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17
Y/FEBRUARY AR 20 NU
Hedge End
EDITION
Inclu ding W OTLEY EST END | EN | B MIDANBURY| CHARTWELL GRE
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Editor’s Letter
ALWAYS LOOK OF THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE I don’t believe everything I read in the newspapers, unless it suits me of course. My favourites are a glass of red wine a day protects the heart, beer is good for the brain, and The Daily Telegraph listed 10 reasons why chocolate is good for you. So when I read an article this morning reporting that optimistic women are less vulnerable to deadly diseases I decided that this would be my new year’s resolution; more positivity, more “glass full” and fewer complaints. However, later the same day I read on the BBC news app that England’s chief medical officer has called on baby boomers, those aged 50 to 70 to keep working to stay healthy. So now working is good for you, too! And did you know that owning a dog
(didn’t say walking a dog…) can add 10 years to your life? As I drink wine, beer, eat chocolate, plan to work till I’m at least 65 (because I enjoy it) and I have a dog I think I’m pretty “optimistic” about my longevity! This issue is a “New Year” special; if your resolution is to “make it happen” then don’t hesitate to call any of our advertisers and get the ball rolling!
Happy New Year!
Me l a
nie Tinson
Editor
THE SOLENT’S NO. 1 PORTFOLIO OF LOCAL MAGAZINES 023 8026 6388 www.discovermagazines.co.uk
12 local editions 144,000 circulation
Discover Hedge End is delivered door to door, free of charge. Distribution is monthly as follows: Hedge End, West and Botley in two deliveries; 7000 one month and a different 7000 the next thus regularly reaching 14000 homes every two months. The Discover Family We also have another 11 magazines in South Hampshire: Locks Heath, Southampton, Eastleigh, Salisbury East, Stockbridge, Romsey, Meon Valley, Hythe, Totton, Winchester, Chandlers Ford. It’s like having lots of children: we love them all, and whilst they look similar each has its own personality!
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Health
REALISTIC RESOLUTIONS FOR A HAPPIER, HEALTHIER NEW YEAR New Year resolutions sound like a great idea: a fresh year and a fresh start. So why do they often fail? Setting Yourself Up for Failure At New Year, festive goodwill and New Year enthusiasm can entice us into making a multitude of overly ambitious resolutions, setting ourselves up to fail and often, give up completely on our goals. So let’s turn three popular, doomed-tofailure aspirations into realistic resolutions. MORE EXERCISE Your Resolution: I’ll go to Pilates, do my dance DVD and walk two miles every week! You didn’t manage any of these things every week last year - ask yourself why. Identify activities you enjoy and can most easily fit in. A Better Resolution: I’ll do at least an hour’s exercise every week. Weather too bad for walking? Missed Pilates? Resolve to do your exercise DVD instead. Anything else is a bonus. Better to do some exercise consistently than none. 6
LESS ALCOHOL Your Resolution: “I won’t drink on weekdays/at home/EVER AGAIN!” Recent research shows that even alcohol intake under the recommended limits of 2-3 units daily and 14 units per week increases your risk of many serious conditions, including dementia and some cancers, so reducing your intake is great – but tough if you’re a regular drinker. A Better Resolution: Think about when and where you drink alcohol, and reduce your intake gradually. Try: Matching every alcoholic drink with a soft drink, or buying a large soft drink later in the evening to last until home time. Finding other ways to relax if you always have a drink on returning from work (or make it a Friday-only treat). Feeling you ‘need’ a drink is a warning sign; consider if you need to make changes in your work life. è
HEDGE END KNIT AND NATTER
Can you knit or have you always wanted to learn? Knit and Natter is a friendly group of all ages who meet every Weds at Hedge End Library, Upper Northam Road, Hedge End between 2pm and 4pm. The group is fortunate enough to have Wilkinsons Haberdashery visit every month, bringing new wools and patterns for us to see and perhaps buy. No need to book, just turn up and you will be made to feel very welcome. All current members would love to see you there! (Coffee & Biscuit only 50p)
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On alternate nights, swap that wine with dinner or beer with friends for low-alcohol or non-alcoholic versions. NO SMOKING Your Resolution: “I smoke 30 a day, but I’m quitting for good at New Year!” It’s probably quicker to list conditions not aggravated or caused by smoking than to list those that are, and accepting you’re addicted to nicotine can be hard. But that twitchiness you feel – the need for a cigarette to ‘calm your nerves’ - is nicotine withdrawal, which can occur very quickly. This can make smoking hard to kick, particularly for moderate or heavy smokers. While a few successfully go ‘cold turkey’, gradually reducing your nicotine intake is the most reliable and angstfree method. A Better Resolution: Try the options below and keep going until you find a strategy that works.
You can also buy nicotine replacement products; experiment and see what works best for you. If you don’t already, make yourself smoke outside; it takes more effort. Toxins from your cigarette linger in the air (second-hand smoke) and settle on surfaces, where they’re re-released (third-hand smoke), so you’ll be improving the health of housemates and visitors too. Smoke to a timed schedule and gradually increase the time between cigarettes. Even if you smoke 25 a day and only drop one daily cigarette per fortnight, you’ll still be a non-smoker in under a year. Keep nicotine but eliminate cigarette toxins like cyanide and arsenic by swapping to e-cigarettes or vaporisers. ‘Resolution’ has an array of scientific and historical meanings, including ‘reduction to a simpler form’. So keep your resolutions simple – and realistic!
Visit your GP. They can prescribe some nicotine replacement products and refer you to counselling.
