Plympton Magazine March 2022 by OM Plymouth Magazine

March 2022 | Area 3

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G P SERVICE We caught up with Geoff and Carolyn, owners and founders of G P Service on their 15th anniversary of the business

BASE CONCEPTS Ben Hinchliffe, owner and founder of BASE Concepts tells us all about his award winning building company based in Plymouth

GREENS OVEN CLEANS We hear from Trevor Green, owner and founder of Greens Oven Cleans to understand how his oven cleaning business has saved his life

GREENSCOMBE ACCOUNTING We hear from Jon, owner and founder of Greenscombe Accounting who tells us all about his trustworthy and affordable service

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Editor’s Note... I am so pleased to see the arrival of March and I’m hoping it’s going to bring fewer storms and a lot more flowers and blue skies! Inside the March edition we have four business profiles, a huge section all about International Women’s Day, a kitchen organisation and refill guide as well as some affordable Mother’s Day gift ideas. We spoke to Geoff Pithouse from G P Service to learn more about his fire extinguisher company and how the change in business came about. The owner and founder of Greens Oven Cleans, Trevor Green, tells us all about how his illness has shaped his career and whi he feels so lucky to be working in the industry that he does. Ben Hinchliffe of BASE Concepts speaks to us about the award-winning building company that he created. We caught up with Jon Lambert from Greenscombe Accounting to find out what makes him unique to other accountants in the local area. I hope you enjoy this March edition!

Amy

Amy Fry - Editor

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Contents

plympton@o

March 2022

The Plympton Community Magazine, Oracle Publications, Unit 5, Bowker House, Lee Mill, Nr. Ivybridge, PL21 9EF

Russells Flooring

Tech Surveys

Copyright © 2021 The Plympton Community Magazine. All rights reserved. Nothing in this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without the expressed written permission of the publisher. We have done our utmost to ensure that all the content is correct and accurate at the time of print, but we emphasise that Oracle Publications accepts no responsibility for any mistakes or omissions in this publication. All opinions expressed in The Plympton Magazine are that of the individual contributor and are not always shared by the publication.

G P Service

Organising Your Kitchen

Greens Oven Cleans

Oven Wizards Plymouth

Shapla Balti Cuisine

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

International Women’s Day

Greenscombe Accounting

20 Spring Recipe Ideas

March Horoscopes

Dream Doors

BASE Concepts

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a member of the Fire Protection Association and G P Service is a member of the UK Fire Association. Geoff’s attitude to want to learn more have resulted in further qualifications and he has carried out asbestos training, health & safety training and has been DBS checked. G P Service has gone on to receive two business awards in 2016 and 2018! Owners Geoff & Carolyn Keeping the southwest safe from fires is at the forefront of Geoff and Carolyn’s business as proud owners of G P Service. The professional and friendly husband and wife team are about to celebrate 15 years of trading as G P Service therefore we thought we’d catch up to help them celebrate this huge milestone. It has been 5 years since we last caught up with Geoff and Carolyn and a lot of changes have been made since then.

healthy work/life balance is a key aspect of Geoff and Carolyn’s enjoyment of their job which has influenced some big changes within the business. G P Service now operates on a planned work schedule rather than responsive; therefore, they have transitioned from their appliance repairs and servicing trade and said hello to the fire extinguisher industry. This new chapter of G P Service comes as a breath of fresh air to Geoff and Carolyn as they are able to control the workload and plan their week in advance. The change of direction came after spending some time away at their caravan in Cornwall back in 2018. Geoff had been issued with some of the PAT Testing for the holiday park previously and they had asked Geoff if he could help service and supply fire extinguishers. At this point in time, Geoff was trained to do PAT testing however, he hadn’t sat the relevant exams or gained the qualifications required to help out with the fire extinguishers. This sparked an idea to take on this trade alongside appliance repairs and PAT testing. Geoff underwent a training course provided by the FPA at the fire service college and gained fire safety and extinguisher servicing certificates which he refreshes every three years. Geoff is now a qualified engineer after sitting the BAFE examination and

With the natural decline of appliance repairs, the business gradually shifted to predominantly fire extinguisher work & PAT testing which Geoff was ready and excited for. This meant that Geoff and Carolyn could spend more quality time with their three boys and adopt a steadier pace of life. G P Service stocks all types of fire extinguishers and fire blankets from the Commander & Titan ranges, they also offer PAT testing and servicing and refilling of fire extinguishers. If you are unsure of the fire extinguisher requirements of your building then you can book a site visit and Geoff will personally assess your building and advice you on what extinguishers you may need. G P Service will always provide a tailored quotation of servicing costs for your business, they also sell new fire extinguishers.

G P Service NEW extinguisher prices • 6-litre water fire extinguisher: £32.99 • 6-litre foam spray fire extinguisher: £38.99 • 2kg C02 fire extinguisher: £42.99 • 1kg powder fire extinguisher: £18.99 • 2-litre multichem fire extinguisher: £39.99 • signage, stands and fire blankets are also available G P Service will always offer you a fair price which will be fixed. They are a 100% trustworthy service that will never convince you to purchase more than is required. After the Grenfell Tower disaster of 2017, we have all become more aware of the dangers that electrical equipment can have. The urgency of fire extinguishers and fire prevention such as PAT testing of electrical equipment had surged in demand and G P Service feels a certain amount of responsibility and pride to provide this service to the people of Devon & Cornwall. Geoff can leave a client knowing that he has done a good job and feels a sense of relief that he has done all he can in order to prevent a dangerous fire.

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The most common fires in homes tend to start in the kitchen, however, overloaded plug sockets, hair straighteners’s left on beds, portable heaters and tumble dryers are all very common starters of house fires. Surprisingly, there are no laws towards fire extinguishers in domestic homes however, Geoff advises that the minimum you could have in your home is a fire blanket in the kitchen and a small multi-purpose extinguisher in your garage. And more importantly, is to make sure you have smoke alarms that are correctly placed and working.

If a fire starts in your home you need to 1. Get out 2. Stay out 3. Call 999 as soon as it is safe to do so Dont try to fight the fire you could put yourself and others in danger & try to shut doors behind you on the way out.

