The Swanage
Oracle
March 2018
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Natural Gas, LPG and Oil qualified and registered engineer • All aspects of Plumbing and Heating undertaken • Boiler and Cylinder Installation / Service and Repair • Landlords Gas Safety Certificate • Central Heating System design and installation • Bathroom refurbishment
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Introduction
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The Swanage
Dear Swanage, Studland, Worth Matravers, Langton Matravers and Ulwell!
Edition 112
Happy Mother’s Day to all our wonderful Mums, Grans, Nans and Carers! Easter is also early this year and very nearly upon us, so we do hope you get to spend some time with family and friends and that the weather is kind to us all and we can get out and about! Spring officially starts on Tuesday 20th March which means we have daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses, tulips and other delightful flowers to look forward to as well as (hopefully) a warmer, milder climate. Marvellous!
Oracle
Published by:
Stephen & Debbie Corney at Purbeck Publications
This is the time of year we look at doing the spring cleaning. Out with that clutter, and the feather duster! I have already started mine and I have to say I have a really enjoyed it. There is quite some satisfaction in clearing out and freshening everything up. I am not sure how long that attitude will last though…
Telephone: 01929 408080 Email: info@swanageoracle.co.uk
Copy deadline for the April 2018 edition: 12th March 2018
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
Just as well we have experts to help make life easier for us. This is where your local Oracle comes in useful. Keep it by the phone for when you will need it, after you have had a good read of course and sent in the prize wordsearch. If there is a trade missing, that you need, please let us know and we will do our best to find the right person for you. We are here to help. The lucky winner of the last prize wordsearch was Emily Devine. Could it be you this month? Do grab a cuppa and have a go! Here’s to a great month of March. All the Best,
Debbie & Stephen Corney Cover photo: Robin Boultwood
Useful Numbers Local Police Southern Electricity Transco Gas Emergency Swanage Hospital
101 0800 072 7282 0800 111999 01929 422282
Train Enquires Wilts & Dorset Bus Wessex Water Emerg. Purbeck Distict Council
08457 484950 01983 827005 0845 600 4600 01929 556561
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For all your Domestic & Commercial Demolition & Asbestos Clearance...
Safe and smooth demolition and removal of old sheds and garages. Get rid of the eye sore and create a space to enjoy next spring! Using the highest quality machinery and a team of experienced workers, the job gets done right! Safe and secure transfer of any asbestos waste with all essential documentation. Waste transfer permit held.
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Community News
Self-publishing and what inspires me to write Having found our perfect holiday home in Swanage, The Jurassic Coast inspired me to write my fourth book. That was in 2015. ‘Old Harry Rock and Tales of the Jurassic Coast’ (for 7 to 11 year olds). The book features dinosaurs, the infamous Poole Pirate Harry Paye and sea rescues. Which has proved to be very popular and is now at 2nd edition. In writing this book, I had such wonderful help from such lovely people and organisations in Dorset. The Lookout at Peveril Point. The RLNI in Poole, and The Dinosaur Museum at Dorchester. The lovely children at Swanage Primary School had read my earlier manuscript and written their very own book reviews, which included illustrations, and their thoughts. Extremely impressed with the high standard of work produced, I had the children’s wonderful words placed on the back of the book. After all children are the best critics. I began writing for children in 2011 at the very young age of 58! My inspiration at that time came from a veteran oak tree ‘The Savernake Big Belly Oak’, over a thousand years old and still grows in the Savernake Forest. I enjoy writing about subjects that exists or have existed, incorporating fact and a little artistic licence to bring the subject or character to life. I decided to self-publish for a couple of reasons: - my subjects tend to be specific to a local area, many publishing companies generally are only looking at books that appeal to a larger audience. Having said that, I have been very lucky and really thrilled that my fifth book, ‘Stonehenge – Luke and the Bluestone’ is
now for sale at the English Heritage shop at Stonehenge. So, self-publishing for me has its advantages: - I have totally control, have lovely outlets in Wiltshire and Dorset, my own website, the use of Amazon and I visit schools and read to children. It is hard work, but so enjoyable and rewarding. If you are thinking of selfpublishing, I would say, do it. One major point I always like to make. There must be a gap in the market for your book, so do your homework. If I can help in anyway, am happy to discuss your book plans. Barbara Townsend Children’s Book Author Email: babstownsend@hotmail.com Current books: www.savernakepress.weebly.com The Savernake Big Belly Oak. (4 to 7 years). The Oaks of Savernake and the Legendary Ghosts. (7 to 11 years). Harriet (about a very brave honey bee). (7 to 11 years) Old Harry Rock and Tales of the Jurassic Coast. (7 to 11 years) (available from Swanage Book Shop) Stonehenge – Luke and the Bluestone. (8 to 12 years)
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8
Community News
