The Swanage Oracle - February 2017

The Swanage The independent directory of local businesses serving the residents of Swanage, Studland Worth Matravers, Langton Matravers & Ulwell

Delivered FREE by Royal Mail to all homes & businesses in BH19

Oracle February 2017

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WOULD YOU LIKE TO USE ALL THE AVAILABLE SPACE IN YOUR HOME?

BESPOKE FITTED FURNITURE AT AFFORDABLE PRICES Custom Creations is a family run business with over 40 years experience

CALL US NOW ON

01202 823231

TO ARRANGE YOUR FREE, NO OBLIGATION DESIGN CONSULTATION

www.customcreations.furniture

Unit 1, Enterprise Park, Blackmoor Road, Ebblake Industrial Estate, Verwood, BH31 6YS

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To advertise in The Swanage Oracle, please call: 01929 408080

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Upton Farm, Upton, Ringstead, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 8NE Heatcare UK LTD are OFTEC and Gas safe qualified and registered. We are able to cater for all of your oil heating needs including commercial, on top of providing our expert knowledge and services in both mains gas and LPG.

• Service checks available • No call out charge • Fast response • All work guaranteed • Increased warranties on Worcester products • Heating • Plumbing • Leadwork To book your service or work contact us on

01305 853970 or 07557 990715 or email us at heatcareukltd@aol.com Visit our website:

www.heatcareukltd.com And don’t forget to like us on Facebook!

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Introduction

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The Swanage

Dear Swanage, Studland, Worth Matravers, Langton Matravers and Ulwell!

Edition 99

Wow, what a busy start to 2017! Have you made lots of New Year’s resolutions and are successfully carrying them out? I do hope so. With the year already well under way, did you decide to finally sort that space out once and for all, get a loft conversion, have a new carpet, see a new accountant or just have more meals out? Whatever it is for you, we are here to help. If there is a company you would like to recommend to us, or a club that needs some extra support or recognition, then do tell them about us.

Oracle

Published by:

Stephen & Debbie Corney at Purbeck Publications

Telephone: 01929 408080 Email: info@swanageoracle.co.uk

Copy deadline for the March 2017 edition: 13th February 2017

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 Swanage Oracle 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.

Proud members of

What you can do in exchange is use the advertisers inside to help keep them busy and the local economy doing well. That is the purpose of The Swanage Oracle. If you have any local news or history we would love to hear from you too. The prize wordsearch is always popular so we will continue to provide that as well. You never know, you could be the lucky winner this month! Mrs A Wilkins won a meal for two at the Bull & Boat in Swanage last month. Well done to her!

Nellie looks back at 2016 with very fond memories. She certainly kept us busy this last year. I do hope you enjoy her exploits as much as we do. It is just a bit of fun and can give ideas of places to go and things to do. If you have any suggestions where Nellie could visit, she would love to hear from you!

What will 2017 bring? I am a firm believer that we get what we put our attention on so personally I want to have many more fun days out with the family and would even like to take Hayden to Disney for his 13th year. Nellie can’t fly so we will definitely have many English trips too.

Here’s to a another fabulous year all round!

Very Best Wishes,

Debbie & Stephen Corney Useful Numbers Local Police Southern Electricity Transco Gas Emergency Swanage Hospital

101 08457 708090 0800 111999 01929 422282

Train Enquires Wilts & Dorset Bus Wessex Water Emerg.

Purbeck Distict Council

08457 484950 01983 827005 0845 600 4600 01929 556561

To advertise in The Swanage Oracle, please call: 01929 408080

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COMPETITIVE CONSTRUCTION Dorset Ltd

E: compcondorset@gmail.com

Experienced local builder specialising in:      

Listed Building Work Extensions Loft Conversions New Builds Renovations All trades handled

Tel: 07973 400 297

19 St Martins Lane, Wareham, BH20 4HF

Email: info@philiptrimcontractors.com

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Community News

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Residents and evidence back change to local government structures in Dorset Public consultation results show clear backing for change to local government structures in Dorset. In the household survey, which is representative of the county’s population, almost three quarters support reducing Dorset’s councils from nine to two, with over two thirds of open questionnaire respondents also agreeing.

Deliberative and qualitative research found that the business community, voluntary sectors, residents and town & parish councils also primarily backed change.

Of the options for the geographical makeup of any new council, there was majority support in both the household survey and open questionnaire for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole to be served by one new council, with East Dorset, North Dorset, Purbeck, West Dorset & Weymouth & Portland areas served by a second new council (65% in the household survey and 53% in the open questionnaire). This was also the strongest-supported option via qualitative research.

Similarly, a detailed study undertaken by PriceWaterhouseCoopers looking at the Government’s five criteria for change cites a compelling case for local government reorganisation in Dorset. It found evidence that proposals to restructure the county’s local government have key strengths in the areas covered by the criteria; that change would improve services, provide stronger leadership, increase efficiency, save money and be sustainable.

Now, in considering any change, each

council will want to be sure that any proposal both has public support and also meets the government’s criteria for approval.

This is what the financial assessment, the public consultation and the case for change work is about – providing all councillors in Dorset with a package of robust and independent evidence they can consider when deciding whether or not to support change from nine councils to two, should this be recommended, and if so, what composition of the two new councils would be best for Dorset.

