LocalReach Portishead February 2023

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

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

Karen Anderson

Are you looking for more visitors to your event or more customers for your business?

LocalReach is an excellent way to promote your event or gain more leads for your business. Prices start from only £28+vat per month. We are the ONLY magazine delivered every month to ALL of your postcode area by the ROYAL MAIL

We now deliver 111,544 copies each and every month to ALL homes and businesses to ALL of: Westonsuper-Mare, Worle, Portishead, Burnham on Sea, Glastonbury, Street, Clevedon, Wedmore, Cheddar, Axbridge, Winscombe & Wells.

A massive 95% of our advertisers rebook their adverts every month and we don’t hold anyone to a long contract. Readers say they love LocalReach and read it every month cover to cover, they keep it on their coffee table for 3-4 weeks and keep referring back to it, they then recycle LocalReach in the knowledge the new monthly issue will drop through their door. Readers tell us they love LocalReach, trust LocalReach and use the services of the businesses inside.

If you are interested in gaining more visitors to your event or more customers for your business go to www.localreach.co.uk for more info or email sales@localreach.co.uk

Advertising sales@localreach.co.uk www.localreach.co.uk

Deadline March Issues 1st February

Telephone lines are open Monday to Friday 8:00am to 8:00pm, Saturday 8:30am to 6:00pm and Sunday 10:00am to 4:00pm

DO YOU RECEIVE A COPY OF LOCALREACH EACH MONTH?

LocalReach is delivered each month by ROYAL MAIL to ALL of the Portishead/BS20 postcode areas, including all towns and villages within the postcode areas, to every resident and business, totalling 15,554 copies each month.

We take non deliveries very seriously and in the event of a non delivery being reported to us we follow the Royal Mail’s complaint procedure.

If you are not getting your monthly copy by the end of the first week of any month please send us an email to royalmail@localreach.co.uk with the full address of the non delivery and we will ask Royal Mail to investigate and report back.

Lasting Powers of Attorney (“LPAs”)

Have you prepared yours yet?

Most people believe that their spouse or relative will automatically be allowed to make decisions about their health care needs if they were to be incapacitated; or their property and financial affairs if unable to act. This is not the case!

If you do not have a LPA in place and were mentally incapacitated:

• Your spouse/family will be denied access to your bank accounts and they will have to apply the Court of Protection to access your finances, including any pension or insurance payments which is costly and can take a year to put in place.

• The Local Council will make decisions on your health care needs, including end of life care; whereas a Health & Welfare LPA will give your attorneys some “power” to speak as if they were you regarding your care.

• Your spouse/family will not be able to sell your property to pay for care fees or if you needed to downsize. Again, they would have to apply to the Court of Protection.

We can prepare new LPAs for you or carry out a free review of your current documents to ensure they meet your needs.

Call Karen on 07498 948 580 or email info@grovewills.com

Friendly and Professional service in the comfort of your own home.

No form filling - we do it all for you.

Garden View

This month – A passion for peaches

should be enriched with well-rotted manure or compost. If planted into a pot, make it as large and deep as the space will allow. When the flowers appear, cover the plant with a light fleece at night to protect the blossom. Because of the lack of natural pollinators early in the year you can help things a long by using a long dry paintbrush to dust pollen from one flower to another. Then water the plant regularly and feed with tomato food through the summer to keep it healthy. Prune any branches that grow out away from the wall, and also remove any that overcrowd the framework. Cut some old and fruited lateral shoots out each year to allow new ones to take their place.

When we rented a house in the South of France one summer, there was a peach tree in the garden and the owner invited us to help ourselves. We have never eaten so many sweet, ripe peaches. Nothing in the supermarkets here has ever compared to those fat globes of nectar.