Watoto Children’s Choir returns to Swanage Watoto Children’s Choir from Uganda have been to Swanage a few times over the past ten years and this year, we welcome them back again and to Emmanuel Baptist Church in Victoria Avenue on Friday March 16. This group of 18 amazing children, aged from 6 to12, along with their 8 ‘Uncles and Aunties’ and 2 leaders, are on tour around Europe, which is the main fund-raising effort for the Watoto Charity, which rescues orphaned babies and children from the streets in and around Kampala, Uganda and provides a safe, healthy upbringing and education. The children are placed in ‘families’ within the Watoto villages and encouraged to be the best that they can be, as well as being taught about faith in God. In this environment, the children grow and excel in many different ways. The choir is made up of those children who show a love for music, dance and singing and they are trained to give an excellent performance. Their love for what they do shows in every song sung and every dance move performed. Their colourful, traditional costumes dazzle and delight and their concert is amazing, their testimonies awesome. The children will share stories of how their lives have been changed, and how
they have been called into a life of purpose to transform their communities. Each story will declare the miracle of transformation – from darkness to light, from despair to hope, from loss to purpose and from fear to faith. “I am excited to be a part of this new Signs and Wonders Concert . I know that I am a wonder, because I am chosen by God as His child!” exclaims Esther Kahangi (8). Esther is one of the children who will be travelling with the choir on their European tour this year. Baby Watoto rescued her over 7 years ago. Born at a local hospital on the outskirts of Kampala, her mother abandoned her. Esther arrived at Baby Watoto as a premature baby and spent her first weeks in an incubator until she was well enough to move to a crib. Now she is a colourful little girl, with the most memorable smile and incredible dance moves. These amazing children will give two performances on Friday 16 March – one in the afternoon for 300 Swanage school children, then an evening performance at 7.30 which is a free concert for everyone, for which there will be a collection afterwards towards the work of Watoto in Uganda. Doors open at 7.00pm – come early to get a good seat and prepare to be amazed! Just don’t miss it!
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Community News
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Your retirement dreams can come true
At Ward Goodman Financial Services our in-house retirement planning specialists have been helping clients secure their ďŹ nancial future for over 15 years. Start planning now for the retirement lifestyle you dream about and download our free Pension Guide and Guide to Retirement Planning, which includes an essential checklist for retirement preparation. Download your Free Pension Guides at: www.wardgoodman.co.uk /pension-guide
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Wildlife News
12
Talking about Wildlife... The turning of the seasons... As winter turns into spring, new life, colours and sounds in the Dorset landscape are emerging for the beginning of a new season. The winter has been long, so these changes in nature are most welcome, bringing along with them the longer and warmer days we’ve been looking forward to. The first signs of spring will be seeing the seasonal flowers popping up in gardens, woodlands and roadsides. The delicate and iconic snowdrop and daffodil are usually the first brave enough to bloom, despite the occasional frosty day, with the carpets of bluebells to follow in woodland in April and May. The skies will not only be brighter, but they will also be noisier, as birds such as wrens, blackbirds, robins, finches and even waxcaps, prepare for breeding and start their ‘dawn chorus’ in May. The dawn chorus is one of the best wildlife experiences in the UK, and one not to be missed, even if it means an early start (or if you’re a light sleeper!). Birds take part in their chorus as they’re looking for a mate and preparing to breed – if you can get up early enough, they are very active just before dawn, when their predators might be able to hear them, but still can’t quite see them. Butterflies are the next sign of spring. This year, some have been seen as early as January, according to Butterfly Conservation. The most likely species we’ll see will be those which have hibernated over the winter, as the warmer weather entices them out once again. The brimstone, red admiral and peacock are sometimes seen earlier in spring, with many people reporting the
Robin singing
Photo: Ken Dolbear ���
brimstone flitting around hedgerows and in gardens this time of year. Moths can also be seen this early on in the year, and are often mistaken for a butterfly. Moths have a reputation for being drab and brown but this is not always the case as some are bright and vibrant such as the orange underwing or brimstone moth. Meanwhile, in our gardens, the transition between the harsh winter and spring is beginning. Do not presume that wildlife still doesn’t need a helping hand though, and keep putting out food and water for the birds, to help them through the colder days. Other tasks for the garden this time of year include putting up bird boxes and creating ‘wild’ areas with logs and twigs, and building a compost, for wildlife to make a home in your garden. Get out and about this spring and explore Dorset’s best wild spaces. Plan your visit: www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/reserves. By Sally Welbourn
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A Makeover can start with just the Worktops.
Corian
Laminate
Overlay
Dream Doors can replace your kitchen worktops, upstands and splashbacks‌ if this is all you require. As well as looking great, our worktops come in a variety of colours and finishes to perfectly suit your kitchen. EST.
