LocalReach Wells November 2022

a great November

katie@localreach.co.uk

and I hope to

Welcome…

Welcome

November’s

LocalReach!

we continue

don’t let it put you off getting

Telephone

open

of the rewarding and fun activities we have going on in the area!

in

also thrilled to welcome back Wells Carnival this year, which returns for the first time since the pandemic.

Autumn

seen by many as a time for change, with new beginnings and

Maybe it’s time to take up a new hobby or perhaps volunteer for one of the many fantastic charities we have here in Wells and the surrounding areas?

sense of togetherness

December’s

brings only serves to strengthen our

community

LocalReach, please contact me

November.

from

6:00pm

DO YOU RECEIVE A COPY OF LOCALREACH EACH MONTH?

LocalReach

delivered

to

month

of the

including all towns and villages

the

areas, to every resident and business,

copies each month.

take non deliveries very seriously and in the event of a non delivery being reported to us

the Royal Mail’s

are not getting

of the first week of any

to

the

of the non

will ask Royal Mail

Sunday 10:00am to 4:00pm

Fruit & Nut Bark – a great gift to make for Christmas

Ingredients

75g cup walnuts

450g good white chocolate, finely chopped

75g dried cranberries

75g medium-diced dried apricot

Directions

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C.

Using a pencil, draw an 8-by-10-inch rectangle on a piece of parchment paper. Turn the parchment paper over so the pencil mark doesn’t get onto the chocolate and place it on a sheet pan.

Place the walnuts in one layer on another sheet pan and bake for 8 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Place three quarters of the white chocolate in a heat-proof glass bowl and put it in the microwave on high for 30 seconds.

Stir the chocolate with a rubber spatula, return it to the microwave for another 30 seconds, then stir again. Continue to heat and stir in 30-second intervals until the chocolate is just melted.

Immediately stir in the remaining chocolate and allow it to sit at room temperature, stirring often, until it’s completely smooth.

(If you need to heat it a little more, place it in the microwave for another 15 seconds.)

Pour the melted chocolate onto the parchment paper and spread it lightly to fill the drawn rectangle.

Sprinkle the top evenly with the cooled walnuts, the cranberries, and apricots. Press the nuts and fruit lightly so they will set in the chocolate.

Set aside for at least 2 hours until firm or refrigerate for 20 minutes.

Cut or break the bark in 16 pieces and serve at room temperature.

Great as Christmas presents – present in a small box or cellophane bag tied with a pretty ribbon.

Can you support Wells Vineyard Foodbank this Harvest Festival?

Demand has now outstripped the donations given in Waitrose, Santander and Morrisons. Our Harvest Appeal Shopping List includes tinned meals, tinned fish, tinned meats, tinned fruit and vegetables, tinned custard and rice pudding, tea, coffee and long-life/ UHT milk (not skimmed), alternative milks, instant meal pots and kits, toiletries including toothpaste, shampoo and shower gels, washing up liquid and cleaning products and laundry pods/powder. For more information on other ways to help, please contact: Sue Marland on 07984 382157; +263 77 234 0762 (WhatsApp) / smarland@mango.zw, Nicole Greenslade on 07769 711635, Facebook: Wells Foodbank and Furniture Storehouse Project or using the QR code below:

their doorstep by funding local charities and inspiring local giving and philanthropy. Representatives from two local charities that have been funded across the 20 years, Children’s World (Glastonbury) and Axe Valley Men’s Shed (Axbridge and Cheddar), spoke about how the funding had made such an impact on their work, at an event held at The Newt. Please visit www.somersetcf.org. uk for more information.

Wednesday 2nd November 11.00am12.00pm – Beat Surgery, Wells Library.

Drop in and speak to a member of Wells City Neighbourhood Policing Team. Whether you want advice on how to protect your belongings, more information about the work we are doing in your area, or you want to raise a concern about an issue in your community, your Neighbourhood Policing team will be on hand to help.

Thursday 3rd November 7.00pm - Oxford

Lieder Young Singers, Cedars Hall, Wells.

Somerset Sight.

Anyone suffering from sight loss can access support, including the NHS Low Vision Clinics, from Somerset Sight. Please visit the mobile shop and advisory service frequently in Wells and surrounding areas, bringing up-to-date information and advice for all conditions, useful gadgets and magnifiers, hints and tips. You may also wish to be matched with a trained volunteer for regular company, friendship and help with day-to-day tasks. To access services or to volunteer please ring 01823 333818

Somerset Community Foundation.

Local charity Somerset Community Foundation (SCF) is celebrating its 20th anniversary and also marking an incredible milestone, having awarded £20 million of funding to thousands of Somerset’s local charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises since 2002. Somerset Community Foundation is a charity that helps passionate people in Somerset change the world on

Claire Barnett-Jones is the Somerset-born mezzo soprano who won the Dame Joan Sutherland Audience Prize at the 2021 Cardiff Singer of the World competition. Now fast getting booked for opera productions around the world, tonight she joins Sholto Kynoch for an intimate hour of song and chat. Tickets £10. 18 and under free tickets. cedarshallwells.co.uk/events/41527/oxfordlieder-young-singers

Friday 4th November 7.00pm-11.00pm –1950s Retro Night!

