Big Voice in Lee-on-Solent, April 2021

LEE ON THE SOLENT April 2021 | Issue 161 | £1.50 where sold

Your local community magazine

Voice

Inside...

An alternative Easter breakfast

Homemade bath bombs

An inspirational young fundraiser

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Voice

Smalltalk

What a difference a year makes!

It dawned on me this morning that this time last year I would have, unknowingly, been writing the last ‘small talk’ in the very normal world we were then living in. I decided to read back over it…….. I mention how I have not been able to keep up with my New Years resolution of running and blame it on being too busy with school runs, kids’ clubs and a hectically ‘social’ life. Just a few weeks later, everything was very different and all of that was suddenly gone! Back then I don’t think any of us contemplated that we would still be in a similar position a whole year later!

But here we are and even on the hardest days remember, we are getting through this.

The long-awaited details of the Prime Minister’s road map out of lockdown 3.0 have been announced. Combined with the vaccine roll out and dropping R number the planned route forward brings us all real hope. The first day of Spring is here, the evenings are getting longer and the flowers are starting to bloom. I’m feeling positive about the months ahead. We all have so much to look forward to.

Looking at the positives from the last 12 months the slowed pace of life helped me get my running back on track and I never thought I would say it but I think I am now officially ‘a runner!’ Having more time at home has encouraged me to improve my fitness and during the lockdowns I found running was good for my mental health. As you know I recently turned 39+1 and so this year I decided to take on a running challenge each month. In January I ran 50 miles for Maggie’s Cancer Care, in February I ran 100km and I’m currently mid-way through a Kilimanjaro challenge! My 9-year-old has even joined me and ran 50km to raise much needed funds for her gymnastics club, who unfortunately are one of the many smaller businesses affected by lockdown restrictions.

So, as we head towards another unusual Easter lets all try and stay positive and optimistic about what the future might hold. We are hopefully on the home straight to a brilliant summer with the ones we love. Although the end is in sight, we are not quite there yet. So in the meantime let’s continue to do our bit and stay safe!

Peach Publications 01329 630630/07909 627177

Editor

Gemma Harvey-Guttridge editor@bigvoicedirectories.co.uk

Advertising Sales

editor@bigvoicedirectories.co.uk

Distribution

This Big Voice Bigazine is delivered to residents and businesses in Lee on Solent.

For distribution enquiries please give me (Gemma) a call. Two other editions are also published in Stubbington & Hill Head and Alverstoke.

Whilst Big Voice Directories aim to provide a quality publication for local reference, it cannot be held responsible for the services, reputation or cost of any of the advertisers, and content of adverts or editorial herein. Readers must make their own enquiries to establish the credentials of each entry. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited without prior written permission from the Publishers. The magazines are produced on paper sourced from FSC approved paper mills and printed using vegetable based inks. They love being recycled but please pass to a friend first!

Magazine, adverts, design, layout and content ©Copyright Peach Publications Ltd.

Much love

Gemma x 4

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APRIL ISSUE 2021

Recipes, community, charity, properties and more

CONTENTS 8

Get Puzzled

21

Chat with Coralie

10

An Easter breakfast with a continental twist

Recipe of the Month

24

Keep On Running

12

Mum’s the Word

29

Driving Times

14

St Faiths Church

Test yourself with this month’s crossword

Homemade bath bombs and support if you are struggling

It’s not always good to ‘just get on with it...’

Meet young fundraiser Jess

The Skoda Octavia iV VRs

Making dreams a reality

Advertise with us!

Reliably delivered by our local teams, reaching over 15000 homes each issue. THREE editions of Big Voice provide exceptional monthly coverage of our area every single month. Call Gemma now on 01329 630630, jump on our website or link up with us on Facebook.

Visit our Facebook page @bigvoicedirectories Visit our website www.bigvoicedirectories.co.uk

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Clues Across 1 4 8 9 10 11 13 15 17 20 21 23 24 25

Get Puzzled

Agile, lithe (4) Inferior cut of meat (5-3) Devour, guzzle (6) Rough, stormy (6) ____-detached, a house (4) Sailing (8) ______ Loren, Italian actress (6) ______ Hemmingway, author (6) Dormer window (8) Large brass instrument (4) Poppycock (6) Cared for, tended (6) Distress, trouble (8) Children’s board game (4)

Clues Down 2 3 4 5 6 7 12 14

Directory of names and numbers (5,4) Rude, noisy, aggressive (informal) (7) Dingy, sleazy (5) Salvage (7) Spectre (5) Brief sleep (3) Epistaxis (9) Saintly, virtuous (7)

16 18 19 22

Instinctive, innate (7) Even, equal (5) Forceps-like tool (5) Branch of the armed services (Abbr) (3)

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9

Recipe of the month

Spanish Baked Eggs

An Easter breakfast with a continental twist!

Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 25 minutes Serves 2 Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 onion, finely sliced, 120g Chorizo, sliced, 1 yellow pepper, finely sliced, 1 orange or red pepper, finely sliced, 2 cloves garlic, crushed, ½ tsp sweet smoked paprika 400g can chopped tomatoes, 1 tbsp capers (optional), 2 large eggs (4 if you’re really hungry!)

2 tbsp fresh chopped flat-leaf parsley, 2 thick slices of bread Method: Preheat the oven to 200°C, gas mark 6. Use a frying pan with an ovenproof handle. Heat the olive oil, then add the onion and chopped chorizo. Soften for 5 minutes. Add the peppers and cook for a further 2-3 minutes until they soften too. Stir in the crushed garlic and sweet smoked paprika, cook for another 1 minute. Pour in the tomatoes and add the capers, lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes, until the tomatoes reduce and thicken a little.

Make two or four wells in the thick sauce and gently crack an egg into each.

Place the pan into the preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until the whites are set but the yolks are still runny.

Towards the end of the cooking time, toast the bread.

Remove the pan from the oven, scatter with the parsley and serve with the toasted bread, drizzled with a little olive oil.

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Mum’s the word The kids are back at school but the countdown for the Easter break is on. Going by the roadmap set out by the Prime Minister on 22nd February, tourist attractions will remain closed for at least the first week of the Easter holidays. Having exhausted many indoor activities over the last few months I hope the weather will be kind and allow us to enjoy some days out when we will finally be allowed to meet outside in groups of 6 or two households. If the weather is a little miserable try this activity which I featured a couple of years ago. The kids will love making these gifts, but they can be a little messy so make sure they are supervised.

Get crafty!

Homemade Bath Bombs

WHAT YOU NEED: 2 cups baking soda 1 cup cream of tartar 6 tbsp Espom salts 1 mixing bowl 8 tsp coconut or olive oil Essential oils of choice Moulds - silicon ice cube trays work well

There’s something so satisfying about crafting at home.

Whether you’re making cards for loved ones, gifts for friends or just something delicious for yourself.

My kids are bath bomb crazy! If the weather is not looking great why not plan a day in and get the children involved in making these fabulous homemade bath bombs! Supervision will be necessary!

Experiment with different scents and perhaps decorate some paper bags and give them to friends and family as little Easter gifts!

• Mix all of the dry ingredients together.

• Add the oils. You will need around 10-12 drops for a good scent • Once all the ingredients are thoroughly combined test the mixture by squeezing a small amout in • • • •

your hand. It should press nicely without crumbling. You can add a few sprays of water if it does to combine it.

Pack the mixture tightly into your mould. Silicone ones tend to work best.

Leave to dry for 24 hours Remove from the mould and leave for another 24 hours.

Finally drop into your bath and enjoy the fizz!

Are you a parent or carer who feels like they are struggling?

Please don’t struggle alone - Hampshire Pandas are here for you!

If you’d like to speak to someone our FREE helpline is open everyday between 11am and 10pm.

It’s manned by a team of trained volunteers who will be happy to chat to you and direct you to the right support for you.

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We are delighted to be supporting the Rotary Club of Gosport in conjunction with Acts of Kindness

Easter Egg Appeal For local disadvantaged children

If you would like to contribute and are passing either branch on your daily exercise, you’d be welcome to leave your donation in the basket outside or just inside the door.

(Last donation date is Thursday 25th March)

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13

St. Faith’s Church

All of us in Lee-on-the-Solent are delighted when new shops open in our High Street. When Claire opened Sewberry in August 2020, she was fulfilling the dream she had as an 8-year-old. I know Claire as a member of St Faith’s, I had prayed with her as her plans to open Sewberry came to fruition and so I was very keen to find out more to share with you.

Brought up in Worcester, having moved from Liverpool as a child, Claire always had a passion for sewing but took a more traditional approach to her career by studying Medical Ethics & Public Health at University before working for the NHS in South Wales. Although she had continued to sew and enjoy creative arts, it was not until her first daughter was born that she had the opportunity to develop and share her talents.

Her friend bought her a voucher to spend on craft materials and her ideas grew from there.

The business began in 2015 when Claire developed a make-your-own purse template kit and sold the kits and other completed hand-made items on Etsy. As any sewer or crafter (or the partner of one) will tell you, it is very easy to end up with far too much stock!

