Runcorn - May & Jun 2019

The

Essential

Guide to...

May & June 2019

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3

Welcome

Hello lovely readers and welcome to the latest edition of our magazine, as ever packed full of lovely things to read and great suppliers on your doorstep.

What is not to love about this time of year?

The weather can be amazing, I always think it’s nicer than in the school holidays.

Everywhere is looking so pretty, the trees are fully green, gardens blooming, my first earlies nearly ready in the allotment. Even the weeds can be looked at in a different way, after all “A weed is but an unloved flower” (Ella Wheeler Wilcox). And lastly but certainly not leastly, TWO bank holidays!

Have you had your first BBQ yet this year?

We’ve had a few get togethers with friends and family at ours - there is something magical about eating outside. Even the humble banger tastes different.

‘Til next time, if we do get the promised good weather… as Baz Luhrmann advises, “If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it”.

Jody xx and the team

Contents Gardening P42 Make It Minimal

Home Interiors P30 The Modern Bedroom

Motoring P60

The Best Barely-Used Bargain Cars

The Essential Guide magazines are published by: Hawk Publications Ltd R10 Frodsham Business Centre Bridge Lane, Frodsham WA6 7FZ Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss, damage or omission caused by error in the printing of an advert. All artwork is accepted on the strict condition that permission has been given for use in the publication.

Adverts are accepted on the understanding that descriptions of goods and services are fair and accurate. Hawk Publications Ltd does not officially endorse any advertising material included within this publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form – electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise – without the prior consent of the publisher.

Next issue: July/August 2019 Deadline: 21st June 2019

Want to advertise?

For more information, call us on Runcorn: 01928 739 607 Warrington: 01925 670 731 Widnes: 0151 268 6127 4www.essentialguide.co.uk To advertise in The Essential Guide please call 01928 739 607 or email info@essentialguide.co.uk

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To advertise in The Essential Guide please call 01928 739 607

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Local Events Heritage Walks - Runcorn Monday 16th May - 1.00pm to 2.30pm & Monday 23rd May 1.00pm to 2.30pm Enjoy the outdoors and get active while learning about the fascinating history of the canals and railways during the industrial revolution. Meet at the Brindley Theatre car park, High Street, WA7 1BG or Halton Royal British Legion Club, Castle Road, WA7 2BE. Frodsham Music & Arts Club Fri 17th May – 7.15pm Serenity for a Spring Evening - with the Viska Spring Quintet from the Royal Liverpool Philhamonic Orchestra Music to include Schuberts sublime Quintet in C major. Tickets £10. Held at Frodsham Community Centre, Fluin Lane, Frodsham, WA6 7QN. Contact: Jenny Wood 01928 890773.

Wildlife Workshop- Bees for Kids Sunday 19th May – 1.30pm to 3.00pm Join the ranger for a fun nature workshop at Norton Priory. Places must be booked in advance. £5 per child. Call 01928 569895 to book.

Weston Community Ladies Keep Fit Group Monday 20th May -7 30pm.

Annual Keep Fit Display followed by cheque presentation to a local charity. Stalls, raffle, tombola etc. Held at Weston Primary School, Weston Village. All welcome - free admittance including refreshments.

8

Living Well Course Thursday 26th May 1.00pm – 2.30pm Learn to better manage your longterm condition with this interactive course. Held at Palacefields Community Centre, The Uplands, WA7 2UA. For further info or to book contact the Wellbeing Enterprises team on 01928 589799.

Craft Fair Saturday 1st June – 11.00am to 3.00pm Held at Beechwood Community Centre, all monies made from the stalls and raffle will be donated to Alder Hey Children Charity.

Contact Mandie Ord-Mahon ordie.m@talktalk.net Open Evening – Riverside College Wednesday 12th June 5.00pm to 8.00pm Tour the fantastic facilities, meet inspiring tutors and chat with the admissions team about any queries you may have.

Plant Hunters Fair & NGS Open Day Sunday 9th June – 10.00am to 4.00pm A plant sale of interesting and unusual plants from specialist.

Free entry to the Plant Hunters Fair which is set up just in front of the Walled Garden, Norton Priory. The Walled Garden itself will be open in aid of the National Garden Scheme (NGS) with a special admission price of £4.00 per adult.

Magnum - UK Rock Band Thursday 13th June - Doors 7.30pm Held at Parr Hall, Warrington. Call the Box Office; 0844 249 1000 for tickets.

To advertise in The Essential Guide please call 01928 739 607

Wildlife Workshop for Kids: Butterflies & Moths Saturday 15th June – 1.30pm to 3.00pm Join the ranger at Norton Priory for a brilliant nature workshop!

Places must be booked in advance, workshop £5 per child. Call 01928 569895 to book a place.

Music Mondays Monday 17th June – 2.00pm to 4.00pm An afternoon of light entertainment, £3 inc refreshments. Held at Gallery 1, Castle Parks Arts Centre, Frodsham.

Local History Talk- Widnes at Work with Jean Bradburn Tuesday 18th June – 6.00pm to 7.30pm A free event held at Widnes library, a fascinating evening with local historian Jean Bradburn.

Only Fools & Horses (Cushty) Dining Experience Friday 21st June – 7.00pm A brilliantly funny, wholly original immersive theatre show created in loving tribute to the TV series. All tickets include a 3-course meal, call box office; 0151 907 8360 for tickets available. Held at the Brindley.

The Great Get Together Quiz Night Friday 21st June – 7.00pm to 8.30pm Held at Halton Lea Library, £1 per person, minimum teams of 2, book via library website or in person at a library. Rounds for everyone, small prizes for the winning teams.

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9

Local Groups Mondays…

Brunswick House Men’s Pool Club Monday - 10.00am to 12.00pm Held at Brunswick House, Water Street, Runcorn. For more information contact Linda on 01928 575400.

Work Club Monday- 10.00am to 4.00pm Drop in sessions to help you improve your CV, job search and apply for employment. Held at Halton Lea Library.

H.A.L.D.S. (Halton Adults with Learning Disabilities Support) Group Last Monday of the month -12.30pm An independent support group and registered charity for carers of adults with learning disabilities. Meetings at Mencap Acorn Centre, Laburnum Grove, WA7 5EX. For details contact 075303 83690.

Tuesdays …

Earl of Stamford Morris Dancers Tuesday (May- September) - 8.00pm Dancers and musicians welcome.

We dance at local events, fetes etc. Meetings held in the Milner Institute, Runcorn Road, Moore.

Contact Carol on 01925 740150 for more information.

Nimble Thimbles Sewing Group Alternate Mondays - 6.45pm to 9.15pm All ages and abilities are welcome, friendly and relaxed Sewing Group.

Sewing machines, cutting mats and other useful equipment available. Cost is £3 per session, held at Murdishaw Community Centre, Barnfield Avenue.

For more information contact Pauline on 01928 716687.

Halton Fibromyalgia Support Group 4th Tuesday of every Month 12.00pm to 2.00pm Offers sufferers an opportunity to talk to others who know how they feel.

Held at The Art Hub (above the square) in Runcorn Shopping City. Search Facebook for Halton Fibromyalgia Support Group for 24/365 support in our secure chat room.

St. Helens Choral Society Monday – 7.15pm to 9.15pm Everyone welcome to rehearsal. No previous experience, but the ability to read music would be an advantage.