The Swan Hotel, Wells. Enjoy the night swinging, strolling, jiving and more! American diner food, life music and a raffle. Tickets £15 each with all profits being donated to Macmillan Cancer Support. Tickets can be purchased from Bishops Jones, Wells. Call 01749 678307 or email info@bishopjones.co.uk

Saturday 5th November 10.00am12.30pm – Sustainable Wells Repair Café, St Thomas’ Church Hall, Wells.

If you have items that need fixing, please bring them along and our volunteer repairers will do their best to mend most things. Meanwhile, our lovely café crew serve drinks and delicious homemade cakes. All we ask for is a donation to help with our running costs. If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please contact Amanda Phillips on avjphillips@gmail.com

Live the life you deserve

you thought bathing safely

stylishly wasn’t possible, think again

Picture the scene, it’s the end of the day. Your body feels tired and your mind is ready for some downtime. You imagine what it would feel like to climb into a warm, soothing bath and let you cares melt away. Then a niggling doubt takes hold. Last time you had a bath you had to call your partner to help you get out.

Maybe it won’t happen this time. So, you run a bath anyway thinking this time you’ll be ok. But can you enjoy your bath with those doubts in your mind?

We know that going from a ‘normal’ bathroom to one with mobility aids feels like a step in a direction you don’t want to go. But it depends how you look at it. It’s very common for people only to seek help with their bathroom as a result of a fall, accident or near-miss. Should you wait that long, or are there changes you could make now? 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.

Updating your bathroom with AHM

We guide you through the whole process of updating your bathroom. If you’re in immediate need of a solution, we do our best to make it happen quickly. If you prefer taking time to think through the options, that’s fine too.

We’re a small, family-run firm with a background in caring and mobility, so we’re flexible and we know what it’s like. We visit customers at home, for free, to get a full understanding of their needs and there’s always a real person at the end of the phone.

We don’t employ salesmen. Our experienced surveyors visit you to discuss your needs. We also pride ourselves in employing courteous and trustworthy fitters to install every bathroom.

We use specialist bathing products which come with a manufacturer’s warranty, plus our own 12-month installation warranty.

If you’re ready to seek help with your bathroom, call us on 01749 467136.

Bathing a problem?

can

‘Lest We Forget’ by William Percy Wither

“Where are you now, you North Somerset Yeomen, Who came, swift to answer your country’s appeal, To pit your raw strength ‘gainst the might of the foemen, To give shot for shot, to oppose steel to steel?

You came, not for gain, for reward or for glory, And little you heeded where duty’s path led; You wrote your full page in our England’s proud story.

Thanked God for your victories, and mourned for your dead.

For some lie near Ypres, beneath the clay sleeping; They suffered, they died, but no inch would they yield,

And dull leaden skies up above them are weeping For them, as they lie ‘neath the battle-scarred field.

And all up and down where the old trench-line wandered, The plain wooden crosses their message proclaim; Yet no man may say that their young lives were squanderedThey died for this England; they rest in their fame.

Where are you now, you North Somerset Yeoman, Bred to the ploughtail, the desk or the mine? You gave of your best, did your duty, and no men Can beat your proud record, your glory outshine.

You fought and you died, you were wounded and shattered; You stuck to it grimly, till Peace came at last, And now on the face of the earth you are scattered, Till nothing remains but the ghost of the past.

The ghost of the past - in the midst of tradition, The actors depart, but their exploits remain; But still the old Regiment retains her positionShe’d do it, if need be, all over again!”

Never Feel Alone With Trust By Phone

A Trusted daily phone call or text service giving you peace of mind

Living on your own can be scary and TRUST BY PHONE is here for you offering you a personalised call and text service tailored to your needs.

• Daily phone call/text to check-in with you

• Non automated, your always talking direct to an actual person who cares

• Fail-Safe service

• Tailored to your needs

• Can be altered at anytime

• Simple and easy to sign up either by post or via our website

• No complicated contracts

Here at TRUST BY PHONE conversations with you mean something just the same as if you were our own family.

TRUST BY PHONE can be your Emergency contact and can even if needed fulfil your funeral plans

Our service also includes a “FAIL-SAFE” where if you cant be contacted or do not reply within your specified time scale then your emergency contact will be notified or the emergency services will be notified to check on you.

For only £10 per month TRUST BY PHONE offers a simple solution to put your mind at rest and make living alone feel less lonely.

Mortgages What is happening?

Mortgages – What is happening?

Well what a week it have been since the mini budget, with mortgage rates and changing by the hour and lender and consumer confidence low we thought we would just try and help explain what is actually happening in the market.

Well what a week it has been since the mini budget, with mortgage rates and products changing by the hour and lender and consumer confidence low we thought we would just try and help explain what is actually happening in the market.

Over the last week 40% of all mortgage products have been withdrawn and I hear there will be more, those left have started to increase their rates, this is all due to the ‘SWAPS’ rate, this is basically the interbank lending rate in which lenders trade/swap with each other. The rate in September had a highest rate of 5.670% if you compare that to Jan 22 with a rate of 1.275% and highs of less than 1% in 2021. If a lender has a fixed rate of 3.5% but is being charged 5.670% you can see why they started to pull those products quickly as it costs them to give you that mortgage of 3.5%.

