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IInside nside tthis his month month ... ... Delicious Dish D elicious D ish Medical Health M edical H ealth Money Matters M oney M atters Sudoku S udoku Distributors Required D istributors R equired Motoring M otoring Quick Crossword Q uick C rossword Parenting Guardianship P arenting & G uardianship Homes Gardens H omes & G ardens In In the the Garden Garden Gadgets Gadgets & Gizmos Gizmos Word Word Search Search Interior Interior Design Design Index, Solutions Index, Competitions, Competitions, S olutions
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W elcome Welcome ttoo N ovember November The nights are well and truly drawing in and lots of us are starting to plan our Christmas celebrations. While the festive season is something to look forward to, we must also make sure we and our loved ones stay safe. This month we have important information from two of the emergency services. The NHS want to let you know about temporary changes to Emergency Care in Gloucestershire in response to COVID-19, and Gloucestershire Constabulary have shared their burglary protection advice to keep you safe and secure this winter. Read more inside. As we head towards winter, you may be thinking about getting warm and cosy in your home. Gill Greenwell shares some Nordic style Interior advice in her latest article, while Roberta Smart thinks about how we can light up the dark winter days in her Parenting & Guardianship feature. So grab a cup of tea, cosy up on the sofa and enjoy reading your November magazine!
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Contacts C ontacts Advertising A dvertising & M Marketing arketing Dave Kingscott dave@thelocalanswer.co.uk Lois Kingscott lois@thelocalanswer.co.uk
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Delicious Delicious Dish Dish with w ith H Helen elen K Kingscott ingscott
P Parsnip arsnip and and potato gratin p otato g ratin Ad delicious, elicious, ccreamy reamy a accompaniment ccompaniment ffor or your your roast roast dinner. dinner. Great Great with with cchicken hicken or or tturkey. urkey.
IIngredients: ngredients: 500g/1lb parsnips; 500g/1lb potatoes; 150g/5oz pack of bacon lardons; 2 echalion shallots; 2-4 garlic cloves; 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves; 1 bay leaf; 400ml/¾ pint whole milk; 100g/4oz full fat crème fraiche; 300ml/½ pint double cream; fresh or dried nutmeg; 50g/2oz walnuts, roughly chopped; ½ tbsp olive oil plus extra for greasing the foil.
M Method: ethod: 1 Preheat the oven to 200°C, (180°C fan/gas mark 6). 2 Peel and finely slice the shallots, garlic, potatoes and parsnips. I used my mandoline – it saves so much time. 3 Put the bacon in a large pan and cook gently to allow the fat to melt and turn crispy. Remove and set aside. 4 Add the oil and cook the shallots for approximately eight minutes until soft. 5 Add the garlic and stir for a minute, then add the bay leaf, half the thyme, the cream, crème fraiche, milk, a pinch of nutmeg and salt and pepper. 6 Heat the mixture until just simmering then
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add the parsnips and potatoes. Continue to simmer for 10 minutes, until they begin to soften. Remove the bay leaf. 7 Spoon out half the mixture into your chosen baking dish (about 20 x 30 cm/ 8 x 12 inch) and scatter over half of the bacon bits. Spoon the remaining mixture on top and sprinkle the remaining bacon, thyme, the walnuts and a little more nutmeg on top. 8 Cover with a sheet of oiled foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for a further 20 minutes until golden and tender. This can be made the day before. Just wait until fully cooled before putting in the fridge. To reheat the next day, cover with foil and cook for approximately 25-30 minutes at 200°C, (180°C fan/gas mark 6).
