Forest of Dean October 2019
YO U R F R E E LO C A L COMMUNIT Y MAGAZINE
SHORT STORY
Henry Harvests A Good Result RECIPE
Spiced Pumpkin Cheesecake LOCAL EVENT
Forest Showcase Food Festival : 6 Oct Estuary Oils Your Leading Fuels & Lubricants Supplier
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Pick a retirement hobby while you are still working
Retirement beckons, and with it the opportunity to do the things you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t had time for. However, research by the Skipton Building Society has shown that we don’t always follow up on our dreams of an active retirement: apparently, many of us start to feel bored and undervalued within just ten months of stopping work. According to the Age UK Index of Wellbeing in Later Life, the rate of our general wellbeing can increase by 20% if we simply engage with the world around us, whether that’s through social activities in the community, physical activities or creative pastimes. Finding the right hobby can help you make new friends and give you a sense of purpose, which ultimately benefits both your physical and mental health. But here are so many options, it’s often hard to know where to begin.
Sociable hobbies Joining a choir can be one of the most rewarding ways to spend your leisure time. It’s estimated that a staggering 2.8 million Britons now belong to a choir, and recent research has shown that group singing is a particularly fast way to create social bonds – in other words, it’s a speedy shortcut to making new friends. Other ways to meet people include 2
volunteering at an animal shelter, joining a book or film club or local amateur dramatic society, helping at a charity shop, or starting a social media group such as a neighbourhood watch.
Home alone If you want something you can do at home, creative hobbies such as upcycling furniture, card-making or jewellery-making could be perfect. Get inspired by the speedy arts and crafts videos available on YouTube or scour charity shops and second-hand bookstores for cheap ‘how to’ books that can teach you a new skill. Buy vintage jigsaws, write poetry or short stories, take up knitting or baking or learn to fix up an old car. Alternatively, find a pen pal in the UK or overseas with the help of clever phone apps that make it easy for you to chat to people all over the world. The great outdoors Exercise is important for health. Whether you choose something like metal detecting (which you can do on your own) or Nordic walking (which you would normally do as part of a group), there are so many hobbies that encourage you to explore the great outdoors and get fit in the process. Fishing, trainspotting, birdwatching and amateur astronomy are also popular and will encourage you to get out and about in the open air.
Although you may be tempted to put off choosing a hobby until you’ve finally finished work, the evidence suggests that it’s a good idea to have a plan in place. With a little preparation, you should be able to walk out of work and straight into a life filled with exciting new possibilities.
By Kate McLelland
STAMP APPEAL We need your used postage stamps
M
a differen e k ce a
Used postage stamps can be turned into valuable funds for New Start Cat Rescue What to do: Collect your used postage stamps and those from friends, family, colleagues or local businesses Cut out the stamps leaving a 1/4 inch or 1/2cm border all the way around on a single layer of envelope
We are taking the exciting step of recruiting volunteers. To promote an ethos of ‘work for reward’ amongst young people.
Pop them into a stamped envelope
If you are interested in offering some time to support the Aston Project, we would very much like to hear from you.
Send stamps to: NEW START CAT RESCUE Used Stamp Appeal Fords Farm Horsey Norfolk NR29 4EP
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Do you have skills, interests and knowledge that would benefit young people?
You can complete the online Volunteer form via the link found at www.astonproject.co.uk. under the “Volunteer” section or you can get in touch on the below contact details if you would simply like to find out more. T: 01452 907252 or 07813 351346 E: astonproject@gloucestershire.pnn.police.uk W: www.astonproject.co.uk
Estuary
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Caldicot: 01291 422 656 Cardiff: 02920 887 973 Forest of Dean: 01594 825 130 Emergency Telephone Numbers: Andrew 07887 777 752 / David 07976 091 307
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Forest Showcase Food Festival
From the nutritional and healthy to the indulgent, the Forest of Dean will be holding its annual Food Festival on Sunday 6th October in the grounds of The Speech House Hotel in Coleford. The Forest Showcase features the best fresh regional produce from over 100 top local and artisan producers, from gourmet burgers and handmade scotch eggs to award-winning preserves and chutneys, fine cheeses, farmhouse ciders and speciality wines, ales and flavoured gins. This year you can join local foragers as they take you on a family foraging walk through the beautiful Speech House woods. You and your children will learn how to identify and gather a range of wild foods including spices,
seeds, nuts, berries fruit and more.
The cookery theatre will have cookery demonstrations from some of the area’s top chefs including meat-based, vegetarian and plant-based diets. Gareth Jenkins, head chef at The Speech House Hotel will be preparing a dish using a pig’s heart from Plump Hill Farm and Wye Valley gin. Yvette Farrell, owner of the Forest of Dean’s premier cookery school will be showcasing some free-from recipes and Dan Blewitt from Esse Stoves will be making Butternut Squash & Chickpea Curry. There will also be live music and tasty hot food from top street food vendors as well as gins, beers, wines and ciders to try.
Tickets can be purchased in advance from www.forestshowcase.org.
WE NEED YOUR FURNITURE AND ELECTRICALS
Items need to be in good condition and in working order (upholstered furniture needs to have fire labels). Help us to help those who need us with your donations.
