harpenden NOW Feb 21

harpenden

Pick p u me m ’ I E FRE

February 2021

NOW

promoting local businesses, organisations and events since 2006

1

2

Welcome to February... ...bringing with it anything from snowy days to sunny skies and the promise of spring around the corner, as we keep our fingers crossed for the return of some sort of normality in the near future.

As always we’ve got lots of local businesses from Accountants to Windows and Doors and lots in between.

If you need anything doing, make sure you have a look through the magazine first. If you’re interested in advertising we’d love to hear from you. The magazines are monthly and if you don’t have a copy handy, you can always find them on Twitter, Facebook or our website.

In the meantime stay safe and look after yourself and others.

Jane & Wendy @theNOWmagazines

Advertising Rates 12 months £33 per edition £40 per edition £49 per edition £84 per edition

3 months £43 per edition 1/4 page £52 per edition 1/3 page £64 per edition 1/2 page £110 per edition Full page

other options are available

Please get in touch wendy@theNOWmagazines.com 07983 588313

Deadline 8th Feb for March edition www.theNOWmagazines.com

To Advertise 07983 588313 wendy@theNOWmagazines.com

3

before

Residential & commercial interior contractor specialising in flooring, curtains & blinds, furniture & lighting, upholstery & French Polishing after

Unit 4 Redbourn Industrial Centre, High Street, Redbourn AL3 7LG info@wallstreet.uk.net 01582 793367 07979 750838 www.wallstreet.uk.net

4

www.theNOWmagazines.com

55

Do You Need To Make Your Home Safer?

Our homes have become central to our lives during the pandemic, but for older or less able people, the suitability of their home is particularly important. Being able to get in and out of the house, move around safely, access the bathroom, cook and go to bed all affect our dignity and wellbeing.

If you’re starting to recognise that you can’t do these things safely, it’s time to make some improvements.

I’ve seen people who often don’t know where to start and, understandably, they worry about cost. ‘‘If your home isn’t working for you, you can get the help you need’’ Financial help is available for people with a qualifying condition, the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) is a means-tested grant to make changes in the home to help less able people lead more independent lives. The maximum payment is £30k. Search ‘DFG gov uk’ on the internet or call your local council for more details. Grants aside, if you’re not sure what you need there’s a wonderful website I came across recently called Ask Sara www.asksara.livingmadeeasy.org.uk You select what you have difficulty with and it gives advice and solutions to make life easier. Of course, a reputable supplier could also do the same. You may have noticed some advertised in this magazine. When it comes to the all-important bathroom, that’s my area of expertise. You might only need grab rails by your toilet, or a bath that’s easier to get out of. Sometimes people worry they need a full wet room, but often a less expensive low-level access shower will suffice.

There are all sorts of options to suit your budget.

Find a supplier you trust who will help you understand what’s available. And it’s not only the big, recognised brands that can help, smaller, specialist companies will take time to understand your needs and do what they can to help, whatever your budget.

That’s what I pride myself in doing. My wife Julie and I set up AHM Installations following her experiences in nursing and caring, and my previous experience in the mobility industry. We guide our customers carefully through the installation of new bathroom equipment in their home. We hate to see people struggle and have learnt that no matter the budget or the situation, we can always find a solution.

Call our family-run team on 01623 595337 We offer discounts for military veterans and, as part of our link with Alzheimer’s Society, for those with dementia.

Simon Symcox, founder of AHM Installations

6

01582 345002

www.theNOWmagazines.com

77

8

Working from home and need a space to call your own?

A member of the

www.refurbsandroofing.co.uk email: dean.w.1@hotmail.com

www.theNOWmagazines.com

99

01582 864138 / 01727 453019

10

www.theNOWmagazines.com

11 11

07941 563424

12

www.theNOWmagazines.com

13 13

07500 801192

14

DJ&M M&M Decorators Fully qualified City and Guilds Over 20 years experience All interior and exterior work undertaken Specialist in all types of wallpaper All work finished to a high professional standard Free quotations at competitive prices Matthew Hayden 01582 270715 01727 867660 07970 720911 mandmdecs@gmail.com

Plumbing Services Ltd We care about your small jobs too! ● Electric and Power Showers Fitted ● Ball Valves and Overflows ● Blocked WC’s, Sinks, Baths and

Basins ● Repair/Renew Stopcocks and Taps ● Plumb in Washing Machines

and Dishwashers ● Repair Leaking Pipes ● Outside Taps

Dean Herrington 01727 764217 07830 159010 info@djmplumbing.co.uk www.djmplumbing.co.uk see our main advert on the inside back cover

01727 224802 To Advertise 07983 588313 wendy@theNOWmagazines.com

15

16

www.theNOWmagazines.com

17 17

Navigating a ‘Good’ Divorce There has been much speculation about divorce rates being impacted by Coronavirus and family isolation. No-one really knows if this will be so, but if you do find yourself going through a divorce don’t assume it will inevitably involve bitter court battles or cost thousands.

