April 2015 | Issue 4 | Priceless
Russell GRANT
What’s in store in April?
neighbourhood watch - metal thieves!
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THIS MONTH..
14 h, healt , y t i un omm nd more c , s a pe Reci operties r p
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FOOD AND DRINK 14
Brown butter and beer….
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CHILDREN, PETS & EDUCATION 15
Is there a dog in this book?
...braised kale with cranberries and pecans. Don’t be put off - this is an incredibly healthy dish that will pack you full of goodness as well as a great taste to boot!
A lovely book review from the Gosport Discovery Centre.
HOUSE AND GARDENS
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Plant of the month
Luscious lavender …. Just the colour is good enough to eat!
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Planning Matters
Check out this months round up of planning applications in and around Gosport.
HEALTH, BEAUTY & LIFESTYLE Absolute Running
Check out this months instalment from the boys at the Shoe - and get involved!
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL 20
Pay Less to get More
Cheaper holidays perhaps if you follow Martin’s advice in this monthly article.
MOTORING
COMMUNITY
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New Nissan Qashqai
Tim takes this Japanese model out for a spin and it looks like he was pretty sold on it. Read on to find out why…
Gosport Gang Show
A feast for the eyes from our local youngsters book your tickets now!
april issue 2015
BVD Publishing 01329 630630
Joint Editors Coralie Todd & Sean Middleton editor@bigvoicedirectories.co.uk
Advertising Sales sales@bigvoicedirectories.co.uk
Regular Contributors Martin Lewis, Rob Wood, Tim Barnes-Clay, Anne Wilson
Distribution This Big Voice Bigazine is delivered to residents and businesses in Gosport, Elson and surrounding areas. For distribution enquiries please give us a call and speak to Sean. Four other editions are also published in Alverstoke, Stubbington & Hill Head, Lee on Solent and Whiteley, Titchfield Park and Burridge. 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 BVD Publishing.
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Smalalltalk Sm ltalk
hen life gets hard and you feel all alone...
… remember you mean the world to somebody and that somebody calls you MUM”
It’s true isn’t it (and also for all the Daddies out there too) that even when you’re having the worst of days, to have a little warm hand squeeze yours, or having your recycling given back to you at the end of a school day reshaped into a ‘train’, warms the cockles of your heart. The joy of being a parent can melt away any of life's daily stresses (although I’m sure we’d all argue that the little blighters normally just add to it a lot of the time!) and that a grin from your cheeky monster is as good as any glass of merlot. Well Ok, maybe not that good but you know what I mean ha, ha! So with mother’s day not far away let them pamper you by all means but have a think of something you can all do together. Why not go for a stomp down to Stokes Bau and collect some pretty shells, or go a little further afield to Hundred Acre woods and make a den. It’s nice to escape now and then, and you never know, you may not have to clean their muddy boots when you get back. Well after all, that’s what Mother’s Day is for, right?! Much love until next month Coralie and Sean x
Advertise with us! Reliably delivered by our local teams, reaching over 25000 homes each issue, five editions of Big Voice provide exceptional monthly coverage of our area every single month. Call our friendly team now on 01329 630630, jump on our website and have a chat or link up with us on Facebook. Visit our Facebook page Big Voice Directories
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Solent Springs Adventure Golf
OPEN FOR SPRING! First weekend 14th March
Have a great time on beautiful Stokes Bay. Solent Springs Adventure Golf is open and fully refurbished! Weather permitting we are open every weekend from 10:30 until 18:00ish. We are open throughout the school holidays. Tennis courts are also available. Child (up to 15) = £3, Students/OAP = £4, Adults = £5 Family (2 adults/ 2 kids) = £14 Please call 07973 309770 to check we are open. Stokes Bay Road, PO12 2QT
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Lavender
Belonging to the mint family, lavender is a popular choice in many gardens as it provides a beautiful scent and splash of colour to many borders and rockeries alike. Many gardeners can’t resist the romance of lavender - blowing gently in the breeze or cut stems in vases make for a pretty picture.
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Lavenders will tolerate many growing conditions and thrives well in warm, welldrained soil and if you can encourage a chalky soil you’ll enhance the scent of the plant. Make sure you give them a good handful of compost when first planted and lots of water.
