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GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S BIGGEST LLOCAL OCAL BIGGEST M AGAZINE MAGAZINE FFEBRUARY EBRUARY 22022 022

N NORTH ORTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE GLOUCESTERSHIRE H HAPPY APPY V VALENTINE’S ALENTINE’S DAY DAY FROM FROM THE THE LOCAL LOCAL ANSWER! ANSWER!

R R S

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O One ne o off tthe he m many any reasons reasons tto o cchoose h o o se u us: s:

IIn n partnership partnership w with ith o our ur ssister ister ccompany, ompany, S Severn evern & W Wye ye S Scaffolding, caffolding, w we e ccreate reate a safe safe w working orking e environment nvironment w which hich e enables nables o our ur p professional rofessional tteam eam tto o ffocus ocus on on d delivering elivering a h high igh q quality uality sservice. ervice. T This his iis s Severn evern & Wy W Wye ye more m ore ccost-effective ost-effective tthan han u using sing e external xternal sscaffolders caffolders S and a nd iis s far far m more ore cconvenient onvenient ffor or ccustomers ustomers – tthe he S SCAFFOLDING CAFFOLDING scaffold scaffold is is e erected rected a and nd rremoved emoved iin n a ttimely imely ffashion. ashion.

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AN ANSWER SWER N North orth G Gloucestershire: loucestershire: 220,000 0,000 ccopies opies Cheltenham: C heltenham: 443,000 3,000 ccopies opies Cotswolds: opies C otswolds: 330,000 0,000 ccopies Gloucester: G loucester: 446,000 6,000 copies copies Stroud District: S troud D istrict: 441,000 1,000 copies copies

IInside nside tthis his m month onth ... ... D elicious D ish Delicious Dish all M irror M irror oon n tthe he W Mirror Mirror Wall M oney M atters Money Matters P et C are Pet Care H olidays & TTravel ravel Holidays P arenting & G uardianship Parenting Guardianship M otoring Motoring W hat’s O n What’s On TTLA LA D istributors R equired Distributors Required H omes & G ardens Homes Gardens IIn n tthe he G arden Garden W ildlife M atters Wildlife Matters IInterior nterior D esign Design Gadgets Gizmos G adgets & G izmos Word W ord Search Search Sudoku S udoku Quick Crossword Q uick C rossword TTLA LA Sport Sport Solutions IIndex, ndex, Competitions, Competitions, S olutions

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Unit H,, C Churchill U nit H hurchill IIndustrial ndustrial EEstate, state, Churchill Road, C hurchill R oad, LLeckhampton, eckhampton, C heltenham, Gloucestershire Gloucestershire G L53 7EG 7EG Cheltenham, GL53

Telephone T elephone 01242 01242 510500 510500 info@thelocalanswer.co.uk info@thelocalanswer.co.uk @thelocalanswer @ thelocalanswer

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W elcome Welcome ttoo FFebruary ebruary Whether you want to treat a loved one on Valentine’s Day, or practise some self-love, this month’s Delicious Dish is sure to hit the mark. Tasty red velvet cupakes decorated with chocolate hearts – yum! If you want to go one step further with a bigger gift, check out Laura Nicklin’s gadget recommendations, including a movie projector to help you plan a romantic night in. Dorothy Glen is looking forward to spring, as she focuses on frogs and toads in her latest Wildlife Matters article. Meanwhile, Gill Greenwell is making the most of the winter weather with her interiors feature – check out her ideas for creating an alpine ambience in your home, even if you don’t live anywhere near the mountains! As always, we have a great local sport story in this month’s issue, along with our usual puzzles to give your brain a good workout!

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

V Valentine alentine red red velvet velvet ccupcakes upcakes S poil your your lloved oved o ne tthis his Spoil one V alentine’s Day Day with with these these Valentine’s ssweet, weet, rromantic omantic ttreats! reats!

IIngredients: ngredients: 150g plain flour 1 tbsp cocoa powder 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 50g butter 150g caster sugar 1 large egg 1 tsp vanilla paste 100ml buttermilk 50ml vegetable oil 1 tsp white wine vinegar 15g tube of extra strong red food colouring For the icing: 100g full fat cream cheese 100g butter 220g icing sugar

M Method: ethod:

1 Put 12 cupcake cases into a cupcake tin. Heat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan/gas mark 4). 2 Sieve the flour, cocoa powder, bicarbonate of soda and a pinch of salt into a bowl and mix together. 3 Beat together the softened butter and sugar with an

Keep up K eep u p tto o d date ate o on n ssocial ocial m media! edia!

electric whisk until light and fluffy. Add the beaten egg, vanilla paste, buttermilk, oil and vinegar until all combined. Gradually whisk the wet mi xture i nto th e d ry ingredients, then add all of the tube of red food colouring and mix well. Divide the mixture between the cupcake cases then bake for 15 minutes. Leave to cool on a rack. To make the icing, beat

together the butter and icing sugar until pale and fluffy, then beat in the cream cheese until nice and soft. 8 Using a piping bag with a star nozzle, fill the bag with the icing then pipe a swirl onto the cooled cakes. 9 Decorate as you wish for your valentine, using treats such as chocolate hearts, freeze dried strawberry or raspberry pieces, or even in strawberries dipped chocolate!

