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GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S BIGGEST LLOCAL OCAL BIGGEST M AGAZINE MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER S EPTEMBER 22021 021

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

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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:

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

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W elcome Welcome ttoo S eptember September As the weather gets cooler and the nights start to draw in, you may be ready to cosy up and settle in for the autumn. This month’s Delicious Dish is a hearty, family dinner that is ideal for warming you up at this time of year. Gill Greenwell is also getting ready for the change of season with her interiors article – check out her suggestions for adding extra warmth underfoot by investing in a new rug. Lots of you will have recently enjoyed watching the Olympic Games in Tokyo and cheering on our athletes. In his Looking Good, Feeling Great article, Will Mbanga looks at how sport and fitness can affect our mental health and what we can do to relieve pressure on ourselves. Don’t forget to enter our Cover Competition! If you’re a keen photographer and would like the chance to have your photo on one of our 2022 covers, check out the details inside. There is also the Small Business Support survey that we’d really appreciate you filling in. Details are under the Delicious Dish and you’ll have the chance to win a £50 voucher.

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Contacts C ontacts DIRECTOR MANAGING MANAGING DIRECTOR Dave Kingscott dave@thelocalanswer.co.uk MARKETING & EDITORIAL EDITORIAL MARKETING Lois Kingscott lois@thelocalanswer.co.uk ACCOUNTS ACCOUNTS Rob Kingscott (01242 541071) accounts@thelocalanswer.co.uk ADVERTISING ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES: ENQUIRIES: info@thelocalanswer.co.uk LEAFLET LEAFLET DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION ENQUIRIES: ENQUIRIES: leaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION ENQUIRIES: ENQUIRIES: distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk Page 3

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

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Send your image(s) along with your name, postal address and telephone number to photography@thelocalanswer.co.uk stating ‘TLA Photography 2022’. We cannot accept postal entries. Any photos sent in the post may not be returned. The closing date for entries is Sunday 17th October 2021. Entries received after midnight on this date will not be accepted. You must specify for which month you wish your photo to be considered for the front cover and submit no more than three photos (one photo per month for up to three months).

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

S Salmon, almon, leek leek aand nd p potato otato p pies ies A delicious delicious family family dinner, dinner, iideal deal ffor or the the cooler cooler autumnal weather. a utumnal w eather.

IIngredients: ngredients: 650g potatoes, peeled and chopped into chunks 600g salmon fillet, skinned and cut into large chunks 350g leeks, trimmed and cut into thin slices 2 sticks celery, finely chopped 425ml milk 25g butter 3 tbsp plain flour A few sprigs of flatleaf parsley, finely chopped

For F or tthe he ttopping: opping: 200ml milk 80g Red Leicester cheese, grated

M Method: ethod: 1 Cover the leeks and celery w i t h c o l d w a t e r i n a sa u c e pan, and the potatoes in another pan. Bring to the boil. 2 Simmer the potatoes for 20 minutes and the vegetables for 10 minutes. Drain both and put to one side.

3 Bring the milk to the boil in a small pan. Melt the butter in another pan, add the flour and cook for one minute, then remove from the heat. 4 Gradually whisk in the milk. Return to the heat, sti r and simmer for a couple of minutes until the mixture has thickened. Add the chopped parsley, and salt and pepper. 5 Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F/gas mark 4).

6 Fold the salmon into the celery and leeks then add the sauce. 7 Divide among four ovenproof dishes. 8 Mash the potatoes with the milk and half of the cheese. Spoon over the filling then sprinkle on the remaining cheese and bake for 20-30 minutes until golden. 9 Serve with seasonal vegetables.