Claire looked around at the amount of fabric she had accumulated and remembered the childhood dream of her owning her own shop. In January 2020 she took the leap and started Sewberry online. When the world went into Lockdown two months later, she was ready to supply crafters throughout the world with unique and vintage fabric. The market in America was particularly buoyant with a demand for her designer and character fabrics, and the impetus this gave her meant she could afford to stock a physical shop. Her dream became reality.

Having used the time in the first lockdown to prepare her shop, opening day was a great success, with

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local sewers and crafters queuing to get in. The shop remained busy until forced to shut by the next lockdown, but Claire has been working hard behind the scenes. As well as running the online business, she has expanded the space available and extended her product range to include craft packs suited to anyone over the age of 4. Having 2 children herself, Claire can be sure that her products are appealing.

In fact, it was her daughters who came up with the shop’s name.

Claire moved to Lee-on-the-Solent when her daughters were small. She grew up in a Christian home so when one of her friends suggested she came along to St Faith’s, she did and was warmly welcomed into the congregation. In finding a closer relationship with God, Claire also made good friends and feels more connected to God, her faith and the community as her shop-owning dream became a reality.

Claire told me she just loves helping and advising her customers and has built up great relationships with them. It doesn’t feel like work and she has to remind herself she is not just playing shop! She feels so lucky to have created a thriving business, and is grateful for the support of her family, friends and team – Anna, Pam & Jazz.

By the time this edition lands on your doormat, Claire will be counting down to opening again on 12th April.

Why not pop in?

Written by Bridget Dean For St Faith’s Church

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FIND US AT SILVERSPRINGS GARDEN CENTRE, FONTLEY ROAD, TITCHFIELD, FAREHAM PO15 6QX

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www.abbeygardenbuildings.co.uk to adverstise call Gemma 01329 630630 / 07909 627177

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How To Avoid Carer’s Fatigue When Caring For Someone With Dementia Caring for someone with dementia can feel like a round-the-clock job. But nobody can look after someone all day, every day. Here, we explore why caring for yourself helps everyone and how you can begin to find the balance you need in order to recharge your own batteries.

If you’ve ever sat on a plane, you’ll remember the safety guidance putting your own oxygen mask on before helping anyone else. The thinking is: look after yourself, and you’re in a much better place to care for others.

as a carer because you’re looking after a member of your family” she says. “But it’s important for it to be acknowledged that you are a carer. Being acknowledged means that the support and help you need can be provided.”

Acknowledge your feelings It’s easy to set an impossibly high standard for the care you offer, then feel guilty when you don’t quite reach it.

It can be even worse when it’s because you found yourself sad, frustrated, angry or forlorn. Which of course, can then lead to more guilt for feeling that way!

But it’s so easy to forget that when you’re looking after a loved one with dementia. The risk of carer’s burnout is real and the impact that can have on your life and relationships can undermine everything you’re trying to achieve.

It’s important to recognise these are all normal ways to feel. Caring is intense, and you’re only human. Your loved one didn’t ask to get dementia, but you didn’t ask to be living with it either. Be kind to yourself, you’re doing the best you can.

If that’s something you’re concerned about, either for yourself or someone in your family, read

Focus on you

Our Tips for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregivers

It may sound counterproductive, especially when the weight of the world is on your shoulders. But one of the best ways to avoid carer burnout is to put energy into your hobbies, projects, or other important relationships.

The more you prioritise your own needs when able, the better you’ll feel about yourself. Then you’ll find you’re more emotionally equipped to deal with the realities of life with dementia.

Accept the situation It might sound strange, but for some carers, even seeing themselves as a carer can be a challenge!

Admiral Nurse Barbara Fitzpatrick, speaking for Dementia UK, explains. “You may not think of yourself 16

Not sure where to start? Google a life coaching tool called ‘The Wheel of Life’. It’ll help you get an overview of your priorities and start deciding more purposefully where to direct your energy.

Live healthy Eating and sleeping well can make such a difference to your outlook. Additionally, even 20-30 minutes light exercise, like a brisk walk or an online yoga class can

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add enormously to your energy levels. Try not to bite off too much at once, though. The more gradual the changes, the more they’ll stick.

Be creative Dementia can steal the joy from the time you spend with your loved one, but it only takes a little creative thinking to reconnect. Fish out their favourite music album, go for a short walk in a favourite place, flick through old photos, watch an old movie with them.

There are always ways to make the most of your time with the person you’re caring for.

