LocalReach Portishead March 2023

LOCALREACH PORTISHEAD - BS20

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Mar 23 No. 9

COMMUNITY – page 5 PUZZLES – page 15 KIDS – page 16

GARDENING – page 19 BUSINESS A-Z – page 20

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LOCALREACH

Community Notices are back!

Due to popular demand we are bringing back Community Notices to LocalReach as of the April issues.

So if you are a local; club, group, school, church, association etc and want to advertise your event or just make people aware of what you do, we want to hear from you. We will place this free of charge for you.

Simply go to our web site www.localreach.co.uk and fill in the form on the Community page or email editor@localreach.co.uk. We want to help as much of the community as possible, especially the groups that have very little income and no budget for advertising.

Are you looking for more business?

Advertising in LocalReach is a fantastic way to reach all your existing, and potentially new customers.

LocalReach is delivered by Royal Mail to all homes & businesses in your postcode area every month.

It is packed with community notices, interesting articles and local businesses. A massive 98% of our advertisers rebook every month so we must be doing something right!

So, if you are looking for more business then contact us now. To advertise just go to our web site www.localreach.co.uk and fill in the contact form or email hello@localreach.co.uk

Community Notices are free of charge editor@localreach.co.uk or www.localreach.co.uk Deadline is 1st March for the April issues

Business advertising from only £28+vat pm hello@localreach.co.uk or www.localreach.co.uk Deadline is 1st March for the April issues

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 Disclaimer. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this magazine, we make no guarantee that the content will always be current, accurate or complete. We do not approve any of the services or products provided by advertisers in this magazine. Anyone using the products, services or advice from advertisers will need to carry out normal checks to make sure businesses are trustworthy and reliable. LocalReach Ltd 2023.

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 Weston-insend us an email to royalmail@localreach.co.uk Gordano with the full address of the non delivery and we will ask Royal Mail to investigate and report back.

PORTISHEAD Pill Sheepway Easton-inBS20 Portbury Gordano

Ham Green

Clapton-inGordano

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LOCAL EXPERT PAGE

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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 at very reasonable rates 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

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Call Karen to discuss further info@grovewills.com | grovewills.com 4 | www.localreach.co.uk

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Good company and a good lunch!

PORTISHEAD PROBUS CLUB (formerly Probus73) will hold their March meeting at Clarence House in Portishead’s High Street on Wednesday March 15th. Doors open at 12 noon when we enjoy an hour of convivial conversation in the bar followed by an excellent two course lunch at 1pm. Elizabeth Rhodes will then entertain us with a fascinating talk on “Dyrham and Mr Blathwayt”. If you would like to give Probus a try please ring DAVID JAMES on 07926 994614 or speak to any club member to find out more.

Bristol branch of the British cactus & succulent society Most months we hold a meeting at the Filton Community Centre, Elm Park, Bristol BS34 7PS starting at 7.30 with a £3 admittance. We have on March 21st a talk with Prof.

Frank Sengpi about the Canary Islands and the succulent plants of these islands. Also, we will have available cacti & succulents plants for sale with any members of the public able to attend.

Advice is freely given on any other questions concerning the welfare of them. People find mixing with like-minded growers helps with caring for them. Further information from Tony Irons 07742 821875.

NSPCWT - the local parent carer forum We are the local forum for parents and carers to children/young people with additional needs and disabilities (no diagnosis needed). We have a range of fully funded training this month and coffee meet ups. You can see the upcoming plans on our calendar at: www.nspcwt.org/calendar Our next large event is the popular ‘Social Communication and Autism Fayre’ held at The Tropicana on Weds 22nd of March 9.30am2.30pm. It is free entry & includes topical presentations alongside stalls to help visitors discover the support available from local networks, professionals and charities.

COMMUNITY

Portishead Choral Society presents “The Creation” by Haydn Portishead Choral Society invite you to a performance of Haydn’s The Creation on Saturday 25th March 7.30pm in Portishead Methodist Church.

A wonderful and popular work, conducted by Jonathan Palmer and accompanied by Richard Lennox on the newly installed organ. Soloists include Eloise Routledge (soprano) Paul Badly, (tenor) and Marcus Evans (bass). Tickets £12.00 available from Choir Members or Nortech Computers in Portishead High Street. Also available through our website. See posters for more details.

Community Notices are back!

To advertise simply go to our web site www.localreach.co.uk and fill in the form on the Community page or email editor@localreach.co.uk

The Van Guys! www.manwithavan.info Nigel

Vili

We’re cheaper than a skip!

