are also also registered registered waste waste carriers carriers – Fully Fully insured insured
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
0 01242 1242 8 851 51 9 941 41 0 01452 1452 4 404 04 6 626 26
The Local Answer
IIn n tthe he Garden Garden w with ith JJulia ulia S Smith mith
G Grow row your your own own iin n2 2020 020 Happy New Year to all you gardeners. I hope you are enthused to get into the garden in 2020 and start to grow some f o od ! W it h inc reas ing c on cer n over the health of our planet, producing your own fruit and vegetables is set to become a popular trend. Usher in the New Year by sowing the first vegetable seeds of the season. If you haven’t grown anything before try some radishes – sow in rows 1cm deep and 15cm apart. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, thin to 2.5cm apart. They should be ready in 8-10 weeks. You can sow lettuces straight into the ground as long as you cover them with a cold-frame or some horticultural fleece if the weather gets cold. You can pick the leaves individually and let the plant keep on growing.
C Create reate n natural atural llooking ooking p pea ea ssticks ticks A useful thing to do now is to collect material for making pea sticks to support plants in your borders in the summer. Hazel
and birch twigs are the best ones to use. Pea sticks look much more natural than using readymade supports and can be bent and semi-snapped to create the desired shapes. Leave them tied up in bundles in a corner somewhere outside and put them in place early on in the season to enable the plants to grow through them for a natural look. Vines, ornamental and grape, need to be pruned now before the rising sap makes them bleed from any cuts. Prune last
year’s stems back to one or two buds. January is the right time to give wisteria its winter pruning. Cut back the whippy stems that have grown last year to two or three buds. This will create flowering ‘spurs’ to bloom in the summer. Do take care if you have to use ladders – make sure the bottom is secure on a flat surface and don’t lean over to make it unstable. If you have a vast wisteria that has gone beserk after being ignored for many years, it may pay to get in a specialist gardener who can get it back into some semblance of order and enable you to carry on with it yourself in future years.
Look Look after after your your ttrees rees during during ssnowy nowy w weather eather If we have heavy snowfall, take a broom and knock snow off evergreens or bare tree branches where the weight can break boughs. If paths are icy, sprinkle with sharp sand which you can brush up and use to improve drainage in the garden later on. Salt is not good for the garden so avoid if possible. The Local Answer
To advertise call 0122 510500
Page 1
FEMALE DECORATOR
Sudoku Fill the grids so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.
07891 194005 iinfo@sarsenenergy.co.uk nfo@sarsenenergy.co.uk w www.sarsenenergy.co.uk ww.sarsenenergy.co.uk
michellepowell81@hotmail.com
OOKER YOUR Y OUR ELECTRIC ELECTRIC C COOKER OR OVEN OVEN N OT W ORKING? OR NOT WORKING? EST E ST 2 2004 004 l cal TTel: el: 07955 07955 295360 295360
For more information please visit the website @
www.fix-my-oven.co.uk w ww.fix-my-oven.co.uk
DIRTY D IRTY C COOKER OOKER OR OR OVEN? OVEN? Tel: 01242 227067
www.ovenbusters-cheltenham.co.uk www.ovenbusters-cheltenham.co.uk
Don’t look until you’ve finished! Solutions on ‘Index of Advertisers’ page.
THE SOLUTION FOR YOUR NEW BATHROOM ... Your local family business
Page 2
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
The Local Answer
IInterior nterior D Design esign w with ith G Gill ill G Greenwell reenwell
N New ew year year – new new h home ome iinspiration nspiration At this time of the year I always enjoy making New Year’s resolutions, even if it’s sometimes hard to stick to them! The New Year is a good time for reflection and looking forward so, inspired by a quote I read recently from writer Sophie Dahl – “home is a place that makes me feel at peace” – I have been thinking about some key themes for our homes for 2020. Here are my thoughts.
M Mindfulness indfulness A wellness and mindfulness approach to life can be applied to our homes too. Take a fresh look at your living space and make it a calm and relaxing place to be. Having enough storage is key, but first make sure to declutter – the postChristmas period is always a good time for this. Edit your wardrobe, sort out your books, only keep toys your children play with, take unwanted toys, clothes, books, etc. to the charity shop or sell them on e-Bay. If it feels too daunting, there is plenty of advice out there to help you. I have a friend who is a wardrobe editor and it’s
amazing how neat and orderly your wardrobe looks after a session with her. My resolution is to sort out those piles of papers and magazines in my office – I’ve been planning to do it for the last three years!