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Medical M edical H Health ealth with w ith H Holly olly H Hannigan annigan
Differences Differences in in Dyslexia Dyslexia Dyslexia affects 10-15% of the UK population, often runs in families and is a life-long condition. It was seen for many years as a learning disability, focusing on the weaknesses, but the way a dyslexic brain works is not bad, wrong or deficient. It is just different and difference is not a disability. This learning difference mainly affects reading and writing skills, and can also impact on other areas such as organisational skills, coordination and memory. People with dyslexia think and learn differently from others and as such their strengths can be: • Good problem solvers • Creative • Observant • High levels of empathy • Excellent big-picture thinkers • Good at making connections • Strong narrative reasoning • Three-dimensional thinking • Determination Each person with dyslexia will experience the condition in a way that is unique to them, which can make it difficult to identify at times. Most often it is diagnosed in Primary school aged children, with these main symptoms: • Read and write very slowly • Put letters the wrong way round • Confuse the order of letters in words • Have poor or inconsistent spelling • Struggle with planning and organisation • Difficulty following instructions Page
• Finds it difficult to blend letters together • Slow reading progress • Confusion with place value (units, tens, hundreds) • Difficulty remembering anything in sequential order (days of the week, the alphabet) • Poor time keeping • Difficulty with concepts (yesterday, tomorrow) • Easily distracted • The class clown, disruptive or withdrawn The first step to getting support if you think your child might be dyslexic is to consult your child’s teacher or the school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) to discuss your concerns. They may carry out screening tests to see how your child will be best supported in the classroom.
Ensuring E nsuring a appropriate ppropriate ssupport upport a and/or nd/or iinterventions nterventions A school doesn’t need a formal diagnosis to put support in place for your child and shouldn’t delay in providing appropriate support and/or interventions. However, a Diagnostic Assessment can help to ensure that the appropriate interventions are put in place. Techniques and support that are available include: • Occasional 1:1 support or small group work www.TheLocalAnswer.co.uk
• Technology like computers and speech recognition software that may make it easier to read and write.
Help Help in in higher higher education education or or e employment mployment Sometimes adults may wish to get diagnosed if they have managed to get through the education system without a diagnosis, in order to help them in higher education or in employment. Universities have specialist staff who can support young people with dyslexia, and employers are required to make reasonable adjustments to the workplace to help people with dyslexia, such as allowing extra time for certain tasks. There is support available and more focus now on an individual’s strengths rather than their weaknesses, so always raise any concerns with the school. The Local Answer
Money Money Matters Matters w with ith R Roger oger D Downes ownes o off A Andorran ndorran
S State tate p pension ension cchanges hanges
Sudoku Fill the grids so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.
The government will look after us, won’t they? If you are poorly, we can turn to the National Health Service; if we lose our job, we can claim state benefits. And once we are officially too old to work, the state will pay us a pension. But therein lies a problem. We are all living longer and as a result the government has decided it cannot afford to pay our state pensions for as long as it used to. They have known for some while that it was coming and initially used equality laws and arguments to increase the age (65) at which women became eligible for state pension to be the same as for men. Campaigners tried to claim that the move was illegal, but they have all lost in court. Last month we saw the start of the second phase of the government’s long-term plan come into force, when the state pension age was officially raised from 65 to 66. It affects anyone born after 6th October 1954 and will be held at that level for the next six years, following which it will rise to 67. There are plans for further increases in pension age until it reaches 70 in 20-30 years’ time.