Fire extinguisher legislation for businesses is stricter therefore it’s worth getting G P Service to assess your building to make sure you have the right extinguishers in the correct places for that extra peace of mind. For a regular office, the minimum requirement is to have two class A extinguishers per floor each with a 13A rating. These will need to be commissioned and serviced annually to the relevant British Standards to comply with `The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005`, also known as the RRO. If you are in doubt of which fire extinguishers you need for your business or home, Geoff is always happy to help either over the phone by email or during a site visit.

Not only do they provide brand-new fire extinguishers but they also refill and service used ones which work out a lot more affordable and environmentally friendly. The family-run business is a local service that covers the whole of Plymouth and can reach as far as Tavistock, Callington, East Cornwall and the South Hams. They are prepared to go further afield for larger jobs however the call-out cost will reflect this. Although they are a small business, they are more than capable to take on large jobs and will carry out the same professional and friendly service no matter the size of the job. The team consists of Geoff who is BAFE qualified and does all of the servicing, installation and refills. Carolyn is the brains behind the business and will book you in for a call-out or a service either over the phone or via email. Carolyn is also trained to be able to PAT test and so is their oldest son who is happy to help out as and when is needed. Geoff and Carolyn believe in personal service. At present, they have no plans to expand the team because they love the current work/life balance that they worked so hard to achieve all these years. G P Service is fundamentally a local, family business that is here to give the community as much protection as possible from future accidents. Geoff and Carolyn are the faces and the brains of the business who pride themselves on being friendly, knowledgeable and professional and want nothing more than to carry on providing their exceptional service for years to come.

Contact G P Service:

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Faced with the brutal discovery of his illness, Trevor knew that he needed to make some changes in his life in order to keep on the right side of the disease. PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com Making the decision to start an oven cleaning business in 2013 became the best choice he ever made which has continued to have a positive effect on his health, both mentally and physically. We caught up with Trevor Green, owner and founder of Greens Oven Cleans to find out all about the local oven cleaning company and how it has changed his life for the better.

Owner and founder: Trevor Green Oven Cleans. With his expert knowledge and the help of old and new customers, Trevor built up Greens Oven Cleans to what it is today.

Greens Oven Cleans offers affordable cleaning services on all domestic ovens, microwaves, hobs, extractors as well as, Agas and Ranges. Trevor has also cleaned commercial ovens for local pubs and eateries. However, he can’t clean extractors revor was in the upholstery trade when he was in commercial settings as they have specific diagnosed with COPD (Chronic Obstructive requirements. He has also cleaned for holiday lettings, Pulmonary Disease) which is a group of rental properties and domestic science ovens schools lung infections that causes breathing difficulties. in Plymouth. He realised something needed to change with his lifestyle as he couldn’t do much heavy lifting An oven will typically take Trevor 1 ½hrs – 3hrs anymore. A slower pace of life and minimal stress depending on the size. Taking his time and providing were top priorities for Trevor on the search for a that extra attention to detail is what sets him apart new career path. from other cleaning services in the Plymouth area.

One afternoon Trevor’s cousin was at the school gates waiting for his child, when a friend mentioned that he knew someone who was selling an oven cleaning franchise. And the rest as they say is history He immediately underwent training to complete various oven cleaning courses to be able to confidently clean the ovens of Plymouth & the Southwest. To Trevor, cleaning ovens is more than just a luxury service that he provides to the community, it is fundamentally a lifesaver that keeps him happy and healthy. After 5 years working as a franchisee, he decided that it was time to go at it alone and start his own business up from the beginning. Affordable pricing is something Trevor believes very strongly in therefore, he took his experience and knowledge with him and set up Greens Oven Cleans. He was unable to bring any of his customers from the franchise across to his new business. However, his customers were so pleased with the job he had done previously, some of them naturally moved to Greens

His illness has made him slow right down and adopt a steadier pace of life which, in a way, is a blessing as he is able to take his time and give each oven he cleans extra care and attention. This means he can make your oven look like it has just come out of the showroom! Some jobs are more troublesome than others but Trevor will never turn down a job that is offered to him. However long it takes, he will try his best to make it as clean as he can which is a very high standard. Communication and honesty is something that Trevor believes very strongly in as he knows that the level of his work is exceptional, therefore he strives for a good customer relationship.

Greens Oven Cleans labour rates • • • •

Single oven - £47.50 Double oven - £57.50 Hob - £10 Extractor - £15

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recycled plastic. He is a local service therefore his carbon footprint is far smaller than large corporate companies. Trevor will only take on two oven jobs per day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Because of his illness, he doesn’t want any added stress for himself therefore he can focus on the job and do it to the best of his ability, rather than trying to fit in multiple jobs in one day and rushing the process. Before

After

Trevor always tries to offer you a fair price, that is reasonable to the high standard finish and personal service that you receive.

“

The best bit of feedback he continually receives is,

”

Wow, I didn’t realise it could come up like that!

Having your oven cleaned is a luxury service as you can of course clean it yourself with some elbow grease but who wants to be spending their day off scrubbing a dirty oven? Trevor is happy to take the chore off your hands and bring it up to a standard that you may not be able to get when done by yourself. To understand the true value of Trevor’s work, you have to use the service to see what he can do. I can assure you that you will be questioning if Trevor has snuck out to the shops and bought you a new oven, it’s that clean! Not only does it make the oven look brand new and you can see what you’re cooking, but it can also enhance the performance of the oven. Without all of the excess dirt and grease, your oven will take less time to heat up, it will cook food faster and have a longer shelf life if looked after properly. If left uncleaned for long periods of time, the residual grease and grime could potentially lead to a fire so it’s important to have your oven regularly cleaned. Trevor would recommend you have your oven cleaned at least once a year on average, but that can vary depending on your own needs. Greens Oven Cleans try to be as eco-friendly as possible. Trevor uses biodegradable and fume-free products and recycles all of the cleaning bottles. The majority of the plastic he uses is made from

