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Welcome to June
Inside this month ... Delicious Dish Pet Care Mirror Mirror on the Wall Looking Good, Feeling Great TLA Charity Giveaway Holidays & Travel Parenting & Guardianship TLA Distributors Required Money Matters What’s On Word Search Motoring Homes & Gardens Quick Crossword In the Garden Interior Design Sudoku Gadgets & Gizmos Wildlife Matters TLA Sport Index, Competitions, Solutions
June’s winning cover photo: Sally Terrett
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Whether you’re growing gooseberries in your garden or styling your wardrobe like the cast of Downton Abbey, we’ve got lots of interesting articles for you to peruse this month. There are also lots of great events coming up across the county, from music and theatre to comedy and days out. See more in our What’s On section, and to promote your event, please email info@thelocalanswer.co.uk We have a brand new competition on our website where you could win two tickets to Linton Festival on the first weekend of July! Visit www.thelocalanswer.co.uk/competitions.aspx for more details and to enter. Don’t forget to enter our Charity Giveaway while you’re there – your nomination could win £1,000 for your favourite local charity, club or not-for-profit organisation. You can find full details of the giveaway inside or online.
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Delicious Dish with Helen Kingscott
Chelsea buns Instead of buying them from the shop, why not have a go at making your own Chelsea buns? They’re easy enough for kids to help, too!
Ingredients: For the dough 250g strong plain flour 125g plain flour 15g caster sugar 7g dried yeast 1 tsp salt 125ml milk 150ml warm water 25g soft butter For the filling 25g melted butter 1 tsp ground cinnamon 75g soft brown sugar 150g dried mixed fruit or just currants/sultanas 50g warmed honey to brush on top when cooked
Method: 1 Put both flours, yeast, salt, sugar, milk and half the water into your mixer and mix on a low speed until the dough pulls away from the side. Add a bit more water if needed, then add your soft butter and continue to mix until the dough is smooth.
2 Tip the dough into a large bowl and cover, then leave to prove until doubled in size. 3 When ready, preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan/gas mark 5). Tip the dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll into an even rectangle, squaring up the ends. 4 Spread the melted butter all over the dough. 5 Put your fruit, brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl, mix well then sprinkle over the buttered dough.
6 Roll the dough up from the bottom (long side) to the top, squaring up the ends again. It should look like a long sausage shape. 7 Cut into nine even pieces and place cut side down in a lined seven inch square cake tin. Leave to prove until doubled in size again. 8 Pop in the oven for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. 9 Once removed from the oven, brush with the melted honey and leave to cool.
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Pet Care with Oliver Wilkinson of Dragon Vet Centre
Why you shouldn’t throw sticks for dogs Most vets cringe when they see someone throwing a stick for their dog. What is the harm, you might ask? It seems like such a benign activity – the dogs certainly love the chase, it gives them a bit more of a run around than just trotting along, and many people will say they have thrown sticks for years with never a problem. Those pet owners have clearly never worked in a vet clinic!
Dogs can impale themselves on sticks that they chase Every year we see a significant number of dogs who have impaled themselves on sticks they were chasing. The stick will have been thrown, but instead of landing flat on the ground, one end lands point down embedded in the earth, the other end pointed backwards towards the onrushing dog. The most common unpleasant scenario is that the dog ends up with the stick end disappearing into its mouth and causing a nasty injury to its tongue or throat. A few weeks ago we had a dog that very nearly died from one of these stick injuries. The stick had missed its mouth but instead had gone in at the base of its neck and into its chest. It was a truly horrific injury and it was lucky to survive. The moral of the story is if you want to throw something for your dog, throw a ball or a frisbee, but never ever a stick! Page
Tewkesbury 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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Mirror Mirror on the Wall with Val Starr
The Downton Abbey effect The highly anticipated and aptly titled film ‘Downton Abbey: A New Era’ certainly heralded a new era of late 1920s fashion. Never underestimate the influence of a popular film’s fashion on being copied for today’s market. Set on the glamorous and more daring Riviera, styles are inspired from the silent movie era and Chanel’s holiday attire. In the first TV series of Downton Abbey, we were treated to typical classic tweeds so recognised as UK fashion; tweeds became the look and were sold in various forms worldwide as people wanted to imitate this classy look. A New Era shows silk pyjamas being worn as eveningwear for the very first time – a true bold look for the time. Rarely worn by women before, blazers became extremely popular. Head to the high street and top designers are making very similar versions for today’s fashionistas!
Dresses New Era lady-like dresses are the look for this spring and summer; great for weddings, the races and garden parties. There are some wonderful styles on offer – New Look has a beauty for only £19.99 (right). A very flattering pale green polka dot with a lovely elasticised waist, and also elasticised on the pretty puff sleeves. This would look great for any occasion. River Island has a stunning ice blue, long sleeved satin dress for £69. A real knockout that will get you lots of compliments. Sleeves are very popular again this season – designers have listened and responded. Puff sleeves, long sleeves or just to the elbow, you will now find a look that suits you. This style of classic fashion really never dates so you will get value for money wherever you choose to shop.
