The Bristol Six + Eight Magazine

The Bristol Six + Eight Magazine

BS6+8

Issue 59 - November 2019 12,000 copies delivered free across Redland, Cotham, Kingsdown, Westbury Park and north Clifton

In this month’s issue - mental health at work (page 7), supper at Aqua (page 17), prize wordsearch (page 40), win tickets to the Zoo to meet Santa (page 51), the precursors to cash (page 35) plus all the regular stuff and listings 1

You may be concerned that increasingly, solicitors’ practices are becoming ‘law firms’ with a solicitor meeting the client, taking on a matter and then supervising paralegals and legal executives to carry out the work. Corfield Solicitors does not operate in this way; we simply offer three fully qualified solicitors, personally dealing with your matter from start to finish.

Deciding to leave his city centre firm, Jonathan Corfield established his own practice in Sneyd Park in 2009 where he and his wife have lived for many years and raised their family. Charles Corfield joined the practice later that year after graduating from Bristol University with a Masters in Law and both were later joined by Stuart Corfield when he also qualified as a solicitor.

Our fees are set in order to make a living rather than a fortune. No ‘extra costs’ are added for home visits.

No additional ‘out of hours’ charges are made.

Fixed Fee Conveyancing House sale or purchase Flat sale or purchase

£1,000 £1,000

Our fixed fees for conveyancing do not apply to new build or off plan purchases, or properties priced in excess of £900,000.

Wills

Single Will Joint (Mirror) Wills

£195 £295

Probate

Charged at usual hourly rate with no additional percentage of the value of the estate added.

No extra charge for home visits or evening appointments 2

Lasting Powers of Attorney

One type of Both types of LPA LPA Individual £400 £600 Couple £600 £900

Hourly Rate

For work carried out on a timed basis, our hourly rate for all three solicitors is £195. All prices exclusive of VAT.

Residential Conveyancing & Property Issues • • • • •

Purchase & Sale Freehold & Leasehold Remortgage Retirement property purchase Probate property sale

Commercial Property

• Purchase, Sale & Lease • Renewal, variation or surrender of leases • Rent Deposit Deeds & Rent Reviews • Licences to Assign • Local Authority planning agreements • Preparation of auction documentation • Options, conditional sales and pre-emption

Services for the Elderly and Carers

• Home visiting • Nursing home & hospital visiting • Residential, Nursing care provision & funding issues • Retirement property purchase • Wills & Powers of Attorney

Wills Probate and Trusts • • • •

Joint & Single Wills Codicils & updates Provision of Executor services Immediate assistance when a loved one has died • Probate & Administration • Trust administration assistance • Declaration of Trust

Powers of Attorney

• Lasting Powers of Attorney • Registration of Enduring Powers of Attorney • General Powers of Attorney • Appointment of a Court of Protection deputy

Telephone:

0117 968 8890 Office: 2 The Avenue, Sneyd Park, Bristol, BS9 1PA

Email: info@corfieldsolicitors.com

Or visit our website: www.corfieldsolicitors.com

Honest, down to earth fixed fees and hourly rate 3

The Editors Small Piece Hello all, I hope this small piece finds you in good spirits. I am, if a little short of sleep. The view out of the office window as I type this is pitch black - it is 2am and it’s the pre-print night shift. The lookout from here was very different eight hours ago though, as the sun set Heather’s Pregnancy and Post-Natal Massage Heather’s Sports Massage

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And this was very different from the view eight hours before that, when the first autumn fog arrived and the view up Park Street as I drove up looked like this (the Wills Memorial is still there) -

What will it look like in another eight hours? To be honest I don’t care - I’ll be unconscious under the duvet, comfortable in the knowledge that another print deadline has been met. Just.

Have a great month. Cheers, Andy 07845 986650 / 0117 259 1964 / 8 Sandyleaze, WoT, BS9 3PY, andy@bcmagazines.co.uk www.bcmagazines.co.uk 4

Quarterly Specialist Sale

Thursday 14th November at 10.30am

On view Wednesday 13th November 10am - 6.30pm Catalogue online from 1st November at www.clevedon-salerooms.com

Vintage ar�sts materials sign

Millennium cut diamond ring

£200 - £300

£2,000 - £3,000

Gentleman’s 18ct Rolex Oyster perpetual

£4,000 - £6,000

Ferdinard Preiss – Skater

Pair of Famille Rose vases

£5,000 - £7,000

£1,000 - £1,500

Free Valuation Days at the Salerooms 18th & 19th November 9.30am - 1pm & 2pm - 5pm Alterna�vely email images to info@csrauc�ons.com for a free es�mate

Every lot in every sale illustrated and sold with live internet bidding Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers The Auction Centre, Kenn Road, Clevedon, Bristol, BS21 6TT Tel: 0117 325 6789

clevedon-salerooms.com 5

Useful Information Contact Numbers

of the year.

Gas Emergencies 0800 111 999 Electricity Emergencies 0800 365 900 Water Emergencies 0845 702 3797 Avon & Somerset Police Non-Emergencies 101 (new no.)

Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 Southmead Hospital 0117 950 5050 Bristol Royal Infirmary 0117 923 0000 Bristol Children’s Hospital 0117 342 8460 NHS non-emergency 111 Bristol Blood Donation 0117 988 2040 The Samaritans 08457 909090 Alcoholics Anonymous 0845 76975 55 ChildLine 0800 11 11 National Rail Enquiries 08457 484950 Telephone Pref Service 0845 070 0707 Mailing Pref Service 0845 703 4599 West of England Care & Repair - help, advice & info 0300 323 0700

Bristol City Council The Council website offers residents information about BCC services including council tax, bins & recycling, schools, leisure, business, streets and parking. Visit www. bristol.gov.uk or contact the General Enquiries switchboard on 0117 922 2000.

Trains to / From Temple Meads Trains depart from Redland Station to Temple Meads at the following times Monday -Friday 0628, 0645, 0744, 0819, 0852, 0932, 1019, 1052, 1133, 1219, 1251, 1333, 1419, 1451, 1534, 1619, 1650, 1732, 1819, 1914, 1948, 2019, 2154, 2235, 2319

Postal Services

Saturday

Cotham Pharmacy & Post Office 9 - 6 Monday to Friday 9 - 1 Saturday

0650, 0733, 0819, 0850, 0932, 1019, 1051, 1134, 1219, 1250, 1334, 1419, 1451, 1534, 1619, 1650, 1734, 1819, 1931, 2012, 2154, 2234, 2319

Whiteladies Rd Post Office 9 - 5.30 Monday to Friday, 9 - 13.00 Saturday

Sunday

Gloucester Rd Post Office 9 - 5.30 Monday to Saturday

1011, 1107, 1207, 1307, 1407, 1507, 1607, 1710, 1809, 1837

Late Post - there is a late post box at the main Post Office sorting depot on the A38 at Filton.

Currently the late post is at 7pm.

Trains depart from Bristol Temple Meads to Redland at the following times -

Local Libraries

Monday - Friday

Redland - tel. 903 8549 Mon closed, Tues 11-5, Weds 11-7, Thurs-Sat 11-5

0514, 0548, 0630, 0703, 0803, 0836, 0916, 1003, 1034, 1116, 1203, 1234, 1316, 1403, 1434, 1516, 1603, 1635, 1713, 1803, 1847, 1933, 2034, 2137, 2216

Henleaze - tel 0117 903 8541 Mon-Tues 11-5, Weds 11-7, Thurs 11-5, Fri 1-7, Sat 10-5

Saturday

0603, 0634, 0716, 0803, 0834, 0916, 1003, 1034, 1116, 1203, 1234, 1316, 1403, 1434, 1516, 1603, 1634, 1716, 1803, 1903, 2034, The Household Waste and Recycling Centre on 2140, 2216

Waste & Recycling

Kingsweston Lane, Avonmouth for pretty much everything. Due to redevelopment and upgrade Sunday work the Avonmouth centre is now open to 0908, 1023, 1123, 1223, 1323, 1423, 1523, domestic visitors on Fridays, Saturdays and 1623, 1652, 1753 Sundays only, from 8am to 4.15pm until the end 6

The message behind Jonathan’s Voice “It’s interesting when an advertiser who is “a little different” asks to feature in the magazine - especially when they come out of the blue.

Over the thirteen years I’ve been publishing there have been many, and sometimes they come with an interesting back story. So when David Brown contacted me a few months ago wanting to advertise the charity “Jonathan’s Voice” in the magazine my interest was raised, to discover what the organisation was all about, and what the local link to Bristol was. To find out more I contacted the charity founders Val and Graham McCartney up in Nottinghamshire, and learned more about their poignant story, their work and crucially their very important message.

friends is that, quite possibly, the events were as sudden and unexpected for Jonathan too.

Val and Graham told me of their sadness and their concern at how very quickly their son must have been overwhelmed by the emotions that led him to take the action he did. Jonathan very quickly went from, outwardly at least, living life to the full to finding himself unable to cope.

Tragically the story of such a rapid and sometimes totally unexpected switch, from being in control of, to being scarily out of control of, your emotions, seems increasingly commonplace. All too many recent national news stories testify to this.

Closer to home, personal experience has taught me that a dark cloud of despair can blow in from nowhere, with life-changing consequences. It has also taught me the huge importance of being able to communicate feelings, talk about fears and concerns to people who understand. Val and Graham are understandably keen to get this message out.

Jonathan McCartney, Val and Graham’s son, lived in Bristol and worked in the centre of town for Haseltine Lake Kempner, a firm of European patent and trade mark attorneys - alongside David Brown. Jonathan lived life to the full, was successful at his work, was passionate about his football, being a Nottingham Forest season ticket holder, and was both loved and loving. In 2017 at the age of 35 he took his own life.

Tragedy and adversity can often be the creators of understanding, the sharers of wisdom, the bringers of positivity. Clearly Val and Graham are determined that this will be the case, and the establishment of Jonathan’s Voice is the tangible result of their desire to ensure that something positive will come from Jonathan’s death. “Our purpose now is to work with organisations and individuals to promote mental well-being in the workplace and beyond. Through the work of everyone involved with the charity our aim is to reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues, and to assist organisations in developing the ways and means they can to better support their staff and create better mental health practices in their workplaces.”

Bereavement is undoubtedly hard, and in circumstances like this the sudden nature of a death makes it all the more so for everyone affected. Jonathan’s suicide came out of the blue to everyone who knew him. What I suspect is more frightening for his family and

As so many small charities do, the team behind Jonathan’s Voice are trying to make changes, raise awareness and provide help - while being totally reliant on the kind 7

The message behind Jonathan’s Voice donations and voluntary support of the organizations, groups, and individuals they have managed to foster links with.

Val and Graham also tell me that they are working with other charities and organizations who broadly share their objectives. In particular, noting Jonathan’s profession, they are working in partnership with IP (Intellectual Property) Inclusive - an initiative which brings people together from across the IP sector to promote and improve equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing within the IP community.

An example of this is through their research into developing good practice on mental health care, work place wellbeing and suicide prevention, and then sharing it with relevant workplaces. Awareness of the benefit of training of Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA) is growing, and their role in promoting mental wellbeing in the workplace is slowly becoming recognised. With the support of Jonathan’s Voice, Haseltine Lake Kempner initially trained 24 MHFA’s across their offices, and through the network of contacts the charity has developed, other companies are being encouraged to do the same. Interested organizations can contact Jonathan’s Voice to access the bank of resources they are creating - awareness literature, postcards and posters and presentation materials and advice.

Jonathan’s love of football has also provided an opportunity to share the “It’s OK not to be OK” message in relation to mental health, with the Nottingham Forest Community Trust launching their “It’s Tricky To Talk” initiative and opening their doors to a dropin gathering for people living with mental health issues or generally struggling with life.

The issue of our national mental health - men, women and our children - is one that fills an ever increasing amount of column inches in

It’s ok not to be ok.

You’re not alone.

Too many people are afraid to talk about their mental health. Around one in six people in the past week will have experienced a common mental health problem.

Connect to others • listen well • develop a support network • volunteer

Talk to someone

Take care of yourself

• a friend • a colleague • a relative • your GP

• be active • eat well • prioritise sleep • keep learning

Please support us We empower individuals to speak up, promote well-being in the workplace and reduce the stigma of mental health.

www.jonathansvoice.org.uk

@jonathans_voice

Registered charity 1180424

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The message behind Jonathan’s Voice The Samaritans - telephone 116 123. The Samaritans are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This number is FREE to call and you don’t have to be suicidal.

the printed press and airtime on television and radio. In part that is, of course, sad and worrying, as problems seem to becoming more widespread and pervasive. However there is encouragement to be gained in that that the shutters are coming up, the social stigmas are being successfully challenged and, as Val and Graham McCartney and others like them are keen to emphasise, it is important to talk - and it is OK to admit you are not OK. In our workplaces things will continue to change - from top down as senior managers become more aware of the necessity and duty to promote a culture of office wellbeing and positive support to staff, and from bottom up as more people feel open to voice their issues, talk about their concerns and share their stories.

Sane - SANE provides emotional support and information to anyone affected by mental illness, including families, friends and carers.

The SANEline is available on 0300 304 7000 from 4.30pm to 10.30pm every evening.

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) - for men. Call 0800 58 58 58 – 5pm to midnight every day.

