In and Around Feb19 by In and Around Magazine

Your Local Monthly Magazine - delivered to 30,000 homes in and around Telford

Connecting Local Businesses with Local People

magazine WWW.INANDAROUNDMAGAZINE.CO.UK

ISSUE 169 - FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

print Print & Design Services

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Also available:

PVC Banners Booklets/Brochures Stationery and much more...

Business Cards Notepads

Appointment/Loyalty Cards

Folders Gazebos

Flags

Contact FLEUR on: 01952 603457

sales@iandaprint.co.uk www.iandaprint.co.uk

Roller Banner

Pop-up Fabric Stand Fabric Display Stand

Based in Telford

More than just a kitchen and bathroom supplier...

Visit our showroom and be inspired... our kitchen and bathroom experts are on hand to help turn your design dreams into reality. MKM TELFORD

KETLEY BUSINESS PARK, TELFORD TF1 5JD 01952 947 888 | mkmbs.co.uk f l

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

10 Get on Trend with a Home Bar 16 Recipe: Mini Orange & Chocolate Cakes

PROPERTY

18 Rise in First-time Buyers Good News 18 The Importance of Floor Plans 20 How do you Avoid a Sale Falling Through? 22 Simple Style 26 Displaying Art

CHILDREN, EDUCATION & ACTIVITIES

28 Ditching the 9-5: Flexible Working 30 Parental Stress 34 Going Freelance 35 Make a Difference to Harry's Tomorrow

HEALTH & FITNESS

37 Shockwave Therapy 38 The Most Effective Drug Ever? 40 The Easy Way to Get Fit and Healthy for 2019 42 Coping with Hayfever

BEAUTY & FASHION

44 Are Ageing Lines a Good Thing 48 The Best of the Best

Welcome to the latest edition of ‘In and Around’. Your LOCAL magazine, helping you to find businesses and services in and around your area.

MOTORS & LEISURE

60 Is a Diesel Car Right for Me? 62 Cab of Mum and Dad 63 End of Car Ownership

HOME INTERIORS

64 Modern Velvet

GARDENS & OUTDOORS

66 Remarkable Raspberries 68 Fabulous Fruit Trees

HOME IMPROVEMENTS & SERVICES

70 Cupid Loves Tech 74 Concrete 78 Small Space? No Problem 84 Travel - Lisbon 86 Beat the Mad March Hairs

COMMUNITY & WHAT’S ON

92 Movies - Coming Soon 95 Love and Heartbreak

T: 01952 603457 E: fleur@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk

ADVERTISING SALES

Amanda Weston M: 07807 648 689 E: amanda@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk

ADVERTISING SALES Colette Clark

M: 07469 998 597 E: colette@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk

Please continue to support our LOCAL businesses by using their services where possible. Enjoy your read...

Fleur

AREA A Edgmond

Tibberton

Newport Church Aston

ine’ und Magaz ‘In and Aro reas

A41

Distributio

Lilleshall

The Humbers A442

Bratton

M54

Oakengates

St Georges

Red Lake

Lawley & Overdale

The Booking/Copy deadline for the MARCH 2019 issue is Tuesday 19th February 2019

homes

Hadley A442 A5223

Ketley J7

30,000

Trench

Leegomery

Wellington A5

Muxton Donnington Wood

Apley

Admaston

Total distribution

A518

Donnington

Shawbirch

The Rock

Lawley Village A5223

Old Park Lawley Bank

M54

A41

Dawley

A464

Dawley Bank

A464

Shifnal

A442

Stirchley

Delivered Door to Door

Aqueduct A4169

Madeley Ironbridge

Priorslee

Horsehay Lightmoor Village

A442

Great Hay

AREA B PRINTED BY:

Precision Colour Printing Ltd, Haldane, Halesfield 1, Telford, Shropshire TF7 4QQ

Total distribution to 30,000 homes across 2 months. 15,000 copies are delivered to Area A one month and then the next month to another 15,000 homes in Area B, so each area receives the magazine once every other month.

www.inandaroundmagazine.co.uk 4

Fleur Abel

This month we are celebrating our 14th Year in business as the very first In and Around Magazine was produced back in February 2005. The magazine has grown and changed a lot since that very first issue. Although the magazine has changed, the ethos behind it hasn't - the magazine was started to help local residents find local businesses in this area and over the years it has helped many businesses to grow with the responses they have had from their advertising and the support from local residents has been amazing; thank you!!!

BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL

52 Spot the Pension Scammers 54 Cash ISA's- Still Worth It? 58 Spring Clean Finances

DIRECTOR

We gratefully acknowledge the support of businesses whose adverts appear in In and Around Magazine, and 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 strict condition that permission has been given for use in this publication. Adverts are accepted on the understanding that descriptions of goods and services are fair and accurate. Any reproduction of any material is forbidden without the written consent of the publishers. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for views expressed by contributors, or for the accuracy of claims made by advertisers. Advertisers details (other than those provided for inclusion in advertisements) are confidential and will not be given to any third party.

INNOVATION, INDIVIDUALITY AND DESIGN Quality building contractor and designers based in Shropshire

ALL CONSTRUCTION WORK UNDERTAKEN View our latest projects on our instagram page or visit our website for more details.

www.louka.co.uk

Louka Fine Finish Ltd t: 07383 011901 e: sean@louka.co.uk 5

Restaurant Review

FINDING THE BEST PLACES TO EAT IN AND AROUND SHROPSHIRE

THE SEVEN STARS AT BROCTON

Cannock Road, Brocton, Stafford ST17 0SU

T: 01785 594000

We leave Shropshire this month and take a short trip over the border into Staffordshire to the renowned Seven Stars situated in the small village of Brocton. The journey there was very straight forward and took around 25 minutes heading along the A5 towards Cannock and then up through Penkridge village to Brocton. The original part of the building is 400 years old, so has all the usual features you would expect, high vaulted beamed ceilings and cosy alcoves. The use of different colours and textures gives the interior a very cool but relaxed feel and ultimately a very pleasant dining experience. There are various dining areas from the comfortable bar, a larger main dining area with a roaring wood burner and even a private dining room with clever rotating copper panels that can be revolved to open the room up or closed to create a more intimate dining experience for larger parties. We were shown through to the main dining area and were seated near a wood burner which was very welcome on such a cold evening. We ordered a glass of wine from the considerable wine list while we studied the menu. For starters Nik ordered the Chilli Crumbed Chicken Strips (£6.45) and I ordered the Button Mushrooms Stuffed with Goats’ Cheese and Chilli Butter (£6.45). Nik’s chicken strips had a lovely crunchy coating with just a slight hint of chilli adding a little heat, they were served with a fresh rocket salad and a tasty mayonnaise dip sprinkled with chilli – Nik said it was a great start to his meal. My large plump mushrooms were loaded with a combination of tangy goats’ cheese and a rich chilli butter, these were served on a heavy metal skillet, the amalgamation of the textures and flavours was really good. The dish was served with some large croutons which were perfect for mopping up the delicious juice in the bottom of the skillet.

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT After a short rest the main courses were served, the presentation was remarkable, both main courses looked superb. I had chosen the Sesame Breaded Chicken Breast (£14.95) and Nik opted for a dish he hadn’t had before which was the Pork Tomahawk Steak (£16.95). Not one to usually order pork, Nik instantly knew he had made the right choice when the large pork steak arrived at the table. The large steak was perfectly cooked, juicy, succulent and there was certainly plenty of it. It was served with broccoli, buttery crushed new potatoes and edamame beans with silver skin onions and a lemon and Sage sauce. The edamame beans, and potatoes were excellent with the pork and the sage and lemon sauce finished the dish off perfectly. Nik loved this dish and left a very clean plate, definitely one to try for meat lovers. My sesame breaded chicken was quite a substantial dish, a very generous portion of sliced breast meat coated in light crisp breadcrumbs with black sesame seeds. The dish was served with a delicious pork fried rice, pak choi, cucumber salad and a luscious honey and soy glaze, a fabulous dish! After such great main courses, the desserts had a big act to follow and they didn’t disappoint. I chose the Eton Mess Meringue Roulade (£6.95) and Nik decided on the Mango Panna Cotta (£5.95). Nik’s panna cotta was served with a blackberry salsa and amaretti biscuits. The Panna cotta was sooooo silky smooth, along with the sweetness of the mango sauce and sharpness of the blackberry salsa this dessert had everything. The dish was finished with delicate amaretti biscuit crumble and mint leaf.

My Eton Mess Meringue Roulade was served with Chantilly cream, fresh berries and raspberry sorbet. The meringue was just how I like it, melt in the mouth, slightly chewy in the middle and a little softness at the bottom. The fluffy Meringue was topped with luxurious Chantilly cream and fresh strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and a sprig of fresh mint. The raspberry sorbet added a nice sharpness to counter the sweetness of the meringue. A lunch menu is served between 125pm with a range of sandwiches, salads and light bite options. On Sundays you have a choice of ordering from the main menu or a range of Sunday lunches are also available. It is advisable to book in advance and tables can be booked over the phone or on their website. You can also view the current menus online. The Seven Stars is owned by Parogon Pub Group who are a privately owned independent company which currently have 6 restaurants, mainly around the Staffordshire area. The Swan with Two Necks in Blackbrook has been closed for a refurbishment but will be opening its doors again mid-February. The very latest addition to the group is the Red House in Lilleshall, which is currently closed and awaiting a full refurbishment, they are expecting to open the doors around July/August time this year. The Seven Stars has lots to offer, with a great unique interior, delicious food and a friendly and welcoming atmosphere – but don’t just take our word for it, go and see for yourself.

Reviewed by Fleur & Nik Abel

OPENING TIMES

Sun to Thu: 12pm to 11pm • Fri to Sat: 12pm to midnight Food served until 10pm everyday

THE SEVEN STARS AT BROCTON Cannock Road, Brocton, Stafford ST17 0SU

T: 01785 594000 E: info@thesevenstarsbrocton.co.uk

View our menus online at:

www.thesevenstarsbrocton.co.uk 7

Food serving times:

The Tayleur Arms Longdon Upon Tern, Telford TF6 6LJ T: 01952 770335 E: info@tayleurarms.co.uk

TheTayleurArms

Mon to Fri 12-2:30pm & 5:30-9:30pm Sat 12-9:30pm Sun 12-5:30pm

www.tayleurarms.co.uk

SUNDAY CARVERY SPECIAL OFFER served every Sunday, 12 till 5:30pm - Booking Essential 10% OFF YOUR BILL Minimum of 3 meats and 2 vegetarian options (gluten free available) When ordering from the main menu. Valid until 28-02-19 (Please present this advert)

TRADITIONAL AFTERNOON TEAS served Monday - Saturday

(please book to avoid disappointment)

£16.95PP or £19.95PP (£19.95 to include a glass of Prosecco)

Celebrating a birthday, baby shower, anniversary or just a family and friends get together, we can cater for large or small groups.

Please enquire for more details or to book

NOW TAKING BOOKINGS FOR VALENTINES AND MOTHER’S DAY

ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET NIGHTS, CALL OR LOOK AT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CODEWORD

Quality Balti Restaurant & Take Away

TUESDAYS • 4 COURSE MEAL • £8.95pp *Not to be used with any other offer.

Valentines Special

5 Course Meal £16.95pp Includes a Gift Box & Rose for the Ladies

ONLINE ORDERS NOW AVAILABLE AT:

www.thetasteofparadise.co.uk

TAKEAWAY - FREE Home Delivery within a 6 mile radius (minimum order of £10)

15% Discount on Collections or 10% Discount on Delivery Open: Sun - Thu: 5pm - 11.30pm Fri & Sat: 5pm - Midnight

rear of 2-4 High St, Newport TF10 7AN

01952 825505

We are not licensed bring your own alcohol

£5 OFF Meal for Two

£10 OFF £15 OFF Meal for Four

Meal for Six

Excludes Valentines Day

(2 main meals must be purchased, (4 main meals must be purchased, (6 main meals must be purchased, not valid with any other offers) not valid with any other offers) not valid with any other offers) Valid after 9pm,until 31-03-19 Valid after 9pm, until 31-03-19 Valid after 9pm,until 31-03-19 Excludes Valentines Day

Each letter in this puzzle is represented by a different number between 1 and 26. The codes for three letters are shown. Once you have filled these throughout the grid you can start guessing words and reveal other letters. As you find the letters enter them in the grid to the right.

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

Newport's Best Kept Secret Fairways restaurant is opening to the public 4 days a week from Thursday 14th February.

Situated within the grounds of the prestigious Lilleshall Hall Golf Club, Fairways restaurant has been catering for members of the golf club for a long time but has now decided to open its doors to the public on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday Lunchtime. The launch night on Thursday 14th February will kick off a Valentine's weekend which will include a special menu and live music on the Saturday evening. Head Chef Nick is excited about sharing his menu with people from the local community.

IS OPENING TO THE PUBLIC

Fairways Restaurant Nick says “We have previously opened to the public just on Sundays and for the odd special event but this year we have taken on extra staff and are looking forward to welcoming new customers. Our A La Carte menu should have something for everyone with reasonably priced starters and main courses using locally sourced produce, plus an array of freshly made desserts. All food is prepared and cooked on site with a range of steaks, fish, lamb and vegetarian dishes all available” Nick has recently won a “Lux Life Food and Drink” award for the best high end catering business in Shropshire. He has also previously run successful restaurants and won National AA awards. The Fairways restaurant promises to be a wonderful culinary treat for Newport and the surrounding area. For more information, please visit www.fairwaysrestaurant.co.uk or to book a table please contact 01952 604776 and choose option four.

Fairways Restaurant

Newport’s best kept secret

is now open to the public

AL I C E D SP s N E EK our E f t W i t PEN ee & pe O S ’ coff INE T h t N i 2 VALE ourses w r only £2 fo 3C

New menu available & open from Thursday to Sunday. Enjoy the wonderful decor, surroundings & award winning food. Fairways Restaurant located at Lilleshall Hall Golf club, near to Lilleshall Hall Sports Centre Visit www.fairwaysrestaurant.co.uk for more details or call 01952 604776 - choosing option 4

Get on Trend

WITH A HOME BAR

From a drinks trolley to a full-on basement hideout, what could be more fun than serving up cocktails in your very own home bar? The ultimate in kitchen decadence: a built-in champagne bar. This is part of a Hartford kitchen, from £40,000, painted in Chicory, by Tom Howley bespoke kitchens.

Show off your bar skills with a shiny serving tray. Add a cocktail shaker and glasses for a high-fashion finish. Brandy round metal tray, £39, made.com.

These hand-made, mouth-blown glasses are perfect for martinis and more. Cocktail glasses, £24.95, Annabel James.

Transform your bar into the coolest place in town. Neon pineapple light, £70, Smithers of Stamford.

Designer Jonathan Adler specialises in modern American glamour. This luxe Jacques bar cart, £1,450, with Barbell ice bucket, £298, and barware set, £198, definitely fits the bill.

Brass-clad doors and a mango-wood and antique brass frame give a luxe, Art Deco look to this bar cabinet, with plenty of space inside for storing and serving cocktails and wine. Pascali bar cabinet, £619, Atkin and Thyme.

A 1920s inspired gold and glass cocktail shaker, for those that prefer their cocktails shaken and not stirred. Cocktail shaker, £25.50, Audenza.

Metallic detailing and gold trim give this tray a glamorous finish, perfect for serving an espresso martini. Leopard print tray, £29, The French Bedroom Company.

Is it always Gin O’clock in your house? Made from heat-resistant glass, these shimmery designs can hold both hot and cold drinks. The teapot contains a filter basket which is perfect for infusing tea leaves or gin flavourings. G&Tea cocktail set, £30, Red Candy.

by Kathrine Sorrell

Stay Home and Socialise

• Where will your bar go? Most people opt for the kitchen or dining room, but the living room and basement are also popular, while outdoor bars are a growing trend. For a fully integrated bar with a sink and refrigerator, don’t forget that you’ll need access to water and electricity. • Unused corners can easily become a home bar – a desk or broad shelf will work just as well as a traditional counter. Inject some pizzazz by wallpapering behind with a glamorous, oversized or metallic print and adding a fun neon sign. • No need to spend a fortune on a built-in bar – just say ‘party time’ with a glamorous bar trolley. A great place to display your most beautiful bottles and glassware, it adds instant personality and can be moved from place to place as the occasion arises. • Money no object? Invest in a built-in champagne bar in your kitchen or a special wine fridge. Or, if your pockets are not quite so bottomless, simply buy a large wine cooler and stock up on ice.

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

VALENTINE EVENTS

SIX COURSE TASTING MENU

GOURMET VALENTINE DINNER Thu 14th February from 7pm

Fri 15th March 7pm

Pink Fizz on arrival, 5 course meal & coffee

£45 pp

VALENTINE MURDER MYSTERY Fri 15th February 7:30pm Includes a 2-course dinner with tea/coffee, entertainment & disco. Dress code 1920's.

With six courses to indulge, enjoy and digest, this is an evening definitely not to be missed!

£34.95 pp

£39.95 pp

PEAKY BLINDERS RACE & CASINO NIGHT

MOTHERING SUNDAY Sun 31st March

Sat 30th March - 7pm

Sunday Lunch 12-2pm

If you’re a fan of the fabulous TV show, then get dressed up in 1920’s gear for a blinding night, includes a free drink on arrival, two-course meal, race night (with 8 races) & casino tables

3 course lunch with coffee and Free family portrait

£39.95 pp

(Cream Tea £15.95pp)

£28.50 pp

(under 12's half price)

Afternoon Tea 3-6pm £21.95 pp

Free family portrait

VALENTINE WEDDING SHOWCASE 24TH FEBRUARY 2019 (12-3pm) At our Valentine Wedding Showcase, Hadley Park House Hotel will welcome a wide selection of around 30 local wedding professionals to provide inspiration for your big day – from cars, cakes, photographers and favours – and so much more! Meet with our experienced Wedding Co-ordinators. It’s a fantastic opportunity for them to show you around our fantastic Shropshire wedding venue. We’ll also be able to advise of the special packages that we have available and if you’re looking to get hitched within six months, there is the Whirlwind Wedding Package too! Free admission and ample free car parking too!

Hadley Park House Telford TF1 6JQ

01952 677269

info@hadleypark.co.uk

www.hadleypark.co.uk 11

ARC AND VMS LIVE PRESENTS MUSIC LIVE AT WOLVERHAMPTON RACECOURSE

MASALA

INDIAN RESTAURANT & TAKEAWAY

LIVE AFTER RACING

FEEL FREE TO BRING YOUR OWN ALCOHOLIC DRINKS

15% OFF

Collection - only

FRIDAY 30 AUGUST

on orders over £15 after 9pm

20% OFF

LI V E ON L A DIE S DAY SATURDAY 31 AUGUST

*Dining in after 9pm - off main course. Only for bookings. Please present advert. Not to be used with any other offers. Maximum 6 people. Valid until 31-03-19 (excludes Valentines Day)

PRICES FROM £40 TO PURCHASE TICKETS VISIT wolverhampton-racecourse.co.uk

T: 01952 820085

vmstickets.co.uk

Adams House, 7 High Street, Newport TF10 7AR

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE CROSSWORD Across

Down

1. Physical discomfort or illness (7)

2. State of lawlessness and disorder (7)

5. Roald ___, author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (4)

3. Incendiarism (5)

10. Victoria Beckham’s former surname (5)

4. Modify, tone down (6) 6. Make parallel (5)

11. Person who shoes horses (7)

7. Former unit of money in Italy (4)

12. Musical instrument played like an accordion (10)

8. Accumulation of jobs yet to be dealt with (7)

14. Gas found in air (6)

9. Free of charge (6)

16. Towards the tail of a ship (6) 19. Type of amphibian once thought to live in fire (10) 23. Look believed to have the power to inflict harm (4,3) 24. Feather worn as an ornament (5) 25. Sculpture of the head and shoulders (4) 26. Small falcon that hovers in the air (7)

13. Liquorice-flavoured herb (7) 15. Pencil mark remover (6) 17. On the way (2,5) 18. School for training horses (6) 20. Inappropriate or out of place (5) 21. Bus garage (5) 22. Word that denotes an action (4)

©Puzzlepress.co.uk

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

Looking for a venue for your special occasion…

2019 Wedding Offer Monday - Thursday, January - April & October - December

£2019.00 Package Includes: • 1 glass of Bucks Fizz on arrival • 3 course meal & coffee for 30 guests (additional guests can be added on at an additional charge) • 1 glass of wine with the meal • 1 glass of sparkling wine for the toast • Evening finger buffet for 80 guests (additional guests can be added on at an additional charge) • Complimentary bedroom for the Bride & Groom

Civil Ceremony Room Hire Charge of £325.00 will apply if required

Wedding Open Day Sunday 24th February, 10.00am - 3.00pm Join us to view our beautiful wedding room and speak to our experienced team to discuss your special day.

Call

01902 700100 to enquire further Great location, convenient to J3 M54 and only 20 minutes from the centre of Wolverhampton and Telford.

Look us up on Trip Advisor

Pattingham, Nr Wolverhampton WV6 7HR

01902 700100

sales@patshull-park.co.uk

www.patshull-park.co.uk

The Bridge Inn Lower Bar, Newport TF10 7BJ

T: 01952 324481 www.thebridgenewport.co.uk

Selection of local real ales, bottled Belgium beer, craft beer and 25 gins. Freshly prepared, home cooked food, using local suppliers.

Daily

Specials Board Large selection of fish dishes & gluten free dishes

Always a Warm Welcome

Bar Opening Times:

Wednesday to Sunday 12-3pm & 4.30pm-Midnight Monday and Tuesday 4.30 till closing

Good Quality Local Food Served:

Wednesday to Saturday 12-2.30pm & 5-9.30pm • Sunday 12-6pm 13

Books The Silence of the Girls – Pat Barker The Silence of the Girls is a vivid retelling of Homer’s Iliad. However, this time the focus is on the minor characters, namely the women taken as ‘spoils of war’. Queen Briseis is taken as a sex slave by Achilles when he destroys her city. Through Briseis we hear of the other female slaves in the encampment – women who are forced to serve the men that killed their husbands, fathers, brothers and sons.

Roar – Cecelia Ahern Ahern’s latest book is a collection of satirical short stories. Each focuses on an unnamed female protagonist and is amost are a literal interpretation of a stereotype or saying. The trophy wife’s partner builds her a shelf to sit on, where she can be admired by his friends and family. The woman who feels invisible to society starts to slowly disappear. There are plenty of themes to digest and discuss and a lot of enjoyment to be had in each tale.

Sunny Side Up – Susan Calman Comedian and Strictly star Susan Calman is on a mission to encourage ‘joy, kindness and community’ with her latest book. There are anecdotes from her own life and examples of random acts of kindness that have been shared by her fans. Sunny Side Up is full of warmth, positivity and (of- course) plenty of humour.

This is Going to Hurt – Adam Kay From 100 hour weeks to moral conundrums and emergency operations, the life of a junior doctor is far from easy. Adam Kay reveals all through six years of diary entries. Surprisingly, This is Going to Hurt is an incredibly funny book, particularly the numerous footnotes explaining hospital lingo. However, Kay also gives us an insight into the stark reality of life on the frontline of the NHS.

Once Upon a River – Diane Setterfield A man stumbles into The Swan inn carrying the body of what appears to be a dead girl in his arms. A few hours later, the little girl stirs. But who is she? Part adult fairy tale, part folk tale, Once Upon a River celebrates the art of storytelling and weaves numerous stories into one rich tapestry. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Codename Villanelle – Luke Jennings If you loved the BBC’s Killing Eve, don’t miss the book it was based on. Villanelle is a cold-blooded assassin, who you just can’t help but root for. Eve is the woman tasked with stopping her. The storyline is quite different from that of the TV series and has less dark humour, but there’s still plenty of suspense to keep you reading.

TO GET YOU TALKING

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

THE

WHITE HOUSE HOTEL MUXTON

Wellington Road, Muxton, Telford TF2 8NG

T: 01952 603603

Food Served:

2 Steaks and Wine for ONLY

£27.50

(available everyday) 2 Succulent Prime Rump Steaks with a Bottle of House Wine

Mon-Sat 12pm - 9:30pm Sun 12pm - 8pm

MONDAY NIGHT MANIA £8 MAIN COURSE

£3.50 Starter • £3.50 Sweet Choose 1, 2 or 3 courses

Served in the bar or restaurant between 5pm & 9:30pm every Monday night. Please book to avoid any disappointment

Visit our website to view our latest menu

www.whhotel.co.uk

OPEN from 10am for breakfast

Special Offer

10% OFF your food bill

62 High Street Newport TF10 7AQ

Food served 10-3pm

Freshly prepared homemade food available from 10am till 3pm, including healthy options, sharing platters and small appetites selection

(T&C's apply - Discount applies when ordering off the main menu, excludes drinks and any other offers. Valid until 31st March 2019 - please mention this advert)

Two main meals for £13.50 on a Wednesday T&C'S APPLY

T: 01952 820 810 Ideal venue for Birthdays, Parties, Christenings, Wakes, etc.. Free Wi-fi • Disabled Access Baby Changing Facilities • Pool Table

www.thebarleynewport.co.uk 15

Recipe

MINI ORANGE & CHOCOLATE CAKES

These lovely little citrus cakes take no time to make and are a delicious sweet treat.

Ready in: 1 hour, plus cooling and setting | Makes 12

INGREDIENTS: 225g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing 12 mini chocolate cookies 225g golden caster sugar 225g self-raising flour ½ tsp baking powder 4 medium eggs, beaten Juice and zest of 1 orange 100g milk chocolate, melted, plus extra grated, to serve

TIP

Orange slices, to serve (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 180C, fan 160F, gas mark 4. Use the extra butter to thoroughly grease the holes in a 12-hole muffin tray. Line the base of each hole with a circle of baking paper. Drop a mini chocolate cookie into each hole. 2. Place the butter, sugar, flour, baking powder, eggs, orange juice and zest in a large mixing bowl. Beat with a hand-held electric whisk for 3-4 minutes until smooth and creamy. 3. Spoon the mixture evenly into the holes in the muffin tray. Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes until risen, golden and springy to the touch. Cool in the tin for a few minutes then run a small palette knife around each cake to loosen and turn out on a wire rack. Leave to cool completely. 4. Dip the top of each orange sponge in melted chocolate and place on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Leave for 30 minutes or until set. Serve topped with grated chocolate and orange slices, if liked.

These make delicious warm puddings – instead of leaving to cool and dipping in the chocolate, serve warm drizzled with the melted chocolate and with a dollop of whipped cream or crème fraiche.

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

or Supp

Start the New Year with a healthy “veggie box” delivered to your door

e roduc cal P t Lo

FREE

Fruit & Veg Boxes delivered to your door (Weekly or Fortnightly)

FIRST BOX 1 /2 PRICE

Pop-in and see us at: Donnington

Station Road, Donnington, Telford TF2 8JY • T: 01952 677345

Priorslee

Woodhouse Lane, Priorslee, Telford TF2 9UR • T: 01952 200696 @shopgreenfields

Green Fields Farm Shop

Buffets with free delivery within 3 mile radius including Hortonwood and Stafford Park 3 Menus to choose from starting at £4 per head (minimum order 4 persons)

• Fresh Bread • Milk, Tea & Coffee • Wenlock Edge, Fordhall Farm, Malcolm Wickstead’s • Huge Range of Cheese and Deli Products & Buttercross Meats • Beers, Wines & Ciders • Vegetables, Herbs, Salads, Fruits & Nuts • Rice, Pasta and Sauces • Home Made Cakes & • Special Dietary Products Goodies & much more...

Rise in first-time buyers good news New figures have revealed more good news for the property market, with first-time buyers continuing their resurgence. Earlier this year, Lloyds Bank reported that the number of first-time buyers rose by 3% to 175,500 sales in the first half of 2018. And new data just released by UK Finance shows that the number of property valuations for first-time buyers has risen in all areas of the UK except for London. The largest increases in first-time buyer valuations were in the north of the country, where over 43% of first-time valuations are for properties priced less than ÂŁ125,000. In our region, the number of first-time buyers has risen by 2.7%, and increases were even higher in the north-east and north-west of the country.

The importance of floor plans Floor plans are vital when it comes to letting property - and yet many agents do not include them for all rental properties as standard. According to Rightmove, about 50% of tenants say they would not follow up on renting a property unless it was accompanied by a floor plan. The poll also found the importance of a floor plan was rated at seven out of 10, whilst one in five people went as far as saying they would ignore a property completely or only revisit if nothing else caught their attention if a floor plan was not provided. Very few agents provide this service, despite it being proven as an aid in finding a tenant more quickly, but I am happy to report that we now include floor plans as standard for our rental properties.