Back B ack to to nature nature Create a connection with nature – a great antidote to our fastpaced, social media led lives. Think soothing textiles, touchme surfaces, earthy neutral palettes, botanicals and natural woods. With the current trend for all things natural, you can find lots of beautiful seagrass and natural-fibre baskets that really don’t cost too much. I was lucky enough to see the launch of fashion brand French Connection’s S/S 2020 home collection recently. It had such a lovely relaxed, natural vibe – I was particularly taken with the buttery leather sling-back chairs and soft colour-washed velvet cushions.
Original O riginal a and nd a authentic uthentic A yearning for the simple life is permeating current interiors trends too. Look out for original craftsmanship, hand-
Image: French Connection
The Local Answer
To advertise call 0122 510500
Image: French Connection
printed natural fabrics, ethnic inspired rugs and handcrafted ceramics. Use natural materials where you can – I always think they last longer, and they age better. A friend of mine made the top for his dining table from an original piece of old oak – it not only looks beautiful, but it makes a real statement too.
Av very ery p personal ersonal space space Your home should be a thoughtful collection of all the things you love. Surround yourself only with the things that make you happy. Invest in some open shelving for displaying your most loved possessions. Be inspired by travel, art and nature. Find your own personal style, re-decorate using colours that make you feel calm and peaceful. You too can create your own space where you really want to be. Now it’s time to hunker down under that soft wool throw you found in the sales, and delve into the Christmas book you can’t wait to start reading. Happy New Year! Page
EMERGENCY PLUMBER Available 24/7 90-minute Response Time
sional plumber Fully insured No job too small
q
07900 923888
Mobile:
0 07880 7880 258158 258158 kerry@thefemaleplumber.co.uk
LTD
OVENS O VENS • EXTRACTOR EXTRACTOR FANS FANS • M MICROWAVES ICROWAVES H OBS • A GAS • R AYBURNS HOBS AGAS RAYBURNS
Kerry rry Baker Baker
GRP Electrical Current Emergency Plumber of the Year
Local independent oven cleaning specialist
Female male Plumber umber
DOMESTIC, COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL
100% products 100% biodegradable biodegradable and and non-caustic non-caustic p roducts Tidy, efficient Tidy, cclean, lean, e fficient system! system!
01452 01452 404600 404600 | 07958 07958 383366 383366 w www.ovenandrangecleaning.co.uk ww.ovenandrangecleaning.co.uk iinfo@ovenandrangecleaning.co.uk nfo@ovenandrangecleaning.co.uk
Page
Getting ready for the dark nights with external security lighting • Rewires • Fault finding • Showers • Inspection & testing • Distribution board upgrades FREE ESTIMATES, NO CALL OUT CHARGE
10% OFF EVERYTHING
for work booked and carried out before 31st January 2020
01452 690650 • 01242 649642 www.grpelectricalltd.co.uk
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
The Local Answer
7 20 YE 13 AR ~2 S 02 0
F Follow ollow u us s on on
QUEDGELEY Q UEDGELEY CARPETS CARPETS
NEW NEW YEAR YEAR SALE SALE
SSAVE AVE UUPP TTOO 25% 25%
OFF OFF CARPETS, CARPETS, VINYLS, VINYLS, LAMINATES LAMINATES &R RUGS UGS TTHROUGHOUT HROUGHOUT JJANUARY ANUARY Why W hy c choose hoose Q Quedgeley uedgeley Carpets... Carpets... We don’t don’t pride pride ourselves ourselves on We on being being Gloucestershire’s Gloucestershire’s biggest biggest independent flooring flooring shop shop – just independent just on on being being the the best. best.
R Reviews eviews sspeak peak for for tthemselves hemselves … we we a are re a # a above bove the the rest! rest!
5 M
Holiday Inn Express WA TE RW EL LS DR IVE
dy tody Cussto ice Cu Pol Police tes Sui Suites
IIRRE RSH Y STE AR CE BUL OU TA GL ONS C
If If you you can’t can’t g get et tto o tthe he s shop hop tthen hen d don’t on’t worry worry – we we offer offer a free free measuring, measuring, e estimating stimating a and nd home home selection selection s service. ervice.
The Bumble Bee
Y TELFORD WA
Selecting your your flooring flooring couldn’t couldn’t b ee asier! O ur s alesmen d o Selecting be easier! Our salesmen do not work work on on commission, commission, s o we we ccan an e nsure o ur ccustomers ustomers not so ensure our ar e g etting the the right right product product ffor or tthe he rright ight p rice. are getting price.