Papyrus – Prevention of Young Suicide. For people under 35 – Call 0800 068 41 41 – 9am – 10pm weekdays, 2pm – 10pm weekends, 2pm – 10pm bank holidays

Graham and Val list a number of organisations on the Jonathan’s Voice website who exist to help those affected by mental health issues.

If you would like to contact Val or Graham the email is info@jonathansvoice.org.uk

A big thanks you from Penny Brohn UK

of street drumming performed by the talented Batala Bristol. At the National Centre walkers were greeted with an Autumn Fayre offering refreshments, delicious food, beautiful crafts and entertainment.

Sophie Thomas, Community Fundraising Officer at Penny Brohn UK said: “We were thrilled to have so many walkers take part in this year’s Stomp. Despite the soggy start spirits were high and Stompers created a purple spectacle across the city. A huge thank you to everyone who took part and supported the event including our wonderful volunteers who helped make the event a big success.”

Hundreds of walkers braved the rain last month for the charity Stomp in aid of leading cancer charity, Penny Brohn UK. Over 420 children, adults and dogs donned the charity’s purple t-shirts and walked the six-mile route to support people living with cancer. The event has already raised an amazing £28,000 with more sponsorship money on its way. The family friendly event saw walkers gather in Anchor Square in Bristol before following the towpath alongside the Avon Gorge towards Penny Brohn UK’s beautiful National Centre in Pill. The group set off to the motivating sound

Penny Brohn UK recognises that people with cancer need more than medicine to live well with the disease. It is the only charity in the UK to take an integrated whole person approach to cancer support using evidence-based therapies that work alongside medical treatment to achieve the best health and wellbeing.

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Quiz Time - answers on page 60 Geography Knowledge

General Knowledge 1.

The recent World Athletics Championships were held in which country?

2.

In recent television dramas who played a) Ross Poldark, b) Villanelle, and c) Anne Lister / Gentleman Jack?

3.

Name the UK Prime Minister before Harold Wilson became PM for the first time.

4.

5

1.

Name the English counties from their highest points - a) Brown Clee Hill, b) The Cheviot; c) Kinder Scout.

2.

These cities are on the borders of which European countries - a) Basel, b) Teplice, c) Bratislava?

3.

Name the worlds largest non-polar desert.

In 1999 Midland Bank became part of HSBC. What does HSBC stand for?

4.

The Orinoco river flows through which two countries?

EU members - yes or no? a) Luxembourg, b) Cyprus, c) Norway, d) Estonia.

5.

Whch mountain range runs through Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia?

6.

These cities are the capitals of which US states - a) Little Rock, b) Tallahassee, c) Cheyenne?

7.

Which African country was renamed Eswatini in 2018?

8.

These cities are the second largest in which countries - a) Kandahar, b) Limassol, c) Fez.

9.

Where would you find the Montes Spitzbergen mountain range?

6.

Name the sports stars shown below (left to right)

7.

How many calories in a) a standard McVities Jaffa cake, b) a standard McVities Digestive, and c) a standard Tesco Garibaldi biscuit?

8.

Name the holy sites shown below (left to right) .

9.

Give these products their more common name - a) H2O, b) NaCl, c) C12H22O11.

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At what age should children get orthodontic braces?

Braces are used in children to straighten wonky or poorly positioned teeth, improving dental health and function. The smile also looks great once the teeth are straight. We are fortunate in the UK that the NHS provides free braces (orthodontic treatment) if needed for functional reasons.

NHS braces are mostly provided by orthodontists - dentists who have specialised in orthodontics by training full time for an extra three years. To check whether a dentist has the extra qualifications needed to become a specialist, look up their entry on the General Dental Council’s specialist register at www.gdc.org.

Your dentist or orthodontist will be able to tell you if your child meets NHS criteria for brace treatment. If braces are needed mostly for appearance then orthodontic practices can also provide private care. It is estimated that one in three children would benefit from braces to improve their dental health. The number benefiting is even higher if cosmetic needs are included. This means that there are many children wearing braces these days.

Families usually know that orthodontic treatment is an option if their child’s teeth aren’t straight, but don’t know when treatment should be done. Most children have braces when their baby teeth have come out. Otherwise treatment might be needed again when the adult teeth appear.The average age for adult teeth to finish coming through is between 12 and 14 years old. This varies widely.

NHS waiting lists are often 1-2 years long. Your dentist will make sure a referral is made at the right stage if needed. They will also be able to advise you whether there is a reason your child should be seen earlier. Unfortunately, patients cannot go onto the NHS waiting list until they are ready for treatment. Some families choose private treatment so that braces can be fitted sooner, at a more convenient time in their child’s schooling.

There are also extra options for types of brace used, for example tooth-coloured braces.

Please email us if you would like more information or a free chat with Sarah our treatment coordinator:reception@whitetreedental.co.uk

Helen Leach, Specialist Orthodontist,

BDS, FDS RCS, M Orth, MSc

Whitetree Orthodontic Specialist Centre 1-3 North View, Westbury Park, Bristol BS6 7PT 0117 973 9397 www.whitetreedental.co.uk reception@whitetreedental.co.uk

♦ A specialist service ♦ Full range of braces and aligners for adults and children ♦ ‘Invisible’ treatments available ♦ Free smile assessments with one of our trained treatment coordinators ♦ Payment plans to make your new smile affordable ♦ Private appointments available on Saturday mornings 11

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Winter proof tips for seniors

Welcome to the latest edition of Senior Snippets: the monthly advisory column with the older members of our community in mind, brought to you by John Moore, Director of Home Instead Senior Care in North Bristol.

In this instalment, I will be providing you with some self-help tips that will help you to prepare yourself and your home for the winter months.

Preparing for cold weather is better than reacting to it when it arrives, and it’s not too early to start planning for the colder times ahead.

Before winter sets in, check your home can be heated safely. Have your heating system serviced and your chimney swept, or ask your landlord to do this if it’s their responsibility.

Invest in a carbon monoxide detector and locate it according to the instructions. Make sure it conforms to the British Standard EN 50291 and carries a British or European approval mark.

Use thermostat valve controls on radiators to turn the heat on and off room by room. A house can take a while to warm up so consider fitting a timer so the house can be warm for when you return home.

Choose clothes made from wool, cotton, or fleecy synthetic fibres.

Dress in a few light layers as it will keep you warmer than one thick layer.

Purchase a pair of warm boots with a non-slip sole and a warm lining, or wear thermal socks. These boots keep you safe if the ground is slippery and keep your feet warm.

Keep basic food items in the cupboard or freezer in case it’s too cold to go shopping. You could also do your food shopping online and get it delivered to your door.

Write down emergency numbers, such as gas, electricity and water suppliers, plumber, local pharmacy, GP practice, and family members and keep this by your phone.

If you would like to speak to someone at Home Instead, please do get in touch. Similarly, if you have any ideas for a future topic, please call 0117 989 8210 or email John.Moore@HomeInstead.co.uk 14

(continued overleaf)

Consistent, thoughtful care.

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For more information about our service or joining our team please call 0117 989 8210 or visit www.homeinstead.co.uk/bristolnorth We’d love to hear from you!

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and reliefs available to reduce the value of the estate for Inheritance Tax purposes.

THERE’S MORE TO ADMINISTERING AN ESTATE THAN OBTAINING THE GRANT OF PROBATE

Consideration of the Inheritance Tax liability does not end once the Grant of Probate has been issued. If further assets or liabilities come to light or there is any other change in the value of the estate for Inheritance Tax purposes, these may need to be disclosed to HM Revenue and Customs. There may also be additional reliefs to consider.

Brenda Smyth of AMD Solicitors considers the tax implications when dealing with the administration of an estate.

When applying for a Grant of Probate, the Personal Representatives of an estate must complete and submit an Inheritance Tax form giving details of all assets and liabilities of an estate. This may need to include details of lifetime gifts made by the deceased or any interests in trusts which the deceased may have had. Personal Representatives have a duty to make full enquiries to obtain the necessary information to complete the form correctly and failure to do so may result in interest having to be paid on tax paid late or even in tax penalties.

Inheritance Tax is not the only tax to consider when administering an estate. If an asset is sold during the course of the administration of an estate, there may be a Capital Gains Tax liability on the Personal Representatives.

It may be that, with careful planning and depending on the circumstances, it is possible to mitigate or even eliminate this liability.

Any income received by the Personal Representatives in the course of the administration is subject to Income Tax and must be disclosed to HM Revenue and Customs by the Personal Representatives.

Delays with both the tax office and the Probate Registry mean it is even more important to get things right the first time to avoid unnecessary interest or penalties relating to lack of disclosure.

Sometimes beneficiaries may decide to vary the terms of the distribution of the estate and the tax implications of this need to be considered. In some circumstances, this may result in a tax saving or may avoid adverse tax consequences for the person giving up his or her right to benefit from the estate.

Even when the Personal Representatives correctly ascertain and disclose assets and liabilities in the estate, mistakes can still be made, such as not claiming all allowances

Your local award winning law firm

For further advice on the administration of estates, Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and other private client matters, contact Brenda Smyth or one of her colleagues at AMD Solicitors 100 Henleaze Road, Bristol BS9 4JZ. Phone 0117 962 1205, email info@amdsolicitors.com or visit our website www.amdsolicitors.com

Wills Probate Family Property Commercial

Call us: 0117 962 1205 or visit: www.amdsolicitors.com

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Aqua - Whiteladies Road “It was a lifetime ago....”

So we did have starters. Our hosting team for the evening - Caio, Emma and Andras - were on hand to help with anything that got lost in translation, and were friendly and attentive hosts throughout. I went for the slow braised short ribs with chilli jam and spring onion - rib it may have been but there was no bone, just a solid hunk of tender meat in a delicious warm fruity sauce. If it had come with a side of mashed potato it would have been a very acceptable main course. The good lady opted for Cornish mussels with fennel, shallot and marsala.

They were plump little fellas, and although I didn’t sample one they were apparently lush, and were devoured with enthusiasm and much positive murmuring. Unlike a pop concert, where the support band is often something that adds little other than to pad out the evening’s entertainment, starters at Aqua were worthy of a headline slot in their own right.

Have you ever uttered those words when expressing surprise at how much time has passed between events? I did when we visited Aqua last week, for what turned out to be a terrific wedding anniversary meal.

It was a long time since our previous visit, down to their Welshback restaurant - 22nd July 1999 to be precise, not long after it opened its doors for the first time. Indeed it was a full lifetime ago - our daughter’s birth was ten days overdue (she still runs late at most things) and we decided to go for a nice lunch at Aqua down on the waterfront before heading up to St Michael’s for her to be “encouraged” to make an appearance.

Early the following morning she did. So we have fond memories of that first visit to Aqua, and after a memorable night of superb Anglo-Italian food, this time at the Whiteladies Road branch, we now have a second special meal to look back on.

However the main act was still to follow. A good choice of steaks, grills, burgers and pizzas is on offer for people of all dietary persuasion, but we opted for things that we wouldn’t / couldn’t concoct at home. Ruth opted for the rack of lamb with asparagus in a red wine jus, with a side order of peas, leeks and chard in garlic and olive oil. I didn’t get a look in on the lamb - it was a dish just too good to share apparently - but did get to sample the veg, which was a great accompaniment and something I will try in the kitchen Chez Fraser.

We visited on a Thursdsay evening, early enough to bag a prime table in the big picture window to watch Bristolians heading home or back out, and to enjoy the buzz that comes from a happy restaurant as it fills up. Which it soon did, a mix I suspect of regulars keen to repeat the joy of eating at Aqua and newcomers experiencing the difficult choices to be made when facing the menu for the first time.

Ah yes, the menu. A tricky thing to assemble I guess - getting that balance between enough dishes to offer every diner a good choice, and so many that weighing up the options becomes as tricky as steering a bill through Parliament. One ploy Aqua adopt, that as a hearty eater I applaud, is to list the desserts on a separate menu - because if you don’t know what the pudding choices are when you order your main course you have to play safe and order a starter too.

Just in case - don’t want to go home hungry if the third course is a disappointment.

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Aqua - Whiteladies Road Moving on, puddings - and a return to the earlier comment that there could be little worse than getting to the dessert course and finding there’s nothing you fancy. However, dining with a person who says they’re too full for pudding and then proceeds to “help you out” with yours isn’t good either - is it?

We’ve all been there. Thankfully Aqua has both bad situations covered - the dessert choice was excellent, and those with just a tiny space to fill can have a baby pudding to accompany a finishing coffee or tea. I didn’t have room for a dessert - but that’s never stopped me before and it wasn’t going to now. Anyone who knows me will be aware that the words “chocolate dome, hazelnut chocolate torte, warm salted caramel sauce and peanut ice cream” on a menu will mean that all other desserts are irrelevant. They were, and my meal ended with a chocolate festival that looked wonderful and tasted even better. And it was all mine, as my wife had tea and a miniature portion of lemon brulee tart - too small to share.

My option was the slow roasted ox cheek ragu with pappardelle pasta. You could be mistaken into thinking this was spaghetti bolognese by another name, but the difference between this beauty and the student staple of mince and tinned tomatoes is like comparing a Trabant to a Tesla. The ragu was a thing of joy - deep, rich, meltingly moist and tender - and the whole dish was seemingly designed to wrap your tastebuds in a warm blanket on a chilly autumnal night. We often say with our favourite dishes at home that we don’t want a meal to end. I wish I was still being served Aqua’s ragu a week later. As an aside - and as a side - I also ordered the courgette fritti to accompany my main course - not that it really needed any support. Sliced courgette, deep fried with a parmesan, lemon and rock salt crust. They were delicious - and again something I may try at home - but weren’t really needed as the ragu and pappardelle actually warranted no accompaniment.

