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GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S BIGGEST LLOCAL OCAL BIGGEST M AGAZINE MAGAZINE NOVEMBER NOVEMBER 22021 021

NORTH NORTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE GLOUCESTERSHIRE ‘‘LEST LEST W WE EF FORGET’ ORGET’ – W WEAR EAR Y YOUR OUR P POPPY OPPY W WITH ITH PRIDE! PR RIDE!

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ROOFING & SCAFFOLDING

SPECIALISTS Serving Herefordshire & Gloucestershire and beyond

Slate, C himney & T ile Repairs Repairs N New ew R Roofs oofs ● New New B Builds uilds ● Slate, Chimney Tile ● New elt and and Battening Battening ● Lead Lead W ork New V Valleys alleys ● F Felt Work ● Leak ● ● Leak Repairs Repairs F Fibreglass ibreglass R Roofing oofing Rubber Rubber R Roofing oofing ● G ● ● ● Guttering uttering S Soffits offits Fascias Fascias (range (range ooff ccolours) olours) Carports Carports

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01432 01432 870957 870957 / 0 01242 1242 3 300028 00028 / 07437 07437 0 016736 16736

w www.rrichardsandson.co.uk ww.rrichardsandson.co.uk

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

IInside nside tthis his m month onth ... ... Pet Care Care Pet Delicious Dish Dish Delicious Holidays & Travel Travel Holidays LLooking ooking G ood, FFeeling eeling G Good, Great reat Q uick C rossword Quick Crossword TTLA LA D istributors R equired Distributors Required C ompetition – W in a C Competition Win Campervan! ampervan! W ord Search Search Word M oney M atters Money Matters Sudoku S udoku Wildlife Matters W ildlife M atters What’s On W hat’s O n Homes Gardens H omes & G ardens Garden IIn n tthe he G arden Design IInterior nterior D esign Gadgets Gizmos G adgets & G izmos Solutions IIndex, ndex, Competitions, Competitions, S olutions

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

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

www.thelocalanswer.co.uk w ww.thelocalanswer.co.uk

W elcome Welcome ttoo N ovember November After a long hiatus, we are delighted that our Wildlife Matters feature is back. This month you can read all about ivy bees in the article written by our new writer, Dorothy Glen. We’re also very excited that our event listings are back up and running. With fireworks displays and festive events galore, you’ll have plenty to fill your diary in the run up to Christmas. If you are organising an upcoming event, we also have a discount for promoting it in The Local Answer – more details inside. Life can seem a little gloomy as we approach winter, with darker nights and dull weather. But don’t fret – Gill Greenwell is on hand to brighten up your home with some great lighting recommendations! Check out her Interior Design article for more. Finally, we are looking for more distributors in various areas across the Tewkesbury Borough. Find out more in the ‘Distributors Required’ advert and join our waiting list today.

If you use the services of any of our advertisers, please tell them you found them in The Local Answer!

Contacts C ontacts IRECTOR MANAGING MANAGING D DIRECTOR Dave Kingscott dave@thelocalanswer.co.uk

M ARKETING & EEDITORIAL DITORIAL MARKETING Lois Kingscott lois@thelocalanswer.co.uk

ACCOUNTS ACCOUNTS Rob Kingscott (01242 541071) accounts@thelocalanswer.co.uk

S SALES ALES

Amber Enright amber@thelocalanswer.co.uk ADVERTISING EENQUIRIES: ADVERTISING NQUIRIES: info@thelocalanswer.co.uk ISTRIBUTION ENQUIRIES: ENQUIRIES: LLEAFLET EAFLET D DISTRIBUTION leaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk ISTRIBUTION ENQUIRIES: ENQUIRIES: MAGAZINE M AGAZINE D DISTRIBUTION distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk Page 3

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

Coming Coming to to terms terms with w ith aging aging p pets ets I’m a big cat fan; I love their independent nature, the way they train us and not them, the way they seem to tolerate our love and affection without always appreciating it! I’m also aware they have their downsides – not everyone is a fan of the domestic cat. They are supposedly responsible for the deaths of 100 million small animals each year in the UK, 27 million of which are birds. They can also be quite ungrateful pets at times. They use our gardens as their personal toilets, they fight each other noisily at 3am (often outside my bedroom window) and, as a veterinarian, they are not the most compliant when it comes to examinations and treatments. Recently, a neighbour’s cat entered our house and sprayed urine up against the wall of our living room. Our own cat, Bob, is a timid fellow – to call him a ‘scaredy-cat’ would be quite a compliment. This recent intrusion of his personal space has sent him into a spiral of personal angst. He has taken to hiding under beds and slinking around the house with a strained look on his face, in case the intruder reappears.

