My Christchurch Directory - October 2022

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September 2022 has certainly been a month to remember. The loss of our beloved Queen Elizabeth II of seventy years reign, with all her stability and dedication, always with an appreciative smile has been a sombre time. We look forward however to helping Charles fulfil his role and the huge legacy that his dear mother has left. We are sure he will be as dutiful and devoted, as has proven so successful over the last seven decades. Long live the King. This month we have many, many trades and services who would absolutely love to hear from you. With some uncertainty in these incredibly changing times, your calls, enquiries and better still bookings are very appreciated. I thank you most sincerely for all your support to these local companies, for keeping them busy and our local economy thriving. This makes all the difference.

If you are aware of a local company that could benefit from more business, please let them know about us as we would love to help them. Equally if you know of a charity, club or society that needs some support, we are here for them too.

With the October issue we await with pleasure the autumn and those wonderful golden leaves. How beautiful our countryside looks at this time of year. Please grab a cuppa this October and have a read of your local Directory, with all our businesses, editorials and stories. Keep smiling!

THE CHRISTCHURCH Directory Stephen & Daichi

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Copy deadline for November edition: 10th October 2022

DISCLAIMER: Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that data in this publication is accurate, the publisher cannot accept any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. The Christchurch Directory does not officially endorse any advertising material included within the publication. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in ant retrieval systems or transmitted in any form, without prior permission of the publisher.

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The Longest Legacy

From the 15 Prime Ministers she swore in, to the modernisation of the Royal Family and the styling of a public perception that ensures we remain committed to the pomp and pageantry of the House of Windsor, Queen Elizabeth II’s legacy is impeccable and elegant. We reflect on some cherished moments along the way.

The Heir Apparent

Born in April 1926, Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was third in line to the throne behind her uncle, Edward, Prince of Wales, and her father, Albert, Duke of York. However, her ascension was accelerated when, in 1936, following the death of King George V, her uncle relinquished the crown so he could marry the American divorcee, Wallis Simpson.

Now heir apparent, during the war she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service, learning how to drive and maintain vehicles; and on her first oversees visit, to South Africa in 1947, gave a speech dedicating herself to the Commonwealth – a promise Her Majesty kept to the very end.

By the time of her beloved father’s death in 1952, Princess Elizabeth had become a wife, to Prince Philip, and mother to Prince Charles and Princess Anne. Yet on undertaking the crown aged in her midtwenties, she was acutely aware of how monumental the task was that lay ahead of her.

In her prime Queen Elizabeth II made a truly modern Head of State. Her Coronation at

Westminster Abbey was the first to be televised, and on her gruelling first tour of the Commonwealth, alongside Prince Philip, she made every effort to win over the hearts and minds of all those she encountered.

Naturally, over the decades there was much political and social tumult. Her Majesty’s reign saw 15 Prime Ministers come and go, from Winston Churchill to Liz Truss.

There too was drama from within her family. In 1955 it became necessary to intervene in her sister Margaret’s planned nuptials to Peter Townsend; though the most significant upset during her reign was surely the dissolvement of Charles and Diana’s marriage, and the Princess of Wales’ untimely death in a car crash aged 36.

Among the stars

In her twilight years, the Queen cemented her legacy through continued work and devotion, travelling extensively and hosting countless high-profile and sometimes controversial guests and Heads of State, including Mugabe, Mandela and Trump.

The final two decades of Queen Elizabeth’s life and reign undoubtedly brought both joy and sadness in equal measures - the weddings of six of her grandchildren and the birth of 12 great-grandchildren, yet also the deaths of her beloved mother and sister Margaret and the passing of the king of her heart, Prince Philip.

An Important Moment in History for the people of Bournemouth, Poole & Christchurch

An enthusiastic crowd of around 400 people gathered last month to witness the reading of the Proclamation on the ascension to the throne of King Charles III, given from the front of the Civic Centre in Bournemouth.

Bathed in early autumn sunshine a collection of dignitaries led by His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, and including the High Sheriff of Dorset, the Vice Chairman, Leader, councillors and the Chief Executive of BCP Council, all attended to hear the Chairman of the Council, Councillor Nigel Hedges, read this historic proclamation.

The proceedings were opened by the Dolphin Marching band who played a number of well-known tunes which had some members of the audience singing along.

Just before the proclamation was read, Graham Farrant, the Chief Executive of BCP Council welcomed the crowd to the historic event and explained why the flag would be temporarily raised during the proclamation. He then introduced Mr Angus Campbell, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset.

The Lord Lieutenant reminded the attendees that, although this was a sad time following the passing of the much loved Queen, we were here to celebrate and proclaim the ascension to the throne of the new King Charles III. He asked everyone that, once the proclamation had been read, to sing the national anthem and he reminded everyone to watch out for the changes to the words.

With that, a lone bugler blew a fanfare and Councillor Nigel Hedges, Chairman of BCP Council, stepped up to read out the ancient proclamation. At the end of the reading, he paused and then declared “God Save the King”, which was well repeated by the crowd. After this, the national anthem was sung followed by three cheers for King Charles III.

A good crowd from across the conurbation had gathered for what many of them described as “an important moment in history”. Richard and Elizabeth from Highcliffe remembered the coronation of the young Queen Elizabeth II. Richard said: “I can

remember seeing the coronation on telly, it was a very exciting occasion. Losing the Queen after all this time was a bit of a shock, but I suppose it was sadly inevitable.

We can take heart from the fact she did not suffer a long, drawn out decline and was happily working and doing her duty, right up to the end, just as she promised she would. It is important for us to be here to honour her memory but also to welcome in the new King.”

Many people also brought flowers to lay at the Bournemouth War Memorial in honour of Her Majesty.