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

M Mind ind g games ames – fflexing lexing our our mental health muscles mental h ealth m uscles What a great summer of sport! Of course, the easing of restrictions and opening up of society has been welcome, as has some sunshine every now and then! Many of you have had a few months back at the gym or taken out a new membership to help you get fit again. More on that later – but first, some thoughts on an essential part of our wellbeing journey, recently highlighted in elite sport. Over the past few months, the prominence of Mental Health in elite athletes has been highlighted, initially by Naomi Osaka withdrawing from the French Open, along with other highprofile athletes like Olympian Simone Biles, and former England cricketers Jonathan Trott and Marcus Trescothick, who are starting to be brave en ough to put their hand up and say “I tried, but I’m not OK and I need a break”. Just because they are elite athletes, many of us ‘mere mortals’ have taken up the position “man up and don’t let people down – you get paid to do that”. But what we’re forgetting is the hours of training, pain and sacrifice they endure to bring us joy. To put some context to this, if you’re mentally unfit as a gymnast and doing double-twisted vault dismounts at high speed and get it wrong, you will not “walk that off”. The fact that she and other elite athletes did their time preparing, have had an additional year’s wait for the Olympics with all the challenges of lockdown, lost funding, had limited or no access to proper

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training, etc. makes their efforts all the more impressive. Mental Health in sport is a big issue and isn’t like getting the ‘willies’ where, with a good mental toughness program, you can switch competitive anxiety off and focus for an hour or two.

IIt’s t’s time time athletes’ athletes’ mental mental h health ealth w was as m made ade a p priority riority a att a all ll llevels evels Michael Phelps, the greatest Olympian of all time, struggled hugely with the weight of his nation on his shoulders, as do many others, only they get to live it in HD due to 24-7-365 social media scrutiny. It’s time athletes’ and coaches’ mental health was made a priority at all levels of sport and physical activity, as should your mental health and wellbeing too! As you return t o grou p or inpublic training, it’s important to

focus on yourself instead of others. Ultimately, only you have control of your own fitness, strength and overall wellbeing, so try not to let other people’s opinions get in your way. You may not be able to run as far as you did pre-lockdown, or lift the heavier weights in the gym, but be kind to yourself. We’ve all had a turbulent 18 months and some of us haven’t done as much exercise as others. If you focus on improving yourself instead of comparing your results to others, you’ll probably improve more quickly and be happier while you exercise. Celebrate the small wins like knocking two seconds off your 5km run time, or doing ten squat reps instead of eight. Unless you’re training for the Paris Olympics, you have time – your physical and mental health will thank you for not rushing.

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Quick Crossword 2

ACROSS DOWN 1 Monotonous 1 Appeals board 4 Different 2 Accustomed 7 Sultan’s wife 3 Coal vein 8 Restraining cord 4 Australian gemstone 9 Straighten 5 Announces 12 Inflame 6 Wealthy 15 One who solicits 10 Ledger entry votes 11 Satirical routines 17 Sliced very thinly 13 Plague 18 Duck’s call 14 Chafes 21 Finest 16 Stops 22 Oral sense momentarily 23 Of earthquakes 18 Give up 19 Leg joint 20 Flows away

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B Based ased iin nC Cheltenham, heltenham, n national ational and and llocal ocal h healthcare ealthcare ttraining raining p providers, roviders, T Tidal idal T Training raining L Ltd td iiss c committed ommitted tto o o offering ffering h high igh q quality uality ttraining raining ffor or a all ll h healthcare ealthcare sstaff. taff. To support fellow Gloucestershire healthcare businesses and to respond to local demand, Tidal Training Ltd has launched a programme of courses in Cheltenham open to all, starting in September 2021 – the Excellence In Care series. These courses offer the care sector flexibility and access to training usually delivered on a group basis to staff at their location. These open courses support staff shifts and minimise business interruption, whilst assuring companies that staff are completing precise, fit for purpose and engaging training taught by qualified professionals. Free parking and refreshments are provided.

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

Aq quart uart iinto nto a p pint int p pot ot September greetings to you all. I hope you are looking forward to the autumn colours arriving, and bringing out your cosy clothes ready for nights snuggled up on the sofa with marshmallow-topped hot chocolate. This month I’m following up on my article for August – ‘Breast is best, or is it?’ – which appeared to ruffle a few feathers. I am most grateful for those who took the time to email or message me to share your views on the subject. I am thrilled that there are people in the world willing to stand up and fight for what they believe – as a life coach this is my mission, to give people their voice and have it be heard!