B Bob ob h has as d decided ecided tthe he n new ew ccat at fflap lap iiss a tthing hing o off d dark ark m magic agic I thought I had an elegant solution with the installation of a cat flap that reads cats’ microchips and only opens for him. Sadly, Bob has decided the new cat flap is a thing of dark magic and now sits by the back door meowing to be let in, rather than facing the terror of a shiny white, high-tech and not inexpensive personal entry system! I may have to fish the battered old cat flap out of the bin, but I’ll persevere for another week before admitting defeat. Fortunately, there are other solutions for anxious cats; tryptophan is a daily nutritional supplement that can boost a cat’s natural serotonin levels (the neuro-chemical in our brain that is associated with feelings of calmness). There are also cat pheromone diffusers that pump out a cat facial scent into your house, which can make them feel more relaxed. Of course, if Bob would just use the cat flap I think life would be much simpler, but for now it’s catnip and bribes of ‘Dreamies’ until he gets over this most recent cat-astrophe! Page 4

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

OPEN MONDAY-FRIDAY 9am- 6.30pm & SATURDAY 9am-10.30am 31 Church Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5PD

w www.dragonvet.co.uk ww.dragonvet.co.uk

01684 01684 2 217 17 7 708 08

OPEN SATURDAY 9AM-12 NOON Prestbury Park , New Barn Lane, Cheltenham GL50 4SH

T: 01242 580324 w www.dragonvet.co.uk ww.dragonvet.co.uk

2244 H HOUR OUR EEMERGENCY MERGENCY ~ 001242 1242 5522022 22022

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

Nutty N utty N November ovember tart tart G Go on nuts uts ffor or tthis his d delicious elicious d dessert essert – iit’s t’s ssure ure tto ob be e a ccrowd rowd p pleaser leaser tthe he n next ext ttime ime y you ou have h ave g guests uests o over! ver!

IIngredients: ngredients: For the pastry 175g/6oz plain flour; 85g/3oz butter; 40g/1.5oz icing sugar; 2 tbsp water.

For the filling 85g/3oz butter; 4 medium eggs; 100g/3.5oz set honey; 100g/3.5oz walnut pieces; 100g/3.5oz toasted hazelnuts; 175g/6oz demerara sugar.

M Method: ethod: 1 In a bowl, add the flour, diced butter and icing sugar, and rub together until it resembles breadcrumbs. Add the water and mix until it forms a smooth dough. 2 Butter a 23cm loose bottomed tart tin. Knead the pastry lightly then roll out on a floured surface just a bit larger than the tin. 3 Carefully lift and place into the tin. Prick the base all over with a fork then put into the fridge to chill for around 30 minutes. 4 Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F/ gas mark 5). 5 Remove the pastry base from the fridge and line with greaseproof paper then baking beans. 6 Bake for 10 minutes, remove the paper and beans and cook for a further five minutes. 7 Melt the butter in a saucepan, remove from the heat and stir in the set honey.

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8 Beat the eggs lightly in a bowl then pour in the butter mix followed by the sugar. Mix together well. 9 Chop the hazelnuts and walnuts and sprinkle onto the base of the tart. Pour over the honey mixture and bake for 25-35 minutes. After 20 minutes check it isn’t browning too much and if so cover lightly with a piece of foil. Continue to cook until set. 10 1 0 Leave to cool then cut into slices. This goes beautifully with extra thick cream.

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

Inviting Inviting IIstanbul stanbul It’s September 2021. The Government just announced that the foreign-travel traffic light system is to end. Now the travel pundits predict that Turkey and Egypt will top many Brits’ lists for a late-year getaway. Full disclosure: the closest I’ve been to Turk ey is 37,0 0 0 feet on an Emirates flight from Birmingham to Dubai – if you don’ t include Cheltenham’s excellent Istanbul Kitchen restaurant. That said, I’d like to visit. Talking about the country with Mrs H got her reminiscing about her travels there before we met. Impressi vely, she’s explored the west and south extensi vely from Istanbul to s e a s i d e Ka ş . A l o n g s i d e t h e latter ’s whitewashed houses and pervading scent of bougainvillea, her recommendations include Gallipoli, Ephesus and Selçuk’s famous white storks.

A ffull-on ull-on 24/7 24/7 b buzz uzz But it’s Istanbul, straddling the Bosporus where Europe meets Asia, that she k eeps The Local Answer

returning to. And it’s there that I hope to be introduced to Turkey. In the metropolis that inspired Edmondo De Amicis to write, ‘The whole world thinks that this city is the most beautiful place on earth.’ As a teaser to that future trip, we blow dust off Jan’s carefully collated photo albums. They’re pack ed with prints from back when you captured travel memories on rolls of Kodacolor, then waited eagerly until your snaps arrived from Bonusprint. “We e’ll visit the Blue Mosque,” she enthuses as decades-old memories flood back like water under the city’s showpiece Bosporus Bridge. “And Topkapi Palace, and the Grand Bazaar in Eminönü,” she suggests, excitedly painting her glowing picture of Istanbul’s colour s, welcoming citizens, intoxicating aromas and full-on 24/7 buzz. Googling the bazaar, I discover it’s one of the world’s finest shopping malls and picture somewhere that makes Gloucester Quays look lik e a corner To advertise call 01242 510500

shop! Mr s H confirms my assessment. This I must see.