The nine councils in Dorset commissioned the public consultation from Opinion Research Services and the case for change from PriceWaterhouseCoopers, alongside a financial assessment of the potential savings achievable through reorganisation.

The financial review found that, change delivers £108m over the six years after the transition, allowing services to be protected in the future.

Councillors now need to consider all the evidence – the financial assessment, the case for change and the results of public consultation – to determine whether they support change. This will be considered separately at each council during January.

Following that, and subject to agreement, a request will be made to the Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government, who will make the final decision.

Any new councils would come into being in April 2019.

To advertise in The Swanage Oracle, please call: 01929 408080

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8

CONCERT AT EMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH Community News

Saturday March 4th at 4.00pm

Marilyn Baker

Marilyn Baker, the renowned blind singer, is coming to Swanage in March (4th at 4pm) to perform a concert . This remarkable lady who travels the country, has a wonderful ministry of singing and telling of stories in between her songs, and her assistant, Tracy, who is deaf, shares her ministry, as does her lovable Guide Dog! The concert begins at 4.00pm and there will be a cream tea interval and CDs of her music will be on sale. Tickets are available from Emmanuel’s office (160 Victoria Avenue) from the end of January on

weekday mornings. More information is available from the church office on 01929 427706 or via email at: events@emmanuelbc.org.uk or check the church website at: www.emmanuelbc.org.uk

Swanage Painting Club

Doors-Windows-Locks

Swanage Painting Club will be holding a Coffee Morning with a ‘Have a Go’ session so that anyone interested can try out some different media, including watercolour and pastel.

All materials will be provided.

There will also be a Mini-Exhibition of members work. Come and chat to the artists on Thursday 16th February, 10.15am - 12.00 noon at St.Edward’s Catholic Church Hall, Rempstone Road, Swanage.

Admission FREE

Glass repairs & Sealed units replaced uPVC & Timber Windows & Doors supplied & fitted uPVC Fascia - Soffits - Gutters installed Locks Opened - Replaced - Upgraded Window restrictors & Child locks fitted Handles - Hinges - Letter Boxes Seals & Gaskets Replaced Snapped keys extracted

Tel: 01929 481496 Mobile: 07484 186617 Email: dwlocks@outlook.com FENSA - MTC - CRB checked

To advertise in The Swanage Oracle, please call: 01929 408080

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C

M PLUMBING & HEATING Local Gas & Heating Engineers

• • • • •

Boiler/Fire Ser vicing Landlord Gas Safe Inspections New Boiler Replacements Power Flushing Unvented Hot Water Cylinder Installations • Bathrooms, Shower Rooms, Wet Rooms 180993 • Design &installations

Tel: 01929 550160

M: 07790 056396

All successful relationships start with a conversation.

Let’s talk... You deserve to work with a firm that values your long-term success as much as its own.

Many individuals and businesses across Dorset put their trust in us to be their Chartered Accountant or Financial Adviser, so contact us and let’s get the conversation started.

For more information or to discuss your own circumstances

call us on 01929 551 551 or visit www.wardgoodman.co.uk

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Community News

10

To advertise in The Swanage Oracle, please call: 01929 408080

11

Why should you use an insurance broker?

When it comes to getting the best insurance policy for you, you’re always better off using an insurance broker. With the television swamped with meerkats and dancing robots advertising price comparison sites, it is not surprising that so many people look to comparison sites for what purports to be the cheapest insurance. But as the name suggests, price comparison sites are often, for legal and practical reasons, one dimensional in the result they give. Consequently, the insurance policies you’ll be shown are often generic and are effectively a one-size-fits-all solution. However, getting the right insurance for you is dependent on your exact individual circumstances, with the devil being in the detail. For this reason alone it is always better to use a broker when getting your insurances.

The Human Touch As we get older, our insurance needs inevitably become more complex. Health and housing insurance becomes more important, motoring policies are open to a greater range of benefits and risks and dependents, such as children, create further complications. A broker can provide you with the quality of cover that you need and make potential savings through their knowledge of the market.

Giving You Advice, Saving You Money Some people think that insurance brokers are just for people with little time or exceptional insurance circumstances. But if you’re thinking of buying an insurance policy for something you don’t know much about or insuring something unusual, an expert in the market such as an insurance broker can often find you better cover at a great price.

John Palmer Unlike comparison sites, a broker’s specialist expertise can give you the right product for your individual needs. For example, insurers won’t always offer you every type of cover when you go direct nor tell you if you’re already covered by any existing policies you may have. It’s not unusual for insurers to offer legal support, home maintenance, and public liability within their policies and if you’re not advised of this you could soon find yourself with three sets of cover and paying for the privilege.

Brokers can also be more flexible on price than comparison sites. If you require specialist insurance, such as income protection or critical illness, then you will undoubtedly need a specialist provider.

These kinds of products are not widely available on comparison sites because they have to be tailored to your specific circumstances and lifestyle. Equally, if you need special insurance cover for something like a high-value antique or a collection of paintings, an insurance broker will know where to go to find you the cover you need.