A few years ago, I discovered that it was possible to grow peaches in this country too, with a few caveats. In the far South it’s possible to grow them against a south, or south-west-facing wall. Further up the country we need the help of a conservatory or a large greenhouse. The reasons for this are threefold: peach trees tend to flower very early, around February, when the UK can still suffer sharp frosts in the mornings; they also develop fungal diseases if the weather is too cold and damp and finally, our short summers generally don’t give enough time for the fruits to ripen. But if you have that south-facing wall or conservatory and would like to have a go at growing peaches (and who wouldn’t?) read on.

‘Peregrine’ is a white-fleshed peach quite wellsuited to the English climate (the above warnings notwithstanding) though generally best grown under cover. ‘Rochester’ is a very reliable yellow variety that gives good harvests of large fruits in August. It also has the advantage of being a late bloomer, making it less susceptible to frost damage. If space is limited, which it often is in a conservatory, choose a plant grafted on to dwarf rootstock. Peaches are best grown as a fan. Fasten horizontal wires to the wall at 30cm intervals to allow the stems to be tied in and spaced out evenly. The plant should be positioned about 25cm from the wall with branches sloped towards it, and if planted directly into the soil, this

It might take a couple of years but with a little care and attention and a smidge of luck you will be able to reap the reward of harvesting your own peaches. There are few activities quite as delightful!

Happy gardening.

By Rachael Leverton

National Sickie Day! Take care of your mental health

leave on mental health grounds might help to stop pressures building into something worse, necessitating more sick days later in the year.

Taking a mental health day is not about shirking or taking liberties, it’s about taking control and minimising the risk of physical illness that can be triggered by unmet mental health needs.

The first Monday of February is statistically the day that workers are most likely to call in sick, which is why it has been dubbed National Sickie Day!

Having a cold or flu are the most common excuses used for taking a day off work, but almost half of the people who take the day are actually stressed, anxious, or depressed. Physical illness is a more socially acceptable reason for taking the day off, so most people use this as their excuse, instead of telling their boss the truth.

A mental health day should be an acceptable reason to take a day off because one day of sick

We don’t hesitate to take a day off to rest and recover from physical illnesses such as the flu, yet we don’t feel its right to take time off for mental illness. Physical health and mental health are equally important in the workplace and a good employer will ensure line managers are trained to be able spot signs that their staff might be struggling. Once a problem has been identified it is important that employees are able to discuss the issue without fear of discrimination, and that employers are able to offer the right support and opportunities for self-care. This may be as simple as being flexible with working hours or encouraging employees to take their full lunch break away from their desk, or as complex as providing in house counselling. Recognising that mental problems are often invisible and that employees may need support is a great start.

By Gemma Peters

Managing incontinence and dementia: our top tips

Incontinence is not uncommon in people who have dementia; it is thought that around 60 to 70% of people with Alzheimer’s will develop incontinence in the later stages of dementia. If you live with someone who has this condition, it can be useful to know what you can do to help. Read on for our advice:

Understand why it happens: People with dementia face many challenges, ranging from loss of spatial awareness (meaning that they can get lost in their own home and not recognise where or what the bathroom is) to mobility issues, making it tricky to get to the bathroom in time. With advanced dementia, communication becomes more difficult, and the ability to react and remember things is greatly reduced, meaning someone might not be able to communicate that they need to use the toilet.

Get support from health professionals: It might be your GP, community nurse, occupational therapist or physiotherapist – the NHS also has specialist continence advisers, and while their availability varies, they exist to create bespoke continence care plans and provide follow up plans and next steps.

Seek advice from professional organisations: The Alzheimer’s Society has some highly practical support on a whole range of related topics – from maintaining a healthy bladder and bowels, to reducing and dealing with accidents. They also have some very thoughtful advice on how to communicate better with a person who has dementia – do have a read.

Identify the right continence aids: This is where specialist suppliers like Arelle can help, ensuring you find the right products for comfort and care, which will also protect clothing, furniture and bedding. These can include incontinence pants and pads, as well as incontinence bed and seat protection such as bed and chair pads, mattress covers, duvet and pillow covers and even waterproof duvets, pillows and mattresses.