F Ferry erry across across tthe he B Bosporus osporus I’m excited now. Even more so when we contemplate food, discussing mouth-watering döner and lahmacun, and tempting meze grabbed between sights. And Istanbul’s ubiquitous pide flatbreads and glass after refreshing glass of mint tea. “We’ll catch a ferry across the Bosporus too,” she adds. That’ll be on the way to Grand Çamlıca Mosque, Turkey’s largest. Its six sk yscraping minarets dominate Istanbul’ss eastern horizon above sprawling Üsküdar. The experience will be novel for us both; it was built since Jan’s last visit. My would-be guide had me at Baklava and Hagia Sophia. As for the traditional hammam experience so many visitor s adore, I’m not so sure! Maybe I’ll pass on Turkish baths and Emre’s thumping massage. That aside, Istanbul, I am looking forward to meeting you. Page 

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

Fit F it ffor or life life As the sun begins to dip on its orbit across our skies, daylight hours become shorter and cooler, and our bodies start to make an imperceptible shift as they prepare for the ‘long dark’ of winter. We start struggling to find or make time to exercise due to lack of motivation or poor organisation, and we start to put on or stubbornly hold onto extra weight because of a lack or reduction of exercise. All of this contributes to the winter blues. While these seasonal changes are normal and very common, ensuring that you continue to make good choices and don’t get dragged down through feeling unmotivated, overwhelmed or less active is key. In t h e U K , a l ar g e n u mb e r o f premature deaths are associated with an unhealthy lifestyle – poor diet, obesity, drug abuse, excessive alcohol consumption, poor sleep, high stress levels, smoking and other factors. There is a simple solution for prolonging one’s life; make better choices! Of course, it isn’t as simple as just ‘doing better’, but you’ll be on the right track if you eat healthily, reduce alcohol consumption, stop smoking, don’t take drugs, look after your mental health, connect with positive people and engage in regular exercise. To quote Douglas Adams, “Life is wasted on the living”. It is by its very nature a ‘long game’, but we don’t acknowledge this with our behaviour and actions in our youth, and for s ome of us, as pects of our adult lives continue to put our health and well-being at risk. With life picking up pace as the world (slowly) opens up The Local Answer

again and returns to what we all hope is a kinder, more tolerant and self-aware society, ensuring we maintain an optimal standard of health and mental well-being is more important than ever before. A friend’s little boy put it to me beautifully the other day: “you need to practice running so you can get away when the zombies come for you”.

Having a cconsistent Having onsistent rroutine outine is is essential essential The key to ensuring you remain fit for life is consistency in your routine. Whether you train three times a week, or every day, having a consistent routine and prioritising your own health by blocking out some quality ‘me time’ to do your daily admin – exercise, planning, meditation, reading, listening to podcasts, drinking water, prepping healthy meals, etc. – is essential. Thereafter, an achievable, realistic goal, such as a target weight, distance or exercise duration, will enable you to stay motivated in those harder, cold, dark months ahead.

Below is a basic plan to kickstart your winter training. You can adapt it to suit your fitness level and access to equipment, or mix it up with other exercises that you enjoy. If you’re unsure of how to perform an exercise, have a quick look on YouTube to get an idea of correct form.

S Sample ample ttraining raining plan plan F Frequency: requency: 3 times per week Target: repeat circuit as many Target: times as possible in 25 minutes W Warm arm up/cool up/cool d down: own: 5 minutes of cardio, such as jogging on the spot or using a skipping rope E Exercises: xercises: Burpees – 10 repetitions (reps) Push ups – 10 reps Jumping jacks – 40 reps Lunges (each leg) – 10 reps Squat jumps – 10 reps Mountain climbers – 40 reps Plank – 30 seconds Crunches – 10 reps Good mornings – 10 reps Sprint on the spot – 30 seconds Remember, life is a marathon, not a sprint. There will be ups and downs in your journey, but you’ll maintain a good standard of health if you commit to always being ‘fit for life’.

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Quick Quick Crossword Crossword 2

1 0 10

1 1 11

1 2 12

13 13

1 4 14

1 5 15

1 6 16

ACROSS ACROSS 1 Penetrated 4 Net 7 Modern tune (3,4) 8 Uncanny 9 Spotted 12 Kerb 15 Tidiness 17 Obliterated 18 Provide with personnel 21 Took (revenge) 22 Traffic jam 23 Worthy novel

1 7 17

1 8 18

19 19

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2 1 21

2 2 22

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D Don’t on’t llook ook until until you’ve you’ve ffinished! inished! Solutions Solutions on on ‘‘Index Index ooff A Advertisers’ dvertisers’ page. page.

