My Andover Gazette - November 2022

Welcome...

Dear Residents,

We are very excited about our new project to be as eco-friendly as possible. The new paper we are using is definitely a step in that direction. We also have lots of articles this month that align with our view of helping the planet ‘one page at a time’. If you have any ideas locally, or know of a business that is doing all it can to stay environmentally safe, please let them know of us, as we can help spread the word. Let’s keep our planet clean and healthy.

This is in fact the November issue and I for one am so surprised how the time is flying by! I wonder if that is to do with my age? Quite likely! Are you in the Christmas spirit yet? … I cannot say I am as I write this, but that could change at any moment. Maybe a spot of Christmas shopping will do it? Well, it is a good excuse anyway. Stephen and I did manage a few days away last month and you can read all about it inside. It is good to take some time out that is for sure. We do wish you a very happy November and hope you have good plans to spend time with family and friends for the holiday season coming up. Oh yes and please use the advertisers inside to help with anything you need. As ever, if you have any data to pass on to me, I am happy to talk or receive an email.

Wishing you all the very best, Debbie, Stephen & Daichi

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The waiting is almost over for the biggest festival of football to begin as the FIFA World Cup breaks new ground with its foray into the Middle East. Qatar is set to host what will be the 22nd edition of the sport’s most famous event, as a planet of football fanatics hold their breath.

This winter, hosts Qatar will kick-off the World Cup in the Al Bayt Stadium on Friday 20th November against Ecuador, hoping not to join South Africa as the only host nation not to advance from their group. Senegal and Netherlands complete Group A.

Group B sees England and Wales, alongside USA and Iran; while Group C contains twotime winners Argentina, as well as Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland.

In Group D, it’s defending world champions France paired with Australia, Denmark and Tunisia.

The might of Spain and Germany will clash in Group E, with Japan and Costa Rica seemingly fighting for third place.

Former World number one ranked Belgium are in with

The Teams, The Groups, The Venues, The Coverage show

2018 runners-up Croatia, as Canada and Morocco sit alongside, in Group F.

Record five-time winners Brazil play Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon in Group G, whilst the first-round stage is completed by Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea in a tough looking Group H.

The 64 tournament matches will be played over 28 days and in eight different venues, as the sides battle it out to face off in the World Cup final, to be held at the Lusail Iconic Stadium, which is about 20km from the capital of Doha.

In the UK, free-toair channels BBC and ITV share the rights to screen every single match, and both will show the final in full. Globally, the viewing figures

for Russia 2018 were record-breaking, as over half of the world watched at least one minute of coverage. With the Middle East only a few hours ahead of the UK, the majority of matches will kick off in daytime hours. After Qatar’s opener on the Friday evening, there will be four matches a day throughout the group stage from 11am to 8pm start times (GMT).

There will no break between the group and knockout stages. The first hiatus in action will come in the days before the quarter-finals on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th; the semifinals take place on the 13th and 14th, and the third-place playoff is on Saturday 17th December.

The showpiece final, and the crowning of the Qatar 2022 World Cup winners, kicks off at 3pm on Sunday 18th December.

Hold onto your hats –it’s going to be quite a ride!

Councillor’s

As temperatures continue to drop, I know many residents will be worried about their energy bills this winter. The government’s £150bn support will help - limiting the unit price for gas and electricity and giving everyone an additional £400 discount - but with the cost-of-living rising Test Valley Borough Council has also been putting together local support. At our Cabinet meeting recently, we agreed a £50k grant pot to help organisations that are working with vulnerable people in our borough. This follows a special meeting of the Test Valley Partnership that I jointly hosted with the Leader of the Opposition in August, recognising that the current challenges are too important not to work cross-party. The grants will help organisations such as foodbanks, charities or parish councils to deal with extra demand. This style-scheme worked extremely well during Covid - and is designed to be flexible with minimal paperwork. These grants are in addition to the help and support Test Valley is already providing. Such as £815k to the Citizens Advice Bureau over the next three years to provide advice on benefits, debt reduction and other practical support; the work our housing service does to get people into accommodation and support them to stay there; paying out the £150 energy rebate payments; administering food vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund; and providing council tax and housing benefit support. If you’re struggling this winter, please do contact us or look at our cost-of-living support hub available at -www.testvalley.gov.uk/cost-of-living. A huge thank you to the 1,500 people who responded to our public survey over the summer which will help shape the council’s priorities for the next four years. We are taking resident engagement a step further this time though

as we put our new Corporate Plan. Building on our learnings from the Romsey Citizen’s Assembly and the Andover Youth Assembly, around 120 people will be taking part in special workshops in Andover, Romsey and Kings Somborne this month. These sessions will involve exploring people’s experiences, hearing from experts, testing new ideas and shaping recommendations. Helping us to analyse the survey responses we have already received. Everything from town centres and community facilities, to the countryside and green spaces are in the mix. Ensuring we focus on the priorities that will improve the quality of life for people living in Test Valley.