Sarah from Queen’s Park said:

“We are here to help celebrate the Queen’s life and to welcome in the new King. I am sure that King Charles III will do a good job.”

Local resident Alison had a particular connection to the Royal Family:

“I was born and brought up in Windsor and my Mum and Dad used to work in Windsor Castle. The Queen and Royal Family always gave Christmas presents to their staff, including to my Mum and Dad, every year. The new King has had a long apprenticeship, but I am sure he will do a good job, just like his mum has taught him to do.”

Susan originally came from the USA but moved to Bournemouth over 30 years ago.

“I am here to capture this historic event so I can send the video to my family back in the States. They visit me in Bournemouth regularly and know the town very well. But I also send them regular video updates about what is happening here to keep them up to date. This Proclamation reading is such a momentous event in history that I have to capture it and send it to them. I have very much enjoyed being here and being part of this moment in history and I know it will be of particular interest to them as well.”

SAVE ON ENERGY WITH JUST SHUTTERS

With the onset of autumn and those chilly days and nights approaching, our thoughts are drawn to heating our homes and our ever-increasing energy bills.

Do you know how much precious heat you are losing through your windows? Even the most modern double-glazed windows and doors are the most significant cause of heat loss in your home at 40%.

Shutters are the answer, not only do they add elegance and style to your windows, create stunning interior design and reduce noise and allergens, they reduce heat loss and are energy efficient.

Shutters are bespoke, made to fit precisely into a window, unlike curtains and blinds. In fact, interior shutters act as an extra layer of insulation. The British Blinds and Shutters Association states they improve the energy efficiency of your windows by up to 40%, thus helping to keep you home cosy and warm while reducing energy bills in the winter months.

In summer months the benefits of shutters shine again, by adjusting the louvres you can control sunlight and keep your home from overheating.

As specialists in their field – shutters are their entire focus – Just Shutters are naturally proud of having delivered over 25,000 orders and installations to date, and their 9.9 rating on Checkatrade backs this up.

The key appeal of Just Shutters is their appreciation of detail and stunning design. Trust in Just Shutters, thousands of people in Dorset have done just that.

Request a visit or a brochure at justshutters.co.uk or call 01202 240 769 769

Out on Bale

Under the skin of actor Christian Bale, who combines versatility with a permanent drive for perfectionism.

Christian Bale is the cool, calm, understated and effortlessly edgy actor famous for his roles in everything from American Psycho to Terminator: Salvation, Vice to The Machinist.

He sways between bloated bureaucrat and paper-thin introvert, between deranged narcissist and supercharged superhero; yet through it all, he carries with him a brand of perfectionism that permeates every project and every script, and an intensity, both on and off screen.

“Being a perfectionist does come across to me as a battle, but it’s a battle I want to invest in; and it’s one I don’t want to conquer,” he begins. “Sometimes the conflict is the thing that keeps you going in life, and that’s definitely the case with me.”

Already three decades into a brilliant career, which has taken him from the very simple surrounds of Haverfordwest, Wales, through and beyond LA and the global film market, he now occupies an iconic place where art and culture collide. He sits in a space where you doubt he could ever make a bad movie again.

“I’m not sure about that,” he cuts back, returning to the subject of the standards he sets himself. “Ultimately, I believe my own battle with perfectionism is something that will play itself out over the years to come. I’m not completely constricted by it, nor do I think I have conquered it, so I guess I must be somewhere in the middle.”

Diversity has also been a big part of Bale’s makeup – even his reacquaintance with the superhero genre sees the 48-year-old taking invention forward, as Gorr the God Butcher in 2022’s Thor: Love and Thunder.

about a great story is a sense of fatalism - that’s usually what draws me to a project.

“It gives me a drive and focus because I know there is a destructive, uncomfortable endgame.

“Ultimately, once you are on that track to what is usually a sense of implosion, it opens up a pathway to what I consider my best work.

Whether Bale’s voyage back into CGI turns out to be as profitable as his portrayals of Bruce Wayne, or as artistically satisfying as Patrick Bateman, remains to be seen, but the notion of success is one that Bale has his own definition for anyway.

“It doesn’t matter to me what the genre is, what the subject matter is, who the character is or what the era is. What I love

Gorr what love

“Success is relative. Success in the movie world isn’t necessarily success in life. Success comes about when you choose the things that make you and those around you happy – it’s being confident enough to forge your own path.”

One year on: Wild Woodbury

A year into Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Wild Woodbury rewilding project at Bere Regis and surveys have recorded an uplift in the biodiversity and abundance of species moving onto the site. Over the last year, the land has been allowed to naturally regenerate which has increased the biodiversity and abundance of wildlife. Staff and volunteers have recorded over 1300 species in this summer’s surveys and eight Red List birds of conservation concern have been confirmed to be breeding at Wild Woodbury.

A dry spring coupled with the increase of invertebrates attracted by the fast-emerging pollinators in the former arable fields has led to a very positive breeding season for birds. A rising number of juvenile birds has been spotted across the site including cuckoo, whinchat and nightjar. Skylarks have gone from two singing males last year to 18 in 2022; 28 yellowhammers have been recorded (no data for 2021); No tree pipits were recorded in 2021 but a breeding pair has been sighted raising juveniles this year. All three are on the Red List Birds of Conservation Concern, compiled by a coalition of the UK’s leading bird conservation and monitoring organisations including RSPB and the British Trust for Ornithology. Red List birds are classified as an endangered species facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

Butterfly transects have tracked 200+ meadow brown butterflies as well as silver-washed fritillary and newly-hatched painted lady on the wing. The hot weather in July and August increased moth activity too, with traps holding hundreds of individuals and attracting some rarer species such as dingy mocha. In just a few sessions, invertebrate specialists have amassed over 300 species of beetles, bugs and spiders, some of which only have a handful of previous records in Dorset.