Held at United Reformed Church, King Street, St. Helens WA10 2JZ. Contact sthelenschoralsociety.org for more information.

Hillview Women’s Club 2nd & 4th Tuesday of the Month 8.00pm to 10.00pm Speakers, demonstrations and outings to suit all ages. £3 entrance includes light refreshments and a raffle. Held at a location in Beechwood. Call Beryl; 01928 713 118 or Hazel; 01928 711 519 for details.

Weston Community Ladies Keep Fit Group Monday- 8.00pm to 9.20pm Exercise/dance. All ages and abilities and new members welcome. The First session is free. Held at Weston Primary School.

Memory Lane Coffee Morning Tuesday - 10.00am to 11.30am Remembering yesterday through storytelling, quizzes, singing and guest speakers. Held at Brunswick House, Water Street, Runcorn. For more information contact; Linda on 01928 575400.

10

To advertise in The Essential Guide please call 01928 739 607

North Cheshire Speakers Club 2nd & 4th Tuesday of the Month (September to May) - 7.30pm The group can help with Presentation skills, from a Best Man’s speech to a business pitch. Call Hilary Rylands 01928 712123 for more information.

Castle Park Arts Centre, Frodsham.

North West Casual Classics 2nd Tuesday each month - 7.30pm A family friendly multi manufacture car club with over 100 active members with cars from 1920 through to 2000. New members welcome! Held at the Penketh Conservative Club, Meeting Lane, WA5 2BG. For more info ring Bob 07749 100007.

Runcorn Community Choir Tuesday - 7.30pm to 9.00pm Join our friendly group at Churchill Hall, Cooper Street, Runcorn WA7 1DH. New Members always welcome, no auditions required. All sessions are directed by qualified tutors. Just turn up or e-mail runcorncommunitychoir@gmail.com for more information.

Highfield Male Voice Choir Tuesday - 7.15pm to 9.15pm A men’s choir, meeting at Halton Trinity Church hall (opposite the British Legion). Always on the lookout for new members to join a friendly group and enjoy the health benefits of singing in a choir. No auditions, just a willingness to learn. Email highfieldmvc@yahoo.co.uk or phone 07514 529995 for more info.

Runcorn & District Cage Bird Society 2nd Tuesday – 8.00pm A speaker at most meetings, or members bring one or two birds along to talk about them. Held at the Union Tavern, Heath Road, WA7 5SU. For further details please contact Mr R S Norman 01928 567319.

Royal Airforce Air Cadets – 306 Runcorn Squadron Tuesday & Friday – 7.00pm to 9.30pm Being part of the RAF Air Cadets gives you access to activities such as; flying, gliding, camping and leadership training. Held at Crown Gate Barracks (Opposite the Sorting Office) – WA7 2UR Soroptimists of Warrington 3rd Tuesday of Every Month 7.15pm to 9.00pm An international women's service organization. For more details about this almost 100 years-old group, contact Jackie Alexander on 0753 105 8013. Held at Statham Lodge Hotel, Lymm.

TLC (Tea, Laughter and Company) Group Tuesday – 2.00pm to 4.00pm All welcome, each session costs £4.00 which includes plenty of coffee, tea and cake; bingo, quiz and occasional raffles. Call 01928 733020 for details.

Held at Brunswick House, Water Street, Runcorn.

Wednesdays…

Grangeway Youth Club Wednesday – 6.00pm to 8.00pm For young people aged 13- 19. Find advice and guidance on; sexual health, keeping safe etc. Also arts, crafts, games and much more.

Palacefields Ukulele Group Wednesday - 2.30 to 4.30pm Looking for new members, people over the age of 18, interested in performing in local care homes, and local charity venues in and around Halton, Cheshire and Merseyside.

Held at Palacefields Community Centre, The Uplands, Palacefields. £3 per session. For more information contact Gail 07941 973048.

Runcorn Family History 1st Wednesday in the Month 7.30 pm to 9.30pm Speakers on family, social and historical events. Held at Churchill Hall, Cooper street, WA7 1DH. Visitors welcome.

Years Ahead – Arts for the over 50’s Wednesday - 10.00am to 12.30pm Painting and Drawing, all abilities welcome, just turn up to have a go.

Held at Ditton Community Centre, Dundalk Road, Widnes. First session free. Normal charge £4.

Thursdays…

Friendship Group Thursday - 11.00am to 2.00pm Use the opportunity to meet old and new friends and enjoy an optional two course hot lunch for only £3.

Meet at Holy Trinity Church (behind the baths). Lunch served at 12.15 pm, all welcome.

Halton U3A (The University of the Third Age) 2nd Thursday of the Month - 1.30pm Meeting are held at Widnes Masonic Hall, Kingsway, WA8 7QH. For all members and anyone who might be interested in joining Halton U3A .

Heath Townswomen’s Guild 3rd Thursday – 1.45pm to 3.45pm New members welcome. Speakers, visitors and luncheons out. For more information call Glenys on 01928 576469. Held at Heath Methodist Church, WA7 4PB. Runcorn W.I – The Ferry Girls 3rd Thursday – 7.30pm A different kind of girls’ night out!

Fun, Learning, Laughter & Friendship.

Open to all women aged 18 and over. Held at Churchill Hall, WA7 1DH. Visitors & new members welcome.

Runcorn & Frodsham Soroptimists 1st Thursday – 7.00pm A small friendly group of women working on projects that makes a positive difference to the lives of women and girls locally and globally.

Held at Castle Park Arts Centre Frodsham.

Talking Through Music Thursday - 10.00am to 12.00pm Drop in sessions for adults who want to join a social music therapy group, no one judges and no commitment. Held at Wicksten Drive, Christian Centre, WA7 4BH. For more information contact; Ian Collinson 078894 57435.

Years Ahead Creative Writing Group for the over 50’s Thursday – 10.00am to 12.00pm Classes are aimed at local residents aged 50+ and include Crafts and Visual Arts. There is a one off term fee of £4 followed by £4 per session. For further information please contact Brian 077 1092 6965. Held at the Grangeway Community Centre, Grangeway, Runcorn WA7 5HA. Fridays…

Runcorn & District Historical Society 1st Friday of the Month (except January & August) – 7.30pm to 9.30pm Meeting held at St. John’s church hall, Weston. Admission is free to members, but £2 for guests, membership is £10 for the year.

Saturdays…

Park Run Saturday - 9.00am Meet and park at Norton Priory Museum. Then the route is around Phoenix Park, Castlefields. There are signs, marshalls and a tail person to ensure everyone is OK. All free, register and print a barcode via the website www.parkrun.org.uk/ phoenix.

If you would like to see your Local Community Group or Event here please contact Charlotte on 01928 739 607 or email the details over to charlotte@hawk.media.

www.essentialguide.co.uk

11

60A High Street, Runcorn, WA7 1AW | 01928 246888 www.homesmartlettings.com

The Decks, Runcorn...

The road where people move the most

In the last 12 months, 629 families have sold and moved home in Runcorn (WA7).

The question I want to raise is, do people on certain streets in the WA7 postcode move more often than others? Well, the answer might surprise you. I looked at the Land Registry for the all the property sales going back 23 years (to 1995) in the WA7 postcode while also calculating the average value of a property on a particular street/road (to see if there was 12

a correlation between price and moving).

So initially looking at the top 10 streets in the postcode, in terms of pure out and out house sales, The Decks is the winner with an average of 11.61 house sales per year (since 1995).

