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NORTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE PICK YOUR OWN BACK A ATT PRIMROSE V VA ALE! SEE CENTRE P PA AGES
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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
IInside nside tthis his m month onth ... ... D Delicious elicious D Dish ish S Sudoku udoku P Pet et C Care are Holidays H olidays & TTravel ravel Money Matters M oney M atters Motoring M otoring Parenting Guardianship P arenting & G uardianship EEducation ducation & EEmployment mployment Good, Great LLooking ooking G ood, FFeeling eeling G reat Medical Health M edical H ealth Homes Homes & Gardens Gardens Save Save the the Planet Planet In In the the Garden Garden Interior Interior Design Design Quick Quick Crossword Crossword Word Word Search Search Gadgets Gadgets & Gizmos Gizmos Index, Solutions Index, Competitions, Competitions, S olutions
5 8 9 1111 1122 1133 1144 1155 1166 1177 2200 2233 2255 2277 2299 3322 3333 3344
C Competition ompetition o on n page page 10 10 U nit H hurchill IIndustrial ndustrial EEstate, state, C hurchill R oad, Unit H,, C Churchill Churchill Road, LLeckhampton, eckhampton, Cheltenham, Cheltenham, G loucestershire G L53 77EG EG Gloucestershire GL53
Telephone Telephone 01242 01242 510500 510500
July’s winning cover photo: Sharon Rimmer
W elcome Welcome ttoo JJuly uly We are very happy to be publishing again after a two-month break. It’s been a strange and difficult time for many people, but we hope The Local Answer can help lots of local businesses get back up and running again, and we hope you’ll support them too. Primrose Vale’s Pick Your Own is back, with social distancing measures to keep everyone safe. See their advert on the centre spread to find out how you can reserve your time slot, or avoid the queues by visiting the drive through for ready picked fruit. Some of the competitions we launched earlier in the year were extended while we were on a break, so head to our website and have a go at winning one of our fabulous prizes to enjoy once the businesses are back up and running. Our very own Lois Kingscott has been busy during the lockdown period, as she has published her first children’s book! Read all about it on pages 6-7. Thanks to all of our regular contributors for supplying some fantastic editorials this month – we hope you enjoy reading through them all.
Our very best wishes go out to all those who have been afffected by the pandemic. If you use the services of any of our advertisers, please tell them you found them in The Local Answer!
Contacts C ontacts A dvertising & M arketing Advertising Marketing Dave Kingscott dave@thelocalanswer.co.uk Lois Kingscott lois@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Distribution D istribution John Overton (01242 541075) distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk
@ @thelocalanswer thelocalanswer
w www.thelocalanswer.co.uk ww.thelocalanswer.co.uk
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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 01684 850848 850848 01684 admin@buildingcirclesglos.org.uk www.buildingcirclesglos.org.uk
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Delicious D elicious Dish Dish with with H Helen elen Kingscott Kingscott
S Summer ummer ffruit ruit charlotte charlotte B Bursting ursting w with ith ssummer ummer fflavour, lavour, this this tasty tasty dessert dessert will will go go down down a treat treat at at a BBQ BBQ or or garden garden party! party!
vissiit ot vi no hy n Why e alle V Va e s se o r ro im Prim Pr YO P PY & p o op h S Sh m r rm a FFa s i is h t th e akk nd ma a an eir ei h t th h t i ith w t r e sser dess de t? uit? frui us fr ious licio delic de IIngredients: ngredients: 1 pack of sponge fingers (approx 30); 1 can mixed berries in syrup; 6g powdered gelatine (1/2 a sachet); 180g light cream cheese; 1 tbsp caster sugar; 150ml double cream; 250g strawberries; raspberries to serve. M ethod: Method: 1 Line a 13cm x 22cm loaf tin ( or as close as you have got) with cling film. 2 Drain the syrup from the can of fruit and reserve. 3 Trim the sponge fingers to line the base and sides of the tin, leaving a few for the top. 4 Dip the fingers into the syrup and line the tin with them straight away. 5 Dissolve the gelatine in 100ml of water, over a pan of hot water. 6 Beat the cream cheese and sugar in a bowl until smooth. Stir in the cream and gelatine mixture. The Local Answer
7 Fold in the mixed berries and chopped up fresh strawberries then pour the mixture into the tin. 8 Top with the remaining fingers and brush them with more syrup. 9 Chill for several hours or overnight until set. 10 10 Turn out onto your serving plate and serve sliced with fresh raspberries. Note: Note: I couldn’t get a can of mixed berries so I bought a can of strawberries to get the syrup and also a pack of frozen mixed berries of which I used a few tablespoons. When defrosted, these gave a bit of dark juice which coloured the creamy mixture. I used the canned strawberries alongside the fresh raspberries to serve.
P Please lease adhere adhere tto oa any ny social social d distancing istancing g guidelines uidelines tthat hat a are re iin np place lace iiff y you ou p plan lan tto o m ake tthis his d essert ffor or a p arty o athering. make dessert party orr g gathering.
