EssentialsMAG January 2023 Rossett/Marford/Gresford

Welcome...

Welcome to 2023 and hopefully, some respite from the turbulence of the past couple of years. Here at EssentialsMAG we have big plans for this year, and I’m determined to face it with renewed strength to overcome any hurdles that come my way.

My resolutions are to turn negative thoughts into positive ones, and focus on the things I can control, not the things I can’t. There are always new things to learn, problems to solve, and good outcomes awaiting – if you keep an open mind. Positivity breeds positivity, after all!

As is our tradition, the January edition of the magazine is all about health and fitness. If the last few years have taught us anything, then it’s the importance of looking after our own physical and mental health and wellbeing. From personal experience, I know that being just a little more physically active gives me an enormous boost.

January is the month to think about fresh starts and new beginnings, so here’s to another chance to do things right. May the new year bless you with health, wealth, and happiness.

Cover Image: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel on a winter walk

February Deadlines:

Editorial - 13th January Advertising - 20th January

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King and Queen Consort Visit Wrexham

In December, the King and the Queen Consort met Wrexham AFC's Hollywood co-owners on a visit to the area to celebrate its new city status. The royal couple chatted with actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney and players on the pitch, and learned about the football club's redevelopment. King Charles and Queen Camilla were in Wrexham to formally confer city status. Ahead of the visit, Ryan Reynolds said: "I would say that we're impossibly excited to welcome him to the Racecourse ground, this historic church that resides in the heart of Wrexham and is the heart of Wrexham. Rob and I both said early on, and this holds true and for the rest of our lives, we will do anything to uplift and elevate this community and this club and having the King pay a visit is certainly one way to do it. That's for sure."

Gaztonbury

If you ever worked for a library in Wrexham you are invited to a party! As part of Wrexham Library’s 50th anniversary celebrations, all former staff (and a plus one) are invited to a reunion in Wrexham Library, on 25th January, 10:30am-12pm.

Bring your photos and memories so you can reminisce over cake and hot drinks!

If you would like to come along, please call: 01978 292090 or email: library@wrexham.gov.uk

A fundraising event took place on 26th November to raise funds for local man, Gareth James, so he can have treatment abroad for stage 4 bowel cancer. The music event called Gaztonbury was held at Rossett Village Hall with Rhythm Train and Hypenotic playing. The event was sponsored by Rob Ryan Red. Many local businesses came together to help Gareth raise much needed money for his treatment. Beech Avenue Brewery provided the food and drinks (the burgers were a big hit!) and Lakeside Cakes baked beautiful cakes to sell on the night. Needless to say, they sold out too! Raffle and auction prizes were donated by Luna, Cache, Sam Molyneux and a Toppers gift voucher from Alf Jones, a hamper from Bellis Brothers, meal vouchers from Golden Lion and Pant-yr-Ochain.

Beverley and Gareth would like to thank everyone who contributed to the success of the night and to all those who continue to help with the fundraising. If you can, please donate at: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/bowelcancercyclist?utm_term=BgP9vMz6Z

Photo ©Jamie Roach / Shutterstock.com

Each year, the Christmas Tree Recycling Scheme helps to raise vital funds for Nightingale House Hospice and the local community. They welcome a donation and, in exchange, will collect your Christmas tree, take it away and recycle it for you. No hassle, no waste and no needles in your car!

The team of amazing volunteers will be collecting in our area on Saturday 14th January 2023. Collections will be made from the following postcode areas: CH4 0, CH4 9, CH5, CH6 5, CH7, CH8 8 (A-J). LL11, LL12, LL13, LL14, LL20. SY11 1, SY11 3, SY11 4, SY12 0, SY12 9, SY13 3.

Online registration will close on Monday 9th January 2023 at 11:59pm Register at: https://justhelping.org.uk/register-tree

Remember to decant any decorations, take the tree out of the pot or remove the base. Due to high demand, the volunteers can only collect a maximum of two Christmas trees per property.

The River Alyn

By ROSSETT AND GRESFORD FLY FISHERS’ CLUB

Last year, conditions on the river Alyn were about as bad as they could have been. The river between Loggerheads and Rhydymwyn dried up completely in early March and did not start running again until 2nd November. Even then, the water only flowed for a few days, dried up and restarted, again mid-month. Low flows and the hottest summer we have experienced since 1976 were difficult for anglers but near fatal for the flora and fauna of the river corridor.

Low flows exacerbate the already poor state of the Alyn’s water quality, although we have not had the experiences of many other UK rivers, where sewage debris was found floating on the surface and many had serious fish kills. Such conditions must no longer be tolerated.

The water quality of the Alyn fails several important standards which, today, are legally demanded and can be enforced.

Primarily, the water, along with nearly every other river, is seriously affected by organic pollution, most of which comes from the many sewage works along the valley, plus run-off from ‘muck-spreading’ on the fields. The problem lies in the amount of phosphorus contained in sewage, and from cattle and chicken manure which washes into the river after heavy rain.

It has been shown that excess phosphorous has a deleterious effect on the insect life as it prevents the insect eggs from hatching.

In addition, every time it rains, the road drains empty directly into the Alyn bringing with it all sorts of particulates that lie on the road surface. These suspended solids make the water turbid.

Light must reach the riverbed to encourage green weed growth, prevent de-oxygenating decomposition which can be detrimental for the insects and even fish eggs, as most eggs lie on the bed of the river in the fine sands and gravels.

However, the health of our rivers is much more than just looking clean. We are fortunate that groups now exist along the Alyn who check the state of the river and take action to correct observable defects.

The general public, many of whom walk riverbanks daily, could also help enormously by reporting pollution or other similar incidents directly to Natural Resources Wales on 0300 065 3000.

Locally, the Alyn needs all the help it can muster to bring it back to good ecological status. Our rivers are the life blood of our country side which we forget at our peril.

Rossett and Gresford Fly Fishers’ Club was founded in 1906, making it one of the oldest (continuously functioning) fishing clubs in Wales. For membership details, or to try a ‘taster session’, visit their website: rossettandgresfordflyfishing.co.uk

What’s Up Doc?

January is the season for new beginnings, with “eat better” and “drink less” usually topping the New Year’s resolutions chart. Luckily, there’s plenty of support this month for creating healthier habits…

Get plant powered

If you fancy revving up your life this month, why not go plant-based for January? Last year more than 620,000 people took on the ‘Veganuary challenge’, with a whopping 49% saying their energy levels improved and 46% enjoying a welcome mood boost. Veganuary is marking its seventh year with loads of free goodies, including a celebrity vegan cookbook with 25 recipes from the likes of Venus Williams, John Bishop, Joanna Lumley and Anthony Mullally –delicious ideas for irresistible breakfasts, mains and puds. There’s also a guide to going vegan on a budget, with most meal ideas under 70p a serving, plus your official Veganuary Starter Kit – packed with tips on how to get started, nutrition facts and great suggestions for eating out in vegan style.

Find out more at: www.veganuary.com

Booze-free New Year

Following on from the excesses of the festive period, ‘Dry January’ comes just at the right time. So what can you expect when you retire your bottle opener for 31 days? Better sleep, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and lower levels of cancer-related proteins in your blood, plus an all-round glow of health for both you and your bank balance – and probably a bit of smug satisfaction, which is never to be sniffed at!

Best of all, research shows that six months after taking part in Dry January, over 70% of people who use the Try Dry app are more likely to be drinking more healthily and enjoying better wellbeing too. What’s not to like?

Find out more at: www.alcoholchange.org.uk/help-andsupport/managing-your-drinking/dryjanuary

Love your liver

The liver is the biggest solid organ in your body, weighing around 1.3kg (2lb 13oz) in women and 1.8kg (3lb 15oz) in men. It’s your body’s detoxifying factory, turning potentially damaging substances into harmless ones.

