Stubbington & Hill Head Edition
January 2020 | Issue 60 | £1.50 where sold
Yo u
A recipe to kick start your New Year diet ‘Elf on the Shelf’ help! Christmas services in Crofton Parish
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THIS MONTH...
y, arit h c y, unit d more m n om s, c rties a e p i Rec prope
CONTENTS 8
Get Puzzled
22
Recipe of the Month
12
Mum’s the Word
24
Keep On Running
19
Watering & Wellies
29
Home Focus
20
Crofton Parish
30
Consumer Champion
Test yourself with this month’s crossword
Clinics, playgroups and the pesky elf!
Enjoy your outdoor space all year round
Peace, Love and Christmas services
Kick start the New Year diet
The Gosport Half Marathon
The perfect flooring for your home
Buy now, pay later. What to watch out for
january issue 2020
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 Alverstoke. For distribution enquiries please give me (Gemma) a call. Two other editions are also published in Stubbington & Hill Head and Lee on Solent.
B
Smalltalk oom! And just like that, it’s 2020……!!!
This time last year I asked you what you would remember 2018 for? Amongst many things was the ongoing Brexit saga. Here I am reflecting on 2019 and it feels like ground hog day! Will this be the year the government finally find a way forwards or will we back here saying the same 12 months down the line? Whatever side of the debate you sit on, most people would agree that the last 12 months have been a frustrating distraction from the many important issues we need to deal with, like the availability of healthcare, investment in schools & education and the environment, to highlight just a few. Personally, I’d much prefer our news to be full of stories about positive change in these areas that we can all benefit from. I really hope 2020 is the last New Year I comment on the ‘B-Word!’ So, looking forward to the year ahead (and we do have so much to look forward to!) The Olympics in Tokyo, Euro2020, The Vendee Globe Yacht Race and a leap year! Will “Team GB” be taking home a few gold medals? We’ll be keeping our eyes peeled to see if Hampshire’s own Kelly Simm makes the Gymnastics Team! Will this be the year that Gareth Southgate’s England can finally end 54 years (how many!!) of hurt and win a major football tournament!
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.
Can Gosport’s own Alex Thomson win the solo round the World Vendee Globe Yacht Race, known as the toughest sporting event in the world!! Finally, girls will you take the plunge and propose to the man of your dreams? I also wonder how many babies will be born on 29th February? When will they celebrate their Birthday? And when they are 60 can they really claim to be 15! So many questions for the New Year, lets make it a good one!
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Get Puzzled
CROSSWORD
8
8 9 10
CLUES ACROSS
11 12 13 17 18 19 20 22 23 27 28 29
Ketch (4) Kirk's starship (10) One of the Gorgons (Greek mythology) (6) Rehearse (8) Pitcher (4) Reject (10) A group of cattle (4) Simplified (5) Brood (4) Sluttish (10) Supplements with difficulty (4) Imperfectly formed (8) Potion (6) The state of being a bastard (archaic) (10) Raised mark on the skin (4)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 14 15 16 19 21 24 25 26
A water-driven turbine (10) Obtained (8) Immediately obtainable upon request (10) Cease (4) Fertilizer ingredient (4) Speech-giver (6) Millisecond (4) Indian antelope (5) Elephants (10) A variety show (10) Advance screenings (8) An island in French Polynesia (6) Close by (4) Unit of area (4) A Great Lake (4)
CLUES DOWN
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www.solentsportsinjuryclinic.co.uk 9
10
Bluebird Care’s Outstanding 1st Year Since opening its doors in October 2018, Bluebird Care has had an amazing 1st year in business. Bluebird Care is a national franchise, providing care and support for adults in their own homes, with the Gosport branch helping those around the Gosport, Lee-on-the-Solent, Stubbington and Locks Heath areas. The company came to Gosport in October 2018 led by the director Kat Thomas, who has worked within Bluebird Care since 2011. Bluebird Care Gosport’s focus is to improve the lives of customers by helping them to stay independent and in their own homes, providing a range of services to suit the customer’s need. Since beginning trading, the company has achieved highly. They were rated ‘Outstanding’ by The Care Quality Commission which is the highest grading that can be awarded. The CQC look into every detail of a business during an inspection and a rating of ‘Outstanding’ is absolutely fantastic and a real reflection of how the company operates. The Gosport office have recently been awarded not one but two awards by Bluebird Care at the annual conference.
