Discover Totton & Ashurst Mar/Apr 2017

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Totton & Ashurst EDITION

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Inside Discover Elvis At Hanger Farm

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GIPSY MOTH IV RETURNS TO BUCKLER’S HARD Fifty years ago, Sir Francis Chichester set sail on the Beaulieu River to become the first person to single-handedly circumnavigate the globe. Gipsy Moth IV is now on show again at the bottom of the High Street, where Sir Francis originally kept her before setting sail on his epic voyage.

Gipsy Moth IV will be open to Buckler’s Hard visitors between 10am and 4.30pm on 14 - 17 April 2017. It’s a rare opportunity to climb on board the famous yacht for a tour and learn more about her record-breaking history and amazing story.

More tales and artefacts from the voyage are on show in the attraction’s Maritime Museum, including a map, personal items from the adventure and records of the floodings and even a capsizing which put the journey at risk.

Plans to celebrate the anniversary of the homecoming to Buckler’s Hard in September 2017 are already underway.

“It is a beautiful spot and keeps her much more visible to the public as she is moored at the bottom of the ‘street’ between the old shipwright’s cottages. We all feel that this is a wonderful place for her to be, especially as this is where Sir Francis originally kept her before heading off on his circumnavigation.”

A RECORD BREAKING ADVENTURE Sir Francis Chichester, the son of a clergyman, set a number of world firsts and records through his successful voyage. He was the first person to sail solo around the earth and the fastest circumnavigator with his record of nine months and one day, which was almost twice as fast as the previous record.

To prepare for the voyage, Buckler’s Hard shopkeeper Mrs Rhoda Martin’s task was to preserve eggs by covering the shells with liquid paraffin and de-eyeing hundreds of potatoes to prevent them from sprouting. According to the provisions list he took 156 eggs and 30lbs of potatoes on the outward journey.

Sir Francis sailed from Buckler’s Hard on August 12th 1966 for trials on the Solent before finally leaving Plymouth on August 27th. After 226 days at sea, with only one stop in Sydney, the 65-year-old sailor and former aviator finally returned to Buckler’s Hard on September 17th the following year. He had travelled a staggering 29,630 miles in the 54ft ketch. Weeks after his circumnavigation, Sir Francis was knighted for “individual achievement and sustained endeavour in the navigation and seamanship of small craft”.

For the ceremony, the Queen used the sword which had been used by her predecessor, Queen Elizabeth I, to knight the adventurer Sir Francis Drake who was the first Englishman to complete a circumnavigation with his crew. Sir Francis was also later honoured on a postage stamp, which showed him aboard Gipsy Moth IV and he still holds a special place in maritime history. Asked why he undertook the journey, Sir Francis Chichester said simply: “Because it intensifies life.”

Editor’s Letter

31 DAYS AND COUNTING My mother lives in Cape Town so for the first time in ten years we had a family Christmas in the sun with her; lovely … except I think I consumed my year’s wine allocation in those few weeks! The vinyards and cuisine are amazing and temptation got the better of me.

So – dry January was an absolute must. My husband and work colleagues had no faith that I’d do it but I did and feel all the better for it.

I realised that it wasn’t the wine I missed but the reward after a hard day or long walk in the cold. So much of what we think we need is in the head so it’s changing our thinking as

much as our habits that will change our mini addictions. I hope the Eating Disorder Week raises the awareness of addictions and our article on page 18 prompts even one person to seek support.

On a lighter note, I wish I’d read the article on online dating (see page 12) before editing this issue. I unwittingly (honest, I’m happily married!) opened an account on Tinder thinking I was able to do on behalf of my single friend! My brief brush with “liaisons dangereuses” was quite eye opening!

Me l a

nie Tinson

Editor

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12 local editions 144,000 circulation

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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?

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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.

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Finance

MONEY SAVING IDEAS TO GET YOU BACK ON TRACK IN 2017 If you’re searching for ways to save money this year, take a look at some ideas for everyday savings and special treats that won’t break the bank.

Discount websites Wowcher, Groupon and Living Social are just three websites offering great deals on everything from holidays to online courses. You simply sign up and input your chosen region to get a local or national deal with as much as 50% discount.

Couponing You may know couponing as cutting out discount vouchers from the local paper or supermarket magazines. But the practice has taken on a life of its own, with ‘extreme couponing’ hitting the headlines as shoppers save huge amounts on their monthly food bill.

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Various websites dedicated to couponing tell you where to find the best offers online, but you do need to spend time searching. The Money Saving Expert website has its own coupon page, and if you look at Supersavvyme.co.uk you’ll find a range of coupons for Procter and Gamble products.

Airbnb Airbnb is a website offering accommodation in privately-owned residences around the world. It can often be cheaper than staying in ‘traditional’ hotel rooms or hostels, and offers travellers a vast choice of grades and styles to suit every budget.

You can choose to rent an entire property, or stay in one of your host’s rooms - all you need to do is enter the date of travel and where you want to go.

Some hosts prefer to find out a little more about their guests before they’ll confirm a booking; others offer an ‘Instant Book’ facility. è

Previous guests leave reviews on the website to give you an idea of the quality you’ll experience, and the company operates a secure online payment service.

Amazon Prime Amazon Prime offers films, TV shows, music, books, and a free one-day delivery service for eligible Amazon products, all for a single annual payment of £79. You also get unlimited photo storage, and discounts on video games.

If you have a Kindle, you can borrow one book per month free-of-charge from the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library, and also have access to the Kindle First scheme. This allows you to download one of six titles a month for free, or at a reduced price ahead of their official publication date.

You can save further by signing up to Prime Early Access, where you’re given the opportunity to purchase ‘Lightening Deals’ 30 minutes before non-Prime members.

Low cost hotel rooms and car hire Several websites, including Lastminute.com, Priceline and Hotwire, have a ‘Top Secret Rooms’ section where you can book a top quality hotel room at a fraction of the usual price.

All you need to do is choose a location and the hotel star-rating you’re looking for, and pick a hotel from the list returned.

You see a description and the hotel’s star-rating; the only drawback is you don’t know the name of the hotel until you’ve paid. You may be able to find out which hotel it is, however, by typing some of the phrases used in these descriptions into a search engine. You can then read reviews on TripAdvisor. com to check that it’s what you want, as once you’ve paid, there is no facility to get a refund.