Obviously, if you do Dry January, you’ll be giving your liver a real booze-free treat, but there are other easy changes you can make to help it stay fighting fit, including cutting down on sugary snacks, eating at least five portions of fruit and veg a day, cutting back on processed foods and takeaways, and exercising regularly.

Take the British Liver Trust pledge to love your liver this January and take the liver health screener at: www.britishlivertrust.org.uk /love-your-liver-month

Getting More From Google

By EssentialsMAG tech contributor DAVID HUGHES

I first started writing my tech article back in 2018. Time really does fly when you’re having fun! My second article in March of that year was called “Getting the most from Google”, and it remains one of the most commented on, in terms of usefulness. Fast forward nearly five years, and since then, I have stumbled across a few more useful Google hints and tips to pass along.

Location-based searches: Using the location prefix, you can narrow down your search by geographical location. For example, music lessons location:wrexham will return a list of music lessons in just the Wrexham area.

Synonyms: Google does a pretty good job of expanding searches automatically, but if you want to explicitly include synonyms for a search term, you can use the tilde (~) symbol. Example, searching music~classes will include music lessons, music coaching, music teachers, etc.

Multiple terms in one search: Using OR allows you to search more than one term at a time. For example, dog OR cat will return results for both dogs and cats in a single search.

Combining terms: Conversely, using AND returns results that include multiple terms. So using the same example, dog AND cat returns results that include both dogs and cats, but not just dogs or just cats.

Before and after: You can use the before and after prefixes to limit a search by date. For example, wrexham before:2010 returns articles, news and images dated before 2010. And similarly, wrexham after:2010 limits the search to after 2010.

There can be no doubt that Google developers have a whimsical side. If you’re lucky, you will come across a search term that has an Easter Egg behind it; a hidden feature, message or inside joke.

Let me give you a few to try out:

• Do a barrel roll - I hope you don’t get dizzy easily!

• Askew - a little tamer, but nonetheless fun.

• DVD screensaver - my personal favourite, watch the logo.

• Google in 1998 - turn back time to how things looked on the internet a quarter of a century ago.

Google’s standard landing page is one of the greatest examples of user interface design: a simple, intuitive search bar providing access to one of the richest resources we have at our disposal. I hope they continue to add to the search criteria so that I can do another of these articles in 2028!

EssentialsMAG tech contributor is David Hughes a freelance web developer Tel: 07595 303418 www.davidhughes.co

Dates for your Diary

EVERY MONDAY

Weekly Outdoor Market

Queens Square, Wrexham LL11 1AT

Weekly outdoor market selling fruit and vegetables, food, crafts, clothes, bags, plants and more.

9am - 4pm Free

EVERY TUESDAY

Wrexham Community Choir

Tŷ Pawb, Market Street, Wrexham LL13 8BB

No experience is required and is open to all – from experienced singers to those who only sing in the shower or who have been told they can’t sing! There are no auditions, no solos and no need to read music. Wrexham Community Choir meets every Tuesday during term time.

7:30pm -9pm info@wrexhamchoir.co.uk

FRI 6 JANUARY

Wrexham Birdwatchers

Gresford Trust Memorial Hall, High St, Gresford, Wrexham LL12 8PS

Wrexham Birdwatchers

January meeting - talk on “Peregrines” given by Chris Tynan. All welcome. 7:30pm Tel: 01978 855266 (Trevor)

SAT 7 JANUARY

Wrexham Cars & Coffee

Demon Tweeks, 75 Ash Road South, Wrexham LL13 9UG

Cars and Coffee sees motoring enthusiasts meet up, chat and network. Visitors get the chance to see vintage, classic sports and super cars in a relaxed environment. Open to all.

8:30am - 11:30am Free

SAT 7 JANUARY

Chester Artisan Makers Market

The Carriage Shed, City Place, City Road, Chester CH1 3DR

An abundance of the North West’s finest makers, bakers and creators showcasing every first Saturday of the month.

10am - 4pm Free

SAT 7 JANUARY

Pen-y-Lan Ghost Hunt

Pen-y-Lan, Ruabon, Wrexham LL14 6HP

Do you have the guts to investigate this notoriously haunted house? Do you think you will make it through the night?

8pm - 1am £40.00pp ndparanormal.co.uk

SUN 8 JANUARY

Chester Cars & Coffee

Manor Farm Shop and Old Ma's Cafe, Newton Lane, Gatesheath, Chester CH3 9AY

Cars and Coffee sees motoring enthusiasts meet up, chat and network. Visitors get the chance to see vintage, classic sports and super cars in a relaxed environment. Open to all.

8:30am - 11:30am

Free

MON 9, 16, 23, 30 JANUARY

Digital Drop-in

Plas Madoc, Acrefair, Wrexham LL14 3US

Do you need access to IT equipment to help with your job search, online courses etc. Come along to the Digital Drop-in sessions. The kettle’s on!

9:30am - 11:30am Free

MON 9 JANUARY

Let's Walk - Chester Little Owl, Nr Gawer Park, Chester CH1 4DA

Open to over 55s - discover your local area on an easy grade guided walk, lasts about an hour. Book online. 10am Free canalrivertrust.org.uk/ lets-walk

MON 9, 16, 23, 30 JANUARY

Craft Connect

Yellow & Blue, 11 Henblas Street, Wrexham LL13 8AE

Two hours of crafting and connecting. Make new friends and learn new skills. Keep warm. At 12.30pm a hot meal is provided freeof-charge by Craft Connect Wrecsam, in partnership with the cafe at YAB. 12:30pm - 2:30pm Free yellowandblue.org

MON

9,

16, 23, 30 JANUARY

Walking Football for

the over 60+ Colliers Park, Gresford, Wrexham LL12 8PW

Walking football is great for keeping active, getting fresh air and improving strength and flexibility.

4pm - 5pm £3.00 per session Tel: 07747 431607 (Ruth)

TUE 10 JANUARY

Cultural Coffee Morning

Yellow & Blue, 11 Henblas Street, Wrexham LL13 8AE

A morning of bringing people together from all different backgrounds, beliefs and cultures.

10am - 12pm Free yellowandblue.org

While every effort has been made to ensure all the details are correct at the time of going to print, it is advisable to check details with the venue concerned.

For a comprehensive list of local events, shows, groups and classes please visit: essentialsmag.co.uk/whatson

WED 11, 18, 25

JANUARY

Gresford Luncheon Club

Various locations

Meets every Wednesday visiting a local pub or eatery. The group is aimed at the over 50s but is open to anyone who needs company and friendship. 12:30pm - 2pm blackbb1927@outlook.com

SAT 14 JANUARY

Wrexham Street Market

Henblas Street, Wrexham LL13 8AE

Come and find lots of produce, crafts and goods from local traders.

9:30am - 4pm

SUN 15 JANUARY

Chester Vegan Market

Chester Town Hall Square, Northgate Street, Chester CH1 2HQ

An incredible selection of vegan street food vendors, artisan bakers, crafts, brewers, ethical jewellers, small-batch soapers, local artists, zero-waste champions and loads more.

10:30am - 4pm

WED 18 JANUARY

BRHS Talk "Gardening in the Shade”

St Peter's School, Chapel Lane, Rossett LL12 0EE

A talk "Gardening in the Shade" by Jill Cawthray arranged by the BRHS.

7:30pm £1 members/£2 non brhs.org.uk

THUR 19 JANUARY

Wedding Open Evening

Grosvenor Pulford Hotel and Spa, Wrexham Road, Pulford CH4 9DG

Come along and plan your dream wedding. Meet a selection of specially selected exhibitors in the wedding industry.

