December 2015
Living Plus Bristol
Bristol’s Local Free Magazine
Local and Independent since 201 1
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You want to give them the best start in life. We do too. For just £55, our Best Start In Life package includes*: Primary vaccination course Initial flea & worm treatment Microchip Bag of veterinary recommended food 10% discount on neutering 4 weeks free insurance *Terms and conditions apply, please see vets4pets.com/termsandconditions
Call 0117 942 42 43 or visit vets4pets.com/bishopston Vets4Pets Bishopston 275 - 277 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol, BS7 8NY Opening times Mon-Fri 8.30am - 7pm Sat 9am - 12pm
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There are plenty of things to organise leading up to Christmas and to help you make the process more enjoyable, we have put together a guide for some of the best Christmas markets around and they are all within a couple of hours travel from Bristol. If you entered our Reader’s Corner offer last month for tickets to the Fireworks Fiesta at Canford Park, we have the results of the lucky readers in this issue! In case if you were not one of the lucky readers, stay tuned as we will have more great offers for you in the months ahead There is also a new restaurant review in this issue and it’s a great place for group gatherings which is ideal for some of the pre-Christmas gatherings ahead. Enjoy the late autumn season and see you next month, ready for Christmas! Enjoy! Emily, Editor
Contents Create Your Action Advent Calendar
4
Expert’s Say
12
Beat the Freeze with Works Guaranteed!
1 5
New Books
16
Restaurant Review
1 9
Christmas Recipes
2 3
Kids’ Corner
27
Create Your Action Advent Calendar With the Christmas holidays just around the corner, there will be plenty of festive foods and goodies for you to indulge yourself but sadly, that will mean you will be piling on the calories. As much as you shouldn’t give up all these things which make you feel good at Christmas, there are ways to banish that guilty feeling of increasing your waistline. You can still have all the festive grub and sweets you like and all you need to do is more regular exercise. That does not mean you have to do the same repetitive exercises every day and because this is the festive season, we have a great idea to turn your exercise routine into a fun filled action activity calendar! All you have to do is write a number from some of the activities below, then fold each piece of paper and mix them up. Randomly select a piece of folded paper and insert it into each window of your Advent Calendar. The best part is you can use a chocolate calendar and treat yourself to a daily piece of chocolate after your action activity! We have put together a list of suggested activities you can do and doing an activity each day leading up to Christmas day can do wonders for your physical health, this list is just a few ideas of what you can do or repeat if you want, so feel free and get inspired to add to make your own list of action activities.
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Abseiling Down The Avon Gorge Abseiling is great fun and a rewarding challenge. The hardest part is the first step over the edge but once at the bottom you will feel a glow of accomplishment and exhilaration. The cost for half day generally start from £30 and you can see more details at www.sheeradventure.co.uk Ten Minutes Cardio Workout No doubt there will be days which are not suitable for outdoor activities and this is the bread and butter of exercises you can do at home. Here is a basic 10 minutes workout which should include a 2 minutes warm up and a 2 minutes cool down and stretch period. The warm up should include squats, step touches, reverse lunges and knee lifts. High-Knee Run Sequence • Run in place with knees lifted high / 30 seconds. • Recovery of hamstring curls / 30 seconds and repeat sequence twice.
Jumping Jack Sequence • Do jumping jacks with arm lifts / 30 seconds • Recovery of alternate reverse lunges / 30 seconds and repeat sequence twice.
Side Squats with Hop Sequence • Begin with feet hip-width apart and arms at sides. Take wide step to right with right foot, then squat, bending arms to 90 degrees. Step right foot toward left so feet are hip-width apart and knees are slightly bent. Do a straight-leg hop into the air, reaching arms overhead. Return to starting position / 30 seconds • Recovery of marching or jog in place / 30 seconds and repeat sequence, stepping and squatting to left.