These same websites offer reduced car rental, but you may be able to save even more money using price comparison websites such as Skyscanner, Carrentals, and TravelSupermarket.

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ELVIS IS IN THE BUILDING AND HE’S SUPPORTING MACMILLAN CANCER RESEARCH! Are you in the mood for a Hunka Hunka of Burning Love?

Andrew Lawrence has made many TV appearances and is one of the most highly endorsed and respected tributes in the UK. The evening is a unique insight to Elvis, the man and his music. Discover has 6 single tickets (one per household, worth £13 each) to give away for Andrew’s performance at Hanger Farm on 3rd March, 7.30pm.

All you have to do is supply your name, telephone number and postcode, either email or text your answer to us at Discover ... editorial@discovermagazines.co.uk or text 07443 645873 (only text, sorry no calls or voice messages accepted).

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FROM AIRBASE TO CEMETERY IN CALSHOT Planning permission has been granted to turn a former military base in Calshot into a cemetery for up to 2,000 burial spaces created over the next 20 years. The plans include a local community area and a wildlife trail. St George’s Hall, which forms part of the site, will be an integral part of the new cemetery and community open space.

“The next stage for us will be to undertake further archaeological surveys on the site so the history is recorded and incorporated into the new cemetery where possible.”, explained Cllr Rickman.

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ONLINE DATING: NOT JUST FOR TWENTYSOMETHINGS My sympathies were aroused the first time I met Abby, a friend-of-afriend who had recently moved to my neighbourhood after a divorce. Aged 47, she had made the move in order to seek a different life for herself and her fifteen-year-old son.

The process of online dating is very simple: just create a profile, check out potential matches, communicate with your chosen date and then arrange to meet. Given the scare stories we hear about fake profiles, romance frauds and stalking, Abby was right to be cautious, but probably not to the point of spoiling her best statistical chances of finding love.

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Staying safe online It’s natural to feel a little nervous about meeting a stranger for the first time, but there are certain common sense precautions you can take to stay safe.

• Choose a username that doesn’t reveal who you are and don’t give away your surname, contact information, home address or place of work when first setting up your profile.

• Don’t give away too much information about yourself right away. Take things slowly, sharing more information when you feel comfortable to do so.

• Never release financial information or give in to pressure to lend money.

• Meet in public and stay in public on your first couple of dates and always let a friend know where you are, and who you’re meeting. è

• Setting up a successful online dating profile The UK dating site Match.com says that when registering with a site it’s important to answer questions accurately for the best possible chance of finding your ideal match. When writing about your personality they recommend reading other profiles for inspiration or asking a friend to describe your characteristics. For maximum impact, start the description with an eye-catching opening paragraph, using key words relating to your passions and interests.

The dating site Zoosk found that women get 60% more attention if their profile photo is taken indoors, while men get 19% more attention if theirs is taken outside, particularly if the photo includes other friends or involves an active pursuit.

What do I have to pay?

Some sites are free to join, whereas an average paid-for site might cost between £13 and £50 per month. Some online services charge considerably higher membership fees.

Are there sites specifically for mature people?

You don’t have to restrict yourself to age-specific sites unless you feel more comfortable in doing so. Two of the most popular sites for UK dating are ukmaturedating.com and maturefreeandsingle.com.

The popularity of online sites has boomed recently with the addition of mobile apps, with 37% of people surveyed by smartphone manufacturer HTC saying they had met a partner via a dating app.

The message has finally got through to Abby, who went on her first date through an online site last week. Unfortunately he wasn’t the man of her dreams, but she nevertheless enjoyed the date. Thanks to that experience, she’s confident that it’s now only a matter of time before she meets Mr Right.

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Bon Appétit

I LOVE FOOD. PUBS. AND MY DOG, WHISKY And not always in this order. Which means that I like taking my very energetic 2-year-old cavapoo for walks all around the beaten tracks of Hampshire. That’s a treat for him. And then I like stopping on my way home via a pub for a drink – or two. That’s a treat for me.

There is even one pub I know that is sooooo crazy about our four-legged friends that they call themselves “the most dog friendly pub in the forest”. And oh my, Whisky would agree. The Compass Inn in Winsor is a true haven for dogs, where they get doggy meals and treats from the chef. They run monthly dog walks too!

Whisky’s other favourite pub is the Rockstone on Onslow Road in Southampton city centre. There might not be a great walk around that particular area for dogs, but it’s worth going there anyway for a fabulous treat to your palate. Selfish, I know.

Learn about wine, champagne, beer, gin and whisky as well as food & wine pairings in a fun way, with likeminded people, in a relaxed atmosphere 14

But when a pub offers me 52 rums, 37 gins, 20 whiskies, too many beers and ciders to count as well as the best and biggest burgers in town, I tend to listen to the call and spend a lot of time there with my dog.

But do book, as the place gets fully packed. It’s THAT good. Watch out for their first Gin Festival on March 31-April 1, following the immense success of their annual Rum Festival. Do try it, with or without dogs, the place is amazing!

When in Southampton, I also tend to go to Highfield for a walk in the woods.

When Whisky’s little legs get tired (or when I huff and puff, whichever comes first), we head for the fabulous Brewhouse and Kitchen on Highfield Lane.

Whilst Whisky gets a truly lovely welcome and a lick from Head Brewer Matt (or is it the other way round), I crawl to the bar (I have little legs too) and order a pint of their own on-site brewed real ale. They offer a fantastic selection of craft beers and truly lovely food in a super trendy environment.

For more reviews on dogfriendly pubs in the UK in general, and Hampshire in particular, do check my favourite website: www.doggiepubs.org.uk

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Baking

LEMON DRIZZLE CUPCAKES Based on the classic lemon drizzle cake these tangy cupcakes are the perfect afternoon pick-me-up with a cup of tea!

Makes 12, Ready in 40 minutes plus cooling

1. Preheat the oven to 180C, Fan 160C , Gas Mark 4. Line a 12 hole muffin tray with paper muffin cases.

Ingredients 175g unsalted butter, softened 175g golden caster sugar 175g self-raising flour 1tsp baking powder 3 large eggs 2tbsp lemon curd

2. Place the butter, sugar, flour, baking powder and eggs in a large bowl and whisk with an electric whisk until thoroughly blended and pale and creamy. Fold in the lemon curd.