Over the last week 40% of all mortgage products have been withdrawn and I hear there will be more, those left have started to increase their rates, this is all due to the ‘SWAPS’ rate, this is basically the interbank lending rate in which lenders trade/swap with each other. The rate in September had a highest rate of 5.670% if you compare that to Jan 22 with a rate of 1.275% and highs of less than 1% in 2021. If a lender has a fixed rate of 3.5% but is being charged 5.670% you can see why they started to pull those products quickly as it costs them to give you that mortgage of 3.5%.

Having spoken to lots of lenders this week things will settle down and in the first part of October, products will start coming back but all predictions show the rates will be higher, so what does that mean for you? To give you an idea of what monthly payments could look like if we follow the Bank of England rate and look at some projections;

Having spoken to lots of lenders this week things will settle down and in the first part of October, products will start coming back but all predictions show the rates will be higher, so what does that mean for you? To give you an idea of what monthly payments could look like if we follow the Bank of England rate and look at some projections;

Bank of England rate:

Current

Expected Dec 22.

Expected Jun 23. 2.25% 4.5% 5.75%

Monthly Repayments £200,000 mortgage, 25 year term £872 £1,111 £1,258

Source: Bloomberg

Source: Bloomberg

This means if you are on a lenders Standard Variable Rate (SVR) by Jun next year your monthly payment on a £200,000 mortgage over 25 years could increase by £386 per month. So, what can you do? If you are on a SVR you can look to switch to a fixed rate now, that will ensure your monthly payments do not move during the initial fixed period, there are other considerations you need to think of when switching to a fixed rate, how long you will stay in your current home? will you need to move during the fixed period? do you have any changes to your circumstances coming up? If you move to a fixed rate then you will be tied in to early repayment charges.

If you have a fixed rate coming to an end in the next few months, speak to your lender and see if you can secure a product transfer and also speak to a mortgage advisor to see if there are any better deals available to you, remember Mortgage Advisors who offer whole of market mortgage advise will have access to more products than your current lender so could get you a better deal, call Liberty Money on 01275 244360 for a no obligation chat.

This means if you are on a lenders Standard Variable Rate (SVR) by Jun next year your monthly payment on a £200,000 mortgage over 25 years could increase by £386 per month. So , what can you do? If you are on a SVR you can look to switch to a fixed rate now, that will ensure your monthly payments do not move during the initial fixed period, there are other considerations you need to think of when switching to a fixed rate, how long you will stay in your current home? will you need to move during the fixed period? do you have any changes to your circumstances coming up ? If you move to a fixed rate then you will be tied in to early repayment charges. If you have a fixed rate coming to an end in the next few months, speak to your lender and see if you can secure a product transfer and also speak to a mortgage advisor to see if there are any better deals available to you, remember Mortgage Advisors who offer whole of market mortgage advise will have access to more products than your current lender so could get you a better deal, call Liberty Money on 01275 244360 for a no obligation chat.

Oh yes, one more thing!!

We have had a rebrand!! From HMC Funding to Liberty Money, HMC was founded to help customers access the financial products that they need to help support their lives. We focus on helping people use their assets to get the best possible financial products for their needs. We use the best people and technology to provide a service that is designed around you to make the journey easier and ensure our customers understand the products we provide.

We are proud of the service and customers we are helping and we are excited to see Liberty Money grow further.

Oh yes, one more thing!!………..We have had a rebrand!! From HMC Funding to Liberty Money, HMC was founded to help customers access the financial products that they need to help support their lives. We focus on helping people use their assets to get the best possible financial products for their needs. We use the best people and technology to provide a service that is designed around you to make the journey easier and ensure our customers understand the products we provide. We are proud of the service and customers we are helping and we are excited to see Liberty Money grow further

Last Month’s crossword solutions: Across (6) Financial Conduct Authority (10) Loan to Value (11) Rent (12) Offer Letter (14) Andrew Bailey (15) Annual Percentage Rate (16) Bank of England Down (1) Interest Only (2) Buildings Insurance (3) Debt (4) Liability (5) Whole of Market (7) Assets (8) Inheritance (9) Mortgage (13) Fixed Rate

The Repair Shop

As upholsterers we can turn our hands to many “odd jobs”. In our workshop this week we have several interesting items including a treasured wooden sewing box made by a customer’s father, now deceased, with a damaged leather pad; a handmade blanket box upholstered by a customer’s mother year’s ago, that has seen better days; bar stool seats, mismatched footstools and a broken car door handle for a customer’s pride and joy. All these items have real sentimental value to our customers, and they don’t want to lose them.

Our curtain making team also turn their hands to repairs and alterations. Customers moving house often ask us to alter their old curtains and blinds to fit new windows, thus saving them some money. We also inter-line curtains to increase insulation and cut down on customer’s energy bills.

Repairing old and treasured items is kind to our hearts and kind to our planet. So, before you decide that you need to buy new, think about repairing, restoring and reloving!

To find out more about what we can do for you, visit www.prettysittingvintage.co.uk, email info@ prettysittingvintage.co.uk, phone 01934 752725 or drop by our Tweentown Workshop or Bath Street Showroom, Cheddar.

Pretty Sitting

Sunday 6th November Afternoon (weather permitting) – Sustainable Wells Freecycle, The Good Earth Car Park, Wells.