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Mirror Mirror Mirror Mirror on on tthe he Wall Wall w with ith V Val al S Starr tarr

Wrap W rap up up in in style style February can feel a little like a Wednesday (hump day) – we are hopefully more than halfway through the winter, eagerly anticipating the prospect of spring with its warmer weather and lighter days. This is the time of year when we are still in our winter outerwear and we need just that little something to update and brighten our wardrobe, without buying more coats and jackets.

S Scarves carves Et voilà – the fastest way to update your look is by adding a scarf. It’s the perfect accessory, one which with just a small investment can last you for years to come. Scarves are like our comfort blankets and whether they are long or wide, cashmere or wool blend, there is certainly one for everyone. A good scarf around your neck is the fastest way to warm

you up and keep the chills at bay. Men, women and children can all benefit from this special addition to their winter wardrobe; even pets are being given their own winter accessories.

Big B ig sscarves carves This appears to be the most popular style; you will find so many choices, it can be hard to decide. Mango has a really good selection, including a striking emerald green (right) which is incredibly long and, at just £19.99, affordable too. If you want to invest in something a little more special, cashmere is always a treat. Toast offers a big shawl size scarf in four different colours at £155. British brand Penelope Chilvers is also worth a look; they choose stripes that incorporate all the colours of the season in one scarf. Made in Scotland, these scarves are sure ement your wardrobe. nother Scottish brand, ves with a giant letter hoice at £90. d seems to have an en it comes to great I have written prevout Great Scot, who diverse selection of of exceptional quality exquisite packaging.

Riding b boots oots nother item that can m your look without a lay and will last well spring. Riding boots t with a maxi or mini with the ever-popular ng’. As the majority rt a flatter heel, they offer great comfort. ph Lauren, renowned The Local Answer

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for the polo look, has a superb tan long boot for £199 (left) – it’s very smart and unlikely to go out of fashion. Moda in Pelle’s selection is also superb – from short to long, and with some fabulous colours to choose from, this is an easy way to add an instant update to your outfit. Moda in Pelle have a leopard print long boot that is sure to turn heads, as well as every style of boot you could wish for; you might even catch them on sale at this time of year. They also sell a great boot shaper for £14.95 in a natural plastic that will stop your high boots from flopping over when not being worn. This will prolong their lifespan by ensuring they stay in shape, and they adapt to any shape or size, so are well worth the investment. Small changes offering a super fresh look as we head towards spring! Page 

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

T The he energy energy crisis crisis Being Prime Minister is not a job I’ve ever fancied. The current incumbent was elected on a wave of national isolationism following the Brexit vote. He’s faced a number of challenges, some of his own making, but much of which he couldn’t have foreseen, mostly connected with the pandemic. But will 2022 bring an even bigger challenge in the shape of the energy crisis? Natural gas prices rose to unprecedented levels last year, as a result of which a number of energy suppliers went out of business. Fortunately, there were others on hand to ensure a continuity of supply. That flow of company failures has slowed recently, but it has all the hallmarks of being the calm before the storm. Global forces were in play in the creation of the crisis. The conspiracy theorists who blame China for the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus would cry foul in the same direction again. In being the first economy hit by the pandemic, China was also the first to recover. Its bounce back was strong and rapid, as a result of which it bought up significant amounts of gas supplies, reducing what was available for other economies. Add in the involvement of Russia in being the main exporter of gas supplies to Europe and, all of a sudden, the UK government is dealing with some international heavyweights.

IItt could could ccost ost as as m much uch a as s£ £20 20 b billion illion The PM and his advisors will be busy talking to energy bosses, trying to agree an agenda that is going to be acceptable for supply companies, but not allow prices to rise to unaffordable levels. Estimates predict the cost of government support could be as much as £20 billion. What can the government do? Their options, as often they do, involve taxation. There are already political clamourings for the government to remove the application of VAT to energy supplies. It’s a relatively simple measure to implement and would benefit everyone on a pro-rata basis to their spending levels. However, with VAT on energy at only 5% currently, the fears are that it’s not going to be of any significant benefit to individuals. They could head in the opposite direction and charge a windfall tax on the energy companies. Again, it’s easily introduced and would sit well with the government’s green agenda. It would be popular amongst most of the population too. But it would be equally unpopular within the industry and the PM would face a significant backlash. Heads he loses, tails he doesn’t win! Page 10

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TT:: 01242 01242 250039 250039 The Local Answer

Police and Crime Commissioner Chris Nelson’s

POLICE & CRIME PREVENTION PLAN ~ 2021-2025

Fixing the price of policing In contrast with other areas of the country, the cost of policing in Gloucestershire is now split almost equally, between a grant from Central Government and funding from local taxpayers. The Government settlement, announced last month, has to meet pay rises, inflation and additional cost increases. In or der to begin to implement some of the manifesto proposals on which I was elected, there will have to be an increase in the part of the council tax that pays for policing. Having won your votes on the promise of recruiting more police officers, driving down antisocial behaviour and making it easier to contact the police, I am determined to keep my word.