Large clumps of the nationally scarce flora, lesser quaking grass have appeared which offers an excellent food source for many finches including

goldfinch, linnet and yellowhammer. Narrow-leaved lungwort, red hemp nettle and three species of orchid are present on the site including southern marsh orchid, as are small populations of cobalt crust fungi.

Wilder Dorset Project Manager, Rob Farrington said, “The aim of rewilding Wild Woodbury is to build an exemplar for sustainable land use to tackle the climate and ecological crises - letting nature take the lead as much as possible and the restoration of natural processes on the site should provide the right conditions for many species to return in greater numbers over the coming years. Restoring a landscape and making space for nature on this scale takes time of course, but it is extraordinary to see all that has been achieved in just one year and to witness the abundance of wildlife which has made its home at Wild Woodbury. Our plans for the next year include renaturalising the River Sherford to allow it to occupy a more natural course across the land, reducing the nutrient load carried into Poole Harbour and creating wetland habitat for wildlife whilst locking up carbon in wetter soils, introducing mixed grazing on the land and opening up 35 acres of the site for local people to use.

Find out more about what has been achieved at Wild Woodbury in its first year, visit: dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/wildwoodbury

By Jack Clarke

Dorset Wildlife Trust

Photo: Tree Pipit by Seb Haggett

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.

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

South Beekeepers’ Annual Bee Keeper Show

Come Alone to this years Honey Show on Saturday 12th November at St Catherine’s Hill Community Hall. Entry is free and they will be lots to see, do, eat and buy with some new exciting classes added to this years show. Beekeeping has become ever-more popular in the UK over the past few years with lots of press around the decrees in numbers of bees. And now is a great time to come and support local Beekeeping Association.

The Bournemouth and Dorset South BeeKeeper’s Association has existed since 2008 and its members from a group of friendly people who have an interest in bees.

The aim of the Association is to promote beekeeping, encourage new beekeepers an raise the awareness of the importance of bees in the natural world.

The Association Provides:

• Body of expertise in beekeeping

• A forum for discussion

• Week summer meetings at the Associations Apiary

• Winter meetings for talks & lectures

• An Apiary for demonstrations and education

• An annual Honey Show

• An extensive library

• Arrangements for insurance

• BBKA beekeeping classes

• Talks to other groups

• A supply of honey for sale

Even if you’re not thinking of keeping bees yourself, you have probably read about the plight of the honeybee in the modern world, as it is threatened by new pests and loss of habitat. The annual Honey Show is a great opportunity to meet your local beekeeping community, learn about the amazing world of bees, come and fine out more about the wonderful things they produce, benefit from the health properties of natural honey, and of course supporting in their work of pollinating our food.

Bournemouth & Dorset South Beekeepers Association

The Platinum Jubilee

Bournemouth Air Festival lands for 2022

A bumper four-days of fun, flying and fantastic displays came to an end last month with the Typhoon officially closing BCP Council’s 2022 Bournemouth Air Festival.

People from all over the country and beyond visited Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole over the last four days to take part in the festival, enjoying all the aviation packed entertainment on offer as well as all the landbased activities that took place in the RAF, Navy and Army villages on the ground.

Regarded as one of the best air shows in the UK due to its unique position on the south coast of England offering both land and sea viewing opportunities, residents, visitors and flying enthusiasts have been enthralled by flying displays, including the mighty Typhoon and its roarsome noise, breath taking stunts from the Jet Pitts Muscle Bi Plane, wing walkers, parachutists, the nostalgia of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and of course, the everpopular Red Arrows.

Running for over 10 years, the air show now includes an impressive number of flying displays, armed forces entertainment, a STEM education tent (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), family entertainment, fairground rides, Pier to Pier trading, free outdoor films, live music and the ever-popular fireworks.

This year early indicators suggest a major uplift in residents and local people coming to enjoy the festival. Benefiting the local economy, on Saturday the Prom Café reported its best day of trading ever.

In a push for a more sustainable festival, residents and visitors have been encouraged to leave their cars at home wherever possible

and travel by train, bus, bike, or even Beryl scooter to the festival site, to help reduce the carbon footprint. The council’s popular Park and Ride from Kings Park to Boscombe Pier removed an estimated 2000 cars from local roads and the town centre on Saturday, facilitating greater ease of travel away from the event.

Attendees were also urged to bring reusable water bottles from home and fill up at one the 150 water refill points along the seafront that have recently been installed or refreshed thanks to BCP Council’s partnership with City to Sea. Festival goers are thanked for being responsible and keeping the beaches clean, it’s noted that this year many more people have chosen to take their waste home and make use of the many bins provided along the seafront. Jon Weaver, Air Festival Director, BCP Council commented: “Once again, we’ve had a fantastic four days of fun and I’m incredibly proud of my team who have worked tirelessly both leading up to and over the last few weeks to ensure the success of this year’s festival. I am also very grateful to colleagues across the Council who have stepped up before and during the festival to ensure its smooth running.

Councillor Beverley Dunlop, Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Culture and Vibrant Places, BCP Council commented: “Bournemouth Air Festival is the highlight of the summer calendar and this year’s festival certainly did not disappoint! From the iconic Red Arrows to the thrilling night displays and the fabulous family atmosphere throughout, it’s been fantastic!

Provisional dates for next year’s air festival will be the 31 August - 3 September 2023.

Ellie’s got her giggle back

Ellie Humphries was six months old when she was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour. Her family was told she had less than one per cent chance of survival. Now aged five, Ellie’s got her giggle back and she started her new school in September. There’s a risk Ellie’s cancer may come back, so she has to have scans every few months. “Five years on, it doesn’t get any easier,” says mum Jenna. “We still get that scan-xiety.”

