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November 2021 Issue No. 5
COMMUNITY MAGAZINES Weston-super-Mare & ALL of BS23 postcode
CHURCH – page 4 GARDENING – page 6 HISTORY – page 8 COMMUNITY – page 9 PUZZLES – page 14 RECIPES – page 19 BOOKS – page 24 KIDS – page 26 BUSINESS A-Z – page 29
• Three and Four Wheeled Walkers • Wheelchairs • Bath Lifts • Rise and Recliner Chairs • Stairlifts • Mobility Scooters • Electric Wheelchairs • Cosyfeet Slippers and Shoes
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WELCOME TO LOCALREACH
Welcome… Hello and Welcome to the November edition of LocalReach magazine! I hope you all enjoyed some of the spooky goings on of last month. Now as the nights are drawing in, it feels like winter is well on its way, and Christmas will creep quickly upon us! At this time of year there is nothing better than curling up on the sofa with a good book and a hot chocolate or two! However, there is lots going on in the area that would be a shame to miss out on, like Christmas Fayres, live music and Remembrance Services put on for everyone to attend. So have a look through this month’s edition and if you fancy going along to any of the local clubs or events, then please let me know how you got on! Take Care
Sarah
Editorial deadline for the December issue is 1st November LocalReach Community Editor: Sarah Venn
sarah@localreach.co.uk
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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 2021.
WESTON-SUPER-MARE LocalReach Community Magazines are delivered by ROYAL MAIL every month. Your local postman delivers 17,978 copies door to door to all of Weston-super-Mare/BS23 postcode area.
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CHURCH
Smile and Wave Last month I introduced the first saying, ‘just keep swimming,’ about not giving up in the face of hardship. The second saying I would like to talk about is ‘smile and wave,’ from the film Madagascar. The Penguins in this movie are planning to escape the zoo but had to keep up the appearances as one of them was digging a hole to freedom. The leader encouraged the rest to ‘smile and wave’ to the crowd while getting an update on the escape plan. Now you might be thinking, ‘how will this help me be authentic to others by keeping up appearances?’ Good question; well, the reality is that some things, situations or people stubbornly refuse to change. So, we need a certain amount of resilience on our part to grin and bear it, hence ‘smile and wave.’ In the Bible, Jesus gives us the golden rule; do to others as you would have done to you (Matthew 7:12). Now, if everyone lived by this rule, the world
would be a very different place. However, this is not the case; in many situations, we must model it before it becomes influential, and this calls us to have resilience. Some verses encapsulate the idea of resilience, like ‘turn the other cheek’ (Matthew 5:39) and ‘go the extra mile’ (Matthew 5:41). There are many times I have had to bite my tongue and let it go, for if I try to tackle the situation, it is just going to make things worse. We are to choose our battles, to ‘smile and wave’ maybe the best course of action because the truth is we are not in control of others. Our frustrations are a product of our need to be in control, but the reality is that we are the only ones we can control: our actions, our tongues, our attitudes, and no one else’s. So, sometimes our only response is to ‘smile and wave’ as we try to make it through this life, making the best of things and helping to make this world a better place. YouTube Clip youtu.be/F1mr6L9OgQI Madagascar Penguins Kindly provided by Revd Andy Pearce, Associate Minister at Locking Castle Church & Community Pastor for Church @ St Anne’s, West Wick.
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GARDENING
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Garden View Protect and Survive protection: to protect tender perennials such as Salvias and Pelargoniums, lift them and bring them into a greenhouse. If you have a heater, set it to the frost setting (around 5C). You can use bubble wrap to insulate the greenhouse for additional heat conservation. If you do this the heater will only need to kick in on extremely cold days and nights. For tender bulbs and tubers such as dahlias, wait until the foliage has been blackened by the frost, then lift them and place in a box of sand in a dry, dark, frost-free location.
No…not the 1970s public information campaign exhorting us to hide under a table in case of nuclear attack. This is far more useful. It’s my public information campaign about protecting tender perennials and taking cuttings to over winter so your plants survive and even multiply. First the
Plants like Agapanthus, which are generally happy to be left in the ground with a little protection, are best left undisturbed. Cover the top with a generous quantity of well-rotted compost or bark mulch. This can be removed from around the crown of the plant in spring and will help retain moisture throughout the spring growing season. November is the start of the bare root planting season. Plant roses, hedging and trees, and it’s also a good time to move any of these plants which you think are in the wrong area of the garden. They are more likely to survive this treatment if moved at this time of year. So, what else can we do in November? Ideally your spring bulbs should already be planted but if you haven’t done it yet, just put some in this month. November is actually the perfect month to plant tulip bulbs are because the less time they are in the ground the less likelihood of them developing a virus called tulip fire blight. Plant garlic cloves if you have an area with free draining soil. Dig over the vegetable plot, leaving clods to break down over winter
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Rake the fallen leaves regularly from lawn areas because if you leave them they deprive the lawn of light. Bring in garden tools for the winter. Clean, sharpen, and oil them first. Keep removing weeds. It is easier to see them once garden plants have died back. November is a great time to get rid of persistent perennial weeds Happy gardening!
