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GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S BIGGEST LOCAL MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020

GLOUCESTER ‘LEST WE FORGET’ – WEAR YOUR POPPY WITH PRIDE!

The The Lo Local c al

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

IInside nside tthis his m month onth ... ... Delicious Delicious Dish Dish Looking Looking Good, Good, Feeling Feeling Great Great Medical Medical Health Health Education Education & Employment Employment Holidays Holidays & Travel Travel Parenting Parenting & Guardianship Guardianship Leaderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Leaderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Life Life Distributors Distributors Required Required Motoring Motoring Quick Quick Crossword Crossword Sudoku Sudoku Money Matters Matters Money W ord Search Search Word H omes & G ardens Homes Gardens IIn n tthe he G arden Garden IInterior nterior D esign Design G adgets & G izmos Gadgets Gizmos S ave tthe he P lanet Save Planet IIndex, ndex, C ompetitions, S olutions Competitions, Solutions

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Telephone T elephone 01242 01242 510500 510500 @thelocalanswer @ thelocalanswer

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W elcome Welcome ttoo N ovember November The nights are well and truly drawing in and lots of us are starting to plan our Christmas celebrations. While the festive season is something to look forward to, we must also make sure we and our loved ones stay safe. This month we have important information from two of the emergency services. The NHS want to let you know about temporary changes to Emergency Care in Gloucestershire in response to COVID-19, and Gloucestershire Constabulary have shared their burglary protection advice to keep you safe and secure this winter. Read more inside. As we head towards winter, you may be thinking about getting warm and cosy in your home. Gill Greenwell shares some Nordic style Interior advice in her latest article, while Roberta Smart thinks about how we can light up the dark winter days in her Parenting & Guardianship feature. So grab a cup of tea, cosy up on the sofa and enjoy reading your November magazine!

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

Distribution D istribution & LLeaflets eaflets John Overton (01242 541075) leaflets@thelocalanswer..co.uk Louis Jordan distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk

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

P Parsnip arsnip and and potato gratin p otato g ratin Ad delicious, elicious, ccreamy reamy a accompaniment ccompaniment ffor or your your roast roast dinner. dinner. Great Great with with cchicken hicken or or tturkey. urkey.

IIngredients: ngredients: 500g/1lb parsnips; 500g/1lb potatoes; 150g/5oz pack of bacon lardons; 2 echalion shallots; 2-4 garlic cloves; 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves; 1 bay leaf; 400ml/¾ pint whole milk; 100g/4oz full fat crème fraiche; 300ml/½ pint double cream; fresh or dried nutmeg; 50g/2oz walnuts, roughly chopped; ½ tbsp olive oil plus extra for greasing the foil.

M Method: ethod: 1 Preheat the oven to 200°C, (180°C fan/gas mark 6). 2 Peel and finely slice the shallots, garlic, potatoes and parsnips. I used my mandoline – it saves so much time. 3 Put the bacon in a large pan and cook gently to allow the fat to melt and turn crispy. Remove and set aside. 4 Add the oil and cook the shallots for approximately eight minutes until soft. 5 Add the garlic and stir for a minute, then add the bay leaf, half the thyme, the cream, crème fraiche, milk, a pinch of nutmeg and salt and pepper. 6 Heat the mixture until just simmering then

add the parsnips and potatoes. Continue to simmer for 10 minutes, until they begin to soften. Remove the bay leaf. 7 Spoon out half the mixture into your chosen baking dish (about 20 x 30 cm/ 8 x 12 inch) and scatter over half of the bacon bits. Spoon the remaining mixture on top and sprinkle the remaining bacon, thyme, the walnuts and a little more nutmeg on top. 8 Cover with a sheet of oiled foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for a further 20 minutes until golden and tender. This can be made the day before. Just wait until fully cooled before putting in the fridge. To reheat the next day, cover with foil and cook for approximately 25-30 minutes at 200°C, (180°C fan/gas mark 6).

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Looking Looking Good, Good, F Feeling eeling Great Great with w ith W Will ill M Mbanga banga

C Choices, hoices, cchoices hoices The world is opening up, although many of us are still working from home or more flexibly than ‘preCovid’. These are strange times – a big part of our current concerns may relate to work or finances, but our wellbeing and health should be right up there too. As we enter what is usually a special time of year with the run-up to Christmas, now is a good time to ask yourself challenging questions, evaluate progress and what needs to change in order to achieve your goals.