Blazers Like on the Riviera, blazers are a must-have, as well as trouser suits. Gucci, Victoria Beckham and Alexander McQueen have all shown beautifully structured tailoring with prices to match! But don’t despair – you too can get the look at a fraction of the price. John Lewis has a smart blazer for £69.99 with matching trousers for £49.99, while Mint Velvet has a blazer in a beautiful shade of pale green for £139 with matching trousers for £89 (left). All these outfits can certainly be worn separately, dressed up or down and will stand the test of time. The Local Answer
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Accessories To complete the New Era look, headbands are in. Next has a lovely, pure silk headband for £20, and Primark has some fun straw hats including one with a very 20s-inspired ribbon for only £6. Zara has a superb straw bag with a diamante clasp at £32.99, as well as a fun chain to hang your sunglasses on for £12.99 – a popular look back then! To complete the look, go for Mary Jane shoes. Next has some fun ones with diamond straps that certainly add a touch of ‘glam’ to any ensemble.
Pretty in pink For those not following the Downton trend who just want the colour of the season, pink is everywhere. Hot pink, pale pink – every shade imaginable in nail polish, lipsticks, and you might even have noticed more and more people with bright pink in their hair. Whether you go all out or just add a splash of pink to accessorise, enjoy experimenting with this season’s favourite colour. Page
Looking Good, Feeling Great with Will Mbanga
Bouncing back As human beings, each of us will be faced with hardship, challenges and tragedy in our lives – our ability to deal with these mostly internally-experienced traumas is largely dependent on our resilience. Resilience is essentially an individual’s ability to ‘bounce back’ from failure, disappointment or bereavement. You see, life is a contact sport and while some of the damage we take is physical, much of it is mentalemotional and this damage is what is of most concern. When preparing for high level sport or physical activity, your preparation is key to enabling you to cope with the physiological and mental-emotional demands imposed; the same approach should be carried into your life as far as your mental health is concerned. We’ve all been there – life is going swimmingly, not a care in the world (relatively speaking, of course!) and then, out of nowhere, WHAM! Something bad happens – life kicks you in the head and crushes your dreams or your heart.
Recovering from a major setback is a challenge This is nothing new – fate has been kicking butts and taking names for thousands of years. What has changed, however, is our ability to react to this and either mount up our damage control systems, or set things right. Irrespective of whether you are at fault or not, bouncing back from a major setback is a huge challenge. This brings us to that catch-all word that so many coaches and motivational speakers use – The Local Answer
resilience. Conventional wisdom suggests that resilience is a quality that you can switch on or off as needed. What many of us don’t realise is that it is a skill and as such, can be developed through focused, intentional practice. There are many brilliant tools you can use to build your resilience, and enable you to assess how well you’re managing challenges and any adversity you’re going through. You don’t need to engage in an expensive diagnostic tool to help you bounce back, but there is much to be gained from applying basic principles to your daily life. • Believe in your abilities and have confidence that you can achieve your goals. • Develop a social network of people you can confide in and who can support you in tough times. • Be flexible and embrace change – life isn’t easy but our ability to adapt and not be too rigid can help us to respond
better to challenging situations. • Take action and don’t stick your head in the sand. The longer you wait to start working on resolving an issue, the more stressful the crisis may become. These are just a few ways in which you can enhance your resilience, but all of these techniques take time. You won’t master them overnight, but taking small, positive steps will set you on the right path.
Focus on what you can control Managing emotional energy is an essential part of being resilient, as it allows you to stop focusing on negative, unhelpful thoughts, while building positive thoughts and maintaining focus on things you can control. As you build your resilience plan, think carefully about the impact you want from using this plan and remember, you might not get the results you want straight away. Be confident and be disciplined in sticking to your routine.
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We’re giving away
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to five local charities or not-for-profit organisations Lots of people are feeling the pinch at the moment, including our local charities and not-for-profit organisations. With costs rising and donations from the public understandably slowing down, The Local Answer have decided to support the local community with a giveaway. We’ll be donating a grand total of £5,000 to be split between five Gloucestershire-based charities or not-forprofit organisations – and the lucky winners of our draw will get to choose which ones!
So, whether you have a personal involvement or just like to support a specific local charity, club, society, group, trust or association – provided it is, essentially, a non-profit making enterprise – you could help boost their funds by £1,000! Entries for the giveaway are on our website and the more times your charity or club’s name is submitted, the higher their chance of being drawn. So make sure you share this giveaway with friends, family, colleagues and neighbours to give your organisation the best chance of becoming a winner!
It’s easy to enter our draw... For your chance to choose one of the five organisations that will benefit from this prize, please visit our website and enter online.
www.thelocalanswer.co.uk/competitions.aspx Closing date: Sunday 31st July 2022. In addition to our usual competition rules, by entering you agree to have your name and photograph featured in our September 2022 issue and online should you win. Only one entry per household accepted. The organisation must be based in Gloucestershire. The winner will be chosen at random (via a random number generator), but the more times an organisation’s name is submitted, the higher the chance it has of being drawn. Good luck!