So, there you have it. As we chatted over our puds we tried to think if there was anything negative to say about our Aqua experience, and concluded there wasn’t.

The food was top notch at sensible prices, the surroundings were convivial, the high ceilings made the place buzz rather than become too loud on a busy evening, and the service was to be applauded as an example of how to get it right, front of house.

We even ended the evening with our own personal Uber home - the little scrap of a thing born the day after our previous visit to Aqua has grown up, and came to pick us up having recently passed her test. Payback time for two decades of being mums taxi and dads taxi has begun.

Aqua - 153 Whiteladies Road, BS8 2RF Open Sunday - Thursday, 9.30am to 10pm, Friday - Saturday 9.30am to 10.30pm

www.aqua-restaurant.com

18

Music (present, past and future) - Duncan Haskell Album of the Month Colorado by Neil Yong with Crazy Horse (Reprise Records)

Next Step Nils Lofgren by Nils Lofgren (A&M) Nils Lofgren has been a recurring member of Crazy Horse since 1970, who also worked on two of Neil Young’s finest albums, After The Gold Rush and Tonight’s The Night. It’s fair to say that his solo career hasn’t quite matched up to the work he’s done in the background (or side of the stage). But that’s not to say his own material isn’t worthy of your attention, in particular his solo debut from 1975.

The new album from Neil Young and Crazy Horse, their first together since 2012’s Psychedelic Pill, finds the ageing rockers rallying against climate change and finding beauty in a world that they clearly think is still worth saving.

With regular guitarist Poncho Sampredo not available, long time associate (and occasional bandmate) Nils Lofrgren seamlessly steps in.

Firmly established as something of a virtuoso guitar-slinger, this self-titled debut actually dialled down the axe and let Lofgren’s songwriting shine through. Songs like If I Say It, It’s So and The Sun Hasn’t Set On This Boy Yet were especially notable for being built from their piano parts up.

Never self-indulgent, even the guitar solos felt earned rather than showy.

If you’re familiar with the music that Young and Crazy Horse make together then it’s unlikely you’ll be surprised by what awaits you here. There are the trademark long jams, those songs where they find their groove and refuse to let it out of their sight again. She Showed Me Love in particular allows them to indulge their cosmic union.

There are also some more simple compositions, those that will appeal to fans of Young’s solo albums like Harvest Moon. Think Of Me starts things off in a gentle fashion and a similarly tender sheen colours both Milky Way and closing track I Do - these moments of quiet contemplation all the more noticeable alongside grungy rockers like Shut It Down.

With that distinct 70s feel about it – where musicians and bands who’d taken the cultural revolution of the 60s cut loose and decided to enjoy themselves again – Lofgren made an album which, for a moment at least, placed him on par with some of his famous colleagues.

Gig of the Month Happy Mondays @ O2 Academy, Saturday 23rd November

Nor should those more muted tracks fool you into thinking that Young and his gang have lost any of their fire. Rainbow Of Colors sways like a flag in the breeze, calling for unity between all people and taking its shots against those who are building walls (both physical and metaphorical).

It’s just one of many stirring cries on Colorado, and rather than sound like the hypocritical moaning of a wealthy rock star there’s genuine motivation here – backed up by Young’s private endeavours.

We’re not going to say that Shaun Ryder is as culturally significant as Neil Young, but he’s certainly made his mark. First with the Happy Mondays, one of the key players in the Madchester movement, and then with Britpop band Black Grape, Ryder has loomed large over British life since the 1980s. It’s with the Happy Mondays that he now returns, bringing their Greatest Hits Tour to Bristol. Be prepared to have those melons twisted one more time.

As we’ve said, stylistically there’s nothing really new, but even without Poncho Sampredo there’s a palpable chemistry on display when this band of brothers come together, even more so when they have a common cause. It’s not just the youngsters who are fighting for this planet.

Duncan Haskell 19

Bus�ng the Common Law Marriage Myth

Sam Hickman

The number of cohabi�ng couple families has increased by over 25% since 2008, and has overtaken the number of couples ge�ng married. For first-�me buyers, star�ng out together in a new home, it is an exci�ng �me and a big milestone on the rela�onship’s journey which may or may not lead to marriage later down the line.

However, 46% of people* believe that they will acquire legal rights within a cohabiting relationship because of what is referred to as ‘common law marriage’. This myth is founded upon the belief that if you are essentially living ‘as man and wife’ you assume the same legal rights as married couples.

Unfortunately, the tough reality is, there is no such thing as ‘common law marriage’ and cohabiting couples do not have the same legal rights as married couples.

This harsh reality often comes to be realised at the time of relationship breakdown or on the death of one of the couple. Both are times which are stressful enough, without worrying about your financial security. At VWV, a common problem we see is that one of the couple dies without a Will naming their partner. This means they are not automatically entitled to their assets or to stay in the shared home (unless the assets or home were jointly owned).

Similarly, a cohabiting father (not named on the child’s birth certificate) would not have the same automatic parental responsibility rights as a father married to their child’s mother.

20

What Can I Do to Protect My Rights?

•

Talk to each other to establish how you would both want protection if unforeseen events were to happen.

•

Ensure that assets utilised by both of you, such as bank accounts and properties are held in joint names. This means that both parties will have an interest in the asset should the relationship break down or one person dies.

•

Seek legal advice and enter into a cohabitation agreement. Such an agreement sets out the nature of your financial relationship and establishes your rights should that relationship break down.

•

If you wish to pass assets to your partner on your death, make sure that you have a Will in place.

•

Regularly review both your cohabitation agreement and your Will, particularly at key milestone times such as having children, buying another property, inheriting wealth or if you do decide to get married! Regular reviews ensure that the documents still appropriately

address your needs and deal with all of your assets, not just some of them. Not many people know, for instance, that a Will automatically becomes worthless if you marry after making it, unless the marriage is specifically provided for in the Will itself.

A Conversation Worth Having Recognising that having a frank discussion now could save you both a lot of distress and cost further down the line is

worthwhile, and our expert lawyers are able to guide you through this sensitively and practically. * in England and Wales.

To discuss your cohabitation arrangements, please contact Partner Sam Hickman at shickman@vwv.co.uk or on 0117 314 5435.

Need Legal Advice?

We offer a personal service to meet your needs: • Buying or selling a house • Estate administration • Family, divorce & children

• Lasting powers of attorney • Personal injury • Wills & inheritance tax

Contact Michelle Rose at mrose@vwv.co.uk or on 0117 925 2020.

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21

Good Reads - Bruce Fellows’ book recommendations In his excellent collection of stories, Turbulence, David Szalay sends twelve passengers on flights around the world, London to Madrid, Dhohar to Sao Paulo, to Toronto, to Delhi and so on until finally the circle is completed in London. Each passenger is troubled in some way and each affects another who becomes the protagonist of the next story – an intriguing idea which Szalay carries off with great skill and insight, telling us just enough about each to inform us while leaving enough gaps to keep us thinking. In the process, he demonstrates how closely we are all connected and that similar conflicts affect us all.

Alan and Katie are top journalists: lovely house, three great kids, what could go wrong? Then Craig, Alan’s old school chum calls out ‘Hallo,’ from the shop doorway where he’s sleeping rough. Alan, of course, asks him back to join in his comfortable home life. Well, what would you do? That’s the start of John Niven’s laugh out loud novel of old friends and consequences, No Good Deed, as in the proverb, ‘No good deed goes unpunished’. And it doesn’t, Craig sees to that, as Alan’s life is demolished in hilarious fashion with a joke and a telling comment on modern life on every page.

In The Crime Writer, Jill Dawson takes events and obsessions from the life of Patricia Highsmith to fashion a gripping and brilliant novel of suspense very much in the style of the great author, with Highsmith herself as the protagonist. It’s the early sixties: Highsmith is in love with a married woman and renting a cottage in Suffolk, not far from Aldeburgh, in order to write a novel. When a journalist whose face is familiar to Highsmith arrives for an interview, things begin to go awry. Add a husband and unusual murder methods and you have a witty, creepy and intense cracker of a novel.

South Korea: a conventional, hardworking, strait-laced population, right?

Well, not quite in Un-Su Kim’s remarkable novel The Plotters. In this surreal world, almost normal but not quite, Reseng is a hitman who follows the instructions of the eponymous plotters until one day he doesn’t pull the trigger as soon as the victim is in his sights and then later lets another victim choose her own way of death. His own days are clearly numbered and he seeks escape but who from? Who are the plotters? This is a very funny, often wise, non-stop roller coaster of a book with occasional violence but always brilliantly written.

Local MP Chris Skidmore’s Richard III examines the life of the king via the three roles Richard filled in adult life. He was brother (to Edward IV), Protector (of Edward V) and King. What a dangerous time it was for anyone of rank, not to mention those who followed them and were pitched into savage hand to hand battles! Richard, though a loyal brother, decided to look after number one at his brother’s death and almost certainly murdered his nephews to take the crown. Based strongly on contemporary documents, this is an excellent biography that zips along at pace and offers understanding of Richard’s dilemma.

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page 54

At the Cinema - with Chris Worthington Joker

the prescription drugs and his anger comes to the surface with more extreme violence.

Joker is played by Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, a deeply disturbed loser who is employed by a third rate casting agency as a children’s party clown. Arthur’s, dismal and friendless life is based around looking after Penny, his sick mother at their run - down apartment, appointments with his social worker (who gets made redundant), taking anti - psychotic prescription drugs and locker room sarcasm with the other clowns at the agency. Arthur’s lack of any real connection with other people is compounded by his fits of pathological and inexplicable laughter.

The murder of the bankers starts a campaign to “kill the rich” in the city. Meanwhile unknown to Arthur his performance at the comedy club had been recorded and he gets a call from the office of a chat show host asking him to appear on the show where he reveals that he was the killer of the three bankers. This provokes riots in the city with crowds wearing “killer clown” masks killing people in authority and hailing Arthur as their hero and leader.

Certificate 15 - Directed by Todd Philips

This a shocking and worrying film. Arthur is living in a society that does not provide him with help or support. It reminds us that civilization has only a thin veneer and the rule of law may not always hold.

In recent years a growing number of comedians with populist appeal have entered politics. Beppe Grillo who started the five star movement in Italy that is now part of the ruling coalition. He claims that “my anger is constructive.” Jon Gnarr, the former mayor of Reykjavik won his campaign with promises of free towels in swimming pools and a polar bear for the capital’s zoo. At the UKIP conference in 2013 the audience sang a spoof version of “Send in the Clowns” by Stephen Sondheim.

Here is the first line. “We used to be rich, now we are not, but here at last there’s a chance, to stop the rot, send in the clowns.”

Many people will remember how that song ends. chrisworthington32@yahoo.com

At the start of the film he is promoting a closing down sale dressed as a clown while holding up a sign on the pavement outside the store. A group of teenage boys steal the sign and Arthur is beaten up when he tries to retrieve it. Things go from bad to worse for Arthur when one of the other clowns foolishly gives him a gun to defend himself.

The gun falls out of his pocket at a children’s party and he is sacked by the manager of the agency. Arthur has been compiling a childish book of jokes and he decides to try has hand at a comedy club. His performance is ruined by a laughing fit.

Arthur’s life now enters a downward spiral mirrored by the growing tension in Gotham City. First he gets into an argument with three smart young bankers on the subway.

He takes out the gun and shoots them.

Then he discovers that he was adopted

by Penny who was complicit in abusing him as a child, a memory that he has apparently suppressed. Arthur comes off 24

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Advertising Feature Shouting out to all Nursery Nurses, Childcare Practitioners, Early Years Educators and whatever else we get called!

3 qualifications are still valid from 1947 - when the NNEB was created but there are fewer and fewer people entering into childcare.

I’m writing to you because you are in demand and we really do need you in our two Red Bus nurseries based in Coombe Dingle (BS9), Downend (BS16).

Unlike some other industries, we don’t have a national register, so we’re only guessing that there are thousands of people who have older, but still valid, childcare qualifications, along with our ‘new’ practitioners who have more recent qualifications. We know that people who work in our industry do so for the love of caring for others and this doesn’t often fade away.

In 1998, I achieved my BTEC Level 3 in Childcare, left the industry in 2001 and didn’t think of returning. I’ve recently come back to childcare in a slightly different capacity. My job is now to find Nursery Nurses (sorry, we’re all still Nursery Nurses to me!) for the Bristol-based nursery I’m lucky enough to work for.

If you’re one of these dedicated and qualified childcare professionals and would like to consider working in one of Bristol’s biggest nurseries, then please get in touch by visiting our website: careers. redbusnursery.co.uk .

On stumbling back into early years after fifteen years, I’m stunned that there is a worrying shortage of Nursery Nurses in the UK. Research has shown that Level

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Hop on board with us at Red Bus!