S Subjects ubjects w we e ccover over a are re huge h uge a and nd v varied aried As you might imagine, writing a monthly column of 500 words for a topic like Parenting and Guardianship is a big challenge. The subjects are huge and varied, and I can only touch the tip of the iceberg in any one topic. Luckily, there is a plethora of information online and in books to help you explore opinions and learn more. In Gloucestershire there are many organisations that offer help, support and advice, including the Gloucestershire Breastfeeding Support Network and, of course, the NHS. As you would with many aspects of being a parent, I would urge you to research beyond a single article and find what best fits you, your baby and your family. This column is a conversation starter and I was glad to have The Local Answer

truly started the conversation. A few mothers who have indeed chosen not to breastfeed reached out to me to thank me for speaking for them, as it is so rare that anyone does so. It is indeed a contentious topic and, as a breastfeeding mother myself, one which was hard for me to write, but which I felt had to be written. The angle of my article was to focus on those mums who may feel pressure to breastfeed, despite perhaps not wanting or being able to. It was by no means an anti-breastfeeding article, but I couldn’t cover every single angle of the conversation in the limited space I have – it really is like trying to fit a quart into a pint pot. If you were offended because you are a breastfeeding advocate, that was certainly not my intention. However, I find it reassuring the article helped highlight your support for all women and their babies. And to all my readers who To advertise call 01242 510500

routinely thank me for my articles and say how useful and interesting they are, I thank you too. We are so proud of all our content here at The Local Answer and will not shy away from touching on sensitive topics, knowing that praise and criticism is vital for a healthy world and to encourage action in our readers.

IItt is is so so hard hard to to please please everyone e veryone a all ll of of the the time time So, this September you get a little ‘behind the scenes’ of being a feature writer and an understanding of how hard it is to please everyone all of the time. I have been blessed to write this column for six years and to be a life coach for over ten. It is my greatest joy to share my thoughts with you all and I hope to continue to do so for many years to come. Thank you so much for reading The Local Answer and please, have a fabulous September! Page 11

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

IIs s iitt ttime ime ffor or tax tax rreform? eform? The Chancellor is due to deliver his Autumn Budget in the next couple of months, as the nation holds its breath to find out how the Chancellor plans to pay for his support to individuals and businesses throughout the pandemic. To date, his only announcements have been the freezing of a few thresholds that normally rise with inflation and an increase in corporation tax in 2023. Corporation tax generates only 6-7% of total tax revenue every year. Most of the money comes from income tax, national insurance and VAT. In other words, tax on what we earn and what we spend. All of the taxes that the current government promised it wouldn’t increase when convincing us to help them win the last election.

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T The he C Chancellor hancellor n needs eeds tto ob be e ccreative reative iin no order rder n not ot tto ou upset pset tthe he p public ublic The Chancellor isn’t as much out of pocket as it first seems, because of the way the furlough scheme operated. He still received PAYE and employee national insurance on the wages he was funding. But he still needs to be creative if he is not to upset those who put him and his chums into power. It’s over a generation now since anyone in the Chancellor’s job seriously attempted to reform our tax system. The last was Nigel Lawson in Margaret Thatcher’s cabinet. Everyone since then has tinkered with the system, maybe afraid to upset the waters or possibly because none of them had the stomach for reform or even the ability to deliver it. We’ve moved on a long way in the last forty years since then. Businesses are much more global, but with our exit from the EU, we’ve become more insular. Technology has made our day to day lives unrecognisable from those of the 1980s. The environment has become an issue with which world leaders struggle to deal. Income levels have changed, mostly for the better, and we spend our money differently. So is now the time for the current Chancellor to grasp the nettle and reform the tax system comprehensively? He, or anyone who follows him, will never have a better opportunity. Page 12