The Proof of the Cover is in the Claiming There is an old saying in the insurance industry that ‘insurance is only as good as your claims experience,’ and it’s here more than anywhere else that a broker can really add value. In the event of a claim, your broker may speak to loss adjustors and claims departments and do as much as possible for you, so you don’t have the hassle and worry at a time which is often stressful. Now I’d like to see a talking meerkat or a dancing robot do that!

If you have any questions regarding your insurance, whether you have the right cover or could get a better deal, call or email John Palmer:

Tel: 01202 929 141

!

Email: poole@coversure.co.uk www.coversure.co.uk/office/poole

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12

Wildlife News

Talking about Wildlife...

Winter Wildlife Watching With some wildlife hunkering down for the big freeze, winter turns our attention to the species who need to work that bit harder to get through the frosty season.

So, that’s why winter is the perfect opportunity to make a practical, real difference to wildlife in your local wild space. Leaving water and food out for birds might seem like a trivial task, but it can mean life or death to them if other food sources are scarce, or frozen. You will be rewarded with lovely sights of garden visitors such as the blue tit, goldfinch, redwing or, if you’re lucky, a great spotted woodpecker.

Garden birds aren’t the only active birds around this time of year. On a winter’s day at about 4pm you might see a flock of starlings, (also known as a murmuration), as they settle down to roost.

A flock of birds has a huge advantage to a single bird this time of year – safety in numbers. Large groups are believed to deter predators, making it hard for them to single one bird out; the sight of a flock is quite off-putting to a bird of prey.

In large numbers, birds have a better chance of successfully hunting for food together, and they will stay warm at the same time. Keep your eyes to the sky for one of nature’s best performances!

Nothing is more delightful than seeing a splash of colour on the landscape when the trees are bare, so another favourite of this season is the

Snowdrops

Photo: Nigel Brooks

Blue Tit ‘Parus caerulens’ Photo: Ken Dolbear ���

much-loved snowdrop. This distinctive white flower bravely comes into bloom in January and flowers until March, so for those who long for spring to arrive, seeing this flower is a sign that warmer times are ahead.

To get out for some winter walks in Dorset, explore Dorset Wildlife Trust’s nature reserves at www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/reserves.

Winter bird feeding tips − Don’t put out too much – stale food can develop harmful bacteria. − Clean the feeders and the table regularly – use hot water and a pet safe disinfectant to prevent infections being passed between birds. − Replenish fresh water – birds need to bathe to keep feathers in good condition and keep them warm. TIP: stop water freezing by putting a tennis ball in it. − Recommended food includes: seed mixes, fat balls, household scraps such as raw fats, suet and lard, mild grated cheese, cooked potatoes. Fruits include apples, and dried fruits such as sultanas and raisins. − Foods to avoid include: White bread, milk, salty or spicy food, loose whole peanuts.

Runny fats from cooking, vegetable oils and margarines can clog feathers and cause birds to lose valuable insulation

To advertise in The Swanage Oracle, please call: 01929 408080

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J Taylor Electrical • • • •

NICEIC approved contractor Established 2002 Friendly Swanage based service From small jobs in the home to rewires and commercial work • Inspection and testing • Replacement fuseboxes • Electrical control systems for central and under floor heating

Shutters that add beauty & elegance to every home

Call John on

Swanage 422989 or 07966 167978

E: johntaylor294@gmail.com

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Call us today on 01202 240769

East Stoke, Wareham

Tel: 07836 369969 E: mb@malcolmbarnes.co.uk www.purbeckselfstorage.co.uk

Just Shutters | 59 Southbourne Grove, Bournemouth, Dorset BH6 3QU e. information@justshutters.co.uk *On orders placed by 14th February 2017

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T2653 JS 2017when WINTER SALE South Link 61.5x185.indd 1 13/01/2017 10:06 Please mention The Swanage Oracle responding to adverts

14

Money Saving Tips

Martin

LEWIS &DU ,QVXUDQFH

Everybody, everybody, everybody should be checking if they can slash the cost of car insurance right now. Okay, I accept not having a car is a good excuse, but don’t ignore this just because you’re ‘not at renewal’ - even then big savings may be possible.

The reason for this warning is that car insurance costs have rocketed by 16% over the last year, according to the AA, and it’s saying it “can’t see an immediate end” to the rises. Yet when you get car insurance the price is fixed for the year, so by locking into a policy now you effectively future proof against rises.

So here are my 10 need-to-knows, though for far more help in every scenario, see my mammoth www.mse.me/carinsurance guide.

1. To find the cheapest price at speed – combine comparison sites then add those they miss. There’s no one cheapest insurer, as prices are set individually. So, the aim is to check as many quotes as possible, quickly and easily. Comparison sites do that, but they don’t all cover the same insurers or even give the same price for the same insurer. So… a) Use two or three of the biggies: www. moneysupermarket.com, www.gocompare. com, www.confused.com and www. comparethemarket.com. (Open all the windows at the same time, then cut and paste your info across.) b) A couple of the big insurers like www.

DirectLine.com and www.Aviva.co.uk aren’t

on them. Yet they can be competitive, especially if you’ve no convictions and a clean licence, so check these separately too, as they can lead to big savings. Also, there can be special promo deals not included - there’s a list at www.mse.me/ insurancedeals.