Holidays & Travel with Al Hidden
Baked in Alaska Afternoon’s shadows lengthen as we near the Harbor Mountain trailhead. Today’s hike is under perfect blue skies, with the highest June temperatures for years ensuring our appreciation of the extra water we brought. After our 1700m ascent from town, the views over Sitka Sound on Gavan Hill Trail were sublime. Perception of Alaska may be icy and snowy, but on days like these, above the timberline at 57° N, without a care in the world, ‘Baked Alaska’ says everything. Then we hear the bear’s gentle ‘just letting you know I’m here guys’ growl from the bushes. We exchange knowing glances, remember the advice from the ranger’s office, shake
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bear bells for good measure and carry on – with more than one backward glance. Reaching the trailhead, we hitch a ride back down to Sitka, frosted Budweisers by the water and a well-earned seafood supper.
Sitka: the USA’s largest city Sitka is guaranteed to thrill. From the breathtaking approach – among the world’s trickiest – to water-surrounded Rocky Gutierrez Airport, to its impressive walking trails, the former Alaskan capital is a sure-fire memory maker. When not exploring the area’s subalpine meadows, whale watching for ‘humpies’ or enjoying sea otter antics, an acclaimed raptor centre and charming Russian-era architecture – the US bought Alaska from Russia for $7.2m in 1867 – complement the magical seato-summit location. Sitka is a sports fishing paradise too. And sea kayaking around Japonski Island – eerily close to landing aircraft as you paddle past the runway thresholds – adds unforgettable perspective on the USA’s largest city. It’s true: a population To advertise call
of around 10,000 belies the fact that, by area, little Sitka is the USA’s largest city!
Alaska is seriously big and impressive Our June visit, combined with voyaging north to Juneau on the Alaska Marine Highway, and time in Seattle before and after, coincided with Sitka’s driest month. Come fall, everything changes with typically high Pacific Northwest precipitation. For good weather, June, July and August are your warmest, driest friends when exploring this corner of the USA’s largest state. A tip: unless yours really is a mega-trip, think carefully before combining the panhandle with visiting the rest of the state. Alaska, like Harbor Mountain’s views and delicious freshcatch salmon suppers at Beak or Ludwig’s, is seriously big and impressive. Maybe too big to fully appreciate on one trip. We’re looking forward to another visit to the state whose name comes from the Aleut ‘aleyska’. It means ‘great land’. And, come rain or hot June sunshine, it is! Page
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Parenting & Guardianship with Roberta Smart
Make the most of what you have We all know that it’s a good idea to recycle and do our bit for the planet. Being green, cutting down waste and avoiding adding to the landfill is a central focus for many families these days. One way you can avoid creating waste is to be mindful of what you buy for babies as toys. With so much plastic found in baby toys, this could be an area in which you can achieve many things in one fell swoop. How? By creating toys for your children using items you no longer have use for, such as a ‘Busy Board’.
door handle, a wooden flap on injury, dementia or limited a hinge. cognition, these toys can be All manner of domestic hard- perfect for them to touch, hold, Use household items to ware would be fascinating for engage with and enjoy. make a sensory board baby to grab, pull, push, maniAllow them to touch By taking a piece of plywood, pulate and be a great way to and explore sanding the edges smooth and utilise existing items – as long lacquering for protection, you as they are clean and safe, of I am now working with adults create a base upon which you course. And what’s even better, with dementia, as well as can attach any number of this board can be used again enjoying a new granddaughter, household items which you and again, passed down and I am fascinated by the may have in a drawer, cupboard through generations of babies parallels in ways to engage or garden shed. and entertain the minds of these and never wear out. A door latch attached If you like the idea of textiles two groups of humans, who securely, a bell to push, a few rather than hardware and feel although at different stages of unused keys on a short chain, more at home with soft life, share some fundamental a piece of heavy rope to grab, a furnishings than a drill, why similarities which are joyous to not make a fiddle blanket or observe. Each loves to touch, to explore, to self soothe cushion instead? By gathering oddments of through holding, grabbing and different textured fabrics, inc- using hands to ‘see’ what is in luding ribbon, cord, silk, satin, front of them. If you can recycle old elements cotton and velvet, and featuring contrasting colours, layering rather than throw away, have fabrics and adding buttons, the pleasure of creating somebows, knots and fringes onto a thing useful and attractive, and sturdy, well-finished blanket or see the joy on faces as these cushion, you will create an items are used again and aesthetically pleasing and highly again, I would say, of all my entertaining toy for your baby. recommendations, this might I also have to add that if you just be the best one yet! Why happen to have a family not have a go this summer and member with any form of brain see what you can create? The Local Answer To advertise call Page
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Money Matters with Roger Downes of Andorran
Paying your fair share Whilst Money Matters was being a little critical in last month’s article of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s handling of the economy in his latest ‘Budget’, his wife was creating a series of headlines of her own. Apparently she hasn’t been paying tax on all her income in a way that the Chancellor would expect of the rest of us. It’s all done through claiming that she is not domiciled in the UK, an outdated tax status that probably has no place in a modern taxation system. Instead of paying tax on all her income, her ‘non-dom’ status entitled her to pay a flat fee instead of a percentage of her total income to the Treasury. OK, it was probably £30,000 a year (in certain circumstances it could be £60,000), which is more than the majority of the population pay in tax during a full year. And it was almost certainly legal.