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

Get Get m me e tto o the the church church on on time time You’re probably wondering if I know how lucky I am, driving a couple of new, often fancy, cars every month. The good news is I do. I don’t take it for granted and sometimes I can’t believe the cars I get to drive. But on a few occasions, I am incredibly lucky, because I get to do something special for those who are close to me. You may recall a couple of years ago I reviewed the Jaguar XJ and drove my niece and her friends to their prom. Recently, I was able to once again do something special. Some friends of mine were getting married – after three pandemic postponements – and the groom asked if I might be able to review something that I could also drive him to the church in. No pressure – getting the groom to the church! I hit the emails and was rewarded with the ultimate result for my friend – a Rolls Royce. The Wraith is gorgeous. With sweeping GT looks and poise, you’d be forgiven for assuming the luxurious feel of the other

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models from the iconic luxury brand would be missing from the Wraith. But you’d be wrong. I should mention a little about the Black Badge range. The story as I heard it was that RR executives were visiting showrooms in the USA and realised most of the cars they saw had customisations they didn’t recognise.

C Comfort, omfort, sspace pace a and nd tthe he a ability bility tto oe eat at u up p tthe he rroad oad iin nb big ig cchunks hunks After buying a Rolls in the US, owners drive straight to a custom bodyshop and upgrade everything! All money that was walking out of the Rolls Royce showroom unspent. Black Badge was born, offering more power and agility, and every customisation you could dream of – literally. With torque and power in abundance, the Wraith is at home on the track or the road. And considering this is still a two tonne plus car, that’s an impressive achievement on its own. A true Grand Tourer, it combines comfort and space To advertise call 01242 510500

with the ability to eat up the road in big chunks, spitting out the miles behind it. While it may be the more ‘affordable’ Rolls Royce, it will still set you back upwards of £300k (plus local taxes, so VAT at 20%) depending on your choices. There’s no option list with a Rolls – you state what you want and they deliver; a custom fitting service such as you’d expect from a Savile Row tailor. The Wraith is very much a car tailored to you. Highlights include the star field roof liner – which features random shooting stars that kept the kids amused – the thickest carpets ever and a driving experience like no other! It is an incredible piece of engineering as you would expect and wafts along in unprecedented comfort – perfect for groom transport then. All that remains is for me to wish the happy couple the very best for their married life. Congratulations Tim and Kelly Robertson and thank you for inviting me to be a small part of your fabulous wedding. Page 1

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

Perfect Perfect pout pout Many of us will now have taken off our masks and put our lips and smiles back on display. No doubt lipstick sales will have gone through the roof, but what is the best way to care for our luscious lips?

Lips L ips Interestingly, your lips are like your fingers; they have prints that are unique to you. No two pairs of lips are the same, so look after them. The skin on your lips is thinner and more delicate than the rest of your body. Skin on your face can be up to 16 cell layers thick, whilst our lips our only three to five layers thick. This is why your lips are a pink or red colour, as the blood vessels are more apparent. As we age, sadly we tend to lose plumpness in our lips, owing to loss of collagen. The sun’s UV rays can accelerate this loss, so a lip balm with SPF is crucial. Personally, I love Ultrasun Lip Protection factor 30 in the winter and 50 in the summer – it lasts for ages and

Lips are incredibly sensitive as there are millions of nerve endings; that is why generally it is a painful process if you want fillers. If you decide to go down this route, check carefully that the person performing the procedure has all the required qualifications, as it is a very tricky area to reverse if anything goes wrong.

Dry D ry lips lips mple, inexpensive way to lve this issue is to apply warm flannel to soften the licate skin – leave for 30 conds or so – then apply a er of petroleum jelly and w to soak in for three or r minutes. Re-apply a rm flannel, removing the cess petroleum jelly, hich will also remove any ry skin, then apply a good p balm. Exfoliate your ps gently and regularly.