Finally, I’m pleased to report that Test Valley has received a Silver Award as part of the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. The certificate was presented by the Lord Lieutenant to our Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Nick Matthews at a ceremony in Portsmouth recently. Recognising all the work we have been doing to support serving and former military personnel and their families. After securing the Bronze Award in 2021 and Silver this year, we’ll be going for Gold in the futureensuring we continue to go above and beyond our obligations set out in the military covenant.

Cllr. Phil North

Leader of the Test Valley Borough Council

Game for a laugh?

How luck and laughter have kept comedian, novelist and actress Jenny Eclair at the top of her game as she soars into her seventh decade.

You’ll often hear pop stars, entertainers and comedians complaining about life on the road – the travelling, the hotels, the constant and aching repetition of each live show… but not Jenny Eclair.

The husky-voiced fashionfervent 62-year-old doesn’t buy into all that. To her, touring is a chance to meet new people and see new sights – in many respects, it’s a holiday… even if she can’t pinpoint on a map where her destinations are...

“The more I tour, the more grateful I am to be doing this,” she begins. “I do realise how lucky I am, to have people still turning up. That’s pretty special

for me, because there’s a lot of competition out there and it’s quite tough.

“It’s easy to moan about this and that, but you come to realise this is actually a dream job. I get to show off for 90 minutes on a nightly basis. That’s not bad!

“And I love the travelling,” she continues. “There are the places you know, and they are ones that you look forward to. Then there are the surprises: Aberdeen, so friendly; Fowey, in Cornwall, beautiful; and Telford… fantastic! On any normal day you’d think ‘Where the hell is Telford?! Well, I know now!

“The mentality is, ‘I might never be able to come to this place again, so why not do that river trip, why not have that cheesecake?!’ It’s just taking advantage of where you are more than just laying in a hotel room worrying about the gig.”

That Jenny views touring as a holiday

means audiences get the very best out of a comedian who is, ironically, most notably recognised for her sour-spoken rantings on Grumpy Old Women, Loose Women and more.

Her 2022 tour, entitled Sixty! (Ffs!) should have happened two years ago, but Covid saw to its delay. The sentiments are, however, all the same, even now she has ascended to the ripe old age of, well, 62.

“Stand-up is an interesting concept in itself. You’re never totally in control – making people laugh can be tough, after all, but when it goes well it’s like getting into a big bath every night – it’s comforting and it’s comfortable.

“Ultimately, I love feelgood comedy – for me, it’s about performing to women of a certain age… an audience who are experiencing a lot of similar things; but good comedy should be about anything that makes us smile. I think we all need a dose of that right now!”

We all know that we need to do our bit to help save our planet, whether that might be changing our diet, reducing electricity usage or using eco-friendly alternatives. Products that are ecofriendly are products that do not harm to the environment.

Eco-friendly products are usually turned down by buyers because of their higher costs. Making a product for pro ts with no care for the environment allows large corporate companies to sell their products at a cheaper price while creating all kinds of damage to our planet. However, many of the cheaper products we buy from corporate businesses are designed to be less sustainable and durable, making us purchase them again and again. Eco-friendly products although pricier initially do not just help our planet but also tend to be more durable. is means that, in the long-term, choosing a more sustainable product can save you money.

Debbie Goes Green: Project Planet

In contribution to save our planet and give consumers an environmentally friendly alternative to household items, toiletries and many more, Debbie Goes Green began in 2019 designed to help local people nd better, and trusted eco-friendly products. Buying eco-friendly products is also safer for you as a consumer, other products are usually made with harmful chemicals. Bigger corporate companies usually use manufactures that use pesticides for cheaper costs, these chemicals can have a bad a ection your health. Eco-friendly products are made organically and manufacturers rarely use harmful chemicals. Debbie Goes Green is a business that makes it easy for you to nd eco-friendly products without having to spend hours researching and spending a fortune. e products on the website are all against animal testing. Use sustainable alternatives and help save our planet. To nd out more, take a look at the website at: debbiegoesgreen.uk Or email: hello@debbiegoesgreen.uk

By Amelia Hartley-Baker

STAR GAZING

WRITTEN BY KATE EARL kateearlastro@gmail.com

Welcome to the November Stargazing Page. Highlights this month include an opportunity to see three planets in our evening skies and the return of the bright, familiar winter constellations.