And remember always check that the policy has the right level of cover for you.

2. Not at renewal? What you can do. If the predictions are correct and prices keep moving up, today’s prices will soon look cheap. Plus, many are overpaying already, especially those who just auto-renew each year.

RENEWAL WITHIN 60 DAYS? Some firms such as www.Aviva.co.uk, www.LV.com and www.Nationwide.co.uk give quotes valid for 60 days so get one now, then check against quotes at renewal time. As @dimuthuj7 tweeted: “@MartinSLewis Renewal £521.

Quote a month ago, which was honoured, of £319. Thanks.”

MIDWAY THROUGH A POLICY? Many wrongly think you can only switch at renewal, but you can do it at any stage.

Check if you can get a cheaper policy now.

If so, provided you’ve not claimed, for a £50ish admin fee (factor that in), you can usually cancel and get the rest of the year refunded. You won’t earn the year’s noclaims bonus, but if it means you save now and prevent future price rises, it can be a big winner.

The impact of this can@MoneySavingExpert be big, as @

To advertise in The Swanage Oracle, please call: 01929 408080

15 mubzymalone tweeted me: “Just HALVED my car insurance, saving £543 by changing mid-policy. HUGE thanks to @MartinSLewis for the tip.” Not only is he saving now, he’s locked in the price for a year. So, the sooner &DU ,QVXUDQFH you act, the more you’re likely to save.

Martin

LEWIS

3. Check multi-car policies if you’ve more than one car in the home. A few insurers offer special discounts if you have more than one car in the home – but comparison sites can’t include these deals, so do it manually. www.Admiral.com Multicar gives discounts of up to 25%, depending on how many cars you insure. You can also get discounts by linking the household standalone policies with Churchill, Direct Line and Privilege. The savings here could be huge. Equally, they can be a rip off; it’s about trial and error.

4. Comprehensive cover may be cheaper than third party. Bizarrely, merely selecting comprehensive means some insurers see you as a lower risk, and it lowers the price, so always check comprehensive too if you want the cheapest.

5. Adding an extra driver could cost less.

Again, counter-intuitively adding another person to the policy can bring down your premium, as the average risk is reduced.

It’s especially strong if you’re a young driver adding a responsible older driver, but can work for others too as Bouncybubbles told me: “Quoted £900 from £500 previous year.

By comparing then adding my husband I got it down to £298.”

6. Legitimately tweak your job title. You can’t claim to be the Chancellor if you’re a pole dancer (or vice-versa), but many people have wide ranging roles. So by tweaking your job description you might find your quote is lower. Like @RPJ_ Webster93 who tweeted: “@martinslewis

Thanks to your ‘reword job title’ tip my car insurance quote reduced by £500.”

He legitimately changed his job title from ‘council worker’ to ‘civil servant - cleric’.

7. Don’t ‘pay monthly’ – it doesn’t exist.

Insurers may call it paying monthly, but actually they loan you the year’s cost and while a few are interest free, most charge often hideous interest. The worst offender I’ve seen charges up-to-93% APR interest.

So, check and if it’s costly, pay upfront if you can. If not, try to get one of the many yearlong-plus 0% credit cards. Just ensure you pay it off over the year, then there’s no cost.

8. Consider installing a ‘black box’.

This device is the tech (officially called ‘telematics’) insurers put inside your car to monitor how you drive and when. It’s especially useful for younger drivers facing hefty costs via other means, though if your mileage is limited and you don’t drive at peak times or late at night, it can work well too.

9. Got special circumstances and struggling? Speak to a broker. If your circumstances aren’t normal, getting insurance can be tough. Often getting an insurance broker to find a bespoke policy for you can beat comparison sites. See www.biba.org.uk/find-insurance/ 10.Can you get cashback. Once you’ve found your cheapest policy check cashback websites like Quidco.com and TopCashback. co.uk to see if you can get any money back on the policy you’ve chosen if you buy it via them - this can be over £50, so is often worth it. Yet don’t let the cashback tail wag the dog. Choose the right policy first, then see cashback as an added extra (as it isn’t 100% guaranteed). @MoneySavingExpert

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16

Purbeck Railway Circle Friday 10th February

“60 Years of Railway Photography” – A presentation by local author and historian Brian Jackson.

Friday 10th March “Restoration of the Brighton Belle” – A presentation

by Gordon Rushton, Marketing Director of the project to resurrect a five coach set of the Brighton Belle for running on the British mainline.

Friday 7th April “The Gartell Light Railway” – A presentation by John Penny, co-owner of this delightful narrow gauge railway which is located on the track bed of a section of the Somerset and Dorset Railway near Templecombe.

Refreshments and railway orientated raffle at each meeting.

Meetings held at Harmans Cross Village Hall, Haycrafts Lane, Harmans Cross.

7.00 for 7.30 pm. EVERYONE WELCOME. For further information please phone 01929 554765 (PRC Chairman) or e-mail gensec@purbeckrailwaycircle.org.uk

Plant of the month Heather

There are hundreds of varieties of Heather, which is an easy to grow, low maintenance plant for your garden borders or pots.