Lipstick L ipstick As mentioned, sales are soaring as women are getting back to ‘normal’. Page 14

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According to leading make-up brand No 7. there was a 61% increase in the number of lipsticks sold between April and June! The top sellers so far are bold, bright shades. Once you have made your colour choice, application is important. Hydrated lips are the first step in making sure your lipstick lasts (hopefully) all day. Lipstick does tend to dry your lips, as do lip stains, with some brands having more of an effect than others. It is preferable to wait a few minutes before applying your lipstick because the pigments in the product have a hard time clinging to freshly moisturised lips. If you prefer a lip gloss then apply the same way. I like to use a lip pencil a shade darker to outline my lips then fill in with lipstick. I find it lasts longer but, just like our lips, everyone is different. More important than any lipstick is a warm smile – and it costs nothing! The Local Answer

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

The The puppy puppy with with the the b broken roken leg leg

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

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A few weeks ago I was woken at 3am by a phone call from a very distressed owner. Their fourmonth-old French Bulldog puppy had taken a tumble down the stairs, was howling and unable to stand on one of its front legs. Before they’d even arrived I was fairly sure I knew what I would be faced with – the breed and age were classic for fractures around the elbow joint. Sure enough, when they arrived, I was faced with two fairly distressed owners, a very sad puppy and a suspiciously ‘crunchy’ elbow joint. Pain relief and sedation followed, and a couple of X-rays confirmed the diagnosis – a ‘lateral condylar fracture’. In other words, a fracture through the joint where a chunk of bone, including half of the elbow joint itself, had broken away. The only small consolation was that it could have been worse – sometimes young elbow joints literally smash into several pieces.

A cchallenging hallenging p procedure rocedure rrequiring equiring m millimetre illimetre precision precision The next day, after I’d grabbed a few hours of sleep, the puppy was anaesthetised for surgery. Fractures that involve a joint are always more challenging than in the middle of a bone, as it is absolutely critical to realign the fragments perfectly or else a lifetime of arthritis is the likely outcome. With little puppies you also have very little bone to play with, so a screw needs to be placed with millimetre precision through the broken fragment and into the intact portion of the humerus (upper foreleg/arm bone). A small wire/pin was also inserted for additional security and X-rays were taken to check the accuracy of the repair. Fortunately, the repair had gone well and the elbow joint looked to be back to its normal shape and position. Within 24 hours the puppy was back tentatively walking on the leg and reunited with its relieved owners. These types of elbow fractures are common in particular breeds, with French Bulldogs and Spaniels being amongst the most frequently affected, although Labradors and Yorkshire terriers can also be genetically predisposed. The classic cause of these fractures in a puppy is to be dropped from its owner’s arms or a fall from a slight height onto its front legs, so extra care needs to be taken in the early months to avoid a late night veterinary emergency!

To advertise call 01242 510500

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

Wonderful Wonderful Miniatur Miniatur Wunderland Wunderland We’re visiting Hamburg again, the north German city made famous by early Beatles gigs on the Reeperbahn, one of Europe’s busiest harbours, and tasty treats such as Scholle Fink enwerder Art and Franzbrötchen. Suddenly, before our eyes, deep in Hamburg’s UNESCOlisted Speicherstadt district, a major incident develops. Blue lights flashing, police cars and fire engines race through rush hour traffic to a major building fire... Fortunately, it’s not a real holiday nightmare, just another incident, choreographed in miniature, as part of the world’s largest model railway. Miniatur Wunderland boasts over 15km of track, myriad roads and more inhabitants than Cheltenham and Gloucester combined! And uncountable enchanting surprises around each corner and in every hall of its ever-expanding cosmos.

E Explore xplore the the world world iin n m minutes inutes With global travel still restricted and unpredictable, Miniatur Wunderland’s HO (1:87 scale)

Image: Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg

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Image: Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg

world – now re-open after Covid – mak es it possible to walk between Germany, Switzerland, the USA, Scandinavia, Venice and other iconic locations in minutes. Meanwhile, tiny trains spiral through two-storey Alpine landscapes; cruise ships navigate Scandinavian ports, and space shuttles rub shoulder s with Vegas amid ‘North America’s ’ 10,0 0 0 miniature trees. Maybe you admit to a life of anoraks, windy platform ends and flasks of Bovril (or the Teutonic equi valent)? Or perhaps you just want a great day out in one of Europe’s chicest cities? Either way, Hamburg’s Miniatur Wunderland hits the spot. The brainchild of entrepreneur s Gerrit and Frederik Braun, and Stephan Herrttz, has been a sure-fire winner for kids of all ages since 20 01. Guided by two young nephews, we fir st visited in the late noughties. To advertise call 01242 510500

Lik e millions of other s we were captivated. Now, 20 years, 7,0 0 0 square metres, nearly 30 0,0 0 0 tiny inhabitants, 1,040 trains, 10,0 0 0 vehicles and over €35 million later, this is one of Germany’s top visitor attractions.