6pm - 8pm Free Tel: 01244 570560

Making Their Early Years Count

By JO MERCER, Senior Coordinator, Home-Start, Wrexham

Home-Start is a local community network of trained volunteers and expert support helping families with young children through their challenging times.

Being a parent is hard for everyone; for some it can be lonely, frustrating and overwhelming. Home-Start Wrexham has been supporting families in Wrexham county for 31 years. Our highly trained, non-judgemental and empathetic volunteers work alongside families helping them achieve their goals and making a difference to children's lives.

The challenges of today's world mean that even more families face hurdles to provide the best start for their children and need our support. We have created new ways of helping parents and their children to meet the changing needs of families.

Starting in the home, our approach is as individual as the people we’re helping. No judgement, it is just compassionate, confidential help and expert support.

Volunteering at the heart of Home-Start Home-Start works because our volunteers understand how hard it can be. They work alongside parents, in their own homes, to help them cope with the stresses and strains of life and make sure they have the skills, confidence and strength they need to nurture their children.

Volunteers Needed!

Are you a mum, dad, grandparent or carer? Are you empathetic and non judgemental? Do you have 2-3 hours to spare each week? We need people with your qualities and experience to support families in need in Wrexham more than ever. With your knowledge and experience as a mum or dad, grandparent or carer, you could be the vital support a family needs and make a big difference to their lives.

Join us and:

• Gain access to free, high-quality training

• Make a difference to the lives of parents and children

• Learn new skills

• Enhance your wellbeing

• Make new friends and connect with your community

• Change the lives of the families you support.

If you could give as little as two hours a week to support a parent and their children, then please get in touch.

Find out more: www.home-start.org.uk Or call 01978 366660 email: homestartwrexham@gmail.com

Viva Las Vegas!

By DELMAR WORLD in Gresford

As the World’s number one gambling destination, Las Vegas caters for highrollers and ‘nickel & dime’ slot machine players alike. Glitzy “Center-Strip”, with its landmark luxury hotels such as The Bellagio and Caesars Palace, mainly caters for the higher end of the market with prices and stakes to match. Some seven miles to the north, the older, original downtown Las Vegas around Freemont Street, still offers low-stake gambling coupled with complimentary drinks and a free light show every night. Perfect for the novice!

It’s also number one for entertainment with headline artists and a host of regular shows on every night. Discounts for same day and next day shows can be had from ticket outlet booths along the strip so, if you are flexible, wait until you get there! If shows don’t grab you then how about leaping off the top of the 108th floor of The Stratosphere in a “controlled” freefall most of the 855 feet down to the strip?

The hotels are amazing! Some offer suites, amazing pool decks, restaurants, bars, wedding chapels and entertainment. The great thing is that adults (21+) are free to wander around the public areas and casinos of most hotels. Beware, almost every resort hotel in Las Vegas charges a locally payable “Resort Fee” to cover a host of benefits such as wifi, local phone calls, gym access and pool towels.

In the summer months (June-September) the desert heat often exceeds 40°C in the shade. But don’t be fooled into thinking it’s always hot – Winter (December-February) can drop below freezing at night and only hit the low to mid-teens by day, and it goes dark as early as 4:30pm.

Whilst very much a self-styled resort destination there are an abundance of sightseeing opportunities beyond, and en-route Las Vegas. The Grand Canyon is the big one – literally! Personally, I recommend taking a plane trip, rather than helicopter as an aircraft has the range to cover the 180 miles to the more dramatic, and scenic South Rim within the National Park taking in the Hoover Dam on the way.

Las Vegas is also a fly drive gateway to some of America’s most spectacular National Parks - Bryce, Zion, Arches and Canyonlands, taking in Route 66 and maybe a detour to Monument Valley.

Las Vegas is a bit like Marmite – you’ll either love it or hate it. But, if you don’t try it, you will never know!

Time Difference: -8 hours Currency: £1 = US$1.30 (approx.) Flying time: 10 hours

BRHS - Burton Rossett Horticultural Society Gardening News

By EssentialsMAG gardening contributor CAROL EDWARDS

The most important thing to do in January is to tidy the garden. This is to ready everywhere for the next season. As I write this article, the weather is extremely cold and very frosty, so of course we will have to wait until it improves. There is nothing to stop us from looking at plant catalogues and deciding what to order.

It's a good time to clean your tools, and pots and to clean your greenhouses too. Also look after the birds. make sure they have food and water.

You can prune the wisteria if the weather improves and the frost clears, cut back any whippy summer growth. Willow trees can be tackled now, remove any damaged or diseased stems. Take out the oldest stems of brightly coloured willows plus any overcrowding ones. Also tidy up the old hellebore leaves to expose the new blooms as they emerge in the Spring.

Winter Pansies will have faded flowers now - if left on the plants they will set seeds and prevent new flowers growing.

There are plenty of jobs you can do in the vegetable garden too. For a start, you can keep harvesting parsnips and leeks as you need them. If your greenhouse is unheated,

as is mine, you can protect potato bags with fleece. Remove any yellowing leaves from winter brassicas as they can harbour pests and diseases. Place a cloche over the soil this month to warm the soil a few weeks before sowing early peas.

At this time of the year, do try not to walk on the lawn as it will damage it in the cold. Also, keep up your weeding as they soon spread over the garden. After Christmas, shred your christmas tree and add it to the compost bin, if you have one, or use the stripped branches as Pea sticks.

You can also plant Amaryllis bulbs indoor now in pots. I gave my youngest son one for his birthday in November and he sent me a picture of it in a lovely pot. There are several different colours available now and I sent him a lovely red one.

House plants need a bit of care now as central heating will dry the air in your home and can cause damage to the plants. Stand them on a tray of pebbles filled with water to increase the humidity.

Of course, look forward to the new year and the things you would like to do, including sitting in the sun, once the good weather has started, of course.

Local Birds and Wildlife News

By REVEREND HUGH LINN

The depth of winter is not usually the best time for enjoying birdsong (apart from Robins which habitually warble merrily all year round). On December 4th, I was pleasantly surprised to hear a Song Thrush singing full blast in my back garden. Hopes that this bird might have been singing fortissimo to establish territory came to nothing and I have heard no more from it since (unlike the Tawny Owls which I mentioned in last month's article).

At this time of year, huge numbers of thrushes are on the move escaping the horrors of severe weather in their northerly breeding territories. Redwings and Fieldfares from Scandinavia have been passing through for some time. Small parties have been guzzling their way through berries on local hawthorn hedges. Colourful Redwings can be identified by their thin ‘seep’ contact calls as they migrate by night. The ‘chack chack chack’ calls of Fieldfares are more likely to be heard by day. Northern Blackbirds can also be found in migratory flocks alongside their relatives. As I write, a neighbour's rowan tree is being cleared of berries by a mixed group of these three species.

One of our most striking winter visitors is another Scandinavian species – the Waxwing. Occasionally, they arrive in the UK in vast numbers. The largest recorded Waxwing invasion was in the winter of 2003/4 when half a million were recorded in Germany alone. In the winter of 2016/17, a more recent invasion produced a flock of 70+ on the Wrexham Industrial Estate.

ROWAN BERRIES

On 30th December, I was able to photograph more than 30 individuals in a single sorbus tree. Apparently, there has been a very poor crop of rowan berries, this year, in southern Scandinavia, so we may well see some of these attractive birds.

A currently increasing winter visitor to garden feeders is the Sparrow-sized Blackcap. At Christmas 2012, we enjoyed the company of four males (with black caps) and three brown-crowned females. Worth looking out for!

January Wrexham Birdwatchers

6th January evening meeting 7:30pm in the Memorial Hall – ‘talk on Peregrines’ by Chris Tynan. Saturday 7th Annual Dinner at the Beeches. Sunday 15th Field Trip to Point of Ayr. For details and to book contact Trevor Britton on: 01978 855266.