EVENINGS & WEEKENDS ALSO AVAILABLE By Rachael Leverton
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LOCAL EXPERT PAGE
Low Maintenance Garden Railings Guaranteed not to corrode or flake for 10 years, our garden railings also benefit from being another low maintenance product from ColourFence that you can fit, forget and simply enjoy. ColourRail garden railings are a superior alternative to wrought iron railings, ideal for where full screening is not required. It can be mounted freestanding or between existing pillars or on top of walls. Available in Flat top, Spear, Loop & Spear, Ball Top and Ball & Loop finishes. Manufactured from 16mm galvanized steel tube, it is available in a number of standard heights up to 1.5m. Our garden railings come at a standard width of 2.4m but can be cut down according to your needs. Six colours are offered as standard including cream, blue, green, brown, anthracite grey and gloss black. Both railings and gates are finished by hand in our own workshops and are high quality, economic and very attractive alternative to more costly wrought or cast iron. To arrange your free site survey & no-obligation quotation call 01823 792029 or visit colourfencetaunton.co.uk
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LOCAL HISTORY
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Guy Fawkes night and Carnival Everyone knows the story of the Gunpowder plot whereby Guy Fawkes and his fellow Catholic revolutionaries wanted to put an end to their persecution at the hands of Protestants and planned to assassinate the Protestant King James 1, by blowing up the Houses of Parliament on 5th November 1605. The plot was foiled due to a lastminute tip-off, and Guy Fawkes and his conspirators were hung, drawn and quartered. When the news was heard that the plot had failed, celebrations spontaneously erupted across the country, especially in Somerset which had always been a strongly Protestant region. In Bridgwater, an especially radical town, a wooden boat was apparently filled with 100 tar barrels and set alight at Cornhill. Effigies (or “guys” after the conspirator Guy Fawkes) of the plotters were carried through the streets and added to the blaze. The tradition of burning boats became an annual event until they ran out of old boats to burn and inebriated revellers started to burn perfectly good boats! Lighting bonfires and setting off home-made fireworks continued to be the key features of the celebration, as did having a ceremonial procession. Although
bonfires stopped being part of the celebrations after Cornhill was laid with flammable asphalt in 1924, the processions continued, developing into the elaborate carnival parades we see today with their illuminated floats. Fireworks also continued. What marks Bridgwater out as different from other carnivals is the tradition of squibbing. A squib is essentially a large firework strapped to a cosh (a solid block of wood which is attached to a large pole). After the carnival, squibbers line the high street and the squibs are lit sending showers of sparks into the air creating an impressive display. It is estimated that there are around 220 traditional ‘English’ carnivals still taking place, quite different from the Afro-Caribbean carnivals exemplified by the Notting Hill Carnival, and around 30 illuminated carnivals in south-west England, the most famous being the seven of the ‘Guy Fawkes’ circuit: the first on the first Saturday in November is in Bridgwater, followed Burnham on Sea, Weston super Mare, North Petherton, Shepton Mallet. Wells and Glastonbury. Sadly, there will be no carnival processions this year because of Covid but the dates are now published for 2022. Kindly provided by Elizabeth Friend, Axbridge Archaeological and Local History Society. www.aalhs.co.uk
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LGBT+ Support Groups North Somerset LGBT+ Forum offer some fantastic support groups to the LGBT+ which take place between 6:00pm and 8:00pm on Wednesdays each month. 1st Wednesday of the Month: Trans+: North Somerset’s support group for transgender, nonbinary and gender-questioning people aged 18+. 2nd Wednesday of the Month: Colours: A safe space for 13-17 year olds who are LGBT+, questioning or allies, to socialise and meet new people. 3rd Wednesday of the Month: Family+: A free social group for parents, guardians and relatives of LGBT+ individuals to ask questions, get support or just pop along for a chat! 4th Wednesday of the Month: 50+: A safe space for members of the LGBT+ community who are over 50 to meet new people and socialise. For more information please email: support@ nslgbtforum.com or find us on social media through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok
North Somerset Parent Carers Working Together The following are for parent carers of children with additional needs or disabilities within North Somerset. Tuesday 2nd November – 10.30am-12pm Suicide Awareness Tuesday 9th November – 10.30am-12pm Selfharm Awareness with Attention Seekers Tuesday 16th November - 7pm-9pm Workshop on Eating Disorders Tuesday 23rd November - 7pm-9pm Workshop on Complex Medical Conditions & Serious Illness and how they affect families. We also have our fantastic Free Transitions Event on the 10th of November at the Tropicana which involves lots of professionals that surround our young people as they move between settings and stages of life.
COMMUNITY Parent Carers can sign up to these by visiting our website: www.nspcwt.org or following us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter
Moor Hens WI Christmas Market Saturday 13th November: We are holding our popular Charity Christmas Market on November 13th at the Campus, Weston-superMare from 2.30-4.30pm. There will be over 30 stalls and we will be supporting the local charity EnergEyes. This is a local sports and social charity for the blind and visually impaired, along with fundraising for the Weston foodbank every month. We will be doing more fundraising after our AGM in November when we have discussed more local charities.
Kenya Hope Charity Saturday 13th November: We are holding a FREE Remembrance Concert at St Peter’s Church, Baytree Rd, WSM,BS22 8HG, on Saturday 13th November between 7pm and 10pm to commemorate and remember armed forces members who have died in the line of duty. The Sing Out Loud Choir led by Elizabeth Glen will entertain with songs from that era and refreshments will be provided in the form of mince pies, tea, coffee and cake by Kenya Hope Charity, to raise money for their work in Kenya which can be viewed at www.kenyahopecharity.org. There will also be a chance to donate to the work of the Royal British Legion. If you would like to help with this event or want further details, please contact chairman Brian on 07879 847657 or email brianandirene@sky.com.
Live music at the 49 Social Club, Baker Street, Weston-Super-Mare Sunday 14th November: From 4pm sees popular entertainer Tony Graham return to the club to mark remembrance Sunday. Non members and guests over the age of 18 are welcome. www.localreach.co.uk | 9
COMMUNITY
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Weston Woodturning Circle Thursday 18th November: Weston Woodturning Circle will meet on the 18th November, this being the third Thursday of each month, commencing at 7.00pm at Weston AFC, Winterstoke Road, Weston super Mare.
Somerset Choral Society Autumn Concert
Visitors who are interested in our craft are welcome to join us by just turning up on the night. The first two monthly meetings being free of charge.
