Local Zest Aug/Sept 2016 Edition

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• KINGSWINFORD • WORDSLEY • WALL HEATH • AMBLECOTE • WOLLASTON • STOURBRIDGE • ASHWOOD • ENVILLE • KINVER • STOURTON • HAGLEY, • KIDDERMINSTER • BEWDLEY • ARLEY • WOLVERLEY • HARTLEBURY • STOURPORT • BROMSGROVE • BELBROUGHTON • DROITWICH • OMBERSLEY • WYCHBOLD


WHERE TRADITIONAL ELEGANCE MEETS MORDERN TECHNOLOGY

Contents

• Window repair services • Replace failed units • Door and window locks • Antisnap barrels • New handles • Hinges • Door panels • Patio track and wheels We also provide free quotations for new windows, doors, conservatories and orangeries.

Call 01902 897000

Home & Garden

Pages 6 - 19

Leisure & Lifestyle

Pages 20 - 37

Business & Finance

Pages 38 - 39

Food & Drink

Pages 40 - 43

Property

Pages 44 - 47

Beauty

Pages 48 - 49

Horoscopes

Pages 50 – 51

Motoring

Pages 52 – 59

Just for Fun Puzzles

Pages 18/34/60

Health & Fitness

Pages 61 - 67

Index of Advertisers /Puzzle solutions

Page 65

All Advertising & Content Enquiries Marie Wright: marie@localzest.co.uk Sam Richards: sam@localzest.co.uk Local Zest Magazine Office 28 – Suite 2 28 Cleveland Street Wolverhampton WV1 3HT Tel. 01902 906020 www.localzest.co.uk

The small print All competition entries for the August/September edition need to be received by 1st October 2016 and sent to sam@localzest.co.uk or posted to Office 28 – Suite 2, 28 Cleveland Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 3HT. Winners will be notified by email/telephone and listed in the October/November edition of Local Zest. No cash alternative to the prize. The competitions are free to enter but in doing so you agree to the terms and conditions as detailed above. We gratefully acknowledge the support of businesses whose adverts appear in Local Zest magazine and whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy, Local Zest cannot take responsibility for loss, damage or omission in an advert or editorial. All artwork is accepted on strict condition that permission has been given for use in this publication. Adverts are accepted on the understanding that descriptions of good and services are fair and accurate. Local Zest Ltd does not endorse any advertising material included within the publication. No part of this magazine can be reproduced without prior consent. All rights reserved. *Total distribution 20,000 copies across 2 months

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Welcome Note from the editors We can’t tell you how excited we are to be writing this! Hi! We are Marie and Sam, it really is an absolute pleasure to “meet” you. Welcome to your Local Zest magazine dedicated to Kidderminster and the surrounding areas.

put together a checklist which may be, just what you need to get organised before the dreaded alarm is set once more. We are squeezing as much out the summer as possible with our guest writer Amy and her very best summer beauty buys plus meet Louise in craft corner who is sharing her modern twist on crocheting. Also, find out about

the area’s most iconic venues who are giving you the chance to win tickets to one of the shows during the upcoming autumn season. Plus don’t forget to enter our fantastic competition on page 40 to win a meal for four at the delicious Island Pool, renown for its superb carvery! Then, last but by no means least, a huge thank you to all the local busi-

organised events and shows coming to nesses for their support in this month’s the area over the next few weeks in our edition of Local Zest. Out & About feature on pagWe really hope es 24 & 25. This month’s edition is you enjoy packed with lots to keep your August/ We have plenty you busy over the next September to window shop few weeks including edition of Local for inspiration ways to make the most Zest, we’d

Time For SomeZest! Welcome to your Local Zest magazine dedicated to Kidderminster and the surrounding areas.

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August / September

This month’s edition is packed with lots to keep you busy over the next few weeks including ways to make the most of the last few weeks of the school holidays come rain or shine! If you still have your summer holiday or break to look forward to check out the must have holiday items and reads this Summer in this edition. Plus, find out how we are getting “beach body ready” this month with Rejuvenate! Keep your health in check with some fantastic offers and information from local businesses plus read all about Kidderminster’s brand new leisure facility, open to the public now!

of the last few weeks of on improving love to hear the school holidays come your home and from you! If you rain or shine! garden as well have an event as the places happening, let to go if you are us know, send looking for a brand new ’66 plate car in us your good news stories and pictures September. Fingers crossed, Summer and you may very well see your face in sticks around for a few more weeks al the next issue! be it intermittently and you have chance to try out the BBQ lamb recipe on page 42 . Then for the days Mr Sunshine undoubtedly doesn’t put in an appearance, try out the Choc Chip Shortbread with the little ones. Yum! If you are heading about and out with the family during the holidays or planning a weekend away to relax post the Summer mayhem, make sure your car is in tip top condition thanks to Mr Tyre who has teamed up with us to advise you on the necessary vehicle checks you should be making before a big journey. See you in October!

Sadly, all good things must come to an end including the summer holidays and it would be remise of us to not to give you a gentle nudge about all those back to school essentials! So we have

Enjoy reading the history about local treasure The Palace Theatre, just a stone’s throw away in Redditch and see the latest pictures from Kidderminster Town Hall’s huge refurbishment, one of

Sam & Marie xx

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Celebrating ten years of creating individually designed luxury kitchens for discerning homeowners is Kidderminster based KAW. Located in Lisle Avenue, the company has built up an unrivalled reputation in Wyre Forest and beyond for offering a “one stop shop” for kitchens combined with outstanding personal service.

