South Warwickshire & The Cotswolds NOW - OCTOBER 2018

Warwickshire South

AND NORTH COTSWOLDS

Now

New Day Houses Extension at Rugby School

See page seven for more information KEEP YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA USE SAFE AUTUMN & WINTER TRENDS REDISCOVER THE SOUNDS OF YOUR LIFE OCTOBER 2018 | ISSUE 29

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HOMES • GARDENS • FOOD & DRINK • WALKS • HEALTH & BEAUTY • WHAT’S ON • COMPETITIONS

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Warwickshire South

AND NORTH COTSWOLDS

Now

08

14

Contents

20

OCTOBER 2018

HOME & GARDEN 08

Top Tips for the Perfect Candles

14

Handy Tips to Get Your Garden Ready for Autumn

18

Eight Million Pets Suffer Fireworks Misery

20

Nature’s Notebook

HEALTH & BEAUTY 22

Think Pink!

24

Autumn and Winter Trends

FOOD & DRINK 28

Recipe Green Cow Kitchen

SOUTH WARWICKSHIRE

NOW

01905 723011 nowmagazine.co.uk 2nd Floor, Richardson House 24 New Street, Worcester, WR1 2DP

28 EDITOR

DESIGN

Dawn Pardoe PW Media & Publishing Ltd dawn@pw-media.co.uk

Paul Blyth paul@pw-media.co.uk

ADVERTISING Mel Penkoks 01905 727901 mel@pw-media.co.uk Nikki Parsons 01905 727902 nikki@pw-media.co.uk

Bex Small bex@pw-media.co.uk

CONTRIBUTORS Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Glynis Dray Hanson Auctioneers Sue Ryder

National Pet Show House of Colour Ash Hearing Centre Alzheimers Society WCS Care Group Play Therapy Festive Gift Fair Green Cow Kitchen

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32 30 GOLDEN YEARS

36

30

Rediscover the Sounds of Your Life

32

Take Action to Reduce Your Risk of Dementia

34

Keep Your Social Media Use Safe

35

WCS Care Group

OUR EVENTS DIARY

42

36

Walks Vale of Evesham out to Offenham

37

Hanson’s Auctioneers

38

What’s On This Month

42

Competition Festive Gift Fair

COMPETITION WINNERS From the Jam S.Sime, Wellesbourne D.Heath, Shipston-on-Stour

Blaze Hair Salon

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J.Shardlow, Banbury L.Dean, Heathcote ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without permission. Colour transparencies, prints or any pictoral media for this publication are sent at owner’s risk and whilst every care is taken, neither PW Media & Publishing Ltd or its agents accept liability for loss or damage. No editorial submissions will be returned unless accompanied by a Self Addressed Envelope. DISCLAIMER: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that adverts and articles appear correctly, PW Media & Publishing Ltd cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused directly or indirectly by the contents of this publication. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of its publisher or editor. Please note that if you enter a competition in the South Warwickshire magazine your name and address may be forwarded to the host of said competition.

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HERE & NOW

And the Winner is...

Compton Verney!

Fundraising for Leukaemia Care bigger problem. So - I’ve decided to throw myself out a plane to raise awareness and funds in the vain hope that we can make a difference to people and their families who are going through the worst days of their lives. Please support as much as you can, £1 will make a difference! https://www. justgiving.com/fundraising/mel-penkoks Genna’s story: We’ve all been affected by cancer at some point in our lives and leukaemia is one that I have never known Both Mel & Genna work on South Warwickshire & North Cotswold NOW – they decided to raise money for people struggling with leukaemia.

much about. I was surprised to hear that Leukemia is the most common cancer in children and teens, accounting for almost 1 out of 3 cancers.

Below are the reasons they chose Leukaemia Care to raise money for:

Having two boys, I don’t know what I would

Mel’s story: Do you ever wake up and feel like you can’t be bothered to go to work or walk the dog? Everyday we moan about something, work is annoying, we’ve had a row with someone, got a hangover or the car won’t start. The truth is that these aren’t actually problems, 34,000 people each year are diagnosed with Leukaemia, cancer of the blood - I’d say that’s a much

is surely a step in the right direction! Any

do if anything like this happened to them but having charities like Leukeamia Care donation would be amazing so let’s see if we can make it to £500 for a well worthy cause while I jump out of a plane and potentially poop my pants! https://www.justgiving. com/fundraising/genna-mccann-taylor If you have a spare few pennies the sites are still open for donations.

The expertise of Compton Verney’s team of devoted volunteers has seen the cultural attraction triumph in this year’s West Midlands Museum Development Volunteer Awards during a ceremony at the Birmingham Hippodrome (11 September).

Compton Verney won in two categories; the Museum Champion Team Award, for its Forest School Volunteers, and the prestigious overall Judges’ Award.

Emily Medcraft, Compton Verney’s Visitor Experience Manager said: “This is a magnificent achievement that demonstrates not only how important our wonderful volunteers are to our operation, but also how the general awareness and recognition of the crucial importance of volunteers’ contributions to our sector is spreading. Without our volunteers’ invaluable expertise, enthusiasm and commitment, we would simply not be able to do half of the things we currently do. I would like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to all our splendid volunteers!”

In the Museum Champion Team and Judges Award for Excellence category the judges felt that Compton Verney’s team deserved to win because they had collectively utilised their varied life and professional skills to add an extra dimension to what the gallery offers to its many thousands of visitors.

The panel noted: “Without their support these activities wouldn’t happen, they work in all weathers, encouraging the next generation to become the audience of the future.”

Compton Verney was also finalists in a number of other categories - Warmest Welcome (Shuttle Drivers), Against the Odds (Paul Moss) and Collections (Ryan Young).

Compton Verney’s Chief Executive, Professor Steven Parissien said: “I’m absolutely thrilled that all the excellent work our wonderful and dedicated team of volunteers deliver as part of the visitor experience has been recognised in such a way. This is a terrific, collective pat on the back for them and every one of them should take individual pride and satisfaction that their efforts have been recognised with these two respected awards.”

For more information follow @ComptonVerney on Twitter, like the Compton Verney Facebook page or visit www.comptonverney.org.uk

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HOME & GARDEN

h T r

t s c t e f n r e e c P S e

o R F d s n p i a T s

m o o

ost m s ’ . fe of li diately e n e o are m imm s e l o and of a ro E c , PAG el rap THE e R w f E e e OV UED mer nge th h TIN s N CO ca ha or a e can c s i l l b Cha a cand f o s g glas Lightin l u f er s. ond lgence w a u Like ing ind ft upli

e p l o T Cand

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HOME & GARDEN

Luckily for us, we live in an age where

If you’ve ever been to a dinner party and had the main

there’s never been more choice or diversity

course hijacked by an overpowering candle, you’ll

in scents and styles available but caring for

know exactly how off-putting the wrong scent can be.

your candles isn’t as simple as striking a match and just

Approach candle shopping the same way you would

letting them do their thing.

approach buying a new fragrance for yourself. Consider

Beefayre’s founder, Sharon Jervis, says. “Use scent to create memories & improve mood”. “We all know the power of scent, and how it can evoke memories when least expected.