The job satisfaction is clear and he enjoys seeing the transformation of what a good few hours of elbow grease can do. ‘The reaction of his customers when they see their oven spotless again is priceless!’ – Trevor Green Trevor covers an area across Plymouth, Plympton, Ivybridge and as far as Liskeard, Looe, Tavistock, Callington and Kingsbridge. There is typically a two-week wait to have your oven cleaned by Trevor, however at busier times this may be longer, customers often rebook for 6 months or a year in advance because they know how popular Trevor’s services are The physical element of the job means that Trevor is constantly kept busy and fit without pushing his body too far. Trevor wants to be able to keep cleaning the ovens of the southwest for as long as his illness will let him. He has spoken to the doctors who have advised him to undergo an operation to remove the lower part of his lung however, they don’t want to do that if he is still healthy and leading a near-normal life. Therefore, this job is much more than just a job, it is fulfilling his life and enabling him to carry on. Greens Oven Cleans is a professional cleaning service with an eco-friendly ethos that just want to give the people of Plymouth and further afield a spotlessly clean oven with excellent customer service without paying a premium rate.

trevgreen4@gmail.com www.ovencleaningplymouth.co.uk

07501 645208

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Preparing for what might happen is never an easy thing to do. We are here to help you. Woollcombe Yonge Solicitors are specialists in Will Writing, Trusts, Probate & Powers of Attorney.

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INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY March 8th is a day that belongs to all women, everywhere. International Women’s Day highlights how women all over the world have fought, and still fight, for gender equality.

he International Womens Day 2022 campaign theme is #BreakTheBias. Imagine a world free of bias, a world where stereotypes didn’t exist, a world without discrimination; this is the goal that millions of women around the world are campaigning for and they are asking that you join the fight to break the bias. Currently, women face inequality and bias in all parts of their lives and the workplace is no different. Inequality is even higher in women of colour, trans women, and women of marginalised groups. The coronavirus pandemic highlighted how disproportionately women are affected in the workplace. In 2020 alone, women globally lost $8 billion in income. Reports by Oxfam International showed that in the first year of the pandemic more than 64 million women lost their jobs, that’s around 5% of total jobs held by women. By comparison, only 3.9% of men’s jobs were lost in the same period.

Globally women make up 70% of the health and social care workforce, this sector includes essential but low-wage jobs. In 2022 women are still being passed over for high-paid roles and are still overrepresented in many low-wage roles, such as waitressing, childcare, and housekeeping. During the pandemic two of the main reasons that millions of women had to leave their jobs was the lack of childcare available and because the roles they held were the highest casualties of lockdowns. Currently, mothers are three times more likely to be responsible for the majority of housework and child care than fathers. Women are also twice as likely to worry about their work performance being judged negatively by employers because of their caregiving responsibilities. In the last few years, women have made significant gains in representation in the workplace but research shows that bias still contributes to women being passed over for jobs and promotions. It’s clear that we still have a long way to go, so in 2022 we need to campaign even louder. Employers and the government need to actively do more to break the bias women face in the workplace. 2022 needs to see the beginning of more options for women to retrain for higher paid job roles in all job sectors and companies need to offer more flexibility for women with families. Companies need to take women’s experiences in the workplace more seriously. Over 60 percent of women state they have faced micro-aggression at work but fewer than half report this behaviour because they are afraid of being labelled emotional or judged incapable. Companies need to educate staff members, including senior

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management, on appropriate behaviour and language to ensure that women do not face negative bias in their workplace. This International Women’s Day you can join the #BreakTheBias campaign and help call out gender bias and inequality. As women, we need to come together and actively challenge any bias we encounter. Don’t be afraid to call out inequality when you see it, awareness and education are the key pillars to ensuring that we end gender bias. For the whole of March why not use your social media platforms to celebrate the women in your life, share their achievements, tell them how proud you are of them, be their biggest fan. Never forget we are stronger together and by working together we will end inequality for all women!

Information regarding International Woman’s Day and how to join the challenge can be found at www.internationalwomensday.com

What our Plymouth business women have to say: Elsie Boo-tique - Paris Cooper Tell us a little bit about yourself and your business. My name is Paris, I started Elsie Boo-tique Wax Melts from my kitchen in lockdown! Being a huge wax melt and candle user myself, I noticed the brands I used weren’t lasting as long as I would like, so I made my own and ended up with lots of great feedback and repeat orders! Have you noticed any bias being a female business owner? I do notice some men don’t tend to take my business very seriously sometimes or are a bit condescending but I don’t know if that’s due to me being female or me having a predominantly female based target audience and a very feminine brand image. Have you noticed any positive changes to the way the world views female business owners? I love the fact more women feel that they can have the confidence to start their own business, It can be pretty

lonely and stressful, but there is so much more support now which is amazing! What would you say to a female reader who may be keen to start their own business? Do it! But be realistic and don’t expect instant results, it’s worth it to see your business grow and know you’ve done it all yourself! Woollcombe Yonge – Raegan Leather Tell us a little bit about yourself and your role in the business. I have been with Woollcombe Yonge for over four years now and work within the Wills, Trusts & Probate team. I have recently been promoted to Head of the Department and am now responsible for overseeing my team, driving us forward to achieve greater things. Have you noticed any bias as a female in a maledominated industry? I have been fortunate enough not to have experienced this within my industry as I have always tended to work under a female led team. The Managing Partner of Woollcombe Yonge is female, as are two other Heads of Department so female success is strongly supported and encouraged, and I would hope many other businesses also operate in this way. Have you noticed any positive changes to the way the world views females in business? There are so many successful high-profile women in business now who are taking the lead and creating the path for others to follow. The limitations previously placed on women are disappearing, with many being able to balance both a career and a family life, and it’s exciting to see more women in top roles.