If you would prefer some tailored advice on finding the right product for you or the person you are caring for, that’s what we are here for. Don’t hesitate to give us a call on 0800 389 3597.

Designing and fitting kitchens

in

North Somerset for over 13 years

Have you been thinking of a new kitchen?

Save 50% on a new kitchen by simply replacing doors, drawers and worktops.

Dream Doors North Somerset would like to thank past and current customers for their support and referrals.

Our Checkatrade rating 9.8/10 is thriving and we believe it’s down to the authenticity of your local Dream Doors Kitchen experts based in Congresbury.

We cater for all sizes of kitchens and budgets, including apartments. A recent installation gained fantastic feedback from Mrs Ware “I love my little flat and what we’ve done with the kitchen is the icing on the cake. Ed and Carl, what a lovely pair of lads; I’m over the moon.”

Covering the whole of North Somerset, we have delighted over 1000 homeowners, and we love making a difference to our customers’ lives, by refurbishing their now sociable areas within their home.

Often a chat or a drink or two can be held in your kitchen and it creates a lovely social area for your friends and family.

Dream Doors North Somerset can talk through what your vision is and ensure that a cost-effective solution is available. Our locally based project & fitting teams are always on hand to ensure 100% satisfaction is achieved.

Call Kay and the team at the showroom on 01934 832361 or email n.som@dreamdoors.co.uk to realise your kitchen vision.

Raspberry Tartlets

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 1-2 hours

Cooking time: 10 to 30 mins

Ingredients: Pastry

175g plain flour, plus extra for dusting

2 tbsp icing sugar

100g butter, chilled, cut into small pieces

1 egg, beaten Crème Pâtissière

150ml whole milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

25g caster sugar

25g plain flour

1 free-range egg 75ml double cream

Raspberry Topping

4 tbsp raspberry jam

450g raspberries

You will need 8 small 10cm loose-bottomed metal tart tins and some baking beans.

Method:

Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6.

To make the pastry, rub the flour, icing sugar and butter together until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Or place the flour, icing sugar and butter in a food processor and pulse. Then add

the egg and combine until the mixture forms a ball.

Place the dough on to a floured surface. Roll it out with a rolling pin. Cut eight rounds big enough to line the base and sides of the tins. Chill in the fridge for 20 minutes.

To bake blind, prick the pastry bases, line the tins with baking parchment, fill with baking beans and bake in the oven for 10 minutes. Carefully remove the beans and paper and return the bases to the oven for 5 minutes, until cooked and a pale golden-brown. Leave to cool.

To make the crème pâtissière, place the milk and vanilla in a saucepan. Heat until the milk it is just scalded (just on the point of boiling).

Place the sugar, flour and egg in a mixing bowl and whisk. Pour in half the hot milk and whisk until smooth. Pour in the remaining hot milk.

Pour the mixture back into the saucepan and cook over a low heat, stirring all the time, until the custard becomes very thick.

Pour into a bowl, allow to cool then cover with cling film and chill in the fridge until cold. Once cold, pour in the double cream, whisking constantly. Spoon this crème pâtissière into the tart cases and return to the fridge to chill.

To make the glaze, heat the jam in a saucepan with a tablespoon of water and whisk to combine. Strain the liquid through a sieve into a small bowl.

Arrange the raspberries to stand upright on the crème pâtissière then brush the warm glaze over the top.

Portishead Cruse Bereavement Support

Drop In meets at the Methodist Hub, High Street on the last Thursday of each month. 10:00am to 12 noon.

Trained bereavement volunteers present. Refreshments available.

On the second Thursday morning monthly, Cruse holds a ‘Walk and Talk’ for approximately one hour. Phone 0117 9264045 for details.

A Brief History of Crisps

in Slices or Shavings”. The author advises that they are, ‘…sprinkled with a very little salt.’ Kitchiner’s book was popular and sold well on both sides of the Atlantic. His sliced, fried potato recipe was referenced in many other recipe books and Kitchiner was something of a celebrity chef in his lifetime. He was also an optician, and an amateur musician! A man of many talents.