Candles are a great way of bringing such fragrances into the home, helping to build a snuggly blanket of memories

the occasion (is this a candle you’ll light when you’re entertaining or a candle just for you), the location (where are you intending to burn it? Will it be around food?) and the mood you’re trying to create (do you need a pep up or help chilling out?).

whenever the candle is lit. Candles are also a great way of

“If it’s being used around food or entertaining you should

creating memory through scent. For instance, selecting a

avoid burning florals, particularly rose and lavender, as this

signature scent for a wedding or special occasion through

can affect your palette and the food you’re eating,” says

the burning of candles, is a great way to travel back to such

Sharon. “I would recommend a citrus or woody scented

events in the days, months or even years following.”

candle for a dining setting.” Opt for citrus based candles

We asked our experts to share their expert tips on how to get the most out of your candles.

1. Choose a scent that suits the room Portmeirion’s Love Home Fragrance boasts an oriental fragrance featuring scents of red berries, white tea and exotic osmanthus flowers, leading to a sensual base of musk and vetivert. Perfect to enjoy over a home cooked meal for two, the six-piece collection includes a wax filled glass candle, wax filled glass candle with silver lid, 2 wick wax filled glass candle with silver lid, wax filled boutique tin, 200ml diffuser and a 250ml diffuser refill. n 10 | South Warwickshire and North Cotswolds Now | Issue 29 | October 2018

to lift the mood and look for florals and woody scents to wind down. Beefayre’s Waggledance collection features three fragrances that have been created to provide mood boosting properties: Bee Calm - Lavender and Geranium Promotes harmony and relaxation/Bee Happy - Orange and Jasmine Uplifting and mood boosting/Bee Kind - Rosemary and Neroli Revitalizes mind, body and spirit.

CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE

HOME & GARDEN

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HOME & GARDEN

2. Avoid synthetic ingredients Just like make-up, the ingredients a candle is made from will affect the outcome, most significantly the strength of the scent the candle “throws”. The scent of a candle unlit is called the “cold throw” whilst the scent it produces after lighting is called the “hot throw”. “On average a candle with essential oils will smell better and fill a room longer with the fragrance,” says Ashley from Aromatherapy Associates. “The candle should smell a little stronger when you burn it, but this depends on if the candle has been made from essential oils or synthetic ingredients.”

Aromatherapy Associates candles – which come in our inner strength and relax scents. They have a fabulous throw, are hand poured in the UK and are made from the highest quality soy wax with unbleached cotton wicks.

3. Don’t rush the first burn There’s a reason why your candles burn unevenly - you didn’t get the first burn right! “The first burn is the most important - you need to ensure the top of the candle has completely melted before you extinguish. This is because the wax has a memory, if you leave the candle with a small rim of wax, the candle will remember to only burn to this rim.” Burn the candle for a minimum of two hours on the first burn and then no more than three hours each burn thereafter. “After three hours the candle won’t throw any more scent, so you are just wasting wax. If you haven’t lit a candle in a while don’t panic if it doesn’t smell strongly straight away. “The perfume in the top of the wax may have evaporated so it takes a longer time for the candle to

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release a scent. The Aromatherapy Associates Relax candle transforms your surroundings into a haven of calm and serenity this this exquisitely fragranced candle is infused with West Indian bay and myrrh essential oils. Whilst their Inner Strength Candle evokes a sense of calm and inner peace to your surroundings with the fortifying combination of frankincense and cardamom to inspire. This candle will create an atmosphere to uplift the senses in any room.

4. Keep your wick short Once you’ve got an even first burn under your belt, keeping a close eye on your wick is key. Trimming the wick is extremely important for the life of the candle. The wick should be kept at approximately 5mm and should be cut 2-5 times depending on the size of the candle. If your candle has black smoke when it’s lit, then you need to trim the wick. Leaving the wick long will produce dark smoke which could stain your walls or furnishings if left to burn in confined spaces like bathrooms. The Charles Farris name has always been synonymous with London candle manufacturing steeped in a heritage that dates back to 1845, Charles Farris scented candles still use the same traditional methods from the Victorian era to make the best candles for modern day – slow-burning, long lasting and of the highest quality. As a Royal warrant holder and with our distinctly British identity we love their British Expedition Candle – with warm cloves and light ginger mixed with the freshness of sweet tobacco and mint tea. n

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HOMES & GARDENS

Handy Hints to Get Your

Garden Ready for Autumn With autumn on its way and a change in

like cancer, heart failure and lung disease. Take a look

the weather just around the corner, it’s

at Sue Ryder Shop’s five top tips on preparing for the

time to say goodbye to summer soirees

new season.

and alfresco dining for another year. The coming season brings its own unique set of challenges for your garden and with the competing pressure of the festive season, it can feel like a challenge to take care of your outdoor space without breaking the bank.

1. Store away garden equipment Store

away

summer

furniture

and

garden

equipment you don’t want ruined by the elements.

Metal items like barbecues can rust and become discoloured, while fabric furnishings can become

The Sue Ryder Online Shop offers the perfect

damaged. A smaller outdoor space might benefit

solution. Run by national healthcare charity Sue

from a compact shed or series of garden boxes

Ryder, the online shop complements the offerings of

to stow items away. The Sue Ryder Tall Wooden

the organisation’s well-loved network of high street

Sentry Shed in Grey and Small Garden Shed in

shops. Sleek, contemporary designs meet low prices

Stone will fit into the most bijou of gardens and

in its range of brand new products for the garden

awkward of corners, and with its neutral palette

and home; think storage solutions that look as good

and minimalist design, blend seamlessly with your

as they are practical, and garden accessories that

garden’s ‘look’.

add a touch of cheer in the gloomier months.

And you can feel good while you spend, too, as proceeds from all sales support the care Sue Ryder provides for people with life-changing conditions n 14 | South Warwickshire and North Cotswolds Now | Issue 29 | October 2018

2. Keep your home mud-free A country walk can be a tonic for the soul during the winter months, but a pile of muddy boots on CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE

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HOMES & GARDENS

your porch post-stroll is less than desirable. One way to avoid unwanted mess in your home is to invest in an outdoor boot store. The Sue Ryder Welly Boot Storage in Grey stores up to six pairs of shoes – ideal for larger families.

3. Add a dash of year-round colour Autumn is the ideal time to sow the seeds for next spring’s daffodils, tulips and hyacinths. But if you can’t wait until the warmer months to see some colour in the garden, a couple of Sue Ryder artificial hanging baskets will do the trick. Offering year-round colour, they won’t require the upkeep of the real thing.

4. Repair and protect fencing Give your fencing an MOT before the heavy rain and snow sets in. Check for any loose panels and repair fence posts to prevent bigger breakages.

A string of hanging lights, such as Sue Ryder’s 20-Piece Lightbulb String Solar Lights, will look great weaved between the posts as a finishing

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touch, and come the festive season offer a subtle alternative to colourful Christmas lights.