A look at the Telford property scene with James Carlon

One of the reasons behind the increase is that first-time buyers are currently facing less competition for property from buy-to-let investors. In the first nine months of 2018, buy-to-let mortgage approvals across the UK have fallen by 13.5% compared to the same period a year ago, according to Finance UK figures. First-time buyers being able to buy property is great news for the whole market, because they are the vital first cog in the chain which helps transactions to move forward.

James Carlon Residential Sales Manager Nock Deighton t. 01952 292300 m. 07974 154950 e. j.carlon@nockdeighton.co.uk

A look at the Telford lettings scene with Dawn Clarke

Clearly it is important for landlords to get a tenant in as quickly as possible to start collecting rent, and anything that helps this process has to be a good thing. Photographs and descriptions of property are undoubtedly important but we have established this is not sufficient and floor plans are helping to provide the full package. We are delighted to be able to now provide this service as a matter of course. For more advice about lettings and property management, give me a call on 01952 290163.

Dawn Clarke Director Nock Deighton t. 01952 290163 m. 07976 209011 e. d.clarke@nockdeighton.co.uk

PROPERTY

Old Smithy Road, Tibberton 4 bedroom detached house A detached family home with four bedrooms, set within large gardens in the popular village of Tibberton. 14 viewings, 2 offers and completed within 6 weeks of offer acceptance

SOLD We have buyers waiting - more properties are urgently required!

Residential Sales & Lettings | Property Management | Land & New Homes | Surveyors www.nockdeighton.co.uk

Telford 01952 292 300 Newport 01952 570 222

Ironbridge 01952 432 533

How do you avoid a sale falling through? Property Tips from

Lucy Blythe of Nock Deighton in Newport

Did you know that over one-third of house sales across the UK will fall through before completion? It’s a scary statistic - whether you are selling or buying, because having a sale fall through is heartbreaking and stressful on either side of the transaction.

It’s sometimes difficult to tell the difference between estate agents, so it’s worth asking your agent about statistics like this. An experienced agent will know the potential pitfalls of the property market so will be able to guide you through the process with the least chance of the transaction falling through - something everyone wants to avoid.

There are no firm reasons for the figure being so high, but estate agents should do everything possible to avoid a fall-through. Such as carrying out proper due diligence in regards to proof of finance, chain checks and having mortgage brokers and solicitors on board to ensure we all work to the goal of completion.

“We were looking through our sales figures for the past few months and were pleased to see our fall-through rate currently stands at 15% - a significant improvement on the national average of 36%.” 20

Lucy Blythe Branch Principal Nock Deighton t. 01952 570 222 e. l.blythe@nockdeighton.co.uk

PROPERTY

Westfield Terrace, Newport 3 bedroom mid terrace house A character three bedroom mid terrace home, located in the heart of Newport. 10 viewings, 3 offers and completed within 8 weeks of offer acceptance

SOLD We have buyers waiting - more properties are urgently required!

Residential Sales & Lettings | Property Management | Land & New Homes | Surveyors www.nockdeighton.co.uk

Telford 01952 292 300 Newport 01952 570 222

Ironbridge 01952 432 533

Simply Style We all want our homes to be comfortable, practical and good-looking. Just as important as gorgeous colours and appealing accessories are necessities such as easy-to-clean surfaces, effective lighting and durable kitchenware. Which is where simple style – a combination of form and function that is completely unpretentious and always hard working – excels. It takes classic designs that have stood the test of time and combines them with the best of modern furnishings, using tactile materials and pale, neutral colours to achieve a look that is calm and quiet, comfortable and honest, and hugely pleasing to live with. Walls and floors are the starting point. Quick and inexpensive to achieve are walls in plain paint shades. Neutrals are fundamental, with a palette of soft whites ranging from chalk, ivory and bone through to deeper taupes and greys, with stronger accents providing contrast: sage green, midnight blue or earthy brown, for example. More finished surfaces, as appropriate to the room, could include grasscloth wallpaper, bevel-edge tiles or timber panelling. As for floors, the key is to combine the practicality of sturdy materials such as traditional stone flags, brick pavers or wooden floorboards with the softness of plain or minimally patterned carpets or conveniently placed, understated rugs. Furniture should be pared down in style, chosen for its strength, durability and comfort first and foremost, and always cleanlined as opposed to over-decorative. Windsor or ladder-back chairs, wooden stools, blanket boxes and traditional dressers are all just right for the simple interior, especially when made from natural wood or painted in a muted shade. Mixing eras works perfectly, too, provided pieces are chosen for their inherent good design and plain style, transcending all fads and fashions. Rather than elaborate window treatments of any type, this style has a less-is-more feel, and where windows can be left bare, then why not? Panelled wooden shutters look elegant and discreet, while Roman blinds and gathered curtains are

Image Above: Cuddlemuffin modular corner sofa with chaise, £4,645, Loaf: 0345 468 0667; www.loaf.com

preferable to anything elaborate. Other soft furnishings might include the plainest of loose covers for chairs and sofas (avoid frilled valances or other flourishes) and cushions with nononsense fastenings and the most basic of trims. Linen, cotton and wool are ideal fabrics for this style: unassuming, natural fibres that have been the backbone of classical decorating for centuries. Look for plain colours and stripes, adding a range of textures for interest. In addition to the soft drape of textiles, introduce a range of natural materials, such as woven willow, sisal, slate or timber, to provide an interesting atmosphere even in an apparently minimal room. To ensure a calm and airy feel overall, good storage is vital. Ancillary areas such as utility rooms, laundry rooms, boot rooms and dressing rooms are a great asset, but where space is more limited then well-designed cupboards, shelves and other storage areas are incredibly helpful in terms of clearing away the clutter and confusion of everyday life and making simple rooms feel more spacious and liveable. In kitchens, a free-standing storage piece such as a dresser, plate rack or butcher’s block breaks up the uniformity of fitted cupboards and creates a more timeless appearance. Finally, when it comes to lighting, inset spotlights throw light where needed without drawing the eye, while classic fittings, such as glass pendants, Anglepoise table lamps or slender wall lights with ceramic shades can be added where necessary. As for finishing touches, beware an abundance of accessories (always opt for quality over quantity), and choose essential items such as wooden peg hooks, hand-made soap, thick woollen throws and blankets, blue and white crockery, rustic bread boards and pillar candles, plus loose arrangements of gorgeous cottage-garden flowers.

Key ingredients of simple style • Consider wooden panelling, tongue-and-groove boarding, textured wallpaper and classic tiles as options for your walls. • Opt for classic floorboards, stone or slate flags, brick pavers or terracotta tiles for the floor, combined with plain carpets and/or subtle rugs. • Combine soft white shades with a few deeper colours. • Choose natural materials such as wood, slate, wicker, wool and cotton. • Ensure rooms are clear of clutter by making the most of storage space. • Remember that good design applies across all eras, so combining old and new will work if furnishings are chosen carefully for both form and function. • Avoid bold patterns in favour of plains and stripes. • Fit wooden shutters, Roman blinds or softly gathered curtains at the windows, or leave them bare if you dare. Impressive Concrete Wood light grey laminate, £27.99 m2, Carpetright: 0330 333 3444; www.carpetright.co.uk.

by Kathrine Sorrell

PROPERTY

Moooooving...?

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01952 813625 www.barkerhealey.co.uk A fantastic opportunity to purchase this spacious family home set within a large plot with countryside views. The property itself boasts a large Entrance Hall, open plan Lounge Diner which leads onto a Conservatory. There is a very generous Kitchen Diner/Family Area with modern appliances, access to the rear of the property via the Conservatory and Kitchen. There is also integral access to the Garage and a Downstairs W.C.

Copperkins Shay Lane, Newport

To the first floor are four double Bedrooms and a family Bathroom, the main Bedroom enjoys dual aspect with countryside views. The frontage offer plenty of parking for several vehicles and a well established garden to the front of the plot and a car port to the side. The rear garden is extensive with a large patio area closest to the property, enjoying sun all day and views over open countryside.

Guide Price 359,950

The Changing Face By 1971, TV was so integral to our lives that, according to Joe Moran’s Armchair Nation, “Ten per cent of homes still had no indoor lavatory or bath, 31% had no fridge and 62% had no telephone, but only 9% had no TV.” Yet back then we were watching just 3 channels. The launch of satellite TV in the UK in 1989 brought Sky One, Sky News, Sky Movies, Eurosport, MTV, Screensport, Lifestyle and The Children’s Channel on air (along with porn channels swiftly banned by Parliament). Suddenly, we were spoilt for choice. As the ‘90s progressed, we began to pay for that extra choice but were offered more channels and access to Premier League matches. We were enjoying EastEnders, Coronation Street and Only Fools and Horses, alongside US shows destined to become iconic: Friends on Channel 4 and The X-Files and The Simpsons on Sky. Sky brought us Digital in 1999, with 160 channels and innovative interactive services, and soon after, Sky+. We could now pause live TV to make a cuppa – and record it without a VHS or DVD recorder! Telewest offered a rival digital cable subscription service while Freeview, and later Freesat, boxes offered a range of free channels (including some from Sky). During the noughties, we watched reality TV like Big Brother, Wife Swap and their back-to-basics stablemates Ray Mears’ Bushcraft and Castaway 2000; fell in love with BBC’s rebooted Dr Who; and became

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hooked on hit dramas like Spooks (BBC), Lost (CH4) and 24 (Sky One). The talent and contest show reboot brought us the X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent, Pop Idol and Strictly Come Dancing. By 2008, there were 9 million British Sky subscribers, with 500,000 watching in HD. But the disruptive force of TV streaming was on its way. Netflix launched its UK service in 2012 and has produced original content with the hugely popular series Stranger Things. Having bought Lovefilm in 2011, Amazon morphed it into its new Prime Video streaming service in 2014 and has produced its own hits too, including Outlander and The Man in the High Castle. Both companies have also rescued programmes unpopularly dropped by other channels, such as BBC’s Ripper Street (Amazon) and Fox’s Lucifer (Netflix). Rival streamer Hulu scored its own original hit with The Handmaid’s Tale. However, ‘normal’ TV can still hold an audience, producing smart thrillers like Sherlock and Broadchurch and the unlikely hit, The Great British Bake Off, on terrestrial TV, while satellite delivers epic sci-fi and fantasy with the phenomenally successful Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead. TV has brought triumphs and tragedies such as war, the moon landing, terrorist attacks and royal weddings into our homes, as well as entertainment, and today, we don’t even need a TV ‘set’ to watch it. But if you don’t own one, then I have to ask, in the words of Joey from Friends: “What does your furniture point at?”

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PROPERTY

Contemporary show home coming soon

at Haygate Fields, Wellington Register your interest today for an exclusive invite to the opening day. Launching this spring, we have two brand new show homes from our brand-new range that have been created with modern lifestyles in mind.

Haygate Fields Wellington Shropshire TF1 2DA

Open daily, 10am - 5pm

01952 305051 bovishomes.co.uk

Join us and see how the new designs have been brought to life with the latest smart home technology. Photograph depicts a typical Bovis Home interior. Internal images may include optional upgrades at an additional cost. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON A MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT. Ask our sales advisor for details.

Displaying Art

IN YOUR HOME

– or to create a larger grouping of pieces that work together, by colour, theme or subject matter. Pairs of complementary pictures make a nicely symmetrical display and work well in a traditional setting, while informal groups, perhaps with a variety of frames and hung asymmetrically, create a sense of intimacy and individuality. Another option is to group works that are the same size and shape, and framed identically, in closely packed rows, creating a formal design that is particularly well suited to a dining room or a hallway.

The soft pinkish-brown of Temple sets this modern painting off beautifully. £48.50 for 2.5l Pure Flat Emulsion, Paint & Paper Library: 0845 880 5844; paintandpaperlibrary.com.

More than just a finishing touch, hanging art on your walls is the essential addition to any room, immediately transforming it into a personal space. Some would even argue that a decorating scheme should be built around a work of art from the start. It is wise, then, not to treat art as just an afterthought, but to give as much care and attention to choosing and hanging drawings, paintings and photographs as you would to choosing fabrics and furnishings. Start by identifying the optimal locations for the works. Above the mantelpiece in the sitting room is often a good spot, but any room in which you spend a lot of time is ideal, whether it be the kitchen (away from humidity and splashes, of course), family room or conservatory, so you can enjoy a favourite piece as much as possible. Bear in mind that direct sunlight can damage precious works, so use special protective glass if necessary, or try to find a more suitable spot. Size is important. Bigger pieces, quite obviously, need an expansive space in which to shine (and enough room to step back and admire them), while smaller works may look odd when hung on their own on a large wall. The solution to the latter is either to find a niche wall on which to hang a smaller work – perhaps above a bedside table or next to a cosy armchair

While a white wall behind paintings or photographs confers an art-gallery style atmosphere, it is by no means the only choice of backdrop. Depending on the effect you desire, you could pick a colour from the painting in question and replicate it in the colour of your walls, or even hang works against wallpaper (again, using complementary colours). If you do not wish to draw too much attention to the walls, pick a small pattern to use as a backdrop to a sizeable work. It is always beneficial to light works of art so they can be seen properly after dark – even if it is simply a case of adjusting a table or floor lamp to cast a glow towards them. For a more formal, professional effect, custom lighting is ideal, using either traditional picture lights fitted above the work or a discreet track and spotlight. Experts recommend using LED bulbs because they don’t heat up, use little energy and are very small; it is worth experimenting with the colour ‘temperature’ of the bulb, ensuring that it is neither too ‘cold’ and white or too ‘warm’ and yellow. And if you wish to get into the real detail, choose a bulb that has excellent colour rendition (the ability to show true colours) at 95CRI or above.

A collection of Virserum frames, from £5 each, Ikea: 020 3645 0000; ikea.com/gb

How high to hang? This can be tricky, and everyone will have a personal preference. It will also be dictated by the size and shape of the piece, the proportions of the room, including ceiling height, and the surroundings in general. That said, many people hang works of art higher than necessary – especially when considering that one is often sitting down when looking at them. It may help to consider that museums and galleries typically hang modern works at 1.55m to the centre line of the picture (Old Masters, if you were wondering, go a little higher) – roughly equivalent to the average human eye line. The advent of damagefree hanging strips and hooks has revolutionised the process of picture hanging, in that if you are not happy, you can simply try again. So don’t be afraid to experiment until you get it right, and you can enjoy an impressive and attractive display of art on your walls.

The Island Breeze bedroom collection is available with contrasting oak tops or painted all over in a choice of contemporary colours. Chest of drawers, £699; small wardrobe with drawer, £749; low-foot bed frame, from £489; small bedside chest, £225; all The Painted Furniture Company: 01285 656 041; paintedfurnitureco.co.uk.

by Kathrine Sorrell

PROPERTY

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Parenting

Achieving a decent work-life balance can seem like the Holy Grail of parenting. But it doesn’t have to be…

Decide what you want

This may seem obvious (MORE TIME!), but it’s a good idea to set out exactly what it is you want to achieve, and what you’re prepared to do to get there. Do you want to pick the kids up from school more often, or have more time with your toddler during the day? Do you need more time off during the school holidays? Or do you just want to attend sports days, school plays and other activities without using your holiday allowance? How much of your salary can you afford to sacrifice?

Making your current job work for you

If you’re happy in your current job, could you reduce your hours? When you factor in childcare costs you might not be as out of pocket as you might expect. Or perhaps you could work at home more often (saving time on the dreaded commute) or change the hours you work? Starting work just 15 minutes earlier each day and cutting your lunch by 15 minutes might mean you could leave the office 2.5 hours earlier every Friday. If you want an extra day off, perhaps you could work longer hours but fewer days?

Your rights

Most employees have the statutory right to make an application for flexible working and employers need a good reason to turn

DITCHING THE 9-5: FLEXIBLE WORKING

down such a request. ‘Flexible working’ covers everything from changing your hours to sharing your job with a colleague. Parents are also entitled to take up to 18 weeks off work (up to four weeks a year) unpaid to look after their child, as long as they’ve been in the same job for at least one year. The Citizens Advice has a lot of information for people who want to change their working hours. See www.citizensadvice.org.uk.

Looking for a new job

More and more employers are starting to wake up to the fact that happier employees usually leads to a better standard of work. You’ll find that a lot of job adverts now mention flexible working. According to the Office of National Statistics, more than 7 million people in the UK have some kind of flexible working arrangement with their employer. If you’re struggling to find a suitable job and know someone in a similar position, could you apply for a job share together? While it’s still not common place, job sharing is becoming more accepted by employers. The Civil Service, for example, states that it ‘positively promotes all forms of flexible working, including job sharing’ and offers guidance to managers on how to make it work. There are several job search agencies and websites specialising in roles that allow flexible working, including job shares. Try www.capabilityjane.com, www.workingmums.co.uk and www. flexibleworks.co.uk

by Kate Duggan

CHILDREN, EDUCATION & ACTIVITIES

Independent Day School for Boys and Girls Junior School ages 7-11 Senior School ages 11-16 Sixth Form ages 16-18

PLACES STILL AVAILABLE FOR SEPTEMBER 2019 ENTRY

SECONDARY SCHOOL DISCOVERY DAY Wolverhampton Grammar School is opening its doors to Year 5 children to come and get a taste of what life will be like at a Senior School.

Saturday 11th May 2019 For more information about the Discovery Day or joining our School, please contact Jane Morris, Admissions Registrar telephone 01902 422939, email jam@wgs-sch.net or register online www.wgs.org.uk

JUDGED “EXCELLENT” IN ALL AREAS BY

THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS INSPECTORATE

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01902 421326

www.wgs.org.uk Wolverhampton Grammar School Compton Road Wolverhampton WV3 9RB

180 x 262mm.indd 3

15/01/2019 12:07

Parental Stress

HAS IT CHANGED OVER 50 YEARS? Vaccination is another topic that has ratcheted up anxiety levels amongst new parents in recent years. There is no scientific proof that immunisation actually causes harm, but rumours that vaccines can lead to autism, brain damage and the ‘overloading’ of a child’s immune system have made some parents reluctant to take up recommended vaccination programmes. Currently, only 87% of children in England receive two doses of the MMR vaccine.

No more outdoors?

If you’ve recently watched your adult son or daughter – now a parent themselves – searching the internet for the latest advice on nappy rash or teething problems, it probably triggered memories of the new-parent panics you experienced when you were young. Most of us have suffered moments of insecurity and selfdoubt about our parenting skills, so it may seem that little has changed over the last fifty years, but there is one very big difference. When you needed childcare advice in your younger days, it’s likely that you picked up the phone to ask your mum, dad or grandparents for advice. Nowadays, when the internet is the go-to source on information on everything from breastfeeding to building a tree house, it’s rare – if not unheard of – for the older generation to be asked for advice about childcare. Some grandparents may feel a pang of nostalgia for those long-lost ‘Mother-knows-best’ days. With online information about childcare so readily available, the idea of asking the older generation for guidance is now as dead as that legendary extinct bird, the dodo. So what else has changed over the past fifty years when it comes to bringing up a child? According to the magazine Psychology Today, “Anxiety has become the hallmark of contemporary parenting” and it affects every decision that parents make.

Healthcare worries

Advances in healthcare have made the process of giving birth much safer for both mothers and babies over the last half century. As soon as a pregnancy begins, everything from the baby’s growth to maternal blood pressure is tested and monitored. While this high level of care is reassuring in one way, it can also add to the anxiety experienced by new parents, opening up a range of questions such as ‘Is my baby ‘normal’? What kind of birth should I choose? Which method of pain relief is best?

Many grandparents look back nostalgically to the time when they roamed parks, streets and open spaces, playing with other children without adult supervision, but these days youngsters are tempted to stay inside, lured by the attractions of computer games, TV and the internet. While most parents appreciate the benefits of exercise, they are equally fearful about the consequences of letting their children play outside, citing concerns about road safety, ‘stranger danger’ and bullying by other children. However, Dr Michael Ungar, author of ‘Nurturing Resilience’, believes parents are too fearful of outdoor hazards. “Where the real dangers lie is indoors,” he writes in a blog published by Psychology Today. “Excessive screen time, often occurring while children snack on unhealthy foods, combined with low levels of activity and few opportunities to learn responsibility or social skills, leave children terribly unhealthy.”

Spare the rod

For anyone who experienced the kind of physical punishment that inspired the old maxim ‘Spare the rod and spoil the child’, it must be good to know that today’s children are more likely to be sent to the naughty step than they are to be smacked. Physical punishment may not have been frowned on in the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s but after 1990, when the UK signed up to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, it became less socially acceptable. While it’s illegal to use discipline that inflicts actual physical harm, current UK legislation stops short when it comes to hitting or slapping that doesn’t leave a lasting mark. However there is huge pressure to change the law: this year the Scottish government is leading the way with a new bill to outlaw any form of physical assault on a child. Looking back over the past five decades, a mixed picture emerges: while parents may be more anxious than they were back in the ‘60s and ‘70s, attitudes towards children’s health and welfare are changing in a positive way, with plans to reduce childhood obesity and revise legislation on physical punishment. However, while laws and attitudes change, thankfully one thing remains the same: most parents just want their children to grow up to lead happy, healthy and productive lives.

by Kate McLelland

CHILDREN, EDUCATION & ACTIVITIES

Adventurer

INSPIRES TETTENHALL COLLEGE PUPILS

Tettenhall College’s Year 9 pupils Florence Williams and Ella Caffrey said: “Matthew Dickinson, filmmaker for Channel 4, National Geographic, the BBC and former Everest conqueror came to talk to a group of Year 9 pupils at Tettenhall College in January, one of many inspiring talkers we have had the opportunity to listen to already this year. He talked about his experiences and how he prepared for this once in a lifetime opportunity to climb the world’s highest mountain, the emotions he had to deal with, his motivation and many other inspiring elements to his journey. He told us that although being able to climb Everest was breath-taking, it takes drive, ambition and dedication to achieve what you set out to do and in the toughest of times, you have to find the determination to push on. Asked to describe his experience in three words, he quickly answered: ‘life-enhancing’, ‘terrifying’ and ‘exhilarating’. He explained how he suffered with homesickness, the horror of seeing dead bodies, facing life-threatening challenges and injuries to two of his fingers, caused by extreme frostbite. Out of the 27 people who started the journey, only 5 finished, so the determination and bravery shown by him is astonishing. Having the opportunity to meet people like Matt Dickinson is an incredible way to learn about geography, mental resilience, and setting and achieving goals in life.”

Pictured above: Florence Williams, Matt Dickenson and Ella Caffrey

Open Morning – Nursery and Whole School Tuesday 12th March 9am – 11.30am Contact: admissions@tettcoll.co.uk • 01902 751119

CHILDREN, EDUCATION & ACTIVITIES

Birchfield School Birchfield School is a fully co-educational school for all years from aged 4 to 13. It is set in twenty acres of beautiful Shropshire countryside, enjoying views of the Wrekin and Clee Hill. It is located just off the A41, close to Junction 3 of the M54; just 30 minutes from Birmingham, Shrewsbury, Bridgnorth and Market Drayton. One of the great strengths of Birchfield is that it is a completely independent school, allowing parents freedom to select the best fit next school depending on their child’s needs and strengths, be it at age 11 or 13. Many preparatory schools are tied to a senior school partner and therefore pupils are ‘fed’ into their next school, sometimes spending up to fifteen years on one site. We believe, given the variety of schools available either at age 11 or 13 that one size does not fit all, and hence we work with you to make sure you find the right school for your child. With a reputation for academic excellence, in the year 2017 – 2018, 100% of our Year 8 pupils were offered places at their first school of choice which included Ellesmere College, Malvern College, Millfield School, Repton School, Rugby School, Shrewsbury School and Wrekin College. We value and ensure our pupils make the best use of open spaces such as our extensive playing fields, including three cricket squares and practice nets, a large outdoor multi-purpose astro-turf sports arena and an outdoor heated swimming pool. Sport forms an important part of our curriculum with all

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL IN SHROPSHIRE

children offered the opportunity to play for our many sports teams, through our extensive programme of fixtures with many schools in the area, plus the famous Birchfield match tea being one of our parents’ highlights each week! One of Birchfield’s unique benefits is our small class sizes (maximum 20), with specialist subject teachers working with children starting with French, Music and PE in Reception, and throughout their life at Birchfield to ensure that our subject teaching is of the highest standard and that pupils are exposed to different teaching styles and personalities from a young age. In Years 6, 7 and 8, pupils are assigned their own academic tutor who works with them on a one to one basis to help prepare them for their senior school exams. We are very fortunate in that we have a dedicated, separate nursery on the site for children from 6 weeks to 4 years where the pupils then move into the Preparatory School. Music and drama play an important role in the School with all children encouraged to take part in the school’s drama productions, as well as learning a musical instrument, with an extensive variety of instruments and music clubs available. Here at Birchfield we embrace traditional values whilst keeping pace with technology. Pupils from Reception through to Year 8 benefit from computer technology, tablets and Lego Mindstorm to support their learning experience, and these form a valuable and dynamic role in our pupils’ academic experience.

Taking Back Control

While more employers are offering flexible working, few jobs give you the freedom of running your own business. Self-employment doesn’t suit everyone. For a start, there’s no sick pay, no holiday pay and no regular salary. However, if you’re fed up of juggling childcare and missing out on time with your kids, it’s well worth considering. Flexible hours

If you’re a freelancer, you can usually fit your work around the kids. (I’m writing this article in the hairdresser’s while my son gets his hair cut.) If work is quiet and you fancy taking the kids to the beach after school, you can. On the downside, if you’ve got a lot of work on, you can end up working late into the night, or at weekends.

Attracting customers

You’ll need a plan for attracting customers. That plan is likely to include creating and updating a website, attending networking events, contacting people through social media and searching for opportunities through LinkedIn and other platforms. If you’re a graphic designer, you could contact local design agencies to let them know you’re available. If you make artisan handbags, you could sell them through Etsy, Not on the High Street or Folksy. You’ll need to factor in the platform’s fees as part of your costs. It also takes time to gain those all important reviews and you’ll be competing against a lot of other small businesses. If you can, start working on your business part-time, before you leave your job, and build up some savings to see you through lean periods.

GOING FREELANCE

Finding your ‘tribe’

It’s worth connecting with other freelancers for ideas, inspiration and ‘tea break’ chat. There are hundreds of networking events across the UK but some are little more than money-making schemes, so try a few before you commit to a membership. You might also want to sign up to forums, social media pages and groups in your industry. You could also team up with other professionals to bid for bigger projects. A plumber, electrician, decorator and builder might work together on house extensions, for example. I’m a member of The Hoxby Collective – a global team of freelancers (from copywriters and designers to accountants) who work together to deliver projects. Hoxby co-founder, Lizzie Penny, explains, “When Alex Hirst and I set up The Hoxby Collective, it was partly because I wanted to spend more time with my family. Some of the best talent was being excluded from the workforce because of geographical location, parental responsibility or a myriad of other reasons. We believe people should be able to fit their work around their lives and not the other way round.”

Useful Links:

• www.wix.com and www.squarespace.com make designing a website easy. • www.canva.com offers lots of design templates you can customise to create posters, social media memes, leaflets and more. • www.hmrc.gov.uk will give you the lowdown on tax. • www.enterprisenation.com and www.fsb.org.uk have lots of advice for small businesses. • www.hoxby.com is where to head if you want to join a team of freelancers from across the globe. • www.eventbrite.co.uk is the place to look for local business events.

by Kate Duggan

CHILDREN, EDUCATION & ACTIVITIES

Make a Difference

TO HARRY'S TOMORROW

In November 2018 Harry’s family received the devastating news that the neuroblastoma had returned. He is suffering a relapse to the CNS (central nervous system) and underwent emergency surgery to remove a 2 inch tumour from his brain. Harry is back in treatment under his oncologist and the wonderful team at the John Radcliffe hospital, Oxford. Once again he has endured chemotherapy and has planned craniospinal radiotherapy with ongoing clinical investigations. The NHS have been amazing with the care and treatment they have been able to provide for Harry however the doctors have warned that the cancer will come back for a third time without radical treatment. This is available to Harry at the Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Centre in New York in their clinical trial for 8H9, known as Omburtamab. This new drug carries radioactive iodine directly to the cancer in CNS and kills the cells. This is not available in the UK. 'Mad About Harry' was set up in 2014 to raise funds for Harry in the event he would need to go abroad for further treatment. They are looking to raise £500,000 to give Harry the chance to take part in a ground-breaking trial overseas. This privately funded treatment is the only lifeline for Harry as the NHS are now in unknown waters. Find out more at: www.madaboutharry.org

Harry Banks is a ten-year-old bubbly, smiley, very cheeky, but completely adorable boy. Back in 2014 when Harry was just six Harry’s family were given the devastating news that he had Stage 4 Neuroblastoma. This rare and aggressive children’s cancer affects just one hundred children per year in the UK. As yet there is no cure for relapse. After bravely enduring two years of intensive chemotherapy, continuous investigations, major surgery, high dose chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and more, Harry’s treatment came to end. Harry excitedly rang the bell to mark the end of his treatment and enjoyed nearly two and a half years of remission. He was continually monitored.