In 1910 Mr. and Mrs. Mikesell were running a small business in Dayton, Ohio, selling dried beef and sausages. They acquired some equipment for making potato crisps (called chips in the US) and the Mikesell’s Potato Chip Company was born. They still claim to be the oldest commercial potato crisp (chip) company on record.

My teenage son wandered into the kitchen and opened a bag of crisps. H sniffed the contents appreciatively. ‘Mmm…I wonder who invented crisps…’ he said before popping one into his mouth and proffering the bag in my direction.

Good question I thought.

The first reference I could find to something resembling the modern crisp was in a recipe book, The Cook’s Oracle, by William Kitchiner, which was published 1817. Recipe 104 is titled “Potatoes fried

It took a decade for the idea of crisps to reach the UK, and again it was husband-and-wife team at the forefront, running their small business out of a West London garage

Frank Smith and his wife cut, fried and package potatoes which they sold in the Cricklewood Crown pub next door, in greaseproof paper bags. Initially he provided salt shakers for the patrons to season their crisps but they were always being stolen, so Frank came up with the idea of providing a small blue sachet of salt instead, and invented Salt and Shake crisps. The crunchy salty snack proved a big hit, and the Smiths were so successful that in 1927, Frank was able to set up a factory in Brentford’s Golden mile, and expand the business.

Salt was the only seasoning available until Joe ‘Spud’ Murphy came along. He owned the Irish crisps company Tayto, and in the 1950s, his team developed the technology to add seasoning during manufacture. The very first commercial flavour was Cheese & Onion, launched in 1954. Companies worldwide quickly sought to buy the rights to Tayto’s technique and a few years later Salt & Vinegar crisps became available. Today in spite of the hundreds of flavours available, Ready Salted, Cheese and Onion and Salt and Vinegar are still the most popular flavours. In the US the first flavoured crisps to emerge were barbecue flavour, and no other flavours were available until the 1970s.

Today in the UK crisps are one of our most popular and well-loved savoury snacks, and approximately 140 000 tonnes of crisps are sold each year.

Happy munching!

By Sarah Davey

Isn’t it time you gave your feet some love?

Are you experiencing foot pain or discomfort? Are you struggling with foot-related issues such as ingrown toenails, corns or hard skin? If so, it may be time to visit a foot health practitioner. But why should you prioritize foot health?

Your feet are the foundation of your body, but they are often overlooked and taken for granted. From helping you walk, run, and stand, to supporting your entire body weight, your feet play a vital role in your overall health and well-being. So don’t you think it’s time they got the attention and care they deserve?

After all, when your feet are healthy and functioning properly, it can improve your overall quality of life and physical well-being. That’s where I come in.

I’m Helen and I specialize in the care and treatment of your feet and can help alleviate pain, improve mobility, and prevent future problems from occurring.

As a fully qualified and insured foot health care practitioner, I trained at the SMAE Institute in Maidenhead, one of the most highly respected foot care training clinics in the country, and provide a bespoke foot care service that identifies your individual needs, treatments and ongoing maintenance.

All appointments are carried out in clinic at Kestrel Court. A full medical history and foot health assessment is carried out at the first appointment before answering your questions, discussing general foot health management and what treatments are necessary.

So don’t wait any longer, take action now and schedule an appointment with me at Kestrel Court because your feet deserve the best care possible to keep them healthy and happy.

OvenGleamers Top Tips for Loving Your Cooker This February

1. Invest in a non-stick oven liner. They help to catch all of those annoying drips that stick to the bottom of your cooker, which later can become a burnt-on mess. Easy to wash or pop in the dishwasher.

2. Do not use harsh chemicals inside your cooker. Instead, try a safer homemade option using items found around your household. For an all-purpose cleaner and deodorizer, mix together 4 tablespoons baking soda with 1 litre warm water.

