Swanage Oracle - May 2022

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ORACLE

MAY 2022

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THE SWANAGE Oracle

Edition 161

Easter is now over, and we await the summer with bated breath. Here at Modern Magazines we are really looking forward to some family time and ever hopeful the weather will be good for us all to get out and about.

Spring, where we are now of course, is a great time for airing out the old, cleaning, getting rid of unwanted ‘stuff’ and putting a fresh touch to our environment. Have you finished all your decluttering this year? The advertisers inside are here to help and would love to hear from you.

Advertise with us Don’t forget to mention us!

Our aim each month is to bring you good local trades people and services, right to your door. In addition to that we want to let you know what is going on locally and give you interesting news that may hopefully help make you smile.

Afterall life is what we make it, but sometimes it can be tough, so if we can alleviate even a little bit of stress, then we are very happy. Maybe you have a good news story to tell yourself? If you do, please email us at localdata@ modernmagazines.co.uk. We may well be able to tell everyone about your uplifting message. Let’s share the good times.

We sincerely wish you a marvellous May!

Take your business to new heights with our affordable advertising packages! Supply your own artwork or use our in-house design and brand expert. To chat to Debbie or the sales team, give us a call:

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enquiries@modernmagazines.co.uk Copy deadline for June edition: 9th May 2022 DISCLAIMER: Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that data in this publication is accurate, the publisher cannot accept any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. The Swanage Oracle does not officially endorse any advertising material included within the publication. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in ant retrieval systems or transmitted in any form, without prior permission of the publisher.

A publication by

Debbie, Stephen & Daichi 4

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Increasing numbers of homeowners are choosing to hold their properties as tenants in common to reduce inheritance tax and help protect their share from care fees The Property Protection Trust Will package is based around how you hold the ownership of your home. All good estate planning nowadays considers the difference between owning your home as joint tenants or as tenants in common.

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

There is an alternative.

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

Firstly, it allows you to legally leave your share of the property in your Will to whoever you wish.

A properly written Will can ensure that your half of your house will eventually pass to your children even if your widow re-marries.

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

It can also help with long-term care costs. If one of you is still living in your home the Local Authority can’t include its value in the means test if one of you has to go in to long-term care.

This also applies if the husband or wife still living at home dies while the other is in care as their share will go into the trust.

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

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The Mowlem Theatre awarded £9,995 from the Arts Council’s Let’s Create Jubilee Fund by Dorset Community Foundation The Mowlem Theatre, in collaboration with Diverse City, is pleased to announce they have been awarded £9,995 from the Arts Council’s Let’s Create Jubilee Fund and Dorset Community Foundation, ensuring that creativity plays a vital role in local community celebrations for Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The Let’s Create Jubilee Fund will ensure that thousands of people from communities all across England will have the opportunity to take part in exciting creative events – all in celebration of the Platinum Jubilee. From puppetry and story creation to making crowns, carnival and art trails, there will be a vast range of exciting activities for people of all ages and backgrounds to get involved in.

About SW!M

The Mowlem and Diverse City - a national performing arts company devoted to equity in the arts and based in Swanage - join together to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. SW!M celebrates the stories of a diverse and increasing number of women who swim in Swanage Bay all year round.

On 21st June, there will be two completely free performance events: ‘Swim Stories’ in The Mowlem Theatre at 6 pm based on conversations recorded and performed live by regular swimmers, followed at 7 pm by a choreographed story-telling swim performance in Swanage Bay. Audiences will be free to spectate from the ocean-facing bar or on the beach before finally joining performers in the water if they wish. There will also be an unveiling of a specially commissioned, permanent photographic image of Swanage Swimmers in the Mowlem foyer.

On 21st June, there will be two completely free performance events: ‘In our own words’ in The Mowlem Theatre at 6 pm based on conversations recorded and performed live by regular swimmers, followed at 6.45 pm by a choreographed storytelling swim performance ‘In our element’ in

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Swanage Bay. Audiences will be free to spectate from the ocean-facing bar and on the beach before joining performers by the water if they wish. There will also be an unveiling of a specially commissioned, permanent photographic image of Swanage Swimmers in the Mowlem foyer and an accompanying exhibition of individual swimmers. A short film is being made by local sward winning documentary filmmaker Steven Lake that follows the swimmers as they prepare for the event.