5. Log store A store of logs can be a useful and a rustic addition to your garden, whether you’re lighting the chiminea on cooler nights or stockpiling for Bonfire Night. The Sue Ryder Log Storage in Sage, complete with a hardy asphalt roof, will keep your logs dry and save on floor space with its tall, narrow design.

As well as offering express delivery and safe and secure payments on their selection of Outdoor Living and Garden Furniture, Sue Ryder’s dedicated online shop also offers free delivery over £50, a 30-day money back guarantee and a dedicated Customer Services Team. n The full collection Sue Ryder New Goods products is available at shop.sueryder.org

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HOMES & GARDENS

Eight Million Pets

Suffer Fireworks Misery

With over seven million* firework-phobic pets in the UK this year’s National Pet Show focuses on pet welfare, and the PDSA is passionate about raising awareness for how pet owners can prevent and reduce anxiety in their animals. If your pet reacts badly to the loud noises and flashes, then taking action now and getting them ready for bonfire night could prevent misery and suffering in the future.

a positive association.

PDSA Vet Olivia Anderson-Nathan said: “Anyone who has had a pet that suffers from fireworks phobia will know how challenging it can be. Pets have very good hearing so, for them, the loud bangs can be terrifying. Many shake with fear or hide away and in the worst cases they can toilet in the house, destroy furniture, and even cause themselves physical injury if they panic or run away.”

for the first time, then how that first experience goes

Olivia advises any owners with firework-phobic pets to take action as early as possible. Here are her top tips:

later life.

• Buy a CD that mimics similar sounds to fireworks and gradually introduce your pet to these noises. Begin with playing the CD on a low volume to slowly introduce them to the sound, and remain calm and act natural. Reward your pet when they remain calm, and if they become anxious then stop immediately and try again later with a lower volume. Once they consistently show no reaction, very gradually increase the volume and length of time you play the noises over a period of several weeks.

vet, who will be able to discuss various options including

• Build a fireworks den for your pet several weeks ahead – this should be somewhere they already feel safe. For dogs this may be behind the sofa or under a table – cover it with blankets and line it with pillows to reduce any sound.

Cats often feel safest when high up, so a safely secured cat bed on a shelf or wardrobe may be their preferred option.

Don’t force them to use this, but leave them some healthy treats there and reward them when they do, so they build

but with some advance preparation following some simple

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• Use pheromones – these release scents which are undetectable to humans, but have a calming, reassuring effect on our pets. They are available for dogs and cats, and can be used for several weeks leading up to fireworks season.

• If you have a young pet who will be experiencing fireworks (including how you react), can affect how they feel about fireworks for the rest of their life. Read up on the process of socialisation, which is when young pets are introduced to a variety of people, objects, sounds and experiences during their first few months. When done correctly, this can significantly reduce the likelihood of anxiety developing in

• For severe phobias, we recommend speaking to your referral to an accredited behaviourist.

For more pet welfare, visit this year’s National Pet Show on 3rd and 4th November, and a host of experts – including the PDSA – will be on hand to offer you support, including expert tips on how to help your pets feel happier at what can be a stressful time of year.

Olivia continued: “We can’t avoid fireworks altogether, steps, owners can make a big difference to the amount of anxiety and stress our pets’ experience.” n Visit www.pdsa.org.uk/fireworksready or visit the PDSA Petsurance stand at The National Pet Show on 3rd and 4th November at the NEC Birmingham. You can pick up your tickets for the show at www.thenationalpetshow.com

HOME & GARDEN

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NATURE Photo credit: Darin Smith

Halloween, Huddling up and Harvest Time As Halloween approaches thoughts turn to creatures of the night, fluttering bats and swooping owls. Owls are fascinating birds with heads that can rotate up to 270 degrees, asymmetrical ears and three eyelids! Their upper eyelid is for blinking, the lower eyelid closes when the owl is asleep and the third is called a nictitating membrane. This special eyelid moves horizontally outwards across the eye to protect the eyes when hunting, the eye is protected by the membrane but it can still see to catch prey!

The famous twit-twoo owl hoot is the call of a tawny owl, heard during the night and early hours. This is actually a male and female owl calling to each other - the female makes the ‘too-wit’ sound and the male answers with ‘too-woo’. Beautiful barn owls are successfully breeding in Warwickshire and checks done in 2017 found them nesting in 31% of the 420 boxes checked. These stunning birds usually hunt at night and have a distinctive screeching call.

Their hunting skills are enhanced by their superior hearing and they actually have lop-sided ears , with one higher than the other! This helps them determine where tiny sounds are coming from. Have you ever been lucky enough to spot one swooping across fields? Try areas of rough grassland and scan the edges, alongside hedgerows, for your best chance!

Winter for water voles Water vole numbers are in sharp decline and these cuddly mammals are at risk of extinction. With conservation efforts focused on improving their habitat and encouraging farmers n 20 | South Warwickshire and North Cotswolds Now | Issue 29 | October 2018

and landowners to do the same, there is still hope for water vole recovery. However, with winter looming numbers are about to experience their seasonal drop; predation, lack of cover and reduced food all cause problems.

Water voles are less aggressive and not looking for a mate to breed with in winter, so they’re more likely to gather together in burrows. This helps them keep warm through the colder months, spending much of their time sleeping underground and rarely venturing out. Rather like squirrels, water voles do not hibernate so need to make an underground winter food store of tubers, bulbs and rhizomes.

Your own winter store of goodies!

It’s the season of fruitfulness and harvest and especially for crab apples, the wild relation of cultivated apples! As they’re so variable in size and colour it can be tricky to tell when they’re ripe. The best tactic is to cut one open and check if the seeds inside are brown – then they are ready to pick. With their natural tartness crab apples are best cooked rather than eaten straight from the tree and being high in pectin they’re great in jams and jellies. Give it a try and concoct your own sauces, chutneys or the classic crab apple jelly. Perfect paired with lots of other ingredients try adding a cinnamon stick, star anise or even a few chillies.

And if you haven’t got enough crab apples add in some elderberries, rosehips or sloes. n

Louise Barrack, Communications Officer Warwickshire Wildlife Trust #staywild

Brexit – how will pensions be affected?

As the Brexit negotiations rumble on, we are no clearer as to what a deal with the EU will look like, if indeed a deal can be struck at all. The alarming fact is that we are now less than 6 months away from 29th March 2019, the date set for the UK to leave and there is still little word coming from either side as to the progress being made.

We all have a vested interest in the outcome of Brexit, whether that be how it affects our job and the companies we work for, employee mobility, house prices in the region or the cost of travel in Europe moving forward. We can’t directly control the positive or negative impact Brexit will have but if action is taken you can make adjustments to protect your invested pension and retirement monies.

Ultimately, many believe that Brexit is an event that will make the country less attractive as an investment destination.

As the graph below shows, the effects are already being felt with underperformance of UK shares against North American, European and Japanese shares over the past 3 years.