Adding colour to your garden, you can plant different species at different times A popular, basic species is a Mediterranean Shrub. With white, pink or purple flowers, this evergreen shrub blooms late winter and Spring to a height of around 6-12 inches.

Heather is best planted in Spring and early Autumn, in acidic soil with good drainage.

If your plants are autumn flowering, you’ll need to prune them in the spring by removing old woody stems.

Try mixing up different types of heather in each pot for bright colour and variety to your garden.

To advertise in The Swanage Oracle, please call: 01929 408080

17

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Food & Drink

18

7DVWHV VR JRRG Vegetable Lasagne

A variant on the usual meat based lasagne, packed with healthy vegetables for a filling and satisfying meal at lunch or dinner time. Serve with a fresh green salad and bread of your choice.

Ingredients for 4 servings 1 onion, chopped 75g carrots, sliced 75g courgette 3 tbsp. vegetable oil 75g aubergine 50g button mushrooms 50g sweetcorn 1 small garlic clove, crushed 225g can of chopped tomatoes pinch of mixed herbs 8 tbsp. grated cheese 3 tbsp. butter 3 tbsp. ƉůĂŝŶ ŇŽƵƌ ½ pint milk 4-5 sheets pre-cooked lasagna pasta Salt & pepper

Oven: Pre-heat to 180C/350f/Gas 4 Finely chop the onion and carroty and dice the courgette and aubergine. Thinly slice the mushrooms. Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the vegetables until softened. Add the garlic, tomatoes, herbs, and sweetcorn and bring to the boil. Then cover and simmer for about five minutes.

Melt the butter in a pan and then stir in the flour, add the milk slowly, stirring until the mixture thickens and boils. Stir in half of the grated cheese and some salt and pepper for taste.

Spoon about a third of the vegetable mix into a shallow oven proof dish, add a little white sauce, the add a lasagna sheet and continue to layer in this way until the last layer is white sauce.

Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and cook for around 50 minutes until browned on top. Serve with fresh herbs on top.

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19

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Puzzle Corner

20

Pop the kettle on...

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Crossword

Across 9 Strange or rare objects (7) 10 Promoting nasal discharge (7) 11 Drop (7) 12 Squeezed tightly between the fingers (7) 13 Gullet (9) 15 Piloted a vehicle (5) 16 Capuchin monkey (7) 19 Rode on a sleigh (7) 20 Pertaining to sound (5) 21 Backpacks (9) 25 The omission of a vowel (7) 26 A city in Ontario Canada (7) 28 A country in western Africa (7) 29 Brain-teasers (7) Down 1 Interfere (6) 2 A tuna-like fish (6) 3 Cashbox (4) 4 Buxom (6) 5 Hates (8)

6 Criminals (10) 7 Retain (8) 8 A transit bus travelling empty (8) 14 Commandeering's of vehicles (10) 16 Apprehensiveness (8)

17 Retirement benefits (8) 18 Mean spirited (8) 22 Clothing (6) 23 Waterways (6) 24 Wife or husband (6) 27 Disposes (4)

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Adventures of Nellie

22

The Adventures of Nellie

The Purbeck Publications Camper Van Nellie has been taking a look back at 2016. With all that Christmas pud, tipples of wine, chocolates, laughter and excitement, she thought she would take a little time out to review her year, whilst deciding where to take us in 2017!

2016 has been a particularly good year for Nellie, she has excelled herself in fact and kept us all very entertained.

It started off in January 2016 when she decided that Hayden should do more exercise and she successfully got him even more off the computer.

Hayden joined the Branksome Chine Life Saving Club! Nellie took us to our first competition after Hayden had had all of 4 lessons! How exciting was that.

Nellie was so horse, she couldn’t toot her horn the following day.

Then in February I learned how to drive Nellie! It was quite an ordeal from what Nellie remembers. To me everything was back to front and nothing like my little blue Citroen. Being a big Japanese automatic girl, and not so young in years was a challenge to say the least for me. Stephen had a fixed grin and

Nellie gets kitted out ready for the summer

Debbie in the driving seat for the first time Hayden held on tight in the back, but we made it! Nellie is now more than happy for me to take her wheel.

In March Nellie was totally fascinated

by Hayden who told him the story of Nelson Mandela’s bodyguard. Hayden was privileged to be invited to meet him, by his school. The story was captivating.

In April we had a fantastic trip to Santorini with my parents. Dad at age 81 had had his second knee operation but still managed to climb all the way to the top of the live volcano! He takes a leaf out of Nellie’s book for being young in spirit… and I don’t mean the whisky! On returning from there Nellie took us to “Camping World” in Three Legged Cross to prepare for our all important English camping trip in the summer. Nellie was in her element as we kitted her out with all she needed for a relaxing summer on the beach, camping on the Devon coast.

In May Nellie took us with several friends to Wookey Hole! How cool was that. Those amazing colourful caves, stories of witches, crazy golf and film

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23 shows. There is more than enough to keep you entertained all day. Nellie loved the drive there and thoroughly enjoyed herself!

In June I drove Nellie (being a fully fl edged Nellie driver) to see lizards, snakes, frogs and toads at the New Forest Reptile Centre. That was such a fun day. We had quite a laugh and it is certainly days like that, that you remember.