It’s like a car boot sale, except that everything is given away free! Things not wanted must be taken back home at the end. Full details will be available at www.sustainablewells.org.uk/ and Facebook nearer the time.

Royal Air Forces Association Mid-somerset Branch – Future Programme

Royal Air Forces MidSomerset Branch held a General Branch Meeting on 3rd October at the Street Inn when members discussed the forward programme for 2023 and the Branch responses and inputs to the Association Annual Conference held on 21 – 23 October; this was followed by a Pub Lunch. The future programme will continue as follows:.

Monday 7th November - General Branch Meeting 11:00am for 11:15am at the Street Inn, 1 - 3 Somerton Road,Street, BA16 0DR. There will be a Branch Meeting followed by a presentation “An Ordinary Wartime Airman 1942 to 1945” and then an optional Pub Lunch.

Saturday 17th December – Branch Christmas Lunch 12:15pm for 12:45pm at Wells Golf Club, Blackheath Lane, Wells, BA5 3DS. Members will assemble for drinks in the bar prior to a traditional Christmas two-course lunch; full details, menu and costs will be available soon and published in the December edition.

All events are open to Branch Members, RAFA Members from other Branches, Current and Ex-RAF Service Personnel (Including RAF Reserves), and Members of the “RAF Family”. Please contact the Branch via e-mail rafa.midsomerset@gmail.com or tel to Secretary 01458-224057 for further information.

Saturday 12th November 7.30pm - World

Champions: Cory Brass Band, Cedars Hall, Wells.

Cory Band from South Wales is the world’s best brass band, winning an unprecedented Grand Slam of the four ‘majors’ in 2016 and 2019. Proud to be leading this traditional form of amateur music making into a new era, their long-awaited visit to Wells is certain to be a stunning mixture of both blockbusting and beautiful music. Tickets £20 tickets.cedarshallwells.co.uk/events/41528/worldchampions-cory-brass-band

Garden View… Feeling Fruity

Autumn is well advanced and following some brilliant colour, the trees and shrubs have shed most of their leaves. Many of us will have been busy tidying our plots in preparation for winter. However, if you’ve ever fancied growing your own fruit then now is the perfect time to put in a little extra effort. From now until spring is the best window to plant fruit trees because now is the time that nurseries are selling bare-root trees. ‘Bare-root’ simply means without pots or soil. Bare root trees are cheaper than those grown in pots, but they are quick to establish providing you follow a few simple steps.

Before you plant the tree, soak the roots in a bucket of water for at least two hours, so it gets a good drink.

Prepare a large enough area, at least 1 metre diameter. This means that if you are planting in a lawn you’ll need to remove an area of turf to the same diameter to stop the grass competing with the new tree for nutrients and water. Wherever you plant, make sure you dig in lots of organic matter, this could be garden compost, leaf mould, or well-rotted manure. Make sure you dig it all around the area where the hole will be, rather than just into the hole itself, because this will encourage the new tree to put roots out into the surrounding soil, helping it to establish quickly.

The hole for the new tree needs to be roomy enough so that the roots will not be crammed together.

Drive a stake into the ground to a depth of at least 60cm. This will provide support for your fledgling tree.

If you are planting a grafted tree, there will be a clear join where it was grafted on to the rootstock This join should remain above the soil level when planted. It’s easier if there are two of you; one to hold the tree at the correct level, and one to backfill the hole around the roots. The person holding the tree should shake the trunk gently as the hole is filled, so that soil gets in between all the roots.

Once you’ve filled the hole, firm the soil gently with your foot. Don’t compact the soil too much. The drag more soil over the compressed area.

Use a soft rubber tie to secure the tree to the stake at a height of 60cm. Too low and the tree won’t be secure; too high and the tree won’t flex enough in the wind. Allowing the tree to flex a little encourages more root growth and results in a stronger tree.

Finally, water in well and apply a 5cm layer of organic mulch over the area but NOT touching the trunk, because it might rot. The mulch helps to suppress weeds, provide insulation, and retain moisture.

Your tree should now be fine until spring when we’ll talk about ongoing care…Happy Gardening,

By Rachael Leverton

Saturday 12th November 11.00am12.30pm – Bishops Palace Tree Walk, Bishops Palace, Wells.

Visitors will be led by experienced tree guide and musician, Matt Witt. He will set the scene with some acoustic guitar and nature-inspired poetry, whilst introducing the beautiful trees of the Palace’s Gardens. All walks include a day ticket to the Palace and Gardens. Tickets £14.50. For more information, please call 07548 936081 or visit bishopspalace. org.uk/event/to-the-trees-tree-walks/

Thursday 17th November 7.30pm – An Evening with Graham Gooch - Former Essex & England Cricket Captain, Cedars Hall, Wells.

The former Essex and England Captain Graham Gooch was the most prolific run scorer that topclass cricket has ever seen. Graham is one of only 25 players to have scored over 100 first-class centuries. Come and join Graham and let him entertain you with stories from his years as a professional cricketer and England and Essex Captain. Tickets £20. tickets.cedarshallwells.co.uk/events/41043/ an-evening-with-graham-gooch-former-essexengland-cricket-captain

Wednesday 16th November 7.30pm

– Henton and District Gardening Club –Henton Village Hall.