DOWN DOWN 1 Restricts movement (4,4) 2 Perches 3 Globule 4 Wise 5 Bomber attack (3,4) 6 Rim 10 Less moist 11 Short break 13 Plague 14 West Indies island 16 Menservants 18 Male heirs 19 Tripped over 20 Dusting powder

N Nail ail T Trimming rimming Corns C alluses Corns Calluses Cracked Heels Heels Cracked Fungal Nail Nail Fungal Infections Infections MCFHP M CFHP M MAFHP AFHP Routine F oot Foot Call Call 07921 07921 821805 821805 Routine Care Care enquiries@sophielanefhp.co.uk enquiries@sophielanefhp.co.uk HOME H OM E C CONSULTATIONS ONSULTATIONS & A APPOINTMENTS PPOINTMENTS

D Distributors istributors Required Required To join our waiting list for various locations in the Tewkesbur y Borough including: Alderton • Apperley • Ashchurch • Beckford Dumbleton • Gotherington • Greet Gretton • Mitton • Northway • Southam Woodmancote

£ £

Please email d distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk istribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk with your name, postal address, telephone number and date of birth. A member of our team will respond with more information. Please do not call the office – our staff are only returning to work part-time, so may not always be available to take your call.

Each round is made up of 150-400 copies per month. The rate of pay is 6 pence/copy. Depending on propertty The The L Loca ocal types, our current team of people ANS A NS WER WER average between 100-150 copies/hour (equivalent to £6-£9/hour). Magazines are delivered to Distributors’ homes towards the end of each month and we expect deliveries to be completed within four days between the hours of 7am and 9pm. You must be 13+ years old, flexible, reliable and sufficiently physically fit to NORTH NORTH GLOUCES GLOUCESTERSHIR TERSHIRE perfform the duties. G GLOUCESTERSHIRE’ LOUCES STEERSHIRE’S B BIGGEST IGGES ST LLOCAL OCAL M MAGAZINE AGAZINE NOV NOVEMBER VEMBER 2021 2021

P PROMOTE ROMOTE Y YOUR OUR LLOCAL OCAL EEVENT VENT – M MORE ORE D DETAILS ETAILS IINSIDE NSIDE

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WIN Lilly the Campervan Escape from it all in this TTIICKKEETTSS .95 .9 fabulous home from home £7 EA EACH Don’t miss your chance to own this handcrafted van conversion worth £30,000!

ted imiite L Lim off er o be umb n nu ettss! ke ick ttic

Full specification, further details and tickets available online Cotswold camper competitions

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To register and buy your ticket visit www.Cotswold-camper-competitions.co.uk

Word W ord S Search earch H G W D C J E U S Q E S P M O W R P B G X I A Q

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

Supply Supply chain chain pressure pressure

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

Just a month ago, the queues at the filling stations were ridiculous as fuel tankers failed to get sufficient product to the retail outlets and the public started to panic. Unnecessarily in my view, but that’s an entirely different debate for another day. The same rumour-mongers that started the fuel supply panic are chomping at the bit to do the same for Christmas supplies of food and presents. They don’t help in the slightest, but there is no smoke without fire and there are definitely issues in the supply chain at the moment.

P Pushing ushing up up prices prices tthat hat cconsumers onsumers w will ill e end nd u up pp paying aying The major problem is the movement of goods. There are queues at ports as we struggle to get goods into the UK, and there is a shortage of HGV drivers to onward deliver them once they are landed. And needless to say it’s pushing up prices that eventually we, the ultimate consumers, will end up paying. The root cause is complex. The big talking points of the last couple of years are clearly involved. Our withdrawal from the EU has left us with too few drivers, to the point where the government has had to find a way of allowing European drivers to operate in the UK, at least on a temporary basis.

IIt’s t’s ttaking aking llonger onger tto oo offload ffload sships hips d due ue tto oC Covid-protection ovid-protection m measures easures The Covid impact is more complex. Many of t he go ods we i mport come f rom th e F ar East, where the pandemic struck earlier than over here and there have been timing issues ever since. Even when the ships arrive in our ports, it takes much longer to offload them due to Covid-protection measures under which the ports are obliged to operate. Business has also bounced back from Covid probably more rapidly than any of us were expecting, increasing demand at a time when we are having enough trouble getting our regular supplies. When demand increases, suppliers are able to increase prices, so naturally they do. What can be done? For most of us, nothing more than crossing our fingers and hoping that things ease sufficiently to allow the shelves to be full for Christmas. Oh, and don’t panic buy! Page 4

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

Interesting Interesting ivy ivy b bees ees I recently discovered little ‘volcanoes’ of powdery soil in the sunny flower bed underneath my ivy. I’ve been waiting for them, as they appear every year around this time, along the line of the lawn. This is the work of ivy bees, a relatively new addition to British wildlife, first being reported in the UK in 2001 and gradually moving north. Ivy bees are dainty bees, similar in size to honey bees but recognisable to me because they’re extra stripy – with bright narrow bands of black and yellow.

