The Oakdale Directory - April/May 2015

April/May 2015

In this issue...

Local businesses Local News - Oakdale Residents Community Assoc.

- Singing for the Brain - Dorset Police: Stop Phone Fraud

Prize Wordsearch - Win a bottle of bubbly

Regular Features

- Adventures of Nellie

Delivered FREE as part of The Poole Directory series

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4 Dear Oakdale residents,

Introduction

The Poole Directory - Oakdale Edition

What a wonderful time of year this is. I love those bright coloured spring flowers especially the daffodils and tulips. It is a great time to make plans for the rest of the year, sort the garden out, spring clean the house, and generally look forward to a good summer. The Oakdale Directory, which is part of The Poole Directory Series, has a lot of local trades people and services that could make your life a little easier and do some of the work for you. They would love to hear from you, so please mention the little “Oakdale Directory” when making any calls or enquiries. Stephen and I really appreciate this and I know the advertisers definitely do!

Edition 50

Published by:

Stephen & Debbie Corney at Dorset Directories Ltd

Telephone:

01202 894397

Email:

info@thepooledirectory.co.uk

Copy deadline for the May 2015 edition: 20th April 2015

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.

Dorset Directories Ltd does not officially endorse any advertising material included within the publication. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval systems or transmitted in any form, without prior permission of the publisher.

This month we have gardeners, electricians, builders, estate agents, pet services, estate planners, record shops, residential care homes, carpet cleaners, blinds and shutters, insurance experts, motorcycling clothing and much more! Please use the index at the back for the full array of categories.

We also have our regular “Nellie” feature. This month she took us on a Murder Mystery Tour! What good fun we had. We will certainly be doing more of those. You can read all about it on pages 28 and 29. There are other articles too including the the Oakdale Residents Community Association where there is a lot to do locally.

The Lighthouse has some great shows coming up, there is a Fish Festival in Swanage if you want to take a trip out and Martin Lewis tells us how to save 1000’s on debts.

Don’t forget to fill in your wordsearches. The VERY lucky winner of the garden furniture from Reformed Plastics is Maxine Almond. We had literally hundreds of replies, so well done to you! We hope you enjoy your picnic table.

Wishing you all a fabulous Easter,

Debbie & Stephen Corney

Useful Numbers Local Police Bournemouth Airport Central Library Emergency Electric

101 01202 364000 01202 454848 0800 028 0247

Poole Hospital Poole Council Sembcorp Water Emergency Gas

01202 665511 01202 633633 01202 590059 0800 111 999

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Domestic, Commercial & Industrial Electricians

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Competent Persons Register

Electricians

Call Steve on: 07886 245196 01202 893800

or e-mail: info@testinspect.com

Community News

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What’s On at Lighthouse, Poole

The Woman in Black

Monday 11 May - Saturday 16 May 7.45pm (Wed, Sat mat 2.30pm) Tickets: £19.50 (Mon-Thu), £23 (Fri, Sat) Booking fees: Prices quoted are for tickets booked in person at the ticket office. Tickets booked via telephone or online are subject to a booking fee of up to £1.75 per ticket

THE WOMAN IN BLACK is a gripping theatrical exploration of terror, ‘a masterpiece’ (THE GUARDIAN), thrilling audiences of all ages with its unique blend of suspense, drama and bold stagecraft.

Now celebrating 25 years in the West End, THE WOMAN IN BLACK is ‘a marvellous exercise in tension, spun from perfectly paced storytelling’ (THE

INDEPENDENT) that has enthralled over 7 million people since its original debut.

Feel the power of THE WOMAN IN BLACK for yourself and experience the ‘most brilliantly effective spine-chiller you will ever encounter’ (THE DAILY TELEGRAPH).

‘A TRULY NERVE-SHREDDING EXPERIENCE’ Daily Mail ‘DON’T GO UNLESS YOU LIKE BEING SCARED OUT OF YOUR WITS’ Sunday Mirror ‘THE AUDIENCE WERE JUMPING OUT OF THEIR SEATS’ The Observer ‘IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THIS SHOW YET YOU ARE MISSING A TREAT’ Daily Telegraph Watch the video trailer at: www.thewomaninblack.com Tickets & information: 0844 406 8666 www.lighthousepoole.co.uk

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Keeping the cost of Motor Cycling Down...

We are exclusive in the sense that we are a family owned and run independent retailer of high quality motorcycle accessories and clothing.

Based in Christchurch, Bikers Yard Plus can tend to all your motorcycle needs, from clothing to accessories.

We aim give a “local property knowledge you canto trust” good, old fashion gained by over 55 • Estate agentsservice and Valuers years experience in the motorcycle trade.

• Waterside and Executive Homes We have a large amount of stock that contains • Land and Development motorcycle clothing, leathers and helmets, • Lettings, Portfolio Management waterproofs and boots, gloves and trousers.

Covering: Lilliput, Sandbanks, We also stock one piece suits andParkstone, Kevlar jeans, Poole, Westbourne, TalbotCome Woods, soft luggage and rain covers. in today Queens Park,end Bournemouth and check out our of the line specials along with/ our excellent range of used Lettings Rentals – 01202 756911 clothing that is available.

Lilliput Sales – 01202 709888 Pay us a visit and you will be amazed by our Westbourne Sales – 01202 757555 low prices!

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111 Purewell, Christchurch, BH23 1EJ www.bikers-yard.co.uk

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Lizzy’s Design Graphic Designer

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Brochures Flyers Leaflets Posters and more...