Henton and District Gardening Club is looking forward to local member Nigel Cox’s talk on Permaculture and Garden Sustainability. Nigel is one of the leads in the Bleadney Bow Project. There will be a raffle, refreshments and a sales table. Join the club for £15 annually or come as a visitor for £5. More information on our programme for 2022/3 can be found at hentongardenclub.weebly.com

Friday 18th November 7.00pm onwards –Wells Carnival.

For more details on the route, please visit www.somersetcountycarnivals.com/dates

Saturday 19th November 10.30am – Lego Club, Wells Library.

Booking highly recommended. Please email us on wlslib@somerset.gov.uk or call into the library to book a space.

Saturday 19 November 7.30pm – G4 Christmas, The Nave of Wells Cathedral.

Experience sumptuous harmonies in an idyllic, festive setting. Selling out every year, G4 will be back on the road in 2022 with their biggest and best Christmas tour to date! Expect to hear timeless classics as well as delightful medleys to evoke the Christmas spirit, all delivered exquisitely in one of the UK’s most iconic historical venues. Tickets £15£20. events.ticketbooth.eu/event/g4-christmaswells-cathedral-2022

Thursday 24th November 7.30pm - Piano Masters 1: Dmitri Alexeev, Cedars Hall, Wells.

A rare recital by the great Russian pianist in masterpieces by Mozart, Schumann and Prokofiev. For over half a century, Dmitri Alexeev has been one of the world’s most highly regarded virtuosi - “one of the most remarkable pianists of the day” (Daily Telegraph). Tickets £16. 18 and under free. tickets. cedarshallwells.co.uk/events/41532/pianomasters-1-dmitri-alexeev

Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout November at various times –Age UK Online Exercise Classes.

Our online classes are available to anyone living in Somerset or North Somerset and are suitable for people over 60 who are actively able and can move independently. From Pilates to Tai Chi to Yoga and even Qi Gong, there is something for everyone! For more information, please contact us via ageingwell@ageuksomerset.org.uk for more details.

Slow Cooked Gammon With Cider

Ingredients

1kg boneless smoked gammon

joint, all visible fat removed, cut into large chunks

2 onions, peeled and cut into thick wedges

300g carrots, peeled, halved and cut into thick chunks

300g potatoes, peeled and roughly chopped 2 bay leaves

6 cloves

10 black peppercorns

2 fresh rosemary sprigs

100ml apple cider

Wednesday 2nd, Wednesday 16th and Wednesday 30th November 7.00pm9.30pm - Wells Board Game Group.

Wells Board Game Group meet at The Quarter Jack, Priory Road, Wells.

800ml boiling hot chicken stock

Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, to garnish

Method

Place the gammon into the slow cooker with the vegetables and add the bay leaves, cloves, peppercorns and rosemary. Pour over the cider and stock and stir to mix well.

Wednesday 2nd, Wednesday 16th and Wednesday 30th November 7.30pm9.30pm – Wells Folk Dance Club, Dinder Village Hall.

All levels of experience is welcome at this friendly and fun club! The annual membership fee is £7; the weekly fee is £3.50 for members and £4 for visitors, which includes light refreshment. Prospective members - first evening free! For any enquiries, please contact Pat Watkins on 01749 674920

Cover with the lid and cook on HIGH for 5-6 hours or until the gammon and vegetables are tender. Remove the gammon and vegetables with a slotted spoon and serve sprinkled with parsley.

Tuesday 8th – Sunday 19th November (excluding Sunday 13th and Monday 14th November) 10.00am – 4.00pm, Wells Painting Group Art Exhibition, Wells and Mendip Museum (overlooking Cathedral Green).

Wednesdays

9.30am, 11am, 4pm, 5.30pm & 7pm

The Bishop’s Eye by Wendy Lovegrove

Free admission. Wells Painting Group was founded in 1969 by popular local artist Pauline Phillips. The group still meets regularly. Group members paint a wide range of subjects in all mediums. The paintings are for sale and there will also be cards available to purchase. For more information, please call Hilary on 07779 259190

Wells United Church, Union Street, Wells, BA5 2PU

Call Sarah - 07715 958590

JOIN FREE

WITH THIS ADVERT

slimmingworld.co.uk

slimmingworld.co.uk

Supporting staff through the cost of living crisis

The ongoing cost of living crisis has put significant pressure on household incomes, with many turning to their employer to facilitate higher wages to offset soaring expenses. Whilst a pay rise is, undoubtedly, the best solution to this problem, in many cases, employers will be experiencing equal struggles and concerns, so may not be in a position to offer financial assistance. However, there are still ways in which employers can provide support by keeping the financial wellbeing of their workforce at the top of their priority list.

Where possible, a salary increase or bonus payment will likely provide the most relief and benefit to employees. Should this be given, it’s useful to specify how and when the increase will apply. Similarly, employers should be clear that it is a oneoff payment in recognition of the financial struggles employees have, but does not form a contractual, nor a recurring, arrangement.

Should there already be a contractual entitlement to a regular pay review, pay increase period, or a non-discretionary bonus payment, employers should ensure this is adhered to. Failure to abide by the contractual terms can lead to claims for breach of contract impacting employee relations,

reduced productivity and could lead to costly court proceedings.

