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AN ANSWER SWER North North Gloucestershire: Gloucestershire: 20,000 20,000 copies copies Cheltenham: C heltenham: 443,000 3,000 ccopies opies Cotswolds: C otswolds: 330,000 0,000 ccopies opies Gloucester: Gloucester: 46,000 46,000 ccopies opies Stroud District: S troud D istrict: 441,000 1,000 ccopies opies
October’s winning cover photo: Letitia Newbegin
Welcome Welcome ttoo O ctober October
M anaging D irector Managing Director Dave Dave K Kingscott ingscott dave@thelocalanswer.co.uk dave@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Marketing Marketing LLois ois K Kingscott ingscott llois@thelocalanswer.co.uk ois@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Sales Sales C Claudie laudie FFrancis rancis iinfo@thelocalanswer.co.uk nfo@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Sport Sport R Roger oger JJackson ackson ssport@thelocalanswer.co.uk port@thelocalanswer.co.uk
EEntertainment ntertainment TTom om H Hadfield adfield
As we say goodbye to summer and welcome autumn, we have plenty of editorials to get you into the cosy spirit. We’ve got seasonal gardening tips, a warming autumn pie recipe, and tips to make your home more efficient during the colder months. Be sure to check these out when reading this month’s issue. Gloucester Day on 7th September was a huge success. Thank you to everyone who had a go on our Tombola – you helped us to raise over £400 for our Charity of the Year, Cobalt! We have some very exciting news this month with the launch of our brand new Online Business Directory! See inside for more details. This is also the last month for you to enter our TLA Photography competition to find the covers for next year’s publications. If you’d like to see your photo on the cover of 180,000 magazines, get your entries in by 31st October. IIff you you u use se th the he sservices ervices o off a any ny o off o our ur a advertisers dvertiisers or or a attend tte end a any ny o off th the he e events vents listed, liste ed, p please lease te tell ell th hem y ou found found th hem in in The The L them you them Local ocal A Answer! nswer!
eentertainment@thelocalanswer.co.uk ntertainment@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Administration Administration Helen Kingscott H elen K ingscott Distribution Distribution JJohn ohn O Overton verton – 001242 1242 541075 541075 leaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk leaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk
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Accounts Accounts Rob R ob Kingscott Kingscott accounts@thelocalanswer.co.uk accounts@thelocalanswer.co.uk
U nit H hurchill IIndustrial ndustrial EEstate, state, C hurchill R oad, Unit H,, C Churchill Churchill Road, LLeckhampton, eckhampton, Cheltenham, Cheltenham, G loucestershire G L53 77EG EG Gloucestershire GL53
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Delicious D elicious Dish Dish with w ith H Helen elen Kingscott Kingscott
Autumn Autumn lamb lamb pie pie A ttasty asty a alternative lternative tto o tthe he ttraditional raditional S Shepherd’s hepherd’s P Pie ie – perfect perfect for for warming warming y you ou u up po on n a ccold old a autumn utumn n night. ight. IIngredients: ngredients: 1½ tbsp olive oil; 1 large onion; 1 garlic clove, chopped, or use 1 tsp of lazy garlic; 500g minced lamb; 4 baking potatoes; 2 tsp garam masala; ½ tsp ground cinnamon; 1 tsp lazy ginger; 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce; 1 tbsp plain flour; 1 lamb stock pot or stock of your choice made up to 275ml; 1 tbsp tomato puree; 1 tbsp butter; ½ tsp dried chilli flakes; splash of lemon juice; 3 tbsp chopped coriander; 50g fresh breadcrumbs; 6 tbsp grated parmesan/cheddar. M Method: ethod: 1 Pop the whole, scrubbed but unpeeled potatoes into a pan of cold water, bring to the boil and cook for about 25/30 minutes. Drain and leave to cool. 2 Heat 1½ tbsp olive oil in a heat proof casserole dish. Add the onion and cook for about three minutes on high to turn them nice and brown, reduce the heat and add the garlic for one minute. 3 Turn the heat back up, add the mince and brown all over. 4 Reduce the heat again and add 1½ tsp garam masala, cinnamon, ginger, Worcestershire sauce and flour, stirring it all well together. 5 Slowly add the stock, then the tomato puree. Turn the heat very low and simmer for 30 minutes.
6 Switch the oven on to 200°C (gas mark 6). 7 Peel the potatoes from the skins and mash them with the butter, chilli flakes, ½ tsp garam masala, lemon juice, coriander and a little salt. 8 Spoon the cooked mince into an oven proof baking dish and top with the potato mixture. Sprinkle over the breadcrumbs and cheese of your choice. 9 Cook for 30 minutes until beautifully golden brown. Serve with your favourite seasonal vegetables.
CLEEVELINE C LEEVELINE TTAXIS AXI S SAMPLE AMPLE P PRICES RICES anywhere within FFrom/to rom/to a nywhere w ithin Bishops Cleeve B ishops C leeve & Woodmancote Woodmancote – £5.00 £5.00 From Cleeve/Woodmancote From Bishops Bishops C leeve/Woodmancote tto o Cheltenham M&S Cheltenham M &S – £10.00 £10.00 Cheltenham Hospital Cheltenham H ospital – £11.00 £11.00 Cheltenham Cheltenham TTrain rain SStation tation – £12.00 £12.00 Tewkesbury Tewkesbury – £15.00 £15.00 Winchcombe Winchcombe – £11.00 £11.00 The Local Answer
01242 01242 3 374224 74224 clleevelinetaxis@gmail.co cleevelinetaxis@gmail.com om www.cleevelinetaxiis.com www.cleevelinetaxis.com
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P Parenting arenting & G Guardianship uardianship w with ith R Roberta oberta S Smart mart
Time Time to to change? change? No matter what the time of year, we all find ourselves facing moments of realisation in our lives. That moment when it hits you: something has to change. Maybe it’s seeing a picture of yourself on holiday and feeling unhappy with your appearance, so deciding to change your look, hair or maybe take up a fitness regime. Perhaps you smoke or drink and a casual distraction has grown into a rather major habit, leaving you feeling dissatisfied. Maybe you are at the end of your tether with the behaviour of others in the family (not always the kids, it could be a spouse, sibling or even a parent) and you have had enough! The list of possibilities is endless and as I have been approached so often in recent months for help with effecting change, I thought I would share some top tips with you, my lovely reader.
G Get et rreal eal First thing’s first: accept where you are. Whatever you are
facing, face it! ‘Know your numbers,’ as they say in the business world. Get really clear on your starting point and come to terms with it. Stop seeing it as a bad thing, the enemy or a problem. It just ‘is’. Ok? Now visualise how you would prefer things to be. What does that look like? More importantly, what does it feel like? What emotional state is connected to your desired outcome? Calm? Happy? Safe? Relaxed? Confident?
Baby B aby steps steps Now look at the gap between here and there, and make a rough pathway between the two. For example, between smoking 20 a day and quitting you may see ‘ smoking 10 a day’, ‘only buying X supplies per week’, ‘limiting the times you smoke’, etc. before finally making the ultimate decision to stop and step into a new identity as a non-smoker. Or with behaviours, you may be at the end of your tether and want to feel relaxed, so The Local Answer
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you step through self care, calming your mind, managing your emotions, setting boundaries, holding them, making declarations and following through, and letting go of control before you get to a realisation that others are changing around you.