Bears Den

Pre-School

New Extended Opening Times Monday-Friday 8:30am - 3:00pm (term time only) •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• ••

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Bears Den Pre-School • North Gate • Venning Barracks • Donnington TF2 8JT (Find us near the Clocktower & Wyevale Garden Centre) 35

Experts in Treating Foot and Heel Pain!

You have most likely sought assistance for your condition, but have struggled to find an enthusiastic expert to help! Passionate and eager to reduce and cure your lower limb, foot and ankle pain. I have the latest equipment to assist your problem, what is more, I specialize in all Foot, Ankle, Leg and Achilles problems.

The latest Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) for non surgical treatment of Heel pain, Achilles Tendons and many other soft tissue injuries- 5 years experience!

achilles pain Policemans Heel

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FASCIITIS

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Celia Crow BSc Hons DipCFHP Mobile Foot Health Practitioner

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HEALTH & FITNESS

Shockwave Therapy Shockwave therapy is a relatively new treatment modality that has been demonstrated to be invaluable tool in the treatment of tendon and soft tissue injuries.

First used in the 70’s for its use in breaking down Kidney stones and calcification deposits in the body it became more common place in the 80s and in the 90’s more research appeared into the treatment for soft tissue injuries, so in this form it is a relatively new technology. It is a modality which uses pressure disturbance to stimulate the recovery of chronic and sub-acute soft tissue injuries. It works by applying rapid repeated pneumatic pressures through a device applied directly to the painful tissues. Often it is used after conventional treatments have failed to stimulate recovery such as hands on manual techniques, ultrasound and exercise therapy although it can be used as a front-line treatment.

demonstrated to benefit Tennis elbow, Golfers’ elbow and shoulder pain so it does have a broad spectrum of uses. In terms of treatment its self, most of the research suggests between 3-6 treatments will achieve good improvements although in can take more in more chronic conditions. In all this modality will be of huge benefit to patients with tendon/soft tissue injuries especially if more conventional treatments have failed. It is regularly seen as the go to treatment prior to more invasive treatments. If you are experiencing tendon pain that has been on going, then please feel free to call for free advice as to whether this treatment may benefit you. We offer day time and evening appointments so please call 01952 462330 or email us at enquiries@shropshirephysio.co.uk

The effects on the soft tissues are: • Mechanical Stimulation • Increased local blood flow • Increase in cellular activity • Pain relieving effects on local nerves • Breaking down of calcific deposits There are several research articles demonstrating the benefits of the treatment and a rising number of articles supporting its use. A lot of the evidence centres around particularly tendon pain in conditions such as Jumpers’ knee (the exacerbation of the patella tendon), Achilles tendon problems and plantar fasciitis (pain from the sole of the feet). It has also been

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FOR FREE ADVICE PLEASE CALL 01952462330 or email enquiries@shropshirephysio.co.uk or visit our website www.shropshirephysio.co.uk

SB Sports Injury & Physiotherapy, Broadway, Shifnal TF11 8AZ 37

Health

THE MOST EFECTIVE DRUG EVER? Increase your self-esteem Not only can exercise improve your fitness and appearance, making you feel better about yourself, it can also give you goals, a routine and a sense of achievement. These factors can work together to increase your self-esteem.

Improve the length and quality of your sleep Poor sleep can contribute significantly to physical health issues and depression, anxiety, poor memory and concentration. Exercise can improve your sleep patterns.

Improve your mental health Exercise is good for your mental health. Alongside its effects on your mood, self-esteem and sleep patterns, it’s also been proven to help alleviate anxiety, stress and mild to moderate depression. One study showed that just 10 minutes of brisk walking can increase mental alertness, energy and positivity, while another found that increasing your activity levels from zero to exercising at least three times a week can reduce your risk of depression by almost 20%.

“If exercise were a pill, it would be one of the most cost-effective drugs ever invented,” says health promotion consultant Dr Nick Cavill. That’s true, because the benefits of exercise go way beyond what many people think of as simple ‘fitness’. Physical Health Benefits

Improve your sex life Research shows that more active men and women have more sex. By improving your self-esteem, fitness and flexibility, regular exercise may increase your desire for, and enjoyment of, sex. Studies have shown that regular exercise may enhance arousal for women and that men who exercise regularly are less likely to have problems with erectile dysfunction than men who don’t.

Give you ‘time off’

• Increases the mass and strength of muscle (including that most important of muscles, the heart) and cardiovascular endurance.

You may not think of exercise as relaxing, but it can be. Not all exercise involves getting hot, sweaty and out of breath (although you do need to do some activity every week that makes you feel this way.). Tai chi, Pilates and yoga are all more relaxing forms of exercise. However, any exercise you do can take you away from your day-to-day concerns and give you time to focus on you, rather than your family, your work or your worries. The need to focus on your exercise can be a welcome distraction and give your brain a break.

• Increases flexibility and helps to prevent strains and injuries.

Give you the chance to get outdoors

• Helps regulate hormones that control your appetite, body clock, sleep and blood sugar.

Ecotherapy is becoming more widely used as research proves the benefits of being out in the countryside. You may not always be able to exercise in a rural spot, but getting outside to enjoy some fresh air and sunshine is great for your mental and physical health; some sunshine is necessary for us to produce Vitamin D which, among other things, is essential for absorption of calcium and good bone health.

Exercise can actively help you to prevent disease and debility. Research has proved that regular exercise: • Lowers your blood pressure (and in turn lowers your risk of stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney disease).

• Helps control our weight. • Helps prevent some cancers (reducing colon cancer risk by up to 30% and breast cancer risk by up to 20%). • Helps prevent some diseases, including Type II diabetes and Alzheimer’s (reducing dementia risk by up to 30% and delaying decline in sufferers, and reducing Type II diabetes risk by up to 50%). • Helps strengthen your bones and prevent osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. • Helps you handle the physical exertion of daily activities and improves your balance, helping to prevent falls. • Helps ease pain through the release of endorphins. • Improves bowel function and helps prevent constipation. By reducing your risk of early death from preventable conditions and falls, exercise can increase your longevity too. However, it can do a lot more than just improve your physical health.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Benefits Exercise can:

Improve your mood The endorphins released when you exercise can lift your mood and increase your energy levels.

Put more fun in your life Experiment with different forms of exercise and you may discover one that you actually find fun, whether that’s country bike rides, Zumba or a sport. This makes exercise something you look forward to, rather than a chore.

Improve your social life and family life If you join exercise classes or activity groups, you will benefit from the positive effects that socialising can have on your health and wellbeing. There may be related social activities and you could make new friends. You can also exercise with your family and, if you have children, becoming fitter will help you to take part in more of their fun and games. Team sports can also provide a sense of belonging and motivate you to improve and help your team become successful. Zumba, tennis, surfing, swimming, rowing, boxing, karate, netball, Pilates, ballroom dancing… there are many types of sport and exercise, so keep an open mind and try out several to find something you enjoy.

by Alison Runham

HEALTH & FITNESS

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The Easy Way We all want to make positive changes at the start of a New Year but, when it comes to New Years’ resolutions most of us set ourselves up for failure. Trying to make too many changes all at once, and, at perhaps the most depressing time of year isn’t a recipe for success. So, this year it’s time to take a different approach. Here’s our guide to getting fit and healthy for 2019, without the pressure:

Resolution #1 - Lose Weight If you’re keen to shed those extra pounds simply make some small, simple changes to your diet each and every day and build on them as the weeks and months pass by. The result? You’ll be making more and more healthy choices without even realising it and, you’ll soon lose weight. If you usually find yourself snacking on crisps, chocolates and cakes throughout the day then make a switch by swapping one of those indulgent snacks with something a little healthier. Combine healthy options with your usual snacks and gradually try to replace those bad choices with a better option. By doing it this way you won’t feel deprived and you’ll start to see a difference in your waistline within a few months.

HEALTH & FITNESS

TO GET FIT AND HEALTHY FOR 2019 Resolution #2 – Get Fit Everyone rushes to buy a gym membership in January to try to compensate for all that festive over indulgence, keen to make a healthy start to the New Year. But, the reality is most of us don’t even make it beyond the beginning of February before we’re start dropping off those work-out sessions. In fact, trying to fulfil your resolution to get fit by joining the gym can be a really detrimental move. Not only is there the pressure to look good before you even start, there’s the awkwardness of being surrounded by people who seem to know what they’re doing when you’re struggling to work the equipment and getting out of breath and sweaty after just a few minutes. Going from couch potato to fitness pro isn’t easy, but if you start off in the comfort – and privacy of your own home – you can gradually build your fitness levels, get used to exercising and be more confident when you do go to the gym. Plus, delaying that hefty membership until you’ve got your finances straight post-Christmas isn’t such a bad idea either. Start off with some gentle cardiovascular activity, like walking or running for around 30 minutes several times a week. Check out a YouTube tutorial or throw on a fitness DVD and try out a combination of jumping jacks, lunges, push-ups and squats whenever you get chance.

New Year’s Resolution #3 – Drink Less Alcohol Whether it’s unwinding with a large glass of wine at night or indulging in a few beers with mates after work, most of us are guilty of knocking back a few too many units of alcohol each week. To kick this habit you need to change your routine. If you’re a social drinker then try to hold your get-together away from the bar and get something to eat instead. Or you could always choose to catch-up with a morning coffee. If a large glass of wine equals relaxation for you, see if you can unwind in a different way. Skip the part of the evening when you reach for a glass and run a bath instead: light some candles, use your favourite body products, lie back and relax.

by Helen Taylor

Health

COPING WITH HAYFEVER

You may think it’s too early for an article about hay fever, but many of its 18 million UK sufferers would disagree. The main pollen season runs from March to September and if you’re sensitive to tree pollen, your symptoms could start as early as January. 2018’s high pollen counts caused misery for many. If you were one of them, here are ways to be proactive this year, combining prevention and treatment to reduce your symptoms.

Prevention

your pharmacist or your GP about alternatives before you give up on antihistamines altogether.

Nasal Medications Decongestant nasal sprays help to unblock your nose by reducing swelling in the blood vessels. Ideally, they should only be used for occasional relief or as a short-term additional treatment when your symptoms are severe, as they can cause rebound congestion. Steroid nasal sprays or drops contain a small amount of steroid that helps reduce inflammation in the nasal lining. They can also help itchy eyes, and are usually used when other treatments haven’t worked.

Prevention can be easier if you know your triggers and the pollen forecast. Your GP can refer you for a skin prick test for the most common allergens or a blood test for the Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody, which is produced when you come into contact with pollen. For pollen count information, you can check the Met Office pollen forecast at www.metoffice.gov.uk/health/public/pollenforecast.

Antihistamine nasal sprays help relieve an itchy nose and reduce sneezing.

You can reduce pollen contact by:

If your symptoms are so severe that it seriously affects your quality of life and ability to work, or causes or exacerbates asthma, other treatments or therapies are required.

• Avoiding drying washing outside and cutting grass • Showering before bed and wearing fresh clothes every day • Closing windows • Putting Vaseline around your nostrils • Wearing wraparound sunglasses • Vacuuming (preferably with a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner) and damp-dusting regularly

Eye Medications Antihistamine eyedrops help to reduce itchiness and relieve watering eyes.

Treating Severe Hay Fever

Steroid tablets are only usually used for a short course of treatment, and only given if other medications aren’t working. They reduce inflammation caused by your allergic reaction, which reduces the severity of your symptoms.

Inhalers

• Getting a pollen filter for the air vents in your car and air purifier units for indoors

You may be offered a steroid inhaler, which will reduce inflammation in your airways, and/or a ‘reliever’, such as salbutamol (‘Ventolin’), which opens up the airways and makes breathing easier.

Controlling your symptoms

Injectable medications

Both cigarette smoke and drinking alcohol can make your symptoms worse, so avoid them. Research by Allergy UK in 2014 showed that 62% of hay fever sufferers found their medication ineffective – yet they either failed to change it or didn’t use it properly. So remember: • Hay fever treatments aren’t effective unless used as directed (and regular use is essential to prevent symptoms). • Combining treatments can help you better control your symptoms, but always seek the advice of a GP or pharmacist first. • If your current treatments aren’t working, don’t ignore it—ask your GP or pharmacist for alternatives.

Available treatments: Oral Medications (Tablets and Liquids) Antihistamines work by blocking the action of histamine, a chemical produced when your body is exposed to an allergen and the culprit responsible for your allergic reaction. They may not relieve a blocked nose, but they’re effective against other nose and eye symptoms. As a preventative, they work best if taken regularly and are best started before high pollen count periods or the months your hay fever usually occurs. However, they can also be taken as required when your symptoms begin. Some antihistamines (e.g. chlorpheniramine, known as Piriton) make you drowsy, potentially affecting your ability to work or drive, but non-sedating antihistamines such as Loratadine or Cetirizine are available. If one type doesn’t work for you, ask

These may be recommended too if steroids aren’t adequate. Monoclonal antibody treatments (‘mabs’) such as Xolair block a substance involved in the body’s allergic reaction. Xolair injections are usually given every two or four weeks.

Immunotherapy (building resistance) Immunotherapy progressively builds up your allergen immunity and it’s only available in specialist hospital centres, so that your reaction can be closely monitored and any adverse effects treated. Treatment should ideally be started three months before your trigger pollen season. A specialist will gradually introduce your body to small amounts of allergen, either by injection into the skin or via a sublingual tablet (which dissolves under the tongue). You may be able to continue the sublingual tablets (‘SLIT therapy’) at home. The dose of allergen is gradually increased until you can tolerate exposure without developing major symptoms. Immunotherapy is given over three consecutive years and it’s important that the course is completed for the best results.

Finally… Being trapped indoors by hay fever is miserable. If you’re desperate for a day out but can’t face the pollen potential of the countryside, head for the seaside. The pollen count is lower nearer the coast.

More information: AllergyUK: www.allergyuk.org; Helpline 01322 619 898, 9am-5pm Mon-Fri by Alison Runham

HEALTH & FITNESS

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Using only the letters in the Wordwheel, you have ten minutes to find as many words as possible, none of which may be plurals, foreign words or proper nouns. Each word must be of three letters or more, all must contain the central letter and letters can only be used once in every word. There is at least one word that uses all of the letters in the wheel.

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Are Ageing Lines

A GOOD THING?

have had both BOTOX® and fillers and at 55 I feel it has totally freshened my face … People should not be condemned for wanting to feel confident”), ‘JEMH’ comments: “My wife’s not interested, so she won’t get that ‘rabbit in the headlights’ startled look that some of our friends have got after too much BOTOX®.”

Preventative measures

Walk into certain high street chemist stores nowadays and you might come away with more than toothpaste, deodorant and bubble bath. Once you’ve filled your basket with all the usual health and beauty products, you can slip into a private room for a BOTOX® injection. BOTOX® has been around as a cosmetic treatment since the early Nineties, when it was hailed as a miracle anti-aging procedure. The procedure eases out ‘dynamic’ facial wrinkles (created by muscle contractions) by paralysing the muscle underlying the wrinkle, resulting in a smooth and more youthful appearance that can last up to four months. Its discovery dates back to 1820, when a German medical officer first identified Botulinum (which gives its name to BOTOX®) as a lethal toxin. Fortunately, despite such scary credentials, the cosmetic use of BOTOX® is considered completely safe provided it is properly administered.

By public demand?

Superdrug’s new ‘Skin Renew’ initiative, which brings antiaging treatments to the high street, is part of a wider beauty marketing trend designed to persuade us that non-surgical cosmetic treatments such as BOTOX®, dermal fillers and chemical peels should be considered part of a normal beauty routine. Caris Newson, Head of Superdrug’s Health and Wellbeing Services, insists that the firm is only “listening to what people are telling us they would like” following feedback from 10,000 customers, but the initiative has been criticised by the British Association of Aesthetic and Plastic Surgeons, who say that customers could suffer from skin infections or even permanent muscle paralysis if treatments are not administered correctly. So should these treatments now be considered ‘normal’? And does their increased availability step up the pressure on women and men who are concerned about signs of aging to routinely undergo invasive procedures? On the website silversurfers. com opinions are divided. While silver surfer ‘KarenF’ is happy to endorse the feel-good effects of non-surgical treatments (“I

Controversially, Superdrug’s ‘Skin Renew’ service is available to customers over twenty-five, and this has led to accusations that the company is encouraging younger people to seek unnecessary treatment. Jane Ainsworth, posting on the gransnet.com website, is concerned about the effect Superdrug’s offer might have on the young: “What I don’t like is the way that women in their twenties and thirties are persuaded that they should have BOTOX®/fillers as a preventative measure, to stop wrinkles developing. That does cross a line for me. Using cosmetic procedures in a preventative way does seem to be exploiting women’s insecurities about their appearance.” Cost may be another factor that encourages consumers, old and young alike, to experiment with anti-aging treatments. Customers who would previously have expected to pay around £300 for BOTOX® injections at a beauty clinic can now book an appointment from just £99. While this may make non-surgical cosmetic treatments available to all, rather than just the rich and famous, it seems ironic that this initiative has appeared at a time when many celebrities are resisting the pressure to stay young-looking for as long as possible.

Celebrities speak out

Last year Marie Claire magazine asked a number of highprofile stars for their opinion about cosmetic treatments, and the results were surprising. Of those in favour of BOTOX®, forty-five-year-old Broadchurch actor Olivia Colman admitted “I LOVED it” after having a course of injections, while plainspeaking film star Scarlett Johansson bluntly declared: “I don’t want to be an old hag!” But a greater number of celebrities seemed to be against antiaging treatments. Julia Roberts (star of movies such as ‘Pretty Woman’ and ‘Notting Hill’) has been a vocal opponent of cosmetic surgery in recent years. She explains: “It’s unfortunate that we live in such a panicked, dysmorphic society where women don’t even give themselves a chance to see what they’ll look like as older persons. I want to have some idea of what I’ll look like before I start cleaning the slates. I want my kids to know when I’m happy and when I’m confounded. Your face tells a story… and it shouldn’t be a story about your drive to the doctor’s office.” Whether you love the fact that BOTOX®, chemical peels and fillers are becoming more affordable and easier to obtain, or you support Julia Roberts’ views on aging naturally, as our population steadily ages (we’ll see 8.6 million extra people aged 65 years and over in 50 years’ time) it’s likely that we’ll see more and more of our high street outlets promising to iron out our wrinkles and restore the glow of youth for less than £100.

by Kate McLelland

BEAUTY & FASHION

Doctor-led non-surgical cosmetic clinic providing advanced aesthetic treatments

Finance plans available

We are now running clinics from Harley Street in London BEFORE TREATMENT

AFTER TREATMENT

Treatments include:

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xx Non-surgical rhinoplasty

xx Mesotherapy

xx Body contouring with Lipocontrast (clinically

xx eDS Microneedling

proven permanent fat reduction)

xx Chemical peels xx Aesthetic gynaecology

See website for details and prices...

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We are moving... At the beginning of March we will be moving to Church Street in Shifnal

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ADVERTORIAL

How to get into that dress…

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World re-known therapist to the stars and royalty Deborah Mitchell gives some bridal beauty advice.

“Every bride should start months in advance with regular facials, detox massages and the BeeSlim or BeeSlim Rituals, it is so important to get your skin used to the products, and to allow them to work their magic months before: there is nothing worse than a bride to be leaving her facials and fitting into the dress to one or two weeks before, because not only is she not giving the products enough time to work, as with any new products in the skin, they will detox and clear out the pores, so there will be the inevitable breakout, and you don’t want that just before the big day!” The 3 most important rules to follow when it comes to essential skincare are cleanse, exfoliate and drink plenty of water. I am always asked this question and it’s always the same answer: keep your skin super clean and you will avoid the dreaded spot breakouts!

“Every woman wants to look her best on her wedding day because it’s the one day in her life that she will photographed more than any other day in her life, so its key she looks her absolute best, her make-up will only look great if the make-up artist on her special day has a flawless canvas to work on, so that’s where her prewedding skincare regime will ensure the canvas is ready for the masterpiece. The BeeSlim ritual I have created would help not only a total 46

body detox aiding slimming elimination and firming skin, but the ritual aids facial contouring and toning of facial expressions, so that the ultimate face you wear to your wedding is as perfect as can be. Other than skincare, the essential components to having beautiful skin is without a doubt as they say “Skin Deep” so a healthy diet and lifestyle is key, however that doesn’t mean to say you can’t afford to enjoy yourself once in a while…everything in moderation! If this all seems a lot to be doing in preparation and you would like one thing that could help with your beauty regime for the day I would suggest you buy ‘The’ Bee Venom Mask – (Insider Secret: The Duchess of Cambridge favoured this above all else in preparation for her big day with Prince Wills) the bee venom works to control the facial muscles giving an instant lifting and tightening effect almost mimicking the effect a bee sting has on the skin, but without the obvious painful sting. It smoothes the frown lines on the forehead and gets to work on wrinkles, and on a bride’s wedding day will act as a topcoat and primer for the skin, giving the bride a smooth surface for foundation application. If you wanted that little extra

I would suggest you also use my hydrogels treatment toners, they not only clean, hyrdrate and firm the skin, but they are a fabulous makeup primer giving a lasting flawless make-up!”

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Beauty

THE BEST OF THE BEST

The best thing about being a beauty writer is that I get to try a lot of products for free. Over the years I’ve tried hundreds of them, from high-tech gadgets to budget buys. I’m a sucker for shiny new things, so a product has to be very, very good for me to buy a replacement once it runs out. Without further ado, here’s my ‘best-of-the-best’ – the goodies I come back to time and time again. A lot of beauty writers seem to spend hours on their daily skincare routines. I am not one of those people. I’m lucky to have five minutes to myself of a morning, so I really love a multitasker. Frances Prescott’s

Tri-Balm

is a cleanser, exfoliator and moisturiser in one. I have to

admit, I do still use an extra moisturiser most days, but if I don’t have time then at least I know my skin will still feel soft and nourished. Now £46 seems pretty steep for a cleanser I know, but I use mine pretty much every day and it lasts for months. See www.francesprescott. com. I love lighting a candle when I’m in the bath and Janjira’s Grapefruit

and Tangerine Massage Candle

is one of my favourites. And this

is no ordinary candle – it slowly melts to give you a small pool of natural oils to massage into your skin. Heaven. The scent is subtle but gorgeous. £32, from www.janjira.co.uk. If, like me, you sometimes struggle to get to sleep, try

Remedies Goodnight Pillow Mist.

Neal’s Yard

I spray it liberally onto my

pillow and it really does seem to help. It’s a blend of organic essential oils known for their ability to calm the senses and promote rest – such as lavender, vetiver and mandarin. The result is a gentle, comforting scent. It’s £15 from www.nealsyardremedies.com. I find a lot of lipsticks too drying and dislike the stickiness of lip gloss.

Bobbi Brown’s Extra Lip

Tint is my go-to alternative. It’s like a

moisturising lip balm but flushes your lips for a hint of colour and adds shine. The effect lasts about as long as a lip gloss. I’m currently on my second Bare Pink and am planning to treat myself to the Bare Melon and Bare Popsicle shades soon. £25.50, from www.bobbibrown.co.uk. While I like to have a few perfumes on the shelf, I tend to have a favourite for a few years at a time, while the rest sit gathering dust. My current favourite is

Connock London’s Kukui.

There’s a dash

of fresh flowers, including gardenia rose and white jasmine, warmed by sandalwood, vetiver and white amber. Cashmere and vanilla add the comfort factor. The result is a grown-up fragrance that’s sensual, subtle and (in my opinion) totally addictive. It’s priced from £35 at www.connocklondon.co.uk, but do Google for offers. At the time of writing I have my eye on a giftset that includes three 30ml Connock London fragrances for £42.49 (RRP £84.99) at www.psyche.co.uk.

by Kate Duggan

BEAUTY & FASHION

Beauty by Jude

ALL IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME CND Shellac goes on like a polish but wears like a gel. A 14 day glorious high gloss shine with zero dry time, no nail damage and can be removed in around 10 minutes.

WAXING TREATMENTS

MASSAGE TREATMENTS

• Half Leg £12 • Full Leg £20 • Bikini £10 • Underarm £8 • Lip or Chin £6 • Lip & Chin £10 • Half Arm £10 • Full Arm £15

Swedish Massage £38 Head to toe sheer indulgence. As well as leaving you feeling extremely relaxed, massage can improve lymphatic drainage, helps to break down cellulite, loosen arthritic joints, soothe tired & aching muscles and generally improve sense of wellbeing.

EYE TREATMENTS

SHELLAC TREATMENTS Hands or Feet ........................... £18

• Eyebrow Wax £7 • Eye Lash Tint £10 • Eye Brow Tint £8 • Lash & Brow Tint £16

Inclusive of Polish Removal

Lash Lift & Tint £25

Shellac including Manicure ..... £23 Shellac including Pedicure ...... £25 Removal of Polish ...................... £5

Accentuate your natural lashes by giving them a tint and a lift. This 60 minute treatment will enhance your lashes, making them look longer & voluminous. A patch test will be required 48 hrs prior to treatment.

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NAIL TREATMENTS Luxury Manicure £15 Including Nail Shape, Cuticles Treated, Hand Massage & Moisturising Mask

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Back, Shoulder & Neck Massage £20 A relaxing massage releasing muscle tension and fatigue on the back, shoulders and neck - the main areas of stress & knots.

Indian Head Massage £18 A non intrusive treatment based around the head, neck & shoulders. It can give relief from headaches, eye strain, tension and improve hair & scalp condition.

BODY TREATMENTS Exfoliating Body Polish £35 A full body cleanse using peppermint exfoliating body polish after an invigorating skin brush.

Purifying Back Treatment £30 The back is deep cleansed, body brushed and exfoliated to help stimulate circulation and cell renewal, then calmed and relaxed with a luxurious massage. A final application of a light moisturiser will ensure the skin is left smooth and revitalised.

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See Facebook for the latest offers: beautybyjudeathome

s. or online for price ins - see in store Model wears -Dorothy Perkins - see in store or online for prices.

othy Perk Model wears -Dor

Slogan Vest £12. Dorothy Perkins

Gymsack £12.99. Adidas at Deichmann

Leggings £20. Dorothy Perkins.

Work-Out in Style The days of turning up at the gym in an old pair of sweatpants and a baggy t-shirt are long gone; now, it’s all about looking great whilst you get in shape. So, before you get started on your New Year’s fitness plan you’ll need to hit the shops and get your hands on some on-trend gym-wear looks that’ll give you an edge in the style stakes, whether you’re a fitness pro or just starting out. 8 50

ings £10 and Model wears - Sports Bra £6, Legg . Asda at rge Geo All £20. ch Wat Fitness

Activewear T-Shirt £12. Florence & Fred at Tesco

Sweatshirt £8. George at Asda.

T-Shirt £6. George at Asda

Activewear Leggings £14. Florence & Fred at Tesco.

Model wears - Sports Bra £6 and Yoga Pants £10. Both George at Asda

Model wears - Sports Bra Leggings £1 0. Both Geo £6 and rge at Asda.

Sports Bra £12. Florence & Fred at Tesco

‘Tanjun’ Aqua Trainers £49.99. Nike at Deichmann

Lace-Up Trainers £47.99. Skechers at Deichmann

9 51

Finance

SPOT THE PENSION SCAMMERS at a certain percentage are available, or perhaps that you’ll receive higher returns from the investment product they’re offering, but this is not the case. They may also say their investment strategy is low risk, but a low-risk strategy is not associated with high returns.

Time-limited offers

Scammers sometimes pressurise their victims into signing quickly, saying it’s a time-limited offer. They may even arrange for a courier to deliver their documents and then wait until you sign them. This gives you little time to go through the documents properly, and to carefully consider what you’re doing.

Tax loopholes

Pension fraudsters might say they know of tax loopholes, or ways in which you could make extra savings on tax. There are no tax loopholes with legitimate pension arrangements.

Withholding contact details Since new regulations were introduced in 2015 allowing greater pension freedoms, criminals have been targeting retirees, and those approaching retirement, in an attempt to fraudulently exploit the system. Figures published by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) show that victims of pension scams lost £91,000 each on average in 2017, with more than 30% of pension holders aged 45-65 being unaware of how to check that they’re dealing with a legitimate pension adviser.1 So how do you know if you’re being targeted by pension scammers?

Unexpected contact

Unsolicited contact by someone offering advice on your pension is likely to be a scam. They may claim to be backed by the government, but no legitimate pension-related organisation or adviser would cold-call you. This type of contact could also be made by email, text, post or in person.

Free pension review

A common tactic used by scammers, and one that gives them access to a considerable amount of personal and financial information, is offering a free pension review. If you’re under 55 they may try to persuade you to take your pension early; otherwise it could be with a view to transferring your pension into a fraudulent or unregulated scheme.