Give your Business a facelift... ...we promise it is completely painless

Let’s have a chat and see how we can help Have a look at our website www.lizzysdesign.co.uk

Call 07572 288616

or email: lizwold@me.com Dog walking, day care & boarding Cat, pet & puppy visits • Reliable, trustworthy, fun and caring • Expericenced with all types of dogs, puppies, cats and other pets • Fully insured with Pet Business Insurance • Licenced by Borough of Poole for boarding • Competitively priced • Police checked

Tel: 07951 585211

www.fourpawspoole.com

Community News

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New Singing for the Brain® sessions in Poole Join us for the launch of our fun, stimulating Singing for the Brain® sessions in your area!

alzheimers.org.uk Date: Monday 13 April 2015 (then every 2nd & 4th Monday of the month) Time: 2 – 3.30pm Location: St Mary’s Longfleet Church Centre, Kingston Rd, Poole BH15 2LP For more information, contact: Alzheimer’s Society local office in Dorset on admindorset@alzheimers.org.uk or 01202 764352

We look forward to seeing you.

Alzheimer’s Society operates in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Registered charity number 296645.

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Suppliers of:

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Puzzle Corner

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Pop the kettle on...

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3 5 4

1 4

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Across

Crossword

1 Satiny (6) 4 Agricultural (8) 10 Discharge (9) 11 Rounded subdivisions of an organ (5) 12 River deposits (5) 13 Permissible (9) 14 Put in place (7) 16 Anglo-Saxon slave (4) 19 Partly open (4) 21 South African mongoose-like animal (7) 24 Astonished (9) 25 Disrobe (5) 26 Follow up on (2 words) (5) 27 Truce (9) 28 Genetic endowment (8) 29 Lines up (6)

Down

1 Skid (8) 2 Showing no enthusiasm (8) 3 Poems of heroism (5) 5 A region in northern Israel (7) 6 A weekly gift of money to your children (9) 7 Drink (6)

8 Imbedded (6) 9 Attack (6) 15 Ended a meeting (9) 17 Making a shrill sound (as in bagpipes) (8) 18 Machines used to fasten papers together (8) 20 Glowing (7)

21 Women of reďŹ nement (6) 22 A tomb or shrine (6) 23 Stationary part of a motor (6) 25 A plant used to make rope (5)

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CARPET CLEANING PROFESSIONALS

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2 Bedroom House £69 Local company with over 35 years experience. Friendly and reliable service.

Rewires Downlights Fuseboards Extra Sockets Testing & Inspection

Fire Alarm installation and servicing Security and garden lighting Part P Approved

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Tel: 01202 670003 OR e-mail sales@defaltd.co.uk visit www.defaltd.co.uk National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting

3 Rooms £45 • 5 Rooms £69 5 Seater fabric sofa £59 Any room professionally steam cleaned for £15 We are a family run business with 15 years’ experience in the industry we take great care to make sure all our customers are happy with our service.

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GARDEN & PROPERTY

SERVICES

“Our aim is to provide complete, personalised advice to our clients. In doing this we will provide a service that is second to none and ensures that our clients feel valued and receive outstanding service and value for money.”

The Estate Planning Consultancy Dorset & Hampshire is a Family Orientated Estate Planning and Legal Services company. We provide personalised solutions to meet your needs for: Wills • Trusts • Lasting Powers of Attorney • Pre-Paid Funeral Plans Probate • Inheritance Tax Planning • Business Estate Planning There’s no ‘one size fits all’ here! We take time to get to know you and your family. We appreciate that dying and related matters are not easy things to discuss; we pride ourselves on our sensitive approach.

We are happy to carry out home visits, and can provide evening and weekend appointments.

Contact us to arrange a free no obligation consultation.

Tel: 01202 924712 • Mobile: 07446 049107 Email : will@epcltd.org.uk • Website: www.epcltd.org.uk Regional Office: 77 Haymoor Road, Poole, BH15 3NR

We undertake a whole range of gardening and property services including: • Hard & soft landscaping • Hedge trimming • Garden clearance • Pressure washing of drives & patios • Patios laid / Block paving • Gates • Exterior paintwork • All types of fencing & repairs

Call James on:

07854 824487 E: james@jbmgardens.co.uk W: www.jbmgardens.co.uk Fully insured. Reliable service. Sensible prices

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Wildlife News

Talking about Wildlife...

Walk for wildlife this Spring This spring, Dorset Wildlife Trust is asking not just what we can do for wildlife, but what wildlife can do for us.

There are many mental and physical benefits to spending time outside, and for many of us, it is a luxury, and a great way to spend time with the family. That feeling of breathing in fresh air, or the achievement of climbing a hill to take in a stunning view (of which there are plenty of in Dorset), can’t be matched by any computer game or television show.

Statistics also show that we should be aiming to spend at least 30 minutes of good quality time outside, every day. This is a great habit to get children into especially, as the great outdoors still holds so much for them to learn about.

So this Easter if you’re looking for a challenge, something to do with the family outside, and a way to raise money for charity, with some beautiful coastal views along the way, Dorset Wildlife Trust’s (DWT) ‘Walk for Wildlife’ might be just the thing for you.

Walk for Wildlife has been running for over 10 years, and is one of the highlights in DWT’s year. This year, the walks start and finish at Leeson House, near Swanage. There are three to choose from, and for the first time there is a new 2 miles route suitable for families*, and lots of activities are also on offer at the start and finish, including face painting, a puppet show with the ‘Hand to mouth theatre’, and a special prize for the school with the most amount of walkers.

The 6 mile and 13 mile routes both take in the rugged scenery of the Purbeck coastline, with a good chance of seeing puffins, dolphins and gannets out at sea, whilst the coastal path should provide opportunities to spot peregrine falcons and ravens, as we as newly arrive migrants such as wheatear and swallows.

We are also asking those taking part to raise some money for Dorset Wildlife Trust through sponsorship – this is a great way for us to continue helping wildlife in Dorset, and for participants to feel they are giving something back to wildlife, whilst burning some calories at the same time!