We do FREE COLLECTIONS on furniture every Thursday. Please call us on 01594 827205 to arrange collection and we will be happy to help you.
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Good Times? No Story There. I always think that to start my magazine without an intro in the form of this editor’s letter seems a bit rude. Like launching into a conversation without a ‘hello’.
However, it can be a challenge each month to think of something to say. The natural default is a comment on either the weather or how quickly the year is going. So let’s get it out of the way: October already, wasn’t the weather in September lovely, I’m not looking forward to the darker nights! (On that note - remember the clocks go back by one hour on 27th October.) Do I comment on the contents of the magazine, when you can see for yourselves what’s inside? Or should I tell you about my month? I have a happy life, but I realise that doesn’t make for an interesting story.
When I try to tell my family or friends of some fun I’ve had I often get a glazed ‘you had to be there’ sort of response. However, when I can relate an anecdote of when something went wrong I get full attention. Not catastrophic you understand, but something like making a flight by the skin of my teeth and the series of events that caused me to be late. I guess no film was ever a blockbuster without something going wrong along the way. As long as it has a happy ending the challenge of getting there is where the entertainment is. And on that gentle musing, I need to get this magazine to print and sort out distribution for this month. Contributions from you, the reader, always welcome!
Anne x
M A Y366 H I |L E: L PAnne@lovelocalmagazines.co.uk LAYERS T: 01242 388
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This striking blue marl woollen beauty, with a subtle diamond pattern, comes from Afghanistan. Habib rug in blue, £475, Loaf.
Add Colour & Interest With A Rug A great starting point for a decorative scheme, rugs come in an infinite variety of shapes and sizes, textures and colours, patterns and prices.
Combining architectural minimalism with Berber style, this woollen rug features geometric patterns plus hand-made tassels for an energetic effect. Zuma large hand-woven rug, £380, Perch & Parrow.
An on-trend palm print pattern is ideal for getting the boho-chic look in modern and contemporary interiors – and can be used outdoors, too. Juno polypropylene palm print floor rug, £169, Cult Furniture.
Available from late November, this hand-tufted cotton rug is soft as can be, and comes in five dreamy colours, perfect for a child’s nursery or bedroom. Pearl pink cloud rug, £49, Bobby Rabbit.
Adding Bohemian style to any room, this hand-tufted rug with braided tassels is perfect for beneath a circular dining table. Dutchbone round Pix rug with tassels, £349, Cuckooland.
Crafted from luxurious viscose in soft slate blue and warm white, this hand-made rug has a sumptuous pile and a watercolour-effect finish that changes with the light. Minerva rug, £950, Cox & Cox. 6
Crafted in Sweden on traditional looms, these rugs are reversible and fade-resistant, and can be machine-washed, too. Pappelina Carl wovenplastic, washable rugs, £68 each, Hurn & Hurn.
This stunning, hand-tufted wool loop rug is designed with a Persian medallion motif. Bronte rug, £109, Shimu.
In natural jute, this hand-braided grey rug channels the macramé look for your floor, adding an instant focal point. Karna rug, £199, The Taylor.
Rugs For Every Room
• Rugs can take you on a journey around the world, adding a touch of global glamour to a room. Look for Indian dhurries, Greek flokatis, Middle Eastern kelims and French aubussons, among others, each adding their own style, colour, pattern and texture. • A common mistake is to buy a rug that is too small for a room, making the space look and feel disjointed. In general, it is best to go as big as possible, so that all the furniture (or at least its front legs) can sit on the rug. • As with carpet, ensure your choice of rug is appropriate to the room. In an entrance hall, for example, a tough and durable rug will be best – perhaps sisal or seagrass or, alternatively, a dark-coloured cotton flatweave that can be put through the washing machine. Wool rugs can be used more or less anywhere, while delicate fabrics such as silk are best left for seldom-used rooms. • Got a pattern that you would like to see on a rug? Why not commission one to be made to your own design? Alternatively, you can often take a standard range and request different sizes, borders and colourways. Search ‘custom rug’ for ideas and retailers.
Page 7
health and you may already brush your cat’s teeth regularly. If you notice they have bad breath or red/swollen gums or are salivating more than normal, it’s advisable to take them to the vet as they could have tooth decay, gum disease or a digestive problem.
www.purina.co.uk/cats/health-and-nutrition/ grooming-and-daily-care/general-cat-health-tips
Health Check Your Cat Although your cat needs a check-up with the vet once a year, you can also carry out your own health check at home. Here are some of the main areas to keep an eye on so your feline friend stays as healthy as possible through the year.
Skin and coat Check for any lesions or scaling as this could indicate a skin condition or infestation of fleas/mites. Their coat should be shiny and glossy with no bald patches or dandruff – cats typically shed in autumn as well as springtime, so it’s a good idea to groom them regularly. Ears Although you shouldn’t examine too far inside your cat’s ears, you can look for any dirt, redness, or other signs that they might be infected. If your cat shakes its head or holds it to one side, they could have an ear problem and your vet will be able to examine them more closely. Eyes Eye health issues are generally easier to spot, as redness or soreness becomes fairly obvious. Your cat may rub their eyes to relieve itchiness or squint to avoid the light and ease soreness. Mouth Good dental hygiene is important for cat 8
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Spot the difference! Can you find all 10?