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“My daughter was given a copy for her birthday and we read it every night – she can’t believe Dave is real! A brilliant book!”
new favourite favourite b edtime ‘Our bedtime ‘Our new hildren’s book book about about story’ stor y’ – a cchildren’s real horse horse called called Dave! Dave! a real Earlier this year, Lois Kingscott published her first children’s picture book called Dave and Darcy Go to the Beach! The story follows Dave the horse and his best friend Darcy as they go on their summer holidays, making friends and memories by the sea, and running into a few problems along the way! The book was inspired by Lois’ real horse, Dave, who she loans to local charity Cotswold Riding for the Disabled and has home in the holidays. Lois had the idea of writing a children’s book 18 months ago, but it wasn’t until last year when Dave spent several weeks in an equine hospital that she started writing the first book. After lots of tests, scans and an operation, the vets found a blood clot in Dave’s hoof, which is extremely rare. It was a stressful time for L o i s , h e r f a mi l y a n d C o t s w o l d RDA, but Dave has fully recovered and had returned to the RDA before lockdown began.
Picture: Jo Hansford Photography
Lois has received great feedback on the book so far, with many happy customers saying how much they love the drawings and one little girl in disbelief that Dave is actually a real horse!
IInspired nspired by by Dave’s Dave’s w wonderful, onderful, g goofy oofy p personality ersonality Last year’s ordeal motivated Lois to start writing her books. Dave’s wonderful, goofy personality has provided great inspiration and she hopes other families will fall in love with him as much as she has! The illustrations were drawn by Laura Nicklin, who is also an editorial contributor for The Local Answer. Lois asked her to have a go at drawing a horse in her lovely style of line drawi ng and was thrilled with the outcome.
The book is available to purchase on Lois’ website and she hopes to attend local events once things are back to normal.
Supporting S upporting a g great reat llocal ocal c charity harity Lois will be donating 10% of the profits from her first book
to Cotswold Riding for the Disabled, which she hopes will help to get them back on their feet once they re-open after the Coronavirus lockdown. You can follow Lois on Facebook and Instagram (@loiskingscottauthor) or sign up to her e-newsletter via the website to keep up to date with her latest book news, as well as regular updates about Dave the horse. Lois has already started writing her second book, which she hopes to publish in time for Christmas! There will be at least three more stories in the series, so follow Lois’ journey to stay up to date!
Dave and Darcy Darccy D ave and Go G o too tthe he Beach Beach is is available available too on Lois’ Lois’ ppurchase urrcchase on website w ebsitee ffor or ££6.99 6.99
Sudoku Fill the grids so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.
URGENT URGENT APPE APPEAL AL HELP! PLEASE HELP!
As a non-profit charity, we rely on donations from the public to help us continue saving cats and kittens.
DUE D UE TO TO THE CORONAVIRUS CORONAVIRUS WE DESPERATELY HELP DESPERA ATEL LY NEED YOUR H ELP NOW AS OUR MAIN SOURCE OF FUNDING HAS GONE.
YOU CAN HELP U US S BY BY DONA DONATING: D Money (cash or standin ng o Bank Account No: 65452295 5 Sort Code: 08-92-99
Wet Wet food Litter (preferably wood chip) Bin B in liners (75 litres or more) Or by purchasing anythin ng on Wish List
Visit: newstartcatrescue e.org
We W e understand that this is a difficult difficult time for everyone and appreciate every everyone a nd we rreally eally a ppreciate e very ssingle ingle donation ever big or small. donation,, how however Registered Charity Number: 1145090
Our hospital facilitates the rescue, rehabilitation and release of sick, injured or orphaned British wildlife. This service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Don’t look until you’ve finished! Solutions on ‘Index of Advertisers’ page.
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IN MA MAY AY Y 2020 W WEE TOOK IN 1,119 CASUALTIES CASUALLLTIES TIES
We have lots of hungry mouths to feed. Please consider making a financial donation through our website, or donating wet dog and cat food to the hospital.
www.valewildlife.org.uk www .valewildlife.org.uk Station S tation Ro Road, ad, Beckford, nr T Tewkesbury, ewkesbury, GL20 7AN
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Registered Cha rity N umber: 7028 88 Registered Charity Number: 702888
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Pet Pet Care Care w ith O liver W ilkinson with Oliver Wilkinson o ragon V et C entre off D Dragon Vet Centre
Avoiding A voiding separation separation puppies aanxiety nxiety iin np uppies post-lockdown p ost-lockdown
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 Vet Centre. 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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Many owners have been spending much more time with their pets these last few months. Many pets will have been lapping up all the extra attention, photo bombing zoom meetings and for the dogs, loving the extra exercise as frustrated owners enjoy an excuse to get outside. But what happens when normality resumes? When owners are back at work, kids are back at school and dog walks are back to a quick whizz around the block. Older dogs may reluctantly return to their pre-Covid routine, but for puppies who have only known constant companionship and unfettered attention, it could be a serious shock to the system. Separation anxiety is the term given to the significant distress a pet, usually a dog, displays when its owner is not around. Some dogs will bark and howl when left, others will toilet in the house or become destructive. However, there are a few things you can do with puppies to get them used to being comfortable on their own. Have a consistent area in the house where they can be left happily. It’s fine to use a crate or kitchen area if they are used to sleeping there, but if not, they may associate it with isolation, which may increase their anxiety when they’re left.