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Talking Pets - with the Animal Health Centre Dogs boost health and life expectancy

In particular, heart attack and stroke survivors gain a lot from the increased exercise and overall physical benefits that come with owning and walking a dog. In addition, mental wellbeing is also improved because you are less lonely and more likely to socially interact when out with your pooch. A study from the University of Uppsala in Sweden found that risk of death for heart attack patients living alone after coming out of hospital was 33% less for those who owned a dog, than those that didn’t. For those people living with a partner or child the risk was 15% lower for dog owners. Meanwhile, the risk of death for dog-owning stroke patients living alone was 27% lower (the study is published in a journal of the American Heart Association).

In my day to day life as a vet, I get to see an outside perspective of the interaction between owners and their dogs. When a client brings their dog in with an illness, a large part of the motivation to treat or help the dog is because how much they mean to their owner. The dog may be that person’s only company at home and be a big part of their daily routine. Thisis one of the many reasons that dogs are known as man’s best friend. However, owning a dog actually gives people more than just companionship. A study suggests that owning a dog is good for your health and can make you live longer!

There are other studies from around the world that back up this research but it is hard to be able to confirm whether it is the dog or just the knock-on lifestyle benefits that is the reason behind the link. The cat lovers amongst us will be relieved that we are a long way off from doctors prescribing dogs!

Your dog is a big part of your life and therefore I try to keep them as happy and healthy because they in turn keep you guys happy and healthy!

Holly Scrimshaw Animal Health Centre

28

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On This Day in Bristory News

Shackleton-Pope, originally opened on 29 July 1850.

22 November 1718 Edward Teach, better known as the Bristol-born pirate Blackbeard, was killed in a battle with a small force of sailors led by Lieutenant Robert Maynard. Blackbeard’s boat, the sloop Adventure, was moored off North Carolina’s Ocracoke Island before being engaged by two other sloops, the Jane and the Ranger. Teach was shot and killed having boarded the Jane, falling into a trap set by Maynard.

Sport 21 November 1989 Nigel Martyn became the first £1 million goalkeeper when he left Bristol Rovers and signed for London club Crystal Palace. It is rumoured that the Bristol Rovers tea lady had discovered Martyn while on holiday in Cornwall and recommended he went for a trial with the club. Martyn earned 23 England caps during a career which also saw him play for Leeds and Everton, before retiring in 2006.

23 November 1957 Michael Gladstone of Redland fell while climbing the Avon Gorge at Sea Walls. With him was Aileen McQuilland, from Clifton, who threw climbing equipment on to the road below in order to attract attention - which is exactly what happened two hours later when a passing cyclist spotted the sign and alerted the police. As reported in The Times, “An inspector and a constable were then lowered by colleagues down the cliff face. By the light of lamps beamed on to the cliff they first rescued Miss McQuilland and then Mr Gladstone.”

Both were taken to hospital where they were treated.

7 November 1998 A scuffle broke out between mascots during Bristol City’s 6-1 away defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Wolfie the wolf attacked three pigs, working for Coldseal, and actually split the lip of Patrick Kelly who was inside one of the costumes.

Wolfie (aka Steve Bird) and the pigs then reunited years later on a Davina McCall chat show on which Bird issued an apology.

Film

12 November 1977 The first “Reclaim the Night” marches, an international movement against sexual violence, took place in Bristol, Leeds, York, Newcastle, Brighton and London. Called by the Leeds Revolutionary Feminist Group, they were inspired by news of women-only “Take Back The Night” marches against sexual harassment held in West Germany early the same year. They were also a response to the Yorkshire Ripper murders.

29 November 1986 Hollywood icon Cary Grant died at St Luke’s Hospital in Davenport, Iowa after suffering from a massive stroke.

One of Bristol’s most famous sons, Grant was born Archibald Alec Leach on 18 January 1904 at 15 Hughenden Road in Horfield.

There is a statue of Cary Grant in Millennium Square as well as a biennial festival in his honour.

24 November 2008

The Clifton Lido reopened following a £2 million revamp.

The Victorian lido, one of the oldest Grade II swimming pools in the UK, had closed in 1990 but a campaign by local residents had led to the facility being protected and restored by The Glass Boat Company, who had successfully acquired the building. The Lido, designed by Richard

4 November 1989 The Aardman Animations short film A Grand Day Out premiered at the Bristol Animation Festival, held at the Arnolfini. This was the first film to feature Wallace and Gromit and saw the duo heading off to the moon in search of cheese.

Directed by Nick Park, who had been working on the film since 1982, A Grand Day Out was nominated for the Academy Award for Animated Short Film but lost out to another Park creation, Creature Comforts.

30

The IT Surgery - Russell Isaac Put An Old Android Phone To Good Use

Research. Its current projects aim to gain insight into how cancer relates to a patient’s DNA profile, which in turn could allow for the development of more specific and effective cancer-fighting drugs.

Here’s something: Your clunky old Android device could actually help scientists search for extraterrestrial life, detect earthquakes, or improve cancer treatments.

MyShake, from the UC Berkeley Seismological Laboratory, uses your device’s sensors to detect and analyze earthquakes. If you live in an area where earthquakes occur, leaving your device plugged in and on a stable surface will provide the scientists with valuable real-time data about any seismic activity.

It’s all part of a series of programs that use your device’s computing power to conduct scientific research. Some of the more worthwhile options: HTC Power To Give connects your phone or tablet to a UC Berkeley effort known as BOINC — the Berkeley Open Infrastructure for Network Computing. BOINC performs research in a variety of areas, including physics, biomedicine, and astronomy (hence the aforementioned extraterrestrial experiment, which is actually a study you can opt to support).

All of the apps work in essentially the same way: After downloading and installing (and sometimes going through a brief setup or sign-in procedure), you simply plug your device in and turn its screen off. As long as it remains connected to an active Wi-Fi network, researchers will be able to put its processing power to use Russell Isaac can be contacted on 0774 775 3764 or via www.ithomehelp.biz

DreamLab is a joint effort by Vodafone and Australia’s Garvan Institute of Medical

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History Notes - Julian Lea-Jones Society a 20th century equivalent. Co-op plastic milk tokens were a pre-payment system rather than a loyalty incentive. It meant the rounds man didn’t need to carry lots of cash on the milk float.

This month I have rummaged through drawers and boxes to share more discoveries with you. If the title makes you think I have joined the ranks of the politically correct, fear not. I haven’t! The tokenism I am referring to is much earlier and pragmatic.

Sometimes shop tokens were stamped ‘for necessary change’ Other tokens were issued by companies as wages but only for use in the company’s own ‘truck’ store.

At various times throughout history, when coins have been in short supply, traders have resolved the problem themselves.

Locally produced tokens were exchanged for goods or services in the same way as normal coins. In 1793 – 95 and again in 1811 there was such a shortage of coins that our government gave tacit approval for tradesmen to issue their own small denomination coins. In Virginia in early America day-to-day business also suffered because of a severe shortage of copper coin .

This picture shows two ornate tokens - the larger penny token for the ‘British copper Company of Walthamstow and Landore’, (Swansea) dated 1812, and the other smaller half penny token issued by the ‘Bristol Patent Sheathing Nail Manufactory, Payable at Bristol & London’. This token is a graphic reminder of Bristol’s shipbuilding history.

Copper sheathing of the ships hulls reduced the growth of weeds and barnacles, enabling the ships to sail quicker, less stops for careening, (weed removal), more likely to return home safely, hence less risk to the investing merchants. This gave rise to the expression, ‘A copper bottomed investment’.

In this article I am not addressing marketing loyalty schemes. However do you remember shoppers green shield stamps and Kensitas Coupons for smokers? Their modern equivalents are Nectar, Boots, and other store loyalty cards, even Coffee shop cards (every tenth coffee free), but I’m considering much earlier coin replacement tokens.

Remember the (coincidentally named) Johnny Cash song with the line about the Company Store? (These stores often sold overvalued and/or adulterated foodstuffs to a captive market, the employees). In England this practice was abolished by the 19th Century Parliamentary Truck Act, which forced the employer to pay the full amount of wages in cash; the last of many attempts to abolish the practice since 1465.

Ironically, these Acts had to be modified

Tokens were used for advertising, and this 19th Century example from a Bristol Wine and Spirit Merchant, W. Rice of 69 & 70 Redcliffe Hill would have been an equivalent of our modern store loyalty cards, and the Pound token for the Bristol Co-Operative 35

History Notes - Julian Lea-Jones in 1960 by the ‘Payment of Wages Act’ to allow employers to pay wages by cheque or

by Bank Transfer directly into employees’ bank accounts.

for an ‘Anna’, ‘Half Anna’ and ‘X (10) Cash’ were forced on the native population by the ‘Honourable East India Company’ to be accepted as legal tender right across the East Indies. Interestingly it was this trade and this actual small denomination coin that gave us the term ‘Cash’. [There’s a personal link to the past, as my tenth Gt Grandfather sailed with Bristol’s world famous explorer Admiral Martin Pring, in his Flagship, ‘The James Royal’ as his chaplain to the East India Company’s fleet]. (Martin’s very elaborate memorial is in St Stephen’s Church just off the centre).

Some other tokens (above) issued by towns to resolve the coin shortages are inscribed as follows: ‘May Norwich Flourish’, (shown centre with the castle but date indecipherable), a ‘Leeds halfpenny’ on the right and a Liverpool halfpenny on the left, (with the Liver Bird), both dated 1701.

So remember if you find any old blackened ‘coins’ in your house, look very carefully at them; they may be another business link to your ancestor. NOTE: be careful how you clean them or you could seriously devalue them!

To bring the topic up to date, we must include the latest manifestation, The Bristol Pound, introduced under the aegis of Bristol Credit Union. “Bristol Pound keeps our money circulating locally, from customer to business and from business to business. This is great for our city as it minimises the money that leaks out to credit card companies, outside suppliers, and big banks. [An interesting reason.] Wealth is maintained in our city, building and enriching our local economy”. www.bristolpound. org/how-individual. One problem seems to have been well-meaning tourists who take them home as souvenirs - nice but totally negating the scheme’s purpose. Enterprises regisatered to accept Bristol Pounds in our area include: Romantica, in Henleaze and Gloucester Roads, Mogford’s in W-o-T, and First Bus. Staff in the ‘Sally Ann’, Salvation Army Charity shop at the Whiteladies end of Redland Road also accept and issue them if specifically asked.

I have deliberately excluded commemorative tokens and tokens for entrance, such as the Clifton Rocks Railway opening day square token, but have included two interesting links with our country’s trading past. If you find any of these you may have had an ancestor who sailed with the East India Company.

© October 2019 Eur-Ing Julian Lea-Jones, C.Eng, FRAeS

At the height of its power, its influence was such that these East India Company tokens, 36

cjhole.co.uk

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Call today to book your complimentary up to date market appraisal.

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435 1867

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Hilary Barber’s Top Gardening Tips 9. Net ponds to stop leaves falling into them, and cut back pond plants.

I am writing these tips during a lengthy period of rain, after we had a very warm September. The one guarantee about climate change is that the weather will be more variable and extreme and this will be challenging for our gardens. It may be that we have to rewrite some of our gardening tips, especially as I look out at a very colourful garden in October!

10. Plant onion and shallot sets and garlic; broad beans and winter peas for an early crop.

11. You can move shrubs this month, now that they are dormant. Dig up with a big rootball and mulch well when re-planting.

1. November is the month for planting tulip and hyacinth bulbs and all the other bulbs that you haven’t planted yet - they will provide a beautiful spring display. Masses of tulips in pots look stunning too. (And don’t forget about bulb lasagne! Layering bulbs in a pot with the biggest ones at the bottom, will give you a wonderful display e.g. Tulips at the very bottom, then mini daffodils, then crocuses, then snowdrops)

12. To support wildlife, gardens should now not be cut back hard in winter. Seed heads of perennials and grasses look wonderful in frosty conditions and are great for the birds. I was watching a busy wasp nest in a garden today and it encouraged me to look up the benefit of wasps in maintaining ecological harmony in the garden. https://www. nhm.ac.uk/discover/what-do-wasps-do.html So I left well alone!

2. Rake up leaves and put in your leaf litter bin, hessian sacks or black plastic bags. Make sure that if you use plastic bags that the leaf mould is damp and you puncture holes in the bags. Put them in a corner of the garden and in 2 years you will have wonderful leaf mould for mulching beds

PS I am doing a talk on Supporting wildlife in Winter at 2pm on Friday November 29th at Middlecombe Nursery, Congresbury. 50% of ticket price will go to Feed the Homeless.

For further information go to https://www. middlecombenursery.co.uk

3. If you do nothing else this winter in the gardens, mulch borders with leaf mould, mushroom compost, manure or homemade compost - this adds nutrients and texture to the soil, retains moisture and keeps the weeds down.

www.facebook.com/HilaryBarberGardens www.instagram.com/hilarybarbergardens

4. Prune all dead, diseased and damaged wood (ddd) on trees and shrubs before the winter winds. You can also 5. November is the busy time for bareroot/ rootball planting, including native hedging, trees, and barefoot roses. These are all wonderful for wildlife and I saw 6 pigeons on a Paul’s Himalayan Musk Rose yesterday, eating the rose hips !

Garden development, Therapeutic gardening and tutoring

6. Plant colourful winter pots, to include cyclamen, winter flowering pansies or primulas, Tete a Tete daffodils and small evergreen shrubs. I have been using dainty violas and tete a tete narcissus bulbs in my garden therapy sessions in care homes 7. Create a wood pile at the back of a border, for overwintering frogs and toads and newts. You may even help hibernating hedgehogs. www. britishhedgehogs.org.uk/hibernation/ 8. Stop winter moth damage to fruit trees by putting a grease band around the trunks 38

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Upgrade your costly halogen downlights to LED. Decorative light fitting installation.