STTANLEY COURT
OSE LO EDISON C
A38
We focus focus on on extraordinary extraordinary customer customer s ervice – o ur e xpert We service our expert fitting team team can can move move furniture, furniture, u plift a nd rremove emove old old fitting uplift and flooring, ease ease your your doors doors … and and vacuum vacuum before before w e lleave! eave! flooring, we
GLO UCE STE R
The smallest smallest things things make make the The the biggest biggest impact. impact.
WE AR ARE E HERE HERE
TEL FO RD WA Y
C arpets • V inyls • L aminates • L uxury V inyl T Carpets Vinyls Laminates Luxury Vinyl Tiles iles E Engineered ngineered W Wood ood • R Rugs ugs • A Artificial rtificial G Grass rass
U Unit nit 1 1,, S Stanley tanley C Court, ourt, T Telford elford W Way, ay, Quedgeley, Quedgeley, Gloucester Gloucester GL2 GL2 2AE 2AE
01452 883113 883113 01452 www.quedgeleycarpets.co.uk www.quedgeleycarpets.co.uk
iinfo@quedgeleycarpets.co.uk nfo@quedgeleycarpets.co.uk •
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
kit F c r Vi hen om sit t ou mak he U r s eo K’ ho ve s # wr r e 1 oo xp m er no ts. w
PRICE FREEZE Ends 31s 1st January ry 2
B Before efore
020
9 Est. 199
BOOK YOUR APPOIN INTMENT TODAY!
The Local Answer
To advertise call 0122 510500
Page 7
Leaflet Distribution Service
•D Delivering elivering direct direct to to over over 169,000 169,000 p roperties e very m onth properties every month •T Targeted argeted D Delivery elivery a across cross o our ur 5 500+ 00+ iindividual ndividual rrounds ounds •H assle-free S torage and and Delivery Delivery Hassle-free Storage ((we we a accept ccept d delivery elivery o off yyour our lleaflets eaflets direct direct from from printing p rinting ccompanies) ompanies)
A And nd w with ith a m maximum aximum o off 2 BOOK n non-conflicting on-conflicting lleaflets eaflets EARLY d delivered elivered w with ith e each ach ccopy opy of of ffoor thhis is T The he L Local ocal A Answer nswer m magazine, agazine verryy popu serrvviicce! llaar yyou ou w will ill receive receive fantastic fantastic exposure e xposure for for your your advertising. advertising For F or more more d details etails email email or or phone phone John: John:
leaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk leaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk
0 01242 1242 5 541075 41075
Page 8
• Boiler service £50+VAT • Landlord gas safety check £50+VAT • Boiler breakdowns and repairs • Boiler installations • General plumbing and plumbing maintenance
• Heating installations • Complete bathroom installations • Gas Safe and Oftec (oil) registered • Free no obligation quotations
T: T: 001452 1452 4452002 52002 E: E: Office@gloucesterplumb.co.uk Office@gloucesterplumb.co.uk www.gloucesterplumb.co.uk w ww.gloucesterplumb.co.uk
BM B MS SERVICES ERVICES W Window, indow, Door Door & Conservatory Conservatory R Repairs epairs
A sspecialist pecialist rrepair epair sservice ervice ffor or w windows, indows, d doors o o rs a and nd conservatories conservatories w with ith o over ver 4 40 0 yyears’ ears’ e experience. xperience. Misted glass Handles andles Misted g lass • Locks Locks • Hinges Hinges • H Seals Conservatory Roof Cleaning leaning Seals • C onservatory R oof C For For ffree ree quotes quotes a and nd a rreliable, eliable, ffriendly riendly sservice: ervice: Am member ember o off C Call: all: 07963 0 7 9 63 2 217998 17 99 8 E Email: mail: b barrieminett@mail.com arrieminett@mail.com Web: www.bm-services-glos.co.uk W eb: w ww.bm-services-glos.co.uk VERY VERY C COMPETITIVE OMPETITIVE PRICES PRICES
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
The Local Answer
11st st Choice Choice
AAerial erial & Satellites & Satellites
Digital Aerial Digital Aerial IInstallations nstallations U pgrades Upgrades a nd R epairs and Repairs
110% 0% o off ff with w ith tthis his a advert dvert Mark M ark Hawkes Hawkes
TTel: el: 01452 01452 311511 311511
LITTLE WHITE VAN MAN
Gloucestershire’s Gloucestershire’s ffriendly, riendly, cost cost eeffective ffective rremovals, emovals, collections, collections, deliveries deliveries aand nd house house clearance clearance sservice! ervice! Discounts for OAPs, students, NHS, emergency services
B BIG IG VANS VANS A AVAILABLE VAILABLE Great reviews reviews o on Great n
07903 097465 01452 303850
hello@littlewhitevanman.co.uk
RHODES CARPENTRY CAN ASSIST YOU WITH ALL YOUR CARPENTRY AND BUILDING NEEDS
07870 586701 lee@rhodescarpentry.co
List your business in our online directory from only £12 per month ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ *Only available on Platinum Listings. See website for more details.