Get Get them them used used to to the the idea idea of of not not always always being being with with their their owner owner Consider using stair gates to keep puppies in specific areas of the house. The puppy can still see beyond the stair gate so it’s not as scary as a solid door, and allows you to keep an eye on what your puppy is doing. Restricting them to certain areas of the house also gets them used to the idea of not always being with their owner, which can help when you have to leave them alone. When the time comes to leave a puppy, try giving them an old t-shirt or item of clothing as a comforter. Leave the radio on as background noise and start with short trips to build confidence so your puppy doesn’t feel like it is being abandoned for hours at a time. Leave suitable toys or treats to entertain them and make sure they get an appropriate amount of exercise before they are left so they’re less likely to be bored or frustrated. If you’re struggling with an anxious puppy, speak to your vet about what else you can try. If you’re a cat owner, don’t be offended if the cat is secretly happy to have the house back to itself!
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Page 9
WIN A 3-NIGHT COTTAGE BREAK! A three-night break in Somerset is being offered in the self-catering holiday cottage at Pardlestone Farm. Groom’s Cottage has direct access to the Quantock Hills, Somerset’s unspoiled wilderness, and is within walking distance of an award-winning pub and the spectacular Jurassic coastline. The prize is for up to four people in the cottage’s two double bedrooms on any three weeknights (Sunday to Thursday inclusive). The cottage is a perfect base for walking, horse riding, mountain biking or just visiting the beautiful West Somerset area. You can take your dog or even your horse, by arrangement. The winning booking may be made for available dates until the end of December 2021. More details about Pardlestone Farm can be found at www.pardlestonefarm.co.uk Closing date: Friday 31st July 2020 The winner will be notified shortly after this date
E Enter nter o online: nline: www.thelocalanswer.co.uk www.thelocalanswer.co.uk
Holidays H olidays & Travel Travel w with ith A All H Hidden idden
Savour Savour past past travels travels aand nd p plan lan ffuture uture adventures adventures Thwack-thwacking rotors break the silence of British Columbia’s Selkirk Mountains. The red and white Bell 212 banks steeply and descends to CMH’s remote Adamants Lodge above steeply forested slopes. Moments later, like the ‘dragonfly’ atop New York’s Pan Am building in Joni Mitchell’s song, it settles on the lodge helipad. Crouching beneath slowing rotor blades, we disembark and head for supper. Later, in the lodge’s timber-panelled dining room, we’ll swap impressions from this afternoon’s hike high above the braided Goldstream River. It’s 10 September 2001.
When tthe When he w world orld cchanges hanges fforever orever Next morning, at breakfast in the TV and radio-free lodge, talk of the day’s helicopter ‘lifts’ and hikes is curtly preempted. With pancakes, bacon a n d c o f f e e l e f t u n t o u ch e d , w e listen in stunned silence as our lodge manager solemnly announces the attack on the twin towers of New York’s World Trade Center. We’re grounded until further notice, as is everything else in North American airspace. Instead, accompanied by our deepest thoughts, we walk, subdued and contemplative, along nearby Norman Wood Creek to picnic. Later in the week we fly again to hike at altitude among some of British Columbia’s remotest landscapes: Unicorn meadows beneath Austerity Glacier; up The Local Answer
Windy Creek to the majestic Waldorf Towers; and the stunning 2089m-high Pyrite Ridge traverse. It’s a true experience of a lifetime, made heartrendingly unforgettable by the mountains’ magnificence and the tragedy that unfolded under New York’s cerulean skies on the day we now call 9/11.
Savour the Savour the past past and and llook ook fforward orward tto o tthe he ffuture uture The world – and travel – changed forever that Tuesday. Nearly 20 years later, under silent, similarly-blue May skies barely scarred by contrails, another world-shaking event has changed our lives. In 2001, as now, we pondered the impact of unfolding events To advertise call 01242 510500
on travel. The world lost its innocence and changed. Yet, recalling subsequent decades, I can now savour amazing trips: sojourns in Japan; return trips to Canada; South American wanderings; and happy times in Shetland and Switzerland. The takeaway? Change happens, but now’s a time to relish holiday memories and plan future adventures. How and where we go may be different in future – and might even benefit the environment too. But the world will still be here in one, five or 20 years. And just as two post-9/11 decades brought new travel experiences, so can those ahead – whether it’s heli-hiking the Selkirks or staycationing in the UK to enjoy our own world-class attractions. Page 11
Money Money Matters Matters w with ith R Roger oger D Downes ownes o off Andorran Andorran
IIR35 R35 – iin no orr o out? ut? The idea of contractors working for big companies in what amounts, in many ways, to a self-employed or even an employed basis, but instead invoicing through their own limited company, is not new. Neither is HMRC’s interest in whether these contractors are paying their fair amount of tax. They are certainly paying the correct amount but it works out, significantly in some cases, less than they would pay if they were on a salary from the company they are working with. Gradually, HMRC has made it more difficult for contractors to operate this way. Their latest idea has been to pass the decision as to whether they are entitled to continue in that way from the contractor to the company he/she is working with. They introduced it in the public sector in 2017 and widened it to include private companies, save for the smallest of them, from April 2020.