W Waiting aiting another another 12 12 months months tto od draw raw ffrom rom tthe he p pot ot It goes deeper than just waiting another year for our state pension. The age at which we stop paying National Insurance on our earnings is aligned to state pension age. 65 year olds therefore pay into the system now for one year longer as well as waiting a further 12 months to draw from the pot. What else can the government do? It has already introduced compulsory company pensions for those in employment, which have now reached maximum contribution levels by both employer and worker. The argument is that the more money that is in your personal pension, the less you will need to rely on the state. The level of government pension is guaranteed to rise by reference to inflation, with a guaranteed minimum increase of 2.5% if inflation is lower than that. There are suggestions that the government should go back on its word and remove the guarantee. It wouldn’t be the first time they had done something like that, would it? Page 8
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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
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Motoring M otoring w with ith T Toby oby A Aiken iken
Ap piece iece o off h history istor y Recently, Audi celebrated the 40th anniversary of the original Quattro on Twitter with a collaboration with another of my favourite brands; Lego. To celebrate the event, they sent Lego Speed Champion models of the rally version of the Quattro to motoring writers with a challenge: time your build from opening the box to finished model. I may have harassed them a bit until they sent me my kit, but the chance to get behind the wheel of an original Quattro from Audi’s heritage Fleet was too much of a temptation! They sent me the kit, I set the fastest time and my prize was duly delivered for a long weekend of four-wheel drive fun. The car was from 1990, so a mere 30 years old… and coincidentally almost the same age as my first car – a 1991 Ford Escort. This car was a little more powerful than my (t)rusty old Escort though, and there’s no way my Escort is now worth just shy of £50k. First impressions when it was The Local Answer
reversed off the delivery truck was that the pearlescent paint was stunning in the sunshine – it doesn’t photograph well, so the photo doesn’t do it justice. But it was great, and that massive boot just oozed ‘performance coupe’. So what was it like to drive, considering this was a car that originally had 220bhp and a 060 time of under six seconds? It was probably still going to be quick. The sound of the turbocharger was immense – whining as it spooled up the power and delivering it to all four wheels. It was clear that this was an iconic car from history.
An A n impressive impressive llevel evel o off e electronics lectronics But is it practical in today’s world? It boasts an impressive level of electronics, given its pedigree – an all-digital dashboard and speedo was positively futuristic in the 90s, and while basic, the trip computer functioned much as you’d expect To advertise call 01242 510500
from a more modern machine. The steering was brilliant – precise around the bends, which isn’t surprising given it was designed for rallying, and the power and gearbox have stood the test of time as well. The brakes, however, are clearly dated. They worked fine, but took a little bit of acclimatisation. So if you’re in the market for a practical and appreciating classic – and have a spare £50k to throw at what would have to be your second car – the Quattro will give you a lot of fun while remaining pretty firmly planted on the road. It’s not as quick as a modern hot hatch, and a fair few of those 220 horses under the bonnet have probably long since fled the stable, but it still has enough to draw smiles from people outside the pub as you drive past, turbo screaming. My kids loved it, my wife hated it. Me? I was firmly in the first camp! It’s a legend and will remain so for quite some time. Page 11
Quick Q uick Crossword Crossword A ACROSS CRO SS 1 Privileged class 7 Former soldiers 8 Edible organs 10 Horseracing track 12 Entitling 14 Moved through water 16 Tasks 17 Scraps 20 Pop instrumentalists 23 Finnish steam bath 24 Highly charged 25 River-mouth land
DOWN D OWN 1 Develop 2 Rupture 3 Measure (out) 4 Furnishing scheme 5 Diminishing 6 Admiration 9 Large spoon 11 Partly cooked 13 Gesture of assent 15 Radiates 16 Sharply serrated 18 Musical composition 19 Taunts 21 Curved-bill bird 22 Auction
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P Parenting arenting & G Guardianship uardianship w with ith R Roberta oberta S Smart mart
L Light ight u up p tthe he d dark ark d days ays Its dark out there, isn’t it? The evenings draw in quicker and quicker and it can be easy to feel hemmed in and frustrated – especially after the year we have had! So how can you bring more light into your life? November sees the beginning of many festivals of light: from Bonfire night and the Hindu festival of Diwali, to the American Thanksgiving and the beginnings of the Yule celebrations making themselves known. No matter your nationality or religious persuasion, midwinter calls upon us to bring in the light and in any faith, ‘Be The Light’ is a constant message. From decorating the house with lights through to trying to do a good deed every day; there are many ways we can ‘be the light’ in these dark times.