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0117 902 0171 info@lek-trix.co.uk | www.lek-trix.co.uk 39

Prize Wordsearch - sponsored by Aqua

This month the prize wordsearch is very kindly sponsored by the team at Aqua on Whiteladies Road. The prize is a meal for two at Aqua, a prize well worth entering to win. Twenty one words associated with Aqua and their latest menu are listed below, and twenty of them can also be found lurking in the puzzle grid - running forwards, backwards, up, down or on a diagonal.

Just discover the one missing word, let me know which it is, and if yours is the first correct entry out ___________________________ of the hat after the closing date of 30th November you will win yourself a gastronomic feast at Aqua.

Entries please by post to 8 Sandyleaze, WoT, BS9 3PY, email andy@bcmagazines.co.uk, telephone 0117 259 1964 or text 07845 986650.

Right - here are the words you are looking for: Caramel Portabello Truffle Oil Calamari Pork Cheeks Butter Bean Harissa Pecorina Welsh Back Aqua Whiteladies Burratina Brulee Tiramisu Prosciutto Margharita Arancini Artichoke Mussels Koftas Sourdough

D

Aqua

V B Y N G G F H W C H N T G A L X K B I L B R F

E R I S B Y U A Y U V A O W I P S A H W I N K O

V U N X A P Q N W D W E J U H H R M P V Y W F L

A L C I M T K G T Q A B C X Y I H D L I M Z L K

O E R O C J F A S E Z R B Q Z L T S Y A C A V G

L E E O A Z D O C Y G E V L S L L E R W G R M A

caramel

L B I N R N X A K G D T Q M J S S G L J T A I F

E U X D A R X M U M V T G D L C H I X A Z N X O

B F Z E M W C J B Q I U N W Z A B I S B D C K Q

A W P F E C T J X D A B Y M R U Z E I H G I Q P

T T R D L C A Y P Z O P B I Y Q Q U R B Z N E U

portabello

Good luck and enjoy the puzzle.

R O O B M K T O C Y T H T F G B F Q K V U I X S 40

O S S O J G Z I J L M A P A D M U H K M X J Y Q

P O C M A S S I R A H E R Q J W E R C V J X E D

Q U I N Y B N S C G C T S C X E Q P R K H U B L

S R U P W Z D S Z O I W Y F M I V D X A S E J O

truffleoil

T D T G B P A M R C K Z E Z X V Z B V I T E F E

T O T H Y A U I H O N A T L J F L S M M B I Y Y

G U O P G C N O M W S L E S S U M A V J V Z N E

F G U U W A K I R A M A L A C H R T K Y Z O G A

T H A W Z E G Z G R T X T O Z I B K H S D J Z O

calamari

V X V V B S Y F E C T G U K T C B A L F A J R A

K P U R Q B L A W W Y V A F O E W X C U W P B P

L I O E L F F U R T T M K C P G R E G K D O L H

Kemps Jewellers Est. 1881

Dazzling Jewellery - Sparkling Prices Rings and jewellery, new and old - a great range of modern new pieces to complement our existing selection of beautiful traditional second-hand jewellery.

Autumn Prize Draw Now Extended!

Win a ÂŁ100 voucher

Kemps Christmas Club Beginning to think of seasonal gifts? Then why not take advantage of stage payments with us at Kemps? Pay a small deposit and spread the cost between now and Christmas when choosing from our beautiful gift ideas (for ladies and gents). We will then box and gift wrap all your purchases.

to spend at Kemps Just come in to see us before 19th November with this advertisement, leave your name and telephone number, and you will be entered into the draw later that week. No purchase necessary and your details are purely to allow us to notify the winner.

Kemps Jewellers 9 Carlton Court Westbury on Trym 0117 950 50 90 www.kempsjewellers.com 41

With more than 30 years of industry experience, the Howard agency is the personal vision of Howard Davis. This professional and truly local property business is born of family values - honesty, trust and loyalty.

The Howard team really cares about the people it does business with and this beautiful area that we all live and work in. The well-liked and respected experts at Howard have decades of combined sales and lettings understanding and exceptional knowledge of Bristol, Somerset and the surrounding

Howard Davis Managing Director

suburbs. For those just starting out to those with large portfolios, the Howard ethos is based on respect, transparency, and the determination to deliver an exceptional and personal service for all.

CLIFTON VILLAGE £495,000 STOKE BISHOP BS9 – GUIDE PRICESSTC £850,000 A Adelightful garden placed for all the detached family house flat offerswell a light, versatile interior andamenities a ofsouth Clifton The The Downs andfacing Leigh Woods facingVillage, lawned garden. rear south lawned gardenis just is of a good and offers a sun Suspension terrace adjacentBridge. to the house across the size nearby Clifton Extensive and the garden extends around to the side of the property. master bedroom with bay window, bathroom complete with claw foot bath and shower. EPC D

BISHOPSTON KINGSDOWN BS8 – GUIDE PRICE £565,000 SSTC £899,000 A Victorian built family setoffering over on three storey The versatile interior is set overhome three floors the ground accommodation offers three attractive level an extensive kitchen/living spacebedrooms, with twin doorsan opening out to the south rear area, walled garden.

In addition there is aroom utility room, open planfacing living kitchen /breakfast with cloakroom and storage cupboards. access to the southerly facing rear garden. EPC C

SSTC £475,000 SNEYD PARK BS9 REDLAND – GUIDE PRICE £599,000 An upper floor maisonette comprises of: a lounge diner, separate A kitchen, four three storey four bedroom townhouse offering a double bedrooms, a family bathroom, an en-suite versatile interior, integral garage andIt also roofbenefits terrace. shower room and a contemporary wet room. fromAn a communal rear garden andwithin one FCFS parking excellent location to live the heartspace. of the city.

EPC C

£675,000 REDLAND BS6 REDLAND – GUIDE PRICE £375,000 An extensive double bayed semi-detached five bedroom family home Two bedroom well-presented garden apartment with offers a good sized rear garden and detached garage. In brief it offers; a spacious lounge, kitchen diner storage, and front living room, dining room with access outwith to the rear garden and bathroom.

Theleading property also falls within breakfast room though to the kitchen to rear ofatheResidents house.

Parking Zone (RPZ) and is offered with no onward chain.

EPC C

0117 923 8238

www.howard-homes.co.uk 42

hello@howard-homes.co.uk

Opening new doors...

With the same trusted team‌ just a new name

27 43

203 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2XT

What’s On & Community News Listings for community events, not-for-profit clubs and charitable activities are free of charge. If you have something of this nature that you would like listed please get in touch by calling 0117 259 1964 or 07845 986650, or emailing andy@bcmagazines.co.uk. Listings must be submitted in Word or text in an email only and be no longer than 75 words to be accepted.

4BT. Dickens works, Guest Speakers, Costumed Readings, Book Club, Victorian Life etc. Contact us for membership & programme. romahussey@hotmail.com. 0117 9279875. www.dickens-society.org.uk Bristol Astronomical Society hosts a series of astronomical talks, events and activities.

We provide free Saturday observing at our observatory in Failand and often stage Star Parties in and around Bristol. Friday evening talks are held at 7pm at Bristol Photographic Society, Montpelier, BS6 5EE. Details of all events are on our website: www. bristolastrosoc.org.uk - All welcome.

Details shown are accurate to the best of my knowledge, but dates, times & locations may change without notification. So if you are unsure, and to avoid disappointment, please contact the organiser listed to double check.

Alliance Française de Bristol. Can’t speak French? Or would you like to brush up on it? Talk to us about our courses and cultural events. Learn French with the French! www. afbristol.org.uk

Bristol Cabot Choir is delighted to welcome new members for all voice parts. Why not come and sing with us for a ‘taster’ rehearsal before a simple audition? We meet at Redland URC on Mondays at 7.30 pm. FFI email admin@bristolcabotchoir.org, visit www. bristolcabotchoir.org or find us on Facebook.

Babbers Radio Show every Monday from midday to 2pm on Ujima Radio - 98FM. The show is organised and presented by older people for older people with the aim of helping to reduce loneliness and social isolation although the topics we cover are interesting and relevant to all. For more details - info@ ujimaradio.com.

Bristol Cathedral Choir School Choral Society is delighted to welcome new members. We are a friendly non-auditioned choir who meet at the Bristol Cathedral School on Wednesday evenings. We are currently rehearsing Faure’s Requiem and Haydn’s ‘Nelson’ Mass for our next concert in March 2020. We also sing a programme of lighter music at our popular Summer Pudding Concert. To see if it’s for you, contact Kathy kthygilman@yahoo.co.uk or Geoff 0117 9246587. Do come and join us!

Badminton. Beaufort Junior Badminton Club.

Want to play Badminton aged between 10 & 18? Want to join a club with other social, friendly and enthusiastic young people?

Then join us on Monday evenings 6pm - 7pm, from September to Easter, term time only at Cotham School Sports Hall, Cotham Lawn Road, Bristol, BS6 6DT. All coaches DBS checked and Badminton England qualified. All abilities welcome with progression through to senior clubs. Cost £4 per session with free introductory session. Suitable for D of E awards. If you are interested please contact Penny Shears for more information email :pennyshears@googlemail.com or mobile 07941013514

Bristol Chamber Choir present an afternoon of Christmas Music and Carols, including settings of ‘Hodie Christus natus est’ by Sweelinck, Marenzio, Byrd, and Donati, and carols by Vaughan Williams, Walton, Pearsall and others.

Saturday 14th December 2019 at 2.15pm in The Lord Mayor’s Chapel, College Green, BS1 5TB. Tickets £10.00 (Students and Children Free) from Eventbrite (www.eventbrite.co.uk) and Opus 13, 14 St Michael’s Hill, BS2 8DT, or at the door. Visit www.bristolchamberchoir.org. uk for more details or contact 01275 843900 / 07342 954 249.

Bristol & Clifton Dickens Society. Meets monthly, Monday evenings at Leonard Hall, Trinity RUH, Waterford Rd, Henleaze,BS9

Bristol Chamber Choir with conductor Gordon 44

River Avon Tide Times Here are your weekend high and low tide times for the coming month. If you want to find out a more specific tide time, maybe on a weekday or if you fancy a riverside stroll on the spur of the moment, then these are readily accessible from sites such as www.tidetimes.org.uk or the Bristol City Council website - www. bristol.gov.uk/streets-travel/tide-tables The area around Sea Mills harbour isn’t always as tranquil as seen in the panoramic photo below - here’s the view of the Trym entering the Avon by the Portway bridge at Sea Mills station last week after a morning of heavy rain.

Date

High

Low

High

Low

Sat 2 Nov

10.10

16.35

22.28

04.42 (Sun)

Sun 3 Nov

10.44

17.05

23.04

05.14 (Mon)

Sat 9 Nov

04.52

11.26

17.13

23.49

Sun 10 Nov

05.35

12.13

17.55

00.35 (Mon)

Sat 16 Nov

09.08

15.43

21.32

03.57 (Sun)

Sun 17 Nov

09.47

16.14

22.13

04.32 (Mon)

Sat 23 Nov

04.03

10.38

16.27

23.14

Sun 24 Nov

05.00

11.37

17.22

00.09 (Mon)

Sat 30 Nov

09.17

15.55

21.37

04.02 (sun)

Sun 1 Dec

09.51

16.19

22.10

04.25 (Mon)

© Crown Copyright and/or database rights. Reproduced by permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office and the UK Hydrographic Office (www.GOV.uk/UKHO).

45

What’s On & Community News Pullin and the Pearsall Ensemble present “Bach and Pearsall” on Sunday 10th November 2019 at 5.00pm at The Chapel, St Monica Trust, Cote Lane, Westbury on Trym, BS9 3UN. Admission Free, Retiring Collection. For more details visit www.bristolchamberchoir.org.uk or contact 01275 843900 / 07342 954249.

shared human values, who seek to live ethical lives on the basis of reason, humanity and respect for others, and who find meaning, beauty, and joy in the one life we have. We meet on the first Monday of every month (except BH’s) at central Quaker Meeting House, Champion Square. For more details visit www.bristol.humanist.org.uk or www. meetup.com/Bristol-Humanists.

Bristol Chamber Choir. Come and join Bristol’s oldest choir (founded in 1837).

Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings at Redland Park United Reformed Church at 7.30pm. Further details can be found at www. bristolchamberchoir.org.uk. Please contact our Secretary, Rae Ford, on 0117 939 1685 or Rod Coomber on 01275 843 900 or email rodcoomber@aol.co.uk for more details.

Bristol Libraries are looking for people who’d love reading aloud and sharing literature with others. We run 11 very successful shared reading groups in Bristol Libraries and some of them need an extra reader leader to support them. If you are this person or you think of anyone else who’d love to help, please contact us at libraries.volunteering@bristol.gov.uk or josephineharwood@thereader.org.uk, 07807 106869.

Bristol Choral Society and Bristol Youth Choir, conducted by Hilary Campbell, will be performing on Saturday November 16th at 7.30pm at Bristol Cathedral, a collection of exciting and inspiring works by contemporary British composers, accompanied by piano duet with Ian Tindale and Annabel Thwaite, along with percussion. Tickets from £11 to £28 (under 25s £5 & Seniors 10% discount).