For the topping 100g granulated sugar Juice and grated zest of 1 lemon TIP If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have lemon curd use 1-2 tbsp of milk or soured cream and 2 tsp grated lemon zest instead.

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3. Divide the mixture between the muffin cases and bake for 15-20 minutes until risen and golden brown. Whilst the cakes are baking mix the topping ingredients together in a small bowl.

4. Remove the cakes from the oven and leave for 1-2 minutes then spoon some of the sugar and juice mixture over each cupcake. Leave to cool in the tray - the sugar topping will go crisp on cooling.

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Health

EATING DISORDER

Awareness Week 27 February to 5 March

Eating disorders affect over 725,000 people in the UK and one in five of those most seriously affected die prematurely through suicide or physical consequences. That’s why it’s essential we’re all aware of the dangers of eating disorders and our susceptibility to them.

Forget the stereotypical teenage girl starving herself. There are several different eating disorders that can affect people of any age, gender or ethnicity.

What Causes Eating Disorders?

Often, it’s a combination of genetic, psychological, environmental, social and biological factors. Risk factors are: • Bereavement or abuse.

• Being criticised about weight, body shape or eating habits.

• Intense stress.

• Family history of addiction, depression or eating disorders.

• Pressure to be slim from themselves, society or a career/hobby, e.g. dancing, sports.

• Underlying issues such as anxiety, low selfesteem, perfectionism or obsessive personality.

• Relationship issues.

Types of Eating Disorder Anorexia Nervosa Around 1 in 250 women and 1 in 2,000 men will experience anorexia, becoming preoccupied with weighing as little as possible via excessive exercise and/or starving themselves. It usually develops at age 16 or 17 but sometimes, as young as 7.

18

Bulimia Bulimia sufferers alternate between binge eating and purging by inducing vomiting or using laxatives, and 90% are female. It’s more common than anorexia and usually develops at around 18 or 19.

Binge eating disorder (BED) BED affects around 5% of adults, compelling them to eat large amounts of food very rapidly.

It affects both sexes equally, usually developing between 30 and 40 years old.

Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS) Some people may have some but not all of the symptoms of a specific eating disorder, so they receive an EDNOS diagnosis.

Diagnosis and Treatment Doctors and healthcare professionals use internationally agreed criteria to diagnose eating disorders, normally using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) or International Classification of Diseases (ICD).

They ask patients about their weight, self-image and relationship with food. è

But how do you know someone needs to be referred for diagnosis?

Often, people with eating disorders will be in denial or try to hide symptoms, but they may: • Skip meals or claim they’ve already eaten/will eat when they’re out.

• Only eat tiny/low-calorie meals.

• Claim they’re fat when they’re a healthy weight/underweight.

• Repeatedly weigh themselves/study themselves in the mirror.

• Cook large family meals yet eat little themselves.

• Refuse to eat in public or become stressed when they do.

• Use ‘pro-anorexia’ websites.

Physical health is monitored while the disorder’s underlying causes are treated. This may involve: • Self-help books.

• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), aiming to change thinking and in turn, behaviour.

• Interpersonal psychotherapy: a talking therapy focusing on relationship issues.

• Dietary counselling.

• Psychodynamic therapy or cognitive analytic therapy (CAT), focusing on how personality and life experiences influence thoughts and behaviour.

• Family therapy, considering the eating disorder’s effects on them and their family.

• Medication: often SSRI antidepressants (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors).

If you suspect you or someone else has an eating disorder, get professional help immediately. Rapid treatment makes full recovery more likely and minimises the impact on the patient’s body and life. However, recovery can be lengthy and, like the disorders themselves, complex.

Support and More Information: Beat (Beat Eating Disorders) www.b-eat.co.uk/ For over-18s/those concerned about a child: 0345 634 1414 help@b-eat.co.uk For under-18s: Youth Helpline 0345 634 7650, fyp@b-eat.co.uk

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As a Volunteer Befriender your role will be to provide social companionship to patients who have a chronic or life limiting illness and who are isolated or lonely. Visiting patients in their own homes, you will help them to feel more supported and help to improve their emotional well-being and confidence.

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Parenting

TIME AND SANITY SAVERS Tips and tricks to make your life easier, from washable nail polish to a booster seat that can fit in a school bag.

Monday morning panics

8-8.30am is often a rather stressful period in my house. Arguments over brushing teeth (my son) compete with tears over forgotten homework (my daughter). One thing I do have sorted is making it easy for them to find their uniform so they can get dressed. I use a rubber band to attach two clothes hangers together, one of which is the type with clips.

Pants get hung from one clip, tights or socks from the other, and the rest of the uniform goes on the other hanger. Simple. My next mission is to teach them to put their PJs under their pillow, rather than dumping them on the floor. We’ve been working on that one for a while now, with no luck.

Hair brushing is a source of tantrums the world over. The Wet Brush may save a fair few tears (theirs and yours). It’s the best detangling brush I’ve found yet and can be used on wet or dry hair. £11.99 from www.lookfantastic.com.

Kids love nail polish. Schools don’t love it quite so much. If (like me) you’re hopeless at remembering to remove your child’s nail varnish on a Sunday evening, you might want to try Nailmatic Kids Nail Polish.

Not only is it toxin-free and available in several child-friendly shades, but it can be washed off with warm soapy water. Powder-pink glitter is a favourite in my house, although my son prefers Rio Green. £6.95, www.cuckooland.com.

Days out

From emergency wees in the park to dropped dummies, children just attract germs. Hand sanitising gels are handy but not always that child-friendly. Aquaint, on the other hand, is 100% natural and 22

formulated without strong chemicals, preservatives or alcohol. It kills 99.9% of bacteria, but is completely safe, so can be used on everything from hands to drinks bottles. £2.49 - £4.99 from Boots, Mothercare and other retailers.