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Beauty
Van Cleef & Arpels So First
BEAUTY RESOLUTIONS
A new year is the perfect time to make a few changes to your beauty routine… It seems you can barely pick up a magazine without reading about another new skincare ‘miracle worker’, from skin softeners and beauty essences, to micellar water. Most of these are ‘nice to haves’ rather than essentials. If you are looking to up your skin care regime though, I’d recommend adding a serum. They’re more concentrated than a moisturiser, and designed to target specific concerns, from fine lines to blemishes. French brand Ekia’s Sérum Fermeté – Highly Active Firming Serum, is designed to tighten and lift skin. The ‘magic ingredient’, a tree extract called dragon’s blood sap, is said to help firm skin, smooth fine lines, increase moisture and aid skin renewal. My skin certainly felt tighter and more hydrated after using the serum. £48.99 from www.hollandandbarrett.com. 10
It’s easy to get stuck in a perfume rut. Rather than play it safe with your favourite scent, why not head to a local perfume shop and try a few new ones? Ideally, spritz a perfume on a card first. If you like the scent immediately, and still do after half an hour, then try it directly on your skin. Fragrance is designed to change over time, so don’t just spray, sniff and buy. Give it time to show you what it’s made of. Van Cleef & Arpels So First (from £32) is a nice one to try. Light, fresh and feminine, it’s bursting with floral notes, such as freesia and frangipani, with a warm base of vanilla and sandalwood. Many of us are guilty of splashing out on top of the range hair straighteners and styling products, then throwing whatever shampoo and conditioner is on offer in our basket. My top hair care recommendation is to go for a gentler, decent shampoo and conditioner. Personally, I avoid any that contain sodium lauryl sulphate, as I find it leaves my hair dry and brittle. è
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Makeup bags and brushes can be a bit of a breeding ground for bacteria, and that can lead to spots and skin irritation. So if you haven’t given them a wash for a while, now’s the time. Clean brushes with a gentle hand wash or baby shampoo, pat them dry and then leave to air dry. Alternatively, if they’re looking a bit worse for wear, treat yourself to some new ones. The Nanshy range is a good choice. They’re made with premium synthetic fibres (so cruelty-free), assembled by hand and rigorously tested. They’re also lovely and soft and great for blending. Nanshy brushes start from £5.95 at www.myshowcase.com.
JASÖN do some great haircare products, priced from around £6.50 for a half-litre bottle that will last for ages. If you’re looking to treat yourself however, I can recommend Saach Organics Hair Strengthening Shampoo and Nourishment Conditioner. They’re packed with nourishing natural ingredients, such as almond oil, coconut milk and hibiscus, and leave my highlighted hair feeling soft and healthy. Prices start from £9.95 at www.saachorganics.com.
By Kate Duggan
NEW YEAR, NEW YOU! After all the indulgence of Christmas, January is the perfect time to focus on your health and making those New Year’s Resolutions. And Everett’s New Year, New You campaign could help you stick to them! They offer a Health MOT service for just £15 (ask if you might be eligible for a free NHS Health Check) at the following branches: Park Gate, Locks Heath, Warsash, St Luke’s Pharmacy, David Fogg Chemist or Cosham. This covers blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, alcohol awareness, Body Mass Index (BMI) and stopping smoking. Following your initial checks, the team offers advice on how to make changes to improve your health and also offer follow up appointments to check and monitor your progress to keep you motivated and on track. To book a Health MOT, contact your nearest participating Everetts branch. 12
www.everettspharmacy.co.uk
Participating Branches: Park Gate, Locks Heath, Warsash, St Luke’s Pharmacy, David Fogg Chemist, Cosham
13
Financial & Legal
INTEREST RATES ARE LOW, SO WHAT ARE YOUR BEST OPTIONS FOR SAVING? With interest rates set to remain low for a while, it is worth considering what you could do with the spare cash you might now have. It is always a good idea to pay off your debts first, but there is also some benefit to starting a small nest-egg. From April 2016 everyone has a Personal Savings Allowance, which means that many people won’t need to pay tax on their savings (subject to a maximum limit). This broadening of your options means you could switch your current account to benefit from the credit interest offered by a different bank, or perhaps opt for a fixed-term ISA that removes the temptation to spend. 14
With each bank applying their own rules for eligibility, here are a few of the different accounts available at the time of writing. Bank current accounts It is not something that we are used to, but currently some banks are offering high credit interest rates on their current accounts. Most of these deals only last for a year, however, and are used to attract new customers, but many also offer cash back or a monetary incentive. Nationwide offers 5% AER fixed on their FlexDirect account for balances up to £2,500. This rate lasts for one year only and then drops to 1%, so you will need to be prepared to swap again if you want to get a higher rate after this. In order to be eligible for the account you have to pay in at least £1,000 per month. è
SOUTHAMPTON VOTES YES FOR THE BID Businesses in Southampton city centre have voted strongly in favour for a Business Improvement District. Southampton now joins 250 other places, throughout the UK, which have already seen their own BIDs transform their town and city centres. The Southampton BID, which was named GO! Southampton, will be one of the largest in the country.
company to run the BID, will now start next April and deliver over £5m plus of investment over the next five years. The BID area covers Bedford Place in the north to Town Quay and Mayflower Park in the south to Mayflower Theatre in the east to Southampton Solent University in the west.
The result was announced following a month long postal ballot when the owners of the 634 business premises in the BID area voted 58% in favour. The turnout was 40%. They have voted for a 1.5% levy on their business rates, which will raise around £1m per year to be used to support business growth initiatives in the city centre. For Southampton, it’s the culmination of 18 months’ work for the business representatives on the BID Steering Group, who put together the case tested in this ballot. GO! Southampton, which will be a business led not-for-profit
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Regular savings accounts As the name suggests, these accounts require a regular payment in order to benefit from the higher interest rates. Again, some high interest rates are only available for a year as the banks use them as ‘loss leaders,’ assuming their new customer won’t be inclined to move once the rate falls.
that you have taken out in a tax year without it becoming part of the ISA limit.