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P lanning Matters A monthly round up of planning applications submitted since 1 March 2014 GOSPORT COUNCIL REF
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LOCATION
PROPOSAL
STATUS
15/00042/ FULL
1A Exmouth Road Gosport Hampshire PO12 4EX
Erection of two storey rear extension and insertion of first floor window to west elevation
Pending Consideration
15/00033/ FULL
51 Sedgeley Grove Gosport Hampshire PO12 4NL
Erection of single storey rear extension
Pending Consideration
15/00058/ FULL
12 Newport Road Gosport Hampshire PO12 3LW
Erection of rear conservatory
Pending Consideration
15/00054/ HHGDO
154 Albemarle Avenue Gpdo part 1 notification - erection Pending Consideration Gosport Hampshire PO12 4HY of single storey rear extension depth of 6.0 metres maximum height of 3.8 metres height of eaves 3.0 metres
15/00060/ FULL
Planet Ice Gosport Leisure Park Forest Way Gosport Hampshire PO13 0ZX
Installation of solar pv panels on south roof slope
Pending Consideration
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Naturally good.. Brown butter and beer braised kale with cranberries and pecans
Ingredients for 4 2 bunches of kale 2 tbsp. unsalted butter 120ml beer of your choice 60ml chicken stock 1tbsp. reduced sugar dried cranberries (this is optional) 3 tbsp. roasted chopped pecans Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
I absolutely love kale. It’s packed with flavour and nutrients and it’s incredibly quick and easy to cook. Braising kale in beer and brown butter gives the finished dish a really nice nutty flavor and the quick method of cooking ensures that the kale retains its vibrant green colour.
1. First prepare the kale by washing it and then cutting out the stem. It is important to cut out the center stem because it can be tough and chewy. Once you have removed the stems, quickly shred the kale by rolling up the leaves into a cylinder and roughly slicing them. Set to one side. 2. In a large frying pan or sauté pan place two tablespoons of butter and cook on a medium heat until starting to turn a light brown colour. At this stage quickly add the beer and chicken stock and turn up the heat to high. Bring to the boil and then add the kale. 3. Cook the kale for approximately 3 minutes until most of the moisture has evaporated and the kale is nicely glazed. Add the chopped pecans and seasoning to taste. Transfer to a serving platter and sprinkle with the dried cranberries.
Chef’s tip: Make sure that the liquid is boiling and the heat is on high before adding the kale, you don’t want to slow cook it because it can lose its vibrant green color if it is stewed for too long. Ryan Turner, real food and low-carb chef - www.thefoodbible.com
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Out and about GOSPORT ART CLUB ANNUAL EXHIBITION
At the Explosion Museum 9th - 12th April. Free admission. 10am - 5pm Thursday - Saturday 10am - 4pm Sunday Local Artist’s Exhibiting original work. Different subjects and mediums. Something for everyone.
HOT TOPIC! AT THE ELSON LIBRARY
136 Chantry Road, Elson, Gosport Friday 24th April 10am - 11am Come along to our coffee morning and listen to a guest speaker at the same time. This month’s guest speaker is Carolyn Barber, who will talk about the Seven Good Habits for Good Mental Health. Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee for just 20p. Free - no need to book, just come along.
SCRAP HAPPY QUILTERS
We meet the 2nd Tuesday of the month at Brodrick Hall, Clayhall Road, Gosport PO12 3BY from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. March speaker Julia Gahagan on miniatures. Contact Alison on 01329 663087. Coach trips & workshops also arranged. A sewing evening takes place 4th Tuesday of the month 7.30pm to 9.30pm same venue, contact Joan 02392 588728.
Book Review
Is there a dog in this book?
by Viviane Schwarz This is great fun! Tiny, Moonpie and Andre are scared of dogs so when they smell something funny – what can it be? It’s not a dog is it? Everyone knows that dogs are yappy, smelly and noisy and that they hate cats! So, they all try and hide from him - behind the couch, under the piano, in the wardrobe - but when the little doggy finally finds them, well, they simply can't get enough of him! He is really very soft and they just want to cuddle and play with him. Children will love the humour and the flaps and pop ups. The illustrations are quirky but quite simple in layout and full of fun.