Children seem to have an innate ability to lose things. If you can’t be bothered to spend hours sewing on name tags, try Tinyme labels. They’re printed with your child’s name and a design of your choice. The Essentials Pack (from £24) comes with more than 200 labels, including iron-on labels for clothes, and different sized stickers for shoes, pencil cases and so on. They’re designed to stay on through washing, tumble drying and general day-to-day use. Tinyme also make personalised bags, books, drinks bottles and a ton of other items, handy if your child is particularly prone to misplacing their possessions.

Play dates

After-school playdates are great at keeping the kids out of your hair, but it’s all too easy to forget to swap car seats with the other parents.

The new Mifold can help to make sure you’re never again caught out with three kids and only two booster seats. Unlike traditional booster seats, Mifold adjusts the seatbelt to fit the child, rather than raising the child up to fit the belt. That means it’s far smaller than a car seat; small enough to keep in a glove box or even your child’s school bag.

It can be adjusted to fit children aged from around four to 12, and it meets the highest legal standards for child restraint systems. £49.95 from John Lewis.

By Kate Duggan

Puzzle Page Answers on p55 Pictograms

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Quiz LITTLE & LARGE 1. On the TV show Little Britain, what was the name of the weight loss group run by Marjorie Dawes?

2. Built by CERN between 1998 and 2008, the Large Hadron Collider is the world’s largest and most powerful particle collider and lies in a tunnel between the border of which two countries?

3. In the nursery rhyme This Little Piggy, which begins “this little piggy went to market”, what did the third little piggy do?

4. Which BBC TV show was first broadcast between 1990 and 2001, was revived in 2005 with the phrase “Goes Large” after the main part of its title, and has been running ever since, reverting back to its original name in 2008?

5. Based on the fairy tale of the same name

by Hans Christian Andersen, in which capital city would find a statue of The Little Mermaid?

6. The penny farthing was a bicycle featuring one very large wheel and one much smaller one. Was the large wheel at the back or the front?

7. The name of which type of pasta means “little tongues” in Italian?

8. Who played the title roles in the 2000 film Kevin And Perry Go Large?

9. Nicknamed “the biggest little city in the world”, which city in Nevada is famous for its “quickie” divorces?

10. Alexander DeLarge is the narrator and main character of which famous novel?

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CABIN FEVER? Looking for something new and exciting to get your little bundles of fun out, to burn up some of that energy that’s screaming at you from the other room?

Throughout 2017, the National Trust’s heathland restoration site, Foxbury, will host Forest School events run by qualified professionals, Jenny Mueller and Caroline Kelly.

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The sessions will run on the first Thursday of every month, starting on Thursday 1st February from 10.30am-12.30am, and is exceptional value at £6 for the first child then £3 per extra child. Suitable for ages 0 - 5 years.

Some of the activities the children can look forward to are; Den building, wild art-creating, green wood-work skills, outdoor cooking and story-telling. Then you can look forward to a peaceful night!

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Gardening

VELVET UNDERGROUND They may be known as ‘velvet coated gentlemen’, but believe me if you have a problem with moles in your garden, it is highly unlikely that you will be inclined to call them anything quite so polite!

For years I thought people were over-reacting when moles appeared, but having now come across them in great numbers in my own garden, I too have started to have some rather unfriendly thoughts. So what can you do if all of a sudden your lawn becomes decorated with mounds of finely turned soil, or if plants in your beds and borders suddenly start to disappear beneath soil level as subsidence occurs within the flowerbed, or an entire row of vegetables is excavated from below?

Moles can do a lot of damage to a lawn, largely because that fine soil acts as an excellent seedbed for weeds and is also inclined to make the surface of the lawn rather slippery. If their runs go beneath your lawn or, worse still, beneath flowers in a flowerbed or vegetable plants in your vegetable plot or allotment, then because they tunnel quite close to or in amongst the plant roots, they can occasionally cause the plants to suffer from drought because the soil is no longer in contact with the roots. Often, when the tunnels collapse subsidence occurs, everything starts to topple inwards, and plants can literally fall over.

Moles can sometimes be deterred by high-pitched sounds or vibrations. To this end you could try 26

inserting children’s windmills over the mole infested areas, as the vibration that passes down these into the soil is often said to send moles scampering away. It is an inexpensive and relatively decorative solution AND I’ve seen gardens where it really does seem to work. Similarly, you can try plunging glass bottles into the soil so that just the neck is protruding. As the wind whistles over the mouth of the bottle the noise and vibrations created may also discourage moles.

Very smelly substances can work against moles.

It is possible to buy mole smokes which seem to work, in the short term at least. These are rather like fireworks and are inserted into the run where the smoke they produce is unpleasant to the moles.

Unfortunately, however, with these and indeed most other smelly deterrents, it is likely that once the smell has subsided the mole will return.

Traps are available from some garden centres or online stores. In order for these to be effective you must set them carefully, and because the moles are very aware of human scent it is essential that you wear gloves when setting them up, so you never actually touch the trap with your hands. The trap needs to be correctly set or else there is a risk that the mole could suffer a lot before it dies. Some gardeners find traps work well but I must admit I know many who have found that they don’t seem to do the job, as it is very difficult for a non-expert trap setter to get it right! è

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Perhaps the most effective means of control is to hire in help by employing a mole catcher. Many of these specialists have worked with moles for many years and are adept at trapping them. Since they often charge only on the basis of moles caught, it need not be too expensive a process either.

that can be inserted into the ground. Once again, I am afraid that it seems the majority of you find these ineffective and indeed I will never forget once seeing a molehill which appeared directly around the base of one of these gadgets in a friend’s garden - so they are not a method I recommend.

Moles do eventually decide to go elsewhere, and although this does not imply that your garden will then remain free of moles, if the problem has been very bad one year it may not be quite so severe the next.

If all else fails, and attempting to look at this problem in a positive light, it is worth bearing in mind that incredibly finely turned soil can be useful and many gardeners I know, including the wonderful ‘grandfather of gardening’ Geoff rey Smith, used the soil as a medium in which to grow an

By Pippa Greenwood excellent crop of seedlings!

It is sometimes said that the plant caper spurge (Euphorbia lathyrus) will deter moles. I have never found that this has any effect whatsoever, but it does seem to work for some gardeners and as the plants are fairly attractive it is worth giving it a try!