Seen Seen iin n llarge arge n numbers umbers September to ffrom rom S eptember to November N ovember They feed on nectar and pollen from ivy flowers, and if you have a generous patch of ivy in your garden they can be seen in large numbers from September to November, especially on a sunny day. On my ivy, they are joined by honey bees, hover flies, wasps and red admiral butterflies, all taking advantage of this vital late food source. Sometimes the noise they create takes me

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Image: www.wildlifetrusts.org

by surprise and I look up to the ivy, at head height, and wonder if I should be so close to this intimidating mass of insects. But they’re not at all interested in me. Male ivy bees have no sting, and females are rarely aggressive and struggle to penetrate human skin. If they do, it feels similar to a nettle sting. Even the wasps aren’t bothered with me when they already have such a great supply of nectar. So I watch and listen, and I find it calming having them hum away in the background.

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Making M aking llittle ittle v volcanoes olcanoes iin n my my flower flower bed bed By mid-autumn, the ivy bees are busy mining their underground burrows, pushing the soil out of the top to make the little volcanoes I see in my flower bed. They are solitary bees, but in my little corner of the garden where conditions are right there are many nests. Inside, the female bee deposits her eggs and a store of ivy pollen for the larvae, which emerge as bees the following year, around the time the ivy flowers again in September. Ivy is a hugely valuable food source at this time of year for insects. You can encourage ivy bees into your garden by avoiding cutting it back until the spring (and no later), when the flowers are long gone and the birds have had the attractive purple berries. Allowing it to flower has the added benefit of keeping the wasps fed, so they are less likely to bother you and your sweet autumn treats. Page 5

What W hat s O On n The The Local Local Answer Answer Event Event L Listings istings a are re ccompiled ompiled a and nd p presented resented in in good good faith faith with with the the kind kind support support o off m many any ccontributors. ontributors. W We e recommend recommend you you use use the the contact contact details details provided provided to to check check e event vent iinformation nformation u updates pdates p prior rior tto op planning lanning y your our v visit. isit. 3300 OCTOBER OCTOBER CRAFT MARKET AT HOLY APOSTLES CHURCH We are so excited to be hosting one of our markets at Holy Apostles Church Hall! We will be open from 14pm for you to come and browse a selection of stalls from crafters, artists and local small businesses. Entry to the market is free, please remember to bring a face covering (if required) and a shopping bag! Holy Apostles Church, London Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, GL52 6HW. 6 NOVEMBER NOVEMBER ANIMAL ANTICS

Time for The Animal Guyz to literally bring the stage to life with this brandnew funny, entertaining and educational live show that will delight the whole family. Packed with animal effects, music and laughter, designed to both entertain and educate using no live animals, stunning puppetry and special effects to bring incredible lifelike and size animals and dinosaurs to the stage right before your eyes. 2pm. Tickets £14 (£12 concessions). 01242

258002. The Bacon Theatre, Dean Close School, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk CRAFFT T AND PRODUCE MARKET We are excited to be back in Dumbleton for another craft and produce market! We will be open from 10am to 2pm in the village hall for you to come and browse a selection of stalls from crafters, artists and local small businesses. Entry to the market is free, please remember to bring a face covering (if required) and a shopping bag! Dumbleton Village Hall, Dairy Lane, Evesham WR11 7TP. TEWKESBURY ANNUAL FIREWORKS AND BONFIRE Enjoy the Tewkesbury Rotary Club’s annual fireworks display against the backdrop of the beautiful Tewkesbury Abbey! Free admission but donations welcome. 5pm. For more details visit facebook.com/TewkesburyRotaryClub The event will be held on the Vineyards behind Tewkesbury Abbey. NOVEMBER 7 NOVEMBER BONFIRE NIGHT AT HILLSIDE BREWERY A roaring bonfire lighting up our beautiful Hillside meadow, an aweinspiring fireworks display and fire performer to keep kids (and big kids!) entertained all evening. Hungry guests will be more than satisfied by the delicious Hog Roast on offer, with retro popcorn and candy floss stalls providing the perfect sweet-treats for afters. Our fantastic selection of Hillside craft beers will be flowing all