As Ellie gets older, the family have new pressures to deal with. As well as being partially sighted and paralysed on one side of her body, the cancer has left Ellie with brain damage. “Throughout everything, Julia’s House has been our rock,” says Jenna. “They provide the specialist care that Ellie needs, and they’re an incredible support for Ellie’s big brother Tom and for me and Luke as well.

“Whenever anything goes wrong, I just pick up the phone to our named nurse Molly and she’s there to help me – she’s our lifeline.”

One in four of the children that Julia’s House cares for are funded by Gifts in Wills. We rely almost entirely on donations to fund the charity’s vital care for local families in Dorset and Wiltshire. With our free Will writing service, leaving a gift in your Will costs you nothing now. Once you have taken care of your family, can you help do the same for ours?

Find out more at juliashouse.org/legacy

WILL YOUR LEGACY BE ELLIE’S

Leave a Gift in your Will with our free Will writing service

Julia’s House provides a lifeline of care for seriously ill children across Dorset and Wiltshire. Incredibly, 1 in 4 of the children we care for are supported by Gifts in Wills. Even a gift of just 1% could make 100% difference to families like Ellie’s.

Photo: Millie Pilkington

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 whether it’s possible to still be green at times of real economic restraint.

None of us need reminding how tough this year has been, and while we’re all looking for the green shoots of recovery, that greenness has become another sticking point of late, with environmental campaigners looking to keep their own eco priorities live and real.

As consumers, we’re all pretty aware that products and services that are more organic, or better ethically sourced, or that contain a strong environmental edge, are typically more expensive, so that leads us to a potential conflict of choice – do we look after our planet, or do we prioritise the money in our pockets?

The answer – from research I have been doing on part of

my website, and a collection of other polls that pool data on this subject – is very much that green issues take a massive backseat when our backs are against the wall.

Now that’s not to say I don’t have a green conscience, or the average Joe in the street doesn’t work hard to preserve the planet, but the absolute truth is that in the vast, vast majority of cases – both at times of struggle and even when things are less chaotic – individuals are not willing to make big sacrifices.

What I think is important though is that, in future, it would be nice if people are being incentivised to go green, and doing so means we are given all the support we expect from government. We expect tax cuts on fuel and a decrease in oil price

to be reflected at the pump; we expect utility providers to play by the rules with clear billing and fair price schemes; we expect home insulation initiatives to really add up in the short-term, not 25 years down the line; and we expect new customer incentives to be accompanied by rewards for existing ones.

What’s more, the days of us feeling guilt-tripped into buying a green product over one that isn’t, are probably and hopefully over. Of course, we all want to get back to a place of economic and environmental prosperity, and I’m sure that will come, but our conscience to feed our families has been proven, time and again, to be stronger than anything else.

A New Dawn

We look at the changing elements that will soon play themselves out in a very public way, as the Elizabeth II era assumes its cherished place in history.

It is doubtless that with a bittersweet heart King Charles III embarks on his new role as Head of State. Having waited 73 years to take up the post he was literally born for, His Majesty has long dreamed of this historic moment. And yet, the price of power comes at the loss of his greatest love, mentor, and ally: his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

And while Charles assimilates to a new life and role, this is not necessarily the only challenge he has to face, for the opinionated Prince must now become the impartial King.

Having waited in the wings for the past seven decades, it would have been ludicrous for the Prince of Wales to not only nurture opinions on society and the world-at-large, but to express them also. From environmental issues to a desire to revive grammar schools –and most recently a disdain for the government’s Rwanda

deportation plan – the Prince of Wales has not only never shied from letting his thoughts be known, often instigating change via his various charitable and passion projects.

The issue here is that a prince may have such hobbies and persuasions, whereas a king, in truth, must not.

One of the most abiding and best-known rules of the British constitution is that the monarch stays out of politics. This is the foundation on which the monarchy survives in a democratic society regardless of what personal gains may be made from wielding its enormous power, publicly or otherwise.

Thankfully, King Charles is a brave, sincere, grounded member of the royal family,

who takes humility as a cornerstone of behaviour having seen such a lack of it in many of his relations. He understands the next step in the line of Windsor is not in questioning what is right and proper, but more prioritising the elements of society that need his authority and guidance most, during what are difficult times for us all.

As king, Charles is responsible for carrying the weight of not just a nation, but the other 53 Commonwealth countries, across 14 realms, which now fall under his rule. He must be a champion of the people, cultivating pride when times are good, and courage when they are bad.

It is a mighty task, but one he is more than qualified for. He will undoubtedly be a very different monarch, yet what should reassure us all is the fact he has inherited his mother’s values, strength, and sense of duty.

very the come…

Now, a new dawn has come… God save the King.

BUYING A HOME TOGETHER

We see a lot of couples who want to buy a house together, perhaps after a previous divorce or getting together later in life. Both scenarios are increasingly common.

In these circumstances, the couple are likely to have individually accrued assets before they have met, which they want to use to contribute towards a purchase of a home together. They might also have children from a previous relationship who they want to leave their assets to on death.

What if you separate or die?

If the relationship breaks down or one person dies unexpectedly, joint property ownership can cause problems. There can be disputes about the amount of financial contributions made towards the property and who gets what from the equity in the family home. If you recognise this scenario in your own lives, please do contact us. To help you safeguard against possible future legal disputes, there are some very important legal documents that we can prepare for you:

actual wedding day), we can help you prepare a Matrimonial Agreement to record what should happen if your marriage doesn’t work out as you hope.

DeedofTrust

A Deed of Trust can record how the equity in the property is shared between you (perhaps in unequal shares) if your relationship breaks down or one of you dies. This option is available to both married and unmarried couples.