Some gardeners report success with ultrasonic devices

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With spring in the offing Peter Rogers is present “Growing & Showing Daffodils” on 8 March. Visits to gardens or places of interest are arranged for the spring, summer and autumn.

The membership fee for 2017 is £10 per person, visitor admission is £2 for a meeting (held every 2nd Weds of the month at 7.30pm) and £5 for a Floral Art demonstration. The Spring show is on 25th March at 1.30pm. New visitors made very welcome.

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Hobbi�

TIME TRAVEL WITHOUT THE TARDIS

By Kate McLelland Doctor Who would be proud. Visit any historic house or heritage site in Britain these days and you may well feel as if you’ve stepped back in time. Bustling amongst the rows of canvas tents, piled-up artefacts and military equipment you’ll find an array of costumed characters, variously forging iron, weaving, cooking nettle stews, flying falcons and practising swordsmanship. You may even see an ancient battle, taking place before your very eyes.

Relax. You haven’t just swapped the family car for a time-travelling police box: it’s simply a group of historical re-enactors, creating their own special brand of living history to entertain and educate the crowds.

32

Nowadays organisations such as English Heritage and the National Trust are turning more and more to re-enactment groups to give their visitors a real taste of what life was like in the olden days. Whether your interest lies in prehistoric or Roman history, the Vikings, Tudors, English Civil War or World War II, you can be sure there will a group somewhere, dedicated to bringing that period to life in painstaking detail.

There’s a strong social aspect to these reenactment events and you’ll often find whole families taking part. Re-enactment is a great leveller, attracting participants from all walks of life – doctors, dustmen, teachers, office workers and manual labourers. Although the majority of re-enactors are men, women are generally welcome to take on traditional female roles where appropriate. Occasionally - providing the society is willing to relax its rules on historical authenticity they are even allowed to ‘fight’ as soldiers. è

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Our present day fascination with re-enactment began, as many trends and fashions do, in America.

Commemorations of the American Civil War have become increasingly popular in the US, and are often conducted on an epic scale. For example, in 1998 up to 25,000 participants were recorded taking part in a re-staging of the Battle of Gettysburg.

Britain’s answer to America’s Civil War reenactments was The Sealed Knot. This famous group, first formed in 1968, was assembled to stage battles from the English Civil War and it continues to this day. The success of Sealed Knot led to the formation of a number of different groups and today there are many small, regional groups as well as the large, national societies you may see at major events.

In recent years the standard of presentation of many societies has improved, particularly under the guidance of organisations such as English Heritage, which has encouraged groups to improve

the authenticity of their costumes and equipment.

Societies also have more opportunity to travel abroad to take part in commemorations of major American and European battles and many top re-enactment groups are used by TV and film companies.

So how can you get involved? The best way to track down a society near you is to visit Historic UK’s website, which provides information about Britain’s heritage sites and houses. Historic UK’s directory www.historicuk.com/LivingHistory/ ReenactorsDirectory/ (telephone 0845 643 5760) provides an at-a-glance list of re-enactment groups, the historical periods they cover and their locations.

If you are interested in history and keen to meet up with other enthusiasts, then re-enactment is definitely for you. There’s no other hobby on earth where you can spend all day in another century and still get home in time for tea.

Eat your heart out, Dr Who!

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All aspects of Plumbing carried out Bathroom Fitting Tiling Water Softeners supplied and fitted For a free quote call us today

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WALK TO REMEMBER; WALK FOR HOPE Walk for Hope takes place on National Cancer Survivors Day in the beautiful New Forest countryside. Thanks to advances in early detection & treatment more people than ever before are surviving the disease and our Walk for Hope is celebrating this achievement.

However, until there’s a day when everyone wins the battle there is still much more to do. So we need you to brush off your walking boots and show cancer who’s boss!

The Challenge The walk takes place in New Forest National Park, Burley on the 4th June 2017. This scenic route will bring you up close to free roaming ponies and deer in the beautiful woodland.

How to take part You can choose from 10 mile or 20 mile route Early Bird Registration (ends March 31st 2017): £29 (Quote Discover17) 1st April onwards registration: £40 Sponsorship Goal: £250

38

For more information www.wessexcancer.uk/events/walk-for-hope/ 02380 672200 • dawn.ingram@wessexcancer.org.uk About us Every year around 23,000 people are diagnosed with cancer within the Wessex region. The Wessex Cancer Trust centres offer free, non-clinical support including counselling, complementary therapies and information for anyone affected by cancer.

The local centre for the Totton & Ashurst area is at The Grove, 25 St Johns Street Hythe S045 6BZ Tel: 02381 780409 Wessex Cancer Trust, Reg Charity No:1110216

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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.

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ARE YOU A KEEN WALKER? INTERESTED IN LOCAL FOOTPATHS? 07786 155 662 023 8194 9753 srossdecorating@icloud.com

Hampshire County Council Access Teams are running sessions near you. They need to recruit eyes and ears on the ground to help manage your local path network. Local residents are invited to a workshop to learn more about managing Rights of Way and who is responsible for different aspects of the network. There are further opportunities to become a Path Warden where you will receive resources and training on path inspections, waymarking and vegetation clearance.

If you are interested, apply to Natalie Hands on 023 8060 5109 or email her on natalie.hands@hants.gov.uk.

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Short Story

EVERYONE LIES “Put this on, mate.” Craig threw the crumpled teeshirt at Gary. “We’ve got to get you looking the part for your big date.”

“It smells like wet dog,” Gary winced. “Why can’t I just wear my normal clothes?”

“Because this, my friend, is the shirt you’re wearing in your dating profile picture.” Craig watched as Gary squeezed into the threadbare shirt. “Aren’t you amazed I’ve kept it all these years?”

“I can’t move my arms,” Gary said. “Remind me why I have to wear this?”

“So the young lady can’t accuse you of using a photo that’s ten years out of date.”

“But it is ten years out of date,” Gary complained.

“Surely when she sees me she’ll notice that I have less hair and more girth?”

“Yeah, but by then you’ll be on the date,” Craig said, “and it’ll be too late to back out. And besides, everyone lies on these internet dating sites. When are you meeting her?”