Mind M ind map map Use a mind map to note down the areas of your life and how you feel about them. Draw a circle with you in the middle, then concentric circles outward for body, home, family, work, social life, health, wealth, spirituality, fun, etc. Then colour code the circles red for ‘urgent attention needed’, orange for ‘pay attention’ and green for ‘go – all good’. The key to effective change is this: accept where you are right now, commit to change in order to feel better, and then take action and move forward step by step. Make October the month you made it happen – you know you can! Page
Police Police and and Crime Crime Commissioner Commissioner Martin Martin Surl’s Surl’s
ANNUAL A NNUAL R REPORT EPORT T A April pril 2 2018-March 018-March 2019 2019
1,382 GO MISSING IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE The hidden challenge to fighting crime The primary task of all Police and Crime Commissioners, as laid down by the former Home Secretary who defined the role, is to reduce crime. What is apparent is that the role of the Constabulary is now more than just that. Whilst crime throughout the UK is rising, the increase in Gloucestershire has been much less than other comparable areas. Gloucestershire is still one of the safest places in which to live, the question is, can we keep it that way? As the range and complexity of crimes continues to grow, the answer is further complicated by the additional social issues around mental health and lack of youth provision. With much of the Constabulary’s time now spent as first responders health crisis that is gripping ou what you might call ‘convent police work is being squeezed Records show that from January to May this year, the were 1,382 Missing ‘episo recorded by the constabular of those were linked to health; 269 related to child mental health problems. Inde our missing individuals are ch 43% of those cases, menta factor. Research also suggests tha child goes missing 18 tim compounded by the fact tha recorded are between the hours of 6pm-7am.This may be as a result of other statutory services being unavailable but if the Constabulary is now the agency of first resort as well as last, the time it has to spend on burglary, assault, anti-social behaviour, vehicle and other crimes is bound to be reduced. Of course, it could be the increase is due to more accurate recording and the partnership work underway to ensure ‘missing’ is reported at the right time. Certainly, there has been significant collaboration with multi-
y care plans for those who are ntly missing or are in crisis. ithstanding the impact on families nds, it is an immense strain on police s. Callous as it sounds to evaluate a roblem in terms of hard cash, in the f a Constabulary under considerable pressure it is not unreasonable. Set an expanding workload, it is mand is kept to a level that the police can deaal with. Otherwise, when do they find the time to tackle crime which the public quite reasonably expects? Finding answers to the causes and consequences around mental health requires a multi-agency approach. The first priority of the police will always be to keep people safe, but they are having to do more with less and have been for some time now.
M Martin arrttin S Surl url Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire
You Y ou can police Martin can read read more more aabout bout tthe he cchallenges hallenges ffacing acing tthe he p olice iin n PPCC CC M artin SSurl’s url’s annual annual report report online: online: https://www.gloucestershire-pcc.gov.uk/reports/ h ttps://www.gloucestershire-pcc.gov.uk/reports/ FFor or a p rinted ccopy, opy, email email the the Office Office of of the the Police Police and and Crime Crime Commissioner Commissioner at at printed PCC@gloucestershire.pnn.police.uk or or call call 01452 754348 01452 754348 PCC@gloucestershire.pnn.police.uk
E Education ducation & E Employment mployment w with ith H Holly olly P Prince rince
Special S pecial Educational Needs Educational N eeds support support in in schools schools All children have a right to education – to learn new skills and have fun. However, some children struggle more with learning due to having Special Educational Needs (SEN). This could include having learning disabilities, medical conditions, physical or sensory impairments such as being partially sighted, or developmental or neurological impairments such as autism. Every school should be welcoming and inclusive to all children, but some schools find it hard to support children with SEN due to lack of knowledge and understanding, not enough trained staff, or inadequate funding. Several years back, some Government initiatives were launched with the aim of developing services that everyone could access. This encouraged schools to be more inclusive by providing alternative options for disabled children in addition to their usual provisions.
IIdentify dentify b barriers arriers a and nd m make ake rreasonable easonable a adjustments djustments Schools should look to identify barriers and devise solutions in order to make reasonable adjustments – such as being able to adjust temperature in a room, providing space for disabled parking, or having a dedicated quiet room for children to retreat to. Children with SEN often require extra help at school, or may attend a specialist school. The Local Answer
If they attend a mainstream school, there may be dedicated teaching assistants that are qualified to assist children with SEN. They may sit next to the child in the class group or work with the child on a one-to-one basis. However, this can lead to children becoming segregated if they are sat at a different table or in another classroom, so schools need to ensure that these children are able to join in with their peers in order to learn social skills and form friendships.
A cchallenge hallenge ffor or p parents arents Having special needs is not just hard for the child, but is a challenge for parents too. They may be feeling uncertain about what’s best for their child, and worried about the child’s safety and wellbeing when having to leave them in another’s care. Some parents struggle to continue with employment due to their additional responTo advertise call 0122 510500
sibilities and difficulties in finding adequate childcare. Schools should aim to provide support to parents/carers as well as children. Schools and parents need to maintain regular contact with each other to check that their processes are meeting the child’s needs.
Training Training for for staff staff to to increase increase awareness awareness This may include the physical environment – for example, an accessible toilet, ramps or coloured filters for screens or paper – but more importantly, training for staff to increase awareness and promote positive attitudes towards disability. Staff need to feel confident in supporting children with SEN, which can be as simple as getting to know them as individuals, which includes their likes/dislikes and interests. At the end of the day, every parent wants the best for their child – for them to live happy, healthy, fulfilled lives. Page
Wildlife W ildlife M Matters atters w with ith M Maxine axine R Raggatt aggatt
S Secretive ecretive spiders id Some people don’t mind them and some people hate them but regardless of our feeling spiders are everywhere. The can be tucked away in th corner of a shed or scurryin out from underneath the sofa Most of the time we don realise they are there, as thes arachnids don’t like to be bothered. Spiders are, in fact, useful to our ecosystem as they control the population o insects by eating bloodsuckin and crop-destroying pests. Spiders spin their webs our gardens all year round. During the end of summer into autumn, you will see many fully-grown common species. There are over 650 species of spider in the UK, most of which go unseen. Many of these species tend to live out in nature rather than in and around houses.
B Best est to to leave leave them them alone alone The biggest spider in the UK is the cardinal spider, which can grow up to 14cm. You may also see giant house spiders,
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hiding in your home or shed. It is best to leave spiders alone to take shelter through the colder months. If you really cannot stand to let them stay in your house, then use a glass and paper to move them outside and pop them in with some greenery, rather than squashing them.
Silky S ilky w webs ebs Spiders have silk glands which produce a watery gel of long protein chains to make their
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provide different types of silk from super sticky to extra fine.
The T he sshy hy ffalse alse widow widow The false widow spider is now widespread throughout England. They usually prefer to live indoors in places such as sheds and outhouses. These widows will often hide away in a hole by their web during the day and only come out at night, usually staying close to their web. The females are considerably bigger than the males and live up to three years, whereas the males often live for only one. False widows don’t move particularly fast; neither are they aggressive unless threatened. If a false widow bit you, it is similar to that of a wasp sting. This will usually result in pain and stinging but will tend to subside after a while. They are generally nothing to worry about, and it is advised to wash the area with soap and water and apply antiseptic cream. In rare cases, they can result in an allergic reaction or bacterial infection, which can happen with any bite. When in doubt, seek medical attention. The Local Answer
Pet Pet Care Care w ith O liver W ilkinson with Oliver Wilkinson o ragon V et C entre off D Dragon Vet Centre
What What factors factors influence influence our our pets’ pets’ lifespans? lifespans?
TTewkesbury ewkesburryy New Veterinary Care in Tewkesbury Dragon Vets now has a new Tewkesbury branch; we have taken over the ownership of 31 Church Street in Tewkesbury. We will be providing the same high quality veterinary care and advanced treatment that has been our trademark in Cheltenham for over 50 years.