Brexit should have prompted investors who have their retirement funds invested in the stock markets to review their portfolio’s level of risk and importantly, the proportion invested in UK shares, particularly those people who are approaching retirement or have entered into a pension drawdown arrangement to access benefits.

Without action, extreme volatility and ultimately significant falls in the value of a pension portfolio can be devastating especially during the early years of withdrawing an income from a pension fund. This double-edged sword is quite rightly referred to as ‘pound cost ravaging’ and it is unlikely that a pension pot will ever fully recover. The inevitable result is

less income in retirement and so a poorer quality of life (fewer holidays!)

A diversified portfolio can help to smooth out the ups and the downs of the market and reduce the effect of market falls.

Furthermore, the portfolios that we advise our clients to implement are ‘globally diversified’, not solely UK focused. Also, the portfolios are actively managed and in the run up to the Brexit vote and the subsequent months following, our client’s exposure to UK shares has been steadily reduced across all portfolios. For example, a client with a moderate risk profile, now only has c. 10% UK share exposure and this weighting will be monitored and altered as required over the coming weeks.

My advice is simple; know the make-up of your invested pension portfolio and don’t leave it to chance. The investment journey in retirement doesn’t have to be a rollercoaster of emotions like Brexit could potentially turn out to be!

In addition to having a diversified portfolio, with market falls almost inevitable, it is important for investors to keep the following points at the forefront of their mind: • Investments need to be viewed as long term -any short-term volatility should sit well within your investment timeframe (the point you need your money).

• If markets do fall, remember you still own everything you did before (the same number of shares) and a fall does not become a loss unless you panic and sell your investments unnecessarily.

• Your investment behaviour should not change. It is market risk which over recent times should have provided you with a sustained period of investment growth. To change and alter your strategy therefore does not make sense.

John Taylor APFS John is a Chartered Independent Financial Adviser from Rothesay Bennett Financial Planning. He has over 10 years financial planning experience and is a qualified and practicing pension specialist. John qualified in London helping high net worth individuals and their families and now looks after a broad range of private and corporate clients in Warwickshire and the South East.

Rothesay Bennett’s financial planning advice covers several key areas, including: • Pensions & Retirement Planning • Investments • Estate and Inheritance Tax Planning • Protection

If you would like further information on how John can help you or to arrange a free initial consultation meeting please contact him on 07736835230 or email jtaylor@rothesaybennett.co.uk.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

Think Pink!

Super Facialist Brighten & Refine Facial Scrub (£8.99), www.superfacialist.co.uk

Sterling Silver Pink Tourmaline Orissa Bracelet £75 Anja Potze, 10 Friar St, Worcester, WR1 2LZ

Aromatherapy Associates Hydrosol Sheet Masks www.aromatherapyassociates.com

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Chanel Joues Contraste www.chanel.com

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Chanel Rouge Allure Ink www.chanel.com Chanel Le Rouge Crayon de Couleur www.chanel.com L’Occitane Roses et Reines Lip Balm www.uk.loccitane.com

Aromatherapy Associates Inner Stength Roller Ball www.aromatherapyassociates.com Chanel Rouge Allure Liquid Powder www.chanel.com

Erborian Pink Perfect Creme (£15), www.feelunique.com

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

Autumn and Winter Trends The high street fashions have changed a lot over the last year or so and we are seeing new silhouettes, cuts and shapes in the clothes available. When it all changes it is sometimes a bit tricky to know what will work for you, which items make good investments and how to put them together. Read on for an overview of the 5 new trends: Modern Tailoring: Suits, coats and jackets with strong shoulder lines are well and truly here with this look. Slightly androgynous and oversized cuts give an 80s feel to work wear and items that can be worn with jeans and knitwear for a smart casual look.

Checks and stripes: Having disappeared from the high street for some time, these are everywhere and on everything.

For a bang on trend look try mixing them up. You’ll find a range of pattern scales and colour ways including some fun brights for the coming season.

Animal Instinct: Pretty much every animal print you can think of is on trend this season. You’ll find them on jersey dresses, knitwear, chiffon blouses, hand bags and shoes. n 24 | South Warwickshire and North Cotswolds Now | Issue 29 | October 2018

Look out for some interesting colour ways and team items with leather and faux fur for a contemporary look.

Boho Chic: This soft feminine trend is here in floaty paisleys and florals in a variety of print scales. Look out for party wear, dresses and blouses in velvet and satin with embellished details. Team blouses with jeans for a more casual look and layer items up for when it gets cooler.

‘80s Glam: Mamma Mia it’s back! You may have noticed there has been a gentle drift on the high street towards 80s fashion. Well now it’s unmistakeably here and you’ll find them in party wear with strong shoulder silhouettes and lots of sequins and high shine satins. Look out for dresses, jump suits and blouses and ‘80s silhouette velvet jackets.

If clothes make the man, then accessories definitely make the woman.

It’s easy to think that accessories are the precious necklaces you wear to go somewhere special. But extras like that CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE

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HEALTH & BEAUTY beautiful belt or hair slide will make you feel great every day, even if you’re just nipping to the shops. Here’s our quick guide on why these little extras make a big difference and how to spot the

go and away from the bits that we are not so fond of. Often we want other people to focus on what we call the ‘communication triangle’, the area around the face.

perfect ones for you. Know what you really like Are you drawn to sparkle or shine? Or things that are textured or well proportioned and smooth?

You’ll save time and money if you know exactly what works for your body shape and makes you feel great. Some people want more bling to look amazing. Others prefer a simpler, paredback look. The same goes for the size of your accessories, from belt buckles to jewellery beads.

‘Chunky’ for you might be ‘delicate’ for your friend. Once you realise this, shopping becomes so much easier and more successful.

Highlight the bits you love Accessories are brilliant at drawing the eye to where we want it to

Enter beautiful glasses, earrings and necklaces.

But there might be times when you want to shift attention elsewhere, with a gorgeous belt or a pair of shoes in a wow colour. Little touches in the right places create visual proportion and balance – and make you feel fantastic. Love the way you look, all the time Accessories will transform any outfit and take it from day to evening. So if you’re dropping off the children (or grandchildren) to go somewhere special, and don’t have time to change, just add a stunning scarf, necklace or belt. Hello to instant loveliness. n Jane Brook House of Colour

n 26 | South Warwickshire and North Cotswolds Now | Issue 29 | October 2018

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FOOD & DRINK

Damson Parfait

with Honeycomb Crumb from Head Chef Mickey Provis at Green Cow Kitchens

Method Ingredients (Serves six) Parfait • 300g Damson Puree • 150g Sugar • 6 Egg Yolks • 75ml Water • 150ml Double Cream Damson Coulis (Sauce) • 400g of Damsons (stones removed) • 150g sugar • 200ml Water Honeycomb Crumb • 65g Golden Syrup • 90g Sugar • 1tsp Bicarbonate Soda

1. To make the parfait, boil the 150g sugar and 75ml water to 120°C temperature to a syrup.

2. Meanwhile whisk the 6 egg yolks until they leave a trail in the bowl.

3. Add the sugar syrup to the whisked egg yolks and keep whisking until cold and ribbon stage.

4. Whip the 150ml cream, then fold the 300g Damson purée and whipped cream into the egg mixture.

5. Place into small square moulds and freeze.

6. For the honeycomb, place the 65g Golden syrup and 90g sugar in a pan and bring to the boil.

7. Simmer until golden brown, then add the 1tsp bicarbonate of soda and mix. Pour onto greaseproof paper and, when cool, break into small pieces, like crumbs.

n 28 | South Warwickshire and North Cotswolds Now | Issue 29 | October 2018

8. To make the coulis (sauce) poach the 400g Damsons, bring the 150g sugar and 200ml water together until they reach boiling point, remove and liquidise whilst still hot, pass the pulp through a fine sieve and chill the coulis in the fridge.