The Mowlem is also delighted to announce that the Swanage Library and Swanage Museum will also participate with photography exhibitions from the past and present and a specially installed ‘listening post’ in the library where you can listen to the Swim Stories in the months following the event.

Made possible thanks to National Lottery players and administered by UK Community Foundations on behalf of the Arts Council, the Let’s Create Jubilee Fund will support a huge range of projects throughout England. Forty-four community foundations have been awarding grants across the country.

“We are thrilled to have been awarded nearly £10,000 to support a local creative event celebrating Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. We are equally delighted to be working with the incredibly talented team at Diverse City” Deborah Paige, Joint Chair of The Mowlem Institute Charity and Director of SW!M said.

“By telling these stories to the wider community, we believe we will inspire people to understand more about each others’ lives, encourage inter-generational links, create positive role models for younger people and inspire more people to take up swimming regardless of background” Claire Hodgson, CoArtistic Director at Diverse City said.

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Puzzle Page Quick Crossword 1

#015 2

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Across Clues: 2. Highly organised colony (3)

13. Evoke (6)

5. Lion (6)

16. Clergyman (6)

7. Powerless (6)

18. Plant cell (11)

9. Prosperous (11)

19. Withdraw (6)

10. Qualification (6)

20. Settle (6)

11. Celestial body (6)

21. Thick, black, sticky (3)

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Down Clues: 1. Metamorphic rock (6)

10. Payable (3)

2. Towering (6)

12. Small child (3)

3. Root vegetable (6)

14. Linger (6)

4. Arm garment (6)

15. Capsule (6)

6. Negligent (11)

16. Supplication (6)

8. Feral (11)

17. Nurture (6)

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Word Ladder

Make your way from HEAD to TAIL by changing one letter on each step to make a new word!

HEAD

List these BBC TV shows based on their release date 1. Only Connect 2. Bargain Hunt 3. Countryfile 4. Michael McIntyre’s Big Show 5. Match of the Day 6. Strictly Come Dancing 7. Blue Peter 8. The One Show

TAIL

9. The Greatest Dancer 10. Dragons’ Den

ANSWERS: (HEAD, HELD, HELL, HALL, TALL, TAIL)

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Can’t stop Driis He’s an acclaimed actor, DJ and director, so naturally Idris Elba needs to stay in shape to keep up with his relentless schedule. Not one to do things by halves however, the charming 49-year-old reveals why no challenge will ever be big enough.

Idris Elba wants his epitaph to read: “This guy reminds me of the things that I want to be doing but I’ve not done yet - because he never sat still.” It also happens to be his life motto and explains his powerful and pressing desire to grab life by the throat and pack as much as he can into his time here.

“I’m someone who has a hard time staying still, I’m always in a restless state,” Elba admits.

“People often have dreams and desires but wind up just thinking about them instead of going out and doing them.

I need to feel like I’m always moving forward and doing as much as I can instead of just wondering about it. That’s why I love throwing myself

into as many different characters and stories as I can and living out different adventures. You just need the will to go out and do it!”

That logic explains why the London-born star continues to tread a varied and experimental path with the choices he makes. From TV drama, with the perennially successful Luther, which he is currently filming and will return this year, along with outward bound movie Beast, last year’s spectacular Suicide Squad, and even animated voiceover work in the new Sonic the Hedgehog movie; if a project excites him, he’ll do it.

And when not on film sets, the handsome Hackney native loves to stare danger square in the face. For his 2015 Discovery channel show, Idris Elba: No Limits, he took part in drag racing, broke a land speed record and stepped into the ring as a professional kickboxer.

“Some guys want

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to be toned or want to jog for miles, but my ultimate fitness goal is to be fight-ready.”

When it came to the actual fighting – as chronicled in Idris Elba: Fighter – Elba ended up outdone by more skilled fighters, yet the experience came with a valuable lesson.

“I changed my diet and my fitness routine completely – I feel I have much more energy now eating mainly fish, chicken, lots of fresh vegetables and salads… things like that,” he says.

“That’s a big deal for me because, while I don’t fear getting old, I certainly don’t want to give in to it. I feel I still have a lot more to give – professionally, physically, mentally – and I think all men of my age and older should believe the door remains open to achieve whatever they want.

“You’re only here once… so prolong it!”