F FREE REE G GOLD OLD L LISTING ISTING
For every customer that advertises in our printed magazine, for the duration of your booking.
w www.thelocalanswer.co.uk ww.thelocalanswer.co.uk The Local Answer
Money Money Matters Matters w with ith R Roger oger D Downes ownes o off A Andorran ndorran
Spot S pot tthe he sscam cam They say that moving house and divorce are two of the most stressful things you can go through. But maybe there is a more modern activity that’s capable of rivalling both of these put together. Falling for a scam. Sadly, fraudsters are clever people. It’s a shame they don’t channel their abilities for the benefit of all of us, but they don’t. Instead they prey on the vulnerable, often the more elderly members of society living alone. And they are so convincing. Some fraudsters will try to infiltrate your computer systems. You try your best with virus protection, but often that’s not enough. Dealing with the outcome of that is stressful enough, but it’s nothing compared to the rogue phone calls designed to empty your bank account or take away your hard earned savings, on which you are relying in your later life. The initial call will generally suggest that the caller is from the police, telling you that you have been caught up in a fraud. You are offered the chance to check what you’re being told, by calling 999 or 101 with the details they have given you. The fraudster hasn’t hung up, of course, so when you make that call, you are straight back through to them. They go on to suggest that the only way in which they can catch the ‘criminals’ is to set them up by using money you have withdrawn from your savings accounts. You go to the bank or building society, draw out used notes and hand them over to the ‘policeman’ you’ve been talking to. It’s the last you’ll hear from them and the last you’ll see of your money. The fraudsters tell you that you mustn’t tell another soul. And that’s where a lot of the stress can come in. You desperately want to tell your nearest and dearest or check it out with someone else, and therefore put yourself through the anguish of whether to ignore ‘the policeman’s’ specific instruction. I think the banks and building societies have a greater role to play in ensuring that it’s not easy to withdraw large sums of cash unexpectedly. But it’s essentially down to you to protect yourself. Think about implementing safeguards on the withdrawal of money from your account. If you do feel the need to talk to these people, make the checking call back from a different phone. But best of all, put the phone down in the first place and just don’t get involved. H appy N ew Y ear! Happy New Year!
To advertise call 0122 510500
Page 1
IIndex ndex o off A Advertisers dvertisers FFOOD OOD & D DRINK RINK Cafe Rene The Fountain Inn
4 4
IINFORMATION NFORMATION NHS Gloucestershire
6-7
H HOLIDAYS OLIDAYS & TRAVEL TRAVEL JustGo! Holidays
14
R RETAIL ETAIL Assured Mobility Ermin Plant Hire The Grooms Room
12 28 10
Ellis Property Solutions Glos Build Home Care Roofing JHD Roofing & Building Marshalls Driveways NKS Contracts Pave-Drive Skyline Roofing & Property WB Home Improvements
C CARPENTRY ARPENTRY Rhodes Carpentry
BATHROOMS B ATHROOMS Lifestyle Bathrooms 8 Severn Vale Bathrooms 32 & 44
BUILDING BUILDING S SERVICES ERVICES A1 Roofing BE Rudman C&G Paving Care Construction Eleven Builders Ltd Elite Loft Ladders
26 24 24 27 27 28
41
CLEANING C LEANING S SERVICES ERVICES Oven & Range Cleaning Ovenbusters
H HOMES OMES & G GARDENS ARDENS
26 25 24 26 26 27 29 27 28
34 32
ELECTRICAL ELECTRICAL S SERVICES ERVICES GRP Electrical
Chosen Lawnmower Services Grass Scape GS Landscape Solutions Joe & Jamie Lawn Doc Mark Clifford Landscapes Master Sheds Phoenix Gardens Rob Cockburn Tree & Hedge Southwest Landscapes Woodlands Landscapes
28 29 30 28 30 30 30 30 30 30 28
Big Job Little Job
32 34 36 17 35
Emergency Plumber Gloucester Plumbing KB Female Plumber Sarsen Energy
AJ Windows Albany Windows BM Services C&L Windows Clearway Windows Glevum Windows