International Space Station

The ISS can be spotted early in the morning until the 8th, then is visible in our evening skies before 8pm from the 18th. To establish exact timings please refer to www.heavens-above.com or a similar webpage for up-to-date information, remembering to set the location to your observing area.

Events

The winter constellations make a welcome return to our evening skies this month. Taurus the Bull, with its magnificent star clusters the Hyades and Pleiades rises in the east just after sunset. Orion follows shortly afterwards, and is above the horizon by 9.30pm, closely followed by the brightest star in the sky, Sirius (the dog star), which is shining low in the east by midnight.

Mercury

The innermost planet is too close to the Sun to be seen this month.

Venus

Venus is also lost in the Sun’s glare this month.

Mars

Mars continues to brighten daily, and can be seen at the start of the month rising around 7pm in the northeast (see figure). By month end, it is considerably brighter and rising around 4.30pm.

Jupiter & Saturn

Both gas giants are visible towards the south when darkness falls; Jupiter is the incredibly bright object to the east (left) of less-bright Saturn. Saturn sets by 11pm but Jupiter is visible until the early hours of the morning. The moon appears close by from the 1st – 4th (see figure), and then again on the 28th, 29th and 30th.

Moon

November’s full moon occurs on the 8th.

The Artemis return mission to the Moon

In the 1960s and 70’s, Apollo missions 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 17 landed twelve men on the Moon. In the 2020’s, NASA are hoping to return astronauts to the Moon with the Artemis Space Mission. At the time of going to press, Artemis I, a test run of the massive Space Launch System rocket (SLS), and the Orion crew capsule (which will keep the astronauts safe from the dangers of space) had yet to launch due to various issues, including a fuel leak and a delay caused by Hurricane Ian. Hopefully by the time you read this the mission will have successfully lifted off and be in orbit around the Moon.

A Potted History of the World Cup

As Qatar prepare to host the 22nd edition of the World Cup, we look back on the heroes of the past the organisers are excited to emulate.

The first World Cup stretches all the way back to 1930, where the inaugural hosts also turned out to be the winners as Uruguay came back from 2-1 down against Argentina in the Montevideo final (the only city to be used in the competition), to prevail 4-2.

La Celeste (The Sky Blues) have reached one other final, in 1950, where they were also victorious, beating Brazil 2-1 on their own patch, in Rio de Janeiro. However, the runners-up there were, in time, to embark on a successful run of their own.

Italy, albeit amid some controversy, would win backto-back Jules Rimet Trophies in 1934 and 1938, keeping that trophy for a further 12 years, due to the outbreak of the Second World War, before the aforementioned 1950 edition.

Arguably, the best side never to have won the World Cup may have been Hungary, who went 49 matches unbeaten between 1950 and 1956, yet their 3-2 defeat by West Germany in the Bern final in 1954 is their best tournament performance.

As for Brazil, it was the discovery of a certain 17year-old named Edson Arantes do Nascimento – otherwise known as Pele – that would inspire them to three wins in four tournaments (1958, 1962, 1970), with England, in 1966 of course, breaking the sequence.

Back to West Germany and they would win on home soil in 1974, beating the great Netherlands side of Johan Cruyff and Johan Neeskens. Argentina would repeat the trick as hosts in Buenos Aires four years later, and the Germans again succumbed when Italy got themselves back

on the winners’ rostrum in Spain in 1982. Finally, a Diego Maradona-inspired Argentina won their second title at Mexico 86.

West Germany gained revenge at Italia 90, before Brazil reached three finals in a row winning on penalties against Italy in the USA (1994), losing to the hosts in France (1998) and regaining the trophy in South Korea and Japan, against a reformed Germany in 2002.

Penalties would again be needed to give Italy their fourth success, against France in Germany 2006, while Spain’s golden generation recorded a debut victory in South Africa 2010 (either side of two European Championships wins).

Germany destroyed a sorry Brazil 7-1 in the semi-final of their second time as hosts, on the way to also denying Lionel Messi and Argentina in 2014, before France beat Croatia 4-2 (which is the most popular final score) in Russia 2018.

A Design for Life… e Kevin McCloud Column

Designer, writer and television presenter, Kevin McCloud leapt into our consciousness with his vastly successful Grand Designs show on Channel 4. This month, the affable architectural business owner returns to the subject of truly making our home into a home.

It’s becoming more and more difficult to get on the property ladder. We are living through an incredible ‘cost of living’ crisis, and that throws the whole housing market into disarray. Should people buy now in fear of things getting even worse? Should they look to rent and wait for things to calm down? Or perhaps if the bubble is going to burst, should they sell up, keep their money to one side and buy something when the property sector crashes?