KAW are marking their ten year milestone anniversary with an expansion into bedroom furniture. Plus look out for details of when they are hosting one of their professional cookery demonstrations. To find out more about how KAW can transform your kitchen call 01562 66882 or visit www.kawinteriordesign.co.uk to view before and after photos and video testimonials. Alternatively, why not pop into the showroom at Unit 2, Lisle Avenue, Kidderminster to meet the friendly team. Opening times are 9.30am to 5pm from Tuesday to Friday and 10am to 4pm on Saturday.

Its success has also led to industry recognition with KAW just one of four firms nationwide shortlisted in the kitchen customer service of the year category at the prestigious 2015 kbbreview0020 Retail and Design Awards. If you have set your sights on a dream kitchen KAW’s design and installation can turn that vision into reality. From plumber to plasterer and from builders to electricians and tillers, clients are guaranteed the very best in both efficiency and quality. KAW was founded by Kevin Walsh, who along with fellow director Ashley Stanley have more than 20 years experience in the sector. Kevin said “My objective was to deliver a complete kitchen refurbishment service using our own installation experts, ensuring that the customer only has to deal with one person throughout the whole process rather than having to liaise with different tradesmen”. Customers can choose from a wide selection of colours in three stylish ranges – Town & Country, Cucina Colore and English Revival – plus worktops, accessories and leading brand appliances.

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“My objective was to deliver a complete kitchen refurbishment service using our own installation experts, ensuring that the customer only has to deal with one person throughout the whole process rather than having to liaise with different tradesmen”. - Kevin


B

reak away from traditional bathroom design and make a contemporary style statement with Easy Bathrooms new range of products.

If you’re considering a centrepiece bath why not go one step further and make it one of Easy Bathrooms coloured freestanding baths. Easy Bathroom’s is already one of the UK’s leading suppliers of baths, but the new collection of

An ideal place to visit for design inspiration, recently launched items include a collection of coloured freestanding baths, glass basins, coloured and textured bathroom furniture and wood effect floor tiles all of which will add the wow factor to your new bathroom.

freestanding baths offer truly unique shapes in colours such as textured copper and black, silver and gold, as well as traditional white.

Designed to appeal to those who like to make a statement, these new products all cater to the current trend of combining aesthetic and tactile qualities within the home.

For the perfect finishing touch don’t forget tiles. Wood effect tiles in particular have become one of the most popular bathroom design trends of 2016 thanks to their authentic look, durability, and enhanced thermal properties which work great with underfloor heating.

“Our newest collection of products means that for the first time one retailer can offer customers the complete package from wall and floor coverings to unique pieces of bathroom furniture that says Easy Bathrooms Head of Product Design, break away from tradiLee Reed. Basins are available from tional bathroom design sizes ranging from 515mm and give customers the to 1200mm with a choice chance to express themof coloured unit, including mono chrome or natural wood selves and create a beautiful, individual colours. bathroom retreat that not only feels more like home but acts as a wow factor for any Furniture like the vanity units can be matched to other ranges visitors.” Glass basins are a great example of this. Created to fit Easy Bathrooms Envy, Nante and Neon vanity units, the basins are coloured white or grey and fit the unit for a slim finish perfect for a minimalist bathroom.

“This is a really interesting time for bathroom design with unique, stylish bathroom products previously only seen in boutique hotels now available for the home,”

of Easy Bathrooms products, including storage units, bath panels and WC units giving your bathroom a uniform look that is different from the traditional white bathroom suite we have become accustomed to. Of course, one of the most impactful additions to your bathroom would be the inclusion of a freestanding bath. Elegant and available in a range of styles, this style of bath can be made to act as a real centrepiece of your bathroom and can be positioned almost anywhere which gives you more scope to play with your bathroom layout.

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“This kind of design isn’t just about giving yourself a better quality of life, a beautiful designer bathroom has been shown to add as much as 10% to the value of your home – in addition to making it easier to sell,” concludes Reed. For more design inspiration and to see the new products in person visit one of your local Easy Bathrooms showrooms or order online at www.easybathrooms.com.

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Soak up the benefits of HYDROTHERAPY hydrotherapy Water is a fundamental element of wellbeing and has been used for centuries to remedy a wide variety of conditions and improve health. Hydrotherapy in particular is an age-old method that is popular today to effectively soothe the body and mind. Hydrotherapy can assist in the treatment of many ailments. From physiological conditions linked to problems with blood circulation, muscle or skeletal pain and outcomes of trauma or surgery to improving wellbeing

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and managing stress, hydrotherapy can help to benefit everybody. Your local Jacuzzi® Hot Tub Centre, based at Webbs Garden Centre in Wychbold is open seven days a week and staff are on hand to help you find the perfect Jacuzzi®hot tub for your needs. Come down and visit the store today and see the wide range of Jacuzzi® hot tubs on display.

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Home & Garden

the Plant of Month

Coneflower The coneflower is part of the Daisy Family. Their flower, plant and roots are used in herbal remedies, making it widely known for being a medicinal plant. This sweet flower is relatively low maintenance and tolerates dry soil and blooms between midsummer to autumn and, depending on the variety, they can grow between 2-4 feet high.