First Direct offers 5% AER for one year, to customers holding a First Direct 1st Account. You are allowed to save between £25 and £300 per month, but if you miss one deposit your savings account will close and the balance will be placed into a low-interest account.
Atom Bank offers 1.4% AER for a one-year term, but you must open the account with their Android or iOS app, which won’t appeal to everybody. You can deposit between £50 and £100,000, and the interest is applied either monthly or annually.
Cash ISA Once the obvious choice to maximise your savings, a cash ISA can be a good place to start your nestegg if you don’t want to switch bank accounts or save a regular amount each month. The Coventry Building Society Easy Access ISA offers a rate of 1.1% AER. There is no limit on the number of withdrawals, and you can replace money
Fixed-rate accounts If you want to guarantee your rate of interest and are sure you won’t need the money for some time, a fixed-rate account could be a good option.
Savings accounts offer a guaranteed return on your money, which can grow surprisingly quickly, especially if the interest is applied monthly. Having some cash to one side gives you a degree of control to deal with unexpected life events such as redundancy, or simply the reassurance that you have a ‘cushion’ to fall back on. By Ann Haldon
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LOVE AND CHOCOLATE BISCUITS An author from Southampton is set to release her debut novel. Karen Williams has written Love and Chocolate Biscuits; the story of Polly, a woman juggling dieting and dating. “She dates two men simultaneously, one is the charming, handsome Mark and the other is cyberRomeo Tim. She has several dating and dieting disasters before she finds the love of her life.” Love and Chocolate Biscuits, published by Austin Macauley, will be available to purchase from Amazon and all good bookshops. www.austinmacauley.com
BUSINESSES FOR SALE MODEL RAILWAY & REMOTE CONTROLLED MODELS SHOP Aircraft, helis, boats & cars; drones; kites; rockets; Mamod live steam; Balsa wood & modelling materials; Scalextric & Ninco slotcars and model railways in “n” & “00”. Annual sales £79,931 with scope for e-commerce.£9,950 Relocatable Ref HW1488 STYLISH HAIR SALON PRIME LOCATION IN LYMINGTON Currently staff-run, would suit working owner. 7 chairs Men and children; scope to add ladies hairdressing. Beautiful Georgian building in a prime trading position. Revenue £1,300 p/week Only £9,950 L/hold Ref HW1490 CITY CENTRE CARDS & GIFT SHOP IN PORTSMOUTH Opened 10 months ago weekly sales now £2,000+. Genuine reason for sale. Spacious, professionally presented store in pedestrian High Street. Scope for e-commerce. £15,000 plus stock L/hold Ref HW1493 NEW PET SHOP IN STH HANTS TOWN WITH 3-BED MAISONETTE Live pets include birds and small furries; significant pet food sales. 16-year lease expires 2026. Annual rent only £5,760 includes self-contained 3-bed maisonette above. Sales £125,035 GP £46,185 (37%) £49,950 L/hold HW1499 CONCRETE CUTTING AND DRILLING SPECIALISTS - STH HAMPSHIRE Retirement Sale. Accounts show turnover y/e 31st of May 2016 £367,472 with gross profits of £154,555 (42%) and reconstituted net profits of c.£122,000. £195,000 Relocatable HW1491
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Lock Up Your Stuff! It seems that there’s a new hack every couple of days, with websites admitting that hackers have managed to get people’s account details. That’s dangerous, because many people use the same passwords on every site - so if somebody manages to get your login details for one website, they might be able to get into your email and favourite online shops. The good news is that protecting yourself is simple. First of all, don’t use the same user name and password twice. And secondly, don’t use easy to guess passwords. “12345678” is one of the UK’s most popular passwords and easy to guess, but something like “ektg-243n-brb456” isn’t. That’s hard to remember, of course, but you don’t have to remember it: on Apple hardware the Safari web browser can remember your passwords for you, and on other devices, apps such as the excellent LastPass or 1Password do the same.
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SUPPORT FOR BOTLEY BYPASS Hampshire County Council has received overwhelming public support for its proposals to build a bypass for Botley, following consultation earlier this year.
station. To deter people from continuing to cut through Botley once a bypass is open, traffic calming measures will also be needed for the centre of the village.
Over 80 per cent of local residents supported the principle that Botley should have a bypass which would reduce through traffic, congestion, noise and vibration levels through the centre of the village. Councillor Rob Humby said: “Botley already experiences a significant amount of through traffic, and with levels of new housing and development in the wider Botley area forecast to increase over the next 20 years, we need to act now to address this issue.
Hampshire County Council held three public exhibitions during the summer, to showcase plans for the proposed Botley Bypass. Over 730 local residents attended the exhibitions and 501 questionnaires were completed, of which 82 per cent supported the principal of a bypass. The County Council has also received letters of support from Eastleigh Borough Council, Winchester City Council, Botley Parish Council, Whiteley Town Council and Hampshire Chamber of Commerce.
The proposed bypass will divert traffic from the main A334 through Botley, north onto Woodhouse Lane and then south east onto the new bypass alongside the train line, which would then re-join the A334 just before the railway
A planning application and all associated assessment work will now be prepared and submitted, so that the bypass scheme is ready to go, once funding has been secured.