Employers may be able to renegotiate contractual terms and conditions, to remove or delay a scheduled pay increase or bonus payment. However, to do so, they must ensure they complete a full consultation period with affected employees and exhaust all other cost saving measures.

The cost benefits to working from home were amongst the reasons employees enjoyed doing so throughout the Covid pandemic; they were able to save on commuting expenses, reduce childcare costs with possibly a better work-life balance. However, as household bills climb, homeworking may no longer be an attractive prospect with returning to the office a useful way to save on energy bills. Where this isn’t possible, employers might want to consider providing a homeworking allowance, especially through the winter months.

For other on-site workers, commuting expenses maybe an issue. Providing travel ticket loans or free parking can help reduce outgoings. Also introducing flexi-hours, compressed hours, or changing start and finish times to fall outside of peak hours may help. Further initiatives employers may wish to consider include financial literacy and education sessions, free on-site meals and refreshments or offering rewards and benefits programmes.

what

turned up on

informed

being

Take the correct steps now to protect against data loss

Have you ever lost irreplaceable data without any means of getting it back? The question “Why didn’t I back up?” taunts your every moment until eventually you count your losses and move on. Whether it be family photos, work documents, or music, most computers store sentimental or important data. The problem is the data can suddenly become inaccessible due to a plethora of reasons, some unprovoked, occurring entirely at random. Data is stored on the hard drive, a component which can stop working at any moment. When data is not backed up, the drive must be sent off for expensive repairs, with results not guaranteed.

Fortunately there are steps anyone can take to lessen the blow and keep the mind at ease. First off, do not place all your eggs in one basket. Ensure a routine backup is configured, whereby your data is backed up to an external destination, whether it be off-site (online) or a USB backup drive.

Even absent of hardware issues, data is still at risk. Some computer viruses will steal or encrypt your data, usually to be ransomed back to you. Without decent antivirus protection, computer data, and sometimes even your backup, is infected and lost due to these viruses. It is crucial to run decent, paid for antivirus software.

A final tip is to spot and replace failing hardware early on, before problems arise. This is best achieved with an annual computer service carried out by an experienced engineer who can ensure you have a routine backup in-place, get your software up-to-date, ensure that you are running top-rated antivirus protection, and help with upgrades when necessary.

Please see our advert on this page and get in touch if you feel that we can help protect your important data.

Space Invaders

How technology developed for space has appeared on Earth

Space has been in the news a lot recently. From the Mars Rover to the James Webb telescope, we’ve marvelled at amazing images. In the 50th year since man last walked on the moon NASA is once again preparing a Lunar mission. It all seems far removed from our everyday lives, but did you know that some 2000 or more inventions that we use on Earth every day were actually invented by NASA? Here are my favourites:

Memory foam - Oh how I love my memory foam mattress and bike seat, and development of the ‘Tempur’ material used was NASA-funded. Engineers wanted to create better shock-absorbing aircraft seats for test pilots.

Infrared thermometers - Ubiquitous throughout the first COVID outbreak, the technology was developed by the space agency, to gauge the temperature of distant cosmic objects.

Mobile phone cameras - The image sensors used in just about every modern digital camera come directly from NASA. They were looking for better, cheaper, more efficient cameras for spacecraft, but the technology was quickly licensed and harnessed by camera and phone companies and is now used all over the world.

Scratch resistant lens coatings – These were around before NASA got involved, but they were a bit ‘meh’. NASA developed a diamond-like carbon coating and used it to improve the scratchresistance of sensitive instruments by as much as 10 times. RayBan then decided to apply the technology to their lenses to create tough and super cool sunspecs.

Comfortable running shoes - After inventing a rubber moulding process for astronaut helmets, NASA engineers applied the same technology to shoes. It allowed for the creation of shock absorbers in the soles, and these have now become a common feature in running shoes.

By Matthew Carter

Garolla garage doors are expertly made to measure in our own UK factories, they’re strong and solidly

The electric Garolla door

up vertically, taking up only 8 inches inside

garage, maximising

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.

Creating Calm

If you know a child or young person struggling with big feelings, stressful situations, or other life challenges, then therapy, or counselling, can really help them.

There are lots of reasons they might come for therapy and generally, the answer is, ‘Yes, I can help.’

I work with children and young people experiencing a huge range of concerns including:

• abuse

• anger and frustration

• anxiety

• ASD, ADHD and PANDAS

• attachment

• bereavement

• family issues

• fears and phobias

• OCD, TS, ODD and PDA

• school issues and school refusal

• self-esteem and self-image

• self-harm and ED

• trauma and PTSD

• and more…

I support children and young people, aged 5 to 18, with Creative Arts Therapy and Counselling, Play Therapy and TraumaPlay. I generally work 1:1 with clients, but I will often work supporting the family too.

I offer parents, carers, and other professionals individualised support, Parents as Partners sessions, and Lego Serious Play. I also run courses for parents and carers, so if you might be interested, please get in touch.

I am a Clinical Supervisor who works creatively, and I have availability to supervise other therapists, teachers, social workers, medical staff, and other professionals face to face at my studio and also over Zoom.

You can find me, along with Orca my therapy dog, in my private studio based in Wells. It’s within easy access of the town centre and has plenty of parking.

Do you need help for a child or young person that you know?