Your Your choice choice of of trainer trainer is is very very important important Perhaps your ‘normal’ has been disrupted, or you’ve decided to freshen things up with a trainer? Life is about choices – whether it’s 1:1, online or small group training, your choice of trainer has as much bearing on outcome as how hard you work. As a coach, it took a long time to come to terms with this. Not everyone who comes to me with a cheque book is necessarily a good fit for training with me. Good trainers probably feel like they’re the ‘right’ trainer for anyone, but the reality is they’ll never be right for everyone – and that’s OK! Moving towards better health and wellness can be as easy as committing to specific actions. For example: regular exercise, journaling, nutritionally balanced meals, sufficient sleep. It The Local Answer

needn’t be a big commitment to begin, time-wise or in terms of the training modality or nutritional methods. Beginning the journey and consistency will lead to positive change. A key element when it comes to developing great athletes or helping ‘ordinary’ people achieve their desired fitness or wellness outcomes is timing and getting the right ‘fit’. There’s a saying in elite sport: “when the player is ready, the coach appears.” More often than not, the ‘right’ trainer isn’t necessarily the ‘best’ trainer; finding the right ‘fit’ can be the difference in achieving the athlete or client’s goals.

H How ow tto o cchoose hoose a g good ood ttrainer rainer ffor or y you ou Here are some tips to help inform the choices you make in

choosing a trainer to help you achieve your fitness and performance goals: • What is your ‘why’? Being clear on your goal(s) will narrow down the field. • Is there a ‘feel good factor’? Do you have good feelings or a connection with them? Is training with them fun? • Trainers love helping people – make sure the one you choose is able to help you in a way that fits your lifestyle and meets your needs/goals. • Beware of gimmicks, ‘entertainers’ and overly complicated training – nobody needs to do one legged bosu pistol squat overhead presses! • It’s easy to make someone tired with 100 burpees! It takes real skill to develop a program that helps someone progressively improve and develop their fitness, performance and wellness goals. • Experience and certification. A certification is an important starting point, but it shouldn’t necessarily be the determining factor – yes, you read that right! There are plenty of trainers who have no certification but are incredible, and many others who have the most elite certifications but are terrible trainers. • Price – remember, you’re paying for years of experience, training and expertise alongside your progress and results. Make sure you get the most out of your money.

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

Differences Differences in in Dyslexia Dyslexia Dyslexia affects 10-15% of the UK population, often runs in families and is a life-long condition. It was seen for many years as a learning disability, focusing on the weaknesses, but the way a dyslexic brain works is not bad, wrong or deficient. It is just different and difference is not a disability. This learning difference mainly affects reading and writing skills, and can also impact on other areas such as organisational skills, coordination and memory. People with dyslexia think and learn differently from others and as such their strengths can be: • Good problem solvers • Creative • Observant • High levels of empathy • Excellent big-picture thinkers • Good at making connections • Strong narrative reasoning • Three-dimensional thinking • Determination Each person with dyslexia will experience the condition in a way that is unique to them, which can make it difficult to identify at times. Most often it is diagnosed in Primary school aged children, with these main symptoms: • Read and write very slowly • Put letters the wrong way round • Confuse the order of letters in words • Have poor or inconsistent spelling • Struggle with planning and organisation • Difficulty following instructions Page 

• Finds it difficult to blend letters together • Slow reading progress • Confusion with place value (units, tens, hundreds) • Difficulty remembering anything in sequential order (days of the week, the alphabet) • Poor time keeping • Difficulty with concepts (yesterday, tomorrow) • Easily distracted • The class clown, disruptive or withdrawn The first step to getting support if you think your child might be dyslexic is to consult your child’s teacher or the school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) to discuss your concerns. They may carry out screening tests to see how your child will be best supported in the classroom.

Ensuring E nsuring a appropriate ppropriate ssupport upport a and/or nd/or iinterventions nterventions A school doesn’t need a formal diagnosis to put support in place for your child and shouldn’t delay in providing appropriate support and/or interventions. However, a Diagnostic Assessment can help to ensure that the appropriate interventions are put in place. Techniques and support that are available include: • Occasional 1:1 support or small group work www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk

• Technology like computers and speech recognition software that may make it easier to read and write.