Saturday 27th November: Somerset Choral Society will present their Autumn Concert in Axbridge Church on Saturday 27th November at 7:30pm. The programme will be “The Vivaldi Gloria” and “The Pergolesi Magnificat” together with other canticles and will be conducted by their Musical Director Daniel Cushing. Tickets costing £10 can be obtained from Society members or from tel: 01934-843727 or tel: 01934-740160. There will be a “Cash only Wine & Soft Drinks Bar during the interval. More information may be obtained from Sarah at SomersetChoralSociety@hotmail.com
For more information about our friendly welcoming club contact us by visiting our website www. weston-woodturning-circle.co.uk
Charity Christmas Fayre
Club member John Smith will demonstrate.
The Stable Games Room Upcoming Events Every Wednesday: 10:00am – 3:00pm Sensory Sessions Every Thursday: 3:00pm – 10:00pm (Buy one, get one free on Pizza + kids free play Family Thursday 1st Thursday of the month: 3:00pm – 10:00pm Chess Clock Jenga Every Friday: 3:00pm – 8:00pm = Free Pizza Friday 2nd Thursday of the month: 10:00am – 1:00pm Bridge Club Last Sunday of the month: 10:00am – 10:00pm Screwball Scramble Sundaes Last Thursday of the month: 7:30pm – 10:00pm = Board Game Designer Meet up
Contact thegamesroom@thestableweston. com or call 01934 315305.
Over 600 board games for all ages Loads of great weekly events FREE Pizza Fridays
D&D Nights
Bridge Club Social Gaming Sensory Sessions 129 High St. WsM BS23 1HN Opposite The Playhouse Theatre
www.thestableweston.com @thestablegamesroom
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Saturday 27th November: From 2pm-4pm, local charity New Beginnings 4U CIO are holding a Christmas Fayre at Milton Baptist Church, Baytree Road, WsM, BS22 8HJ to raise funds for the work of the charity. This charity supports and mentors’ prisoners and ex-offenders in their rehabilitation. After all, we all deserve a second chance. Come along and treat yourself and your loved ones to delicious homemade cakes, bakes and preserves and find beautiful gifts from the many stalls at the event. Find out more at www.newbeginnings4u.org and on Facebook: New Beginnings 4U
Fibromyalgia Support Group Mondays: Weston-super-Mare Fibromyalgia Support Group welcomes people who have been affected by Fibromyalgia and other chronic conditions including CFS/ME and Long Covid. Each month we meet on the 3rd Monday for a mix of speakers, chat and information. We are now holding an evening meeting on the first Tuesday of each month on a trial basis and if there is enough interest, we will look into organising an evening hydrotherapy group. We have hydrotherapy sessions every Wednesday plus cafe meetups in Weston and Worle. We organise trips, meals out, a craft group and interest groups as required. For more information, call Val 07411989478 or Jules 07840189641; email wsmfibro@gmail.com
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MAKING A DIFFERENCE The rewarding role of a care worker is now more valued than ever The pandemic highlighted more than ever the vital role care workers play in society and as a result there has been a big shift in care staff being more highly valued. They are now appreciated more than ever for all they do, not just by their clients and their employers, but also by their local community and people in general. Care workers really do make a difference to the lives of others and that, in most cases, is why people choose a career in care. The Resident talked to Grant Attwood, managing director of Right At Home North Somerset, which offers a quality home care service that helps to keep people living independently in their homes for longer. What made you decide to work in the care sector? It is without doubt a hugely rewarding career and the pandemic has highlighted how vital it is.
LOCAL EXPERT PAGE employ those who are absolutely committed to delivering it. What can employees expect from Right At Home? Our business is built around the amazing work our care givers do every day. We make sure they have everything they need to continue to make such a massive difference to the lives of our inspirational clients. From regular training, mentoring and one-to-one coaching to our top rates of pay, we work hard to ensure our staff always feel valued at Right at Home. We also understand how important it is for our care givers to have a positive work-life balance. Giving your all at work means you need time to recharge your batteries and concentrate on your personal life, we therefore offer flexible work patterns to allow our staff to choose the best work-life balance for them. Both personal and professional development for our staff is important to us; we want to ensure every team member can reach their goals in a satisfying career. We believe in supporting all of our employees to be the best that they can be!
Why Right At Home? Right At Home helps people remain happy and independent in their own homes for longer by offering everything from companionship and support to specialist healthcare and dementia expertise. So to answer your question: because of the wide range of services it offers and the high standards, dedication and commitment if provides to every single one of our clients. During the pandemic many people were very grateful for care in the safety and security of their own homes. What do you look for in your team? People with a caring nature who understand every kind gesture makes a difference. No previous experience is necessary. You can’t teach a caring nature but if you have that, we can provide full training, induction, shadowing and ongoing support to help our staff members find the right career path for them within our organisation. To be a Right at Home care giver, you need to have a genuine passion for helping people in your local community. Our clients deserve the highest level of quality care so we will only
Join our team!
• An amazing opportunity where you are valued and appreciated! • Do you want real career progression and the opportunity to grow? • No Experience Required : Full Training and Shadowing Offered • All we need are people with a caring attitude …Call us today and be part of something truly rewarding with Right at Home!
01934 235 411 nsomerset@rightathome.co.uk
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LOCAL EXPERT PAGE
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Browns Winter Warmers… By the time you read this we will certainly be experiencing lower temperatures as the year is preparing to draw to a close and Winter is reaching her frosty fingers out towards us. The squirrels have been preparing by burying nuts and migrating birds are flying south to warmer climes. At this time of year our business changes direction as we humans ourselves begin to prepare for hibernation! With the warm winds to dry our washing gone we turn again to inside drying. Tumble dryers are a great way of drying your laundry and with the advent of Heat Pump dryers the cost of drying has come down significantly. The initial outlay may be higher than your conventional dryers but the peace of mind of being able to know its affordable drying is a great bonus. According to Which* you can cut the cost down by over half, and another added bonus we have discovered is that due to the gentle way Heat Pump Dryers work, they are less likely to shrink your clothes! Cooking again comes to the fore as we pack away our barbecues and think about warming soups and stews. A new cooker or oven may be just the thing, or how about a new hob? We have been fitting lots of induction hobs recently. They are again much more power efficient and faster then gas to respond. They also cool down far more quickly than ceramics. We have used one for many years and would find it difficult to go back. Of course we are still here to repair your appliances, and will always help you to make the decision thats right for you. Sometimes simply replacing the element in a cooker can give it a new lease of life and save unnecessary expense. Of course if your appliance is very old it may well be worth replacing it with a more economical model. New Energy Labels were introduced in March this year helping us to make more informed choices. We are always here to advise and help. * www.which.co.uk/reviews/article/heat-pump-tumble-dryers.