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Call for a FREE estimate: 01202 695856 (Poole) or 01202 483129 (Christchurch) Visit our Showrooms: 185 Lower Blandford Rd, Broadstone,Poole, BH18 8DH 17 Bargate, Christchurch, BH23 1QD
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Celebrity Interview
Celebrity Interview:
Kiri te Kanawa By Tim Saunders
Celebrated opera singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa has announced that she will not sing in public again. Her last public performance was in Melbourne, Australia in October 2016. “Before I’d gone on, I said, right, this it. And that was the end,” the soprano recently revealed on the BBC’s Today programme. “I don’t want to hear my voice. It is in the past. When I’m teaching young singers, and hearing beautiful young fresh voices, I don’t want to put my voice next to theirs.” Perhaps the greatest success for the New Zealand opera star was singing at the wedding of Lady Diana and Prince Charles at St. Paul’s Cathedral in 1981. A worldwide audience of 600m tuned in to watch this memorable occasion. In 2013 she appeared in ITV’s Downton Abbey playing the Australian operatic soprano Dame Nellie Melba. Te Kanawa has received accolades in many countries, singing a wide array of works in multiple languages from the 17th to the 20th centuries. She is particularly associated with the works of Mozart, Strauss, Verdi, Handel and Puccini, and has found particular success in portraying princesses, nobility, and other similar characters on stage. Born Claire Mary Teresa Rawstron in Gisborne, New Zealand she has Maori and European ancestry, but little is known about her birth parents. She was adopted by Thomas Te Kanawa, a Maori, and his wife, Nell. She had never made any attempt to contact her natural parents, but around this time, her half-brother Jim Rawstron contacted her. Initially, she was not willing to meet him, but later agreed. This episode ended in bitterness, and she has since reaffirmed her decision to have nothing to do with her birth family. Educated at St Mary’s College, Auckland, she formally trained in operatic singing by Dame Sister Mary Leo. Beginning her singing career as a mezzo-soprano, she later developed into a soprano. Her recording of the “Nuns’ Chorus” from the Strauss operetta Casanova was New Zealand’s first gold record.
She met Desmond Park on a blind date in London in August 1967, and they married six weeks later at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Auckland adopting two children, Antonia and Thomas. The couple divorced in 1997. In her teens and early 20s, Te Kanawa was a pop star and popular entertainer at clubs in New Zealand and regularly appeared in newspapers and magazines. In 1963, she was runner-up to Malvina Major in the Mobil Song Quest with her performance of “Vissi d’arte” from Puccini’s Tosca, and in 1965 she won the same competition. As winner, she received a grant to study in London. In 1966, she then won the prestigious Australian Melbourne Sun-Aria contest, which Major had also won the previous year. Both students had been taught by Sister Mary Leo. Later that year, without an audition, she enrolled at the London Opera Centre to study under Vera Rózsa and James Robertson, who reputedly said Te Kanawa lacked a singing technique when she arrived at the school but did have a gift for captivating audiences. She first appeared on stage as the Second Lady in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, as well as in performances of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas in December 1968 at the Sadler’s Wells Theatre. She also sang the title role in Donizetti’s Anna Bolena. In 1969, she sang Elena in Rossini’s La donna del lago at the Camden Festival; and was offered the role of the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro after an audition of which the conductor, Colin Davis, said, “I couldn’t believe my ears. I’ve taken thousands of auditions, but it was such a fantastically beautiful voice.” Tim Saunders is an author, journalist and businessman. He meets celebrities, goes on holiday and road tests cars.
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SELF STORAGE UNITS TO LET (for private use)
Insulated, Individually Alarmed for Furniture, Classic Cars or Documents
East Stoke, Wareham
Tel: 07836 369969
Heatcare UK LTD are OFTEC and Gas safe qualified and registered. We are able to cater for all of your Gas, LPG and Oil needs in both the domestic and commercial sectors. Our highly trained engineers have a wealth of experience and are always happy to advise, whether it’s a new bathroom, through to a boiler repair or replacement and anything in-between.
E: mb@malcolmbarnes.co.uk www.purbeckselfstorage.co.uk
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Household Tips Snack and clean all in one go! Eat a banana and then use the skin to clean the leaves of any houseplants that have accumulated dust. The juice is also healthy for the plants.