£40 £ 40 ++VAT VAT ffor or a sstarter tarter ccourse ourse ooff ttwo wo vvaccinations accinations ffor or ppuppies uppies oorr kkittens ittens OPEN MONDAY-FRIDAY 9AM- 6.30PM 31 Church Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5PD
www.dragonvet.co.uk www.dragonvet.co.uk
01684 01684 217 217 708 708
OPEN SATURDAY 9AM-12 NOON Prestbury Park , New Barn Lane, Cheltenham GL50 4SH
T: 01242 580324
F: 01242 241908
www.dragonvet.co.uk www.dragonvet.co.uk
2244 H HOUR OUR EEMERGENCY MERGENCY ~ 001242 1242 5522022 22022 The Local Answer
Risk factors associated with a pet’s lifespan are of great interest to vets and pet owners alike. Anything we can do to give them a long, healthy and happy life is of great importance. A recent study in America looked at over two million pet dogs and found that mixed breed dogs lived significantly longer than pure breeds; increasing body size was associated with a reduced lifespan; neutering had a positive impact on prolonging lifespans in both male and female dogs; and regular dental scaling was associated with an increased lifespan. In the UK the average dog lives to 12 years of a ge . Th e p ure br e e ds w i th th e l o n ge s t l i fe s pa n s are Miniature Poodles and Border Collies (14 years), then Bearded Collies, West Highland White Terriers and Miniature Dachshunds (13.5 years). Sadly, several large breeds have very short life expectancies. The Dogue De Bordeaux can expect to live for only 5.5 years and the Great Dane only 6 years. A 2015 study of Labradors that lived to a very old age determined that maintenance of lean body weight was a key factor of longer lifespan in this group of geriatric dogs. The leading cause of death is cancer in both dogs and cats, then musculoskeletal and neurological disease. In dogs less than 3 years old gastrointestinal, traumatic and behavioural disorders are the leading causes of death.
What W hat ccan an pet pet owners owners do? do? What can we practically do with all of this information? When our pets are young we should focus on avoidable traumas – keeping cats in at night, keeping dogs on leads around roads, watching out for foreign objects that they eat that can cause blockages (corn on the cob, toys, bones, etc.) and keeping our pets at a healthy weight and size. Neutering should be considered, especially for female dogs. As they get older, regular check ups become more important, both to detect problems at an early stage but also to keep an eye on dental disease and weight. Choosing the right breed or cross-breed might be one of the most important decisions you make. Next time you are considering a puppy or kitten, why not give your local vet clinic a ring and ask about what health problems you should be aware of and whether the breed you like is one that your local vet or vet nurse would choose!
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Sudoku Fill the grids so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.
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C Can an yyou ou spare spare a ffew ew hhours ours a month month to to support support ppeople eople w with ith llearning earning ddisabilities? isabilities? FFull ull training training & expenses expenses ppaid aid For more information call 0 1452 6 17346 01452 617346 admin@buildingcirclesglos.org.uk www.buildingcirclesglos.org.uk
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Priors Park Neighbourhood Project registered charity (PPNP Community Hub) offers room hire and a wide range of FFrom rom £5 £5 to to £15 £15 activities. We need volunteers to Call 01684 290069 help in all apsects from admin support to being a Trustee. f d il We’d love to hear from you! in support of For details details please please contact contact Ruth Ruth For 01684 290069 290069 / 07549 07549 153614 153614 01684 ruth@ppnp.co.uk ruth@ppnp.co.uk
G Gloucestershire’s loucestershire’s VW VW AUDI AUDI Group Group Specialist Specialist SServicing ervicing FFrom rom £ £95.00 95.00 M MOT OT £ £39.95 39.95 C Cambelts ambelts FFrom rom £ £249.00 249.00 A Air ir C Conditioning onditioning rregas egas £ £45.00 45.00 FFree ree Courtesy Courtesy Cars Cars – Collection Collection & Delivery Delivery
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Sales: Sales: Mon-Fri: Mon-Fri: 9am-6pm 9am-6pm Sat: Sat: 9am-4pm 9am-4pm SSun: un: Appointment Appointment only only
Service: Service: Mon-Fri: Mon-Fri: 8.30am-5.30pm 8.30am-5.30pm Sat: Sat: 8.30am-12.30pm 8.30am-12.30pm SSun: un: C CLOSED LOSED
UNIT U NIT 8 8A: A: B Beta eta C Close, lose, D Delta elta D Drive, rive, TTewkesbury, ewkesbury, G Glos. los. G GL20 L20 8 8SR SR
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Motoring M otoring w with ith T Toby oby A Aiken iken
L Looks, ooks, comfort comfort and and performance performance If you’ve never driven an Alfa, there will be something missing in your understanding of them. If you’ve never owned one, you’re missing something else: the ability to call yourself a petrol head. Before I start (or at least before I really get started) I should say that for some time I was critical of Alfa for making an SUV. Historically, that’s not what the marque was about. It was about bonkers stuff – amazing handling, crazy power, stupendous style, but not sensible, reliable family life.
IIss A Alfa lf a a g good ood iinvestment nvestment ffor or a ffamily amily S SUV? UV ? But leaving that aside, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Speciale looks amazing. It has good looks, comfort and performance so it should satisfy most camps... but it’s Italian and (let’s face it) an Alfa. Given their reputation for build quality and attention to detail, is Alfa a good investment for a family looking for an SUV? Possibly not. I should preface this by saying that at one point in the last 15 The Local Answer
years both my wife and I owned an Alfa of our own. As I said, you can’t be a petrol head until you’ve owned an Alfa and loved it anyway. My wife’s 147 was a dream. It rarely missed a beat. It remained at its best for years and brought my son home from hospital after his birth – in the snow – and I felt safe (still hands down the most harrowing drive of my life, by the way). My 156, however, appeared to have been built at 4.55pm on a Friday afternoon with glorious weather and the Italian equivalent of a bank holiday in the offing. It was horrific, to the ex tent tha t I got hold o f a c opy of Alfa’s diagnostic software and bought myself a set of diagnostic cables so I could reset the numerous fault codes every other week or so. But, I still loved that car. It was amazing. Even when it wasn’t working. And that reputation endures. My neighbour asked if the Stelvio was as quirky as you’d expect from an Italian car. At the time I said no, but on a week To advertise call 0122 510500
away with the family the Satnav went full Italian on me. The main display said I had to turn right in 1 mile. The dash display said to turn left at the exact same point. Neither resolved themselves until I chose one. Like I say, very Alfa.
G Give ive Alfa Alfa half half a chance chance a and nd y you ou w will ill ffall all iin n llove ove But, as with my piece of rubbish 156, I loved it anyway. It was flawed, but with such character that it was somehow endearing. This was not meant to be a commentary on Alfa Romeo as a manufacturer but I think for the uninitiated it serves as a good recommendation. They may not be reliable, they may not always make sense, but give Alfa a chance and you will, as I have, fall in love. Giving it back though, I felt... nothing. I like the car but it’s missing something compared to the Alfas of old. It was missing a soul. Luckily, they make a Quadrifoglio version, with a 2.9 litre bi-turbo V6. Now that may spark some feelings. Page 1
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Holidays H olidays & Travel Travel w with ith A All H Hidden idden
Venetian V enetian class class ‘La Serenissima', ‘The Queen of the Adriatic’ or ‘The Floating City’: whatever your preferred sobriquet for Venice, it’s among the world’s most popular and distinctive destinations. Let’s be honest, who hasn’t dreamed of a romantic gondola ride – with or without a Cornetto in hand? Despite concerns about environmental issues and touristic pressures, Venice’s appeal continues unabated with over 25 million visitors annually. And for good reason: its signature canals and bridges; narrow alleys; architectural gems such as the Doge’s Palace (tip: book in advance to circumvent queues); and delicious cuisine.