Firstly, The Spirit of Bluebird Care Award which is awarded to the company who really captures the essence of what Bluebird Care stands for. This was awarded because of the Gosport office’s campaign to ‘Unite Against Loneliness’ as well as its focus on the highest quality care. The Newcomer Award was also presented, which is a real testament to the team’s exceptional effort in its first year of trading. Furthermore, the company was nominated and was then a finalist in The Solent Business Awards annual event under ‘The Best Company to Work For’ category. Stuart McIndoe, Business Operations Manager for Bluebird Care Gosport says, “It was a real honour to be recognised for the company’s nurturing and caring ethos towards the team.” Kat Thomas, the company director says, “We have achieved a great deal in the first year and we all strive to become a bigger heart of our community, coming together with other companies, charities and care givers to unite and improve the lives of as many people as we can”
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Mum’s the Word Welcome to Mum’s the Word, an article containing helpful information, tips, advice & reviews. If you have any suggestions we would love to hear from you!
Are you looking for something fun to do with your little one? Here are this months suggestions... MONDAY
Construction Club
Fareham Library
10.30am-11.30am, FREE For younger mini builders who love duplo and lego age 2 yrs up
TUESDAY
Shoreline Baby & Toddler Group Stubbington Baptist Church, Jay Close, Stubbington 1.15pm-2.45pm, £1 per family Toys, crafts, refreshments, ride ons, puzzles & much
more.
12
THURSDAY
NCT Mini Explorers Gosport Waterfront Baptist church, Weevil Lane, Gosport. 10am-11.30am, £1.50 donation. Free play with lots of toys, games, books, dress up box etc, followed WEDNESDAY by tidy up and singing. Stay & Play Includes tea/coffee, snack Newtown C of E Primary & squash.
School, Queens Road, Gosport 9.15am-10.30am, FREE Refreshments provided
FRIDAY
Stay & Play
Methodist Church, Lee on Solent 10am-11am, £4 per family Painting, messy play, jelly, play doh & a craft table with activities.
My Month as a Mum...
Elf on the Shelf If you are like me, you will be counting down the days till our friend ‘The Elf on the Shelf’ flies back to Santa for another 11 months. I will certainly be having a glass of fizz on Christmas day, mainly to toast the fact that I have (hopefully) survived this tradition for another year! The ‘Elf on a Shelf’ phenomenon is becoming increasingly popular, however it seems to be something the kids love but the parents loath. For those who are not in the know, the ‘elf’ is sent from Santa to keep an eye on children on the lead up to Christmas and to help ensure they stay on the ‘nice’ list. Many parents ‘go to town’ with their elves (especially at the start of the month) and create all sorts of crazy situations for the elf to be caught in, but as the days tick by the challenge to better the night before becomes progressively harder. What’s worse are the days where you wake up in the early hours in a state of panic as you realise you have forgotten to move the elf. Creating a crazy elf situation at 4am is not much fun!
