LocalReach Clevedon July 2023

GARDENING – page 4

COMMUNITY – page 7

PUZZLES – page 8

BOOKS – page 16

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Garden View

This month – Watering: balancing need with conservation

a tap. The timer allows you to set specific watering schedules, ensuring your plants receive water even when you’re not around. This is particularly handy for busy individuals or holiday periods. Installation requires some basic plumbing skills, but it is quite manageable for most gardeners. The system needs to be connected to a water source, and the pipes, valves, and sprinklers or drippers need to be positioned accordingly. Personally, I prefer drippers to sprinklers as they are less wasteful. Proper planning and layout are crucial to ensure efficient water distribution. There are lots of helpful videos on YouTube offering great advice.

Keeping our gardens healthy and hydrated can be a challenging task, especially during hot summers or when we’re away from home. The days when gardeners used hosepipes liberally are long gone. An automatic watering system can offer an efficient solution to keeping the garden looking great while not destroying the environment.

Watering systems provide a hands-free approach to watering the garden. They consist of pipes, valves, and sprinklers or drippers strategically placed throughout your garden. They can be connected to a timer and a water source, such as

Watering systems can also be used with stored rainwater from a water butt. This makes them even more eco-friendly. If you’re going to do this make sure to use appropriate filtration and pump system to ensure the rainwater is suitable for distribution through the watering system.: Even if you have to use tap water, automatic systems are designed for efficient use. By targeting specific areas and delivering water directly to the plants’ roots, they minimize wastage. Additionally, the use of timers allows for precise scheduling, preventing overwatering, thus further conserving water. Compared to using a hosepipe, which can lead to water runoff and inefficient coverage, automatic systems provide better control use far less water.

Mulching further conserves water by preventing the underlying soil from drying out in warm weather. It creates a protective layer on the soil surface, acting as a barrier to reduce evaporation. Organic mulch materials include straw, wood chips, bark, leaves, grass clippings, and compost. These materials break down over time, enriching the soil with nutrients while simultaneously retaining moisture. Organic mulch also improves soil structure, promotes beneficial microbial activity, and helps prevent weed growth. It needs to be reapplied as it breaks down.

Inorganic mulch materials such as gravel, stones do not break down and can very decorative. Its more expensive so better suited to small spaces. Apply a layer of mulch that is 2-4 inches thick around plants, leaving a gap around the stem or trunk to prevent rotting. Ensure the mulch extends to the drip line of trees and shrubs to cover the entire root zone. When used alongside an automatic drip watering system, mulching goes a long way towards reducing water usage in the garden.

By Rachael Leverton

Family run business provides reliable bin cleaning services.

Gordano Wheelie Bin Cleaning will visit on the same day your bins are emptied. We arrive with our specialist equipment and load your bins into our bespoke cleaning trailer, thoroughly jet washing them inside and out, using only suitable and biodegradable cleaning products, removing all stuck on muck, grime and other nasties that lurk in your bin.

With the ongoing COVID concerns we use Dettol anti-bacterial products then spray deodoriser to ensure your bins are left sanitized, clean, and smelling fresh.

All water is fully recycled and is strictly disposed of in accordance with our Discharge Licence with all our operations being fully insured.

Have you ever tried to clean a wheelie bin?

It’s not the easiest of jobs! Boiling water to kill maggots and flies, awkwardly using a long broom or mop to reach all areas before tipping it back up to discharge foul smelling liquid. Most people tell us they only clean them out when it really needs it, infested or smelling awful, if indeed at all. Let us take that hassle away from you.

Did you know, unclean bins are a breeding ground for Salmonella, Listeria and E. Coli?

All prices online - A single wheelie bin from £4.50 every four weeks.

Easy to sign up online with a card. We also accept cash or a standing order / bank transfercontact us and we will accommodate your preferred payment method.

Great feedback from regular customers.