Answers: p. 30
Page 9
Henry harvests a good result
˜ A short story written by local writer Geraldine Faulkner ˜
Henry was pulling up beetroots in his vegetable patch and humming away happily to himself when he spotted his wife, Annie, coming down the garden with two mugs in her hands.
“Time for a break,” she said with a smile as she handed him a steaming cup of tea. They stood together in companionable silence sipping their hot drinks and admiring Henry’s pile of beetroots.
“Salad and a baked potato for tea tonight,” said Annie, wondering how they were going to get through so much beetroot in the next couple of weeks.
“I’ve just had a chat with Claire,” she added referring to their youngest daughter. “She was telling me how excited the children are about their half-term holiday.” Both Claire and her husband, Ian, worked full-time so Henry thought he knew what 10
Annie was going to say next.
“Can we have them for a couple of days?” he predicted.
“Well, not quite,” said Annie carefully. “Ian’s parents are suggesting they take the children away to an Airbnb holiday apartment in Devon.” “What!” barked Henry, spilling his tea all over the beetroots. “That means we won’t get to see them at all.”
Henry was a doting grandfather to all four of his grandchildren but he had a particularly soft spot for Claire’s daughter, six-yearold Rosie, who was the only one of the grandchildren who knew where he kept his secret stash of Hob Nobs in the greenhouse. Piling the beetroots into a trug, he stumped off towards the house.
Annie’s heart sank. Henry wasn’t going
to let this rest.
Sure enough, he was on the phone to Claire when Annie came into the kitchen.
“But Ian’s parents took the children away during the summer holidays,” he was saying. “We were looking forward to having a couple of days with them over half-term.”
Both Claire and her mother knew that Henry suffered from ‘granddad envy’. Jealously, he would monitor the time spent by the grandchildren with each set of grandparents. In fact, he kept a diary in his desk that he thought Annie knew nothing about, and would casually point out when Ian’s parents, a nice couple called Sue and Leslie, appeared to have enjoyed the lion’s share of the grandchildren’s company in any given school holiday.
Annie wondered how Claire was going to find a diplomatic solution to this latest eruption. There was a long pause as Henry listened to his daughter.
“That sounds a good idea,” he said finally. “Let’s give it a go and see how we get on.” He put the phone down and turned to Annie with a big smile on his face.
“Claire has suggested that we have the children after their judo club every Thursday afternoon. We collect them from school, take them to the club and then bring them home for tea before we drive them home or Claire collects them.” He rubbed his hands gleefully. “In the long run that counts for more than a week in an Airbnb apartment.”
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Pictograms
PICTOGRAMS
3 words
S I 1 R 3 words
JU D D
DONA L D
4 words
WORDWHEEL Using only the letters in the Wordwheel, you have ten minutes to find as many words as possible, none of which may be plurals, foreign words or proper nouns. Each word must be of three letters or more, all must contain the central letter and letters can only be used once in every word. There is at least one word that uses all of the letters in the wheel.
N D
R
A A
M
F
TARGET Excellent: 26 or more words Good: 20 words Fair: 18 words 12
QUIZ GHOSTS
NERYCES
L
SUDOKU
Puzzle Page
1. Which famous literary character is haunted by a ghost called Banquo? 2. Named after Ghostface Killah from the hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan, which social networking app has a ghost called Ghostface Chillah as its logo and mascot? 3. Ghostface is the name given to the killer or killers in which film series? 4. How is the ghost of Jennet Humfrye known in the title of a 1983 book by Susan Hill? 5. In the Harry Pottery novels, what is the nickname of the ghost that haunts the first floor girls’ lavatory at Hogwarts, with author J.K. Rowling saying she was inspired by “the frequent presence of a crying girl in communal bathrooms, especially at the parties and discos” of her youth? 6. Which famous song is played on a jukebox in the famous pottery scene from the film Ghost? 7. In the video game Pac-Man, what colour do the ghosts turn when Pac-Man eats a power pellet? 8. Who had a hit single in 1984 with the theme song from the film Ghostbusters? 9. How many ghosts visit Ebenezer Scrooge in the Charles Dickens novella A Christmas Carol? 10. Which famous person won a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor for a cameo role as himself in the 1989 film Ghosts Can’t Do It? Answers: p. 20
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Page 13
Leek, aubergine and tomato gratins Simpler to make than a vegetarian lasagne, but just as tasty. Serve with crusty bread and green salad for a family supper.
Ready in: 55 minutes | Serves 4
Ingredients
1 large aubergine, trimmed and thinly sliced 3 tbsp olive oil
1 large leek, trimmed and halved widthways then cut into strips
1 onion, peeled and finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed
600g bottle passata (sieved tomatoes) 2 tbsp tomato puree 2 tsp dried oregano Pinch of sugar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper 200g ricotta cheese
TIP
150g mozzarella cheese, sliced
14
Preheat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas mark 7. Brush the aubergine slices with 2 tbsp of the oil. Heat a large cast-iron griddle pan and cook the slices (in batches) for 1-2 minutes on each side until lightly charred and just tender. Set aside.
Blanch the leeks in a large pan of lightly salted water for 1 minute then refresh under cold water. Drain well and pat dry with kitchen paper.