For more information, and to book online, visit www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/ walkforwildlife, or phone 01305 264620.

*Please note that none of the routes are suitable for pushchairs

By Sally Welbourn

Walking the Jurassic Coast Photo: Dorset Wildlife Trust

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Community News

Oakdale Residents Community Association Wimborne Road, Oakdale Poole, BH15 3DL ORCA Office 01202 269353 orca-enquiry@oakdale.me.uk Reg. Charity 1047652

ACORNS Community Coffee Shop Monday to Friday mornings 10am to 1pm in the Margaret Craig Room Open during term time only, for tea, coffee, cold drinks, cakes, and treats.

All at very reasonable prices.

Served by lovely ORCA volunteers.

A warm welcome to new Acorns volunteers, Julie and Michelle.

It is our 20th Anniversary year and to celebrate, ORCA is joining in with the National Big Community Lunch event on Sunday 7th June 2015. We hope that other Oakdale based groups will join in with us and bring a picnic lunch to eat together.

Friday 1st May. Prize bingo night.

7.30pm eyes down. All players welcome.

Family fun.

Saturday 16th May. Books & Bric A Brac Sale. 10am to 12noon. Refreshments available.

Friday 5th June. Prize bingo night.

7.30pm eyes down. All players welcome.

Family fun.

Sunday 7th June. Big Community Lunch.

Come bring a picnic celebrating 20 years of O.R.C.A. – 1995 to 2015.

Second Monday each month 1.30-3.30pm Oakdale Pensioners Club A friendly gettogether, guest speaker and refreshments, outings arranged.

Tel: Brenda 01202 386163 Volunteers – It’s always good to hear from people locally who could give us assistance with all our activities. Perhaps you could help to put the tables up and down, for a tabletop sale once monthly, or can help with typing or designing a poster. When we have a Members Mingle, we would like people to give a short talk or demonstration for fun or to get us to think about our world. If you would like to consider volunteering opportunities, please contact ORCA and leave a message for our Volunteer Co-ordinator, Lesley Kerley.

01202 772894 lesley.kerley@ntlworld.com

FOR SALE â&#x20AC;&#x201C; for a donation - Items in our old storeroom that need to go !

Set of left handed golf clubs & Hippo golf bag Short Mat Bowls mats and equipment Tables, wheelie underdesk drawers, and more..........

WANTED â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we will be grateful for your unwanted gifts or any donations that we can use for raffles, tombola or prizes.

Books, clean bric-a-brac, CDs, DVDs and wool - ORCA would like some more to sell in the Acorns Coffee Shop please.

Membership Our members make us STRONGER. ORCA members get the first news of our events and activities, voting rights at our AGM and a good price on outings. New membership forms are available at the centre outside the ORCA office.

Members Mingles are held for MEMBERS only but may be held during an Acorns open morning. Please let Lesley know if you can offer a helping hand to arrange these.

Thinking of learning something new?

Visit www.skillsandlearningbdp.co.uk to view all their courses.

The ORCA Committee members areDebbie King Russ Saines Linda Hollows Lesley Kerley Kay Guess ORCA is run entirely by volunteers for the Oakdale community and beyond.

Please help if you can with either voluntary work or financial support

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auto Motoring

BIOGRAPHIES New Nissan Qashqai

By Tim Barnes-Clay, Motoring Writer

www.carwriteups.co.uk

@carwriteups

The latest Nissan Qashqai, which went on sale in January 2014, is available in four time-honoured grades: Visia, Acenta, Acenta Premium and Tekna.

The model tested here comes in flagship Tekna trim. But we’ll come to that in a bit.

Firstly, here’s some background.

the bonnet to deliver a first-rate drive.

Motoring through a six-speed manual transmission, the 1.2litre engine packs a punch, offering sharper acceleration and greater flexibility than the first generation Qashqai’s 1.6-litre unit.

The second generation, family oriented car is now longer, lower and wider, giving it a more imposing stance while maintaining a raised driving position. The vehicle under review is front-wheel drive, the set-up which Nissan says will account for most sales, but all-wheel drive is available too.

Despite its modest size, the engine’s low weight and more fuel-efficient operation also mean it’s cleaner and more economical than the model it replaces. The 1.2 engine emits just 129g/km of CO₂ (15g/km less than the outgoing 1.6-litre petrol unit), and has an average fuel consumption figure of 50.4mpg.

The Qashqai's exterior looks modern and there’s a better quality feel to the cabin - perfect for many years of hardcore family use. The range-topping Tekna model features an array of technologies that highlight the Japanese motor manufacturer’s lead in the crossover market.

Being a family car, you’d expect safety to be a priority for the Qashqai – and you’d be right. The Nissan features a host of innovative safety features which helped it confidently pass all Euro NCAP's tests to record the maximum five-star rating.

But hang on, what is a crossover vehicle? Well, it’s a motor built on a car platform, combining characters of a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) with elements from an estate or a hatchback. The crossover mixes SUV design cues such as tall interior packaging, lofty seating, high centre of gravity and elevated ground-clearance with car-like handling and good fuel economy.

Engineered to offer the best possible levels of protection for children, the fresh Qashqai particularly shone in the Child Occupant tests. Based on readings from the dummies used in tests, the Qashqai scored maximum points for its protection of an 18-month old infant.

On that basis alone, I’m sold on the car – but then I do have an 18 month old and two other small children to take to school. I can definitely see the appeal – and so, it seems, do other parents.

Anyway, back to the Tekna trim Qashqai under review. The Nissan benefits from darkness piercing Bi-LED headlamps and it excels when it comes to kit. The car comes equipped with 19-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, part-leather seats, a large glass roof, heated seats, and front and rear parking sensors. There’s also a seven-inch touchscreen display, DAB digital radio, and smartphone connectivity.