New officers already on board So far, the Government’s uplift programme has helped me make a start and enabled the Constabulary to bring in a number of new officers already. As part of this year’s central grant settlement, I am also allowed to increase the precept – the part of the council tax that pays for policing - by up to £10 without a referendum. But as my manifesto was based on what the public said they wanted, consultation is important to me. Let me be clear; I remain committed to my manifesto promises and I am working with the Chief Constable to ensure that a £10 increase meets his most as immediate needs such investigating crimes against the most vulnerable in society, by, for example, increasing the numbers working in Child Abuse Investigation Teams. A £10 rise would also

Consulting inside and outside the Constabulary is key to getting the police the resources they need. ensure that we can start to increase the number of people in the Force Control Room who take 999 and 101 phone calls from the public.

Much-needed additional investment In building the budget I have also asked the Chief to make savings in other non-pay areas to help towards ensuring that every penny can be targeted towards these improvements. We are working together to make sure that every part of the existing budget is as tightly squeezed as it can be to make as much space as possible for this much-needed additional investment. Increasing the precept by more

If you would like to have your say on the Police Budget proposals, please email the Police and Crime Commissioner at

PCC@gloucestershire-pcc.gov.uk

than £10 would enable me to meet my manifesto commitments more quickly. However, I have to take into account the need to avoid a costly referendum, the financial position of our residents and their ability to pay, which may mean it takes longer to achieve the recruitment numbers I aspire to. I will be submitting my proposed budget to the Police and Crime Panel soon, but if you haven’t already done so and would like to have your say, please email me at PCC@gloucestershire-pcc.gov.uk

C Chris hris Nelson Nelson Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire

P Pet et C Care are w ith O liver W ilkinson with Oliver Wilkinson o ragon V et C entre off D Dragon Vet Centre

T The he dog dog that that ccouldn’t ouldn’t pee! pee! Some months ago I wrote about a cat who couldn’t pee and ended up needing surgery. I was recently faced with a dog with a similar problem, but who needed a different type of surgery to help him. This poor pooch had been taken to his local vet clinic because he was straining to urinate and failing. His vets attempted to pass a urinary catheter to relieve him, but to no avail. He was sent to our emergency clinic where his bladder was drained, first with a needle and then a catheter. But the emergency vets were still unable to shift the blockage and an x-ray revealed multiple bladder stones and, crucially, a small stone wedged firmly in his urethra (the tube that runs out from the bladder, through the pelvis and eventually out through the penis). This was a tricky scenario. In an ideal world we would flush small stones back into the bladder and remove them from there – a relatively straight-forward surgery. But as the stone was wedged so firmly in his lower urethra, we had to remove it from where it was stuck.

O Operating perating w with ith m millimetre illimetre precision precision In this small dog, we would be operating on a urethra no more than a few millimetres in size. Not only would we need to find this tiny stone in his rather small urethra, but we would have to remove it without causing any damage. Careful measurements were taken from his xrays and a small exploratory incision was made t h r o u g h t h e s k i n o n h i s a b d o m en . A f t e r s o m e very careful dissection, his urethra was identified and a small firm lump could be established at the exact site we thought the blockage was located. The smallest nick possible was made through the lining of the urethra and a very sharp, irregular shaped stone was gently teased out. Almost instantly the urine started to flow, and we knew we had managed to relieve his blockage. The remaining stones were removed from his bladder and two days later he went home a much more relieved pooch than when he had come in. He will have to stay on a special diet to prevent more stones from forming again, but at least he won’t suffer the misery of being unable to urinate in the future. Page 12

TTewkesbury ewkesburryy Dragon Vets Tewkesbury is fully equipped with a sterile operating theatre, digital radiography, ultrasonography and laboratory equipment. Drop in and have a look around. You will see many of the same friendly faces from our main surgery at Dragon Vets Cheltenham. You can book your visits and pick up pet supplies, food or medications at either surgery if it’s more convenient.

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

Cuba: C uba: more more than than jjust ust Varadero Varadero I love anything by Buena Vista Social Club, but the song that best evokes Cuba for me is actually ‘I Wish I Could Go Travelling Again’ by jazz chanteuse Stacey Kent. The line about dashing for shelter through tropical rain always reminds me of a showersoaked sprint across Havana’s cobbled Plaza des Armas – to the colonial Hotel Santa Isobel’s sheltering colonnade and magical Mojitos. The hastening pace of transformation in post-Castro Cuba means it’s very different to the island I’ve visited. Or the place where, in 2002, my wife met late-great Cuban crooner Ibrahim Ferrer in Havana’s iconic Hotel Nacional de Cuba. Fortunately, some things don’t change: like stepping into the sultry Cuban night from Havana airport’s arrivals hall, or the lime-imbued sadness of your last Cuban Mojito. Cuba still delivers almost everything you’ve seen in movies like ‘I Am Cuba’, ‘Havana Suite’ or

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Wim Wenders’ acclaimed music documentary. But you might want to hurry…

Pastel-hued P astel-hued ssights ights a and nd Che C he m murals urals Real Cuba is so much more than Varadero’s all-inclusive beach hotels. Or day tripping Havana’s El Floridita Bar where Hemingway held court, admiring the city’s 1950s American cars and strolling the wavebattered Malecón. Naturally, you’ll explore these and Havana’s other pastel-hued sights, and admire its ingenious urban organopónico allotments. And, of course, you’ll marvel at oversize murals of Che Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos on Plaza de la Revolución – before going up its 142m-high José Martí Memorial. Then, I hope, you’ll leave town for a while to explore another side of Cuba. Buses work well and self-drive’s doable – if not for the fainthearted. Navigating Cuba’s Soviet-era autopistas and ill-

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signed backroads can be challenging! Suggested destinations a few hours from Havana? Try Santa Clara, where bereted Che won the Revolution’s deciding battle. Or Trinidad de Cuba, for elegant colonial architecture, Playa La Boca’s beaches and historic steam train rides to the UNESCO-listed Valley of the Sugar Mills.