WAXWING

Smart Money Saving Ideas

If you’re feeling the squeeze, saving up for something special, or just trying to make your money go a little further, here are a few ways to reduce your spending without feeling as though you’re missing out.

Try out these food apps

For discounted groceries or good-value meals, check out food waste apps such as Too Good To Go or Karma. These apps provide boxes of fresh food from local restaurants, supermarkets, and cafes and all food is heavily discounted. Prices of the boxes start from around £3 depending on the amount of food.

Shop around for a better deal on mobile, broadband and insurance

It might seem easier to renew the same mobile phone, insurance and broadband contracts, but shopping around could save an impressive amount of money. A quick search on comparison websites such as moneysupermarket.com and gocompare.com will show the best value tariffs that match your needs.

Petrol prices

Instead of going to the same petrol station every time, shop around for the cheapest petrol in your area with petrolprices.com. The website and app also offer a rewards card that lets customers gain points as they fill up their car. Depending on the car you drive, petrolprices.com claims you can save anywhere from £160 to £500 per year.

Avoid pre-packed fruit and vegetables

In the supermarket, often the convenience of pre-packed fresh produce is offset by the amount that goes to waste.

Smart shoppers know that aside from reducing their packaging use, opting for loose fruit and veg and only buying the amount you need can save you money.

Keep an eye out for price reductions

Heading to the supermarket later in the day may help reduce the cost of your food shop, since many food suppliers will reduce the prices of items that are nearing their sell-by date (sometimes known as “yellow stickering”). Websites such as skintdad.co.uk publish lists of the times each supermarket chain reduces its prices on a daily basis.

Cashback on absolutely everything

Get into the habit of checking for cashback across apps like TopCashback and Quidco every time you buy online, especially for things like holidays, insurance, and highticket items. Even small percentages add up quickly, and you’ll accumulate a balance which can be withdrawn to boost your coffers.

Borrow, don’t buy

For those expensive things that get limited use, try borrowing before you buy. If you can’t borrow, try renting. Renting can help with budgeting because you avoid big ticket purchase costs. Share and repair shops are also popping up all over the country and the Olio app has just launched a feature that allows you to borrow and loan things in your community.

Family Time and Screen Time

While screen time may be a way for many to relax, a recent survey of Welsh parents with children aged under five, found that their child’s use of technology was one of their top concerns.

So, how can you balance your child’s use of technology with access to family time and interaction?

‘Screen time’ refers to time spent in front of a screen watching television, playing on a computer, tablet or smartphone.

Screen time guidelines

No-one is able to single-handedly entertain a young child all day or keep up with their energy levels! Often, parents will see technology as a way to offer children ‘down time’ or ‘quiet time’ so that they focus on a household task. However, experts recommend limiting young children’s daily screen time. This is because of the potential impacts on their physical health, particularly their vision and posture and also their language and social skills.

They recommend:

• Infants aged 18 months and younger should not be exposed to any digital media.

• For children aged two to five years of age, screen time should be limited to one hour per day.

• Children of any age (and grown ups!) should avoid screen time before bed as the light emitted can make it harder to fall asleep.

Getting the most out of technology

Parents can involve themselves in their child’s use of technology, sharing time together, setting limits and role modelling how and when it is used.

• Think about on-line safety - reduce risks by checking the privacy settings on apps that your child uses.

• Act as a role model - it is easy to forget the frequency with which we check our phones but our children could be mirroring our behaviour. Try to create a place in your home to keep mobile phones and only choose to get it if you need to use it purposefully.

• Think about posture - try to make sure your little ones are not straining their necks looking down at a tablet. Try to encourage them to look at the screen on a table and to take regular breaks to look away from the screen.

• Enjoy together - the best way for a child to develop their language skills is by listening to ‘live language’ from the real people around them. Try to sit with your child when they play on their tablet and talk to them about what they can see and what’s happening.

Try choosing age appropriate apps or games that your child will enjoy. For tips and recommendations visit The National Literacy Trust website: literacytrust.org.uk

Free practical tips and expert advice for all your parenting challenges is available at: gov.wales/parenting-give-it-time

At the Heart of Our Community

By CHRISTOPHER JACKSON

Here at Time 2 Travel, we have always had the people of Wrexham and surrounding areas in our hearts. After all, without you, we wouldn’t be here.

As we head into 2023 and planning your transport needs for the Christmas party season seems a distant memory, we feel it is important for us to support the local community in ways other than providing much needed transport for your family gettogethers and celebrations.

As such, we enjoy working with the community when we can and were delighted to strike up a partnership with FC United of Wrexham recently. As the Club’s sponsor, our aim is to support the Club as it continues on its mission to improve grassroots football, futsal and other sports for all ages.

The partnership is in place for at least the next three years as we plan to not only sponsor the team kits and improve the training facilities, but also to work with the management team on their business plan to create a more sustainable model for the Club’s future.

Leisure time is the backbone of our business as the majority of our customers use our services for their transport to and from the airport, or the races or to a family party or celebration, let alone the daily excursion market for shopping day trips or a visit to the coast. We are now seeing bookings back to pre-pandemic levels as life finally returns to normal.

We pride ourselves on helping everyone to get out and enjoy life as much as possible, especially since the pandemic. And that includes our senior citizens who may find themselves isolated at home.

With this in mind, we organise community day trips such as a cabaret afternoon or show. We can pick you up from your ladies lunches, community groups, church halls and even the pub! We will take you wherever you want to go and return you to your drop off point after a fun-filled afternoon! We are also one of the very few transport companies who allow a mobility scooter on board, so even if you struggle with movement, we will do our best to make sure you get where you want to be. So, if you are making plans for 2023 and need a quality, reliable, safe transportation service to get you from A to B and back again, you know where to come.

By Christopher Jackson Time 2 Travel (Yellow Travel Wrexham Ltd)

time2travelcoaches.co.uk

Tel: 01978 253835

Make 2023 Your Year!

By HELEN CONWAY

So, did you have a great Christmas?

Did you eat too much?

Did you drink too much?

Did you sit around more than usual?

Do you feel a bit sluggish now?

Put on a few pounds?

Yes? Good!

Christmas is often the one time when people are able to fully relax, to spend extended time with loved ones and friends, and to switch off from the usual schedule of doing.

It’s not a bad thing. But it can’t go on forever. At some point, you have to put the mince pies down.

If you are ready to get back onto a healthier wagon, here are a few tips to get you started:

• Get back into a regular sleep pattern. Often, over Christmas, our sleep schedule becomes erratic, but a regular schedule of quality sleep can help with weight management and positive mental health.

• Drink more. Water, fruit and herb teas that is! This will help to rehydrate, make you feel fuller and reduce snacking, and are essential for good brain and body function.

• Bias your diet towards more fruit and veg. We often eat more foods high in sugar and fat over the holidays, so plenty of colourful whole foods will give you plenty of nutrients.

• Start something new. January can be a difficult month. Poor weather, credit card bills, the excitement of Christmas just a memory. But learning something new has been shown to reduce stress, boost mood, improve wellbeing and lower the heart rate.

• Get active. Get up, get moving and make 2023 your year! Walking, swimming, dancing, and of course, Pilates. Find something you really enjoy, and you are far more likely to keep it up.

Bodywork-Pilates was established in 2002. They offer the very best in pilates, yoga and holistic fitness, with over 20 classes a week to choose from in and around Wrexham and Chester.