The Qashqai is available with a petrol or diesel engine; the review car came with turbocharged petrol power. But it turns out that the Nissan doesn’t need anything huge under

Yep, buy this car and your offspring will be safe from harm – even if it means you lose all individuality when you merge into the vast sea of other Nissan Qashqais parked outside the school gates.

FAST FACTS PROS ‘N’ CONS Safety √  Max speed: 115 mph Economy √  0-62 mph: 10.9 secs Driving position √ Kit √  Combined mpg: 50.4 Space √ Engine: 1197cc 4 cylinder 16 valve  Individuality X petrol turbo

 

Max. power (bhp): 113 at 4500 rpm

 

CO2: 129 g/km

Max. torque (lb.�): 140 at 2000 rpm Price: £23,800 on the road

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Bees Landscape and Garden Maintenenance

       



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paul@beeslandscape.co.uk

High Quality Mexican Chimeneas Visit our showroom Telephone:

01202 741474 The Art Memorial Company Ltd. 260 Bournemouth Road, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset BH14 9AN Fax: 01202 738445 johnrknowles23@gmail.com www.theartmemorialcompany.co.uk

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Community News

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HANG UP ON FRAUDSTERS Telephone fraudsters are targeting Dorset residents Cold callers trick people into transferring money to a fake bank account or sending it via courier

Protect yourself from criminals...

NEVER give out your pin number or bank details to ANYONE who calls you, no matter who they claim to be, or where they claim to be from send cash in a taxi or via courier send bank cards anywhere – always keep them with you

@dorsetpolice Op Luna A4 Poster WITH BLEEDS.indd 1

www.dorset.police.uk

facebook.com/dorsetpolice 02/03/2015 14:26:29

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     





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Power to the Pedal

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All our pedal assisted electric bikes are:Terrific for getting up hills without the effort.

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BOSCOMBE

FERNDOWN

POOLE

WINTON

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709 Christchurch Rd,

491 Ringwood Rd,

311 Wimborne Rd,

471 Wimborne Rd,

25-27 Brown Street,

BH7 6AF

BH22 9AG

Oakdale, BH15 3DH

BH9 2AN

SP1 2AS

Tel: 01202 395579

Tel: 01202 894888

Tel: 01202 675526

Tel: 01202 533578

Tel: 01722 328601

Open: Mon-Fri: 9am-6pm Sat: 9am-5pm Sun & Bank Hols: 10am -4pm (Salisbury 1pm) sales@motabitz.com www.on-wheelz.co.uk

30 years of Good Old Fashioned Service. We’re Local and Independently owned Motabitz Accessories Ltd is registered in England and Wales 02161524.

Registered office: Hillview Business Centre, 2 Leybourne Avenue, Bournemouth, BH10 6HF. Motabitz acts as a credit broker and only offers credit products from Secure Trust Bank PLC trading as V12 Retail Finance. Motabitz is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Our registration number is 652731. Credit provided subject to status.

Community News

26

Charity bowled over by corporate fundraiser Lewis-Manning Hospice in Poole is celebrating the success of its recent Corporate Bowling Challenge event, which raised £3237 for the charity at Bowlplex in Tower Park, Poole.

Sponsored by Bowlplex and DDP (Dorset Digital Print) the sold-out corporate challenge and networking event saw a total of 200 people from 26 local businesses compete across 24 bowling lanes for both team and individual trophies, which were donated by Laser Crystal.

Sunseeker International won the Corporate Bowling Title 2015 and also supplied the winner for the Best Individual Score, while TeamJobs and a member of Horsey Lightly Fynn took the Wooden Spoons.

Motivational Maps won the Best Turned Out Team award and Horsey Lightly Fynn took the prize for providing the Best Bottle, which was a special fun award where the hospice asked all the companies to bring a bottle of drink that they felt reflected its business and philosophy. Finally, Team Jobs won a round of drinks for winning the quiz.

Sally Goodenough, Fundraiser at LewisManning, said, “We had a great array of teams across the local business network, including accountants, solicitors, banks, printers and recruitment agencies, just to name a few. It was not only great fun with some great banter but also an excellent opportunity for businesses to network.”

With all proceeds going to the hospice, which provides free care to local people with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses, the event is now in its third year and is now a firm fixture on the Lewis-Manning events calendar.

Paul Tucker, Marketing & Communications Officer at Lewis-Manning Hospice said, “The response and support was absolutely phenomenal and we were overwhelmed with the sheer number of local businesses who wanted to get involved. The event was a great social networking event with an element of team spirit and competition which was great fun and saw many teams vowing to return and win the converted title. We were thrilled with the amount of money raised and can’t wait to do it again.

We must thank Bowlplex and Dorset Digital Print for sponsoring the event, Laser Crystal Ltd for donating the trophies, and Sharon Gardner from Inspirations who donated bowling shirts for the fundraising team.”

27

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              





  

Do you care?

Every one of our carers would answer this with a resounding “Yes!” Well we are looking to expand our team to help more people in the local area. If you are interested in finding out more, then contact the office on 01202 280855.

No prior care experience is necessary as we provide Our services include: on-going training and support. So if you like meeting • Help with washing, dressing and personal care and interacting with people in a very rewarding career, • Companionship please call us. We would be delighted to talk to you.

Hours can be assigned to fit with the rest of your life. We aim to make our service as flexible as possible and can be adjusted as our clients or their loved one’s needs change. We provide care on a short-term or long-term basis, by visiting a few times a week or a number of times a day to assist our clients to retain their independence. Our team members are expected to work with clients, rather than for them and will encourage them to regain their confidence, while also promoting their self-respect and dignity.

• Assistance with housekeeping

• Assistance with meal preparation • Medication reminders • Transportation and errands • Hospital and respite cover • Post operative support

Adventures of Nellie

28

The Adventures of Nellie The Dorset Directories Camper Van “Treasury Trails”! What a great idea.