If I can help someone you know, or you would like to know more about how I work, please get in touch by sending me an email to hello@creatingcalm.co.uk. You can also find out more at www.creatingcalm.co.uk

I'm a local therapist, based in Wells, who supports children, young people and their families to help them manage big feelings, stressful situations and other life challenges.

Do you need help for a child or young person that you know?

Do you need help for a child or young person that you know?

Supporting children and young people to help them manage big feelings, stressful situations and other life challenges

Hutchinson

Working together with families and those who support children to look after themselves as well as others

I'm a local therapist, based in Wells, who supports children, young people and their families to help them manage big feelings, stressful situations and other life challenges.

Hutchinson

Play therapy

therapy

Elaine Hutchinson

Wednesday 9th and Wednesday 23rd November 7.00pm-8.30pm, Meditation/ Spiritual Group, Wells Town Hall.

All levels of experience are welcome. We would be delighted if you would like to join our growing spiritual community here in Wells. Booking is a must (due to space) so please contact Katie on ispysolutionsonline@gmail.com for more general details and current availability. A recommended donation of £5.00 is requested please, to cover the running costs of the group.

Monday 14th and Monday 28th

November 10.30am-11.00am - Tai Chi for Health, Wells Library.

Experience the gentle flowing movements of Tai Chi and treat your whole body to a gentle and relaxing workout. Say goodbye to sweating, puffing and panting and say hello to feeling cool, calm, refreshed and energised.

Every Thursday, 8.00pm-10.00pm - Irish Set Dancing, Dinder Village Hall.

£3 including refreshments. Beginners welcome, no partner needed. Come and join the fun! For more details, please contact Mary on Tremewan1@gmail. com or 07958 563710 or just turn up!

Prickles Hedgehog Rescue.

Prickles Hedgehog

Rescue of Cheddar is looking for volunteers. Prickles is now caring for over 50 hedgehogs and we are looking for adult volunteers who have spare time for either cleaning out the hedgehogs from 9.00am-12.00pm or feeding the hedgehogs from 4.00pm-5.00pm.

Full training will be given and you will be part of a team that is overseen by our friendly Duty Managers.

Wednesday 23rd November – Saturday

3rd December 10.00am-4.00pm – Art Exhibition, Michael Brobson, Wells Museum Gallery.

On show will be original artwork depicting many local places as well scenes from further afield. Also on show will be prints and greeting cards (including Christmas cards) that cannot be purchased in shops, several of which contain scenes of the city of Wells. Free entry.

Every Thursday 6.45pm for a 7.00pm start - Wells City Bridge Club, St Thomas’ Church Hall, Wells.

Now we are able to meet socially again, we are ready to welcome new members. We have a reputation for being a very friendly club and we welcome the less experienced players as well as those of a good standard. For more information, please phone the Chair on 01749 939879 or the Secretary on 01749 675108 or take a look at our website: www.bridgewebs.com/wells

If you feel you can help, please give us a call on 07806 744772

Football Crazy

Get your World Cup footie facts here

The World Cup has been played every 4 years since this inaugural tournament except in 1942 and 1946 when it was suspended because of World War II. Hence it has been held 21 times and 2022 will coincidentally be the 22nd World cup.

In 2018 Russia automatically qualified as the host country, with the remaining 210 nations competing for the remaining 31 places during 872 matches. Following the international condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Russians were banned from the 2022 World Cup. Their scheduled opponents in the playoffs at the time of the ban were Poland, who were given a bye through to the final — where they beat Sweden to book their ticket to Qatar 2022.

in the midst of

World Cup Fever!

here are a few World Cup

The first World Cup took place back in 1930. Jules Rimet, a French football administrator who was the third and longest serving President of FIFA, wanted to create an international competition between men’s football teams. The first World Cup tournament consisted of thirteen invited teams and took place in Uruguay,

The Russian football authorities did appeal the decision, but their case was thrown out by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Brazil has won the most World Cups with five, while Italy and Germany are close behind with four each.

The World Cup is usually held in June and July but the host this year are Qatar. The subtropical desert climate there results in extremely hot summers, with highs averaging between 32-27 degrees. As the temperature often exceeds these averages, the authorities felt it would be too dangerous to play soccer. So as part of their winning bid for hosting the World Cup, Qatar agreed to stage the tournament in November and December, where typical temperatures are a more comfortable 21-26 degrees.

The winning team is awarded the World Cup Trophy. Although team gets to enjoy celebrating and being photographed with the trophy after the final, they don’t get to take it away with them. They are sent home with a replica. The current Jules Rimet trophy has been presented to winning teams since 1970. It is made of 18-carat gold and weighs in at 13.5 pounds (just over 6Kg). At the inception of the tournament in 1930 FIFA decided that if any nation won three finals, they would be given the trophy to keep. In 1970 Brazil achieved this feat when they defeated Italy in the final in Mexico, so the trophy was presented to the Brazilian Sports Confederation. It was placed on display on the third floor of the CBF offices in Rio. 13 years later on the night of 19th of December, the security guard was overpowered by a group of thieves and the trophy disappeared. It has never been found.

