COMMUNITY – page 6
RECIPE – page 8
BOOKS – page 10
GARDENING – page 14
BUSINESS A-Z – page 14
Driving our state-of-the-art coaches, you will be transporting the workforce from local areas to HPC (Hinkley Point C) - one of the largest construction projects in Europe. No tickets or fares to issue, no equipment/ luggage to handle. This is a 24/7 project, so we have shifts starting from as early as 3am through to twilight and night shifts. Full and Part Time positions available.
Think you can’t drive a bus? If you have great people and customer service skills, we can teach you the rest! Our expert trainers will be with you every step of the way providing ongoing support, development, and training.
We would love to hear from you if you:
• Have a full manual UK licence (held for min 12 months)
• Are aged 18 or over
• Have fantastic people skills
• Can be flexible with working hours
A summary of benefits:
• Earn £34k+ with 7 hrs overtime a week
• Pay £12.45 per hr increasing to £12.78 per hr after 6 months & £14.27 after 12 months
• 10% night shift premium
• 25% overtime and weekend premium
• 5% contributory pension matched by us
• National retailers discount scheme
• Free bus travel & reduced rail travel
• Life assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Discounted gym membership
SPS has been awarded the whole passenger transport contract for the HPC project until mid2027.
For full details and to apply visit our website at www.spsbus.co.uk or contact our Recruitment team at jobs@spsbus.co.uk
Due to popular demand we are bringing back Community Notices to LocalReach as of the April issues. So if you are a local; club, group, school, church, association etc and want to advertise your event or just make people aware of what you do, we want to hear from you. We will place this free of charge for you.
Simply go to our web site www.localreach.co.uk and fill in the form on the Community page or email editor@localreach.co.uk. We want to help as much of the community as possible, especially the groups that have very little income and no budget for advertising.
Advertising in LocalReach is a fantastic way to reach all your existing, and potentially new customers. LocalReach is delivered by Royal Mail to all homes & businesses in your postcode area every month. It is packed with community notices, interesting articles and local businesses. A massive 98% of our advertisers rebook every month so we must be doing something right!
So, if you are looking for more business then contact us now. To advertise just go to our web site www.localreach.co.uk and fill in the contact form or email hello@localreach.co.uk
Community Notices are free of charge editor@localreach.co.uk or www.localreach.co.uk
Deadline is 1st March for the April issues
Business advertising from only £28+vat pm hello@localreach.co.uk or www.localreach.co.uk
Deadline is 1st March for the April issues
Disclaimer. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this magazine, we make no guarantee that the content will always be current, accurate or complete. We do not approve any of the services or products provided by advertisers in this magazine. Anyone using the products, services or advice from advertisers will need to carry out normal checks to make sure businesses are trustworthy and reliable. LocalReach Ltd 2023.
Highly competitive with wood pricesPLUSall the benefits!
For a free no-obligation site visit, please call Jordan or Courtney
loving environment for them. Fostering provides opportunity to make a difference in their lives and help them reach their full potential.
Children in the care system have often experienced significant trauma or upheaval in their lives, and foster families provide children with a sense of stability and security, creating an environment in which they can heal and grow and learn to form positive relationships with others.
Sunday 19th March is Mothers’ Day. Many of us will wake up to our offspring proudly offering us a wobbly tray of breakfast. But for the 400,000 children in the social care system there may be no-one in their lives to appreciate their efforts of burned toast and soggy cereal.
This is where foster parents are invaluable. Fostering is an opportunity for individuals and families to make a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable children who are unable to live with their biological families, by providing a safe and
There is currently a shortage of foster carers, leading to long waits to place children. The basic requirements for fostering are that you are at least 21 years old (there is no upper age limit as long as you are fit and healthy), have a spare bedroom, and have permanent leave to remain in the UK.
Foster carers receive an allowance for each child they foster and training is available.
If you feel that you have what it takes to be a foster mother there are resources and information available at www.fosteringpeople.co.uk
By Jamie Maxfieldmight fall in love with a sleek ultra-modern purple number, but if you live in a cottage with original period décor, you have to consider whether you love it enough to change your entire interior scheme. If you want something to fit into your existing home, consider how the colour, fabric, and design will complement it. Then consider any additional features you might want, such as reclining seats or a pull-out guest bed.
Comfort - Sounds obvious but sit on the sofa in the store to get a feel for it. Consider the depth of the seat, the height of the back, the angle of the backrest, and the density of the cushions.