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Photo from www.chsw.org.uk
Santas on the Run Bristol 2015 How about a joining a charity run and exercise for a good cause? On Sunday 13th December 2015 at Lloyds Amphitheatre, Bristol Harbourside, you can dress up as Santa or an imaginative festive costume you can think of and jog with a crowd of fellow Santas on a 2k route around Bristol’s Historic Harbour. Prices: £12/Adult (16+), £6/ Child Registration includes a free Santa suit, a medal and festive treats! For details, visit: www.chsw.org.uk/events/santas-on-the-run/bristol Visit your Local Swimming Pool Time to give the swimming costume you bought for the summer another go at your local pool. Visit Horfield Leisure Centre or Easton Leisure Centre for your nearest public pool or for local private pools, there is Lido, Clifton College and University of Bristol which are all in Clifton area. A Woodland Walk at Oldbury Court This is a beautiful and diverse estate, combining woodland and riverside paths with historic parkland and children’s play facilities. Beyond the parkland, you can follow the path down to the river Frome, where paths lead either towards Frenchay, or in the other direction, towards Snuff Mills, a beautiful and historic section of the Frome Valley Walkway. On your walk, you may even catch a glimpse of kingfishers, herons,
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foxes, owls, bats and deer. Postcode: BS16 2JH Never Too Late to Try Skateboarding Skateboarders will tell you that you are never too old to start skateboarding and with Horfield Skatepark nearby, it is easy to see and learn this exciting activity. Private lessons can be arranged with Skates and Ladders (skatesandladders.com) or Team Rubicon (teamrubicon.co.uk) Local skateparks include Campus in Winterbourne, Emerson Green Skatepark, Dean Lane Skatepark in Bedminster. Popular flatgrounds with skateboarders in Bristol are in College Green and Lloyd’s at city centre. Walk the Christmas Steps There are several stories of supposedly how this steep and historic path got its name but despite there is hardly any Christmas related attractions here today, there are a number of independent shops, art galleries, bars, cafes there and not to mention a very steep walk. Walk up and down the steps several times and you will feel the wonders of exercising your legs! Postcode: BS1 5BS Be a Master of Table Tennis with a large number of outdoor Table Tennis tables you might have noticed around the city, this activity is now officially cooler than shooting pool! When played regularly it improves reflexes, hand-eye coordination and balance, while toning and strengthening the core muscles, upper and lower body. Not only is it a good cardiovascular exercise, it is also a great aerobic workout! For lessons and community groups, contact Bristol Table Tennis Club at University of Bristol Student or Ping England (www.pingengland.co.uk).
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Photo from At-Bristol & Joe Meredith
Protect Yourself with Krav Maga Unlike traditional martial arts, Krav Maga is a reality based selfdefence and personal protection system which was developed in late 1940’s and it is the official hand to hand and self defence system of the Israeli Military. Learning Krav Maga will give you confidence or guarding yourself from physically threatening situation and you also get a great workout doing it. For a free taster lesson, visit (bristolkravmaga.co.uk) or (bristolkravmaga.com). Go Ice Skating at At-Bristol Ice Rink Get festive with and go skating on outdoor ice rink at Bristol city centre! Opens from 7th November to 5th January 2016 and you can get 10%off when booking online £7.50/adults and £5.50/child for a 45 minutes session.
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203 Whiteladies Road, Clifton BS8 2XT www.cjhole.com
Christmas. Really? Already? That year went fast. It has been a great 2015 for Bristol. The city becomes more and more exciting every year that passes. We appear to have more development, more shops, more student life and more energy than ever before. I daily meet families and professionals relocating here and I see the same excitement and enthusiasm for this city that I feel deep in my bones. Yes, property can be very expensive, especially in this area but we do have high employment, good schools, great hospitals and thriving Universities. This time of year is traditionally one for counting blessings and extending good cheer to others. Living in Bristol makes both of those easier to do. Merry Christmas! Best Wishes , Howard Davis MD Clifton
Redland FOR SALE
£1,000,000
A Victorian period property in a highly desirable leafy terrace in Redland. Currently arranged as four separate flats. Rear and front gardens as well as garage. EPC’s Flat 1 D, Flat 2 C, Flat 3 C, Flat 4 F.
Redland TO LET £2,000 pcm plus fees
Lovely three storey townhouse, newly refurbished to a very high standard. Patio garden and allocated parking. EPC tbc
Redland FOR SALE
£425,000
An exceptional triplex apartment in a beautifully converted church. This spacious apartment has been designed to complement the existing French Gothic style architecture of arches and stone pillars. EPC E
City Centre TO LET £1,595 pcm plus fees
A stunning duplex apartment in a converted Grade II listed building at the foot of Park Street. Generous open plan living space and master with ensuite. Allocated parking. EPC C
As the saying goes; “A dog is for life, not just for Christmas” and with the holidays just around the corner, some of us might be seriously considering adopting a pet. However before adopting, you should have a good idea on how you will take care of your pet especially their long term healthcare needs. This month we have our local Veterinary Surgeon, Tom Crippen from Bishopston Vets4Pets on Gloucester Road to answer some of our readers’ questions and also on how he can help you to take good care of your pet’s health.