For many couples it is possible to have a ‘good divorce’ through less acrimonious options: 1. Direct discussions - we call this ‘kitchen table negotiations’. Each party takes legal advice on whether their agreement is fair and may ask lawyers to make the agreement legally binding.

2. Mediation - a voluntary process involving a trained Mediator assisting discussions. It needs goodwill and trust on both sides, and you may need a lawyer to give you independent legal advice about your settlement.

3. Collaborative law - non-confrontational meeting of all parties and their solicitors, agreeing not to go to court. The parties set the agenda with their lawyers involved in negotiations.

18

4. Solicitor negotiations - popular and very often successful. Negotiations are by letter (where offers are exchanged) or can be at round table meetings.

5. Arbitration - a good alternative to the court process involving an expert private judge and a timeframe set by the parties.

Whichever process you choose, these are my top tips:  Encourage communication and transparency  Focus on the children, try to put children’s interests foremost in discussions and don’t undermine each other’s roles in the family  Try not to let the grief of separation cloud your judgement A good divorce means clients can move on with minimal emotional wounds and if they have children, can focus on their new roles as separated parents.

Claire Wood, Legal Director Rayden Solicitors St Albans & Harpenden

www.theNOWmagazines.com

19 19

RTI AUTO SERVICES LTD Specialist in Vehicle Servicing and Maintenance

MOT ONLY £35

Find us on Facebook

When Booked with a Full Service

@rtiautoservicesltd

− − − −

Servicing (all vehicles) MOT’s Tyres Batteries

− − − −

Air Conditioning Bodywork Repair Remapping Wheel Alignment

− − − −

Wheel Refurbishment Timing Belts Exhausts Diagnostics

Free Vehicle Collection Nutwood (Left Hand Gate), Down Green Lan, Wheathampstead AL4 8EB

Contact Robert Innes 07596 454 550

Friendly, Reliable, Independent Business 20

www.theNOWmagazines.com

21 21

22

www.theNOWmagazines.com

23 23

24

Senior Citizens 10% off all prices Dry Cut Wash & Cut Blow Dry Cut & Blow Dry Restyle & Finish Shampoo & Set Cut & Set Perm from

£11.50 £13 £12 £19 £22 £11.50 £19 £37

www.theNOWmagazines.com

Colour Tint Colour Regrowth Hi-Lights F/H from Hi-Lights H/H from Semi Colour Cap Hi-Light Under 14’s Dry Cut Under 5’s Dry Cut

£28 £24 £36 £26 £24 £26 £9 £7

25 25

Enjoy your free time and let us do the hard work for you General household and office cleaning Moving in / out cleans Experienced in elderly or housebound clients Reliable key-holders Proficient in alarm systems Social distancing observed and cleaning carried out to customers wishes within government Covid19 guidelines

Phone for a free quotation 07719 657125 07909 091325 www.merrivac.co.uk ~ Taking Care of Your Home ~

Winter Special 25% off Shutters 20% off all Blinds, Awnings, Poles & Curtains

Call Today

26

www.theNOWmagazines.com

27 27

History at Home While spending more time at home again, English Heritage would like to bring a little history into your living room, and help you discover some the best stories from England’s past. Just visit their website where they have lots of stay-at-home favourites, from videos and podcasts to old-fashioned recipes and historical how-tos:  Things for Kids to Make and Do  The English Heritage Podcast  History from Above  History in Focus  Behind the Scenes  Featured Video Series You can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/familyevents

National Nest Box Week

Olio the Food Sharing App Olio is a mobile app for food-sharing, aimed at reducing food waste by connecting neighbours with surplus food to those who need such food, so spare food can be shared, not thrown away.

Now more people are at home, with some struggling, it’s more important than ever to work together, so the more people that join in, the better it will work. The food must be edible; it can be raw or cooked, sealed or open. You can also become a food waste hero by collecting from stores and adding them to olio.

There are food and non-food items added daily, and anyone can join and add or request items. www.olioex.com

14th - 21st Feb National Nest Box Week (NNBW) encourages you to put up nest boxes to promote and enhance the biodiversity and conservation of our breeding birds and wildlife. This year when choosing a nest box why not help a ‘Species of Conservation Concern’, such as the House Sparrow as it’s becoming harder for them to find suitable nesting sites, particularly in the roofs of modern houses.