At Bluebird Care Gosport, we offer a number of different dementia caring services to suit every need.

These include live-in-care, homecare visits (domiciliary care) and even companionship care, where a Bluebird care assistant can keep your loved one socially engaged. Whatever you choose, we’ll make sure you get a much-needed respite.

Find support In terms of lightening the mental load, the Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline offers advice and support.

Call them free on 0800 888 6678 or visit Dementia UK for more info.

Of course, if your loved one’s condition deteriorates further, you may decide it’s time for a different approach.

Call us on 02393 233 922 to see how we can help, or visit us at www.bluebirdcare.co.uk to find out more.

to adverstise call Gemma 01329 630630 / 07909 627177

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CHAT WITH CORALIE

Getting on with it

‘Getting on with it’ is a useful trait when we are faced with tough situations that we must get through. A stiff upper lip, being brave, holding it all together… these are things that sometimes we must do in order to get through some of life’s circumstances.

But the danger, I have found, of embracing these tactics, is that they become our normal coping mechanisms.

And frankly they are no more useful than simply brushing your dirt under the carpet so that nobody can see it. The feelings are still there, just covered up.

I am getting more and more concerned about how we are all going to ‘come out the other side’ of things when some of our restrictions are lifted. There are many of us who have suffered extreme loneliness, lack of companionship, and physical contact. No doubt we have, day by day, attempted to just keep going, with the thoughts of brighter days around the corner. When our children went into school for their initial COVID tests they were excited to be able to walk together with a friend. The world community has had a year where, mostly, we have had to pull ourselves together, accept that many of us will suffer financially and emotionally, and hold it all in, because there will be an end.

Yet, have we been helping ourselves, and our kids along the way? How long can someone just put on a brave face? What is an acceptable length of time for a child or an adult to be isolated? Even Canada, whose country Sean and I aspire to spend time in one day, has implemented a strategy of self isolating young children, away from their entire family. Thankfully it would seem that this ruling has been ‘altered’, and Peel Region Health have apologised for issuing previous guidelines to parents that instructed them to isolate their children, even small ones, completely alone from anyone else for 14 days. But where is this logic and madness stemming from? Whilst this isn’t the case in the UK there do seem to be many times where

children are worried about leaving the house, mixing with people and in fact our own children have voiced concerns about their fears of another outbreak following a return to school. Indeed the Isle of Wight festival, a popular event that we look forward to very much, has rescheduled for September this year, and our kids are reluctant to consider it now because of the crowds. They have a huge fear of this all coming back.

And because of that, they don’t want to socialise in the way they used to before.

Which makes me feel so very sad. As a family we have behaved legally and sensibly, washing our shopping each time and being careful to use our (natural) hand sanitiser.

But we have been careful not to overdo the scaremongery with the kids - we rarely watch the news or worry them with ‘what might be’. But subliminally messages sink in.

Children have had a year of seeing everyone wearing masks. Covering their faces and avoiding any potential contact, including looking at others directly it would seem. The subtle changes in body language, energy and expression are being picked up by every one of their senses and it is negative in every way. I totally understand why many of the strategies have been put in place, this isn’t a political piece after all, simply an observation of the outcomes.

What is the answer I wonder? Perhaps it’s simply to give them a way of offloading their worries, reassure them that ‘normal’ life can be possible again, and giving them the tools to understand their bodies and emotions so that they are empowered to look after themselves.

It’s not easy. It never is. But if we pretend we have no feelings there’s a great big volcano of issues that I fear will erupt in the near future if we don’t address them now.

Until next month

Coralie x

to adverstise call Gemma 01329 630630 / 07909 627177

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23

Keep on running

Jess Pearce It’s all going to be ok, just a little more resolve and patience. I must confess to being excited about being able to meet with my family and friends socially by the time summer arrives.

So many things have changed. We have undoubtedly changed the way we do most things and I’m sure that even when we are allowed to meet for social runs, we will be just that bit more mindful of how we do so. For some, a return to something like normality will be scary and we must try and understand that this pandemic will continue to affect us all differently for some time yet.

There have been some amazing feats achieved during lockdown. Captain Sir Tom Moore is perhaps the most noticeable and his example inspired others to do their bit for good causes too.

Gosport has its own amazing fundraiser. We probably have several but 6-year-old Jess Pearce whose parents have been members of our 545 RunClub for some time, found a way to raise money in a way that resonated with us. Jess was moved by the plight of a 9-year-old girl called Sophie who is fighting a nasty form of cancer and set out to run/ cycle/scoot or walk every day in February to raise awareness and money towards Sophie’s treatment.

