LocalReach Clevedon July 2022

FREE July 2022

COMMUNITY MAGAZINES

Issue No. 1

CHURCH – page 4 COMMUNITY – page 7 GARDENING – page 10 HISTORY – page 16 PUZZLES – page 17 KIDS – page 21 RECIPES – page 24 BOOKS – page 26 BUSINESS A-Z – page 28

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WELCOME TO LOCALREACH

Welcome…

Hello and welcome to the first edition of the Clevedon LocalReach Magazine.

We have been delivering magazines throughout somerset for over 12 years, and this month we are really pleased to be launching in Clevedon and surrounding areas.

The magazine is full of local businesses, advice and articles on various topics, puzzles and recipes. Plus, there are details of what’s going on in and around Portishead. Have a read and find out what events, groups, clubs and activities are available right on your doorstep. There’s something for everyone whatever your age! Please take a look and we really hope you enjoy and find it useful.

I would love to hear from you if you are holding a local event or run a local group, club or activity. If you have something of interest to the local community, please email the details to kim@localreach.co.uk. I will need anything for the August issue by 1st July please.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Ki m

Editorial deadline for the August issue is 1st July LocalReach Community Editor: Kim Batchelor

Advertising & Enquiries:

01275 400160 www.localreach.co.uk

kim@localreach.co.uk

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 2022.

LocalReach Community Magazines are delivered by ROYAL MAIL every month. Your local postman delivers 11,669 copies door to door to all of Clevedon/BS21 postcode area.

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CHURCH

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Living life to the full!

‘I have come in order that you might have life — life in all its fullness’. John 10:10 A six-year-old little girl sat at the back of a classroom drawing a picture one day. The teacher asked the girl what she was drawing. Without looking up, the girl said, “I’m drawing a picture of God.” Surprised, the teacher replied, “But nobody knows what God looks like.” The girl said, “They will in a minute.”

One of the most wonderful things about reading the Bible is that we get a rounded picture of the nature and character of God. Faith is presenting and offering us an opportunity of a new way of living.

To live life to the full it starts with Jesus; it starts with radical love.

Corrie ten Boom, the Holocaust survivor said, ‘There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still’. Even when she had seen the horrors of the Holocaust she some how knew the love of Jesus was within her: Jesus gives us an invitation for this new way of living in John 15:9 where he says, ’I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Live within my love’.

Faith helps us to understand where it all started; it gives us hope, purpose and determination. It helps us form heathy relationships. It gives us vision and wisdom for living. Faith challenges us to be faithful, courageous, and helps us deal with forgiveness. Faith is wrapped up in incredible freedom; it encourages us to take risks and ultimately live life to the full.

This is the invitation today to live within His love. This is where a radical way of living life to the full truly begins.

Jesus is truly amazing! Time Magazine called Him ‘the most persistent symbol of purity, selflessness and love in the history of western humanity. His life is the supreme example of love, and it was said of His time on earth that ‘all who touched Him were healed.’

Prayer: Lord, help me to discover more of who you are and your passion for my life. That I may know you and make you known so that I can live life to the full- the way you intended it to be.

Bear Grylls in his book Soul Fuel says of Jesus; ‘There is nothing in our lives that Jesus can’t provide, no wound so deep that His love won’t heal’.

We are today challenged: To live within His love, to share it with others and to live freely by His Grace.

Kindly provided by Chris James Leader of Enjoy Church, Lead Chaplain of Bristol Sport.

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LOCAL EXPERT PAGE

Asking for help doesn’t mean you’re a burden We live in an aging society. There are far more people aged over 65 in the UK today compared to a generation ago, and it’s a fact of life that our needs change as we get older. Why then, do we sometimes feel like a burden if we ask for help in our later years?

Age UK did some research into why people struggle in later life. They found that older people often feel excluded, or they exclude themselves, from the world around them.

This was because of a few things, such as people feeling their lives didn’t hold as much worth; feeling that the benefits of making a change were outweighed by the effort; and not knowing how to change things.

We all have bad days. But if you’re struggling every day with household tasks like paying bills, cooking or using the bathroom, or your emotions are getting the better of you, then it’s time to act. For support and guidance, call Age UK’s Advice Line any day of the year on 0800 678 1602 (8am to 7pm).

When it comes to help in the home, it’s common for people only to seek help as a result of a fall, accident or near-miss. It’s also common for a spouse, carer or family member to take action on someone else’s behalf.

If you need adaptations in your home, such as new grab rails, ramps, or a walk-in bath, it can be hard to know where to start. If money is a concern, did you know there’s a grant available for those with a qualifying condition? Talk to the council or search online for the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG).

Changes to your home don’t need to look unsightly either. Just because you’re adding grab rails or a raised toilet in your bathroom for example, doesn’t mean it will look like a hospital bathroom. You could see it as an opportunity to refresh and update one of the most important rooms of your house.

If you’re unsure about which supplier to use for home adaptations, talk to family and friends about who they might know. If you can get online, have a look on Checkatrade.com for local suppliers who other people recommend. Usually, smaller companies are cheaper than the bigger brands.

Be proactive. If you think you need some extra guidance or support, talk to someone. Think about what might help to make everyday life easier for you and seek it out. You’re not alone – there are so many people facing these same challenges. Asking for help is the first step towards making your life healthier, easier and happier.

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Are you a Bronze, Silver or Gold Chef?!

Musings of an OvenGleamer The Commonwealth Games are starting later this month in Birmingham and Worl Class athletes will be competing for hopefully a Gold Medal. But what sort of Chef are you?

Bronze Medal? (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 a Silver Medal 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?

Gold Medal 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 bronze, silver or gold medal Chef? I promise you a Gold Medal service, call today: Matt Reilly OvenGleamers on 01275 370571

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TO ADVERTISE CALL 01275 400160

Clevedon Ramblers Walk – Wednesday 6th July Clevedon Ramblers Group are part of the Ramblers Association and have around 142 members with an average attendance of 15 walkers per weekend.