Protect your family: we reduce harmful bacterial and remove lingering offensive odours with our perfumed detergent and deodorisers. We minimize other health hazards that your wheelie bin conceals.

Regular cleaning reduces the risks of pest infestation, maggots, flies and rodent activity.

We’re a local, family run business offering a regular, reliable service. Scan here to arrange a clean or visit gordanoclean.com or call us on: 0117 370 1770 to find out more

Have you got your Lasting Powers of Attorney (“LPAs”) in place yet?

You need to consider making these important documents whilst you are able and have capacity to do so to ensure you are protected.

We do not know what our future holds for us and you should consider making the LPAs sooner rather than later to put your affairs in order.

LPAs need to be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (“OPG”) before they can be used and at the moment, the OPG is taking nearly five months to turn the LPAs around! This could be a problem for your family should you need assistance during that period and is another reason why you need to consider making them as soon as possible.

With Grove Wills, there is no form filling; we do everything for you. Our fees are very competitive too. Please contact us to arrange a free “no obligation” appointment to discuss further.

Call Karen on 07498 948580 or email info@grovewills.com

Cruse Bereavement Support in Clevedon and District

If someone close to you has died, talking to our trained volunteers and listening to one another, can help you make sense of your feelings. Our next monthly drop-in support group will be held at Clevedon Community Centre, Princes Road, 10:00am to 12noon on Friday 21st July, where you will be warmly welcomed.

Our next walk and talk is on Wednesday 12th July. To register for the walk, please ring Bristol Cruse on 0117 9264045 and leave your contact details. Alternatively, please come to our drop-in.

Cruse services are free.

Weston-Super-Mare Philatelic Society - Conservative Club, Alexandra Parade,WsM

CORRECTION on previous news broadcast regarding the stamp fair for July. IT SHOULD READ SATURDAY 15th JULY 2023 NOT the 17th

as previously stated. So come along to St PAUL’S CHURCH HALL, WALLISCOTE ROAD, WESTON-SMARE BS23 1EF. On the 15/7/23.

Stamp Club resumes on the second Tuesday at 2:00pm, looking forward to all new members.

In the meantime HAPPY STAMP HUNTING.

darrell.kellett@outlook.com Chairman.

Don’t forget Saturday 15th July - Stamp Fair.

Enjoy An Interactive Dementia Friendly Day!

Kubiak Dementia Foundation are delighted to be hosting another Dementia Family Day on Sat 29th July 11:30am - 4:00pm at the Penny Brohn Centre in Pill.

Come along to our interactive dementia- friendly day and take your pick from a variety of activities all designed to support those with Dementia and the people that care for them.

Crossword Across

1 Refuse Collector (7)

5 Brown ink (5)

8 Destructive fire, blaze (13)

9 Hand tool (3)

10 Church state (9)

12 Speeding, competing (6)

13 Diverse (6)

15 Freak out, lose it (2,7)

16 Social insect (3)

18 Condition caused by toxic paint and dust (4,9)

20 Inspection, investigation (5)

21 Conference, discussion (7)

Down

1 Aquatic birds (5)

2 Advertising worn by a person (8,5)

3 Hormone produced at night (9)

4 Small lump of gold (6)

5 Ocean (3)

6 Transferring from public ownership (13)

Word Search

Baby

Blurple

Capri

Cerulean

Cobalt Cyan Dark

Delft Duck egg Egyptian Electric Iceberg

Lapis lazuli Liberty

Maya Medium Midnight Moroccan Navy Neon Periwinkle

Picotee Powder Royal Sapphire Savoy Sky Steel

Teal Ultramarine Uranian

7 Bothered, miffed (7)

11 Lecture hall (9)

12 Finery (7)

14 Hijinks (6)

17 Big cat (5)

19 Place somewhere (3)

Mindbenders

Solutions: Turn to page 18

Are you a Wimbledon Winner?! Musings of an OvenGleamer

Wimbledon is running from 3rd-16th July this year and there’ll be some incredible tennis played at varying levels of expertise. But what sort of Chef are you?