Coming in various colours including pink, purple, white and even orange, the coneflower is known for attracting butterflies and their dried flower heads attract song birds.

Househ old Tips

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August / September

Longer Lasting Flowers

Button Earring Holders

A quick idea to help your lovely fresh cut flowers to last longer, is to pop a copper penny into the vase of water along with a cube of sugar. The idea if that the copper from the penny acts like a acidifier so it prevents bacteria growth so your flowers last longer!

There is nothing more annoying than misplacing the front or back of an earring. An easy idea to stop this from happening is pairing your earrings up and popping them into the holes of old buttons. Not only does it look sweet it’s also a huge time saver in the long run.

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more out of your marketing with

Call Marie on 01902 906020 or email marie@localzest.co.uk

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VISIT OUR IMPRESSIVE KIDDERMINSTER CARPET SHOWROOM AND KARNDEAN STUDIO AND VIEW OUR EXTENSIVE SELECTION OF CARPETS AND HARDFLOORING. As always we continue to provide the best prices on top quality carpets plus a huge amount of clearance stock.

Top quality carpets from premium manufacturers. Carpet Factory Outlets offer you the instore and online opportunity to purchase carpets from the following, world renowned, Kidderminster manufacturers: Brintons, Brockway, Victoria, Woodward Grosvenor and Adam. • Full fitting service available. Unit 7 & 8, Easter Park, Worcester Road, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, DY11 7AR, United Kingdom Tel: 01562 743354 Email: Sales@cfokidderminster.com

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www.carpetfactoryoutletskidderminster.com www.localzest.co.uk

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Leisure & Lifestyle

New Leisure Centre Opening Wyre Forest Leisure Centre officially opened its doors to the public for the first time on the 6th July 2016. The £11.9 million project was completed on time and to budget.

Construction of the centre on Silverwoods Way in Kidderminster started just over a year ago, and now the modern, energy efficient centre is fully open.

The project won early support from Sport England. It awarded the Council £2 million in lottery funds towards the centre.

The new leisure centre includes a 6 court sports hall, six lane 25m swimming pool, learner pool with moveable floor, 100 station fitness suite, dance studios, climbing wall and small-sided outdoor pitches. It will also have a cafe with viewing areas, a double height children’s adventure play area, a health suite with sauna and steam room and free parking.

The centre is open 6.30pm-10pm Monday – Friday, 8am-8pm Saturdays and 8am-9pm on Sundays.

Peter Kirkham from Places for People Leisure, who won the contract to design, build, operate and manage the centre said: “Places for People is delighted that Wyre Forest Leisure Centre has opened as planned. The project has been the result of a great team effort led by Wyre Forest District Council, with our construction partners Pellikaan Construction and architects Roberts Limbrick. We are confident that the new state of the art facilities will be well received by the local community, encouraging more people to participate in a lifelong enjoyment of physical activity.”

Details about membership at the new leisure centre along with class timetables, climbing wall bookings and sports pitches and courts bookings is available on the Places for People Leisure website at http://www.placesforpeopleleisure.org/centres/ wyre-forest-leisure-centre.

“We were impressed with the project from the outset. There is a first rate strategy for leisure provision in the area. The teams from the different partners have worked exceptionally well together and as a result, the district has a fantastic leisure centre for all the district to enjoy. ” Property Director, Charles Johnston Sport England

“We are absolutely thrilled with the new leisure centre. It is just what the district needs. We set out to offer fantastic sporting and leisure opportunities for all residents and that’s what we’ve achieved. It is a wonderful asset to the district.” Councillor Marcus Hart, Leader of Wyre Forest District Council

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Leisure & Lifestyle

Entries must reach us by the 1st September 2016

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Out & About

Bewdley Museum

Kinver Country Fayre

Until 2nd September

4 September

Until 2nd September, Bewdley Museum are holding creative craft activities for children. All activities run 11am-3pm and usually last for one hour and are £4 per session. Create and

After unprecedented floods this normally June event had to be rescheduled. What better way to wrap up the school holidays with a family day out at Kinver Country Fayre. Motorcycle display team,

decorate bug houses, sun catchers, mosaic tiling and painting wooden and ceramic items.

The White Helmets, live music throughout the day, dog shows, craft demonstrations, pony rides and vintage vehicles, there really is something for everyone.

Seussical The Musical 23rd-27 August Seussical is fun for the whole family, a fantastical, magical, musical extravaganzaat Malvern Theatre between 23rd and 27th August. Fore more information visit www.malvern-theatres.co.uk.

For more information visit www. kinvercountryfayre.com

Saturday 27th August 10am-1pm £5

Summer Skool – Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday throughout the rest of August between 10.30am-4pm. Learn how to be a King, Queen or Pirate. Each day will include a themed trail, craft activities and interactive fun. A charge of £2 per child applies.

Knights & Princesses Bank Holiday Monday 29th August from 11am – 4pm Visit Hartlebury Castle and learn how to be a Knight or a Princess. Make a sword, design a crown, learn to duel and meet historic characters around the Castle.

Can you survive a night under the stars? Learn wilderness skills including shelter making and fire starting techniques. Take part in our fun survival competitions before trying out Backwoods style cooking on an open fire.

For more information visit www. museum@worcestershire.gov.uk or call 01299 250416.