It’s It’s irresistible irresistible Even without Miniatur Wunderland, stylish, history-packed Hamburg is a fantastic choice for engaging city breaks. And when you’ve roamed its streets and canals, climbed St. Petri’s tower or savoured Brahms – himself a Hamburger – at the nearby ‘Elphi’, do visit Kehrwieder 2/Block D. Whether with children or not, you might think you lefftt fascination with toy trains behind. But you’re probably wrong, for this Lilliputian world has everything to delight from speeding TEEs to canoodling couples in trackside sunflower fields. All life is here in a miniature world lik e no other model railway you’ve ever seen. It’s irresistible, it’s a Guinness World Record breaker and it’s Wunderbar! Page 1

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IIn n tthe he Garden Garden w with ith JJulia ulia S Smith mith

Make Make your your own own ccompost ompost The weather in September can often be the best of the year; probably because one isn’t expecting it to be up to much as ‘summer’ finishes and the schools go back. The fruit is hanging heavy on the trees, and the conkers are bursting from their spiky sleeping bags! The borders are still full of colour with michaelmas daisies, salvias and cosmos weaving through the grasses, which come into their own in autumn. Colchicums can be planted now. Put them in small groups in a sunny but sheltered position under trees. They flower in autumn but the leaves come out in spring. Colchicum speciosum ‘Album’ is a lovely white one, which has an award of garden merit from the RHS. Please note that all parts of the colchicum are poisonous, so make sure you wash your hands after handling. If you haven’t already got one, either buy or make a compost container. Even if you think

you don’t have enough garden to use home-made compost, by putting all your kitchen vegetable waste, peelings, grass cuttings, torn-up paper and cardboard into a compost bin, it all breaks down and turns itself into a small amount of lovely soil conditioner. Site the bin on bare earth to a l l o w d r a i n a g e a n d ac c e s s f o r soil organisms. I like to turn the contents from time to time, but a recent report said that it makes no difference. Just don’t put too much of one sort of waste in (especially grass cuttings, as they can get very slimy) – layer it up like a lasagne.

L Less ess w waste aste a and nd a ffood ood ssource ource ffor or b birds irds Having a compost bin means less waste to put out for refuse collectors, which has to be a good thing. The other benefit is that the birds love poking around at the base of my plastic compost bin to get out The Local Answer

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nice juicy worms, so it’s a win win! Compost can take between six to eighteen months to break down, but it will provide you with great quality soil to use in your garden for future plants. Now is a good time to review your borders before everything dies down for the winter. You may find that some clumps of plants are getting too big and perhaps the centre part has died. You can lift a big clump and divide, either by cutting with a sharp spade into pieces, or using two garden forks back to back and prising apart. Replenish the soil (with some of your new home-made compost perhaps!) and add a little bonemeal before replanting the smaller pieces. Finally, remember to put netting over your pond to prevent falling autumn leaves from clogging it up. Be mindful of wildlife and allow gaps at the side of the netting for them to climb in and out of the pond. Page 25

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

A rrug ug for for all all seasons seasons The arrival of autumn and cooler evenings is a time for cosying up and making your home feel as comfortable as possible. Why not add some extra warmth underfoot and invest in a new rug? With so many options out there, it can be hard to pick the right one, so follow my advice to help you solve the rug puzzle.

