The Local
A NS W E R
GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S BIGGEST LOCAL MAGAZINE AUGUST 2020
STROUD DISTRICT LET US HELP GET YOUR BUSINESS BACK ON TRACK ...
The The Lo Local c al
AN ANSWER SWER
Stroud District: District: 41,000 41,000 copies copies Stroud G loucester: 446,000 6,000 ccopies opies Gloucester: C heltenham: 443,000 3,000 ccopies opies Cheltenham: C otswolds: 330,000 0,000 ccopies opies Cotswolds: N orth G loucestershire: 220,000 0,000 ccopies opies North Gloucestershire:
IInside nside tthis his m month onth ... ... D Delicious elicious Dish Dish P arenting & G uardianship Parenting Guardianship P et C are Pet Care S udoku Sudoku M edical Health Health Medical M oney M atters Money Matters LLooking ooking G ood, FFeeling eeling G reat Good, Great Q uick C rossword Quick Crossword M otoring Motoring H omes & G ardens Homes Gardens Garden IIn n tthe he G arden Save Planet S ave tthe he P lanet Design IInterior nterior D esign Gadgets Gizmos G adgets & G izmos EEducation ducation & EEmployment mployment Word W ord Search Search Holidays H olidays & TTravel ravel Competitions, Solutions IIndex, ndex, C ompetitions, S olutions
5 7 10 10 1122 1133 1144 1155 1166 1177 2200 2211 2233 2255 2277 2299 3322 3333 3344
Unit U nit H, H, C Churchill hurchill IIndustrial ndustrial EEstate, state, C Churchill hurchill R Road, oad, LLeckhampton, eckhampton, C Cheltenham, heltenham, G Gloucestershire loucestershire G GL53 L53 7EG 7EG
Telephone T elephone 01242 01242 510500 510500 @thelocalanswer @ thelocalanswer
w www.thelocalanswer.co.uk ww.thelocalanswer.co.uk
August’s winning cover photo: Ella Faria
W elcome Welcome ttoo A ugust August While many restaurants and pubs remain closed at this time, you may be looking for inspiration for new meals to cook at home. Our Delicious Dish is packed full of flavour and is easy to make for a quick mid-week dinner. If you’re thinking of venturing out on day trips or a mini summer holiday, Louise Williams has some great tips to help you be a planet-friendly tourist in her Save the Planet article. One of our long-standing clients, Regency Cleaners, has spent the last few months investing in new cleaning technologies to make your home or business premises a safer environment for all who enter. Read more about this inside. We also have an overview of the Annual Report from the Police and Crime Commissioner, Martin Surl – the full report is available online. If you are a business looking to grow or reach more customers, we have a wide range of advertising packages for you to choose from. Call 01242 510500 or get in touch via email – info@thelocalanswer.co.uk
As always, our very best wishes go out to all those who have been afffected by the pandemic. If you use the services of any of our advertisers, please tell them you found them in The Local Answer!
Contacts C ontacts A dvertising & M arketing Advertising Marketing Dave Kingscott dave@thelocalanswer.co.uk Lois Kingscott lois@thelocalanswer.co.uk
Distribution Distribution John Overton (01242 541075) distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk Page 3
THE MAYFLOWER RESTAURANT
RE-OPENS 27th JULY! A warm welcome awaits you
We are delighted to re-open our restaurant for you to dine-in from 27th July. We have been following government guidelines to ensure our customers and staff are safe, while we provide our fantastic food and service. We advise you to book early, as we will not be
able to operate at our usual capacity for a while. If you are not ready to join us in our restaurant, you can still enjoy your favourite dishes in the comfort of your own home with our Take-away service. This is available lunchtimes (12-2pm) and evenings (from 5pm) seven days a week. Just make your selection from the Take-Away Menu on our website and phone your order through during these hours. To avoid unnecessary delays, you will be advised on available collection times when you place your order. We will, of course, do our best to accommodate all
customer wishes but recommend ordering well in advance to avoid disappointment. We accept card or cash payment. We look forward to welcoming you back into our restaurant!
Safe & Simple Takeaways Visit www.themayflowerrestaurant.co.uk and select dishes from our Take-Away Menu. Telephone 01242 522426 to place your order and pay when you collect.
Enjoy your meal!
Expect the best – every time! 32-34 Clarence Street, Cheltenham GL50 3NX – 01242 522426
www.themayflowerrestaurant.co.uk
Open 7 days a week* – Lunchtime 12 noon-2pm & Evening 5.30pm onward *Please note: We will be closed on Sunday 2nd August 2020
Delicious D elicious Dish Dish with with H Helen elen Kingscott Kingscott
Beef Beef with with cashews cashews quick and and easy easy A quick mid-week m eal tthat hat is is mid-week meal packed w ith fflavour! lavour! packed with
IIngredients ngredients ((serves serves 4 4): ): 500g rump steak; 75g unsalted cashew nuts; 1 garlic clove, crushed or use lazy garlic; 4 spring onions, chopped into 2.5cm pieces; 4 spring onions for a flower garnish (optional); 1 large onion, chopped; 1 green pepper, cut into thin strips; 3 tablespoons vegetable oil; 1 teaspoon ground ginger; 1 tablespoon cornflour; 150ml chicken stock; 2 teaspoons medium sherry; 2 teaspoons soy sauce; salt and pepper. M Method: ethod: 1 Pat the steak dry then place between two sheets of greaseproof paper and flatten it with a rolling pin. Slice the beef into thin strips about 5cm long. 2 Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a wok, add half the beef strips and stir fry for about one minute.
3
4
5 6
Remove with a slotted spoon and repeat with the remaining beef. Put to one side. Heat the remaining oil, add the garlic, spring onions, onion, cashew nuts and pepper strips. Stir fry gently for four minutes. Remove the wok from the heat and stir in the ginger. Blend the cornflour with the chicken stock, sherry and soy sauce and stir into the wok. Return to the heat, bring to the boil then lower the heat and simmer for about one minute whilst stirring. Season with salt and pepper. Add the cooked beef strips back in and stir over a gentle heat until heated through. Serve in individual bowls topped with a spring onion flower – slice down the spring onion several times then put in a bowl of iced water for about an hour. The top will curl back.
We care care about about We environment the the environment
Precision P recision C Colour olour Printing Printing Ltd Ltd (our (our printer) printer) are are proud proud tto o be be a Forest Forest Stewardship Stewardship Council® Council® (FSC®) (FSC®) certificate certificate holder, holder, and and The The Local Local Answer Answer is is proud proud to to have have this this publication publication printed printed on on paper paper certified certified to to F FSC® SC® standards standards which which helps helps to to protect protect the the World’s Wo orld’s forests. forests. The Local Answer
To advertise call 01242 510500
F Fully-recyclable ully-recyclable A Ass well well as as the the paper, paper, tthe he iinks nks and and vvarnishes arnishes uused sed iinn pproducing roducing The The Local Local A Answer nswer aare re bbiodegradable. iodegradable. TThe he process process uused sed bbyy rrecycling ecycling ccompanies ompanies ttoo eextract xtract inks inks aand nd ccoatings oatings including including UV UV vvarnishes arnishes from from tthe he ppaper aper rrender ender tthe he ppaper aper suitable suitable ffor or ppulping ulping and and recycling. recycling. Page 5
FO DR R IVE RE T AD HR Y OU PI G CK H E D OP FR EN UI T
QU AVO EU ID ES
The The great great taste taste ooff ssummer! ummer!