Catch C atch a w water ater ttaxi... axi... Fly into Venice or evoke the romance of the Venice SimplonOrient-Express as you cross Ponte della Libertà to Santa Lucia station. Then catch a motoscafi water taxi into the city – book a private hotel transfer for maximum convenience and style. Book early for the best accommodation too, be it the five-star Gritti Palace or – our recommendation – highly-rated Hotel Ala on Campo Santa Maria del Giglio in San Marco’s heart. Whether on foot or by vaporetto water bus, you must sample the obligatory sights. Please venture ‘off-piste’ too, because getting lost in Venice is a traveller’s joy. Savour espresso overlooking the traditional Squero di San Trovaso gondola boatyard. Or seek out adorable Paso de Chiodo footbridge in Cannaregio. The Local Answer
And while you’re in this most northerly of Venice’s ‘sestieri’, squeeze down impossiblynarrow Calle Varisco before refuelling on delicious Sarde in Saor, Spaghetti al Nero di Seppia, carnival-time’s moreish Frittelle doughnuts or other treats.
....or ..or an an iconic iconic g gondola ondola And so to gondolas, the definitive Venetian icons. Consider avoiding €100-plus rides on the gondola-choked Grand Canal. Instead, enjoy lesser-known – but equally beguiling – waterways. And for the cheapest, yet gondola most authentic, experience? Join Venetians on cheap two-minute Canal Grande crossings by ‘traghetto’ gondola – and test your sea legs as To advertise call 0122 510500
you rub shoulders with the locals. Whether you stay near Piazza San Marco or venture further afield around Venice’s lagoon to glass-making Murano or Chioggia’s ‘Little Venice’, when is the best time to visit? The consensus seems to be late spring or early autumn – with November an atmospheric alternative if the smallest crowds are your priority. So pack Laura Morelli’s (fictional) ‘The Gondola Maker’ or Barry Frangipane’s (factual) ‘The Venice Experiment’ and explore the locations of movies as diverse as Nicolas Roeg’s haunting ‘Don’t Look Now’, ‘Death in Venice’ or ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ as you discover ‘La Serenissima’ for yourself. Page 15
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M Make ake your your home home more energy efficient more e nergy e fficient The weather is starting to get cooler and my husband and I begin our annual ‘Battle of the Boiler’ where I try and turn the heating on and he throws me an extra jumper! In all seriousness though, we are both trying to do more to ensure that we are more energy efficient at home. These are some of the tips I have picked up to make small changes that will hopefully add up to a big difference.
Don’t Don’t boil boil the the kettle kettle for for e every very ssingle ingle ccup up I drink a lot of tea, especially when I’m working from home, and my top tip is to make a pot and keep it covered with a cosy so that you are not boiling the kettle for every single cup. You can do the same for coffee and also invest in a decent thermos to keep it hot for hours.
Use draught excluders on all your external doors. You can even make your own very simply with some fabric and filling, and basic sewing skills. Make sure any gaps around windows and doors are filled, especially in older houses. Put on the extra jumper. It’s the advice my husband gives that irritates me so much, but it is actually very good. Often I sit and moan about feeling cold and I’m only wearing a tshirt!
IInvest nvest iin nw warm arm p pyjamas yjamas and and slippers slippers Add an extra blanket to your bed. This is something that I do a lot in winter, and also invest in some warm pyjamas and slippers. Wool duvets. My husband and I have always had issues as he is too warm and I am too
cold. Last time we were duvet shopping, we were looking at all the different options and stumbled upon wool duvets and it’s been brilliant for both of us. It is somehow selfregulating and we can both sleep comfortably under it. Don’t put the oven on for longer than needed. Get to know roughly how long yours takes to get up to temperature so you don’t have it on for hours unnecessarily. Shower instead of bath. We all prefer showers over baths generally and just have baths as a special treat. When the children were younger and had more baths, I used to bathe them together and sometimes with me too. Not the most relaxing experience but it certainly saved water!
Research a Research and nd e evolve volve with w ith eco eco awareness awareness Those are a few of my top tips and I’m always searching for more. I think that we can constantly research and evolve with our eco awareness and I’m always striving to do better. I don’t always manage it but if we all try, we can make small changes that will hopefully make a big difference. The Local Answer
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What W hat s O On n The The Local Local Answer Answer Event Event L Listings istings a are re ccompiled ompiled a and nd p presented resented 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 y your our v visit. isit. 1188 SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER – 1122 O OCTOBER CTOBER LOOP2019 AT CHAPEL ARTS
A showcase of recent work by nationally and internationally exhibiting artists, including accomplished and established printmakers. Wednesday to Saturday 10am-4pm. www.thechapelarts.com 1 OCTOBER OCTOBER AUCTION OF PROMISES, BIDDING OPENS As part of Cobalt’s charitable partnership with local auctioneers Chorley’s, we are running an amazing auction of promises in October with some very special prizes. Bidding for the prizes opens on October 1st. cobalthealth.co.uk/auction-of-promises 3 OCTOBER OCTOBER ANYTHING FOR LOVE – THE MEAT LOAF STORY Steve Steinman brings you his brandnew production featuring over 25 of Meat Loaf’s greatest hits. With incredible stage set, live band and production, combined with Steve’s well-known sense of humour and stage presence. 7.30pm. See website for more details. The Roses Theatre,
Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL50 5NX. www.rosestheatre.org 5 OCTOBER OCTOBER HOLST BIRTHDAY CONCERT We are delighted to welcome back the superb Cheltenham Chamber Orchestra (conductor Timothy Carey), who will be joined by solo viola player Ana Teresa Alves. 7.30pm. £16. St Andrew’s United Reformed Church, Montpellier, Cheltenham, GL50 1SP. www.holstmuseum.org.uk 6 OCTOBER OCTOBER DEVIL’S AQUATHLON AT SANDFORD PARK’S LIDO A 400m or 2K swim at the Lido then a 10K run up to the Devil’s Chimney on Leckhampton Hill and back. 8-11am. For more information or to sign up go to www.sandfordparkslido.org.uk/ events/2019-10-06-the-devils-aquathlon Managed in partnership with Sandford Lido Ltd and Cobalt Unit Appeal Fund. 9 OCTOBER OCTOBER OBJECT TALK: THE WINCHCOMBE HOARD Assistant curator Benedict Sayers will be talking about buried treasure: the Winchcombe hoard of 251 silver coins dating to the 16th and 17th centuries which were discovered just over 20 years ago. Each talk lasts about half an hour followed by a chance to ask questions. 1pm. £5/£3 conc. The Wilson, Clarence Street, Cheltenham, GL50 3JT. www.cheltenhammuseum.org.uk 11 11 OCTOBER OCTOBER COBALT’S AUCTION OF PROMISES As part of Cobalt’s charitable partnership with local auctioneers
Chorley’s, we are running an amazing auction of promises with some very special prizes. 11am. Prinknash Abbey Park. Open to the public so please do come along to the charity auction event. Fantastic lots and loads of fun! cobalthealth.co.uk/auction-of-promises 18 18 OCTOBER OCTOBER STEVE PARRISH M.A.D TOUR – THE PARRISH TIMES Steve will be sharing the uncut version on his hilarious autobiography “The Parrish Times”. The audience can join Steve as he tracks his amazing journey over the last four decades in surely the most dangerous & exhilarating sporting arena there is. 7.30pm. £20. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 18-21 18-21 OCTOBER OCTOBER OPEN STUDIO EXHIBITION Sarah Jemmett and Jane Ware’s exciting new paintings inspired from plein air Cotswold and city scapes, and colourful jazz and cafe culture. 10am-6pm. The Garden Studio, Lower Farm House, Lower Lane, Kinsham GL20 8HT. www.janewareart.com 119-20 9-20 OCTOBER OCTOBER COTSWOLDS FOOD AND DRINK FAYRE Our ever-popular Cotswolds Food and Drink Fayre will again be held in the Toddington station car park and at Winchcombe station. There will be keenly priced and well-packaged gifts from the Fayre that will make ideal Christmas presents. See website for more details. 10am-4pm each day. Free entry to the Fayre. www.gwsr.com