House Sparrows breed in loose colonies, so try putting up several boxes a few feet apart where up to 3 breeding pairs can nest together. Remember it’s illegal to disturb any nesting wild birds as they’re protected by law under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. ww2.rspb.org.uk

28

Repair What You Wear This unique website aims to teach and inspire you to easily mend your clothes, with easy to use techniques and skills. Learn to repair and rejoice in the knowledge that these actions are making a contribution to reducing carbon emissions. Why not encourage friends and family to do the same, many small actions can have a big impact! www.repairwhatyouwear.com

www.arlandscapes.co.uk

www.theNOWmagazines.com

29 29

Index of Businesses

Accountants Hicks Bakery Zuckermaus Artisan Bakery

Cleaning 18 A&R Exterior Cleaning Services Ltd Domestique 25 Merrivac Molly Maid

26 27 26 27

Bathing Mobility AHM Installations Ltd 6 Computer Repairs Bathing Mobility Advisory Service 5 Ken Hodson Blinds Harpenden Blinds

30

Conservatory Roof Solutions 7 26 Nu-Look

Building / Refurbishment AJR Building Services 6 Complete Refurbishment & Roofing 9 Kingsholme Back Cover Open Plan Solutions 14

Domestic Appliance Repairs Spin Doctor 11 Finance Continuum

16

Fireplaces & Heating Fireplaces & Heating Ltd

4

Bicycle Repairs Cycling Dutchman

21

Garage Doors Garolla

21

Car Body Repairs Prestige Paint Shop

Garden Nursery 20 Townsend Nursery

29

Car Servicing / Repairs RTI Auto Services Ltd

Gardening / Landscaping 20 AR Landscapes Ltd

29

Care Home Acacia Mews Care Home

Hairdresser 17 Image Mobile Hairdressing

25

Charities Harpenden Trust

Healthcare 26 Spire Harpenden Hospital

Children’s Art Camps ArtShed!

Chiropodist Kathy Witchard

22 & 23

2 Hearing Services Hearing Healthcare Practice 25 Interior Design Wall Street Interiors

24 4

Locksmiths Lock Around the Clock Locksmith Services

11 11

Loft Ladders Home Counties Loft Ladders

13

Painters & Decorators CB Decorators M & M Decorators

15 15

Pest Control The Verminator Wasp Guys

3 3

Plumbers DJ&M Plumbing Services Ltd

15 & 31

Roofing GJ Smith Roofing

8

Security Harpenden Alarms Ltd Maximum Security

10 10

Singing Club Clover Singing Club

31

Slimming Lighter Life

Front Cover

Solicitors Rayden Solicitors

19

Tree Surgeons Fircroft Tree Surgery Ltd

28

Venue Hire Harpenden Trust

26

Windows & Doors Cloud 9 Kings Windows

12 8

Ken Hodson Local Computer Hardware and Software Repairs Upgrades and Advice for Home and Business ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

No fix, no fee for all repairs - you have nothing to lose!

Low hourly rate Most repairs carried out in your home, if not the computer will be picked up and delivered back to you.

Problems with Windows / Applications / Games / Internet / Networks fixed Friendly training and instruction available in plain English Advice given on upgrades - many older computers can be upgraded at a fraction of the cost of a new machine Upgrades of hardware and software

07974 156743 / 01582 794723 enquiries@kenhodsoncomputerservices.co.uk www.kenhodsoncomputerservices.co.uk

30

We have made every effort to ensure that any material published in harpenden NOW is correct and can accept no liability for any errors or delays in publication or distribution, harpenden NOW accepts no responsibility for its advertisers.

Discounts on all Bathrooms & Kitchens Supplied

DJ&M PLUMBING SERVICES LTD ●

●

●

●

Complete

●

Bathroom, Cloakroom, Shower Room and Kitchen Installations

●

●

Local Family Run Business, Over 35 Years Experience

●

Honest and Reliable Service Free Consultation/ Quotation for all Enquiries

●

●

Tiling Plastering Electrical

●

Electric and Power Showers Ball Valves and Overflows Blocked WC’s, Sinks, Baths and Basins Repair/Renew Stopcocks and Taps Plumb in Washing Machines and Dishwashers Repair Leaking Pipes Outside Taps

Dean Herrington 07830 159010 01727 764217 info@djmplumbing.co.uk

www.djmplumbing.co.uk

W lun e als oe ch trip es & njoy s to the get atre h er

To Advertise 07983 588313 wendy@theNOWmagazines.com

31

32