An option only available to the rich
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But is it fair? Money Matters says no. ‘Nondoms’ can choose whether to pay tax on their income in the normal way or the flat fee. Clearly only those people who would have a massive tax liability would consider the flat fee option, as is the case of the Chancellor’s wife. It’s therefore only an option that is available to the very rich and that doesn’t seem at all fair to me. The lady in question has stated that she has agreed to pay tax on all her income rather than just the flat fee. She doesn’t have to, as her husband has failed to outlaw the practice, but it’s clearly the correct move for the couple politically and it will, at least, put a few more millions into the Treasury’s coffers every year. But there is nothing that can be done about previous years and she could quietly go back to her old practices once the matter disappears back below this radar.
It’s not illegal but it is immoral There are others, notably Premier League footballers and entertainers, who use the same or similar loopholes to avoid paying their fair share to the tax man. None of it is illegal but it’s definitely immoral and needs to be addressed by the Chancellor sooner rather than later.
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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. THROUGHOUT JUNE EVER THOUGHT ABOUT PLAYING BOWLS? It’s a great way to make new friends and learn a fun sport. Interested in finding out more? Call Maureen on 07831 602496 or Kay on 07598 114006. Caer Glow BC, Sisson Road, Longlevens, Gloucester GL2 0RA. 3-5 JUNE GLOUCESTER TALL SHIPS Award-winning Gloucester Tall Ships is back for 2022 with a jam-packed schedule of family fun and entertainment, setting sail over Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Weekend. Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th June. www.gloucestertallships.co.uk 4 JUNE GLOUCESTER PIRATE WALK
Ahoy ye city dwellers, sea farers and river people. Setting sail from Cafe Rene at 4pm, all pirates are welcome to join us on a lively jaunt around the city raising funds for Severn Area Rescue Association. www.facebook.com/events/325337565 8215871
4-5 JUNE BECKFORD JUBILEE OPEN VILLAGE
Beautiful open gardens, church flower displays, teas and homemade cakes, champagne bar, barbecue (Saturday), hog roast (Sunday) and ice creams. Also plant sales, children’s quiz trail, classic cars, glassware, preserves, tombola, raffle and more! Entry £5 (U16 free). Dogs on leads welcome. Free parking. GL20 7AD. Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th June 1-5pm, followed by family Jubilee celebrations. Platinum Party at the Pub on Saturday 5pm-late hosted by The Beckford Inn. The Big Jubilee Hog Roast on Sunday 1-8pm hosted by The Old Post Office. beckfordopenvillage.org.uk 4-5 JUNE GLOUCESTER SHANTY FESTIVAL Held in various venues in the city, the returning shanty festival will be celebrating the Maritime Heritage of our City of Gloucester through song with fantastic artists. Come and hear the city buzzing with life and shanty. www.gloucesterbid.uk/gloucestershanty-festival
5 JUNE CHELTENHAM MIND BODY SPIRIT WELLBEING SHOW By Deer Spirit Events. Over fifty fantastic exhibitors: 1-1 tarot, psychic, shamanic & clairvoyant readings, holistic therapies, self-help, crystals, jewellery, books, arts and crafts, healthy living products. Thirty talks and workshops, inside and out. Refreshments onsite. Sunday 5th June. 11-5pm. Pittville Pump Room, East Approach Drive, Cheltenham GL32 3JE. www.deerspirit.co.uk 11 JUNE SOME ENCHANTED EVENING Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II pioneered a flair that was all their own in the golden age of musical theatre. From 1940 to Hammerstein’s death in 1960, this musical duo dominated the musical stage and big screen with hits such as South Pacific and Cinderella. Some Enchanted Evening is an enthralling revue of some of their most stunning compositions. 7.30pm. Tickets £18-£26. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. 01684 295074. rosestheatre.org THE BON JOVI EXPERIENCE The world’s first and finest tribute to the great Bon Jovi and the world’s ONLY tribute to have been requested by and to have performed live on stage with Jon Bon Jovi himself. 7pm. Tickets £21.50. The Subscription Rooms, George Street, Stroud GL5 1AE. thesubrooms.co.uk
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11-12 JUNE HIGHNAM QUILTERS EXHIBITION Showing quilts, crafts, tombola, sales table, bag and cushion raffle. MindSCAPE charity raffle. Refreshments. Admission £3, cash only. 10am-4pm. Disabled access to both halls. Free parking. Highnam Community Centre, Newent Road, GL2 8DG. quiltershighnam@gmail.com 11 & 18 JUNE MATILDA JR THE MUSICAL The story of an extraordinary little girl with extraordinary powers. She has a cruel headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, but she finds companionship in her teacher, Miss Honey. Brave Matilda knows she has to stand up against the adults in her world, and in doing so, discovers her own remarkable powers. Matilda’s bravery teaches Miss Honey and her classmates an important lesson – that even though life can be hard, only you can change your story (but sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty!) 5.30pm or 8pm. Tickets £13.50. Sundial Theatre, Cirencester, GL7 1XA. www.sundial-theatre.co.uk 14 JUNE ASHLEY BLAKER: 6 POINT 5 CHILDREN The show brings a whole new perspective to the subject of parenting.