Releasing pension monies early

If you’re under the age of 55, pension scammers may tell you it’s possible to access your pension early. This isn’t the case unless you meet certain, very limited, criteria regarding your health. Withdrawing your pension below the age of 55 will trigger a tax liability of 55% of the amount withdrawn. You may also lose your pension entirely if the proposed new scheme/investment plan is fraudulent or unregulated, and still face this tax charge.

Higher/guaranteed returns

One of the fundamental aspects of investing is that there are no firm guarantees. Scammers may tell you guaranteed returns

If they don’t want you to call them back, have limited contact information available, only a mobile phone number or a PO Box address, for example, you should cease communications with them straight away.

Pension scammer common phrases

These are some of the words and phrases used to con people out of their hard-earned pensions (they could all be used at any time during the con process): • Tax loophole: relating to the early withdrawal of pension funds. • Sophisticated investor: often when trying to sell products ‘not traditionally available’. • Free-of-charge: in relation to pension reviews and transfers. • This offer won’t last long/you need to sign quickly/we’ll send a courier with your documents: high pressure selling tactics. • Pension loan/savings advance/cash incentive: in relation to unlocking a pension before you’re 55.

What can you do if you think you’re being targeted by scammers?

• Simply hang up the phone and block their number if you believe you’re being targeted. Ignore any email messages or text communications. • Check the FCA Register – this contains firms authorised to provide pension and other financial advice. If they’re on the register, make sure the contact details match those provided by the FCA. • Contact Pension Wise or the Pensions Advisory Service for free, impartial advice and guidance. • Report it to the FCA on 0800 111 6768, and Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. • Contact your own pension provider – they may still be able to block a transfer of monies. Hopefully, being aware of the common tactics used by pension scammers, and when they’re likely to be used, will offer some protection, and help you avoid becoming one of the unfortunate and startling statistics. www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/regulators-warnpublic-pension-scammer-tactics-victims-report-losingaverage-91000-2017 1

by Ann Haldon

BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL

Free Will Writing Service Parry Carver Solicitors are supporting Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s Free Will Writing Service, which is available for those aged 55 and over. Whether you are looking to make your first Will or update an existing one, it’s important that you properly plan your financial affairs to ensure your loved ones are looked after. Talk to us at Parry Carver today about having your Will written for free, for that extra peace of mind.

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ALSO drop off and collection available at Green Fields in Donnington & Priorslee 53

Cash ISA’s

STILL WORTH IT?

As we come to the end of the financial year, you may be wondering if it’s still worthwhile opening a cash ISA, and whether this tax-free savings account offers the significant benefits it once did. Gone are the days when banks and building societies battled to offer the best deal for ISA savers. Given the low savings interest rates of recent years, the high rates offered on some current accounts, and the introduction of the Personal Savings Allowance, why would you want to open a cash ISA at all? There are a few reasons to consider giving cash ISAs another chance. First of all, however, let’s look briefly at the Personal Savings Allowance (PSA) to find out what it is and the impact it’s having on savers in the UK.

What is the Personal Savings Allowance?

The Personal Savings Allowance was introduced by the government in 2016 and allows you to earn £1,000 of savings interest tax-free. If you’re a higher-rate taxpayer the limit is £500, with additional rate taxpayers being ineligible for this tax-free allowance. You’d need a healthy savings pot to breach your PSA limit but of course that’s not impossible. Also, where previously an ISA was the only savings product offering tax-free interest, you can now use a number of different accounts, some of which offer much higher interest rates than an ISA. But the key here is that if you are likely to go over your PSA, cash ISA interest doesn’t count towards that limit, so you can earn it tax-free and still have your full £1,000 (or £500) PSA allowance.

Potential for increased earnings and a change in tax bracket

Whether you’re earning an average or relatively low wage at present, the potential exists for you to increase your earnings and change tax brackets in the future. The Personal Savings Allowance is halved to £500 for higher rate taxpayers, and you may find the threshold isn’t as ‘out of reach’ in years to come as it currently seems. Add to this the likelihood of a rise in savings interest rates in the future and you’ll receive more interest on your savings, again effectively moving you closer to the limit of the Personal Savings Allowance.

Saving flexibility

Cash ISAs offer considerable flexibility, with some providers allowing you to withdraw money and pay it back during the same tax year without losing any of your ISA allowance. This allowance, currently £20,000 (tax year 2019/20), can also be spread across a cash ISA and a stocks and shares ISA in the same tax year. The value of compound interest is also an important issue when considering the benefits of opening an ISA. If you don’t need ready access to your savings, you could amalgamate the balances of the cash ISAs you hold into a single fixed interest rate ISA account offering higher rates. Compound interest can accrue to a considerable sum over time, but don’t forget to keep the balance of your account within the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) limit in order to be safe – this is currently £85,000.

Potential to leave your ISA savings to your partner on death

In April 2015, the government introduced new rules whereby the balance of an ISA on death can be inherited by a spouse or civil partner tax-free. In practice, they would able to use your ISA allowance (to the value of your ISA balance) as well as their own for the tax year in which you die. This ability to inherit ISA savings tax-free is a significant benefit not available with other savings accounts. Your Personal Savings Allowance cannot be inherited alongside this one-off ISA allowance, however.

If you move abroad

If you decide to move abroad, the rules state you cannot save into an ISA once the tax year in which you move has ended, unless you’re an employee of the Crown and you’ve moved for work purposes. This is because you’re no longer a UK resident for tax purposes, and you’re also prevented from transferring the account(s) to a new provider. There’s no need to close the account, however – you can use it again if you return to the UK.

Consider a cash ISA as part of your savings mix

Clearly, saving into an account other than a cash ISA offers benefits, but it’s not a good idea to totally discount them when interest rates are low. Cash ISAs can offer a safe haven for your savings in the long-term and can be passed down to your family tax-free. Rather than relying solely on your Personal Savings Allowance, which could always be altered if there’s a change in government, give some consideration to a cash ISA as a part of your savings plan. It may prove to be an important savings product for the future you, but don’t forget to shop around for the best rates. www.rsmuk.com/ideas-and-insights/tax-facts www.fscs.org.uk/what-we-cover/ Thisismoney.co.uk: http://tiny.cc/z72s1y www.telegraph.co.uk/investing/isas/ask-expert-can-stillhave-isa-move-abroad/ www.gov.uk/individual-savings-accounts

by Ann Haldon

BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL

Home Sweet Home in 2019? Are common mortgage myths preventing you from making your dream home move a reality? Myth 1 - You need a large deposit to buy

So, whether you’re a first time buyer, looking to move home or looking to remortgage for a better rate or to raise capital for home improvements, the easiest way to understand your options is to seek professional advice.

You can borrow with as little as a 5% deposit, subject to your credit score. However having a larger deposit is useful as it will provide you access to better interest rates and can provide more choice of providers.

At CD Financial we can advise and recommend the most appropriate solution to help you make your dream move a reality.

Myth 2 - You can’t get a mortgage if you’re self employed

Saturday 19th January 19 – Lawley Office

As long as you can provide accounts to evidence your selfemployed income obtaining a mortgage can be straight forward. You will ideally need two years accounts to prove your income, but there are lenders that will consider applications where only 12 months accounts are available.

For general information or an informal conversation drop into one of our mortgage clinic events which we are hosting on; Saturday 26th January 19 – Shifnal Office Visit our website www.cdfinancial.co.uk or our Facebook page for more information on our services and mortgage clinic events.

Myth 3 - You can’t get a mortgage if you have debts Debts will reduce your borrowing capacity, which can be restrictive, but doesn’t prevent you from borrowing.

Myth 4 - You need a perfect credit score to get a mortgage Not having a perfect credit score doesn’t prevent you from obtaining a mortgage. There are even lenders that will consider applicants who have had defaults, CCJs & bankruptcies. However you may find depending on your credit score and level of credit issues you will need a larger deposit & mortgages rates available are likely to be higher & your choice of lender maybe limited.

FINANCIAL LTD

ITCHING TO GET INTO YOUR DREAM HOME? o First Time Buyers o Home Movers o Help to Buy o Right to Buy o Shared Ownership o Help to Buy refinance o Re-mortgages o Buy to Let

Talk to CD Financial about your mortgage options and let us help scratch that itch! ....Call us on 01952 455775 to book your Free, No Obligation Initial Consultation Shifnal Head Office: 4 Church Street · Shifnal · TF11 9AA

Lawley Office: Birchfield Way · Telford · TF3 5BZ

w www.cdfinancial.co.uk m contact@cdfinancial.co.uk CD Financial Limited is an appointed representative of Openwork Limited which is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE. Our fee for arranging a mortgage is £195.

Telford Laundry LINEN AND WORKWEAR RENTAL

Home Laundry Service Telford Laundry provides collection and delivery right to your door; collecting on a regular basis or just on special occasions when you have loads of extra laundry. With Telford Laundry’s own fleet of vehicles you can be confident that your regular driver will collect and drop off your laundry items in the way that you would like. Telford Laundry drivers will arrange a convenient collection and drop off point for you which can include your place of work. Quality and professional laundry services are provided for bedroom linen – including bulky items such as duvets, bedspreads and sleeping bags, bathroom laundry and household items such as curtains and cushion covers. Talk to Telford Laundry about their professional dry cleaning service for men’s suits and wedding dresses.

Find out more...

Laundry Collection or drop off at B3 Stafford Park 11, Telford

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The NLG are proud of the quality services provided and we believe that the core requirements is a well-trained and highly motivated workforce. group companies participate in the Textile Services Association accredi training scheme.

In addition we have a robust Capital Investment Programme to ensure t

BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL

LASTING POWERS OF ATTORNEY What are they used for?

We all hope to remain healthy and independent for as long as possible. However, there can come a time when we are no longer physically or mentally capable to make decisions for ourselves. While a person still has full mental capacity and can make their own decisions, that person can appoint an Attorney (or several Attorneys), who will manage their affairs and make decisions on their behalf when they can no longer do that for themselves. There are two types of Powers:

• Financial Decisions A Financial Decisions Power covers decisions regarding how your money is managed and how your property and other financial matters are dealt with.

• Health Care Decisions A Health Care Decisions Power covers medical treatment and welfare to include residence and medical decisions. It can give your Attorneys power to refuse or consent to treatment on your behalf.

Our Office in Newport offers a warm and approachable service to all clients. Appointments can be offered to suit you or you can just pop into the office for a chat. We are also happy to meet clients at home, if preferred. Rachel Davenport is our friendly, local Solicitor with family ties in Newport. She has vast experience in dealing with elderly clients in the area and is proud to be part of the Dementia Friendly Scheme within Newport. Rachel can be contacted on: T: 01952 281060 • E: Rachel.Davenport@Clarkeslaw.co.uk or visit: 21 High Street, Newport TF10 7AT

Spring Clean

YOUR FINANCES

Spring is the season when we give our homes a good clean and tidy up, so why not do the same with your finances? There are many ways to take control of your financial life, and the majority of them are so easy it’s worth looking at all the possibilities. All you need is a little time and dedication, so with this in mind, here are a few ideas for a financial spring clean and a richer 2019.

Get organised

Financial decluttering offers a clearer view of your overall financial situation and valuable insight into unhealthy spending habits. Begin by finding all your relevant paperwork such as mortgage statements, insurance policies, credit agreements and utility bills, and decide which documents you need to keep. Although you should be mindful of retaining tax paperwork, you may not need to keep all of the older general documentation. What you do retain can be safely filed away in a dedicated folder so you have easy access should you need it.

Reduce outgoings and make paying easier

Not only can you save money by cancelling subscriptions that you no longer need, sorting out your paperwork highlights any excessively high payments you’ve been making and allows for tighter financial control. You can sign up to receive paperless bills and bank statements, which reduces the amount of paperwork in your home and helps to declutter your physical living space. By signing up to pay your bills by direct debit, you can also remove much of the hassle of making regular payments – providers might even offer you a discount for doing so.

Make a new budget

Whether or not you already operate a budget, making a new one can instil fresh life into your finances and allows you to overhaul your spending if necessary. Make sure to include all important annual events including birthdays, Christmas and holidays in the budget, so you arrive at an accurate plan for monthly expenditure. By scrutinising your bank statements you can see where you’ve been overspending during the last year and adjust accordingly, or lower your outlay in high-cost areas. This might involve checking comparison websites, or simply being more careful with the food shopping.

notebook. Whatever you do, keeping track of how much you spend helps you stick to your budget and deal confidently with the inevitable financial setbacks we all experience.

Tackle debt

By tackling debt you free yourself from the threat of serious financial difficulty, and provide new opportunities to save. You might choose to use the ‘debt snowball’ method of paying off the smallest debts first, or get stuck right in and pay off the largest debt. However you decide to approach it, becoming debt-free is liberating and an important element of a financial spring clean.

Maximise tax-free savings

With the end of the tax year fast approaching, make sure you’re taking advantage of your full tax-free savings allowance. You can currently save up to £20,000 tax-free in an Individual Savings Account (ISA), and are allowed to spread this amount between a cash ISA and an Investment ISA. If you don’t use your full allowance by 5th April, however, it will be lost.

Check your pension

Your pension provider should send you a pension statement once a year, so it’s a good idea to review how well it’s performing. If you have more than one pension it may also be worthwhile seeking professional advice as to whether they should be combined. If you think you have additional pensions but can’t quite remember, a facility on the gov.uk website can help you track them down.

Search for old bank accounts

You may have money in accounts that have been lying dormant for years, but there is a way to track them down. As with forgotten pensions, this is very useful if you can’t remember the bank accounts you’ve held in the past.

Plan finances ahead this year

If you’re planning a holiday in 2019 or need to buy a new car, for example, in conjunction with your new budget, saving a little each month can help to achieve your goals without going into debt.

My Lost Account is a website that helps you find old bank accounts, building society accounts and NS&I investments, so you can reclaim forgotten money and close them down. It’s also possible to check for any Premium Bond prizes that you haven’t claimed via the National Savings and Investments website.

Maybe you could open a new savings account for each prospective large purchase, or use a traditional piggy bank at home and watch your savings fund grow the old-fashioned way.

Overhauling your finances can make a significant impact on life in general, and helps you to make the most of your money. So start your spring clean this month and you’ll be reaping the rewards not only in 2019, but for many years to come.

Track your spending

http://tiny.cc/Clearscore-finance

With so many personal finance apps and tools now available, you can track your spending wherever you are. You might prefer to use a spreadsheet, or simply write down your spending in a

http://tiny.cc/Goodhousekeep www.mylostaccount.org.uk/about

by Ann Haldon

BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL

Lasting Power of Attorney PEACE OF MIND THAT WON’T COST YOU THE EARTH

E K M Legal Services Ltd

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document allowing you to choose who you wish to manage your affairs. Those appointed are your Attorneys and may be friends or family members. Most people think LPA’s are for older clients however anyone of us could have an accident or illness which leaves us either physically or mentally unable to manage our own affairs. Having an LPA in place gives you the peace of mind should this happen, allowing seamlessly those you have chosen to continue on your behalf. BUT AT WHAT COST? All LPA’s must be registered with the Court of Protection before they can be used by your Attorneys and currently this charge is £82 per LPA. You may be entitled to a reduction or exemption if you are on a low income or receiving certain state benefits. In addition, you will also have to consider the fees of your appointed legal professional. It is advisable to appoint an experienced professional to guide you through the whole process however costs can vary significantly, with some firms charging in excess of £1000 for a married couple. BE SAVVY, SHOP AROUND AND MAKE SURE YOUR PEACE OF MIND DOESN’T END UP COSTING YOU THE EARTH. Call us today on 07786 543813 for a quote – you will be pleased you did.

• Wills • Estate Administration • Powers of Attorney

Advice you can trust Contact us on 07786 543813 or info@ekmlegalservices.co.uk

www.ekmlegalservices.co.uk

Elizabeth McEvilly

Director

Kalidescope Ltd THE EASY WAY TO GET YOUR COMPANY ONLINE We design and host tailor made websites at affordable prices for the small to medium sized business. Training, follow up and support is always available to complete the package.

WEBSITE DESIGN

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Tel: 01952 608760 • Email: enquiries@kalidescope.co.uk • www.kalidescope.co.uk 59

Is a Diesel Car

RIGHT FOR ME?

Despite recent bad publicity, diesels still fit the bill for some drivers – and we explain why.

In September 2015, the world of diesel changed forever when news broke that Volkswagen had been covering up illegally high emissions of nitrogen oxides from its diesel vehicles. Since then diesel has come under a lot of pressure, with various groups calling for it to be heavily taxed or even banned altogether. Many say that diesel was mis-sold to buyers, promising low emissions and high fuel economy when in reality it was totally unsuitable for the journeys they do. But diesel isn’t necessarily the bad guy all the time. For some buyers, it’s still a good choice. But are you one of those buyers? Read on to find out…

What’s your mileage?

Diesel cars make a lot of sense for high-mileage drivers. Those doing over 20,000 miles a year will soon benefit from the increased fuel economy a diesel engine provides – and over time, they’ll save money. This is because diesel fuel contains more energy than petrol, meaning that even though it’s slightly more expensive it offers more miles per gallon. However, in most cases, diesel variants of cars cost more to buy than their petrol equivalents, so depending on the price gap you’ll need to do more miles to break even. For example, the Volkswagen Golf 1.6-litre diesel costs around £1,600 more than the equivalently powered petrol car. According to the official fuel economy, a driver would break even after around 75,000 miles – so for an average driver, that’s over six years. But for a motorway mile-muncher doing 30,000 miles a year, they’d break even in less than three years.

What type of journeys do you usually do?

Diesels are very efficient – when they’re warm. However, they take a while to heat up, which means during the first 10 miles or so of any journey they’ll be inefficient and polluting. That’s not really good news if you regularly undertake lots of journeys shorter than that, and it gets worse, too. You see,

modern pollution control systems need the engines to be running at a certain RPM to function. This is easily achievable on the motorway, but if your car starts a regeneration cycle while you’re idling on the school run, you risk clogging up expensive and complex systems such as exhaust gas recirculation or diesel particulate filters.

How heavily loaded are you?

If there’s one thing diesels have over a petrol engine in abundance, it’s torque. This sheer pulling power means that for heavily loaded vehicles such as people carriers, vans, or trucks, there really isn’t much substitute for a diesel. That’s especially true of people who often tow heavy items like caravans or horse boxes – they’ll find that a petrol engine, unless it’s a super-powerful one, really tends to struggle in these situations. A diesel is more pleasant to use when loaded to capacity, and won’t suffer as much strain as a petrol car would. You won’t need to ride the clutch so often, nor will you need to go through the gears at such a rate.

Which cars are you looking at?

Of course, this all assumes you have an option. However, several cars simply don’t offer a viable alternative to diesel, leaving you with the choice of sticking with the oil-burner or choosing a different car. Let’s take pickup trucks, for example – there’s currently not a single petrol-powered crew-cab pickup on the UK market. The same is often true of people carriers, and even some executive or family cars have this issue, too. Move into the more luxurious end of the market and you may find the diesel is the ‘sensible’ option. Sure, there’s a petrol version available – but it’s a monstrous V8 with a daft amount of horsepower and a fuel economy figure in the teens. In these situations, you may just have to work around a diesel – taking regular long journeys and making sure it’s impeccably serviced to keep the emission control systems running as they should. There’s no doubt many drivers of diesel cars today would be better off in a petrol model, or even an equivalent hybrid or electric model. Yet the fuel has its uses, for high-mileage, heavily-laden or penny-pinching buyers. As always, just shop carefully and consider all of your options before you buy.

by James Baggot

MOTORS & LEISURE

Tackle any terrain!

Take a test drive in the rugged and stylish GLC at Mercedes-Benz of Shrewsbury. Call us on 01743 441191

Mercedes-Benz of Shrewsbury

Battlefield Enterprise Park, Vanguard Way, Shrewsbury SY1 3TG Call us on 01743 441191

lookers.co.uk/Mercedes-Benz Official government fuel consumption figures in mpg (litres per 100km) for the Mercedes-Benz range: urban 16.2(17.4)-72.4(3.9), extra urban 23.9(11.8)88.3(3.2), combined 20.5(13.8)-134.5(2.1). CO2 emissions 322-48 g/km. Official EU-regulated test data are provided for comparison purposes and actual performance will depend on driving style, road conditions and other non-technical factors.

MERC0237 MB Shrewsbury In and Around July August.indd 1

13/06/2018 12:46

Cab of Mum and Dad If you have children from 6 to 16 you can relate to the following: driving for school runs, parties, ballet, football, sleep overs, evenings out with class mates or just “Mum/Dad! Can you pick me up please?” Yep. It’s being an unpaid kids’ taxi driver. A survey of 2,000 parents has been conducted to find out just how many miles – and hours – they are putting into ferrying their family around. On average, those polled were spending 286 hours and driving 1,283 miles a year to get little Mezzanine and Oligarch to their extra-curricular activities. That’s the equivalent of a UK to Portugal road-trip, but with no reward of the sun at the end of it. And the estimated cost was nearly £9,000 per annum too. On the plus side, many surveyed said they enjoyed the bonding time with their offspring that this ferrying gave them. Chatting to little Mezzanine about how she is getting on at ballet, or if Oligarch enjoyed Cub camp. As they get older, the taxi run allows parents to find out about their teenager’s love or social life, since they can’t run off to their bedroom when questioned.

My days of the family taxi driver are now well passed, and I can’t say I miss them really. Both my daughters now drive and have cars of their own. But I still get a window onto their social and love life as it’s still me who ends up clearing the pizza boxes out of their cars when I clean them and hearing ‘I’ll be there in 10’ when she’s being unpaid taxi to the boyfriend. By Iain Betson

Springtime Bees Birds Bloom Blossom Buds Chick Cool Daffodil Flowers Frost Garden Grass Grow Light Meadow Mild Nature Pasture Petals

Plants Pollen Raindrops Rainy Sprout Sunny Sunshine Thaw Warm

Find the words associated with springtime in the grid and the remaining letters will spell out a related phrase

MOTORS & LEISURE

The End of a Car Ownership You may have seen them parked in reserved spaces around town, especially in places like London: Pay as You Drive rental cars. They are increasingly popular in cities where insurance, parking costs and the availability of public transport make running a car expensive and unnecessary. When you need to venture further, renting a car is the obvious solution. In fact, most of us already rent our cars anyway via Personal Contract Purchase (PCP).

A VISION FOR THE FUTURE

Making cars is tough game to be in anyway. 8% profit margin is what most manufacturers work on, so being agile in the way they sell and knowing how we make car purchases is vital for them. I wager that the upcoming seismic shift in the way cars are driven will trigger a way we pay for them too. Why part with your hard-earned money for your transport, even when you are not using it? Why not just use an app to “whistle” up a driverless car to pick you up and collect you again after an evening out? It’s going to happen. There’s too much money riding on it. by Iain Betson

Allied to this, last year saw the twin announcements that London would trial driverless cars in 2019 and Addison Lee, the private hire firm, wants a driverless taxi fleet by 2021. So, if you don’t need to drive a car, why own one? The way we buy, pay and shop for anything has changed out of all proportion in the last ten years: online purchase, cashless, rent it, lease it, same-day delivery. Suppliers have had to wake up to this fact, and quickly.

Enhancing your home with a Garolla garage door

Operating nationwide, Garolla has fast become a household name in garage door renovations. Transforming the homes of Telford and beyond, Garolla’s attention to detail and unbeatable workmanship is revolutionising the garage door industry. Hand-made by experienced experts, every roller garage door is manufactured at Garolla headquarters and must pass strenuous quality-control checks before it is fitted by a skilful professional. Comprised of strong, high quality aluminium a Garolla garage door is easy to use and saves valuable floor space thanks to its unique design. Utilising a patented locking system, high strength locks and twin walled aluminium slats a Garolla garage door protects your belongings and keeps them safe from attack, giving you complete peace of mind. Available in 18 colours, you can now design an electric garage door that is a true definition of your personal style and tastes. With unbeatable transformative powers, these garage doors brighten up your exteriors and give your home a modern and stylish appearance. With an up-front price promise there’s no hidden costs with Garolla, just reasonable prices all year round. Available on the website, the price is inclusive of measuring, fitting and VAT. They will even remove your old door for you free of charge. To find out more information visit www.garolla.co.uk or call their friendly customer care team on 0800 468 1982.

Modern Velvet

A huge trend in both fashion and interiors, velvet is a gorgeous fabric to use around the home, whether snuggling up in a softly upholstered sofa or adding a touch of luxury in the form of a few boldly coloured cushions. Go maximalist with boldly coloured and patterned bedlinen, complemented by a velvet cushion in a contrasting colourway. Leighton reversible bedlinen by Oasis Home, from £50 for a single set; Leighton velvet cushion by Oasis Home, £28; all The French Bedroom Company.

This pleated and buttoned footstool truly is pretty in pink. Gumdrop footstool in chalky pink vintage velvet, £395, Loaf.

This Deco-inspired table lamp would add a feminine touch to a living space or bedroom. Brass & Blush tapered table lamp, £175, Cox & Cox.

This stylish drinks cabinet is made from oak with an inlay finish, and lined with striking royal blue velvet for luxurious effect. Pascal bar unit, £1,365, Sweetpea & Willow.

A sofa upholstered in velvet can provide a splash of colour in an otherwise neutral room. Lottie sofa in Isla Kingfisher, £1,860, Neptune. A glamorous touch to complete the bedroom or home office – a soft-feel alarm clock in chic charcoal grey. Karlsson Lush Velvet alarm clock, £29, Cult Furniture. The curvaceous Ariel bed from the Handmade in London collection combines natural, Art Nouveau-inspired forms with the clean lines and tapered legs typical of mid-century design, and can be covered in the fabric of your choice. Shown here in Lustrous Blossom Luxury Velvet Plus, £3,105, Sweetpea & Willow.

Make an impact with a velvet cushion featuring a striking pelican print from Vanilla Fly, £45, Printer + Tailor.

Luxurious storage for the bedroom: Beautify set of two grey velvet trunks with rose gold clasps, £64.99, Domu Brands.

How to Decorate with Velvet

• The soft, luxurious feel of velvet provides an atmosphere of warmth and comfort. It can be pricey, but a little goes a long way, so if budget is an issue bear in mind that just one touch – perhaps a headboard, lampshade or simply a cushion or two – will transform a room. • •Velvet comes in beautifully intense, deep colours and, as such, will add a dramatic highlight to a neutral space. Choose one colour for a subtle, understated scheme. • If you prefer the maximalist look, then pile on more patterns and a variety of tones, mixing linen, cotton and other fabrics with velvet to ensure a variety of beautiful textures. • Look out for different types of velvet, including crushed, embossed, chiffon and devoré (or burnout), which can be employed as accents and to introduce a variety of decorative effects.

HOME INTERIORS

Isograms Listed below are 10 definitions of words that do not repeat any letters. The words are also featured, but with all consonants removed. Can you complete these to give the full words?

Oakengates Carpet Company CARPETS•VINYLS•LAMINATES RUGS•BLINDS

1 Large muscle group on the front of the thigh... _ua__i_e__ 2 One's social heritage... _a____ou__ 3 Rural area... _ou_____i_e 4 A small elevator used to move items from one floor of a building to another... _u___ai_e_ 5 Hatred or dislike of people... _i_a____o__ 6 Another word for a werewolf... ___a____o_e

Established

Since

1965

7 Evoking a particular emotional or aesthetic quality... a__o___e_i_ 8 Words or phrases that read the same forwards as they do backwards... _a_i___o_e_ 9 Earthquake that follows in the same vicinity as another larger earthquake... a__e___o__ 10 The art or craft of compiling, writing and editing dictionaries... _e_i_o__a___

T: 01952 620 200 Stafford Road, Oakengates Telford TF2 6JH

www.oakengatescarpets-telford.co.uk 65

Gardening

REMARKABLE RASPBERRRIES Choose a sunny, sheltered spot and make sure that you weed the area thoroughly before you get started, as the raspberry canes will do much better without weeds competing for moisture and nutrients. If your garden is very hot and sunny in the summer then the raspberries will enjoy a little light shade from a nearby tree; otherwise, they like sunshine.

Succulent, tangy, sweet, flavoursome and a lot better than any you can buy in the shops! I adore home-grown raspberries and if you are going to grow soft fruit then I would recommend them above everything else for value and reliability. Despite what you may imagine they are not a difficult crop to grow, and when you consider the price of a miniature (and often rather mushy) punnet of them in the shops, they’re really good value for money too. The rather unexciting looking canes, best bought bare root, are available now, so here are my top tips for planting and growing great raspberries.