Kidderminster Town Hall Joseph & the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat – Thursday 25th August An Evening with the Dreamers – Saturday 17th September – 24 August / September

Wear clothes that you do not mind getting wet or dirty and sensible footwear. Please bring drinks and snacks with you in a bag that csn be easily carried. For more information visit www.facebook.com/Summer/ Activities.WFDC. Wyre Forest District Council reserve the right to cancel any event. Refunds may be issued at the organisations discretion. If your child has special needs and requires further assistance, please contact the booking line to discuss your requirements. For a full copy of the terms and conditions visit www.wyreforestdc. gov.uk/summer .

The Playteam Survive - Aged 12-15

Hartlebury Museum and Castle

For even more events and to book visit www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/ summer or call 01562 732984 open Monday-Friday 9am-12pm.

The greatest 60’s night ever featuring all the hits, “I’m telling you now”, “You were made for me” and “Cathy’s Clown” For more information and to get your tickets visit www.kidderminstertownhall.org.uk

The Palace Theatre, Redditch STARMAN – DAVID BOWIE A MUSICAL CELEBRATION – 16th September at 7.30pm Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, Thin White Duke, Major Tom and more. The many personas of David Bowie with one thing in common….. all delivered many of the most memorable, inspiring and lasting songs of a generation. From Rebel Rebel to China Girl, Let’s Dance to Young Americans. Ashes to Ashes, Life On Mars, Changes, Heroes, Sound And Vision, Golden Years, Absolute Beginners, the list goes on and on.

Wednesday – Springfield Park, Kidderminster (excluding 3rd August)

Songs from all eras of David Bowie’s celebrated career are performed to perfection in this highly charged show. The finest musicians and singers combined with an amazing performance from theatre stage star Michael King. Include big screen audio visual footage plus various costume changes and you have an awesome show taking the audience on a ‘Fantastic Voyage’ of Bowie hits. ‘STARMAN’ is not only the ultimate tribute to a legend, but also a highly entertaining, emotional and thought provoking musical celebration that you will want to see again and again.

Thursday – Northwood Lane Park, Bewdley

Doreens Grand Night Out – 22nd September at 7.30pm

Friday – Wolverley Memorial Park, Wolverley

Doreen returns to the stage with a brand new live show at the poshest venue she’s ever seen in her life. In her various official roles as Queen of the Black Country, The First Lady of the State, movie star and cultural phenomenon, Doreen is determined to have a grand

Up until Friday 2nd September 10am-12.30pm Join the play team who will be organising games and activities all designed to ensure the whole family has a great time. Monday – Lickhill Memorial Park, Stourport on Severn Tuesday – Cookley Playing Fields, Cookley

*parental supervision required at all times.

night out, and it’s such an important occasion that she’s promised to try and stay awake for the whole evening. With a unique mixture of satirical stand-up (and sit down), music and video surprises, regional treasure Doreen assesses the state of the nation as only she can. And no doubt charabancs of Black Country folk will assemble to hear her words of wisdom. It will be a very special night. In fact, it will be Grand. *Minimum age 16 OH WHAT A NIGHT ! THE NEW JERSEY BOYS If you are a fan of The West End Show the Jersey Boys, then don’t miss the chance to see where it all began with “The New Jersey Boys” show. The New Jersey Boys takes you back to this magical time in music history when four boys from New Jersey in the USA and from the wrong side of the tracks invented their own unique sound. With all the favourites hits including: Oh What A Night, Walk Like a Man, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Sherry and many more… TONY CHRISTIE – GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY TOUR – 24th September at 7.30pm Not only will Tony be appearing with his fabulous band treating audiences to his greatest hits he will also join special guests Ranagri to perform songs from his recent hit album ‘The Great Irish Songbook’. Truly a wonderful night of music and song by one of the legendary voices and performers of our time! For ticket prices and full details visit www.redditchpalacetheatre.co.uk

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SWAN CENTRE Cheap all day parking • Largest Car Park in Kidderminster • Cheap Day Parking • Season Tickets available Open 7am-6pm British Parking Association Safe Parking Scheme. Cheap all day parking 30 minutes.....50p 1 hour .........£1 2 hours ......£1.20 3 hours £1.50 All day ....£3

Hand Car Wash available

The Swan Shopping Centre Kidderminster Worcestershire DY10 2BA Tel: 01562 753210 www.swancentre.com 26

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Leisure & Lifestyle

Louise Foyster’s Quirky Creations are unusual, colourful, and made to make you smile.

S

he crafts from bed in the heart of the English countryside, powered by Netflix, Audible, and strong black

is not what I expected; who would have thought that so many grown-ups dream of

coffee. A gobby feminist, she is the quickest crocheter in the county (erm, probably!) and is owned by a dog and a cat.

being a mermaid?! More and more of my mermaid tails are managing to swim to new owners overseas as my international sales increase; this year alone I have sold to Italy, Germany, the USA and Australia!