Experience C Experience Cuba’s uba’s Salsa-driven S alsa-driven vibe vibe At Cuba’s other end, the Viñales Valley is another unmissable UNESCO site. It’s renowned for extraordinary limestone mogotes, rock-face murals and unspoiled agricultural landscapes. On the way, visit Las Terrazas’ striking ecohotel Moka. The lobby’s built around a towering lime tree. That’s another Cuban ‘Wow!’ Cuba’s a-changing, but its Salsa-driven vibe and welcoming people keep delighting. Corporate globalisation may be infiltrating island life, but for now, McDonald’s and KFC remain locked away on America’s Guantánamo Bay base! For how much longer remains unclear. That’s another reason to experience the genuine Cuba today! Page 15

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

O Opinions pinions aand nd cconflict onflict Your new baby is now firmly part of the family and things are changing rapidly. As dynamics change within families, it is more than likely that different opinions will be shared and this can lead to conflict. This could be between partners who had very different upbringings and hold opposing values, or between extended family, especially where mum is living with her own parents when she brings baby into the world. But the occurrence of conflict and the clashing of opinions, especially around the way baby is raised, does not have to mean everyone falls out. We can learn to share ideas and opinions without falling into unnecessary conflict if we can follow a few simple rules.

B Be e rrespectful espectful No matter how much you disagree with someone around an issue, commit to always communicating with respect. Be willing to listen as well as talk, and most importantly, do not harbour the need to be right all the time. Quite honestly, every-

one is simply doing the best they can in the moment and there is rarely a wrong or right in most situations.

Choose C hoose y your our m moment oment If you are in a family with underlying issues, unsolved trauma or concerns, then be mindful of how and when you choose to voice your opinions. Choose a time when everyone is calm, and be clear about your intentions in any conversation. Talking behind people’s backs, plotting and trying to win over a certain family member to your side will only ever lead to a fracture in the family, and may have devastating consequences in the long term. Try to make time regularly to have face to face conversations around schedules, noise, behaviours and feelings, with everyone present if possible. This way, everyone can feel part of the team when it comes to dealing with discomfort.

Why W hy a all ll tthe he d drama? rama? You may wonder why I am talking about this. I have seen it so often after many sleepless The Local Answer

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nights; stress is mounting, people are tired and old behaviour patterns and familial roles come into play. Believe me, now is not the time for mother and daughter to be at loggerheads over who is in charge, who owns the house or pays the bills! Neither is it the right time for the new parents to start battling over forgotten birthdays, infidelities or other disappointments from the past. I understand how high tensions can run with no sleep and the worries over the wellbeing of your precious baby, all staged with a backdrop of a pandemic and social change like we have never seen before. So I beg of you – stay calm, be kind and most of all, be honest and upfront with each other. I want to acknowledge that times can indeed get difficult and that I know you have it within you to navigate change and challenge in a caring and considerate way. I just wanted to remind you that you are doing a great job and you should be very proud of yourself! Page 1

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

Electric E lectric h horse orse p power ower I finally got behind the wheel of the highly-anticipated electric Mustang, the Mach-E. I love EVs, and I adore the Mustang, but to really be a Mustang, a name synonymous with the term muscle car, surely it needs a V8 and a loud, throaty roar from the exhaust? Ford has tried to remedy this with artificial engine noise designed to match the speed and acceleration of the electric version, but the sound isn’t quite pitched right. I think the issue is that the noise a V8 makes is felt as much as heard, so the result of piped engine noise through the speakers is too one-dimensional. I expected to instantly love this car – it epitomised many things I love about driving, all wrapped up in a brand and name I associate with driving enjoyment. But it missed the mark. I think Ford made one mistake with the Mach-E, and that’s the name. I like the design styling that points to the V8 counterpart – the iconic rear lights, the flashy graphics on the massive touchscreen, but the noise ruined the experience. Until that is, on day four of my test drive, I turned the artificial exhaust noise off.

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IItt ssuddenly uddenly ffelt elt m much uch more m ore a alive live Suddenly, it made sense. As an EV without fake noise, it suddenly felt much more alive, connected and, most importantly, it wasn’t trying to be something it wasn’t. I got it. As an EV, the Mach-E offers a really nice drive. Balanced, powerful, spacious and premium for the most part. The exception is the dial around the one control knob on the touchscreen, which feels far too cheap and plastic to match the rest of the car. And for the £57k price tag, I don’t think that’s acceptable. On a £16k Fiesta, maybe, but not on something £40k more expensive. Onto the drive. With th e in st ant power yo u expect from an EV, well-planted handling and cornering, it feels like it will look after you when you add a bit too much power to a b-road bend, where a conventional Mustang wouldn’t. And while it might not be quite as much fun, this is To advertise call 01242 510500