“In an hour.” Gary tugged at the tee-shirt.

“And what’s she like?”

“She’s single and pretty,” he grinned. “She’s got lovely eyes and long brown hair.”

“Punching well above your weight,” Craig nodded approvingly. “What does she do for a living?”

“She did work in a school, but now she’s started a career in entertainment.”

“Entertainment?” Craig frowned. “What’s that all about?”

“I don’t know, perhaps she’s a singer,” Gary shrugged.

“I suppose I’ll soon find out.”

“Does this lucky lady have a name?” Craig asked.

“Brenda.”

“You’re kidding!” Craig snorted. “How old did she say she was?”

“Same age as me, mid-thirties.”

“No lasses our age are called Brenda,” Craig sniggered. “I knew it was too good to be true.”

“Why would she lie?” Gary asked.

42

“Everyone lies, that’s what I keep saying. Let’s have a look at her profile pic.” He opened Gary’s laptop. “I bet it’s in black and white.”

“Give that to me.” Gary wrestled the keyboard back.

“Here she is, Brenda Buttons. Gorgeous isn’t she?”

Craig stared at the screen and nearly choked. è “She’s pulled a right fast one on you,” he chuckled.

“That’s Kate Middleton.”

“Who?” “Married to Prince William.” Craig clutched his sides. “Gary, you’re such a berk.”

“Perhaps she just looks like her?” Gary said.

“Mate, not even in your wildest dreams,” Craig laughed.

“Wait, Brenda Buttons! You said she used to work in a school. Wasn’t one of our dinner ladies called that?”

“I can’t remember.”

“Yeah you can. She was a right battle axe.”

“Which one?”

“She hauled us in front of the Head after you sprayed yourself with ketchup pretending you had a nosebleed.”

“Oh yeah,” Gary grinned, “I remember that.”

“That was Brenda Buttons.”

Craig folded his arms and smirked. “She’s your hot date.”

“She can’t be,” Gary said.

“She’d be about a hundred now.”

“Like I said,” Craig smiled, “everyone lies.”

“What if it’s really her?” Gary was horrified.

“You can have a cosy cuppa and reminisce about dead flies’ graveyard,” Craig laughed. “It’ll be fine.”

“It won’t be.” Gary put his head in his hands. “Aren’t there laws about dating dinner ladies?”

The computer made a gentle ping. Gary read the screen.

“She’s just cancelled on me,” he sighed with relief.

“Says she’s got to work.”

“Looks like you’ve dodged a bullet,” Craig said.

“Delete your profile before she tries to reschedule.”

Meanwhile, across town, Brenda Buttons, niece and namesake of the formidable former dinner lady, was cutting the ribbon to open a new supermarket, and wondering whether her budding career as a Kate Middleton lookalike was beginning to get in the way of her love life.

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FIND OUT MORE ABOUT PAGANISM Pagan Pride South is a not-for-profit organisation promoting paganism along the South Coast of England. They hold many events including fayres with talks and stalls as well as demonstrations. The next one is Witches, Fairies & Hippies Fayre held at West Totton Community Centre, Hazel Farm Road.

Entrance will be £1.

You can find out more about the organisation and other events this year on their website www.paganpridesouth.co.uk

43

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USEFUL INFO

MEDICAL SERVICES

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

Hampshire Dental Helpline

NHS Blood Service

111 0300 123 2223

Southampton General

111 023 8077 7222

2017

2018

Royal Winchester County

01962 863535

20 - 24 February

12 - 16 February

Royal South Hants

023 8063 4288

10-21 April

30 March - 13 April

Princess Anne

023 8077 7222

29 May - 2 June

28 May - 1 June

Testvale Surgery

023 8086 6999

26 July - 1 September

Forest Gate Surgery

23 - 27 October

Totton Health Centre

023 8086 5051

22 December - 3 January 2018

Forestside Practice

023 8087 1233

EMERGENCY NUMBERS Gas Emergencies Southern Water Emergency Line Southern Water Leak Line Childline Crimestoppers Samaritans Electric Power Cuts Floodline Domestic Violence Police Non Emergency

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NHS Non-emergency (was NHS Direct)

023 8066 3839

Late Night Chemist Lloyds, Asda Precinct 0800 111 999 0330 303 0368 0800 820 999 0800 11 11 0800 555 111 116123 0345 072 1905 0345 988 1188 0808 2000 247 101

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Hants Constabulary

023 8028 5000 101

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023 8064 4000

New Forest Planning

01590 646600

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Pets

DOES YOUR PET HAVE JOINT PROBLEMS? Joint pain can cause severe mobility problems that take away your pet’s joy for life, but it’s not just older animals that suffer in this way. Genetic issues such as hip or elbow dysplasia in dogs, or an old injury, increase the risk of them suffering from arthritis.

What to look out for It’s fairly easy to spot the signs of arthritis in dogs, simply because they are in your company more than a rabbit or a cat, for example. These are some of the indicators to watch out for: • Stiffness when your dog gets up, or after a walk.

• They walk with a limp, even if only for a few minutes.

• Your cat’s reluctance to jump on your knee.

• Your rabbit being less inclined to run around its cage.

It can be particularly difficult to notice the signs of arthritis in a rabbit, as one of the ways they survive in the wild is to move less when they’re injured, so as not to appear vulnerable.

Is there anything you can do to prevent joint problems in your pet?

As far as puppies are concerned, it’s important not to over-exercise them while their bodies are still developing. Being overweight will also have a huge impact on your pet’s joints, so watching food intake is a key factor.

The vet may prescribe an anti-inflammatory if your pet has severe joint pain, or glucosamine and chondroitin, as these are supplements known to help with mobility.

46

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IT’S ALL RIGHT FOR SOME! When faced with delayed pensions, jobs stolen by robots, and endless reality television (we were lucky with The Family in 1974!), you can see why the younger generation thinks that we’ve had the best of it. Even their technology has helped us to catch up on decades of our favourite radio and TV programmes.

It wasn’t always that way though, as they sometimes need to be reminded.

Here’s a list of conversation starters, with just a hint of exaggeration.

48

Our childhood was so deprived...

• The school dinners were leftovers - from the dinners at other schools.

• At Christmas we each got an orange painted stone.