AWill

Making a Will is essential, especially if you wish to leave money or property to your children from a previous relationship.

Contact us for legal advice

We are here to help you make informed choices, minimise the risk of legal problems in the future and (if necessary) fight to help you achieve the best outcome if the worst happens.

We continue to offer all new clients an initial free legal consultation lasting up to 30 minutes, so that you can talk to us confidentially and get a good idea about how you can achieve peace of mind in your new lives.

Rob Price Family

Harold

Blotch Watch

The perils of blotchy skin, and what you can do to improve your complexion.

Uneven skin tone is something that will affect many of us at some point in our lives, and yet it is a beauty bug we can fix with careful attention.

The Effects Sunspots

Any beauty buff knows that too much sun exposure can cause real problems for their skin, and yet despite the knowledge that any kind of tan is a negative response to UV rays, that golden glow still proves hard to resist.

Sunspots are brown patches that almost look like a cluster of freckles, and while they aren’t dangerous, they aren’t great either.

Melasma

Though men can suffer from this condition, it is often caused by hormonal changes – specifically fluctuations in oestrogen – that occur during pregnancy or the use of birth control. Frequently forming on the forehead, cheeks, nose and upper lip, these swathes

of brown or greyish pigmentation can be a real cause of distress due to their size and location on the face.

Dry Skin Flaky or scaly patches of skin may be easier to fix than hyperpigmentation, but they are harder to conceal with make-up and can be exacerbated by too many products.

Pollution, dehydration, fatigue, or a general imbalance within your body can all cause skin to flare-up in this manner.

The Fixes

1. Get serious about skincare It is vital to adapt your skin routine as you age, and as a rule this means investing in products of increasing quality as the years go by.

Dry skin benefits from creams and serums which are rich in oils or lipids and contain ingredients such as hyaluronic acid or glycerine, whereas oily skin reacts better with water-based blends.

2. Exfoliate Exfoliation is a vital tool in your fight against uneven skin as it sloughs away

the dead, dry skin cells which cause a dull complexion and prevent creams and serums from reaching the deeper layers of the epidermis.

Beware exfoliating too aggressively and frequently though as this can upset the natural balance of your skin.

3. Use a dedicated pigmentation product Hydroquinone, mulberry, kojic acid and glutathione are the ingredients to look out for when it comes to selecting a serum or cream to help tone the colour and lighten skin.

4. Eat your way even Whether you want plumper, smoother, luminous, or more even skin, it always helps to boost from the inside out.

There are many things that can contribute to a glowing complexion. Green tea is high in antioxidants, citrus offers a vitamin C boost, green vegetables contain vitamins B and E, while oily fish boasts omega 3.

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 talks about the evolution of design and design trends in 2022, and beyond.

It’s over 20 years since Grand Designs first appeared as a concept, and in marking that anniversary I’ve had a number of people ask me how new design and of-the-moment architectural planning has changed over that period, and what evolution we might see in future.

Well, with tongue firmly in cheek, I’ll begin by noting that these days there is an unending appetite for bifold doors! Also, a significant movement from tones of brown and black to the real on-trend colour of the moment, which is grey. I’ve always thought there is a real

versatility to grey and that seems in evidence.

Perhaps another thing I have noticed is the prominence of multiple toilets in new homes being built. It seems we have almost as many toilets now as we do bedrooms!

As for the future design trends, well there is that saying, “architecture is so slow there is no point trying to be fashionable with it because by the time you’ve built something it’s already out of date!”, and I think there is a lot of truth in that.

Certainly, a good building will always fulfil the needs and loves of the people who inhabit it. It’s a place that needs to be responsive to the people. The very first part of that must always be shelter, and security, in all conditions. Once you’ve solved that you can start experimenting and having a bit of fun.

With that in mind, I think entertainment

space is rapidly becoming a priority; and with the cost of living continuing to increase, this will be even more the case going forward, where perhaps we’re swapping eating out for eating in.

For similar reasons, workspaces at home are vital, with a decrease in the need or willingness to commute; while the connectivity of our technology is something I don’t think we will ever regress from, and certainly makes our lives easier, which is great.

Speaking personally, I would love to have a covered deck where I could just sit, sheltered, and just enjoy the view… perhaps with a glass of wine, and the guarantee of a sunset!

When you factor in all these things it makes you realise having all those toilets really doesn’t matter after all…!

Raising the Rose

Looking back four decades to October 1982, when the Mary Rose was finally raised from its watery grave.

As famous warships go, it’s right up there with Cutty Sark, HMS Queen Elizabeth, and the Golden Hind, yet what perhaps makes the Mary Rose so special is not just its age – it was sunk in 1545 off Portsmouth in the Battle of the Solent – but also the fact that despite its deterioration across over 400 years off the south coast saw it split into three pieces, large sections of the hull remained intact.

The ship’s demise has always been something of a tale of folly on the part of the captain and crew. Several eyewitnesses described an account where the vessel had reportedly exhausted its gunfire from one side. It attempted to turn so as to utilise the gunports on the other, but a sudden heavy breeze unbalanced it. Water rushed in through the open gunports and sailors found themselves powerless to correct the sudden imbalance, scrambling for safety on the upper deck as the ship began

to sink rapidly taking 90% of its 400-strong crew to the depths.

Wind forward to 1836, when a group of five fishermen caught their nets on timbers protruding from the bottom of the channel. They contacted a diver to help them remove the hindrance, and on June 10th, Henry Abbinett became the first person to see the Mary Rose in almost 300 years.

As a self-contained community on board, the ship was stocked with victuals (food and drink), casks, clothing, games, books, plates, a sundial, musical instruments, a tankard plus countless tools. Animal remains were also found – skeletons of a rat, a frog and a dog – amongst over 26,000 artefacts in total.