C Confusion onfusion for for contractors contractors o over ver h how ow ttheir heir ttax ax w would ould b be ed dealt ealt w with ith
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
www.v-hubservices.co.uk www.v-hubservices.co.uk
01684 01684 2 214444 14444 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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HMRC instructed companies to assess contractors on an individual basis to determine their status before notifying the contractor of their decision. Some did so in good time, but many left it until the last moment, meaning that contractors had no idea how their tax was going to be dealt with from this April and no time to consider whether they wished to stay on in a changed status. It was chaos. Many big companies, especially the banks, ignored the government’s instruction and simply told all their contractors their tax status would change from April 2020. No discussion or negotiation; no right of appeal. It was appalling behaviour, typical of the big companies involved. In the strange times of the last four months, one of the lesser publicised reliefs announced by the government was a year’s deferral of the implementation of the new legislation. It was late in the day but contractors breathed a huge sigh of relief. It was short-lived. The big companies, again led by the ban ks, refused to acknowledge the deferral. Contractors were left with a take or leave it choice. Contractors have had an uncertain time, like the rest of us, and little support in the current economic conditions. Their one ray of hope was extinguished overnight by my old ‘friends’, the big-business bullies. Page 12
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Motoring M otoring w with ith T Toby oby A Aiken iken
B British ritish engineering engineering e excellence xcellence There’s no getting away from it, at over £314,000 this car costs more than a decent sized house, which is a lot for a car. But this is no ordinary car. McLaren have been producing fast cars for quite some time now, and have not been too shabby in the pinnacle of motorsport, Formula One. So it should come as no surprise that they can build a goodlooking, fast car. But then track dominance doesn’t always translate to road performance.
A ttrue rue e everyday veryday ttest est iin n w wet et cconditions onditions This is the McLaren Super Series – the first car in the range they actually class as a Supercar. And they claim it can be used everyday. So I did just that; I used it as my daily drive for a week – and for added realism, it was when Gloucestershire flooded, so a true everyday test in wet conditions! I’ve driven a few McLarens now – I know, I’m lucky – but this was a step up even for me. More than 700 horsepower, with active aero components, and light, despite the electronic convertible roof. You can imagine, I was understandably excited the day it arrived.
IItt iinstantly nstantly ttingles ingles y your our sspine pine a and nd p puts uts a ssmile mile o on ny your our fface ace As I say, I’ve driven these awesome machines before but even knowing what they sound like, the first time you press that starter and hear the twin turbo V8 roar to life (and roar it does) behind you, it really does tingle your spine and instantly puts a smile on your face. The Local Answer
Practicality is out of the window – that’s a given. Two bucket seats and a very small front luggage compartment don’t make for a family machine. But it’s not a family car – it doesn’t pretend to be. The beautiful dihedral doors (a McLaren signature) instantly tell you that everything you are about to experience is slightly different. The dash is a thing of beauty and even has a fantastic folding mechanism to convert from a standard dash to a racing style low profile unit. The incredible sense of power you get from sitting behind the wheel of a McLaren is subtly different from that which you get from the Audi R8 that I recently reviewed in this magazine. The Audi has your back. The McLaren does not and will punish you for mistakes. I had one moment that proved beyond doubt who the master was (and it wasn’t me). On a damp road, coming away from a roundabout I accelerated – To advertise call 01242 510500
not too heavily, I should point out – but at low speed, the aero elements hadn’t deployed, so downforce was low and the back end started to fishtail. Thankfully I caught it, but it did make me respect it just that little bit more. Treat it well and it was planted and stable, but the slightest indiscretion would give it the chance to remind me who the boss was. And it was not me.
Simply Simply incredible incredible All things considered, and with the right level of respect, it was simply incredible. It goes as fast as it looks, sounds like it looks and feels more comfortable than anything with such low profile tyres and a low ground clearance has a right to. I loved it, pretty much everyone else loved it, and my previous experience of appreciative looks when behind the wheel was again repeated. But don’t forget who the boss is. Page 1
P Parenting arenting & G Guardianship uardianship w with ith R Roberta oberta S Smart mart
Struggling Struggling to to motivate motivate yourself? yourself? As a parent there is always so much to do and so little time to do it in. Often we feel like we don’t even know where to begin, and end up procrastinating more and more until WHAM! We feel overwhelmed, uninspired and exhausted – and guilty because we haven’t actually done anything. Sound familiar?