They are a friendly bunch and always keen to welcome new walkers. So please go along and sample their walks - you can walk 2 or 3 times with them before deciding to join the Ramblers Association. The walks programme is varied and includes: Saturday walks - some with pub lunches and others requiring packed lunches; and Sunday walks which are normally upwards of 9 miles, always with a packed lunch and sometimes with the chance of a cream tea or cold drink afterwards.

With distances varying from 5 miles to 12+ miles.A walk is planned this month on 6th July, find out more www.clevedonramblers.org.uk/

Clevedon Yeo Rotary Club – Wednesday 6th & 20th July We are a small vibrant club based at The Salthouse

by Marine Lake. We meet on 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month at 7pm. With the economy being as it has been in the recent past the club has changed it’s emphasis from merely fund raising to more practical community help, although fundraising will remain very important to us. Some of our community

COMMUNITY

projects have been public speaking for students of Clevedon Community school and local gardening/ tidy up projects. All we used to make that happen was a good number of our members giving up some time.

Getting involved with Rotary could be the most important thing you ever do. Your skills and experience are invaluable in our drive to help communities at home and around the world, and whether you become a member or volunteer your time and abilities to your local club, you will be helping to make people’s lives better. Please visit our website to get in touch. www.rotary-ribi.org/ clubs/homepage.php?ClubID=1726 or call Steve Molloy on 07988 656023.

Open Air Concert – Friday 15th July That’ll Be The Day, the popular open air concert returns to Portishead Football Club. Doors open at 6.30pm ready for the music at 8pm. Tickets are £15 and available now through our Facebook page and from The Sports Shop and The Butchers Block Bakehouse on the High Street and Marks the Barbers up West Hill.

Bring your friend’s, picnic and chairs and enjoy!

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COMMUNITY

WC&P Railway Group – Friday 15th July Our group is for anyone interested in the history of the Weston, Clevedon & Portishead Railway. Our aims include keeping the memory alive, preserving the remains, building a collection of artefacts and photos, and installing interpretation boards. We have a regular newsletter, arrange occasional trips to railways, have an annual dinner, and hold meetings every other month with a speaker. Our next meeting is on Friday 15th July at 7.30 pm at St Andrew’s Church Centre, Old Church Road, Clevedon, BS21 7UF with speaker John CrockfordHawley: on ‘Town Planning and Local Railways’.

Visitors welcome - cost £2, members free. www. wcprgroup.org.uk.

U3A – Tuesday 19th July Woodspring u3a area includes all the towns and villages in and around Portishead, Clevedon, Nailsea, Backwell and Yatton. U3a provides lots of activities for people who are retired or approaching retirement. Membership has increased in this last year and so has the list of activities. We are always looking to start new groups and welcome more members. It is an excellent way to meet people and make friends.

The next monthly meeting is at 2.15, Tuesday 19th July, at the Methodist Church Hall, Silver Street, Nailsea. The speaker is Dr Helen Frisby who will talk about the Traditions of Death and Burials. This will be a fascinating topic about English death, burial customs and rituals which have helped us from the Norman Conquest to the present day.

Dr Frisby has taught history at the University of the West of England. She has been on BBC Radio and The History Channel as well as a published author.

All details can be found on www.u3asites.org.uk/ woodspring/home

Calling all clubs, groups, schools, churches, associations. We want your news, events & info each month. We provide this service FREE OF CHARGE! Email kim@localreach.co.uk Independent, family run, Somerset based community magazine publishers since 2010.

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Fagus Gardening Club - Monday 18th July Fagus is an active gardening club for anybody with an interest in gardening. We hold monthly meetings in Nailsea, (but have members from throughout North Somerset) arrange many trips and outings to local gardens, support local charities and local open gardens. FAGUS was started in 1993. The aim was to be able to engage high calibre speakers and familiar names. Our membership currently stands at around 250. Notable speakers have included Beth Chatto, Dan Pearson, Chris Beardshaw, Dan Hinkley, Roy Lancaster, Adam Frost and Anna Pavord.

Our next meeting is on Monday 18th July in the Methodist Hall, Silver Street, Nailsea when Derek Dexter will give us a talk on ‘Fuchsias My way’. Come on your own or come with friends, everybody is very welcome, there is no need to be a member to attend lectures. Lectures have full access for people with disabilities. Full details of our activities and how to join us may be found on our website - www. fagusgardening.co.uk

Get Ready For Clevedon Flower Show Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th August The Annual Clevedon Flower Show, is back, after a two-year break. It is Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th August at the Salthouse Fields, Sea Front, Clevedon.

This is a great community event and our Schedule of Classes are available now and can be purchased for just 50p at The Spinning Wheel Hill Rd, Clevedon, West End PO, Clevedon, Clevedon Library, the Town Council Offices, Posies florists Alexandra Road, Clevedon Craft Centre & The Veg Box. There are a range of classes to enter and all ages from toddlers to senior citizens are eligible. Classes include arts & crafts, flowers, fruits and vegetables, photography, cookery, and wine beer, cider and cordials. So, get planning your entries. The chosen charity this year will be the Children’s Hospice South West, a great local charity that we are pleased to support.

The show Is a great family weekend with lots to see and do and we already have a great entertainment programme lined up over the two-day show, with singers, groups, entertainers, and a dog show. We will have lots of food and drink to suit all tastes with a great refreshment tent and BBQ. We are a non-profit making committee that ploughs each year’s show money raised into the next year’s show.

We also book a range of trade stalls and local businesses so If anyone is interested in having a stall please contact Tim, tradesecretary@gmail.com

TO ADVERTISE CALL 01275 400160

Online divorce – getting the financial side right The introduction of no-fault divorce in April has seen a 50% rise in applications – from couples waiting until they could end their relationship without having to apportion blame.