However, the actual raising of the vessel, in October 1982, was anything but simple. It was decided that the hull would be emptied of its contents and strengthened with steel braces and frames. It

would then be lifted to the surface and transferred to a cradle.

Sure enough, on the morning of October 11th 1982, the final lift began, with Prince Charles and other dignitaries watching from nearby in boats. The first parts of the boat to reach the surface in over 400 years broke through at 9.03am.

The raising of the Mary Rose has since become regarded as one of the most ambitious and expensive projects in the history of maritime archaeology, but also an event that enhances and lengthens the legacy of this iconic vessel.

The Adventures of Daichi The Modern Magazines Camper Van

Wow, what a summer we have had. We did not go away as we now live near the sea and absolutely love it. “Wafflicious”, our new icecream parlour on the Esplanade in Weymouth has been a delight to work in. We have met so many wonderful people and brought smiles to many. Daichi is very happy with his beach life.

One aspect of British summer life we have all missed in the last couple of years has been the summer fayres. How delighted we have been that so many came back this year. There are such a lot to choose from… The Dorset Show, The Romsey Show, which our dear late Queen loved so much, The Great Dorset Steam Fair, The Shaftesbury Show and the Bournemouth Air Festival to name but a very few. Then there are the food festivals which celebrate all that is local. Produce that is locally grown, or produced from the British Isles, and sometimes food from our friendly neighbours abroad too. Hayden and

myself took some time out to go the “SeaFeast - Dorset Seafood Festival” situated in Weymouth next to the Pavilion. We have never been to this one before, but we both love seafood, so it seemed like a good idea. The atmosphere was great. The weather was good, despite rain earlier which is always a relief for these shows and makes all the difference. There must have been well over sixty food stalls from crab and squid to paella and crepes. What an array of ‘cute vans’, sturdy vans and tents all circling in an arena style setting.

Something I feel we could do more of is buy local produce and shop locally. The stalls at this show definitely deserve our support. “Riverford” with their 100% organic fresh vegetables supplying fresh fruit and veg to our doorsteps weekly would love to hear from us I am sure. There are of course other farms that would supply such good, wholesome food

The crab linguini was delicious!

that we could benefit from. We just need to pick up the phone and give them a call or go and visit to see what they can do for us. I used to get such a box on a weekly basis until we moved, so that is something I am going to look into again. Dorset crab was also on the menu. Many areas have a local fishmonger and I for one certainly could buy more from them. Supporting local fishermen will help keep their livelihood and also provides us with good food that is really healthy. When did we last buy good old English fish and chips from the local ‘chippy’? By the beach fish and chips are a must, but how about in the winter to keep the business going? There were other stalls too of Moules Mariniere, which I absolutely love, but that must be the French teacher in me speaking! Oh, that could bring back some good memories…. But let’s not go there. Much closer to home there was a pretty looking van which I think we have all come to recognise now, and that is “Dorset Tea”. We serve Dorset Tea at Wafflicious and I must say that the peppermint one is particularly tasty… but nothing beats a good-old cup of ‘normal’ British tea! I am sure

Queen Elizabeth II would have agreed, especially with her marmalade sandwich. Portland Pizzas was also available, Suzettes fresh pancakes, a crepe stand and there were even cookery workshops for the kids. With kitchen demonstrations, local beer, cider and wine there was plenty to occupy us for a few hours. This show raises funds for The Fishermen’s Mission which is a charity providing emergency support, practical, financial, spiritual and emotional care to all fishermen, active and retired as well as their families. These shows also do a lot of good for people in need which is another great reason to go and have a good day out while helping a just cause. We left well fed and all smiles having seen all the different catering vans. We are ‘secretly’ looking for one to join Daichi and promote Wafflicious. You never know… you may see us next year having a stall of our own. It looks like hard work but a lot of fun. In the meantime, do shop locally and support your local food stalls. We need them and they need us. Daichi is looking forward to lots more summer shows next year!

By Debbie Corney

James Martin’s Tomato & Basil Soup Introduction

James Martin introduces a soup staple that never gets boring.

I have always felt there is something enchanting about tomato and basil soup. It doesn’t pretend to be anything it isn’t, yet amongst those flavours there is sweetness, sharpness, depth, and a blitz of the tastebuds that will awaken anyone up from their slumber.

With a piece of rustic bread, and served al fresco, I struggle to think of a better lunchtime treat.

Method

1. Heat a large, heavy-based saucepan over a medium to high heat. When the pan is hot, add the tomatoes and fry for 4-5 minutes, or until they have started to break down. Add into this the garlic, basil, tomato purée and two tablespoons of olive oil. Continue to cook for a further 1-2 minutes.

2. Pour in 400ml of hot vegetable stock, bring the mixture to the boil, then reduce the heat until the mixture is simmering. Simmer for 3-4 minutes.

Depending on the water content of your tomatoes, you may need to add more stock to reach a good consistency. Once ready, remove the pan from the heat and use a stick blender to carefully blend to a purée.

3. Return the pan to a low heat to warm through and season

to taste, with salt, freshly ground black pepper and sugar. Now pour in the cream and return the mixture to a simmer. Continue to simmer for a further 1-2 minutes.

Meanwhile, brush the ciabatta slices with the remaining two tablespoons of olive oil.

4. Next, heat a griddle pan until hot, add the ciabatta slices, in batches if necessary, and cook for 1-2 minutes on each side, or until golden brown griddle marks appear on both sides of the ciabatta.

5. To serve, ladle the soup into four serving bowls. Drizzle a swirl of double cream into each bowl, then a swirl of olive oil, to garnish. Sprinkle over a few basil leaves.