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COMMUNITY
NHS Retirement Fellowship
Respite Care Day Centre
Tuesdays: Why not come along on the first Tuesday of each month and join our Group. Meetings are held in the Scouts Hut, Windwhistle Lane, BS23 4PE from 10.30 - 12.30 all are welcome including family and friends whether NHS staff or working in the social care sector. We have a speaker each month which we find really interesting, informative and quite often funny!! Coffee, lovely cakes and a raffle are also available. You can view further information by checking out the following via the web: ‘Branch Finder NHS Retirement Fellowship Weston super Mare’
Tuesdays: Our Day Centre provides respite care for people who need time out from looking after a loved one or just companionship for lone people. We play games, quizzes, bingo and read the newspapers with a 2-course hot lunch and all drinks included. Each session will now be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Church Hall, Milton on Tuesdays 10.30-1.30pm. For more information call Nikki on 07879018384 / 01934 429519 or email nikkidight@gmail.com
Folk Dance Club Tuesdays: The Weston-super-Mare Folk Dance Club would love to welcome new members to join them at their friendly dance group. Beginners are more than welcome as every dance is led by our two experienced club callers. We meet from 8pm10pm on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at Corpus Christi Church Hall, Ellenborough Park South, Weston BS23 1XW. For more information please contact Sheila 01934 625242
Petanque Wednesdays and Sundays: Play Petanque at the Clarence Park Bowling Club. We are a small friendly group who meet all year round. Use of Clubhouse and boules are included in your annual subscription. Just come along to the Club on Wednesday afternoons or Sunday mornings, weather permitting.
ROOF, GUTTER, UPVC - REPAIR, FITTING AND CLEANING SERVICE ROOFING SERVICES – New Roofs, Roof Repairs, Under Tile Felting, Ridge Tiles UPVC ROOFING SERVICES – UPVC Fascias & Soffits, Guttering, Bargeboards, Cladding, Dry Verge Systems ROOF & UPVC CLEANING SERVICES – Roof Cleaning and Fungicide Treatment, UPVC Cleaning
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LOCAL HOME CARE Roofing Contractors
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HEALTH AND BEAUTY PUZZLES
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Crossword
Across 1 Second in command (6) 4 Person who maltreats or harms (6) 9 Flammable gas (7) 10 Small herring (5) 11 British Actress _____ Mirren (5) 12 American term for poorly educated person from the south (7) 13 Weaken, fall apart (11) 18 Delinquent, thug (7) 20 Man-made fibre (5) 22 Home of Glasgow Rangers (5) 23 _______ Man - Beatles song (7) 24 There are eleven in the song ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ (6) 25 Large snake (6) Down 1 Hidden ____- quiet wisdom or insight (6) 2 Move stealthily (5) 3 Learner, cadet (7) 5 Located, stationed (5) 6 Glut, plethora (7) 7 Second try at an exam (6) 8 The action of enlisting new people (11) 14 Activity done purely to increase someone’s sense of self-importance (3,4) 15 Escapee, fugitive (7) 16 Shellfish (6) 17 Hidden, not noticed (6) 19 Famous Egyptian city (5) 21 Blood-sucking worm (5)
Word Search
Solutions
Ash Beloved Bonsai Calf Clockers Dancer Duplex
Emma Fan Fences George Gilead Hild Himself
14 | www.localreach.co.uk
Inheritance Island Jubilee Kintu Monster Norwood Oreo
Passing Push Replay Room Scythe Sidewalks Silence
Stoner Tampa Unami Unless Warlock Wave Zazen
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Weston Organ and Keyboard Club Thursdays: The Club meets on the first Thursday of every month in the Somerset Suite of Weston Football Club, WSM, BS24 9AA at 7.30 -10.00pm. Top Artists entertain us using today’s state of the art instruments. They play music from shows, musicals, films the big band era, 1960’s and more. Entry fee is £7.00 at the door with free parking. During a thirty-minute interval, there is a licensed bar, food and tea & coffee available. For more information, please visit the websites www.westonorganclub.20m.com www.organfax. co.uk/clubs/weston or call Jo (Chairman) on 01934 812759 Next Concert: November 4th Chris and Joanne Powell address: www.organfax.co.uk/players/ chrispowell/
Vocalise-Lite
HEALTH COMMUNITY AND BEAUTY The centre urgently needs volunteers to help set up and run new activities such as Mother & Toddler Groups, Youth Groups, and Computer Skills. For more information, please visit our new website at worle.community or call 01934 515681.
West Mendip Orchestra Fridays: If you are a local musician in search of an Orchestra to play in, the West Mendip Orchestra is your local community orchestra. We are a medium sized, friendly amateur orchestra. our members come from a wide area including Bristol to Bridgwater and Wells to Weston-super-mare, We rehearse at The Lynch Chapel in Winscombe on Fridays from 7:45pm to 10pm. We are currently looking for additional players in most sections to boost our numbers post lockdown. If you are interested please contact chairman@ west-mendip-orchestra.org.uk for more details.
Adopt-A-Street
Thursdays: Vocalise-Lite is a ladies’ community choir meeting on Thursdays 1.15pm to 2.45pm. No auditions, no experience necessary, no pressure! Ideal if you love singing, but dislike being out after dark or you have commitments in the evenings. We finish in time to collect children from school. The venue, Our Lady of Lourdes Church Hall, WSM has its own car park. A chance to make friends and socialise over a cuppa before singing a variety of songs. Contact ann.clewlow@btinternet.com, tel. 01934 627709 or find more information and sign up on our Facebook page.