• We were told that the radio only worked at teatime.

• We shared a toilet with the municipal baths.

• We had a single pair of socks between three of us a brown one and a blue one.

• Our Father Christmas letter simply read: all donations gratefully received.

• We made all our own decorations out of last year’s decorations.

• We glued pencil shavings together to make a new pencil.

• It was a treat to be sat outside the pub with a lemonade.

• As dad was a keen gardener, we had to follow the rag and bone horse until we’d collected a bagful.

• We were only allowed to stay up late to watch programmes we couldn’t understand.

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“ONE ACT PLAYS” DRAMA FESTIVAL IN TOTTON Drama Festivals offer a fantastic opportunity for drama groups and audiences alike. Groups get the chance to perform challenging theatre in new spaces, and represent England in the national competition. Audiences get the opportunity to see 3 plays each evening encompassing a variety of Genre, plus the public adjudications by a professional GoDA adjudicator, this year the adjudicator is Jan Palmer-Sayers GoDA. The Totton Festival at Hanger Farm, Totton is part of the The Five Counties Youth Festival so groups have the chance to represent Hampshire in the AllEngland Theatre Festival.

“It was a pleasure and a privilege to be part of the Totton Festival of Drama. I very much enjoyed acting as your adjudicator, the standard of entries were very good as you will see by my marks which were very close and there was an amazing variety of genre and new writings”. These were the comments made by GoDA adjudicator Robert Meadows at the end of the 2016 festival.

HOLIDAY APARTMENT IN CROATIA FOR RENT SUMMER 2017 CIOVO ISLAND, TROGIR WITH SWIMMING POOL ON DALMATIAN COAST, CROATIA

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51

ELVIS TRIBUTE 3 March Hanger Farm

What's On MARTIN’S DANCE CLUB Nursling & Rownhams Village, Hall SO16 0XH Every Friday 8 - 10pm Practise & Tuition £6 Incl. tea/coffee Contact: Martin (F.I.S.T.D., BB/LA) Tel: 02380 736 977 07753 616 896 MOTHER GOOSE 23-26 Feb, 7pm (Plus 2pm on Sat/Sun) Woodley Village Hall, School Road, Romsey SO51 7NY Panto. Tickets from Box Office 01794 513860 ROMSEY WEDDING SHOWCASE 23 Feb, 6pm to 8pm The White Horse Hotel and Brasserie SO51 8ZJ See the Stables dressed for inspiration, meet our recommended suppliers and soak up the wedding atmosphere. 01794 512431 THE YOUNG EPILEPSY FANCY DRESS 25 Feb, 10am to 6pm Southampton General Hospital SO16 6YD 52

To feature your event email editorial@discovermagazines.co.uk

Walk 20 miles from Southampton General Hospital to Queen Alexandra Hospital.

07590 098909

numbers at this time of year.

Wear suitable, warm outdoor clothing and footwear, bring binoculars. (B) 01425 472760

SEEDSWAP SOUTHAMPTON 25 & 26 Feb, 11am to 5pm The Art House, 178 Above Bar Street SO14 2DW Bring your saved or surplus seeds to swap. facebook/southamptonseedswap

CANAL SOCIETY TALK 2 Mar, 7.45pm Chilworth Parish Hall, Chilworth, Southampton SO16 7JZ Forgotten Wrecks of the Solent from the First World War. Local Maritime Archaeology Trust.

02380 675312 www.sotoncs.org.uk

EXPERIMENT - FEBRUARY 27 Feb, 7.30pm Nuffield Theatre, Southampton SO17 1TR quarterly scratch performance night, offering a range of exciting new pieces of theatre in development. info@nuffieldtheatre.co.uk FINCHFEST 2017 2 Mar, 2pm to 4pm Blashford Lakes nature reserve, Ringwood BH24 3PJ This is the best time to see flocks of brambling, siskin and redpoll.

A general birdwatching walk but particularly looking for flocks of finches, which often peak in

CYBER SECURITY CONFERENCE 2 Mar, 8.30am Southampton Football Club, Britannia Rd, Southampton SO14 5FP With a number of leading cyber security speakers, academics and workshops, businesses will be able to hear the latest information regarding cyber security and how they can best protect their business.

02380 682520 bookings@businesssouth.org

ROMSEY COUNTRY MARKET 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Mar, 10-11.30am United Reformed Church Hall, Romsey SO51 8EJ Home-made baking, home grown fruit & vegetables, free range eggs, local honey, beautiful jewellery and unique handmade cards and other hand crafts items. Free admission, refreshments available. shirl.walker@hotmail.co.uk AUTISM FRIENDLY CHILL OUT SESSIONS 4 Mar, 11am to 1pm Central Library, Southampton SO14 7LW Low level lighting, blinds drawn, large portable sensory equipment available.

02380 833007 library@southampton.gov.uk HOLIDAY INN EASTLEIGH WEDDING FAIR 5 Mar, 11am to 4pm Leigh Road, Eastleigh SO50 9PG £1 entry. 02380 560073 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 LINERS STUDY DAY 18 Mar, 10am to 4pm Sea City Museum, Havelock Road SO14 7FY Explore the story of ocean liners in Southampton with talks based around the current Port Out Southampton Home exhibition.

The day includes entry to the exhibition. Light refreshments inc.

023 8083 4536

3 Championship Matches. In aid of Naomi House and Jacks Place. 07730 483510

ORCHID DISPLAY AT SIR HAROLD HILLIER GARDENS 24-27 Mar Jermyns Lane, Ampfield, Romsey SO51 0QA Celebrate Mother’s Day weekend and visit this beautiful display of stunning orchids on show in Jermyn’s House.