EVERYONE WELCOME WELCOME EVERYONE TO PICK PICK YOUR YOUR OWN OWN TO B BUT UT SAFETY SAFETY FFIRST! IRST! TToo m maintain aintain ssocial ocial ddistancing istancing aand nd kkeep eep eeveryone veryone safe, safe, yyou ou m must ust rreserve eserve a time time sslot lot for for your your visit visit at at
JJULY ULY
AUG AUG
SSEPT EPT
CO LL EC T
JJUNE U NE
F FIND IND U US S O ff the the A46 A46 Shurdington Shurdington R oad, Off Road, 50 yards yards ffrom rom tthe he A 46/A417 50 A46/A417 junction, ttowards owards junction, Cheltenham. C lose tto o Cheltenham. Close M5 JJunction unction 1 1A – M5 11A Gloucester Gloucester 4.5 m iles, 4.5 miles, Cheltenham Cheltenham 3.5 m il es 3.5 miles
&
MAY M AY
SSTRAWBERRIES TRAWBERRIES G OOSEBERRIES GOOSEBERRIES BROAD BEANS BEANS BROAD BLACKCURRANTS BLACKCURRANTS TAYBERRIES TAYBERRIES LOGANBERRIES LOGANBERRIES BLACKBERRIES BLACKBERRIES REDCURRANTS REDCURRANTS W HITECURRANTS WHITECURRANTS R ASPBERRIES RASPBERRIES SWEETCORN SWEETCORN RUNNER B EANS RUNNER BEANS FRENCH BEANS BEANS FRENCH
OPEN A LL Y EAR OPEN ALL YEAR DAYS A WEEK WEEK 7 DAYS
YE G MA R O 7 D IL FORCERIES WE AYS COLLE ONLIN EK A CTION E OR
TTIMES IMES A ARE RE RRELEASED ELEASED D DAILY AILY A ATT 55PM PM FFOR OR TTHE HE N NEXT EXT D DAY AY
CL I OR CK B D ER
ppyobookings.primrosevale.com yobookings.primrosevale.com
loucestershire GL51 GL51 4UA 4UA Shurdington Shurdington R Road, oad, B Bentham, entham, CCheltenham, heltenham, G Gloucestershire FFor or m more ore iinformation nformation visit visit w www.primrosevale.com ww.primrosevale.com or or phone phone 0 01452 1452 8 863359 63359
P Parenting arenting & G Guardianship uardianship w with ith R Roberta oberta S Smart mart
The The radical radical pursuit pursuit of of joy joy I love this phrase and it has become something of a mantra for me – especially when times get tough, and heaven knows we have all been through a tough time recently. When things get chaotic in the wider world we all turn to our instincts to guide us forward, we rely on those we are closest to and we hold those we love ever tighter. One thing that we rarely do, however, is to prioritise joy in life.
IIt’s t’s e easy asy tto o ttake ake tthings hings ttoo oo sseriously eriously As parents with responsibilities it is easy to take things too seriously: to watch the news avidly for updates, to be e ve r f e ar fu l fo r t h e s af e ty an d security of our children, and to micro manage every element of their life in an attempt to keep them safe. Top tip: stop watching the news – it doesn’t help anything! As summer is in full swing and a return to school around the corner, I would like to urge
The Local Answer
you to take on my mantra and consider committing yourself to the ‘Radical Pursuit of Joy’. To me this simply means that no matter what is going on, I am committed to finding a moment of joy within it, the silver lining if you will, the light at the end of the tunnel, or even a reasoning that makes it easier for me to accept current discomfort. This is a lot to do with mindset and attitude, of course, but also to do with habits and behaviours. By taking care of ourselves everyday and incorporating joy into every element of life, we can turn our daily routines into things of beauty and pleasure. Suddenly, a healthy breakfast becomes a delight because we choose to truly appreciate it and make the effort to be more creative. Our daily exercise becomes less of a chore and more of a treat as we include silliness and laughter into our walks, runs and bike To advertise call 01242 510500
rides. Believe me, there is not much which cannot be brightened by a silly voice or a funny walk! Try it!
Fresh fflowers Fresh lowers and and kitchen k itchen karaoke karaoke This summer, pay attention to the areas of stress and obligation in your life and try to inject a little more humour and delight. Fresh flowers bring joy to the sitting room. Lovely scented candles bring fragrance and joy to bedrooms. Kitchen dancing makes meal preparation so much fun and I guarantee after a game of kitchen karaoke you will never see your spatula in the same way again! When you next feel overwhelmed or fed up, ask yourself ‘where is the joy in this?’ Allow your quiet inner voice to whisper to you, and most importantly listen to it! It never lies and who knows, it may just reveal to you something you have never noticed before which might just change your life! Page
⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
“My daughter was given a copy for her birthday and we read it every night – she can’t believe Dave is real! A brilliant book!”
new favourite favourite b edtime ‘Our bedtime ‘Our new hildren’s book book about about story’ stor y’ – a cchildren’s real horse horse called called Dave! Dave! a real Earlier this year, Lois Kingscott published her first children’s picture book called Dave and Darcy Go to the Beach! The story follows Dave the horse and his best friend Darcy as they go on their summer holidays, making friends and memories by the sea, and running into a few problems along the way! The book was inspired by Lois’ real horse, Dave, who she loans to local charity Cotswold Riding for the Disabled and has home in the holidays. Lois had the idea of writing a children’s book 18 months ago, but it wasn’t until last year when Dave spent several weeks in an equine hospital that she started writing the first book. After lots of tests, scans and an operation, the vets found a blood clot in Dave’s hoof, which is extremely rare. It was a stressful time for L o i s , h e r f a mi l y a n d C o t s w o l d RDA, but Dave has fully recovered and had returned to the RDA before lockdown began.
Picture: Jo Hansford Photography
Lois has received great feedback on the book so far, with many happy customers saying how much they love the drawings and one little girl in disbelief that Dave is actually a real horse!
IInspired nspired by by Dave’s Dave’s w wonderful, onderful, g goofy oofy p personality ersonality Last year’s ordeal motivated Lois to start writing her books. Dave’s wonderful, goofy personality has provided great inspiration and she hopes other families will fall in love with him as much as she has! The illustrations were drawn by Laura Nicklin, who is also an editorial contributor for The Local Answer. Lois asked her to have a go at drawing a horse in her lovely style of line drawi ng and was thrilled with the outcome.
The book is available to purchase on Lois’ website and she hopes to attend local events once things are back to normal.
Supporting S upporting a g great reat llocal ocal c charity harity Lois will be donating 10% of the profits from her first book
to Cotswold Riding for the Disabled, which she hopes will help to get them back on their feet once they re-open after the Coronavirus lockdown. You can follow Lois on Facebook and Instagram (@loiskingscottauthor) or sign up to her e-newsletter via the website to keep up to date with her latest book news, as well as regular updates about Dave the horse. Lois has already started writing her second book, which she hopes to publish in time for Christmas! There will be at least three more stories in the series, so follow Lois’ journey to stay up to date!
Dave and Darcy Darccy D ave and Go G o too tthe he Beach Beach is is available available too on Lois’ Lois’ ppurchase urrcchase on website w ebsitee ffor or ££6.99 6.99
Pet Pet Care Care w with ith M Megan egan JJackson ackson
G rass Grass sseed eed sseason eason iiss h ere! here!
URGENT URGENT APPE APPEAL AL HELP! PLEASE HELP!
As a non-profit charity, we rely on donations from the public to help us continue saving cats and kittens.
DUE D UE TO TO THE CORONAVIRUS CORONAVIRUS WE DESPERATELY HELP DESPERA ATEL LY NEED YOUR H ELP NOW AS OUR MAIN SOURCE OF FUNDING HAS GONE.
YOU CAN HELP U US S BY BY DONA DONATING: D Money (cash or standin ng o
Grass seeds are a surprisingly common reason for unwanted vet trips. As long grasses and other undergrowth come to life in the warmer weather, they provide an enticing playground for our four legged friends. Whilst most furry adventurers will not have any problems, there are a few things you can do to reduce the risks. Grass seeds get caught up in your dog’s fur. If you remove them promptly they are unlikely to cause harm, but they have the potential to cause a lot of damage. Shaped like an arrow head, the point can penetrate the skin and the barbs act like a fish hook, dragging the seed deeper instead of working its way out. If not removed, they can progress deep into the tissue and cause infection, pain and potential need for surgery.
Bank Account No: 65452295 5 Sort Code: 08-92-99
Wet Wet food Litter (preferably wood chip) Bin B in liners (75 litres or more) Or by purchasing anythin ng on Wish List
Visit: newstartcatrescue e.org
We W e understand that this is a difficult difficult time for everyone and appreciate every e veryone a nd we rreally eally a ppreciate e very ssingle ingle donation ever big or small. donation,, how however Registered Charity Number: 1145090
What What ccan an o owners wners d do? o? Certain fluffy breeds are more likely to attract pesky seeds, but no dog is immune. Between the toes, around the ears and even in the ear canal are common places they lodge, but it’s a good idea to check your dog all over, including their eyes and mouth. Look out for them shaking their head, excessively licking or showing signs of pain. You may also spot a swelling between their toes or even a hole in the skin that might be an entry wound. It’s best to get your dog checked as soon as possible. The sooner the problem is identified the easier they are to remove. After an examination, your vet may be able to remove the seed there and then, but often sedation is needed if the seed has progressed under the skin or into the ear. Usually it can be extracted with special long forceps, however if it is eluding discovery then occasionally further tests are needed. Unfortunately, grass seeds are not picked up on an x-ray so a CT scan might be necessary to pinpoint the invader. The vast majority of grass seed related incidents are easily resolved, but it is important to be vigilant about checking. Ideally keep fur clipped short and avoid seed riddled areas, especially for dogs that love bouncing through the long grass on those lovely summer walks. Page 10
Our hospital facilitates the rescue, rehabilitation and release of sick, injured or orphaned British wildlife. This service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
TOTAL TOTAL CASUALTIES CASUALTIES TREATED TREATED SO FFAR AR THIS THIS YEAR: YEAR: 3,658 3,658 SO We have lots of hungry mouths to feed. Please consider making a financial donation through our website, or donating wet dog and cat food to the hospital.