To Serve • Ideally serve in a large deep bowl.

• Drizzle some of the chilled sauce into the centre of plate so it forms an even pool.

• Remove the parfait from the moulds and lay in the centre of the plate on top of the sauce.

• Place the pieces of honeycomb crumb in a circle on top of the parfait.

• Garnish with a fresh sprig of mint. n Crumplebury Farm Whitbourne, Worcester, WR6 5SG 01886 821992 (office hours) mail@greencowgroup.co.uk

t @NowWarwickshire | G South Warwickshire & North Cotswolds Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 29 n

GOLDEN YEARS

Rediscover the Sounds

Of Your Life

Hearing empowers us and enriches our lives.

Hearing enables us to socialise, work, interact, communicate and even relax. Good hearing also helps to keep us safe, warning us of potential danger or alerting us to someone else’s distress.

Whilst it is a fact of life that our hearing deteriorates over time, there are actually many different types of hearing loss which can also be caused by infection, blockage, virus, noise trauma as well as ageing.

For most individuals, changes in hearing happen so gradually they are hardly noticeable. In fact, research has shown that one person in 2 over the age of 50 has difficulty hearing clearly in background noise.

Many people endure poor hearing without realising that they can be helped – preventing them from leading a fuller and more enjoyable life!

Hearing loss is not the same as turning down the volume of a sound. What usually happens is certain sounds, tones, and pitches become more difficult for you to hear.

What makes speech so hard to follow with a hearing loss is that it involves so many different sounds in a rapid flow.

Age related hearing loss initially affects the high frequency sounds. These high pitch sounds such as “s”, “f”, “sh” and “t” play a key role in our ability to understand speech clearly.

Without these high pitched sounds, speech can sound muffled. This is why a person with this type of hearing loss will often say, “I can hear but I don’t understand what is being said”.

For example, if someone says “statue” and all you can hear is “s_a_ue”, you will be forced to try and guess the rest, by which time the conversation will have moved on.

n 30 | South Warwickshire and North Cotswolds Now | Issue 29 | October 2018

This is why we invite you to ‘Rediscover the sounds of your life’, to find out what you might be missing.

Ash Hearing Centre is modern and professional, yet warm and welcoming. Our staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and are always happy to listen to your concerns or answer your questions.

Our Senior Audiologist Eleanor Cadman brings a wealth of knowledge and experience: She studied a Masters in Audiology at Southampton University in 2005 and completed her clinical training at Swansea NHS Trust.

Eleanor has now completed more than ten years NHS and private work as a specialist audiologist; undertaking complex audiology work including children’s’ hearing assessments, fitting hearing aids to complex cases and undertaking balance assessments and rehabilitation.

Eleanor has experience with a range of digital aids and hearing aid fitting techniques. She also has first-hand experience of tinnitus and hearing loss, so can offer excellent advice on devices which will assist you in your daily life.

Eleanor is supported in the practice by Assistant Audiologist Catherine Steed. Catherine particularly enjoys helping clients who are first time hearing aid users to adapt to their new circumstances, and she is also trained in clinical wax removal. Supporting both Audiologists, is our friendly reception team who will be more than happy to assist with any queries you may have.

So why not contact us today for an appointment to help you rediscover the sounds of your life? n Ash Hearing Centre, 4 Regent Grove, Denby Buildings, Leamington Spa, Warks, CV32 4NY Email: info@ashhearing.co.uk 01926 431973

GOLDEN YEARS

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GOLDEN YEARS

Take Action to Reduce

Your Risk of Dementia

Dementia is caused by diseases of the brain and anyone

each day but it’s also a good idea to eat fish or other omega-3 rich

can develop it. However, getting more exercise and

foods at least twice a week. Also be wary of hidden salt in foods and

making healthier choices can go a long way to reducing

keep sugary foods as a treat.

your risk of dementia. While some things that affect your risk of dementia can’t be changed, such as your age or genes, there are many things you can change.

3. Quit smoking and cut down on alcohol If you smoke, you’re putting yourself at much higher risk of developing dementia later in life, as well as other conditions such

These five things are especially important if you’re in your 40s, 50s or

as cancer and stroke. Drinking too much alcohol also increases your

60s – but they’re relevant to everyone.

risk of developing dementia. Aim to drink no more than 14 units per

1. Get moving One of the best ways to reduce your risk of dementia is taking part in

week. That’s the equivalent of six pints of 4% lager in a week or 6 glasses of 175ml wine in a week (13% ABV).

regular physical exercise. It’s good for your heart, circulation, weight

4. Keep your mind active

and mental wellbeing.

You can also help to reduce your risk of dementia by exercising your

Try to do a combination of activities you’ll enjoy as you’re more likely to stick to them, such as aerobic activities that get you moving, brisk

mind. Research suggests that regularly challenging yourself mentally seems to build up the brain’s ability to cope with disease.

walking, riding a bike or pushing a lawnmower. Also try ‘resistance

Find an activity you enjoy, as you’re more likely to keep it up. Try

activities’ that work your muscles, such as digging and shovelling in

doing puzzles or crosswords, learn a new language, play card games,

the garden, or lifting weights.

study for a course or write articles or stories.

2. Eat well

You might want to do some of these activities with friends or

A healthy, balanced diet is likely to reduce your risk of dementia, as

neighbours. Spending time with other people is an important part of

well as other conditions including cancer, type 2 diabetes, obesity,

keeping your mind active.

stroke and heart disease.

Most of us know we should eat five portions of fruit and vegetables n 32 | South Warwickshire and North Cotswolds Now | Issue 29 | October 2018

5. Look after your health Taking control of your health will help reduce your risk of dementia. If

GOLDEN YEARS

you’re aged 40–74, start by getting your free NHS health check. You’ll be invited to this by your GP. It’s important to see the GP if you’re worried about health problems such as depression, hearing loss, or not getting enough sleep. All of these might increase your risk of dementia.

What can I do to help Alzheimer’s Society?