Expert’s Say by Tom Crippen Veterinary Surgeon and Practice Partner What makes your practice different?
As we are a relatively new practice we’ve had the latest technology installed in the practice from day one from digital xray to advanced ultrasound. We are an RCVS accredited practice and we were the first practice in Bristol to become an ISFM gold standard cat friendly clinic. We really care about our patients and clients and they come first, being a small practice really helps us give the care our patients need.
Who owns your practice?
Our practice is a joint venture partnership between Tom Crippen the head vet and Vets4Pets. This means the practice is run on a day to day basis by Tom and he makes all important clinical decisions. This is the great thing about Vets4Pets, the control of the practice if with the head vet and important clinical decisions are made by us and not a management board who are not vets – a common thing these days.
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What types of animals do you treat?
We look after dogs, cats, and small furries (rats, rabbits, guinea pigs etc) we don’t see reptiles or birds as we feel these species should see specialist exotic vets.
How can you help my pet if they are ill?
Our vets have a lot of experience in small animal medicine and surgery and we maintain very high clinical standards. We have great facilities including separate cat and dog wards, a dedicated sterile operating theatre, a lab area, diagnostic imaging facilities and a great team to help you each and every time you come in.
Is there anything I can do to help prevent my pet getting sick?
Yes definitely, we vaccinate cats, dogs and rabbits against several life threatening diseases, it is very important these are kept up to date though. You can also prevent potentially life threatening parasites in cats and dogs with regular parasite treatments, some of these parasites can cause quite serious illness in us too so regular treatment is very important.
Vets4Pets Bishopston
275-277 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8NY Telephone: 0117 942 42 43
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Beat the Freeze with works guaranteed! Locally based in Bristol, Ambient Heating & Plumbing has been providing heating and plumbing solutions for over 11 years. Over that time, the firm has earned a great reputation for its hassle-free, professional services which have resulted in many happy customers built up over the years. Ambient have many word of mouth referrals from their satisfied customers and they are proud of the recommendations and testimonials they have earned. By ensuring customers they get high quality professional works, Ambient is fully committed to their workmanship and offer a 5 year guarantee on their works which is reassuring for many customers. Ambient understands customers’ needs and is keen to provide a quick reaction service to quotation appointments and also to any maintenance repair works. The scope of services include full central heating systems and boiler upgrades which now come with up to a 10 year manufactures guarantee; bathroom renovations which include all aspects of plumbing, electrics, plastering, tiling, carpentry, flooring, decorating, internal building alterations and full kitchen refurbishments.
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New Books
The Irish Countrywomen’s Association Book of Christmas
Irish Countrywomen’s Association, Hardcover RRP £19.99 For many Irish families, that sense of ‘bringing home Christmas’ is very much alive: welcoming loved ones back to the family homestead, gathering gifts beneath the tree and fresh food in the fridge, filling your home with the sounds of family and friends having the craic, and your kitchen smelling of mince pies and mulled wine. Christmas is a magical time of year for the women of the ICA a time of tradition and celebration. But there’s plenty to be done! It’s time to start making lists, so that when the time comes to check them twice you know you’ve got everything covered. The ICA Book of Christmas lets you in on secrets and tips that have been passed down and perfected through generations of Irish families. Find traditional recipes for festive feasts, advice for the big shop and buying the tree, techniques for homemade cards and gifts, and shortcuts to get your home ready for the festive season. Not forgetting the little touches that make an Irish Christmas complete, like the wreath on the door, the candle in the window and stirring a wish into the Christmas pudding
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Cooking for Christmas (The Food Lovers’ Library) Josceline Dimbleby, Paperback RRP £9.99
Each Christmas is a performance, which everyone in the family will compare with every other Christmas and if you are the cook, you are the person most responsible for its success. In order not to disintegrate completely under the pressure, here is a book that will give you all the confidence you need to manage not just Christmas Day, but Boxing Day and the duration of the festive holiday too. Rather than a prescriptive ‘day by day countdown’ the author sensibly suggests you sit down with a pad and pencil, and plan each meal ‘down to the last Brussels sprout’. It may be an effort, but it will be the only way to relax, enjoy and survive the coming onslaught. Over 50 mouth-watering recipes are given, including classics that the author’s following still makes today: feather-light cheese biscuits, red velvet casserole of beef, and turkey au gratin with almonds. The turkey stuffings here are superlatively good - particularly the veal, lemon and parsley - and the orange pastry for mince pies is the best and crumbliest you will ever make. Ideas for leftovers, cold cuts, salads and what wine to drink with what are also included.