Visit our website:
www.heatcareukltd.com Upton Farm, Upton, Ringstead, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 8NE
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k
Community News
District Council reaffirms Fairtrade support Purbeck District Council has confirmed it will continue to support the district’s Fairtrade Zone status. Traidcraft for sale Th e Purbeck Fairtrade Network was set Swanage Emmanuel Baptist Church up inThursday 2002 and District Council - 2nd of thePurbeck month 10.30am - 12.30pm has promoted Fairtrade in the district Swanage United Reformed Church (opp Arkwrights) - Sundays 11.30am - 12.30pm since 2005. Wareham Parish Hall Purbeck Councillor Beryl - Saturdays District 10.00am - 12.00pm Ezzard, will(Opposite continue as thecar park) Wareham who URC Hall Sainsbury’s - 1st, 3rd and 5th Thursdays 10.30am - 11.45am Council’s Fairtrade Champion, said: Market, Town Hall “IFarmers am delighted that Purbeck District - 2nd, 4th Thursdays 9.00am - 1.00pm Council will continue its support to Work places that use Fairtrade Fairtrade. Swanage: “Th availability of Lynwood Fairtrade products The eArtworkshop: 475883; Vets; Town Hall. gives quality and choice for local people, Wareham: Lynwood Vets; Barnet’s Barbers; Purbecklocally, District Council; encouraging them to shop often Rex Cinema; Sue Ryder; Wareham Camera Club; for specialist Wholefood shop. items. This is not only good for local businesses but also for those communities in the countries CO = CATERING OUTLET where the = RETAIL OUTLET ” productsROare manufactured. WO = WHOLESALE OUTLET As well as promoting the Fairtrade mark whenever possible, the District Council serves Fairtrade tea and coffee Useful Contacts at its meetings and helps the Purbeck Swanage Fairtrade Townproduce group: a directory of Fairtrade Network Frances Ward 01929 421968 and Anne Squires local outlets selling Fairtrade products. 01929 422882, www.swanagefairtrade.co.uk Supporting Fairtrade in the district does Wareham Fairtrade Town group: not involve any fi459440 nancial commitment Brian Wilkins 01929 by Purbeck District Council. However Purbeck Fairtrade Group: it Beryl doesEzzard reaffi01929 rm support 550138 to the Fairtrade Foundation which ensures workers Beryl Ezzard is the Dorset County Council and Purbeck District Council’s Fairtrade of Champion involved in the production Fairtrade products a decent wage, have a safe Traidcraft, earn www.traidcraft.co.uk working environment and have access to The Fairtrade Foundation: health and education. www.fairtrade.org.uk Fairtrade products are available to Leaflet produced for the Fairtrade by Purbeck purchase from a Purbeck number ofGroup outlets District Council. Information was correct at time of production. February 2018. All photographs featured are © around the district. Find allin this theleaflet details Fairtrade Foundation. in the Purbeck Fairtrade Directory available in local shops and libraries.
The guide to buying, eating or drinking Fairtrade products in
Purbeck
FAIRTRADE DIRECTORY 2018 - 2019
.
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The FAIRTRADE Mark on products means disadvantaged farmers and workers benefit from high social and environmental standards plus a price premium that enables them to improve the lives of their families and communities.
Proud to support Fairtrade We are a in Purbeck Fairtrade Zone District www.fairtrade.org.uk
Look for products with the mark
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Philip and Lyn would like to congratulate Megan Ward in completing her NVQ level 3! Megan is now taking appointments and offering a 20% discount for March and April. At Philip Mills, our top priority is education. Our team regularly go on courses to London studios to keep up with the very latest fashions and techniques. We also have in-salon training nights every Thursday from 2.45pm to 7pm. If you want a great haircut or colour on training night, book in NOW as cuts are from £12.50 and colours are from £22.50 - and training is fully supervised. We train our team to work with face shape, skin tone and eye colouring, which gives a greater understandingcin designing hair for the individual. This enables us to practise newctechniquies and keep our team focused on providing an excellent service.
THURSDAY IS SUPERVISED TRAINING NIGHT! Book NOW for cuts and colours from 2.45pm to 7pm, every Thursday. Cuts from £12.50, Colours from £22.50
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Puzzle Corner
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Pop the kettle on... 9
1 7
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2
7
5 2
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7. Medicine Man (6) 8. Let Go (6) 9. Rally (4) 10. Borrow (8) 11. Pursuit(7) 13. Explorer (5) 15. Brewing (5) 16. Honest (7) 18. Paltry (8) 19. Urban Area (4)
1. Sneaker (4) 2. Eloquent (6-7) 3. Slope (7) 4. Anthropoid (5) 5. Bathroom Divider (6,7)
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21. Brogue (6) 22. Dried Fruit (6)
6. Perpetual (8)
20. Impulse (4)
12. Out Of Doors (8) 14. The Big Apple (3,4) 17. Effervescence (5)
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19
You Know you Need to Make a Will - What Do you Do Next? We like to write articles advising why you should make a Will and what happens when you don’t. But we do not always say what you need to think about when making one and for many people they do not know where to start. You should think about: What have you got to leave in your Will? This is your bank/savings accounts, any investments, your personal possessions and property
Who do you want to leave it to? For example: family members or charities. Also sensible to think about who will inherit if the first person you have named has died before you. Who is going to receive what? This can be through a legacy, which is a set sums of money e.g. Leaving X £500 and/or percentages that people will inherit e.g. A to get 50% of my estate, 25% to B and 25% to C. Who is going to be your Executor? The role of an Executor is an important one, they are the person/s who has the authority and responsibility to sort out your estate and give effect to your wishes when you die. They should be trustworthy and responsible and someone you feel could cope with the role. They can be a beneficiary of the Will but they must be over 18 and you can only have a maximum of 4. An Executor can always employ a Solicitor to help them with the administration of the estate
Do you need to think about a Guardian? Often people will say they have nothing to leave but they do have children under 18. If you have minor children a Will is vitally important. In the Will you can appoint a Guardian who will look after the welfare of your children if you have died.