Nigel

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LOCALREACH

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Declutter Your Home have used it or worn it in the past year. If the answer is no, consider getting rid of it.

Sort items into piles - As you declutter, sort items into piles such as “keep,” “donate,” “sell,” or “throw away” This can make it easier to decide what to do with each item.

Use storage solutions - Invest in storage solutions, such as bins or shelves. This can help you to keep your home organized and clutterfree BUT declutter first. It’s easier to organise stuff when you have less of it!

If you have the urge, here are a few useful strategies:

Let it go - It can be difficult to get rid of things, especially if they have sentimental value. However, it’s important to remember that keeping things that you don’t use or need can add unnecessary stress to your life.

Start small - It can be overwhelming to try to declutter a whole room or house at once. Instead, start with a small area, such as a closet or a single shelf, and work your way up to larger areas.

Finally - be patient and take breaks when needed. Decluttering can be a time-consuming process, but the end result of a more organized and clutter-free home is worth the effort.

Follow the “one year” rule - When deciding whether to keep something, ask yourself if you

By Sarah Davey

Spring is a time when we often get the urge to clean and declutter our homes.

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LOCAL EXPERT PAGE

Top 10 Kitchen Buying Secrets Exposed!

Weston based kitchen supplier, Better Kitchens, shares some great insights into the potential pitfalls when buying a kitchen…

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2.

3.

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Interest free finance isn’t free - You may find prices from outlets that offer “interest free” are much higher than a “cash” price elsewhere. Because interest free finance is not free to the retailer, they will often inflate their prices to cover their costs for including the finance.

Why are some sales staff so pushy? - Most Sales staff work on commission, so they’re incentivised to sell you the most profitable lines, not the best option for you. Items that you don’t need can also be included. The higher your price, the larger their commission fee!

Trade prices are not always the cheapest - Always look at the bottom line price.

Retailers who advertise themselves as “Trade Suppliers” like to give the impression that “Trade Prices” mean cheap prices. This may have been the case in the past, but now large Trade sheds use this “common knowledge” to their advantage and have raised their prices hoping you won’t realise.

Kitchen fitting shouldn’t cost as much as your kitchen - Bundled prices for fitting through a retailer can be inflated to include a margin for the supplier. The price could also include VAT, whereas a private installer may not be VAT registered, saving you 20% on the fitting.

You don’t have to sign up on the day! High pressure sales tactics include things like making you put a deposit down on the day of visiting the showroom. If you do this, you’re locked in to that supplier, stopping you from shopping around to find a better price.

Trade supplier prices are not always what they seem - Your local trade supplier’s prices are determined by the tradesman who’s buying the kitchen. The price they share with you may not always be the price they get charged by the supplier!

7. Why can’t some appliances be price matched? - Larger retailers will often negotiate specific models of appliances with their suppliers. These are often the exact same model as the ones available elsewhere, just with minor or inconsequential differences.

But because they’re an exclusive model, they can no longer be price matched!

8. Half price sales are a myth - If you see a 50% reduction on a kitchen, ask yourself whether you think anyone has ever paid “full” price. Don’t assume that a “50% reduction” can’t be beaten elsewhere, they often can!

Don’t be taken in.

9. Some suppliers use tricks to make shopping around difficult - If you buy into the wrong supplier’s kitchens, you can run the risk of locking yourself into their ecosystem, often for the life of the kitchen. Common tricks include using non-industry standard sizes, forcing you to buy their matching components. This can mean re-facing doors or worktops later in your kitchen’s life forces you to return to that same supplier again.

10. Organising the purchase and installation of your own kitchen can save you a small fortune - Buying online has never been easier. By measuring up yourself, then selecting and buying your own kitchen units, you can save yourself much of the additional costs associated with a full kitchen purchase like commission for sales staff, time for measure-ups and design. Even if you source your own fitter rather than doing it yourself, thousands can be saved!

A company like Better Kitchens can help you bring together all aspects of buying your own kitchen measuring, designing, planning and buying. Feel free to ask us for help at every step.

If you’re looking at a new kitchen, give Better Kitchens in Weston-s-Mare a look. We’re the largest independent online kitchen supplier in the South West. Go to betterkitchens.co.uk/get-a-quote today, or visit our 28 display showroom in Weston to find out how much you could save on your existing kitchen quote from any other supplier!