Define D efine y your our sspace pace A rug can completely change the feel and shape of a room. In a living room, a rug placed beneath a sofa and chairs creates a cosy seating area. Placed under a dining table and chairs it will add definition to a dining area. A soft sheepskin rug at each side of the bed gives a bedroom a luxurious feel, while a bright coloured runner in a hallway always looks welcoming. I have a crimson red and teal patterned one I found in IKEA – it really gives my entrance a feeling of warmth.

S Size ize m matters atters Size is key, so please do avoid Image:The Rug Retailer

Image: Sofology

a small ‘floating rug’ island in the middle of a room with a coffee table marooned on the top – it will look lost and unfinished. When choosing a rug, bigger is always better, so always measure your space before you buy.

Aq question uestion o off p pattern attern A bold coloured or patterned rug can really create an impact a n d b e t h e d e f i n i n g fe a t u r e i n a room. One that is selfpatterned or in a muted co-ordinating colour will tie a scheme together. Check out the Internet or your favourite online retailer for upto-the-minute furnishing trends. A friend recently bought a black and white Moroccan-style patterned rug for her sitting room, and it really updates the look of the room.

Which W hich m material? aterial? Once you start looking there is a bewildering choice of rugs out there, but you don’t need to go for the luxury option. Interiors expert Michelle Ogundehin’s top money saving The Local Answer

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tip is to search out large carpet remnants in the best quality wool and have them professionally bound in a contrasting or toning colour. If you love the natural look, bound pieces of sisal and hemp are always a popular option, and great for layering up too. I have one in my dining area leading to the garden.

Choosing tthe Choosing he rright ight rug rug ffor or y you ou Deciding on patterned or plain, bold or co-ordinating is really down to personal preference and how you want your room to look. If you love a midcentury theme, a monochrome Moroccan rug will create the right look. If vintage is more your style, search out a faded Turkishstyle kelim in your local charity shop, or if you prefer a contemporary feel, stripes are having an interiors moment. And don’t forget to add a non-slip gripper on a polished floor – you don’t want your new rug to slide around like a banana skin! Page 2

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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Page 28

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The Local Answer

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

Best Best gadgets gadgets for for bookworms bookworms What do you buy someone who loves books but seems to have already read everything? If you’re not confident enough to pick an actual book, don’t worry; there are other gift ideas for book lovers that will certainly be appreciated. So, whether you’re an avid reader yourself or you know someone who is the very definition of a ‘bookworm’, these clever gizmos are sure to help make the reading experience even more enjoyable!

H Harry arry P Potter otter L Lumos umos B Book ook L Lamp amp Argos: £30 This gadget is especially suitable for any Potterheads out there, and it will make for an aesthetically-pleasing gift for book lovers too. The Lumos LED book lamp is a whimsical design, which transforms from an ordinary-looking spellbook into a spellbinding source of light. Simply open up the book to

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Image: The Shop That Must Not Be Named

reveal magical pages that light up your room in an instant. Portable and rechargeable, the lamp also comes with a magnet in the front and back covers, handy for any metal surfaces. This wizarding book lamp will instantly make any late-night reading more fun.

Amazon A mazon K Kindle indle e eReader Reader John Lewis: £69.99 While there’s nothing quite like the feel of a real book, sometimes we want a bit more choice from our collections, especially if we don’t have the space for all the books we want at home. Fortunately, you can take your personal library online with the neat Amazon Kindle eReader. Simply search and download your favourite books, newsTo advertise call 01242 510500

papers or magazines from the Kindle store, and you’ll never run out of things to read! Perfect for when you’re travelling or simply chilling at home, this gizmo even has a built-in adjustable front light, so you won’t have to squint or disturb those close to you. The glare-free touchscreen is easy to read, and you can also adjust the font size to your personal preference.

S hiatsu Back Back and and L eg Shiatsu Leg Message Pillow Pillow Message Currys: £89.99 Any book lover knows you need to be comfortable before settling into a good book, so to ensure you’re in prime position, check out this massage pillow from Currys. Perfect for soothing back and neck pain, this gadget gets to work massaging all your tense muscles with its gel massager nodes. You can also add some heat to your massage, so you’re even more relaxed! All you need to complete the experience is a cup of tea to go with your book! Page 2

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