Full details and online bookings at www. bristolchoral.co.uk or by phone on 0117 203 4040.

Bristol Male Voice Choir invites new singers.

The choir has a broad repertoire, performing not just male voice standards, but songs from musicals, pop classics, spirituals, and classical favourites. You don’t have to read music to join the choir as a tenor, baritone or bass, but you will enjoy learning our repertoire, (re-)discovering the voice you may have forgotten about, and being welcomed into the choir’s friendly social atmosphere. We perform for charity, for weddings and a wide range of events during the year. We rehearse every Thursday from 7.00pm till 9.15pm at St Andrew’s Methodist Church, Gloucester Road, BS34 7PS. You will be made very welcome when you come along to a rehearsal. Also visit our website – bristolmvc.org.uk - to find out more, or phone 0117 968 2223.

Bristol Community Gamelan play the music of Java and are looking for new members for the 2019 season. We meet every Monday evening in the World Music Studio at Cotham School from 6.30 to 8.30 to play traditional & modern pieces. If interested email keithripley27@ gmail.com or phone 9444241. They can be seen on YouTube.

Bristol Grandparents Support Group gives support to grandparents who are estranged from their grandchildren due to family breakdown. We give support over the phone, via email, Skype and at our regular meetings held at 9 Park Grove, Bristol. BS6 7XB. Tel 07773 258 270 more information or visit www. bgsg.co.uk.

Bristol Morris Men welcome anyone who wants to try morris dancing. We practise on Thursday evenings in the Sports Hall at QEH School at Berkeley Place, Clifton from 8 to 10. For more information please visit www. bristolmorrismen.co.uk or call Grant on 0117 944 2165.

Bristol Philatelic Society meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month in the meeting room of the United Reform Church at the

Bristol Humanists is a local group for those who make sense of the world using reason & 46

BRACE BRACE charity funds much of the South West Dementia Brain Bank and we were invited to visit recently to discover more about the research conducted there. The Brain Bank is vital in the search for a cure for dementia as certain diagnosis is only achieved by analysing the brain after death. It was extraordinary to learn more about how the Bank is used and we were amazed at the processes involved and the care and compassion shown by the team.

Westbury on Trym Christmas Fair The Fair will be held on Saturday 30th November this year on Canford Lane and in Carlton Court from 2 - 6pm.

Harold Stephens is the main sponsor and our Marketing Manager, Amy Wood is helping to organise the Fair with a great local team. It’s their first year of taking on the task and plans are full steam ahead!

We are proud to support BRACE and are committed to continuing to raise money to further research in search of a cure. I will be doing the Lahinch Christmas Day Swim in aid of BRACE this year – please get in touch if you would like to sponsor me, it’s going to be very cold!

Over 40 stalls are confirmed with a fantastic variety of goods on offer. There will also be a funfair for the children and we’ve managed to drum up some fantastic raffle prizes. Tickets are on sale around the village so don’t miss out!

I will be the compère at the event, letting everyone know what’s happening next so please do pop by the HQ tent and say hello.

Richard Higgs, Chartered Financial Planner, provides friendly financial advice in BS9 on a face-to-face basis in a welcoming location at 50, High Street, Westbury on Trym. He specialises in advising retired clients on savings, investments, Inheritance Tax and longterm care planning. You can contact Richard on richard@haroldstephens. co.uk, 0117 3636212 or through the website: haroldstephens.co.uk.

We hope the event will be terrific for the community, getting people together and kicking off the festive period with a bang.

Proceeds will be donated to BUST Charity (Breast Cancer Unit Support Trust) which is based at Southmead Hospital.

We hope to see lots of you there!

Harold Stephens - September 2019.indd 1

47

20/10/2019 15:59:06

What’s On & Community News bottom of Blackboy Hill (Whiteladies Road) starting at 7.30 p.m. Contact 0117 956 7853.

and Training Coordinator at MarilynC@ carerssupportcentre.org.uk. If you look after someone who couldn’t manage without you, and would like some information about our services for carers or would like someone to talk to about caring for the person you look after, please call our Carersline on 0117 965 2200 or visit www.carerssupportcentre.org. uk.

Bristol Playgoers Club is the oldest amateur drama group in Bristol. Members have many opportunities to take part and a chance to see a variety of plays and enjoy a programme of social events. Find us on Facebook and Twitter. A warm welcome is guaranteed to all, newcomers and existing members alike. Our featured plays in November are “A Song at Twilight” by Noel Coward (12th Nov) and “For Services Rendered” by W Somerset Maugham (26th Nov).

Carers’ Support Group (formerly Henleaze Carers’ Group). Would you like the opportunity to share your experiences, relax and make new friends? Then come and join the We meet on the second and fourth Thursday morning of each month, 10 to 12, in Bradbury Hall, Waterford Road, Henleaze. For more information please call Monica Rudston 0117 942 6095.

Bristol Scrabble Club meets every Wednesday at 7.15 pm at Upper Horfield Community Trust, BS7 0PQ (next to Eden Grove Church). New members welcome - first visit free so come and give it a try. FFI contact Sue on 0117 924 7871.

City Voices Bristol is a non auditioning community choir that welcomes new members. Whether you have been in other choirs or haven’t sung since school days, why not come and join us? We are a friendly bunch of people of all ages and love singing both for relaxation and for enjoyment. We perform two concerts each year at St Georges Hall, with a wide repertoire from Mozart to the Beach Boys and Lady Gaga. If you are interested, we rehearse on a Monday evening from 7.30-9.30 in the Performing Arts Centre at Red Maids’ High School, Westbury on Trym.

Meanwhile if you want to find out more before then, please have a look at our website www. cityvoicesbristol.org and make contact for more information.

Bristol Shambhala Meditation Group offer an Open House every Wednesday evening from 7 until 9 pm at 17 Lower Redland Road, BS6 6TB with qualified meditation instructors available. Please see our website for further details at bristol.shambhala.info. We also have a rentable large room downstairs suitable for yoga or pilates and a smaller room upstairs ideal for one to one therapies. Please contact Roel at shambhalabristolrooms@gmail.com for further rental information.

Bristol University of the Third Age (U3A) scrabble group would welcome new members.

We play very friendly and informal games every Friday at the Beehive, Wellington Hill West, BS9 4QY from 2 to 4. For further info please contact Heddy Sara on 0117 924 1318 and indicate when asked to give your name that you are phoning about scrabble in order not to be blocked. Or email nigel.d.sara@ btinternet.com.

Civil Service Retirement Fellowship. The Westbury-on-Trym group welcomes all retired Civil Servants and their spouses to their meetings held on the first Thursday of the month at Studland Court, Henleaze Road at 2.00pm, Those people without a civil service background are welcome to join our group as Friends of the Fellowship. For more info phone Tony McKenna on 0117 950 2059.

Carers Support Centre. If you are outgoing and could offer two mornings a month to meet, greet and give information to carers when they visit their GP surgery, I would love to hear from you. Full training and support provided.

Please contact Marilyn Crump, Volunteer

Clifton Climate Action provides free talks and discussion at 7:30 pm on the second and fourth Thursday evenings of each month 48

G.R. Knott Decorating Services Established in 1969 Celebrating a full 50 years of decorating in Bristol Westbury on Trym Based Private and Commercial Work Insurance work undertaken All our own sta - no work is subcontracted Quality painting and decorating for all types of interiors & exteriors Ring for your local decorating experts 07836 267 952 or 0117 968 8775 www.grknottdecorating.co.uk A&P Plastering Specialists All aspects of plastering . . .

Skimming over artex * Coving * Artexing Plaster boarding * Small jobs welcome Over 25 years experience and locally based Clean and professional service

Contact - Phil Winter Tel: 0117 969 4874 or 07722 160 270 49

What’s On & Community News at Clifton Library, 13 Princess Victoria St, Bristol BS8 4BX. Details of all our events and how to get involved are on our website at www.CliftonClimateAction.org, or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ CliftonClimateAction. All welcome!

& The Gloucester Old Spot. Ticket prices: adult £5, child £3. Pre-schoolers are free!

Friends of Old Sneed Park Nature Reserve (entrance Glenavon Park). A quiet corner of Stoke Bishop, with flower meadows, lake and woods.Join us on our monthly working parties and enjoy the great outdoors. Suitable for everyone. Free refreshments. Dates for 2019/20 Nov.9, Dec. 7. Jan. 18, Feb. 15, March 14.For more details or to join as a member – fospnr@ gmail.com

Clifton Rotary Club welcomes new members willing to give their time, interested in making new friends, building business contacts and using their skills to help others. We meet Weds lunchtimes at The Redland Green Club (Redland Lawn Tennis & Squash Club). www.cliftonrotary.org or email secretary@ cliftonrotary.org

Friends of Welsh National Opera welcome visitors to an evening entitled Janacek as an Opera Composer on Wednesday 20 November 2019 at 7.15 at Redmaids High School. Nigel Simeone, author of The Janacek Compendium, makes a welcome return to explore one of the great originals of 20th century opera.

Friends, £5, Guests £7, Students £1. Contact Melanie David at melaniejdavid@btinternet. com or on 01934 842014 for more information.

Craft sale and coffee morning in aid of Cancer Research UK. On Saturday, 23rd November, 2019, from 10.00 am - 12.30 pm, there will be a craft sale and coffee morning in aid of Cancer Research UK at Horfield Parish Church Hall (on Wellington Hill). There will be handmade gifts for children and adults, Christmas decorations and delicious cakes for sale. Do come and join us for a coffee and cake and buy your Christmas gifts!

Frisbee Club. Beginner-friendly ultimate open to all ages and abilities. Come try the best sport you’ve never played. Find us on Facebook - search ‘North Bristol Ultimate’ - or email jake.f.waller@gmail.com.

Drop-in Healing Sessions at The Friends Meeting House, 126 Hampton Road, Redland, Bristol, BS6 6JE. Healing is holistic, gentle and relaxing and helps restore balance and wellbeing. Enhances vitality and resilience and promotes a sense of peace. Recommended for stress. Run by Bristol Healing Group with trained volunteers and links with the Healing Trust. Sessions in November and December held on Thursdays from 2.30 to 4.00 pm.

Times may change in January. Last session in December on 12th, first session in January on 9th. Please contact Barbara on 0117 9082061 for up to date information.

Henleaze & District Flower Club has Christmas Unwrapped at Bradbury Hall, Waterford Road, Henleaze from 2pm on 14th November.

Come and enjoy our wonderful Christmas floral demonstration by the talented and entertaining Andrew Lloyd. £10 for visitors, Refreshments, raffle, stalls and decorations.

For more details please call Marg on 0117 907 5724.

Henleaze Senior Film Club. Monday 18 November at 2pm. Finding Your Feet (12A).

Feel good British comedy starring Imelda Staunton, Celia Imrie, Timothy Spall and Joanna Lumley. On the eve of retirement, a middle class, judgemental snob discovers her husband has been having an affair with her best friend and is forced into exile with her Bohemian sister who lives on an impoverished inner-city council estate. St Peter’s Church Hall, The Drive, Henleaze BS9 4LD. Refreshments

Fhizzy Fireworks Spectacular! Friday 8th November 2019. Henleaze Infant School, Park Grove, Henleaze, BS9 4LG. A friendly family display in BS9, sponsored by CJ Hole and Wards Solicitors. Gates open 18.00. Display commences 19.15. Cash bar, hot food, sweet treats, raffle and pocket money toys. Tickets available locally from: Max Minervas, Lavender Coffee Shop, Chandos Deli, The Eastfield Inn 50

Free Prize Draw - family tickets to see Santa at Bristol Zoo Gardens Something very special will be happening at Bristol Zoo Gardens this Christmas. A magical grotto will open in the heart of the Zoo where children can meet Santa. The great man will be sitting in a welcoming log cabin waiting to hear what presents youngsters would like to find on Christmas morning.

near and seeing Father Christmas and his elves makes a visit to the Zoo extra special.”

All over the Zoo there will be Christmas lights including special animal shapes and a giant Christmas tree. And when families have been to see Father Christmas they can enjoy seeing the thousands of animals that live at the Zoo. From gorillas to lions, penguins, lemurs and giant tortoises, they are all within a short walk.

Father Christmas will be arriving at the Zoo on November 30 and his last day will be December 23 – before he prepares for the big global present drop.

There are also lots of special Christmas gifts on offer at the Zoo including the chance to adopt an animal or treat someone special to an animal experience so they get up close to some of the Zoo’s most iconic animals. Children will also be able to have their faces painted in the Terrace Theatre and there will be festive food and drink available at the Hide restaurant.

Christmas trees will also be on sale from the Zoo’s West Car Park. Dates and prices will be announced soon.

Tickets for Santa’s Grotto cost £6 per child, plus Zoo entry, and include a gift from Father Christmas. To book a visit to the grotto, visit: www.bristolzoo.org.uk/ whats-on/santas-grotto. Every boy or girl who visits will have the chance to write a personal note to Father Christmas before elves lead them in one by one to meet him.

Bristol Zoo Gardens is a conservation and education charity and relies on the generous support of the public not only to fund its important work in the Zoo, but also its vital conservation and research projects spanning five continents.