Ball Boy? (and about my level!) cooking is one of your life’s simple pleasures and your skill level is simple too. You’re great at using the microwave and can cope with a pan of boiling water for pasta and potatoes. You could cook a 3 course meal with a combi-microwave. Cheat with a ready-made prawn cocktails, then cook a chicken using the grill function and cook ‘steam in a bag’ vegetables to produce a Roast Dinner. For dessert “ping” chocolate sponge puddings with chocolate sauce to finish off…simples!

More budding chefs (most of you) come in at least an Umpire standard. You’re great at using a hob and an oven with several pans boiling away on the hob top whilst a delicious joint is roasting away in the oven. You are classic multi-tasker with better time–management skills than me. My partner falls in this category – she does a mean Roast Beef, Yorkshire puddings and mountains of vegetables – all cooked to perfection and appearing on the table at the same time. For dessert she produces an apple pie out of oven with creamy custard. She then expects me, a professional oven cleaner, to clean our cooker? Does she not understand that it’s my day off?

Wimbledon Cup winners are you BBQ cookers! How anyone can produce an array of succulent steaks, juicy sausages and melt-in-the-mouth burgers as well as foil wrapped salmon from just a metal grid over some hot coals or gas, I’ll never know. You then to serve them with a selection of fresh salads and summer cocktails – a skill level way beyond my reach. My friends do this, invite me over and I can enjoy the fruits of their labours! Then with a messy BBQ, they phone me to clean it – fed and paid – Gold Medal for me on that one!

So where do you fit into my medal parade – are you a Ball Boy, Umpire or Wimbledon Cup Chef? I promise you a Cup level service, call today: Graham Rogers, OvenGleamers on 01275 370571

Active Listening

Hello from Claire, Mia and myself, Toby, at Meadows & Wood Hearing Specialists, we hope you are keeping well and enjoying the sunshine!

As you may know in May we opened North Somersets only full time, family owned, independent Hearing Specialist Clinic at 142 High Street, Worle. We have received such a warm welcome, thank you.

This month I’ve been thinking more about Active Listening, such as listening to or playing music. Did you know that it could help prevent the decline of working memory? A study found that music has the power to preserve adults’ working memory by enhancing grey matter volume! This adds on to historical data which demonstrates that how well we hear has a massive impact on our long-term health and quality of life. The reason for this is that if we are not hearing well, we are less likely to engage in activities that engage and stimulate our bodies! Getting out and about is sadly less enticing if you are not able to hear what’s going on around you.

We also know that older adults with hearing loss have a greater risk of developing dementia than those with normal hearing. Cognitive abilities decline faster in adults with hearing loss compared to those with normal hearing. Depression and social isolation can be exacerbated by the frustration experienced when someone doesn’t hear as well as they need to. I am aware that this sounds a bit gloomy, however, for most people using the NHS or a private Audiologist to assess your hearing and help you act is a great first step to minimise these experiences.

If you would like to know more about how we can help you and your family with hearing well, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at Meadows & Wood.

Why not keep dancing with Age UK Somerset?

Local charity, Age UK Somerset, delivers a dancebased exercise session called Strictly Seniors in Clevedon. This fun and dynamic class is designed for people over 55 and combines dance moves from salsa, rhumba and more. The class is held at Kenn Road Methodist Church, Thursdays at 2:00pm or 3:15pm, £5 per class.

You won’t need to bring a partner to enjoy this class, but please wear loose, comfortable clothes and shoes suitable to dance in, sequins are optional! For more information or to book call 01823 345624 or email ageingwell@ ageuksomerset.org.uk

Clevedon Care needs volunteers to meet increasing demand for service

Clevedon Care is a registered charity, run by volunteers, to help people in the BS21 postcode area access medical

appointments within Clevedon and further afield. Drivers use their own cars and donations to cover the cost are paid direct to the driver.