Help Help in in higher higher education education or or e employment mployment Sometimes adults may wish to get diagnosed if they have managed to get through the education system without a diagnosis, in order to help them in higher education or in employment. Universities have specialist staff who can support young people with dyslexia, and employers are required to make reasonable adjustments to the workplace to help people with dyslexia, such as allowing extra time for certain tasks. There is support available and more focus now on an individual’s strengths rather than their weaknesses, so always raise any concerns with the school. The Local Answer

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E Education ducation & E Employment mployment w with ith H Holly olly P Prince rince

Extra-curricular E xtra-curricular activities activities School is a place of learning and as well as following the National Curriculum, many educational institutions also provide extra-curricular activities. These are often in the form of lunchtime clubs or afterschool clubs. Having a structured venture to engage in at lunchtime is great for those children who are keen on learning and who want something productive to do. Getting involved in pursuits at the end of the school day can give children a chance to do something they enjoy. It can also be useful for parents who work, as it means children can stay in the safety of the school grounds for an hour or two longer before they need collecting or get the bus home.

A cchance hance tto o rrelease elease ssome ome e energy nergy Activities may be sporty, such as football, hockey, cricket or netball. These give children a chance to get some exercise and release some energy, which is good if they

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have been sitting at desks for much of the day, and for those who love PE it is another opportunity to be involved in a sport they revel in. Alternatively, pastimes on offer may be music-related, such as orchestra, choir, and brass or string group. These are ideal for musically-minded individuals who want to take their musicianship further, plus studies have shown that learning an instrument can improve memory and intelligence. Other extra-curricular activities available might include cooking, electronics, or arts and crafts. All these skills are great to whet a child’s appetite for learning more about the wider world and to gain competencies to add to their repertoire. Some schools also proffer support for children who might be struggling at home. Breakfast clubs, for instance, can be offered to families on a low To advertise call 0122 510500

income who may not be able to provide enough food at home.

A sset et time time to to focus focus on on ttheir heir homework homework There may be a Homework club as well, where children can stay on after lessons have finished to have a set time to focus on their homework – which can be useful if their home life is chaotic or if they find it hard to concentrate on studies at home. There are many other benefits to a child learning additional disciplines. Firstly, they are good for nurturing and developing a child’s interests, as the activity is often something the child wants to do and takes pleasure in doing. Another is that the child may interact with children from different classes or school years, leading to meeting new people, forming new relationships and improving social skills. School doesn’t have to be a chore – if a child can be encouraged to find something they like, it can enhance their life in many ways! Page 11

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

Cycling Cycling Japan’s Japan’s Shimanami Shimanami Kaido Kaido On a sunny mid-November day we pedal against the breeze to cross the four-kilometre-long Kurushima Kaik yō suspension bridge. Some 65 m below, a container ship, toy-lik e in the sunshine, steams north en route to Kure, Hiroshima or further afield. Soon, we’ll finish our 70 km ride along the Shimanami Kaido cycleway at Imabari, return our bikes to Miho of Shikoku-based Hidden Japan Travel and catch a JR train to Matsuyama. But for now, beneath the bridge’s sk yscraping white tower s, we reflect on the three days since riding the cableway up Onomichi’s Mt Senkoji. There, just before leaving and bathed in sunset’s golden luminosity, we surveyed the islands ahead with eager anticipation.

Follow Follow the the blue blue line line from from Onomichi Onomichi to to Imabari Imabari Seasoned cyclists easily complete the Shimanami Kaido in a day. However, that is to miss fuller appreciation of Ōmishima, The Local Answer

Mukaishima, Iwagi, Innoshima, Ikuchijima, Hak atajima and Ōshima islands. Sometimes the well-marked route – just follow the blue line – uses sleepy lanes past citrus groves, beaches and temples such as Ikuchijima’s glorious Kosanji with its dazzling white marble installation. Elsewhere, it climbs and descends superbly-engineered, rice-grain-smooth, access ramps flanking the soaring inter-island bridges. Inevitably, something amazing lies around every corner: another gravitydefying bridge; breathtaking vistas; or fertile agricultural land where friendly farmer s generously share fresh-picked satsumas and fiery wasabi. After each day’s adventure we relax, dine and sleep in authentic minshuku and ryokan. On tiny Iwagi, it’s Minshuku Yoshimasa, run by a local fisherman offering a sublime seafood feast from the day’s catch. The next evening, sunset turns the Seto Inland Sea to swirling rose-tinted mercury as To advertise call 0122 510500

more delicious seafood awaits us at Hak atajima’s water side Seto Ryok an. There, within waving distance of freighter s battling the treacherous Funaoriseto, we again dine localstyle at a low kotatsu table set up on our room’s ’s tatami matting.