Elmer’s Christmas
David McKee, Paperback RRP £6.99 It’s two days before Christmas Eve, the night Papa Red visits, and the young elephants are very excited. They choose a tree to decorate and prepare the presents for Papa Red to collect during the night to take to those who need them. But this year Elmer has a special treat in store for the young elephants, if they can keep quiet and out of sight...
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RESTAURANT review This is one of the few reviews of a restaurant revisit that has been done here but having been so impressed by the food at The Kenny (as referred to by its locals) several times before; I was eagerly looking forward to going back again. The pub had recently reopened in October following a 6 months closure and refurbishment because of a fire. Revisiting the premises again this time was reassuringly positive to see much of the interiors had not changed. To start off our dinner we order a half dozen rock oysters (ÂŁ12.95) and this was served with shallot red wine vinegar size and lemon. The oysters were fresh and well prepared and this preparation process is so important when opening them carefully to avoid any traces of shell getting inside. Although I am aware that oysters come in many sizes, I did feel some of size variation was slightly off as serving oysters in a restaurant should have tighter consistency in size. In the second starter, we ordered the Game faggot & crushed roots (ÂŁ7.00). This was an unusual choice as faggots generally do not appear on restaurant menus but that only made it all the more interesting to try out. One of the more interesting aspects of faggots is that it is noted for its liver like taste and when describing what is the taste of game? Many people would describe its taste similar to liver or kidney like or well hung aged meat. To find similar taste qualities in both ingredients within one dish was what made this so curious to try. As consistent with game meats, it was lean with a robust taste. The starter was generously portioned but perhaps it slightly too meaty as a starter and having more vegetables might made it a more balanced starter course. I believed
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this would have made an excellent main course and what a firecracker of a dish this would have been when enjoying with a glass of full bodied red wine. For the main courses, we ordered the Fallow deer, celeriac, chicory & chestnut (£16.00). This was cooked perfectly with its pink centre. The texture of the meat could have been slightly tenderer but when paired with the rich chestnut sauce; not only did it bring out the flavour of the meat but also elevated the dish to a new level. This main course was of good portion and size and when you reflect the balance of quality and price, it was indeed good value. The second main course we ordered was the Rare Onglet, chips and béarnaise (£16.00). Consistent to everything we had so far, it was of a good size and portion but not too overwhelming. The beef was carefully done, not overcooked and it was very tender and concise to how it should be served. One minor fault was that it was a touch too cold when it arrived at the table but otherwise it was a very satisfying steak. For dessert, we ordered the Chocolate mousse, salted caramel & honeycomb (£7.00), even though this sounded like any ordinary readymade dessert available from supermarket shelves, I decided to give this a try given the previous dishes had turned out so well. The result was a light textured yet exceptionally rich chocolate mousse. This was a lot different to those creamy chocolate mousses I used to enjoy as a child but this was clearly a more sophisticated interpretation of a childhood classic now made purely for adults in mind. The mousse was much less sugary than what you might expect and adding the details of salted caramel and honeycomb bits just makes you want to keep munching without end. The second dessert we ordered was the Sticky toffee pudding, vanilla ice cream & toffee sauce (£6.00) and having tasted this before their refurbishment, I had hoped this would be unchanged from the previous time I had it. I am genuinely delighted to inform that it is still just as good as it ever was. Served in a good and large portion, the pudding has what the perfect sponge is meant to be which is light,
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fluffy and moist. Each spoonful had a subtle hint of date and accompanied with the toffee sauce which was ideal and not overly sweet; this is one of the best desserts of this type I have had anywhere in the past few years. Yet again, dinner at The Kenny was a very positive experience and seems to be slightly less expensive compared with prices before its refurbishment. As compared with how it was before, although some of details of the food have not quite matched to its previous high standards, I am convinced it will return to its rightful place soon enough.