Summer-fruiting raspberries need a support system – sturdy posts at a spacing of about 1.8m (6ft) and galvanized wires at a spacing of about 30cm (12in) will do the trick, as you need to loosely tie the canes in to this support system. Autumn-fruiting raspberries do not need this sort of support, but you can tie them in if you wish, or – as the canes are inclined to flop downwards when full-sized – simply supply a few wires to keep them away from the soil. The canes are available now from mail order suppliers and from many garden centres too. They may look like a rather unimpressive bundle of sticks, but in this ‘dormant’ state they respond well to planting right now. The canes need to be spaced 40-45cm (15-17in) apart, and if you want more than one row allow about 2m (6ft 6in) between them. Dig in plenty of well-rotted manure for extra soil fertility and then plant each cane at a depth of 5-8cm (2-3in), making sure that you spread the roots out well so they establish better. Once you have firmed the canes in, cut each one back to about 25cm (10in) above ground level and, if the ground is at all dry, water in well to re-settle the soil. Once the weather warms up in the spring you will start to see growth on the canes as the buds come to life, but until then they’ll remain looking worryingly like a row of seemingly dead sticks!

Raspberries like plenty of moisture, but hate being actually soggy around the roots. If your soil is very light and sandy , improve its texture and moisture-retaining ability before you plant the canes – digging in plenty of bulky organic matter such as garden compost, well-rotted manure, composted bark and composted bracken will all help.

Summer-fruiting raspberries fruit on the previous year’s growth, so plant now for only the tiniest crop in 2019 and a far bigger one from 2020 onwards. Autumn fruiters produce their crop on the growth produced that same year, so you should get a decent crop this autumn and an even heavier one from 2020.

There are two main types of raspberry you can grow at home: the summer-fruiting ones that crop heavily in midsummer and the autumn fruiters that start cropping towards the end of summer and often produce plenty of gorgeous fruits right through until the first frosts. If you can spare the space, have a few of each – that way you can enjoy the longest possible period of raspberry-eating! There are several different varieties of both summer and autumn-fruiting raspberries, and if you choose a variety like ‘Fallgold’ you can even have yellow fruits.

To keep your raspberries in top condition, mulch each spring with well-rotted manure. As soon as the summer-fruiting varieties have finished cropping, cut the canes that bore the fruit back to ground level and the newly formed canes can then be tied in to the wires ready for next year. With autumn-fruiting raspberries, just cut back the old canes at the end of winter and the new canes will appear in spring.

If your soil is really rather heavy and wet, and if it is alkaline or chalky, you may find that summer raspberries struggle. If this is the case, do as I do on my heavily alkaline, sticky clay soil and grow autumn fruiters, as they seem to put up with adverse conditions like this really well.

Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com and join ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ for great vegetable plants and weekly advice from Pippa, stylish cloches, the fantastic SpeedHoe, gardening tools, Grower Frames and signed books! Or book Pippa for a gardening talk at your gardening club.

by Pippa Greenwood

GARDENS & OUTDOORS

Plugs available in March Wide variety of Primroses

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Fabulous

FRUIT TREES varieties of the same fruit have been grafted, meaning you can grow three varieties of apple or pear on just one tree. The varieties are selected by the nursery so that they all pollinate each other and so you should get a fair crop from an established tree.

If you have ever been put off the idea of growing your own tree fruit, such as apples, pears, plums or cherries, simply because your garden is on the small size, think again; it is not difficult to grow a fair quantity of fruit in even a tiny garden. There is no need for an orchard, acres of land or even a large garden, so just how do you manage it? Start by checking out the plant’s ‘rootstock’, which is the type of tree root that the variety you want has been grafted on to. The rootstock determines how big a tree will grow, and if you get one that has a dwarfing effect your tree will be much less inclined to become huge. Rootstocks ‘Pixey’ on plums, ‘M9’ on apples or ‘Quince A’ on pears should help to reduce the risk of a large tree developing. You could also use an apple or pear as a border edging. Each tree will spread to 150cm (5ft) or more and can be trained to form a horizontal barrier at about 45cm (18in) above the ground – they look fantastic when in flower, and then bear fruit along the horizontal ‘arms’. A pollinator tree nearby is needed to ensure good fruit set or choose the self-fertile ‘Concorde’ pear and you’ll still get a reasonable crop with just one tree. You can buy ready-trained step-overs from some garden centres and specialist fruit nurseries. Consider growing fruit trees in pots. There is no doubt that growing pretty well anything in a pot takes more effort from you, as the plant will be reliant on you for food and more moisture, but provided you use a good-sized pot – perhaps even a half-barrel – it can work well. It is best to use a loambased John Innes No. 3 compost, but make sure there is plenty of drainage material at the base of the container – broken flower pots work well! Provided you make sure that no one variety gets out of hand and grows too vigorously, it is a useful idea in a smaller garden. ‘Family Trees’ are basically trees on to which two additional

When space is limited, you can grow ‘Ballerina’ or ‘Minarettes’ trees. These are what I call ‘skyward’ apples, because they produce their fruits on short spurs which grow out of the vertical main stem, with the result that you end up with a tree measuring up to 2.4m (8ft) tall, but which is so columnar that you can plant them just 60-90cm (2-3ft) apart if you want more than one tree. This form of tree is available as many different varieties, including dessert apples, cooking apples, pears, plums, gages and damsons. They can be grown in patio pots or in open ground. Most fruit trees need a pollinator, or sometimes two, to ensure that the flowers on each variety are pollinated so that the fruit can form. If space is very limited and you can definitely only afford the space for one solitary tree, then you can still grow fruit: choose a variety that is described as ‘self-fertile’, meaning that the tree does not need a companion and can fertilise its own flowers. If you love apples, this might be a ‘Queen Cox’, ‘Greensleeves’ or ‘Red Devil’, or if pears are your passion, try the variety ‘Concorde’ or ‘Invincible’, for cherries try ‘Stella’ and for plums choose variety ‘Victoria’. If you do provide a pollinator you’re likely to get a heavier crop, but without you’ll still get a fair quantity of fruit. If you have a fence or framework with a bit of planting space next to it, then you could also grow your fruit as an ‘espalier’, which means trained and pruned so that the tree lies pretty well flat against the fence with several parallel ‘arms’ that bear the fruit, or perhaps as a ‘fan’ where the branches are trained and pruned to produce a near flat fan shape against the surface – this works especially well for cherries, plums, damsons and even apricots. Why not grow a cordon or single-stemmed apple or pear over a simple arch? Better still, grow one variety up one side and another (a suitable pollinator) up the other – it’ll look stunning in the spring when in flower, and then again when it bears its tasty crop! At www.pippagreenwood.com you’ll find some great gardening items: ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ for vegetable plants and advice, Nemaslug and other natural pest controls, stylish cloches, pretty plant supports, the fantastic SpeedHoe, gardening tools, Grower Frames, signed books and more! Or book Pippa for a gardening talk at your club.

by Pippa Greenwood

GARDENS & OUTDOORS

YOUR DAY-TO-DAY IS OUR BREAD AND BUTTER EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS IN STOCK NEXT DAY DELIVERY TELFORD WATLING STREET WELLINGTON, TELFORD, SHROPSHIRE TF1 2NJ TEL: 01952 641199

TOOL HIRE LANDSCAPING ROOFING

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TIMBER AND SHEET MATERIALS PAINTING AND DECORATING BRICKS AND BLOCKS

• Block Paving • Tarmac • Slab Laying • Brickwalls • Decking and Fencing • Garden Make Overs • Jet Washing & Sealing

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OPENING HOURS: MONDAY – FRIDAY 7:30AM – 5:00PM SATURDAY 8:00AM – 12:00 NOON

THE PERFECT FINISH

Driveway & Landscaping

Telford's No.1 for supplying and laying artificial lawn

FREE QUOTES - No payment until 7 days after completion Contact Roy T: 01952 407838 M: 07976 458123 E: centralpaving@hotmail.co.uk • www.centralpavingtelford.co.uk 69

Does Cupid Love Tech It’s that time of year again: the restaurants are packed, florists are working around the clock and garages are eagerly anticipating the lastminute purchasing of flowers by people who forgot Valentine’s Day. But if you don’t want to say it with flowers or chocolate, can you say it with tech instead? The trick is to find technology that actually delivers something your beloved will want. It’s really expensive, but Dyson’s new hairdryer is a great example: the £299 Supersonic isn’t just a machine for drying hair but a genuine time machine, because it does the job so well its owner can spend less time drying and more time doing fun stuff. Not all beauty tech is a good present idea – steer clear of anything to do with hair removal or weight loss if you value your life – but luxury products such as high-tech hair dryers, straighteners and stylers are often good. Luxury technology isn’t just about making yourself look nice, though. It can be about relaxing too. We’re big fans of noise-cancelling headphones, a real boon for people who regularly travel on trains or planes: they analyse the ambient noise and create a pattern to drown it out. You can spend nearly £300 on high-end phones such as Bose’s QuietComfort 35 and they’re worth every penny, but you can get pretty good sets for a lot less: Bose’s QuietComfort 25 are currently £129, while Sony’s awfully named WH-CH700N are just £79.99 at the time of writing. Another good option is a Kindle or Kindle Fire tablet, both of which are made by Amazon. The former is a dedicated ebook reader and the latter is a surprisingly good budget tablet that includes the Kindle app but also enables you to watch video and listen to music. The seven-inch model fits in big pockets and average handbags and is constantly on special offer: through November it was £39.99, down from the usual £59.99, and Amazon is constantly cutting its price during the rest of the year too. If a £399 Apple Watch is out of your price range, the Nokia-owned Withings brand makes some very lovely watches that double as activity trackers. Forget the RRP because these watches are very heavily discounted – for example, the really pretty Activité Pop has an RRP of £109 but is widely available for as little as £35 if you go for the blue or pink models. What if your beloved already has all the tech they want? As the old joke goes, you can buy the person who has everything a box to put it in – or rather, a case. Whether it’s a Kindle or an iPad, a Galaxy Note 9 or an iPhone XS, there’s a dizzying range of cases including some from well-known designers. Just watch if you’re buying leather cases: many supposedly leather cases are made of bonded leather, a faux leather that doesn’t wear like real leather does.

Images top to bottom Dyson supersonic hair dryer Sony noise cancelling headphones WH-CH700N Withings activite smart watch Amazon Kindle e-reader

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

Don't move... improve!

Create that extra living space that you and your family deserve with one of our fabulous orangeries designed to suit you and your growing family's needs

THE COMPLETE HOME IMPROVEMENT COMPANY At R&R Services we specialise in creating that perfect living space within your existing home. Your garage could be converted in as little as 2 weeks into that extra room that you have always promised yourself.

• Orangeries • Garage Conversions

Maybe an office, playroom or even a man cave for your biggest child!

• High Quality Secure Windows • Beautiful Composite Doors

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• Bring the Outdoors Inside with our Gorgeous Bi-fold Doors

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Safely Access Your Loft! for only Quality Bespoke Joinery, Wood Machining and Specialist Moulding Service

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Fully Fitted

This price is for a standard height ceiling with an 8ft drop, width 22-30” Manufactured to ISO 9002 Standard

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• Conservatories • Entrance Porches • Patio Doors • Internal & External Doors & Frames • Sash & Traditional Windows • Staircases and much more...

We Specialise in Bespoke New Solid Oak Staircases with Spindles or Glass Balustrading. Or revive your existing Staircase with a makeover in Solid Oak Cladding at a fraction of the cost.

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The Local Distributor & Installer for For more information visit: www.stira.co.uk CALL TO ARRANGE A FREE QUOTE

T: 01952 282152 or 07817 431505

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Daylite Group Daylite Group, Shropshire’s number one for UPVC & Aluminium Windows, doors, conservatories and orangeries. As well as stocking a wide range of UPVC building plastic materials and roofline products. After celebrating 10 years in business during 2017, they have fast become a leading supplier and installer of home improvement and energy efficient products throughout Shropshire. Their trade counter and showroom based on Ketley Business Park is open to both Trade custom and DIY enthusiasts where you can sample and purchase many of the products on offer. WINDOWS -DOORS – CONSERVATORIES UPVC: Daylite offer the awardwinning PROFILE 22 OPTIMA systems all of which are available in a wide range of colours and finishes, all items are bespoke and made to order coming complete with some of the best guarantees in the industry. Aluminium: Rapidly becoming more and more popular their Aluminium products just like the UPVC, are built to stand the test of time. Their

LEADING SUPPLIER & INSTALLER

WARMCORE range is available in a vast range of profile finishes and as it’s Powder coated the colour choice is endless. Again these products are complete with no quibble guarantees for full peace of mind. Their complete range of glazing products include, Windows, Doors, Conservatories, Orangeries, Composite Doors, Bi-fold doors, Lantern roofs & Guardian Warmroofs BUILDING PLASTICS & ROOFLINE MATERIALS Ready to take away or have delivered to site they have many products on offer. Underground & above ground drainage, fascias, soffits, guttering, cladding, rainwater drainage, Firestone rubber roofing, polycarbonate sheets and roof kits, carports, canopies, Composite decking, Artificial grass, shower panels, decorative cladding, window trims, silicones & adhesives, screws & fixings & Much more. They deal with some of the biggest manufacturers In the industry. The chances are, if it’s UPVC or maintenance free they will be able to help! For more information visit them in store or online.

Daylite Group, Units 15 & 16 Ketley Business Park, Telford TF1 5JD sales@daylitegroup.co.uk • www.daylitegroup.co.uk • 01952 240402 Mon - Fri: 8:00am - 5:00pm Saturday: 8:30am - 12:00pm

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

HUWS

GRAY

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Visit our showroom at Newport huwsgray.co.uk 73

Concrete

If you love the tough luxe of the industrial look you’ll be crazy for concrete. Use it everywhere from floors, walls and worktops to tables and light fittings. This practical table is hard-wearing and durable, with simple lines and a clean, geometric shape for an impression of lightness. Concrete Perspective side table by Lyon Béton, £279, Lime Lace.

Crafted from raw polymer concrete with a distressed finish, this weighty, industrialinspired pendant features a simple, domed shade and ropestyle cable. Concrete pendant lamp, £100, Cox & Cox.

These porcelain floor tiles feature a concrete-effect design that ties in perfectly with the industrial trend. Avenue Broadway tiles, £49.95 per square metre, Walls and Floors.

With legs made from sustainably sourced oak, this dining table has a lovely top that looks like polished concrete but is actually a tough resin that is lightweight, durable and easy to clean. Conker kitchen table, £845, Loaf. Not all concrete is the same: this is concreteeffect in a wood-swirl design, both pretty and practical. Decorative Plate, £12, Gisela Graham London.

With an ultra-quiet movement, this Karlsson clock features black and red hands that make a lovely contrast with its grey case and dial. Franky concrete alarm/mantel clock, £25, Hurn & Hurn.

Create your own words and phrases using these beautifully rustic, handcast concrete letters and numbers by British design studio An Artful Life. Concrete Letters A-Z, £4.50 each, White Black Grey.

Add Interest With Concrete • Concrete is a versatile material that can be pre-formed or cast on site into any size or shape, and comes in a range of colours and finishes, from silky smooth to rough and raw. Heat- and stain-resistant and hard-wearing, it’s waterproof when properly sealed.

Perfect for styling real and faux house plants, these concrete planters add an industrial touch to any room. Two nested concrete planters, £20, Cox & Cox.

A smooth concrete base combines with a slim metal stem and soft cotton shade. Ira concrete table lamp in grey, £49, made.com.

• Concrete is a natural with neutral colour schemes, but it’s also brilliant at accentuating the deep, bold colours that are currently in vogue, and works well with warm shades that offset its inherent coolness. • Concrete adds instant texture. Combine it with the natural warmth of wood, the shine of metal or the gloss of ceramic or glass. Consider contrasting it with luxe materials such as marble, satin or velvet. It also looks amazing with house plants. • Full-on concrete makes quite the statement – ideal for a converted urban loft but less so for a smaller space. Concrete accessories are best in this case, providing a touch of rugged style without overwhelming. • Avoid too stark a look with plump and comfortable seating and plenty of warm lighting.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

Regent House Design & Developments Ltd Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Specialists

42 High Street, Gnosall, Stafford ST20 0EX Tel. 01785 822292 • www.regenthousedesign.com • Monday - Friday 9am—5pm.

A.P.H Windows

Family Run Business Est 1981

01952 680441 • www.aphwindows.co.uk Manufacturers & Installers of High Quality: • Fully Welded uPVC Windows, Doors & Conservatories • Internally Glazed with high Security Locks • Composite Doors • Garage Doors • Fascias, Soffits & Guttering • Building Extensions

ROOM NEW SHOW Orangery,

upstairs with Conservatory with solid tiled effect roof & Composite doors display

Why Choose A.P.H Windows? All uPVC products are made in our own factory Deal direct with the owner • No pressure Salesmen Directly employed craftsmen • Full after sales service No deposit required Our showroom is full of ideas to help you decide on the style & design of your windows, doors and dream conservatory Registered Company 16299

Open 9-5.30pm Mon-Fri & 10-3pm Sat Unit H1, Halesfield 19, Telford TF7 4QT

aphwindowsltd

Age UK Seeks Volunteers

FOR ITS WELLINGTON FURNITURE SHOP

Age UK Shropshire Telford and Wrekin (Age UK STW) is urgently seeking volunteer retail assistants, van drivers and van drivers’ mates to ensure the continued success of its donated furniture shop in Walker Street.

one day a week.” Full and half day shifts are also available for volunteer retail assistants who enjoy meeting the public and providing excellent customer service. Age UK STW provides training, expenses and on-going support as well as the opportunity to join a friendly, motivated team. Anyone over the age of 18, who would like to add retail experience to their CV or simply get out more and meet new people, is encouraged to apply.

Heather Osborne, Chief Executive of Age UK STW, said: “All profits from our Wellington donated furniture shop help fund essential services for older people many of whom live in the Telford & Wrekin area. “We are looking for physically strong individuals to drive the van and to assist drivers in moving large items of furniture during collections and deliveries. We would love to hear from anyone who could spare a minimum of

Pictured are: Paula Hinks (right), Wellington shop manager, with volunteer John Lane

Please contact the Charity’s volunteer recruitment team on 01743 588 570 for further information and an application pack. Alternatively, visit www.ageukshropshireandtelford. org.uk or email volunteering@ ageukstw.org.uk.

SUDOKU’S And Make It Work For You

FREE

SPACE CREATION TIPS

BEFORE

You already have the space we make it usable!

PACKAGES

£299

FROM

We will fit you a loft ladder and hatch, flooring and lighting in less than a day Quick, clean efficient, Fully insured and guaranteed AFTER

Call for a free quote 01952 426099

www.revealaspace.co.uk

Easy

Hard

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

Dream Kitchens and bedrooms

• FREE Home Plan & Design Service • Complete project installation

British & German Kitchens Established 25 Years

'Uniquely Designed Kitchens'

Building works, tiling, plastering, electrics, gas, plumbing, flooring (certified to regulation requirements)

• Kitchen ranges from affordably nice to Classic and Lustrous Contemporary • Luxury Kitchen Reface / Makeover also available (Simply replace your old doors & worktops)

Relocating to NEW showroom soon Design Showroom: 33 Market Street, Oakengates, Telford TF2 6EL OPEN: Mon-Sat 9:30am - 5pm

Appointments after 5pm or Sundays by arrangement

Tel: 01952 616166

www.dreamkitchens-bedrooms.co.uk

Quality Internal & External Timber Doors

SPECIAL OFFER

6 x Quality Oak Engineered Doors (Standard Imperial Sizes Only)

Supplied and Professionally Fitted Including a Choice of Selected Handles & Hinges

ALL FOR ONLY £1199

(inc. of VAT)

Glazed and Metric versions available at extra cost Written Quotations available on request

T: 01952 610795 or 01952 620003 E: thedoor.store@hotmail.co.uk

OPEN:

A CHOICE OF 12 DIFFERENT DESIGNS AVAILABLE

Mon to Fri: 8am - 5pm & Sat: 10am – 3pm

The Door Store @ Classic Fasteners (Est. 1991) Units 6&7, Redland Industrial Estate, Off Station Hill, Oakengates, Telford TF2 9JX 77

Home & Interiors

SMALL SPACE?

4. Aim high. In a child’s bedroom, for example, a high-sleeper bed can include a desk, sofa or play area beneath. Why stop at the normal height when bookcases, kitchen cupboards and wardrobes can all be built right up to the ceiling, adding some vital extra storage space? You just need to remember to plan for somewhere to store a ladder or step stool, too. 5. Get clever with colour. While pale colours appear to recede, and thus increase the sense of space, darker colours absorb light and therefore appear more enclosing. So, for a bright, airy, open look, opt for a unified, pale colour scheme. Paint built-in storage and radiators the same colour as the walls to make them disappear.

Mahlzeit stone grey melamine units combined with walnut repro vertical panels, £5,000, Rational: 0800 160 1845; rational.de/en

Small may be beautiful, but living in a small space is not always easy. Our tips will help you make the most of every room, no matter what its size. 1. Are you making the most of every centimetre of your space? The best way to tell is by drawing a scale plan and checking for areas that could be improved. Ask yourself whether relatively simple changes such as repositioning a radiator, re-hanging a door or simply moving the furniture could make a big difference.

6. Use mirror and glass to open up a room. Think about light sources – whether sunlight through windows or light fittings – and place mirrors so that they bounce the light around. And choose glass or acrylic when possible for furnishings or accessories so as to create that barely-there look. 7. While it is not always necessary to opt for small-scale pieces, select furniture carefully, avoiding deep, squishy upholstery, fussy details and bulky outlines. Simple, lightweight styles have the least impact in a small space, and anything raised on slender legs will make the room seem larger (because there is more visible floor area). When appropriate, look out for compact, folding, wheeled, extending, dual-purpose or wall-mounted furniture, each of which can provide great solutions for different space problems. The only condition is that it must be comfortable, fulfil its function and suit your overall style.

2. Storage is vital. In fact, it is often the case that losing a little floor area to create built8. Decide on one design style and make in storage will actually make the room seem sure it is cohesive throughout. Employing more streamlined and therefore larger. Think complementary (pale) colours, interesting bookshelves and cupboards in the living room, Mirrored floating bedside/shelf, natural textures and subtle patterns will wall-to-wall wardrobes in the bedroom, floor- £79.99, MY Furniture: 0800 092 generate a sense of harmony and understated to-ceiling shelving in the study and a tall coat 1636; my-furniture.co.uk visual appeal. cupboard in the hall. Add storage into any ‘dead’ space you can, whether it’s in chimney alcoves, around 9. If you are working on a renovation, then larger-scale a bed head or above a doorway. Wall racks and hooks on the alterations may be achievable, even if you cannot enlarge backs of doors are invaluable. your square footage. Consider replacing bulky radiators with underfloor heating, 3. Whatever storage you buy or build, don’t forget to design going open plan, their interiors to make them incredibly functional. Adding enlarging windows, internal drawers, shelves, baskets, hooks and so on will enable replacing doors or every bit of space to be put to good use. walls with glass to allow light to flow from room to room, or even – if height allows – adding a In a small home there is simply no room for excess mezzanine floor level. clutter. It can be really hard to get rid of stuff, but if you

Clear your clutter and create some space

don’t use it regularly, you’ll have to be ruthless. Sort it into boxes or bags marked for rubbish, recycling, giving away, mending or storing elsewhere. Aim to do one room per week, or a few minutes a day – then get into the habit of keeping on top of it so it doesn’t build up again.

Stora loft bed frame, £239, Ikea: 020 3645 0000; ikea.com/gb

by Kathrine Sorrell

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

A LUXURY KITCHEN OR BATHROOM

KNOCK TWO ROOMS INTO ONE - NO PROBLEM!!

View our testimonials page on our website and see what our customers say about us!! We have the skills and expertise to be able to project manage your entire installation from start to finish

Whether its a new kitchen or bathroom you are looking for we offer a complete package for our customers including any building work, plasterers, tilers, electricians and plumbers Local Company with Over 21 Years Experience

Call Sal T: 01952 610999 M: 07976 467 830 www.kitchensbyrandr.co.uk

R&R Services Ltd, Unit B4, Stafford Park 15, Telford TF3 3BB

R&R Kitchens & Bathrooms

Mon-Fri 9am - 5pm Sat 9am - 4pm

Est 1982

• Quality uPVC windows, doors

and bespoke conservatories

• No obligation free quotations • 15 year insurance backed

guarantee

Shropshire’s First Choice for A+ Rated Replacement Windows, Conservatories & Doors

• NVQ trained fitting engineers

Full security features

01952 433149 Sundays & Evenings 01952 510595

E: sales@trotfieldwindows.co.uk www.trotfieldwindows.co.uk

Impressive Showroom at: 1 Madeley Road, Ironbridge, Telford TF8 7PP

Shropshire Photographer's

WORLDWIDE FOCUS

A Telford photographer has set his focus on global domination after his work was picked up by an American lens company.

Paul Wilkinson, who runs Twig’s Branch Photography with his wife and business partner, Suzi Wilkinson, responded to a call from creative camera effect experts, Lensbaby, for project ideas to showcase its Sol45 lens. Mr Wilkinson was one of just 10 photographers worldwide to be sponsored by the company to bring his vision to life as part of the Project Disrupt campaign.

the opportunity to WIN their wedding photography by attending the Telford Wedding Exhibition at Telford Shopping Centre from January 31st to February 3rd. To be in with a chance of winning a complete photography package, worth £795, visitors must register their details at the Twig’s Branch Photography stand during the course of the show.

Images from the urban ballet/fallen angel themed photoshoot have since featured on the brand’s website and social media and have even been used to promote Lensbaby’s own events stateside. Mr Wilkinson said: “Knowing that a company as creative and inspiring as Lensbaby have used our images outside of the scope of the original project, for their wider brand promotion, is hugely humbling. It’s so strange to think people in the USA are seeing images from little old us. We are hugely grateful for this opportunity.” Engaged couples closer to home who would like to experience Mr Wilkinson’s skills for themselves are being given

STOP!

Advertising does NOT have to break the bank

Prices starting from just £45 ~ advertise in your LOCAL magazine

So leave piggy alone!

Contact: Fleur Abel T:01952 603457 email: fleur@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk www.inandaroundmagazine.co.uk No piggy banks were harmed in the production of this advertisement

HOME SERVICES

There’s no job too small so just call 07973 612 222

We provide a reliable & friendly service at a competitive price

Fully Qualified Electrician Registered 17th edition NAPIT installer Domestic & Commercial Work All our work is fully insured and guaranteed Established for over 30 Years

CCTV

PACKAGE FROM

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

All Property Maintenance Fitted Bathrooms & Kitchens Electrical Work (NAPIT) Slabbing & Paving Plumbing Carpentry UPVC Decking Painting Ground Works Roofing Brick & Block Work Plastering & Insurance Work Home Audio Visual Solutions HD & 4K CCTV Systems

£495 Inclusive of Fitting

Visit our website to view photos of some of our latest work

www.telfordmaintenance.co.uk www.telford-cctv.co.uk

T: 01952 201180

info@telfordmaintenance.co.uk

9 Colliford Close, Priorslee, Telford TF2 9RZ cartwrights-advert-print-5.pdf

24/07/2018

M: 07973 612 222

13:02

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WHEELIE / COMMERCIAL BIN SERVICES PLASTICS, CARDBOARD RECYCLING GENERAL WASTE, GLASS FOOD WASTE

• CARPETS • STONE • UPHOLSTERY • TILE & GROUT • LEATHER • WOOD • RUGS • DRIVEWAYS • CURTAINS • PATIOS • MATTRESSES • DECKING • STAIN REMOVAL & PROTECTION

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587587 358886 250509 OR VISIT CARTWRIGHTSWASTEDISPOSAL.CO.UK Cartwrights Waste Disposal Services Ltd Unit 21, Halesfield 21, Halesfield, Telford, TF7 4NX • enquiries@cartskips.co.uk

FREE advice, quotes and fully insured. Tim Shaw recommended & used by leading home furnishing retailers since 1997.

www.shawclean.co.uk

07976 559 072 0800 612 8817

Simons Decor

Neil D. Rogers Painting & Decorating

Interior & Exterior 40 Years Experience City & Guilds Qualified

Contact Neil on: §§ Painting & Decorating

§§ Paper Hanging

§§ Domestic & Commercial

§§ Coving Work

Local, Reliable & Friendly Service

07800 66 55 96 E:neilrogers711@yahoo.com 34 Plant Close, Dawley Bank Telford TF4 2GT

Call Simon on: T: 01952 413337 M: 07969 690149 20 Pool Road, Trench, Telford TF2 6RL

FREE ESTIMATES • Over 30 Years Experience

HIDATO

Painting & Decorating

W. E. Dunne

Starting at 1 and finishing at 49, track your way from one square to another, either horizontally, vertically or diagonally, placing consecutive numbers into the empty squares as you go. Some numbers are already given.