M Make ake sseasonal easonal d decorations ecorations w with ith o old ld jam and jam jjars ars a nd ttea ea llights ights A trip to the bargain store is a great place to start, where you can pick up cheap and
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cheerful decorations for your home. Get the kids making seasonal decorations, maybe decorating old jam jars and popping tea lights inside. Or if you are really crafty, collect autumn foliage to create a centrepiece for the table with conkers, pinecones, greenery and ribbon, then place a sturdy jar candle in the middle. Candles can then be lit with a touch of ceremony at mealtimes, whilst settling down or gathering as a family. If you are not into ‘Prayer’ as such then lighting a candle and sharing things you are grateful for, what good thing happened in your day or sending our wishes for others far away to be happy and healthy, are great ways to bring a sense of joy and togetherness into our lives. As I have mentioned before, a little ritual goes a long way to bringing people together and can grow into a To advertise call 01242 510500
beloved family tradition. Taking time to centre our thoughts and focus on good things is really great for our mental health as well, and no matter how stressed or difficult your day may have been, there is always something to be grateful for.
Help H elp cchildren hildren who who may may sstruggle truggle w with ith anxiety anxiety If you have kids who are struggling with anxiety, this can be a good way to ‘turn it on its head’ by first encouraging them to express what they do not like, then helping them to see how this could in fact be a good thing: Help them to understand that our struggles build character and resilience, helping us develop patience and empathy, and indeed if we never experienced the yucky things in life, the pleasures would be all the less sweeter. And remember my favourite adage: the Universe only ever acts in your favour and for your highest good! Now there is something to think about! Page 1
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IIn n tthe he Garden Garden w with ith JJulia ulia S Smith mith
C Clean lean up up your your garden garden tools tools Sadly, many Bonfire Night events have been cancelled this year because of the pandemic. Therefore, your garden may be in demand for a small, sociallydistanced family Bonfire Night. Now that autumn leaves are falling, keep your garden tidy by sweeping the patio and planting up extra pots with small evergreens, pansies and some bulbs to keep the interest going. Even if you only have a small audience, you’ll still want your garden to look its best! This is also a good month to take a long hard look at your garden. We are all guilty of hanging on to shrubs, trees or perennials that really are either not good doers, or are too big or ugly. If you are having trouble deciding, get the professionals in. It is better to start the process in the winter months than waiting until spring when everyone is rushed off their feet!
S Stop top tthe he b build uild u up po off p pests ests a and nd d diseases iseases One of the chores in having a greenhouse is that it should
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really be cleaned every year to stop the build up of pests and diseases, and to keep the glass clean for maximum light. A dry windy day would be ideal for this. Using a disinfectant such as Jeyes fluid, clean the benches, all the cracks and crevices which could house mealy bugs, and even wash through the gravel if you have it on your bench tops. This is one of those jobs that hangs over you like a big black cloud, but when you’re done it wi ll m ake yo u fee l wonderful. You will be tempted to bore your family and friends by taking them into your clean greenhouse to look round – don’t expect the same interest from them! Hybrid tea and floribunda roses need to be cut back by about one-third now, which will stop wind rock loosening the roots through the winter. Also cut off any dead, diseased or crossing growth. Leave the rest for the spring pruning. When the mowing comes to a To advertise call 01242 510500
halt later this month (although last winter the lawns seemed to grow all through the winter!) book your mower in to be serviced, thus beating the spring rush. Now is also a good time to clean and oil tools and send off secateurs to be sorted out if they are in a bit of a state.
Av valuable aluable late late source source off n o nectar ectar for for bees bees A plant that really adds to the garden this month is the Sedum Herbstfreude, or the Ice Plant, which starts early in spring with the fat rosettes of succulent, lettuce-green leaves, topped with salmon-pink flower heads in summer, maturing to pinkish-bronze then copperyred in autumn. This versatile perennial is a perfect filler plant for a sunny, well-drained spot. A valuable late source of nectar for butterflies and bees, the dried flower heads provide structure and colour in the winter garden and still look interesting in November. Page 1
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G Gadgets adgets & G Gizmos izmos w with ith L Laura aura N Nicklin icklin
W Winter inter w wonderland onderland o off g gadgets adgets As we look forward to the end of 2020, you may have only just started thinking about prepping for the Christmas holidays (after all, we have had a lot of other things to worry about). In the build-up to the festive season, check out some of these snazzy gizmos that can help you out.