A new online service has also been launched, enabling you to handle your divorce yourselves for a fee of £593. However, we can do this for you for a small, fixed fee in most cases.

Taking specialist legal advice at an early stage is money well spent, ensuring you don’t miss anything or make a mistake that could back to haunt you.

What can go wrong with a DIY divorce?

It is possible to do the work yourselves, and it may seem like the obvious thing to do when you both agree on the division of assets, savings and investments, it’s important to be cautious.

Ensuring that financial matters have been resolved before applying for the final order (previously called the decree absolute) is vital to make sure you have a legally enforceable settlement.

LOCAL EXPERT PAGE

Do we need a financial order if we agree on everything?

Yes. The legal ending of a marriage, however friendly, does not end the financial claims arising from that marriage.

A financial order details how finances will be divided between you when you divorce. This can include agreements in relation to the sale or transfer of the marital home, ongoing maintenance, the division of pensions and lump sum payments.

A judge in the Family Court can then approve this and once approved, neither of you – except in rare circumstances - can return to make a financial claim in the future. This is also known as a ‘clean break’ agreement.

A private verbal arrangement between the two of you does not carry this legal weight.

An initial meeting with one of our family lawyers can help give you clarity on your position.

No matter how amicable the split now, if your relationship deteriorates in the future – for example, your ex has a change of heart or fortune – they could still try to make a financial claim for financial provision or property adjustment.

For a free half hour consultation, contact Family Law Solicitor Amy Jones at amy.jones@wards.uk.com or call our Clevedon office on 01275 850470

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GARDENING

Garden View This month - Gone to seed!

If you want to have a go at seed collecting (and be warned, it’s a highly addictive pastime) then here are a few tips.

You will need: Large paper bags – Must be paper. Plastic bags won’t do as they retain moisture and cause the seeds to develop fungus or go mouldy. You can buy them from eBay or make your own from brown paper and artist’s paper tape.

Felt pen - for labelling. This is important as you will forget what you’ve collected even if you think you won’t!

Gardening is a hobby and, after a while, most people with hobbies find themselves experimenting. They get a bit creative and want to see if they can do something on the cheap, or for free, or simply find to out whether it’s possible to do something just for the simple pleasure of trying. Seed collecting falls into this category for me. Most seeds are not particularly expensive to buy, so why would I or anyone else want to collect our own?

Box or trug - for carrying the bags of seeds around the garden.

Well I can’t speak for anyone else, but I get a real buzz from collecting seed, knowing that I can perpetuate a favourite plant without any outside involvement.

Sometimes I’ll collect seed with a fair degree of certainty that I’ll be able to raise hundreds of little seedlings, and sometimes I do it for the challenge, as not all seeds are easy to propagate.

Label a paper bag (it’s much easier to do this first) then cut off the seedhead and turn it upside down into the bag.

Calling all clubs, groups, schools, churches, associations.

We want your news, events & info each month.

We provide this service FREE OF CHARGE! Email kim@localreach.co.uk

Small pair of scissors or secateurs – for snipping the heads.

Choose a dry day with little or no wind. Select a healthy, pest and disease-free plant with seedpods which look as though they’re about to split.

Place the bag into a dry place and wait for the seeds to ripen. Check regularly.

When most of the seedpods have opened, tip out the contents on to a dry surface and separate all the seeds from any remaining bits of pod.

Store the clean seeds in a small, labelled paper bag or envelope, in a cool dry place until ready to be used.

Easy seeds to collect and grow: Nigella damascena (love-in-the-mist) Aquilegia (ladies bonnets Papaver (Poppy) Digitalis Purpurea (Foxglove) Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) Cosmos bipinnatus (Cosmos), Lunaria annua (Honesty)

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You’ll soon discover many more. Happy collecting.

EVENINGS & WEEKENDS ALSO AVAILABLE

By Rachael Leverton

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The Barn Youth Club – Mondays & Thursdays The Barn Youth Club offers a safe environment, where you can meet other young people and try a range of activities including arts and crafts, cooking, sports and a chance to try new things. There are youth led projects and support to enable young people to make informed decisions.

Mondays 6pm - 8pm term time: September to December - Year 7+ and January to July - Year 6+ Thursdays 4.45pm - 6.30pm term time: Junior Club (ages 8 - 11 years only) Thursdays 7pm - 9pm term time: Year 7+

Clevedon Tang Soo Do – Mondays Tang Soo Do is a form of Korean Karate, we are a fun, family-friendly, family-focused club and have been running for thirty years.

7-30 pm - 9.00 pm on a Monday night at Yeo Moor Primary School, Kennaway Road, Clevedon.

Summer and half-term venues change please check website for details.

COMMUNITY

Website: www.clevedontangsoodo.co.uk Email: info@clevedontangsoodo.co.uk We also have a Facebook page just search Clevedon Tang Soo Do

Boogie Beat Movement & Music Classes - Tuesdays Boogie Beat Classes are interactive and lively classes for pre-schoolers, crawlers to 5 years.

Boogie Beat classes are energetic and fun! Along with a friendly monkey called Giggles, we sing, dance, and learn about classical fairy tales, traditional nursery rhymes and much more!

Themes include Jack and the Beanstalk, Pirates & Princesses, Cinderella, The Gingerbread Man to name but a few.

A great way to spend time with your little one in a safe and relaxed environment!

They take place Tuesday mornings at Clevedon Children’s Centre, The Barn. Email for more details lucy.haskins@boogiebeat.co.uk

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COMMUNITY

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Clevedon & District Flower Club - Last Tuesday of the Month Meet on the last Tuesday of the month at Clevedon Community Centre, Princes Hall, Princes Road, Clevedon at 7.30pm with membership of over 80 from throughout the area who enjoy floral demonstrations 10 times a year plus lots of other social events & benefits.