By Nicky Gray

Parkin for the Win

for Bonfire Night

Ingredients:

225g / 8oz Plain flour

2 level tsps Ground ginger

1 level tsp Bicarbonate of Soda

½ level tsp salt

225g /8oz Medium oatmeal

115g / 4oz Black treacle

115g / 4oz Golden syrup

115g / 4oz Soft light-brown sugar

115g /4 oz Unsalted butter

150ml / 5floz Milk

1 Egg - beaten

Method:

Preheat the oven to 180C / Gas mk 4. Grease and line a 30 x 25 x 5 cm (12 x 10 x 2 inch) roasting tin with grease-proof paper.

Place the treacle, golden syrup, sugar and butter into a heavy-bottomed saucepan and heat gently until the butter has melted. Remove from the heat. Allow to cool a little then beat in the milk and the egg.

Sift the flour, ginger, bicarbonate of soda and salt into a large mixing bowl. Stir in the oatmeal and make a well in the centre.

Pour the liquid mixture into the well and beat thoroughly.

Pour into the roasting tin and bake in the centre of the oven until firm and springy.

Leave to cool in the tin. When cold wrap in greaseproof paper and leave for a couple of days in an airtight tin, because the flavour of Parkin improves with keeping.

Serves 12

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 30 minutes

I’ll Do It Later! How to stop procrastinating

Charles Dickens famously said, “Procrastination is the thief of time.”

Procrastination is intentionally delaying completing a task despite knowing it will have negative consequences. It’s a form of self-sabotage, which reduces the time available to complete the task, while increasing stress levels. So why do we do it?

Amygdala hijack - The amygdala is the part of the brain which moderates our fear response. When we are distressed the rational part of our brain (the prefrontal cortex) shuts down leaving the amygdala in charge. If we feel negative towards a task and our brain interprets this as distress, the amygdala steps in to persuade us NOT to do it.

Instant gratification - Humans tend to repeat tasks when our brain rewards us with a dopamine hit. Procrastinating by watching cat videos on YouTube feels good in the present, like a reward, so we keep delaying tasks until procrastination becomes a chronic habit.

Puzzle Solutions

Mindbender:

Present bias - We are more focused on who we are and how we feel today, than for our future self. We don’t dwell on how our current decisions will impact us in a few weeks or months. We actually process information about our current self and future self in separate parts of the brain. Functional MRI scans reveal that we view our future-self in the same way we view a stranger. So it’s easier for us to defer tasks and decisions that favour our future self, and instead choose instant gratification which provide pleasure right now.

Stopping procrastination:

There is not a one size fits all solution but there are some tools which might help. Choose the ones that resonate with you.

Focus on the why - Will the task benefit someone else? Extrinsic motivation can sometimes be a powerful tool. ‘If don’t do this I will be letting them down.’ If it’s you who will benefit try writing down why you’re doing the task. A written reminder will help keep you focussed.

Eat the frog - If you knew you had to eat a live frog, you’d want to get the task finished first thing, then get on with your day knowing nothing else was going to be that bad. Eating the frog suggests that if we tackle an unpleasant task early in the day, everything else will seem easier.

Eat the Elephant - It’s an old joke: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time? Break a task down for small easy wins. That way you build momentum gradually, and don’t feel overwhelmed.

The 3/5/10 Minute Rule - Tell yourself you only have to do the task for three, five or ten minutes. Most likely, when the timer goes off you will have the built enough momentum to want to continue.

The pressure cooker method - If you feel like you need a sense of urgency to complete tasks give yourself a certain amount of time to get all or part of the job done. Set a timer, or download a productivity app.

Body doubling - Ask someone to sit with you while you complete the task. Studies show that having someone else in the room while you are working (even if they are just doing their own thing), really helps some people focus.

Reward - Promise yourself a reward when you complete your task. Be specific: a scented bubble bath; an episode of your favourite sit com; a jam donut...whatever works for you.

Procrastination is a human trait. We can’t eradicate it, but we can learn to manage our time better.

By Tracey Anderson

A Good Read

The Book of Form and Emptines by Ruth Ozeki

This is the most beautiful and unusual book I have read for a while. With themes of love, family, grief, mental health, and substance abuse it sounds heavy, but be assured that though the book is heavy at 548 pages, the story is not.

Benny Oh is a 14-year-old boy whose father dies in an unfortunate accident. Benny and his mother Annabelle grieve in their different ways. Annabelle begins to hoard while Benny starts to hear the voices of the objects in his home speak to him; the socks which want to be with their partner and books which want to be organised on the shelf. Benny find this constant noise unsettling and intrusive and retreats to the library where all the things use their quiet voices, and where he meets some wonderful off-grid characters who provide a moving insight into mental ill-health.

The Book actually narrates the novel. The Book is a character in its own right and interacts with Benny directing him to be the hero of his own story. They even disagree over how to tell the family’s back story, particularly when it comes to his mother’s sex life.

Ozeki blurs the line between Benny’s hallucinations and the reality of The Book. Do the objects really talk to him?

Infused with warmth and wisdom the novel has some great characters, like the landlady’s evil son who is hell bent on evicting Benny and Annabelle, and a Marie Kondo character who Anabelle appeals to for help, shining a light on how our relationships are impacted by the importance we give to material belongings and the clutter we allow in our lives.

This is an enchanting and highly original novel. I read it then listened to the audio book, narrated by Kerry Shale, which I have to say was even better!

By Tash Donovan

Local