EssentialsMAG fitness contributor is Helen Conway from Bodywork-Pilates Ltd www.bodywork-pilates.co.uk Tel: 01978 512401

Sarah’s Story About Anxiety

By CAT WILLIAMS

Sarah said she had always been a worrier, but her anxiety had increased to the point where she was over-thinking everything, her self-confidence was rock-bottom, and she was saying no to things she used to enjoy. Sarah booked in to see me, and we explored some principles of Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT). Here are some of the key points we looked at:

We are not born anxious people

Every baby is born with natural self-belief and self-confidence. Anxiety is something that creeps into our lives through the circumstances we experience. While we think of it as a problem, it is actually trying to protect us. Anxiety kicks in to prevent us from what our brain perceives to be a threat based on our history. If we can find the “root-cause”, the “why” we subconsciously see something as a potential threat, and work out what’s triggering it now, then we can reduce and even eliminate anxiety for good.

Most of our thoughts are subconscious

We think around 70,000 thoughts per day but 95% of these ‘run in the background’ and affect our feelings and behaviours without us realising it. No wonder we can be left feeling out of control of our emotions! By harnessing the power of our subconscious thoughts we can instantly transform how we feel.

We can control our own minds

I asked Sarah how she would like to feel if I could ‘wave a magic wand’. Using the words she gave to me, I made her a

personalised self-hypnosis recording that she could listen to in her own time. That recording would cement the work we had done in the session and help to make her new thought patterns a familiar way of life to her.

Everything you need is within you

I worked with Sarah to discover her natural strengths and this helped her to recognise that she already had everything she needed to be a calm, confident and self-assured person.

Understanding is power

After just two sessions, Sarah’s whole perspective had changed and she had achieved what she was looking for. “I felt instantly different after the first session. I realised that I had picked up anxiety as a result of events in my past, but that it wasn’t really “me”. And so once I understood where it had come from, Cat helped me to re-process the past and ‘wire back in’ the person I was always meant to be. I cannot thank Cat enough for setting me free and releasing my confidence. It feels amazing to feel lighter, happier and ready for anything!”

To find out more about me and my work please get in touch for a no obligation chat.

Cat Williams

Speaker, Author, Rapid Transformational Therapist cat@cat-williams.com www.cat-williams.com Tel: 07799 641347

EssentialsMAG Tasty Recipe

Mid-week Easy Teriyaki Chicken

Try this easy, sticky Asian-style teriyaki chicken for a speedy weeknight supper. It takes just 20 minutes to make! Serve it with sticky rice and steamed greens.

INGREDIENTS

2 tbsp toasted sesame oil

6 skinless and boneless chicken thighs, sliced

2 large garlic cloves, crushed

1 thumb-sized piece ginger, grated 50g runny honey 30ml light soy sauce

1 tbsp rice wine vinegar

1 tbsp sesame seeds , to serve

4 spring onions, shredded, to serve Sticky rice, to serve Steamed bok choi or spring greens, to serve

SERVES 4

METHOD

Heat the oil in a non-stick pan over a medium heat. Add the chicken and fry for 7 minutes, or until golden.

Add the garlic and ginger and fry for 2 minutes.

Stir in the honey, soy sauce, vinegar and 100ml water. Bring to the boil and cook for 2 - 5 minutes over a medium heat until the chicken is sticky and coated in a thick sauce.

Scatter over the spring onions and sesame seeds, then serve the chicken with the rice and steamed veg.

Seasonal Treats in January

Keep the cold and dark at bay with flavourrich ingredients that are in season now…

Mussels

Rope-grown and in peak, plump condition, British and Irish mussels are a real treat on dark January evenings. They’re very easy to cook but need to be eaten the day you buy them and they do require a wee bit of prep.

First, wash in a bowl of cold water and pull off the “beards” – the brown hairy stuff dangling from the shell’s hinge. Give any that are open a good tap and if they don’t shut, discard – they are dead and not safe to eat.

Next, heat a large pan, add the mussels and a little water or white wine, then put the lid on and steam for a couple of minutes until all the shells have opened. Serve as they are or with a sauce – tomatoes with chilli are just the job on a cold night.

Swede

Believe it or not, the swede is actually a brassica – a lumpen cross between the cabbage and the turnip, but with a sweet, earthy flavour that works beautifully with dairy. Also known in Scotland as ‘neeps’, it’s a stalwart of Burns Night, served as a coarsely mashed supporting act for the haggis. Alternatively, cut into chunks or chips, toss in olive oil and minced garlic then roast, topped with parmesan, until golden and simply irresistible.

Seville Oranges

Home-made marmalade is a cut above the supermarket versions. The key is to use Seville oranges, whose season runs from

the end of December to mid-February and whose aromatic rind is vital for the tangy, bitter-sweet flavour. To ensure your marmalade is up to Paddington Bear sandwich standards, soak the sliced peel overnight, cook with golden granulated sugar for a rich, caramel taste, and use a sugar thermometer so you know when it’s reached the setting point of 104.5°C.

Venison

High in protein and taste, ultra-lean and chiming perfectly with the growing desire for more natural, sustainable meat, venison is a great choice for January roasts or casseroles. To keep it tender, slow cooking is a must. Try diced venison in beef stock in a crockpot on low with mushrooms, chopped smoked streaky bacon, baby carrots and finely diced onion or leek, then either use as a pie filling or serve with seasonal veg like Jerusalem artichoke, celeriac and parsnip – home-made dumplings or swede chips are a great accompaniment, too.

January’s Shopping List

The Power of Protein

BY SAMANTHA GRIFFITHS

Protein is an essential nutrient, used by the body to build all cells, tissue, bones, and muscle. It is vital for many processes within the body, including hormone function, the immune system, and energy production.

What food contains protein?

Protein is present in a range of foods, including meat, fish, dairy products, pulses, beans, grains, and nuts.

For example:

100g beef steak = 31g 100g cheddar cheese = 25g 100g salmon = 24g 100g red lentils = 8g 100g tinned kidney beans = 7g

It’s estimated that most adults get the bulk of their protein from meat and dairy products. When over consumed, these foods are associated with high levels of salt and saturated fat. Other sources of protein, such as fish, beans, pulses, and lentils are much lower in salt and saturated fat, and contain important nutrients such as fibre, vitamins, and minerals.

Therefore, the government Eat Well Guide recommends eating more plant-based proteins, as well as two portions of fish each week (one of which should be oily).

How much protein do we need?

In the UK, it’s recommended that adults consume 0.75g of protein per kilogram of body weight, per day. So, for example, a 70kg woman would need 52.5g of protein each day to meet their requirements. Requirements are higher for people who exercise a lot, and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Spread it out across the day

In Western countries our breakfasts and lunches tend to be high in carbohydrates (toast, cereals, sandwiches, etc.) and our evening meals tend to be protein heavy. Rather than having a protein-rich meal once a day, it’s thought to be more beneficial to spread your intake out across each meal.

You could have a boiled egg or nut butter with your breakfast toast. Choose a protein rich cereal with milk, add some feta cheese or cooked lentils to salads at lunchtime, or snack on yoghurt with nuts in the afternoon.

Choose from both animal and plant-based sources to give you the best balance of nutrients!

PLEASE NOTE: If you have a long-term illness and want to make any dietary changes always discuss these with your GP or a Registered Dietitian first.

EssentialsMAG nutrition contributor is Samantha Griffiths of Samantha Kate Nutrition Tel: 07958 207711 samanthakatenutrition@outlook.com www.samanthakatenutrition.com

Sarah Atherton MP Member of Parliament for Wrexham

I hope everybody in Wrexham had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Having recently become the seventh city in Wales, I was delighted that King Charles III and the Queen Consort visited Wrexham in December to celebrate Wrexham’s city status. During the service, His Majesty officially marked the conferral of city status, a particularly special and albeit bittersweet moment for us all as one of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s last duties was to sign the ‘Letter Patent’ for our new city. It was an honour to be at the service at St Giles’ Church to mark this occasion on what was a very special and memorable day.