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QUIRKY FACTS

by Mica Bale Have we reached May already? Yes, with the spring weather hopefully beckoning summer, what are your plans for the warmer months? Perhaps you are looking forward to enjoying some of the county’s greatest beauty spots. Parents and grandparents, where are you taking the kids to explore Dorset this year? Thankfully the holidays are still a few weeks off so why not sit down and whet your appetite for what the county has to offer with another handful of quirky facts?

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Have you heard of Mary Lowndes? Chances are, if you have visited some of the local churches then you would have seen her work. A British stained-glass artist. Lowndes was born in Dorset, the daughter of a rector. She would go on to be an active member of the suffragette movement whilst also co-founding a stained glass company to which she gave her name.

Alongside making a name for herself in a largely male-dominated world at that time, she founded the Artist’s Suffrage League, a special section of the Suffragette movement in which she would use her artistic skills to create posters, bills, banners and so on to illustrate the cause of the Suffragettes.

PHOTO: Peter Cormack, Arts & Crafts Stained Glass

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Did you know that the creator of a well known World Heritage Site also designed the beautiful Eastbury Park? Yes, located near Tarrant Gunville, the former mansion was created by Sir John Vanbrugh who is known for designing Blenheim Palace which now enjoys special status. Although most of the grand old mansion has not survived to today, the service wing is still intact and is preserved by Grade-I Listing. Certainly, if the remaining service wing is to be a judge, the house must have been palatial as was Sir Vanbrugh’s style. In fact, it was commented that the designs were ‘‘exceedingly large and possibly one of the heaviest piles of stone Sir John Vanburgh ever erected.

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Did you know that it could well be that Daniel Dafoe’s famed Robinson Crusoe got his name thanks to an unusual event in Verwood? The author is best known for his fictional stories however his own story begins as a rebel soldier serving under the Duke of Monmouth. History books have documented well how the Duke tried to take the throne and thus started the Monmouth Rebellion, a cause which eventually died with the man himself. However, during his own personal crusade, the Duke landed in Dorset, along with his loyal soldiers including Daniel Dafoe. All did not run smoothly however and the Duke was uncovered despite attempts to preserve his identity. During the frantic attempt at escape, Daniel Dafoe is said to have taken refuge in the church yard, whereupon he uncovered the name of his hero, Robinson Crusoe!

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Have you visited Captain Thomas Hardy’s Monument? No, not a memorial to the well-known author of a similar name, Capt. Thomas Hardy was a trusted Royal Navy Officer who served under Lord Nelson himself at the Battle of Trafalgar. Born in Dorset, Captain Hardy spent his boyhood in Portesham and would later return to the village he had always viewed with affection, as an older man. Captain Hardy was the captain of HMS Victory at Trafalgar and would be beside Nelson when the great Admiral was struck by the fatal blow. The Hardy Monument was designed to look like a spyglass, reminiscent of his seafaring heritage and can be seen on Black Down near Portesham.

PHOTO: Greenwich Museums Wikimedia Commons

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Another impressive structure is Throop Mill. Amazingly, the mill has origins that are believed to date back to the time of William the Conqueror when a mill at Throop was mentioned as early as the 1086 Domesday Book. It is still debated as to whether the mill was in its current location from the 11th century however one thing is certain, the current mill dates back to the 19th century. Yes, Throop’s heart has been based around this hive of activity for generations, a facet which adds to this pretty village’s overall charm.

ENJOY THIS FEATURE IN EVERY ISSUE!

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Did you know that it could well be that Daniel Dafoe’s famed Robinson Crusoe got his name thanks to an unusual event in Verwood? The author is best known for his fictional stories however his own story begins as a rebel soldier serving under the Duke of Monmouth. History books have documented well how the Duke tried to take the throne and thus started the Monmouth Rebellion, a cause which eventually died with the man himself. However, during his own personal crusade, the Duke landed in Dorset, along with his loyal soldiers including Daniel Dafoe. All did not run smoothly however and the Duke was uncovered despite attempts to preserve his identity. During the frantic attempt at escape, Daniel Dafoe is said to have taken refuge in the church yard, whereupon he uncovered the name of his hero, Robinson Crusoe!