Last year I asked you to send me some of your best elf pictures, here is our elf ‘Sparkle’ being caught out by Spider Man, along with some snaps of the naughty elf from the ‘Memmott’s’ household. Hopefully these ideas with get you through those final few nights on the lead up to the big day. 13
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Watering & Wellies
ICE COLD WONDER
Enjoying your outside space even when it’s cold Slipping out of the Christmas and New Year festivities may seem sad, yet there’s many things that can be done outside to prepare for nature’s excitement when spring appears. Recycling your Christmas tree is a perfect way of reusing materials for mulch. If you have your own shredder then this is what you’ll need, otherwise why not hire one for the weekend and make a party of it - invite your friends round with their trees and you can have a shredding session complete with hot chocolates, scarves and hats! If you’re itching to get your hands dirty, there are some seeds that you can sow in January. Pelaroniums, Basil, Dahlias, Sweet Peas and Petunias are all great for early sewing. You need a bit of patience for this though. Light levels are lower, and with central heating on indoors you run the risk of producing weak seedlings which are prone to ‘damping off’. If you use a good peat-free seed compost and thoroughly clean everything that will come into contact with the seeds or seedlings then you can help prevent these issues. Also make sure you position your trays on a bright, warm windowsill where the temperature will stay fairly steady. During planting, sow the seeds more sparsely than usual. This will give them space to grow and prevent overcrowding which can also cause damping off. (if you are newbie gardener this is a disease of seedlings caused by several different fungi and fungus-like organisms. This disease causes emerging seedlings to collapse, often submerged in a mass of white fungal growth. It is a disease prone to seedlings which are sown indoors or under glass).
Once the seeds start to germinate, give them plenty of air by opening ventilators and wipe away any condensation in propagators once or twice daily. Now is a good time to check your seed collection and dispose of any packs that are out of date and make a note of any new ones that you need for the coming season. Outside, take an inspection of your beds. Take hardwood cuttings from deciduous shrubs, such as forsythia, willow and viburnum. Check that any little alpine plants don’t become smothered by fallen leaves and other wind-blown debris. Make sure you deadhead winter pansies and other bedding regularly and clear away any soggy, collapsed stems. if you feel up to some more strenuous physical activity then you might want to do some more substantial landscaping. As long as the ground isn’t frozen you can plant bare-rooted roses, shrubs and hedging, including ornamental trees. This could be a perfect way to burn off some of that extra Christmas pud! If you have fruit and vegetable trees, remove any dead, damaged or congested branches now. Feed spring cabbages with a high-nitrogen feed to encourage leafy growth and make sure that you have netting over these, including kale and Brussels sprouts to protect them from pigeons. Then once your hard work is complete, pop back inside and place an order for seed potatoes, onions, shallots and garlic bulbs ready for you to plant these out in the springtime. Annie Gardner 19
Crofton Parish
PEACE ON EARTH? We love celebrating Christmas in Crofton Parish. It takes a lot of planning (like everyone’s Christmas does) but there is real joy in so many groups and individuals from our community coming together to retell the Christmas story. As you read this, the Christmas season will be in full swing, with events and services for all ages. You are, of course, welcome at any of the remaining Christmas services and activities at Holy Rood and St Edmund’s, even if you’ve never been before. This Christmas, we are thinking about the words of the angels, promising ‘Peace on Earth’. As we look at our world, we see increasing division and inequality. So, the words of the angels mean as much to us today as they ever have done. The Christmas story reminds us that this peace comes to us from outside ourselves. It is something we welcome and receive into our lives and our world, just as the characters from the first Christmas welcomed and received the Christ-child. We are often told to look within ourselves to find peace. Yet, the Christmas story offers an alternative vision: peace is a gift to us from God in Christ. As we receive this gift, it works its way into our lives and our world and the promise of the angels starts to come true. At the turn of the year, as we celebrate what has been and look towards what will be, that offer of peace at Christmas is made to each of us afresh. At Holy Rood, we have been singing a new song that reflects this:
Give us peace at Christmas; give us joy in the New Year You’re with us in our weeping yet You’ll wipe away our tears Bring us joy and gladness; let your love cast out our fear Give us peace at Christmas; give us joy in the New Year
This is our prayer this season. We hope it can be yours too. If you would like to know more about receiving God’s peace or what it means to be a follower of Jesus, then why not join us for one of our Christmas services, either at Holy Rood or at St Edmund’s. Our services are as follows: Holy Rood Carols by Candlelight (contemporary) – 15th December at 6.30pm with mulled wine and mince pies afterwards. Nativity from Scratch – 22nd December at 9.30am – great for children and families Midnight Communion – 24th December at 11pm – welcome in Christmas Family Celebration - 25th December at 10am St Edmund’s Nine Lessons and Carols (traditional) - 22nd December at 4pm – come early to get a seat! Nativity Services – 24th December at 4pm and 6pm Holy Communion (BCP) – 25th December at 8am A very happy and peaceful Christmas to you all.