Heat the rest of the oil in a frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add the onion and fry for 5 minutes then add the garlic and fry for a further 1-2 minutes. Add the passata, tomato puree, oregano and sugar and bring to the boil. Simmer for 15-20 minutes until reduced and thickened, stirring frequently. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Spread some of the sauce in the base of four shallow individual gratin dishes. Cover with half the aubergine and leek then spread more tomato sauce on top. Crumble over the ricotta cheese. Cover with the rest of the aubergine and remaining sauce. Top with the mozzarella and the remaining leeks. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until golden and bubbling.
Top with a sprinkling of grated Parmesan (or vegetarian Italian-style hard cheese) mixed with brown breadcrumbs before baking to give a lovely golden crispy crust to the finished dishes.
Auction Anecdote This month’s story is an illustration of the unpredictability of auctions which makes for an exciting and eventful working environment. The August sale included a pair of attractive 19thcentury Chinese famille verte vases estimated at just £80/£120 since one of the vases was badly cracked throughout. However, as soon as the catalogue went online, enquiries began to flood in for condition reports and further images and we began to anticipate that they might make substantially more than the estimate. Chinese items are renowned for being the hidden sleepers in auction rooms due to the difficulty in identification and the strength of the market at present. As sale day approached emails continued to arrive with one client sending multiple messages with further demands and questions. Two telephone bids were booked directly to China and on the day itself, a frisson of excitement ran through the staff as we dialled the international numbers. Due to the level of interest I had instructed my colleague on the rostrum to try starting the bidding at £500 and sure enough the internet sprang into life with a bid from China followed quickly by another from France – imagine then our surprise when both telephone bidders declined to bid any higher and after no further action the hammer came down at just £520. It was all a bit of an anti-climax and we laughed about it several times during the day and over our curry later that night! Smiths’ forthcoming sales are on the 4th of October and 8th of November. The November sale includes a full range of antiques plus a special section for silver, gold and jewellery. Entries are invited on the 8th, 10th, 15th & 17th October, 10am-3pm or by appointment. For all enquiries please telephone 01531 821776 or visit www.smithsnewentauction.co.uk. - Written by Rita Kearsey Manager of Smiths Auction Room at Newent
Monthly Sales of Antiques & Collectables 8th November, 10am With Jewellery, Silver & Gold Section also includes Ceramics, Glass, Furniture, Pictures & Collectables
Viewing Day prior 10am - 7pm and morning of sale Fully illustrated catalogues available online
Three stone diamond ring Est £500/£700 Tudor Rolex wrist watch Est £2000/£3000
Entries Invited 8th, 10th, 15th & 17th October 10am-3pm or by appointment Why not pop in for free valuations and expert advice with our valuer
Home visits for larger consignments
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www.smithsnewentauctions.co.uk Page 15
Panto: the UK’s quirkiest tradition? Oh, yes it is!
Hand coloured photograph
of Widow Twankey in 1896
Christmas may seem a long way off, but such is the popularity of pantomime, the best seats could have already disappeared in a puff of fairy dust.
Pantomime is a British tradition that’s guaranteed to mystify anyone who is unfamiliar with our culture. The name itself creates confusion: when US-based Baywatch actor Pamela Anderson received her first offer to appear in pantomime in Liverpool in 2010, she was convinced she would be “miming in a box” (bizarrely, she agreed to do it anyway). Like most traditions, pantomime has grown from customs and practices that have been transformed over time by changing tastes and fashions.
There’s nothing like a Dame
One of pantomime’s best-loved characters is the ‘Dame’. Nearly always played by a man, the Dame is generally portrayed as a vain, 16
foolish woman, determined to get a husband at any price. But, with the possible exception of the villainous Ugly Sisters in Cinderella, the Dame never fails to gain the audience’s affection. It seems that we Brits simply love the idea of a man acting out a female role.
Maybe that’s because the practice of men appearing as women on stage is deeply embedded in British culture. Until the law was changed in the early 1660s, it was illegal for women to act in theatres, so audiences were used to seeing men performing in female attire.
Copying Commedia
Commedia dell’arte was a broad type of comic performance popular in Italy between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries, which is said to be the forerunner of our traditional pantomime. Based on ‘stock’ characters, the plots generally featured a pair of lovers, a mischievous servant, a clown or pierrot character and a money-grabbing old man. While pantomime’s young lovers have changed little from Commedia dell’arte days, some of the other characters have been reworked to fit different plots. The clown is still with us in the shape of daft but lovable Simple Simon
or Wishee Washee, while Cinderella’s footman Buttons is a pale reflection of the Commedia’s high-spirited servants. Finally, the stock character of the old man appears variously as the foolish Baron Hardup (Cinderella), the villainous Fleshcreep (Jack and the Beanstalk) and the power-hungry Abanazar (Aladdin).
less popular parts of the Harlequinade but kept the transformation scene, where Harlequin waved his magic baton (nowadays a fairy wand) to show fairytale characters and scenes dramatically changing before the audience’s eyes. By the Victorian era the Harlequinade had become the two-act pantomime we would recognise today.