4

Have you visited Captain Thomas Hardy’s Monument? No, not a memorial to the well-known author of a similar name, Capt. Thomas Hardy was a trusted Royal Navy Officer who served under Lord Nelson himself at the Battle of Trafalgar. Born in Dorset, Captain Hardy spent his boyhood in Portesham and would later return to the village he had always viewed with affection, as an older man. Captain Hardy was the captain of HMS Victory at Trafalgar and would be beside Nelson when the great Admiral was struck by the fatal blow. The Hardy Monument was designed to look like a spyglass, reminiscent of his seafaring heritage and can be seen on Black Down near Portesham.

PHOTO: Greenwich Museums Wikimedia Commons

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Another impressive structure is Throop Mill. Amazingly, the mill has origins that are believed to date back to the time of William the Conqueror when a mill at Throop was mentioned as early as the 1086 Domesday Book. It is still debated as to whether the mill was in its current location from the 11th century however one thing is certain, the current mill dates back to the 19th century. Yes, Throop’s heart has been based around this hive of activity for generations, a facet which adds to this pretty village’s overall charm.

ENJOY THIS FEATURE IN EVERY ISSUE! Please mention Modern Magazines when contacting advertisers

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

In this month’s column, Martin Lewis looks at taking financial responsibility for ourselves in these post-pandemic days.

What the Coronavirus pandemic has given us, probably more than any point in the past 50 years, is an idea that we can turn to a bank, or the government, or a charity, for help and support. And I won’t deny that, in some examples, these entities have stood up and there has been a feeling of support and community.

Yet I think we all realise that can only go so far. We have now emerged out of the darkness of the pandemic, and slowly but shortly the directive is that we have to fend for ourselves again. I don’t doubt some support remains, but I wouldn’t expect it to last forever.

The average food waste bill in the UK still stands at around £750 per year, and that’s horrendous. Remember the difference between Use By and Best Before, and it will save you hundreds each year.

If you have any packaging that has a date on it, if it’s after that date, lots of people just sling the food. Well, let’s remember – Use By is a health notice to you. If something is beyond its Use By date, you need to chuck it in the bin. Best Before is the manufacturer’s guide to optimum quality. All it means is that the item will be

in its best possible condition before this date. The day after a Best Before, it’s still perfectly legitimate to eat.

With some canned goods, it’s still perfectly okay to eat them three or four years after the Best Before date. So, use your nose to smell it, use your eyes to look at it, use your senses to decide whether it’s right for you.

Just by diminishing that, and by having a decent shopping list and proper menu planning, you will cut down waste. That’s not just good for your pocket, but also good for the environment.

I think we are all living slightly differently now, and certainly in wake of food shortages during the first lockdown, I have seen much greater understanding and willingness of people to feed their families more responsibly.

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Dorset Wildlife Trust upgraded barn owl webcam is now live The barn owl webcam at the Lorton Meadows nature reserve near Weymouth is now live on the Dorset Wildlife Trust website giving wildlife lovers in Dorset and around the world the opportunity to tune in live at any time of day or night to follow the progress of a pair of resident barn owls nesting and raising their chicks.

This year, viewers are able to watch the owls in colour and much higher definition thanks to the new upgraded webcam which was installed in the nesting box at the beginning of the season. Over the past few years, tens of thousands of viewers have followed the progress of the barn owls and witness firsthand their intriguing behaviours, including preening, mating and eating, and hear their characteristic chittering, screeching or hissing, all live via the webcam. With the breeding season now upon us, the pair have already produced four eggs and there may well be more to follow.Webcam followers can comment on the dedicated barn owl webcam facebook page @DWTBarnOwlWebCam to share what they’ve seen and help build a picture of how the pair are getting on.

A great way for webcam viewers and wildlife lovers to help protect these majestic but declining birds in Dorset is to adopt a barn owl online through the Dorset Wildlife Trust website. The adoption pack includes a certificate of adoption and a fascinating sheet of barn owl facts, for just £15.

The proceeds will help ensure barn owls across the county continue to benefit from good quality habitat, through Dorset Wildlife Trust’s conservation work on nature reserves and engagement with the local community and farmers. Barn owls hunt rodents such as voles, shrews and mice in rough grassland, but much of this habitat has been lost due to increased pressures on the countryside from

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development and food production, contributing to their widespread decline.