In a nutshell – what do you do? I do things with strings! (Well, to be more specific: yarn, wool, crochet cotton and embroidery thread. But ‘strings’ rhymes better.) I currently sell crocheted items, mainly blankets, scarves and breastfeeding hats; string art – I create animals and words made out of wood, pins and coloured cotton; and I am planning to launch a range of embroidered quotes and birds soon. I would describe my style as quirky and colourful, and I like to think that my creations are pretty original, and I pride myself on offering a huge variety of colour and style options. I am most well-known for my crocheted mermaid tail blankets, which are my biggest seller by a million miles. Surprisingly, 80% of my orders for these have been for adults rather than for children, which

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What motivated/prompted you to start your business, and how did you begin? I have always been creative, but until a few years ago that only really impetus and confidence to begin selling manifested itself in written creativity and online and experimenting with other in my job as an English teacher. Then crafts and techniques. one night a friend said she was going to learn to crochet, and asked whether I also suffer from chronic joint pain I would be interested in learning too. I (mainly in my back and neck) due to was so clueless Hypermobility that I turned up Syndrome. I was “80% of my orders for these with a knitting struggling to have been for adults rather loop rather combine full-time than for children, which is than a crochet teaching with my not what I expected; who hook, thanks health issues, so I would have thought that so to a spectacumade the decision many grown-ups dream of larly unhelpful to focus on growbeing a mermaid?!” shop assistant ing my business who clearly instead, suppledidn’t have a mented by supply clue either. Fortunately, someone took teaching (which is much easier to pity and lent me a hook, and I haven’t manage health-wise!) I think that one of looked back since! I continued to teach the reasons I became so obsessed with myself from books and youtube, and crafting is that it gives me something I also spent every Saturday for a year productive to do during the several teaching crochet in a gorgeous craft, hours a day I have to spend ‘resting’ gift and haberdashery shop in a village by taking the weight off of my neck and near me. It was this that gave me the back. There have been some crafts I’ve

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Get to Know Louise Foyster

tried and failed at (I was becoming quite good at papercutting, but I can’t do it while sitting comfortably so it fell by the wayside) so I am now focussing my etsy business on crochet, string art and embroidery. What/Who is your inspiration? Growing up, my beloved nana (my dad’s mum) was always tinkering with different projects: restoring and selling jewellery; knitting; and selling items on a market stall. Although she taught me to knit when I was about 8, I never really took to it fully. Sadly, she died when I was 13. When I was younger, I don’t think I fully appreciated how similar we were or how much she could have taught me. I like to think that she would be proud that I am now embracing my creative side and building a business doing what I love. I’m also a bit obsessed with Cath who runs a blog, facebook page and website called Kraken Kreations. She is an ex-journalist and fellow feminist who now crafts awesome sewn creations from her sewing shed in the Welsh countryside. She made me a great cash apron to use at my first craft fair (which went disastrously, but that’s another story…!) and her anatomical embroidery based on images from the Grey’s Anatomy textbook gave me the inspiration to try my hand at detailed, realistic bird embroidery. Her hilarious blog posts are always worth a read, and, like me, she is determined to put a modern twist on traditional crafts. Whatever you do, don’t ask her to cross-stitch kittens or to work with hideous florals! Do you have a favourite piece or pieces you’re most proud of? I am really proud of Percy Peacock, a beautiful bird I created out of string, pins

and wood! He was only the third string art piece I created (the first had been relatively simple letters and a rainbow shape) and at first I was worried that I was attempting something far too complex far too soon. But I absolutely love how he turned out! My neighbours do now think I’m a tad crazy, though, after they saw me carrying him around the neighbourhood to get some pictures out in nature!

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Fancy treating yourself to one of Louise’s Quirky Creations? Enjoy 15% off with the code

ZEST15

Etsy Shop foyquirkycreations.etsy.com Facebook facebook.com/foysterquirkycreations Twitter @quirkycreati0ns Instagram Instagramfoyquirkycreations Pinterest @quirkycreati0ns

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Leisure & Lifestyle

Local treasures Palace Theatre

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he Palace is a treasured Edwardian styled theatre situated in Redditch town centre which celebrated its centenary in 2013. Redditch’s popular Grade II listed theatre was designed by legendary theatre designer Wiliam Robert ‘Bertie’ Crewe and during a chequered history has been converted into a roller disco in the 1950s and, later, even a bingo hall.

ment Corporation bought and retained the then run-down Palace Theatre. After a few more changes of ownership and use, the theatre was handed over to the Redditch Urban District Council in 1985 and is currently owned and operated by Redditch Borough Council.

Many features including the windows, lights and decorations were returned to their 1913 design with advice from historical theatre consultant David Wilmore who researched original styles, features and materials used by Bertie Crewe. Additional modern facilities were built and connected to all three levels of the now restored theatre, including a multipurpose rehearsal and meeting room, foyer, bar, lounge and lift for accessibility.

Experts agree that the Palace is of national importance. It is a rare example of Edwardian theatre architecture and is one of only six working examples remaining which can be wholly attributed to its famous designer, Bertie Crewe.

It survived the fate of thousands of theatres nationwide, lost for eternity as people sought out the new phenomenon of cinema and then other forms of entertainment. By 1982, 85 per cent of the 12,000 working theatres in the UK in 1914 had been demolished or made unrecognisable.

Others being the flamboyant 1911 Shaftesbury Theatre and the 1904 rebuild of the Lyceum. It is a significant historic building, surviving an architectural crossroad when theatres were declining in favour of cinema construction.

Fortunately, as Redditch began to be developed into a new town in the late 1960s, the Redditch Develop-

A £4m renovation in 2005 – the theatre’s fourth – restored the 425-seat venue to its original glory and added

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vastly improved facilities. Redditch Borough Council invested £3.1 million in the upgrade and the Heritage Lottery Fund awarded the scheme £920,500.