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LOCAL EXPERT PAGE

Happy Balance…

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

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

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

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TO ADVERTISE CALL 01275 400160 • My partner/parent has died – You’re not only dealing with grief but also thinking about how you clear the house? We are NOT house clearance. We work with you sensitively, practically and confidentially to organise their affairs and clear the house for sale or other • I am embarrassed – It’s all got on top of me and I just feel overwhelmed – Are you buying too many items, storing them away and feeling like you may be hoarding? Claire and SJ are non judgemental and through experience can help you declutter and regain control • I’m moving and need to downsize – I can’t physically or emotionally cope with my move and I need help. We are hands-on in preparing your belongings ensuring that when your removal firm comes to move you that you have already sorted through, de-cluttered and made sure all your items, big and small will fit into your new home giving you peace of mind.

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

TO ADVERTISE CALL 01275 400160

Mad About Dogs?

Then don’t miss Crufts on March 9th-12th

LOCALREACH Send-away Distance control in six positions Scent discrimination A three-minute sit-stay As Archie can’t stay still for a nanosecond I don’t think we’ll be troubling Crufts for a while.

Agility was actually introduced as a filler item in 1978 and proved so popular it became a permanent fixture. Agility requires as much discipline as obedience though the skills are different. The dogs have to negotiate a complex series of obstacles without error, in the fastest time possible. If you’ve never watched it you’re missing a real treat.

Most dog owners can never hope to aspire to Crufts glory, but we can all make sure our dogs are trained properly; it’s responsible and it’s fun.

And local training clubs are great places to make two-legged, as well as four-legged, friends.

5 Top Dog Training Tips:

If ever you doubt that the British are a nation of dog lovers, then Crufts will set you straight.

20 000 top pedigree dogs will attend this year, along with around 150 000 spectators.

Named after its founder, Charles Cruft, the first dog show of that name was held in 1891 in Islington, London. It’s now officially recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest dog show in the world!

My ‘must-see’ events are agility and obedience.

I admit to watching these with an envious eye as my own pup, Archie, was at the back of the queue when brains were handed out and I can only dream of a dog who sits, stays and jumps through hoops, rather than races around like a loon, chasing his own tail until he crashes into the fridge!

Crufts accepts only the cream of the canine obedience corps, and it takes dedication to produce a champion.

There are regional selection days around the country and different levels of ability can enter.

Top obedience champions need to perform well in many different skills including: Three different paces of heel work, including a sit, stand and down command.

Retrieval of an object

Dogs are pack animals and need to know their place. Dominance is probably the biggest cause of poor behaviour in a dog.

Dogs are creatures of habit so be consistent with commands.

Socialise a dog with children, other dogs, and other animals. You’re less likely to have a nervous dog if it has encountered a variety of situations.

Encourage your dog to play according to breed type. Terriers like Archie adore pulling games and Retrievers like to play fetch.

Enrol in a good training club which uses gentle reward based methods and positive reinforcement.

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.

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LOCAL EXPERT PAGE

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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.

NEW YEAR, NEW KITCHEN. 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.

WHY PAY MORE 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 is the INkitchen 2023? icing on the cake. Ed and Carl, what a lovely pair of lads; I’m over the moon.”

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

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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.

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LOCAL EXPERT PAGE

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.

Keep your FEET feeling lucky with THE SOLE GENIE

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LOCAL EXPERT PAGE

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OvenGleamers Recipe of The Month - Meringue Kisses With Mother’s Day coming up, we’ve got a delicious recipe for you this month that are perfect to treat the ones you love.

Ingredients (serves four) 3 large egg whites About 200g caster sugar Pink food colouring 50g white chocolate, chopped For the filling: 300ml double cream 1tbsp icing sugar, plus extra for sprinkling About 4tbsp cherry jam To serve: 8 fresh ripe cherries Method 1: Preheat the oven to 110C. Drawing freehand or using a 6.5cm heart-shaped cutter as a template, draw eight hearts on to two sheets of baking parchment. Turn them over and lay on to two baking sheets. Don’t grease the paper as meringue will be used to secure the corners. Weigh a spotlessly clean bowl, then weigh the egg whites in it. Calculate their weight, double it and weigh that quantity of caster sugar into a separate bowl.

2: Whisk the egg whites until they stand in soft peaks and the fluffy mixture doesn’t slip around in the bowl. You should be able to turn it upside down over your head without the mixture falling out.

12 | www.localreach.co.uk

Whisk in the sugar, a tablespoon at a time, making sure each spoonful dissolves before adding the next. Dip a cocktail stick into the food colouring and add it to the meringue until you reach the depth of colour you want. Dot a little of the meringue under the corners of each piece of parchment to secure it to the baking sheet.