Emily Newton, Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Landowner Liaison Officer said: “The new upgraded webcam is giving us the opportunity to see the barn owls so much more clearly and it’s very exciting to be able to view this pair already settling into their nest. We are very much hoping that they will successfully breed this year - the rougher grassland fields at Lorton Meadows provide plentiful supplies of food such as field vole to help them to rear their young. Other rough grassland sites in Dorset will also support prey for the barn owls, in Dorset we work with farmers and advise them to manage grass margins and field corners to increase hunting habitat for species such as owls.”

Our thanks go to to Wildlife Windows for installing and maintaining the new camera.

Streaming these majestic creatures wouldn’t be possible without their support.

To watch the barn owls live now, visit: www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/ wildlifewebcam.

To adopt a barn owl for £15 and help protect these wonderful creatures in the future, visit: www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/shop.

By Hazel Ormrod, Marketing Projects Officer Photo: Adult female barn owl at Lorton Meadows

by Paul Williams

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Greenfingers… the Alan Titchmarsh column He’s a brilliant presenter, accomplished gardener, talented novelist and all-round horticultural inspiration. This month, Alan Titchmarsh talks about the impact his iconic Ground Force series had on the nation.

I get asked a lot about Ground Force, the TV programme I fronted for five years from 1997, and the impact it made on gardening, as a whole. To be honest, I don’t like to talk up my achievements too much, but I will admit this was one of the real successes I will always look back on with fondness.

That’s not so much for any personal reasons, and I certainly don’t think my horticultural knowledge was called on in the same way it has been with other gardening shows I’ve done over the years.

Instead, the pride I have for Ground Force stems from a place where we managed to start something of an outdoors revolution.

Not only were we at the forefront of a new brand of reality TV (that wasn’t a talent show or a singing contest). It was in people’s homes, in their lives, and focused on the idea that people could come together from all over to make a difference.

All the people involved in Ground Force came from different backgrounds and offered very different ideas in the process of transforming a chosen family’s back garden, but it worked. My role was probably one of the easiest – almost just an anchor man pulling the whole thing together, however clumsily!

The show’s success provoked a whole raft of other home reality programmes where people’s dreams came true… usually. And I say that on the basis of some of the awkward transformations Changing Rooms embarked on! Yet for the most part, this brand of telly was incredibly successful – think DIY SOS, Property Ladder, Amazing Spaces, Grand Designs, Location Location Location and others.

At the heart of it is exploring human nature and putting

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ordinary people in extraordinary situations, and seeing how they react. Everyone who agrees to take part is looking for something, and the lucky ones are the ones who find it and know when they have found it. After all, our gardens will never be absolutely perfect places – nature sees to that – but Ground Force certainly got them close to that for a time.

As the TV crews departed, I would always suggest to the homeowners they should just sit in or look out over their garden without feeling conditioned to keep it in a certain way. Life isn’t like that – it evolves, as do our outside spaces, and we should let it.

As John Lennon said, “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans”… or tidying the garden!

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Ref : 22303

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Large selection of Perennials Shrubs – Roses – Basket Plants – Herbs Summer Bedding Plants – Vegetable Plants many interesting & unusual!

Composts – Bamboo Canes Pots & General gardening goods Locally coppiced bean poles & pea sticks Lots of local produce, including: Free Range Eggs – Bread – Cakes Honey – Jams – Chutneys Ales – Cider and Wines Fresh meat from GWR Hole & Sons Hollis Mead Organic Dairy Vending Machine: Organic Milk, Rich butter, Cream, Natural Yoghurt, Delicious fresh milkshakes in a selection of flavours Pet and Animal feeds & accessories Large selection of Wild Bird Feed, Feeders & Nest boxes

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Opening times: 8.30am to 6pm daily For latest news, check www.nordenfarm.com

Ample Parking & Assistance with Loading Please mention Modern Magazines when contacting advertisers

21

Competition time...

This month, we have a very special prize on offer... a chance to win one of five pairs of tickets to the Open Air Concert of your choice taking place 22-24 July at The Tank Museum, Bovington.