This year, to honour our wonderful residents at Ashgrove Care Home I asked them to design my Christmas card based on their memories of Christmas past. Following a hard process of choosing which one of the beautiful designs should win, I went to Ashgrove Care Home and was extremely pleased to meet Marion Davies to announce that she was the winner of our Christmas card competition! Marion’s design was then printed on the front cover of my Christmas card, and I snapped up the opportunity to show Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, Marion’s design! Following my chat with Marion, I joined residents and families at Ashgrove Care home’s Christmas fayre to get into the festive spirit. A huge thank you to all residents at Ashgrove Care home for sharing their memories and putting entries in for this year’s Christmas card competition.

Talking of Christmas, this year, the Everyone Deserves a Christmas Appeal was bigger and better than in previous years! Together, we raised £660 on the JustGiving page! Last year, Everyone Deserves a Christmas (EDAC)

helped to provide over 50 Christmas hampers and 50 Christmas gift bags to some of the most vulnerable and deprived members of our community, many of whom are children, to enjoy during the festive period. The appeal was launched as a collaboration between Mecca Bingo, Wrexham Rotary Club, Caia Park Partnership, and my office. This year, EDAC has certainly built on last year’s success by providing further support to our community this Christmas.

Following the launch of EDAC, I wrote to businesses to make them aware of the campaign, and I am extremely grateful to those that have donated. Once all the donations had been gathered, I was pleased to join the team at Mecca Bingo to deliver the Christmas hampers and gift bags.

The closing date for donations was 12th December, but if you missed the chance to donate, then make sure to keep an eye out for next year’s appeal. A huge thank you to everyone who donated, these Christmas hampers and gift bags truly brighten many families’ festive celebrations.

As always, if you are a resident in Wrexham and need my assistance with any local or national issues, please contact me.

Tel: 020 7217 4885 / 01978

sarah.atherton.mp@parliament.uk www.sarahatherton.org.uk

Alyn Family Doctors Latest News

Understanding the symptoms of Invasive GAS infections (iGAS) and Scarlet Fever.

Group A streptococcal (GAS) infection (also known as ‘Strep A’) is a group of bacteria which causes infections in the throat and skin.

Scarlet Fever is a contagious infection caused by Group A streptococcal infection that mostly affects young children. It's easily treated with antibiotics.

Invasive GAS infections (iGAS) occur when the bacteria get past the defences of the person who is infected. This may occur when a person has sores or other breaks in the skin that allow the bacteria to get into the tissue, or when the person’s ability to fight off the infection is decreased because of chronic illness or an illness that affects the immune system.

While we understand that parents are likely to be worried by reports they are seeing related to iGAS, cases of invasive group A streptococcal infection (iGAS) remain rare in Wales, and children have a very low risk of contracting the disease.

Public Health Wales has developed this traffic light guide for parents:

Treat at Home

If your child has a:

• Sore throat

• Headache

This can be treated at home. Cold and ‘flu symptoms are very common at this time of year, especially in children. Most will have a common seasonal virus, which can be treated at home by keeping the child hydrated, and with paracetamol or Calpol.

Contact NHS 111 Wales

If your child also:

• Has a fever

• Is nauseated or vomiting

• Develops a fine red rash, which feels like sandpaper

You should contact NHS 111 Wales or your GP for advice.

Contact GP

If your child has any of the following:

• A fever above 38°C

• Severe muscle aches

• Localised muscle tenderness

• Redness at the site of wound

Contact your GP or get medical advice as soon as possible.

Tel: 0333 332 3260 www.alynfamilydoctors.co.uk www.facebook.com/alynfamilydoctors

Lesley Griffiths MS Member of the Senedd for Wrexham

Happy New Year! I’d like to wish EssentialsMAG readers a healthy and joyful 2023.

Visiting schools in Wrexham is always a highlight of my job but during the peak of the pandemic, this was prohibited. Although coronavirus hasn’t disappeared entirely, thankfully, we have returned to some sort of normality and in the run up to Christmas I was able to visit a number of local schools.

I invited the Welsh Government Education Minister, Jeremy Miles MS, to Wrexham. The Minister spent the day in the constituency visiting All Saints’ Primary School in Gresford, Gwenfro Community Primary School and St Christopher’s School. We also found time to visit The Venture to see its after-school provision. I’m grateful to all the students and staff for being so welcoming and I know the Minister enjoyed his time in Wrexham.

It was a pleasure visiting Rhosnesni High School once again to meet students who have been participating in the My Voice My Choice programme. The school has been working in partnership with Leonard Cheshire, a nationwide charity that supports people of all abilities to live, learn and work as independently as they choose.

The workshops, hosted by Leonard Cheshire, focused on social inclusion and mental wellbeing and with the programme drawing to a close, I was invited to the school to speak, present certificates and

take part in a Q&A session. It was clear the programme has been of great value to the school and students and I wish the participants all the very best.

Ysgol Cae'r Gwenyn, formally known as Wrexham Early Years Centre, opened its new extension in the summer. It was lovely to see the improvements for myself and meet the children and staff in the additional classrooms. The atmosphere at Ysgol Cae'r Gwenyn is always warm and welcoming and, despite the new garden not looking its brightest in the midst of winter, it’s obvious the area is a valuable addition and will benefit pupils for years to come.

Finally, I visited Ysgol Bryn Alyn to take part in an insightful Q&A session with members of the school council. Ysgol Bryn Alyn had invited the Senedd’s Education Outreach Team to the school, which helps young people to better understand how democracy works in Wales.

If any school or youth group is interested in finding out more information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Talwyd costau’r cyhoeddiad hwn gan Gomisiwn y Senedd, o gronfeydd cyhoeddus / The costs of this publication have been met by the Senedd Commission from public funds.

Tel: 01978 355743

Lesley.Griffiths@senedd.wales www.lesleygriffiths.co.uk

Facebook & Twitter: @lesley4wrexham

Looking Forward to Buying Your First Home?

By JON PEATFIELD, Mortgage Consultant at Hadlow Edwards

It’s such an exciting time searching for your first home, particularly in the new year, when everything seems to be looking brighter and fresher. So, here’ are three things to help you on your journey to buying your first property:

1. Do your research and bring in the experts

Understanding how much you can afford will give you a great starting point for your research. Then you can start looking at how to save the deposit, how much you can borrow, and where you might like to live.

Speaking to a Mortgage Consultant can help you decide on these areas, remove confusing jargon, and help you get the most out of your budget. They can do a lot of the boring stuff like dealing with solicitors and searching for a mortgage provider that suits you best.

2. Keep your credit in check Making sure that you are paying back your repayments, such as car finance, and any mobile phone bills, on time could make a difference in how much you can borrow with providers.

3. Stay calm and be patient

You may not see a property you like within your budget to start with, but new houses are appearing on the market all the time, despite the cost-of-living crisis.

Being patient could mean that you find a house whose sale price has come down to within your budget or a new property pops up that meets your needs better than at the beginning.

If you, or someone you know, are looking forward to buying your first home, I can support you through your exciting journey.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

A note from Hadlow Edwards: You might notice we look a little different… We’re excited to announce the launch of Hadlow Edwards’ new logo as part of the ongoing evolution of our company’s brand.

Over nearly 20 years, we have grown and progressed to become the company that we are today. We have developed our visual identity to mirror how far we have come and moved towards a brand that reflects our mission: Building lasting relationships, supporting you through market volatility, and planning for your future, with the next generation in mind.

By Jon Peatfield of Hadlow Edwards Wealth Management Limited hadlow.edwards@sjpp.co.uk Tel: 01978 311 611 www.hadlowedwards.co.uk

Hadlow Edwards is a trading name of Hadlow Edwards Wealth Management Ltd. Hadlow Edwards Wealth Management Ltd is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products.

The ‘St. James’s Place Partnership’ and the titles ‘Partner’ and ‘Partner Practice’ are a marketing term used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.

