Local Living October 2018

October 2018 Issue 18

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Welcome to the October Issue of Local Living With our regular What’s on guide and Community news page this issue is, once again, packed with lots of information. Until next month have a lovely September.

Tracy Leach, Editor

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My pick of the month… I’m hoping it’s safe to mention the ‘C’ word now we are in October. This Father Christmas handmade from horse shoes is fabulously festive.

Have a look at the full range of products from The Horseshoe Craft Company on facebook.com/ thehorsehoecraftcompany

Open your home and heart

Paula Halliwell, 39, lives in Golborne with her husband Ian and her two children, a son aged 15 and a daughter aged 11.

On the outside, Paula and her family look like your typical family, but if you look beneath the surface, their lives are anything but ordinary. For the past five years, Paula and Ian have opened their home and hearts to over 40 children – all of whose portraits hang on the walls as lasting memories.

“We’ve seen many children come into and out of our lives, some for only a couple of days and others for much longer. It is sad when they leave – you can’t help but grow attached and loving them. But watching the children return to their family or find a permanent home is a wonderful feeling.

“Being a foster carer is the best and most rewarding job in the world, there’s no other feeling like it. I can’t imagine not doing it anymore, of not having that feeling of excitement when you meet another child – I wouldn’t change it for the world”.

“All of our foster children, past and present, have enriched our lives. They’ve made us stronger and happier. But there are still so many children out there who desperately need a loving home.” There are currently 190 foster families in the borough, but there are still so many children in desperate need of a home.

At any one time there are around 50 children and young people in need of a loving home and family. Some are groups of siblings that would ideally like to stay together and others need a long term home and stability in their lives. So if you have room in your heart and in your home, please visit www.wigan.uk/fostering

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Zoe was the winner of the woman of the year at Travelodge Lowton Slimming World Saturday group with Vicki Jones and went on to be in the final 8 for the northwest region. This is an exert from the fabulous poem she read out at the finals: AN EXERT FROM MY SLIMMING WORLD JOURNEY

By Zoe Wells The first week passed by, And then it was time To pay my fiver and stand in the line.

My tummy was churning, The nerves had kicked in I stood on the scales and sucked everything in.

I couldn’t look anywhere - except at the ground Until Bernie piped up - ‘Zoe you’ve lost 10lbs’ This was a moment of truth for me I could have triple back flipped, And danced with glee My weight loss journey had begun with success I felt Positive, Determined and much less stressed

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It is now accepted that the summer of 2018 was as hot and dry as the summer of 1976, and our gardens provide evidence: at the Newton-le-Willows Gardeners’ Association Flower & Vegetable Show on 8 September not one cauliflower was on display (caulis need a lot of water throughout their growing season) and many growers said that it was the hardest season they had encountered. Climatologists are saying that we will have more summers like this last one so….prepare….get more water butts and collect every drop of water that falls on the greenhouse, shed, garage, house and dog kennel roofs.

The soil in parts of my garden developed great cracks; did they in yours? That indicates that there is not enough ‘humus’ in the soil.

Make or get more! You might buy bags of recycled waste produced from the plant waste in our green bins, or bags of horse manure from local stables. Collect fallen leaves this autumn, put them in cheap black bin liners, pour lots of water into each bagful and knot the top of the bag, make some holes in the bag with the garden fork, and put these in some obscure corner. The leaves will become leaf mould.

Get more compost bins and don’t throw away any kitchen or garden plant waste; mix it with 50% wetted cardboard (e.g. from boxes and loo rolls). Fork some of the stuff into the ground, and in spring put a 2-3 inch mulch over the bare earth.

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Other things to do: Look at your shrubs. Some will have been hit by the summer and have dead brown tips to shoots and branches. Trim them back to live wood just above a green leaf. If you have lost plants (and I lost two azaleas and a clematis), dig them up. Don’t replant immediately. Give the soil a deep dig and incorporate some ‘humus’ (below) and wait until late winter before you replant.

Leave most pruning to late winter or very early spring. Exceptions are summer fruiting raspberries, tayberries, loganberries and blackberries. Cut away all canes that have fruited this year and tie in the new growths.

Complete planting spring bulbs (but wait until early November for tulips, as they can be hit by disease if planted earlier) and spring bedding (sweet williams and so on).