In July we went camping with the scouts! Challenges such as being blind folded in the forest, making tents with string, seeing who can catapult the furthest and best of all making “s’mores” (melted marshmallows between chocolate biscuits) was great fun. Nellie highly recommends scouting!

In August Nellie darted to Devon, all packed with her new equipment. The National Surf Life Saving Competition on the beach and in the sea was incredible and Hayden got a bronze!

Nellie was very proud of him as all grandparents are. After a few days of high randomity we relaxed and enjoyed the rest of the week exploring the area.

Gorgeous.

In September Nellie drove us to a boat on Poole Quay, to sail off to Brownsea Island. The Island is quite unique and

Nellie and the Morgan

Nellie enjoys view from the seafront in Devon the weather was amazing. Hayden and I had a superb day. We are so very lucky to have him. He is great company and fun to be with.

In October Nellie had an extremely busy month! It started with a Life Saving awards ceremony at Durley Chine, followed by a wedding in Wool, then a trip to Bindon Abbey Retreat with my sister and Mum, whilst Dad was fishing with his friends for the week, then off to Standen House in Sussex where Nellie met a rather smart Morgan! Nellie seems happiest when she is busy.

In November Nellie was like a whippet at the starting block as she charged to Chessington Theme Park. Well really 15 adults all over 50? Yes! And what an amazing time we had.

December was busy. Stephen’s parents and sister came to us for a very early Christmas Day as they were travelling off to a warmer climate for a couple of weeks. My parents drove all the way from Hull to spend time with us. What a wonderful time of year… and per the good old movie… ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ that Nellie gives us. I am so glad we bought her. Here’s to another year of fun, frolics and festivities in 2017!

Where will she take us this year…?

By Debbie Corney

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24

Motoring

Auto Biographies

Range Rover Evoque Convertible

By Tim Barnes-Clay, www.carwriteups.co.uk You have got to ask why people spend so much on a piece of metal with a wheel attached to each corner. It almost seems a bit nutty when all most of us want is a tool to get us from A to B. But cars aren’t always about transportation. They can be about our emotions and our egos. Some of us use a new car as a status trophy – a badge of honour to show how well we’ve done in life.

I suppose if we have a head-turner of a car in the Western world it’s about pleasure-seeking, too – and having an easier life. Let’s face it; we would rather have a shiny, luxurious car to travel around in than a rust bucket. And that need for self-satisfaction can overrule the down-to-earth side of us when we are selecting a car.

Some of us kick the word ‘practicality’ to the kerb anyway. I mean, good grief, in Great Britain we purchase more convertibles than many other countries in the EU. Why is this? After all, the UK is often dank and cloudy. Again, it comes down to that feel-good factor.

Going topless when there’s sunshine in our country produces a massive rush - well, it does for me, anyway. It’s a better remedy for melancholia than a happy pill from the GP, I’d bet. But being prescribed a drop top car isn’t likely to happen at the doctor’s!

Speaking of fresh-air motoring, the Range Rover Evoque Convertible has been launched recently. The looks of this SUV take a bit of getting used to, but they grow on you.

As the fifth fellow of the Range Rover club – and the first convertible – Land Rover believes the all-new car will play a key part in continuing Range Rover’s tale of success, forging a fresh SUV sector. If industry professionals’ prophecies about a 20 per cent expansion in the international SUV market over the next five years prove accurate, then, the car firm has nothing but sunbeams heading towards it.

The Range Rover Evoque Convertible has a material roof that can be triggered on the move – as long as the SUV isn’t doing more than 30mph.The five-layer top will fold down in around 18 seconds and it will go back up in approximately 21 seconds.

Inside, the colossal InControl Touch Pro nav is pleasing – and, more crucially, it works very well. Genuinely, the pinch-to-zoom function is as quick as Apple’s iPad or iPhone.

The Range Rover Evoque drop-top will seat four people and, for a convertible, it has an adequate 251-litre load area, too. The other good thing is that the roof opens and closes inaudibly and it tucks

away compactly, instead of piling-up on the car’s tailgate.

You can go for either a petrol unit or a diesel engine, buoyed by turbo power. This is all linked up to a smooth-operating ninespeed automatic ‘box, and all-wheel drive. The 2.0 turbo diesel is the best engine if you’re after economy, returning around 49.6mpg on average.

The diesel Evoque Convertible shifts from zero to 62mph in 10.3 seconds, which is 1.3 seconds longer than the hard-top Coupe’s sprint - but both manage a top end of 121mph. The 240PS petrol propelled power unit is nippier, getting to 62mph in 8.6 seconds.

On and off-road, the non-tin-top SUV seems just as gifted as its hard-topped sibling – with indistinguishable clearances, and a mutual 500mm wading depth. Indeed, at the car’s European launch in the French Alps, the Evoque Convertible worked its way up, down – and through - everything asked of it – including deep snow.

I doubt many motorists going for a roofless Range Rover will take the trouble with the off-roading part – but it is reassuring to know the SUV can do more than just look sexy in affluent suburbs.

The all-new Range Rover Evoque Convertible is being made at Land Rover’s Halewood plant, alongside the five-door and Coupe versions, and it is on sale in over 170 markets around the world.

Prices kick off at around £47,500, which is £5,200 more than a Range Rover Evoque Coupe with a roof.