Worle Community Centre Fridays: Worle Community Centre is a community space for community use. Based in Lawrence Road, just 200 yards from Worle High Street. The weekly Coffee Morning and Market is running again from 9am every Friday morning and everyone welcome. There will also be a Christmas Fayre on Saturday December 4th from 2pm.
My name is Llew, I’ve lived all my adult life in Weston. There are many threats facing the environment today, lots of which I have little control over, but one that I can directly improve is LITTER. I try in my small way to improve “My Patch” as I call it – around Knightstone area. One thing is for sure, I will never run out of litter to pick; clear it up one day and sure enough it’s back the next. I can’t really say it’s been worse since the pandemic, people seem as thoughtless as ever, but it’s rewarding when you get the occasional “thank you”. If you’ve got a bit of time and are also dismayed by LITTER why not consider adopting a street near you. Happy picking, Llew If you’d like to apply to become a volunteer, or find out more, please check our website www.nsomerset.gov.uk/adopt-a-street or email adopta-street@n-somerset.gov.uk www.localreach.co.uk | 15
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Windows 11 is a free upgrade for Windows 10 users – but can your Windows computer get it? With the recent release of Windows 11, we urge all readers of the importance to upgrade from Windows 10 onto Microsoft’s new operating system. Owners of Windows desktops, laptops, and surfaces should upgrade to Windows 11 as soon as possible. There are however a great number of people who are running into problems obtaining the free upgrade, facing errors which claim their devices are incompatible. Those who run into these errors might assume a new computer must be purchased, but there is a good chance this is not the case. There are various factors which feed into whether a device is deemed eligible for the Windows 11 upgrade or not. Failure to meet even one of the Windows 11 minimum requirements can disable the option to upgrade, these include requirements for processors, memory capacity, free disk space, and more. A common requirement not met is the need for TPM 2.0, a security chip which is not active in a great number of computers. The good news is, much can be done to resolve or work around these issues and complete a successful upgrade to Windows 11. This can include cutting down on disk usage to free up required disk space, enabling or installing requirements such as TPM 2.0, installing more system memory, and using other tricks to complete a manual upgrade to Windows 11. So, if you are encountering problems with your upgrade, we are here to help. We can investigate the causes of the blocked upgrade and take appropriate steps to resolve them. Then we complete your full, free upgrade to Windows 11. Please see our advert on this page to get in touch.
Neil Buzzard, Director, Computer Problem Solutions Ltd, Tel: 07973 536299
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Children’s Running Club September was a busy month for our funetics squad as we returned to sessions. We have spent September perfecting our Run, Jump and Throws and our athletes are progressing so well. A number of our athlete’s turn 12 soon, so Weston Whippets have been busy building a new section of the club aimed at 12s and above. They will meet twice a week from Haywood School, Whitney Crescent. We feel really lucky that we will soon be able to support and coach affordable athletics in partnership with England Athletics from the age of 4 up to 17 years. For more details, please email WestonWhippetsrc@gmail. com or search for us on funetics.co.uk
Waves of Harmony chorus Waves of Harmony are an allfemale a cappella group based in Weston-super-Mare. During the last 18 months we have been fortunate to welcome eight new girls to our chorus! If you love singing why not come along to one of our rehearsals to see what we do. Phone Sue on 01934 642806 or Stephen on 07889 015681. Alternatively go to www.wavesofharmony.co.uk or check out our Facebook page.
Weston Whippets Weston Whippets meets for various sessions daily. Delivering coaching sessions and leading various runs to our members and nonmembers in Weston and the surrounding area. We are based at Haywood Village. Most of our runs are bookable through Run Together: groups. runtogether.co.uk/WestonWhippets. We always welcome new runners to our sessions. So, if you are someone who wants to run but you don’t know where to start, get in touch with us at WestonWhippetsrc@gmail.com . We are currently working on our Annual Challenge that has supported us to donate a large sum of money to a local charity. Challenges have involved pushing ourselves to run our furthest distance, enjoying a run on the beach and running lots of hills. This has kept us all active through a really difficult time and given us the knowledge that through keeping active, we have helped others. If anyone would like to join us, please do get in touch. Everyone is welcome.
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Forest School Pupils flourished in their first Forest School lesson of the new term. Pupils at St Anne’s Church Academy in Weston-superMare, Somerset asked a whole host of questions while enjoying the Forest School. They completed a blindfold trail and explored the beautiful scenic surroundings with activities, adventure and team work. Teacher Cat Hockey said: “It was a brilliant afternoon back at Forest School with some great questions from our children. “One asked ‘I wonder why elderberries are so small?’ while another asked ‘What is moss?’. Another said ‘We can’t wait for next week!’ The school has had an array of after school clubs including the Gardening Club and a Well-being and Community club that cares for the environment. St Anne’s Church Academy is a high achieving and happy caring school. It is the first school in North Somerset to receive the highly prized Social Media School Award and is part of The Priory Learning Trust.