Daisy Hardy, guest services manager at Bristol Zoo Gardens, said: “There is magic in the air at Bristol Zoo as Christmas draws

The Zoo is open every day of the year except Christmas Day.

Free Prize Draw to visit Bristol Zoo Gardens and meet Santa Why not enter our terrific Free Draw? Santa and the kind people at Bristol Zoo Gardens have very kindly offered readers of The Bristol Nine and The Bristol Six+Eight magazines the opportunity to win one of five family day passes to the Zoo (2 adults plus 2 children), each of which also includes 2 tickets to see Santa in his Grotto.

To enter simply send in your name and your road name - email to andy@bcmagazines.co.uk, text to 07845 986650, phone to 0117 259 1964 or post to 8 Sandyleaze, WoT, BS9 3PY - and the first 5 names out of the hat after the closing date of 30th November will win the tickets.

51

What’s On & Community News North West Bristol Camera Club is an enthusiastic group of amateur photographers who meet each Wednesday at 7:45pm at Westbury Fields. New members of any level of ability are most welcome. For details contact Neville at nevwgoodman@mac.com.

£4 Easy access, all welcome!

Henleaze Tennis Club welcomes new members of all ages. We are a small friendly club. Our teams play to a good standard in the Avon leagues and we have a good level of club play for those who wish to play a more relaxed game. Check out more on our website: www. henleazetennisclub.co.uk (or give Heather a call on 0117 924 7441)

NotaBene Vocal Ensemble has vacancies in all voice-parts to expand our dynamic a cappella group. Our repertoire includes a range of styles but mostly comprises modern/popular songs. We perform from memory, often incorporating a theatrical performance style (nothing too scary). We rehearse on Monday evenings in Horfield, Bristol. Music-reading ability useful but not essential and entry is via a friendly audition. Please contact Lisa Smith on 07966 459872 to discuss or email notabenebristol@yahoo.com.

Hydrotherapy Exercise Sessions – A group exercise in Southmead Hospital’s purpose built pool. Benefits include relaxation, relief of pain & swelling, improved movement, balance & fitness. All ages & abilities are welcome. We are a friendly local team of Chartered Physiotherapists with expertise in a variety of disabilities & medical conditions.

For more details please contact Chris & Ali Cowley on 07971 086 628, or email healthyhydrotherapy@gmail.com or visit www.healthyhydrotherapy.co.uk.

OutThereMusic’s North Bristol Community Choir who rehearse every Thursday evening between 7:45 - 9:45 at Westbury Park School, Bayswater Avenue, BS6 7NU. There is no audition and we have an eclectic repertoire with a very warm welcome assured. For more details about the choir please visit www. outtheremusicbristol.co.uk - or just come along to a rehearsal.

Long Ashton Orchestra’s next concert is on Saturday November 23rd at 7.30 pm in St. Alban’s Westbury Park, Bayswater Avenue. Our director Nicholas Bromilow will be conducting an all-Sibelius programme including Finlandia and the Karelia Suite. Admission free, collection for charity.

Parkinson’s UK - Bristol and District Branch - meets every first Saturday of the month at St Monica’s Trust, Cote Lane, BS9 3UN from 10am till 12 noon. Carers, relatives, spouses and people with Parkinson’s are all welcome for a social and informative get-together, with speakers from a variety of backgrounds with many diverse interests. We also meet at The Eastfield Inn, Henleaze, BS9 4NQ once a month for an informal coffee morning. For details of this and other activities in the area, visit our website. www.parkinsonsbristol.com

Marie Curie fundraising. If you’d like to get more active or involved in your community why not give an hour a week or a day a month and help Marie Curie as we continue to provide care to patients and their families? If you enjoy meeting new people and raising money for a great cause, we would love to hear from you.

FFI please contact Helen Isbell on 0117 924 7275 or email Helen.Isbell@mariecurie.org.uk.

Menopause Matters - Getting to know yourself better. Supportive group and course for women going through the menopause and who want help in managing their symptoms. Monday evenings at the Redland Club Burlington Road. For more information contact Tricia Worthington on 07962 892060 or tricia_worthington@msn.com

People of Note Community Choir is looking for new members, especially altos. We are friendly and it’s fun, the songs we sing are very varied, pop, folk, world music, original pieces, but not traditional choral. We meet in Southville on Tuesday and Clifton on Wednesday evenings. Visit www.peopleofnote.co.uk or email peopleofnote@btinternet.com for more 52

A LFIE SUTCLIFFE T R EE C A RE

Electrical Services

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Hedge cutting Trimming, reducing & straightening Hedge laying

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Get in touch for advice and a free quote I take pride in working greenly, cleanly and safely. Tree work operations comply with British Standard (BS3998)

John Chambers

07734 326915 / 0117 924 6154

NPTC qualified and £5 million Public Liability insurance

info@redlandelectricalservices.co.uk www.redlandelectricalservices.co.uk

Peter Wyatt Painter & Decorator Domestic & Commercial No job too large or too small Specialist wallpapering Free estimates & friendly advice Fully insured & reliable BS6 references available Tel 07950 496039 or 01934 625782

53

What’s On & Community News details. Come along for a free taster!

7.30pm in term time at Oatley Hall, St Monica’s Trust, Cote Lane, Westbury-on-Trym BS9 3UN. New dancers welcome, come on your own or with a friend for fun, fitness and friendship. No need to wear a kilt or a sash! For information contact Alison on 0117 968 4036 or Caroline on 0117 924 9226 or see www.rscdsbristol.info

Redland Green Bowls Club welcomes new members , free taster sessions. We have a full programmes of men’s ladies and mixed friendly and competitive matches. Reduced membership offer for the first year (£50).

More information and contact details https:// redlandgreenbowls.webs.com

Shibashi-Tai Chi-Qigong. Gentle exercise, standing or sitting, for over 55’s. Slow and easy movements with focus on breathing. Relaxing and enjoyable. Reduces stress and lifts mood.

Improves balance, flexibility, muscle strength, fitness. Beneficial for heart, lungs, chronic pain. Wednesdays 11.00-12.00 from 2nd October at The Redland Club, Burlington Road, BS6 6TN. Drop-in class, cost £3 for over 55’s. Please arrive 5 mins early and bring flat, soft shoes/slippers to wear. Contact Selina on 0117 9466434 for more information.

Redland Green Choir will perform Karl Jenkins’s powerful Mass for Pearce, The Armed Man, at 7.30 pm at St Matthews, Kingsdown on 30th November. Tickets are £12 (£10 concessions) from www.redlandgreenchoir.org.uk or at the door.

REMAP - a registered charity that designs and makes custom aids for the disabled. We are on the lookout for volunteers (engineers, craftsmen, DIY enthusiasts etc) who are willing give up a little of their time to enable a disabled person to enjoy a better quality of life. If you can help please contact the Chairman at bristol.chair@remap groups.org.uk or 0117 3295183 or visit www.bristol.remap.org.uk.

Shouri Shotoryu Karate Club holds sessions 6 days a week at Henbury, Horfield and Easton Leisure Centres under principal instructor Nick Moller, 6th Dan. Over 30 years Nick has trained many students to 1st and 2nd Dan black belt and beyond, with all welcome from 5yrs and upwards. For more details visit Shouri Shotoryo karate on Facebook, or call 0117 969 5697.

Retired & Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP). Do you like reading? Do you like helping children? If yes to both, you are just the sort of person we are looking for! If you can spare a minimum of an hour a week to hear children read in a local school you could make a huge difference. Volunteering is a great way to stay active and to feel useful, so if you are interested in joining us please get in touch. Contact Mina on 07860 669 953, or visit RSVP-west.org.uk.

Simply Social Activity and Social Club. Whether you are single or in a relationship, enhance your social life by joining our friendly social club. We are run by members for the members and enjoy a packed programme of activities including walking, live music, dancing, dining out, badminton, a reading group, weekends away and foreign holidays. There are no age limits although most of our members are 40+.

Check out www.simplysocial.org.uk or phone us on 07971 427 766, and come along to one of our Thursday Club nights.

Rotary Club of Bristol meets at the Bristol Hotel, Prince Street, BS1 4QF at 7.00pm for 7.30 pm on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Mondays and at 12.30 for 1.00 on the 2nd and 4th Mondays.

Meetings start with a meal and are followed by a speaker. New members are very welcome – for more details see www.bristolrotary. org or contact Martina Peattie at mpeattie@ btopenworld.com

Soroptimist International Bristol is part of a global organisation founded in Bristol for women.We meet on the second and fourth Mondays of the month at Long Ashton Golf Club. During the year we support various charities and have an interesting speaker programme. Do look at our website or for

Scottish Country Dancing - come to Dance Scottish with RSCDS Bristol on Thursdays at 54

H & P Aerials

Specialist in Digital Technology TV, FM And DAB Radio Aerials Freesat & European Satellite works Supply and Fit TV Mounts and Extra Aerial Points OAP Concessions* Fully Guaranteed Prompt And Efficient Service No Job Too Small

For A Free Quote Call 0117 908 7232 or 07815 029 775

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Would you like to make "MM NBUFSJBMT JOTQJSBUJPO BOE SFGSFTINFOUT beautiful hand XJMM CF QSPWJEFE embroidery?

FNCSPJEFSZ BU 5IF 'PML )PVTF #SJTUPM BOE 1SFNB "SUT 6MFZ Each week of this beginners course you will 
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These range SNFE XIFO from the OVNCFS PG QBSUJDJQBOUT JT LOPXO NBYJNVN

simple to the elaborate, building 
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Learn in a relaxed setting with a 5IJT DPVSTF JT TVJUBCMF GPS QFPQMF XJUI CBTJD FYQFSJFODF PG IBOE TUJUDIJOH small group under the experienced 1MFBTF HFU JO UPVDI UP CPPL B QMBDF PO UIJT DPVSTF guidance of teacher Jemima Lumley.

UIFSF T MJNJUFE TQBDF TP EPO U EFMBZ b QFS UFSN DMBTTFT

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and refreshments are provided.

2020 courses start in January, April and September and run for 10 weeks. Price £180.

Email jemimalumley@me.com, or visit jemimalumleytextiles.com for more details or to book your place.

55

What’s On & Community News more details email: sibristol@hotmail.co.uk (www.sigbi.org/Bristol)

Wesleyan Chapel next to the Downs with 2 beautiful, peaceful spaces 7/8 metres for hire.

Suitable for rehearsals, choirs, classes etc.

Reasonable rates. Please call 07790519683 for more info.

Stoke Lodge Ramblers. How about joining us for enjoyable 8-10 mile walks on two Sundays per month? Our usual group size is 12-15 walkers. If you are interested please come and give a try. For more details please visit www. stokelodgeramblers.wordpress.com or call our Secretary on 0117 950 0934.

Walking Tennis at Henleaze Tennis Club. This is a slower version of the game and is designed so that anyone with a long-term health condition or who is inactive can participate. It can be enjoyed by many, you do not have to have a health condition to attend! Open to all, members and non-members, sessions take place on Wednesday morning at 9.15am. Cost £5. Come and try it! Or for more information call 07411 263207.

Tai Chi = Unlimited Energy. An ancient Chinese system of exercise which develops a sense of harmony of body and mind. The classes are fun and inclusive and provide an encouraging environment in which to practice the flowing movements which bring a sense of calm.

Classes for beginners in Westbury, Southmead and Clifton. See www.taichiworksbristol.co.uk or phone 0117 9424167 for more information.

Walking Touch Rugby for males and female over 50s. Every Friday 10am to 11.30, Westbury Fields, Cricket Lane, Westbury-on-Trym BS10 6TW. A great inclusive sport for all levels of mobility. Come along and be welcomed.

Contact Kris Tavender, email ktavender@ bristolbearsrugby.com.

The Arts Society Bristol is Bristol’s society for those who enjoy the arts and we welcome new members. Lectures are given monthly on a wide range of subjects by specialists in their field. The lecture on 12 November is “The Beauty and History of Frames” and on 10 December is “Mad Men and Artists: How the advertising industry has exploited fine art”. Lectures are held at 8pm at Redmaids’ High School, Westbury-on-Trym, BS9 3AW. For more information visit our website www. theartssociety-bristol.org.uk

Westbury Harriers Running Club is for all ages and abilities, with a variety of different groups and sessions to suit all. Based at Coombe Dingle Sports Complex and Blaise Castle.

Training nights Mondays and Thursdays 7pm with additional sessions at Yate track on Tuesday evenings and an informal social run on Saturday mornings. See www. westburyharriers.com for more information on our events or joining us.

Treefest is a display of nearly 100 Christmas trees held in the Gothic splendour of St Mary Redcliffe Church. All the trees are decorated or made by individuals, local organisations and businesses, to raise money for charity which this year includes Preludes, a music education charity and St Mary Redcliffe’s Community projects.