On Tuesday 26th July with have a National Demonstrator and TV Personality – Jonathan Moseley who will delight us with ‘a Feast of Fabulous Flowers’! Tickets for this special event to nonmembers are £20.00 and we will have a variety of charity stalls available beforehand. Doors open from 6.30pm for start of demonstration at 7.30pm.

For more details of the Club or to purchase tickets for our special event – please email clevedonanddistrictfc@btinternet.com or text 07483 239916.

More details are available through our website – www.clevedonanddistrictflowerclub.org.uk Everyone welcome – no experience needed!

Clevedon Gardeners Club - Wednesdays We are keen gardeners who meet for a varied series of talks monthly on Wednesday evenings during the autumn and winter at Kenn Road Methodist

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Church Hall, Kenn Road, Clevedon. For full details of our current programme of talks please see the programme page on our website.

In addition to the talks and our annual Spring Flower Show and Fair in February, the club arranges visits during the summer to gardens, mainly by coach and occasionally by car.

We also hold social events and in the summer some of our members open their gardens for us to visit and admire while having a cup of tea and homemade cake and maybe buy some plants.

Members are entitled to a discount at our local nurseries and a substantial discount on seed orders organised through the club.

If all goes well and we can resume normal meetings in autumn 2022 the renewal annual will henceforth be as normal, £15 for the full year from September 2022. Visitors will be charged £3 per meeting.

Please visit our website for further information clevedongardeners.chessck.co.uk/

Yummy Mummies - Exercise For New Mums – Wednesdays • Are you a new Mum whose unsure what exercises to do safely post baby?

• Want to feel a sense of the pre-baby you?

• Finding it hard to fit in a workout as a new Mum with baby in tow?

• Want to meet other like-minded new mums and have a little “me” time?

If you resonate with the above - Yummy Mummies Mum & Baby class is for you! A class specially designed for new mums to help you safely return to exercise post birth in a fun and friendly class – and babies can come too*! This class focuses on restoring your core and pelvic floor and gradually building up your strength, helping you reconnect to your body after birth – and re-energising you to be the best Mummy you can be!

A typical class will include: • Mobility and releases.

• Introduction or recap to your core and breath.

• Main workout using bodyweight exercises, resistance bands & low impact cardio.

• Cool down stretch.

Different progressions will be given so you can always challenge your body in the best way for you!

Classes take place at Clevedon Children’s Centre.

The Barn, Great Western Rd, Clevedon.

Sessions run in blocks (“terms”) so Mummies can get to know one another, and you will have the best chance of getting results! For full details visit sophieheath.co.uk/classes/view/33

TO ADVERTISE CALL 01275 400160

LOCAL EXPERT PAGE

Is your internet supposed to be fast, but is actually slow?

We see many posts on social media about people complaining about their internet connection. Often speed is quoted as not being as good as expected, and the provider is sometimes unfairly blamed for this.

In our experience, there are many factors that people do not realise can affect their speeds. Firstly, the priority is getting a good speed into the house (to the router to be precise).

If you have had broadband for many years, have you checked to see if a better package is available, either with your current provider, or possibly another provider? Having a modern router is also highly recommended. Full fibre is the best available connection but not all addresses can get it – yet.

Also, not all providers offer full fibre broadband, so you really need to understand what is available to your address. For example, Plusnet currently do not offer full fibre broadband even if it is available in your road. Wi-fi is also a big problem in some properties due to factors such as internal walls, wood and other construction materials. Often, wi-fi will deteriorate with distance, so even one or two walls can substantially reduce the signal speed.

We specialise in improving internet speeds, so please see our advert on this page and book us in to review your system and provide suggestions.

Still using Internet Explorer?

Microsoft are retiring Internet Explorer on certain versions of Windows 10, so if you are still using this browser, we recommend that you change to an alternative browser such as Edge, Chrome or Firefox.

If you need any help with this, please get in touch.

Neil Buzzard, Director, Computer Problem Solutions Ltd. Tel: 07973 536299

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YOUR LOCAL, TRUSTED COMPANY Engineer: 07973 536299 Office: 01275 774670 E-mail: sales@e-cps.co.uk

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Take a Dip Outdoors of lifeguards. Both types of swimming present an opportunity to exercise, explore the local countryside and visit new places to try different waters.

Swimming outdoors is beneficial for our physical health and our mental wellbeing. A study published in British Medical Journal Case Reports suggested that cold water swimming may be effective in the treatment of depression. The theory is that subjecting the body to the physical stress of cold water helps to adapt it to the stress response associated with depression and anxiety. While more evidence is needed for confirmation, so many people have reported the mood-enhancing benefits of open water swimming that specialist groups have been formed where swimmers offer mutual support and share their own experiences.

Outdoor swimming has become popular recently.

It is a simple, low-cost activity with minimal gear needs. It can be as easy as downloading a map of the best wild swimming places in the UK and heading off with your swimsuit and a towel.

‘Wild swimming’ refers to swimming in rivers, lakes, pools, the sea in more out-of-the-way locations with no lifeguard supervision, while ‘open water swimming’ refers to swimming in a river or lake within a designated area under the watchful eye

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True wild swimming requires no memberships, but there are registered clubs and swimming groups around the UK. The Outdoor Swimming Society’s membership grew by 36% in 2020. You don’t need to be fast or competitive, but you do need to be a competent swimmer.

If you are attending a supervised session, they are often in or near parks open to the public. Changing facilities can be limited so it’s better to arrive ready to swim, although there are readily available ‘modesty robes’ which can be purchased from sports shops.

Though there are no laws against being naked in public in England and Wales, venues can set their own rules and most require that you avoid nudity.

Supervised sessions often need to be booked in advance and swimmers are checked in and checked out by volunteers.

Whether you are wild swimming alone or open water swimming in a group it is advisable to wear a bright swim cap and a tow float. Some supervised venues insist on this in their rules. The floats and cap make you easy to spot if you get into difficulty, and as open water can be deep a tow float is a good floatation device if you get tired and need to stop for a while.