Pros ‘n’ Cons • Good Looking √ • Pleasurable √ • Sophisticated√ • Talented on & off road √ • Pricey X

Fast Facts (HSE Dyn Lux) • Max speed: 121mph • 0-62 mph: 10.3 secs • Combined mpg: 49.6 • Engine: 2.0l 4cyl turbo diesel electric • CO2: 149 g/km • Price: £51,700

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Gardening Tips

26

On Your Plot Now is the time to go undercover It’s still pretty chilly during February but planting seedlings under glass (or plastic) can give you a great start for the season ahead. A bit of time and money invested now in a polytunnel or greenhouse will give you benefits for years to come.

Can’t wait for Spring to come? There are plenty of vegetables that can be started off indoors now.

Jobs for February:-

• Erect a cold frame, polytunnel or greenhouse • Plant out onion sets • Sow tomatoes indoors • Chit seed potatoes • Sow early beetroot and summer cabbages • Plant soft fruit bushes The days are getting a little longer, green shoots are starting to appear and we’re all just itching to get out in the garden now. Just one problem - it’s still likely to be blooming cold!

Extremes in weather are typical for this month so even if we do have a warmer spell I wouldn’t be in too much of a hurry to start sowing seeds outdoors. It’s at this time of year that having some undercover growing space is a real boon not least because it’s so much more of a pleasure working in a protected environment, basking in the glory of those few rays of sun, than it is feeling a gale force wind that seems as it if’s come straight from the arctic! If you don’t have a greenhouse, polytunnel or cold frame then why not think about investing in one now? Get it built in February and you can get a head start on many plants for the season to come.

Which is best? Consider the space available - if space is limited then a cold frame, may be a good option. Green houses can offer lots of benefits but are generally not a great idea if your garden is also the kids play area and they can be hugely expensive. On the plus side, they are not easy to get rid of so if you’re prepared for a bit of work

you may be able to pick up a second-hand one very cheaply providing you are happy to dismantle and move it yourself (try free cycle). We opted for a polytunnel, which was very reasonable in price and gave us several weekends of entertainment building it. Follow the instructions carefully, don’t rush it and you’ll need at least 2 of you when it comes to putting the plastic on.

With both greenhouses and polytunnels you need to remember that they can become very hot in the summer and ensure that adequate ventilation is available.

So, now that you have this great new space what can you plant in it? Early tomatoes can be started off in pots and if you plant some summer cabbages now you can get them established and benefit from a crop by late spring or early summer.

Cucumbers, beetroot, leeks and lettuces can also be sown indoors and if you want to try something a little more exotic why not plant some peppers, aubergines and even a melon?

This is also a good month to think about soft fruit.

Most fruit bushes, trees and canes need time to get established before you start to get a good yield and it is easy to overlook them in favour of crops that give a quicker return.

If you don’t have any fruit growing on your plot how about adding just one type of fruit each year? You could plant raspberry canes this month, or incorporate a gooseberry or blackcurrant bush into your border. If you have pot grown strawberries that have spent the winter indoors then place them outside as they will only flower after exposure to cold weather. Plants that have over wintered outside can be brought in now.

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Household Tips In cold weather, keep your heating at a steady temperature of 15 degrees (even if you are away from home) to help with fuel economy and to prevent frozen pipes

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28

Look back to the cookery shows of the late 1990s and early 2000s and you can see exactly where our kitchen inspiration came from - the anodyne, sleek, chrome-clad kitchens of professional chefs such as Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver and Heston Blumenthal.

All of a sudden the warm, cosy kitchens of our parents, the kind of kitchen which Grand Dame of home cookery Delia Smith would have prepared a roast chicken dinner in - wooden cabinets, tiled floors and floral curtains - were out.

Instead, we were pouring concrete, installing stainless steel ranges and finding new and ingenious ways to open cupboards without using anything as unsightly as handles.

The home kitchen became as close to the galley of a top London restaurant’s backroom as it was possible to get: a functional space in which to create cordon-bleu spagbol and show off our collection

of vintage Burgundies in the sleek built-in wine rack.

But unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the past few years you can’t have failed to notice a change.

Yes, many of us are still looking to Poggenpohl and Tecnocucina for sleek lines and white, white, white, but even more are putting the heart back in to the kitchen.

It’s been happening for a while.

Cath Kidston and Emma Bridgewater have been tempting us with spotty egg cups and cutesy 1950s inspired cutlery, Nigella Lawson has been extolling the virtues of her Kitchen Aid mixer as she licks yet another mixing bowl clean and Nigel Slater has made the move from print to television, picking ingredients from his allotment garden to make cosy suppers in his homely TV kitchen which might have the limited colour palette of the 1990s cookery show kitchen but which exudes welcoming warmth with bare wood and earth tones. It’s a fair bet to make that even Heston Blumenthal

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To advertise in The Swanage Oracle, please call: 01929 408080

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might have been swayed to adding a little splash of colour back at his home where nobody can see it.