Durability - Look for a sofa that is well-constructed and made of durable materials. Check the frame, springs, and legs to ensure they are sturdy.
Size matters - Measure the space where the sofa will go, including doorways and stairways, to make sure the sofa will fit. It sounds obvious but it’s an incredibly common oversight! Also consider the scale of the room and the other furniture in it, and choose a sofa that is appropriately sized.
Style - Think about the overall decor of the room and choose a sofa that complements it. You
Maintenance - Consider the ease of cleaning and care the sofa might need. Some materials, such as leather, are easier to care for than others.
Budget - Work out your budget and stick to it. Keep in mind that a higher price does not always equate to better quality. Look for sales and discounts. You can also get a great deal if you’re prepared to buy a used sofa.
By Gemma Peters
Burnham and Highbridge Choral Society’s Spring Concert is on Saturday 29th April 2023. At 7.30pm in St. Andrew’s Church, Burnham-on-Sea, TA8 2AQ. The choir is performing Haydn’s Maria Theresa Mass, with selections from Westside Story, Mamma Mia and The Phantom of the Opera.
An interesting concert of classical and show music to suit lovers of both genres. An orchestra of professional musicians will join the choir.
Tickets are £10 including wine. They are available from: www.burnhamandhighbridgechoral.org. uk, Material Needs, Dusi Cake, Tourist Information, Burnham, choir members or at the door.
We look forward to welcoming you to our venues to see talented, local people of all ages take to the stage. Speech & Drama at the Princess Theatre, Burnham-on-Sea on Monday 6th & Tuesday 7th March; Dance at The Princess Theatre, Burnham-on-Sea from Wednesday 8th to Sunday 12th March and Music at Highbridge Community Hall, Market Street Highbridge from Wednesday 15th to Saturday 18th March 2023. Please visit the festival website, www.highbridgefestival.org.uk, for more information and news.
Whether you are a new or experienced bowler or just thinking about taking up the game, we would be pleased to hear from you.
As a further incentive we are able to offer THREE FREE bowling sessions with instruction.
Every Friday at 10am and Wednesday evening at 6pm. Starting Mid April till September. Further details as available from: Trevor Wellavize 07872 495470, Richard Luscombe 01278 782314 / 07434 972806, Steve Heeley 01278 751972 Evenings only.
To advertise simply go to our web site www.localreach.co.uk and fill in the form on the Community page or email editor@localreach.co.uk
1. Interest free finance isn’t free - You may find prices from outlets that offer “interest free” are much higher than a “cash” price elsewhere. Because interest free finance is not free to the retailer, they will often inflate their prices to cover their costs for including the finance.
2. Why are some sales staff so pushy? - Most Sales staff work on commission, so they’re incentivised to sell you the most profitable lines, not the best option for you. Items that you don’t need can also be included. The higher your price, the larger their commission fee!
3. Trade prices are not always the cheapest - Always look at the bottom line price. Retailers who advertise themselves as “Trade Suppliers” like to give the impression that “Trade Prices” mean cheap prices. This may have been the case in the past, but now large Trade sheds use this “common knowledge” to their advantage and have raised their prices hoping you won’t realise.
4. Kitchen fitting shouldn’t cost as much as your kitchen - Bundled prices for fitting through a retailer can be inflated to include a margin for the supplier. The price could also include VAT, whereas a private installer may not be VAT registered, saving you 20% on the fitting.
5. You don’t have to sign up on the day!High pressure sales tactics include things like making you put a deposit down on the day of visiting the showroom. If you do this, you’re locked in to that supplier, stopping you from shopping around to find a better price.
6. Trade supplier prices are not always what they seem - Your local trade supplier’s prices are determined by the tradesman who’s buying the kitchen. The price they share with you may not always be the price they get charged by the supplier!
7. Why can’t some appliances be price matched? - Larger retailers will often negotiate specific models of appliances with their suppliers. These are often the exact same model as the ones available elsewhere, just with minor or inconsequential differences. But because they’re an exclusive model, they can no longer be price matched!
8. Half price sales are a myth - If you see a 50% reduction on a kitchen, ask yourself whether you think anyone has ever paid “full” price. Don’t assume that a “50% reduction” can’t be beaten elsewhere, they often can! Don’t be taken in.