ultimately a family-friendly SUV, not a fastback muscle car, so that’s probably for the best. The interior is refined, comfortable and has all the tech you would expect. The touchscreen is clearly reminiscent of the Tesla Model S, the pinnacle for which to aim for, so well done Ford on that task. It’s spacious, with two big boots; the conventional at the rear, and the front trunk. But as the front storage is mainly filled with charge cables, in reality, you will just be using the rear boot. And on charging: I don’t like to criticise EVs for charging practicalities, as anyone who buys one would more than likely install their own high capacity charger at their home. I do not, so have to rely on public chargers or a slow 3-pin charge from an extension lead. I didn’t struggle too much, that said, and I do feel that the time for EVs to be a realistic option as a main car in the UK is fast approaching. Are we there yet? Perhaps, not. But the destination is just around the corner. Page 1

Whatʼs On The Local Answer Event Listings are compiled and presented in good faith with the kind support of many contributors. We recommend you use the contact details provided to check event information updates prior to planning your visit. 1 FEBRUARY SIMON KEMPSTON A unique talent performing thoughtprovoking, evocative original songs in a wonderfully intimate setting. Simon’s beautifully crafted, folk-tinged material showcases his incredible, distinctive and intricate fingerstyle guitar work, an exciting blend of the folk-baroque, blues and classical styles, and his gently nuanced, compelling tenor vocals. 8.30pm. Tickets £15. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. 01684 295074. rosestheatre.org 3-6 FEBRUARY 2022 PANTO – DICK WHITTINGTON Promenade Productions present their traditional family panto, the story of the boy from Gloucestershire who sets out to find fame and fortune in London. Performances Thursday and Friday at 7pm, Saturday and Sunday at 12pm and 4.30pm. Tickets £16 (adults) and £12 (children) from the box office at Cheltenham Playhouse – 01242 522852 or www.cheltplayhouse.org.uk 4 FEBRUARY THE GREATEST HITS OF MOTOWN – HOW SWEET IT IS This stunning live show combines first class music with slick choreography and an amazing band to deliver truly outstanding performances for the best Motown experience you will ever have! This show will have you Dancing On The Ceiling, with songs from legendary artistes such as Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and many more. 7.30pm. Tickets £29.50. The Roses

Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. 01684 295074. rosestheatre.org AN EVENING WITH 6 O’CLOCK GIN A fascinating night exploring the range of multi award-winning gins of top local distillery 6 O’clock. The family-run distillery will guide us through their range of artisan gins, giving insight into their distilling process and how each gin is produced, their family story and the wider world of gin as you taste a selection of perfectly paired 6 O’clock gin and tonics. 7pm. Tickets £25. The Subscription Rooms, George Street, Stroud GL5 1AE. thesubrooms.co.uk 5 FEBRUARY THE FILM ORCHESTRA PRESENTS: HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN WILLIAMS As we approach Maestro John Williams’ 90th birthday, The Film Orchestra is delighted to programme this special concert featuring some of his greatest film scores, including Harry Potter, E.T. and Star Wars. 7.30pm. £20 (£18 conc). 01242 258002. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk MERCURY Celebrating 75 years since the birth of the legendary Queen frontman, Mercury are one of the world’s most authentic tributes to Freddie Mercury and Queen. Including performances of Bohemian Rhapsody, We Will Rock You and many more, this award-winning show has been wowing audiences across the world for over two decades. 7.30pm. £18-£26. The Roses

Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. 01684 295074. rosestheatre.org 10 FEBRUARY BERK’S NEST PRESENTS SUZI RUFFELL Working-class comedian of her generation, Suzi Ruffell has had five sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Festival racking up critical acclaim. 8pm. Tickets £16.50-£18.50. The Subscription Rooms, George Street, Stroud GL5 1AE. thesubrooms.co.uk 11 FEBRUARY TIM EDEY Tim Edey has toured the world and recorded with most of the major names in Celtic/Contemporary roots music. He is now a name on the world stage in his own right after 20 years of very hard work, and consequently he is rated by many to be one of the world’s finest ever melodeon and guitar players in folk and contemporary acoustic music! 8pm. Tickets £12-£14. Sundial Theatre, Cirencester, GL7 1XA. www.sundial-theatre.co.uk 12 FEBRUARY AN EVENING WITH SIR GEOFF HURST In this evening with England’s Hat Trick Hero and World Cup winner, listen to Sir Geoff reminisce on his illustrious career and have the chance to ask your own questions. VIP ticket holders (Rows A-C) can meet Sir Geoff before the show for an exclusive photo and autograph opportunity. 7.30pm. Tickets £27-£55. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. 01684 295074. rosestheatre.org

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1133 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY PET PORTRAIT PAINTING WORKSHOP

Come and enjoy a relaxed day of painting at Cheltenham’s dog friendly pub, The Strand. Working from photos, professional artist Hazel will help you create a masterpiece for yourself or for someone special. Tickets £85 including lunch and materials. Book online: hrhpetportraits.com/workshops Enter code ‘TLA10’ to get 10% off. Gift vouchers available. 12.30-5.30pm. The Strand, 40 High Street, Cheltenham. GL50 1EE. AN EVENING WITH SU POLLARD Su is about to embark on her first ever tour where she will talk about her exceptional career, which is sure to be filled with laughter and a few tears. Su will also undertake a Q&A with the audience. 7.30pm. £20-£41.50. The Subscription Rooms, George Street, Stroud GL5 1AE. thesubrooms.co.uk