Where To Start?

By EssentialsMAG environment contributor ROB RENOUF

Maybe you’ve decided that this year you want to do more to help tackle the climate and ecological emergency; but working out the best thing to do can be a challenge. We can make changes in our own lives, do things to help others and we can also try to get politicians and businesses to do more. We’re all different, so the best approach for us won’t necessarily be the same as for others. Let’s begin with a few examples of changes we may be able to make ourselves.

If you own a home, that can be a good place to start. Domestic heating is a major source of carbon emissions; improving the energy efficiency of our homes offers big environmental and cost benefits:

• Loft insulation (one of the cheapest/effective options)

• Wall insulation

• Replacement doors/windows

• Solar panels

• Heat pump

If you drive a lot, an electric vehicle could be a good choice.

The above involve an upfront investment, which won’t be possible for many at present. However, there are alternatives which cost far less or actually save money.

If you’re ready to make a big change, two things which could create the biggest environmental benefit are:

• Switching to a plant-based diet

• Stopping flying

If you’re not ready for such a big step yet, a more incremental approach may provide a better way forward. We need to be honest that small changes alone aren’t sufficient to tackle the current environmental crisis, but doing something is better than nothing.

Here are some easy ways to get started:

• Waste - each time you shop aim to replace at least one more item with a plastic free alternative

• Travel - if you have a car, switch one journey a week to public transport or active travel and build from there

• Food - stopping eating meat one or more days a week can be a good way to discover plant-based alternatives

We mustn’t kid ourselves that meat-free Mondays, the occasional bus trip or cutting down our single use plastics are all that’s required. However, the first steps can be the most difficult; making small changes is less intimidating and having done that, we may discover that further improvements are far easier than we thought.

Some of the biggest barriers to change are often psychological and taking small steps can help us overcome those and open the door to achieving much more progress.

EssentialsMAG environment contributor is Rob Renouf robsrenouf@gmail.com

The Balfour Trust for Rossett

If you run a local group that promotes healthy lifestyles, provides social welfare or promotes inclusive activities, this historic local funding source may be for you. It is open to groups or clubs for any age group in Rossett. Let us know what projects you have organised for 2023 and how a grant from The Balfour Trust could help you realise your plans. For further information please get in touch by email: m-t-r.rossett@pm.me or by letter: The Trustees of The Balfour Trust, c/o Mr. Mike Thompson, 13 Park View, Rossett, LL12 0DH. Application closing date: January 31st 2023.

• St. Peter's Play Scheme and the school received funding for outdoor science-based learning and social play.

• Burton and Rossett Horticultural Society encourage younger members of the community to take part in gardening activities at their shows. This year all the junior entrants received a bulb planting kit.

• Darland School received funds for equipment to be used by the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme participants and to develop the Gardening Club project.

• Burton and Rossett Indoor Bowling Club now meet in the Church Hall on Thursday afternoons and the Balfour Trust funded a new mat for the group.

• Rossett Swimming Club continues to grow in size. The Trust has paid for Level 2 swimming teacher training and lifeguard training for the young adult volunteers.

How to Reduce Your Debts

Debt is something that everyone has at some point in their lives. Whether you owe money from loans, credit cards or store cards, debt is never fun to deal with. Debt is often associated with negative feelings such as anxiety, worry, stress, frustration, etc., and it has a huge impact on our lives.

Many people struggle to pay off their debts because they don't know where to begin, which adds to the emotional turmoil. It’s important to think about it logically and take it one step at a time.

STEP 1: Set a budget

Set a budget for how much you can realistically afford to allocate each month to pay off your debt and make a commitment to stick to it.

STEP 2: Prioritise

Make a list of all your debts with the name of the creditor, total amount owed, minimum monthly payment and interest rate. Choose the debt with the highest interest rate and prioritise paying that one off. Then choose the next highest rate, then the next, and so on. You’ll get out of debt faster and faster as you move down the list.

STEP 3: Pay more than the minimum balance

If it’s feasible, always try to pay more than the minimum payment on any outstanding balance – even £10 or £20 a month can make a big difference. You’ll pay less interest, reduce the amount owed more quickly, and improve your credit rating.

STEP 4:

Use cash rather than a credit card

Although credit cards are a great convenience, they’re also an easy – and expensive - way to incur debt. A good way to gain better control over your finances is to wean yourself off using credit cards to pay for everything. If you can, try to use more cash to pay for everyday or smaller items: it will leave you with more funds to channel into reducing your debt.

STEP 5: Have a goal

Pick a date when you plan to be completely debt-free. It’s easier to keep yourself motivated when you have a goal rather than believing that you’ll be paying off your debt forever. Think about how you’ll feel when that day comes and visualise how you will celebrate.

What if you have no money to pay off your debt?

If you don’t have any spare cash to help pay down your debt then all is not lost. There are still options such as debt management plans, individual voluntary arrangements, administration orders, debt relief orders and bankruptcy orders.

You will find free debt advice at: moneyhelper.co.uk and also citizensadvice.co.uk. If your debt is having a detrimental effect on you mentally then mind.org.uk has lots of practical tips on managing your money and improving your mental health.

Beryl Blackmore Councillor for Marford & Hoseley

As I sit writing this article, it is very cold and I can see the first snow on the hills. Thinking ahead to a New Year what do I hope for ?

Health and heating - with those two I will be happy, will that do for you? I suspect not.

Many people will struggle paying for basic essentials. Remember to make use of the various agencies in Wrexham, the Foodbank, Well-being Hub in the old Crown Buildings in Wrexham - its a drop-in centre with a large support system covering many things.

Remember the Contact Centre has moved to the Guildhall, go on the Council website and you will find links to gain help for so many things.

Don’t struggle if you need help, especially to use a computer. I am in Gresford Methodist Hall every Tuesday morning, along with other Councillors, who can offer help.

In Marford and Hoseley, residents have started to prune back trees and hedges. Thank you on behalf of pedestrians and especially people pushing buggies and wheelchairs.

Please take a look outside your boundary and see if any of your plants are causing an obstruction. I know that Hayfield Drive and Raynham Avenue need some TLC.

In early January, myself, along with Gresford Community Councillors, are

doing a ‘walk about ‘ looking at the congestion and the poor, sometimes dangerous, parking around The Rofft School. We will look at the Zebra Crossing by the Red Lion, which has had a new beacon, and see what else we can do to improve the area.

Do remember that you need to stop at the crossing and take a good look both ways. I don’t cross until I am sure that cars have stopped on each side.

Don’t forget to visit the Whist and Winter Warmer Club on a Monday from 1pm onwards and exercise/Caffi on a Tuesday from 10:30am, both in Gresford Methodist Church. It’s a great place for a bit of company - we don’t mind a little moan, but we also have a good laugh!

As always, please contact me, I will help if I can with any issues.

I wish you all you wish yourselves in 2023.

Tel: 07933 201731

beryl.blackmore@wrexham.gov.uk

Jeremy Kent Councillor for Gresford

A very happy New Year to you and I hope 2023 will be a successful year for you and your family.

2022 certainly ended with a busy few months and I am sure we were all grateful for some time to relax with family and friends.

I have been pleased to be able to see so many great events taking place in the village as well as spending some time getting out to deliver my Christmas cards to residents.

I have received a wide range of emails and requests to deal with covering a broad number of topics and I continue to raise these with the council to make sure that your concerns are dealt with.

If you have any issues that you wish to raise, then please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Christmas celebrations and events

Thank you to all those that supported the many festive events across the village, from carols around the tree to the Christmas Tree Festival at All Saints Church, to those that came to see Santa on his Sleigh. We raised £180 for each of the nurseries in Gresford and Marford. It really was a magical time for the village! And I was pleased to play a part in it!