Kindness, enthusiasm and hard work by new students has been rewarded at an ambitious Weston school. Year 7 students at Worle Community School Academy were made Tutees of the Week for exceptional character and hard work. The ambitious academy, part of the high-achieving The Priory Learning Trust (TPLT), rewards students across the school regularly for their studies, determination, kindness and other brilliant character traits. Principal Jacqui Scott said: “We praise students regularly and for a whole host of positive attributes including kindness and enthusiasm, as well as hard work.” The academy has a wonderful caring and high achieving ethos, excellent extracurricular provision including the Jill Dando News Centre and the ground-breaking eco-club, Climate Justice Revolution. Since becoming part of TPLT in 2016, the academy has seen huge campus improvements including a £400,000 refurbished auditorium and sports hall. The WCSA motto is ‘We Challenge and Support to Achieve’, resulting in students who thrive in all areas. www.localreach.co.uk | 17
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How to look after your precious rug There are many types of rugs, from modern classic contemporary to oriental and antique. These maybe made from wool, cotton, man made fibres or silk. Rugs are wonderful at brightening an otherwise plain room and bringing warmth and colour. Like all carpets they lose their lustre over time with daily use. Fortunately, with the right care they can redeem their vibrancy even after many years of use. Here are just some simple tips to help you care for your rug: 1. The most important thing you can do is vacuum it weekly. Rugs fill with dust and grit so turn it over and vacuum the back of your rug, this will vibrate all the grit to the surface. Then follow this by vacuuming the face surface. If it is small enough try beating or shaking it as it all helps. 2. Check the label. There is often a label underneath your rug which will tell you what it is made from and may offer cleaning advice. Cotton, Wool and Silk rugs will need very careful cleaning and you may prefer to use a professional specialist rug cleaner. 3. Spots and stains. Accidental spillages are best dealt with whilst they are still wet so blot them with a white terry cloth. Always apply a tamping motion and never rub as it may damage the pile and spread the spillage. Next dampen a cloth with cold water and blot again, but first test in a corner to make sure the colours don’t run. Rugs are often coloured with natural dyes which are not colour-fast. 4. Move your furniture. Heavy furniture can flatten and damage the pile over time. To prevent this, move your furniture a little every few months to even the wear. 5. Keep out of direct sunlight. Direct sunlight can fade the bright colours of your rug, keep away from windows and if that is not possible then rotate the rug so it has an even fade. Whilst the 5 tips will help keep your rug looking good, eventually it will benefit from a specialist clean. Copper Beech Cleaning are Professional Rug Cleaners and the process is always the same - a free rug survey is provided to offer honest, friendly advice on the likely result and the cost of the clean. Your rugs are picked up from your home, carefully cleaned by hand, dried, returned and placed back in situ. For free honest advice call Copper Beech Cleaning 01934 235855, www.copperbeechcleaning.com
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RECIPE
Poached Pears Pears are in season right now and this is such a great way to serve them Method: Preheat the oven to 180C/gas mark 4. Pour the wine into a saucepan with the sugar, spices and lemon zest and bring to the boil, stirring dissolve the sugar.
Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 1 hour + 5-10 minutes for the sauce Serves: 4 Ingredients: 1 750ml bottle of soft, fruity red wine 125g granulated sugar 2 cloves 1 stick of cinnamon Zest of half a lemon 1 vanilla pod, split (optional) 4 hard pears Creme de cassis
Meanwhile, peel the pears. Leave the stalk intact but cut out the core at the base. Use a non-metallic ovenproof dish just wide enough to hold the pears in a single layer and lay them in there. Don’t use a large dish because when you pour the spiced wine over the top - the fruit should just be submerged. Cover the dish and bake for about an hour, checking after 45 minutes. When the fruit is tender, but still holds its shape, lift it out of the liquid and set aside. Then pour the liquid back into the saucepan and bring to the boil. Reduce by about half until it becomes thick and syrupy, then taste and pour in the creme de cassis to taste. Pour the sauce back on to the pears and serve warm or cool, with ice cream, cream, or custard.
CHRISTMAS RANGE COMING SOON. thornersofsomerset.co.uk
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A Tiny Musical Renaissance There’s so much to love about the ukulele
In September while staying with friends in the countryside, I attended a late summer fete. It was a low budget cliche involving hay bale seats, a hog roast, young performers from the local school and a smattering of stalls selling jams and random craft items. It amused my friends to drag a cynical Londoner to an event which included the ‘Most Creative Vegetable Sculpture’ award. They insisted I stayed to listen to the village ukulele ‘orchestra’, which comprised an enthusiastic group of players who took the stage wearing amusing hats, and wielding kazoos. They chink-a-chinked their way through hits from the sixties to the nineties with an occasional nod to timing and tuning. They were joyous in their performance, and clearly loved every minute of their local celebrity. During their twenty-minute set they embodied everything that music should be: accessible, enjoyable, and inclusive. The audience (and I) loved them, to the amusement of my friends. Back at home I googled ukuleles. There are at least 300 groups in the UK and a number of ukulele festivals, which occur throughout the year. Local events in churches and school halls nearly always play host to a home-grown group of enthusiasts. The ukulele arrived here from Hawaii over a century ago. Contrary to popular belief it was not born in Hawaii but originated in Europe and was originally known as a branguinha, or machete. It was introduced to Hawaii in 1879 by a Portuguese immigrant named Joao Fernandez. The Hawaiians were so impressed by his fingerboard gymnastics that they called the instrument “ukulele,” (pronounced oo-ko-lay-lay) which translates to 20 | www.localreach.co.uk
“jumping flea.” Fernandez became a local sensation and the popularity of the little instrument spread across the islands. When it arrived in the UK it was initially considered an exotic instrument but was quickly snubbed by both the pop and classical music scenes; even folk groups didn’t want a ukulele! But with the help of the hipsters (who play their ukes ironically) and armies of mainly senior citizens up and down the land (who play them sincerely and with gusto), and schools, where they’ve replaced the previously ubiquitous recorder as training instruments, the little ukulele has become the musical comeback kid. This can be traced in large part to its accessibility, affordability, and YouTube popularity. While festivals offer live workshops on fingerpicking, playing by ear, and even song writing, most people do seem to learn their uke skills from YouTube. Well, dear reader I bought myself a uke and I have discovered the joy of learning an instrument in my fifties. There are no uke police, so unlike the music lessons of my early years, there are no disapproving teachers dripping sarcasm and heaving sighs. I am responsible for my own progress and even though I have not yet plucked up the courage to join my local uke orchestra, thanks to Professor YouTube I can bash out a few chords and simple tunes. And that’s the joy of the ukulele. Unlike the piano it doesn’t demand virtuosity, and unlike the violin there’s no painful induction period, even absolute beginners can make a pretty sound. This cheerful unintimidating little instrument is enjoying a welldeserved renaissance, so why not join the fun? By Charlie Broom
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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.