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Parenting
FUSSY EATERS Ah, fussy eaters. Don’t you just love them? And don’t you just love those parents who gloatingly tell you that their child eats whatever they’re given, or goes to bed hungry? (Obviously these people have never been woken up at 3am by wails of, “I’m so hungry. Please can I have some porridge?”) Remember the days when your kids would eat most things, as long as it was blended with carrot? Or when you smiled smugly because your nine month old would happily chew on broccoli? It’s like they hit two and then develop taste buds that despise anything other than pasta, bread and sweets. Forget five a day, sometimes you wonder whether your child has eaten so much as a grapesized portion of fruit and veg all week. If you’re at your wits end trying to get them to eat some vegetables, these tips might just help. We know it’s winter, but there are few kids who’ll refuse ice-cream or lollies, even if it’s snowing outside. Try blending two small frozen bananas with a couple of handfuls of frozen raspberries or mixed fruit, and about a third of a cup of yoghurt. It makes a great ice-cream and uses up those bananas the kids have been turning their noses up at. Or, even simpler, buy a ready-made smoothie, pour it into lolly moulds and freeze. While too much fruit juice isn’t great for a child’s teeth, one glass is fine. Ideally, give it to them with a meal. Keep an eye out for mixed juices and smoothies too. (Some even have added multivitamins.) 20
Contrary to popular belief, not all kids like tomato-based sauces. Most do however. Cooked tomatoes are even healthier than raw, so try whizzing up a batch of sauce with a few hidden veggies. Cook a couple of cans worth of chopped tomatoes, along with some salad peppers, carrots, leek and any other vegetables you have languishing in the fridge. You can add a tiny bit of sugar if you want. Blend until smooth if your kids are particularly fussy, then use it as a pasta sauce, or add it to mince to make bolognaise, or cottage pie. Freeze what you don’t use – it’ll keep for months. You can also disguise veggies in other ways. Cauliflower mixes well with potato for example. Or try finely slicing a sweet potato, tossing it in olive oil and roasting it to make ‘intergalactic orange crisps’. (It’s all in the name.) Kids often prefer raw vegetables to cooked. You could offer them raw carrot, cucumber and salad pepper crudities as a side dish or snack. è
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Some kids will surprise you by loving quite strong flavours. (Mine go mad for olives for example.) And strong flavours can be great for masking the taste of vegetables. So try pesto, garlic or mild curry. Children also like having some control. You could give them a list of five vegetables some days, and ask them to choose two for dinner. Or start a reward chart where they get a sticker for each type of vegetable they eat that week. And try setting out various raw veg with tortilla wraps and letting them make fajitas. Or doing the same with pizza bases. When all else fails, my fussy five year old will eat most things if I pretend it’s a fish that doesn’t want to be eaten, and he’s a shark. The things we do as parents…
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NEW COURSES AT HAMPSHIRE LIBRARIES Thousands of residents will be helped to find a job or learn new skills thanks to free and discounted courses at Hampshire County Council’s libraries. The Library Service has been awarded over £300,000 by Hampshire Futures to support 3,500 adults across the county, as part of a wider £1.35 million programme. This will include courses for targeted groups to improve their English, maths, digital and employability skills. A number of leisure courses are also on offer for people to gain new skills and interests. Eastleigh Library is participating in CV writing, family learning courses. Details on individual courses can be found at www.hants.gov.uk/library/ servicesforyou/learninginlibraries
NEW £4.8 MILLION HOSPITAL WARD Southampton Hospital Charity and The Murray Parish Trust are raising £2 million to fund the creation of a state of the art specialist Children’s Emergency and Trauma Department at University Hospital Southampton in the Summer 2018. The fundraising of £2 million will coincide with £2 million worth of match funding granted to the Hospital Trust from the Government as well as £800,000 allocated by the hospital, allowing us to make this critical ambition a reality. The overall £4.8 million cost of the development will create an innovative space for children to receive the very best care for emergency and trauma with all services housed in one place. This will not only enable a more streamlined, efficient and less anxiety-inducing experience for the child, but the larger modern build will ensure more children are seen at an even higher standard of care.
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The much-needed department (which will treat children with medically unplanned instances across 9 areas) will create: • A large, dedicated children’s waiting room, reception and triage. • A bespoke children’s emergency X-ray, including a C-arm portable X-ray machine to allow manipulation of fractures. • A children’s procedural sedation room, eliminating the need for those needing sedation to be treated in the adult resuscitation room. • An acute assessment unit with 11 modern glass fronted bays with two isolation bays and a mental health safe room. • An observed treatment area with substantially more space located alongside the staff base. • A short stay unit with bays twice the size located just a corridor away from the acute assessment unit. In order for this to happen they need your support! To find out more or to make a donation, please contact the charity office: 023 8120 8881 or charity@uhs.nhs.uk
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And Another Thing...
TOM’S NEW YEAR RESOLUTION By Tom Hughes January - a new beginning, a new start. Sarah, my Dearly Beloved, plonked a cup of green tea in front of me and announced: “Tom I have decided that 2017 is the year of change. I have new dreams for this family. But before I go on, I want to hear all about your New Year’s resolutions.” Replacing my copy of Diesel Injectors for Dummies on the coffee table, my thoughts turned for the first time to the impending twelve months. “Well for starters, I am determined to avenge Nigel for his 4-0 whitewash on the pool table in the bar of the Old Paraffin Lamp. But of course that means more practice, so...”
Apparently, my punishing training schedule on the threadbare green baize in the bar of our local was not the kind of resolution Sarah had in mind. A glossy tome was unceremoniously plonked into my lap. “Welcome to Whitefield Gardens, your new Johnson Ian Home. What on earth is this?”
“Come on, grab your coat - we’re going house hunting.” Weaving the Mondeo around the exposed ironworks of an unadopted road, I eased my chariot into the visitor’s car park. Slaloming 26
through a strange wrought iron maze, Sarah guided me into an office adjoining a newly constructed house.