That is because as parents of six kids, Ashley and his wife are trying to raise a family in a world that is only really set up for having two. What’s more, the Blakers’ children are not just any kids. Three have special needs – two autistic boys and an adopted girl with Down Syndrome – and Ashley sensitively finds the funny in both raising children with disabilities and adoption. £18. 8pm. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, GL50 1QA. 01242 528764. cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk 17 JUNE THE SCUMMY MUMMIES SHOW Grab your gin in a tin, put your control pants on, and pop in a pantyliner – the Scummy Mummies are back! And after the year they’ve had, Helen and Ellie are going out-out! Join them for an evening of comedy, songs, filth and laughs. Everyone’s welcome, from mums and dads to carers, grandparents, and people who want to be reminded they are really glad they don’t have kids. So bring your mates and make it a big night out! 7.30pm. £22. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. 01684 295074. rosestheatre.org LIPSTICK ON YOUR COLLAR Step back in time to the golden era of music where the jukebox roared and
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feet didn’t touch the floor. Get your dancing shoes at the ready, grab yourself a milkshake and relax – you are in for an evening of back to back hits from the 1950s and 60s! From the birth of Rock n Roll through to the Beat Group sounds of the British Invasion and beyond, the show is packed with over forty hits from the likes of Connie Francis, Brenda Lee, Buddy Holly and many more. For more details, visit cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk £25. 7.30pm. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, GL50 1QA. 01242 528764. 26 JUNE FODEN’S BRASS BAND Foden’s Brass Band is based in Cheshire and is currently ranked as one of the finest brass bands in the world. The band has won many awards over its 100 year plus history, including the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain 15 times and the British Open Championships 12 times. The band are world renowned for playing of the highest quality and perform regularly for audiences across the UK and worldwide. 2pm. Tickets £8-£18. The Subscription Rooms, George Street, Stroud GL5 1AE. thesubrooms.co.uk
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1-3 JULY LINTON FESTIVAL
Celebrating 20 years of great music and beer! Proceeds to local charities. Headliners include The Counterfeit Stones, Walter Trout and One Night of Queen plus many more amazing international bands/artists. Tickets from £22. Camping available. Full lineup on website www.lintonfestival.org 2 JULY WINCHCOMBE PARISH SUMMER FÊTE St Peter’s Church, Winchcombe will host the Parish Summer Fête from 125pm on Saturday 2 July. Very much a community event with activities for all ages. For more details, email: fete@winchcombeparish.org.uk THE CHOIR FACTOR SINGS MOVIES AND MUSICALS Usually known for their rousing perfor-
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mances of Pop Rock, Motown and Gospel classics from the 60s through to the present day, The Choir Factor are turning their craft to hit songs from your favourite movies and musical singalongs! 7pm. £15. Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, GL1 1NS. gloucesterguildhall.co.uk 9 JULY LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE Saturday 9th July at Blackfriars Priory, GL1 2HN. 12.30-4.30pm. FREE entry. Lifestyle event: therapies, jewellery, baking, homeware, sweets, art, barista-coffee, roti shack, face painting/henna tattoo, fashion… Life-coaching workshop, mediumship demonstration and much more! Supporting Charlies, Gloucester. 15 JULY TAKE A CHANCE ON US Put on your platform boots and funky suits or just a boa, and have a night of ABBA madness! A fantastic live show that celebrates the music of ABBA through a fully live six piece band, voiceovers, costume changes, light show and choreographed dance routines. Lots of audience participation and all the favourite ABBA Hits! 7.30pm. £20. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. bacontheatre.co.uk
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17 JULY RUN THE RAINBOW Don’t miss Longfield Community Hospice’s colourful event at Cotswold Airport! Come prepared for a fun family-friendly 5K route with powdered paint, foam and inflatables! Sign up at longfield.org.uk/event/run-the- rainbow and use promo code ANSWER20 for 20% discount. 21 JULY NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE: PRIMA FACIE Tessa (Jodie Comer) is a young, brilliant barrister. She has worked her way up from working class origins to be at the top of her game. An unexpected event forces her to confront the lines where the patriarchal power of the law, burden of proof and morals diverge. 7pm. Tickets £16.50 (conc £14.50, students £12.50). 01242 258002. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. bacontheatre.co.uk 22-31 JULY GUITING MUSIC FESTIVAL Bringing a host of top names from the classical and jazz world to the beautiful village of Guiting Power in the Cotswolds. Including a fundraising concert for humanitarian relief in Ukraine on Friday 29th July. Full details of performances and tickets: www.guitingfestival.org
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Go on Safari with Dave Dave and Darcy Go on Safari Dave and Darcy are off on safa ri to see the animals of Africa. On their trip they make lots of new friends, from giraffes to lions, as well as a baby elephant that is in trouble! Pr e-orde r Will they be able open to help?
now! *
Dave and Darcy Go to the Beach Dave and Darcy are going to the beach for their summer holidays and a week filled with fun . Follow them on their adventures as they make friends and memories by the sea - but watch out for that naughty seagull!