Once again an Aga is the top of the kitchen wishlist. In every colour going, it’s almost a shame not to buy one in bright red or retro yellow - even Ms Bridgewater has designed one in her trademark country kitchen-esque primary colour spot. A cast iron range is undoubtedly the central feature in any family kitchen worth its salt, but if you can’t afford one (and they are ludicrously expensive) adding heartfelt character to your kitchen is simple. Patterns such

as spots, stripes, hearts and stars are cute and colourful whether on crockery, cutlery or just your tea towels. Attaching a devil-maycare attitude to tidiness is a must too, within reason…open shelving filled with colourful bits and bobs, pretty bottles, cookbooks and retro finds look great while hanging your utensils above the stove or even pans from a ceiling rack has an olde worlde vibe and makes everything easy to find.

There are endless ways to bring your kitchen in to the 2010s but the most important thing is to make it a living space once again.

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Index of advertisers

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

Accountants Ward Goodman.................................................... 9

Funeral Directors James Smith.......................................................... 31

Bars, Pubs & Restaurants Bull & Boat........................................................... 19 The Sandford Pub................................................. 32

Gifts & Coffee Shops Mollyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Den........................................................... 19

Bathrooms C+C Plumbing & Bathrooms................................. 7 Bedrooms Custom Creations................................................. 2 Blinds, Curtains & Shutters Ashley Blinds......................................................... 3 Just Shutters......................................................... 13 Builders Competitive Construction..................................... 5 Purbeck Home Improvements.............................. 1 Cameras Rocky Rock Cameras............................................. 27 Carpenters Total Woodwork - Peter Albin............................... 21 Carpets & Flooring Peter Newman Flooring........................................ 31 Community News Adventures of Nellie............................................. 22 Concert at Emmanuel Baptist Church................... 8 Dorset Wildlife Trust: Winter Wildlife Watching....... 12 Kitchens: The heart of the home once again........ 28 Martin Lewis: Car Insurance................................. 14 Motoring: Range Rover Evoque Convertible......... 24 On your plot: Now is the time to go undercover.... 26 Purbeck Railway Circle......................................... 16 Residents and evidence back change to local government structure in Dorset......................... 6 Tastes so good: Vegetable Lasagne...................... 18 Swanage Painting Club......................................... 8 Computer Services AJV Computing..................................................... 27 Electricians J Taylor Electrical.................................................. 13 Financial Services Ward Goodman.................................................... 9 First Aid Training 3rg Training.......................................................... 19

Health & Fitness West Dorset Mobile Foot Clinic............................ 7 Insurance Brokers Coversure Insurance............................................. 11 Kitchens Competitive Construction..................................... 5 Locksmiths Landmark Locksmiths........................................... 19 Pest Control Terminator Pest.................................................... 7 Plumbers C+C Plumbing....................................................... 7 CM Plumbing & Heating....................................... 9 Gasways Heating.................................................. 21 Heatcare............................................................... 3 Property Maintenance Competitive Construction..................................... 17 Total Woodwork - Peter Albin............................... 21 Puzzles & Competitions Crossword............................................................. 20 Kids Page.............................................................. 10 Prize Wordsearch.................................................. 25 Sudoku.................................................................. 20 Removals & Storage Bournemouth Removals....................................... 21 Self Storage Purbeck Self Storage............................................. 13 Taxis DMB Cars.............................................................. 27 Tool & Plant Hire Sydenhams........................................................... 2 Tree Surgeons Apex Tree Surgeons.............................................. 17 Waste Services Philip Trim............................................................. 5 Windows, Doors & Conservatories Competitive Construction..................................... 5 Doors-Windows-Locks.......................................... 8

To advertise in The Swanage Oracle, please call: 01929 408080

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Carpet & Flooring Specialists • Hardwood & Laminate Flooring • Carpet & Carpet Tiles • Wood Sanding & Restoration • Home selection service • Free quotes and advice Come and visit our showroom to see the ranges for yourself 1 Manor Park, 35 Willis Way, Poole, Dorset, BH15 3SZ Open 9am-5pm Mon-Fri

Tel: 01202 672222 Web: www.pnfl.co.uk Email: info@pnfl.co.uk We’re with you every step of the way 24 hr service available on 01929 422445 or email: office @jamessmithfunerals.co.uk or find out more at www.jamessmithfunerals.co.uk

We can support all of your funeral needs and will guide you through this difficult time with professional advice, care and empathy

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Funeral arrangements

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Memorial masonry

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Funeral plans

Our number one priority is looking after you

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The Sandford Pub

Wareham Road, Sandford, Wareham, BH20 7AE

Tel: 01929 550800 www.thesandfordpub.co.uk Email: contact@thesandfordpub.co.uk

One of Dorset’s Premier Outside & Marquee Wedding / Event Catering Specialists Use the QR Code for more information

OPEN ALL DAY EVERYDAY 12 - LATE Large Car Park 80 Seat Front Decking Area 30 Guest Snug & Public Bar 60 Cover Restaurant 24 Seat Conservatory 100 Seat Beer Garden Large Children’s Play Area Pets Corner The Pub itself has been praised with its great food for groups, couples & families, and has been awarded for its Gluten Free menu.

We hold regular Live Music, Magic, Comedy & Quiz nights throughout the year & a variety of pub and garden games readily available.

The Swanage Oracle

1 Moorlands Rise, West Moors, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 0JR