evening, as well as a fully stocked bar with plenty of alternatives such as wines and soft drinks. From 6pm. Advance tickets only – no tickets on the gate. For more details and to book visit www.hillsidebrewery.com/ bonfire-night-event-and-fireworks 12-13 12-13 NOVEMBER NOVEMBER DO YOU HEAR THE PEOPLE SING? The Cotswold Savoyards present a wonderful, fun-filled evening of musical theatre favourites and classic songs from the West End – and, yes, there will be some Gilbert & Sullivan in there too! What better way to celebrate the return of live Musical Theatre than this toe-tapping medley of songs that will fill your heart with joy and love of the Theatre and everything that we have missed for the last 18 months? Tickets £10. 7.30pm. More details at www.cheltplayhouse.org.uk Cheltenham Playhouse, 47-53 Bath Road, Cheltenham, GL53 7HG. 21 21 NOVEMBER NOVEMBER CHRISTMAS FAIR Join us for a fun, festive family day with local businesses selling a range of gifts – perfect for Christmas shopping! There will also be mulled wine and mulled cider, food from Tall Order Catering, entertainment and much more! 11.30am to 3.30pm. Free entry. Patesians Sports & Social Club, Sandy Lane Playing Field, Everest Road, Leckhampton, Cheltenham GL53 9LG. For more details, or to book a trade stall, please email info@patesians.club

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224-27 4-27 NOVEMBER NOVEMBER AMAZING GRACE John Newton, a wilful and musically talented young Englishman, faces a future as uncertain as the turning tide. He finds himself torn between pursuing a life as a slave trader or embracing the more compassionate views of his childhood sweetheart. Accompanied by his slave, Thomas, John embarks on a perilous voyage on the high seas. An unforgettable musical saga that captures the spirit of history’s sweetest and most powerful sound: freedom. Tickets £14-£15. 2pm or 7.30pm. More details at www.cheltplayhouse.org.uk Cheltenham Playhouse, 47-53 Bath Road, Cheltenham, GL53 7HG. 2255 NOVEMBER NOVEMBER & 55-7 -7 D DECEMBER ECEMBER CHRISTMAS ARTISAN MARKET This special festive four day event will celebrate local makers and producers at Cheltenham’s iconic pump room. The market launches on Thursday 25th November as part of the switch on of the pump room’s Christmas lights display, complete with carol singers and choirs, live entertainment and special guests. For more details visit www.cheltenhamtrust.org.uk 2266 NOVEMBER NOVEMBER – 2211 D ECEMBER DECEMBER ENCHANTED CHRISTMAS

Set out on an adventure through the illuminated trees of the arboretum and look out for clues to reunite Father Christmas with his lost reindeer! Experience mesmerising light displays amongst amazing trees but watch out

for the storm, and don’t get lost! Relaxed sessions available, with adapted trail for those who require additional needs, such as autism. Advance booking essential. www.forestryengland.uk/westonbirt Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, Tetbury, GL8 8QS. 2266 NOVEMBER NOVEMBER – 3300 D ECEMBER DECEMBER SPECTACLE OF LIGHT 2021 Discover the new Light Curve and the flickering flames of the Queens garden. Gaze at the sparkling water features and the mesmerising Carpet of Colour. Light beams, lanterns and much more. Sip festive warmers of spiced mulled wine and sprinkled hot chocolate as you join the magical trail around these wonderful grounds. Tuck into takeaway hot food and delicious donuts from the Castle Terrace. For details and to book tickets visit www.sudeleycastle.co.uk 2277 NOVEMBER NOVEMBER CRAFFT T MARKET AT HOLY APOSTLES CHURCH Join us for another craft market at Holy Apostles Church Hall! We will be open from 1-4pm so come and browse a selection of stalls from crafters, artists and local small businesses. Entry to the market is free, please remember to bring a face covering (if required) and a shopping bag! Holy Apostles Church, London Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, GL52 6HW. 2288 NOVEMBER NOVEMBER THE SUFFOLKS CHRISTMAS MARKET With market stalls, a fun fair, children’s entertainment, carols, street food and, of course, Father Christmas, you’ll definitely get in the festive spirit at The Suffolks Christmas Market. 11am to 5pm. The Suffolks, Cheltenham. DECEMBER 4 DECEMBER TEWKESBURY TOWN BAND’S CHRISTMAS CONCERT Tewkesbury's very own brass band once again gathers at The Roses for a magical Christmassy celebration of

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music and song. 7.30pm. Tickets £1315. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, Glos, GL20 5NX. 01684 295074. www.rosestheatre.org 10 10 DECEMBER DECEMBER FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK Featuring an international cast of singers, musicians and dancers, Fairytale of New York brings you all of your favourite Christmas songs including Driving home for Christmas, White Christmas, and Silent Night. This magical Irish-inspired Christmas show will have people of all ages singing, laughing and dancing in the aisles. 7.30pm. Tickets £24.50-26.50. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, Glos, GL20 5NX. 01684 295074. www.rosestheatre.org 14 DECEMBER DECEMBER 14 SANTA’S BEST EVER CHRISTMAS Dotty the Elf thinks Santa is planning a surprise Christmas party, Pompom the Penguin thinks Santa has been making Christmas crackers, and Dasher the Reindeer thinks Santa has got their biggest Christmas tree ever – do you think they’re right? A festive, musical, interactive adventure most suitable for 2-7 year olds, where every child will receive a specially wrapped present from Santa! 10.30am. Tickets £10 (£8 concessions). 01242 258002. The Bacon Theatre, Dean Close School, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk 17 DECEMBER DECEMBER 17 THE KATE’S HOME NURSING CHRISTMAS CAROL CONCERT Seasonal music, reading and carols with Richard Coxon (Tenor), Imogen Cox (Violinist), Katy Treharne (Soprano) and David Harrington (Pianist). Tickets £15 from Gabrielle Kubale – email gabriellekubale@hotmail.com – or at The Borzoi Bookshop, Stow-on-theWold. 6.30pm. St Lawrence’s Church, Bourton-on-the-Water. www.kateshomenursing.org