Basically this is a live game of cluedo, and what fun! In Dorset alone there are 57 murder mystery walks. The website to find these fantastic walks is www. treasuretrails.co.uk. which tells us… “A Treasure Trail is an imaginative way to explore towns, cities & villages across the UK with a self-guided themed walk.

An easy to follow route will enable you to crack the clues whilst taking in some of the most fascinating sights along the way.” There are themed walks in Bournemouth, Poole, Corfe Castle, Dorchester, Christchurch, Wareham, Sandbanks, Sherborne, Piddle Village, practically anywhere you may wish to visit… and explore with a purpose to find “who did it” and “with what”?

The answers are ficticious and are not based on actual events, nor fortunately are there any real bodies or deadly truncheons lying around. It is all harmless fun and very educational. You find out about local history, discover

What panoramic views?

Where is that clue?

interesting plaques and markings on walls, that you would otherwise walk straight passed. Not only that but you see sights and take pathways that you would just ignore, especially in an unknown town. It is perfect for children and adults alike. In fact some of the clues are a little tricky and even the most discerning adult may have to work quite hard to figure them out.

So Nellie took us to Shaftesbury where we met many friends, all ready and eagerly awaiting to find, by process of elimination, who did it and with what? The website told me, “There are more roads radiating to and from Shaftesbury than any other town in Dorset. The town of Shaftesbury has been a place for travellers ever since it was founded in the 9th century by King Alfred the Great. The first part of this Trail is fairly flat and leads you to the spectacular views over the Blackmore Vale and Cranborne Chase. The second

29 part of the Trail takes you down Gold Hill, famous for that bread advert with the boy riding down the cobbles after pushing it up the hill with his basket full of bread. This is a Trail with some great historical features and some wonderful views.

This Murder Mystery Trail should take about 2 1/2 hours to walk about 2 1/2 miles. There are a couple of very steep slopes to negotiate therefore this Trail is suitable for very light pushchairs but not for wheelchairs.”

Well, we picked a perfect day… for a murder mystery tour… it was cool, drizzling and foggy! Nellie was glad she was with friends, and many of them at that, otherwise I think she would have been pretty scared. The atmosphere was befitting a Sherlock Holmes movie.

I am serious! Of course we had to start in a café to build up our stamina for the 2.5 mile walk and mental pressure we were about to endure. Once we got started, it all got very serious with some running ahead to be the first to find the answer. Nellie has some very competitive friends! One clue up on the hill, overlooking what would have been

Into the mist...

Spirit of play...

spectacular views, we just could not see because of the fog. We couldn’t believe it, but being the ‘spirit of play’ souls that we are, we turned this into a lot of fun. The precarious walk down the famous Gold Hill, set in this hazy ambience was rather exhilarating.

We could have been characters in a Dickens novel following the route of an unsavoury type, determined to catch him. Anyway back to reality… we eventually found our way to the last clue. We did it! We unlocked the mystery! I have to say I was rather glad there were quite a lot of us, as some of the clues were pretty taxing, but that made it all the more exciting when we did find “who did it” and “with what”.

Nellie highly recommends Treasure Trails. Do take a look at the website.

You can download the clues, or have them sent in the post. We found another recently that is a ‘walk and a ride’ with clues… so Nellie is very excited about that as she really will be able to join in!

Maybe we can tell you about that next time…but where will it be? Where will Nellie go next…?

By Debbie Corney

30

Money Saving Tips

Martin

LEWIS Debt For those with existing debts there are record deals available right now to let you cut the cost and save £100s or £1,000s.

Yet as the old adage goes, banks are companies that’d lend you an umbrella when the sun shines and ask for it back when it rains. So getting cheaper credit when in debt is tricky – however I have developed credit card eligibility checkers which can help you check what debt cutting cards you’re able to get before you apply. If you can lower the interest cost, then more of your repayment clears the actual debt, not just services the interest – meaning you’ll be debt-free far quicker. So here are the key debt cost cutting need to knows…

I make no apology for saying…. stop borrowing. If you're struggling, borrowing to make ends meet just elongates the problem - making it even costlier and more difficult. The tips below will help, but if you keep adding to the debt nothing will fix it. So take a deep breath, do a budget and examine all your spending to see if you can cut back.

Best buys are only best if you can get them. While there are many great rates on offer, you need to pass a credit score to get them, and many fail at that hurdle. Worse still when you apply it leaves a footprint on your file and lots of those in a short space of time can hit your future credit worthiness. I've given evidence to Parliament on this 'anti-shopping around' system - little's been done.

So to fight back on my site we’ve built a free eligibility calculator – which tells you which cards you’re most likely to be accepted for. Just as importantly it does this without leaving a footprint on your file that lenders can see – so you can home in on the right one, minimising applications. To try it go to www.MoneySavingExpert.com/eligibility.

Shift credit or store card debt to 35mth 0%. A balance transfer’s where you get a new credit card that repays debts on the old credit or store card(s) for you, so you owe it instead at a lower rate.

The longest 0% deals for those new to the card company now last nearly three years (a year ago they were 30 months), but as with many things in life longest isn't always best. Aim for the lowest fee card, ensuring you've enough time to clear it. Top picks and golden rules at www.mse.me/ balancetransfers.