M Myriad yriad impressions impressions of of p people eople a and nd p places laces

Too soon, after spiralling off the Kurushima Kaik yō Bridge through trees kissed with autumn gold, we follow the now-familiar blue line into Imabari and journey’s end. As well as souvenir water bottles and countless photos, we take away myriad impressions of people and places – their magnitude and intensity always disproportionate to our short time riding one of the world’s most impressive cycleways. We e vow to return and spend more time exploring this idyllic archipelago nestled between Honshu and Shikoku. Cycling the Shimanami Kaido has that effect on you! Page 1

ly Only .99! £6.9

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

L Light ight u up p tthe he d dark ark d days ays Its dark out there, isn’t it? The evenings draw in quicker and quicker and it can be easy to feel hemmed in and frustrated – especially after the year we have had! So how can you bring more light into your life? November sees the beginning of many festivals of light: from Bonfire night and the Hindu festival of Diwali, to the American Thanksgiving and the beginnings of the Yule celebrations making themselves known. No matter your nationality or religious persuasion, midwinter calls upon us to bring in the light and in any faith, ‘Be The Light’ is a constant message. From decorating the house with lights through to trying to do a good deed every day; there are many ways we can ‘be the light’ in these dark times.

M Make ake sseasonal easonal d decorations ecorations w with ith o old ld jam and jam jjars ars a nd ttea ea llights ights A trip to the bargain store is a great place to start, where you can pick up cheap and

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cheerful decorations for your home. Get the kids making seasonal decorations, maybe decorating old jam jars and popping tea lights inside. Or if you are really crafty, collect autumn foliage to create a centrepiece for the table with conkers, pinecones, greenery and ribbon, then place a sturdy jar candle in the middle. Candles can then be lit with a touch of ceremony at mealtimes, whilst settling down or gathering as a family. If you are not into ‘Prayer’ as such then lighting a candle and sharing things you are grateful for, what good thing happened in your day or sending our wishes for others far away to be happy and healthy, are great ways to bring a sense of joy and togetherness into our lives. As I have mentioned before, a little ritual goes a long way to bringing people together and can grow into a To advertise call 0122 510500

beloved family tradition. Taking time to centre our thoughts and focus on good things is really great for our mental health as well, and no matter how stressed or difficult your day may have been, there is always something to be grateful for.

Help H elp cchildren hildren who who may may sstruggle truggle w with ith anxiety anxiety If you have kids who are struggling with anxiety, this can be a good way to ‘turn it on its head’ by first encouraging them to express what they do not like, then helping them to see how this could in fact be a good thing: Help them to understand that our struggles build character and resilience, helping us develop patience and empathy, and indeed if we never experienced the yucky things in life, the pleasures would be all the less sweeter. And remember my favourite adage: the Universe only ever acts in your favour and for your highest good! Now there is something to think about! Page 15

Leader Leader s Life Life with with Councillor Councillor Richard Richard Cook Cook

P Protecting rotecting our our planet planet In the latter part of October there has been a magnificent display – Gaia – in the Cathedral. This production of the planet Earth by the artist Luke Jerram shows the blue and white planet which is humanity’s home. But that home is increasingly fragile. Weather patterns are changing – winters much wetter with increasing risks of flooding; summers much drier, risking the productivity of crops. Melting ice in the Arctic and Antarctic threatening sea level rise and coastal flooding. And we have all seen the increasing problems of wildfires, in Australia last winter and in the Western United States during the summer. There is an ever increasing urgency about our response on a number of fronts. In Gloucester we are looking to rapidly increase the electricity produced from solar panels, both on public buildings and unused land. We are also looking to increase the supply of gas from composting food, garden waste and other biomass. Electricity is being produced from the Energy from Waste Facility to the south of the city – 100,000mwh since it opened, diverting over 160,000 tonnes of waste from landfill.