There is a lot to think about when you make a Will but, you do not need to have all the answers when you sit down in front of your Lawyer to discuss making one. Part of our role is to advise you when making the Will and to assist you in making a decision that is in your best interests, taking into account your circumstances and wishes. If you have any queries about making a Will please contact Natalie Mason on 01929 500323 or natalie. mason@battens.co.uk
We’ve been in Wareham for a Year! To celebrate we are: Offering a 10% discount on a New Will or Lasting Powers of Attorneys, T&C’s apply - see our website for details We are also having a get together at our office on Weds 28 March 3:00pm – 7:00pm please join us for drinks, cakes and nibbles
Specialist Legal Advice and Solutions for whatever life brings - at home or at work Office open in Wareham. Come and see us for all your legal advice. Address: 12 West Street, Wareham, BH20 4JX Tel: 01929 768720 Email: enquiries@battens.co.uk Web: www.battens.co.uk/wareham Please mention The Swanage Oracle when responding to adverts
Community News
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Travel Isle of Wight
By Tim Saunders – www.travelwriter.biz
A butterfly has a 12-week life cycle. We learn this during a visit to Butterfly World at Newport on the Isle of Wight. It all starts with an egg, then the caterpillar, the chrysalis and then finally the adult butterfly; each a three week process. There are some magnificent butterflies and moths all under one roof. Next door Fountain World is home to a variety of koi fish, which don’t just make for an alternative investment – with some fetching upto £3,500 – but they can live for over 200 years. We stay in a six-berth static caravan at Sunnycott Caravan Park near Cowes. Here there are 20 caravans on a three-quarter of an acre site. There’s a farm next door. When we wash up we watch the cows grazing. It’s really peaceful. Inside there’s a kitchen, a master bedroom and a second bedroom with two twin beds. A pull out sofa bed caters for additional guests. There’s a flat screen television. But the best part is the shower which provides a good reliable spray of warm water and the oversized shower tray acts as a bath, especially for the little ones, which they thoroughly enjoy. “We’ve owned the site for 13 years,” says Jenny, who runs the site with her husband, Jim. At Mottistone Gardens we marvel at the well cared for gardens – the children love exploring the vegetable patch and seeing the variety of flowers. At Bembridge Windmill apart from climbing to the top we grind oats to make flour and soak up the atmosphere. Henry gets stuck in and starts sweeping the floor. After the children let off steam, running around the outside of the windmill, we discover a countryside walk that takes in some of the island’s breathtaking scenery. At the Needles the electric Model T Ford electric cars are the most popular with our children. It’s a joy to watch their happiness. They also like the swirling teacups. The Needles is also home to sweetmakers and glassmakers. We get to watch both in action. While watching how sweets are made little Henry starts to crawl through the legs of bystanders pushing one lady’s legs apart to
make his way through. There are fits of giggles. In between this side show we learn that 6kg of sugar product makes 2,000 sweets and this is done in 20 minutes. We get to try some at the end. There’s a wonderful sweet shop. Then we watch glass being made and a steady hand is certainly a requirement. It’s a really challenging process that involves a great deal of care when working with such high temperatures. If time allows there’s an excellent restaurant in Marconi’s named after the great man who carried out his groundbreaking radio work here in the 19th century. There’s a 4D cinema and for dare devils the chair lift provides the best way to see The Needles. We travel with Wightlink ferries from Portsmouth to Fishbourne. It is surprising how smooth and fast the 25-miles journey is covered. Our 9am sailing sees us arriving on the island before 10am. We stand on deck and wave goodbye to Portsmouth. This is little Henry’s (21mths) first trip on a ferry and he loves waving at the other boats and just savouring the experience. He’s only just mastered saying ‘boat’ and makes good use of this. The ferry is clean. It feels new and well maintained. On our return journey we are meant to board at 7pm and arrive 45 minutes prior to sailing, feeling quite exhausted after a fun packed few days. To our surprise we get on the 6pm sailing, which is great because our tired children would have found it difficult to wait for the later ferry.. Tim Saunders is an author, journalist and businessman. He meets celebrities, goes on holiday and road tests cars.