And to look at the bigger picture, the table opposite shows the top 25 streets, with the average value of a property on that street.

As you can see, there is no correlation between the average value of a property and the number of times a property gets sold on that street.

To advertise in The Essential Guide please call 01928 739 607

Author: Helen Pass (BSc Hons) Helen and her husband, John, are joint Directors of HomeSmart Lettings. They are landlords themselves and experienced buy-to-let specialists. Together with the fantastic and dedicated HomeSmart Lettings staff, they provide a highly-experienced team, delivering the best possible, truly personalised service, with continuity and friendly support for both tenants and landlords.

Street

Average Value of a Property On that Street/Road

Average No. of Properties Sold per Year (since 1995)

£94,222 £121,350 £111,155 £97,239 £77,559 £183,979 £147,297 £73,987 £110,437 £246,032 £113,244 £131,923 £134,306 £254,197 £83,377 £151,158 £132,279 £99,062 £284,100 £86,799 £104,093 £219,758 £113,196 £83,719 £224,780

11.61 8.83 8.30 7.52 7.52 7.04 6.70 6.39 6.00 5.83 5.48 5.30 4.96 4.74 4.70 4.78 4.35 4.39 4.26 4.17 4.00 3.83 3.96 3.74 3.65

The Decks Heath Road South Halton Road Old Coach Road The Glen Weston Road Main Street The Uplands Linnets Park Malmesbury Park Littlebourne Manor Fell Greenway Road Bridgewater Grange Grangemoor Oxford Road Norleane Crescent Ivy Street Walsingham Drive York Street Boston Avenue Chatteris Park Picton Avenue Roscoe Crescent Dorchester Park

However, I still felt the information wasn’t telling the whole story. Some roads in Runcorn have many more properties on than others, so I wanted to then compare the average number of properties sold by the actual number of properties on that street, to find out the streets whose owners proportionally moved (or sold more often) than the rest of the locality.

See our website for the next article...

(www.homesmartlettings.com/articles, published on 23/11/18). I will answer that question in great depth, and the results should (as they did me) certainly raise an eyebrow. The question is... do you live on one the top 25 Runcorn most saleable streets in Runcorn (WA7)? If you have a property to rent in the area, please contact our friendly staff who will be more than happy to assist you. www.essentialguide.co.uk

13

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are

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Photograph taken with a normal camera.

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For more information about clear, plastic lenses with ZEISS UVProtect Technology, please ask your Optician.

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Opening Times: Monday - Saturday 9am - 5pm except Tuesday www.essentialguide.co.uk

15

Book Reviews

Book Reviews

Curiosity Bookshop in Runcorn review a handful of reads, all of which are available to buy at their lovely shop…

50 Gems of Cheshire by Mike Appleton (Amberley, £14.99) is a little gem in itself. The map at the front is interesting as it shows not only 40 sites within the present boundaries of the county but 10 of those now removed to others. For example, Black Hill has now moved itself to West Yorkshire/Derbyshire. Yes, the highest point in Cheshire is in West Yorkshire! Also included are Halton Castle, Daresbury, Frodsham and Walton Gardens, alongside Alderley Edge Mines, Gawsworth and Great Budworth. An ideal companion to local days out, and maybe one for Father’s Day. “Ring a Ring a Roses” by Diana Ferguson, (Michael O’Mara Books, £9.99) gives us the origins and meanings of old rhymes. Describing more than100 nursery rhymes, detailing wise ways and dire warnings it adds surprising links to historical events and traditional fairy tales. Do you know all fourteen verses of Old Mother Hubbard? Or know that it was written by Sarah Catherine Martin when her future brother-in-law asked her to write a verse to stop her irritating chatter in 1804? Also investigated are such favourites as Lucy Locket, Georgie Porgie, Little Miss Muffet, Humpty Dumpty and Little Tommy Tucker to name just a few. And as for Mary, Mary Quite Contrary… A rhyme steeped in the blood of history!

Ships of the Chester River by Richard Martin (Bridge Books, £16), is a must for ex-mariners interested in the history of tall-masted ships and other vessels of yesteryear. Chronicling shipbuilding on the Dee from Chester to the Point of Ayre,1800 to1942, facts and figures are meticulously documented, interspersed with personal details of ship builders and owners, giving a glimpse into both public and private lives of the men who built them, alongside the highs and lows of sailing the seven seas. This is the first book published to reveal the great variety of Chester River vessels through the years and is illustrated throughout. The author worked for Mersey Docks for 43 years before retiring in 2012.

This book will have you laughing. Crying with laughter at times. Lost in Translation by Charlie Croker (Michael O’Mara Books, £7.99) is packed with hilarious mistakes in the English language made by people and businesses abroad. For example: at the hotel in Taiwan – Measles not included in room charge. In Turkey – Please hang your order before retiring on your doorknob.

In Finland – If you cannot reach a fire exit, close the door and expose yourself at the window. Or how about breakfast in Indonesia? Toes with butter and jam!

Or in Slovakia? Hamanegs! Then try the Greek dinner menu. ‘Spleen omelette, fisherman’s crap soup, calf pluck, and bowels’. I dare you!

16

To advertise in The Essential Guide please call 01928 739 607

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17

Early Paws Boarding Day Care Secure Field Hire Dog Friendly CafĂŠ

Grooming PET SHOP Dog Training

NEW Wide Range of Raw Frozen Food in Stock ready for June T 01928 714 211 E early.paws@mail.com Sutton fields, Chester Road, Sutton Weaver, WA7 3EY

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World Slimming World

Runcorn Sports Club Moughland Lane, Runcorn Cheshire, WA7 4SD Saturday 7.30am and 9:30am Joanne 07816 542755

The Heath The Conference Centre The Heath Business & Technical Park Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 4QX Thursdays 5:00pm & 7:00pm Fridays 9.30am Emma 07725 780122

Murdishaw Community Centre Barnfield Avenue,Murdishaw Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 6JW Tuesdays 5:00pm and 7:00pm Saturdays 7:30am and 9:30am Christa 07775 666206 Beechwood Community Centre Beechwood Avenue,Beechwood Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 3HB Thursdays 9:00am, 11:00am and 5.45pm Christa 07775 666206

The Bridge View 78 High Street, Runcorn Cheshire, WA7 1JH Mondays 5:00pm & 7:00pm Tuesdays 9:00am, 11:00am, 5:00pm & 7:00pm slimmingworld.co.uk Rachel 07549 526890

0344 897 8000

slimmingworld.co.uk 0344 897 8000

www.essentialguide.co.uk

19

The Auction Centre Cheshire’s leading Auctioneers and Valuers

• • • • •

Modern saleroom at Manor Park, Runcorn RICS and NAVA registered auctioneers and specialist consultants Probate and Insurance valuation reports undertaken Full house clearance service available Regional valuation centres throughout the north-west

9 Berkeley Court, Manor Park Runcorn, WA7 1TQ Telephone: 01928 579796 Email: enquiries@theauctioncentre.co.uk

www.theauctioncentre.co.uk

Your Wedding at BEST WESTERN FOREST HILLS HOTEL WEDDING OPEN EVENING

Wednesday 15th May | 6pm – 8pm Come along and see our stunning views, join us for Bubbles and Canapés and take a look around the Hotel with your Wedding Co-ordinator.