“This is the show home, Tom, isn’t it lovely?”
“The architect hasn’t half gone to town on the study hasn’t he? I could fit three desks in here.”
A middle aged lady wearing an azure blue suit, sporting Shirley Temple curls and a face the colour of burnt ochre rose from behind her desk and announced, “Sir, this isn’t an office, this is the garage.”
Wondering how easy it would be to smash the Mondeo through the double glazing, I followed Shirley Temple and Sarah through a white door into a white kitchen. I was about to step onto the shiny marble floor when our host span round and, holding up two blue plastic bags, requested that we put them on so as not to bring in any dirt into the show home. I dutifully complied and followed the two ladies towards the beautiful surroundings. As Sarah engaged Miss Temple in a conversation about light fittings, I decided to chip in with my twopenn’orth. “So how much is this pad anyway?” The two ladies turned to face me. Shirley Temple smirked, Sarah was appalled. “Tom, those blue covers are not for your head take it off!”
“Oh right, I wondered why I had two anyway.” è
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“No, not on your hands, on your feet!”
Suitably protected, I popped my head into a cupboard under the stairs. “Someone’s left a toilet in here.”
A stony-faced Miss Temple corrected me. “That’s the downstairs cloakroom, sir. And through here is the lounge.” I followed Sarah into a modern-day front parlour where I nestled into the soft furnishings. “This armchair is very generous, I bet with a squeeze we could both fit on here.” “Tom, that’s the sofa. By the way I love the wallpaper.”
Shirley Temple beamed. “Thank you! We’ve had the whole house dressed by our interiors team.”
“When are they going to finish it off? What about the rest of it?” “Tom - that is called a feature wall.”
Suitably chastised we adjourned upstairs to a collection of pokey rooms, most of which seemed to contain toilets. “Look Sarah, there’s another loo in here!”
“Tom, they are en-suites. I just love the way they’ve designed it all.”
“Bit cramped though isn’t it? Imagine shoehorning all our stuff into here?” “Well that’s the whole point, isn’t it dear - we are going to have to declutter!”
Miss Temple, irked at my candid remarks, through the most insincere of smiles said, “Maybe, sir, our Heritage Range of homes has not been aimed at people...like you.” “Then who have they been aimed at? Lilliputians with weak bladders?”
On the way home (conducted mainly in silence), I detoured to our local DIY store in an effort to repair marital relations, where I allowed myself to be frogmarched into the home interiors section and vigorously schooled on the benefits of the ‘feature wall’. And that, dear reader, is the story of how your narrator became the owner of a) one wallpaper table, and b) one rather unwelcome New Year’s resolution…
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BON APPÉTIT!
By Cecile
As a French sommelier, Marcel Proust’s “In Search of Lost Time”, has haunted me ever since I moved to England 23 years ago. At the heart of the book is the theme of involuntary memory, in which an experience such as a smell or a taste unexpectedly unlocks a past recollection. Every time I pass in front of a bakery, my heart stops and calls to mind my childhood in France. The taste of buttered croissants at breakfast, the feel of those crumbs on my lips, the smell of the rich, hot cocoa I religiously drank after school, the inviting glance at a pain au chocolat waiting on my plate, or the noise that fresh, crunchy baguettes made at dinner time. I will never forget.
Fabrice and Tanya Berthonneau and their typically French restaurant and café bar, ‘La Parisienne’ on Bell Street in Romsey SO51 8GY. I’m always lost for words and a little tearful when I savour a soupe à l’oignon or a roasted breast of duck there. The ambiance and the flavours bring me back to another time. Thank you to Luc for recently opening up the finest of cheese, cold meats and wine delicatessens on Latimer Street in Romsey SO51 8DF, adeptly named ‘Luc, Purveyor of Fine Foods’. A “fine épicerie” where fresh produce and great wine bottles await patiently to be picked up and satisfy your palate.
This is why I now need to thank a few of my compatriots, dotted around Hampshire, for providing me with the very best food experiences around, for making me salivate and remember once again that life is good. Thank you to Gilles Coupeau, the most talented of bakers for his fresh breads and incredible gâteaux. His ‘Boulangerie de Victor Hugo’ on the High Street in Southampton SO14 2NS is an Aladdin’s cave, full of mouth-watering pâtisseries and glorious home-made food.
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I hope that these much-loved addresses of mine, will provide you with the same joyful experiences that a morsel of cake did for Proust. But for me, smells are perhaps even more evocative than tastes because – as any wine-buff will tell you – our noses are much more discriminating than our tongues. By Cecile
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Mark Franklin talks to
THE SHIRES
The Shires are Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes. The Breeze’s Mark Franklin caught up with them to talk country music, influences and the surprising way they got together in the first place.
I’ve got to start off by congratulating you on two number one country albums – ‘My Universe’ being your most recent CD. Ben: Apparently this was the fastest selling country album of all time. It’s kind of a bit weird saying that because four years ago we hadn’t really met each other and here we are now with two albums under our belt – and doing this tour and seeing so many people singing along to every single song is just incredible. We’re having a great time.
When someone says to you, you’ve got the fastest selling country album of all time, how do you feel?
Crissie: It’s pretty amazing. It’s also crazy to think that we can use the word ‘country’ nowadays as it was kind of a dirty word for a long time. People if you mentioned it would be “oh, stetsons, rhinestones and cowboys” and it’s just not that any more. It’s so much more about what’s going on today. And in terms of heritage country artists, who do you look back on and think… genius. Crissie: Dolly (Parton). Dolly performing Glastonbury a few years ago was a really big turning point I think.
Because you used to sing her songs in pubs?