Bear in mind that water outside is cold, even in the summer months. You will adapt though, the more regularly you swim in open water. A wetsuit will help, and you can buy neoprene hats, gloves, and socks to protect you.

One advantage of supervised sessions is that the water quality is usually tested regularly to ensure maximum safety. They are a great place to start your outdoor swimming journey. Most sessions are run by volunteers who are passionate about open water swimming. They want you to be safe and get the most from your swim, so talk to them…then maybe offer to volunteer yourself.

By Gemma Brown

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Karate Kai – Wednesdays & Fridays Clevedon Karate Kai have been running for thirty years, it is very much a family-based karate club.

We train at Tickenham Village Hall on a Wednesday evening, and All Saints Church Hall on a Friday evening.

Minimum age 5 years, all instructors hold a current DBS and are first aid trained.

COMMUNITY

band start from scratch, having never played a note before. We then have three further levels of band with the youth band having an entry requirement of at least grade 5. We are always looking for new members to join at any level and rehearse during term time at Clevedon first scout hut, so please email band manager Debbie Underwood on dauwood@aol.com if you are interested or check out our website www.lionsbrass4youth.co.uk

Contact details are Kevin Barrett 6th Dan 07780 664457 or Donna Robertson 2nd Dan 07806 631835.

Playing a brass instrument is a great way to learn a new skill, improving self confidence, ability to work as a team and engendering commitment whilst having fun with other young people.

Help With Bereavement

Clevedon School Sports Centre

Grief can be overwhelming, but you do not have to deal with it alone. Cruse bereavement offer support in various ways including a chatline where you can speak to volunteers who are trained in all types of bereavement and can help you make sense of how you are feeling right now. Call 0808 808 1677. Or speak to a grief counsellor via a chatline if you prefer, on the website www.cruse.org.uk/ or email Bristol&westonsupermare@cruse.org.uk

Model Flying Club The Avon Model Flying Club (AMARC) has been in existence for over forty-five years and currently has a membership of over 80. If you want to learn more about our club, you can take part in one of our regular meetings. You do not have to be a member to attend the meeting.

Based in Weston in Gordano club members fly most days from 10:00 to dusk. We fly aircraft, helicopters, gliders and drones. Don’t worry if you can’t fly, we have qualified instructors and experienced members who are only too willing to help get you off to a flying start. We welcome juniors and adults.

Limited club memberships are available (Juniors £10 pa, Adults £55 pa). for more information contact Nigel Kent 07736004464 or email secretary@ amarc.co.uk

Lions Brass For Youth

Welcome to CSSC, based at on the site of Clevedon School, we operate the many sports facilities outside of school hours for the benefit of the local community.

We are open: Weekdays 5pm – 10pm Weekends 9am – 6pm Our facilities include a multi-sport sports hall, a dance studio, squash courts, gymnasium, artificial sports pitch and grass football pitches.

For more details visit www.cssc.org.uk/

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Lions Brass 4 Youth runs four levels of band ranging from starter band COMMUNITY MAGAZINES where young people are provided with a loan instrument and free Independent, family run, Somerset based tuition in a band environment for community magazine publishers since 2010. the first year. Members of this www.localreach.co.uk | 15

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HEALTHHISTORY LOCAL AND BEAUTY

Crime, Punishment and the Midsummer Assizes Whilst we are all familiar with magistrates’ courts (hopefully not from personal experience) these were previously known as the Petty Sessions, were held Assize judge arriving at the Town Hall in various places ©Wells Museum around the county and were presided over by a Justice of the Peace.

They dealt, as the name suggests, with small misdemeanours such as allowing your horse to stray onto the public highway or being drunk and disorderly and these usually resulted in a fine. In 1877, for example, a 12 year old boy was summoned for stealing apples from a garden in Weston-superMare and was fined 10s and ordered to pay 2d for the value of the apples. Bear in mind this would have been a considerable amount of money in 1877.

More serious offences such as theft, murder etc. were, until their abolition in 1971, dealt with in assize courts which were held in the main county towns and presided over by visiting judges from the higher courts based in London.

The courts were held 4 times a year and, in Somerset

the midsummer assizes were held in Wells and Bridgwater in alternate years. The court in Wells was held in the Town Hall and the judge would have been met by the High Sherriff, taken to the cathedral for a service and then to the court to open the formal document which gave him authority to hold the court. He would then have been taken to the judges lodging in New Street and the actual court business would take place the following day.

In many cases the offences committed, and the ensuing punishments, seem excessive by today’s standards. In 1860, for example, George Stitch was found guilty of stealing 50lb potatoes, valued at 1s 9d and was sentenced to 4 months imprisonment with hard labour in Taunton Gaol and in 1868 Fred Young a 22 year old labourer (and habitual offender) from Burnham was found guilty of stealing some bread and butter and sentenced to 7 years in prison. Rather surprisingly a girl found guilty of attempting to kill her father by poison in 1875 was also sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.

I presume that then, as now, there are different views about the severity of sentence that people deserve.

Kindly provided by Elizabeth Friend, Axbridge Archaeological and Local History Society. www.aalhs.co.uk

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HEALTH COMMUNITY AND PUZZLES BEAUTY

Crossword

Across 1 Pierced, punctured (medical) (6) 4 Atones (6) 8 Squander (5) 9 Disciple (7) 10 Extend (7) 11 Divide in two (5) 12 Maze (9) 17 Regulations (5) 19 Authorise, enable (7) 21 Aid, assist (7) 22 Bestowed (5) 23 Plundered goods (6) 24 Catches, traps (6) Down 1 Furthest down (6) 2 Nasal hole (7) 3 Occurence (5) 5 Black water bird (7) 6 Pre-_____, before birth (5) 7 Brochette, spit (6) 9 Despicable (9) 13 Coy, reticent (7) 14 Nevertheless (7) 15 Blackmails (6) 16 Sips, gulps (6) 18 Slow tempo (musical term) (5) 20 Follower of ancient religion (5)

Word Search

Mindbenders

altercation box brawl challenge combat

confront contest defy dispute exchange

fight fracas grapple mellee oppose

resist row rumpus scrimmage scuffle

skirmish struggle tussle wrangle wrestle

Solutions: Turn to page 27

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LOCAL EXPERT PAGE

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PremTech Furniture Repairs – experts in domestic and commercial furniture repairs ‘Repair rather than renew’ is a growing mindset and we love to save families money by giving them the option of updating or repairing their old furniture, rather than buying mass produced new furniture. We hate to see good furniture go to waste.