August / September

The Palace Theatre is in Alcester Street, Redditch. Call 01527 65203 or visit www.redditchpalacetheatre.co.uk for more information.

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Camper Conversion All the conversions listed below are named after some of the stunning places from around where these camper-vans are being born. Which one will you choose....

Turn your Dreams into a Reality with CC Campers. So Much Freedom.

The Wyre Conversion

The Clee Conversion

The Mamble Conversion

We offer this next level conversion

We offer this small and lively go any-

We offer this next level conversion

that just takes every day life in its stride and says "Come on lets shove everyone in and get away from the same old same old from round here shall we?".

where NV200 that begs you just for a little drive about everytime you see it. But then having the conversion inside just shouts “Don’t stop lets go on an adventure now”. but what would you expect from the baby of our range.

to the more lounge about attitude to camping. You would feel like you have entered into the VIP world of camping but with the comforts of home. This calmly suggests "It's a great day just to watch the world go by!".

The UK's leading professional camper van converter

The Witley Conversion

The team at CCCAMPERS strive to give you the best introduction to the world of 'campervanning'. Over the years we have developed a winning range of camper interiors. They are named after some of the stunning places from around where these camper-vans are being born.

We offer this next level conversion to the more refined world of 'Campervanning with a Motorhome comfort' that make's you feel like never going home.

The UK’s Leading Professional Camper Converter www.cccampers.co.uk 0333 456 3345

The Shelsley Conversion We offer this next level conversion that just shouts "We can go anywhere, do anything, be wild in the countryside but we must arrive in style!".

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Leisure & Lifestyle

Travel Must Haves W

hether holidaying abroad or in the UK this year, there are always those holiday must haves that we all need. With the end peak holiday season just around the corner, whether

Speaker – If you are anything like us, music is an absolute necessity. Get your hands on a Bluetooth speaker, connect to your smart phone and away you go. Reminisce with your favourite

Get snapping – whatever you do, wherever you go and whoever you are with, make sure your camera is fully charged and has plenty of space for snapping those photo opportunities. Capture

you ending the school holidays with

school disco tunes, keep the kids

your memories and create a scrapbook

a family holiday or you are sneaking a cheeky September break once all the little ones are back to school make sure you start planning by...

happy with the latest, most up to date chart music or stream your favourite radio station wherever you are.

on your return. In the digital age we are now living in, it is so easy to take a million photographs that actually never get printed or get left on the device they were taken on! Take time to re live all the excitement with your family and friends and we’d love to share them too... so if you have caught something special, amusing or bizarre on camera this Summer, get in touch with us here at Local Zest!we’d love to share them too... so if you have caught something special, amusing or bizarre on camera this Summer, get in touch with us here at Local Zest!

Making a list - Sounds simple enough right? Yet, many of us still don’t and rely on our memory to get the job done! With the best will in the world, our busy lives sometimes mean even the most organised of us can slip up. Keep your essentials list separate with your desirables, making sure that the essentials take priority... tickets, money, travel arrangements etc. Safety First! – Remember to pack a basic first aid and medicinal kit to include Insect repellent, anti histamine tablets indigestion remedies paracetamol and rehydration salts as well as antiseptic treatments and plasters. Taking care of all the little mishaps and ailments. Baby Wipes – An absolute necessity whether you are travelling with babies and children or not. Baby wipes really are a jack of all trades serving as a way to clear up minor spillages, get rid of sticky fingers, cleaning shoes, removing make up.... the list is endless!

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July / August

Moisturiser – Whether it’s hot or cold, you’re male or female, young or old. Moisturiser is an absolute must to protect your skin against the elements, whether that’s chapped skin from the cold or sore from a touch too much vitamin D. Don’t predict the weather check it Although checking isn’t always fool proof especially in the UK you can at least prepare yourself for every eventuality. Make sure the waterproofs and wellies are purchased and packed if required and the sunscreen and hats are at the ready. Don’t spoil your day by being unprepared, you want to be able to make the most of the day whatever the weather. Holiday Insurance – One of the formalities that can get left to the last minute but is essential to safeguarding you and your family in the event of something going wrong. It takes just a few minutes and you can go away safe in the knowledge that if anything did happen, you were covered


Leisure & Lifestyle

As easy as ABC, 123 Are your pupils or teachers top of the class? Be the little stars of Local Zest in an upcoming edition and get your school the recognition it deserves! Complete steps 1,2 and 3 below and sit tight... someone will be in touch soon!

Uniform Checklist (including PE Kit)

S

o the big Summer holidays are well truly underway and we’ve all been there.... “this year it’s going to be different, I will not leave it until the last minute” and then you’re running around the shops desperately trying to grab the must have stationery or lunchbox the weekend before they are back to school! Well, I’m with you! I always have the very best intentions which never come to fruition when it comes to the dreaded “Back to School” shop. Shopping with little people is particularly undesirable at the best of times, but getting them to cooperate after trying on the millionth pair of shoes or when they realise that the must have latest stationery is sold out can be tasking to say the least. So with a few weeks to spare we have put together a fully loaded checklist that leaves nothing to chance and may even prove helpful to the most organised of parents... yes there are some of you out there and sadly I am not one of them. I genuinely applaud you! So whether you're packing your child off to school for the first time or have been through the beginning of term many times before, we hope these top tips will remove some of the back-to-school stress!