Interior & Exterior Work No Job Too Big or Small Over 30 Years Experience City & Guilds Qualified FREE Estimates Contact: Will

Dunne

01952 610443 / 07774 766484 Email: wedunnedec@btinternet.com 4 Kingston Road, Trench, Telford TF2 7HT 82

HOME SERVICES

WE CAN INSPECT. If we find your gutters are clear, we will not charge you for unnecessary work.

GUTTER CLEANING SPECIALISTS

WE CAN CLEAR. We use a powerful vacuum to reach up and clear debris & even grass from your gutters. WE CAN CLEAN. From the ground we clean your guttering & fascia boards to remove unsightly staining.

Hello, I’m Karl I own & operate GutterPRO across Telford, Newport, Shrewsbury, Shifnal and the surrounding areas. Because it’s my business, you’ll get a personal service and be certain we’ll clear up thoroughly after the job.

How much is it?

We can quote instantly. No visit required. We just need to know how many bedrooms you have & your postcode. Call

01952 457 395

mobile: 07983 724 047 Fully Insured Uniformed Staff Before & After Photos Cards Accepted

Travel

Swept by the Atlantic breeze on the banks of the river Tagus, Lisbon is a lovely city where beyond the tree-lined avenues and elegant squares, the past lingers in myriad nooks and crannies. Old or new, quiet or bustling, the Portuguese capital is full of contrasts and always surprising. At the foot of the ‘seven hills’, Baixa, the lower town, is the main commercial hub, rebuilt in neo-classical style by the Marquis of Pombal after the 1755 earthquake. At the heart of it all is the spacious Rossio Square, beautifully paved in wavelike patterns of limestone and basalt. Fountains, flower sellers, cafés and pastry shops, it’s a place to relax and watch the world go by. Restaurants and boutiques line the popular Augusta Street ,while beyond the Triumphal Arch the vast Plaça do Comércio opens out on to the river, spanned by the 25th of April suspension bridge. Inspired by the Golden Gate in San Francisco, the bridge commemorates the peaceful return to democracy in 1974 when the population muzzled the soldiers’ rifles with carnations.

A nostalgic place where old-fashioned trams rattle on the cobbles Stylish façades, blue mosaics glinting in the sunshine, churches, museums and gardens: there’s plenty to explore in the centre,

LISBON

but sooner or later visitors come across the intriguing Santa Justa Elevator, a neo-gothic lift embellished with filigree, wood panels and brass fittings. Built in 1902 by an apprentice of Eiffel, it takes you up to the western heights of Bairro Alto overlooking the low town and river. Sleepy in the day, lively at night, this old district loves bohemian life. On the eastern side of town, the traditional Alfama district clambers up the slopes, just like the Kasbah set up long ago by Moorish invaders. Tightly packed houses, steep winding lanes, narrow passageways and hidden squares, it’s a nostalgic place where old-fashioned trams rattle on the cobbles and the melancholy sound of Fado guitars drifts in dark tavernas. Up on the top is Castelo de Sao Jorge, the citadel built by the Moors then turned into a royal palace. It’s well worth the climb, for up on the battlements one can enjoy the most magnificent panorama over Lisbon and the river Tagus on its way to Belem, where caravels once set off to explore the world. At the mouth of the river, Belem claims some of the finest buildings financed by the golden Age of Discoveries, including two UNESCO sites, the grand Jeronimos Monastery, with its turrets and archways mirrored in a pond, and – also commissioned by Manuel I – the fortified yet delicate Belem Tower lapped by ocean waves. But most dramatic perhaps is the Monument to the Discoveries, built in 1960 and rising 52 metres above a huge mariner’s compass. Shaped like a caravel about to sail, it is flanked by statues of maritime heroes, among them Vasco de Gama, and led on the prow by the great pioneer Henry the Navigator.

HOME SERVICES

Clean up for the NEW YEAR with SUTHERLANDS CLEAN CARPETS

NOW incorporating A1 Carpet Cleaning

SPECIAL OFFER

Prochem Professionally Trained

A fabric 3 piece suite PLUS a standard lounge carpet deluxe clean only £140 2 Bedroom Semi-House - All Carpets from £100 3 Bedroom Semi-House - All Carpets from £120 4 Bedroom Semi-House - All Carpets from £150 Single Room from £40

EMERGENCY FLOOD WATER EXTRACTION Available

Additional Rooms from £25 Minimum Invoice £40

DELUXE CLEANING ALSO AVAILABLE

For Product Information or for a FREE Estimate Call STEWART or KEVAN SUTHERLAND on: 07454 017249 or 01952 403179 We offer a price promise to beat any ‘like for like’ quote on upholstery or carpets (economy or deluxe clean).

PLUMBER A Watson (ACIPHE) Registered Plumber

Home Improvements & Maintenance

Full Installation of Kitchens & Bathrooms - Including all Plumbing, Tiling (floor & wall), Electrics & Gas as required For a no obligation quotation

Andy on

01952 529765

68 Barn Road, Shifnal Email: mwats@blueyonder.co.uk

DARWIN GLASS & GLAZING

Complete Glass and Glazing Service ;; 24hr Boarding Up Service ;; Broken Glass Replaced ;; Same Day Repair ;; Replacement Double Glazed Units ;; Secondary Glazing ;; uPVC Windows & Locks ;; Window and Door Maintenance ;; Glass & Mirrors Cut to Size ;; Mirror Etching ;; Safety Filming for Glass

Broken

Glass?

19 Years Experience

1 Hour Response Time to Most Areas Misted Do uble Glaz Can be contacted at anytime ing? day or night - 24hr Response Will Beat any Genuine Like for Like Quote

Call Dave on 07974 499507 or 01952 780200 Email: darwinglassandglazing@hotmail.co.uk Website: www.darwinglassandglazing.co.uk

Beat the Mad March Hairs Technology promises to tame your tangles and your tresses, solve split ends and make your hair incredibly curly or fantastically flat. Vacuum cleaner company Dyson’s expertise in moving air around means it makes a very effective (and very expensive) hairdryer that gets your hair dry in a fraction of the usual time without extreme heat. At £299 the Supersonic is a big investment but it might seem a good buy when you consider the cost of your time. If that’s out of reach though, review site ExpertReviews says the best budget model is currently the BaByliss 2100 Salon Light, which delivers great results for a little under £30. If you’re considering a cheaper model, pay attention to both the power and the weight: some hairdryers are uncomfortable to hold if you need to dry longer hair. One of the best-rated curling tongs is the gHD Soft Curl Tong. It has a large 32mm width barrel and has an automatic cut-out so you don’t need to worry about whether you’ve left it on. The results are spectacular but again it’s pricey at £110. As with hairdryers there are plenty of less high-tech and considerably less expensive models around that do a perfectly good job, such as Remington’s Keratin Protect Curling Wand; at the time of writing it’s £24.50 online. gHD is probably better known for its hair straighteners, and its Platinum + White Styler tops the Cosmopolitan best-buy list despite its £175 price tag. It constantly monitors your hair to ensure it’s delivering the right temperature to the right place at the right time. For men, hair care is more often about removal than styling. According to the tech site T3, the best electric razor for men is the Philips 9000 Series Prestige, a wet and dry razor with wireless charging and the ability to cope with days of stubble. The RRP is silly at £450 and it’s widely available for much less, but lesser models do a great job too. Hair removal isn’t just for men, of course. Epilation is a great alternative to waxing, and Braun’s Silk-épil 9 is the best and – according to many reviewers – the least painful model around. Shop around, however; if you don’t want the various scrubbing and shaving attachments you can get it for considerably less. If you’d rather zap hair than pluck it, consider an IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) machine although it’s not as effective on blonde, grey or red hairs or darker skin tones. The best known brand is Philips, whose Lumea range starts at around £150. Just be careful if you’re planning to travel anywhere sunny, as you shouldn’t use these devices on skin that’s just been – or is about to be – exposed to lots of sunlight.

Images top to bottom Remington Keratin Protect styler BaByliss Studio Light hairdryer GHD Platinum & White Styler Dyson Supersonic hairdryer

HOME SERVICES

10% Discount with this advert

Electrical Contractors

DEL CORLEY ELECTRICAL SERVICES

A friendly family business offering a reliable and competitive service by fully insured NICEIC Registered Electricians

All Electrical Work Undertaken

• • • • • • • •

Reliable, Friendly and Professional Service

All Electrical Work Undertaken Fuse Board Upgrades House Rewires Security Alarms (Wired & Wireless) CCTV TV Aerial Upgrades Electrical Safety Reports (Landlords Certificate) Flat Screen TVs, Wall Mounted Installations “No Wires to be Seen”

FREE QUOTES & ADVICE

For special offers and services visit:

www.buzzsparks.co.uk Call your LOCAL friendly Electrician ‘Buzz’ on: 01952 272382 or 07714 216244 Email: buzzsparks@icloud.com

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Full Certification to Current Regulations

APPROVED CONTRACTOR

For a FREE estimate call: 07714 760 244 or 01952 605311 87

Admaston

at Admaston House Comm. Centre: Mon: Yoga; 6.30-8pm Tue: Pushchair people 9.30am-12pm, Guitar lessons 4.30-7pm, Brownies 5.30-6.45pm, Guides 7-8.30pm, Rangers 7-8.30pm Childrens Cooking Classes - Every Tuesday (term time) 4.15-5.30pm (Ages 2-12), Email: natalie@cookstars.co.uk Wed: WI 2-4pm (1st Wed of mth), Weight Watchers 5:30&7pm, Bollywood Dancing 6.45-8.30pm Thu: Scouts 7-9pm, Explorers (age14-18) 7.30-9.30pm, Ladies alpha 7.30-9.30pm. Fri: Youth club 7.30-9pm. If you would like further info. on above visit www.admastonhouse.org.uk or contact Moira Hoath on 07722 213264. Wrekin & Telford Singers meet every Fri 7:30pm at Admaston House. We are a mixed voice choir - no audition just come along and enjoy singing with a friendly group of people. Contact Judi 01952 411801 or visit our Facebook @wrekin&telford singers or www.wtsingers.org.uk

Church Aston

Pitchcroft & Church Aston WI - Meetings held 3rd Wed of month in Church Hall, Church Aston at 7.30 pm. Variety of speakers & demonstrations. Guests admission is £3.50. Contact Linda Browning 01952 876306 for further details. Church Aston Gardening Club meets the 3rd Mon monthly 8pm, Church Aston Church Hall. New Members welcome. Sylvia 01952 812092 Crafty Sew and Sews - we meet for sewing, knitting and other crafts at the Church Hall, Church Aston on Tuesdays from 2-4pm. New members welcome. Church Aston Thursday Club meet fortnightly Thu afternoon 2pm till 4pm, speakers, outings. Contact Sylvia 01952 402744 or 812092 at Church Aston Village Hall: Mon: 10-11am Zumba, 11.30-12.30 Beg. Pilates, 2-4pm U3A Sewing/Craft Grp (alt. wks), 7-10pm Whist Tue: 10-12 Tai Chi, 6.30-9.30pm Line Dancing Wed: 9.30-10.25 Easy Tone, 10.30-11.15 Kettle Bell Class, 4.30-4.30 Kids Dance Classes, 7-10pm Whist Thu: 2-4pm Whist, 6-8pm Cubs Fri: 2-4pm Tea dance, 4.15-6 Twinkle toe dance, 6-7 Beavers, 7-8 Scouts Sun: From 7pm Ballroom Dance Lessons

Dawley

Telford Hot Trax Radio Controlled Car Club - Meets every Wednesday at Dawley Social Club, King St, Telford TF4 2AG @ 7.30pm to 10pm. Contact: 07834 808943 Dawley Traditional Market - Every Friday, Meadow Rd car park. Contact 01952 380934 Telford Christian Fellowship, Christian Worship & Prayer for Healing, Sun 10:30am12pm at the Dawley Hse, 2 Burton St, Dawley TF4 2ES. Contact Giles Higgins 01952 272961 www.tcfonline.org.uk Dawley Christian Centre: Mon: 5-8pm Brownies & Rainbows, Tue: 9.30-11.30 - Stay & play groups for under 5’s Fri: 2-4pm - Computer Club (3rd Fri each mth) 9-12 Table Top Sale

Donnington

Players wanted - Tickled Pink Ukulele Band Practice nights Weds @ Asda Donnington. Uke players needed. Contact us at: tpinkukes@gmail.com or call 07939 021162 Oakengates Rangers Colts U11’s Football Club - are looking to recruit male and female players for the 2014/2015 season if you are currently aged 10-11 please feel free to come along.Training every Thursday, 6pm to 7:30pm at Donnington football pitches (near Little Theatre). Contact Nik: 07506 722488 or Saul: 07411 467341. Telford Sea Cadets – Tue & Thu nights 6.459pm, Cadets is for ages 12-18, Juniors 1011. See website for details or contact us by

email: Telford.seacadets@yahoo.com Thu - The Creation Station ‘Little Explorer’ pre-schooler arts & crafts sessions. Cordingley Hall, Wellington Road. 10.15 to 11.05 (term-time) Call to book your place 0844 854 9128. at Donnington Methodist Church: 2nd Sunday of every month - Messy Church (3-4.30pm). Everyone invited. If you are a child you will need to bring an adult with you! An hour of fun, games & craft activities, don’t wear your best clothes. Donations welcomed. We don’t expect you to belong to a church.

Edgmond

at Edgmond Village Hall: Toddler group 10.30-11.30 (term time only) - Contact Lindsay 07739 161269 Mon (term time only): Painting - drawing classes 1.00-3.30pm. More details Cynthia James 07722 624 210. Every 3rd Wed of Month - Edgmond W.I 7.30-10pm. Visitors welcome: £3.50, incl. refreshments. Contact Dianne: 01952 825564. Every 1st Sat of Month - Table Top Sale 9.30am-12.30. Bacon sandwiches, tea/ coffee & cakes. £5 table, free entry contact Janis 07739 634703 Antoaneta's Writers' Edgmond meet on 1st Wed of month at 5.30pm in members own homes. New members are welcomed. We are a small and friendly group keen to advance our writing. Contact Mark Pearce on 01952 550557 or email markpearce17@ hotmail.com for more info.

Hadley

Hadley Five O Club - for over 50s meets most Mondays 9-45am to 12-noon at Hadley United Services clubroom. Talks, entertainers, trips out, refreshments etc Call in, or ring Keith on 01952-244804. Hadley Traditional Market - Wed every week, Hadley Local Centre. Contact 01952 380934 Telford Wine Making & Home Brewing Club - at Hadley Rest Rooms, (by the Sikh Temple) on the 1st Thu of month 7.45 to 8pm. For info contact Chris Hall on 01384 345408 or Annette Jones on annette. jones234@yahoo.com Parkinson’s Telford & Wrekin Support Group - We offer support and friendship to people living with Parkinson’s, their families and carers. Come along to our friendly group, meet other people affected by Parkinson’s and get involved in a range of events and activities. Castle Farm Community Centre in Hadley, 1-3pm on the last Tue of every month. T: 01952 253877

Horsehay

Horsehay and District Townswomen’s Guild meet on the 3rd Mon of each month at Horsehay Village Hall at 7.30pm. Call 01952 503535 for more info. Horsehay Methodist Church - coffee morning on Wed 10.30-noon. Parents & toddlers on Fri mornings 10-11.30am. Youth group Fri 7-8.30pm (10 to 14 yr olds)

Ketley

Childrens Cooking Classes - Every Saturday (term time) 9.30-11.00am at Ketley Community Centre (Ages 2-12), Email: natalie@cookstars.co.uk Telford Stamp and Card Club meets on the second Monday of each month (except July and August) at 7.30pm at Ketley Community Centre, Telford, TF1 5AN. Visitors welcome.

Lawley

Learn to Play Bridge - at Lawley Community Centre. For further information contact Peter Seager on 01952 419999 Lawley & District WI meet on the 1st Tue of every month at 7.30pm StJohn’s Church Hall at Lawley. For more info. call Denise Edwards 01952 405756.

Leegomery

Childrens Cooking Classes - Every Thursday (term time) 4.30-5.45pm at Leegomery Community Centre (Ages 2-12), Email: natalie@cookstars.co.uk

Lilleshall

Lilleshall Women’s Institute - Open to all age groups - speakers, demonstrations, refreshments and raffle. At Lilleshall

Memorial Hall 3rd Tue of month 7.30pm. Guests £2 per session. Contact Francis Taylor 01952 604718

Madeley

Madeley Art Club - meets every Mon (exc. Bank Hols), 9:30am-12 noon @ Jubilee Hall, Madeley - all over 55’s welcome. For more info call Tamara on 01952 680030. Madeley Traditional Market - Tue & Sat – every week, Russell Square. Contact 01952 380934 Life Drawing - every Tuesday 7pm - 9pm at Jubilee House, Madeley. Excellent tutor. For more info. call the WEA 01952 614451 or email telfordcentre@wea.org.uk. 1st Wed each month - Madeley Townswomen Guild meets 7.30pm at the Common Room, Bridle Court, Bridle Rd. Madeley, TF7 5SG Contact 01952 878069.

Muxton

Muxton Movers walking group - meet on a Tue & Thu evening, 7.15pm at Muxton School for an hour of fairly flat walking. Sundays, at 6.30pm, cover approx. 7 miles, in 1.5hrs. New members are welcome! at St John’s Church Muxton: Mon: 12:30-2:15pm NCT Bumps and Babes group - for parents and carers with children under 2, £1.50 donation Painting Club 2-4pm (term time). Tue: Tiny Tots (10am, term time), Rainbows - followed by Brownies & Guides Wed: In Stitches 2pm (1st & 3rd Wed) Embroiderers Guild 8pm (every 4th Wed) Muxton Ladies 7.45pm (1st Wed each mth) Thu: Forget Me Not Films 9.30am Monthly, Afternoon Fellowship 2.30-4pm monthly & Beacon 7.45pm Fri: Join us 4 a Cuppa! 11am Monthly plus litter pick, Lunch Club Over 50’s (1st Fri of mth) Sub:Zero – Youth Cafe, yrs7+ 4-6pm Sat: Prayer Breakfast (bi-monthly) Available for hire for parties etc.. Sun: Church Services 11am Available for hire for parties etc.. If you would like further info. on the above activities - contact the church on 01952 670033

Newport

23rd Mar (Sat) - NEWPORT (SALOP) RUGBY CLUB invites you to join us for our annual Ladies Lunch. Complimentary drink upon arrival, 2 course meal with tea/ coffee, games & raffle. To book your table contact Alison at: ajhodson@blueyonder. co.uk or 07814 691 473. Secure your table before the 28th Feb for the reduced cost of £25pp (£27.50pp if booked after). We will be collecting for Womens Refuge on the day (items include toiletries, mother and/or baby items, sanitary items, etc...) The Probus Club of Newport meet on the first Monday of each month at 1pm for lunch at The Swan at Forton. If you are a retired gentleman, then feel free to check that we are a friendly bunch! Phone Gwyn Jones on 01952 813433 for more details. U3A Newport - meet the 3rd Tue of each month at The Royal British Legion Club, Audley Road, Newport at 2pm. £1 entry to include refreshments, Members and visitors are most welcome to come along. Please visit our website to find out more. Evening Stitchers - Wed fortnightly 7.30 - 9.30pm Newort Cricket Club, Audley Avenue. Friendly, bring your own Emb. Knit, patchwork etc. Alison 01952 324084 Beaumaris Singers - New members welcome. We are a chamber choir of around 20 voices. We meet every Tuesday at 7.15pm during term time at Cosy Hall, Newport. For more information call David 07710 005050 or visit our website www.beaumarissingers.org Newport Rotary Lite - We’re an active, informal and mixed club focused on doing things to help the community in Newport and beyond. Message us through Facebook - Newport Shrops Rotary Lite. Childrens Cooking Classes - Every Monday (term time) 4.15-5.30pm at Newport Cricket Club (Ages 2-12), Email: natalie@ cookstars.co.uk Childrens Cooking Classes - Every Monday (term time) 6.30-8.15pm at Burton Borough Home Ec Room (Ages 10-17), Email: natalie@cookstars.co.uk Gnosall, Newport & District Lions Club. 1st Mon monthly at 8pm - Community Room, Gnosall Fire Station, Wharf Road ST20 0DB. For people interested in helping in the community. Contacts: Pat 01785 780032 or

John 01952 273919. Newport Writers' Circle meet on 2nd Wed of month (except Aug), 10.30am in the library. New members welcomed. A friendly group who share their stories in a warm and welcoming way. Contact Mark Pearce on 01952 550557 or email markpearce17@ hotmail.com for more info. Newport (SALOP) and District Male Voice Choir - seeking new members for well established friendly choir, meet 7.30pm on Mondays at Trinity Church Wellington Rd Newport. Novices are welcome, come along for a taster session. You do not to be a Tom Jones, just someone who can hold a note and fit in to the choir. For more infor visit our website, or call 01952 813267. Newport Afternoon Guild meet on the 1st Wed 2-4pm at the Cosy Hall in Newport. Call 01952 825 287 for further infomation. Newport Bridge Academy - Meet Mondays 7pm at Royal Naval Association, Bellmans Yard, Newport. All standards welcome very friendly club. Expert tuition every week from EBU Grand master & qualified teacher, followed by duplicate bridge. Easy parking and tea/coffee included. Please call Grahame on 07541 048785 or Bob on 07907 887010 or email newport.bridge. academy@outlook.com Newport Bridge Club meet Tue & Thu 7pm at The Hub St Mary Street Newport. We welcome duplicate bridge players of all standards. Interested? Come and join us. Call 01952 814474 for more details or e-mail info@newport-bridge-club.co.uk The Dalen Singers is a small, friendly, mixed voice choir founded 30 years ago in Newport. Rehearsals on Tue evenings, 7pm at Trinity Church, Wellington Road, Newport. If you would like to meet us just come to rehearsals, you will be very welcome, or ring secretary 01952 811741 for more information. Cygnus Book Club – Come along and join a friendly group as we discuss a spiritual book or theme of the month – all whilst enjoying drinks and cake! Contact Romella 07894 812440 Used Toner Cartridges - Shrewsbury Music Therapy Unit are collecting and recycling used printer ink cartridges to raise funds to subsidise Music Therapy for children with learning difficulties. Please drop off at Boots or Ace Computers, High St, Newport. Dressmaking Classes at Cosy Hall, Newport on Thu’s - 10am-12.30pm and 7.309.30pm ‘Saturday Sewing Bee’ 2-5pm, monthly. Details and booking contact Catherine on 01952 276061. catherine@ lovedressmaking.co.uk www.facebook. com/lovedressmaking Toy Library in Cottage Care Centre, Newport, every Friday 9.45-11.30, preschool age. Contact Steve Ravenscroft 01952 811935 or just call in. Newport RNA Club - Excellent venue with warm friendly atmosphere. Function room for hire. Mon - bridge club, Tue - open mic, Wed - pool, Thu - bingo, Fri - dominoes/ quiz nights/live entertainment, Sat - live entertainment. Pay on door. Non-Members £3. 07772 611540 Friends Singles Club, 45+, established in Shropshire, now meeting in Newport. Full details from 07955 851256 or email: singlesfriends18@gmail.com Newport Scouts, Longford Road HQ. Beavers, Thu’s at 6pm; Cubs, Wed’s at 6pm; Scouts, Wed’s 7.30 pm. Contact: Liz on 07780 611260 The Guild of Silk Painters - meetings are held from 7-9.30pm on the third Monday of each month atCosy Hall, Water Lane Newport. Contact - Margaret 01785 254803, Diana 01785 223339 or Anethia 01952 813101. Female 77 - Meetings held every Wednesday during term time at Newport Cottage Hospital 8pm. Speakers,demonstrations and outings. New members welcome. Contact Chris 01952 811533 Newport Wine Appreciation Group meet from 7pm-9pm on Tue’s at Cosy Hall, Newport. Beginners and more experienced enthusiasts welcome. Contact Geoff on 01743 884658 Newport Life Drawing and Figure Sculpting Workshops – Saturday mornings at Adams’ Grammar School. For further information please call Michael on 07528489320 or email michaeljamespotter@hotmail.co.uk Newport Farmers’ Market – 3rd Thu of every month, The Square and The Buttercross, Newport – Contact Tel 01952 380934 Newport Trefoil Guild meets monthly on a Thursday at Cosy Hall, Water Lane. All members/ex members of Girl Guiding welcome. Contact Cris 01952 253960 for further details.

COMMUNITY & WHATS ON

Newport Photographic Club - meet 7.45pm on Tues (Sep-Jun) in the Baptist Church Hall in Water Lane, Newport. See www. newportphotoclub.com for details.

Oakengates

FREE Art and Craft Sessions - at The Wakes, Oakengates - every Thursday 102pm no need to book just turn up, everyone welcome. Table top sale - first Saturday of each month, 10am -12pm at the Holy Trinity Church in Wrockwardine wood and Oakengates. Contact Tanya May 07990 767855 (visit our facebook page for events: Holy Trinity Church Wrockwardine Wood) Oakengates Traditional Market - Saturday – every week, Limes Walk. Contact 01952 380934. The Telford & District branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society hold a Monthly Social on the 2nd Thursday of each month from 12.30pm to 2.30pm at the Salvation Army Hall in Oakengates. There is a short chair based exercise session followed by refreshments & a chance to chat - open to anyone affected by MS. Branch Helpline number: 07866 628593. Boys’ Brigade - Tue at Oakengates United Church - 6pm Anchor Boys, 7pm Junior Boys Section. Friday - 7pm Company Section (boys and girls school year 7+). Contact Dave on 07548 574901. Oakengates Townswomen’s Guild meet on the 4th Thu of each month at the United Reform Church at 7pm. Call 01952 261 207 for more info.

Priorslee

Sewing For Pleasure - Sewing Machine Classes every Tuesday 7pm - 9pm, University Campus Telford, Conference Centre, Priorslee. TF2 9NN All abilities welcome. Call Nicky on 01952 201502 for more details or see our Facebook page facebook.com/MaudeandRose. Tea & Natter at St. Peter’s Church, Church Rd, Priorslee, 2pm-3pm, bring & buy with a draw. Every 4th Thu of the month. Come and join us for a chat with drinks & refreshments 50p – all are welcome. AgeUk over 60’s Pub Lunch Club at the The Lion Inn, Priorslee, meet 2nd Monday of each month. Please contact Pauline Comley for further details 01952 200359 Family Praise at St Peters Church, Church Rd, Priorslee: All-Age Worship, 2nd Sunday of each month, 1/2hour service, 10-10:30am, ideal for children! Contact Chris Harris 07941 961461 or email stpeterspriorslee@ btinternet.com Priorslee Lions Chess Club Monday nights from 7:30pm The Lion, Shifnal Road, Priorslee www.priorsleelionschessclub.co.uk Whist Drive - Every Sat, at Priorslee Scout Hut, 7pm prompt - everyone welcome, Call 01952 242009 for details. Carers` Group meets every last Tue of month, 2.30-4.30pm at the Old Fire Station, Shifnal. Contact Ivy 01952 750228 (day only) for more details.

Shawbirch

Shawbirch Community Centre: Mon-Fri: Little Chicks Pre-School 9am 3pm Mon: Youth Club 10-15 yrs (6–8pm) Wed: Bridge Club (7pm – 10pm) Fri: Telford Stage School - 5.45pm The community centre is available to hire evenings & weekends. For further info. call 01952 248538.

Sheriffhales

Sheriffhales W.I. - Meet every 4th Thursday, 7.30pm at Sheriffhales village hall. For further info contact Janet 07964 370679.