E Encouraging ncouraging m more ore cycling cycling T h e f i r s t l o c k d o w n s a w a m a jo r r e d u c t i o n i n air pollution as fewer cars were on the road and more people used their bikes. The City Council has agreed to examine the cycling infrastructure in the city to ensure it provides proper connectivity within the city and outside, and to work with the County Council to deliver improvements to encourage more cycling. If this works, reductions in car use will deliver reductions in production of carbon dioxide and improvements in air quality. Our city plan looks to deliver improvements in building standards, starting to aim for zero carbon building standards, better insulation, micro energy production, even electric vehicle charging points. Finally we are looking for people to recycle more, in particular plastic, paper, card, glass, cans, cardboard and especially food waste, which can be collected at kerbside. A recent survey showed that 25% of the contents of our residual waste bins was food waste, and our overall current rate of recycling is just over 47%. In Wales it is over 60%. We can do better. All of these improvements will make a difference. e email: mail: rrichard.cook@gloucester.gov.uk ichard.cook@gloucester.gov.uk

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Coopers Edge • Hempsted Hucclecote • Innsworth 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 100150 copies/hour (equivalent to £6-£9/hour). T h e Loc The Lo c al al ANS A Magazines are delivered to NS W WE ER Distributors’ homes towards the end of each month and we expect deliveries to be completed within four days between the hours of 7am and 9pm. Yoou must be 13+ years old, flexible, reliable and sufficiently physically fit to GLOUCEESTER GLOUC STER perform the duties. GLOUCESTERSHIR GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S E’S BIGGEST BIGGESTT LOCAL LOCAL MAGAZINE M AGAZINE NOVEMBER N OVEMBER 22020 020

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

Ap piece iece o off h history istor y Recently, Audi celebrated the 40th anniversary of the original Quattro on Twitter with a collaboration with another of my favourite brands; Lego. To celebrate the event, they sent Lego Speed Champion models of the rally version of the Quattro to motoring writers with a challenge: time your build from opening the box to finished model. I may have harassed them a bit until they sent me my kit, but the chance to get behind the wheel of an original Quattro from Audi’s heritage Fleet was too much of a temptation! They sent me the kit, I set the fastest time and my prize was duly delivered for a long weekend of four-wheel drive fun. The car was from 1990, so a mere 30 years old… and coincidentally almost the same age as my first car – a 1991 Ford Escort. This car was a little more powerful than my (t)rusty old Escort though, and there’s no way my Escort is now worth just shy of £50k. First impressions when it was The Local Answer

reversed off the delivery truck was that the pearlescent paint was stunning in the sunshine – it doesn’t photograph well, so the photo doesn’t do it justice. But it was great, and that massive boot just oozed ‘performance coupe’. So what was it like to drive, considering this was a car that originally had 220bhp and a 060 time of under six seconds? It was probably still going to be quick. The sound of the turbocharger was immense – whining as it spooled up the power and delivering it to all four wheels. It was clear that this was an iconic car from history.

An A n impressive impressive llevel evel o off e electronics lectronics But is it practical in today’s world? It boasts an impressive level of electronics, given its pedigree – an all-digital dashboard and speedo was positively futuristic in the 90s, and while basic, the trip computer functioned much as you’d expect To advertise call 0122 510500

from a more modern machine. The steering was brilliant – precise around the bends, which isn’t surprising given it was designed for rallying, and the power and gearbox have stood the test of time as well. The brakes, however, are clearly dated. They worked fine, but took a little bit of acclimatisation. So if you’re in the market for a practical and appreciating classic – and have a spare £50k to throw at what would have to be your second car – the Quattro will give you a lot of fun while remaining pretty firmly planted on the road. It’s not as quick as a modern hot hatch, and a fair few of those 220 horses under the bonnet have probably long since fled the stable, but it still has enough to draw smiles from people outside the pub as you drive past, turbo screaming. My kids loved it, my wife hated it. Me? I was firmly in the first camp! It’s a legend and will remain so for quite some time. Page 1

Quick Q uick Crossword Crossword A ACROSS CRO SS 1 Privileged class 7 Former soldiers 8 Edible organs 10 Horseracing track 12 Entitling 14 Moved through water 16 Tasks 17 Scraps 20 Pop instrumentalists 23 Finnish steam bath 24 Highly charged 25 River-mouth land

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D OWN DOWN 1 Develop 2 Rupture 3 Measure (out) 4 Furnishing scheme 5 Diminishing 6 Admiration 9 Large spoon 11 Partly cooked 13 Gesture of assent 15 Radiates 16 Sharply serrated 18 Musical composition 19 Taunts 21 Curved-bill bird 22 Auction