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BOOKINGS ONLY at least two days’ notice required BBook ook for for ffamily, amily, ffriends riends aand nd ccolleagues olleagues – 2 ccourses ourses + Add a bottle of Prosecco for just £5.50 (20cl) or £15.95 (75cl) ccoffee offee & mince mince pie pie £19.95pp £19.95pp or or TTable able of of 4 oonly nly ££60! 60! Ideal for Clubs Clubs,, Groups & Societies throughout the year ~ ‘Tour & Explore’ with Buffet C Lunch & Discount Shopping ~ 2022 Group Packages Out Now ~ Call for a brochure TTintern, intern, Monmouthshire Monmouthshire N NP16 P16 66SE SE aabbeymill.com bbeymill.com enquiry@abbeymill.com enquir y@abbeymill.com @abbeymilltintern @abbeymilltinter n 01291 01291 689228 689228 The Local Answer

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Prepare Prepare your your spring spring bulbs bulbs November can be quite a mild month and it is unusual to have snow this early in the winter – although it can come early, as it did a couple of years ago. This means that you can still potter about in the garden for a while longer, perhaps splitting herbaceous perennials which have become too big, and replanting smaller portions. You could even share the rest with neighbours and friends.

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growth for hardwood cuttings which root so easily. Tulips can be planted now. I prefer to plant in pots, which can be buried in the border when they come into flower and are easily removed when they fade. There are such delicious colours for sale nowadays. If you’re not confident on colour combinations, most bulb companies have collections that complement each other. It pays

to buy the best quality bulbs you can – they should be firm and plump, so don’t use any that are skinny or mildewed, as you won’t get the desired effect when they flower. This is the time of year to plant bare-root fruit trees and bushes, and roses, which is a cheaper way to buy plants. Don’t plant if the weather is freezing or the soil is waterlogged, but make sure to plant as soon as possible when you receive them, and don’t let the roots dry out. It’s a good idea to stand them in a bucket of water for a couple of hours before planting to give them a good drink.

A ‘‘lasagne’ lasagne’ of of bulbs bulbs Plant up some winter containers to add interest to the patio. You can make a ‘lasagne’ of bulbs to flower in spring and top off the container with ivies, winter flowering heathers or grasses. Remember that you may have to water containers if there is little rain and lots of drying winds. The Local Answer

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Let’s Let’s talk talk about about lighting lighting Good lighting is key to creating atmosphere in a space; getting it right is at the heart of a comfortable home. In the winter months we can’t be so reliant on natural daylight and, as we will all need to be much more eco-conscious in the future, it’s a good time to review the options for creating an atmospheric, well-lit space.

U Understand nderstand tthe he jjargon argon The language of lighting can be confusing. In the past, the only available option was bright, fluorescent lighting. Halogen took over in the 70s, making it possible to create a warmer light and highlight different areas of a room. Now, the energy efficient lighting of choice is LED, which is even more versatile. It can be used in strips under cupboards and shelves, and you can even get dimmable bulbs. LED emits a naturally cool light, so it’s important to use the right level of colour index (kelvin) for your bulbs – the higher the colour index, the cooler the light. Lighting expert Sally Storey recommends 2,200 to 2,700

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kelvin or ‘warm white’ for most interiors.

Layer L ayer u up p One thing interior designers agree on is that lighting should be layered. It’s not enough to have one overhead pendant in a room – you should have a mix of ambient, accent and task lighting. Ambient lighting is achieved through overhead lights, ontrend wall lights, free-standing uplighters or table lights. Do fit dimmers where you can; I have them everywhere in my house. If you want to create some drama, use accent lighting for highlighting interesting features, such as old beams or a fireplace nook.

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Task lights are used to read by or to work by. With people increasingly working from home, task lights are even more important. I love a bright coloured angle poise lamp on a desk – John Lewis has a great selection. For reading, a free-standing lamp is always a good option in a sitting room, To advertise call 01242 510500

and don’t forget to have good bedside lights at the right level if you like to read in bed.

K Kitchens itchens a and nd b bathrooms athrooms In kitchens and bathrooms, aim to balance ambience with task lighting. Spotlights work well over kitchen worksurfaces, or add some LED strips under kitchen cupboards. Statement pendants look good over kitchen islands and dining tables. In bathrooms, create a relaxing atmospheric glow over the bath and have separately switched task lighting over the basin for shaving or applying makeup.