3. Get the wiping habit! Wipe away any spillages immediately with a damp cloth. Don’t give the mess a chance to stay. I know this sounds easy and as hard as you try it is a chore, the oven can still be hot and some of the stuff just doesn’t want to come off but stick with it. Get a microfibre cloth and use it wet with washing-up solution.

4. Cover your roast! You need to stop the grease spitting all over your lovely clean oven. To do this just put a lid on your roast tin or cover with foil or try a roasting bag. This way the inside of your oven and your grill (if its inside your oven) won’t become completely coated in grease when you are cooking. This grease, if left in the oven, becomes burnt on carbon in the long term and is very difficult to get off.

5. Get a professional in to Gleam It! If you really can’t get all the dirt and grime out of your oven yourself then maybe call and book someone that can. A newly cleaned cooker will be sparkling and clean and if you follow our other tips you will keep it clean, won’t you?

Need some professional help? Then call Graham at OvenGleamers on 01275 370571 or go to www.ovengleamers.com for more details.

The Food of Love

The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach right? So I decided to cook up some culinary love magic for my boyfriend this Valentine’s day, but what to choose?

He loves Japanese food so I consulted my Japanese food-loving friend Yui. She informed me that in Japan the puffer fish is considered to be a great delicacy and an aphrodisiac, but the kicker is that it contains a poisonous gland so deadly it must be removed before eating! One mistake by the carefully trained chef and the food of love can become quite literally, a matter of life or death!

I thought a safer seafood option might be the oyster. A favourite with the Romans some oysters

are able to change sex repeatedly and so are said to give you the ability to experience the male and female sides of love. Yui cheerfully imparted the ‘fun fact’ that at least 12000 people a year in the UK develop food poisoning after consuming oysters, which kind of put me off a bit.

What about asparagus? The high levels of vitamin E are supposed to increase blood and oxygen flow to the genitals. It’s also full of potassium — which is linked to sex hormone production, and as a bonus it even has a somewhat phallic shape. Asparagus and hollandaise sauce was a winner surely. Yui (who I suspect does not care much for Valentine’s Day) tilted her head to one side. “You do know that the asparagusic acid in asparagus, breaks down into sulphur compounds, which make your urine smell revolting?’ Uh-oh, she was right.

In the end I settled on making chocolate mousse. Dark chocolate contains both a relaxing sedative that lowers inhibitions plus a stimulant to perk you up. My boyfriend is a chocoholic so I’m backing a winner and better still Yui didn’t point out any pitfalls…because I didn’t tell her what I was making!

Happy Valentine’s Day.

By Lucy Perkins

The Midwife of Auschwitz by Anna Stuart

Ana Kaminski is a midwife who is taken to Auschwitz with her young friend Ester Pasternak. As they pass through the iron gates and reach the front of the processing line, Ana steps forward and quietly declares her profession, saying Ester is her assistant. Their arms are tattooed, and they’re ordered to the maternity hut. There Ana vows to do everything she can to save the lives of mothers and their infants.

But she soon learns that the SS snatch the blondhaired babies from their mothers to place with German families. In spite of her horror Ana realises that for these children there is at least the hope of survival. With rumours of the war ending Ana and Ester begin to secretly tattoo the newborns with their mother’s numbers, praying one day they might be reunited.

The novel is fiction, but it’s based on a true story and many of the characters are based on real people at Birkenau (the largest camp in the Auschwitz complex). Ana is a Catholic, Ester is Jewish and Ana was the midwife who delivered her. Ana’s family were part of the Resistance helping Jewish people escape the Nazi enforced Ghetto until Ana was arrested along with two of her sons. Her husband and other son were not home at the time, so Ana does not know what happened to them at the time she arrives in Auschwitz. She and Ester cling to their friendship and each other through the horror and evil around them. When Liberation comes will they find a way to get home together? And what awaits them there?