A F T E R N O O N T E A W I T H T H E W E D D I N G C O - O R D I N AT O R S Sunday 30th June | 12pm -3pm Call Tracey or Charlotte to book your 30 minute appointment and book in for Afternoon Tea, Just £12.50pp (normally £15) with a complimentary glass of Fizz.

PA C K A G E S F R O M £ 1 , 5 0 0 - £ 4 , 6 3 0 Tel: 01928 735255 Best Western Forest Hills Hotel Overton Hill Frodsham, WA6 6HH www.foresthillshotel.com

20

To advertise in The Essential Guide please call 01928 739 607

Sometimes, each of us, or someone we care about, needs support at home.

We provide personalised, bespoke care packages which we create with you to ensure we deliver the service you require.

Family owned, family run local business.

Please call to see if we can help support you, at home.

0151 486 8494 nicola.beal@supportathome.co.uk www.supportathome.co.uk

Now Recruiting Support Workers

Dog & Cat Grooming in Runcorn

07899 736140 www.poochywoochy.co.uk

www.essentialguide.co.uk

21

Puzzle Time Suduko EASY

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Cryptic Crossword

Cryptic Crossword 2

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19

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To advertise in The Essential Guide pleaseDown call 01928 739 607

Across 1 Animals kind owl faces sadly (6) 4 Actual jailbird on an island (8) 9 Nut bread eaten with starters (6) 10 Moved comic content was annoying! (8) 12 Inept 'vagrant' with ostentatious wealth (8) 13 Result fixed somewhere in Ireland (6) 15 Peaceful state some will miss (4) 16 Boffin perhaps cracking last nut (7) 20 Rest on a form of betrayal (7) 21 Shroud a friend has left behind (4) 25 Fools one points around if cut (6) 26 Clueless rating wrong about denial (8) 28 View an object, being very angry (8) 29 Airhead certainly heard on land (6) 30 Scheme linked to a tinned fruit (8) 31 Cold women meeting hot judge (6) Down 1 Punt, say (bet on a payoff ) (8) 2 Yes, lambs freely gathering (8) 3 Archaic sort of lodge opened by mad occupant (3-3) 5 A man about to kiss insiders (4) 6 Laurence turned kind of blue (8) 7 Property entered first, say (6) 8 Bear close to a little lemur, etc (6) 11 OTT shrew is one of the worst! (7) 14 Cast said to have finished (7) 17 Note about torch, etc (8) 18 Set concerning someone idle (8) 19 Coffee filling cook compliments (8) 22 Two pugs forced ferrets out (4,2) 23 Daft egomaniac's taking sago pictures (6) 24 A bison going around a tree (6) 27 Six-footer one is opposed to (4)

©puzzlepress.co.uk

1

Answers on p44

LARGE SHOWROOM WITH FREE PARKING Unit 1 Waterloo Court, Wellington Street, Widnes WA8 0QF We Are Open Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm & Sat 10am-1pm Tel 0151 420 1352 Email sales@newlynhealthcare.co.uk

www.newlynhealthcare.co.uk

The largest NW stockist of

We stock: shoes, slippers & hosiery

We also stock Mobility Aids, High Back & Riser Recliner Chairs

Chairlifts & Bathing

www.essentialguide.co.uk

23

Get ‘bowled’ over with the family at Superbowl UK Widnes!

Open Daily 9am - LATE Like us on: 24

Follow us on:

To advertise in The Essential Guide please call 01928 739 607

We’re on Snapchat!

Ready... set... bowl!

T

enpin bowling enthusiast? Superbowl UK Widnes offers 16 bowling lanes fitted with the latest automatic scoring and entertainment features. It’s classic bowling, made easier for the kids. Even the youngest players will enjoy this one!

Craving an adrenaline rush? If the thrill of bowling competition just isn’t enough, then battle it out in the Laser Quest arena. Explore your surroundings, track your opponents and zap them to see who will be the last player standing.

Kids are too young for Laser Quest? Crazy Club is the perfect place for them. It’s a massive soft play area where your tiny adventurers can go sliding, jumping, climbing and generally run wild.

Fancy something more laid-back? Make your way to the SEGA gaming area for video games, arcades and slot machines. Want to have even

more fun? Recharge with a meal at the Superbowl UK Widnes diner and keep on playing!

Adults can enjoy the lounge bar area. The fully licensed Lounge Bar is a terrific location to meet up with friends, work colleagues, or to spend some good-quality family time Superbowl UK Widnes is open 9am until late Monday to Sunday, including Bank Holidays. For more information on exclusive offers and to start booking in some family fun, visit the website.

Superbowl UK Widnes Unit 3, The Hive Leisure Park, Earle Road, Widnes WA8 0TA T: 0151 424 5866 E: widnes@superbowluk.co.uk W: superbowluk.co.uk/widnes www.essentialguide.co.uk

25

“ Quality assured construction”

G e n e ra l B u i l d i n g Wo r k G a ra g e s • Lo f t C o nve r s i o n s E x te n s i o n s • R e n ova t i o n s F R E E E S T I M AT E S N O O B L I GAT I O N C a l l C h r i s Fo rd to d ay o n :

01928 714578 07504 018434

In Partnership with Sapphic Builders - winners of Halton Borough Council ‘Built In Quality’ Award 2004 & 2007.

N O R TO N C R O S S CONSTRUCTION

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To advertise in The Essential Guide please call 01928 739 607

w w w. s a p p h i c b u i l d e r s. c o. u k

LPW PLUMBING SERVICES Qualified Electricians Certified, Insured and Guaranteed

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Can an you you Canimagine imagine you imagine this this this

We We have have dry dry cleaned cleaned We have carpets carpets dry cleaned && carpets & upholstery upholstery inin over over upholstery 100,000 100,000 homes inhomes over 100,000 homes

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27

Extension Plans Great Value service in Widnes, Runcorn and surrounding areas

Family run business

All Types of Roofing undertaken Tiles, Slates, Ridges & Chimneys Flat Roof Specialists

• EPDM Seamless Systems with a 50 year Life Expectancy • Rubber • Felt repairs • Leadwork • Lead free replacement • Insurance Approved • Upvc Guttering • Fascias • Plus much more

No call out charge • FREE ESTIMATES

Call Matt today on 0151 321 1986 www.fairtech.co.uk

Emergency callouts welcome Bob Janion 07737 032 604 • 01928 832 433 Tony Janion 07588 476 746 • 01928 770 733

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28

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To advertise in The Essential Guide please call 01928 739 607

ROOF CLEANING

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see our website www.a-joiner.co.uk

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www.essentialguide.co.uk

29

Home Interiors Dusk bedding, ÂŁ105 for a double set, Clarissa Hulse: 020 7226 7055; www.clarissahulse.com

The modern bedroom Does your bedroom look a little dated, or is it brimming with contemporary style?

We outline some quick and easy ways in which to give it a brand new look.

30

To advertise in The Essential Guide please call 01928 739 607

Your bedroom is your own personal space, and the ideal room in which to express your personality, so why not consider a top-to-toe makeover?

A pop of colour Bold colours are on trend this spring, often quite dark and moody, and where better than a bedroom to go for this dark décor? Use fuchsia, turquoise, emerald, orange, mustard or deep blue in arresting combinations or perhaps just cover one wall with a strong shade. Even the addition of a bright headboard, rug, throw or group of cushions can make a difference.