Dave and Darcy Go to the Show Dave and Darcy dress up smart to go to the local village pony show. They face many challenges throughout the day including big jumps and tricky dressage routines! How will they do in the competitions? Will they win any rosettes?
Dave and Darcy Have a Birthday Party It’s Dave’s birthday and the whole gang have come to celeb rate with hi m and Darcy! There will be lots of fun games and lots of yu mmy cake . Make su re you don’t miss the party!
Dave and Darcy Save Ch ristmas Santa’s reindeer are all poorly so there is nobody to fly the sleigh and deliver presents. Join Dave and Darcy as they whizz around the world and help to save Christmas!
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and Darcy this su m me r! PLUS! The brand new Dave and Darcy Colouring and Activity Book will be coming out this su mmer as well! You can pre order this alongside the Safari story via my website . • More than 30 pages of colouring in • Fun and educational activities • Ideally suited for children ages 2-7 Pre -order now to receive a discount on the single book , the new bundle of five books and the colou ring book! *Any
orders that include the Safari storybook or the Colouring and Activity book will be posted out later in the summer. Once I have an official publication date, I will email all customers to let you know when you can expect to receive your orders. All other orders will continue to be posted as normal. If you have any questions, please email lois@loiskingscottauthor.com
Fun , engaging stories for ages3 -7 10% of profit donated to Cotswold RDA Activities and resources on my website Wholesale and school discounts available Please email lois@loiskingscottauthor.com
Sign up to my newsletter via my website to be the first to know when new stories and new Dave and Darcy products are released!
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Motoring with Toby Aiken
Blown away in the Nissan Leaf? The Nissan Leaf is one of the UK’s oldest electric vehicles. It’s been around for 12 years now, probably second only to the Toyota Prius in terms of longevity. And yet until last month, I’d never driven one. The early days of the Leaf saw very limited range, as was pretty much the norm for an EV, but the latest model boasts a range of more than 200 miles, meaning (in my book) that it is a contender for an everyday driver. It’s not often that I need more than that in a single day, and certainly not without a break for a coffee and a bite to eat near a highcapacity charger.
A good first impression My first impressions were that it looked really quite good. It can hold its own in terms of exterior looks and sits well on the drive. A good start. Moving on to the interior, I have to say I found myself a little disappointed. Not just by the feel of some of the interior plastics, which were cheaper than I felt they should be, or at least they seemed to be, but by the experience. Let me explain. Ten years ago, when EVs were few and far between, it was expected, perhaps even necessary, for an electric car to stand out; to make it clear that you were in something different, something futuristic even. Nowadays, with most of the mainstream manufacturers offering at least one fully electric option in their fleet, EVs are much more normal – not quite conventional, but they are getting there. But inside the Leaf, it felt at least a The Local Answer
little like I had gone back in time and the manufacturer was trying to signpost the differences at every opportunity. And it’s just unnecessary now. On to the driving experience itself.
“I didn’t feel quite at home.” First off, I noticed that the driving position was slightly off. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but no amount of adjustment made me feel 100% comfortable. Perhaps it was the dash layout, perhaps the slightly oversized A pillars, or the still-quirky gear selector, but I just didn’t feel quite at home and I’m used to feeling comfortable in a whole range of cars. Another thing that initially jarred slightly was Nissan’s epedal. Essentially, this encourages greener driving by increasing the regenerative braking so that letting off the throttle actively slows you down. Done right, you won’t To advertise call
need to use the brake pedal nearly as much. Initially this felt strange, but given time, I actually found it to be a good feature. And in fairness, that timeframe was probably only a day or two at most. So I’m going to count that as a win for the Leaf.
Good range and spec Essentially, the Leaf is a good package. Good range, good spec and not the loud ecostatement that it once was. But I think it’s trying too hard. It’s shouting ‘look at me, I’m green’ when the competition is quietly changing the drivetrain from petrol to electric and keeping the feel and look of the car the same. Was I blown away by the Leaf? Not quite. And of all the things that niggled, for me the price was the biggest sticking point. At just under £35k, it’s not that much of a stretch to be looking at a Tesla Model 3. And that’s a whole different package entirely. Page
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In the Garden with Julia Smith
Glorious June! This month, take time to revel in the garden, smell the roses and take every opportunity to sit outside – even if you only have room for one chair and a pot of petunias! Think of nurturing your mental health: it’s like taking a tonic. Plants like rudbeckias, asters and heleniums, which flower after the longest day, can grow rather straggly. To thicken them up, pinch out the tips now and that will branch them out and ensure a good late summer and autumn display. These are good perennials to have in the garden to help you get colour well into the autumn.
Growing gooseberries Gooseberries are a great option for the garden, as they are expensive and difficult to buy but easy to grow! I like growing them as standards (a bare leg with a bushy crown like a pom-pom) because they look more ornamental. They fruit best in the sun but will tolerate light shade. They are the earliest cropping soft fruit of the year and are so delicious
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in a crumble! They fruit on wood at least one year old and are pruned to allow light and air to get to the centre of the plant, cutting shoots crowding the centre back to five leaves.