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

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

S State tate p pension ension cchanges hanges The government will look after us, won’t they? If you are poorly, we can turn to the National Health Service; if we lose our job, we can claim state benefits. And once we are officially too old to work, the state will pay us a pension. But therein lies a problem. We are all living longer and as a result the government has decided it cannot afford to pay our state pensions for as long as it used to. They have known for some while that it was coming and initially used equality laws and arguments to increase the age (65) at which women became eligible for state pension to be the same as for men. Campaigners tried to claim that the move was illegal, but they have all lost in court. Last month we saw the start of the second phase of the government’s long-term plan come into force, when the state pension age was officially raised from 65 to 66. It affects anyone born after 6th October 1954 and will be held at that level for the next six years, following which it will rise to 67. There are plans for further increases in pension age until it reaches 70 in 20-30 years’ time.

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It goes deeper than just waiting another year for our state pension. The age at which we stop paying National Insurance on our earnings is aligned to state pension age. 65 year olds therefore pay into the system now for one year longer as well as waiting a further 12 months to draw from the pot. What else can the government do? It has already introduced compulsory company pensions for those in employment, which have now reached maximum contribution levels by both employer and worker. The argument is that the more money that is in your personal pension, the less you will need to rely on the state. The level of government pension is guaranteed to rise by reference to inflation, with a guaranteed minimum increase of 2.5% if inflation is lower than that. There are suggestions that the government should go back on its word and remove the guarantee. It wouldn’t be the first time they had done something like that, would it?

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Cooking C ooking ALDENTE BASTE BAKE BEAT BRAISE CARAMELISE CHOP DEEP FRY DICE

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Exploring the lyrics of Inkubus Sukkubus Candia and Tony McKormack met in 1989 while studying Graphic Design and quickly discovered they had similar tastes in music and a shared interest in the history and practice of witchcraft and magic – as well as a fairly unhealthy mutual love of classic horror films. Soon after, they formed their band Inkubus Sukkubus (originally spelt ‘Incubus Succubus’) – a vehicle to write and perform songs on subjects covering paganism, folklore, witchcraft, vampire lore and death rites. They married in 1990, have two children and live in Gloucestershire. To date they’ve released 25 studio albums and performed live in Mexico, USA, Australia, Russia, Turkey, Scandinavia, the UK and most of Europe. They’ve also appeared on national television in the UK, Greece, Germany and Finland. In 2019, the band celebrated its 30th Anniversary with a series of live concerts and their 25th studio release, an album called Liliith Rising.

“One of our land’s most individual and interestin ng Gothic folk-rock bands now proves that it can deal as effectively with prose as music, in n a mixture of stories old and new, of horror, beauty and romance, that capture perfectly the magiccal and mysticcal heritage of one of En ngland’s most remarkable counties.” Professor Ronald Hutton

Folkloric tales are told in the songs of Candia and Tony’s trilogy of albums Tale es of Witchcraft & Wonder and now, under the same title, their book delves into the meaning behind the tales – the theories, the magic, the romance, and the horror. Many strange stories are

explored, including sightings of winged cats and a tragic ‘woman in black’ in Cheltenham, Dr Margaret Murray’s connection with the Hagley Wood wych elm murder case, strange acts committed by people under the influence of datura, and the body of a Gloucestershire woman wrapped in deer skins and bound with iron chains. The 120-page A5 paperback and accompanying 13-track CD of featured songs is available through the band’s website Inkubussukkubus.com for only £17.50 including P&P.

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Page 21

Homes & Gardens

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Jones and Sons

Trees & Landscaping We specialise in all aspects of trees

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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

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Unit D, Sudmeadow Road, Hempsted, Gloucester GL2 5JA

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really be cleaned every year to stop the build up of pests and diseases, and to keep the glass clean for maximum light. A dry windy day would be ideal for this. Using a disinfectant such as Jeyes fluid, clean the benches, all the cracks and crevices which could house mealy bugs, and even wash through the gravel if you have it on your bench tops. This is one of those jobs that hangs over you like a big black cloud, but when you’re done it wi ll m ake yo u fee l wonderful. You will be tempted to bore your family and friends by taking them into your clean greenhouse to look round – don’t expect the same interest from them! Hybrid tea and floribunda roses need to be cut back by about one-third now, which will stop wind rock loosening the roots through the winter. Also cut off any dead, diseased or crossing growth. Leave the rest for the spring pruning. When the mowing comes to a To advertise call 0122 510500

halt later this month (although last winter the lawns seemed to grow all through the winter!) book your mower in to be serviced, thus beating the spring rush. Now is also a good time to clean and oil tools and send off secateurs to be sorted out if they are in a bit of a state.