Light Light and and shade shade For that finishing touch, why not treat yourself to some new lamps? I love a fancy statement table lamp, and there are some amazing shapes, colours and textures out there at the moment. Pooky is my go-to brand – look out for their outlet sales, or just swap out your old lampshades for some new ones. Your local charity shop will be happy to take them! Page 2

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

High-tech High-tech winter winter warmers warmers As we creep closer to Christmas, more and more gadgets are hitting the market that could make for some great gift ideas. So, if you’re trying to plan ahead or are simply on the lookout for some winter warmers, read on...

Smeg S meg M Milk ilk F Frother rother Currys: £149 What better way to cosy up for an evening at home than with a freshly brewed hot chocolate? Well, with this snazzy milk frother from Smeg, you can whip up a hot beverage Starbucks-style from the comfort of your kitchen in no time. This gizmo has eight different functions, so you can craft your own hot or cold drinks like a fully trained barista. And its cool 1950s vintage design is just an added bonus, giving your counter tops some style.

Beurer Beurer S Soft oft C Cosy osy H Heat eat Pad Pad Argos: £32 It’s time to revamp your tired old hot water bottle with this crafty heat pad. Combining the traditional with the high tech,

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this gizmo is ideal for warming yourself up during those chilly winter nights. With hand held control, three temperature settings and an irresistibly snuggly material, the Beurer Soft Cosy Heat Pad will ensure you don’t have to suffer in winter anymore. And don’t worry about safety, because this clever contraption also comes with an auto shut-off after 90 minutes, as well as a removable controller.

To advertise call 01242 510500

S Shiatsu hiatsu F Foot oot M Massager assager Amazon: £99.97 No one likes having cold feet, and during this time of the year you’re even more likely to stock up on wool socks. However, there is another option: a gadget that operates both as a foot massager and heater! The Shiatsu Foot Massager works to improve blood circulation with its infrared heat function, whilst also soothing muscle tension and nerve pain. So, when you want to feel nice and toasty, simply pop your feet into the chambers and choose between the three pressure levels. Page 31

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

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Don’t replace the Frames ... just the Panes! Broken B roken or or Damaged Damaged Windows? Windows? Hinges, Handles orr LLocks? FFaulty aulty H inges, H andles o ocks? Want W energy saving saving glass? glass? ant the the latest latest ‘A-rated’ ‘A-rated’ energy 10 guarantee new double glazing! 10 yyear e ar g uarantee on on n ew d ouble g lazing!

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IIndex ndex o off A Advertisers dvertisers FFOOD OOD & D DRINK RINK

21 JHD Roofing & Building 23 17 Marshalls Driveways R R i c h a r d s & S o n L t d 2 H HEALTH EALTH & BEAUTY BEAUTY RS Cladding 21 Atlantic Home Eyecare 8 S.J. Lewis & Sons 22 Sophie Lane 10 SERVICES CLEANING SERVICES Tidal Trraining 8 CLEANING 22 Mossinator S SPORT PORT 28 Ovenbusters Shipton Golf Course 5 FURNISHING APPLIANCES PPLIANCES FURNISHING & A H HOMES OMES & G GARDENS ARDENS 26 Bella’s Interiors BATHROOMS B ATHROOMS 27 Dream Doors AHM Installations 28 Interior Needs 30 Blissful Bathrooms 32 Laskeys Curtains 18-19 Lifestyle Bathrooms 28 Space Master 26 Severn Vale Bathrooms 14 & 35 GARDEN GARDEN SERVICES SERVICES BUILDING BUILDING SERVICES SERVICES Cheltenham Town Landscaping 24 C&G Paving 20 JS Landscapes 24 Cheltenham Town Roofing 22 Knockdown Stone 24 Home Care Roofing 20 Lawn Doc 24 Abbey Mill

H HEATING EATING & PLUMBING PLUMBING RAW Mechanical Ltd 28 TV TV & AERIAL AERIAL 22 1st Choice Aerials WINDOWS, DOORS DOORS & WINDOWS, C ONSERVATORIES CONSERVATORIES 12 & 36 Albany Windows 33 Clearway Windows 23 Garolla 32 Misty to Clear

CHARITIES CHARITIES Barnwood Trrust Cobalt Recycling for Good Causes HOUSE H OUSE CLEARANCE CLEARANCE Yees to Mess MOTOR MOTOR SERVICES SERVICES Cleeveline Taaxis Cotswold Camper Competitions PUBLISHING PUBLISHING PROFESSIONAL PROFESSIONAL S SERVICES ERVICES Lois Kingscott A ANIMAL NIMAL & P PET ET SERVICES SERVICES SKIP SKIP HIRE HIRE & RECYCLING RECYCLING 4 Stevens Recycling Dragon Vets Teewkesbury

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

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

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