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Auto biographies New Nissan Qashqai most sales, but all-wheel drive is engine packs a punch, offering available too. sharper acceleration and greater flexibility than the The Qashqai's exterior looks first generation Qashqai’s 1.6modern and there’s a better litre unit. quality feel to the cabin - perfect for many years of hardcore Despite its modest size, the family use. The range-topping engine’s low weight and more Tekna model features an array fuel-efficient operation also of technologies that highlight mean it’s cleaner and more the Japanese motor economical than the model it manufacturer’s lead in the replaces. The 1.2 engine emits crossover market. just 129g/km of CO₂ (15g/km less than the outgoing 1.6But hang on, what is a crossover litre petrol unit), and has an vehicle? Well, it’s a motor built average fuel consumption on a car platform, combining figure of 50.4mpg. FAST FACTS PROS ‘N’ CONS characters of a Sport Utility Safety √ Vehicle (SUV) with elements Being a family car, you’d Max speed: 115mph from an estate or a hatchback. expect safety to be a priority Economy √ 0-62 mph: 10.9 secs The crossover mixes SUV design for the Qashqai – and you’d Driving Position √ Combined mpg: 50.4 cues such as tall interior be right. The Nissan features a host Engine: 1197cc 4 cylinder 16 valve Kit √ packaging, lofty seating, high of innovative safety features which petrol turbo centre of gravity and elevated helped it confidently pass all Euro Space √ Max. power (bhp): 113 at 4500 rpm ground-clearance with car-like NCAP's tests to record the maximum Individuality X Max. torque (Ib/ft): 140 at 2000 handling and good fuel five-star rating. rpm economy. CO2: 129g/km Engineered to offer the best possible Price: £23,800 on the road Anyway, back to the Tekna trim levels of protection for children, the Qashqai under review. The fresh Qashqai particularly shone in Nissan benefits from darkness the Child Occupant tests. Based on The latest Nissan Qashqai, which piercing Bi-LED headlamps and it readings from the dummies used in went on sale in January 2014, is excels when it comes to kit. The car tests, the Qashqai scored maximum available in four time-honoured comes equipped with 19-inch alloy points for its protection of an 18grades: Visia, Acenta, Acenta wheels, roof rails, part-leather seats, month old infant. Premium and Tekna. a large glass roof, heated seats, and On that basis alone, I’m sold on the front and rear parking sensors. car – but then I do have an 18 month The model tested here comes in There’s also a seven-inch old and two other small children to flagship Tekna trim. But we’ll come touchscreen display, DAB digital take to school. I can definitely see to that in a bit. radio, and smartphone connectivity. the appeal – and so, it seems, do other parents. Firstly, here’s some background. The Qashqai is available with a petrol or diesel engine; the review Yep, buy this car and your offspring The second generation, family car came with turbocharged petrol will be safe from harm – even if it oriented car is now longer, lower power. But it turns out that the means you lose all individuality and wider, giving it a more imposing Nissan doesn’t need anything huge when you merge into the vast sea of stance while maintaining a raised under the bonnet to deliver a firstother Nissan Qashqais parked driving position. The vehicle under rate drive. outside the school gates. review is front-wheel drive, the set- Motoring through a six-speed up which Nissan says will account for manual transmission, the 1.2-litre
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By Tim Barnes-Clay, Motoring Writer
www.carwriteups.co.uk
@carwriteups
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Pay Less to get More
Martin Lewis @MoneySavingExpert
These cold dark days of winter leave many dreaming of summer. Yet don’t let travel lust destroy your wallet. Most people book holidays in the early months of the year, so if you’re jet set on tripping abroad this year, here’s my top tips on how to use the web to pay less to get more. Slash flight costs using the RIGHT comparison. Unlike package holidays with scheduled flights, leaving it until the last minute means prices rocket. So make sure you’re booking in advance and use the right site for the job. - Cheapest price on normal flights: Here, just use a flight comparison site. I like www.kayak.co.uk (for gizmos), www.skyscanner.net (for ease), and www.travelsupermarket.com (for breadth). - Check cheap charter flights comparisons too: If you’re flying to a traditional package holiday destination, like Majorca, you should also check for spare capacity being sold on tour operators' own flights. The comparisons that include these ‘charter flights’ are www.travelsupermarket.com, www.avro.co.uk and www.flightsdirect.com.