We are a local, family run business that offer an affordable solution by providing our customers with furniture that looks and feels like new again.

We are used and recommended by global brands such as Furniture Village, DFS and Furniture Clinic for our repairs, restoration and renovation service in and around South Wales and the West of England. We specialise in repairing a wide range of furniture issues from seat boosts, replacement interiors, leather repairs, upholstery and much more.

We are happy to visit our customers in person to offer our advice and expertise where required and to provide a free of charge quotation before any work is agreed. For the majority of repairs, we can carry out the work in our customers homes, or we can offer a workshop repair (whereby we can collect and deliver the furniture back again).

Our delivery service is available to both individual customers and large furniture retailers.

Each technician offers over 20 years’ experience in the industry echoing the high level of expertise our company has to offer. We believe in keeping furniture alive and carry an integrity that promises every item of furniture is renewed to the highest quality standard.

It’s a real shame we live in such a throwaway society. Upgrading or renewing existing furniture is not only kinder to the environment but results in less expenditure with no compromise to quality.

We ensure that all pieces of furniture that come into our care, leave us in as close to perfect condition as we can possibly achieve.

For more information, see below. T 07497 391973, contact@ptfr.co.uk, www.ptfr.co.uk

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LOCALREACH

The Year of the Bikini Body Don’t try to starve your body into submission before your holiday. Holidays are meant to be relaxing and fun and goodness knows we all need some relaxation and fun right now. Your amazing body has come through two of the most stressful years in living history and you survived. Give yourself a pat on the back and let your hair down.

And for goodness’ sake don’t hang out on any social media sites where ‘influencers’ post #nofilter pics of themselves looking like catwalk models. It’s all #abunchoflies. Life is real and raw and we’re going to live it anyway…our way.

When I was younger, I used to spend hours with my friends fretting over how to get the perfect bikini body before our girls’ getaway holiday. I’d berate myself for not having long slender limbs and an ample bosom like my friend Claire, as I scrutinised my pasty pear-shaped figure in the mirror for signs of cellulite. I’d imagine everyone on the beach was mocking me in my choice of swimwear and spent most of our holidays covered up with a T shirt or a towel.

Fast forward twenty years, three children and two years of COVID weight gain later and the pale, pearshaped body of my youth is now a distant dream.

Oh, how I wish I’d appreciated at the time!

Yet oddly in 2022 as holiday destinations open up again and we’re all yearning for a bit of sun, sand, and sangria, I feel more liberated than my anxietyridden 20-year-old self. Collectively we’ve all been to hell and back; we’ve lost loved ones, homeschooled our kids, openly our discussed mental health issues with strangers on the internet during lockdown, and the trend definitely seems to be towards being kinder to each other and ourselves.

We’re getting our lives back and our lives are for living, not worrying about our muffin tops and cellulite. The secret to a bikini body in 2022 is to put your body in a bikini…and that’s it.

Choose your swim wear in a colour you love and that you feel fabulous in. Choose a skimpy two piece or a shape-supporting one-piece, but whatever your choice wear it with confidence. Don’t let the judgement of others, real or imagined terrorise you into covering up and feeling miserable. Don’t compare yourself to anyone. Your body is yours. It is nobody else’s business. Feel that sun on your skin and rejoice.

The choice of beach wear this year is amazing.

There are supportive bra-sized sets for women who have bigger boobs. There are some gorgeous swimsuits with pretty details and cut outs and (my favourites) cute beach tops and skorts for those who feel more comfortable a bit more covered up but still want to swim and run around with the kids on the beach. There really is something for everyone.

So put on your new bikini, slap on your suntan lotion, and feel the sand between your toes.

Congratulations. You now have a bikini body.

By Cass Anderson

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COMMUNITY

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Curzon Community Cinema Since April 1912, the Curzon has been in continuous operation as a cinema. The single screen venue has been owned since 1996 by an independent charitable trust, formed to save the cinema for the local community. In 2010, we had extensive refurbishments carried out which were financed in part by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Curzon cinema and arts has so much more going on than your normal cinema, why not visit the website and take a look. www.curzon.org.uk/

The Jack Hazeldine Foundation JHF Youth Charity (The Jack Hazeldine Foundation) is a Clevedonbased charity covering North Somerset and Bristol. Through our bespoke mentoring, education and therapy programmes, we support positive changes in behaviour, resilience and self-esteem so that local children and young people from 7 to 25 can reach their full potential.

This summer The JHF launch the National Lottery Reaching Communities funded ‘Project JHF Young Lives’, enabling us to increase our outreach by a further 20%. The funding will be going directly

towards bespoke mentoring, outdoor learning workshops, and brick based therapy sessions.

With a focus on early intervention, the priority is to support young people at the earliest possible stage.

Find us at thejhf.org or follow our journey on social media @jhfcharity

Go4Life Walking Groups Many of us want to reconnect with others through walking and go4life North Somerset support a wide range of walking groups across North Somerset to suit all abilities, including beginners.

There is a Wellbeing Walks programme, which offers sociable, short walks between 30 to 90 minutes.

Find your local walk on here beta.ramblers.org.uk/ go-walking/wellbeing-walks-groups All short group walks are led by an experienced Ramblers Wellbeing Walks leader along tried-andtested, easy to reach routes. Because you’ll be walking with others, you’ll feel safe, be supported, and have fun along the way. And everyone stays together, so you don’t need to worry about being left behind. We’re a friendly bunch too and you’ll get the warmest of welcomes.