1177 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE – THE BOOK OF DUST: LA BELLE SAUVAGE This gripping adaptation revisits Philip Pullman’s fantastical world. Two young people and their dæmons find themselves at the centre of a terrifying manhunt. In their care is a tiny child called Lyra Belacqua, and in her lies the fate of the future. 7pm. £16.50 (£14.50 conc, £12.50 students). 01242 258002. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. bacontheatre.co.uk 18 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 18 BACH-VIVALDI CONCERT Cheltenham Sinfonietta led by Gordon Busbridge, soloist Hannah ThompsonSmith (violin). Vivaldi: ’Winter’ and ‘Summer’ from The Four Seasons; Bach: Double Violin Concerto and D Minor Harpsichord Concerto. 7.30pm. Tickets free from EventBrite www.pipandjims.eventbrite.co.uk or from Parish Office 01242 522658. Collection for charity. St Philip & St James’s Church, Grafton Road, Leckhampton GL50 2DD. 2233 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY CIRCUS SPECTACULAR Join us for the greatest show on earth – featuring international circus acts, amazing magic and lots of laughs. Our

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top-class artistes will bring skill and suspense with their acts, as well as lots of comedy. 3pm. £17.50 (£15.50 conc, £60 family of four). 01242 258002. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. bacontheatre.co.uk 26 26 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY LONGFIELD COMMUNITY HOSPICE’S ALE AMBLE Starting and finishing at Stroud Brewery, the Ale Amble will take you on a fantastic four-mile circular walk. You’ll arrive back to a hero’s welcome at the Brewery with a free pint or soft drink and the chance to catch a Six Nations rugby match on the big screen. 10am-1pm. £15 adult/£10 child or raise sponsorship. To sign up visit www.longfield.org.uk/event/ale-amble www.bacontheatre.co.uk THE BEACH BOYZ TRIBUTE SHOW Come join a journey in time and space, back to the 1960s, across to the sunny shores of the Golden State of California where the surf sound was conceived. The five all singing, all playing boys continue to amaze, astound and defy belief in their recreation of America’s biggest and longest selling pop rock band. 7.30pm. £21. 01242 258002. The Bacon Theatre, Dean Close School, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk

D Distributors istributors R Required equired Immediately in Northway, Priors Park and Southam And to join our waiting list for Alderton, Apperley, Dumbleton and Mitton Please email distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk with your name, postal address, telephone number and date of birth. A member of our team will respond with more information. Please do not call the office – our staff are only returning to work part-time, so may not always be available to take your call. Each round is made up of 150-400 copies per month. The rate of pay is 6 pence/copy. Depending on propertty The T he L Loca ocal types, our current team of people ANS A NS WER WER average between 100-150 copies/hour (equivalent to £6-£9/hour). Magazines are delivered to 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. You must be 13+ years old, flexible, reliable and sufficiently physically fit to NORTH GLOUCES NORTH GLOUCESTERSHIR TERSHIRE perfform the duties.

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ing, cutting back last summer’s shoots to two or three buds. This also increases the flowering. If you have wall-trained peaches, almonds or nectarines, it is a good idea to erect a polythene tent over them through winter to prevent peach leaf curl. Alternatively, you can spray with a copper-based fungicide before the blossom appears. If the weather allows, now is a good time to repair lawn edges by cutting a piece of turf out and turning it 180 degrees so that the damaged edge is on the inside. You can then level the damaged area with topsoil and re-seed.

Sow S ow summer summer veggies veggies From mid-to-late February, sow broad beans and peas directly into the ground, which will be ready to pick in early summer. Broad beans in particular taste so much nicer when picked young and fresh, and are definitely in my list of veggies worth growing! The Local Answer

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Wildlife Wildlife Matters Matters with w ith D Dorothy orothy G Glen len

Spring S pring sspawn pawn Everyone knows the magical metamorphosis of our common frogs. In school, we learn about the masses of gloopy eyeball eggs, with little black dots that turn to commas inside, before hatching and wiggling all over the pond, sunning themselves in the shallows. Children fish around clumsily with dipping nets trying to catch a tadpole which has sprouted legs, and eventually, those that survive the challenge of being a small tasty pond snack, become froglets. Like miniature adults, their tiny faces peep out of the water, or we might spot them hopping out of the pond into the undergrowth to explore life on land.

unusual to find it in February. Common frogs emerge to spawn when we have several mild days in a row, whenever that might be, and studies indicate that this is happening early more frequently. In our warming climate, they are emerging 5.1 days earlier for every 1 degree rise (Carroll et al. 2009). Unsurprisingly, frogspawn is seen earliest in the milder South West, and spreads northwards with the spring. In contrast, toads emerge and spawn a little later than frogs. Rather than clumps, their spawn is laid in long strings, and is draped over pond weed like beaded ribbons.