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21
0% APR finance options available
www.kandbinstallations.co.uk
Complete installation service • All building work and trades covered • Supply only Tile Supplier • Able Bathrooms • Worktop & door changes • Small jobs welcome NEW MILTON SHOWROOM 97 Station Road, New Milton, BH25 6JJ
Tel: 01425 460621
Craig Byars t/a K and B Installations
WEST MOORS SHOWROOM
135 Station Road, West Moors, BH22 0HT
Tel: 01202 861972
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
Funeral arrangements
Memorial masonry
Funeral plans
Our number one priority is looking after you
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Adventures of Nellie
22
The Adventures of Nellie The Purbeck Publications Camper Van It was a chilling dark winter’s night. We arrived at Walford Mill Craft Centre all wrapped up with scarves, gloves and torches, ready for our “Murder Mystery” walk. Who did it? What with? These were the allimportant questions and we had just 2 hours to follow the clues and discover the culprit. Would we solve the Mystery in the Vestry? Ivana Cramp had been a keen member of the Minster Choir for years. She had recently come into a large inheritance when her body was found. Was this a deed of greed… or because Ivana had an overpowering,
The atmospheric minster at night
OK, so who dunnit? And with what?
flat voice? We were about to find out. This is all fiction of course but we really got into the ‘spirit’ of things. Nellie had inadvertently come across “Treasure Trails” while surfing the internet one evening. She is getting very clever as you can see! These trails are described as ‘the fun way to explore’ and can be purchased online at www.treasuretrails.co.uk or often in tourist information offices. There are a series of clues which take you all around a particular area, giving you facts and some history about local sites, whilst you find the answers to each piece of evidence and finally eliminate all but one name and the weapon used. At that point you have the guilty party! There are many places to explore and it is a great way to get to know somewhere. Not all are murder mystery trails, so have a look and
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see if there is one where you live or are visiting. It really is a fun way to get around! There were twelve of us taking the challenge that night, wanting to solve the mystery. We tried to guess from the list of people we were given, who ‘did it’ before we started. Julie got it right! How did she know I wonder… Was she really an accomplice? Now Nellie’s imagination was running riot and she was just taking this too far. I have had words with her. It was so much fun. Some of the clues do need some deciphering, others are more straight forward, but each step takes you further and further around the town. Wimborne is a fabulous place to shop and visit. The Minster looming up to the sky right in the town centre, the Jubilee Gardens, the old grandiose school house now housing flats for local residents, the River meandering through, the Quarterjack on the West Tower, with his brightly uniformed grenadier, who still strikes the quarters every
All that investigating made us hungry!
We searched high... and low!
hour, day and night, the more modern statue of a skateboarder. What a wealth of interest to see. Even in the dark! You do not have to do this walk in the dark of course, but Nellie likes to be different and it all added to the ambience of our quest. The bright torches were useful to say the least. We solved the mystery! After all that investigating we were quite exhausted. Like Nellie we are getting on a bit now… Time for something to eat and drink. We had actually booked a carvery at the Bridge House Hotel in Longham. Delicious and great value, Nellie highly recommends it in fact. Probably because you can pile up your plate and go back for seconds. You don’t get thighs like that on lettuce leaves… Well we can safely say that Ivana from the Choir can rest in peace. Nellie isn’t giving you the answer as you could find out for yourself who did it… Where will Nellie take us next? By Debbie Corney
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24
Food & Drink
Tastes so good...
•
Roast Beef with Rosemary & Garlic
Ingredients 1 joint of beef 1 -3 tsp coarse salt(generous amount) 1 -3tsp fresh cracked pepper 1 tbsp fresh rosemary 10 garlic cloves
1.
Settle the joint and let it stand at room temperature for at least 1 hour. 2. Mix the salt and pepper together. 3. Insert some of the rosemary directly into the skin of the joint, scoring with a sharp knife to help you insert it. 4. Preheat the oven to 375oF. 5. Now score the joint in 10 random spots for the garlic. Rub the meat with the seasoning mix. Place cloves into the slices. 6. Place the roast on a rack in the pan with the rosemary top side up. 7. Roast for 1 hour and then turn off oven. 8. Leave the roast in the oven but do not open oven door for 3 hours. 9. About 30 to 40 minutes before serving time, turn oven to 375 oF and reheat the roast. 10. Make sure not to remove roast or re-open the oven door from time roast is put in until 20 minutes before ready to serve. 11. Remove roast 20 minutes after heating.