Through all the worry and uncertainty there is always the

factor of making wherever we do live as happily and as homely as possible.

I feel that sometimes we are so keen to move, so keen to head on to the next place, that we lose sight of the day-to-day joy, satisfaction, security and homeliness of our spaces, and really these things are worth more than any amount of money in the bank.

I have always thought that, right back to the first house I ever bought - an old two up, two down in East Dulwich in London. It was small and not worth a lot, but it meant and still does mean an awful lot to me. It was where I started out, and I look back with huge fondness.

So this is why, when we have so much worry and concern

over the way the market is going – and let’s be honest, for several years now it’s only been going in one direction – we can sometimes lose sight of the contentment and happiness that a property brings us. Perhaps it’s the garden, or the cellar, or just the hour or two you get to sit in the front room and relax on an evening.

My point is we are always trying to move on and aspire to the next thing, when in reality so much of what we should do is about sitting still, looking around, being in the moment and saying to ourselves, ‘you know, this is okay – in this moment, I am happy’.

Make the most of your home’s best features, because adding value isn’t always about money and it never has been. Wherever you find yourself, just enjoy your time there.

Taking place on Friday, November 25 from 3pm until 8pm, the event which has been organised by Test Valley Borough Council, InAndover from Andover BID and Andover Town Council will see the town centre packed with Christmas treats for all ages to enjoy.

As we will have two stages both Andover High Street and Bridge Street will be filled with live music throughout the evening with performances from local choirs, brass bands and musicians.

There will be a fantastic opportunity to start Christmas shopping at the special Christmas market featuring stalls from local businesses, and visitors can enjoy tucking into delicious street food, and sipping mugs of spiced mulled wine, craft drinks and hot chocolate.

Leader of Test Valley Borough Council Cllr Phil North said: “I’m really pleased to announce our festive plans this year and I’m looking forward to celebrating Christmas in Andover. We have a great line up of activities, performances, food stalls and music in store for everyone to come and be a part of.

“With Riverside Park, the Chantry Centre and High Street offering something different there will

be plenty for everyone to enjoy throughout the afternoon and evening. It’s a great time for us to come along after school or work and look forward to celebrating the festive season together.”

Fairground games will be popping-up along the High Street, giving friends and families the chance to try their hand at traditional stalls and games such as a ‘Christmas pudding shy’.

Light projection shows and installations will illuminate the town as the sun goes down, including Andover’s Christmas Lights which will be officially switched on as part of the night’s celebrations.

Riverside Park at Town Mills will host a special theatre tent, featuring a magical production of Thumbelina, using traditional glove, rod and shadow puppets suitable for all the family. Places for these shows will be limited and details for advanced booking will be announced soon. Free face painting and glitter tattoos will also be on offer during the event, helping little ones to get into the festive spirit.

Inside the Chantry Centre the Christmas Grotto will open its doors once again, welcoming families and giving them to chance to meet Father Christmas and receive a special festive gift.

The Grotto will also reopen on select dates in the lead-up to Christmas.

Further information about this event can be found here:

www.inandover.co.uk/events

ANDOVER residents are invited to attend a very special event this November, as the Andover Christmas Festival launches the start of the festive season.

The Greenest Countries on Earth

The top eight countries doing their bit for the planet.

While environmental groups and politicians may make us believe we, here in the UK, are the scourge of the planet’s health, recent research by Oxford University has shown us to be one of the greenest countries on Earth.

Of course, more can always be done, always, but in the meantime, here are the planet’s top eight eco-conscious countries.

1. Switzerland

The most environmentally friendly and greenest country in the world, Switzerland, achieves its status in the way it has led on hydroelectric power, solar energy, wind turbines and geothermal.

2. France

In their 2019 Energy and Climate Act, France gave themselves an ambitious aim of net zero emissions by 2050. In addition, they made it illegal for supermarkets to discard good quality, unsold produce, and they score particularly well on low air pollution as well.

3. Denmark

With half of the electricity on Danish shores provided by solar and wind power and a very efficient policy on greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), Denmark’s rating is boosted by extremely good air quality and rich biodiversity.

4. Malta

Biodiversity is also a big win for Malta, while water is as clean in the country as anywhere on the planet, due to excellent sanitation and resources. The country is also helped by great agritourism - local people hosting in rural areas.

5. Sweden

Another Scandinavian country on the list, Sweden has low CO2 emissions, and their utilisation of renewable energy sources mean they aim to be running at 100% sustainability by 2045.