Greenhouse crops (tomatoes, peppers and so on) are finished. This is a good time to clean out the greenhouse using Jeyes Fluid. We cannot now use the old sulphur candles: banned! Blame the EU! Get it spotless. Then, get a Growbag and put it on the greenhouse staging and buy a bag of watercress from the supermarket. Put the shoots of watercress from the supermarket in a bowl containing 2-3 inches of water and roots will grow quickly. Wet thoroughly the compost in the Growbag and plant watercress shoots 3-2 inches apart. Keep it watered and you will have lots of watercress to enjoy with the cold turkey on Boxing Day. Hot central heating kills plants!

Put houseplants in a cooler but frost-free room and check watering.

Malcolm Greenhalgh

Newton-le-Willows Gardeners’ Association

MLSgardenservices

QUALITY LANDSCAPING GARDEN MAINTENANCE LAWN CARE AND JET WASHING

*NEW SERVICE FENCE AND DECK SPRAYING*

01942 731302 / 07927960281 MLSgardenservices

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Lowton West Residents Residents in Lowton West (west side of Slag Lane and adjacent roads including Scott Road estate) have decided to form a non-political neighbourhood group to discuss local issues and work together to improve our area. A Constitution has been agreed and a committee formed with all posts being filled by volunteers. Meetings will take place on the last Tuesday of each month, 7.30pm at Parkside Club in Rivington Avenue and elected representatives will be invited along regularly to address residents concerns. Why not come along and find out what is happening in our local area and make some new friends?

Free young parents groups Parents aged 19 and under FREE lunch or breakfast

FREE courses FREE creche REIMBURSED bus fares

Make your Tokens Count at Asda Golborne 1st Ashton Lord Gerard’s Scout Group To fund equipment for the scouts Golborne St Thomas PTA To fund equipment for pupils Umbrella Arts To fund materials for their art-craft groups

Anyone for afternoon tea?

We attended on 6th September and had a fabulous time. The food was amazing and we even had a little ‘doggie bag’ to take home! The atmosphere was lovely and relaxed. Elaine, Suzanne, Denise and all their helpers were fantastic. Nothing was too much trouble. It’s a fantastic event and is aimed at the local community together. I would booking asap as they are sold out very quickly!

FREE driving lessons We have three groups each week in Wigan and Atherton.

Green grass centre, Spa Road, Hag Fold on a Monday and Tuesday and Friday at Ince Community Centre.

Contact them on Facebook /rteenparentsslh or email Sara at sara@wigancreches.co.uk . PRE BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL. There is a £20 voucher for all those who join in the few weeks

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Monday & Thursday Cheeky monkeys playgroup Age 0-4 years. Term time only 9-15 to 11-15 at Golborne sports club Monday Men wanted for Parkside Colliery Male Voice Choir.

Meet every Monday at 7:30p at Congregational Church, Hilton Street. Ashton www.parksidecollierymvc.co.uk Third Monday of the month Leigh & District Antique and collectable society. From Sept-March at 7:30pm (except December for Christmas outing) at Leigh Rugby Union Club, Hand Lane. New member & visitors welcome. Different speakers each month. Contact Colin on 01942 673521 or find us on facebook.

Tuesday MemorabLEIGH every Tuesday 1-3pm at the Old Grammar School in Railway Road, Leigh (in the same block as Oceans Eleven Chippy). The group is aimed at anyone over 50 who wants to talk about their life in Leigh and/or the history of the town. Each week we discuss a different topic. £4 per session which includes refreshments. If you are interested in joining email contactus@healthyarts.org.uk or phone Martin on 07542 114383 Tuesday 8pm The Three Towns Operatics Society rehearse at Tyldesley Methodist Church, Elliott Street, Tyldesley M29 8JE For more information contact Ursula Lightford on 01942 6670287 www.threetowns.net Last Tuesday of the month 7:30pm. Lowton West Residents group meet at Parkside Club, Rivington Avenue. Have your say about what is happening locally and help improve our area. All welcome.

Wednesday The Paperback Writers meet at 10:30-12:30 at The Coffee Stop in Railway Road, Leigh. You don’t need to be experienced just keen to develop and share your work, and a sense of humour! During the workshops, led by local writer Julie McKiernan (www.juleswriter.co.uk), you will receive feedback on your writing and learn how to apply different styles and techniques in practical writing exercises, responding to a wide range of different stimuli. £6 per session. Email juleswriter@hotmail.com for further information.