Reduce Reduce y your our to-do to-do llist ist One great way to motivate yourself is to limit the amount you put on your to-do list. It may sound counter-intuitive but if you put less on your list you actually get more done. To put this in to practice I have a four step approach that has helped me no end. 1. First, write down everything 1. you think you need to do – from shopping and making lunches, to sewing in name tags, buying your mother a birthday card and booking the dog in for his vet appointment. Write the list you feel you need Page 14
to write, preferably in a notebook or a bullet journal. 2 2.. Look at the list and begin to prioritise. What is urgent and will have an immediate result or impact on your life? Mark those with a star. 3. 3. What needs doing but maybe this week or month rather than today? Mark those with a square. 4. 4. And what is always on the list that you never get round to but wish you could – mark those with a heart. Think meditation, reading your book, making some art or meeting a good friend. Now in your urgent list choose your top three Most Important Things (MITs) and make sure they are the first things you do on any given day.
IInclude nclude jjoyful oyful tthings hings This still all sounds like hard work though doesn’t it? That is why I always insist that I put joyful things on my list and try www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
to make at least one of my MITs something from my joyful list. After all, ensuring I am feeling happy and fulfilled as a mum means my kids get the best of me and I am less prone to feeling run down, getting snappy and irritable.
P Prioritise rioritise your your feelings feelings This is the secret to managing your mojo and your sense of overwhelm, by learning to prioritise your own feelings and needs as highly as the tasks you do for everyone else. By putting yourself at the top of your list every day you will regain your energy, be a nicer person to yourself and others and find you are more inspired to actually crack on, joyfully, with loads of other things further down your list, effortlessly. As the saying goes ‘A happy wife is a happy life and it’s also true that a ‘Happy mum is much more fun’. Good luck and go get ‘em! The Local Answer
E Education ducation & E Employment mployment w with ith H Holly olly P Prince rince
JJob ob hunting hunting Whether leaving education or changing direction in your career, looking for a job can be a daunting and time-consuming prospect. Patience, perserverence and persistence are key. Firstly, ensure your CV is up to date with your educational qualifications, recent jobs or volunteering, and any transferable skills or interests you have. Make sure you have a covering letter template ready that you can modify to tailor to each position that you apply for. When writing or typing your application form, be sure to read back through to check for spelling mistakes or typos.
Use Use n newspapers, ewspapers, sshop hop w windows indows a and nd tthe he iinternet nternet There are many sources that you can use to search for jobs these days, including in newspapers, shop windows, and the internet. When searching job websites, sometimes it’s good to be The Local Answer
specific about the salary you’re aiming for, or the area of the country you’d like to work in. Other times, it can be an advantage to be more open to ideas. Using general keywords can help to yield broader search results – it may also lead you to consider other o p t i o n s o r d i s c o v e r ro l e s t h a t you hadn’t thought of. Social media can also be a good way to network and find vacant job positions. It can be a useful platform to promote yourself, but be careful of what is on your own social media pages, as employers may search for you and you don’t want them to see any of your embarrassing nights out! There is also the so-called ‘hidden job market’. If you know roughly the type of work you’d like to get into, research local employers in that field and get yourself out there! Write to them to express your interest and ask them if they have any positions available, highlighting your enthusiasm To advertise call 01242 510500
and talents you have that they may be looking for. If you find a job that sounds appealing and you feel you are suitable for it, go for it and apply!
S Show how y your our p passion assion When highlighting why you are a suitable candidate in the personal statement section, refer back to key attributes from the job description, including what the employer is looking for and what you can give them. Do a bit of research to find out about the company, and show you are passionate about wanting to work for them. With such competition for jobs, you need to be prepared for rejections and to keep applying until you’re successful in securing an interview. Then, of course, you’ve got to get through the interview – that’s a whole other article! But if you want something bad enough, it will come to you eventually – never give up! Page 15
Looking Looking Good, Good, F Feeling eeling Great Great with w ith W Will ill M Mbanga banga
S Sometimes, ometimes, lless ess iiss m more ore When you feel powerless as so many of us do at the moment, one very easy thing to do is to create a routine or schedule. While we’re all stuck indoors, furloughed, working from home, shielding, grieving or just anxiously sitting it out, it’s easy to lose our sense of time. Days start to blend into each other, ‘beer o’clock’ gets earlier and we lose our sense of purpose.
Routines R outines ccreate reate a off n normality ssense ense o ormality If you have children, creating a routine is especially important to give them a sense of normality. Be sure to include food preparation, social time, exercise and outdoor time, and some learning or creativity over and above the ‘home schooling’ so you get some benefit from this challenging time.
into your schedule – starting from as little as 15 minutes a day, through to taking up your maximum daily allowance – can still get you fit and healthy, despite not being able to get to the gym or your sports club. Many studies show that High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) gives the same cardiovascular Enjoy Enjoy y your our w weekends eekends benefits as steady state training, It’s also important to recognise but with greater reductions in weekends, because it’s too body fat, total body weight and easy for weeks to blur together. insulin resistance, in less time. A looser schedule for your Embrace E mbrace a sshort, hort, weekends, including things like sharp s h a r p session s e s s ion lie-ins, movie night, virtual Even if you’re already happy hour with family/ friends struggling for motivation to train etc, can be really enjoyable. On the health and fitness regularly (and do it correctly) front, if you’re anything like keep at it, embrace a short, me, avoiding the refrigerator sharp session and you’ll be and pantry has probably fitter before you know it! Here become an Olympic pursuit! is a simple bodyweight HIIT With summer arriving, this is a workout the whole family can good time to be building your d o i f y o u w a n t a c h a n g e f r o m physical strength, flexibility PE and other stuff on Youtube. and general health. As many of you are well aware, being more physically fit actually helps us feel better mentally and emotionally. Adding some physical activity Page 1
with a minute of recovery between rounds. • 10 squats • 10 push-ups • 10 sit-ups • 10 double leg hip thrusts • 10 burpees • 30 second wall sprint • 10 lunges (each leg) • 10 chair/bench dips • 10 back extension • 10 single leg hip thrusts (each leg) • 10 mountain climbers • 30 second wall squat
C Cool ool d down: own: Walking recovery and full body static stretches.