As the angels sang when it all began On a moonlit night when the stars shone bright Something new has come; it’s for everyone There is peace on earth in the baby’s birth Listen, can you hear it bringing news of greater joy? 20
Revd Richard England Vicar of Crofton Parish Church office 01329 661154 Email: Office@croftonparish.org.uk Website www.croftonparish.org.uk
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Recipe of the month
Bone Broth After the excesses of Christmas and the New Year cheer, a good dose of bone broth is the perfect antidote. You can make up a hefty batch of this in one go and add it to soups, casseroles or simply drink it from a mug for perfect gut-healing health. This recipe is not your regular stock - it’s packed with minerals and healing properties that will kick start your New Year diet. Ingredients 1.8kg beef or chicken bones 2.8 litres cups of water 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar 1 medium onion, roughly chopped 3 large carrots, chopped 2 leeks, chopped 3 bay leaves 4 sprigs fresh rosemary 6 cloves garlic 1/2 tbsp black peppercorns Method: 1. Preheat oven to 200c and line a baking sheet with foil. Place the bones on the sheet and roast for 40 minutes. Flip them halfway through. 2. Once they’re cooked, break them down and place in a large saucepan. Cover with the water and vinegar and allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. 3. Chop the vegetables and add to the saucepan. Bring to a boil and then lower to a simmer. 4. For the first 2-3 hours make sure you skim off any foamy layer that develops on the top and discard. 5. For beef bone broth simmer for 48 hours, for chicken 24 hours. 6. Allow to cool slightly and strain. 7. Transfer the broth to an airtight container and refrigerate for 4-6 hours or overnight. This will allow the fat to rise to the top and solidify. 8. Scrape the fat off the top with a spoon. This will leave you with a gelatinous bone broth when cold. 9. Store in an airtight container or freeze until ready to use. When ready, slowly warm the broth over a low heat or drop straight into soups and casseroles. 22
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Keep on Running
The Gosport Half Marathon I’m starting to feel very festive, are you? As I reflect on a typically wet November, I realise that whatever the weather, we just keep going. My route to work on a weekday morning takes me along Stokes Bay Road. As I drive along, I see many of you out there getting the miles in before your day really starts. It’s the best time of day for me too, I much prefer an early morning workout of some description to set me up for the day. Thinking about this, I’m convinced that a return to early morning exercise in schools would see behaviour and performance improve. I’m old enough to remember the days when exercise played a bigger part in a school day and unless my glasses are rose tinted, we were, as a
result more disposed to concentrate on our academic duties. Back to November and what has been occurring in our lovely town. It was of course the month of the ‘world famous’ Gosport Half Marathon. The marathon not only sees 2,000 runners of all ages and abilities take to our streets but in the process raises thousands of pounds that go towards local good causes. This year I was fortunate enough to be able to help the amazing team behind the scenes of this superb event and my role was to be part of a group who were looking after road closures at the Privett Road/Cherque Way traffic lights. I was fortunate that the motorists who were briefly inconvenienced all understood why we were there and were patient and polite. Unfortunately, this was not the case on other parts of the route, despite advance warnings being in place for several weeks preceding the half marathon. We understand that Sundays are busier than they once were, and we all need to be somewhere these days but there is never a reason to be rude or aggressive to marshals who give up their time to stand there and smile whilst supporting and keeping runners safe. This really is an event that the organisers, Gosport Road Runners should be proud
24
of. The level of planning and organisation is immense and the marshals are always knowledgeable and friendly. This year, members of other local Running clubs also joined the team who ensured that once again, the event was safe, went smoothly and brought smiles to people’s faces. It was also great to see environmental issues tackled. Gosport Wombles joined the cleanup operation and Race Director, Dave Kitchen was delighted with the popularity of the easy to recycle cartons of water which were there to help keep runners hydrated. It cost less than £25 to participate in this wellplanned event that offers a really generous goody bag for every finisher. Over £13,000 was raised for good causes in 2018 and produced an absolutely wonderful medal that celebrates the sacrifices made by so many during the World Wars. Once again, Gosport has provided the platform for sport and community to come together and we can be proud of our town. What will the festive season produce in sporting terms? Are you taking on a challenge or waiting for the New Year? Why not try one of the festive Parkruns which are always a great excuse to break out the fancy dress! Take photos and share your stories. Stay safe out there and remember that whatever you do, it’s meant to be fun.