We all know how remarkably charitable the British public can be and this challenge was met by

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overwhelming support from friends, family, and the public. The original target of £150 has been smashed and at the time of writing the total raised currently stands at more than £1,200. Jess concluded her challenge on Gosport’s Golden Mile.

Superb! Unable to roll out the old ‘red sofa’ for an interview with the young lady, I conducted a virtual interview via her Dad, Andy. This is what he said.

Q1. Who is Jess and why this challenge?

Jess is our 6-year-old daughter whose Mummy and Daddy are both military veterans now working in the healthcare sector. We have been following Sophie’s challenge for at least a year and completed a 10K fundraiser late last year.

Q2. Did Jess believe that she could do 1 mile of some activity every day?

Jess is one of the most determined people that I know, she was out in all weathers and often did more than her mile. Even after a minor fall, she got patched up and went straight back out. The fact that she was doing it for someone else gave her that extra bit of incentive, not that she ever needed it.

Q3. Did Jess enjoy the challenge? What was the best part?

She enjoyed the fact that she was doing something for someone else, she has asked a lot of questions about Sophie’s illness and wants to

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Keep on running check on her progress every day. Her best part of the challenge was definitely the ice cream at the end!!

Q4 Would Jess do it again? Without question. Yes Q5. How much has Jess raised? As of tonight (28th February) £1,263.

Q6. Can people still donate and if so, how?

Yes. They can still use the JustGiving link if they wish. Thanks to everyone who has got involved.

The response has been amazing. https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ jessicapearce The younger generation sometimes get a hard time but with people like Jess (and her role models), the future is in good hands.

Finally, in 2012 when we started our 545 social running group, we had no idea or intention of it being any more than just that...social. This month, following many requests to put the group on a more formal footing, we affiliated to the Association of Running Clubs. This means that our runners are now insured when running at organised 545 events or when running as one of our members at formal races. We have put in place welfare and safeguarding officers but other than that

our constitution requires our paid up members to do very little other than continue to enjoy running.

Our rules are: 1. Be a nice person 2. Do nothing to bring our club or Gosport into disrepute 3. Be responsible for any young person who runs with us 4. No more rules.

Our whole focus is in making running accessible and fun. There are coaches, run leaders, medics and mentors amongst us but primarily, we are here simply to support an individual’s journey and signpost them to the resources they need to achieve their goals. There are clubs with more structure and their members are always welcome to continue to run with A545RC as guests. We remain friendly and open to all.

Hopefully, we can aspire to be more like Jess, be more active and involved in our sport which gives so much pleasure to so many.

Stay positive. We can enjoy a coffee (or beer) together soon.

Written by: Nick Carter (Absolute GosVegas Run Groups)

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Around the world governments are deciding to ban vehicles powered by fossil fuels. The UK has set a target for no new internal combustion engine (ICE) cars to be sold by 2030. Therefore, brands have started to create cars with alternative power units, such as Skoda’s Octavia VRs PHEV. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) combine electrical motors with regular engines to meet the new guidelines.

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The front-wheel-drive car has handling to match the performance, which gave me a lot of confidence when travelling on some twisty A-roads in rough weather at night. Packed with safety aids, it also makes it perfect transport for you and your loved ones. To list all would take up too much space, so a few to mention are lane departure assist, distance notification, parking assist and front and rear sensors.

The next step is total electric, where batteries in the vehicle’s electric motors turn the wheels. The batteries have to be charged by plugging the car into a power source such as your home sockets. Hydrogen celled cars are also available, they use gas to power the electric battery within. These are resupplied with hydrogen at a transport centre, just like filling up at a petrol station. Easy and clean.

Back to the Skoda Octavia VRs PHEV which combines a 1.4-litre petrol engine with an 85-kW electric motor to give 204PS of power. 350 Nm of torque is available if you should need it or want some thrills. The CO2 emissions are approximately 30g/km, and the all-electric range is up to 43 miles, although, during my week of testing, I only got 30 miles.

I loved driving the VRs and enjoyed its versatility. It can be a capable family estate with loads of space for five people with luggage or an excitement inducing sports car. It can match what you require from it, ideal for motorway cruising, brisk driving on country roads or doing the family shop. The Skoda Octavia iV VRS PHEV offers value for money with a three-year warranty, long servicing intervals and inexpensive running costs. It stands above its competitors and I recommend you book a test drive. You will not be disappointed.

Price from £33000 www.skoda.co.uk/electric-hybrid-cars/octaviaiv-vrs Words and images by Jeremy Webb Copyright 2021.

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