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25
The Swanage Oracle
W H O U D I N I D S L X J X L
S T F I G B S N S I G L S J O
S A A Q X P Z U E D C L U A G
C E K E R M E E D E I V M O D
C C K I K S G O I D J K R W G
C D N A R E K E O N O W U N V
E G Y D C J K F F A S F S Q J
Q Z A I X N F I Y N F T Y Z B
T L H P D A A R B B F L E D J
X T G D D M P P F R Z F H I L
S T P A T R I C K S D A Y Y N
M P X N Y A D S R E H T O M N
Prize Wordsearch
Prize Wordsearch
S H E C A K B V N Q Z E H O J
S Y Q O J Q Y Q A H M B S M V
I R E L A N D G A B R K T M K
PANCAKES DAFFODILS IRELAND EINSTEIN ST PATRICKS DAY HOUDINI DR SEUSS SPRING GIFTS MOTHERS DAY
This month, the prize is a meal for two at the Bull & Boat in Swanage, so please complete this page by 30th March 2018 and send to: March Prize Wordsearch Name: ______________________ The Swanage Oracle, Address: ______________________ 1 Moorlands Rise, ______________________ West Moors, ______________________ Ferndown, BH22 0JR Telephone: ______________________
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Gardening Tips
26
a beginner’s
GUIDE Carrots
There is absolutely nothing like a carrot pulled fresh from the ground... ...that wonderful smell, which soon disappears and is never apparent in shop bought ones and the taste of that sweet orange root can only be achieved by growing your own. They can be sown from March to July and can be grown in containers at least 12 inches deep. Like any plant with a long tap root, carrots do not like being transplanted so should be sown directly into the soil where they are to grow. They are happiest in light, rather sandy soil so if you have heavy clay, you should add plenty of sharp sand (not builders sand) Germination won't be so good if the soil hasn't warmed up and it's best to sow the seed into well prepared soil that has already been watered. It is important to sow the seed as thinly as
possible, which isn't easy as the seed is so small. Try mixing it with a handful of sand which stops the seed from sticking together and makes it easier to see where they're going. However careful you are, the seedlings will probably need thinning at least once to give the carrots room to swell. This operation is best carried out in the evening as carrot fly can be a problem, particularly in early summer when they lay their eggs around the roots) They are attracted by the smell of disturbed plants and thinning’s should be moved away immediately. Try growing chives, onions or garlic around the carrots to mask the smell or you could put fleece (available from garden centres or some hardware shops) over the carrots after sowing.
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27
The Ret reat at Rockley
www.rockleyretreat.co.uk
Two Bedroom Caravan for Rent
Stunning views of Poole Harbour. Just a 2 minute walk from the beach and watersports facilities. Indoor swimming pool, climbing wall, bungee trampolines, crazy golf and more for the kids. Relax in the peace and quiet or action every day... your choice! Available all year round (except January & February), please get in touch.
For bookings, please contact: Stephen or Debbie on 01202 894397 M: 07886 860570 or 07886 641600
Fixed quote work
Loft conversions / Cut and truss roofing
1 & 2 fix carpentry / Kitchens fitted
Dormer and Velux windows Laminate flooring Replacement fascias & guttering General repair work
Call Peter Albin
Mobile 07834 983022 Home 01929 425048
www.totalwoodwork.co.uk
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28
Motoring
Auto Biographies
Audi A4 Avant 3.0 TDI Quattro
By Tim Barnes-Clay, www.carwriteups.co.uk Fitted with a 3.0 litre V6 engine, the latest Audi A4 Avant becomes almost too powerful for its own good. Don’t get me wrong; the diesel lump is a real pearl, but there’s no way it returns the claimed 57.6mpg when riding on 19inch wheels. I found the car thirsty, and mid-30s was more realistic for me when driving two-up, with no luggage, on a mix of motorways, A and B-roads. The A4 estate model that Audi sent me came in top S line trim, and starts at £38,895, but with a few thousand pounds of options thrown at it, my test car was waving a £46,395 price-tag. You get a lot of kit for the cash, though and Audi is well-known for its upmarket, understated interiors that are both perfectly finished and intuitive. This A4 doesn’t dissatisfy; it has upscale materials everywhere and a straightforward, intelligible dashboard arrangement. Technology is plentiful, too. It includes: a reversing camera, parking sensors, three-zone climate control,
heated electric seats, and a powered, hands-free boot. The A4 Avant is among the best-looking estates on the market in Britain. It’s undeniably classy, and the large 3.0 litre diesel engine is so smooth that it feels more like a hard-hitting petrol unit. What’s more, indiscernible wind and road noise make the A4 the quietest cruiser in its class – by a long chalk. The ride is wonderful, and easily a match for BMW’s 3-series. The same goes for the car’s bobon handling. This practical five-up estate comes with Audi’s standard seven-speed S tronic automatic gearbox. It changes slickly, keeping the revs low except when Dynamic mode is selected. A moderate push of your right foot is all that’s required to build momentum hastily; stamp down hard, though and you’ll get to 62mph in just 6.4 seconds. Pros ‘n’ Cons • Fast √ • Quiet √ • Kit √ • Ride √ • Thirsty X
Fast Facts • Max speed: 152mph • 0-62 mph: 6.4 secs • Combined mpg: 57.6 • Engine: 2967cc 6-cyl turbo diesel • CO2: 126 g/km • Price: £38,895
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29
Gasways Heating 367 High Street, Swanage, BH19 2NP ALL HEATING SERVICES INCLUDING: • • • • •
Boilers Installed Full Central Heating Systems Boiler Maintenance and Breakdowns Domestic and Commercial All LPG work undertaken
ALSO ALL GENERAL PLUMBING
T: 01929 427713 M: 07889 409584 www.gaswaysheating.co.uk
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30
Index of advertisers
Your quick guide to everyone and everything in your Oracle... Accountants Ward Goodman.......................................................... 2
Hairdressers Philip Mills Hair Design.............................................. 17
Bars, Pubs & Restaurants Bull & Boat................................................................ 29