40 16 & 43 38 38 & 39 37 2
PROFESSIONAL PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SERVICES ANIMAL A NIMAL S SERVICES ERVICES Cats Protection
HANDYMAN H ANDYMAN S SERVICES ERVICES 26
H HEATING EATING & PLUMBING PLUMBING 34
FFURNISHING URNISHING & APPLIANCES A PPLIANCES Bella’s Interiors Designex Cabinets Ltd Dream Doors Interior Needs Quedgeley Carpets
WINDOWS, WINDOWS, DOORS DOORS & CONSERVATORIES CONSERVATORIES
G GARDEN ARDEN S SERVICES ERVICES
34 38 34 32
14
CARE C ARE SERVICES SERVICES Coate Water Care Saintbridge House
12 10
MOTORING MOTORING SERVICES SERVICES Julian Rogers Autoservices 21
REMOVAL SERVICES SERVICES PAINTING P AINTING & DECORATING DECORATING REMOVAL Michelle Powell Decorator 32
Little White Van Man
TTV V&A AERIALS ERIALS
SKIP S KIP HIRE HIRE & RECYCLING RECYCLING
1st Choice Aerials
41
41
Stevens Recycling
29
To advertise advertise in in print print or or online online please please call call 01242 01242 510500 510500 or or to to list list your your To bbusiness usiness oorr organisation organisation in in our our brand brand new new online online ddirectory, irectory, visit visit w ww.thelocalanswer.co.uk aand nd ggo o tto o tthe he D irectory ttab. ab. www.thelocalanswer.co.uk Directory P Puzzle uzzle S Solutions olutions C
A
D G E
D
R
I
O W
I
R
A
C
A R
E
G
E K
T N
I E
S
A
B
L
J
O G S
P
I
D E
S
A
D D
S
H
V I L
A
R
A
C R
A
E
C N
A S
B O D N
B N
T
R
D
A A
E A
P
L
C
E
O N
F
A
I
E
T
S
Z K
T
S
R
L D
C I
T
O S
E N
A G E
S
E
L
N
X
B O N
A
U
R
E S
I
A Z S C C G B R T L H E C N Q L W N W Q F G Q P
Y
I
M
I
L
E
D L Q X K I E A G S Q Q P Q P O Q V O J D H C O
N H T K N N D K Y S E C K Q P D K K P Y X J H R
H I O I N V D R T H W R S A M G A K E P X V I T
L E A I T H N B O E Z Z N L E E U R C F I N D V
P J G T E U O J R N G K E K O P L Z A R T T E T
W E P L N O D A H K I K N B B P M N R E I C C W
B C M G T U K E Q A Q E I Q P H E N R E G C N F
P E G S V S O R U N H U P V E J N M T S L K A T
T W K T A S A M Q O W G L J J L E E U T F E V I
A X G M N V K J I M C E A R V D K B S Y M V D J
L I S O C S P A C L O P L R I M K Q P L R Z A E
X B W R Z U M C V T X D O A E R G K D E Y S V P
I S Q H A O A K F O F D T W W R I F T R O S E R
R G G C L E H E P O Y E Z M D Q W H F A S R V W
K U Z A R P T T N G R T B M A E T L G L V M L M
Q M L S Q C N O E H V M G M O R R A Y G X D Q S
P S C G G Z V A Y H Z C K B Y W L P M Y I H B P
Y L D G S C N G O W H U X E B Y L P A J J D V F
O P T R A I L S G H E C E E L F X I F L X L R X
N J F L P M E X Z S B N P I S T E E Y I F K J M
E A C K I P W I K O T F B D K O R T V X K H Q N
R D O W N H I L L L Y Y B I E Z R K D E S X B D
G D Y P M U J L N M J G Q B J X U J M A S K I G
Competition Winners C ompetition W inners TLA Photography – January 2020 Cover: Mark Ziles. The Bacon Theatre: Colin Wicks.
C Competition ompetition R Rules ules 1 Prizes are as stated and no cash or prize alternative will be offered. 2 Employees of The Local Answer and their families or households are not eligible to enter. 3 The first correct entry drawn at random afftter the closing date will win the prize as stated. 4 The winner will be notified by telephone after the closing date has passed. 5 The Editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. 6 Entrants must be over 18 years, unless stated. 7 Proof of posting is not
regarded as proof of receipt of entry. 8 The Local Answer accepts no responsibility for the provision of the prize, which remains at all times the full responsibility of the prize donor(s). 9 By entering any competition you agree to have your name published in the next issue of The Local Answer should you be drawn as a winner of the prize. 10 By entering any competition you agree to have your details passed to a third party. 11 One entry per household.
BOOKING BOOKING D DEADLINE EADLINE FFOR OR N NEXT EXT IISSUE SSUE – FFriday riday 110th 0th JJanuary anuary 22020 020 Page 2
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
The Local Answer