w www.valewildlife.org.uk ww.valewildlife.org.uk Station Station R Road, oa d, B Beckford, eckford, n nrr T Tewkesbury, ewkesbury, G GL20 L2 0 7 7AN AN
01386 0 1386 8 882288 8 22 8 8
Registered Registered C Charity harity N Number: umber: 7 702888 02 88 8
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
The Local Answer
Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl’s
ANNUAL REPORT T April 2019-March 2020
PCC’s ‘Every crime matters’ mantra scoops multi-million pound dividend When the Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable decided to challenge serious organised criminals who target random urban and rural communities in Gloucestershire, they could not have expected how quickly the investment would pay-off. Not only have there been hundreds fewer burglaries but also cash savings worth more than £4,000,000 to the Constabulary and the public. The Home Office Research Report Economic and Social Costs of Crime, second edition (July 2018), puts the average police cost of both residential and commercial burglary at £530 per incident. It calculates that 900 fewer burglaries in Gloucestershire, the equivalent of a 21.3% reduction on the previous 12 months, equals a gross saving of £477,000 (900x£530). Take away the PCC’s cash injection in September towards burglary prevention campaigns and police operations, the net saving is £377,000. Yet those figures are dwarfed when the Home Office formula factors in the costs to victims, stolen property, repairs to damage and insurance claims, which takes the cost of each burglary to £5,220. Then the gross savings of 900 fewer burglaries in the county rises to £4,698,000; and when you factor out the PCC’s investment, the net saving to victims and the wider economy is estimated at £4,548,000. Gloucestershire Constabulary’s Head of Investigations, Det Supt Steve Bean said: “Obviously this is a purely financial calculation but
it is a good barometer of the success we’ve had in the period under review. “What is more important is the ‘human calculation’. The savings in terms of the distress, trauma, anxiety and inconvenience that the victims of 900 burglaries would have suffered. That is the real result”. Mr Surl said, “The Chief Constable and I agree that every crime matters and that every contact [with the public] counts. I refreshed the Police and Crime Plan to reflect this. “The investment I made went directly into the fight against burglary and serious acquisitive rural crime because that’s what the public were asking for and what the police wanted too. “Burglary is a heinous crime and must always be a priority for the police, no matter what else they happen to be dealing with. These are very encouraging results and I hope they dispel the misconception that the police are no longer interested in some levels of crime”.
Martin M arrttin S Surl url Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire
The background to the above story is contained in the PCC’s annual report, available in full online file:///C:/Users/243071/Downloads/OPCC-Annual-Report_2020__WEB-FINAL.pdf You can read more about the challenges facing the police in PCC Martin Surl’s annual report online: https://www.gloucestershire-pcc.gov.uk/reports/ For a printed copy, email the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner at PCC@gloucestershire.pnn.police.uk or call 01452 754348
Sudoku Fill the grids so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.
K Keep eep u up p tto o d ate o n date on ssocial ocial media! media!
Want the weight gone? get your very own cheerer-onner
Call 07949 089034 or email shelleycregg121@gmail.com
@ @thelocalanswer thelocalanswer
Home H o m e Help H e l p Agency A g e n c y Ltd Ltd
Helping Helping yyou ou gget et hhome. ome. Helping Helping yyou ou aatt hhome. ome. Helping Helping yyou ou sstay tay hhome. ome.
For F or •Housework•Shopping•Food preparation tthose hose •Laundr y, changing bed linen & ironing w ith •Attending medical appointments with H ealth •Pension/benefit collection & general Health IIssues ssues errands•Dog walking & pet care W WE E OFFER OFFER HELP HELP WITH WITH
07462 07462 708232 708232 or or 07462 07462 709160 709160 FFully ully iinsured nsured y our wayhomehelp@outlook.com yourwayhomehelp@outlook.com a and nd DBS BS checked checked w ww.your wayhomehelp.co.uk D www.yourwayhomehelp.co.uk
Leaflet Distribution Service
•D Delivering elivering d direct irect tto oo over ver 1169,000 69,000 p properties roperties e every very m month onth •T Targeted argeted D Delivery elivery a across cross o our ur 5 500+ 00+ iindividual ndividual rrounds ounds •H Hassle-free assle-free S Storage torage a and nd D Delivery elivery ((we we a accept ccept d delivery elivery of of your your leaflets leaflets direct direct from from printing p rinting companies) companies)
Don’t look until you’ve finished! Solutions on ‘Index of Advertisers’ page.
THE SOLUTION FOR YOUR NEW BATHROOM ... Your local family business
Page 12
A And nd w with ith a m maximum aximum o off 2 BOOK n non-conflicting on-conflicting lleaflets eaflets EARLY d delivered elivered w with ith e each ach ccopy opy o off ffoor thhis ry popis T The he L Local ocal A Answer nswer m magazine, agazine very serrvviicceu! llaar yyou ou will will rreceive eceive fantastic fantastic e exposure xposure ffor or yyour our a advertising. dvertising For or more more d details etails email email o orr phone phone John: John:
leaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk leaflets@thelocalanswer..co.uk
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
01242 0 1242 5 541075 41075 The Local Answer
M Medical edical H Health ealth with w ith H Holly olly H Hannigan annigan
B Breastfeeding reastfeeding Bonus Bonus August marks the start of the world Breastfeeding Awareness month. The campaign aims to highlight the huge benefits breastfeeding can bring to both the health and welfare of babies and mothers, as well as a wider push for maternal health, focusing on good nutrition, poverty reduction and food security. As a mother of two, I was unable to breastfeed my first daughter, and expressed exclusively for three months then combined with formula. With my second daugter I was able to breastfeed for eight months. I have experienced both the stress and feeling like a failure for being unable to breastfeed, as well as the ease and joy of it happening. Most health authorities recommend exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months, and encourage mothers to continue through to a year, combined with weaning.
There There are are many many benefits benefits The main benefits of breastfeeding are: • Breast milk contains everything the baby needs for the first six months of life, in all the right proportions. • It is loaded with antibodies that help your baby fight off viruses and bacteria. • It may reduce your baby’s risk of illnesses and diseases, including colds, gut infections, allergies and diabetes. • Breastfeeding promotes healthy weight gain and helps prevent childhood obesity. • After three months of lactation, women will likely experience an increase in fat The Local Answer
burning and find they lose more weight than nonbreastfeeding women. • Oxytocin increases during breastfeeding. It encourages uterine contractions and reduces bleeding, helping the uterus return to its previous size. • Oxytocin also appears to have long-term anti-anxiety effects. It encourages bonding by affecting specific brain regions that promote nurturing and relaxation, reducing the risk of postpartum depression. • Women who breastfeed for more than 12 months during their lifetime have a 28% lower risk of both breast and ovarian cancer. Breastfeeding has also been linked to reduced risk of other diseases. Breastfeeding is completely free and requires very little effort, meaning you won’t have to: • Spend money on formula. • Calculate how much your baby needs to drink daily. To advertise call 01242 510500
• Spend time cleaning and sterilizing bottles. • Mix and warm up bottles in the middle of the night (or day). • Figure out ways to warm up bottles while on the go. Breast milk is always at the right temperature and ready to drink. There is support from midwives, doulas and local breastfeeding support groups that can help encourage women who may find it a struggle initially and help overcome common fears and problems.
IIt’s t’s important important tthat hat m mother other and and b baby aby are are ccontent ontent a and nd rrelaxed elaxed If you are unable to breastfeed, then feeding your baby with formula is still completely fine, as it will provide your baby with all the nutrients he or she needs. The most important thing for mother and baby is to be content and relaxed during the first few months, whatever way that may be. Page 1
Money Money Matters Matters
A ttale ale ooff llove ove in in W orld W ar IIII World War
NEW
w with ith R Roger oger D Downes ownes o off Andorran Andorran
Y You ou don’t don’t have have to to answer answer messages messages a as s soon soon as as you you rreceive eceive tthem hem The first thing to remember is that just because somebody sends you a message, whether it be text, social media or email, you don’t have to answer it there and then. Watches that receive these messages are the latest device. I hate them. People cannot ignore them and I find it rude. Perhaps we should develop the equivalent of parental controls for adults who cannot leave their device alone? Simply switching them off at a certain time of day would be a good start. Think what it would do for you – give you more time with the kids, do all those things you never seem to find the time for, or even relax and do nothing.