Ingredients

(serves 4)

• 1kg mixed ripe tomatoes, roughly chopped

• 3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped

• 1 handful fresh basil leaves, plus extra to serve

• 1 tbsp tomato purée

• 4 tbsp olive oil, plus extra to serve

• 400-600ml hot vegetable stock

• salt and freshly ground black pepper

• 2-3 tbsp caster sugar, to taste

• 150ml double cream, plus extra to serve

• 1 ciabatta loaf, thickly sliced, to serve

The return of Dorset County Show is a huge success!

The Dorset County Show returned last month, for the first time since 2019 due to the pandemic. 60,000 visitors attended the show held at the Dorchester Showground at Cokers Frome, enjoying a full programme of events and attractions across the two days.

The event is organised by the Dorchester Agricultural Society (DAS) and takes place on the first weekend of September every year. The two-day event featured main ring events such as the show’s first Big Bale Challenge, Shopping at The Avenue, local artisan craft, food and drink, plus hundreds of competitive classes for cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, through to homecraft, horticulture and sheep shearing. New to the show this year was the Fabulous Food & Farming Quiz Trail which offered educational information on the important interaction between farming, the environment and community in our everyday lives, allowing children to learn while they had fun exploring the showground.

Nicki Ralph, Chair of DAS, said: “As the leading agricultural show in Dorset, it is

important to us to deliver a memorable County Show. So much goes on behind the scenes to produce the event which requires the hard work of over 300 volunteers. We want to thank the community from far and wide for their continued support. It was a joy to see the showground full once again after two years away, and we’re proud to hold a show that our visitors have known and loved for more than 180 years. We’re already excited for the 2023 show, with plans already underway!” Attendees travel from across the county and beyond to visit the annual event, with British expats such as Jane and Greg Newton, who now live in Western Australia, coming to this year’s show.

Jane commented: “We loved the show so much when we visited last time that we had to return this year. We planned our trip to England around the Dorset County Show, and it was the highlight of our holiday once again! We sat in the shade and really enjoyed ourselves watching the ring spectacles, in particular the horse drawn races. It was magnificent, a real day to remember, a world class experience.”

Next year, the show is scheduled to take place on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd September 2023. DAS also hosts a number of other events throughout the year, including the winter and spring shows.

For more information visit: www.dorsetcountyshow.co.uk

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 changing seasons, and why he ventures out into his garden in any weather.

I’ve been talking to a number of people over these summer months and it’s always a pleasure. Naturally, it feels like the part of the year where we all come out and celebrate what it is to have a space that is all ours – we all share in the successes and, okay, some of the failures too!

Yet what’s interesting is the fact the longer the summer goes on, the more the chat seems to evolve. There is an unspoken devil in the air, and it goes by the name of winter, where gardeners all across the UK dread not just the hibernation of some of the creatures in their garden, but their own removal or withdrawal from service as

the skies grow darker and rain threatens.

Of course, I can see why so many of us sink

into this mindset of what is effectively a subconscious filling of time before things start to pick up again in early spring. Though as I have said on many occasions, there are still so many plants that flourish across the winter months that we can take real pleasure from, so I would be firm in encouraging people to look at winter as a lot more than just a time when we feel like stepping off the gardening carousel.

Certainly, my routine in those quieter months never changes. Whether rain, hail, sleet or snow, I will always potter around the garden. Okay, so in the winter months it’s a

lot more difficult to sit still in a garden anyway, but just getting out there, soaking up the air and feeling the natural goodness around you, is really inspiring.

I get mucky every day when I’m at home, and if I’ve got a day of work or filming that will take me away from the house, I’ll always make sure I step out and spend some peaceful time alone before I leave – it sort of sets me up for the day.

Ultimately, what it’s all about is being out there, and believing you are making a difference. I’ve always thought however tiny a patch of ground you have, if you look after it well when you shuffle off your mortal coil you’ve paid your rent for your life on Earth.

To leave that space just a little bit better than how it was previously is a very special thing, and no wintry rainstorm should stop us from wanting to achieve that!

Tools of the trade

1. Lawnmower

It’s amazing how a simple mow of the lawn can transform it from a rough and rugged outside vista into a stylish statement of beautifully bladed finesse.

Yet while the best machines on the market will wow you not just with their mowing magnificence but a price-tag to match also, there are some basic models that will set you back less than £50.

2. Pruning shears

So much to do with gardening involves keeping nature at bay, so getting a decent pair of pruning shears is essential.

Whether trimming back rose stems or dealing with an unruly bush, regular pruning will maximise light, enabling all areas of your garden to flourish.

3. A soil knife

A soil knife (or hori-hori) is a

Japanese tool with a blade on one side and a serrated edge on the other.

It will cut through roots deep in the soil, so weeding and plant removal from deep in the ground is quick and easy… and dare we say it, rather satisfying!

4. Weeder

A weeder is brilliant for removing plant matter caught between paving slabs, along edges and in small ruts, meaning that the days of backbreaking yanking of weeds are over.

5. Rake

A trip to the garden centre can sometimes be a confusing and bewildering experience. Everything on display, feasibly, has a purpose, and a good one at that – but at risk of blowing your entire budget on the latest equipment that promises to energise the flora and fauna of your outside space, here are our top eight tools that every garden must have. can

Leaf debris can make even the healthiest of gardens appear unkempt, but your friendly rake will sweep aside any dead matter to give the lawn a smooth finish. And, of course, you can also use it on soil.

6. Shovel and trowel

There’s nothing quite like digging a hole when wanting to feel connected to nature; and providing your back can deal with the impact of

hammering a metal blade into soil that, inevitably, will have lumps of rock in it, shovel away to your heart’s content.