In the seventeenth century, British theatre borrowed some of Commedia’s characters to create an early type of pantomime known as a ‘Harlequinade’. But pantomime as we know it today was created when audiences began to demand more and more spectacle. Canny theatre producers discarded the
By Kate McLelland
Harlequinade to pantomime
So pantomime goes on, changing year on year to suit current tastes, but in many respects remaining true to its earliest origins. It’s the one theatre entertainment that can successfully play to an audience aged between two and ninety-two, but will it continue to do so for centuries to come? Oh, yes it will!
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(6) Unchained Melody (by the Righteous Brothers) (7) Blue (8) Ray Parker Junior (9) Four (10) Donald Trump
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Wardrobe Edit a friendly and affordable service A AWardrobe Edit is is a friendly and affordable service thatwill will transform your wardrobe and give that transform your wardrobe and give youyou thethe confidence toto make thethe right style choices. confidence make right style choices. For For so so many many reasons, reasons,clutter cluttercan canaffect affectour ouranxiety anxietylevels, levels,sleep, sleep,and and ability ability to to focus. focus. Creating Creatingorder orderininmy myhome homerelieves relievesmy myanxiety. anxiety.It Itdoesn’t doesn’t mean mean my my house house isis100% 100%clutter-free, clutter-free,it’s it’slived livedin. in.But Butfor forme meknowing knowing where where everything everythingis, is,isisjust justeasier. easier.My Myjourney journeytotoaaclutter clutterfree freehome home started started with with my my wardrobe. wardrobe. After After having having my my daughter daughter99months monthsago, ago,I Idecided decidedmy mywardrobe wardrobeand and morning routine all needed a little TLC. I was spending too many morning routine all needed a little TLC. I was spending too many mornings exhausted, frustrated and running late, and spending too much mornings exhausted, frustrated and running late, and spending too much buying clothes I would hardly wear. Enter Decluttering and a Capsule buying clothes I would hardly wear. Enter Decluttering and a Capsule Wardrobe. Its magical minimalist properties helped me spend less, sleep Wardrobe. Its magical minimalist properties helped me spend less, sleep more and generally feel just a little bit freer. more and generally feel just a little bit freer. Decluttering your wardrobe helps you identify what clothes you have and Decluttering your wardrobe helps you identify what clothes you have and helps you wear everything that you own. Getting rid of the clothes you no helps you that good you own. ridSo, of the clothes you to no longer wearwear can everything help you make outfitGetting choices. taking the time longer wear can help good outfit choices. So, taking the time to edit your wardrobe canyou be make beneficial. edit your wardrobe can be beneficial. Not only is a wardrobe detox good for mental wellbeing, it’s more Not only is aHave wardrobe detox good for wellbeing, it’s more sustainable. you ever opened themental doors of your wardrobe only to sustainable. Have youyou everhave opened the to doors of your wardrobe find yourself muttering nothing wear? This is when weonly rushto findand yourself muttering have to wear? This our is when we rush out impulse buy. It’syou quick fix nothing buying that's harming beautiful out andAimpulse buy. It’s quick fixfound buying that's ourwill beautiful planet. 2019 Barnardo's survey that UK harming consumers spend planet. A 2019 Barnardo's survey will spend £2.7 billion on clothes they will onlyfound wear that once.UK Soconsumers the most sustainable garment is the already your wardrobe. £2.7 billion on one clothes theyinwill only wear once. So the most sustainable garment is the one already in your wardrobe. There’s no shame in having a bit of clutter in your home. We lead busy lives andno it can be difficult finding to organise things. There’s shame in having a bit time of clutter in yourour home. WeOne lead busy cupboard a time I say and why not start with yourour wardrobe? lives and itatcan be difficult finding time to organise things. One
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Page 21
GARDENING
The Rock Garden Is Alive… If you have ever dreamed of Sound of Music landscapes, then create your own! A garden mountain range might not be possible, but you may have space for your very own rock garden. So what do you need to do? You’ll need to choose a fairly sunny spot, ideally away from overhanging deciduous trees – most alpine plants like a fair bit of light and detest becoming clogged up with deteriorating leaves.
Even if space is limited, make the rock garden on as large a scale as possible, for more impact and planting opportunities, and a more realistic feel. If possible include gullies running down the rock garden, perhaps ending in a pond or pool, by arranging rocks so that water can run over or between them. Where the water runs beneath rocks (rather the over them) you should use guttering or drainage pipes that are 22
hidden by soil or rock outcrops.
Get yourself a good selection of rock from local or mail-order suppliers and don’t be tempted to use old chunks of concrete – the end result will look like a rubble pile with plants!
Use a pile of rubble or broken bricks to create the classic mound shape – this will be hidden by the good-looking rocks. The rubble pile also ensures good drainage; alpines typically hate being too wet. Use upturned turves on top of the mound, laid grassy side down. Then add a layer of sandy soil, to a depth of about 30cm (12in), over the top of the turves; these prevent the soil from slipping down amongst the rocks. Then, using string and pegs, mark out where you want each outcrop of rock.
Once the soil is well-firmed, use a spade or a trowel to dig out a hole for each
rock; this keeps the rocks securely embedded so they won’t shift even in heavy rain.
Use smaller bits of stone beneath the rocks to wedge them firmly. Add more soil over these bits of stone and then more soil between the rocks when they are in position. Water well to settle the soil, topping up if necessary.
to make a planting hole, then remove the pot, pop the plant in the hole, and fill in around it with some compost. When you have finished planting you can topdress the soil surface with good-looking horticultural grit or gravel.