Alzheimer’s Society is urging everyone to unite against dementia. We rely on thousands of volunteers, who give their time to provide local support. We are always keen to hear from people who might be able to spare a few hours on a regular basis to help out with a local group or in a local office. You might also consider our Dementia Friends programme which involves volunteer ‘Champions’ giving information sessions about dementia in their local area. There are also dozens of ways in which you can support the cause through fundraising, such as running a marathon, organising a local event or just donating on a regular basis. You can find out more at alzheimers.org.uk/fundraise or call 0330 333 0804. n Virginia Jaques, Alzheimer’s Society Services Manager in Herefordshire For local support, you can contact the Alzheimer’s Society on 01432 371137 in Herefordshire or our national helpline on 0300 222 11 22 can point you in the direction of our other local offices. t @NowWarwickshire | G South Warwickshire & North Cotswolds Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 33 n

GOLDEN YEARS

Keep Your Social Media Use Safe Norton Security have come up with the top ways that our accounts can be compromised whilst using social media. Those that write viruses and other cybercriminals go where the numbers are and that includes popular social media sites. To help you avoid a con or viral infection, Norton has put together this list of the top five social media scams.

1. Chain Letters You’ve likely seen this one before -- the dreaded chain letter has returned. It may appear in the form of, “Retweet this and Bill Gates will donate $5 million to charity!”

But hold on, let’s think about this. Bill Gates already does a lot for charity. Why would he wait for something like this to take action?

Answer: He wouldn’t. Both the cause and claim are fake. So why would someone post this? Good question. It could be some prankster looking for a laugh, or a spammer needing “friends” to hit up later. Many wellmeaning people pass these fake claims onto others.

Action - Break the chain and inform them of the likely ruse.

2. Cash Grabs By their very nature, social media sites make it easy for us to stay in touch with friends, while reaching out to meet new ones. But how well do you really know these new acquaintances? That person with the attractive profile picture who just friended you and suddenly needs money -- is probably some cybercriminal looking for easy cash.

The usual post is: You just received an urgent request from one of your real friends who “lost his wallet on vacation and needs some cash to get home.” So, being the helpful person you are, you send some money right away, per his instructions. But there’s a problem: Your friend never sent this request. In fact, he isn’t even aware of it. His malware-infected computer grabbed all of his contacts and forwarded the bogus email to everyone, waiting to see who would bite.

Twitter or Facebook login page. There, you

Action - Call your friend. Inform him of the request, get him to update his anti virus software. Next, make sure your computer isn’t infected as well.

Internet

3. Hidden Charges “What type of STAR WARS character are you? Find out with our quiz! All of your friends have taken it!” Hmm, this sounds interesting, so you enter your info and mobile phone number. After a few minutes, a text turns up. It turns out you’re more Yoda than Darth Vader. Well, that’s interesting … but not as much as your next month’s cell bill will be.

You’ve also just unwittingly subscribed to some dubious service that charges £9.95 every month and is not based in the UK. As it turns out, that “free, fun service” is neither.

URLs. You’ll see them everywhere on Twitter,

Action - Be wary of these bait-and-switch games. They tend to thrive on social sites.

number of visitors are going to lure in a

4. Phishing Requests “Somebody just put up these pictures of you at this wild party! Check ‘em out here!” Huh? Let me see that! Immediately, you click on the enclosed link, which takes you to your

n 34 | South Warwickshire and North Cotswolds Now | Issue 29 | October 2018

enter your account info and a cybercriminal now has your password, along with total control of your account.

How did this happen? Both the email and landing page were fake. That link you clicked took you to a page that only looked like your intended social site. It’s called phishing, and you’ve just been had.

Action - To prevent this, make sure your security

includes

antiphishing

defenses.

5. Hidden URLs Beware of blindly clicking on shortened but you never know where you’re going to go since the URL (“Uniform Resource Locator,” the Web address) hides the full location. Clicking on such a link could direct you to your intended site, or one that installs all sorts of malware on your computer.

URL shorteners can be quite useful. Just be aware of their potential pitfalls and make sure you have real-time protection against spyware and viruses.

Action : Sites that attract a significant criminal element, too. If you take security precautions ahead of time, such as using antivirus and anti-spyware protection, you can defend yourself against these dangers and surf with confidence. n For more information visit uk.norton.com

t @NowWarwickshire | G South Warwickshire & North Cotswolds Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 35 n

KEEPING ACTIVE

Start / Finish: The Walk starts and ends at Evesham Railway Station.

Public Transport: Nearest railway station is at Evesham. Please use ‘Traveline’.

Bus Station is 10 mins walk from Railway Station.

Parking: Street parking in the vicinity, please park sensitively.

O/S Map: Explorer 205 Distance: The main walk is 7.5 miles (plus optional extra mile into Offenham).

Shorter walk 5 miles. (see ‘sketch-map’ and notes).

Vale of Evesham

Out to Offenham

Time: Allow all day so that you can spend some time exploring.

Refreshments: There are numerous eating places in Evesham and plenty of picnic spots. Stock up on food before you leave Evesham.

Terrain: The route is a mixture of level sections and gradual gradients, no really steep climbs involved. Waterproof boots or comfortable ‘Wellies’ are essential in winter or wet weather. There are several kiss-gates and narrow paths so the walk is unsuitable for wheelchair users and pushchairs but Evesham is ‘wheelfriendly’ and the River Avon is accessible from The Abbey Park.

History: There are orchards old and new all along the route - some have survived from what was a boom industry in apples, pears and plums. There is a recent revival in the planting of new orchards on the sunny slopes of the Avon.

The restored tower and a perimeter wall are all that remain of the extensive Evesham Abbey. This is a useful landmark and features in the painting.

Note: Shorter walk starts and ends at railway station. Marked on sketch-map with pink dots between points 1 and 4 on outward walk, retracing route back to point 10 on town side of river bridge then follows main walk back to station.

1. Main walk starts at Evesham railway station. Turn right towards town. Walk on left of road as you approach Market Square to get channelled through arch into Bridge Street. Turn left and walk down to ‘Workman’s Bridge over River Avon.

2. Cross river (notice WC on right). Walk up Port Street. Turn left along Castle Street. Turn right up ‘Lower Leys’. Cross Burford Road to ‘The Leys’. Climb gently up to Northwick Road, turn left then right up Lime Street and walk up to King’s Road. Cross over and continue up Lime Street to Elm Road (B4035) at Bengeworth.

3. Cross to Badsey Lane and walk to far end where it has been severed

by A46. Walk down path at end and cross A46 with care.

4. Continue walking down Badsey Lane for 50 yards to right of way through/round barrier on left. Walk short distance to grass trackway on right, fenced both sides. Walk through several large gates along track, through old orchard via stiles, over brook and alongside orchards, crossing several stiles, almost to Badsey. (Note: Don’t cross bridge unless you want to visit shops or pub in Badsey). Follow track with Badsey Brook on right as far as main road. Cross Bridge over Badsey Brook. (notice ‘ford’ alongside bridge).