Festive event coming up? Promote your event in our What’s On section in print and receive a FREE equivalent listing on our website! Email info@thelocalanswer.co.uk Event listings start from only £25+VAT in print or £12 online. Page 18
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119-20 9-20 OCTOBER OCTOBER CIRENCESTER AUTUMN FESTIVAL The festival returns with local food, beer and cider on offer as well as music and other entertainment and activities. Saturday 9am-6pm, Sunday 10am-5pm. The Market Place, GL7 2NZ Cirencester. cirencester.gov.uk/markets 2255 OCTOBER OCTOBER CLASSICAL MUSIC CONCERT IN EVESHAM The Evesham and District Music Club present their second concert of the 71st Season. Concert Pianist Ugnius Pauliukonis – one of the leading pianists of Lithuania’s New Generation. Programme of Haydn, Chopin and Debussy. Evesham Arts Centre. 7.30pm Tickets £17 (u18s and students £5). www.evesham-music-club.co.uk FUNTASTIC FAIR BY LOVE VIVA CAKES AND CRAFTS
Love Viva Cakes and Crafts presents FUNtastic Fair on Friday 25th October,
11.30am to 3.30pm. Gloucester Guildhall, GL1 1NS. Cakes, crafts, gifts, shopping and more for everyone. Free entry. For more details, email vivaoflynn@gmail.com or visit www.loveviva.co THE WESTENDERS The WestEnders are proud to present their popular show ‘The World’s Greatest Musicals’. Hear all of your favourites from iconic shows – Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia, Lion King, Chicago, West Side Story, Cats, Blood Brothers and, of course, the world’s most popular musical... Les Miserables. 7.30pm. £20 (£18). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 25 NOVEMBER 25 OCTOBER OCTOBER – 3 N OVEMBER HALLOWEEN LAND Cotswold Farm Park will have their Halloween area open for the Half Term with spooky activities and the chance to pick and decorate your own pumpkin. Cotswold Farm Park, Guiting Power, Cheltenham, GL54 5FL. www.cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk 2266 OCTOBER OCTOBER DISCOVERING BATS DAY There will be displays from the Gloucestershire Bat Society and the chance to meet some rescued bats
with expert David Endacott. Various times. £6/£4.50/£2. John Moore Museum, 41 Church St, Tewkesbury GL20 5SN. www.johnmooremuseum.org COFFEE MORNING IN AID OF COBALT
From 10.30am. All welcome. If you have any cakes, books, tombola or raffle donations, please call Cobalt on 01242 535920. Coffee morning to be held at Emmanuel Church, Fairfield Parade, Cheltenham, GL53 7PJ (off Bath Road). All proceeds to Cobalt’s Breast Cancer Research Nurses Fund. PITTVILLE BREAST CANCER CHARITY BALL In aid of Cobalt and Focus. An evening of dinner, dancing, live auction and fun at Pittville Pump Room. Organised by volunteer Sarah Cook. For details email pittvillebcball@gmail.com or buy tickets online www.bookwhen.com/ pittvillebreastcancerball
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How to enter: Send your image(s) along with your name, postal address and telephone number to photography@thelocalanswer.co.uk stating ‘TLA Photography 2020’. We cannot accept postal entries. Any photos sent in the post may not be returned. The closing date for entries is Thursday 31st October 2019. Entries received after midnight on this date will not be accepted. You must specify for which month you wish your photo to be considered for the front cover and submit no more than three photos (one photo per month for up to three months).
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26-27 OCTOBER MODEL RAILWAY EXHIBITION Layouts, refreshments, children drive yourself Thomas. Raising funds for Pied Piper at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. St. Margaret’s Hall, Coniston Road, off Windermere Road, Hatherley, Cheltenham GL51 3NU. 10am-5pm. Full details at www.cheltmodrail.org.uk HALLOWEEN STEAM AND SCREAM Pick up the Spooky Special train at either Broadway, Toddington or Cheltenham Racecourse station and travel to Winchcombe for plenty of Halloween activities including a Best Costume competition. Full details at www.gwsr.com ANNUAL GIFT AND CRAFT FAIR Local artists and craftspeople will be showcasing a variety of crafts, from woodwork and ceramics to glassware and photography, to raise funds for the Nature In Art Trust. 10am-5pm. Nature in Art, Wallsworth Hall, Twigworth, Gloucester, GL2 9PA. www.natureinart.org.uk 26 OCTOBER – 3 NOVEMBER ENCHANTED SUDELEY Follow a magical trail around the grounds of Sudeley Castle this Halloween and discover characters and scenes from the stories of the Brothers Grimm. Sudeley Castle and Gardens, Winchcombe, GL54 5JD. Full details at www.sudeleycastle.co.uk 29 OCTOBER LITTLE HOWLERS A new night of comedy from Howlers Comedy Club designed especially for kids. Line up includes Cerys Nelmes, Matt Green and Jarred Christmas and Hobbit. 2.30-5pm. £10/£8. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, GL50 1QA. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk 29-31 OCTOBER HALLOWEEN FARM TOUR Visit the pumpkin patch and choose a free pumpkin to take home and carve, enjoy a trailer ride and visit the farmyard animals. £6, children under two free. Court Farm Shop, Stoke Road, Stoke Orchard, Cheltenham, GL52 7RY. www.courtfarmshop.co.uk 30 OCTOBER ROCK AND ROLL DREAMS CAME TRUE – MEAT LOAF THE SHOW A powerhouse performance about the life of the iconic legend Meat Loaf and the music of the maestro Jim Steinman, the man behind the musical masterpieces. Lee Brady dominates the stage with all of Meat Loaf’s vigour and power, and with the help of an exceptional 8piece live band this show recreates the Bat Out of Hell experience! 7.30pm. £20 (£17.50). The Bacon
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Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 30 & 31 OCTOBER WESTONBIRT SHOPPING FAIR Over 130 stalls selling exciting and innovative fashion, jewellery and homeware. Meet friends for coffee or lunch. Feel good about spending to support local charities. Westonbirt School, Tetbury GL8 8QG. www.westonbirtfair.org 31 OCTOBER JACK SAVORETTI Indie singer/songwriter Jack Savoretti will be at The Centaur at Cheltenham Racecourse playing songs from his latest number one album ‘Singing To Strangers’. 7pm. £32.50. Cheltenham Racecourse, Evesham Road, GL50 4SH. www.thejockeyclub.co.uk HALLOWEEN FILM: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS Meek flower shop assistant Seymour pines for co-worker Audrey. During a total eclipse, he discovers an unusual plant he names Audrey II, which feeds on human flesh and blood. The growing plant attracts a great deal of business for the previously struggling store. After Seymour feeds Audrey’s boyfriend to the plant after his accidental death, he must come up with more bodies for the increasingly bloodthirsty plant. 7pm. £9 (£8). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 3 NOVEMBER CIRENCESTER VEGAN FAIR Celebrating all things plant-based, the fair will have on offer the best vegan food and products from the Cotswolds and beyond, including artisan crafts, ethical beauty and clothing brands and talks and workshops to get involved in. 10am-3pm. £2 entry includes all talks, under 14s free. Bingham Hall, King Street, Cirencester GL7 1JT. www.veganfairs.co.uk 9 NOVEMBER SING WITH CLEEVE CHORALE Rehearse and perform Haydn’s Creation in St. Michael and All Angels Church Bishop’s Cleeve at 9.45am. The day will includes a light lunch and tea and cake. Scores provided. Tickets £15 (Students £5) or attend the performance at 3pm for £5. Available from George Lewis Footwear, ring 01242 674114 or on the door. More information www.cleevechorale.co.uk BONFIRE & FIREWORK DISPLAY – BURLEY LAKES FIREWORKS NIGHT Disco roadshow, pig roast, small fun fair with new rides, burgers, chips and licensed bar at Burley Fields Lakes, Leckhampton Lane, Cheltenham. Gates