The Kensington Arms
35-37 Stanley Road, Redland, Bristol BS6 6NP Tel. 0117 944 6444
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Christmas RECIPES British Asparagus Cigars Cooking time: 20 minutes Preparation time: 15 minutes Serves: 16 sharing
Ingredients
2 bundles of British asparagus 4 sheets of ready-made filo pastry 50g butter melted 2 handfuls of finely grated parmesan Salt Black pepper 1. Pre-heat the oven to 190°c 2. Cook the asparagus in well salted water, cooking it for only 1 - 2 minutes once it has come back to the boil. 3. Drain and cool the asparagus in cold water then drain again, making sure it’s thoroughly dry with a tea towel. 4. Cut the asparagus 2/3 of the way down, either discarding the lower stem or saving it for a soup, such as pea and asparagus & sorrel. 5. Take one sheet of filo pastry and brush it lightly but thoroughly all over with butter. Cut each piece into four. Place each asparagus spear along the bottom of your filo piece and roll snugly but not over tightly. 6. Picking it up with your fingers brush the outside with butter again, then scatter the grated parmesan thoroughly over the top of each cigar. 7. Lay them down on a tray lined with greaseproof paper with the outside edge of the filo facing down on the paper, this stops them unravelling when they cook. 8. Once done grind over with a heavy bombardment of black pepper. Place in the oven for 15- 18 minutes until deep golden and crispy.
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Causa Limeňa with Chicken Preparation & cooking time: 60 minutes Serves: 6
Ingredients
1 kg potatoes (Maris Peer or Charlotte) 350g skinless, boneless chicken breasts 2 tbsp mayonnaise Dash of olive oil 1-2 tsp aji amarillo chilli paste (or liquidized mild red chilli) 1 lime Pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 ripe Hass avocados, halved, pitted and peeled 1. Boil the potatoes until tender. Drain, cool for a while, then peel them and mash thoroughly. Leave until cold. 2. Meanwhile, poach the chicken breasts in simmering water, seasoned with salt and pepper, for 20 minutes. Drain and cool. Shred finely and mix with the mayonnaise. 3. Mix the oil, chilli paste and juice of ½ lime into the mashed potato. Season. Mash the avocados with the remaining lime juice and season with a little salt and pepper. 4. To assemble each causa, put a deep 7cm cook’s ring or round mould on a plate (or use a cookie cutter). Spoon in some mashed potato to a depth of about 1cm and smooth out evenly, using the back of a spoon. 5. Spread a layer of the avocado over the potato, then a layer of the chicken mixture. Repeat another layer of avocado and finish with a layer of mashed potato. 6. Use the rest of the mixture to make 6 causas in total. Chill for 10 minutes, then remove the moulds. Serve, garnished with sliced avocado and salad leaves.
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Radish Bloody Mary Cooking time: 5 minutes Serves: 4
Ingredients
100ml vodka 50ml sherry ½ tbsp freshly grated horseradish 25ml Worcestershire sauce Tabasco to taste ½ tsp celery salt Cracked black pepper to taste 750ml tomato juice 500g ice cubes 100g sliced radishes 1 lime cut into wedges 4 celery sticks to garnish 1. Mix together the vodka, sherry, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, celery salt, black pepper and tomato juice in a large jug. 2. Fill another large jug with the ice, sliced radishes and lime wedges. 3. Pour the liquid over the ice, and serve straight away in chilled glasses with celery sticks in them. 4. Alternatively you can let your friends mix their own, depending on how spicy they like them!
Photo and recipes by british-asparagus.co.uk, deliciousavocados.co.uk and www.lovecelery.co.uk
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Christmas ChristmasSearch Word Search Word Name:________________________________
Christmas Word Search
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Word List: GINGERBREAD SNOWMAN GIFTS HOLLYSNOWMAN ANGEL ELVESORNAMENTS REINDEER
HOLIDAY
Date:_____________
BELLS LIGHTS GIFTS SLEIGH HOLLY HOLIDAY SILVER
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ELVES STAR ANGEL BELLS LIGHTS SILVER GOLD
REINDEER ORNAMENTS SLEIGH GINGERBREAD STAR GOLD
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Anywh
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