Leave a patch of wilder meadow on your lawn If you took part in ‘No Mow May’ you may now want to give your lawn some attention. Don’t cut it really short straight away, but take it down in stages. You may wish to keep
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the idea of a wilder meadow by only mowing an area closer to the house and leaving the rest, perhaps with paths mown in it. This is probably not practical if you have a small garden and need the grass shorter to allow for kids to play on it, etc. but we can all leave a small patch and see what happens!
The most delicious things to grow I think I have mentioned this before, but as it’s June and I’m thinking of strawberries – and that they are just the most delicious things to grow in the garden and eat fresh – I have planted up some ‘living wall’ boxes from Growing Revolution. They are made from fully recycled plastic with an ingenious inbuilt watering system, and they stack up one upon another so they take up virtually no room. I’ve planted them up against a sunny wall in my garden with a mix of strawberry varieties to crop from May through to August. Yum yum! Page
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Interior Design with Gill Greenwell
At home with art Now that we can do all those things we couldn’t do in lockdown, I have been re-visiting my favourite art galleries in London with a young friend studying art history. I was reminded of how inspiring and energised art makes you feel. Whether it’s an image of a favourite painting, a reminder of a special holiday or a piece you love, art brings individuality to your home.
The real thing Most of us haven’t got an old master hidden away in the attic, and you don’t have to be a connoisseur to find original works that won’t break the bank. Social media provides direct access to emerging artists and affordable art fairs are great for browsing. Check out freshartfair.net for your nearest venue. My artist friends often exhibit at local open studio events – fun to go to and good to directly support a local artist.
Pick up a print If you love a particular painting, buy a print from the gallery
Image: Folksy
and frame it yourself. IKEA has a wide choice of inexpensive frames. Limited edition prints are another way to access affordable art. There are lots of websites specialising in these at reasonable prices – I subscribe to Rise Art who provide useful advice on how to hang and curate your art. Interior brands also produce art for the home – Made.com have a good range of well-priced wall art.
Perfect posters Posters are not just for teenage bedrooms. When I visited the Tate Gallery, I was particularly taken with their collection of exhibition and vintage posters – a great way to brighten up a hall or kitchen. Most gallery websites have a collection of posters you can buy from as little as £20; the Royal Academy collection is well worth a look. Alternatively, why not search out vintage film or travel posters to add dash and colour to your décor?
Image: Abstract House
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Frame it The right frame makes all the To advertise call
difference. Match your frame to the piece of art and not to your décor. Simple is always best – black and white frames look chic and contemporary, natural wood is warm and welcoming. A collection of black and white photographs in plain black frames really creates an impact. A contemporary piece can look brilliant in an ornate vintage frame. Charity shops are my go-to for interesting old frames, as you can often pick up a bargain.
Find the right place You can hang a piece of art virtually anywhere; I’ve just put up a picture next to my cooker. There are just a few tips worth noting. My pet hate is pictures hung too high – use your eye level as a rule of thumb. Group smaller pictures together, as they can look lost and lonely on a large expanse of wall. Mix and match – small pictures look good propped up on a bookcase, or create your own gallery wall. Now your home will reflect your taste and your unique personality. Page
Sudoku Fill the grids so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.
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Gadgets & Gizmos with Laura Nicklin
Keep your cool this summer Get out the barbeque, top up the cocktails and get the music blasting as we go outside to enjoy the much-needed summer sun. Just make sure you don’t overheat and work up a sweat! If you’re searching for some gizmos to help cool off this month, we’ve got you covered.
Aqua Bluetooth Speaker Menkind.co.uk: £25 How many Bluetooth speakers do you know that come equipped with waterjets?! This portable speaker from Menkind not only offers awesome sound quality, but it even comes with its own water show! Just play your music and watch how the water responds to the beats for a cool aquatic performance to accompany your summer hits.
sleek bit of tech will go great with any summer party.
Neo Ice Crusher Slush Machine The Range: £35.99 Make sure you have an ice-cold refreshment in your hand before you settle in for some sunbathing in the garden this summer. The Neo Crusher Slush Machine will help quench your thirst, as it gets to work crushing ice and stirring your drinks. With its snazzy vintage design, this retro gizmo will bring some style to your summer, as it preps your cocktails and slushies. The electric ice crusher includes a built-in stirrer and measuring jug, as well as two grinder settings, so it does all the hard work for you!
iFan 8 Momax Portable Hands-Free Fan
Packing a 5 watt speaker and rechargeable battery that lasts up to four hours, this stylish speaker not only has the looks, but the skills too. Compatible with any Bluetooth device, this The Local Answer
free fan that is designed to sit gently on your shoulders, providing a comfortable cooling experience. With five strength levels, a safe bladeless design and up to 12 hours of use, you can enjoy feeling as cool as a cucumber.