Crissie: I did! I was always singing her, Shania Twain and LeAnn Rimes. They were the kind of leading ladies for me in country music. So in terms of the makeup of The Shires, it’s because you’re from two shires – Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, right? 34
Ben: Now just Bedfordshire because I moved! When we got together we said that we want to retain our Britishness and that’s where the name came from. And when we go out to the States, they love the fact that we’ve from the UK and that we are really proud of that. We wrote a song called ‘Made In England’ which just celebrates all the things we love about being British. It didn’t sound very good singing “made in Britain” so we changed it to ‘England’. We get a lot of stick for it in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland when we sing it! Both of you guys have had experience with the X Factor. Are you really glad that nothing really happened there because of where you are right now.
Crissie: Yeah it’s funny because if we didn’t go on that show, neither one of us would have met each other. It’s an entertainment show, it’s brilliant to watch, but it is hard work. We’re very grateful that we found each other and we get to do everything we want to do. So you’re two albums down now. Is it too early to be thinking about a third album?
Ben: No – you have to! Already started writing for it! Fans just want it straight away! <laughs>
Mark Franklin presents The Breeze Classic Countdown every Saturday from 11am. Listen on FM or online at thebreeze.com.
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◆◆ Boiler Replacement, Servicing, Upgrades ◆◆ Bathroom and Kitchen Installations ◆◆ Chemical flushing of heating systems ◆◆ Landlord’s gas safety checks ◆◆ Part P electrical qualified For a prompt , reliable service. No call out charge, Free estimates
24 Hour Call-out 023 8026 6544
Mobile 07802 385542
C9896
57 Bodycoats Rd, Chandlers Ford email: aquatec@ntlworld.com
w w w. a q u a t e c p l u m b i n g a n d h e a t i n g . c o . u k 38
147722
The Door Hanger Ltd
Power flush special from
Need a new internal door?
£300
Old doors looking tired and worn? We can supply five 30” x 78” white primed colonial doors (six panel grained moulded doors), supplied and fitted with chrome furniture
25 Just £4
Other sizes including metric available • Free estimates
Call Tony 07941 191855 www.thedoorhanger.co.uk Checkatrade.co.uk/thedoorhanger
All aspects of Plumbing carried out Bathroom Fitting Tiling Water Softeners supplied and fitted For a free quote call us today
02381 226 856 ▪ 07917 703 794 info@mbrierleyplumbing.co.uk www.mbrierleyplumbing.co.uk
• General plumbing maintenance • Boiler servicing • Gas hobs and range ovens • Bathroom installations • Water softeners supplied and fitted • Central heating and boiler installation • Heated towel rails • Shower pumps • Central heating power flushes • Friendly, reliable service • Free estimates.
For a FREE estimate call
07866 508 646 023 81 847798 frplumbing@outlook.com
577927
Taking care of your home... • Boiler and gas appliance servicing, breakdowns and repairs • Central heating and boiler installations • Annual service plans from ONLY £6 per month Gair Gas now offer a • Plumbing 10 year warranty on all Worcester • Electrics Greenstar gas or oil fired boilers.* • FREE estimates * Terms & • Fully Guaranteed conditions apply
Call 02380 363 838 Lakewood House, 50 Hiltingbury Road, Chandlers Ford, Hants SO53 5SS
144901 1-2pge_winter16_v2.indd 4
www.gairgas.co.uk E-mail sales@gairgas.co.uk 14/11/16 22:41:00
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1st Choice WANTED! Rubbish Clearance Specialists
We clear Houses, Sheds, Garages, Gardens, Shops, Offices, Warehouses & Much more
We are cheaper than hiring a skip & we do all Fast, the work! friendly & polite service
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Discounts for OAPs • Trades Welcome Bulk Discounts available Please call for a FREE, no obligation quote, 7 Days a week
Tel: 01489 559818 or 07736 691191
www.1stchoice-rubbish-clearance.com email: info@1stchoice-rubbish-clearance.com Environmental Agency Registered Waste Carrier
Distributors for this magazine The Discover Hedge End magazine is delivered every month by our reliable team of distributors. Although many distributors stay with us for years, teens grow up and adults grow older, meaning that we do regularly have vacancies. Flexible and local All we need is for you to be available once every month (or every other month) for a few hours, and we give you 5 days to do the delivery. We try to find a route close to home for you if we can. Rates of pay It depends on the route as some are easier than others, but we pay well and will let you know when we make you an offer. How to apply Go to discovermagazines.co.uk/deliveryteam to complete your details and to find out more information
Plumbing and Heating Limited Your Local Worcester Bosch Accredited Installer • 10 Year Guarantee On Selected Models
For all domestic and commercial gas work call free on
0800 611 8787 • www.rfwheating.co.uk 40
WINTER SALE NOW ON!