Shifnal

26th Feb (Tue) - Wrekin U3A. 2pm, Shifnal Village Hall. Is there Cash in your Attic? by Will Farmer. An Antiques Roadshow expert will be giving light-hearted advice on the new collectables. Visitors welcome £1.50. Details at https://u3asites.org.uk/ wrekin 26th Mar (Tue) - Wrekin U3A. 2pm, Shifnal Village Hall.AGM and Group Presentation. Visitors welcome £1.50. Details at https:// u3asites.org.uk/wrekin Shifnal in Stitches - Informal knitting and crochet group meeting at Odfellows every 3rd Tue of the month, 7-9pm. All ages and all skill levels welcome. Find us on facebook.com/shifnalinstitches or email shifnalinstitches@gmail.com

Shifnal Senior Citizens meet every Friday afternoon in the Social Club in Curriers Lane, Shifnal at 2-4pm Membership £6 per year. All Senior Citizens are welcome. Shifnal Tots and Toddlers meet every Thursday 9:15am til 11am in term time at the Youth Club, Bridgnorth Road. Children 4 years and under with their carers welcome. Shifnal Tennis Club - Social play every Mon & Wed 6.30 onwards. New members always welcome including beginners or ‘back to tennis’ , junior coaching available throughout the week. Contact Merill Holt 07762 15270 or Head Coach Ian Gillespie 07761 970759 for juniors. LIVE AT HOME - Support for older people offering friendship and company, activities and entertainment, outings and visits, theatre trips and exercise. Contact Rachel on 01952 879873 Shifnal ART Group - Fri’s 10am-12. £5. Senior Citizens Hall, Curriers Ln. T&C. contact Jim 01952 463211. Get Shifnal On Line - Free computer lessons are on offer from local volunteers in Shifnal library. If you have no knowledge of computers, but would like to learn at your own pace, call 01952 461018 during Library open hours.. Carers` Group meets every last Tue of month, 2.30-4.30pm at the Old Fire Station, Shifnal. Contact Ivy 01952 750228 (daytimes only) for more details. Shifnal Men’s Link - Meet 3 times a year (Feb, Jun & Oct) at Haughton Hall for a meal with a guest speaker. Contact Chris Blake on 01952 463171 or email: info@ shifnal-mens-link.co.uk Shifnal Ladies Link - Meet 3 times a year (Feb, Jun & Oct) at Haughton Hall for a meal with a guest speaker. Contact Sue Blake on 01952 463171 or email: info@ shifnal-ladies-link.co.uk Stagekids of Shifnal - for 6–16s meet every Thu during term time at The Youth Club, Bridgnorth Rd, Shifnal, 6–11 yr olds meet at 6.45pm-8pm, 12–16 yr olds meet 8pm9.45pm. Contact Sandra on 01952 462759 Shifnal Millennium Sensory Garden - The working party meets each month from March through to the end of Nov. on the 1st and 3rd Sats and the 2nd and 4th Thurs 9.30am - noon. Enthusiastic helpers most welcome. Contact Angela - 01952 462627 for more details or just turn up on the day. Shifnal Flower Club meet 4th Tue of every month at Shifnal Village Hall at 7.30pm. Professional Floral Art Demonstrations, Garden Visits & Outings, if you love flowers, come & join us. Call Sue Munslow on 01952 461076 Shifnal Flower Club Workshop is 3rd Tue of every month at Curriers Lane Room, Shifnal - 7.30pm. Learn how to produce your own floral arrangement. Members £2, non members £4. Call Chris Finlan on 01952 750312. Shifnal & District Male Voice Choir meet on Thu at 7.30pm at Idsall School (6th form common room). New recruits welcome. Contact Ged Heyes on 01952 586968, for further details. St Andrews Church, Shifnal - Every Tue 10am – 12 noon Coffee and a listening ear in the Brooke Room. Trinity Methodist Church, Shifnal - Every Wednesday 10am - 12 noon all welcome to drop in for a drink & a chat. Ladybirds tots and toddlers meet every Friday from 10-11.30am at Trinity Methodist Church, Shifnal. All children under 5 and their carers are welcome. St Mary’s Church Presbytery, Victoria Road, Shifnal - Coffee Morning every Thu. All welcome for a drink and a chat.

St Georges

Telford & Wrekin Arthritis Support Group, meet monthly at St. George’s Sports & Social Club, Church St. 7.30–9.30pm. Also organize trips with side lift coaches and a 5 days holiday once a year with disabled access. Hydrotherapy sessions Thu 5–7pm, by appt only. For further details contact Mrs. Pat Watkins on 01952 618381. at St Georges Methodist Church: Mon - 4pm Rainbows / 5.45pm Brownies (Contact: 01952 293944) Wed - Snedshill & District Over 60’s Club meet 1pm (T: 618221 - Lois Bull) 1st Wed of every month - St Georges WI meet in the Church Hall at 7pm - contact A. Chetwood 01952 618353 for further details. Thu - 6pm Guides / 7.45pm Morningside Ladies Choir (Contact 01952 619347) Thu - 9:30-11:30am - Little Fishes under 5’s group. For all pre-school children and their carers. Meets in the St Georges Methodist Church Hall. £1.50 per family to include snacks and drinks. Contact Kate on 07976 460777.

Telford - Town Centre

2nd Mar 2019 - Charity Ball. at the Park Inn Telford to raise funds for the National Autistic Society. Drink on arrival, 3 Course set menu meal, 2 Live acts (1 appeared on Britain’s Got Talent), a Prize raffle, a Silent Auction and a disco to end the night with. To book tickets (£25), contact Brad or Charmayne Wynn on 07858 514110/07849 778840 . Afternoon Tea at Meeting Point House, Southwater - available Mon to Sat 12-3pm in the vintage inspired tea room. £8 for two, includes a pot of tea. The room is also great for birthdays and celebrations as well as local community groups. Call 01952 292268, visit www.meetingpointhouse.co.uk or email reception@meetingpointhouse.co.uk Tuesday Group lively discussions in a good humoured atmosphere. Women meeting 10:30 to 12:30 on 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month. Venue subject to change. Contact Brenda on 01952 610939.

Tue in term time from 6-8pm at Wellington Methodist Church. All girls welcome from 5yrs+. For more info. call Tracey on 01952 405178. Wellington Evening Townswomen’s Guild meet on the 1st Tue of each month at 7.30pm at Belmont Community Hall, Wellington. Visitors welcome. Call 413686 for more info. Wellington Central Townswomen’s Guild meet on the 2nd Tue of each month at 2.15pm at the Carvers Close Community Room, Holyhead Rd, Wellington. For more info call 01952 251 364. Eyton & Wellington WI - Meet every 2nd Wed of the month at 7:30pm in the Belmont Hall, Wellington for speakers, friendship and tea & biscuits. Visitors welcome. Call Judi on 01952 411801 for more details. Grace Church Wellington - meets Sundays at 11am in the Wellington Library. An independent local fellowship. Visit www. gcwellington.com.

Trench

Other Areas

ATC meet at TA Centre, Territorial House, Trench, Telford between 18.45 - 21.30 every Tue & Thu night. Contact number for Sqn 01952 670720

Wellington

Telford Stamp and Card Club Meetings - Stamp Club meetings are on the 2nd Monday of each month, 7.30pm to 9.30pm, in the Belmont Hall, Wellington. For more info call Richard Camp on 01952-405458. SPACES available at Wellington Brownies - for girls aged 7-10, Mon 6:30-7:45pm, Wellington Methodist Church - contact Joanne Martin on 01952 254555 Severn Harmony Ladies Barbershop Chorus meets every Monday from 7.30-9.30pm at Wellington Methodist Church,New Street,TF1 1LU for singing and fun. For more info. contact Membership Secretary, Carol Shore on 01952 597851 or 07792 862826. Wellington, the home of The Telfordaires Barbershop Harmony Chorus. For the MALE voice. If you can or can’t sing, just like to try, or need some entertainment for an event. Contact us on 0845 463 1618 Art and Craft fun for toddlers - every Friday at 11am at Wellington Methodist Church. Contact Kirsty on 07741 066858 or kirsty@art4tots.com or visit www.Art4Tots. com for further details. Art for Enjoyment - at Wellington Methodist Church - Tue mornings or afternoons, and now on Thu afternoons as well, 1.30 - 3.30pm. Call Liz Doody, the course tutor for more info. or to book your place on 07970 709116. SUNNYCROFT - 200 Holyhead Road, Wellington. House, gardens and tearoom open Fri-Mon 10.30am-5pm, last admission to house 4pm. Telford Lions Club - Meet on 2nd & 4th Monday each month at 8pm, at the Whitehouse Hotel, Watling Street, Wellington. To find out more about us, our activities and how to join us, t: 0845 833 9585 or email telford.lions@yahoo.com Car boot sale – Every Sunday, Victoria Road and Nailors Row car parks – Contact Tel 01952 380934 U3A Wellington - 2nd Thu of each Month meeting at Belmont Community Hall, Wellington - 2pm. Just come along and see what’s on offer, or visit our website. S.T.A.G.s (Strategic Tactical Adventure Gaming Society) one of the biggest wargaming clubs in the country. Historical as well as Sci/Fanasty wargaming. We meet at Belmont Hall in Wellington - see website for more details: www.stagstelford. co.uk or call 01952 417747 . Wellington Jade Singers ladies choir, meet weekly on Thu evenings 7.30-9.30pm Union Free Church Hall, Constitution Hill, Wellington, TF1 3BA, contact Chris Harris 07941 961461 or email jadesingers@ btinternet.com Wrekin Arts Photographic Club meets every Friday at 8pm at the Belfrey Arts Centre Wellington (Sep to Jun). Details from Sheila Thomas on 01952 617170 or www.wrekinartspc.com Eyton & Wellington WI meet 2nd Wed of every month, 7.30pm at Belmont Hall. Belmont Community Hall in Wellington meet every Fri 11.45am-4pm - Over 50’s, tea, raffle, speakers, bingo etc.. £1.50 entry, also lunch available at £3.50 at 12pm cooked on the premises. All welcome. For further details contact Margaret Atkinson on 01952 877409. The Wellington Girls’ Brigade meet every

Garden Club - Kynnersley Village Hall, Telford, TF6 6DX. Meet monthly, 2nd Friday of each month at 7pm, we welcome members from all around the Telford area Contact Hannah talksherlock@gmail.com 01743 341949. The Wolverhampton Phoenix Club for the widowed - a club for both men and women who are widowed and are ready to restart their social life in a friendly supportive atmosphere. We meet the 2nd Sunday of the month at Codsall Village Hall at 7pm in the summer afternoons and 2.30pm in the winter. We have a varied program of entertainment and we also organise monthly lunches at local pubs, day trips and holidays. For more information phone Jim 01902 846696. Age UK Lunch Clubs - are held every month at 10 different locations. Ring Age uk Telford (01952 201803) for more details or check out the website: www. ageukshropshireandtelford.org.uk IT Class (for older people) run every Wednesday 3-5pm at Brookside Community Centre. Contact Diane Douglas 01952 201803 ext 001 or diane.douglas@ ageukstw.org.uk Whist Drive - Every Fri, at Buildwas Village Hall, 7pm prompt - everyone welcome, Call 01952 242009 for details. Telford Sign Cafe - want to practice your signing or are you a Deaf Sign Language user who would enjoy helping us! Enjoy a coffee and a chat. All abilities welcome. Meet 3rd Fri of month from 7pm, at The Home Organisation Coffee Shop, Lightmoor. Contact Nikki: nikkibackhouse@ googlemail.com, 07791 724827 Wrockwardine and District Garden Club - Meet on 1st Thu of each month at Wrockwardine Village Hall at 7.30pm. Little Wenlock WI - meet 1st Wed of every month - in the Village Hall at 2pm, new members welcome - contact Diana on 01952 244136 for further details. Severn Sisters WI - Meet every 3rd Wednesday, 7pm at Longdon On Tern Village Hall. For further info contact Paula Pierce 07841 528543 Volunteer and Make a Difference - if you could help Guide Dogs locally with fundraising, sighted guiding or other volunteer roles, please contact Valerie Jobes on 01189 838 756 or valerie.jobes@ guidedogs.org.uk. Further info can be found at www.guidedogs.org.uk. The Wrekin Decorative and Fine Arts Society meets at the Cold War exhibition hall at RAF Cosford Air Museum on the 3rd Mon of the mth at 2pm. Visitors £5. Contact: Louise Nixon 01746 783517 - www. nadfas-wm.org.uk/wrekin.html Telford and Wrekin Ladies Circle is all about fun and friendship – trying something new, relaxing with friends, fundraising & great days out. If you are between 1845 and want to know more contact us at: tandwladiescircle@hotmail.com - 07961 961475 or find us on Facebook. Wrekin Writers meet 3rd Sat of month 9 till noon. Large friendly group that’ll help to motivate you with your writing. Visit www. wrekinwriters.co.uk or call Darren on 01952 405178.

To submit an entry to this feature please email your details to: fleur@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk please put subject as WHATS ON on the email. (Space is VERY limited, so brief details ONLY)

Local Health, Sport

Admaston

at Admaston House Community Centre (for further info. contact Moira Hoath on 07722 213264): Mon: Yoga (evenings) Contact Janet Evans on 01952 245983 Wed: Weight Watchers 5.30pm & 7pm Thu: Gentle seated and standing exercises for older people. 10.30-11.30am. Qualified tutor £2.50, call Diane Douglas on 01952 201803 for details. Thu: Slimming World - 9.30am, 5.30pm & 7.30pm Contact Sharon on 07775 512563

Church Aston

at Church Aston Village Hall: Wed 9.30-10.25am Easy tone - over 50s & beginners Wed 10.30am-11.15 - Kettlebells Class - all over body workout using kettle shaped weight. Contact Kim on 07795 225017 Thu 11am Medau Movement & Dance exercise with Rosemary 01785 822442.

Dawley

Have fun – keep fit. Short Tennis Prime Time Club (over 55’s). Tue and Fri 5-6pm at Phoenix Sport & Leisure Centre, Dawley. First taster is free, membership £5 and each sesssion is £2. Please contact Peter on 01952 274657 Margaret on 019852 274535 or Keith on 506616. Touch Rugby - Telford RFC, Hinkshay Road, Telford TF3 3BZ. Wed 7pm ages 14 to adult Men and Women no previous experience required. £free. Just fun and fitness to be had! Ballroom Social Dance Class - Dawley Town Hall, Sun 7.3010.30pm. Call Donna on 01952 567920 Dawley Badminton Club meets on Tues 7:30-9:30pm at Holy Trinity Academy, Teece Dr, Priorslee, Telford TF2 9SF. We support a good club standard of play using feather shuttles. New members and visitors are welcome. Please come along on Club Night or contact Graeme Hughes on 07912 466207. Slimming World (Tue 9:15am & 11:15am) at Dawley Bank Call Paula on 07791 743509 Pilates Mon 7-8pm at the Pheonix Sports Centre, Telford Langley School. £33 block of 6 classes or £6.50 pay-asyou-go. Contact Beryl on 01952 462896 or 07971 875372, email: beryl.feely@gmail.com. Mons’ - 8-10pm - The Ironmen & Severn Gilders Morris dance team – great fun, all welcome, men and ladies, at The Telford Langley School, Duce Drive, Dawley, TF4 3JS. Contact us through our website www.imsg.org.uk or e-mail secretary@imsg.org.uk Dawley Christian Centre: Mon - GKR Karate 6.30-8pm Tue - Keep Fit 10-11am, Badminton Grp 7-9pm Wed - Zumba 8-9pm Thu 9am-12pm Help 2 Quit Smoking

Donnington

Bums n Tums fitness class - at Silver Threads Hall, Donnington 6.30-7.30pm. It would suit all fitness levels and is great fun! Contact Cheryl on 07714 610591 or cheryljauncey2@gmail.com

Edgmond

Yoga, Pilates & Yogalates Classes - in the new Studio at Edgmond Village Hall, Shrewsbury Road, Edgmond, Newport, TF10 8HU. Mon: Pilates at 6pm; Wed: Yogalates at 5.30pm and Yoga at 6.30pm. Cost: £6 PAYG or £30 (£5) in advance for 6 classes. Call/text Denise on 07875 661045 or email denisepheasant@hotmail.com to book.

Hadley

Gentle Exercise (for older people) - at the Methodist Church (Hadley) 2-3pm Mondays. £2.50 per session, all abilities welcome. Exercise Class at Hadley Community Centre (Hadley) Tue 1:00-1:45pm (for older people, but a little more physical). £2.50 per session, all abilities welcome. Slimming World - at HLC, Hadley - 5.30pm & 7.30pm Contact Sharon on 07775 512563

Daisy Birthing classes: Active Antenatal classes on Sat 1011:30am at HLC. Suitable for all pregnant mums. Email: janette-davey@thedaisyfoundation.com or phone 07808 066786. Thu mornings at Telford Thai Boxing, Hadley - 10-11am Yoga and 11:15-12:15pm Pilates. All ages and fitness levels welcome, including complete beginners. Contact - 07852 144119 or email iandglittleford@btinternet.com. Indoor Bowls - Mon & Tue 2-4pm, at Hadley Restrooms. New members VERY welcome, free trial available. For more details contact Roger on 07955 852 534. Gymnastics Classes - Monday to Saturday, for beginners - advanced gymnasts. Contact: 07905 956644 or email shootingstarsonline07@yahoo.com Piloxing (Boxing, Pilates & Dance) - Mon 6.30-7.30pm. Zumba - Thu 6.30-7.30pm. Hadley Methodist Church, £3.50. All abilities welcome! Debbie 07891 686812

Adult Yoga class, Mon 10-11am at the Memorial Hall in Lilleshall. Contact Michele on 07970 731174 or email info@ mitchytitch.co.uk. www.mitchytitch.co.uk Lilleshall Village Tennis Club - Welcomes new members, Tues, Thurs evenings & Sunday mornings. Junior & Adult Coaching – Saturday afternoons. Complete beginners course for Adults - Tues pm. For further details contact Pauline Coffey on 01952 604757 Lilleshall National Sports Centre - Sutherland Badminton Club - Tue evenings 8.30 - 10.30pm New members welcome. Contact: Amanda Haselock - 01952 677590 Premier Badminton Club are seeking new members. Tue evenings from 7:30pm at Lilleshall National Sports Centre. Contact Anthony 01952 526520 or Rob 01952 840453 www.premier badminton.co.uk Lilleshall Hall Table Tennis Club - meet Mondays during term time, 6.30-7.30pm for Juniors, 7.30-9.30pm for Adults, in Jubilee/Ford Hall at Lilleshall National Sports Centre. Adults £5, Juniors £3 per week. Coaching available for all abilities. Call Louise 813924 or Don 416048.

Jackfield

Madeley

‘Tap into Health’ - EFT tapping workshops. Relief from stress, pain and more. Wednesdays 10.30 - 11.30 at The Gorge Therapy & Training Centre. £5 or whatever you can manage on the day. Caroline 01952 881151 www. carolinerolling.com Mindful Meditation - Sooth mind, body and spirit. £5. At The GorgeTherapy & Training Centre. For more info contact: Diane 01952 881151 www.you-in-mind.co.uk

Ketley

Yoga - Wednesdays 7-8pm at Ketley Community Centre, Holyhead Road, Ketley, TF1 5AN. Friendly class, suitable for all abilities and beginners are especially welcome. £5 per class, no need to book. Contact Debbie on 07790 006815, email debbieyogaone@gmail.com or see my website: www.yogaone.co.uk Over 50’s Class @ Ketley Methodist church, Waterloo Road, Ketley. Thursday 10-11am. Suits all fitness levels and is a great place to meet new people. £3 per session. Contact Cheryl on 01952 371325 or email cheryljauncey@ yahoo.co.uk Slimming World - Ketley Methodist Church on Tue at 5.30 & 7.30pm.

Lawley

Clubbercise and Legs, Bums & Tums - Tuesdays Lawley Primary School Arleston Lane TF4 2PR. All fitness levels welcome age 16+. Contact Kim - 07724 087516. Or find us on Facebook 'Clubbercise Telford with Kim' Baby Yoga at St. Johns Church Hall, Lawley – Mon 1-2pm, Adult Yoga Mon 8.15 to 9.15pm. Contact Michele on 07970 731174 or email info@mitchytitch.co.uk. www.mitchytitch. co.uk Mummy Movers - St Johns Church Hall, Wed: 7.30-8.30pm & Thu: 10.15-11.00am. Call: Laura 07929 154 536 / laura@ mummymovers.com Website: www.mummymovers. com Stretch & Tone Class - Tue - Lawley Village Primary Academy - 6:30-7:30pm Call/text Vikki Connell on 07510 186982, or email vikkiburnell@ymail.com. Zumba - Mon & Wed - Lawley Community Centre 6pm Call/text Vikki Connell on 07510 186982, or email vikkiburnell@ymail.com.

Leegomery

CJ's Dance Fit - Mon & Wed 6.30pm and Thu 9.45am & 11am at Leegomery Methodist Church, Hadley Park Road, TF1 6QG. Also an Age UK class on Thu at 1:30pm. Call 07793 777659 or email: claire.jervis74@gmail.com for more details.

Lightmoor Village

at Oak Tree Centre, Lightmoor Village: Wed: Help to Quit Smoking 5.30-6.30pm - for app’s call Rachel 07979 540496 Sat: Dance Classes 9-10.15am (7yrs+), 10.15-11am (3-6yrs)

Lilleshall

Friendly flat green bowling, based at The National Sports Centre. Come along to club afternoon sessions on Thursdays 2:30pm to 4:30 during the summer and try your hand at a new sport. Further information on the club website www.lilleshallbowls.org.uk or contact Rod on 01952 590963 or Liz on 01952 814671. Lilleshall Trampoline Club - Tuesdays at Lilleshall National Sports Centre: (8-14 year olds) excluding school holidays - Trampoline Foundation: 6 - 7:30pm & Trampoline Development: 7:30 - 9pm. £5 a session. Contact us on 01952 603003 Lilleshall Quick Sticks Hockey - Sundays 10-10:45am (7-9 year olds) at Lilleshall National Sports Centre. £30 for 7 weeks. Contact us on 01952 603003

Bootcamp/Interval training classes at Bridal Road, Bridal Court, Madeley. Every Tue & Thu 7-8pm. Suits all fitness levels and great fun. Contact Cheryl on 01952 371325 Slimming World- Jubilee House, Madeley High St, Wed at 3.30,5.30 & 7.30 and Sat 8.30 & 10.30am.

Muxton

at St John’s Church Muxton: Bumps n Babes (NCT) 12.30-2:15pm (fortnightly), sessions £1.50 Slimming World - Mon (9.30, 5.30pm & 7.30pm) contact Celia Powell 07575 123666 Wed: Over 50’s Aerobics (10am) If you would like further info. on the above activities contact the church on 01952 670033

Newport

Groupfit, Women Only and Boxfit classes at The Body Barn in Newport, Shropshire's biggest outdoor fitness facility see website for full details at: www.thebodybarn.co.uk or call Danny on 07894 569571. Tai Chi - Gentle exercise to improve flexibility and balance, relieve stress and aid relaxation. Suitable for adults of all ages and abilities. Cosy Hall Tuesday am. Contact Dilys 01952 588838 / dilysd407@gmail.com Yoga, Pilates, Zumba, Clubbercise, Box-Fit, Circuits, Kettlebells, Body Pump, Fit-Steps, Yummy-Mummy’s, Relaxation, Tone & Sculpt ALL available at Pulse Fitness The Ballroom High Street Newport. Pay As You Go Classes Available Plus Pre-Paid Class Cards. Call Nikki 07967 343728 or email nikkiwitty@ymail.com Forton Cricket Club - Fancy playing cricket, we have two senior teams, ladies team and junior teams - for more info contact Clive 01952 825447 or cliverjones1958@gmail.com Nova Utd FC based in Newport, looking for new players for 2017/18,Training Saturday mornings 9-10.30 Shuker Fields, Ages 7 to 16yrs, all abilities welcome, for more details visit our website www.novaunitedfc.co.uk Martial Arts Club (Aikido) - Aikido at Burton Borough Sch, Newport. Mondays 7-9pm - Adult classes. Contact sensei@ meijyukan.co.uk website www.meijyukan.co.uk T: 0845 678 0091 Junior Badminton Club - we have places available for U11’s who want to learn how to play badminton. It’s £4 per week and includes coaching by a Badminton England accredited Level 2 coach. Saturday (10-11am under 11’s and 11-12 under 15’s) in term time at Burton Borough School, Newport. Contact Des Machin on 07949 192038, E: desmachin@ hotmail.co.uk Farmhouse Shotokan Karate Club, Moreton Millennium Community Centre and Burton Borough School, Newport - Tues, Fri & Sun. For all ages and abilities. Fully qualified and insured Instructors. First Lesson Free. Contact 07890 349451, email shropshirekarate@gmail.com or visit www. shropshirekarate.com Yoga Classes at Trinity Church, Wellington Rd, Newport: Mummy & Baby Yoga - Thu 1.30 – 2.30pm. Dru Yoga classes - Fridays 7 - 8.30pm. Contact Kate on 07989 514317, yogamebaby@yahoo.co.uk www.facebook.com/ yogame4families Salopian Skimmers Frisbee Club are looking for new Male & Female players of all abilities. Wed night at Adams Grammar Sports Hall. 18.30 to 20.00. First 3 sessions Free. For more info email drew.barlow@live.co.uk or join us on Facebook. A small friendly group of people meet every Friday evening from 6-7pm in Burton Borough School to play social badminton and volleyball. If you're interested please contact Mark Pearce on 01952 550557 or email markpearce17@hotmail.com for more information. Women’s Circle for Spiritual Development – are you looking to connect to like-minded spiritually awake women & deepen your connection - then this group is for you. 1st Fri of month in Newport – Contact Romella 07894 812440

& Fitness Classes Meditation for Calm Classes – held every Tuesday 2-2.50pm @ Tina’s Wellness Studio, New Street, Newport, drop in for £10 or prebook 4 weeks @ £9 a class (£36) Book Romella 07894 812440 Free essential oil classes – every Mon (& other days) Learn how essential oils can support your wellbeing goals, families health needs, emotions, sleep and even be used for cleaning. Contact Romella 07894 812440

Oakengates

Have fun – keep fit. Short Tennis Prime Time Club (over 55’s). Wed 7-8pm at Oakengates Leisure Centre. First taster is free, membership £5 and each sesssion is £2. Please contact Peter on 01952 274657 Margaret on 019852 274535 or Keith on 506616. Telford Fight Factory - Muay Thai, Boxing, Strength & Conditioning. At The Ice Lounge, Eden Complex, Cannongate Road, Oakengates. Fun, family friendly class, age 7-70yrs, Mon 6-7, Wed 7-8. Contact Stuart Whiston 07786 115899 or fb Clubbercise - Excercise in disguise. Easy to follow routines to Banging Club tunes from the 90s with L.E.D Glow Sticks. At The Ice Lounge, Eden Complex, Cannongate Road, Oakengates. Tue 7-8, Thu 7-8. Contact Amanda Whiston 07780 515350 or fb Telford & Wrekin Lawn Green Bowling Club - Est 1982 at Hartshill Park - Oakengates. Club nights Thurs - starting 6pm. Competitive and social bowling against other Midlands clubs. New members welcome. Contact Roger Rowley on 01952 612574. Slimming World (Sat - 8am & 10am) at Oakengates Rest Rooms, Charlton Street, Oakengates, Telford TF2 6BD Call Paula on 07791 743509 Martial Arts Club ( Aikido ) at Oakengates Leisure Centre. Mon & Fri 7.45 / 8.45pm Juniors ( 7yrs+ ). Mon & Fri 7.45 / 10.00pm Adults. New members always welcome. First lesson is free. If you would like more info contact us on: 07929761302. Email us on suekeithhayward@sky.com

Shawbirch

Shawbirch Community Centre: Tue - Antenatal Yoga (5:30-6:30pm), Yoga (7-9pm) For further info. contact us on 01952 248538.