M Much uch e easier asier tto oa achieve chieve iin n a ‘‘9 9 tto o5 5’’ w working orking e environment nvironment Having spent the last four months working from home whilst the office has been largely ‘locked down’, I’m convinced that it’s a much harder balance to achieve for those whose work base is also their home. There are no clean lines of what is work and what is play. Work/life balance is much easier to achieve in a ‘9 to 5’ environment when you simply put your coat on, leave work and go home. But a small business owner can never do that. At least not without a huge dose of discipline that most of them don’t possess. For them it’s probably a question that they love their work and find it incredibly difficult to tear themselves away. There is no one answer for everyone. We must all deal with it in our own sweet way. But it’s important we do before we are consumed by it all. Page 14
THE
UNWANTED BRIDE
Work/life Work/life balance balance For most small business owners, it’s the one question that they can never seem to answer successfully. And yet it’s the one they really do need to resolve. As I have documented regularly in this column, technology is no help. It means that, unlike in the ‘good old days’, you can never really be away from work, however hard you try. Ask your CEO to leave his/her handheld device behind when he/she goes on holiday and you will be met with all sorts of ‘I’d love to’ statements but no acceptance of the idea.
by local author
GUY SHEPPARD
y Jo Wheeler has set her all in Gloucester Sheppard. Now he’s dead in a freak f Cathedral. th a t future that the future or the plans ffor great plans such great had such them had of them two of The two The . t n e ent. m t n i o p pointm p a s i d disap r e h her r o f for y a p pay t s u m must one someone some rie is to blame. Jo is convinced that Sidney’s wife Marjo the nces the convinces ur convi o i viour v a h e beha b c i t a r r errati e y l g n i singly s a e r c n increa i s ’ o Jo’s J t pt p e xc Exce E . r e l l i killer. k e h the t s is i e h she s t a h olice tthat ppolice w at the scene of But who’s the mysterious witness she sa stalking her? is the crime? Why won’t anyone believe he too, she, too, before she, befor e i rie r o j r a M Marjo t u o b a abou t h g i r right s ’ e h s she’s e v o r p prove t s u m Jo must Jo was? e was? h he t h ht g u o h thoug t e h she s n a man m e h the t y e n d i Sidne S s is i t u But B rs. suffe suffers. for ago for years ago five years ymoon five honeymoo his hone on his ened on happened What What happ ? w o now? n e ge g n e v e reven r e k ta to take bride to his his bride she her saviour? Is Marjorie really Jo’s sworn enemy, or is
lable from Amazon in ebook and Paperback
D Distributors istributors R Required equired For a few hours each month in
Chalford • Nailsworth North Nibley Each round is made up of 150-400 copies per month. The rate of pay is 6 pence/copy. Depending on property types, our current team of people average between 100150 copies/hour (equivalent to £6-£9/hour). Magazines are delivered to T The h e Loc Lo c al al Distributors’ homes towards the A ANS NS WER WER end of each month and we expect deliveries to be completed within four days between the hours of 7am and 9pm. Yoou must be 13+ years old, flexible, reliable and sufficiently physically fit to STROU STROUD D DISTRIC ISTRICT perform the duties. GLOUCESTERSHIRE GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S ’S BIGGEST BIGGEST LOCAL LOCAL MAGAZINE MA AGAZINE AUGUST A UGUST 22020 020
LLET ET U US SH HELP ELP GET GET YOUR YOUR BUSINESS BUSINESS BACK BACK ON ON TRACK TRACK ... ...
For details email John – distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
The Local Answer
Looking Looking Good, Good, F Feeling eeling Great Great with w ith W Will ill M Mbanga banga
Creating Creating a ffunctional unctional h home ome training environment environment training While it hasn’t turned out to be the summer we were all looking forward to when we started eating healthily and training before Christmas last year, it has been a great summer so far, albeit under challenging circumstances. What hasn’t changed is the opportunity for you to be your best physically, mentally and emotionally by taking care of your fitness, particularly if you have access to a garden or safe public/open space. In a previous article, we looked at the benefits and considerations for training at 6 The most effective workout is home, along with som e of the one you enjoy because you associated equipment you will be far more likely to stick might invest in. Here is a brief to it. However, if you want to summary with regard to maximise your gains against developing a home gym and/or the time spent training, you training at home: should look at incorporating strength training with High 1 Be clear that your intention Intensity Interval Training in (health and fitness goal) is your routine. something you want to HIIT is especially beneficial achieve. for people who are limited 2 Choose a time that is by time or equipment manageable, yet still allows constraints, as it ramps up you the ability to focus on your metabolism, saves time your training. and can give you a full body 3 Develop consistency and workout with great results! discipline in your routine. Get G et ccreative reative with with what what 4 Ensure a system of y you ou h have ave a att h home ome accountability that will challenge and support your The key to optimising your journey. ‘home’ workouts is to get 5 Set realistic, progressive and creative with what you have, attainable exercise and rather than getting worked up nutrition goals. Having an about what kit or equipment unsustainable diet or an you lack. Wherever possible, exercise regimen that makes incorporate the environment you miserable will lead to around you into your workouts – failure. use stairs, benches for step ups The Local Answer
or jump-ups and lunges. A chair or bench can be used for dips and push ups, a sturdy table for inverted/low pull ups. You could pick up a heavy object in your garden and carry it around for time or distance, hang off or climb trees or other things (carefully!) to get a full body, functional fitness workout. If you have a budget to build up some basic equipment, I would recommend a skipping rope, a set of dumbbells, assorted bands, a fairly heavy medicine ball or sandbag, at least one kettlebell and, if you have the space, a rower for a full body metabolic workout. Rowers are great for cardio, strength endurance and building mental toughness. For those of you who are into tech and gadgets, there are loads of fantastic paid and free fitness, wellness and lifestyle apps available. Ultimately, something is better than nothing!
To advertise call 01242 510500
Page 15
Quick Quick Crossword Crossword A ACROSS CROSS 1 Suspect’s excuse 7 Flight industry 8 Skewered dish 10 Sleepy feeling 12 Ocean voyager 14 Wheedle 16 Actor, ... Sharif 17 Calmly 20 Counterfeit 23 Song of the Swiss 24 Sketching carbon 25 Bequeath D DOWN OWN 1 Lower leg joints 2 Necklace component
3 4 5 6 9 11 13 15 16 18 19 21 22
Affirm Paved terrace Missile’s strength For men or women Snap Twin-hulled boat Supplement, ... out Wet (weather) Place of business Daffodil hue Authoritative command Lend to Urban community
List your business in our brand new Online Directory from only £ per month! £12
© Lovatts Puzzles
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.
www.thelocalanswer.co.uk www .thelocalanswerr.co.uk
BRIDGEND GARAGE Free Collection & Delivery Service Put an end to your vehicle woes ... We deliver excellent service at a fraction of main dealer prices. We specialise in Audi, VW, Seat, Skoda & ALL OTHER MAKES!
• Experienced staff providing a local friendly service • Fault Diagnosis & Quotes • Free Health Check with all minor services
YOUR LOCAL FAMILY GARAGE ~ Established since 1996
FREE MOT with every full service quoting this advertisement Servicing • Repairs • MoTs • Tyres • Exhausts Call us today for your free health check: 01453 825500 Lower Mills Road, Bridgend, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire GL10 2BB Open Monday to Friday 8.30am-5.30pm & Saturday 8.30am-12 noon
www.bridgendgaragestonehouse.co.uk Page 16
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
The Local Answer
Motoring M otoring w with ith T Toby oby A Aiken iken
Low-cost L ow-cost e electric? lectric? Okay, I know. £58,000 is not that affordable or low cost, but the Model 3 from Tesla starts at £42,000. Still not that cheap when you consider an electric Golf starts at £28,000 and an electric Mini from £27,000, but consider what you get and it starts to make more sense. Tesla has always been electric – nothing else. VW and Mini are, to all intents and purposes, conventional car manufacturers getting a (decent) toehold in the EV market. And that makes sense as it’s a growing market and both are well-known and loved cars.
Space, S pace, lluxury uxury a and nd a great great e experience xperience But they don’t offer the space, luxury and the experience of a Tesla. I hate to use that word – a car should be just that; a car. But there’s something about a Tesla that has always connected with me. They are intuitive, smooth, incredibly welldesigned and things of beauty. The big brother, the Model S, was one of the first cars I reviewed and I was instantly sold. The way they deliver so much power, so quickly and so silently still to this day puts a smile on my face. My son especially liked that you could display a map of Mars on the sat-nav instead of the roads you are driving on… not that it was very helpful. He was also quite taken by the ability to deliver a range of fart noises from a seat of your choosing. Again, not lending much to the driving experience. I’m going to fly through the practicalities because I want to talk about range… It’s comfortable, fast, smooth, The Local Answer
well equipped and incredibly spacious, as well as being good looking. Charging is easy, pretty quick and not a hassle at all. Which leaves range, again good. This model offers around 300 miles on a full charge. I took this Model 3 on a trip to a family event in Hertfordshire – a hefty dive for ‘there and back in a day’, but the comfort was great and it was an enjoyable drive. But later that evening, driving home knowing the range didn’t have much in reserve after we got home, was a little concerning. The kids had fallen asleep so stopping and charging was not ideal (if I could find a charger) but I had the comfort of knowing that once home, I could stick it on charge and by morning it would have a decent bit of range. So no issues, right? Wrong. The range indicator is pretty accurate – and of course driving at night means lights, and a little heat being taken from the batteries so slightly less range. With a petrol car, I would have eased off, coasted down the hills and known that To advertise call 01242 510500
I could pull into a petrol station, throw a tenner in the tank and be on my way in less than 3 minutes, sleeping kids none the wiser. But with an electric car, it was different. While the range was showing that there would be a small reserve when I got home, it wouldn’t take much for that to drop to a negative. And I for one don’t fancy finding out what happens when a Tesla runs out of juice completely.