By Pippa Greenwood
Visit Pippa’s website www.pippa greenwood.com and you’ll find some Alpine plants are available in nurseries great gardening items: Nemaslug and and garden centres now, but just choose controls to sort out lawn infestations a few – buying more throughout next and other great natural pest controls, spring and summer will give you an stylish cloches, practical and pretty array of alpines to provide flowers and plant supports, the fantastic SpeedHoe, interest throughout most of the year. gardening tools, planters, Grower Frames, signed books and more! Arrange your plants, still in their pots, on the surface of the soil. When you are Or why not book Pippa for a gardening talk at your gardening club? happy with how they look, use a trowel
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Spiced pumpkin cheesecake Rich, creamy and spiced with cinnamon, this autumnal cheesecake is best baked the day before serving.
Ready in 2 hours, plus cooling and chilling | Serves 8
Ingredients
200g digestive biscuits, finely crushed 85g unsalted butter, melted 500g full-fat soft cheese, at room temperature 100g caster sugar
75g light soft brown sugar 3 large eggs, beaten
425g can pumpkin puree 2 tsp vanilla extract
1½ tsp ground cinnamon
TIP
Raspberry sauce, to serve (see TIP)
24
Grease a 20cm round spring-form tin and line the base with baking paper. Mix together the crushed biscuits and melted butter and press into the base of the tin. Chill in the fridge whilst making the filling. Preheat the oven to 160C/140C fan/gas mark 2.
Beat the soft cheese, caster sugar and 55g of the light soft brown sugar together in a large bowl until creamy. Gradually beat in the eggs. Place the pumpkin puree in a separate bowl and beat with the vanilla extract and ground cinnamon until smooth. Fold into the cheesecake mixture until thoroughly combined. Spoon the mixture over the biscuit base and gently level the surface. Sprinkle over the rest of the brown sugar. Bake the cheesecake on a baking sheet in the preheated oven for 1¼ -1½ hours until the filling is just set. Turn off the oven and leave the cheesecake inside until cold, then chill in the fridge for 2 hours or overnight. Serve sliced drizzled with raspberry sauce.
For a quick raspberry sauce, push 200g fresh raspberries through a fine-holed sieve (discarding the pulp left in the sieve). Stir in 25g icing sugar and a squeeze of lemon juice.
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Your local EVENTS GUIDE HALLOWEEN-FREE OCT 1- 31 October, Tues & Thurs: 9.30am - 3pm; every Sat & Sun 11am - 4.30pm, Perrygrove Railway, Coleford. An attraction for those who do not celebrate or like Halloween. From 26 Oct to 3 Nov open every day from 11am - 4.30pm. www.perrygrove.co.uk
CLUE-DOH! MURDERY MYSTERY. 5 Oct, 6 - 9pm, Dean Forest Railway, Lydney, GL15 4ET. Join us on board the Dean Forest Railway to discover Who? What? and Where? Canape reception at 6pm, then steam train journey with 2-course meal and murder mystery. £49.50 each. www.deanforestrailway.co.uk/ GIN & SWING NIGHT 5 Oct, 7.30 - 12pm, Hillside Brewery, Longhope, GL17 0NG Charity 40s and 50s night. Tickets: £15 - incl. a glass of gin, buffet and dancing until midnight. In support of Great Oaks Dean Forest Hospice. For details & tickets call 01594 811910.
FOREST SHOWCASE FOOD FESTIVAL 6 Oct, The Speech House Hotel, Coleford, GL16 7EL. Over 100 top local and artisan producers, stunning food, real ale, gin and wine, interesting talks, parent & child cookery lessons, children’s activities, top chef demos, live music, arts & crafts. Free parking. Tickets: Adults £5, U18’s £2.50, U5’s free. Family Ticket £13 ( 2 adults/up to 3 children). FOREST OF DEAN CAMERA CLUB STORIES FROM THE ROAD. 7 Oct, Doors open 7pm
26
for 7.30pm start, Viney Hill Sports Club, GL15 4NF. Local Photojournalist Chris Fairweather presents different aspects of his working life. £5 at the door (membership rates apply). www.fodcc.co.uk
of Heaven Clothing. Tickets: £5 - incl. a glass of prosecco and a goody bag. In support of Great Oaks Hospice. For further details: Debbie 01594 811910.
MAY HILL PLAYERS OPEN EVENING 10 Oct, 7 - 9pm, May Hill Village Hall, All Saints Rd, May Hill, GL17 0NL. A relaxed evening with cheese, wine and nibbles. Come and meet us and see what we do. Male actors and other roles needed. mayhillplayers.co.uk
DYMOCK & DISTRICT LATE CHRYSANTHEMUM & AUTUMN SHOW 27 Oct, Open to the public 1.30 - 4.30pm, Dymock Parish Hall, GL18 2AG. Classes for chrysanthemums of all types, some shown by national champions. Entries on morning of the show before 10.30am. Enquiries: Nigel Thick - 01531 890453 or jenniferthick@aol.com. Schedules available from Dymock Parish Hall website.