On the walls Experiment with paint colours by using a tester pot to cover a large sheet of card, then stick it to different walls at various times of the day so you can see how the colour changes.

Alternatively use patterned wallpaper, all over or just on a feature wall. Or opt for a wallsized mural of, for example, a wooded glade, tropical palms, a cityscape, oversized flowers or a starry night sky.

Beautiful bed linen Introduce sumptuous bed linens that are gorgeous to look at

é Wildflower quilted bedspread, £98, The French Bedroom Company 01444 415 430; www.frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk

and soft to the touch. You can use plain white as the basics, just adding a stunning throw, blanket, eiderdown or quilt – or several – for eye-catching colour and pattern. Or go for broke and put colour with colour and plains with patterns for layered vibrancy.

é Bluebell Gray Peggy Midnight duvet cover set, £135, Hurn and Hurn: 01603 559 250; www.hurnandhurn.com

Take the floor In a bedroom where wear and tear is not a factor, luxurious, deep-pile carpet is an option.

If that’s beyond your budget, consider sanding back your floorboards and either varnishing or painting them, then adding a rug or two in a bold, modern style.

Lights fantastic Lighting should be subtle and flattering. Make it adaptable with table or floor lamps in corners and fitting a dimmer switch to the central pendant.

Choose warm white, energysaving LED bulbs that are not overly bright. For bedside reading, a pair of swing-arm, wall-mounted lights frees up bedside table space, or hang a bare filament bulb from a coloured cotton flex suspended from the ceiling or a wallmounted bracket. www.essentialguide.co.uk

31

Mears&Jackson Family Owned Funeral Directors

Special Offer

Granite Memorials - ÂŁ599 Also at West Lodge, Warrington Cemetery, Manchester Road, Warrington WA1 3BG Tel 01925 507 077 32

To advertise in The Essential Guide please call 01928 739 607

40-42 High Street, Runcorn WA7 1AW Tel 01928 611 611

At Mears and Jackson we provide a professional, personal service.

• Care and consideration from a family run business.

• Private Chapel of Rest • Coffin and Memorial Showroom • Family Room • Collection from any UK Location & International Repatriation • DWP Claimants Welcomed - Advice Provided Basic Funeral Traditional Funeral

£1,395 plus disbursements £1,795 plus disbursements

Prepaid funeral plans arranged

Includes • Full design process • Scale layout • Fixing & flower container INCLUDES 40 FREE LETTERS Suitable for Runcorn Cemetery Cremated Remains Plots IN GOLD LEAF OR SILVER

www.mearsandjackson.co.uk enquiries@mearsandjackson.co.uk www.essentialguide.co.uk

33

P VENETIAN BLINDS P ROLLER BLINDS P VERTICAL BLINDS P WOODEN BLINDS P ROMAN BLINDS P ENERGY EFFICIENT BLINDS P CONSERVATORY BLINDS P VELUX© BLINDS P PLEATED BLINDS P PERFECT FIT BLINDS P MOTORISED BLINDS FREE FITTING & MEASURING WHY NOT CALL INTO OUR SHOWROOM TO SEE OUR HUGE RANGE OF BLINDS & SHUTTERS? 2 EGERTON STREET, RUNCORN, WA7 1JL VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.A-ZBLINDS.CO.UK CALL TODAY TO BOOK YOUR NO OBLIGATION MEASURE & QUOTE: 01928 572227

WHY CHOOSE SHUTTERS FOR YOUR HOME? P INCREASE PRIVACY! P INCREASE SECURITY! P INCREASE ENERGY EFFICIENCY! P INCREASE KERB APPEAL! P INCREASE PROPERTY VALUE! FREE FITTING & MEASURING

WHY NOT CALL INTO OUR SHOWROOM TO SEE OUR HUGE RANGE OF BLINDS & SHUTTERS? 2 EGERTON STREET, RUNCORN, WA7 1JL VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.A-ZBLINDS.CO.UK CALL TODAY TO BOOK YOUR NO OBLIGATION MEASURE & QUOTE: 01928 572227 34

To advertise in The Essential Guide please call 01928 739 607

www.essentialguide.co.uk

35

For Free Friendly Advice Call Paul

WIDNES GLASS & GLAZING LTD 182 LIVERPOOL ROAD, WIDNES, WA8 7JB

TEL: 0151 423 4877 WWW.WIDNESGLASS.CO.UK Local family run

BUSINESS trading for

41 YEARS BEST PRICES ALL YEAR ROUND

Contemporay living at an affordable price

Windows I Doors I Conservatories I A Rated Windows Fascias & Soffits I Broken & Misty Units Replaced 36

FreeinHomePro Guarantee • Monday-Friday 9am-5pm To advertise The EssentialInsurance Guide please Backed call 01928 739 607

Lady Qualified Plumber & Husband Team

Runcorn Electrical Domestic & Commercial Electrical Installation & Maintenance • Consumer units & upgrades • New lights • Electric shower repairs • Extra sockets fitted • Outside lights installed • General electrical faults • Inspecting & testing • Full or part rewires

Call Geoff today on:

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Drain Unblocking Service

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37

Why move when you can Improve & add Value too?

Loft conversions our speciality • Loft Conversions • Stair Cases • Doors & Windows • Kitchen Fitting • Wooden Flooring • All Joinery Work

Ken Leach

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Call Paul today on 38

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To advertise in The Essential Guide please call 01928 739 607

advertorial

Has Your Double Glazing Steamed Up? Established for over a decade Cloudy2Clear windows have become a leading company for glass replacement. Issues with double glazing can often be gradual and may only be noticed during a clear sunny day or during the winter. A failed glass unit may no longer provide you with the protection you need or be energy efficient. Why not spend a few minutes checking your home to see if you have any failed double glazing? If you act now you can avoid these problems.

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If you see condensation in your windows just visit our website or give us a call on 0800 61 21 118. We will send out our highly experienced engineers for a free no obligation quote. A Cloudy2Clear quote takes on average no longer than 20 minutes. Once the quote is completed, we will sit down with you and explain the problem and tell you how we can fix it.

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40

To advertise in The Essential Guide please call 01928 739 607

• LazyLawn – Artificial Grass • Millboard Decking • Resin Driveways and Paths • Outdoor Lighting • All other aspects of Landscaping Coming soon…Show garden at Notcutts Garden Centre, Rivendale, Widnes

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41

Gardening

Make it Minimal There is increasing enthusiasm for a more minimalist garden style, where fewer plants have greater individual impact in a more designed situation with straight lines aplenty, so here are some suggestions for achieving the eect you want.

42

To advertise in The Essential Guide please call 01928 739 607

Decide on the plants you like and that will suit your garden but keep to as few different types as possible.

The biggest impact will be achieved if you are selective, for example concentrating on ornamental grasses.

Also key is clever use of straight lines, ideally with a few right angles too. Edges must be sharply defined, perhaps using sleepers, other timber or angled metal. Keep plants well back from the border edging so these lines are not interfered with.

Colours should fit your preferences and the surroundings but restrict the number of colours for a calmer and simpler effect.

Existing features such as sheds or fences can be recoloured or painted to fit in with the colour scheme – otherwise, their current colour will have to be included in that scheme.

A stunning minimalist effect can be achieved by using a single type of plant and container – for example, conifers in terracotta containers. The only variation is in the size of the conifer: all colours, textures and plants are the same. Buy different sizes of the same conifer type and clip regularly to maintain the size difference or buy one size and trim lightly to achieve the desired look.