6. United Kingdom

The UK ranks extremely highly on the purity of drinking water and general sanitation levels.

In addition, while our countryside is revered the world over, our eco rating is boosted mostly by the 9,000 wind turbines scattered around the coastline, which allow for clean and sustainable energy.

7. Luxembourg

In 2005, the diminutive country set itself a target of lowering GHG emissions by more than half by 2030, with a goal of net zero by 2050. Scoring high for water and biodiversity and habitat, Luxembourg is succeeding.

8. Austria

With 40% of the country’s money set aside for green projects and 19% of agricultural land now organically farmed, Austria is doing well in the environmental stakes. In fact, that latter figure puts them top of the EU charts.

Leading countries from other continents

Oceania

New Zealand, 17th Asia

Japan, 20th North America Canada, 25th South America Trinidad and Tobago, 35th Africa

Morocco, 54th

Green ngers… the Alan Titchmarsh column

He’s a brilliant presenter, accomplished gardener, talented novelist, and allround horticultural inspiration. This month, Alan Titchmarsh discusses the next generation of green-fingered gardeners.

You’ll find me talking quite a bit about the new breed of gardener coming through. For me, it’s a natural evolution that presents to me two different things – firstly, the art of gardening is much more interesting and much cooler than it ever was in my day; and secondly, it seems as though I am becoming more and more aware of my own mortality!

Percy Thrower was the one who inspired me most when I was a kid. I watched him on Gardening Club on the box, and as the years have gone by, I have been lucky enough to work with a number of the horticultural greats. Christopher Lloyd was a friend, Beth Chatto is a friend who I really value

and whose work I really admire.

After a while you realise you have progressed from the student to the teacher, and I’ve always been very proud

We need to show people that it isn’t difficult or boring, that is it is exciting, and that most of it is just common sense.

to be that person. Ultimately, I want to inspire everybody to get into the garden, because I think there are so many benefits.

When I am presenting, I never have a set section of society or type of person in mind. I guess, in a way, I am presenting to myself - I want anybody and everybody to start thinking about getting into the garden.

And I do admit, the likes of James Swift, James Wong, Annemarie Powell, Katie Rushworth and Frances Tophill all have a knack of conversing to young audiences that I probably don’t have… and that’s great.

I

We have to keep evolving what we say and who we want to position it to, because as I have said before there are so many other distractions for young people these days.

I want to see our gardens and our outside spaces continue to flourish over the decades to come, despite the noise and appeal of doing other things elsewhere; and you know what, I’m sure they will.

01962 736

07711

Money on my mind...the Martin Lewis column

He’s the UK’s leading money saving expert - a journalist and presenter who has kept millions of pounds in people’s pockets as well as lifting the lid on the threats and dangers we need to be aware of as consumers.

In this month’s column, Martin Lewis looks at the current energy crisis, and the fact no real solution appears close.

Our energy sector is in a mess, and there is little doubt about that. For too long we have experienced this continual up and down shift of prices and supply and tari s and everything else that, as consumers, drives us bonkers.

The reality of what we have and what’s going on right now has been brewing for a long time. A perfect storm of situations, from Brexit to covid to the conflict in Russia, e ectively means we are being throttled in our desire to heat and light our homes, ensure water comes through our taps and more.

You may say we have been unlucky to find these factors all colliding in together at one time, yet it is the job of the government – and any sort of decent opposition – to put fail safes in place so that when something

catastrophic result

It’s a disastrous combination and we are

praying for short- and medium-term solutions that will see not just the most vulnerable through the winter, but everyone else besides, because this is a national problem coming at a time of huge inflation and cost of living emergency.

Let’s just go to a basic summary of what we have here – in the UK we’re talking about having privatised energy firms, but we e ectively now have restricted competition and regulated prices in the form of a price cap. You have to ask yourself, what is the benefit of privatisation if you work in that marketplace?

The next price caps – they’re going to be in January and April – will reveal where we go from here.

All I can say right now is energy bills will go down – they will be lower in April than they will be in January, but higher than they are now.

And while we wait for a solution, we will need to ride this out – we have no choice. Yet rest assured the consumer has been sold down the river and the lessons of this will resonate with both current and future governments, as they should.

catastrophic like this happens, the end result isn’t the sort of bewildering increase in bills that really may move a greater quantity of people into poverty than we have ever seen before.