Journeys can be weekdays, weekends or evenings. Drivers choose those that suit their lifestyle, family & other commitments, either locally or further afield.

To volunteer as a driver see our website, www. clevedoncare.org.uk/FAQ’s-driver, phone Shirley our Driver Co-ordinator on 07816 479600 or email clevedoncare@gmail.com or find us on Facebook.

Successful Open Day!

Clevedon Promenade Bowling Club were delighted to welcome 68 visitors to their Open Day on Sunday 28th May.

We do hope they enjoyed the experience and look forward to welcoming anyone who would like to take up the opportunity of learning to play bowls at our friendly club .

Please contact our head coach Andy Young (tel : 07748232347) for further information.

“Fantastic responsive service. It’s the 2nd time I have used central roofing and on both occasions they turned up on time got on with the job and kept us informed on what was being carried out. Went above and beyond and assisted me in issues around insurance. I would recommend this company to anyone with roofing issues.”

Cat Lady

We used Central Roofing to take down an old flat roof and install another on our business premises at Knight Brothers Garage. The company was very reliable, they turned up when they said they would, the guys that did the work were very tidy and efficient. The work was completed in the time frame they set…we are more than pleased with the finished job.

Karen Anderson

Leather…

It looks sophisticated and stylish, it’s tough yet flexible and it is resistant to spills, dirt, and allergens. Despite being highly durable, leather can be susceptible to snags, scratches and scuffs and if this happens, it should be repaired straight away as issues like these can get worse if left.

Leather that is well cared not only looks amazing but can last up to 3 times longer. At PremTech Furniture Repairs, we help leather to live longer by providing honest advise together with the best/ most practical repair solution so you can use and enjoy your leather for years to come.

We can:

• Remove stains from pen, oils, suncreams, food, drink and colour transfer.

• Fix damage caused from cuts, burns, scuffs, nicks and dents.

• Repair broken stitching and zips.

• Resolve colour loss issues caused by fading and sun damage.

• Repair marks and damage caused by animals, such as pet scratches or clawing.

• Revive leather that has been affected by cracking, peeling or flaking.

• Recolour leather to match almost any shade required.

And our leather repairs don’t just stop at leather sofa’s. We have helped customers with gym and medical equipment, bench seating, restaurant and office seating, caravan and car interiors and much more.

We also offer a leather clean and conditioning service to re-moisturise, revitalise and renew leather to give it a fresh new look as well as extending its life.

Once PremTech Furniture Repairs have worked their magic on your leather, you will want to maintain its restored condition. We have now made this easier for you to do, by stocking and selling our most popular leather cleaning products in our online shop. Just visit our website www.ptfr.co.uk to see our range of products, product descriptions and guidance for use.

Think you know Avon? Think again!

For 135 years, Avon has been using the power of beauty to transform lives, but we’re only getting started! We’re signalling a new chapter for Avon and it’s one in which there’s never been a better time to join.

Avon offers premium beauty that won’t break the bank, something our customers love! We’ve got top-rated beauty products and must-have innovation that everyone’s talking about. Simply share Avon with your friends, family, colleagues and neighbours, and you’ll soon have your own customers. They can choose to shop with you using the printed brochure, digital brochure or online store and you’ll earn however they shop. The more you sell the more you earn, it’s that simple!

The great thing about Avon is that you earn from the very first product you sell – there are no minimum targets and the earnings opportunities are as big as you want to make them! You’ll earn a percentage of the sales you make, plus you’ll have access to discounts on exciting new products and other fantastic benefits.

The more you sell the higher the percentage. Sales under £99.99 = 10%, £100 - £249.99 = 20%, £250 - £2,999.99 = 25%, £3,000 or more = 30%. After your first 3 months, you’ll join our Avon Rewards loyalty programme - packed with extra benefits and an earnings opportunity of up to 32%.