Av valuable aluable late late source source off n o nectar ectar for for bees bees A plant that really adds to the garden this month is the Sedum Herbstfreude, or the Ice Plant, which starts early in spring with the fat rosettes of succulent, lettuce-green leaves, topped with salmon-pink flower heads in summer, maturing to pinkish-bronze then copperyred in autumn. This versatile perennial is a perfect filler plant for a sunny, well-drained spot. A valuable late source of nectar for butterflies and bees, the dried flower heads provide structure and colour in the winter garden and still look interesting in November. Page 29

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

N Nordic ordic sstyle tyle ccosy osy The Scandinavians have it all worked out when it comes to surviving cold winters and staying indoors. When I think ‘cosy’, Nordic style always comes to mind. Here are a few Skandi tips to help you create a warm, inviting space to while away those cold winter evenings at home. Their word for it is ‘Hygge’ – “a warm, cosy feeling embracing life’s pleasures” – something we all need to feel at this time of year.

IInspired nspired b by yn nature ature Nordic design is rooted in nature. The latest interior trends increasingly draw inspiration from natural themes, using sustainable materials sourced locally. Think warm wood or stone floors, exposed bricks, and mid-century furniture W made from teak. The latest A//W 20 interiors ranges all feature cane, bamboo and rattan.

M Modern odern rrustic ustic The modern rustic look is a perfect example of Skandi style. Think calm wall colours painted soft grey or dusty pink, and wood furniture paired with

soft wool or sheepskin throws and textured lamps. To be really on trend, include some brown in your scheme – perhaps a Sixties style toffee coloured distressed leather sofa. Yes, brown is back! Check out the Cox and Cox website for inspiration. I particularly love their coffee table made of reclaim ed oak – a perfect addition to a winter sitting room.

Bringing B ringing n nature ature indoors indoors Greenery is key to this look and green plants create a lovely woodland feel. I love fresh flowers in the house, and dried flowers are having a moment too so you can mix the two. I use lots of natural foliage from the garden or hedgerows to bulk out my arrangements, which costs nothing. If you’re feeling creative, make dried flower pictures made from pressed flowers or frame a group of cheap botanical prints to add some character to a blank wall. Look up Pinterest for ideas.

Crafty C rafty u upcycling pcycling Being sustainable is fundamental to Skandi style. “Don’t

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buy new if you can get good second hand items or already have things that work”. Look for pieces with a history or made from recycled materials using traditional craftsmanship. I had an old stripped pine chest re-painted in a deep mahogany brown with new handles. It now has pride of place in the hallway of my daughter’s flat. Look out for vintage cane or rattan pieces, and give them a contemporary twist with a vibrant colour like deep blue or emerald green.

A Add dd a ccosy osy N Nordic ordic ttouch ouch For that final Nordic touch, make your home really cosy and comfortable this winter by installing a natural wood burner. Always have plenty of candles – they create instant atmosphere. My favourite has a smoky scent just like a log fire. And don’t forget those antlers on the wall and a sheepskin rug on the floor. Now just relax with a mug of hot chocolate, a blanket and a good book, and you are sure to be snug and happy at home when its freezing outside.

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G Gadgets adgets & G Gizmos izmos w with ith L Laura aura N Nicklin icklin

W Winter inter w wonderland onderland o off g gadgets adgets As we look forward to the end of 2020, you may have only just started thinking about prepping for the Christmas holidays (after all, we have had a lot of other things to worry about). In the build-up to the festive season, check out some of these snazzy gizmos that can help you out.

Oblio O blio W Wireless ireless C Charger harger and a nd U UV VS Sanitiser anitiser Menkind.co.uk: £79 Now more than ever, it’s vital that we are staying as clean as possible. However, while you may be washing your hands and keeping hand sanitiser within reach, there’s a chance you’ve forgotten about another important part of your routine: your phone. Just think about how many times a day you tap away on your phone screen, leaving behind traces of bacteria. To ensure your phone is as clean as it can be, check out the Oblio Wireless Charger and UV Sanitiser. Not only does this gadget charge your phone, but it also kills up to 99.9% of germs in one short 20-minute The Local Answer

cycle. Give yourself one less thing to worry about with this clever cleaning gizmo.