CARPET GREAT REDUCTIONS ON OUR SALE FABULOUS GREENDALE CARPETS
a pleasure to come home to Exclusive Carpets from Greendale Brintons and Ulster all on display Adam Carpets Specialist
Vinyl Planks & Tiles from Karndean Great value STAYCLEAN Carpets Easy Parking
Visit Richard Bowser in store for expert advice and service
SPECIAL DISCOUNTS ON OUR KARNDEAN/VUSTA PLANKS & TILES
20%
DISC
OU
NT OF STO F ALL CK R UGS
TITCHFIELD Carpets 5a The Tanneries, East Street, Titchfield Telephone: 01329 844208 Fax: 01329 844128 email: titchfieldcarpets@btconnect.com Waterlooville Carpets Limited, Trading as Titchfield Carpets - www.waterloovillecarpets.co.uk 41
THE BUGLE INN HAS REOPENED On Friday, November 18, Botley residents celebrated the reopening of their local pub, The Bugle Inn, in the heart of Botley square. Paul and Lou Carver, the proud new custodians of this beautiful historic pub, extended a warm welcome to customers as they explored the newly refurbished interior. The owners plan to build a special place that people will be proud to call their local. Lou explains; “We are so honoured to be the new landlord and landlady of this wonderful pub. Botley has been our home for over 12 years and we have been loyal customers over that time. Our plan is to put the life and soul back in The Bugle Inn, firmly putting it back on the map.” The Bugle Inn is a place for everyone; walkers and their dogs looking for a place to thaw and relax, ladies that lunch, business people holding a customer meeting over food and drinks, romantic dinners and families spending special times together over a Sunday roast. 10 High Street, Botley SO30 2EA • www. bugleinnbotley.com
WHAT’S ON AT THE BROOK
www.the-brook.com • 466 Portswood Road, Portswood, Southampton SO17 3SD • 023 8055 5366
JANUARY Fri 6 Jan Sat 7 Jan Fri 13 Jan Sat 14 Jan Thu 19 Jan Fri 20 Jan Sat 21 Jan Thu 26 Jan Fri 27 Jan Sat 28 Jan Sun 29 Jan 42
FEBRUARY Dire Straits by “Money For Nothing” Atomic Blondie Voodoo Room Duran 2 Ana Popovic & Her Band Colin Blunstone Who’s Who Dead Freights, Elixir & Shy Boy Fleetwood Bac Los Pacaminos feat Paul Young Martyn Joseph
Fri 3 Feb
Johnny 2 Bad (UB40 Tribute)
Sat 4 Feb
Cloudbursting
Fri 10 Feb
Mainly Madness
Sat 11 Feb Maetloaf Fri 17 Feb
Guitar Legends
Sat 18 Feb Green-ish Day Fri 24 Feb
Guns 2 Roses
Sat 25 Feb The Beat
advertorial
Cloudy2Clear Announce Trusted Trader Partnership Consumer champions Which? have now joined the thousands of customers who recognise that Cloudy2Clear Windows really are a business that you can TRUST. The company which specialises in repairing windows which are steamed up, broken or damaged by replacing the panes – not the frames has received the coveted ‘Which Trusted Trader’ status after going through a rigorous accreditation process entirely focussed on customer service. Group Managing Director Marcus McGee believes that Which? have endorsed Cloudy2Clear’s long standing company
policy of delivering the highest standards possible at all times. ‘Our service is simple. If your double glazing has misted up we can replace the glass at a fraction of the cost of a new window, in any type of frame, and with a new 5 year guarantee. But it’s not just about saving people money, although that obviously helps. Whilst a number of tradespeople perhaps don’t focus on customer care as much as they should do, we make sure we turn up when we say we will, do the job the customer requires and leave their house as clean as a whistle. Locally Cloudy2Clear service the Hedge End area
and manager Justin Friel agrees that this approach is a major factor in his success. ‘The truth is that it’s not just the personal satisfaction that I get from doing a good job but also it makes good business sense. I get a huge amount of business from friends and family of people I’ve done work for, which just goes to show how much a little bit of effort is appreciated as both my customers and, obviously a body as nationally important as Which? now recognise.’ So, if your windows are steamed up, broken or damaged give Justin a call for a free quotation on 0800 61 21 118 and he’ll be
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Broken Or Damaged Windows? Faulty Locks, Handles, Hinges? 43
FILM EXPO SOUTH 3 Feb, 9am to 11pm
What's On NIFTY NEEDLERS 10 Jan, 6pm Fair Oak Library SO50 7AX Weekly group for anyone who loves to knit or crochet or would like to learn. Wool, needles and patterns provided. 50p charge per visit to cover refreshments. 02380 602693 HEDGE END GENEALOGY GROUP 10, 17, 24, 31 Jan, 9.30am to 12pm Hedge End Library, 11 Upper Northam Road SO30 4DY A team of researchers are at hand to help you find your ancestors. £2 a session to include tea or coffee. 01489 797142 LIVE: NO MAN’S LAND ENCORE 12 Jan, 7pm The Berry Theatre, SO30 4EH Bringing Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart to the West End stage in Harold Pinter’s No Man’s Land, transmitted live from the National Theatre. 02380 652333 TEEN STAR 12 Mar, 9am to 5pm River Studios, 32 Windsor Road, Totton SO40 9HQ Singing and dance auditions. Entry £5. www.teenstarcompetition.co.uk 44