Vouchers & Gifts for Christmas

We o er gift

The Adventures of Daichi

The Modern Magazines Camper Van

Sometimes we have to change plans and apparently ‘make do’ with less than we originally wanted. Life is like that, let’s face it. Last month was an example of that, but we had a great time despite the grandiose plans taking a back step. You see it was our 25th Wedding Anniversary at the end of September. The plan had been to go on a cruise, sailing around Alaska, or some exotic location. However, we had moved house less than a year ago and with it came a brand new business, we now call “Wafflicious” on the Esplanade in Weymouth, that we had had no prior experience with at all. Fitting in a cruise both financially and time-wise was just not on this new agenda. So where did we go…? Lyme Regis! There were less whales and no black bears (fortunately you may say) but we had a wonderful time. We chose a hideaway just north of Lyme Regis, set in lush trees with a hot tub and sauna. Perfect. Daichi pootled his way there all smiles, ready for a relaxing getaway. We stopped off at a farm shop for a delightful full English breakfast en route, which is when I really knew we had actually managed to ‘escape’ for a few

The first day... it rained!

days. On arriving in Lyme Regis, one of my other favourite coastal towns here on the Jurassic Coast, the wind was blowing, the rain was pouring and by all accounts this was set in for the whole time we would be there. Oh dear. I just decided that whatever the weather, we would have a good time. Afterall there was a warm sauna awaiting us, and I had a good book with me too!

That all miraculously changed! The next day was glorious. Really. We walked along the front with glistening blue sea, swimmers and people in bathing suits, walking alongside ladies and gents in coats and boots! Only in England could this happen. We had lunch overlooking the bay with Portland in the distance. The Cobb majestically positioned, that famous harbour wall where “Persuasion” by Jane Austen and “The French Lieutenants Woman” were filmed some time ago. That must have been exciting to watch in the making. Walking slowly along the promenade we continued all the way to the “Ammonite Pavement” at Lyme Regis Undercliffs. What a find! There are fossils here that are huge, just lying around

bathing in the sun… and hundreds of them! All along this stretch of the coast you can see ammonites everywhere. It is so impressive. You really can feel the sense of history, a time well before us and envisage colossal dinosaurs towering above you. I loved it. Sitting on a rock lazily gazing out to sea, watching others anticipating their historic finds, seeing that actually the world is not as the press make it all out to be, was very rewarding. The passing of time and how things used to be, somehow has a calming effect I feel. For our younger readers this may not yet be so real. Live life now is also my motto!

That evening we had to try the jacuzzi of course and watch the thousands of stars above us. Incredible. Just on a practical note, as I have shivered at the thought of these Jacuzzis in Iceland and very cold climates, but they really are very warm, and keep you warm! It was delightful. The stars were utterly inspiring that evening and this turned out to be another thought-provoking occasion. Now, I was wondering who else was ‘out there’, how far is it really to these twinkling stars, planets and ‘other places’? The distance is remarkable and somehow (once again) made me realize that whatever we have going on, there is always a much bigger picture, a much

Well deserved cup of tea at River Cottage

bigger meaning. Amazingly both Stephen and I saw a shooting star! It was all very magical, sitting in a hot tub in October surrounded by trees. It absolutely made up for a lack of cruise and an apparently more luxurious destination. Life is what we make it.

River Cottage, the now famous Farmhouse with cookery and chef’s courses, was also on the menu. Their headquarters was literally a walk through the woods, some 20 minutes away. We strolled through the undergrowth and had a wonderful cup of tea and cake looking over the rolling English Countryside. Another totally unexpected and unpredicted beautiful day!

So, despite the apparent ‘loss’ of a romantic cruise, Stephen and I had the most relaxing and inspiring time. This was all of course on our doorstep. Daichi with his big white grin and skipping steps was able to take us. No airport delays or worries of luggage, just a good old English getaway, with a few extra trimmings. We hope you are making the most of the beautiful country we live in. It is never very far to the coast, or the countryside to get some space and recharge those batteries. Where will Daichi take us next… I wonder?

By Debbie Corney

The jacuzzi and sauna in the garden

Avoiding the pitfalls of selling your car privately.

Selling your motor privately can be good for a number of reasons - you get the best price, you get cash in hand, and don’t even have to leave home.

However, the process of stripping out the middleman and selling your car direct does come with a few pitfalls too:

1. The Telephone Timewasters

You may find countless people phoning up asking endless questions – remember, buyers will be as wary about the process as sellers. The best way to avoid this is to make your listing as detailed as possible, adding lots of photos.

The more questions you can answer before someone picks up the phone to you, the better.

2. The Go-Slow NoShower

Those looking to buy a car privately will doubtless have several options on the go at once, meaning you can be messed about because your prospective buyer has had his or her head turned elsewhere.

3. The Part-ex Stress

You may find your motor is attracting the interest of traders who would rather negotiate a part-exchange than an offer of straight cash.