ART LECTURE 10 Oct, 2pm, Highnam Community Centre (Gambier Parry Hall), GL2 8DG. Thomas Gainsborough transformed British art and remains one of its most beloved figures. Visitors welcome. T: 01684 833701
MATHERN MILL APPLE DAY 12 Oct, 2 - 5pm, Mathern Mill, 2 miles from Chepstow, NP16 6LG. Grade 2* listed watermill with a long history of cider making. Last opening of the year. Apple pressing: Bring about a dozen apples and a container for your juice. Lots to see and discover about the mill, its history and millers. Activities for children. Free entry. T: 01291 622282 FASHION SHOW & SHOPPING EVENT 18 Oct, 7.30pm, Hillside Brewery, Longhope, GL17 0ND Quality Italian-style autumn and winter clothing by Edge
WILDLIFE SAFARIS 19 Oct, 6.45 - 10pm, Tudor Farmhouse Hotel, Clearwell, GL16 8JS. Hunt for bats, deer, badgers, foxes, voles, mice, hedgehogs and wild boar with Ed Drewitt (naturalist, broadcaster & wildlife detective). Bring warm layers, robust walking shoes and a torch. Walks lasts approx. 2h. Tickets: £40. T: 01594 833046.
SEVERN BORE 27 Oct - 30 Nov, Minsterworth. One of Britain's few truly spectacular natural phenomena. Access to public footpath adjacent to the Church. Please use one of the car parks. HALF TERM EXTRAS 29 - 31 Oct, 11am - 4.30pm, Perrygrove Railway, Coleford, GL16 8QB. Additional free indoor activities, incl. colouring, crafts and BigJigs toys. No need to book.
WINTER OWL EVENINGS 2 - 30 Nov, 6.30 - 9pm, International Centre for Birds of Prey, Newent, GL18 1JJ Spend a magical evening watching owls fly by moonlight. £35 per person. Approx. 2h. Ticketed event only. www.icbp.org/owl-evenings/
CHARLIE DORE AT FOREST FOLK CLUB 3 Nov, Doors open 7.30pm for
8pm start, The Orepool Inn Chepstow Road, Sling, Coleford, GL16 8LH. A multi-layered show as Charlie swaps between guitar, piano, ukulele and harmonium. Admission on the door: £7.
Local Markets
COUNTRY MARKET Fridays, 9.30am - 12pm, beside the Clock Tower in Coleford; Saturdays, 10am -
12pm, Mushet Walk, near the Co-op. Home-baked goods, preserves, honey, handmade crafts, homegrown seasonal fruit, vegetables & plants. FARMERS MARKET 1st Sat/month, 9.30am 1pm, The Pavilion, St. Briavels. Produce, patisserie, fish, pies, etc.
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Making Sense in the Garden October brings us autumn fruits and exotic colours. The days may have a cool feel to them now, but the occasional sunshine still reminds us of the summer.
The colours in the garden are getting darker and richer while the earth is still full of life. The weather can be changeable, but it still allows us enough time to go outside and get some important jobs (e.g. clearing up and weeding) done before the winter. Don’t clear up too much though as the grass, weeds and leaves provide homes to insects and other wildlife. Gardening plays a key role when it comes to wellbeing and mindfulness; it nourishes the body and the soul. Your senses work in layers which makes for a deeper enjoyment: Sight: is the first sense to kick in. Explore your garden and views. Look at colour schemes, place tall plants at eye level and create strategic focal points. Touch: We are constantly touching the soil, plants, tools and materials in our garden. Remember to not only handle but to actually feel the plants.
Scent: Fragrance is key. You can choose scented bulbs such as Hyacinths and winterscented shrubs, e.g. Viburnum 'Charles Lamont'. Taste: Even in a small space, you can grow edibles in containers.
Sound: You can introduce sound by encouraging birds into your garden, and by having water features, gravel paths and plants that rustle (e.g. grasses). Top Tip: Only plant tulips in late autumn.
Written by Catherine Williams, The Garden Lady 28
The Garden Lady 01594 541118 or 07767 690009 Catherine uses her 26+ years of knowledge, skills and experience to create landscape magic, transforming your garden into a beautiful and practical oasis. AVAILABLE FOR: • Training on ‘How to maintain your garden’ • Solving problem areas & revamps • Talks & workshops for clubs/groups • Demonstrations & question time • Garden design & consultancy • Professional speaking & signing of her book Covering the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, Monmouth and Ross-on-Wye. Contact Catherine for a no obligation chat about how she can help you in your garden or speak at your event.
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Hold on to your money! Even if you are earning from employment, there’s a way to earn some extra money without paying tax. HMRC allow you to have a small ‘business’ and providing that your extra sales do not exceed £1,000pa, you won’t need to pay tax on the profits. Search on the internet for ‘HMRC trading allowance’ for more details.
If you are married and one of you doesn’t pay higher rate tax and the other one of you earns under £10,000, you can have 10% of your tax-free allowance transferred to your spouse and between you save up to £240 in tax. Just phone HMRC and give them your and your husband’s/wife’s name along with details such as your wedding date, dates of birth and National Insurance Numbers.