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What is the one piece of advice you would give to a young woman just starting out in her career? Along with hard work, it is important to always have a positive attitude. Being around someone who is positive makes you feel that way too, and encourages people to work harder and achieve more. Nook Houseplants – Becca & Nieve Tell us a little bit about yourselves and your business. We are Becca & Nieve, and we own Nook Houseplants! We set up our website during the first lockdown and in April last year we opened our first physical shop on The Barbican in Plymouth. We’re a specialist houseplants shop, sourcing a range of indoor plants and pots for our customers, as well as some rarer varieties too! We also offer plant maintenance, corporate gifting, plant hire, wedding and party favours. Have you noticed any bias being female business owners? To be honest, we haven’t! The independent business community in Plymouth is a vibrant and diverse scene, and we have enjoyed being welcomed into it.

both being able to focus on Nook as a full-time job, rather than a side hustle. It’s great to be brimming with ideas, but it’s also ok if it takes you a while to get there. If you’re working with a business partner then figure out who is best at what and delegate roles, everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Instruct a good accountant/book-keeper and they’ll look after you and your businesses. And go and introduce yourself to other indie businesses owners in your area, find out who is keen to collaborate and allow yourself to be supported by others who understand how stressful going it alone can be! Trevi - Hannah Shead In celebration of International Women’s Day this year, Trevi, the leading women’s charity in Devon, is asking you to join their Shero campaign and nominate an awesome woman in your life. The charity believes now more than ever women need to be recognised and celebrated for social, economic, cultural and political achievements. Based in Plymouth, Trevi is a nationally award-winning women’s charity and employs over 90 women. The charity provides safe and nurturing spaces for women in recovery to heal, grow and thrive. Trevi’s vision is for a society where all women in recovery can access good quality, psychologically informed, gender-based interventions without apology.

Image: Dom Moore

Have you noticed any positive changes to the way the world views female business owners? It feels like there has been a positive change in the way that independent businesses are viewed in general, and that there has been a drive to support them over bigger, more corporate outfits, due to the challenges of the pandemic. We really appreciate that our customers choose to shop with us, take the time to leave us a review, and come back again - being able to offer a more personalised service as a small business feels like a win-win for both us and the customer. What would you say to a female reader who may be keen to start their own business? The key for us was starting small and building up to

In the 29 years that Trevi has been operating, the organisation has helped transform the lives of thousands of women and their children. Trevi supports more than 550 women and children every year who are affected by domestic violence and abuse. From rehab and health to housing and employment, Trevi helps any woman in recovery move from ‘surviving’ to ‘thriving’. Their centres include a residential rehabilitation centre for mums and their children, Jasmine Mother’s Recovery, a family assessment centre - Daffodil Family Centre; and Sunflower Women’s Centre, which supports women in recovery from addiction, mental ill-health, domestic abuse, sexual violence, and criminogenic behaviours.

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What would you say to a female reader who may be keen to start their own business? To any female owner who may be thinking of starting their own business, we would say “go for it”! CHESTNUT APPEAL - LESLEY-ANN SIMPSON Hannah Shead Hannah Shead has been Chief Executive of Trevi since November 2011 and says, “I am proud of the work Trevi has continued to achieve in supporting women and their children. There have been some high-profile tragedies recently that have shed light on the reality of violence against women and girls. Those working in the sector recognise that this is not a new phenomenon, and we work tirelessly to provide support and services to women who need us.” - Hannah Shead Halo Hairdressing – Julie & Sarah Tell us a little bit about yourselves and your business. Sarah and I have been a partnership since 2009 after Plymouth and South Devon coop decided to sell the non-food departments, including the salon that we both worked in. We have survived two recessions and numerous lockdowns! We employ our staff and we like to think of our business as a family salon, which welcomes all ages. Communication is key for a successful business, happy clients and staff and is more important than anything. Have you noticed any bias being a female business owner? Being female business owners, especially Sarah, who is younger than me and was only in her early twenties at the time we bought the business, we did notice at times, an element of surprise when dealing with either reps or workmen, when we needed services. In conversations I have been told, “we won’t explain in detail as you won’t understand “! In the earlier years, when asked if the owner is around, we have seen a look of surprise when we have explained that we are the owners! Have you noticed any positive changes to the way the world views female business owners? When buying our new premises, an old bank, we both detected an element of surprise when we turned up to meet some professionals quoting us for works needed. Partly as we were women and partly the younger age we think.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your business. I’m Lesley-Ann Simpson and have been at the helm of The Chestnut Appeal for Men’s Health for just over 18 years. The charity not only raises awareness of Prostate, Testicular Cancer and the little talked about Penile Cancer, the money we raise along the way helps us make a positive difference to men and their families right across the region, purchasing equipment, treatment and funding salaries for specialist nurses. We also run a prostate cancer support group. Have you noticed any bias being a female business owner? Personally no, or if there has been any bias I haven’t noticed as I’ve been too busy, however the national statistics show perhaps a different story. There has been some movement among chief executives in relation to gender, however according to the most recent National Council for Voluntary Organisations Almanac it’s fair to say that women are still significantly underrepresented in charity leadership. There are very few female leaders in the voluntary sector with only 43% of charities are led by female Chief Executives and Chairs, however this figure falls to 27% for charities with a turnover of over £10 million. As of 2021, the average median salary for men is about 18% higher than women’s. EXCALIBER - STELLA GOODMAN I started in financial services as a single parent of three children and am eternally grateful for my manager who saw my potential. So many women already have skills they can bring to the workplace - budgeting, negotiation, great organisational skills, bags of energy and enthusiasm - the list goes on. The trick is to make women realise their skill set and unfortunatly even in todays times, so many women underestimate themselves. To the end, I have always encourages women into my business and have been rewarded by great employees who are tenacious and loyal. I am proud to have given the opportunity to Asmi Stanley to join Excaliber as a mortgage advisor and for those who had the oppottunity to attend the conference on Monday 14th February.

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OUR FAVOURITE

SPRING

RECIPE IDEAS Valentines day is almost here therefore we have found our favourite date night recipe ideas to give you some inspiration to wow your date.

Creamy salmon, leek & potato (Serves 2) • • • • • • • • •

250g baby potatoes , thickly sliced 2 tbsp olive oil 1 leek , halved, washed and sliced 1 garlic clove , crushed 70ml double cream 1 tbsp capers , plus extra to serve 1 tbsp chives , plus extra to serve 2 skinless salmon fillets mixed rocket salad , to serve (optional)

ONE Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Bring a medium pan of water to the boil. Add the potatoes and cook for 8 mins. Drain and leave to steam-dry in a colander for a few minutes. Toss the potatoes with ½ of the oil and plenty of seasoning in a baking tray. Put in the oven for 20 mins, tossing halfway through the cooking time. TWO Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Add the leek and fry for 5 mins, or until beginning to soften. Stir through the garlic for 1 min, then add the cream, capers and 75ml hot water, then bring to the boil. Stir through the chives. THREE Heat the grill to high. Pour the creamy leek mixture over the potatoes, then sit the salmon fillets on top. Grill for 7-8 mins, or until just cooked through. Serve topped with extra chives and capers and a salad on the side, if you like.