Oblio O blio W Wireless ireless C Charger harger and a nd U UV VS Sanitiser anitiser Menkind.co.uk: £79 Now more than ever, it’s vital that we are staying as clean as possible. However, while you may be washing your hands and keeping hand sanitiser within reach, there’s a chance you’ve forgotten about another important part of your routine: your phone. Just think about how many times a day you tap away on your phone screen, leaving behind traces of bacteria. To ensure your phone is as clean as it can be, check out the Oblio Wireless Charger and UV Sanitiser. Not only does this gadget charge your phone, but it also kills up to 99.9% of germs in one short 20-minute The Local Answer
cycle. Give yourself one less thing to worry about with this clever cleaning gizmo.
Canon Z Canon Zoemini oemini Mobile Mobile Photo P hoto P Printer rinter John Lewis: £109.99 Nowadays, everyone can take photos on their phone and upload them to their social media in a few seconds. No need to bother with printed copies when you can get 100 likes on Instagram, right? But, if you’re feeling a bit oldschool and miss the nostalgia of a printed photograph to hang on your bedroom wall, then this nifty portable printer is the gizmo for you. The Zoemini from Canon wirelessly connects to your phone or tablet via Bluetooth to print photos that are smudge-proof, tear-proof and water-resistant! Its compact size also makes it easy to carry around, so no matter if you’re o u t a n d a b o u t , y o u ca n p r i n t your snapshots to your heart’s content. You can also have fun with the filters available with the Canon Mini Print app. And, if you want to stick your photos up, just peel off the back to uncover the sticky side. With this gadget, you can create a whole collage of treasured memories that you won’t find online.
cold winter nights creeping in, you’d be forgiven for falling behind on your fitness regime. Worry not, however, as there are still ways to stay motivated from the comfort of home. With the Activ5, you can exercise anywhere! Get fit and strengthen muscles with the Activ5’s 5-minute, low-impact, full body workouts. All the workouts will be personalised to your own fitness level, so don’t panic if you’re only a beginner! At just 136g, this device will fit neatly into your home. Just connect to your Android or iPhone to get started. With over 100 workouts to choose from, you’ll be spoi lt for choice.
Activbody A Activbody Activ5 ctiv5 Fitness F itness System System Apple: £124.95 Although the gyms are now open, many people may prefer to work out from home. But, with the To advertise call 01242 510500
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A APPLECRUSH PPLECRUSH C CONSTRUCTION ONSTRUCTION
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IInterior nterior D Design esign w with ith G Gill ill G Greenwell reenwell
N Nordic ordic sstyle tyle ccosy osy The Scandinavians have it all worked out when it comes to surviving cold winters and staying indoors. When I think ‘cosy’, Nordic style always comes to mind. Here are a few Skandi tips to help you create a warm, inviting space to while away those cold winter evenings at home. Their word for it is ‘Hygge’ – “a warm, cosy feeling embracing life’s pleasures” – something we all need to feel at this time of year.
IInspired nspired b by yn nature ature Nordic design is rooted in nature. The latest interior trends increasingly draw inspiration from natural themes, using sustainable materials sourced locally. Think warm wood or stone floors, exposed bricks, and mid-century furniture W made from teak. The latest A//W 20 interiors ranges all feature cane, bamboo and rattan.
M Modern odern rrustic ustic The modern rustic look is a perfect example of Skandi style. Think calm wall colours painted soft grey or dusty pink, and wood furniture paired with
soft wool or sheepskin throws and textured lamps. To be really on trend, include some brown in your scheme – perhaps a Sixties style toffee coloured distressed leather sofa. Yes, brown is back! Check out the Cox and Cox website for inspiration. I particularly love their coffee table made of reclaim ed oak – a perfect addition to a winter sitting room.