LOCAL EXPERT PAGE • 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. Enjoy. Great as Christmas presents – present in a small box or cellophane bag tied with a pretty ribbon. PS: If you need me to clean your cooker before Christmas, please call me Graeme Robertsson, OvenGleamers, on 01934 440032
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How Much Is That Phone in the Advert?
Mobile phones are expensive. I mean really expensive. The latest iPhones and top of the range Android phones cost upwards of £1000 so they are a big financial commitment. But are they value for money? Is £1000 phone any better than one which costs £200? When you watch a phone advert it’s easy to believe that owning the latest model will make your life infinitely better. With ultrahigh resolution screens, multiple professional quality cameras and massively powerful computing engines, you could easily use your phone to replace your laptop, camera, TV and, at a push, your spouse! But how many of these fantastic features will you actually use? Most of use our phones for fairly mundane, lowpower tasks. We text, check our social media, post selfies or snapshots, watch YouTube videos, make quick videos to post on social media, play a game, and some of us even use them to make phone calls. But none of these tasks require any of the high-end features that are pushing the cost of your phone through the roof. Budget phones summon up the image of a piece of sad plastic that struggles to turn on, let alone do anything useful. But there’s a big difference between ‘budget’ and ‘great value for money.’ Big brand names such as Apple and Samsung market their phones as status symbols. Pulling out the latest iPhone or flipping open your foldable Samsung is the same as wearing a Rolex watch or rocking up in your sports car. If you enjoy that
feeling and are happy with the cost then these are the phones for you. If you want a phone that has almost all the features of the top brands; screen, cameras, powerful processor etc., there are a range of less wellknown brands that will deliver all this for a lower cost. Many of these from Chinese manufacturers where components and labour costs are lower. You’ll still get a high-quality product, and the phone will power through all of your day-to-day tasks with room to spare, but people won’t recognise the logo on the back. For example, my 12-year-old needed a new phone and we wanted to get one that would be fun to use rather than the low powered basic model he’d started out with. I came across a phone from Xiaomi, the Redmi Note 9. This has a powerful octa core processor, loads of memory, 64 GB of storage space, ultrahigh resolution screen, three high resolution specialist cameras, fast charge, and long battery life and all for the very pocket friendly cost of £150. From a pre-teenage point of view, he’s pleased as punch with the power and quality of the phone. Form a parent point of view, I’m delighted with the price. So, when buying a new phone my advice is to be honest about what you’re going to use it for. If you feel a premium phone is worth the money go for it. If you want a phone that does everything and is a pleasure to use but is easy on your pocket, shop around. By Tom Hancock
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A Good Read
The Astounding Adventure of Mr Bowens, the Laziest Man in the World by Ade Bowen
Reminiscent of ‘The Far Away Tree’ by Enid Blyton, Ade has created a charming fairy tale about the day when it was so nice, even Mr Bowens, the laziest man in the world, decided to go for a walk. He is joined by the two children who live next door, and the more they walk, the more they talk, until they are lost, deep in the woods. In front of them is a spooky looking cottage. One by one, the children enter the cottage to ask for directions, but fair to return. Mr Bowens must rescue them, but he is also the laziest man in the world, so he must do it with the least amount of effort. Written by Weston super Mare entertainer Ade Bowen, he has written and illustrated a wonderful fairy tale littered with adventure and funny moments. As a father himself, Ade wanted to create a story that parents enjoyed reading as much as children liked listening. “This is great story for reading out loud with kids. It’s a fun story filled with the kind of things children respond to: witches, magic, adventure and adults behaving badly, and it’s written in a friendly and accessible style. Overall, a great read and nicely illustrated too.” By Tom May. Author of Ted Talks
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Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock
This is a young adult novel with a difference. It’s a collection of interconnected short stories all set in the mid-1990s, in Alaska and small towns scattered across the American west. Each story centres around one or two disparate teen characters who each face the challenges and rewards of small-town life. Told through the ordinary events of their lives, we glimpse brief moments, like peeking through a window. We can see their inner struggles, how they deal with pain or boredom or survival, and how they find new paths and moments of healing. There are hitchhikers, kids with a ‘reputation’, free spirits, and young people who have suffered loss. Woven through the stories are some common threads; we get an early warning of wildfire in one story which is at the centre of the plot of another. The aftermath of events in one story, pop up in later ones. Each character’s life has a ‘butterfly effect’ on the lives of other characters, some big and some small, and most of the characters never know the threads that connect them, even though we as readers are treated to the bigger picture and have the pleasure of seeing where all these lives overlap. In Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town, Hitchcock takes us into the inner workings of young minds and hearts. A beautiful read for older teens. By Tash Donovan
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If I Only Had a Moustache! It’s Movember! So sings the character Marcus Thornton in the film A Million Ways to Die in the West. If you haven’t seen the clip on YouTube, watch it and give yourself an ear worm for the whole of Movember! You’re welcome. The Movember movement started in Australia in 2003. Travis Garone and Luke Slattery came up with the idea (over a beer of course). It began as a jokey way of trying to bring the moustache back into fashion. Inspired by a friend’s mother who was fundraising for breast cancer, they decided to make generate a campaign for men’s health and prostate cancer. They designed the rules of Movember, which remain unchanged today, and agreed to charge ten dollars to ‘Grow a Mo’. Trav designed the first Movember logo, and they sent out an email, subject: ‘Are you man enough to be my man?’ and found 30 volunteers. In 2004 they formalised the idea, registered a company and created a website. They researched men’s health issues and agreed to formally support prostate cancer as their cause. By 2006 the Movember Foundation was established as an official Australian charity. They also started