MRC Presents’ inaugural Open Air Concerts will take place from Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th July 2022 featuring a different tribute act each evening at the popular Dorset attraction’s outdoor event arena: Kicking things off on Friday 22 July is Waterloo - The Best of ABBA, which looks back at the sensational rise to stardom of the Swedish pop group ABBA. The show captures the unique ABBA sound and feel with incredible attention to detail by a full live cast and band, stunning costumes and breath-taking choreography. The iconic lyrics composed by Benny and Bjorn are sung in wonderful, captivating harmony from the opening refrain to the final sing-along chorus. OUTDOOR CONCERT Next up on Saturday 23 July is Queen Rhapsody, the ultimate live concert experience paying tribute to the legend that is Queen. A passionate and thrilling show, Queen Rhapsody recreates the majesty of rock’s greatest ever band.

Performing hits from every decade of Queen’s musical legacy, this all new live spectacle faithfully recreates the energy, showmanship and emotion of a classic Queen concert.

The final act under the stars is ELO Again on Sunday 24 July. The show celebrates the truly universal music of Jeff Lynne and the Electric Light Orchestra, giving you a dramatic taste of what a legendary ELO concert would have been like back in their heyday. Expect all the big hits, professionally re-enacted with a great sound reproduction, light show and visual effects.

To enter, simply complete the prize wordsearch opposite and send it in to be place in the draw!

22 – 24 Jul 2022 LINSAY RD, BOVINGTON, WAREHAM BH20 6JG

S H OW PL A N R.CO M/ TA N K The Tank Museum - Registered Charity 1102661 All information correct at time of print. Please check showplanr.com/tank for the latest information.

22

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The Swanage Oracle Prize Wordsearch

W P R Q M K U G T Y S E B J W

E D N B O N C M G A T C L R O

L U N Z R Y Y Z M D Y N O M O

L D O O R C Q Z M I K A S N H

D W B P I F H A J L H D S J H

R Y B F S U Y N S O W L O V V

E L I P D D I R J H X A M K Z

S Y R S A B S X V K N R L Z G

S D L Y N B H L M N Q O O Y U

I A Q W C J J V S A A L G P D

N J Z Q E K Q L V B E F K K T

G I G G R M G A R L A N D U F

D T R L S I O X T H Z M O P O

Q E L L N E E U Q Y A M W K U

M A Y P O L E G Z P O M J R O

MORRIS DANCERS FLORAL DANCE MAYDAY MAY QUEEN WELL DRESSING GARLAND MAYPOLE BLOSSOM RIBBON BANK HOLIDAY

This month, the prize is a one of 5 pairs of �ckets to the Open Air Concert of your choice at The Tank Museum on July 22-24, so please complete this page by 3rd June 2022 and send to: May Prize Wordsearch Name: ______________________ The Swanage Oracle, Address: ______________________ 14a Westham Road, ______________________ Weymouth, ______________________ DT4 8NS Telephone: ______________________

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23

A Design for Life… The Kevin McCloud Column Designer, writer and television presenter, Kevin McCloud leapt into our consciousness with his vastly successful Grand Designs show on Channel 4. This month, the affable architectural business owner talks about his background running a lighting design company.

When I got my break in television, I was running a lighting design company. It wasn’t easy, but I always carried with me a driving passion for the subject.

My work on Grand Designs and a few other things has taken me away from the subject, and I am perhaps not the expert I once was when it comes to lighting, as now my expertise is spread rather more across whole-of-whole elements, but I do think any outdoor space can look absolutely spectacular with garden lights.

It’s something that’s only really become commonplace over

the past couple of decades, thanks in no small part to some very costeffective imports from abroad. I love lights that resemble fireflies dancing on your rose bushes, or glowering lamps that mimic the dying embers of the barbeque as the warm night stretches out before you, glass of rosé in hand.

Fairy lights are an obvious and easy choice to brighten up an outdoor space; just make sure they are the waterproof kind purchased from a garden centre, not leftovers from the Christmas tree.

Designs these days come in an array of colours and styles, from dragonflies to lanterns and teardrops, and are ideal to adorn arches, fences and trees.

To light up paths and flowerbeds, solarpowered stake lights are best.

24

They dig into the dirt, are almost invisible as they charge during the day, then transform into glimmering jewels at night.

If you’re the kind of person who opts for a fire pit over a fancy gas barbecue, there’s a good chance you’ll want your outdoor decorations to be equally primal.

Lanterns are a fantastic way to instantly add a touch of class, whether Scandinavianstyle tin or mosaic Moroccan glass, while outdoor candles in buckets are a budget option, and anything with citronella scent will also deter bugs.