Green, in the form of foliage, helps add a feeling of tranquillity to a minimalist garden so include it, perhaps

as a neatly clipped box hedging or as a few bay lollipops in angular containers.

Containers must be very plain, ideally straight-sided angular styles in a single colour. An evenly spaced trio of pots, each with a single central plant, provides a perfect choice of container planting.

If you like topiary stick to simple tightly clipped spheres or ‘lollipops’, cubes or at most spirals; there is no space for a fantastically sculptured creature if you’re going minimalist!

Plants with simple or angular shapes such as iris, alliums, conifers, clipped box, canna or palms are an excellent choice, but opt for personal (but simple) favourites available locally.

Grass alternatives such as gravel may feature highly.

Gravel needs less maintenance than grass, but keep it weed-free and easy-care by installing a weed-membrane (rather like woven, plastic hessian) on to the soil before putting down the gravel.

Thoroughly weed the area then firm and compact well before putting the fabric down. Don’t use cheaper plastic sheeting as rain won’t penetrate.

Opt for simple, classically styled garden furniture with as few colours and textures as possible and it won’t detract from the minimalist environment and look – now sit back and enjoy!

Visit www.pippagreenwood.com for advice, natural pest controls, stylish cloches, pretty plant supports, gardening tools and more. Or book Pippa for a gardening talk at your club. www.essentialguide.co.uk

43

Puzzle Time Answers SUDUKO Easy

Hard

The

EssentialGuide

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across: 1 Koalas, 4 Concrete, 9 Cashew, 10 Migrated, 12 Bumbling, 13 Ulster, 15 Calm, 16 Egghead, 20 Treason, 21 Pall, 25 Idiots, 26 Ignorant, 28 Seething, 29 Ashore, 30 Plantain, 31 Wintry.

Down: 1 Kickback, 2 Assembly, 3 Age-old, 5 Otis, 6 Cerulean, 7 Estate, 8 Endure, 11 Anagram, 14 Through, 17 Crotchet, 18 Layabout, 19 Flattery, 22 Digs up, 23 Cinema, 24 Bonsai, 27 Anti.

We publish 12 magazines all over Warrington, Widnes and Runcorn, in total going to over 73,500 homes and businesses Birchwood • Culcheth • Leigh • Lowton & Golborne • Lymm Newton Le Willows • Thelwall, Grappenhall & Latchford Woolston • Great Sankey, Penketh & Chapelford • Runcorn Stockton Heath & Appleton • Widnes

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44

D I S P L A Y

O F

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B U I L D I N G S

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High Legh Garden Centre

Southworth Road, Newton-le-Willows WA12 0BS

Halliwells Brow, Knutsford WA16 0QW

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To advertise in The Essential Guide please call 01928 739 607

R.G. Homes & Gardens

FRODSHAM GARDENS LTD

All Aspects of Home Maintenance Landscaping & Paving Fencing General Garden Maintenance Guttering: install / repair & clearing General Maintenance Painting & Decorating Flat Pack Assembly Loft Work: Installation • Boarding • Ladder Fitting

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01606 252128 • 07876 761025 frodshamgardens@yahoo.co.uk

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Call Ronnie today on:

Fully insured family run business

Bridgewater Garden Centre Find us at Halton Road, Runcorn WA7 5QS

Friendly and knowledgeable staff selling quality plants at reasonable prices A full range of seasonal bedding, perennials, roses, shrubs, pots and hanging baskets in stock.

Top quality ‘Growise’ compost, growbags, bark, enriched topsoil, farmyard manure soil improver.

Open 7 days a week from 10am - 4pm

|

Bridgewater Garden Centre

|

www.essentialguide.co.uk

45

Health and Wellbeing

Local Health and Wellbeing Walks with John O’Hara-Mee Moore Nature Reserve This Walk was perhaps the most varied, picturesque and rewarding of all the walks we have in and around the Halton parish, although this nature reserve comes within the boundary of Warrington. The reserve and all its infrastructure is expertly maintained by FCC Environment who also manage the nearby Arpley Landfill site.

We met in the small, purpose built car park used daily by grateful dog owners as the car park has open fields on two sides, which allows the animals to be let off their leads and run freely and safely. A coloured information booklet can be found at the notice board.

At around 11.00am we left the car park, cross Lapwing Lane and enter the reserve. There is a slight gradient at this point but we soon reached the top of this grassy bank using the built in steps. Ahead of us is a tunnel through the dense foliage growing either side which is kept under control by the Reserve Warden, Ann-Marie and her workforce. After a short distance the path suddenly opens up into quite a large, wide open space and you are met with the sight of bright wild flowers of all shapes and colours, many that only grow in this environment. The path weaves its way through the greenery and around the many holes left by the local rabbit population, 46

their numerous droppings seem to be very good at fertilizing the sandy earth. The bird song at this point is quite strong with its mixture of woodland and water birds as there is a large fresh water lake just to our right with Coots, Moorhens and different waders, all adding to the cacophony of sound.

Following the winding path through bright yellow gorse bushes we descend until we reach a ‘T’ junction at the old, disused Runcorn to Latchford Canal. We always turn right here (I am not sure where the path leads if one goes to the left, as it seems to disappear into the dense woodland) and it is easy to walk along this level path.

Either side of us are the large, stone blocks which were the original canal retaining walls.

On our left is an elevated bird hide overlooking an area of reedbeds and woodland and an information board that shows the wide variety of wildlife that can be seen from this hide.

We now recross Lapwing Lane on to an elevated pathway as it seems quite boggy either side of the dry path. Crossing over a wooden bridge which covers a land drainage stream we rise into an open, woodland area with old, mature trees.

Often this area, with its carpet of soft, fallen leaves is used by supervised childrens’ adventure groups where they camp out,

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cook on an open fire and learn about nature and the wildlife of the area. It looks fun and we say to each other that we wished we had had these opportunities when we were kids.

On our left is a second, large, fresh water lake, again with an abundance of wildfowl and a viewing fence to lean upon, to use our binoculars or just relax and enjoy the beauty all around. At this point, we could climb the few steps ahead of us and cross the field mentioned earlier, by the car park but we turn left following the path through more woodland and running parallel with the lake edge, until we reach a tarmac road were we turn right.

This is a quiet section of road as the many heavy lorries delivering goods to the large warehouse complex on our left, use the entrance at the far end of the lane, well before we turn into the field leading us back to our carpark.

Again, this walk takes around an hour to complete and it is not a problem if any walkers want to stop a while to admire something along the way as there are walk leaders both front and rear of the walk. We want these outings to be really relaxing, enjoyable and rewarding so please come and join us and get more from your life.

For further information ring 0151 511 8550.