Frogspawn F rogspawn ccan an b be e ffound ound iin n tthe he U UK Ka ass e early arly a as sJ January anuary Growing up in the Midlands, I associate frogspawn with March, and I think of frogs and toads emerging with other bleary-eyed wildlife (and myself) in the spring. However, I discovered recently that frogspawn can be found in the UK as early as January, or even earlier if the conditions are right. It’s certainly not Image: Doug Mccutcheon / Alamy Stock Photo

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T Toads oads prefer prefer deeper deeper b bodies odies o off w water ater Although I was pleased (read: totally overexcited) to discover a toad in my garden last summer, I’ve never seen toadspawn. This is probably because, rather than little garden ponds, toads prefer deeper bodies of water and will famously migrate en masse back to their breeding ponds. So keep your ears open for amorous croaks, and your eyes on local ponds over the next month or two for clumps or strings of jelly-like eggs. Outside breeding season, frogs and toads can roam 500m and 5km respectively, so if you don’t have a pond, you can still encourage them to your gardens by providing areas of shelter with log or rock piles, messy leafy areas or compost heaps, and areas of longer grass. Here, they can shelter from predators, keep cool in the summer and warm in the winter, and they’ll repay you with excellent garden pest control. Page 31

Blissful lissful B Bathrooms athrooms BB B YOU Y OU C COULD BE OULD B E EELIGIBLE LIGIBLE FOR VAT RELIEF! FOR V AT R ELIEF! Please call P lease c all ffor or ffurther urther details. details.

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

B Bring ring some some aalpine lpine ccheer heer to home to your your home February is often a challenging month in the UK weather-wise. At half-term, many families head for the ski slopes – the sight of mountain scenery and sun on snow is so uplifting. Why not recreate some of that winter holiday feeling in your own home, even if you don’t live anywhere near the mountains!

IInspired nspired b by yn nature ature Chalet-style interiors are inspired by nature. Think split natural stone, or grey toned reclaimed timber cladding on a single wall for a natural organic look, and to create warmth and depth. For a more cost-effective option I love Cole & Son’s “In the Woods” patterned wallpaper. Use sophisticated soft greys mixed with metal and glass for a contemporary feel, and pair with colours inspired by nature like deep pine green or cool blue spruce. Or add a pop of bright colour; Alpine red with

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cool grey looks great. Do avoid being cliched – no orange pine or gingham please!

Add A dd ttexture exture A variety of textures is key to this look. Think woollen fabrics, felt, soft coloured tweeds and tartan. Plaid throws (check out The Tartan Blanket Company) and textured patterned rugs. Sheepskin fleeces casually draped across simple dining chairs always look cosy, and cowhide looks great on benches and stools. I have a single faux cowhide Image: Next wishbone chair in my sitting room – I love it and it scheme looking too rustic. Go really lifts the room. for oversized, natural-looking ceramic lamp bases with drum Create C reate a cosy cosy space space No chalet is complete without shaped shades – look at Cox & a crackling log fire – a real fire Cox’s website for inspiration. Antlers shaped into an interis instantly welcoming and brings a space alive. A giant log esting contemporary chandelier basket from Garden Trading style light over a dining table adds a rustic chic touch. And or in the sitting room would be don’t forget the lighting – good a real talking point. Retro midl i g h t i n g c r e a t e s w a r m t h a n d century style ceramics also fit well with this look. Soho Home atmosphere. Oversized modular sofas are has a great selection, and check perfect for lounging after a out the retro Alpine Chalet winter walk. Pair with mid- mugs at Spicer and Wood. century faux sheepskin chairs Personalise ersonalise w with it h a artwork rtwork from Zara Home or a vintage P rattan chair. This look is all Complete your scheme with about comfort without being some alpine inspired artwork. I t o o s m a r t , c o s y b u t d e f i n i t e l y love vintage ski travel posters, or search out contemporary not twee. prints inspired by winter scenes. Accessories A ccessories with with a Now you can invite your friends ccontemporary ontemporary ffeel eel over for a fondue, hand round Contemporary style light the glühwein and settle in for a fittings are a must to stop your perfect cosy winter’s evening. To advertise call 01242 510500

Page 33

warmth or Whether Whether your your fire ffiire is is for for warmth or a feature, feature, ttraditional raditional llooking, ooking, modern modern o espoke orr b bespoke The Fireplace Fireplace Gallery Gallery has has a fire ffiire to to suit suit The your home home your W With ith o over ver 6 60 0d displays isplays iin no our ur llarge arge showroom, showroom, and and a ne xperienced ssales ales a nd iinstallation nstallation tteam eam we we can can an experienced and ssupply upply a and nd c create reate e exactly xactly w what hat you you a are re llooking ooking ffor. or.

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

Gizmos Gizmos galore galore tthis his Valentine’s Valentine’s there are several other frames to choose from, and you can personalise your look with limited edition coloured lenses (sold separately).

Searching for Valentine’s Day gift ideas that aren’t chocolates or flowers? We’ve got you covered! Whether you’re celebrating with your significant other, or simply embracing the day with a little self-love, check out some of these gadget gift ideas that could help make it even more enjoyable.

L Lenco enco L LP PJ J-300 -300 L LCD CD P Projector rojector Urban Outfitters: £76 Make movie nights even more cosy and vintage with this movie projector from Urban Outfitters. The Lenco LP J-3000 is HD-ready and just needs to connect to your speaker via bluetooth. With a projection distance of 1-5 metres, a projection width of 250cm, and 30,000 hour life in the LED lamp, this nifty device is all you need to make a romantic date night feel even more special. And it doesn’t just have to come out on date nights; you can use the projector to enhance your movie experience any time you feel like it, so all you’ll need is the popcorn!