LIVE: NO MAN’S LAND ENCORE 13 Jan, 7pm, 14 Jan, 2pm & 6pm The Berry Theatre SO30 4EH A swashbuckling adventure with wannabe buccaneer Jim Hawkins, as he alone searches for the Bones family treasure! Transmitted live from the National Theatre. 02380 652333 THE COMEDY BAR BIG GIG 14 Jan, 8pm Nuffield Theatre, SO17 1TR Your chance to see three rising stars of comedy: Dane Baptiste, Keith Farnan and Arthur Smith. (Book) 023 8067 1771 PMN WEDDING FAYRES THE SOLENT HOTEL & SPA 15 Jan, 11am to 3.30pm The Solent Hotel & Spa, Whiteley PO15 7AJ Up to 50 Exhibitors. £1.50pp (free entry for children). 07816 911310 SCHOOL EXPERIENCE TASTER DAY 16 Jan, 8.45am to 2pm Wildern School, SO30 4EJ A placement day for applicants looking to teach Art & Design, Biology, Chemistry, Computer
To feature your event email editorial@discovermagazines.co.uk Science, English, Geography, History, French, German, Maths, Physics or Spanish. (Book) 01489 779458 FOSTERING INFORMATION EVENING 18 Jan, 6.30pm – 8pm Civic Centre, Southampton SO14 7LY Find out more about being a foster carer. Have your questions answered and take away an information-pack. southampton.gov.uk/fostering 0800 5191818 MUCH ADO ABOUT PANTO 25-28 Jan, 7.30pm Bishopstoke Memorial Hall SO50 Come on a journey with the young Billy Shakespeare. 02380 643109 NEVILE STAPLE (EX-THE SPECIALS) 27 Jan, 7pm 1865 Club, Brunswick Square SO14 3AR Neville’s continues to be a forerunner of the ska movement, and continues to thrill audiences with his own excellent band. www.the1865.com
FAREHAM CAREERS FAIR 27 Jan, 10am to 3pm Ferneham Hall, Osborne Road PO16 7DB Faree to attend. 01489 441833 HEDGE END CONSTRUCTION CLUB 28 Jan, 11am to 12pm Hedge End Library, SO30 4DY Building bricks available. Children 8 and under must be
HED
GE END
INDOOR BOWLS CLUB
accompanied by an adult. 01489 797142 PINK FLOYD TRIBUTE SHOW 28th Jan, 7.30pm to 10.30pm The Point, Leigh Road SO50 9DE One of the world’s most emotive tributes to Pink Floyd. 023 8065 2333
SCOUT JUMBLE SALE 28 Jan, 2pm to 4pm The Scout Hut, Boyatt Lane, Eastleigh SO50 4LQ Come for your upcycling/ recycling/cycling (often have bikes!) 20p entrance fee, children under 13 free. tabby15th@icloud.com
Shorter days and longer evenings, how to fill this winter-time? Consider a new activity and come along to The Village Hall, St Johns Road, Hedge End to try indoor bowls with our club. Playing Wednesday afternoon 2-4pm and again 7.30-9.30pm also Sunday at the later time you will be surprised just how quickly the time passes as you get involved in all aspects of this gentle game. We have bowls for your use and the first 3 sessions are free. A warm welcome awaits you and Barbara is happy to chat on; 02380 474662 and give you more information.
Deliveries, collections, removals, motorbike specialist Delivery and collection of • Motorbikes, quad bikes and jetskis • Fragile, awkward shaped or high value items • Household furniture to storage units • IKEA, Ebay, Gumtree sales or purchases • Student moves • Or anything that just won’t fit in your car Same day, short notice, evenings, weekends available on request Professional, fully insured delivery and collection service
023 8001 0222 (Diverts to mobile if out of office)
www.discoverdelivers.co.uk
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DISCOVER A LOCAL BUSINESS EVENTS
AERIALS Aerial Fix
25
APPLIANCE REPAIR JP Appliances
25
ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES D M Adams Design
22
BUILDING SERVICES Mobile Services The Door Hanger Ltd
23 39
BUSINESS AGENTS Adams & Co
17
CLEANING SERVICES
PLUMBING & HEATING
Hedge End Music Festival
Aquatec Plumbing & Heating
38
FENCING & GATES
Fast Response Plumbing Ltd
39
Colourfence 27
Gair Gas
39
Eastleigh Fencing Services Ltd
Heatworks Heating & Plumbing Ltd
37
M Brierley Plumbing Limited
39
Carpet Barn
11
RFW Plumbing & Heating Ltd
40
GE Nichols Ltd
25
T P Watts Plumbing
38
Titchfield Carpets
41
PRINTERS
FOOT CARE
Warwick Printing
Best Foot Forwards
7
GARAGE DOORS 16
Bright & Beautiful Hedge End
25
GARAGES
Oven Wizard
25
Aliport Structures Ltd
Squeegee Squadron
36
GARDEN LANDSCAPING
Home Computer Help
45
Solent Blind & Curtain Company
35
The Blind Business Ltd
30 5
DOUBLE GLAZING Cloudy2Clear Southampton GS Windows Ltd
Spire Heatlhcare
12 8
KITCHENS
CURTAINS & BLINDS
Waterside Blinds Ltd
18
HEALTH SERVICES H J Everett (Chemist) Ltd
COURIERS Discover Delivers
18
Formpave Drives and Patios Ltd 17
28
FLOORING
Skandoor Ltd
COMPUTER SERVICES
3
43 2
Windowmenda 31 EDUCATION
Ashmore Kitchens
31
Dream Doors Southampton
33
Kitchen Living
30
Re-Nu Kitchens
30 15
The Chimney Man
35
Wildstone Property Maintenance
24
SPORT & LEISURE Hedge End Indoor Bowling Club Wyvern Sport & Fitness
35
Chandlers Ford & Eastleigh Tree Care Ltd
29
Jon Curtis Tree Surgery
23
Neil Richmond Tree & Hedge Services 27 Arbor Call
Ash Farm Logs
32
MOTORING
Itchen 6th Form College
13
Independent Car Sales & Servicing Ltd 19
1st Choice Rubbish
Midanbury Tyres
Clearance Specialists
46
22
Pure Digitals, Aerials & Satellites
22
All you have to do is find the robin symbol hidden somewhere within one of this issue’s advertisements. How to enter (text only): 07520 632898 One entry per household, last entry date 15 February 2016
27
Boost Maths
Hampshire Wine Schoo
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35
UPHOLSTERERS
LOGS
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TREE SERVICES
Garden Music School
St Mary’s Independent School
38
Roofline 31
TV & AERIAL SERVICES
LOFTS Loft Services
Prestige Property Services
TUTORS
LEGAL SERVICES Eric Robinson
36
ROOFING SERVICES
7
Pont Furnishings Ltd
24
WASTE SERVCIES
48
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