- The credit card flight freebie trick. You can get a 'free' Flybe flight anywhere or a BA European flight (you pay taxes) just by signing up to a fee-free credit card, and doing normal spending on it. For a full list of freebies see www.mse.me/ccfreebies.
make holidays, travel agents sell them. So one operator's holiday may be on sale at many travel agents - the aim is to find who'll sell it cheapest. Either scan for discounts, or often more lucratively, but more time consuming, is to haggle.
Cut the price for your hotel room. Forget the star system. There's no world standard and it's often about facilities, not quality. To find the hotel you want to stay at read reviews on the ubiquitous www.tripadvisor.co.uk, but always ignore the best and worst 10%. Check comparison sites, both www.trivago.co.uk and www.travelsupermarket.com allow you to see who's selling your hotel room for less.
To do this first find the trip you want, then write down all details, then take it to the travel agents who advertise on places like www.teletext.co.uk to see if they will sell you the same holiday for less. Go to a few to find the best price, but to be fair if one has spent a lot of time helping you, always give them the last chance to match it.
Then also be aware there are commonly promo codes available for the big hotel booking sites which can cut your costs by a further 15% for a full list of current ones see www.mse.me/hotelsales. Tricks to uncover 5-star hotels at 3-star prices. If you've time to play and want the really big discounts, then there are two naughty (but legal) routes.
- Uncover secret hotels. www.lastminute.com sells secret - Find the perfect time to book: Use the Flight hotels at big discounts, where you know the Insight tab on comparison site star rating, description and rough location, www.momondo.co.uk, eg, on average 59 but aren't told the name till you've paid. Yet days ahead is the perfect time to book, but it by cutting and pasting key words into google varies by destination, so worth a check. then matching up the ‘ratings’ you can uncover them before you book – full step by Flight booking - the clever stuff to cut costs. step in www.mse.me/secrethotels. Once you've found the cheapest price via a comparison, if you want to push harder, you - HUGE discounts with the Priceline bidding need to get clever. loophole. www.priceline.com is a huge US booking site (it works for some European - Book the wrong date trick. Easyjet's cities too). The trick is fiddly, but Flexifares let you switch dates by a few devastatingly lucrative as forumite weeks without paying more. So bag cheap 5*dealhunter found: "Got the 5* term-time flights, then swap for your chosen Renaissance Barcelona Hotel for £59 a night school holiday dates. One of my users saved for 3 nights instead of £310 - a saving of £700 on her family's break, yet there are 81%." If you’ve got 30 minutes to try it see pros and cons. Full step-by-step in my instructions at www.mse.me/priceline. www.mse.me/easyjet. Package holidays can undercut DIY web bookings... especially for 7, 10 or 14 days in a - The codeshare trick. Sometimes two or traditional resort like Majorca, Mykonos or more airlines sell the same flights and Malia (and some that don't start with an booking via one partner is cheaper, eg, a M). In brief... United flight from Birmingham to New York can be cheaper via Lufthansa. When to book? Massive savings are possible in the late market, where deals are done - Ethnic travel agents trick. If you're going within eight weeks of travel, yet of course somewhere with a big UK ethnic or there's restricted choice and you may need immigrant community, check out niche to be flexible. So if you need special facilities travel agents catering to them. Eg, London's (eg, for families) you need to book now and Shepherd's Bush has some Caribbean try to cut prices down. specialists, or the Jewish Chronicle advertises cheap flights to Israel. How to cut prices? Remember tour operators
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How to get package holiday protection. Package holidays have long been protected under the ATOL scheme, so if something goes wrong you get your money back (or help coming home). Yet book a flight plus separate hotel or car hire together (or within 24 hours) from the same travel (not airline) website, and since 2012 you've also got ATOL protection, just like with a package. So check if it's not much more expensive compared to booking the cheapest flight and hotel separately. Also bear in mind www.expedia.co.uk, www.travelocity.co.uk, www.ebookers.com and www.lastminute.com often give extra discounts for flights and hotels booked together.