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RINGWAY BATHROOMS & TILES

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Wallboards Furniture

FIND US AT Unit 6, Ringway Road (off Halton Road) Runcorn, WA7 5QN 01928 581110 • www.ringwaybathrooms.co.uk

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OPENING TIMES Mon to Fri 8.00 - 5.00 Sat 8.00 - 1.00

The DIY Man No Job too Small

• Gardening & Maintenance • Grass Cutting • Lawn Feeding • Block Paving • Flagging • Decorative Brickwork • Garden Walls & Arches • Brickwork Repointing • Pressure Washing • Internal Decorating • Coving • Flooring • Flat Pack Assembly Full quote given before any work is started & fully insured call Gary on

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Paving Block Paving Walling & Edging Decorative Gravels Sleepers

Sankey Street (Off Waterloo Road) West Bank, Widnes WA8 0PY 0151 424 6111

www.landscapeworld.co.uk

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50

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51

WIN TICKETS TO SEE

GREATEST HITS LIVE TOUR 2019 The original and the best classical cross over group of all time, Il Divo return to the UK in 2019 with their Timeless Tour, which will see them perform all their greatest hits live throughout June and July. They are visiting the Liverpool M&S Bank Arena on Thursday 27th June.

Carlos Marin, Urs Buhler, Sebastien Izambard and David Miller where brought together 15 years ago and spearheaded an entirely new musical genre with their groundbreaking debut album. Il Divo have evolved into the pre-eminent tenor powerhouse vocal group with 160 Gold and Platinum albums in 33 countries to their credit, over 30 million albums sold, and were the first Classical Crossover artists to have an album debut at #1 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart.

Next summer Il Divo will be performing new tracks for their 7th studio album Timeless (out now) as well as their much loved greatest hits creating the ultimate fan experience. Tickets are onsale now via www. gigsandtours.com / www.ticketmaster.co.uk Find out more at www.ildivo.com 52

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HOW TO WIN TICKETS… Essential Guide are delighted to be able to offer two tickets to see Il Divo at their Liveprool show on 27th June.

To enter simply answer this question: How many band members are in Il Divo?

A. Two B. Three C. Four Send your answer along with your name, postcode and phone number to: comp@essentialguide.co.uk

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Recipe

Fresh Cherry & Almond Cake This delicious fruity cake can be served warm as a dessert or cold as a classic afternoon tea cake.

Makes 8 Ready in 1 hour 40 minutes, plus cooling time INGREDIENTS 225g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing 225g golden caster sugar 225g self-raising flour 4 medium eggs, beaten 300g fresh cherries, pitted and halved 100g ground almonds 150g icing sugar Extra fresh cherries, to decorate TIP The fresh cherries will mostly sink during baking but this is perfectly normal, giving a moist fruity layer at the base of the cake. It’s best eaten within 2 days of baking.

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1 Preheat the oven to 170C, fan 150C, gas mark 3. Grease a

20cm round deep cake tin with the extra butter and line the base and sides with baking paper.

2 Place the butter and caster sugar in a large mixing bowl

and using a hand-held electric mixer beat together until very pale and creamy. Gradually pour in the eggs, beating well after each addition. If the mixture starts to separate slightly, stir in a spoonful of the flour.

3 Sift over the rest of the flour and fold in gently with a

metal spoon. Toss the cherries into half of the ground almonds, and fold into the mixture with the rest of the ground almonds. Spoon into the prepared cake tin and gently level the surface.

4 Bake in the preheated oven for 55 minutes to 1 hour

10 minutes, until the cake is risen, golden and a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes then turn out onto a wire rack to cool.

5 Whilst the cake is still cooling make the icing: sift the

icing sugar into a bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp warm water and mix to make a thin icing. Spoon the icing over the warm cake, allowing some to drizzle down the side.

Decorate with extra cherries and serve warm or cold.

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55

Finance

Could debt snowballing be the quickest way to get out of debt?

Debt snowballing is a term used to describe a particular method of dealing with debt, which in some ways goes against ‘traditional’ thinking. It’s commonly advised to deal with the most expensive debt first in terms of interest rates and charges, which is a natural and effective approach to paying down debt.

But one issue that isn’t taken into account when repaying debt in this way is the psychology that can sometimes influence a successful outcome.

Here’s how to debt snowball • Make a list of all your debts – the one with the smallest balance at the top.

• Pay off the minimum amount on all your credit cards and other debts, apart from the one with the smallest balance.

• Pay as much as you can off this debt and repeat each month until you’ve paid it off in full.

• Cross it off your list of debts and use the money released towards the next debt.

• Continue in the same way down your list (the second smallest next), making the minimum payment on all other borrowing.

• If you’re able to earn more money, putting it towards the debt you’re currently repaying increases the snowball effect and reduces your overall level of borrowing.

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• When the debt you’re focusing on has been paid off, cross it off your list – rinse and repeat until you’re debt-free.

Human psychology when paying off debt Debt snowballing is a system that applies a little human psychology to paying down debt, and acknowledges that we all lack motivation at times.

The method only works if you have sufficient funds to make the minimum payments on all your debts, however, so if you don’t, you would need to look at alternatives.

The sense of accomplishment when you can cross a debt off your list is invaluable in encouraging you to carry on, and could in fact be one of the main reasons for the success of debt snowballing.

Advantages of debt snowballing • It offers vital motivation.

• It’s a simple and straightforward system that’s easy to maintain.

• You’re forced to focus on one

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debt at a time, and as long as you keep up the minimum payments on other debts you can forget about them for a while.

• It helps you manage your money for the long term and introduces good money habits.

Are there any downsides to debt snowballing?

The main downside of debt snowballing is the extra interest you pay on your debts when compared with the debt avalanche method, and when considered only from a mathematical point of view it clearly isn’t the most obvious option.

Repaying debt is a little like dieting, however – small wins offer the motivation that many people need to continue and succeed. One important issue is to make sure you dedicate any money released when a debt is repaid to paying off the next one. Without this, the ‘snowball’ effect of increasing amounts being available to tackle your next debt doesn’t materialise, and the system will stall.

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Make an appointment to speak to your local adviser today.

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Runcorn: 01928 577405 & Widnes: 0151 4247001 Award-winning mortgage broker Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

There may be a fee for mortgage advice. The actual amount you pay will depend upon your circumstances.

The fee is up to 1% but a typical fee is 0.3% of the amount borrowed.

Your local chartered accountants Free no obligation consultation, For all your accountancy needs AGP provide a full range of services for all business types and sizes.

Our services include: • Accounts • Bookkeeping • Registered auditor

• VAT returns • Payroll • Advising family companies

• Tax returns & repayment claims • Tax planning and advice • Tax enquiries

call: 01928 707 370 visit: www.agp-accountants.co.uk email: enquiries@agp-accountants.co.uk Sycamore House, Sutton Quays Business Park Sutton Weaver, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 3EH Offices also at Warrington and Chester

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The

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Suzuki Swift Sport Price new: £18,499 Price one-year: £13,999 Last year’s all-new Swift Sport offered a fun driving experience and bags of equipment, but its £18,499 price tag put it into a performance bracket where it couldn’t really compete. Used examples at under £14k make it a real bargain.

Jaguar XF Price new: £36,495 Price one-year: £27,500 The XF drives nicely and has a decent engine range, but hasn’t sold well. We found a 2018-reg R-Sport car fitted with the 2.0-litre 178bhp diesel engine for £27,500 with 4,000 miles on the clock – a huge saving.

Infiniti QX30 Price new: £29,720 Price one-year: £17,000 This combination of Mercedes platform, Nissan interior and Renault diesel engines was a reasonable mix until you looked at the price. However, at around £17,000 for a year-old example, the QX30 becomes easier to recommend.

A.P. Auto Services MOTs for cars & motorbikes Vauxhall Astra Price new: £21,760 Price one-year: £9,799 With £12,000 or 54% off a sporty-looking Astra SRi with the excellent 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine at just a year old, we wonder why anyone buys a new Vauxhall!

Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT 6.2 Toyota Yaris GRMNTel: 01928 561323 Price new: £63,995 Price new: £26,295 info@ap-autos.co.uk Price one-year: £38,995 Price one-year: £21,995 www.ap-autos.co.uk It’s the Grand Cherokee’s The Toyota Yaris GRMN may be monstrous 6.2-litre V8 engine a bargain buy at £21,995 and Brakes • Cam Belts • Exhausts • Tyres Servicing • Clutches • Electrical that puts buyers off, but for with less than 1,500 miles on • Diagnostics performance, power, and sheer the used market, particularly Female Receptionist noise on a budget, this is a as its limited numbers Family Run Business great way to go. and widely-hailed driving experience may make it a future collector’s item.

7 Cormorant Drive, Runcorn, WA7 4UD

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59

Motoring

THE BEST BARELY-USED

BARGAIN CARS Opting for a car that’s a year old over a brand-new model could save a packet.

Finding money off a barely-used car can be tricky, so we’ve found classified ad examples representing huge savings over brand-new options. The prices quoted are correct at the time of writing.

BMW 3 Series GT Price new: £38,280 Price one-year: £19,890 The 3 Series GT is pitched as an all-occasion car. It’s parthatchback, part-saloon, partexecutive, but this vehicle trying to be three hasn’t proved very successful. That said, it offers a high level of quality along with that premium badging. A new 320d M Sport Gran Turismo is £38,280, but with 10,000 miles on the clock and last year’s plate it costs around £19,890.

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Jaguar XF Price new: £36,495 Price one-year: £27,500 The XF drives nicely and has a decent engine range, but hasn’t sold well. We found a 2018reg R-Sport car fitted with the 2.0-litre 178bhp diesel engine for £27,500 with 4,000 miles on the clock – a huge saving.

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Land Rover Discovery Sport Price new: £45,810 Price one-year: £32,444 This baby Discovery is a desirable family car, mating a superbly practical seven-seat body with Land Rover prestige, albeit with a dated interior and lack of top-end technology.

At £12,000 off list price, a oneyear old example is a bargain.

Infiniti QX30 Price new: £29,720 Price one-year: £17,000 This combination of Mercedes platform, Nissan interior and Renault diesel engines was a reasonable mix until you looked at the price. However, at around £17,000 for a year-old example, the QX30 becomes easier to recommend.

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Essential Index of Local Businesses...

Decorators Stuart Phelan 53 Dental Practice Main Street Dental 17 Smiles & More 3 Double Glazing Repairs Cloudy 2 Clear 39 Driveways TL Contractors 2 Electrical ESP Services 27 Runcorn Electrical 37 Estate & Letting Agents Home Smart Lettings 12 Fitness Nordic Walking 18 Flooring Northwest Floors 53 Funeral Director Mears and Jackson 32 Garage Services AP Auto Services 59 Garden & Household Services K&M Jetwashing 37 RG Homes & Gardens 45 The DIY Man 49 Garden Centre Bridgewater Garden Centre 45 Garden Services Frodsham Gardens 45 Hillside Gardening 41 Active Surfaces 41 WOW Garden Design and Construction 44 Guttering Gutter Guys 26 Howard the Gutter Man 41 Health Products Newlyn Healthcare 23 Hotels Forest Hills Hotel 20 Interiors JDC 50

Runcorn Plastering Services

Nuttall Heating & Plumbing

506254

Domestic Heating and Plumbing of Gas and Oil Boilers

Professional, Friendly, Reliable Service All types of plastering work undertaken: Internal Damage Repair, Ceilings Re-plastered, Skimming, Dry Lining, Rendering, K Rend

High Quality Finish & Extremely Tidy

5, 7 and 10 year Parts and Labour Warranty on Worcester and Baxi Boilers Tel: 01244 752341 Mob: 07872 835 547 62

Jewellers Neil & Barker 7 Les Harris Jewellers 17 Joinery & Building Ken Leach Joinery & Building 38 Kitchen & Bathroom Fitters Gallery Kitchens 64 Landscaping Landscape World 49 Loft Ladders More Than Loft Ladders 26 Mortgage Broker Just Mortgages 63 Mortgage Advice Bureau 57 Opticians i-Care Opticians 15 Pet Services Dora’s Doggy Daycare 6 Early Paws 18 Poochy Woochy 21 Plasterer Runcorn Plastering Services 62 Plumbing & Heating 1st Choice Plumbing & Heating 29 Lady Plumber 37 LPW Plumbing Services- 24HR 27 Nuttall Heating & Plumbing 62 PS Plumbing & Heating 38 TALK Heating & Plumbing 9 Roofing A & E Roofing Services 28 Sheds & Garden Buildings Solid Sheds 44 Slimming Group Slimming World 19 Tyre Services Tyre World 61 Windows & Conservatories Sterling 47 Widnes Glass 36

RP S

Antique Shop We Buy Anything Interesting 6 Accountants AGP 57 Architecture Services Fairtech 28 Asbestos Removal Fallon Pilott 35 Auctioneers The Auction Centre 20 Bath & Bedrooms JDC 50 Bathrooms Ringway Plumbing Supplies 5 Bathrooms & Kitchens Flag Ship Kitchens 49 JDC 50 Bedrooms & Kitchens NYK 55 Blinds A-Z Blinds 34 Book Shop Curiosity Bookshop 16 Boilers 1st Choice Plumbing & Heating 29 Bowling Alley Widnes Superbowl & Crazy Club 24 Brickwork PS Brickwork 53 Building & Construction Cheshire Building & Roofing Services 40 Norton Cross Construction 26 Business Services Inspire Excellence 18 Car/Vehicle Services Colours 61 Care Services Support at Home 21 Carpentry & Joinery Abbott-Wade Joinery 28 A-Joiner 29 Cleaning Services Dave the Ovencleaner 38 Just Clean UPVC 29 Zero Dry Time 27

No job too small!

Call for a free quote 01928 529 293 or 07919 337 545

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Mortgage & Protection Advice

First Time Buyers P House Purchases P Re-mortgage P Capital Raising P Self Employed P Let To Buy* P Help To Buy P Shared Ownership P Self Build mortgages P

Debt Consolidation P Buy To Let* P Life Insurance P Critical Illness Cover P Income Protection P Buildings & Contents Insurance P Accident Sickness & Unemployment Cover P

THINK CAREFULLY BEFORE SECURING OTHER DEBTS AGAINST YOUR HOME. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE

For a no obligation appointment at a time and location to suit you, please call Carol Smith on 07435 117612 or email carol.smith@justmortgages.co.uk *some tag to let and lotto buy mortgagee are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

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Bathroom Offer • Remove Bathroom and prepare walls • Re•new pipework • Tile walls Ditto tile or similar price range - Tile floor Ditto tile or similar • Fit Bath or Shower enclosure • Fit new PVC ceiling and 4 spotlights • Fit 550mm white gloss vanity or basin • Fit modern toilet c/w soft close • Chrome towel rail or new radiator • Remove all rubbish

Was £6295 NOW subject to survey

£5499

• Free Design Service • No Heavy Sales • Local Showroom 2-3 St Paul’s Mews High Street, Runcorn, WA7 1AT

Call us on: 01928 575555 www.thegalleryruncorn.co.uk

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