Article written by Nick Carter GosVegas Running & 545 RunClub Email: cartscartergosvegas@gmail.com
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Home Focus
Perfect underfoot One of the things which can make or break a property is the flooring. So many times it’s easy to refresh the walls and soft furnishings without considering the overall effect this will have on the existing flooring. Let’s face it, whichever flooring you go for, it’s generally a big outlay which is why many of us opt to work with what we have. That’s why choosing something which is timeless and practical is the best option, allowing you to make changes to the rest of the room as it suits you without compromising on the final style. Neutrals, therefore, work really well but consider also the type of space you are covering. If you have a busy, outdoor lifestyle, the last thing you’d want to do is to install a cream carpet throughout ready for dogs and wellyboots to mess it up every time the front door is opened.
for visually marking out space, either for dining areas, hallways or other entrances, whilst defining relaxing areas with softer colours and finishes. Don’t forget that if you have decided to go with a tiled, stone floor, you may wish to include under floor heating. If you already have a concrete floor underneath old carpet you may need to opt for an electric one which can be installed directly over the existing screed, otherwise if you’re in a new-build position you can have a wet system which sits within the screed. This is generally a cheaper option to run but the choice of system will depend on what type of floor you already have. If your floors are cold and you can’t go to the expense of retro-fitting an underfloor system, you could try adding some rugs in key areas. Just be careful to include anti-slip
patches underneath if the rug isn’t overly heavyweight. Keep your rugs clean by hoovering them on both sides - you’ll be amazed how much dust will gather underneath even if you regularly clean them on the top. Every now and then take them outside and give them a good old fashion bash with something flat hanging them over a washing line is a perfect way to do this and you can leave them in the fresh air before bringing them back indoors. Lastly make sure you invest in the right equipment to keep your floors in tip top condition. Get a decent vacuum and steam mop for hard floors which can cope with the type of finish you require and make sure you spot treat any stains as soon as they are noticed to keep your floors looking perfect.
Have a look at the type of footfall each room will get and consider the best type of flooring for the space. You can beautifully blend stone or tiled flooring with softer rugs and carpets, making for a seamless transition throughout your home, as long as you stick to a similar colour palette. In fact, breaking up the type of flooring in the house can be useful 29
Consumer Champion JAMES WALKER – “FIGHTING FOR YOUR RIGHTS” The man who helps you resolve your consumer complaints!