Feel free to add your favourite exercises, use equipment you may have at home and create an exercise routine for faster fitness gains and mastery over your well-being. If you are unsure how to perform any of the above exercises, watch some videos W Warm arm up: up: 25 skips with a rope, 25 on YouTube or contact a personal trainer. They may be jumping jacks x 4 sets happy to send you a video via H HIIT IIT C Circuit: ircuit: e m a i l o r s o ci a l m e d i a t o s ho w 3-5 rounds as fast as possible you the correct technique.
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M Medical edical H Health ealth with w ith H Holly olly H Hannigan annigan
Loneliness L oneliness in in isolation isolation Due to the current situation, many people have found themselves lacking in one of the basic core human needs – physical connection with other humans. We are wired from birth to have connection, along with the need for water, food and shelter. Through human evolution we have developed into even more social beings and need to feel a sense of connection and belonging. In the past, dependence on and cooperation with other people enhanced our ability to survive. Lack of such connections can lead to problems including loneliness, which can become a pervasive and chronic condition with serious mental and physical conditions. These can include: • Depression – prolonged periods of sadness, loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities • Substance abuse – commonly alcohol or drugs • Poor sleep and lack of appetite – difficulty falling asleep or being restless through the night • Suicidal thoughts and selfharm behaviour • Impaired immune system – meaning you are more susceptible to infections • Heart disease and stroke • Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s Many people who have been told they are ‘high-risk’ of complications during this pandemic have been self-isolating or shielding alone for over three months now. Particularly the The Local Answer
elderly, who are already at risk of loneliness.
Technology Technology can’t can’t replace replace human human ccontact ontact Technology has played a wonderful part in helping us stay connected during this time, however it is no where near as beneficial as physical human contact. Being able to mirror and read body language and feel the energy in a room from another person is more beneficial than often realised. The importance of social connection is so strong that when we are rejected or experience other social pain, our brains ‘hurt’ in the same way they do when we feel physical pain. We don’t expect someone with a broken leg to ‘just get over it’. Yet when it comes to the pain of social loss, this is a common and mistaken response. It is important that we work hard to make sure that those To advertise call 01242 510500
human connections form again as soon as possible and make the effort to assist those who we know have been isolating alone. Even if social distancing remains in place for the foreseeable future for the ‘high risk’ group, then just being able to sit across a table from them and talk face to face, to share a coffee or bring a picnic and eat a meal together will be so powerful.
H Help elp ssomeone omeone iisolated solated tto o ffeel eel connected connected Focusing on ‘what you can give to others’ is a proven way to feel both better about yourself and more connected to others. So even if you can only pass by for a 10 minute doorstep call, that will be enough to help someone isolated to feel connected and reduce their risks of long term physical and mental health problems due to loneliness. Page 1
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Primrose Vale Farm Shop has remained open throughout these unprecedented times and now as the summer months begin the Pick Your Own fields are open too. The fruit and vegetable crops that are planted on the farm have been growing and ripening and are ready for visitors to come and pick and enjoy. Who can resist a juicy, sweet strawberry? Perhaps you prefer a jewel like raspberry, a tart tasting gooseberry or beautiful string of currants fresh from the fields where they are grown? Whichever your favourite you can rest assured that Primrose Vale has made sure that picking your own is following current government regulations to keep safe and practise social distancing. Over the coming weeks and months as new directives are issued the farm will continue to adapt and change to take them into account. In the meantime, the historic summer activity, spending time outside in the fresh air, picking the best of nature’s bounty can still be enjoyed, but please refer to our website primrosevale.com to find out about the changes made to the 2020 season before visiting the farm. To pick our most popular crops a free ticket (time slot) will need to be booked the day before you wish to visit. If you prefer, our shop is still open every day selling our freshly handpicked fruit and vegetables as well as a wide range of locally sourced produce. A drive through option is also available making it easy to quickly pick up our most popular items - a punnet of fruit, cream or eggs. Click and collect orders can be made too. Make sure you keep JJULY ULY AUG SSEPT EPT AUG up to date with what’s happening on the farm by regularly visiting the website, facebook or twitter and we hope to welcome you to the farm soon.