Chipotle & lime prawn burrito bowls (Serves 2) • 1 red onion, finely sliced • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar • ½ tsp caster sugar • 250g leftover cooked rice • 1 lime, zested and juiced, plus extra lime wedges to serve (optional) • 4 spring onions, finely sliced • 400g can kidney beans, drained and rinsed • 198g can sweetcorn, drained • 1 avocado, stoned, peeled and sliced • 2 large tomatoes, finely chopped • 2 tbsp low-fat crème fraîche • ½ small bunch of coriander, roughly chopped • ½ tsp chilli flakes (optional)

For the prawns • • • • •

2 tsp chipotle paste ½ tsp honey 1 lime, zested and juiced 1 tsp olive oil 125g cooked king prawns

ONE Mix the red onion with the vinegar, sugar and a pinch of salt. Cover and leave to pickle for at least 1 hr or overnight. To prepare the prawns, mix the chipotle paste, honey, lime zest and juice and oil together, then toss in the prawns until they’re coated in the mixture. TWO Put the leftover rice in a large bowl and mix with the lime zest and juice, most of the spring onions and the kidney beans. Season lightly. Spoon the mixture into two shallow bowls. THREE Top the rice with the pickled red onions, spiced prawns, sweetcorn, sliced avocado, the remaining spring onions and tomatoes. Spoon the crème fraîche on top, then serve with the coriander and a sprinkling of chilli flakes, if you want it spicy. Serve the extra lime wedges on the side for squeezing over, if you like.

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Potato & spring onion breakfast pancakes (Serves 2) • 140g floury potatoes (weighed after peeling), cut into large chunks • 50g self-raising flour • ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda • 3 large eggs • 5 tbsp milk • 3 spring onions , finely chopped • 2 tsp sunflower oil , plus extra if needed • knob of butter • 6 rashers streaky bacon (smoked or unsmoked) ONE Put the potatoes in a large pan of salted water and boil until tender. Drain well, tip back into the pan, shake for 1 min over a gentle heat to dry them off, then mash and leave to cool. TWO Put the cooled mash in a bowl with the flour and bicarb. Whisk 1 egg with the milk, season, tip into the bowl and whisk until smooth. Stir in the spring onions, reserving some to serve. THREE In a non-stick frying pan, heat half the oil and butter until sizzling, then spoon in half the pancake batter to make 3 pancakes. Cook for 1 min or so on each side until browned and set underneath, then flip and cook the other side. Keep warm in the oven while you make 3 more pancakes. FOUR Wipe out the pan, add the bacon and sizzle until almost crisp. Push to one side and crack in the 2 remaining eggs – with a splash more oil if needed. Fry to your liking, then serve with the pancakes and bacon, sprinkled with the remaining spring onions.

Recipes from bbcgoodfood.com

Mushroom Soup

(Serves 4)

• 90g butter • 2 medium onions, roughly chopped • 1 garlic clove, crushed • 500g mushrooms, finely chopped (chestnut or button mushrooms work well) • 2 tbsp plain flour • 1l hot chicken stock • 1 bay leaf • 4 tbsp single cream • small handful flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped, to serve (optional) ONE Heat the butter in a large saucepan and cook the onions and garlic until soft but not browned, about 8-10 mins. TWO Add the mushrooms and cook over a high heat for another 3 mins until softened. Sprinkle over the flour and stir to combine. Pour in the chicken stock, bring the mixture to the boil, then add the bay leaf and simmer for another 10 mins. THREE Remove and discard the bay leaf, then remove the mushroom mixture from the heat and blitz using a hand blender until smooth. Gently reheat the soup and stir through the cream (or, you could freeze the soup at this stage – simply stir through the cream when heating). Scatter over the parsley, if you like, and serve.

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Ben Hinchliffe and his wife Kelly Renovating your home has become a number one priority for many homeowners since restrictions have been lifted. More and more are seeking to renovate to a higher quality finish with a view to increase desirability of their home for when it comes to selling, renting or just inviting friends or guests around. Many are turning to professional service providers to achieve this; however, this doesn’t come cheap which is why BASE Concepts take every part of the process into consideration, including a fair and honest price. The team of fully qualified tradespeople will be with you every step of the journey by offering you a premium quality service and finish, no matter your budget. We caught up with the owner and founder of BASE Concepts, Ben Hinchliffe to find out what services they provide and what makes them unique to other trade services in the Southwest.

n the beginning, Ben began his career path with the vision to become a graphic designer having completed a HND in Graphic Design at Plymouth College of Art & Design, however, after having worked a few temporary jobs, an opportunity arose to start up a recruitment agency with his family. Learning lots about running a business, customer relations and sales, Ben and his colleagues managed to build the recruitment agency up rapidly, however along with many other businesses the recruitment business sadly collapsed after the recession in the 90s. With the ambition to keep learning and trying new things, Ben went from working for another recruitment agency to then securing a sales job for a refitting company. During his time there, he gained a lot of knowledge of the trade as well as how to project manage a team of tradespeople. By increasing his understanding of the industry, he constantly thought to himself ‘I can do this better.’ and in 2008, he set up BASE Concepts. Within 6 months of trading as BASE Concepts and compiling a strong team of fully-qualified, skilled tradespeople, Ben received a phone call from a well-known, UK wide clothing company asking if his company could build some flat-pack furniture for one of their local showrooms. After a couple of very successful days building a considerable amount of furniture, the client was pleasantly surprised at what this independent, Plymouth based company could achieve. The quality of work Ben and his colleagues were producing led to an increasing and varying amount of work commissioned by the client, ranging

from shopfitting to on-call maintenance for a number of their stores throughout London and the southwest. A small business with the growth and the clientele of a large corporate business meant that they needed to hire more staff quickly. The sharp increase in business and the expansion of the company resulted in large financial growth. Within the space of 2 years, they went from small £150 office furniture jobs to around £180,000 yearly turnover. After working in the industry for a few years, Ben gradually picked up the carpenter’s trade whilst he project managed his team. In addition to shopfitting and maintenance, they also work on installations of kitchens and bathrooms as well as full refurbs on domestic and commercial properties. This is a large part of Ben’s business which brings in varied and exciting projects week by week. What’s unique about BASE Concepts is the relationship with their customers, keeping them constantly in the loop to provide an end result of something both the customers and the team are proud of that all falls within the projected budget.