It is held from 3rd - 7th December 2019, open 10-5 daily and Thursday 10-8. Free admission and the event is accessible for all. There is a daily music programme and refreshments available in Church. FFI visit www.treefest.org. uk

Westbury Park Orchestra is a friendly nonauditioned orchestra with a repertoire of classical and modern pieces and with an emphasis of having fun. We meet Redmaids’ High Junior School, Grange Court Road, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS9 4DP on Monday evenings between 8.00 and 9.30 p.m. (term time only). If you are a string or brass player ideally of a good standard, come along for your free taster session and give us a try. For further information, please visit www.westburyparkorchestra.com or email contact@westburyparkorchestra.com

Venue for Hire. Subud Hall, Wesley Place, Clifton, BS8 2YD. The Subud Hall is an ex

Westbury Park Women’s Institute at Redland 56

Children’s Puzzles - answers on page 60 Odd One Out Can you spot the odd one out in these lists? a) Ultramarine, Sapphire, Navy, Emerald, Powder. b) Heath, Thatcher, May, Kinnock, Major. c) Jay McGuiness, Bruce Forsyth, Abbey Clancey, Harry Judd, Ore Oduba. d) Haddock, Aardvark, Mackerel, Cod, Tuna. e) Bella, Laa-Laa, Jake, Fizz, Milo.

Film Characters Can you match these characters to their names, and also the films they appeared in?

The Simpsons

Despicable Me Woody

Mike

Frozen Lisa

Toy Story Elsa

Monsters Inc.

Dru

Mystery Personalities Can you recognise the three “famous people” behind the frames below?

57

What’s On & Community News Church Halls, Redland Green Road, BS6 7HE. From 7.15 - 9.30pm 1st Wednesday of the month. We are a friendly group, have a full programme with inspiring speakers and activities, theatre trips, book group, outings and extra activities. Refreshments available, guests are welcome. (Jan 2020 will be on 8th) Email Westburyparkwi@gmail.com or check out www.westburyparkwi.org.uk Find us on Facebook – Westbury Park WI.

from Sept-April; a fun and friendly way to exercise body and mind. Dress is informal, and no dancing partner needed. Beginners class is at Leonard Hall, Trinity-Henleaze URC, Waterford Rd., Henleaze BS9 4BT; contact Maggie on 01934 838175. More advanced dancers: at St.Peter’s Church Hall, Henleaze BS9 4LD; contact Cheryl on 0117 401 2416. See www.wscbristol.co.uk for details.

Deadline for inclusion in the December issue - Friday 15th November

Westbury Scottish Club country dancing classes are held every Tues 7.30-9.30pm

Councillors’ Contacts - Your Green Team in Clifton and Clifton Down

Cllr. Jerome Thomas

Cllr. Paula O’Rourke

Cllr. Clive Stevens

Cllr. Carla Denyer

Local News from your Clifton and Clifton Down Green Councillors Decision delayed on new Downs bike lane The Council’s Downs Committee has decided to delay a decision on whether to build a new bike path across the Downs. Clifton Councillor Paula O’Rourke argued strongly in favour of the proposed new path saying that it would double the room for cyclists along that stretch of the A4018, and also reduce congestion for motorists. Lib Dem and Conservative councillors at the meeting voted to postpone the Committee’s decision until the council had explored an alternative option. But Paula argued that the alternative option of improving the shared path would see little change. “If you just improve the current cycle path, you won’t improve the capacity,” she said. “If you put a cycle path in there and make it easy and nice and comfortable for people to cycle, more people will cycle...and it’s stopping congestion, improving health, the benefits are enormous.”

Keeping you in the know Please email your local councillors if you would like to subscribe to our quarterly e-newsletters to get updates on what’s going on in the ward, consultations you may want to take part in, etc.

Please get in touch Paula O’Rourke (Clifton) - cllr.paula.orourke@bristol.gov.uk - Tel: 07584 370433 Jerome Thomas (Clifton) - cllr.jerome.thomas@bristol.gov.uk - Tel: 07810 581031 Carla Denyer (Clifton Down) - cllr.carla.denyer@bristol.gov.uk- Tel: 07469 413306 Clive Stevens (Clifton Down) - cllr.clive.stevens@bristol.gov.uk -Tel: 07584370434 58

Interested in advertising?

Get your business through the letterbox of 12,000 homes across the area - pretty much everyone across Redland, Cotham, Kingsdown, Westbury Park and north Clifton

That's an awful lot of readers - also known as potential customers.

For more details on how to advertise your business in The Bristol Six + Eight magazine get in touch nowwww.bcmagazines.co.uk andy@bcmagazines.co.uk 07845 986650 /0117 259 1964

FULL PAGE £145 + VAT PCM

QUARTER PAGE £55 + VAT PCM

HALF PAGE £90 + VAT PCM

QUARTER PAGE £55 + VAT PCM

59

HALF PAGE £90 + VAT PCM

EIGHTH PAGE £33 + VAT PCM

Quiz Answers General Knowledge from page 10 1. Qatar (Doha); 2. a) Aidan Turner, b) Jody Comer, c) Suranne Jones; 3. Sir Alec Douglas-Home; 4.

Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation; 5. a) yes, b) yes, c) no, d) yes; 6.a) Steve Cram, b) Shirley Peters,c) Chris Hoy; 7.a) 46 calories, b) 71 calories, c) 41 calories; 8a) Golden Temple (Amritsar), b) Temple Mount (Bethlehem), c); Lumbini (Nepal) 9a) water, b) salt, c) sugar.

Geography Knowledge from page 10 1.a) Shropshire, b) Northumberland, c) Derbyshire; 2. Switzerland, France and Germany, b) Czech Republic and Germany, c) Slovakia, Hungary and Austria; 3. the Sahara; 4. Venezuela and Colombia; 5. the Caucasus mountains; 6. a) Arkansas, b) Florida, and c) Wyoming; 7. Swaziland; 8.a) Afghanistan, b) Cyprus, and c) Morocco; 9. on the Moon.

Children’s Puzzles from page 57 Odd One Out a) Emerald is a shade of green, all the others are shades of blue; b) Kinnock was not a UK Prime Minister, all the others were; c) Bruce Forsyth presented Strictly Come Dancing, all the others won the competition; d) Aardvark is an African mammal, all the others are types of popular sea fish; e) Laa-Laa is a character in the Teletubbies, the others are from the Tweenies.

Film Characters From left to right - Elsa from Frozen, Woody from Toy Story, Lisa from The Simpsons, Mike from Monsters Inc. and Dru from Despicable Me. Mystery Personalities Mr Tumble (Justin Fletcher), The Queen, Hacker T. Dog

Spreading the Word!

Are you struggling to get to your local library? Don’t worry, the

Bristol Home Library Service can help.

If you have a disability, mobility issue or caring responsibilities that prevent you from accessing your library, contact us today.

Our volunteers will visit you every month with a fresh supply of books and would love to stay for a chat over a cuppa.

Call Janice or Steve on 0117 929 7444 or email: BHLSvisits@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk Disclaimer The Bristol Six+Eight is published by Bristol Community Magazines Ltd (Co. No. 08448649, registered at 8 Sandyleaze, Westbury on Trym, Bristol, BS9 3PY). The views expressed by contributors or advertisers in The Bristol Six+Eight are not necessarily those held by Bristol Community Magazines Ltd. The inclusion of any business or organisation in this magazine does not imply a recommendation of it, its aims or its methods. Bristol Community Magazines Ltd cannot be held responsible for information disclosed by advertisers, all of which are accepted in good faith. Reasonable efforts are made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this magazine but no liability can be accepted for any loss or inconvenience caused as a result of inclusion, error or omission. All content is the copyright of Bristol Community Magazines Ltd and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of Bristol Community Magazines.

60

Advertorial Feature

Making Votes Matter People living in many areas of Bristol and across the UK are calling for a long awaited shake-up of British politics which would benefit voters everywhere.

They’re passionate supporters of Make Votes Matter (MVM), a cross-party, national campaign group which was set up in 2015 to change the way MPs are elected - from a winner takes all system to a form of Proportional Representation (PR). There are several systems of PR, but the basic principle is that every vote matters, seats match votes, and Parliament reflects the people.

In Bristol, dedicated campaigners have set up their own group - MVM Bristol - to work in tandem with the national organisation, which has its headquarters in Clifton Wood. You may have stumbled across the group at one of their MVM street stalls as members have been busy campaigning across the city, from a summer fete in Westbury, to the bustle of Gaol Ferry Steps.

Mel Ward, a local MVM supporter, said: “I strongly believe that if we had a more representative electoral system, Parliament would be less confrontational and combative, and more able to achieve a consensus.

Now is the time for a move to PR, but voters must campaign for it - if you want change then please get involved now.�

MVM Bristol volunteers come from all walks of life and different parts of the city. If you are interested in joining them to campaign for PR, the group is always on the lookout for new members. Email local@makevotesmatter. org.uk for more details, and get started on your journey to making all votes matter.

A petition calling on Bristol MPs to back Proportional Representation can be signed online at www.makevotesmatter.org.uk/petition-forproportional-representation.

61

Index of Advertisers Appliance Repairs

AASP Domestics

Auctions & Sales

Clevedon Salerooms Ltd

Bathrooms & Wetrooms

AHM Installations Ltd Bathroom Perfection Bristol Paul Whittaker Bathrooms & Wetrooms

Blinds & Shutters

Just Shutters UK Blinds Direct

Building Services

Garcia Building Services

Children's Clothing

Cotton Boulevard

Cleaning Services

Home Gleamers Oven Gleamers

Computer Services

FAB ‐ IT Rescue IT HomeHelp

Counselling

Jonathan's Voice

Cycle Services

Boing Bicycles

Dental Care

Whitetree Orthodontic Specialist Centre

Electrical Services

Daley Electrical Services Ltd Lek‐Trix Redland Electrical Services

Estate & Letting Agents

CJ Hole (Bishopston & Redfield) Howard Estate Agents

Financial Advice

Cardens Harold Stephens

Garage Doors

Up & Over Doors

Garden Maintenance

49

Blossom Garden Services

Holistic Therapies

5

Anjali Hariharan

Home Care Services

29 4 55

Home Instead Premier Homecare St Monica Trust

12 34

Kemps Jewellers

Jewellery & Gifts Massage

Heather Drewe

25

Painting & Decorating

G R Knott Peter Wyatt Sarah's Decorating Services Stephen Carter

63 23 34

Plastering

A & P Plastering (BS6) John Boyce Plasterwork JSH Plastering McCall Plastering

53 31 7

Pre‐School & Nurseries

Red Bus Nursery

49

Schools

11

Redmaids High School

55 39 53

AMD Solicitors Corfield Solicitors Veale Wasbrough Vizards

37 42

Thornbury Lift Services Ltd

Solicitors

Stairlifts

Tree Services

Sutcliffe Tree Care

TV Aerials

64 47

H and P Aerials

13

Crystal Clear

Windows & Doors

62

12 29 15 32 26 41 4 49 53 29 53 49 12 29 23 27 13 16 2 20 14 53 55 25

Cotton Boulevard comes to the High Street With the support of Hannah and Susannah Hall they are busy promoting Cotton Boulevard on social media on Facebook and Instagram, and are currently redesigning their website – www.cottonboulevard. co.uk – so do ‘watch this space’. Karen and Hannah have exhibited at the Baby and Toddler show in Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey and Eventcity in Manchester, to raise awareness of the brand and product range in different parts of the country. “Driving a long-wheelbase, high top Transit was a first for me and created much hilarity to my family and friends! But, hey, needs must!” says Karen.

It’s always nice to have a new face on the High Street especially when it is somebody you know setting off on a new challenge.

That is what happened last month when Cotton Boulevard “poped up” on the High Street in Westbury.

For the person behind the venture though, doing business locally is nothing new, for she has worked in the village for many years. To find out more I chatted recently to Karen Graveney (we are long time back-to-back neighbours) about her bittersweet return to business in Westbury.

Now is time to promote Cotton Boulevard locally, and with this in mind, I’m delighted to tell readers that from now until 31st December they are setting up a ‘pop up’ shop in the old Vanilla Gifts shop, 47 High Street, Westbury-on-Trym (just past the Post Office) to give everyone the opportunity to see, feel and purchase items from the Cotton Boulevard collection especially with Christmas fast approaching.”

“As many people know, after a long and brave battle with cancer my husband John lost his fight last October. He is of course still hugely missed by me, his family, many friends, clients and colleagues.

Please do pop in and be introduced to Cotton Boulevard. Everyone who knows Karen will know how she would love to see friends old and new. And the very best of luck Karen from The Bristol Six+Eight magazine.

During the middle of this year, my daughter, Hannah felt it was time for ‘Mum’ to get her mind busy again and find a purpose, and she introduced me to Cotton Boulevard. As the saying goes ‘I bought the company!”

Cotton Boulevard is an organic babies and toddlers clothing range, from ages 3 months – 24 months, designed in the UK and manufactured in India where the organic cotton is grown. The items are super soft, sustainable, environmentally friendly and unique in their design.

Opening times - 10.00am – 4.00pm, from Tuesday to Saturday each week until 31st December 2019.

Visit – www.cottonboulevard.co.uk Email – hello@cottonboulevard.co.uk Mobile – 07747 612494

“This is a fast learning curve for me but, I am thoroughly enjoying introducing the products to new customers, and with the belief in the fabric I have every confidence everyone will love it. It is kind on babies and children’s skin and the environmental ethics are an important criterion to us all’.

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Brilliant Sorters of Financial Stuff Hilary Carden, Managing Director of Cardens

“ Most people spend more time planning a holiday than they do the rest of their life. And that’s not right. ”

Free

PENSIONS Consultation How fit is your future?

Call us now on 0117 290 0259 www.cardens.co.uk 1 Westbury Mews, Westbury Hill, Bristol, BS9 3QA Authorised and regulated by the 64 Financial Conduct Authority Company Registered in England no. 04347771