For a festival feel, you can’t beat bamboo Tiki torches that are lit using oil, because sometimes, only fire will do.

Whatever outdoor space you are looking to light up, less is generally more, and the subtleties will shine through the darkness if you allow them.

To advertise in this magazine, call 01929 408080

Need a Plumber?

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Puzzle Page Answers Quick Crossword Solution #015 Answers: Across: 2. Ant, 5. Mammal, 7. Unable, 9. Billionaire, 10. Degree, 11. Planet, 13. Elicit, 16. Priest, 18. Idioblastic, 19. Recede, 20. Encalm, 21. Tar. Down: 1. Marble, 2. Alpine, 4. Sleeve, 6. Malpractice, 8. Animalistic, 10. Due, 12. Tot, 14. Loiter, 15. Tablet, 16. Prayer, 17. Suckle.

List these BBC TV shows based on their release date - ANSWERS 1.

Blue Peter [1958]

6.

Dragons’ Den [2005]

2.

Match of the Day [1964]

7.

The One Show [2006]

3.

Countryfile [1988]

8.

Only Connect [2008]

4.

Bargain Hunt [2000]

9.

Michael McIntyre’s Big Show [2015]

5.

Strictly Come Dancing [2004]

10.

The Greatest Dancer [2019]

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25

Far-flung action This month, a voyage back into the world of fiction, with a selection of books that can whisk us away to far-off places Book Lovers by Emily Henry (May 3rd) Book Lovers comes from the pen of New York Times bestselling author Emily Henry, and follows the tale of Nora Stephens, who has a life ensconced in books. She has read them all, but the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients and beloved little sister Libby.

That’s why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away.

With visions of a small-town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story, she encounters not picnics in meadows, but Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute.

26

A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting by Sophie Irwin (May 12th) A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting is a smart tome from Sophie Irwin – a debut novel from the London-based author that combines intelligence with craft.

In the plot, lead character Kitty Talbot needs a fortune. Or rather, she needs a husband who has a fortune. This is 1818 after all, and only men have the privilege of seeking their own riches.

With only 12 weeks until the bailiffs call, launching herself into London society is the only avenue open to her, and Kitty must use every ounce of cunning and ingenuity she possesses to climb the ranks.

Can she secure a fortune and save her sisters from poverty?

There is not a day to lose and no one – not even a lord – will stand in her way...

not just the imagination of the book-reading public, but screenplay writers as well, and is already being adapted into a movie.

You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi (June 2nd) Akwaeke Emezi’s You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty is a deeply heartfelt romance novel about a woman named Feyi who eases back into the dating scene after an accident killed the love of her life five years prior. The book has courted

“After spending most of my teenage years buried in romance novels, I always wanted to write one myself,” Emezi told Entertainment Weekly in a recent interview. “You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty is a love letter to the brave choices we make in the name of love, the costs we pay for it, and the glory of the reward at the end.”

To advertise in this magazine, call 01929 408080

ELLIE’S SMILE Ellie’s family were torn apart by the devastating news that their beautiful, smiley baby girl had an aggressive brain tumour.

At five weeks, Ellie developed what looked like a bee sting on her underarm. Her mood changed and she became erratic rather than her usual smiley self.

Ellie had a tumour on her brain. She had an operation during which she suffered a stroke, which left her partially-sighted and with no movement down her right side.

She was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer and underwent chemotherapy.

“We were exhausted,” says Ellie’s mum, Jenna. “Julia’s House was mentioned to us and we were very stand-offish at first

because of the word hospice. But then when we started coming home with Ellie a bit more, we realised we needed support.”

Ellie had a scan just before her first birthday and it was good news. The chemo was working. “The break we get from Julia’s House has been such a relief,” says Jenna. “Ellie has care at home and at the hospice, she loves it! We can have time with Ellie’s brother, Tom. They have helped us through the worst of times.”

Ellie has regular scans to check on her cancer.

Help us to help the most seriously ill children in Dorset. Together we can give families a lifeline of care. Visit juliashouse.org/lottery

CHANGE THE LIVES OF LOCAL FAMILIES It costs just £1 a week to play our lottery, £1 a week to give seriously ill children a lifeline of care. And give your family a chance to win a weekly jackpot of £1,000.