Canon Z Canon Zoemini oemini Mobile Mobile Photo P hoto P Printer rinter John Lewis: £109.99 Nowadays, everyone can take photos on their phone and upload them to their social media in a few seconds. No need to bother with printed copies when you can get 100 likes on Instagram, right? But, if you’re feeling a bit oldschool and miss the nostalgia of a printed photograph to hang on your bedroom wall, then this nifty portable printer is the gizmo for you. The Zoemini from Canon wirelessly connects to your phone or tablet via Bluetooth to print photos that are smudge-proof, tear-proof and water-resistant! Its compact size also makes it easy to carry around, so no matter if you’re o u t a n d a b o u t , y o u ca n p r i n t your snapshots to your heart’s content. You can also have fun with the filters available with the Canon Mini Print app. And, if you want to stick your photos up, just peel off the back to uncover the sticky side. With this gadget, you can create a whole collage of treasured memories that you won’t find online.

cold winter nights creeping in, you’d be forgiven for falling behind on your fitness regime. Worry not, however, as there are still ways to stay motivated from the comfort of home. With the Activ5, you can exercise anywhere! Get fit and strengthen muscles with the Activ5’s 5-minute, low-impact, full body workouts. All the workouts will be personalised to your own fitness level, so don’t panic if you’re only a beginner! At just 136g, this device will fit neatly into your home. Just connect to your Android or iPhone to get started. With over 100 workouts to choose from, you’ll be spoi lt for choice.

Activbody A Activbody Activ5 ctiv5 Fitness F itness System System Apple: £124.95 Although the gyms are now open, many people may prefer to work out from home. But, with the To advertise call 0122 510500

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S Save ave the the P Planet lanet with w ith L Louise ouise W Williams illiams

What W hat iiss the the e environmental nvironmental impact impact of of the the virus? virus? Initially it seemed that the only positive about coronavirus was its environmental impact on the planet. Factories closed, no longer churning black smoke into the already very damaged ozone layer, the roads were empty, cars still on drives. We cooked our own food from scratch, grew our own produce, shopped in local stores, walked more, cycled everywhere, the skies were empty of planes and people discovered a renewed love of nature. It felt positive, hopeful even, despite the many, many tragic losses, people would cite this as ‘one good thing to come out of lockdown’. There were less positive changes though – necessary, but still an environmental setback. Food shopping delivered in carrier bags again with no option not to have bags, disposable mask and glove production in overdrive, people driving on their own to avoid the bus.

Image: earth.org

changes and people aren’t notes of the creatures you don’t going outside as much, slowly see at the moment. Watch age sucked back into the whirlwind appropriate documentaries with of school, work, after school them, get them to help sort the clubs and beginning the semi- recycling, to find out where it hibernation we seem to fall goes. into in the autumn and winter No N oo one ne iiss going going to to months. After all, you can’t do wave w ave a magic magic wand wand an evening bug hunt in the We need to keep the children pitch black with a torrential rainstorm soaking you through. of future generations interested in nature, in recycling, in cutting Or can you? Maybe it’s time to grab our down emissions and saving The The p positives ositives a are re a best wet weather gear and our the planet. It would be all too d distant istant m memory emory torches and go on a flashlight easy to slip back into our old Now it feels like all the bug hunt with our children or ways of thinking that someone positives are a distant memory. grandchildren. Or if that’s too else will sort it all out. There The roads are choked with cars much, sit in a darkened room isn’t anyone coming to wave a again, queueing at the traffic and watch for wildlife out of magic wand – the change is lights. Factories reopened (vital the window, keeping a log of with us and the generations to for the economy and people’s the visitors to your street or come after us. In a time where we don’t feel livelihood of course), disposable garden. If you’re away from the in control, this is an area where masks and gloves litter the pavements and wash up across children in your family, this is we can be in charge. Children the perfect activity to do over w e r e s o e m p o w e r e d a t t h e all shores. In the UK, the rediscovered zoom. Compare notes, who beginning of the year, so let’s love of nature seems to have sees the most wildlife? Teach try to work together to keep been lost as the weather them about hibernation, make that fire stoked. The Local Answer To advertise call 0122 510500 Page 9

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