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Shirts/Polo shirts Boys - two pairs of trousers, one pair of shorts Belt if needed Girls - two pinafores / skirts / trousers (depending on their pref erence) Jumpers/Cardigans Shoes Socks/Tights Lightweight waterproof coat (foldable) Coat Summer hat Woolly hat and gloves Gym bag Plimsolls Shorts

Swimming kit or other sports kit (in some schools)

1. Tell us here at Local Zest why

2. Send your story, name and con-

3. Wait to hear from us and your

your school, pupils and teachers should be featured in the magazine... have you won something, achieved something, recently undergone big changes? Whatever it is, let us know!

tact details to sam@localzest.co.uk and include supporting images too!

school could be the star of 10,000 copies of Local Zest Magazine!

You may also need: Tie Blazer

Other useful extras Name labels Book bag (usually sold by the

school)

Lunch box or bag Small water bottle for lunch Wat er bottle for daytime (schools may provide this and some migh t not use them yet) Pencil case with pencil, pen (school might specify the type), colou red crayons, ruler, pencil sharpener, rubb er Rucksack to carry it all in!

T-shirt Pair of socks (especially for girls who might be wearing tights that day)

Helpful Hints Easy-iron trousers and shirt s are a good choice to save on the weekends ironing! Many schools allow children to wear polo shirts which are far simpler for children to deal with. If your child does need to wear a proper shirt, the shor t-sle eved ones seem to be more manageable. On winter days send your little girls in trousers when they have PE, giving them trousers to wear avoid s the problem of them trying to put their tights on without assistance! I can speak with experience on this one, I’ve had all sorts of variations come home, I really have!

Clothes labels If you want to use proper nam e labels, its best to order early but if you can’t be bothered with sewing and ironing just use a marker pen on the inside of the clothing. Biro will work for a while but will also wash out; Sharpies are your best bet!

August / September

Call Sam on 01902 906020 or email Sam@localzest.co.uk www.localzest.co.uk

37


Business & Finance Wallet Workout

By Martin Lewis @moneysavingexpert edited by Sam Richards

Go grab your purse or wallet. You need it next to you during the five minutes it’ll take you to read this. However, it should be lucrative. Our wallets are a treasure trove of financial information. One of my party tricks is to take a look at someone’s and save them £100s in minutes – and now I want to do it for you. This is my wallet workout, a self-inspection of contents to save you cash.

1. Pull out your debit card – do you have a winner? A debit card reveals where you bank; and mistakes there are a plenty. Do you pay a monthly fee? If so, work out its annual cost (£15/month = £180) and then ask yourself if the ‘extras’ the bank gives are worth this. If not, cancel it. Plus, if you were flogged it or told you had to have it, you may be able to reclaim all packaged bank account fees (see www.mse.me/reclaimpackagefees).

For larger amounts, you can use special 0% credit cards to clear it - see www. mse.me/moneytransfers. Do you have savings? If so, use your bank account to max the interest, as some now pay by far the highest interest on savings. The top picks are www.Santander. co.uk’s 123, which pays 3% on up to £20,000 and www.LloydsBank. com’s ClubLloyds, which pays 4% on £4,000-£5,000. There’s also the www. Tsb.co.uk Classic Plus, which pays 5% on up to £2,000, plus up to £5-a-month cashback on contactless purchases.

There’s up to 40 months 0% available with a fee, or 24 months 0% fee-free. My full best balance transfers guide at www.moneysavingexpert.com/bts includes a free eligibility calculator which gives card-by-card odds of which you’re most likely to get – so you can home in on your winner. Savings can be huge, as Victoria tweeted me: “I got my fiancé to transfer his credit card balances to a 0%, saved £1,500 interest.” 4. Do you have a donor card?

Does your bank make you happy? If not, then www.FirstDirect.com is worth considering switching to. It’s a fee-free account (as long as you pay in £1,000 a month), pays switchers £100 and has a linked 6% savings account. It’s won every service poll I’ve ever done, with 92% of its customers rating it ‘great’. Or www.Co-operativeBank.co.uk is giving £150, plus up to £5.50 if you qualify for its Everyday Rewards scheme, and 70% of its customers rate it ‘great’. Are you overdrawn? Debit cards can be debt cards too, and sometimes costlier than credit. For small overdrafts, you can switch again to www.FirstDirect.com which gives a £250 0% overdraft, and the £100 switch bonus will help clear some of it. Or the www.Nationwide. co.uk FlexDirect gives a 0% overdraft for the first 12 months.

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2. Pull out your photo driving licence – is it valid? A whopping 2.2 million licences have a picture that’s out of date. To check yours, look at section 4b on your photocard licence, it’ll show the expiry date. If you don’t and it’s expired, you risk a fine of up to £1,000. You can renew it online at www.gov.uk/renew-driving-licence or at the post office. 3. Got a credit card(s) that you pay interest on? STOP It’s possible to save £100s or even £1,000s a year by getting a 0% balance transfer credit card – that’s where the new card pays off debt on old cards for you, so you owe it instead, but at 0%. This means more of your repayments clear the actual debt rather than just paying the interest, making you debtfree quicker.