“ “II w wouldn’t ouldn’t hesitate hesitate to to b buy uy a T Tesla” esla” So there was a degree of range-worry that you wouldn’t get in a petrol car, countered by the fact that it would charge while I slept that night. So is a hybrid the answer? No. I would be wary of buying a hybrid. I’ve found them to be a little lacking – two powertrains adds weight and doesn’t deliver. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy a Tesla though – the positives far outweigh a small negative that could have been avoided with better planning. And, quite simply, I love them. Page 1
Specialis S pecialis for f or Ho Ho
IInvesting nvesting f
Fully accre viral deco Ready to open your business? Make it virus and bacteria free!
R REGENCY EGENCY Fully accredited biohazard B BIOCLEAN IOCLEAN
and viral decontamination
N NEW EW Biohazard fogging services
N NEW EW SARS-COV2 approved chemicals N EW Texatherm® cleaning technology NEW
28 DAY RESIDUAL CONTACT PROTECTION
Regency Cleaners have spent the l st few months investing in new eaning technologies and staff aining. They are now fully quipped to make your home or usiness premises a far safer vironment fo or all who enter. Owner Mark McClymont explained: “In addition to our usual high-standard cleaning practices, we felt it was important to help customers deal with the new challenges presented by Covid-19. We can now deliver the latest solutions to creating safer environments, giving our clients and their customers or visitors greater peace of mind.
Approved chemicals
“Covid-19 can be controlled through the correct application of anti-viral chemicals through our new fogging equipment and Texatherm® cleaning technology. This Biohazard ‘fogging’ service fills the environment with a vapour containing SARS-COV2 approved chemicals, preventing tranmissable forms of viruses surviving.” Ultra-low volume (ULV) fogging machines use large volumes of air at low pressures to transform liquids into droplets that are dispersed into the atmosphere. So Mark’s team are able to fully penetrate soft, hard and fabric surfaces in your rooms with chemicals that kill 99.999% of all viral and bacterial pathogens.
s st tC Cleaning leaning S Services ervices o omes mes & B Businesses usinesses
ffor or a S Safer afer Environment Environment
edited biohazard and REGENCY REGENCY APID CLEAN CLEAN ontamination centre RRAPID
25% DISCOUNT
during August 2020 Key workers at Regency have undergone full bioloical and viral decontamination training, enabling the company to achieve accreditation as a full operational decontamination centre. Mark is proud of this development: “This means we can guarantee customers our usual gold star services, with these fantastic enhanced additions, at a competitive cost. It’s brilliant news for our business and domestic clients – providing confidence for any visitors too.” The company has also invested in bespoke carpet and surface clean-
ing equipment from Texatherm . Mark said: ‘The patented technology allows us to operate at the highest standard possible, and well beyond those using earlier systems. Importantly, we are able to dry carpets and soft fur nishings within 30 minutes or less post cleaning, and hard surfaces are dried instantly. This saves an awful lot of time – a saving that makes the service extremely affordable for our clients. “We’d be delighted to hear from anyone wishing to make their home or business as safe e as it possibly can be for themselves and their visitors.”
NOW – FROM £135 NOW – FROM £165
Don’t Miss Out
BOOK BOOK N NOW! OW!
0 01242 1242 279590 279590 • 0 07754 7754 4 417650 17650 • ttalktoregency@gmail.com alktoregency@gmail.com w www.cheltenhamregencycleaners.co.uk ww.cheltenhamregencycleaners.co.uk 58 5 8H Harthurstfield arthurstfield P Park, ark, C Cheltenham, heltenham, G Gloucestershire loucestershire GL51 GL51 0TA 0TA
CPA G PAVING P A AV VING &
10% OFF
ALL WORK BOOKED IN AUGUST 2020
LANDSCAPING L ANDSCA APING DRIVEWAYS D RIVEWAYS PATIOS P ATIOS 5 YYEAR EAR
DYKES BUILDERS
fo
r 99le ca £7r singdrive
GUARANTEE GUARANTEE WITH ALL WORKS
Cs T& pply a
FULLY INSURED
LOCAL • FRIENDLY • PROFESSIONAL
A family business delivering a quality service for your home
Block Paving • Tarmac • Gravel • Drai g • • p Paths • Turfing • Fencing • Decking • Resin Bound Driveways
FFREE REE QUOTATIONS QUOTATIONS Call or email 01242 801706 • 01452 341699 candgpavinguk@gmail.com
GUARANTEED GUARANTEED TO TO BEAT BEAT ANY ANY GGENUINE ENUINE QUOTE QUOTE
johndykes52@hotmail.com www.dykesbuilders.co.uk
www.cg-paving.co.uk w w w ving.co.uk ww ww w..cg-paav
07813 774370
TOO H HOT OT in the summer? TOO C COLD OLD in the winter? New roofs • Roof repairs Flat roofs • GRP & Felt EPDM rubber roof systems Felt & battening • Rotten timbers replaced • Chimneys Repointing • Rebedding Lead work • External painting & much more UPVC Roofline products Fascias • Soffits • Apexes Barge & cladding boards Guttering & downpipes ny oorders rders in in Roofs cleaned/demossed aany August A ugust 22020 020 Fungaseal treatments T T&Cs &Cs a apply pply Guttering cleaned & cleared from as little as £30
FREE F REE
SCAFFOLDING! SCAFFOLDING!
3 0% 30% O FF OFF
A Guardian Warm Roof will convert your conservatory into an all year round living space.
W Why hy cchoose hoose tthe he G Guardian uardian Warm Warm Roof? Roof? Guardian are the UK’s market leaders for tiled and replacement conservatory roofs. Each roof comes with a range of benefits and options to choose from to create the perfect living space.
A ALL LL W WORK ORK F FULLY ULLY GUARANTEED FULLY INSURED INSURED GUARANTEED • FULLY FFor or a FREE FREE QUOTATION QUOTATION p please lease ccall: all: Please ddialial aarea rea ccode) ode) 0 07786 7786 0 058696 58696 / 0 01452 1452 3 348487 48487 ((Please
o orr e email mail m mitchelldavishomecare@hotmail.com itchelldavishomecare@hotmail.com 4 47 7W Worcester orcester SStreet, treet, G Gloucester loucester G GL1 L1 3 3AW AW
www.homecareroofingbuilding.co.uk www.homecareroofingbuilding.co.uk Page 20
C Customers ustomers aare re eentitled ntitled ttoo a 14 14 dday ay ccooling ooling off off period period
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
The Local Answer
IIn n tthe he Garden Garden w with ith JJulia ulia S Smith mith
Look Look after after your your ffruit ruit aand nd vveg eg Maybe you are not heading off this August as usual. Keep gardening and you will reap the benefit in the weeks to come, and perhaps you will get to eat all your own runner beans, which usually run to seed whilst you are away! If you want some spinach to overwinter, late August is the time to start. Sow it in a spot in full sun and, before sowing, apply a general fertiliser like pelleted chicken manure to give it a good start. Follow the directions on the packet for distances, etc. To prolong flowering displays, carry on feeding your tubs and window boxes with a weak solution of liquid fertiliser every week, and dead-head the spent flowers. This can be fiddly but it really is worth doing.
Prevent Prevent butterflies butterflies llaying aying e eggs ggs o on n lleaves eaves The cabbage white butterfly caterpillar is often a nuisance on the vegetable plot in August. It feeds on cabbages, as well as nasturtiums,
sprouts, turnips and swedes. You can use insect netting to prevent the butterflies laying the eggs on the underside of the leaves, or you can remove them by hand. What you then do with them is up to you! Keep your tomatoes and peppers consistently moist throughout the growing season or the roots don’t a b s o r b n u t r i e n t s p r o pe r l y a n d can get blossom end rot (light brown spots appear at the flower end of the fruit). Only apply a liquid fertiliser when the soil is moist.