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Lawn Mowing Weeding Pruning Hedges & Trees Jet Washing

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What is Comic-Con? Hundreds of thousands of people attend the conventions every year. There is a revival of interest in comics, and graphic artists are becoming more well known, as they showcase their work on social media. In addition pop culture is now inundated with comic book projects, and fans of mainstream films and computer games often find their way to more quirky, unconventional publications via this route.

The million dollar question is often, ‘Do you have to dress up to go to a comic convention?’

No, but many people do and it’s called cosplay. Its not a requirement but it’s great fun.

When people talk about a “comic-con,” they’re usually referring to a comic convention — an event where comic fans, creators, and experts congregate to attend panels, participate in discussions and attend parties, centred around comics.

Because convention are so popular now tickets are often limited and can sell out very quickly, so you need to buy early if you want to attend one of the big, popular events. In addition because of the expansion to include more movies and TV shows, fans of these productions e.g. Buffy or Twilight often show up just for that feature, which locks out the die-hard comic book fans, the people the events are designed for. Sometimes its better to head for the smaller events because the experience is more personal.

The very first comic convention was held in New York in July 1964, but the movement really started gaining popularity in the 1980s.

But the fact is that geek culture has gone mainstream.

Guardians of the Galaxy and Dark Knight are no longer the preserve of comic book nerds.

In recent years, these conventions have become more popular, and often expand to cover television shows, movies, and other forms of art and fiction that are more mainstream.

Five reasons to attend a Comic Con

There are comic conventions all around the world, including the UK run by many different companies and they all offer slightly different things. Some are enormous, attracting big name stars from Hollywood, while others are more low key events, paying more attention to niche publications and shows.

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The Special Guests - The chance to meet your heroes in the flesh. Actors from movies, TV shows and anime, writers, and graphic artists.

Games – computer games and board games feature large at some events but not at others, so if you love games, look for a convention which goes big on them.

Merch – T-shirts, magazines, artwork, autographs, books, memorabilia, costumes and more. Comic conventions are a great place to indulge your love of all things nerdy.

Cosplay – Half the fun is admiring all the amazing outfits. Some people buy them but many are handmade with exquisite attention to detail. This is next level nerdiness and it’s awesome.

Comics – Of course. That’s kind of the central idea.

There will be thousands of titles available and I guarantee there will be some you’ve never heard of, even if you are a committed comic fan.

By Tracey Anderson

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COMMUNITY

Staying Steady – Exercise For The More Mature Staying Steady is an initiative that provides exercise classes for older people in North Somerset.

We all know the importance as we grow older of maintaining and improving our flexibility and mobility. There are many benefits of attending these classes including: • increase your range of movements • help prevent thickening of your arteries • reduce the risk of injuries, muscle pain and cramps • maintain your levels of energy and vitality to enjoy later life to the full • great way of mixing with other people and meeting new friends Please come and join us where a warm welcome awaits you.

All sessions are delivered by qualified instructors

who have experience of working with older people.

The exercises can assist with improving flexibility, co-ordination, strength & balance.

Seated or standing.

Visit www.go4life.org/active-communities/ staying-steady for more details.

Clevedon Craft Centre For unique gifts and commissioned work come to the Clevedon Craft Centre, Moor Lane, Clevedon.

The studios and workshops are housed in the outbuildings of a 17th century Somerset ‘long farm” which was once part of the Clevedon Court Estate.

Clevedon Craft Centre is an all year round attraction.

The many and varied art and crafts provide an opportunity to purchase the highest quality original work directly from the designer/makers themselves, while still enjoying the quiet rural atmosphere where the family can feed the ducks and chickens or relax in the patio garden at the far end of the Craft Centre.

Visit www.clevedoncraftcentre.co.uk/ to find out more.

BAYROAD PAINTERS AND DECORATORS Jo Curtis

• Professional, friendly service • Exterior & interior • Fascia painting available • Free quotes. No job too oo small

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RECIPE

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Ratatouille The taste of summer for supper Method: Chop the aubergines into chunks about 2.5cm square. Cut the courgettes into 2.5cm thick slices.

De-seed the peppers and cut these into bite-sized chunks.

Preparation time: 30 mins Cooking time: 30 mins to 1 hour Serves: 4 Ingredients: 2 aubergines 4 small courgettes 2 red peppers 4 large tomatoes 4 tbsp olive oil 2 onions, chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed ½ tsp sugar salt and freshly ground black pepper small bunch basil, torn

Peel the tomatoes - score a cross in the base of each tomato and place them in a heatproof bowl. Pour over enough boiling water to cover and set aside for one minute. Drain and, when cool enough to handle, peel away the skins. Roughly chop the flesh.

Heat the oil in a flameproof casserole dish and add the chopped onions. Cook gently for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden-brown and tender.

Add the aubergines and courgettes and cook for 2-3 minutes. Stir in the peppers, garlic, sugar, some salt and pepper and half the basil and mix well. Cover and cook over a very gentle heat for 20 minutes.

Add the tomatoes to the pan and cook for a further 10 minutes. Scatter the ratatouille with the remaining basil and serve with crusty garlic bread or Focaccia.

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LOCAL EXPERT PAGE

Are your stairs a struggle?

Enjoy independence in your home…

Do I need a Stairlift? – If you have difficulty getting up and down stairs you are not alone. The decision to install a stairlift is sometimes a difficult one to take but, when compared with the alternative of moving or living on only one level of their home, many people have found a stairlift to be their preferred solution.

Why choose us? – Suttons Stairlifts aim to provide a reliable and prompt service to their valued customers. Thanks to personal recommendations from satisfied customers referring us to their friends and relations Suttons Stairlifts is now a wellestablished company committed to providing expert advice with a no-pressure selling policy, guaranteed!