3: Spoon the rest of the meringue into a piping bag with a 1cm round nozzle and pipe inside the heart templates. Bake for about 1.5 hours, until they come away easily from the paper. Leave to cool in the oven.

4: Set a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water, making sure the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water. Melt the white chocolate in the bowl, then spoon it over the base of each meringue and leave to set. Whip the cream and icing sugar in a bowl until thick and glossy. Swirl in the cherry jam. Take two meringue hearts and sandwich them together with the sweet jam cream. Serve dusted with a little extra icing sugar and a couple of ripe cherries.

Meringue is renowned for being difficult to make, and we would love to see a great selection of success and fail photos! If you can, please post a photo on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/OvenGleamersBristol

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Sofa So Good So, you want a new sofa. What are the factors you need to consider?

LOCALREACH might fall in love with a sleek ultra-modern purple number, but if you live in a cottage with original period décor, you have to consider whether you love it enough to change your entire interior scheme. If you want something to fit into your existing home, consider how the colour, fabric, and design will complement it. Then consider any additional features you might want, such as reclining seats or a pull-out guest bed.

Comfort - Sounds obvious but sit on the sofa in the store to get a feel for it. Consider the depth of the seat, the height of the back, the angle of the backrest, and the density of the cushions.

Durability - Look for a sofa that is well-constructed and made of durable materials. Check the frame, springs, and legs to ensure they are sturdy.

Size matters - Measure the space where the sofa will go, including doorways and stairways, to make sure the sofa will fit. It sounds obvious but it’s an incredibly common oversight! Also consider the scale of the room and the other furniture in it, and choose a sofa that is appropriately sized.

Style - Think about the overall decor of the room and choose a sofa that complements it. You

Maintenance - Consider the ease of cleaning and care the sofa might need. Some materials, such as leather, are easier to care for than others.

Budget - Work out your budget and stick to it.

Keep in mind that a higher price does not always equate to better quality. Look for sales and discounts. You can also get a great deal if you’re prepared to buy a used sofa.

By Gemma Peters

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BOOK REVIEWS

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PUZZLES

Across

Crossword

1 Nightclub entertainment (7) 4 Strange and frightening (5) 7 System for detecting aircraft (5) 9 Vertical, erect (7) 10 Passivity, paralysis (7) 11 Emperor, king, monarch (5) 12 Tyrannical dictator (6) 14 Priest or religious leader (6) 18 Plentiful (5) 20 Gaunt, exhausted (7) 22 Scottish pouch worn with a kilt (7) 23 Ceremonial headdress (5) 24 Item in a diary, or notebook (5) 25 Spiny Australian egg-laying mammal! (7)

Down

1 Supported, sustained (7) 2 Decorative breast pin (5) 3 Tropical bird with large colourful beak (6) 4 Mistake (5) 5 Constant, uniform (7) 6 Go inside (5) 8 Relative size of two values (5) 13 Assist financially (7) 15 Strict reason (5) 16 Intricate musical solo (7) 17 Become different (6) 18 Passage in supermarket (5) 19 Before the expected time (5) 21 Keep away from (5)

Word Search

Mindbenders

asteroid black hole comet Earth eclipse Europa galaxy

Ganymede Hubble Io James Webb Jupiter Mars

Mercury meteorite Milky Way moon nebula Neptune orbit

planet Pleiades Pluto red giant satellite Saturn star

sun telescope Uranus Venus

Solutions: Turn to page 19

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KIDS’PAGE PAGE KIDS’

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TO ADVERTISE CALL 01275 TO ADVERTISE CALL 01275400160 400160

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LOCAL EXPERT PAGE

3 ways to save money on your incontinence products We know that right now everyone is feeling the effects of the increased cost of living. As a small family business based in Somerset, we are keen to help our customers make their purchasing with Arelle as cost effective as possible. So this month we are reminding you of the different ways you can do this, and save money on your incontinence products when buying online or over the phone with us: 1. Sign up to our e-news The easiest way to save money on a one-off purchase is to sign up to our monthly e-newsletter.

As soon as you do this, we’ll send you a unique discount code for your next order, giving you 10% off whatever you buy. But you can only use this code once – so shop wisely! You can sign up on our website or by giving us a call.

2. Shop with multi-buy for the lowest prices If you are able to buy your incontinence products in bulk, you can save up to 15% off our standard prices, and usually get free postage as well. We offer multi-buy on a wide range of products, including washable pants, stretch/fixation pants for pads, disposable pants and pads and bed and seat protection. Look for the multi-buy section on our website or in our catalogue (you can order this free, on our website).