The voice of women is often absent from history, even quite recent history. Anna Stuart’s sensitive,

beautiful novel showcases one woman’s incredible story which is a tribute to those who suffered at the hands of the Nazis.

The Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Isabella Riosse (Isa) is a teen trapped on the island of Joya, a land full of myths; forbidden to travel further than the forest that flanks her village by the Governor, and all the while dreaming of the faraway lands her cartographer father once mapped.

When a string of unsettling events and the disappearance of her closest friend Lupa make it necessary to journey beyond the forest in search of answers, Isa joins a team of explorers on an adventure that will test her map-making skills and her courage.

As she follows her map, her heart and an ancient myth, Isa discovers the true purpose of her quest: to save the island itself.

The story is a fantasy set in a parallel magical world. The author draws on mythology and folklore and blends these with themes of friendship, adventure and courage. As a bonus the text is enhanced with beautiful illustrations and maps.

The Girl of Ink and Stars is officially a children’s novel but I suspect there are many adults who will also enjoy this richly drawn world and its characters.

By Tash Donovan

Inexpensive (5)

Attached to a mast (5)

Ill-fated ship (7)

Subside, wane (5)

Merriment (5)

Luke warm (5)

Anxieties (7)

Weaken, drain (3)

Reed instrument (4)

Coax, wheedle (6)

Earlier (5)

Blood vessel (6)

Thin fog (4)

Formerly known as (3)

Infers (7)

Volatile, liquid (5)

Style of car (5)

Pontoons (5)

Display (7)

French hat (5)

Liquifies (5) Down

Oaty chocolate biscuit (6)

Clothes, garments (6)

Could be pork, apple or steak! (3)

Loathes (5) 6 Alike (7)

Could be citric, hydrochloric or sulphuric! (4)

Deadly (6)

_____ Wogan, radio presenter (5)

Adult female (5)

Journey, itinerary (5)

Hedgehog, hero of a video game (5)

Destructive insects or small animals (5)

Mask, disguise (5)

Ploy, ruse (7)

Far away (6)

Change, alter (6)

Group of seven things (6)

Beelzebub (5)

Blunt-ended sword used for fencing (4)

Outer edge (3)

In the Market for a new phone?

Replacing your mobile phone can be a very expensive process. With the latest iPhones and Android devices selling for over £1000 or £50 per month on contract this is a big outlay. But for every new phone that is bought an older model appears on the second-hand market. If you’re happy to use a phone that’s one or two years old you can make some amazing savings while still getting an excellent phone. But there are some pitfalls you need to avoid.

For total peace of mind use an official reseller. Apple has an official refurbished shop where you can pick up older iPhone models that have been tested and guaranteed by Apple themselves. Similarly there are a number of reputable companies that refurbish other makes of phones. You’ll pay a slight premium but you know that your phone will work and be in good condition.

eBay is a viable option. Although you won’t be able to handle the phone, a good seller will offer

lots of photos highlighting any issues with the device. If you use PayPal to buy the phone you will get automatic cover from your PayPal account in case the phone you receive doesn’t match the description stated by the seller. This includes the phone not working, being locked or being damaged.

A locked device is the major pitfall to watch out for when buying second-hand. When you buy a new phone you register it against either your Apple or Google account. The phone then becomes locked to that account. So make sure the device you are buying is fully unlocked and wiped clean. If it isn’t this is usually a sign that the phone has been stolen. Phones can also be locked to a mobile phone company so again make sure that this lock has been removed.

After this it’s really down to looking at the condition of the device, especially the screen, buttons, battery and charging port. If any of these are damaged you are best to walk away.

Unless you are the type who HAS to have the latest model, buying second-hand should probably be your first move.

By Tom Hancock

Happily Ever After

Who doesn’t know that it’s Valentine’s Day this month? Valentine’s is marketed as being all about attracting and impressing the partner of our dreams right? But what happens afterwards… how do we preserve the magic (or at least some of it) long term? Well, researchers and counsellors have some good (and sometimes surprising) research-backed tips and tricks.