C Cut ut b back ack rrambler ambler rroses oses If grown in a restricted space the old flowering stems of rambler roses should be cut close to the ground now and the new branches tied in to replace them using loppers or a sharp pruning saw. One of the best ways to grow ramblers is to let them have their head and climb up large established trees, but you do The Local Answer
To advertise call 01242 510500
need to have plenty of room. In this situation they can just be left to, well, ‘ramble’, which is what they do! The large ones like ‘Kiftsgate’ love this treatment.
Grow Grow plants plants for for free free Why not try to save your own seed – collect ripe seed of aquiegias, poppies, alliums and any other summer flowers that you have. Clean them, removing the pods and bits and pieces, and store in little envelopes in the fridge. Look online to see when and how to sow. It’s nice to have plants for free and you’ll feel a real sense of accomplishment growing your ‘own’ plants rather than those from garden centres. I recently read an old tip in a book to stop birds pecking the fruit on your trees – tie a bag of mothballs to the lowest branch. Does it work? Well, who knows but perhaps one of you will try it and let me know! Page 21
Paving & Tarmac Specialists B Block lock Paving Paving • TTarmac armac • Landscaping Landscaping riveways FFencing encing • Patios Patios • D Driveways & Sons Ltd
Garden Walls Walls Garden
A ALSO LSO
All our work is G Guaranteed uaranteed ffor or 5 y years! ears! Guaranteed to beat any genuine quote
Resin esin Driveways, Driveways, P Patios atios & P Paths aths
aintenance • Low M Maintenance • Choice Choice of of Colours Colours • Durable Durable & Long Long Lasting Lasting • Weed Weed Free Free Drainage • Porous Porous for for Drainage
Rectory Rectory F Fields, ields, R Rudford, udford, G Gloucestershire loucestershire G GL2 L2 8 8DT DT
Tel: T el: 01452 01452 6668005 68005 / 001453 1453 2297010 97010 / 001285 1285 2238089 3 80 8 9
Reduces Puddles •R educes P uddles • Firm, Firm, attractive attractive Surface Surfface Can •C an bbee aapplied pplied oover ve r EExisting xisting Surface Surface • Cost Cost Effective Effective
w www.marshallsdriveways.co.uk ww.marshallsdriveways.co.uk
Company Company rregistration: egistration: 1 11415390 1415390
Page 22
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
The Local Answer
S Save ave the the P Planet lanet with w ith L Louise ouise W Williams illiams
How H ow to to be be a better, better, more more planet-friendly p lanet-friendly ttourist ourist There is a great likelihood that many of us will be taking our holidays in the UK this year, and it’s been sad to see that so far, too many people seem to be taking our planet for granted again. It is as if we have learned nothing from this experience, with scenes of littering and overcrowding across the nation’s beauty spots. Wherever you’re planning on holidaying this year, here are a few ways you can make your trip more eco-friendly.
Look Look u up p llocal ocal b bus us ttimes imes Research before you go and find out local bus times. Often in the quieter villages, bus services can be few and far between, but if you know when and where to catch them, you will be able to utilise public transport when away. The benefits of this for you would be the removal of parking worries, and a far more relaxing experience, not having to navigate narrow country roads yourself.
Take T ake your your rubbish rubbish h home ome w with ith y you ou This seems to be something really that people are struggling with. If you can carry something there, you can surely carry it back empty. If you are worried about a sandwich packet having mayonnaise on or something being sticky for example, just make sure you always have an empty bag with you, solely for the purpose of bringing The Local Answer
rubbish home. Pop a few into the bag that you usually take your lunch in, or into a pocket of your rucksack now, so you always have one with you. Often the bins are overflowing in popular places so be prepared to take it home. You wouldn’t go to your friend’s house and leave it looking dirty and untidy, so why leave our beautiful public spaces like that?
Recycle R ecycle y your our rrubbish! ubbish! When you take your rubbish home, be it to your own house or your holiday accommodation, recycle it!
Check C heck ffor or o open pen p public ublic ttoilets oilets Before you go, make sure that you find out where the toilets are and if they are open – it’s far nicer for everyone if people To advertise call 01242 510500
use the proper facilities. If you know there won’t be facilities, or think they might be really busy, just be prepared. Forward planning is key and really doesn’t take much extra time or energy if you have a little kit ready just to pop in your bag for trips.
Cycle C ycle or or walk walk If you can, take bikes and cycle around when you get to your use a destination. Or combination of bus and walking (if it’s possible for your family) to get around, meaning you get to leave your car at your accommodation for most of your trip. These are just a few of the ways you can be a better tourist. We owe it to our planet and to each other to have some care and consideration when we go away from home. Page 2
11st st Choice Choice
AAerial erial & Satellites & Satellites
Digita Digital al A Aerial erial IInstallations nstallations U pgrades Upgrades a nd R epairs and Repairs
110% 0% o off ff with w ith tthis his a advert dvert Mark M ark Hawkes Hawkes
TTel: el: 01453 01453 222181 222181
All A ll Work Work Fully Fullly Guaranteed Guaranteed • Specialise Specialise in in EDM EDM rubber rubber roofs roofs • New New Roofs Roofs GG.R.P .R.P Fibreglass Fibreglass • Certified Certified CCURE URE IT IT IInstallers nstallers • RRoof oof Cleaning Cleaning & CCoating oating • RRoof oof & Chimney Chimneyy Repairs Repairs • Slate Slate Repairs Repairs • Dry Dry Verges Verges • FFlat lat Roof Roof RRepairs epairs • uPVC uPVC • FFascias, ascias, SSoffits offits & Guttering Guttering • uuPVC PVC RRepairs epairs • PPainting ainting & Decorating Decorating
01452 01452 8 899903 99903 07503 07503 8 858963 58963 w www.a1roofing.uk ww.a1roofing.uk
Cheltenham Cheltenham Rd Rd EEast, ast, Gloucester, Gloucester, GGL3 L3 11AE AE
S Save ave 2 20% 0% V VAT AT
to If If you you need need to to make make changes changes to or y our bathroom bathroom due due to to disability disability or your medical am edical ccondition, ondition, we we are are able able to to ssupply upply your your bathroom bathroom VAT VAT free, free, saving saving you you 20%. 20%.
Specialists Specialists in in bathroom bathroom safety safety and and design design PLEASE PLEASE ASK ASK FOR FOR DETAILS DETAILS
W alk in in showers showers • W et rooms Walk Wet rooms • Bathrooms Bathrooms iles • W all boards boards C loakrooms • T Cloakrooms Tiles Wall F ull bathroom bathroom design design service serrv vice Full F Free ree home home visit visit in in accordance accordance w with ith COVID-19 COVID-19 guidelines guidelines to to discuss your d i sc u ss y our needs needs
BEFORE
C Contact ontact Rex Rex on on 0 7496 057281 057281 or 01453 01453 884167 884167 07496 o orr rrex@lifestylebathrooms.net ex@lifestylebathrooms.net ffor or a ffree ree h home ome v visit isit tto od discuss iscuss y your our n needs eeds
www.lifestylebathrooms.net www.lifestylebathrooms.net
Page 24
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
AFTER The Local Answer
IInterior nterior D Design esign w with ith G Gill ill G Greenwell reenwell
Be B e bold bold with with colour colour Lockdown has made us focus on our homes more than ever before, and with the summer ahead of us it’s a perfect time to embark on a redecoration project. I have been thinking about our relationship with colour and the way we use it in our homes. One thing I have learnt from working in interior design is the importance of being courageous and confident with colour. To quote Terence Conran, “decorating is fun”, but many of us lack the confidence to follow our creative instincts. Follow my tips on living with colour to make your home space somewhere to enjoy.
Colour C olour cconfidence onfidence There are so many paint colours to choose from – it’s bewildering – we tend to fall back on “greige” because it’s the safest option. A good way to work out what colours you like is to look around you, start with your wardrobe and your choice of clothes – the chances are if you are comfortable wearing a colour you will be
comfortable living with it. Cut out pictures you like from magazines or create a mood board on Pinterest. You’ll soon start to see the same colours emerging. Don’t be afraid to be flamboyant – so good for Instagram pics – if you like it now the chances are you will continue liking it, and you can always repaint, but you probably won’t!
Furniture with Furniture with ffizz izz Another way to liven up a room is to use a contrasting or toning colour on a sofa, chair or item of painted furniture. It’s amazing what a difference you can make by recovering a tired chair in a zingy modern fabric. For a recent project, we recovered my client’s vintage dining room chairs in a bright orange zig-zag fabric – they look amazing. A shot of unexpected colour on a piece of furniture can also inject real personality into a space – I painted my outside garden seat a lovely teal colour – it really makes the deep pink roses on my terrace zing.
Accent A ccent with with accessories accessories If you want to play safe you can always inject some bold colour by experimenting with objects and furnishings that can be easily changed. Inject some bold colour or pattern into a scheme with cushions, glassware or lamps.