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Ben told us during the interview that their ethos is ‘If we wouldn’t have it in our own homes then we won’t do it to someone else’s.’ Implying that the quality of their work is something they would be proud of in their own home. This is further supported by the company’s Buy With Confidence and Federation of Master Builders accreditations. If you hire BASE Concepts for your refit, Ben will manage and be in control of everything which means less hassle for the client and a more organised workflow. If any related services are needed, for example, plumbers and electricians, everything will still go through the project manager, Ben meaning the client only has to liaise with BASE Concepts, so it’s like having your own project manager for free. They have a team of 6 tradespeople, with 2 covering maintenance, 3 fitters and supporting sub-contractors are hired as and when they need them. They are all fully qualified with CSCS cards and are health & safety tested. This added security means that the build can run as smoothly as possible and to the highest standard. Essentially, BASE Concepts want to turn your vision into a reality, no matter the budget or the challenge. Ben will personally talk everything through with the client at the beginning, discussing the client’s wishes, wants and needs and will take into consideration their budget. They can design and sketch out ideas from the client’s vision as well as put forward their own ideas. Whatever the client wants, they will do their best to achieve it to the highest of standards. BASE Concepts are solutions-driven which means they will be honest with the client from the start and will even give the client options and ways to save money where they can. At the end of the day, all they want is for the client to be happy and for them to leave the house knowing they did a good job. Their core services for commercial properties include partitioning, suspended ceilings, dry lining and full fitouts. The services for domestic properties are endless as BASE Concepts will do anything to ensure the house of your dreams. The quality of work and the way in which it is carried out is loved and trusted by their loyal clients from all over the southwest.

ben@baseconcepts.co.uk baseconcepts.co.uk

“

With many years of experience in local building projects, we have earned a reputation as a dependable, no-nonsense solutions provider that consistently delivers results – on time and within budget. – Ben Hinchliffe

”

Although they are a local business, they will travel as far as London to Lands End so they are a very flexible service. The prices that one might expect to pay for a tradesperson in London is far higher than the rate they charge by being a Plymouth based company which has meant they have done a lot of jobs across London. A unique service that Base Concepts can offer the southwest is resin floors and worktops. Massively popular in the north of the country, resin floors and worktops are relatively uncommon in the southwest but are growing in popularity with interior designers. As seen on Grand Designs, resin floors and worktops are entirely bespoke and can be designed using a variety of different colours and patterns. They provide a whole host of benefits including being waterproof, stain-proof and they look flawless in a modern home. You can also get the worktops to match floors which creates a seamless look. One challenging yet rewarding project that Ben recently completed was the building of a bespoke bar complete with a floating decking area for a client in Plympton which involved a considerable amount of remodelling of the garden space before any physical building works could commence. The clients were very impressed with the final result and have a huge amount of respect for the team at BASE Concepts who made their dream a reality. BASE Concepts have a strong company ethos whereby their core value is to leave each client happy knowing that their job was done well, to the highest standard possible and on budget.

07947 564226

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ORGANISING YOUR KITCHEN Choose the slow and minimal way of living by heading to your local produce store and refill shop to restock your kitchen this month.

t is all too easy to close the door on your cupboard or pantry door and forget about it, but what if I told you that you could be saving money in the long run and helping to reduce waste. A well-organised kitchen is trending rapidly on social media and we are here for it! Although having a neat and tidy kitchen with no single-use plastic insight has far more benefits than just social media popularity. Let’s run through the benefits of an organised pantry. 1. Saves Money – You are more likely to eat the food if it is presented nicely and in air-tight containers which means you won’t need to head to the shops as often. Some products and food can be bought in bulk, ready for you to refill at home which works out cheaper in the long run. 2. Encourages you to refill instead of replacing – Take your empty reusable jars and containers to EarthKind Refills located on the Broadway in Plymstock to cut out single-use plastic and packaging completely. 3. Reduces food waste – You’ll spend less time fixated on those ‘use-by’ dates as you will be able to clearly see the quality of the food through the container.

4. Reduces stress- Everything is visible which means you won’t need to spend time hunting down any ingredients. Grab yourself a label maker to make it even easier! 5. Encourages healthy eating- All of your food will be easy to grab which means you will be more tempted to reach for the porridge oats or diced strawberries instead of a chocolate bar. Organising your pantry will make you more aware of the foods you stock in your home, if you are noticing there are more sugary snack options compared to healthy foods, then maybe it’s time to switch up your shopping list too. 6. Saves time - You will be able to visibly see how much is left in the containers so you can plan your next shop efficiently. 7. Looks aesthetically pleasing & organised – You will want to continue to refill your food containers because it simply looks great! No ugly packaging and oversized boxes insight! To re-organise your whole kitchen will take time, so start section by section to avoid getting overloaded. Firstly, you’ll need to group your foods together into categories as you would see in a supermarket. For example; Rice, pasta and pulses go together, dried fruits and nuts, and then flour, sugar and baking powder. This will help you later when it comes to finding the ingredients. You will also find that similar categories require similar-sized storage containers. Make a list of all the items in your pantry/ kitchen cupboards and what size containers they need to be stored in. There are lots of different shapes and sizes on offer and don’t be afraid to clean out any old jam jars and food containers – reusing is always better than buying new ones! The majority of herbs, spices,

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£2 OFF COME AND VISIT US ON THE RIDGEWAY! Order your fresh fruit & veg for delivery to the PL7 area!

• • • •

Sourced locally where possible Oﬃce Fruit boxes Gift hampers available Lots in store!

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*Terms & conditions apply. One voucher per customer. Vouchers cannot be exchanged for cash. Subject to availability. Valid until 30th April 2022. Fruity Roots reserves the right to discontinue at any time or modify.