01794 369318

FOXBURY FOREST SCHOOL AT HALF MOON CAR PARK 6 Apr, 10.30 to 12.30 4 May, 10.30 to 12.30 Half Moon Car Park, Foxbury Common, New Forest, off Blackhill Road, East Wellow SO51 6AQ Nature-inspired learning through play. Take part in fun activities, including den building, wild art, green woodwork skills, outdoor cookery and more. £6 per child. 01794 797011 www.nationaltrust.org.uk See article on page

SPRING SHOW 25 Mar, 1.30pm Three Score Club, Library Road, Totton SO40 3RS Totton & District Gardeners’ Society. Visitor admission to the show 50p. 02380 668177 totton.gardeners@btinernet.com GREAT EXPECTATIONS 30 Mar to 1 Apr Maskers Studio Theatre, Unit 1, Emsworth Industrial Estate, Emsworth Road SO15 3LX A classic coming-of-age story of wealth, pride and broken hearts www.maskers.org.uk REGENERATE SOUTH SHOWCASE 31 Mar Hilton at The Ageas Bowl SO30 3XH An opportunity for potential investors and developers to find out first-hand about the opportunities on offer in the Central South region.

02380 682520 bookings@businesssouth.org

CWP WRESTLING EVENT 2 Apr, 4pm The Novotel Hotel SO15 1RA

EASTER AT SIR HAROLD HILLIER GARDENS 8-23 Apr Jermyns Lane, Ampfield, Romsey SO51 0QA The Easter bunny has left a trail of clues and fun around the Gardens. Join in and receive a prize. Additional Garden admission charges applies.

01794 369318 CLIMB A TREE AT SIR HAROLD HILLIER GARDENS 10 Apr Jermyns Lane, Ampfield, Romsey SO51 0QA Two highly skilled and friendly instructors can help all ages (6+) reach new heights within an oak tree’s canopy using ropes, knots and karabiners, while being securely attached in a harness at all times. 01794 369318

53

DISCOVER A LOCAL BUSINESS Accountants BAS Associates Blinds & Curtains Solent Blind & Curtain Company Waterside Blinds Ltd

48 5 30 11

Caravans & Motorhomes Viscount Caravans

7 29

Cleaning Abbey Cleaning

33

CMH Carpet Cleaning

45

Oven Wizard

15

Computer Servcies Caesar Computer Solutions

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Home Computer Help

11

Widenet Computer Services Ltd

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Double Glazing Cloudy2Clear Southampton GS Windows Ltd Britannia Windows

Different Strokes

Southampton Fencing Services

29

Dominic Newman Painting

Fencing & Landscaping A & J Montana

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39 2 49

Driveways

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Steve Robson - Piano Tuning & Repairs 15 Plumbing

Garage Doors 31

Garden Machinery New Forest Garden Machinery Ltd

Chris’s Garden Maintenance Services 29 Mac’s Gardening Services

Arbaro Consulting

Wildstone Property Maintenance

Konect 4 Golf Club The Bramshaw Golf Club

Parkers Lettings

56

Aquatec Plumbing & Heating

40

G James Plumbing service

36

Gas Technique

44

Heatworks Heating & Plumbing Ltd

37

M Brierley Plumbing Limited

36

T P Watts Plumbing

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Universal Plumbing Supplies Ltd

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Printers Warwick Printing

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Restaurants & Pubs The Master Builders Hotel

Roofline 46 SG Roofing

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Wildstone Property Maintenance

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Liberty Kitchens

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Re-Nu Kitchens

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Tree Surgeons

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Romsey & Chandlers Ford Tree

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Locksmiths & Security

Swimming Lessons Wessex Swim School Ltd

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Sameday Tree & Garden Services

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TV & Aerial Services 34

Lofts

Keith Humphries & Son

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Waste Services 36

1st Choice Rubbish

Motor Repairs

Clearance Specialists

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Weight Control

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All you have to do is find the daffodil symbol hidden somewhere within one of this issue’s advertisements.

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FIND THE HIDDEN SYMBOL COMPETITION

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Kitchens

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Estate Agents & Lettings

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Glass & Glazing

Lockright Security Ltd

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28

Garden Services

Eric Robinson Solicitors

Mark Derbyshire Electrican

38

Garden Maintenance

Legal Services

30

29

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Space Kitchens & Bathrooms

24/7 Electrics

Bracken Pest Control

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Electricians

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VSF Ltd

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S Ross Decorating

Aliport Structures Ltd

Paul Lacey Builders Hampshire Wine School

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County Block Paving Ltd Education

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Pest Control

Skandoor Ltd

Carpentry The Door Hanger Ltd

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Garage Buildings

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Growth of the Private Rental Sector in Totton and surrounding area PARKERS, Tottonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Specialist Letting Agent The PRS (Private Rental Sector) in the UK has grown

from a home, and landlords will need to ensure their

considerably in both size and importance over the last five years and is now worth a staggering ÂŁ1.29 trillion. To contextualise, that is 1.29 million stacks of pound coins,

properties are in the best condition possible if they are

with each stack being a million coins high. The PRS now

There is certainly a benefit for landlords who run their

makes up 18% of the housing stock in England alone and is expected to rise to more than a third by 2032.

property portfolios as a business; the attention to detail

Because of this rampant growth, it is no surprise to see that 13.2% of homes in Totton are privately rented, which is encouraging for private landlords and would-be investors. Even homeowners have something to think about, as they may be tempted to turn the family home into a source of income, or indeed use their pension pot to become a landlord.

Long gone are the days when tenants viewed rented accommodation as a stopgap; today many renters are in it for the long haul, often taking initial two-year contracts and sometimes staying for up to five years or longer.

While this is ultimately good news for private landlords wanting to minimise void periods, it also means that tenants have higher expectations and are more discerning about their rented homes. They are inclined to pay that little bit extra to get exactly what they desire

Richard Parker Director info@parkerlettings.com 1 Salisbury Road Arcade, Totton, Hampshire SO40 3SG

going to maximise their return.

that comes from this approach will help mitigate the expected refurbishment losses from reduced tax relief in the years ahead. The reduction in tax relief from 45% to 20% will affect buy-to-let landlord investors over the next few years and probably put some people off becoming landlords. However, the ones who are savvy and make the most informed decisions will continue to prosper in the PRS. Looking ahead, we expect the recent changes to stamp duty on second homes to create a small increase in the proportion of owner-occupiers relative to the PRS. But the sky-high level of demand for houses in Totton means the capital value of properties is set to remain strong.

If you are interested in purchasing your first, second or umpteenth buy-to-let, please visit our office for a friendly chat so we can give you the inside track and lowdown on being a landlord in Totton today.

023 8086 8578

www.parkerlettings.com