3. Subscribe and save 10% on all disposable products If you regularly buy a disposable incontinence product, why not subscribe to a monthly delivery service and get 10% off every time? It’s simple to set up and means you don’t have to worry about placing an order or running out of your products. And if it doesn’t suit you, you can easily cancel at any time. Give us a call or take a look at our website.

Not sure which way to save money on your incontinence products is best for you? Then give us a call or drop us a line. We are here to help – Monday to Friday 0800 389 3597 – or email info@arelle.com

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LOCAL EXPERT PAGE

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Spring time – spring clean It’s that time of the year again when we start to think about spring cleaning. Whether you love it or hate it, there’s no denying that a good spring clean makes us all feel better.

Your sofa is one of the main features of your living room and has no doubt had some serious use over the winter months.

It’s where you and your family sit and relax at the end of a day and where we entertain guests throughout the year.

Whatever we use our sofa’s for, they are prone to daily wear and tear, spills, stains, body oils and scuffs.

Leather is a natural product with a grain. Over time this grain can fill with natural household dusts which is very abrasive, especially to skin.

Leather, being a skin, reacts to the build up of dust in the grain and this can give way to premature cracking and colour loss. If this issue sounds familiar, PremTech Furniture Repairs are here to help! We’ve restored hundreds of items of leather,enabling them to be used and enjoyed for many more years.

However, we believe prevention is better than cure and we are excited to now sell everything you need to keep your leather furniture looking clean, fresh and new as well as prolonging its life.

Our favourite products are available to buy from our online shop via our website (www.ptfr.co.uk) where you can find prices, product descriptions and guidance for use. If you have any questions about your leather and how to protect it, please do not hesitate to contact us for free advice!

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Garden View This month – Delightful dahlias

GARDENING their glorious blooms. Deadhead by removing the faded blooms regularly to encourage even more flowers. Cut the stem back to just above the next pair of leaves.

Unfortunately, Dahlias are not frost-hardy, so it’s important to lift the tubers in the fall before the first frost and store them in a cool, dry place. Leave the stems and foliage to die back, then carefully lift the tubers, brushing off any soil, and let them dry out for a few days. Store them in a frost-free place, such as a shed or garage, until the spring when you can plant them out again.

I’m a fairly recent convert to the delights of the Dahlia. When I first began gardening seriously, I considered them a bit vulgar and blousy…not to mention needy. Then I saw a fantastic display in my friend’s garden and in a Damascene moment I suddenly saw the light, and I’ve been growing them ever since. With just a little know-how, they are actually easy to grow and care for.

When choosing Dahlias consider the size and type of flower head you want, as well as the height of the plant. Dwarf varieties are great for patio pots, but there are also varieties tall enough be used as a centrepiece in a border. They are planted as tubers right about now. Look for strong, healthy tubers and check the labels carefully to make sure they are suitable for your climate and soil type.

They should be planted after the last frost, in a well-drained, fertile soil in full sun. By well-drained I mean soil which allows water to percolate through it reasonably quickly and not pool. If your soil is too heavy, or alternatively too free draining (so nutrients wash away), the best remedy is to dig in lots of organic matter such as compost, well-rotted farm manure, or shredded leaves This will condition the soil so it maintains the right amounts of water and air for better plant growth and increased biological activity

My absolute favourite is Dahlia ‘Chimborazo’ which is a pretty collarette dahlia, bearing deep crimson-red outer petals around an inner collar of pale yellow. It is about a metre tall so will need to be staked and is suited to growing in a mixed, herbaceous border. It also makes an excellent cut flower.

If you are after a dwarf plant try ‘Figaro’ which is a dwarf “landscape” dahlia with semi-double flowers in shades of red, pink, orange, yellow, and white. It works well as bedding and in containers, and blooms from planting time until the first frosts.

Happy gardening,

By Rachael Leverton

Puzzle Solutions

Dig a hole about 10-15cm deep and position the tuber, with the eye (the little dip) facing upward, then cover with soil. Water well and mulch around the base of the plant to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.

Dahlias are quite thirsty plants so require regular watering, especially during dry spells, and they should be fed every two weeks with a highpotash fertilizer. Pinch out the growing tips to encourage bushier growth and more flowers.

Stake tall varieties to prevent them from falling over in windy weather. This sounds needy but they will repay this attention handsomely with

Mindbender: 1: One thing after another 2: Last, not least 3: Beginning of the end

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