Fruity Roots Here at Fruity Roots we hate waste and plastic! Daily deliveries from our Wholesalers mean we can keep stock to a minimum and reduce any wastage of food. That, coupled with our ‘Reduced to Clear’ areas mean we have very little food waste, with many items going for 39p or 99p (any cauli leaves or bruised apples etc. feed many happy guinea pigs and chickens!).

01752 348299 sl.kfruityroots@aol.com 72 Ridgeway Plympton, PL7 2AL sauces and oils tend to be already packaged in handy, reusable containers so there is no reason why you should decanter these and throw out the old bottles as that will cause more unnecessary waste. Storage options: Avoid reusable plastic if you can and opt for Glass, silicone, stainless steel or bamboo. There are hundreds of different sized storage containers out there, it’s best to have a look in-store or online to find what works best for your kitchen. Coordination is key to the most aesthetically pleasing kitchen cupboards. Baskets are also a brilliant alternative for hiding away any packaging to keep your kitchen looking neat and tidy. Whilst you decanter the items into the storage containers, make sure you label the contents and date them to avoid mixing up similar items. You can even put your fresh fruit and vegetables in storage containers for the fridge. Dice up and prep the produce before so that it saves time later. Make sure the containers are air-tight to prevent the food from browning too quickly. To avoid food waste, place the newest items at the back and the older items towards the front. Place the foods that you usually reach for every day towards the front, with the less frequently used items at the back for easy access.

Are we more expensive than Supermarkets? Honestly, in some cases, yes. However, our produce is so fresh that it lasts so much longer, saving waste and money in the long run. You can buy single items as and when you need them (so you can buy only one carrot, one parsnip and one leek for that recipe you have found). Some customers of ours plan their weekly meals, buying only what they need with zero wastage and zero plastic. Our produce is sourced locally where possible, so come and see us in store, meet the team and see what else we can surprise you with. Like our page on Facebook or visit our website to find out more. slkfruityroots.wixsite.com/mysite.

Earthkind Refills Earthkind Refills, located on the Broadway in Plymstock is a zero-waste shop with groceries, personal care and household items ready to be filled into your new jars. With over 500 eco-friendly products available, including; loose beans, nuts and pulses, refillable cleaning liquids and personal care items, there’s something for everyone. Bring your jars along with you to be refilled or buy one of their jars to add to your collection. Become a member and receive 10% off across all products every time you shop!

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GIFTING IDEAS FOR MOTHER’S DAY Showing your love and appreciation for your Mum can be tricky to convey so we have created a list of our favourite gifting ideas to help treat your Mum to the Mother’s Day she deserves. - Sunday 27th March 2022

lowers, chocolates and a big dose of appreciation are just what the doctor ordered this Mother’s Day. We have found the some brilliant gifting ideas to spoil your mum rotten this year!

Hampers Grab a cardboard box and some tissue paper or any kind of filling from your last online purchase and fill it with her favourite treats for example; chocolates, alcohol, socks, perfume, toiletries, jewellery and don’t forget a handwritten card. Wrap up the box with gorgeous wrapping paper, tie it up with a bow and watch the smile appear on her face as she opens it. Creating a hamper can be tricky to execute yourself if you don’t have much time or the right shaped box to begin with. There are plenty of pre-made hampers either online or in stores made by her favourite shop. And not forgetting those Mum’s to be, there are some gorgeous hampers on www.babyblooms.co.uk complete with a cuddly toy for the new-born and some fresh roses for the new Mother.

Personalised Gifts & cards

There are also lots of lovely options to personalise cards on Etsy.com that are made by independent makers and sellers from across the world.

GIFT CARDS When I say gift cards, I don’t mean a £10 gift card taken off the shelf at a supermarket. Have a think about the shops that your mum likes, the products she loves to use or something she has always wanted to do. You can get gift vouchers or gift experiences for just about anything nowadays!

Flowers A beautiful bouquet is enough to brighten up anyone’s day and is the perfect accompaniment to your chosen gift or card. Head to your local florist and grab either a pre-made bouquet or, in most florists you are able to pick and chose which flowers you’d like in the arrangement. Mother’s Day can be an exceptionally saddening day for those who have lost their mums. Adding some gorgeous fresh flowers to her grave or perhaps an artificial flower wreath to withstand the windy coast is a lovely heart warming gesture.

Plympton Photoshop is the place to be for Mother’s Day gifts. They offer a wide variety of items to personalise from mugs and cushions, to clocks and t-shirts and much more! Head to their website plymptonphotoshop.co.uk to have a browse and order your gifts. If you are wanting to think outside of the box, there are some other gifts that you can personalise, for example, an illustrated print of you and your Mum. These can be found on etsy.com and you can personalise the hair colour, clothing and text so that they really come to life!

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Sarah became self-employed in 2017 as her homemade lampshade business started to take off. Jon took on the bookkeeping to help Sarah get started on her new business venture. This sparked an interest and Jon found himself pondering the idea to join Sarah into the world of self-employment and repossess his love of numbers.

Owner: Jon Lambert

A numbers man from Plymouth began his career delivering post to his fellow Plymothian neighbours until discovering his calling in life after helping his wife with her accounts. A helping hand and a friendly face are the key attributes to Jon Lambert’s service as the owner and founder of Greenscombe Accounting, as well as a love for burying his head in paperwork! We met up with Jon and his wife Sarah to learn a little bit more about accounting and bookkeeping, his background and how Greenscombe Accounting came to be.

t all began back in secondary school when Jon completed a work experience placement with an accountancy. Maths was his primary focus during this time of his life and he was fascinated with solving problems and learning new sums. He landed a degree in statistics at Plymouth University however, it wasn’t what he had hoped it would be but he continued to study it until he graduated with a 2:1. Following on from the uncertainty of his degree, Jon was left clueless as to what he wanted to do. In a hunt for a job, he was offered a part-time Christmas casual job for Royal Mail. Gradually moving up the ranks to a managerial position, Jon experienced a lot of change during the 17 years he worked for Royal Mail which was where he met his wife, Sarah. In a search for something a bit different, Millbrook Healthcare offered him a job which included delivering patient medical supplies. The level of importance of this job was something Jon was proud to be a part of as he was helping the community whether it was with their mobility or their comfort in their last few days. He knew he was helping in some way which fulfilled him.