The Local Answer
To advertise call 01242 510500
Image: Mylands
I love a bright pleated, patterned lampshade (check out pooky.com). My daughter’s mustard raffia placemats and sunflower arrangement liven up her table and contrast with the deep blue walls in her modern dining area. A friend’s lime green utensils add a pop of colour to his grey neutral kitchen.
Something Something tto o make make you you h happy appy For that individual touch, add something unexpected – I recently invested in some fun waste paper bins made of recycled paper in bright coloured funky prints – they look so good in my sitting room and home office. It’s time to give your creativity free rein – have fun with your summer decorating projects!
Page 25
Tel: T el : 0 01452 14 52 5 522 22 4 422 22
en e nq quiries@interiorneeds.co.uk uiries@interiorneeds.co.uk
iinterior nterior needs needs
Luxurious Luxurious C Curtains urtains aand nd S Soft oft F Furnishings urnishings
20% OFFFF
FABRIIC CS
T TH HR RO OU UG GH HO OU UT T A AU UG GU US ST T
✄
It’s a perfect time to brighten a y from a lick of paint to a full home makeover, you can find what you need at Interior Needs.
Interior shutters are becoming more and more popular timeless elegance. Good advice is essential, we can guide you through our many different options finding the shutter to suit your practical needs and style.
110% 0% ooff ff yyour our oorder rder w with ith pproduction roduction ooff tthis his vvoucher oucher
◆ Curtains Curtains & Fabrics Fabrics ◆ Tracks Tracks & P Poles oles ◆ Interior Interior Shutters Shutters ◆ Conservatory Conservatory R Roof oof B linds ◆ B Blinds/Perfect linds/Perfect Fit Fit Blinds Blinds ◆ Bay Bay Window Window T Treatments reatments ◆ L Lighting ighting ◆ W Wallpaper allpaper Blinds
S SUMMER UMMER S SHADING HADING S SOLUTIONS... OLUTIONS...
Interior Needs are local leading experts in specialist window treatments such as conservatory roof blinds and shutters. From tricky bays to unsual shapes, “We’ve got it covered!”
We We take take p pride ride in in A APPOINTMENT PPOINTM ENT ONLY ONLY Mondays Closed our expertise expertise – our Tuesday to Sat urday these images images these 10am to 3pm shown are are our our shown Sundays Closed actual work. work. actual
SSHOWROOM HOWROOM OPEN OPEN B BY Y
Eastern Eastern Avenue, Avenue, Gloucester Gloucester GL4 GL4 3BU 3BU | www.interiorneeds.co.uk www.interiorneeds.co.uk O Opening pening T Times imes T Tuesday-Saturday uesday-Saturday 110am-3pm 0am-3pm | Mondays Mondays by by appointment appointment only only
G Gadgets adgets & G Gizmos izmos w with ith L Laura aura N Nicklin icklin
G Gadgets adgets tto oh help elp yyou ou recharge recharge If you’re a fitness enthusiast, or looking for ways to spend more time outdoors, don’t despair; there are gadgets aplenty to help you out. With more tech designed to help you unleash your inner Sporty Spice, you’ve got no excuse not to go out and get your blood pumping. Keep reading to check out some of the latest sports gizmos on the market.
comfortable to wear, but they’re even sweat-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about them getting damaged when you’re out for a run. Simply connect the headphones wirelessly to your smart device to enjoy highquality sound. These clever gizmos also ensure that you don’t get too lost in your own thoughts, as they include ‘Be Aware’ audio, which lets you hear any surrounding noises.
Garmin Vivosmart Garmin Vivosmart 4 Fitness F itness Activity Activity Tracker T racker
J JLab Lab A Audio udio A Air ir S Sport port IIn-Ear n-Ear H Headphones eadphones John Lewis: £69.99 Escape into your own world with these wireless in-ear headphones. Not only are they The Local Answer
John Lewis: £99.99 Track your activities and progress with the trendy Garmin vivosmart. This sleek gadget not only looks cool, but it helps you to stay in shape by monitoring your heart rate, stress levels and sleep patterns. When you’re not keeping track of your exercises, you can test out the relaxation breathing timer, or keep up to date with smart notificat through your mo This tracker is a water resistant, it can monitor yo activity when yo are doing laps the pool! With up to seve days of battery l and three colou to choose from, t Garmin vivosma will keep you in check and looking smart! To advertise call 01242 510500
IIndi ndi S S1 1A Adult dult Electric Electric S Scooter cooter Halfords: £199 Fancy a new method of transport? Then don’t assume that scooters are just for kids; with the Indi S1 Adult Electric Scooter, you not only get to enjoy a smooth ride, but you can also reduce your carbon footprint! So if you’re ecoconscious, this electric scooter is a must-have. It even comes with front absorption and an tail light, making r travels safer. This ly portable scooter simple to fold up d store away, aking it no-fuss. nd with a maximum eed of 14mph, ou can enjoy your ew mode of ansport at three fferent speeds. o whizz away! You ill certainly outrun any old-school scooters. Page 2
QUALITY KITCHEN Q UALITY K ITCHEN MAKEOVERS M AKEOVERS b byy ssimply imply rreplacing eplacing tthe he d doors oors a and nd w worktops orktops
kit ch en
UKFrom ma ’s the ke # ov 1 er
ex pe r ts
B Before efore
● FROM
SIMPLE DOOR REPLACEMENTS TO COMPLETE FITTED KITCHENS
● FULLY
INSTALLED BY LOCAL PROFESSIONALS IN JUST A FEW DAYS
● CHOOSE
FROM A LARGE SELECTION OF DOORS, WORKTOPS AND APPLIANCES
● 93
9 Est. 199
OUR SHOWROOM IIS S CURRENTLY OPEN BY LY APPOIIN NTME T ONLY LY – PLEAN CALL NOW TSE BOOK YOURO VIS ISIT IT!
DO YOU DREAM OF A NEW KITCHEN?
SHOWROOMS NATIONWIDE
C CALL ALL US US NOW NOW FOR FOR AF FREE REE E ESTIMATE STIMATE
www.dreamdoors.co.uk w ww.dreamdoors.co.uk Book Book now now to to visit visit our our showroom showroom at at
0 01453 145 3 2 299344 99344 18 High Street, 18 H igh S treet, Stonehouse, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire G L10 2NA 2NA Gloucestershire GL10
E Education ducation & E Employment mployment w with ith H Holly olly P Prince rince
JJob ob interviews inter views Following on from last month’s article on job hunting, once you’ve found a job, applied, and achieved getting to the next stage, you’ll need to successfully get through the interview. The interview process starts long before you walk through the door to the awaiting panel – you need to prepare days or weeks in advance.
R Research esearch tthe he ccompany ompany Firstly, you’ll need to do some background research on the company – look at their website and social media pages, and use search engines to find out about their latest projects or news. Try to find a couple of interesting facts about them that aren’t obvious, so that you can form questions around this knowledge to show you have done your research. If you have time before the big day, go to the venue where your interview will be held so that you know where it is and how long it will take you to get there. You don’t want to risk being late on the big day! If appropriate, you may also arrange to have a tour of the building – for example if you’re going for a teaching job – so that you get a feel for the place.
P Practice ractice p potential otential iinterview nterview q questions uestions The internet also has many examples of the types of questions that are likely to be asked at interview – for instance, ‘what attracted you to this job?’; ‘what makes a good team?’, etc. The Local Answer
For some jobs, you should also be prepared for slightly more unusual questions, which might be used to test your creative thinking. For example, ‘if you were a biscuit, what would you be and why?’ Practice your answers out loud so that you rehearse them and commit your key phrases to memory. Repetition will help you to sound more natural. Also remember to have some questions ready to ask them, which shows you are keen.
First F irst impressions impressions ccount ount On the day of the interview, make sure you give yourself time to get ready so that you’re not rushing around. Appearance is important – you want to dress smart to show that you are professional and serious about wanting the job. To advertise call 01242 510500
When you arrive, remember that first impressions count – it takes less than a second for people to judge you on the way you present yourself. As soon as you enter the building, remember eye contact and a positive handshake. Talk to other employees that you encounter, such as the receptionist, as chatting may help you to get in the conversational flow.