Shift your overdraft to 0% too. Debit cards can be debt cards too - if you're in your overdraft it's often more costly than credit cards, especially if you bust your limit. So there are two ways to get out of this. a) Switch to a 0% overdraft: Top bank for customer service www.firstdirect.com offers a £250 0% overdraft (you

must pay-in £1,000/month) and for accepted new switchers a free £100 - which should help reduce the overdraft straight away. For some www.nationwide.co.uk 0% overdraft may be bigger, but it's only for a year and is 50p/day after. b) Shift it to a 0% 'money transfer' credit card. A few balance transfer cards also let newbies 'money transfer'. This is where it pays a lump sum into your bank account, which can then clear your overdraft so you owe it instead. Top pick is www.mbna.co.uk which gives 24 months 0% money transfers for a one off 2.2% fee (though it's 22.9% rep APR after the 0% ends). Yet be careful, follow the balance transfer rules above and for more picks and full step-by-step help see www.mse.me/moneytransfers.

Can you cut the cost of existing loans? It's complex, as you need to factor in that most loans charge up to two months' interest to repay them early.

- Who should try? Those who can get a substantially lower APR loan (eg, more than a fifth off, so from 10% to 8%), and have a while left to repay. Full options in www.mse.me/ cheaploans.

- How much can I save? Someone who is 2 years through a 5 year 12% loan for £5,000, paying it off with a 4.9% loan, could save around £1,000.

Don't pay all debts equally - attack the highest APR. Once your debts are as cheap as possible, list them all, including overdrafts, in order of APRs. Focus all spare cash to clear the highest APR one as it grows fastest, and just pay the min on the others. Once that's clear, move to the next highest.

I've never seen a debt crisis that isn't solvable - don't give up hope. The solutions above are for cutting debt costs. Yet for some, it's much worse than that. Do any of these apply to you...

- You can't meet even just the minimum monthly payments.

- You have non-mortgage debts bigger than a year's salary.

- You have sleepless nights or serious depression/anxiety over your debts.

If so then you're likely in a debt crisis and that means the solution you need is totally different. The most important thing I can tell you is I've never seen a debt crisis that isn't solvable. It may not always be quick or easy, but there is a proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. The first step is to go for free, one-on-one debt counselling help from www.adviceguide.org.uk, www.stepchange.org, www.nationaldebtline.org or, if you're struggling emotionally too www.capuk.org.

@MoneySavingExpert

31

Royal Bay Care Homes Our Homes Serving Poole & Purbecks

Castle Farm Retirement Home Forest Hill House Nursing Home Lytchett Matravers

Call:

01258 857642

Corfe Mullen

Call:

01202 631741

We at Royal Bay Care Homes believe a care home should be a place: - Where each person is an individual.

- Where there are no unnecessary rules and regulations.

- Where dignity, peace and comfort take priority.

- Where companionship, interest and activity flourishes.

- And where people are supported to lead the fullest possible lives.

At the heart of every Royal Bay Care Home are core values with the emphasis on comfort, compassion, dignity, individuality, personality as well as great food. At Royal Bay our priority is you living your life your way.

We have a team of incredibly caring, dedicated and qualified staff, plus Gold Standards Framework accreditation. The Home also has the latest medical and care facilities and is fully equipped to cater for all residential care needs.

Please feel free to contact either of our Homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Manager at any time to discuss how we can help or visit our website for more details.

www.royalbay.co.uk Pa rt of t he Pr e s t ig io u s R o ya l B ay C a r e Ho m e s lt d

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Why do we make the same mistakes over and over again?

FIND OUT. BUY AND READ

DIANETICS

THE MODERN SCIENCE OF MENTAL HEALTH by

L. RON HUBBARD Available at your local bookstore or at Hubbard Dianetics Foundation

42 High Street, Poole, Dorset. BH15 1BT bournemouth@scientology.net 01202 257788 © 20 CSI.

Price:

£1 .00

BSc (Hons) Horticulture • Landscape design • Project planning • Planting schemes • Garden Makeovers

• Block paved driveways • Natural stone paving • Walls and brick detail • Free first consultation

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35

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EGGS CHICK BONNET APRIL FOOLS DAY SUMMER TIME APRIL SHOWERS GOOD FRIDAY EASTER CHOCOLATE BUNNY

This month, the prize is a bottle of champagne, so please complete this page by 25th April 2015 and send to: April Prize Wordsearch Name: ______________________ The Oakdale Directory, Address: ______________________ 1 Moorlands Rise, ______________________ West Moors, ______________________ Ferndown, BH22 0JR Telephone: ______________________

Prize Wordsearch

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36

Food & Drink

Naturally good...

Brown butter and beer braised kale with cranberries and pecans

Ingredients for 4 2 bunches of kale 2 tbsp. unsalted butter 120ml beer of your choice 60ml chicken stock 1tbsp reduced sugar dried cranberries (this is optional) 3 tbsp. roasted chopped pecans Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

I absolutely love kale. It’s packed with flavour and nutrients and it’s incredibly quick and easy to cook.

Braising kale in beer and brown butter gives the finished dish a really nice nutty flavor and the quick method of cooking ensures that the kale retains its vibrant green colour.

1. First prepare the kale by washing it and then cutting out the stem. It is important to cut out the center stem because it can be tough and chewy. Once you have removed the stems, quickly shred the kale by rolling up the leaves into a cylinder and roughly slicing them. Set to one side.

2. In a large frying pan or sauté pan place two tablespoons of butter and cook on a medium heat until starting to turn a light brown colour. At this stage quickly add the beer and chicken stock and turn up the heat to high. Bring to the boil and then add the kale.

3. Cook the kale for approximately 3 minutes until most of the moisture has evaporated and the kale is nicely glazed. Add the chopped pecans and seasoning to taste. Transfer to a serving platter and sprinkle with the dried cranberries.

Chef’s tip: Make sure that the liquid is boiling and the heat is on high before adding the kale, you don’t want to slow cook it because it can lose its vibrant green color if it is stewed for too long.