For smaller areas, and when tending to garden beds, a trowel is a must-have.

7. Kneeling pad

For little more than a fiver you can save your knees from impending, aching doom with a soft kneeling pad.

8. A hose

Finally, you’ll need your garden’s life source, water, available on tap, literally.

Hence, a good hose for watering is essential, and certainly saves you lugging a watering can up and down the garden!

Top Tech Firms

The four most sustainable tech companies in the world.

1. Fairphone

As the name suggests, Fairphone has been striving for a fairer and more sustainable electronics industry since its inception in 2013. Though a less-known brand in the UK, this Amsterdam-based manufacturer has achieved an enormous amount in a short period of time and has sold around 400,000 devices globally.

Currently on the fifth imagining of their eponymous smartphone, the folk at Fairphone have managed to extend the average life of a device from 2.7 years to around five: which reduces greenhouse gas emissions per year of use by around 30%.

The back of the phone is made from 100% recycled plastics, and no parts of the body are sealed meaning it is easy for the consumer to change the battery if necessary.

In other words, this once-social enterprise is leading the way for other phone manufacturing giants to follow.

2. Apple Despite having set the smartphone gold standard back in 2007 with the original iPhone, Apple have been playing catchup when it comes to their ethical and sustainability standards.

Yet under CEO Tim Cook, the tech titan has risen through the ranks to become one of the most committed and proactive in the world.

Not only have Apple decreased their overall carbon footprint by 40% since 2015, using efficiency efforts and incentives throughout their supply chain; they have also made a concerted effort to use recycled plastic across their products.

Most impressive though is their pledge to become a closed-loop supply chain, meaning every single device would be made entirely from recycled material - an effort Steve Jobs would be proud of.

3. Dell Dell aims to use 75% renewable source electricity by 2030 and 100% by 2040; and while their efforts are perhaps not as admirable or ambitious

as Fairphone or Apple, this tech stalwart publishes a detailed breakdown of its major suppliers along with transparency over product components, citing which parts are recycled (and which aren’t!).

They also use closed-loop materials in over 91 products, with materials sourced from their own takeback schemes.

4. HP

As one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of PCs, Hewlett Packard have been under great pressure from eco zealots who expect them to do their bit for the planet… and they haven’t disappointed.

Not only have the Palo Alto innovators shown a great willingness and transparency regarding their carbon output, they have also led the way in sustainable innovation, including tablets that are easier to repair and upgrade.

Inevitably, such steps lead to lower profit margins, but such are the expectations from household brands such as HP.

STAR GAZING

WRITTEN BY KATE EARL kateearlastro@gmail.com

Welcome to the October Stargazing Page. Highlights this month include the Orionids meteor shower and a partial Solar Eclipse.

International Space Station

The ISS can be spotted early in the evening until the 5th, and then before sunrise from the 21st. 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

Orionid Meteor Shower:

The Orionids, which are caused by dust and gas leftover from Halley’s Comet, are visible on the night of 21/22 October. If the skies are clear, try staying up as late as you can, as the meteor peak is in the early hours of the morning.

Partial Solar Eclipse:

If the sky is clear, residents in southern England will be treated to a partial eclipse of the Sun on the morning of the 25th. The eclipse begins just after 10am and continues until 11.45am. The maximum takes place around 11am depending on your location, at which point the Moon will cover roughly 15% of the Sun (see figure). Various websites, including www.timeanddate.com can provide up-to-date information for your specific location. **NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN** There are several ways to view the eclipse safely, including the use of designated eclipse safety glasses, or making your own pinhole projector camera from a couple of pieces of cardboard. There are many websites available that show you how to construct one safely.

Mercury

The innermost planet can be spotted in the east just before sunrise for most of the month. Be mindful to end your observing session well before the Sun rises.

Venus

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

Mars

Mars is brightening daily, and can be seen at the start of the month rising around 10pm in the northeast. By month end, it is rising around 7pm. It is

currently located in the constellation of Taurus the Bull, and is close to the Hyades star cluster.

Jupiter & Saturn

Both gas giants are visible in the southeast when darkness falls; both set in the southwest early in the morning. Jupiter is the incredibly bright object to the east (left) of less-bright Saturn. The Moon appears near them between the 5th – 8th (see figure).

Moon

October’s full moon occurs on the 9th. Jupiter lies just above the near-full moon on the 8th.

Nigella Lawson’s Marshmallow Squares

Introduction

One of our favourite and most inspirational chefs goes back to basics with a treat that appeals to adults and kids in equal measure.

You’d think this was designed to keep the children happy, and while that’s okay with me, it is the adults who seem to find this baked treat particularly irresistible.

If I can find a tub of edible disco glitter in one of my cupboards, I sprinkle some on while the marshmallow is still sticky, but it has a certain pearly, luminescent appeal as it is.

It’s also beautiful cut into squares. Alternatively, you could turn this into more of a pickable pud, by cutting the slab into teeny-tiny squares so that people can pop one straight into their mouth.

Ingredients

(makes 24 squares)

- 45g butter

- 300g mini marshmallows

- 180g rice krispies

- edible glitter or sprinkles (optional)

Method

1. Melt the butter in a large, heavy-based saucepan over a low heat.

2. Add the marshmallows and cook gently until they are completely melted and blended, stirring constantly.

3. Take the pan off the heat and immediately add the cereal, mixing lightly until well coated.

4. Press the mixture into a greased 32cmx23cm tin /13x9”

pan; you may have to put on vinyl CSI gloves and press it down into the corners, as it will be very sticky. Flatten the top and then scatter over the edible glitter or sprinkles, if so inclined.

5. Let the marshmallow crispy squares cool completely in the tin and then cut them into 24 squares.