Gresford Roundabout

I met with the officers at the council and I have been provided with draft details of the markings that will be done to improve the lane management on the roundabout.

These will now go through technical drawing and then through the legal process, before the work is able to be completed. There are no timescales, but I will not let it drop.

Aunt Polly’s Lane

Many will have seen the new barrier that has been installed to increase the safety of this path and ensure that children don’t run straight out into the road. Thank you to the local residents in their support to get this done and the council workmen for their considerate workmanship.

Road signs

Vicarage Lane (checks spelling!) and Pant Olwen have finally had their road signs replaced after being damaged. The more observant will have seen the slight error on one, but this has now been rectified and, as it was a mistake by the supplier, has caused no excess cost to us as taxpayers!

As always, if you have anything you wish to raise with me, then please do not hesitate to contact me.

Tel: 07832 211085

Jeremy.Kent@wrexham.gov.uk

Legal Advice

Landlords Beware: The Rules they are a-changin’

On December 1st , private landlords in Wales were coming to terms with more changes to the industry as even more new legislation comes into force. Keeping up and complying with all the legislation changes over the past few years has become a nightmare for those landlords with private housing, that is so important due to public housing stock being so reduced.

Property prices in Wales are at an 18-year high; mortgage interest rates are fast approaching those of a decade ago; the need for private rental property is likely to become even greater, and now The Rented Homes (Wales) Act 2016 came into force on December 1st

Under this latest legislation, Tenancies will now be known as “Occupation Contracts”, Tenants will become Contract Holders, and private landlords will be given a period of six months from when the new Act came into force to provide Contract Holders with the new written statement. The Act itself contains precedents of the written statements. If a new contract is entered into, the written statement must be provided within 14 days. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in sanctions being imposed on the Landlord.

There will also be new notice requirements if a private landlord wishes to evict a tenant. For breach of contract, for example nonpayment of rent, landlords will need to give one month’s notice. If they wish to serve a no-fault notice, then they must provide six months’ notice. However, if a landlord has already commenced possession proceedings, or served a notice prior to the Act coming into force, then they will still be able to rely on this notice.

rentsmart.gov.wales is offering a training course for landlords, managing agents and staff, to help them understand and comply with the Act. In total, the course is made up of seven modules, covering: Introduction to the Act; Occupation Contracts; Succession, Joint Contracts and Consent; Property Conditions; Contract-holders Rights & Obligations; Conversion; Ending Contracts.

If you are a private Landlord, you might, however, find it easier to seek advice from a Solicitor to ensure you comply with the requirements of the new Act. But whatever you decide, you will do well to heed the warning that there will be no “bedding in” period for The Act – it will now affect the vast majority of existing and future tenancies, in Wales, from 1st December 2022.

This article has been written by Robert Williams, Partner with GHP Legal Tel: 01978 291456

To get in touch please use the ‘Contact us’ form on the website: ghplegal.com

We are still extremely busy and, whilst our colleagues are well equipped to work remotely, due to current circumstances work may be interrupted – however cases are still ongoing and will be prioritised by urgency and need. Stay safe and thank you for your support.

Useful Numbers

In an EMERGENCY always dial 999

For your local POLICE STATION in a NON EMERGENCY dial 101

ANIMAL CARE

Daleside Veterinary 01978 311 881

Farndon Kennels & Cattery 01829 270 198

Gatehouse Veterinary 01244 570 364

Green Lane Veterinary 01244 683 858 Park Lane Kennels 01978 852 914 Rhyd Broughton Veterinary 01978 720 362 RSPCA 0300 1234 999 Vets4Pets 01978 352 499

COUNCILS

Cheshire West & Chester 0300 123 8 123 Wrexham 01978 292 000

DOCTORS

Alyn Family Doctors 03333 323 260

Farndon Village Surgery 01829 771 588

Marches Medical Practice 01244 520 615

Strathmore Medical Practice 01978 352 055 NHS Direct 111

DENTISTS

Bridge End Dental Practice 01978 762 030

Chapel Cottage Dental Practice 01978 854 745 Rossett Dental Care 01244 571 544 Springfield Dental Care 01978 851 300

OPTICIANS

Gresford Eyecare 01978 855 828

HOSPITALS

Countess of Chester 01244 365 000 Wrexham Maelor 01978 291 100

LEISURE CENTRES

Gwyn Evans 01978 269 540

Northgate Arena 01244 380444 Plas Madoc 01978 821 600

LOCAL FACILITIES

3C Pest Control 01948 838 111

Adult Social Services 01978 292 066

Citizens Advice 0300 330 1178

Foodbank - Chester 0151 355 7730

Foodbank - Wrexham 07538 547971

Recycling Centre - Chester 01244 372 764

Recycling Centre - Tattenhall 01829 771 337

Recycling Centre - Whitchurch 0345 678 9007

Recycling Centre - Wrexham 01978 292 000

Samaritans 116 123

LOCAL SERVICES

Air Ambulance - Wales 0300 0152 999

Fire & Rescue - Cheshire 01606 868 700

Fire & Rescue - North Wales 01745 535 250 Environment Agency 03708 506 506

Natural Resources Wales 0300 065 3000 Severn Trent Water 0800 783 4444 Welsh Water 0800 052 0130

LIBRARIES

Chester Library at Storyhouse 01244 409 113 Gresford Library 01978 852 627

Llay Library 01978 855 100 Overton Library 01978 710 557 Wrexham Library 01978 292 090

SCHOOLS & NURSERIES

Abbey Gate College 01244 332 077

All Saints’ Primary School 01978 852 342 Benison Nursery School 01244 676 199

Bishop Heber High School 01948 860 571

Dandelions Day Nursery 01829 272 277

Darland High School 01244 570 588

Dodleston Pre-School 01244 661 611 Dodleston C E Primary School 01244 662 990

Eccleston Primary School 01244 981 000 Farndon Primary School 01244 981 280 Gresford Playgroup 07523 398 880 Holt Primary School 01829 270 021 Holt Under 5’s Playgroup 07496 231 275 Leaps and Bounds Pre-school 01244 678 997

Little Scholars Nursery 01978 314 912 Marford Playgroup 07947 473857 Rhosnesni High School 01978 340 840 Rossett House Nursery 01244 571 872

St. Paul's VA Primary School 01978 661 556 St. Peters Primary School 01244 570 594 Shocklach Primary School 01829 250 285

The Catholic High School 01244 981 600

The Homestead Day Nursery 01978 853 946

The King’s School 01244 689 500

The Maelor School 01948 830 291

The Queen’s School 01244 312 078

The Rofft Primary School 01978 853 116

The Spinney Day Nursery 01244 577 948 Ysgol Bryn Alyn 01978 720 700

TRAVEL

National Rail Enquiries 03457 48 49 50 Traveline 0871 200 22 33

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Page... Just For Fun

Crossword

ACROSS 1 Sweet dessert (4) 3 Relating to time (8)

Love; genre of fiction (7) 10 Move from one place to another (5)

Top (anag) (3)

Question intensely (5)

Armature of an electric motor (5)

Managed (5)

Our planet (5) 18 Rocky peak (3) 19 Expect; think that (5) 20 ___ Bedingfield: musician (7) 21 Ability to meet liabilities (8) 22 Grain that grows into a new plant (4)

DOWN 1 Period of the Paleozoic era (13) 2 Tidily kept (5) 4 Small hole (6) 5 Person studying after a first degree (12) 6 Dried grapes (7) 7 The ___ / ___ : Fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen (6,7) 8 Perform below expectation (12) 14 Pertaining to warfare (7) 16 Meal eaten in the fresh air (6) 18 Sense experience (5)

If you want to find out the answers they will be published in next month’s edition. Here are the answers from December:

Classic Sudoku