9. Some suppliers use tricks to make shopping around difficult - If you buy into the wrong supplier’s kitchens, you can run the risk of locking yourself into their ecosystem, often for the life of the kitchen. Common tricks include using non-industry standard sizes, forcing you to buy their matching components. This can mean re-facing doors or worktops later in your kitchen’s life forces you to return to that same supplier again.
10. Organising the purchase and installation of your own kitchen can save you a small fortune - Buying online has never been easier. By measuring up yourself, then selecting and buying your own kitchen units, you can save yourself much of the additional costs associated with a full kitchen purchase like commission for sales staff, time for measure-ups and design. Even if you source your own fitter rather than doing it yourself, thousands can be saved!
A company like Better Kitchens can help you bring together all aspects of buying your own kitchenmeasuring, designing, planning and buying. Feel free to ask us for help at every step. If you’re looking at a new kitchen, give Better Kitchens in Weston-s-Mare a look. We’re the largest independent online kitchen supplier in the South West. Go to betterkitchens.co.uk/get-a-quote today, or visit our 28 display showroom in Weston to find out how much you could save on your existing kitchen quote from any other supplier!
Method:
Rinse the prawns. Use a sharp knife to slice along the back of each prawn from head end to tail and remove the thin black intestine.
Mix the lemon juice with the garlic, herbs and butter to form a paste. Season well with salt and pepper and spread the paste over the prawns. Leave to marinate for 30 minutes.
Preheat a frying pan. Fry the prawns until cooked, tossing them several times to distribute the heat evenly.
Ingredients:
12 Raw prawns in their shells
Juice of half a lemon
2 Garlic cloves - crushed
3 tbsp Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 tbsp chopped fresh dill
3 tbsp softened butter
Salt and pepper
Turn out on to warm plates and drizzle with the juices from the pan.
Serve with lemon wedges and crusty bread.
Serves: 2
Preparation time: 25 minutes + marinating time
Cooking time: 5-6 minutes
have used it or worn it in the past year. If the answer is no, consider getting rid of it.
Sort items into piles - As you declutter, sort items into piles such as “keep,” “donate,” “sell,” or “throw away” This can make it easier to decide what to do with each item.
Use storage solutions - Invest in storage solutions, such as bins or shelves. This can help you to keep your home organized and clutterfree BUT declutter first. It’s easier to organise stuff when you have less of it!
Spring is a time when we often get the urge to clean and declutter our homes.
If you have the urge, here are a few useful strategies:
Start small - It can be overwhelming to try to declutter a whole room or house at once. Instead, start with a small area, such as a closet or a single shelf, and work your way up to larger areas.
Follow the “one year” rule - When deciding whether to keep something, ask yourself if you
Let it go - It can be difficult to get rid of things, especially if they have sentimental value. However, it’s important to remember that keeping things that you don’t use or need can add unnecessary stress to your life.
Finally - be patient and take breaks when needed. Decluttering can be a time-consuming process, but the end result of a more organized and clutter-free home is worth the effort.
By Sarah Davey
by Elizabeth Strout
It’s Mothers’ Day this month and in spite of all the saccharine cards in the shops we know that mother and daughter relationships are often not straightforward. Lucy Barton is both a mother and a daughter. She has a floundering marriage and is in hospital with complications following what should have been a routine operation. Her husband who dislikes hospitals and declines to visit, arranges instead for her estranged mother to sit with her.
Strout’s novel is about a mother and daughter relationship steeped in sadness. Lucy spent her childhood craving maternal love, while her mother seemed incapable of providing it.
This poignant and deeply moving novel explores the complexities of family, love, and forgiveness. Told from Lucy’s viewpoint, the story takes us on a journey through her childhood and into adult life, as she reflects on events in her past and her relationship with her mother.
The novel is written in a simple and straightforward style that somehow belies the emotional depth of the story. Strout’s writing is evocative and powerful; she’s a master of capturing the nuances of human emotion. The characters and their relationships are richly drawn, and relatable. Lucy’s relationship with her mother is at the core of the novel, and Strout explores its dynamics with sensitivity and insight.
Themes of family, love, and forgiveness are woven throughout and Strout’s writing reflects on the passage of time, the power of memory and the strength of the human spirit. There is much in this novel that is not stated explicitly. The reader is left to do some work and the result is a wise, thought-provoking book.
By Tash Donovan
Although we have written about this recently, we are still getting a large number of calls from customers who are reporting being scammed or telling us that “Microsoft” recently cleaned their computer. This new wave of scams imitates Microsoft support and is catching people off-guard at a higher rate than normal, and tricks victims into spending hundreds, sometimes thousands, on fake protection software which serves no purpose. The scammers also gain full control over the computer, putting user data and passwords at risk.