5. Once over bridge take footpath on left with Badsey Brook on left.

Cross footbridge on left and walk along Mill Lane (noting Chapel Lane) into Aldington (worth a glimpse). Return to Chapel Lane and follow bridleway. Shortly Badsey Brook flows into Broadway Brook that has risen on slopes of nearby Broadway Hill.

6. Follow bridleway ‘right’, beneath railway line between Oxford and Worcester. Continue walking to end of field. Climb up to road, cross bridge then turn left along path with Broadway Brook on left. Path gradually veers away from brook and goes ‘right’ between large greenhouses up onto Station Road. Turn left to junction with ‘Boat Lane’ and turning to Offenham. (Optional extension into ‘Offenham’ itself and back)

n 36 | South Warwickshire and North Cotswolds Now | Issue 29 | October 2018

7. Turn left opposite Offenham turning and over Broadway Brook.

Keep along track past solar panels and turn through 90 degrees right then to left and up to main road.

8. Cross A46 to path opposite leading to footbridge across railway.

9. Turn immediately right along ‘Shakespeare’s Avon Way’ alongside railway for short distance then left along old trackway. Cross to ‘JonaGold Place’, past school, down old footpath ‘Philipscote’ behind barrier to exit on Burford Road which leads to Port Street.

10. Turn right to cross River Avon, past Methodist Church. Then right.

Look for riverside path on right and follow river along for 1/3 mile.

Just before railway bridge go up steps on left and through estate road to footpath alongside railway into St. Mary’s Road. Cross to Evesham Station where walk ends. n Written and illustrated by Glynis Dray

Buy a slice of English Country House life Country house magnificence could be yours thanks to the sale of the entire contents of an 18th century mansion in Staffordshire.

More than 300 items from Bishton Hall, a Georgian property at Wolseley Bridge, near Stafford, are to be sold by Derbyshire’s Hansons Auctioneers at the hall, a Grade II* listed building dating back to 1750.

Adrian Rathbone, Hansons’ Associate Director, says the sale, which forms a major part of the firm’s October 10-16 Country House and Fine Art Auction, offers a unique opportunity to acquire objects that are part of the rich heritage of one of the county’s most impressive homes.

He said: “We’re very proud to be selling the contents of this handsome property, items which have been owned by the Stafford Northcote family for centuries.”

Everything from 17th, 18th and 19th century furniture to silver, ceramics and even a newly restored series one Land Rover from 1958, estimate £5,000-£8,000, are available to buy.

“For me, Bishton Hall captures that quintessentially English display of elegance and good taste other nations yearn for,” said Mr Rathbone.

Bishton Hall, a magnificent Georgian mansion in Staffordshire

Antique riches include a pair of 19th century Anglo-Indian gilt lacquer chests on stands, estimate £3,000-£4,000; a portrait of a seated lady surrounded by cherubs in the style of Italian Carlo Moretti, estimate, £600-£800, and an oil of The Grand Canal, Venice, in the style of Canaletto, estimate £3,000-£5,000.

Bishton Hall Country House and Fine Art

Hilary Stafford Northcote, a member of the family selling the contents of the hall, revealed a cherished piece: “I have so many favourites but my own personal choice is a 17th century Chinese cabinet in the drawing room with its beautifully lacquered exterior.”

and 15-16, 9am-10.30am. n

Sale will be held between October 10-16 at Bishton Hall, Wolseley Bridge, Staffordshire, ST17 OXN. Bishton Hall’s contents will be sold on October 13, 10.30am. Viewing at the hall: October 8, 11am-4pm; October 9, 11am7pm; October 10, 11am-6pm; October 11-13

Hansons hold free monthly valuation events in Knowle, Stratford on Avon, Kenilworth and Bishops Cleeve. To find out more, call Carol Jones on 07802 839915.

t @NowWarwickshire | G South Warwickshire & North Cotswolds Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 37 n

What's On

OUR GUIDE TO THE BEST EVENTS THIS MONTH

Warwick Chocolate Festival Sunday 7th September

OCTOBER Sunday 7th Warwick Chocolate Festival Market Place, Warwick CV34 4BJ Warwick Chocolate Festival – even more chocolate than last year, spread across the whole town, one not to be missed! Think artisan chocolate, dipping chocolate, chocolate cake, and perhaps even chocolate beer! Lots of chocolate, be it cake, truffles, beer, wine and even gin, what’s not to love!

11am-5pm Cost: Free

Sunday 7th to Saturday 13th Leamington Comedy Festival The Royal Spa Centre, Newbold Terrace CV32 4EA Most of the bigger names tend to play at the towns largest venue, The Royal Spa Centre, Newbold Terrace, CV32 4EA, but we’re really keen to spread the mirth as

far as we can so we also twist the arms of some fabulous people at The Royal Pug, 141 Regent St, CV32 4NX and The Fat Pug, 23 Guys Cliffe Rd, CV32 5BZ who let us do stuff in their lovely pubs. This year we’re also working with Procaffeinate, 66-68 Clemens St, CV31 2DN and the wonderful Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum, The Parade, CV32 4AA. In previous festivals we have run shows in shopping centres, empty shops, restaurants – even out in the street! If you’ve got somewhere you’d like to put some comedy on as part of the festival, then get in touch!

All manner of things, we’re very broad minded when it comes to comedy. If it makes us laugh, it’s fun, the numbers stack up and we think a few people would want to see it, we’ll give it a go! Over the years we’ve done all sorts of stuff alongside the stand up like alien street theatre, a piratebased game show, a dressing up booth.

We even set a genuine Guinness World

n 38 | South Warwickshire and North Cotswolds Now | Issue 29 | October 2018

Record one year – cool eh 01926 334 418 Cost: Varies

Tuesday 9th Heroes and Villains Warwick Arts Centre University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL Put on your superhero cape and fly over to the Butterworth Hall for this fabulous celebration! With the help Superman and the 633 Squadron, we’ll be kicking off the new year with a whole host of heroes. Just watch out for those vicious villains!

Highlights include music from Star Trek, Little Shop of Horrors, Sweeney Todd, the Enigma Variations and Orpheus in the Underworld.

02476 524 524 Cost: Free

OUR EVENTS DIARY

t @NowWarwickshire | G South Warwickshire & North Cotswolds Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 39 n

What's On

OUR GUIDE TO THE BEST EVENTS THIS MONTH

Friday 12th

will be on the pavements, pubs will be

Dungeon Lates

thronged, and our exhibitors will be giving it

Thursday 25th to Sunday 4th

Warwick Castle

their all. And almost everything will be local.

Halloween at Coughton Court

Warwick, CV34 4QU

There will be cheeses, pies, breads, cakes,

Coughton Court

Blending scary storytelling with wicked

fresh and cured meats and sausages, fruit

Alcester

humour and manic theatrics, this gory

and vegetables, a pig roast, award-winning street food, handmade chocolates, local

B49 5JA

production complete with terrifying treats and dreadful drinks is a strictly adults only

beers, ciders and wines and as many local

affair.

food products as we can squeeze on to the stalls. So, come and browse and buy.