Ryan Turner, real food and low-carb chef - www.thefoodbible.com

37

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Tel: 01202 673180

• Viewing welcome without pressure or obligation • Prices start from £225 with NO VAT

Established for over 20 years

www.austinbeaufordweddingcars.co.uk

39

Peppers Pet Care 135 Woodlands Avenue, Poole, BH15 4EG

Pet care in your home or doggy holiday care in ours. From just one night stay/ care or as long as you need us.

Loving, experienced pet owners who are fully licensed, insured and CRB checked.

Local to you in Poole.

Pet care in pet’s home and house watching whilst away for those who need peace of mind or want their pets to stay at home.

Please call us to discuss your pet’s needs:

01202 989065 or 07951 045894        

     

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on your Gardening Tips

PLOT

April showers to October fun Now is the time for April showers and with the weather warming up all the time and some gentle rain you’ll soon be seeing lots of changes on your veggie plot.

Its wonderful to see the first fresh, local, asparagus appear for sale this month and if you’ve a bit of space spare on your plot now’s the time to plant this gourmet crop.

Buy one year old crowns and plant them immediately into well drained soil. You should be able to take a small harvest next year and they’ll carry on cropping for up to 20 years!

Jobs for April:Keep an eye out for late frosts and cover any vulnerable plants.

Harden off indoor sowings before planting out.

Start off French beans and Brussels Sprouts under cover.

Fancy something a bit more exotic? Try growing some peppers and aubergines - sow this month in a greenhouse or polytunnel.

Plant an asparagus bed.

Earth up potatoes once the first shoots appear.

It’s a time when any indoor space, be it greenhouse, cold frame, or just window sills, is likely to be filling rapidly with young seedlings.

If you are thinking of planting some of your seedlings out then don’t forget to harden them off first. You can move the pots outside each morning, bringing them in at night to gradually acclimatise them to the change.

Do remember too that late frosts can still happen in April, damaging plants that are unprotected.

Watch the weather forecast and if there’s any danger of frost then use fleece or cloches to protect plants where necessary.

On the subject of cloches, save any empty plastic bottles that you may have. Cut the bottom off and you are left with a wonderful mini cloche to protect seedlings that are recently planted out. Push the plastic down into the soil firmly and it will keep off not only some of the chill but also any slugs that may have their eye on tasty young leaves.

Are you a fan of Halloween?

Pumpkins can be quite expensive come the end of October and then there’s always the hunt for one just the right size. Why not have a go at growing one (or several!) of your own this year? Pumpkins need a long, growing season to ripen well so now is the time to start them off. There’s lots of different varieties, including some

giant ones if you want something really impressive to carve. Look out on the packets for ones that are early ripening for the best chances of success.

Pumpkin seeds are huge so it’s easy to sow just one to each pot. I’d sow at least 3 plants, if they all germinate and mature it’ll probably be more than you need (they can take a lot of room as they grow) but it’s better to have spare in case you loose some early on - if they all grow well you can always pass one on to a friend or neighbour and have a competition to see who gets the biggest pumpkin! You’ll need to keep your young plant inside until all risk of frost has passed. When it comes time to plant the pumpkin out it will like lots of nutrients in the soil. Dig out a large hole and put in lots of well rotted compost - or you can even plant your pumpkin straight on top of an old compost heap. They’ll bloom with wonderfully exotic looking, huge yellow flowers and it’s wise to consider removing the growing tip once three fruit have set as this will give a better chance for larger, riper, pumpkins.

Support the growing fruits on a bed of straw to avoid them dropping off or becoming mushy.

Are you enjoying purple spouting broccoli at the moment? You can buy summer varieties to plant now, or try Calbrese (this has the green heads) which is best planted straight into the beds where they will grow.

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In the

PICTURE

By Gita Joshi, AWAD. www.orsomajor.com

I’m often asked by clients how an artists prices rise and if the art work they are interested will rise in value. The first thing to remember is that art dealers are not financial advisors.

However there are a few sure fire ways that make an artist collectable, raise their profile and in turn their prices, and here we look at three of them.

When an artist has a solo show at a major museum or gallery, it is pretty certain that this will raise their profile as an artist, they will become more known and in turn their prices will rise. This can be the price of new art work released from the studio and available at galleries that represent them, as well as increasing their prices on the resale market such as at auctions.

Looking over an artists CV and seeing where they have previously shown and asking about the plans they have for exhibiting will give you this information. A gallery or art dealer representing the artist will be able to tell you what you need to know so it’s worth asking the question about where they have showed or what they have coming up.

Another way that artists prices generally rise is when a museum – the institutions that are cultural barometers – buy

Collectable Artwork

into an artist.

Once art enters public collections it generally positions the artists as collectable. Having art as part of a museum’s permanent collection means that more people will see it, and the artist is recognized for producing relevant work. If you think about it, wouldn’t you love to own something that also forms part of a museum collection.

Finally, when an artists work forms part of the collection of a major known buyer of art – this can be a high profile art collector, a celebrity or a corporate collection, can also affect the positioning of an artist as collectable. Collectors in this category are also often taste makers. They buy for investment as much as pleasure with the long game in mind.

Asking the gallerist about this can give you the answers you need as it may not always be information in the public domain. So there you have it, three ways to check if the artist you are interested in is an investment. Buying art for investment is a long term strategy, and the best approach to buying art is to start with answering the question, do you love it, and do you want to live with it. After that, any rise in value is a bonus.

w i n n e rs

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It’s Childs Play

It’s all

CHILDS PLAY Showers of Fun

Think of April, and showers will probably come to  Add powder paint to puddles for stamping, mind. Not the grey rain-filled skies of February but colour mixing and pattern-making with wellies the vivid blue expansive skies of Spring, warmed or toy cars. by the sun that give way to sudden and brief  Add glitter and sequins for some sparkly fun. downpours.  Put out lots of containers for collecting water in and exploring the different sounds they make.