BUY NOW, PAY LATER Are shops rebranding credit and debt as What do the new rules say? a lifestyle choice? In the bad old days, you could have been People don’t like the idea of debt. But hit with interest on the full cost of we do like the idea of choice. That’s why the goods you bought, even if you these deals have been rebranded as only had a tenner left to pay! Now, ‘lifestyle’ choices. Ways for you to pay the rules say: that are in your control. They aren’t. Shops can’t charge you interest on Here’s our guide on what to watch out They’re high-interest loans in drag. Don’t · the whole amount borrowed – for. be fooled. Many loans don’t even only the bits outstanding when the mention that they’re a form of credit. It’s What is ‘buy now pay later’ credit? interest-free deal ends. ‘different ways to pay’. · They have to make it much clearer Buy now, pay later is a form of credit What’s the problem with this form of how the deals work. that’s been around for years, also known credit then? · They have to prompt you to let you as ‘shop credit’ or ‘interest-free deals’. It know the interest-free period is was originally invented to allow people The dirty secret with lots of these deals is ending. to buy larger items that they might not this. If you don’t pay off the full debt by have been able to afford otherwise. the time the interest-free period is over, Help, I’m in trouble with debt! an often-hefty dose of interest goes on The idea is you get a long ‘interest-free’ to the remaining sum – making it hard to Firstly, don’t panic. Call the credit period, typically a year or two, where company and ask them what they can do pay back. You should get a warning of you pay no interest. If you pay off the when this will happen, but many people to help you. If they aren’t helpful, make a loan in that time you pay nothing extra. are caught by surprise. It’s also really formal complaint. You can also go to the But if you don’t, higher interest kicks in. hard to know when the interest-free financial ombudsman – a free alternative to the courts – if the firm doesn’t play period ends when you’ve bought So what’s changed? ball. multiple items from the same shop.
Remember those interest-free deals you used to get to buy a sofa or new kitchen? Well buy now, pay later credit is back with a vengeance. It’s had a makeover and you might not even know you’re entering in to a credit agreement with huge interest.
Buy now, pay later deals have been around for years. In fact they’re so old I remember using them when I was younger!
They work on a rather clever bit of psychology. We all think that we can beat the system by paying off the goods in the interest-free period. But lots can go wrong in life on the way and many, many people end up paying the higher interest. This often appears with little to no warning. Shops and credit providers know our intentions are good but we often fail to pay in time and therefore make a hefty profit off these deals.
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How are shops avoiding the small print? Make sure you complain to the shop too. Make your voice heard if you feel you’ve Credit is regulated by the Financial been treated unfairly or misled. Conduct Authority, who have introduced tough new rules. But shops aren’t exactly You can find out more about your rights making their obligations clear, so make or make a complaint using Resolver for sure you always find out: free at www.resolver.co.uk. Or view our Twitter page @WalkerResolver · When you have to pay for goods to @resolvercouk or go to facebook.com/ avoid interest. resolvercouk · How the shop notifies you that the interest will begin – and when. · And if the interest will apply on the full amount you borrowed.
SOLENT FLOORING
Sit back and relax - we come to you! or alternatively visit our showroom CARPETS, VINYLS, LAMINATES, & REAL WOOD ALL SUPPLIED & PROFESSIONALLY FITTED. OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE. FULLY INSURED. DIRECT EMPLOYED FITTERS
Showroom now open!! Monday-Friday 9am-2pm If you wish to visit our showroom between the hours of 2pm-5pm Mon-Fri or on a Saturday morning please call to make an appointment.
We supply Top Quality Artificial Grass
‘Solent Twist Promotion’
Stain Free Heavy Domestic Twist with a 7 Year wear warranty, 12 colours, Creams, Browns, Greys. 3m x 4m £240 4m x 4m £320 5m x 4m £395 Price Examples including VAT
To include:- Fitting, 10mm underlay, uplift and disposal of old flooring, Grippers, Door bars, Doors eased, help to move furniture, we even hoover up. The full traditional service
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Call today - 0239 876700 or 0800 9177 553 Jason: 07770 411734 Vicky@solentflooring.co.uk www.solent-flooring.co.uk
Unit C1, Heritage Business Park, Heritage Way, Gosport, PO12 4BG Established 25 years. Company Reg 5813534.
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