Selfridges: £49.95 For those who struggle a bit more in the heat, or are perhaps just taken aback by the sudden heatwave, this time of year can be more tricky. After all, no one wants to have sweat patches soaking their clothes and making them uncomfortable. And it’s just the worst when you can feel those tiny beads of sweat travelling down your neck. If you need a bit of a refresher while you’re on the go, then this gizmo could be a lifeline. The iFan 8 is a portable handsTo advertise call
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Wildlife Matters with Lois Kingscott
Brilliant bats If you’re out in your garden at dusk or later in the evening, you may catch a glimpse of a flying mammal out of the corner of your eye. While you can sometimes spot them in the daytime, bats are mostly nocturnal creatures that hunt during the night. There are 18 species of bat in the UK, but two of the most common species you might see in your garden are the common pipistrelle and the brown long-eared bat. Recognised as biodiversity indicators, their presence suggests a healthy, insect-rich environment.
Their ears are more important at night Their diet is made up of moths, flies, beetles, lacewings and other nocturnal insects, and they use echo location to find their prey. Contrary to the common myth that bats are blind, different species have varying visual abilities, but their ears are more important at night than their eyes. They make clicking sounds as they fly, and their incredible hearing helps them to listen for echoes of this sound that bounce off insects, walls and other predators. You are very
Image: Tom Marshall via wildlifetrusts.org
unlikely to hear the echolocation calls, as the frequency is often too high for human ears. Bats usually roost in buildings, trees or bat boxes, and are often spotted swooping around parks, gardens, woodlands and farms. They can also be found near bodies of water, in part to quench their thirst, but they also forage on insects with aquatic larvae.
Pregnant females gather in large numbers ready to give birth At this time of year, pregnant female bats start to form maternity roosts, where they gather in large numbers ready to give birth. They usually have a single pup that stays with them for about a month, feeding on their milk, until the
Image: Tom Marshall via wildlifetrusts.org
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pup is old enough to forage for itself. Despite being a valuable part of UK nature, bat numbers are declining at a rapid rate. There are, however, things we can do to help. Consider adding a pond to your garden and make sure your green space is a thriving, insect-rich feeding ground. Linear features such as streams and hedges are also important, as they act as navigation pathways that bats use as they travel between their shelter and feeding sites.
You must leave loftroosting bats alone Bat boxes can be purchased from garden centres and placed in sunny southerly or westerly locations to provide a warm, sheltered place for them to rest. If you happen to find a bat roosting in your loft, you must leave it be – bats and their roosts are protected by law and waking them from hibernation at the wrong time of year can use up valuable fat stores that they need to get them through the winter. Be sure to consult a wildlife organisation or your local authorities before carrying out loft repairs or renovations. Page
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Sport with Roger Jackson
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Mike Slatter has been part of Tewkesbury Park for 46 years It was very much a case of right place, right time when Mike Slatter joined Tewkesbury Park Golf Club back in 1976. That was about the time that Slatter’s rugby career – he played for Tewkesbury and Cheltenham – was coming to a close and he admits he was looking around for something else to do. “I joined the club when it opened,” said Slatter, who has been Tewkesbury Park’s president since 2010. “I joined with my brother Brian, he’s a good golfer and plays off about 9. I’m more of a social golfer, he does the golf and I do the chatting!” Slatter, who was born in Dumbleton and has lived around these parts all his life, was a decent rugby player back in the day. He was a prop or second row and played alongside the likes of Maurice Hamlin and Adrian Drake at Cheltenham and Nigel Roberts, Chris Atwell, Roger Groves and Mike Hyde at Tewkesbury.
Mike Slatter with grandson Harry Vincent
He reckons he started playing golf more regularly around 1990 and these days plays a couple of times a week. “I was captain in 1998, I was a hacker captain,” he laughed. Slatter is an easy man to interview – he has a ready laugh – and at the age of 78 he still plays off a very respectable 22. He’s well-known in the club – he’s held the position of social chairman in the past – and it’s easy to see why he’s been president for so long since taking over from Peter Jones. Mike Slatter (right) with former men’s captain “I enjoy it,” he said. and fellow member Norman Macsween “You don’t have to do too much, just shake a few “She’s captain of the A team,” hands when there’s a special he said. “She’s a good golfer, occasion!” she plays off 15 or 16.” There’s obviously a bit more Slatter says they don’t play to it than that, of course, and against each other too often but Slatter is certainly keen to they certainly both enjoy champion everything that is playing at Tewkesbury Park. good about golf. “There’s plenty of fairway to “I enjoy the companionship,” aim at, you can really open your said Slatter, who also played a shoulders,” he said. bit of cricket when he was “The greens are very good younger. “I play all my sport so too, they run very well, and the that I can have a drink bunkers are in good order. afterwards. “It’s a lovely course, Paul “With golf you get a good Hathaway looks after it very walk, it’s a good sport.” well. And it’s a challenging one too, “We’ve also got a very good so what areas of his game pro in Mark Fenning, he’s a very would Slatter like to improve? busy man.” “We’d all like to drive better, Slatter clearly likes his golf so wouldn’t we,” he said. “Also if he had the chance, which my chipping, that could other course would he really improve, but my putting isn’t like to play? too bad.” “Augusta, that would be If Slatter needs any tips he really special,” he said. “Just to could always turn to his wife walk around it would be Glo who is a very decent golfer. something else.”
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