A fantastic opportunity for you to build and grow your own business…full time, part time, any time…with unlimited earnings. Contact Kay using the details in the advert below.

name is Kay

A Good Read

Tangerine

by Christine Mangan

Tangerine is a gripping psychological thriller set in the 1950s that follows the tumultuous friendship between two women, Alice Shipley and Lucy Mason, and the dark secrets that bind them.

Alice Shipley is a fragile and reclusive young woman who resides in Tangier, Morocco, with her husband, John. She is haunted by a tragic

incident from her college days. One day she receives an unexpected visit from Lucy Mason, her former roommate and estranged friend, whom she hasn’t seen in over a year.

Lucy’s arrival triggers a series of unsettling events. Alice is plunged into a state of paranoia and uncertainty over her visitor’s ambiguous intentions and begins to question Lucy’s motives. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that both Alice and Lucy are harbouring secrets and that their past is deeply intertwined.

When something momentous happens under suspicious circumstances, tensions escalate and Alice must confront the truth about her past, the nature of her friendship with Lucy, and the true identity of the people around her.

Mangan skilful storytelling delves into themes of obsession, identity, and betrayal. The intense atmosphere of Tangier serves as a backdrop for the complex relationship between Alice and Lucy. A gripping cat-and-mouse game unfolds, with high stakes, and a shocking revelation.

Tangerine is a gripping and atmospheric thriller that explores the dark corners of friendship and the consequences of deceit.

By Tash Donovan

Happy Balance… Supporting your busy life

We are passionate about re-cycling, re-housing and re-using items, working with many local charities we distribute your unwanted items on your behalf. We always offer a FREE 1hour consultation to introduce ourselves and to discuss how we can help you.

Our clients know that allocating time to work alongside Happy Balance provides the impetus they need to make a start. Through experience we understand the importance of working with you at your pace, listening to you and helping you put into action what you want to achieve.

These are all scenarios from clients we have worked with:

• ‘I don’t want to leave it for the kids to sort’ – Feeling mindful that you need to get your home in order? You don’t want the family having to sort through everything when you are gone? We will work with you to streamline your home, recycle unwanted items and organise belongings you may wish to distribute to family and friends.

• My partner/parent has died – You’re not only dealing with grief but also thinking about how you clear the house? We are NOT house clearance. We work with you sensitively, practically and confidentially to organise their affairs and clear the house for sale or other.

• I am embarrassed – It’s all got on top of me and I just feel overwhelmed – Are you buying too many items, storing them away and feeling like you may be hoarding? Claire and SJ are non judgemental and through experience can help you declutter and regain control.

• I’m moving and need to downsize – I can’t physically or emotionally cope with my move and I need help. We are hands-on in preparing your belongings ensuring that when your removal firm comes to move you that you have already sorted through, de-cluttered and made sure all your items, big and small will fit into your new home giving you peace of mind.

• ‘Our family space isn’t working for us’ –Who can help us? Happy Balance will give you guidance, ideas and hands on support to make the changes to make your home a living space and not a storage space.

A Delightfully Quirky Affair

Pack up a hamper, it’s National Picnic Month!

saying, ‘Looks like rain.’ As a nation we have mastered the art of packing for all four seasons in a single picnic basket. From sweltering sun to sudden showers, we have evolved into experts at adaptive picnic planning. If there was an ‘official British Picnic checklist’ it would include sunscreen, insect repellent, a thick sweater an umbrella and a pac-a-mac!

Ah, the British picnic! That delightful tradition combining outdoor dining with unpredictable weather, and an assortment of eccentricities. The main ingredients for a truly traditional British picnic are, a dash of optimism, a splash of stoicism, a sprinkling of humour and a tiny pinch of disappointment.