Holiday Accommodation The Retreat at Rockley............................................... 27
Bathrooms K & B Installations..................................................... 21 Bedrooms Custom Creations...................................................... 11
Kitchens Competitive Construction........................................... 7 Dream Doors............................................................. 13 K & B Installations..................................................... 21
Blinds, Curtains & Shutters Ashley Blinds............................................................... 3
Oven Cleaners Ovenking.................................................................... 9
Builders Competitive Construction........................................... 7 Purbeck Groundworks................................................ 9 Purbeck Home Improvements.................................... 1
Pest Control Terminator Pest......................................................... 27
Cameras Rocky Rock Cameras.................................................. 27 Carpenters Total Woodwork - Peter Albin.................................... 27 Community News Adventures of Nellie.................................................. 22 Beginner’s Guide: Carrots.......................................... 26 Celebrity Interview: Kiri Te Kanawa........................... 14 Children’s Author: Barbara Townsend........................ 6 District Council reaffirms Fairtrade support.............. 16 Dorset Wildlife Trust: The turning of the seaons....... 12 Motoring: Audi A4 Avant 3.0 TDI Quattro................. 28 Tastes so good: Roast beef........................................ 24 Travel: Isle of Wight................................................... 20 Watoto Children’s Choir comes to Swanage............... 8 Computer Services AJV Computing.......................................................... 15 Cruise Holidays Southampton Cruise Concierge................................. 31 Demolition & Asbestos Services Pro-Dem..................................................................... 5
Plumbers CM Plumbing & Heating............................................. 9 FXR Heating & Plumbing............................................ 3 Gasways Heating....................................................... 29 Heatcare.................................................................... 15 Property Maintenance Competitive Construction........................................... 7 Purbeck Groundworks............................................... 11 Purbeck Home Improvements.................................... 1 Total Woodwork - Peter Albin.................................... 27 Puzzles & Competitions Crossword.................................................................. 18 Kids Page................................................................... 10 Prize Wordsearch....................................................... 25 Sudoku....................................................................... 18 Self Storage Purbeck Self Storage.................................................. 15 Solicitors Battens...................................................................... 19 Takeaways Nihal Spice.................................................................. 7
Drainage Services All Drains Cleared....................................................... 3
Tree Surgeons Apex Tree Surgeons................................................... 32
Financial Services Ward Goodman.......................................................... 2
Waste Services Philip Trim................................................................... 2
Funeral Directors James Smith............................................................... 21
Will Writing Services Dorset Wills................................................................ 2
Garden Services Green-side Turfcare................................................... 11
Windows, Doors & Conservatories Competitive Construction........................................... 7
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EXCLUSIVE PREMIUM CRUISE OFFER
31
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Your 'one and only chance' to sail from Southampton aboard this stunning ship! Launched in 2016, Koningsdam carries forward all of the tradition, nautical heritage, and signature service and style for which Holland America Line is known —while raising the bar for 21st-century elegance. 18th September 2018 (10 nights) Sail from Southampton & Fly back from Rome to London
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The 2,650-guest Koningsdam is the first of her class, ushering in a new era of Pinnacle-class cruising. Her name’s roots, like the ship itself, are a mix of something contemporary and something classic: “Koning,” means king in Dutch— and is a salute to King WillemAlexander, the Netherland’s first king in more than 100 years. To bring this new ship to life, Holland America Line commissioned two legendary partners, change-maker Adam D. Tihany, regarded as one of the world’s pre-eminent hospitality designers and designer, and architect Bjørn Storbraaten, the force behind ms Nieuw Amsterdam and ms Eurodam.
Their design cues for Koningsdam? Light-filled spaces. Fluid curves. A sophisticated interplay of high technology and elegance. With beautiful architectural elements inspired by music. All woven together in a forward-thinking design approach. At the heart of the ship, Koningsdam’s central atrium is pure visual drama. Soaring three decks high, the space is graced by an airy stainless steel sculpture that evokes the feeling of a classical quartet, with strings, arches, and bows. The atrium is capped by a ceiling that serves as a backdrop for subtly changing high-definition projections. Look up by day to see wispy cirrus clouds floating overhead. By evening, the atrium takes on dramatic lighting hues or reflects the clear constellations of the night sky.
For more information or to book call 023 8098 3000 Please mention The Swanage Oracle when responding to adverts The QE2 Mile 160 High Street Southampton SO14 2BT sales@southamptoncruiseconcierge.co.uk
The Swanage Oracle
1 Moorlands Rise, West Moors, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 0JR