Assume the best - According to psychologists, couples who rate their marriages as happy tend to assume their partners intentions are good, even when they are disagreeing. By giving their partner this benefit of the doubt they are able to seek clarification, learn about their real motives, and move forward.

Argue in a healthy way - Counsellors at Northwestern University and Adler University in Chicago found that an important marker of a healthy relationship is the ability to argue well and resolve conflicts. Being able to work through life challenges is an important skill and one which strengthens a relationship bond.

Text your way to happiness – An affectionate text is a way to stay connected while apart and can provide a little boost of the happy hormone dopamine to your partner. But, remember never apologise in a text message…always do that in person.

Don’t prioritize material things - A study carried out at Brigham Young University in Utah found that higher levels of materialism are associated with less relationship satisfaction. The researchers’ discovered that materialistic partners may be seeking happiness in possessions, rather than people, meaning they end up investing less time and energy into making their relationships successful.

Make your relationship the priority – There are so many things in the modern world competing for our attention that it’s important to set aside time for our closest relationship, and to guard that time well. Schedule dates, even if it’s just time for a glass of wine and a chat after the kids are in bed. Discuss an activity you’d both like to try, whether it’s learning how to play chess, or salsa dancing, and then turn that into a date event. Doing new things together will give you more to talk about.

By Louise Addison

Why Bra-rchitecture is Worth Paying For

I was 12 when I had my first bra fitting. The condescending assistant whipped out her tape measure, pronounced I was a ‘36C’, adding, ‘That’s large,’ produced two orthopaedic-looking white bras, decided they were a ‘good enough fit’ and that was that. She never told me that my breasts would change, with every growth spurt, with monthly hormones, with the contraceptive pill, during pregnancy and childbirth…no, my bra size was set in stone at age 12 and 25 years later I was still wearing a 36C. I suffered from upper back pain and often had deep red marks on my shoulders but it was only when I visited a specialist bra shop in my thirties looking

for a sports bra that a wonderful fitting assistant advised me I was wearing the wrong size. My back size needed to go down to a 30 and my cup size up to an F! The moment I donned the pretty bra she’d selected my shoulder pain all but disappeared. I also visibly shed at least half a stone in the mirror and marvelled at my new slim waist. She advised me on bra care, bra lifespan and how to recheck my size every six-12 months. I left a good deal poorer because as I learned, a good, well-fitting, supportive bra involves a lot of sophisticated engineering and workmanship and thus costs considerably more than I was used to paying.

Breasts, especially full breasts, are heavy, and we are taught to carry a heavy item by holding it close to our body, because it puts less pressure on our back. A bra should do that for your breasts. This is why the band is the most important part, because it provides 80% of the support. As the cup size increases the band needs to be wider, and the straps thicker, to redistribute the weight across your torso. If the band is too thin, it will fold and dig into your sides, while the shoulders will take too much of the weight, causing those deep red marks.

Once we have a well-fitted band, we can look at the cup. A cup formed from one solid piece of material will stretch gradually, no matter how well made. The exception to this is heat moulded lace, which some manufacturers are beginning to use because it fits well without stretching. Most cups though are seamed. They provide support via a side panel placed in such a way that it doesn’t stretch plus and a bottom panel (sometimes two panels) that provide support to the underside of the breast. The decorative top panel may or may not have some stretch to it. In addition many possess an inner sling for extra support. All brands differ slightly, and some might suit your breast shape better than others. For example, my narrow rib cage and shoulders mean I prefer a bra where the cups are situated close together and the straps are also close set at the back. I find Fantasie full cup bras fit me best, my best friend prefers the shape Panache bras give her, and her daughter is fan of Freya balconettes, with wider set straps.

Hopefully, you now understand how much design and engineering go into a well-constructed bra, to produce lift, shape and support, as well as something beautiful to look at.

By Gemma Peters