Unlike traditional scams, this can pop up whenever it pleases, even when all programs are closed, and after computer restarts. As a result, these pop-ups seem like legitimate messages from Microsoft, explaining the increasing number of new victims. Traditional scams take the form of malicious emails or dangerous websites, which most remain vigilant against, but these deceptive pop-ups utilise the Windows notifications system, slotting themselves in amongst genuine notifications, so keep alert. These emerge from the bottom right corner. The user often clicks “allow” to “notifications” from a dangerous website, which starts off this process. The popup messages claim to be security alerts from Microsoft and provide a number to call. Those who fall for it wind up giving the scammers full control over the computer and making one or more online payments for fake protection services.
For those who fall victim to this scam, first power off the computer, and if you have paid for services or given payment details, call your bank immediately to inform them of this. Your bank should refund any money stolen from you as a result of fraud. Remember that when making payments either online or over the phone, credit cards have fraud protection, while debit payments offer less protections. We specialise in resolving issues caused on the computer by such scams, so if either recently or in the past you have paid somebody to “fix” your computer after a pop-up message, please get in touch, as we can visit to ensure that your computer is secure.
Neil Buzzard, Director, Computer Problem Solutions Ltd. Tel: 07973 536299 or email sales@e-cps.co.uk• Problem Solving & Repairs
• Virus/Spyware Removal
• New PC Systems
• Broadband/WIFI Problems
• Performance Improvement
• Wireless Networking
• iPhone/iPad help
• Upgrades
• Websites
• Help & Tuition
We have Mobile Engineers in your area or with your permission we can access your computer remotely.
Engineer: 07973 536299
Office: 01278 787846
E-mail: sales@e-cps.co.uk
www.e-cps.co.uk
Join us at The Windmill Bar and Bistro for an exciting line-up of events from live music to dining experiences, here’s an overview of dates for your diaries…
FEBRUARY
In February we introduce Fish Fridays, every Friday we will be serving a variety of fish dishes, check in with us weekly for specials.
MARCH
In March join us on Friday 17th, St Patrick’s day, when we are hosting a race night to help raise funds for local gymnastics club Monarchs as the gymnasts head to Italy to compete. Come along and cheer on your horse, and who knows, it might be your lucky day! On Saturday 18th March we have Martin Smith singing the best of Irish, join us and get into the spirit of the Irish! We are holding our Fawlty Towers dining experience on Friday 24th March which will see Basil, Sybil and Manuel turn up for a dining experience with a difference, as I’m sure there will be a few mishaps and chaos as the night unfolds. Tickets for this one are selling fast, grab yours now before it’s too late!
MAY
In May we look forward to celebrating the King’s Coronation with you all, Saturday 6th we have Jordan Hill singing the best of British 3pm-10pm, and afternoon tea, this is £10pp, tickets on sale now! Monday 8th we are joined by a Chaz and Dayve tribute 5pm-8pm and best of British food will be available.
AUGUST
After last year’s success we will be doing another Country and Western weekend kicking it off on Friday 25th with Chris Woodchuck from 9pm. Saturday 26th we will be joined by Hank and on Monday 28th The Pashy Pops return. Other acts for this weekend are yet to be confirmed… keep an eye out for those!
SEPTEMBER
Friday 8th September we have an ever popular Murder Mystery, ‘Pennington Park’... “The shakin’ sundae hop is underway and everyone is having a good time. The anniversary of the terrible murder seems to be all but forgotten when someone decides to deliver a murderous reminder, and that’s just for starters!” Tickets on sale now.
NOVEMBER
The Pashy Pops join us on Saturday 11th for their war night ‘Underneath the Lantern’, a brilliant show to get into the spirit of the 40s.
This year we will be holding a children’s Christmas party for the first time on Saturday 9th, bring your little ones along to be entertained by The Pashy Pops and get them in the Christmas spirit. We also have a Christmas Murder Mystery for the first time this year, if you’re looking for something a little different for your Christmas party this year join us on Friday 15th for this one!
Follow us on Facebook for updates on our regular live music acts throughout the year.
ST, BURNHAM ON SEA, TA8 1AL HAM LANE, STRETCHOLT, BRIDGWATER, TA6 4SR WWW.BLACKROCKVETS.COM INFO@BLACKROCKVETS.COM