In December 2020, he gained his practice licence after 8 exams which took 12 months to complete and a lot of hard work. He started off gradually, continuing to work full time at Millbrook Healthcare whilst growing his client list on the side. By mid-2021, he had enough clients to leave Millbrook and take the business on full time. The name ‘Greenscombe’ was taken from a local wooded nature reserve near their home in Cornwall which they love to walk around.

Jon is now a certified bookkeeper and payroll specialist, fully licenced by the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers, and is qualified to take on the majority of work that an accountant would do except prior to a full company audit. Audit requirements are subject to the size of the business, not the knowledge and experience of the individual. Jon can also do payroll, VAT, self-assessment, corporation tax and year end accounts. Greenscombe Accounting is a local, independent business that offers a personal service with Jon independently running everything.

“

”

‘It’s me and me only. My clients have my complete trust in me to ensure their accounts and books are efficiently taken care of.’ – Jon

This also means that he knows exactly what needs to be done for each business and he can offer a more affordable rate compared to high-street accountants as there are no large overheads.

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dogs. The freedom that being self-employed and working from home has on their mental health and their quality of life is incomparable. A change of office space is a future thought for when their client list grows to a considerable extent and more space is required. At the moment, they are enjoying spending time at home with their dogs and living the countryside lifestyle.

Jon uses a programme that essentially builds a bespoke package for the client that they can amend to make it more affordable for them. The price that he charges will vary depending on what they need and the size of the business. He will always be transparent with the cost and there are no hidden fees. His previous managerial experience with multi-national companies allows Jon to see things from the business owner’s perspective and he is always able to make suggestions for areas of cost-cutting or saving money. Jon loves helping people in any way that he can. Often the clients who come to him either don’t understand how to keep their accounts, have more important areas of their business to concentrate on or need Jon to just double check it. Jon will either meet up and run through the business position with the client as often as they want or, if the client prefers, he will take care of everything behind the scenes. With the recent increase and improvements to remote working, Jon can take clients from anywhere in the UK although the majority are from Devon and Cornwall. He will set up an initial meeting to find out more about your business, discuss your personal requirements and offer a quote and after the first meeting, he doesn’t need to see the client again if they don’t feel the need. He is happy to meet anywhere the client requires including by zoom or teams if necessary. Jon has a wide variety of clients in industries ranging from trades to hospitality. He will take on any business no matter the size or the mess of the paperwork. Jon is more than happy to bury himself in paperwork and lift the weight off the clients’ shoulders. Jon and Sarah both work from home on their individual businesses in the countryside with their three rescue

jon@greenscombeaccounting.co.uk www.greenscombeaccounting.co.uk

As well as helping his clients, he also does the accounts for a charity which raises money for supplies to Gambia. In return, he receives promotional content and a whole lot of job satisfaction. Jon is very flexible with how you can contact him. Give him a ring, send him an email or drop him a Facebook message. He will answer any questions you have. Greenscombe Accounting is a small business and aren’t looking to take over the world. Jon simply wants to offer affordable accounting and bookkeeping services to those who need a little help. Being a naturally gifted numbers man, Jon is confident in the work that he does and it is well received by his loyal, recurring clients. But don’t take it from us, take it from his clients!

“ “ “

Greenscombe Accounting have been doing our books and returns for just over a year now and I am extremely happy with their service. Jon is very responsive, offering great advice and keeps on top of everything very well, allowing me to focus on the bits I am good at whilst knowing the financial elements and records are in hand.

” ” ”

Thorough and very knowledgeable with up to date practices. Gift aid claimed quickly. Nothing for me to worry about, all completed for me. Very good accountant, would highly recommend. Superb service and advice. Jon inspires confidence and is always on hand to help out with any issues. 100% recommend for all accountancy/ book keeping requirements.

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February 2022

Horoscope Predictions & Compatibility

Aries: March 21-April 19

Taurus: April 20-May 20

Aries, your career will work out okay while you will have minor issues with your finances. You and your partner will enjoy eachother’s company.

You will improve in your studies and focus more on your spiritual, physical and mental health. Do not fall prey to unwanted drama.

Most compatible with: Libra

Most compatible with: Scorpio

Gemini: May 21-June 20

Gemini, be diligent with how you spend your money this month. You will travel a lot for business purposes in March 2022. Most compatible with: Aquarius & Libra

Cancer, this month will see you communicating more with your partner. Your health will be excellent, while your platonic relationships with people will improve. Most compatible with: Pisces & Scorpio

Leo: July 23-August 22

Virgo: August 23-Sept 22

Most compatible with: Aries, Leo & Sagittarius

Most compatible with: Taurus, Capricorn & Virgo

March will see you want to become the best that you can be. Focus on the things that matter. Do not worry about all the things that you have no control over.

Libra: Sept 23-Oct 22

Your career will improve this month because of your hard work and determination. You should be proud of the person you are becoming. Most compatible with: Gemini, Aquarius & other Libras

Cancer: June 21-July 22

Virgo, your family, matters a lot to you. This month you will live in harmony. All aspects of their lives will work out fine because the stars are aligned in their favor.

Scorpio: Oct 23-Nov 21

Focus on the things that matter most such as your career, finances, education, and health. All other aspects of your life you can focus on later. Most compatible with: Cancer, other Scorpios & Pisces

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Horoscope Predictions & Compatibility Cont. Sagittarius: Nov 22-Dec 21

Capricorn: Dec 21-Jan 20

Most compatible with: Sagittarius, Aries & Leo

Most compatible with: Capricorn, Virgo & Taurus

This month you have great prospects for health, finances and career. You will also see some positive changes in your education.

Aquarius: Jan 21-Feb 18

You will need to take care of some things to enjoy excellent health. Family matters will not cause you headaches this month.

Pisces: Feb 19-March 20

This month will see you enlarge your social circle. Interact with different people and learn great things from them in March 2022.

Pisces, your career will be a little difficult this month. Your finances will be in check because of the financial discipline you have mastered. Family life will be fine.

Most compatible with: Aquarius, Gemini, Libra & Sagittarius

Most compatible with: Pisces, Cancer & Scorpio

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