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open and bonfire lit at 5.30pm. Kids Show at 7pm and Grand Finale at 8.30pm. Last admission 8.15pm. Adults and children £5 in advance, £7 on the night. Tickets on sale at Burley Fields Lakes Farm Shop, Sardar’s Cafe (Warden Hill) and Bargain Booze (Bath Road). Call Steve on 07831 734683, Pam on 07769 700067 or 01242 861333. Strictly no alcohol, fireworks or sparklers to be brought in. CHARITY CHRISTMAS FAIR A selection of gifts for sale and refreshments available, all raising funds for charity, including Cobalt. 10am to 12.30pm. Alderton Village Hall, 4 Church Road, Alderton, Tewkesbury, GL20 8NR. ERICA PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS Winchcombe based band Erica will be hosting a gig at Croft Farm featuring local acts The Filthy Casuals, Johnny Fingers and I, The Lion. 4-11.30pm. Tickets £10 must be bought in advance. Croft Farm Waterpark, Bredons Hardwick, Tewkesbury, GL20 7EE. Email jez@neverpunch.co.uk for full details. 9-16 NOVEMBER ANNUAL CHARLTON KINGS TOY SALE IN AID OF ACORN CHILDREN’S HOSPICE Lots of preloved toys, games, etc. on sale everyday from 9am-4.30pm at Charlton Kings Baptist Church. Closed on Sunday. Must finish Saturday 16th November at midday. Please support us and bring your donated toys to the church on Friday 8th November from 1.30pm. For further information call 01242 522559. 13 NOVEMBER K2TOGS SALE Community knitting group K2Togs will be holding a sale of their knitted items, including babywear, hats and scarves and more. 10.30am-2.30pm. Free entry. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL50 5NX. www.rosestheatre.org 15 NOVEMBER WINCHCOMBE LIVE Folk, roots and blues band Grizzly and the Grasshoppers will be performing as part of the monthly Winchcombe Live shows. 8.15-11pm. The White Hart, High Street, Winchcombe GL54 5LJ. facebook.com/winchcombelive 3-10 DECEMBER THE BIG GIVE CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE For seven days, all donations to Cobalt through www.thebiggive.org.uk will be DOUBLED making a fantastic £50,000 available to support Cobalt’s Breast Cancer Research Nurses. From 12 noon on the 3rd through to 12 noon on the 10th.
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Entertainment E ntertainment
IIff you you hhave ave a sstory tory ttoo share, share, pplease lease eemail mail ffull ull ddetails etails tto o TTom. om. with with Tom Tom Hadfield Hadfield ‒ entertainment@thelocalanswer.co.uk entertainment@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Local Local band band on on their their big big summer summer Erica are a three-piece band ‘WhiteHorse’, which can be who hail from Winchcombe. found on all digital platforms. Made up of Dalton WoodEven with the summer music season now winding ward on vocals and lead down to a close, the band guitar, Will Hall on drums and aren’t planning on slowing Michael Long on bass, the down. group have been in their Erica have some exciting current form for a few months shows lined up for the after the departure of their autumn. original bassist. “We’re hosting a gig at “We’ve been together as Croft Farm, near Bredon, on Erica for eight years, when Saturday 9th November,” Will joined from another said Dalton. band,” said Dalton. Erica (L-R) Michael Long, Will Hall and Dalton Woodward “Then on Friday 29th “Mikey joined in the summer November we are the ‘house’ crowd,” continued Michael. just in time for our busy festival band for the WTAF Podcast. The “We also played both of Chris season.” podcast is about ‘This Country’, Evans’ CarFest events, and the And it certainly has been a the TV show with Daisy and Sunshine Festival in Upton busy season for the boys, who Charlie Cooper. upon Severn to a crowd of have been playing shows “We are called ‘the unofficial around 8,500 people, that was throughout the county and This Country band’ and have awesome! We also kit shared beyond, including a major set at supported charity events with with the Osmonds, which was Lakefest. them throughout 2019, which “We’ve performed at Lakefest surreal!” was great fun!” since its inception seven years The summer also saw Erica Full story online. ago and feel like it is our home release their third album,
FFilm ilm Review Review – Joe Joe K Kennett ennett
Book Book Review Review – Aloÿse Aloÿse of of Daylesford Daylesford Book Book Club Club
Good Good B Boys oys
Clock Clock D Dance ance by Anne Tyler
Take quite literally every stupid thing you may have said or done as a child and cram it into a 90minute film; that’s essentially what first-time director Gene Stupnitsky has done with ‘Good Boys’. On face value, the movie has all the potential to be a complete flop, with generic ‘boy’ humour and a plot line which could definitely be strengthened. Yet what we actually get is a brilliant new comedy with some real heart and emotion behind the storyline. Starring Jacob Tremblay, Keith Williams and Brady Noon in their biggest roles to date, these newcomers earn their rightful place on the big screen with commendable rapport and unforced acting, which suffers (L-R) Keith Williams as Lucas, Jacob sometimes Tremblay as Max and Brady Noon with a younger cast. as Thor. Image: Universal Pictures Full review online.
Clock Dance is the 22nd novel from the much loved American author Anne Tyler. At the age of 61, Willa Drake has led a seemingly dull life with only a handful of defining moments until her son’s ex-girlfriend is shot. In a totally out of character decision she crosses the country, from Arizona to Baltimore, to take care of this woman, her daughter and dog. Accompanied by her patronising husband Peter, who refers to Willa as ‘little one’, she is out of her comfort zone but surprises herself with her capabilities and her increasing pleasure in being part of this odd ball community. This may not be Anne Tyler’s finest novel but it deserves careful reading and savouring of the characters in the book. Each is described with Tyler’s characteristic tenderness and dry humour. 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
SpitFire SpitFire are are a band band on on the the up up off the BBC stage feeling like Alex Nash, Sim Smith and Cal we’d made it! Whelan first met while they “We played crowds as big as were attending Bishop’s Cleeve 20,000 and supported acts Secondary School. such as Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Now, a few years down the Doctor and the Medics, and line, the three have reunited Nizlopi.” over a love of music, and This summer the boys also formed their own band, released their debut single, SpitFire. ‘Daddy’s Girl’, which has “Four years ago we formed since been featured on BBC a wedding covers band,” said Introducing and Planet Rock lead singer and guitarist Alex. Radio. “We had such a good recep“Planet Rock love it and tion for our covers and we wanted the same for our Spitfire (L-R) Cal Whelan, Alex Nash and Sim Smith won’t stop playing it,” said Alex. originals. SpitFire has formed “It’s a song about seeing a Cal as a postman and Sim as a over the last couple of years.” beautiful young lady in secret yacht salesman. The trio have all lived in Glouwith a crazy overprotective August saw SpitFire perform cestershire for most of their dad.” at some of their biggest gigs to lives – Sim, who plays bass, SpitFire’s next single, ‘I Didn’t date, including a slot at one of emigrated with his family to the Know’ is set to be released the area’s most popular festivals. UK from New Zealand aged soon, with their debut EP “Lakefest was insane, we keep eight. currently in the works, and due getting messages now on how They all work in the area, in for release early next year. exciting our performance was. very different jobs – Alex as an Full story online. aerospace technician, drummer “It was electrifying, we walked
S Singer inger F Frazer razer Lepford Lepford iis s iin nb big ig d demand emand Frazer Lepford is a singer/songwriter who started his career busking in the streets around Gloucestershire. Now, he plays shows all around the UK and most recently performed on the main stage at Lakefest. Working with local music company Gameplan Records, Frazer has seen his popularity grow in the local area over the last couple of years. “My track ‘Rodeo’ peaked at number seven in the iTunes singer/songwriter charts in May 2018,” he said. “This was accompanied by the ‘Rodeo’ music video which hit 10,000 views in its first 24 hours.” This summer saw Frazer release his second EP, entitled ‘Numbers’, following the success
Frazer Lepford
of his debut EP earlier this year. “‘Cold Coffee’ was released in March,” he continued. “It reached number five in the iTunes singer/songwriter charts which was amazing.”