Take T ake your your time time In the interview room, aim to speak clearly and not too fast – it’s easy to start rushing when you’re nervous, so take a breath before you answer each question and take your time. Remember the phrase ‘fake it ‘til you make it’ – act confident even if you feel nervous, and above all, go for it! Page 2
Word W ord S Search earch A S J E O Q V N P Z N G P Z W F E M Q A K R R E
Y I U A G R X Y Y V A A E Z Y H A G N U U E E K
V T N Q M M A C G Q Q V T Y L D X J Y S W Z R N
K E W A C A I K J G Y N P S A K R P S O R J F O
S T N B Z H I S M N U R O G I Z I I F A U K R R
K I F E O N H C K Z I B A M U N A S Q K F S O W
L A C C Z M A Z A Q Z S Z W R U A R B K J X T A
I W M C J U D T N T C K Z P Q I N H B T O L M Y
L U T E V S E Q S A I D P P N L V G G S H D S D
T K R D H L W L R I N Y P E H V R P Y F M A D Q
C M Z J U E J N A N D A Z G V T N V M Z A R H J
W S B A J X G A N G K X M N T C Z N E V O N G M T J D D G A R B U W O A B L M E E S X D U K L Y
M K A W A Q T O M O E M O E U K N I L N K C J U
K I P Q R Y O W Z L S G S K N P S A E F D D Y S
L G L N Y R V F O S I L E I K S Z M M X V J D R
W R W J E P B U L G A R I A Z E E S D O O E P W
Y F U M P E C M B B B M E Z C Y X G F M N F L Q
R X A R Y O K U K R A I N E D R U E N M E R J J
Y C Q T J Z J Q C P C K E S Z M Y T A Y G K U E
O R S O J H R I A H S R L H S C G R X M Y Y W D
K W F F I B Y J O T G I G T I F K C L Z P N O Z
A M A N A P K I U N A Z W Q T G R E R Y T S Z F
B M O N Q N P F K X L R F G O V E W B A B M I Z
Countries C ountries AFGHANISTAN BULGARIA CAMEROON DENMARK EGYPT FIJI GREECE HUNGARY INDONESIA
JAMAICA KUWAIT LUXEMBOURG MADAGASCAR NORWAY OMAN PANAMA QATAR RUSSIA
SLOVENIA TANZANIA UKRAINE VENEZUELA WA ALES YEMEN ZIMBABWE
Installers of top quality windows, windows, doors and conserva tories. conservatories. For a free no obligation quotation call
01242 511384
Showroom – Units 40 & 41, Space Business Centre, Tewkesbury Road, Cheltenham, GL51 9FL
Don’t Don’t look look until until you’ve you’ve finished! finished! S Solutions olutions oon n ‘‘Index Index ooff A Advertisers’ dvertisers’ ppage. age. Page 2
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
The Local Answer
Holidays H olidays & Travel Travel w with ith A All H Hidden idden
Image: www.visitwales.com
A Aberystwyth ber ystwyth – o over ver hills o tthe he h ills but but not not sso ffar ar away away With doors securely closed, the Aberystwyth Cliff Railway funicular comes to life. As we climb away from the Grade II listed bottom station, the town’s curving seafront is revealed over the rooftops: Victoria Terrace; the bandstand where Led Zeppelin jammed in their late-1960s infancy; the Royal Pier; and further south the verdant downs beyond Penparcau Beach. Five minutes later, approaching the top of the 1:2 gradient at Constitution Hill, I ponder the idea that this was the s cene of Britain’s only transport disaster involving a funicular and two elephants. Yes, really! If you don’t believe me, Google it!
N No on need eed ffor or a an na air ir b bridge ridge tto oW Wales ales Just over the ‘Misty Mountains’ of Mid Wales that Zeppelin’s Robert Plant referenced so eloquently, Aberystwyth has long tempted with the promise of easy travel from Gloucestershire. Now, with staycations
The Local Answer
looking more appealing than ever and no need for an air bridge to Wales, Ceredigion’s seaside jewel, lodged beguilingly ‘twixt those mountains and the glittering Irish Sea, looks irresistible. The three-hour drive west (maybe a bit less in July’s road test McLaren) is always a joy – and sublime when the weather gods are being kind. From dolphins cavorting playfully in the harbour, to an eclectic mix of restaurants and cafes, the imposing National Library of Wales and breathtaking sunsets, Aberystwyth and its surrounds offer so much at journey’s end.
R Rewarding ewarding e experiences xperiences iin ne every very d direction irection On foot, the magnificent Ceredigion Coast Path calls to walkers. Then there’s the Dyfi Estuary and Machynlleth, home to the acclaimed Centre for Alternative Technology and – nearby at a remote cottage called Bron-yr-Aur – birthplace
To advertise call 01242 510500
of Led Zeppelin’s folk-inspired third album. Both are an easy run north of Aberystwyth. Nature lovers will adore the RSPB’s Ynys-hir reserve with its magnificent estuary views. Later, time allowing before heading back, turn off the A487 at Furnace to explore fairy-tale Cwm Einion (Artist’s Valley). Like so much of the area, it’s another magical location steeped richly in Led Zeppelin lore. And that’s just to the north of this delightful university and resort town. From experience on many visits, journeying out of Aberystwyth in any direction will reward you richly. And at day’s end, whether you’ve cycled the Rheidol Valley, scoffed fish and chips on Borth Beach or Zep Trekked in the footsteps of Plant, Page, Jones and Bonham, Aberystwyth’s warm welcome awaits you again.
Page
Index of Advertisers FOOD & DRINK
BUILDING SERVICES 24 6 A1 Roofing 20 4 C&G Paving Dykes Builders 20 HEALTH & BEAUTY Home Care Roofing 20 The 1:1 Diet 12 Marshalls Driveways 22 INFORMATION CLEANING SERVICES Police & Crime Regency Cleaners 18-19 Commissioner 11 FURNISHING & PROPERTY APPLIANCES The Property Centre 36 Bella’s Interiors 24 Dream Doors 28 HOMES & GARDENS Interior Needs 26 BATHROOMS Lifestyle Bathrooms 24 GARDEN SERVICES 24 Severn Vale 12 & 35 Lawn Doc Primrose Vale The Mayflower
HANDYMAN SERVICES Your Way Home Help 12 TV & AERIALS 1st Choice Aerials 24 WINDOWS, DOORS & CONSERVATORIES Albany Windows 2 & 32 Clearway Windows 30-31 Garolla 22
HOUSE CLEARANCE Richie’s House Clearance 20 MOTORING SERVICES Bridgend Garage 16 PUBLISHING Guy Sheppard 14 Lois Kingscott 8-9 SKIP HIRE & RECYCLING Stevens Recycling 34
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ANIMAL SERVICES New Start Cat Rescue 10 Vale Wildlife Rescue 10
To advertise in print, please call
01242 510500
Puzzle Solutions A S J E O Q V N P Z N G P Z W F E M Q A K R R E
Y I U A G R X Y Y V A A E Z Y H A G N U U E E K
V T N Q M M A C G Q Q V T Y L D X J Y S W Z R N
K E W A C A I K J G Y N P S A K R P S O R J F O
S T N B Z H I S M N U R O G I Z I I F A U K R R
K I F E O N H C K Z I B A M U N A S Q K F S O W
L A C C Z M A Z A Q Z S Z W R U A R B K J X T A
I W M C J U D T N T C K Z P Q I N H B T O L M Y
L U T E V S E Q S A I D P P N L V G G S H D S D
T K R D H L W L R I N Y P E H V R P Y F M A D Q
C M Z J U E J N A N D A Z G V T N V M Z A R H J
W B J G N K M T Z E O G T D G R U O B M E X U L
S A X A G X N C N V N M J D A B W A L E S D K Y
M K A W A Q T O M O E M O E U K N I L N K C J U
K I P Q R Y O W Z L S G S K N P S A E F D D Y S
L G L N Y R V F O S I L E I K S Z M M X V J D R
W R W J E P B U L G A R I A Z E E S D O O E P W
Y F U M P E C M B B B M E Z C Y X G F M N F L Q
R X A R Y O K U K R A I N E D R U E N M E R J J
Y C Q T J Z J Q C P C K E S Z M Y T A Y G K U E
O R S O J H R I A H S R L H S C G R X M Y Y W D
K W F F I B Y J O T G I G T I F K C L Z P N O Z
A M A N A P K I U N A Z W Q T G R E R Y T S Z F
B M O N Q N P F K X L R F G O V E W B A B M I Z
Competition Winners TLA Photography – August 2020 Cover: Ella Faria
Competition Rules 1 Prizes are as stated and no cash or prize alternative will be offered. 2 Employees of The Local Answer and their families or households are not eligible to enter. 3 The first correct entry drawn at random after the closing date will win the prize as stated. 4 The winner will be notified by telephone after the closing date has passed. 5 The Editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. 6 Entrants must be over 18 years, unless stated. 7 Proof of posting is not regarded as
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.
BOOKING DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE – Monday 10th August 2020
STEVE
ATTENTION A TTENTION! Let us lighten your load!
Domestic and Industrial Skips Ham Villa Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham GL52 6NB
01242 522647/529397 stevensrecycling584@gmail.com
Page 4
www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
The Local Answer