0871 265 2000 Cost: £29

Sunday 14th Apple Day & Country Fair Hill Close Gardens

Our Apple Day & Country Fair here at Hill Close gardens continues to be a success year on year. If you like apples, then this is must. Craft stalls / Food stalls, Cider sales and juicing this event surely will be a hit with all the family.

Wednesday 24th to Thursday 1st

Cost: Normal admission fee plus £2.50 per

Autumn Photography Workshops

trail

Join

Alan

Ranger,

an

internationally

acclaimed and award-winning professional photographer,

at

Sunday 28th Studley’s Spooktacular Bonfire &

GL56 9QB

Batsford

Arboretum

during the spectacular autumn season on a half or one day photography workshop. photographers, Alan will teach you the essentials of camera settings to capture those wonderful colours but also encourage

Saturday 20th

our outdoor Halloween trail. Children will booklet, so the fun can continue at home.

Suitable for beginners and more advanced

9am - 5pm Cost: Adults £4.50, Children (5-17) £1

senses to enjoy the change in seasons on receive sweets and a take home activity

Moreton-in-Marsh

CV34 6HF

Court this October half-term and use your

10am - 6pm Cost: Free

Batsford Arboretum & Garden Centre

Bread and Meat Close, Warwick

Learn about local nature here at Coughton

your thinking in new directions with ways

Fireworks Night Studley Sports & Social Club Eldorado Close Studley B80 7HP After the fantastic success of last year we are again combining Halloween and Bonfire night to bring you a Super Spooktacular Night. Get your best Halloween costumes on as there will be FANTASTIC prizes for the

Alcester Food Festival

to interpret, enjoy and convey the many

best dressed children and adults. There will

Alcester

elements of autumn. For further information

be fair rides, music, hot food, and drinks,

There is nothing we like better than putting

or to book visit www.alanranger.com/

both bars will be open and a Firework

out the bunting, closing the High Street to

batsford

display that does Studley proud every year.

traffic and having a ball. And the Alcester Food Festival is the best excuse for a good day of fun that we have had for a while!

Local shops will be contributing; the cafes

01386 701441 8:30am-11:30am/12:30pm-4pm/

AND NORTH COTSWOLDS

at 6:30 and fireworks will be set off at 7pm.

8am-4pm

Cost:

Cost: £99 (half day) £150 (full day)

accompanied by an adult)

Warwickshire South

Gates open at 5 o clock, bonfire will be lit

Now

If you would like to advertise in our next issue please contact one of our sales team.

Mel Penkoks

Nikki Parsons

Tel: 01905 727901 Email: mel@pw-media.co.uk

Tel: 01905 727902 Email: nikki@pw-media.co.uk

n 40 | South Warwickshire and North Cotswolds Now | Issue 29 | October 2018

Adults

£5,

Children

free

(if

OUR EVENTS DIARY Research shows that playing games can enhance our personal, social and emotional well-being. Playing board and sports as well as video games with family members provide opportunities to get together and develop relationships.

It is important to strike a balance between video games and other types of games for children. Research shows that children need to be encouraged to participate in social games as well as instructional and video games. Too much of anything can be detrimental. The negative consequences of getting addicted to these should also be explained to them.

Four points for parents to remember: 1) Who chooses? Whenever, possible it should be the child that chooses which game to play. Just because dad loves to play football he shouldn’t make his children play it.

2) Who makes the rules? The children can make up their own rules – but once they’ve done so, they must stick to them for that game.

3) Be careful about some types of games. As an example, for securely attached children, hide-and-seek games are normally a joyful experience.

But for children who have suffered severe abuse or neglect? For them, hideand-seek can be a negative experience full of fear, shame, guilt and intense anxiety.

4) Remember games are only one type of play. In play therapy games are the fourth most popular choice accounting for 8% of the session time overall.

More popular activities are sand tray worlds, drawing and painting and role play.

20% of our children suffer from an emotional, behaviour or mental health issue. Play therapy brings about a positive change in 71% to 84% if provided by a Play Therapy UK registered therapist. If you know of a child who needs help contact a therapist through www.playtherapyregister.org.uk If you are interested in a new career: www.playtherapy.org.uk

t @NowWarwickshire | G South Warwickshire & North Cotswolds Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 41 n

OUR EVENTS DIARY

Competition

FESTIVE GIFT FAIR

Christmas will soon be upon us... and the dynamic Festive Gift Fair, now in its 23rd fabulous year, continues to be the best place to start your Christmas experience and is one of the most popular Christmas Shopping events in the UK (Birmingham NEC 15-18 November).

As well as finding great gifts for your loved ones, treats for yourself and all your sparkling Christmas essentials, you’re sure to have a funpacked day!

The Fair will be bursting at the seams with a colourful eclectic mix of unusual stocking fillers and presents, traditional gifts, festive food and great home decorations. With 325+ stalls all under one roof, the variety is huge, with clever gift ideas for all ages and tastes... and lots of Special Show Offers! There’s even a Present Creche to drop off your full bags.

The festive atmosphere is always fantastic and there’s even more this year with NEW icicle lighting throughout the hall and a NEW Victorian bandstand where LIVE Bands will take centre stage. While browsing the stalls, let the music get you into that Christmassy mood and be entertained by Santa himself, Stilt walkers and Pantomime characters.

Make sure you visit the popular Festive Food & Drink area where you’ll find 40 tempting stands selling everything from cheese to chutneys, spices to spirits, puddings to preserves, chocolates to champagne, beer to brownies and hampers to hog roasts!

So, take the strain out of Christmas, enjoy a day out at the Festive Gift Fair and get your festive preparations off to a cracking start! With great LIVE music, Festive entertainers and sparkling decorations, huge Santa sacks to be won and prizes for wearing the best Christmas outfits there’s never a dull moment at the Festive Gift Fair!

Take advantage of the SPECIAL TICKET OFFER – ‘Buy 3 and get 1 FREE’ on advance adult tickets, saving from £9-£11.

The Fair is open daily 09.30 – 17.00 from Thursday 15th - Sunday 18th November at NEC, Birmingham.

Book your either online at www.festivegiftfair.co.uk or by calling the Ticket Factory hotline on 0844 581 0808 / 09.

WWW.FESTIVEGIFTFAIR.CO.UK

To be in with a chance of winning a pair of single day tickets to Festive Gift Fair at the NEC on any date from 15th - 18th November 2018, simply fill out the form with the correct answer to the following question:

At what UK venue is this year’s Festive Gift Fair taking place?

Answer: Name: Address: Tel:

Send your answers in a sealed, stamped, addressed envelope to: Festive Gift Fair SWN, PW Media & Publishing Ltd, 2nd Floor, Richardson House, New Street, Worcester, WR1 2DP.

Email:

Closing date for entries is 18th October 2018. n 42 | South Warwickshire and North Cotswolds Now | Issue 29 | October 2018

If you DO wish to receive information on forthcoming events, news and offers from The Consultancy please tick this box

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n 44 | South Warwickshire and North Cotswolds Now | Issue 29 | October 2018