Your local, friendly accountant helping businesses & individuals: • Accounts & Bookkeeping • QuickBooks Training • Self Assessment • Tax and Business Advice Contact us for a no obligation chat
T: 01989 730713 E: penny@wcon.co.uk W: www.wcon.co.uk
If you start a bigger business, you do need to tell the taxman. Monitor all income and expenses to set them off against income. You can even claim travel costs such as driving to the bank and giving onsite quotes. There are also other expenses such as tools of the trade that people new to business can claim for. You can also employ your children (minimum age 13, some activities prohibited until older) and their pay is then an allowable expense. For further help with your new or existing business, QuickBooks, your income, expenses or tax, contact Penny at Wellington Consulting for a no-obligation chat on 01989 730713, admin@wcon.co.uk or visit www.wcon.co.uk.
Page 29
PLANT HIRE Ermin Plant Hire Services 25
Advertisers index 29
AUCTIONEERS & VALUERS Patrick Oliver Antiques 13 Smiths of Newent A. 15 BATHROOMS Hale & Co
BUILDING & HANDYMAN SERVICES High Hopes Partnership S.R.S Property M.
29
28 8
BUSINESS Compton G. Business Park 11 CARPETS & FLOORING Blueboy Carpets Ledbury Carpets BIKE REPAIRS Bod's Custom Cycles
CHARITIES New Start Cat Rescue Sue Ryder CURTAINS & BLINDS Chosen Curtains Sheila's Shutters
25 17 9 3 4 13 23
DECLUTTERING SERVICES Mutha Clutta 21 ELECTRICIANS David Richards
11
ESTATE AGENTS Steve Gooch
19
EVENTS Forest Showcase Food Festival 4 May Hill Players Open Evening 5 FURNITURE Sue Ryder
GARDENING & LANDSCAPING The Garden Lady Green Moon Landscapes Highnam Landscaping James Bubb GARDEN MACHINERY Bucklands Garden M. LEGAL & FINANCIAL Dee & Griffin Solicitors Tayntons Solicitors White Knight Group
4
28 25 19 20 27 13 4 31
PLUMBING & HEATING Town and Country Heating and Plumbing
9
ROOFERS EL Roofing SD Roofing
7 20
SKIPS Newent Skip Hire
20
SCHOOLS & TUTORS Hereford Sixth Form C. back page
STORAGE Compton G. Business Park 11 VETS & PET SERVICES Vine Tree Vets
8
VOLUNTEERS Aston Project
WINDOWS, DOORS & CONSERVATORIES Shane Howells
3
18
MUSIC & INSTRUMENTS Strummers 11 OIL SUPPLIERS Estuary Oils
3
OPEN DAYS Hereford Sixth Form C. back page May Hill Players 5
Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss, damage or omission caused by error in the printing of an advert. All artwork is accepted on the strict condition that permission has been given for use in the publication. Love Local Magazines do not officially endorse any advertising/editorial material included within the publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval systen or transmitted in any form - electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise - without the prior consent of the publisher. The use of this magazine for canvassing or direct marketing is strictly prohibited.
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE SOLUTION (p.9)
ACCOUNTANTS Wellington Consulting
1. 2. 3. 4.
Pattern on bird Beaver mouth Red Fox Nose Yellow bird missing 5. Beaver on the left 6. Hole in tree 7. Bird on head 8. Fox eyes 9. Small beaver gone 10. Leaves
To include your business in the November issue call 01242 388 366 or email Anne@lovelocalmagazines.co.uk. We publish 6 magazines in the Gloucestershire area.
Driving
Going Dutch
First introduced in the Netherlands, where it is now part of their driving test, road safety bodies in the UK are promoting the technique of using your LEFT hand to open the driver’s door. This action means you will naturally turn your head to the right and thus look back over your shoulder for oncoming, or passing, cyclists.
The Dutch Reach, as it’s called, has been endorsed by a major UK private-hire firm, who now incorporate it into their driver training, and Olympic cycling gold-medallist Laura Kenny.
And I can see why Laura would lend her name to this door-opening method: last year a survey of 2,000 cyclists found that over 60% either had personal experience of a car door being opened in their path or knew someone who had. Just over half of those surveyed had sustained an injury as a result, some requiring hospital attention.
In the last couple of years there have been changes to the Driving Test in order, it’s said, “to bring it into line with today’s road conditions”. Perhaps, with the increase in cycling, which is no bad thing, the Government should consider introducing this door-opening technique into the driving test? It may seem trivial, but we are taught to look over our right shoulder before entering the carriageway, so why not do the same for when we exit the vehicle?
In the meantime, incorporating the Dutch Reach into your driving might just save a cyclist? By Iain Betson
T: 01594 564444 W: www.whiteknightgroup.co.uk
Do you need expert independent pension advice? Can we improve your income and options available in retirement? WE HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO HELP CONTACT Bill Ballinger Dip PFS Tim Beal Dip PFS
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Britannia House, High Street, Bream, Lydney, Glos, GL156JS Page 31
WHY CHOOSE US?
OPEN EVENTS
Outstanding examination results
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Wednesday 23rd October 2019 5.00pm~8.00pm Saturday 8th February 2020 9.30am~12.30pm Thursday 30th April 2020 5.30pm~7.30pm
View a short film on what to expect at one of our open events
Hereford Sixth Form College Folly Lane Hereford HR1 1LU T: 01432 355166 E: sixth-form@hereford.ac.uk