//primrosevalepyo primrosevalepyo
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S Save ave the the P Planet lanet with w ith L Louise ouise W Williams illiams
Positive Positive changes changes for for tthe he environment? environment? This year has been such a strange, scary and hopefully changing time for most of us, with the shock floods in the UK, the wildfires in Australia and then the global pandemic that has affected us all. The one thing that I hope to come out of this is the renewed interest in our beautiful planet and the abundant nature we are blessed with. Never before have I seen so many posts from friends, neighbours and across social media about the birdsong people can hear in their gardens, the local walks that people have discovered right on their doorsteps, and the wonder of the plants and animals right under our noses. It would be lovely if something p os itive c ould come fr om this time and we could see lasting changes in our society and the way we eat, shop and get around.
D Discover iscover b beauty eauty sspots pots a and nd ffood ood p producers roducers jjust ust u up p tthe he rroad oad Being forced to look to our local area for everything has helped us to discover beauty spots we would have driven past to get to somewhere more popular, and food producers just up the road. Although online shopping has still been popular, with next day delivery enticing people, I hope that the current trend for supporting smaller companies and nearby businesses continues as well. The influx in people growing The Local Answer
their own vegetables and baking their own bread means that children are really learning where the food they put into their bodies comes from, and t h e y a r e g a i n i n g a r es p e c t f o r the work it takes to grow vegetables from scratch. People have also been stepping away from ‘fast f a s h i o n ’ a n d l o o k i n g fo r s m a l l independent makers when it comes to clothes. We love it as you are able to specify the cut, the fabric choice and the length, and have had some beautiful and very original garments that really last well and get passed on to friends when outgrown. It is also lovely to know that the sale has really meant something to a person! There has been a newfound love of cycling discovered by many people and talk of cycle To advertise call 01242 510500
paths being put in towns across the country. This could mean a huge drop in car emissions if people continue to feel safe on two wheels, and a far more enjoyable experience when getting around for families who want to take their children out on bikes, which can be a little nerve wracking when the roads are busy.
C Commit ommit tto ok keeping eeping llocal ocal areas areas clean clean If we stay committed to keeping the beauty spots on our doorstep as lovely as they are by not dropping litter and clearing up after our picnics, buying local and in season produce to cut the food miles from our meals, cycling more and working from home where possible, I can only see good things ahead. Page 2
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IIn n tthe he Garden Garden w with ith JJulia ulia S Smith mith
Enjoy Enjoy trying tr ying ssomething omething new new If one good thing has come out of this enforced time at home, it is realising the importance of outdoor space and the benefit of growing things, getting down in the earth, weeding and sowing that has given so many people joy.
Take T ake cuttings cuttings from from perennial herbs p erennial h erbs If you want to continue having a go at new things, why not try your hand at taking cuttings from perennial herbs like Lavender, Rosemary and sage? Take the cuttings early in the day and choose nonflowering side-shoots that are soft at the tip and woody at the base, about 10cms long. Gently pull away from the main stem, leaving a little bit of the bark still attached (these are called ‘heel’ cuttings). Take off the lower 5cm of leaves from the stem, dip the end into hormone rooting powder (garden centres have this) and then insert several of these cuttings into a small pot of gritty compost.
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Firm them in and water well, then cover the whole pot with a plastic bag (ensuring it does not touch any of the leaves), label and place somewhere warm but out of direct sunlight. The cuttings should have rooted by late August.
G Get et rrid id o off R Rosemary osemary b beetles eetles If you notice little metallic beetles on your rosemary you should pick them off and destroy them. You could put some newspaper underneath the plant and shake the branches to make them drop off. The Rosemary beetle can do lots of damage to the plant if they are in large numbers so keep removing them. To increase your strawberry plants, peg down the runners that they produce using a bit of bent wire, or a stone to hold them in place. When they have rooted you can sever the stem attaching to the parent plant and replant. Remove unwanted runners to maintain the vigour of the parent plant. To advertise call 01242 510500
Give Wisteria a summer pruning by cutting back the long, green, whippy shoots, leaving four or five leaves on each stem. Now is also a good time to prune early summer flowering shrubs like Philadelphus, Deutzia, Wiegela and Rubus, as they have finished flowering. Pruning will encourage new shoots to spring up from the base, and if you cut out about one in three of the thickest old branches at the bottom, these new ones will take their place and ensure the flowering doesn’t decrease.
Give G ive your your shrubs shrubs a rreal eal boost boost As with all shrubs when you have pruned, lightly fork in some pelleted chicken manure or balanced fertiliser like Gromore around the base, water well and mulch with some compost or well rotted manure to give the plant a real boost. Don’t touch the stems with the mulch or they could start to rot. Page 25
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Thinking Thinking of of replacing replacing y your our Blissful Bathrooms Showroom is based bath with walk-in shower? ath w ith a w alk-in s hower? in Cheltenham and we specialise in full b bathroom installations. We offer a fully Y YOU OU C COULD BE OULD B E EELIGIBLE LIGIBLE project-managed in-house service. FOR VAT RELIEF! FOR V AT R ELIEF! We offer free delivery on all products. P lease c all ffor or ffurther urther details. details. Please call CONTACT THE SHOWROOM: Tel. 01242 678 080 Blissful Bathrooms, 3 The Green, Station Road, Woodmancote, Cheltenham, GL52 9HR
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IInterior nterior D Design esign w with ith G Gill ill G Greenwell reenwell
Are Are you you sitting sitting comfortably? comfortably? As we emerge from lockdown, I have been reflecting on what has been important to us. A comfortable living space that really works for the way we live has never been more central to our lives. With family back living at home, finding space for an office and little prospect of a foreign holiday this year, it’s a good time to invest in new seating, and with so many options out there, it’s the perfect time to ditch your old sofa.