Our Products and Services – We offer a range of new or refurbished Handicare stairlifts for either straight or curved stairs throughout the West Country, from Bath & Bristol right down to South Devon.

We also offer a rental option for straight stairlifts as well as annual services and safety checks, repairs and removals.

What happens next? – We will visit you to survey the staircase and conduct a user assessment leaving you the leaflets and prices so you can make the decision in your own time. Once you’ve made your decision we aim to install your lift within the week, or even the next day subject to availability.

With our comprehensive 12 or 24 month warranty and 365 day coverage you can be assured of a firstclass and personal service from Suttons Stairlifts.

Call us on 01749 346 900 for more information.

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BOOK REVIEW

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A Good Read

Hamnet

By Maggie O’Farrell This novel is the fictional retelling of the life of Anne Hathaway, who was married to William Shakespeare. The bard is never actually named in the book, which forces us to concentrate on Anne.

Shakespeare left no documentation about his personal life: if he wrote diaries, they are lost. This leaves O’Farrell free to use her imagination within an historical context.

Agnes - pronounced ‘Anyis,’ also known as Anne, is a farmer’s daughter, who is married for love to a younger man with few obvious prospects. She is a gifted herbalist with psychic abilities, whose confidence and self-assuredness marks her out among women of her time. He is the son of a bully, with a love of the intricacies of language and a penchant for wordy puns. They certainly make an unusual couple.

O’Farrell’s novel comprises of a series of interwoven short stories, centring on each of the characters.

Some of the earlier stories involve Anne’s extended family of in-laws, which whom the couple live following her first pregnancy, and her arrangements for her husband to seek his fortunes in London, while she’s pregnant with twins. In spite of their separation, the couple remain close until one of the twins, Hamnet, dies aged 11. The stories then centre on their shared grief and the strain this puts on their relationship, which culminates in him publishing his most famous tragedy, ‘Hamlet.

O’ Farrell writes beautifully and if you like attention to historical detail coupled with elegant storytelling 26 | www.localreach.co.uk

then you’ll love this book. If you prefer a spare, more fluid style of writing then you might find the going a little slow. O’ Farrell also adopts the trend of writing women from history as possessing contemporary traits. I didn’t find this an issue, but I can imagine purists wondering if Anne really would have been quite as liberated as she’s written here.

A wonderful read for history-lovers with a satisfying ending.

Through the Mirror Door

By Sarah Baker

Books like ‘The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe’ ‘The Secret Garden’ and ‘The Ghosts of Motley Hall’ are timeless children’s novels which immerse the reader in another world. This was Sarah Baker’s entry into this particular genre of children’s literature, and it doesn’t disappoint.

Angela is orphaned and living in foster care when she’s invited on a family holiday with a distant aunt.

Whisked away to crumbling manor house in France, she’s bullied by her cousins, Kitty and Fliss. Angela feels isolated and lonely in the spooky house until she discovers Julien who becomes her only friend.

But Julien is in danger, and she has to keep him a secret. His life is at stake, and Angela is the only person who can save him. As Angela races against time to save her friend, she also has to cope with the nefarious plans of her aunt and cousins.

This delightful, spookily dark story is ultimately an uplifting tale about the power of friendship. And it has a nice twist at the end too.

By Tash Donovan

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LOCALREACH

Summer Car Care Check your spare - Some cars don’t have one.

If yours doesn’t it will have a repair kit. Its best to familiarise yourself with it before the journey. Also know that if your tyre is very damaged you will have to call out a tyre replacement service. This is where being a member of a breakdown service comes in very handy!

The Clutch - That slow-moving summer traffic is also hard on clutches. A failing clutch will have been noticeable for a while. It will slip or have a high ‘bite’.

Don’t ignore these warning signs. Get it checked before travelling.

The Alternator - If your car’s battery light keeps flickering it might be a sign of your alternator struggling. Just like the battery this can be tipped into failure by slow-moving traffic coupled with extra devices being charged. You do NOT want your alternator to fail on your holiday because it isn’t an instant fix, so check it before you travel.

Summer driving can be hard on your car. Before hooking up your caravan or heading off to Cornwall make sure you check for potential problems.

The battery - Increased stop-start activity in summer traffic is hard on a battery. Add in a family’s worth of mobile entertainment devices and the sat nav and the car’s electrical juice can drain very quickly.

If your car is fully serviced and running well you have minimised the risk of spoiling your holiday.

By Tom Hancock

Puzzle Solutions

If your battery is old, consider replacing it before your holiday.

The tyres - Most people use cars for short trips only, then suddenly expect it to travel a couple of hundred miles to their holiday destination. Driving a long distance will exacerbate hidden tyre issues such as cracked or ageing rubber.

Visually check your tyres on both car and caravan if you have one, and make sure you inflate them to the correct pressure to deal with extra luggage.

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Mindbender: 1: That’s overrated 2: Second chance 3: You’re in trouble

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LOCAL BUSINESS A – Z

Local Business A – Z BATHROOMS

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d quote

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and and conditions apply, visit our website for more details.

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Independent, family run, Somerset based community magazine publishers since 2010.

28 | www.localreach.co.uk

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www.localreach.co.uk | 29

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TO ADVERTISE CALL 01275 400160 ROOFING

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Lines answered 8am-8pm Mon-Fri, 9am – 6pm Sat & 10am to 4pm Sun.

COMMUNITY MAGAZINES

Independent, family run, Somerset based community magazine publishers since 2010.

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www.localreach.co.uk | 31

20% OFF all confirmed bookings until the end of July 2022

All works guaranteed No job too big or small

Specialising in…

Resin bound & bonded driveways Stone Paving • Block Paving • Tarmac Drop kerbs • Landscaping • General building Check out our 4.7 star rating on

Call us for a FREE, no obligation quote

Tel:

01275 400471

www.stonewaypaving.co.uk