Traders will regularly do this as a way of moving on cars they haven’t been able to shift, so you may find yourself being

offered something you don’t actually want… another car!

4. The Arty Barterer

A huge worry for many vendors is agreeing a price over the phone only to find someone at your door pressuring you for a discount.

Private Property if The private seller

bought, the buyer will also have your home address so is likely to come knocking if anything seems wrong in those weeks post-purchase.

6. The Joy(less) Rider

The meeting of two minds – a private seller and a private buyer – is effectively putting both on their guard.

This can create a scenario where both are approaching what should be a simple transaction with a heightened sense of paranoia and panic, and that can lead to a joyless transaction.

7. Not-so-Smooth criminals

It’s important to try to set the boundaries before someone comes round to inspect, but that can be easier said than done.

5. The Comeback Kings

In the event of something going wrong with the car in the immediate time after it’s

And of course, the biggest fear for those who sell privately is that someone will run off with your motor. Ensure all monies have been transferred before handing over documentation, be wary over PayPal transactions (which can be refunded) and if accepting cash, check notes carefully.

Increasing numbers of homeowners are choosing to hold their properties as tenants in common to reduce inheritance tax and help protect their share from care fees

The Property Protection Trust Will package is based around how you hold the ownership of your home. All good estate planning nowadays considers the difference between owning your home as joint tenants or as tenants in common.

If you own your home as Joint Tenants; when one of you dies the ownership of the home passes by the Law of Survivorship and not by your Will. Therefore, the surviving partner will automatically own 100% of the property. This sounds right to most people. BUT should the surviving partner need care in the future, the Local Authority can take everything they own (including their home) to pay for the care fees, leaving just £14,250 to be inherited by children and grandchildren.

There is an alternative.

Nowadays many couples choose to own their home as Tenants in Common where each partner will own 50% of the family home. This provides for many benefits.

Firstly, it allows you to legally leave your share of the property in your Will to whoever you wish. A properly written Will can ensure that your half of your house will eventually pass to your children even if your widow re-marries.

Unmarried cohabiting couples or relatives living together can also use this means of ownership as a way of minimising their Inheritance Tax exposure.

It can also help with long-term care costs. If one of you is still living in your home the Local Authority can’t include its value in the means test if one of you has to go in to long-term care. This also applies if the husband or wife still living at home dies while the other is in care as their share will go into the trust.

Dorset and Wight are your local experts in Property Protection Trust Wills.

The Royal British Legion

invite the nation to say

Thank you

TheRoyalBritishLegionisinvitingthepublictotakepartinamovementto say‘ThankYou’totheFirstWorldWargenerationwhoserved,sacrificedand changedourworld.

The Royal British Legion has been supporting Service men and women, ex-serving personnel and their families since 1921. And we're not going anywhere. The British Legion was formed on 15 May 1921, bringing together four national organisations of ex-Servicemen that had established themselves after the First World War:

The National Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers

The British National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers

The Comrades of The Great War

The Officers' Association

The amalgamation of these diverse bodies can be attributed largely to two men: Field Marshal Earl Haig and Tom Lister of The Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers. Lord Haig served as the President of The Royal British Legion until his death. As a result of the war, Britain's economy plummeted and in 1921 there were two million people unemployed.

Over six million men had served in the war. Of those who came back, 1.75 million had suffered some kind of disability and half of these were permanently disabled.Then there were those who depended on those who had gone to war – the wives and children, widows, and orphans, as well as the parents who had lost sons in the war, on whom they were often financially dependent. The Legion was established to care for those who had suffered as a result of service during the First World War. And we've been helping the Armed Forces community and their families ever since.

Today we're at the heart of a national network looking after our Armed Forces community. The Legion is here to help serving and ex-serving personnel all year round, every day of the week. Our support starts after seven days of service and continues through life, long after service is over.

Vets Column: Remember, remember the 5th of November

Firework season is fast approaching here’s some advice on how to help your pets during the oncoming invasion.

How do I know if my pet has a firework fear?

With some pets it will be obvious however others are more discrete, some common signs of fear include -

• Shaking, shivering or trembling

• Barking, whining, crying or howling

• Hiding behind or under things

• Going to the toilet unexpectedly or in strange places

• Restlessness salivating or panting excessively

Why does my pet get so worried?

Many pets have what on the surface may appear to be an irrational fear of fireworks, do not worry it does not mean you have been a bad parent. When you think about it in more detail the reasoning’s behind the fear are completely logical. Due to the survival instinct inherited from the wild, animals are blessed with senses much stronger than your average human. Therefore the loud noises, bright lights and the smell of gun powder are amplified and some dogs may find this alarming.