Together we can play a part in supporting local families just like Ellie’s.

Join today at juliashouse.org/lottery or call 01202 644220 Registered Charity No. 1067125

The promoter of Julia’s House Lottery is Martin Edwards. Registered with The Gambling Commission, Registration No. 000-039939-N-319913-009. Julia’s House promotes responsible gambling: begambleaware.org. Players must be 16 or over and a Great Britain resident. For lottery terms and conditions go to: juliashouse.org/lottery

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27

Hugh FearnleyWhittingstall’s Pear & Almond Cake Introduction

This soft, dense, almondy cake can be served warm for pudding with lashings of cream, or cold with a cup of tea or coffee. Firm Conference pears should work a treat here.

Method 1. Preheat the oven to 170°C/325°F/gas mark 3.

Grease a 20cm diameter, springform cake tin and line the base with baking parchment.

2. Put a saucepan over a medium heat and add 25g of the butter. When it’s sizzling, add a tablespoon of sugar and stir until it dissolves. Add the pear quarters and fry in the buttery caramel for five to ten minutes, until they start to brown and soften (the time taken will vary greatly, depending on how ripe the pears are). Put to one side to cool a little.

3. Put the remaining butter and sugar in a mixing bowl and cream together until light and fluffy. Beat in the two eggs, one at a time.

Whizz the whole blanched almonds (if using) in a food processor for about a minute, to grind them. Tip them into the cake batter (or add the readyground almonds), then sift in the self-raising flour and fold in gently. Scrape the mixture into the prepared tin. Arrange the pieces of pear on top of the cake.

4. Bake for about 45 minutes, or until a knife pushed into the centre comes out clean. Place the tin on a wire rack to cool.

Serve warm or cold.

Ingredients (serves 6) • 175g unsalted butter, softened • 125g caster sugar, plus 1 tbsp • 3 pears, firm but not too hard, peeled, cored and quartered • 2 eggs • 75g whole blanched almonds or ground almonds • 75g self-raising flour

28

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Come on in!

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Plant Based Options Available

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We are offering an exclusive offer to our Swanage Oracle readers.

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Enjoy!

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29

Advertisers Index

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

Blinds, Curtains & Shutters

Home Care Services

.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Ashley Blinds 3 ..............................................................................................................................

Bluebird Care 5

Builders

Jewellers

J A Construction (Dorset) Ltd .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

17 ..............................................................................................................................

Georgian Gems 17 .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Jim Baggley Building Services 31 .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Purbeck Home Improvements 1

Locksmiths

..............................................................................................................................

Key Tek 21

Cafes & Coffee Shops

.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Wafflicious 29

Pest Control Services

..............................................................................................................................

Terminator Pest 21

Carpenters

.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Peter Albin - Total Woodwork 11

Plumbers

C + C Plumbing ..............................................................................................................................

25 ..............................................................................................................................

FXR Plumbing & Heating 3 .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Julia's House 27 ..............................................................................................................................

KDL Plumbing and Heating 19 ..............................................................................................................................

NO.1 PHD 32

Charities

Computer Services

Property Maintenance .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

AJV Computing 19 ..............................................................................................................................

Peter Albin - Total Woodwork 11 ..............................................................................................................................

Purbeck Home Improvements 1 Drainage Services

.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

NO.1 PHD 32

Removals & Storage

Purbeck Self Storage ..............................................................................................................................

3 ..............................................................................................................................

The Storage Containers 13 .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

County Block Paving 11

Driveways

Roofing Services Electricians

..............................................................................................................................

Mallwood Roofing 11 .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Pinks Electrical 9

Solicitors Events

..............................................................................................................................

Humphries Kirk LLP 13 .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

MRC Presents 22

Telephone Systems Farm Shops

..............................................................................................................................

BIPCOM Voice and Data Solutions 2 .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Norden Farm Shop 21

Trailers Foot Care Services

..............................................................................................................................

Wessex Trailers 19 .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

West Dorset Mobile Foot Clinic 25

Waste Services Garage Doors

..............................................................................................................................

Philip Trim Contractors 9 Garolla .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

31 Will Writing Services .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Skandoor 5 ..............................................................................................................................

Dorset & Wight Wills 7

Garage Services

.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Coles Smart Repair 17

30

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