Image: Bose

B ose F rames R ondo Bose Frames Rondo B luetooth A udio Bluetooth Audio S unglasses Sunglasses John Lewis: £99.99 These sunglasses don’t just look stylish, but they also pack some very clever tech. The first audio sunglasses from Bose, these specs connect with your s m a r t d e v i c e v i a B l u et o o t h to play music for a truly immersive experience. While to onlookers you may appear to just be wearing some shades, in reality, you’ll be enjoying your favourite tunes thanks to the mini electronics built into the glasses’ temples. With an integrated microphone, you can also take calls from your smartphone. As well as the Rondo style, The Local Answer

R Rocketbook ocketbook Everlast Everlast S Smart mart R Reusable eusable N Notebook otebook Ryman: £34.99 At first, a notebook might not seem like the most exciting gift

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idea. However, if, like me, you or your partner is a keen stationery lover, then you know just how cool the idea of a reusable notebook actually is. The Rocketbook Everlast Smart Reusable Notebook is the perfect gift for anyone looking to save money on restocking their stationery supplies, and it looks very stylish too, which is an added bonus. Even though it is a smart notebook, you can still enjoy the old school experience of putting pen to paper; the only difference here is that, this time, you can simply wipe the page clean with a damp cloth when you’re done (after scanning your notes with a smartphone). You can scan your notes using the Rocketbook App, which sends your notes to the cloud. The App even recognises page numbers thanks to the QR codes labelled at the bottom of each page, so your notes won’t lose their order. The notebook works with any pen from the Pilot FriXion range and needs just 15 seconds for the ink to dry. Page 35

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Carley C arley Merriman Merriman running running ffor or ffun un w ith Tewkesbury Tewkesbur y Running Running C lub with Club Carle y M erriman, née Dudfield, enjoys running for fun. Mind you, it helps that she’s quite good at it as well. The 31-year-old ran her first London Marathon in October and her time of three hours, 35 minutes was good enough to qualify her for this year’s event. She’s planning to run in that too, but ask her what her aims and ambitions are in the sport and she says quite simply: “I run to enjoy it.” Born and bred in Tewkesbury, the one-time Chance Street and Tewkesbury School pupil, who is married to James, initially ran up until the age of about 12. It was her parents, Stuart and Cathy, who got her back into running in more recent times and, more specifically, Tewkesbury Running Club, where they were both members. And she certainly hasn’t looked back since putting on her running shoes again. “I do a bit of everything,” she said. “The shortest distance I run is 10k.” The London Marathon was the first time she had run over 26.2 miles and she admits she found it tough. “I ran all the way,” she said. “I enjoyed it up to 22 miles and then I got cramp, I can’t remember the last four miles, I can’t remember getting over the finish line.” She was joined at the start by her mum who has run a good number of Londons – her dad has run a couple too – so did mum and daughter run together on the big day? “For about five metres,” said Carley with a laugh, “I finished a bit ahead of her.”

Carley Merriman ran the London Marathon for the first time last year

She knew all about the London Marathon through her parents, of course, and admitted: “I a l w a y s s a i d t h a t i f I wa s g o i n g to run a marathon it would be the London. “During lockdown I did a lot more running and when I got the club place for the London Marathon that sealed the deal.” Her target time was three hours, 45 minutes so she beat that comfortably, but she admits the marathon is not her favourite distance. “I prefer half marathons,” she said. “You don’t have to go too quick for too long!” Perhaps her greatest achievement is the fact that as mum to three daughters – Chloe, Sofia and Florence – she finds time to run at all, because she has a full-time job at Specsavers in

Tewkesbury, the town where she also lives. Chloe, the oldest, has started to show an interest in running, taking part in cross-country at her school and also running the parkrun in the town a few times. And she’s clearly got the perfect mentor in her mum who is going to keep on running and running. “I ran throughout my third pregnancy,” she said. “I’m not planning on giving it up any time soon.” And she loves being part of Tewkesbury Running Club. “I’ve met some very nice people and made lots of friends,” she said. “I run a lot with Lucy Jones. “It’s great, running is free. All you need is a pair of trainers and a watch.”

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IIndex ndex o off A Advertisers dvertisers H HEALTH EALTH & BEAUTY BEAUTY David John Barbers

IINFORMATION NFORMATION NHS Gloucestershire 8-9 Police & Crime Commissioner 11

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Competition Competition R Rules ules 1 Prizes are as stated and no cash or prize alternative will be offered. 2 Employees of The Local Answer and their families or households are not eligible to enter. 3 The first correct entry drawn at random after the closing date will win the prize as stated. 4 The winner will be notified by telephone after the closing date has passed. 5 The Editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. 6 Entrants must be over 18 years, unless stated. 7 Proof of posting is not regarded as

proof of receipt of entry. 8 The Local Answer accepts no responsibility for the provision of the prize, which remains at all times the full responsibility of the prize donor(s). 9 By entering any competition you agree to have your name published in the next issue of The Local Answer should you be drawn as a winner of the prize. 10 By entering any competition you agree to have your details passed to a third party. 11 One entry per household.

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