How can I prepare for fireworks?

There are some feel good products which can help to relax your pet,

Adaptil

• This is for dogs and comes in a collar, spray or diffuser

• It works by mimicking the pheromone a mother releases when she is feeding her puppies. Therefore reminding the dog of a time when it felt relaxed and protected.

• This would need to be started at least a week before the event.

Feliway

• This is the cat version of Adaptial and it comes as a spray or diffuser.

• If you watch a cat in its house it will rub its cheeks against household items. As they do this they mark the items as their home and indicates a safe and secure place by leaving a facial pheromone behind. Feliway is a copy of this pheromone therefore making the cat feel like it is in a safe secure environment.

• Like with Adaptil this needs to be started at least a week before the event.

Royal Canin calm diet

• This is a pre prepared dry diet made by Royal Canin available for cats and dogs.

• When a mother feeds her puppies or kittens the milk she produces contains certain proteins, some of these proteins are also found in the Calm diet. Therefore when the cat or dog eats it the protein reminds them of the time when they were far more relaxed encouraging a calming influence.

Thundershirts or calming vests

• As the name suggests these are vests/t-shirts for dogs and come in a variety of sizes. They wrap around the dog creating a similar feeling to that of a baby being swaddled.

• If you decide to use one of these vests however it is vital that the vest is put on the dog whilst he or she is calm. Putting the vest on when he or she is already worrying will not help and may cause the dog to associate the vest with fear.

What can I do to help my pet cope on the night?

• The best thing you can do is have a night at home in front of the TV with your pet. The TV will reduce the sound of the fireworks and if you are calm and relaxed your pet will be too. Close the curtains or blinds to limit the bright lights created by the fireworks.

• Behave as normally as you can, do not attempt to reassure your pet and ignore any strange behaviour however irritating it may be. This may seem illogical, but by attempting to reassure your pet or correct unwanted behaviour you are reinforcing the message that all is not well, so it’s time to panic!

• Ensure your pet is indoors for the night and exercise dogs before it gets dark. If you have pets which are housed outside and unable to be moved attempt to sound proof and darken their enclosure as much as possible. A good way to do this is by covering the enclosure in blankets or towels.

Armistead of Anton Vets

Tom Aikens’ Pro teroles

There is something so contradictory about profiteroles that they keep me coming back for more. There is the sweetness of the chocolate against the plain cream; the dryness of the pastry against the moisture that spills from the middle; and a solitary, innocent-looking ball that ends up being filling and extroverted. What I love most about profiteroles is the fact they’re easy to make yet considered luxurious and even slightly opulent; so here’s a recipe that, in a similar way, is simple, yet sensational!

Method

Ingredients (serves 4)

For the profiteroles

- 80g unsalted butter - 25g sugar

- ½ tsp salt

- 150g plain flour, sifted - 4 eggs - 2 handfuls of chopped almonds, to serve

For the crème Chantilly - 1 vanilla pod - 250ml whipping cream - 40g caster sugar - ½ tsp vanilla extract

For the chocolate sauce - 50g unsalted butter - 250ml double cream - 180g sugar

- 1 tsp vanilla extract - 100g cocoa powder

- 50g dark chocolate

1. Put the butter, sugar and salt for the profiteroles in a pan with 250ml of water and bring to a simmer. Add the sifted flour and stir for a good 5 minutes over a low to medium heat, until the paste comes away from the pan.

2. Transfer this immediately to a food mixer or processor with a beater attachment. Add the eggs, one by one, and beat to a smooth, shiny paste. Put this in a bowl, cover with clingfilm and leave to cool.

3. Preheat the oven to 190°C/ gas mark 5. Spoon the choux paste into a piping bag with a plain nozzle and pipe 2.5cm blobs onto a baking tin. Each one should stand up nice and high, and you should get roughly 30 profiteroles in total. Bake for about 15 minutes until golden in colour. Pierce each one to let out the steam and cool on a wire rack before filling.

4. To make the crème Chantilly, add the vanilla seeds, scraped from the pod, to the whipping cream along with the caster sugar and vanilla extract and whip until firm. Pipe into the choux buns.

5. To make the chocolate sauce, put the butter, double cream, 180g of sugar and vanilla extract into a pan and bring to a simmer. Add the cocoa powder and whisk while continuing to cook for 5 minutes at a slow simmer. Break up the dark chocolate and put it into a bowl. Pour over the hot chocolate mixture and stir until the dark chocolate has melted, then pass the sauce through a fine sieve.

6. Drizzle the choux buns with warm chocolate sauce and sprinkle with the chopped almonds.