to branch out into supporting male mental health. The following year Movember started to grow internationally. There are now official campaigns in 21 countries and together they have raised around 350 million pounds and supported more than 1,000 men’s health programs. They focus on the four key men’s health issues: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, poor mental health, and physical inactivity. So, what are the rules. The first step is simply registering on Movember.com 1 Start with a clean-shaven, including your upper lip, sideburns, and handlebar zones. 2 For the entire month of Movember, you must grow and groom a moustache 3 Beards, goatees and fake moustaches don’t count 4 Use the power of the moustache to create conversation and raise funds for men’s health 5 Each Mo Bro must conduct himself like a true gentleman By Tom Hancock
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Snap, Crackle and POP Host the Perfect Bonfire Night Bash
Pre Covid we hosted an annual bonfire party for friends. We’re not big on planning but we follow the four Fs – Friends, Flame, Food, Fireworks. Our little bonfire bash afforded our social group the opportunity to meet together informally to enjoy life’s simple things: food, warmth, companionship, and laughter, and we really missed it in 2020, so this year we’re planning to bring it back. If you fancy hosting your own get together I’ll share our ‘recipe for success’ here. Let’s start with the bonfire. There is a ‘proper’ way to build a fire which affects how long it will last and the amount of heat it gives off. It’s best to arrange kindling (e.g., twigs, cardboard, and small pieces of wood) in a sort of wigwam shape over a base of tinder (e.g., paper, wood shavings or fire lighters) and then add more bulky pieces of wood and logs which ignite more slowly but burn longer. Light the fire about 20-30 minutes before the party is due to start so that it is burning merrily when your guests arrive. Some people don’t like the idea of a Guy Fawkes, but if it appeals to you, you can hold a Guy Fawkes competition with prizes for the best or the funniest. Our garden is small, so we don’t have room for huge effigies, so we dress up our Halloween skeleton as Guy and he gets a seat of honour at our garden table…that’s probably weird but it’s our party so you don’t get to judge! No gathering is complete without food. November weather is traditionally cold and damp, so homemade soup, served in old mugs is always welcome. Guests often want to contribute to the food table. We have no rules so this usually results in a completely random selection of goodies, though we always
provide hot dogs with fried onions (is there anything on earth that can beat that smell?) and homemade parkin, mainly because parkin is easy, and I can make it when I remember. Like I said, we’re not big on planning. Fireworks are a must of course. They are also expensive in large quantities so don’t be shy about asking your guests to bring along a banger or two. Even with a substantial financial outlay, your display is unlikely to be hugely impressive, but that is absolutely not the point of a homegrown bonfire night party. It’s amazing how much enjoyment can be gleaned from the humblest box of shop-bought rockets. Invest in lots of sparklers too. Everyone loves sparklers, even adults, so be sure to have a good supply at hand, with matches to light them with and a bucket of water to extinguish them. Always remember the firework code and stay safe at all times. Other tips we have learned from (sometimes bitter) personal experience is to make sure that carpets are protected if people are going to be in and out of the house, especially if the ground outside is wet, and have a supply of torches on hand if your bonfire is located some distance from the back door (which to be honest it should be!) For me, the key to hosting a successful bonfire party is similar to handling fireworks – set everything up, light the fuse, then step away and allow the magic to happen. Happy Bonfire Night! By Kate McCarthy
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The Glorious Madness of The Beaujolais Run 500 miles back again. Beaujolais is described by wine sellers as ‘…a light fruity red burgundy wine made from the Gamay grape.’ It’s described by almost everyone else as ‘awful’, and by French standards it’s pretty rubbish if we’re honest, so you’d have to be utterly bonkers to undertake a round trip of 1000 miles to get your hands on a bottle. Well, us Brits have elevated being bonkers to an artform. The more ridiculous or pointless the challenge, the more likely we are to bounce enthusiastically into action. And so it proved with the Beaujolais Run. At one minute past midnight on the third Sunday in November, villages and towns in a region in France release cases of wine for immediate delivery across the world. “Le Beaujolais est arrivé!” This rousing call signals the introduction of the year’s new wine, the famous Beaujolais Nouveau. Originally, pitchers of the wine were taken straight from the producers’ barrels to the towns amid much fanfare and celebration. Then in 1972 an enterprising soul saw a fabulous marketing opportunity: a race to distribute the first bottles of the new vintage. The Beaujolais Run involves teams competing to be the first to get the first case of Nouveau from Paris to London. It’s a 500mile race to south-eastern France to collect the first bottles of the new wine, and then
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In its early years the event was purely about speed. Any mode of transport could be used. The glorious madness peaked in the 1980s when the RAF touched down in Beaujeu with a Harrier Jump-Jet at midnight, picked up the wine and then landed 32 minutes later in London. At that point the organisers had to rethink the rules! So now the mission is to get from southern England to Mâcon by covering the shortest distance. The Beaujolais Run has become a treasure hunt through the French countryside, following a series of cryptic navigational clues through six checkpoints. Competitors must take a photograph of themselves at an obscure landmark at each checkpoint to prove they were there. You can use maps, sat-navs or even ask the locals! Handy Hint: Map readers tend to succeed over tech-users because some countryside back routes thwart the sat-navs. The Beaujolais Run is a popular event in the amateur motor sport year, and anything goes - vintage cars family saloons, motorcycles and even supercars. Dress code is fancy dress! There is a new theme every year and locals have learned to be quite blasé about being stopped and asked for directions by someone dressed as a gorilla, or a WWII German Officer, driving a Morris Minor! The entry fee is £1995 per car which includes the Eurotunnel fees, accommodation, and organised dinners and drinks events along the way. In addition, participants are required to raise a minimum of £1,250 per car for the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund. If you fancy taking part, take a look at www. beaujolaisrun.com for further information. You need a minimum of two team members, a vehicle, an entry fee, and the intention to raise a lot of money via sponsorship. A sense of humour and a love of scavenger hunts, cryptic clues and / or escape rooms is advantageous. The French say, ‘La vie est trop courte pour boire du mauvais vin’, which translates as Life is too short to drink poor wine, however it would appear that Brits will happily drive very long distances for it! By Sarah Davey
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