“I had so much fun making ‘Numbers’ and to finally be able to share my favourite tracks from it with people is such a buzz!” With eight singles in total out on streaming platforms, all of which have been given airtime by BBC Introducing in the West, and his latest four singles entering the iTunes singer/songwriters chart, Frazer continues to show his star ability. In between recording, he is almost constantly gigging around the county, and is set to be in big demand next summer. He added: “I’m looking forward to next year and the opportunities that it’ll bring.” To keep up to date with Frazer visit www.facebook.com/Frazerlepfordmusic 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
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IIn n tthe he Garden Garden w with ith JJulia ulia S Smith mith
C Compost ompost your your fallen fallen leaves leaves October is a lovely month, even though the nights are drawing in. The colours of the turning leaves and the spiders’ webs glistening with dew strung across the garden in the morning make it one of the most beautiful times of year. As mentioned last month, you can now sow sweet-peas ready for next year. Soak them for a few hours in some water to help them germinate, then sow 1.5cm deep in seed compost in a 13cm pot, several seeds per pot. Cover with glass or polythene until the seeds germinate and then stand out in the garden in a cold frame, unheated greenhouse or just somewhere sheltered to overwinter.
U Use se o one ne ccompost ompost h heap eap w whilst hilst tthe he o other ther rrots ots Collect up fallen leaves and compost in a separate ‘leaf bin’. This could be chicken wire wrapped round four stout posts set at the corners. If you have two made, you can use
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one whilst the other is rotting down, as it takes a good year to create leaf-mold. Put a layer of some sort of membrane like plastic on the bottom to stop weeds growing up through the leaf-mold. Alternatively, if you don’t have much space, put the leaves into black bin-liners – half fill the bags and prick some holes in, then store somewhere outside. Evergreen leaves don’t compost well and would need shredding (things like holly, laurel and Mahonia). They drop all year but largely in August. Don’t let leaves lie on heathers, dwarf conifers and other small shrubs, as they can cause disease. They shouldn’t be left on the lawn either. However, if deciduous leaves are lying on the flower borders in which all the perennials have died back they can be left – by springtime they will have disappeared if the worms are doing their job! To advertise call 0122 510500
G Get et rrid id of of box box tree tree ccaterpillars aterpillars My garden has been plagued with box tree caterpillars this year for the first time. I had heard about them but was quite complacent until I noticed a small bit of densely woven webbing on one of the box balls. On closer inspection I found a fat caterpillar and realised that it had been decimating the leaves! I inspected my other box balls and found them on quite a few, and furthermore as I searched in the leaves the hatched moths were taking to the sky (well, the ones I didn’t grab first!) There are insecticides such as BugClear Ultra that you can spray, but you must penetrate the webbing for them to be effective. I don’t like using sprays so I have picked off and disposed of any caterpillars and given the plants a good drench with a seaweed tonic to help them perk up. It is a good idea to clear any leaf litter from underneath the plants and mulch after feeding. Page 2
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Making M aking aan ne entrance ntrance Whenever I visit family or friends, as soon as I walk in the door I know immediately if I feel at home. What is it that creates that special feeling? At this time of the year with Halloween upon us, and as we look forward to more visitors in the winter months, it’s a good time to think about sprucing up entrances and hallways. Follow my tips to help you create a warm welcome.
First F irst iimpressions mpressions It’s easy to forget the outside of your house when you spend most of your time inside. Nothing says “welcome” more than a freshly painted front door. Try an interesting new colour like smart grey or soft blue/green. Pots of colourful or architectural plants are a quick and easy way to add style. Last October I was in the US visiting my daughter and I loved the bright orange pumpkins, golden chrysanthemums and seasonal wreaths outside all the pretty clapboard houses.
Cut C ut tthe he cclutter lutter In my experience, most hallways end up messy and full of
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clutter, whether it’s coats, shoes or bags, and it gets even worse in winter with muddy boots! It’s time to sort through and rehome what you can elsewhere in the house, or utilise the space under the stairs with hooks and shelving. Add some extra storage in the hall, maybe a bespoke unit for coats and shoes, or a row of attractive baskets for hats and scarves. You can instantly create a more spacious and tranquil feel.
L Let et tthere here b be e light light Arriving home to a light and stylish entrance will immediately make you feel calm. I have lots of downlights in my hall to make it bright and welcoming, or why not go for a statement light fitting for more impact? Mirrors in a hallway are essential, not just for reflecting light and making it look spacious, but so you can check the way you look before rushing out the door. Big and bold is a good rule of thumb for mirrors.
Set S et the the tone tone
Create C reate a gallery gallery
Your hallway sets the tone for the rest of the house. It should smell good; I always have a basket of fragrant flowers or a beautiful scented diffuser on my hall table. For walls I love light neutral colours like Farrow and Ball’s Ammonite. If you prefer something more dramatic, look up Kit Kemp on Pinterest for some lovely ideas. If you can afford to change your flooring, hard floors are more practical – natural wood is very on trend, and you could add a rug for a pop of colour.
Finally, your entrance hall should say something about you. If you have room for an item of furniture, make sure it makes a statement – it could be a lovely painted console table, or an interesting piece found in antique market. For that personal touch, try creating a gallery wall of favourite artworks or family photos. Have fun channelling your inner creative side. Now you are ready to welcome your visitors into your home.
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Ghastly Ghastly gadgets gadgets & g garish arish gizmos gizmos ‘Tis the season of pump spice, jack o’ lanterns an as many pictures of autum leaves as you can post o Instagram. With Halloween creeping around the corne and the colder weathe setting in, now’s the time t gander at some of the lates gizmos coming out th month.
Thermos S Thermos Super uper L Light ight Direct D irect D Drink rink F Flask lask Lakeland: £21.99 Whether you’re going for a morning jog, or simply walking to work, this stylish flask from Lakeland will keep your beverage nice and warm – or chilled if the colder weather doesn’t put you off – with its airtight seal. You don’t even need to stop to carefully unscrew the lid; simply use the flip-up lid with the push of a button. The flask has also been designed to cool down hot drinks, so you can drink directly from it without burning your tongue and making a numpty of yourself in
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button, and the camera ncludes a built-in privacy shutter. Just download the free Alexa app onto your Fire OS, Android, iOS device or desktop browser to get started.
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John Lewis: £139.99 Yes, the red and orange hues of crisp autumn leaves may be photogenic, and a Pinterest lover’s dream for some homemade arts and crafts, but they can also be a right mess. Hence why the Mountfield MBV48LI leaf blower (try saying that six times fast!) is the perfect tidying tool for your garden.
John Lewis: £79.99 Need a weather update? Fancy listening to a podcast? Or perhaps you need to wake up the rest of the household? Simply ask Alexa. With the hands-free Echo Show 5, you can now manage your day with some help from the everpunctual Alexa. With its 5.5” screen and lightweight design, this device will help you make hands-free calls and connect with other Echo devices using the Drop-In feature. It even works with smart home devices including cameras, lights and thermostats from brands including WeMo, Philips Hue, Netatmo, SmartThings, TP-Link, Hive and more. You can turn the microphone and camera off at the touch of
With its DigiTorq brushless motor, this leaf blower produces a blast of air which can travel up to 174mph. You can switch between high and low power easily and save energy by varying the speed. With up to 30 minutes of power, you can blast away any leaves or debris cluttering up your garden in no time at all.
public. And in case you’re extremely accident-prone, it also has a leakproof seal, so even if you end up knocking it over or turning it upside down, it won’t spill. With its sleek and portable design, you can easily slip this into your bag for an easier commute.