First and foremost, there is the weather dance. No discussion about picnics in our green and pleasant land would be complete without someone looking upwards dubiously, sucking their cheeks in, and

Puzzle Solutions

Mindbender:

1: The upper hand 2: Split second timing

3: Get over it

Every Brit is born knowing exactly what a picnic should look like: a wicker hamper, a checked picnic blanket, and an array of finger foods including dainty cucumber sandwiches, iced buns and freshly baked scones with clotted cream and jam, all washed down with ginger beer. This is because Enid Blyton and her Famous Five have somehow entered our collective subconscious, but we have been cruelly lied to. In reality it’s usually slightly curled ham and cheese sandwiches dispensed from a Tupperware tub along with a packet of crisps, some soggy custard creams, and lukewarm orange squash or (equally lukewarm) wine for the grown-ups.

Finding the perfect picnic spot is a grand adventure in itself which involves scouting out picturesque meadows, secret gardens, or a sandy beach. With Google maps on our phones, and determined expressions, we brave stinging nettles, cow pats, aggressive swans, persistent wasps, bickering kids and the occasional sheep all hell bent on thwarting us in our quest.

Games are compulsory at a British picnic. People whose idea of exercise for the rest of the year is getting up from the sofa to answer the front door, suddenly get all competitive and suggest a game of rounders, or croquet, or French cricket! This quickly descends into arguments about who is on which team, who gets (or shouldn’t get) Grandma, and whether there should be second chances at hitting a ball. But it’s all about the friendly competition and the odd black eye is just part of the fun.

But us Brits know that all the shenanigans is just a warm-up for the main event. As the afternoon rolls on, the time nears for the one British tradition everyone looks forward to, Pimms o’clock. This refreshing cocktail, filled with fruits, herbs, and a splash of gin, is the quintessential picnic libation. As the glasses clink and laughter fills the air, the true spirit of the British picnic finally comes alive. It’s a time to relax, enjoy the company of friends and loved ones, and revel in the joy of this whimsical outdoor affair.

Cheers.

By Kate McCarthy

Get Strong and Get Steady with Age UK Somerset

Are you less steady on your feet than you used to be? A new exercise session is being launched in Clevedon for people experiencing more advanced mobility issues.

Get Strong Get Steady is a fun and friendly session, specially designed to help participants gradually build up the strength, stamina and balance to be able to progress from seated to standing exercises. It’s the ideal precursor to Stay Strong Stay Steady, our strength and balance class. Contact us to find a class right for you all 01823 345614 or email fallsprevention@ ageuksomerset.org.uk

Cricket, at a walking pace!

Walking sports are a fun way to keep your energy up, make new friends, and look after your health.

Played with a soft ball it’s perfect for people who are older, or less physically able, but who still want to enjoy the thrill of the game. Whether you’re batting, bowling, or fielding, it’s a great form of cardio exercise. Plus it improves both agility and hand-eye coordination.

Walking cricket takes place across the CountyWSM, Clevedon, Yeovil, Highbridge, Wellington, Minehead & Taunton.

To find out more, please email mustafa.shaikh@ somersetcricketfoundation.org

01275 403188

TOULOUSE

• Contemporary 3 seater sofa • Reversible seat cushions

• Wide selection of fabrics • Feather scatters & arm pads

• Coordinating range items also on offer

SALE £1349 RRP £1912

SALE £1099 WAS £1469

WAN28250GB

• 1400 spin washing machine

• 8kg load capacity • SpeedPerfect • ActiveWater Plus • Reload function • Delay timer

AVIEMORE

Excludes headboard & bedding

ELEVATE RILEY

• 150cm kingsize 2 drawer divan

• No-turn mattress with AlignSupport

‘Sense & Respond’ spring system

• Platform base in a choice of colours

• 120-160cm extending table • 4 chairs with fabric seats

• Made from solid & veneered oak • Lacquered finish

• Extensive selection of coordinating range items

FULL RANGE REDUCED BY 50%

SALE £929 WAS £1877

Self assembly