Shifnal

Swimming Lessons - Duck N Dive Limited - Baby, preschool, afterschool & adult swimming lessons across various locations in Telford & Shifnal. T: 01952 301012, Email:info@dndswim.co.uk, Web:www.dndswim.co.uk Line Dancing Classes at Shifnal Memorial Club on Tue at 7.30pm. Slimming World - Shifnal Village Hall - Wed 9:30am contact Paula on 07791 743509 OR Wed 5.30 & 7.30pm contact Michelle on 07985 172287 Meditation followed by group activity every Thu 7.309.30pm at Citizen’s Hall, Curriers Lane, Shifnal. £8pp. Contact Norma on 01952 463876 or email Jehandra@ yahoo.com or Facebook -Jehandra Holistic Healing for more details. Tue mornings at St Andrews Youth Club, - Yoga 9:30 - 10:30am and Pilates 10:45 - 11:45am. £5 per class or £8 for both classes. Thu mornings at Shifnal Village Hall - Yoga 10-11am, £5 per class. All ages and fitness levels welcome, including complete beginners. Contact Gill on 07852 144119 or email iandglittleford@btinternet.com. YOGA every Thu at Trinity Methodist Church, Shifnal Adults - 7.10-8.10pm, Pregnancy 6-7pm, Baby Yoga at St. Andrews Church, Shifnal every Wed 1-2pm. Contact Michele on 07970 731174 or email info@mitchytitch. co.uk. www.mitchytitch.co.uk Laughter Yoga - The fun way to good health. Mon 7-8 pm. Tues 10.30 - 11.30 at Shifnal Seniors Club, Curriers Lane. All ages, all abilities. All welcome. £6 on the day or £24 for 6 weeks. Contact Caroline: 07868240605 info@ gorgetherapycentre.co.uk Adult Fitness Classes at Idsall Sports Centre – METAFIT - Mon 6:30-7.15pm, YOGA - Tue 5.30-6.30pm, CIRCUITS Wed 7.30-8.15pm, METAFIT - Thu 6.30-7.15pm. Everyone welcome! 1st Class FREE !!! 01952 460499 Shifnal Bowling Club - Social Bowling every Thu morning 10.30am-12.30pm. Junior Coaching Sat morning 11-12. All are welcome to our club young & old. Contact Graham McCarthy 01902 372 955 for details. DANCE class 10.30 Wed at St Andrews Youth Club Hall. Exercises & routines for fitness & fun, over 50s, £5. More info www.shifnaldance.moonfruit.com Spaces limited so please contact Sally 01952 461768. Pilates Mon 10-11am (starting 5th Sep) at the Trinity Methodist Church Hall. Tue 7-8pm at Kemberton Village Hall. £33 block of 6 classes or £6.50 pay-as-you-go. Contact Beryl on 01952 462896 or 07971 875372, email: beryl.feely@gmail.com Shifnal Cricket Club - Junior cricket coaching - Mon 6.30 to 7.30 for boys aged 8-11, 7.30 to 8.30 for boys aged 12 and 13. Girls coaching and boys aged 14 and 15 Fri 6.30 to 7.30. For details please call Kevin Humphreys

07983 120061. Idsall Badminton Club meet at Idsall Sports Centre, Shifnal - Tue 7-9pm. All we ask is that you play to a reasonable standard. Ceroc Modern Jive and Salsa class nights at Shifnal Village Hall. Every Monday (exc Bank Hols) 7.45pm 11pm. New members always welcomed and no need to bring a partner. Contact Mike on 07990 554459, email cerocmidlands@aol.com or visit www.cerocmidlands. co.uk

St Georges

Clubbercise and Legs, Bums & Tums - Wednesdays at St Georges Sports & Social Club TF2 9LU. All fitness levels welcome age 16+. Contact Kim - 07724 087516. Or find us on Facebook 'Clubbercise Telford with Kim' HIITPad Fitness 4 week Intensive Academy. Morning and Evening groups. Held at Bailang, St Gower Street Trading Estate George's, Telford. For more info and next course dates visit www.hiitpad.co.uk Karate and Self-Defence at 1st Priorslee & St. Georges Scout Hall, Snedshill Way, St. Georges on Friday's 7.30pm to 8.30pm. Family-orientated, from beginner to black belt and beyond. Adults £3 Under 16s £2.50. Contact Zanshin-do Karate Chief Instructor Steve Lowe 6th Dan Black Belt for further information by emailing stevelowe59@blueyonder.co.uk "Koshi Wind-Chime Relaxation and Healing" Come for Healing and Relax to beautiful sounds. £5 each. St Georges & Priorslee Parish Centre. London Rd, TF2 9LJ. Every 4 wks Thu 7.30pm. Booking essential 07974 196 421 Nikki Slimming World - St Georges Sports & Social Club. Thu 9.30am, 11.30pm, 5pm and 7pm. Contact Celia Powell on 07575 123666 at St Georges Methodist Church: Tue 5-7pm Synergy Dance Troop (Contact: 01952 612776) Wed - 10.30am Pilates (Tel: 412924) / 1.30pm

Stirchley

Clubbercise - Mondays at Grange Park Primary School Grange Avenue, Stirchley. All fitness levels welcome age 16+. Contact Kim - 07724 087516. Or find us on Facebook 'Clubbercise Telford with Kim'

Telford - Town Centre

AQUABABIES - Swimming lessons for children aged 12 weeks to 3 years. Lessons held at The Park Inn hotel on Mon, Tue, Thu and Sat from 10am. To book your FREE trial lesson contact Lisa on 07598 617442 or Stuart on 01543 572855

Trench

Yoga - Mondays 7-8pm at Our Lady of the Rosary and St Luke Church Hall, Church Road, Trench, TF2 7HG. Friendly class suitable for all abilities and beginners are especially welcome. £5 per class, no need to book. Contact Debbie on 07790 006815, email debbieyogaone@gmail.com or see my website: www. yogaone.co.uk Interval Training class that suits any fitness levels - 6:30 to 7:30pm. At The Labour Club, Gibbons Rd, Trench. Proven to burn more fat than any other form of exercise. Also great fun too! Class costs £3.50. Contact Cheryl 07714 610591.

Wellington

Mindfulness and Relaxation - cultivate mindful presence and inner stillness. Weekly workshops incorporate mindful activities, meditation and relaxation, which will enable you to rejuvenate mind, body and spirit. Tuesday's 7 - 8pm at Wellington Methodist Church. Session price £7.50. Contact Lorraine: Lorraine@affinityand-beyond.co.uk or 07898 823339 for more info or to reserve a place. Wrekin Shotokan Karate Club, at Wrekin College Sports Hall, Wellington: Wed 6:30pm; Sat 10:30am; and at Sport TCAT Mondays 7:30 pm. Learn authentic Japanese Shotokan karate from team of black belts lead by 6th Dan, Shotokan Karate International Federation, Japan. Contact: Tony on 07841 839372. Severn Spokes Cycling Group - We are a small, friendly and welcoming group of cyclists who run regular, easy paced rides from Wellington through the quiet lanes of Shropshire and beyond. Contact severnspokes@gmail. com or visit www.facebook.com/severnspokes and/or our website www.severnspokes.com Telford STAGS Walking Football - Normal Football rules except NO RUNNING! We play on a Monday morning 9.45 at the 4g pitches to the rear of AFC Telford Utd. All over 55's welcome. Also summer sessions Thu at 18.45. Contact Roy Vincent 01952 245407 for further details. KAPAP - Martial Arts Club held at TCAT, Haybridge Rd, Telford, TF1 2NP on Tuesday evenings from 7-9pm. First

session free trail. Contact Paul - paul@kapaptelford. co.uk or 07737 825263. Immerse School of Diving - we have a training and club diving session on a Friday evening at 8:30pm at Wrekin College pool. Call 0777 377 1619 or email: info@ immersediving.com; visit www.immersediving.com find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/immersediving. An active and friendly scuba diving club, we cater for beginners through to professional level divers, and charge no membership fees or surcharges on your club diving. Slimming World - Wed & Thu at The Glebe Centre, Glebe St, Wellington, 5.30 & 7.30. Call Heather on 07737 734347 01952 289386 or just pop along! All welcome. Piloxing - techniques of boxing and vertical pilates with some dance moves. Fridays 6-7pm at Charlton School - £4. For more info contact Annette on 07866 021030. Wrekin Tennis Club - Social play every Tuesday & Thursday evening starting at 7-9pm & Sunday 11am1pm. Based at Oakengates Leisure Centre New players welcome, Contact Alan Pritchard at: alanp52@yahoo. co.uk or 07596 984442 or visit our website, www. wrekintennisclub.co.uk Telford Community Tennis Club, Junior tennis coaching lessons at Bowring Park, Wellington on Sun - 10-11am (47yrs), 11-12am (8-10yrs), 12-1pm (11-16yrs). We also have sessions for adult members of all abilities. www.telfordcommunitytennisclub.co.uk E: bob.kerr@telfordcommunitytennisclub.co.uk Friendly Badminton group playing 7-9pm every Thu at TCAT Sports Hall are seeking new players to join them. Come along and try a few taster sessions at £5 per night. Contact Jenny Varley (evenings 6-7pm) on 01952 249277. Wellington Badminton Club - Sports Hall at Ercall Wood Academy, Wellington. Club nights - Tuesday 8 - 10pm. All welcome. Contact Jerry Seymour (Chairman) on 01952 261008 or email jeremy.seymour9@gmail.com Website: www.wellingtonbadminton.co.uk

Other Areas

Taoist Tai Chi Society of GB - All ages and abilities welcome. See taoist.org.uk for information and availability of classes or phone 01952 597685. Swimming Lessons - Duck N Dive Limited - Baby, preschool, afterschool & adult swimming lessons across various locations in Telford & Shifnal. T: 01952 301012, Email:info@dndswim.co.uk, Web:www.dndswim.co.uk Dance Fit at Hollinswood every Friday 2.45pm-3.30pm, call Diane Douglas on 01952 201803 for details. Sutton Heights - Music4health singing for all ages and stages every Sat. Fee £10. 11am-12 and sound healing at 2pm-3pm please book before day. Contact Linda 01952 680232 or visit www.lindaangelis.com Telford Green Gym - Want to get and have Fun? Don’t like the Gym try the Green Gym.Improve your fitness and general well being by getting involved in practical conservation.The Telford Green Gym offers activities all over Telford On Tue, Wed and Thu. Contact The healthy Lifestyles Hub 01952 382582 Arriba Wellness Club - Community Weight Loss Challenge at Fitness First, Telford. Call Lisa Harris on 07580 434325. Yoga for Pregnancy in Albrighton - Weekly classes every Mon 8-9.15pm. Gentle exercise from weeks 15-40 of your pregnancy. Methodist Church Hall, High St, Albrighton WV7 3JA. Classes from £7. Call Rebecca Jenks on 07890 543 508.

To submit an entry to this feature please email your details to: fleur@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk - please put subject as CLASSES on the email. (Space is limited so brief details please)

MOVIES HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD

As Hiccup fulfils his dream of creating a peaceful dragon utopia, Toothless’ discovery of an untamed, elusive mate draws the Night Fury away. When danger mounts at home and Hiccup’s reign as village chief is tested, both dragon and rider must make impossible decisions to save their kind. Release Date: 1st February 2019 Genre: Animated Cast Members: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler

INSTANT FAMILY

When Pete and Ellie decide to start a family, they stumble into the world of foster care adoption. They hope to take in one small child but when they meet three siblings, including a rebellious 15 year old girl, they find themselves speeding from zero to three kids overnight. Now, Pete and Ellie must hilariously try to learn the ropes of instant parenthood in the hopes of becoming a family. ‘Instant Family’ is inspired by the real events from the life of writer/director Sean Anders and also stars Octavia Spencer, Tig Notaro and Margo Martindale. Release Date: 15th Febraury 2019 Genre: Comedy Cast Members: Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne

COMING SOON... THE LEGO MOVIE 2

It’s been five years since everything was awesome and the citizens are facing a huge new threat: LEGO DUPLO invaders from outer space, wrecking everything faster than they can rebuild. The battle to defeat them and restore harmony to the LEGO universe will take Emmet, Lucy, Batman and their friends to faraway, unexplored worlds, including a strange galaxy where everything is a musical. It will test their courage, creativity and Master Building skills, and reveal just how special they really are. Release Date: 8th February 2019 Genre: Animated Cast Members: Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks

HAPPY DEATH DAY 2U

Jessica Rothe leads the returning cast of ‘Happy Death Day 2U’, the follow-up to Blumhouse’s (Split, Get Out, The Purge series) surprise 2017 smash hit of riveting, repeating twists and comic turns. This time, our hero Tree discovers that dying over and over was surprisingly easier than the dangers that lie ahead. Date: 15th Febraury 2019 Genre: Horror Cast Members: Jessica Rothe

Please note that release dates are subject to change and some previews may be shown earlier.

Finding Love

FIXING HEARTBREAK Let New People In It can be tempting to go straight down the online dating route. After all, everyone you meet is looking for a partner too, right? Unfortunately not. Some online daters aren’t single or honest about themselves and may only be looking for sex. There’s also a lot of pressure when you’re meeting for the first time solely to evaluate romantic potential; it’s much more intense than meeting someone naturally and then gradually getting to know them, with more time to evaluate your feelings. Give it a go – but do so with caution.

Valentine’s Day makes love hard to avoid, but that’s no bad thing: research shows we’re generally healthier, happier and live longer if we’re in a relationship. Yet break-ups and dysfunctional relationships can be devastating. Here are tips from the experts on starting new relationships and surviving breakups while remaining mentally healthy. Ready for a New Relationship? Experts Relate point out that relationships can be wonderful, but also hard work, requiring perseverance and a willingness to adapt. Are there current stresses in your life that could skew your judgment or prevent you putting in the time a relationship requires? Are you looking for a relationship to solve a problem? Beware. Are you over your last partnership? You probably both did things that contributed to the relationship’s decline, so think about them to avoid making the same mistakes again. “Being able to acknowledge and accept our part in both the making and the breaking of the relationship can help us to understand what we’re good at – and what we perhaps find difficult,” advises Relate.

What Kind of Relationship? How serious do you want your next partnership to be and what are your make or break points: marriage, children, relocation etc? What kind of partner do you want or need (not always the same thing)? “Usually, you tend to have more satisfying and longer-lasting liaisons with people that share your values,” Relate advises. Think about your ethics, attitudes, and how you live your life. What role do faith, family and gender roles play? How do you choose to spend your money and free time? Sharing the same sense of humour can be a sign you’re on the same page and for most of us, it’s important to have at least a spark of physical attraction too. While it’s important to think about the kind of person who might make you happy, beware creating a profile of your perfect person and searching exclusively for them.

Widening your social circle is a great way to increase your chances of meeting a potential partner. Try volunteering, reconnecting with old friends or colleagues, or joining a group connected to a new or existing interest. This can help you build your confidence and self-esteem and allows you to meet people for the first time in relaxed circumstances.

Hold on to You Try not to rush headlong into a new relationship, spending all your time with your new love and abandoning everything and everyone else. Keep doing the things you enjoy and seeing the friends and family who make you happy. If you don’t exist outside your relationship, what can you bring to it? What will you talk about? Living like this can lessen your self-esteem (and in turn, lessen your appeal as a partner or friend). Crucially, it can also make it far harder to cope with a break-up or bereavement.

Survive a Break-Up “It’s not what happens to you in life that defines you; it’s what you do about it,” says Sara Davison, author of Uncoupling. “Breaking up is one part of your life experience; don’t let it be the main event.” Sara’s Four Keys to Surviving and Thriving after a break-up are: 1. Taking Responsibility (for your part in what’s happened). 2. .... Getting Clarity (about your feelings, the practicalities you need to sort out and who can support you). 3. Taking Back Control (rather than “living life in reaction”). 4. Focusing On Moving Forward Positively. Talk to people you trust and consider counselling; talking to someone neutral, who knows neither of you, can be a real help. Allow yourself to feel and express emotions, but spend time thinking about what you want and what you’re going to change in your life for next time, advises Sara. “Because there will be a next time. You just have to be ready and strong enough to embrace it.”

Further Help: Sara Davidson, Uncoupling: How to survive and thrive after breakup and divorce, Piatkus Relate: www.relate.org.uk

by Alison Runham

COMMUNITY & WHATS ON

Notes from your local Muxton Councillor Like many residents I was disappointed at the lack of Christmas lights in Muxton. This was due to the contractors discovering that most of the lights were unusable when they came to put them up. I and my fellow Muxton Councillors are working hard to start a rolling programme to upgrade the lights over the next couple of years. I am delighted to report that the ‘soldiers bench’ has been installed next to Marshbrook Way play area. Work is now underway to have a commemorative feature placed nearby, please contact me if you have any suggestions as to what form this should take.

Cllr Nigel Dugmore

The defibrillator is soon to be installed at or near to St Johns Church, Saltwells Drive. Any money collected for the second one can be sent to the Parish Clerk at Turreff Hall while a suitable location is selected. Many thanks to all who donated. Cllr. Nigel Dugmore (Muxton Ward) T: 01952 380237 M: 07528 979395 E: nigel.dugmore@telford.gov.uk

Tech Tip For many of us, our phone has become our main camera. But what would happen to your precious pics if you couldn’t get into your phone? A lost or damaged handset can easily be replaced, but memories can’t, so it really is crucial that you have a backup of any photos that matter to you. At the very minimum you should ensure that every picture and video is automatically uploaded to ‘the cloud’ e.g. iCloud (Apple phones) or Google (Android). But for ‘belt and braces’ make extra copies. Connect your phone to your PC regularly and copy your photos across to your hard-drive or use a third-party app such as Flickr or Dropbox to make and store duplicate copies. Or you could use a tried and tested way of backing up photos: print them!

PUZZLE - ANSWERS SUDUKO (HARD)

SUDUKO (EASY)

TRIAL

3 Letters DOE DOG EGO ERG GOD ODE ORE PEG PER POD PRO RED

CODEWORD

QUIZ - Isograms

REP ROD ROE

REDO ROED ROPE

4 Letters DOER DOPE DROP ERGO GORE OGRE PORE PROD

5 Letters GORED GROPE PORED ROPED 6 Letters GROPED

1. Quadriceps 2. Background 3. Countryside 4. Dumbwaiter 5. Misanthropy 6. Lycanthrope 7. Atmospheric 8. Palindromes 9. Aftershock 10. Lexicography

WORD LADDER Here is one possible solution (others may exist)

WORDWHEEL SAXIFRAGE

CROSSWORD Across: 1 Malaise, 5 Dahl, 10 Adams, 11 Farrier, 12 Concertina, 14 Oxygen, 16 Astern, 19 Salamander, 23 Evil eye,

HIDATO

24 Plume, 25 Bust, 26 Kestrel. Down: 2 Anarchy, 3 Arson, 4 Soften, 6 Align, 7 Lira, 8 Backlog, 9 Gratis, 13 Aniseed, 15 Eraser, 17 En route, 18 Manège, 20 Amiss, 21 Depot, 22 Verb.

BOAT boot book look lock DOCK

KIDS PAGE Henry collects 11 presents on the route. There are 8 hearts. The Eiffel Tower order is... D, B, E, F, A and C.

NPB Garden and Ground Maintenance If you would like a polite, friendly person to tend to your gardens on a regular basis at an affordable price, do not hesitate to contact Nigel today!

Grass Cutting Hedge Maintenance Garden Borders Turf Laying Fence Painting Paths Cleaned

CALL Nigel: 07753 690 141 E: nickybiddulph791@hotmail.co.uk

Installation of Fires & Stoves ALPINE

DDFlue Linings DDLog Burners DDStoves DDChimney Work DDRoof Work

OW CALL N UR O Y T E TO G NER R U B G LO ! D E T FIT

Hetas approved installer of Solid Fuel Chimney Systems

Call Lee on 01952 276417 or 07813 921907

GARDENHAND

General Garden & Household Maintenance • All Types of Fencing • NPTC Qualified - All Types of Tree Work Undertaken • House Clearances • All Work to a Very High Standard For a Free Quote call Andy on..

01952 606756 or 07929 950091 10% OFF if you mention this Advert

plumbing bathrooms repairs painting / decorating garden work CALL OUTS Lettings approved

No job too small

CKN Property Maintenance Call today for your free quote.

call Karl on: 07914 492367 E: cknhomeservices@gmail.com View our range of products online or look out for us at local events!

No job too small!

Switches, Sockets & Lighting Replacement Consumer Unit Outdoor Lighting Full and Part House Rewires Emergency Call Outs

Home Inspirations

Contact: David Copeland M: 07866 455 993 T: 01952 404 635

E: copelandelectricals@gmail.com

Are you interested in delivering this magazine? Contact us to join our waiting list for delivery people? Call Fleur Abel on 01952 603457 or email: fleur@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk

www.inandaroundmagazine.co.uk

Call Michelle on 01952 670067 or 07961 848467 E: michelle@homeinspirations.biz

www.homeinspirations.biz

Do You Need Help to GROW Your Business? Advertise in the In and Around Magazine and we can help local residents find YOU!

R P D G O E You have two minutes to find all the words of three or more letters that can be made from the letters above. Plurals are allowed, proper nouns are not. The 6 letter word will always be just a normal everyday word.

3 letters: 15 4 letters: 11 5 letters: 4 6 letters: 1

Prices from just

Call Fleur on 01952 603457

£45

fleur@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk • www.inandaroundmagazine.co.uk

FIONA REILLY

DESIGN • SEW • & MAKE

Micropigmentation Specialist

• Relaxed and fun sewing classes and workshops for all ages (from 8-80!) • On trend projects / dressmaking • All abilities welcome and classes are tailored to your needs...

• Eyebrows • Eyeliner • Lip Liner or Full Lips

07720 233 034

Contact Katy on: 07523 853 939

fiona-reilly@outlook.com

So Katy

@fionamicropig

sokaty__

Fiona Reilly Micropigmentation Specialist

TEL: 01952 604285

d o o w h c Wy

Shropshire’s Premier Dog Care & Cardio Specialists Dog Adventure Walks Dog Running Pet Drop-Ins

www.wychwoodkennels.co.uk

BOARDING KENNELS & CATTERY

Kynnersley Drive, The Hincks, Lilleshall, Newport TF10 9HS

07904 717898 info@dog-jogs.co.uk www.dog-jogs.co.uk

PJ's Re-upholstery Services Grandfather, Father & Son - 3rd Generation Upholsterer

If your spring goes ping give us a ring! Antique or Modern Sofas & Chairs Dining Chairs Springs & Repairs

Call us free on 0808 808 00 00 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 8pm) or visit macmillan.org.uk Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604).

07802 491651 01952 610828

NO JOB TOO SMALL Card payments now accepted

www.pjsreupholsteryservices.co.uk

Est. 1976

TELFORD Triathlon CLUB

For all your domestic cleaning needs

Call Tracey on 07411 610 401 or Samantha on 07812 438 574

Quality Domestic Cleaners Weekly or Fortnightly Cleans End of Tenancy Cleans Very Reliable Fully Insured References can be supplied

LEAFLET DISTRIBUTION Delivered monthly within this magazine

Reaching a total of *30,000 select homes across Telford, Newport & Shifnal areas You can choose the areas you want - call for a list of areas to choose from WE CAN ALSO DESIGN AND PRINT THEM FOR YOU TOO!

£40

+VAT

per 1000

*Delivery rotated between 2 areas reaching 15,000 homes each month.

For further details please contact Fleur Abel on 01952 603457 E: fleur@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk • www.inandaroundmagazine.co.uk

Have you ever wanted to take part in a triathlon or a multi sport activity?

If you’re interested in joining our club or would like to come along to try one of our coached training sessions either at Oakengates Leisure Centre or Much Wenlock Swimming pool then we’d love to see you. We aim to encourage our members to achieve their best, whether it is improving on race times, entering their first triathlon, or simply trying something new.

swim. bike. run

f facebook.com/telfordtri e E: info@telfordtri.co.uk w www.telfordtri.co.uk

NEWPORT (SALOP) RUGBY CLUB invites you to JOIN US FOR OUR ANNUAL

Ladies Lunch Sat 23rd March from 12pm

Complimentary drink upon arrival, 2 course meal with tea/coffee, games & raffle

To book your table contact Alison at: ajhodson@blueyonder.co.uk or 07814 691 473 Secure your table before the 28th Feb for the reduced cost of £25pp (£27.50pp if booked after 28th Feb) We will be collecting for Womens Refuge on the day (items include toiletries, mother and/or baby items, sanitary items, etc...)

Index of Advertisers

YOUR QUICK GUIDE TO EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING IN YOUR LOCAL MAGAZINE...

Bathrooms A. Watson Home Improvements.............85 MKM..................................................................... 3 Regent House.................................................75 Telford Maintenance Ltd..............................81

Estate Agents & Property Barker Healey.................................................23 Bovis...................................................................25 Lioncourt Homes...........................................27 Nock Deighton.......................................... 18-21

Beauty Beauty by Jude............................................. 49 Fiona Reilly Micropigmentation...............97 Heaven..............................................................47 Park Street Clinic.......................................... 45

Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture SB Sports Clinic.............................................37

Bedrooms Dream Bedrooms..........................................77 Instyle House..................................................65 Bricks & Building Materials Huws Gray........................................................73 Jewsons........................................................... 69 MKM..................................................................... 3

Farm Shop/Markets/Food Fayre Green Fields Farm Shop..............................17 Financial Services CD Financial....................................................55 Fireplaces, Fires & Stoves Alpine............................................................... 96 Grate Ideas..................................................... 99 Footcare The Foot Doctor............................................36 Telford Footcare............................................36

Builder Louka Fine Finish............................................ 5

Garage Doors Garolla Garage Doors..................................63

CCTV Telford CCTV....................................................81

Garden, Plants & Building Supplies Bloomsbury Nursery....................................67 Huws Gray........................................................73 Jewsons........................................................... 69 MKM..................................................................... 3

Car Sales (New/Used) Mercedes Benz of Shrewsbury.................61 Carpet, Rugs & Floor Coverings Oakengates Carpets....................................65 Chimneys Alpine............................................................... 96 Cleaning Active Cleaning..............................................87 Shaw Clean - Tim Shaw...............................81 Sutherlands Clean Carpets........................85 Tracey & Samantha Domestic Cleaning.....97 Councillors Local Councillors.......................................... 94 Decorating Neil Rogers......................................................82 Simon’s Décor ...............................................82 WE Dunne........................................................82

Gardening/Landscaping A J Landscapes..............................................67 Gardenhand.................................................... 96 NPB Garden & Ground Maintenance.... 96 Glass & Glazing Darwin Glass & Glazing...............................85 Gutter Cleaning Gutter PRO......................................................83 Health & Fitness Body Barn........................................................39 Patshull Park Hotel........................................13 Telford Hotel & Golf Resort.......................39 Telford Tri-Club..............................................97

Design & Print I and A Print...................................................... 2

Kitchens (Supply & Fit) Dream Kitchens.............................................77 Kitchen Depot............................................. 100 R & R Kitchens................................................79 Regent House.................................................75

Doors The Door Store...............................................77

Laundry Telford Laundry..............................................56

Driveways & Patios Central Paving............................................... 69 Dry Cleaning Chelsea's of Shropshire..............................53

Legal Services / Will Writing Clarkes Solicitors...........................................57 EKM Legal Services......................................59 Parry Carver Solicitors................................53 Terry Jones Solicitors..................................57

Education Bears Den Pre-school..................................35 Birchfield School...........................................33 Tettenhall College..........................................31 Wolverhampton Grammar School..........29

Loft Ladders/Boarding Jakes n Ladders..............................................71 Reveal a Space...............................................76

Electricians Buzz Electrical................................................87 Copelands Electrical................................... 96 Del Corley Electrical Services...................87

Logs Holts...................................................................67

Entertainment / Events Hadley Park House.........................................11 Wolverhampton Racecourse.....................12

Oak Structures Louka Fine Finish............................................ 5 Select Joinery..................................................71

Log Burner Installation Alpine............................................................... 96

Meals on Wheels ICare....................................................................17

Optician Evenett & Bishop Opticians..................... 43 Tim Vanes Opticians................................... 43 Oven Cleaning Active Cleaning..............................................87 Pet Care (Dog Care, Kennels & Cattery) Dog Jogs..........................................................97 Wychwood.......................................................97 Physiotherapy SB Sports Injury & Physio. Clinics...........37 Plumbing & Heating A. Watson Home Improvements.............85 Printing I and A Print...................................................... 2 Property Maintenance CKN................................................................... 96 Louka Home Care........................................... 5 Telford Maintenance Ltd..............................81 Removals Jays Removals................................................24 Restaurants/Pubs/Cafes Fairway Restaurant......................................... 9 Hadley Park House.........................................11 Masala.................................................................12 Patshull Park Hotel........................................12 Seven Stars.................................................... 6-7 Taste of Paradise............................................. 8 Tayleur Arms..................................................... 8 Telford Hotel & Golf Resort.......................39 The Barley.........................................................15 The Bridge Inn.................................................13 White House Hotel........................................15 Wolverhampton Racecourse.....................12 Sewing Classes SoKaty...............................................................97 Skips/Waste Disposal Cartwrights Waste Disposal Services ....... 81 Spa Telford Hotel & Golf Resort.......................39 Sports Massage SB Sports Injury & Physio. Clinics...........37 Solicitor Clarkes Solicitors...........................................57 Parry Carver Solicitors................................53 Terry Jones Solicitors..................................57 Tool Hire Jewsons........................................................... 69 Tree Care Holts Tree Care...............................................67 Upholstery PJ’s Re-Upholstery Services......................97 Websites Kalidescope.....................................................59 Weddings Hadley Park House Hotel.............................11 Patshull Park Hotel........................................13 Telford Hotel & Golf Resort.......................39 Windows/Doors/Conservatories APH Windows................................................75 Daylite Windows...........................................72 R & R Services.................................................71 Trotfield Windows.........................................79

A range of Solid Fuel Stoves are NOW available

Choose from a wide range of Fires and Surrounds Authorised Dealer for: • Paragon Fires • Montpellier Marble • Gazco and Stovax • Worcester Marble • Esse and many more... • Wonderfire Premier

www.grateideas.co.uk

One of the finest Showrooms in Shropshire

FULL FITTING SERVICE AVAILABLE

Castle Trading Estate, Holyhead Road, Priorslee, Telford TF2 9NP

T: 01952 620189

Email: enquiries@grateideas.co.uk 99

Family owned with family values

A friendly, professional service to offer you a wide range of high quality bespoke kitchens, manufactured locally, at great prices.

Contemporary

Modern Classic

Traditional

Call into your local showroom: Global House, Off Trench Road, Telford TF2 6PD. We also have showrooms in: Hemel Hempstead Shrewsbury Wolverhampton

Visit us online at:

thekitchendepot.co.uk 100

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