Bringing B ringing n nature ature indoors indoors Greenery is key to this look and green plants create a lovely woodland feel. I love fresh flowers in the house, and dried flowers are having a moment too so you can mix the two. I use lots of natural foliage from the garden or hedgerows to bulk out my arrangements, which costs nothing. If you’re feeling creative, make dried flower pictures made from pressed flowers or frame a group of cheap botanical prints to add some character to a blank wall. Look up Pinterest for ideas.
Crafty C rafty u upcycling pcycling Being sustainable is fundamental to Skandi style. “Don’t
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buy new if you can get good second hand items or already have things that work”. Look for pieces with a history or made from recycled materials using traditional craftsmanship. I had an old stripped pine chest re-painted in a deep mahogany brown with new handles. It now has pride of place in the hallway of my daughter’s flat. Look out for vintage cane or rattan pieces, and give them a contemporary twist with a vibrant colour like deep blue or emerald green.
A Add dd a ccosy osy N Nordic ordic ttouch ouch For that final Nordic touch, make your home really cosy and comfortable this winter by installing a natural wood burner. Always have plenty of candles – they create instant atmosphere. My favourite has a smoky scent just like a log fire. And don’t forget those antlers on the wall and a sheepskin rug on the floor. Now just relax with a mug of hot chocolate, a blanket and a good book, and you are sure to be snug and happy at home when its freezing outside.
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Let Let u uss help help y you ou keep k eep your your home home warm warm
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Qualifying benefits: Q ualifying b enefits: • Armed Forces Independence Payment • Attendance Allowance • Carer ’s Allowance • Child Benefit • Child Tax Credits • Constant Attendance Allowance • Disability Living Allowance • Employment Allowance (ESA) • Income Support • Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefits • Jobseekers (JSA) • Pension Guarantee Credit • Personal Independence Payment • Severe Disablement Allowance • Universal Credit (in the last 18 months) • War Pensions Mobilittyy Supplement • Working Tax Credits
Don’t Don’t rreceive eceive one one of of these these benefits? benefits? You Y ou may may still still be be eligible eligible What What iiss FFlex? lex? It is eligibility through council NHIS (New Home Incentive Scheme) where councils must hit their targets on reducing carbon emissions. This is for households who do not receive any of the listed qualifying benefits.
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Don’t replace the Frames ... just the Panes! Broken B roken or or Damaged Damaged Windows? Windows? Hinges, Handles orr LLocks? FFaulty aulty H inges, H andles o ocks? Want W energy saving saving glass? glass? ant the the latest latest ‘A-rated’ ‘A-rated’ energy 10 guarantee new double glazing! 10 yyear e ar g uarantee on on n ew d ouble g lazing!
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Index of Advertisers HEALTH & BEAUTY
Home Care Roofing 16 WINDOWS, DOORS & 5 Marshalls Driveways 18 CONSERVATORIES WB Home Improvements 18 Albany Windows 20 & 28 INFORMATION Clearway Windows 25 Glos Constabulary 14-15 CLEANING SERVICES Misty to Clear 24 Regency Rapid Clean 5 NHS Gloucestershire 7 PROFESSIONAL FURNISHING & HOMES & GARDENS SERVICES APPLIANCES BATHROOMS CARE SERVICES AW Fireplaces 22 Lifestyle Bathrooms 22 9 22 Care UK Severn Vale 8 & 27 Bella’s Interiors 16 Dream Doors 2 Mums to the Rescue BUILDING SERVICES CHARITIES A1 Roofing 18 GARDEN SERVICES Let’s Be Clear Campaign 4 Lawn Doc 18 Applecrush Construction 21 HOUSE CLEARANCE C&G Paving 16 HEATING & PLUMBING Dykes Builders 16 The Eco 3 Scheme 24 Yes to Mess 18 The 1:1 Diet
MOTORING SERVICES Bridgend Garage 10 PUBLISHING Guy Sheppard 10 Lois Kingscott 12 REMOVAL SERVICES Little White Van Man 5 SKIP HIRE & RECYCLING Stevens Recycling 26 To advertise your products or services, please call
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