Wednesday Leigh Community Choir meets 7:30-9pm at The Turnpike Gallery above Leigh Library WN7 1EB. It’s £2.50 per session and everyone is welcome!

Thursday 8:30 - 12. Coffee and chat at Lowton St Mary’s, Newton Road.

Thursday Lowton and Golborne art group meets every Thursday at Leigh and Lowton Sailing Club from 10 till 4 and enjoy not only the freedom to express their artistic talents but also engage socially with other members with similar interests.

Second and fourth Friday of the month

Knit and natter held in St Luke’s church on Slag Lane. 2-4pm.

Lots of chatting and cup of tea and a biscuit 50p towards costs.

Third Wednesday of the month

Leigh Arthritis Care Support Group meet every 3rd Wednesday in the month at Kingsleigh Methodist Church Community Building, free car park for those attending the meeting to rear of church in Cook Street off Railway Road. 1.30-4pm Supporting people with arthritis, family and carers with information, support and a warm welcome. Contact John 01942 704704.

Fourth Wednesday of the month

Golborne & District Townswomen s' Guild meet at Northfield Court, Lowton Rd. Golborne from 7pm. - 9pm. We provide speakers, and social activities. Please contact Avril on 01942 726 033 for further details.

First Thursday of the month

Lowton WI will be holding a coffee morning on 6th October. 10-12.

The venue is St Mary's Community Centre, Newton Rd Lowton. The cost will be £3. Please come and join us, proceeds will go towards supporting the Well Women's centre in Leigh which is a voluntary organisation which provides support for women. As this year marks the centenary of the suffragette movement our members felt it important that we support a charity for women. Lowton WI meet on the 1st Thursday of the month at 7.15 pm the meetings take place at Lowton Social Club on Newton Rd Lowton. If you are interested in what we do and would like to arrange a visit please phone Lin Hayes for details on 01942 207764

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CLASSIFIEDS ARCHITECT SERVICES

PAINTER & DECORATOR

Lowton based architect for your property conversion designs including submission to local authorities for planning and building regulation consideration.

Excellent service with quality drawings at competitive prices.

Ring Gavin Pinion at Goldcrest Design Services Ltd on 01942 729832 or 07958102874

ANM Decorators. NVQ city and guilds painter and decorator.

Clean and reliable service. Call Adam McCarthy for free quotes and advice on 07725097318 or anmdecorators@outlook.com

AROMATHERAPY

NEW MOON AROMATHERAPY Fully qualified and insured massage therapist based at Sophie-Lilly's salon in Golborne.

Treatments available include Aromatherapy, Pregnancy and Hot Stone massage. Contact Debbie on 07847 761507.

Find me on FB / newmoonaromatherapygolborne

ROOFING

Time served roofer. (25 yrs exp).

All roofing and gutter repairs from a broken tile to a full re roof.

Insurance work undertaken, special rates for OAP’s. Call Alan on 01942 576183 or 07930 110031 for free estimate

UPHOLSTERY DESIGNS

Atlas Upholstery Design Services.

Specialist in the re-upholstery of Settees, Easy Chairs, Dining Chairs etc. Headboards recovered and made to order.

Spring repairs etc. Do you need DECORATING SERVICE new foam cushion? Pubs, Clubs, deluxe decorating We offer a high Caravans recovered etc. 40 years In the trade. Workmanship standard of painting and guaranteed. Free Estimates. decorating work at competitive Call David on 01942 729978 rates, we are reliable and fast. www.atlasupholstery.co.uk Call for a free quote 07592411219. Find us on FB /deluxedecorating or email kieranturley8@gmail.com

ELECTRICAL SAFETY CERTIFICATES

City and guilds qualified electrician with over 20 years experience in testing and inspection. Landlord safety certificates, buying/selling houses, insurance compliance.

Excellent service at very competitive prices. Call Neil on 07563302290 or email njtelectrical@sky.com

GLAZIER (SEMI-RETIRED) Double glazed units? Unsightly marks between the glass? Replacement units can be changed in quick, quick time. *no fuss*no mess*all work guaranteed. Free quotes and advice. Ring anytime on 07413 917964. OAP work most welcome.

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