They say that there’s no such thing as bad weather  Add food colouring for a visual spectacle. only bad clothing and the eyes of children this is  Provide pipes and bits of guttering for certainly true. A sudden downpour brings experimenting with water flow and pathways. excitement and change to the world outdoors and children love nothing better than exploring the  Collect an assortment of objects like corks and puddles and rivulets created in wellington boots. recycled plastic containers for exploring sinking and floating and old whisks, sieves, funnels and Next time it rains, take a moment to look at what pots for mixing up magical concoctions. the youngest children do. Invariably this won’t be  Add peppermint, orange or lemon oil for smelly cowering from the rain to protect their hair, or fun. head down marching forward to get home as  Use different sized paintbrushes for water quick as possible. Chances are they will be painting with – the best bit is there’s no mess purposely jumping in puddles, seemingly to clear up! experimenting with the effects of their full-bodied  Paint pictures on paper and take outside to see actions. how the rain changes them by blurring the paint.

Patting a puddle with a flat hand, enjoying the sound and feel of icy cold water; stood still with tongue outstretched to catch droplets of rain; or shrieking with delight as they run wild, freed from limitations that comes from being soaked through.

Unlike us adults children tend to relish the feeling of rain on their body, thinking nothing of striding through puddles and generally getting drenched.

Sadly most of us can’t remember and share in the delight of being a child in the rain, the feeling of damp clothes, exploring cause and effect, noise and sheer pleasure of splashing. Add to this the groans or shrieks of adults as they are caught up in the crossfire and you have the makings for a very satisfying game.

If you want to add some extra sparkle to rain time, for children’s (or your) benefit, why not try these cheap and fun ideas:

So next time it rains, instead of snuggling up in the warm and dry make a point of heading outdoors.

Armed with wellies, raincoats and brollies, adults too can relive the joy and release of splashing about in the rain. And if you do get wet through, there’s nothing better than warming up indoors with a soft towel and warming drink and a story about the rain!

Sue Gascoyne

Sue is a published author and educational consultant and therapeutic play practitioner. She is the founder and Creative Director of Play to Z Ltd, specialist providers of award winning Sensory Play resources. To find out more about Sue’s latest research and resources go to; sue@playtoz.co.uk www.playtoz.co.uk 01206 796722

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Index of advertisers

Your quick guide to everyone and everything in your Directory...

Bars & Restaurants Banana Wharf..........................37 Bathrooms Lifestyle Bathrooms..................41 P L H Heating............................27 Bedrooms Flair Interiors............................45 Beds The Bed Store........................... 3 Blinds, Curtains & Shutters Ashley Blinds............................. 5 Hurst Blinds..............................15 Books Dianetics...................................34 Builders AMACS Construction.................34 Business Opportunities Utility Warehouse.....................39 Carpet & Upholtsery Cleaning Arrow Cleaning Services...........34 No. 1 Carpet Cleaning...............13 Carpets & Flooring Carpet Barn.............................. 3 Marsden Flooring.....................11 Peter Newman Flooring............41 Community News Adventures of Nellie.................28 Dorset Police: Stop Phone Fraud.....22 Dorset Wildlife Trust.................14 In the Picture: Collectible Art....42 It’s all Childs Play......................44 Lewis Manning: Bowled over....26 Martin Lewis: Debt...................30 Motoring: Nissan Qashqai........18 Naturally Good: Braised kale....36 Oakdale Residents Comm. Assoc.....16 On your plot: April Showers......40 Singing for the Brain.................10 Swanage Fish Festival...............32 What’s On at Lighthouse.......... 6

Dorset Electrical & Fire Alarms.... 13 Lytchett Bay Electricals.............27 TestInspect................................ 5 Estate Agents Anthony David..........................48 Mays......................................... 7 Estate Planning & Will Writing Estate Planning Consultancy....13 Financial Services Bournemouth Investments.......24 Garage Doors Skandoor................................... 9 Garage Services G & S Baker............................... 2 M.T.S. Motors............................19 Steve Cronk...............................38 Trickett Welding........................42 Garden Products Chimeneas Mexico....................20 Eco Sustainable Solutions.........15 Garden Services

(See also Tree Surgeons)

Bees Landscape........................... 20 David Burgess Garden Design....34 JBM Garden Services................13 Jon Stokes Garden Services.......23 TD Landscaping & Fencing.......33 Graphic Designers Lizzy’s Design............................ 9 Home Care Right At Home..........................27 Insurance Brokers Coversure Insurance.................47 Jobs Right at Home..........................27 Kitchens Dream Doors............................ 1 Flair Interiors............................45

Lofts Loft Services..............................23 Meal Deliveries Collins Community Catering.....15 Motorcycling Clothing & Accessories Biker’s Yard............................... 7 Motoring & Cycling Accessories Motabitz...................................25 Pet Services Four Paws Poole....................... 9 Peppers Pet Care......................39 Photographers Lewis Brown Photography........21 Plumbing & Heating Bournemouth Plumbing Solutions....20 J C Gas...................................... 7 P L H Heating............................27 Property Maintenance JBM Property Services..............13 Puzzles & Competitions Crossword.................................12 Kids page.................................. 8 Prize Wordsearch......................35 Sudoku......................................12 Record & Memorabilia Shops Rosered Records.......................33 Removals Pitmans Removals & Storage.... 2 Renewable Energy Solutions Nick Good Property Services.....43 Residential Care Homes Royal Bay Homes......................31 Trading Standards Borough of Poole......................23 Tree Surgeons RHV...........................................42

Drainage Services All Drains Cleared.....................38

Letting Agents Mays......................................... 7

Wedding Cars Austin-Beauford Wedding Cars....38

Electricians 1st Class Electrical....................20

Locksmiths Poole Key..................................39

Windows, Doors & Conservatories Dorset Windows.......................21

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