P uzzle Answers Answers
HONEYCOMB
April 2015
KIDS PAGE CROSSWORD
WORDSEARCH
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WHAT’S ON AT THE DISCOVERY CENTRE, GOSPORT High Street, Gosport, PO12 1BT
Discovery Centre 9am to 7pm except: Saturday:9am to 5pm Sunday: closed
Gosport Gallery 26
10am to 5pm Sunday: closed. Closed on public holidays
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ABSOLUTE RUNNING
the number of swimmers grew to on the Solent to have its very over 130. More of that in a later own parkrun which will launch soon at Marine Parade following edition. a hugely successful trial last The point is, whatever your sport, month. Check out parkrun UK's website and have a go. there is something for you in Gosport. If you belong to a group Our own attempt to get the yoof or team and want to tell us, we involved is by way of our award and Big Voice will compile a directory of activities and how to winning Gosport's Golden Mile which takes place every summer Keeping to a sporting theme, you join. at Stokes Bay seafront. It is a chip only have to look at how our timed Mile long dash along the At Absolute Running, our main community is bursting at the focus not surprisingly, is running traffic free promenade sponsored seams with sporting success, by Bayside Cabin and local from promotion winning Gosport and we want to see as many of businesses with great cash prizes. you having a go as possible but Borough FC to thriving rugby, hockey, netball and hockey clubs particularly the youngsters. Such was the success of our first to name a few. race in 2013, we introduced our The new national running Junior Golden Mile the following sensation 'parkrun UK' has Absolute Running started year and 250 boys and girls under promoting open water swimming encouraged so many families to the age of 15 competed for at Stokes Bay two summers ago. have a go in a fun, free and friendly environment and we are individual and school team prizes We simply advertised the fact with a local lady putting up ÂŁ300 delighted that we could help that we would keep a watchful cash to the winning school. eye on swimmers with our small volunteers put the building flotilla of volunteer kayakers and blocks in place for Gosport & Lee
At Absolute Running we are proud of our town. In fact, we love it. There is so much good stuff going on that doesn't get heralded and sometimes our local community believes some of the negative comments bandied about by those not lucky enough to live in GosVegas.
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This year, we want to see even more local schools challenging for the Absolute Running Inter School Challenge Cup so why not get involved? One local lady who teaches at Redlands Junior School has persuaded over 52 pupils and their families to sign up. Amazing! Wave 105 Radio will be present this year with DJ and local chap Rick Jackson running himself and we've also a few international athletes from Kenya looking to try and break our course record which currently stands at 4
minutes & 16 seconds.
Running in Stoke Road and the kettle is usually on so don't be More exciting still, we are hoping shy, come and say 'Hi'. to stage the first ever Wheelchair Golden Mile along Stokes Bay Follow the shoe...Because we Road with support coming from love running 2. none other than GB Paralympian Nick Carter. Founder/Director / David Weir and his racing Marketing & Outside events academy. manager. Absolute Running Ltd So you see, it all happens in our www.absolute-running.co.uk town. Lots of people doing lots of amazing things. We believe that it's all about community and getting involved. Let us and Big Voice know what you do and let us all help. The door is always open at Absolute
ateve ver r you do...Follo do...Follow w the the shoe. shoe. Whate Across
1 Providing employees (8) 5 Hunting expedition (6) 9 An orientation or philosophy (8) 10 What movies are projected onto (6) 12 One who studies the past (9) 13 Avoid (5) 14 Highly excited (4) 16 Left out (7) 19 Actress/singer Judy _______ (7) 21 Crimp or bend (4) 24 Memos (5) 25 Unshaken (9) 27 In a crooked line (6) 28 Trachea (8) 29 Not dots (6) 30 Contracts to lease transportation (8)
Crossword
Down
1 A metalshop (6) 2 Discrimination against the elderly (6) 3 A printed leaf or page (5) 4 Shrewish (7) 6 Accumulation (9) 7 Sufficient (8) 8 Insinuation (8) 11 Pearly-shelled mussel (4) 15 Crystal (9) 17 Suffered pain or anguish (8) 18 People who are mentored (8) 20 Beat thoroughly in a competition (4) 21 A Jewish prayer of mourning (7) 22 Pace (6) 23 Bovine mammary glands (6) 26 Beneath (5)
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