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The summer holidays are over, the kids are back at school and I’m thinking of putting the golf clubs away for the winter. We are all in need of therapy from the nonsense that has been going on regarding our exit from the EU and the knock-on effects into our UK politics. What better therapy than a dose of shopping? What better excuse than buying a few Christmas presents?! The big retailers are taking delivery of products by the lorry load and are about to launch their advertising campaigns to persuade us to spend the usual ‘small fortune’! So what is the best approach to Christmas shopping? From a choice perspective, anything you want to be on offer will be available over the next couple of months. So if that’s what you’re after, now is the time to shop.
IIt’s t’s never never too too early early to to shop shop for for Christmas! C hristmas! From a financial perspective, you probably missed the boat. Alongside making products available, retailers are charging peak prices for their goods, making shopping over the next couple of months that much more expensive than it would have been if you’d shopped steadily over the last six months. Yes, I’m agreeing it’s never too early to shop for Christmas! With the availability of online shopping and a society that won’t wait five minutes for anything, more and more people are buying things when they want them, not waiting for birthdays or Christmas. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to find things to buy for loved ones at this joyous time of year.
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So my thoughts are that we shouldn’t try too hard. Don’t buy something just because the other person will buy for you, if there’s nothing that person wants. Give the money to charity instead. Also don’t compete by trying to spend more because there is nothing you can get for your original budget. That’s the quickest way to build up a credit card debt that you’ll spend the first six months of next year trying to pay back. Christmas is a time of goodwill to all people, not a time for getting deep into debt.
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TO SHARE SHARE YOUR YOUR SPORTING SPORTING WANT W ANT TO 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
Gillian Gillian Cowell Cowell loving loving life life at at Cleeve Cleeve Cloud Cloud Gillian Cowell enjoys playing golf but more than that she likes others to enjoy their golf as well. That’s one of the reasons she’s in her second spell as captain of the ladies’ section at Cleeve Cloud – she was also captain in 2013 – and her second time in charge has come on the back of a three-year stint as chair of Gloucestershire Ladies’ County Golf. “I was hoping to maybe have a year off in between,” she chuckled, “but we’re only a small ladies’ section. The first time around it was pretty hard as everything was new to me, but there’s a very good ladies’ committee to help out and second time around it is easier.” She reckons she plays twice a week most weeks, although it’s only in the last few years that she has started playing more
And A nd tthey’re hey’re o off ff The wait is almost over for racegoers as they look forward to what is sure to be another outstanding season at the home of National Hunt racing. The 2019/20 campaign at Cheltenham Racecourse gets under way with the excellent two-day Showcase meeting on Friday 25th and Saturday 26th October. It’s the start of 16 days of racing at Prestbury Park spread over six months with the highlight, as always, being the Cheltenham Festival which this season runs from 10th-13th March. That’s still a long way off of course and before that all eyes will be on The Showcase, which sees seven races running from 2pm until 5pm on both days.
A All ll ssystems ystems g go o Top rugby referee Craig MaxwellKeys enjoyed a bit of extra downtime in the summer just gone.
regularly. “I started playing back home when my husband and sons took up the game,” explained the 58-year-old. Her accent tells you that she is originally from north of the border, although ironically neither husband Brian nor her sons are anything more than occasional golfers these days. “We played golf at West
Kilbride in the West of Scotland,” recalled Gillian. “I was never very good and I think when I first started I was given a handicap of 46. I had got it down to 36 when I left.” Her husband’s work brought her to Winchcombe in 2009 but she didn’t start playing golf again until 2011 when she joined Cleeve Cloud after a break from the game of three or four years. And there must be something about the rarefied air on top of Cleeve Hill that brings out the best in Gillian because she has halved her handicap since joining the club. “I play off 18 but until a week ago I was playing off 17,” she told The Local Answer at the start of September. “I hope I haven’t peaked!” Full story online.
The much later than usual start to the Premiership season due to the ongoing Rugby World Cup in Japan meant he was able to chill for a few weeks longer than would normally be the case. “Last season was wrapped up at the start of the June and we weren’t fitness tested until the beginning of August,” MaxwellKeys said. And it’s fair to say that the 29year-old made the most of his extended break, whether spending time at the Cheltenham Cricket Festival, holidaying in the Balkans or taking time out to go to a friend’s wedding in Toulouse. Mind you, that additional time off will soon be forgotten once the top-level domestic season gets under way on the penultimate weekend of October with very few spare weekends in the schedule until the end of June.
Woodmancote United are relative new boys to the Cheltenham Football League – they have just started their third season – but all the signs are that they will be permanent fixtures for many years to come. That is certainly the wish of their impressive chairman Morgan West, who also founded the club. The 33-year-old is a solicitor based in Cheltenham and obviously knows all about the right way and wrong way of doing things, and it’s abundantly clear that his club has been set up in the right way. Both on and off the field standards have been set, so much so that on two occasions the Division Four Side have said no to being promoted as a result of a league restructure. “We want to be promoted on merit,” said West. For full verssions of all these storiies and more visitt www.thelocalanswer.co.uk
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M Matt att Stone Stone hopes hopes Tewkesbury Tewkesbur y can tthrive hrive at at their their higher higher level level can You get plenty of ‘Where were you?’ moments when significant things happen in sport. Where were you when England won the Rugby World Cup in 2003, for example, or James when Gloucester’s Simpson-Daniel danced round Jonah Lomu for that try for England against the Barbarians, or when Gareth Edwards scored the greatest try of all time for the Barbarians against the All Blacks close on 50 years ago now? They were all memorable moments in the great game that is rugby and Tewkesbury’s Matt Stone has a ‘where were you?’ moment of his own, albeit on a slightly different scale. That’s because the 35-year-old was in Nigeria when he learned he would be captaining Tewkesbury Rugby Club in the 2019/20 season. “I was working over there when the decision was made at our AGM in June,” said the firefighting instructor. “I found out via our WhatsApp group!” Not that his appointment came as a total surprise. “I’d put my name forward and said I’d do it if no-one else wanted to,” said the longserving outside centre. “But I was more than happy if someone else wanted the job.” Stone has taken over from the
Matt Stone
now retired Mike Harper and his experience is going to be important this season after the club’s promotion to Gloucestershire One. And it’s not only his leadership skills that are going to be needed because Stone is also one of the club’s major players. The former Tewkesbury School pupil started playing for the club at the age of 22 and has missed only a couple of seasons since his debut campaign. He reckons he’s scored some 150 tries for Tewkesbury over that period and holds the club record for most tries in a season, which stands at 33. Last season he scored 15 in a campaign that culminated in that winner-takes-all game at Cheltenham Civil Service, which Tewkesbury won 33-7 to clinch the Gloucestershire Two North title. So what sort of player is he? “If I’ve got a bit of space I’ll back myself,” he said. “But we’ve also got a few planned moves when I cut back and run Teewkesbury’s 2018/19 title-winning squad onto a crash ball. I’m
about 16 stone so I’ve got a bit of weight on me and can break through tackles.” And while he clearly knows his role as a player, he admits that his captaincy may be a bit of a work in progress, particularly in the early part of the season. “I’m not the most vocal of people,” he said. “I’m not an emotional player so I might have to work on my team talks.” Stone, who started playing for Cheltenham juniors at the age of eight before spending half-adozen seasons at Cheltenham Saracens, shouldn’t worry too much about that. He’s clearly a player who others look up to, someone who leads by example and who never gives up. And the try he considers to be the best he has scored for the club reflects that never-say-die spirit. “It was a few years ago, I think it was against Ross-on-Wye,” he said. “We had a penalty kick at goal and I chased it, you always chase a penalty kick. “The ball came back off the outside of the post and I caught it and scored the try.” Stone and all of Tewkesbury would love another couple of those this season!
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