A rrelaxed elaxed a approach pproach It’s important to feel relaxed in your own home – whether it’s traditional or contemporary in style, there is a wide choice of seating available. It’s essential for a sofa to be the right shape and size for your space. I find a mixture of sofas and chairs in different styles work best. The new modular L shaped sofas work especially well for open plan family spaces or TV rooms. And remember – always measure up.
What W hat tto o llook ook ffor or When you are choosing seating The Local Answer
think comfort, practicality and quality – buy the best you can afford. Size, shape and look are key from a design perspective, but it’s also important to understand the difference between foam and feathers. Currently velvet is a popular fabric choice, so stylish in bright jewel tones and perfect for Instagram pictures – I particularly love deep teal blue. But if you have pets or children it’s best to choose a practical fabric in a neutral colour.
Create an Create an office/spare office/spare rroom oom In lockdown, many of you will have faced the challenge of creating an office at home. For some, like my daughter in her small London flat, it has meant reconfiguring her only spare bedroom. She has decided to invest in a really comfortable sofa bed to make a multipurpose room, which means I can go and stay and still have a comfortable night’s sleep! Another versatile option to consider is an ontrend daybed. To advertise call 01242 510500
S ustainable ssolutions olutions Sustainable I bought my first pink linen sofa in a sale. I couldn’t really afford it but fell in love with it and it’s had many years of use. In the post lockdown world, sustainable solutions feel especially relevant, re-using what we have or buying vintage. Well-made furniture lasts so much longer and can be recovered either in a lovely vintage fabric or something more contemporary – upholsterers aren’t hard to find, and it’s important to support local business. An old Chesterfield sofa would look amazing covered in one of the new bright velvets or contemporary floral fabrics.
A Add dd ssomething omething p personal ersonal For that individual touch, have fun with bright or personalised cushions. I have a beautiful embroidered cushion given to me by my mother-in-law; my sister has dogs and loves her black Labrador cushion. Look for handcrafted or use scraps of fabric to make your own. Now all you need to do is put your feet up and decide which Netflix series to watch! Page 2
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Installers of top quality windows, windows, doors and conserva tories. conservatories. For a free no obligation quotation call
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G Garden arden p party arty g gizmos izmos 2020 might not have been smooth sailing so far – to put it mildly – but one positive that’s brightened up everyone’s mood has been the sunny summer weather. However, in order to get the best out of the blue skies, you need to make sure your garden is decked out with all the right equipment. These clever gizmos are just some examples of how you can enhance your sunbathing sessions.
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J John ohn L Lewis ewis & P Partners artners J Juicer uicer John Lewis: £70 What better way to catch some sun in your garden than sitting down with a cold drink to cool you off? With this stylish juicer from John Lewis, you can enjoy delicious fresh smoothies. The stainless steel design is not only smartlooking but is easy to clean and easy to use! Try out some new recipes and see what tasty beverages you can come u
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Bose SoundLink Colour C olour II II Bluetooth Bluetooth Speaker S peaker John Lewis: £119 Kick off those summer party snazzy vibes with this Bluetooth speaker from Bose. With its impressive range of nine metres, this outdoor speaker is perfect fo hosting garden parties. Enjoy smooth sound that lasts for up to eight hours thanks to the speaker’s rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and don’t worry about getting it wet; it’s waterresistant, so a little rain or splash from the paddling pool won’t do any harm. The Bose speaker’s light model also means it’s nice and compact, so you can carry it wherever you go. You can To advertise call 01242 510500
Currys: £260 Another way that you can appreciate the warmer weather is by having your movie own outdoor night! With this handy mini projector, you can relax outside with a bowl of popcorn and enjoy some of your favourite flicks. This gadget can project large-sized images from less than a metre away and has 2.5 hours of battery life. Wirelessly stream sound from the projector to Bluetooth compatible speakers and you’re all set. Make staying home more fun!
So, what are you waiting for? Get organising that garden party, but remember to stick to any social distancing rules that are still in place. Page
Index of Advertisers FOOD & DRINK
S.J. Lewis & Sons Primrose Vale Farm Shop 18-19 CLEANING Ovenbusters HEALTH & BEAUTY Sophie Lane
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RETAIL Zimbolic
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HOMES & GARDENS BATHROOMS Blissful Bathrooms Lifestyle Bathrooms Severn Vale Bathrooms
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BUILDING SERVICES C&G Paving Cheltenham Town Roofing Home Care Roofing JHD Roofing & Building Marshalls Driveways
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20 SKIP HIRE & RECYCLING
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PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Stevens Recycling
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Competition Rules 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
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BOOKING DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE – Friday 10th July 2020
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ATTENTION A TTENTION! Let us lighten your load!
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