August / September

It’s a big decision, but joining the Organ Donor Register could mean you save or improve up to nine lives. If it’s for you, sign up at www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300 123 23 23. 5. Sign up for a myWaitrose card for FREE daily tea and coffee Get the www.waitrose.com loyalty card – then in most stores you can get a totally free takeaway hot drink, every day from the self-service machine without buying anything. Martin Lewis is the Founder & Editor in Chief of Money Saving Expert. To join the 10 million people who get his Martin’s Money Tips weekly email, go to www.moneysavingexpert.com/ latesttip

L SPECIA E BUNDL S OFFER

Looking for a ... Serviced Office Provider Meeting Room Hire Virtual Office & PA

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ere at Office 28 we have 32 serviced offices suitable for businesses of varying sizes from 1 person, up to 20 people with several suites interlinked.

Virtual Office - Registered Address & 2 Hours Meeting Room Hire only £40.00 plus vat pm

here, can be that extra support to keep a business going.

The atmosphere is truly unique here at Office 28 and wrapping up each week at the end of the day with Wine Friday “One client has moved through 5 has been a perfect different offices as their business way for the businesses needs evolved” based here to network and share their successes and challenges The simple inclusive price is enabling amongst like minded professional businesses to be nurtured and grow people. It’s a small gesture but whilst on a budget but giving their then this just one of the small ways clients a professional and quality Office 28 helps create a professionimpression. Our city centre location al, friendly and successful business means we are easy accessible by environment. public transport and have the convenience of local amenities. Many new companies can struggle and fail, because going it alone can make it easier to give up. However, the environment of Office 28 and the like minded business people based

“Two clients have already said the support from Office 28 was the difference in keeping them going.”

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Virtual Office Here at Office 28 we offer MAIL SERVICES City centre address for your company Mail collection or forwarding TELEPHONE Local number personalised Professionally answered calls Call forwarding MEETING ROOM HIRE Selection of meeting rooms Catering & hospitality services

www.localzest.co.uk

39


Food & Drink

Win a Carvery for up to Four people T

Competition Time!

he Island Pool is a classic country pub serving not only a high standard of food but great traditional ales.

We have to offer, a carvery with a choice freshly roasted meats accompanied by a wide variety of fresh locally sourced vegetables. Alongside our carvery we have an extensive menu with a range of foods to suit any and every palate. We are proud to offer exquisite beef steaks, also sourced locally, and are all cooked to perfection. For Bookings or any more information, call 01562 850311 or visit our brand new website www.theislandpool.net. We look forward to welcoming you soon to The Island Pool, Wolverhampton Road, Kidderminster, DY10 3RX.

40

August / September

Which Greek island was the 2008 hit film Mamma Mia filmed on? a) Kos b) Skiathos c) Rhodes All competition entries for the August/ September edition need to be received by 1st October 2016 and sent to sam@localzest.co.uk or posted to Office 28 – Suite 2, 28 Cleveland Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 3HT. One winner will be chosen at random from all the correct entries. Winners will be notified by email/telephone and listed in the September/October edition of Local Zest. No cash alternative to the prize. The competitions are free to enter but in doing so you agree to the terms and conditions as detailed above.

Find us on Facebook The Island Pool

www.localzest.co.uk

41


Food & Drink

42

August / September

www.localzest.co.uk

43


Property

MOLE END COTTAGE, CHARLTON, HARTLEBURY £545,000

WOODBINE COTTAGE, CROSSWAY GREEN, STOURPORT-ON-SEVERN £850,000

A charming and most attractive country cottage in idyllic location at the end of a private track with gardens of just over half an acre. Five Bedrooms, Two Bathrooms, 24ft Open Plan Living/Dining Room, Plentiful Exposed Timbers, Separate Snug and

Exceptionally spacious lifestyle property in around 10 acres, presented to a high standard and ideal for multi-generational family living and equestrian use. Eight Bedrooms, Four Bathrooms, Superb 26ft Dining Kitchen, Four Living Rooms, 20ft Laundry/Utili-

Study, Re-fitted Breakfast Kitchen, Detached Double Garage and Carport, Character, Privacy & Seclusion. EPC F

ty Room, Three Large Barns (Registered Small Holding) Ideal Equestrian Property, Rural Views All Around. EPC C.

Kidderminster 01562 747755

Bewdley 01299 400555

Stourport 01299 825522

www.allan-morris.co.uk 44

August / September

Kidderminster 01562 747755

Bewdley 01299 400555

Stourport 01299 825522

www.allan-morris.co.uk www.localzest.co.uk

45


Property

CHURCH COTTAGE, HARTLEBURY £385,000

WOODLAND VIEW, HABBERLEY ROAD, BEWDLEY £329,950

A pretty black and white detached cottage with separate two storey annexe (formerly double garage), dating from Circa 1600

Stunning property absolutely must be seen. A particularly spacious double fronted end terrace Victorian house offering beautifully presented accommodation in keeping with the period. Three Double Bedrooms and Excellent Converted Basement Bedroom, Large Re-Fitted Bathroom, Fabulous High Ceilings, Delightful 24ft Kitchen/Breakfast Room, Full Range of Integrated Appliances, 30ft Through Lounge/Dining Room, Hall with Guest Cloakroom, Private Gardens and Parking Space. EPC D.

and set in the heart of this sought after village. Splendid 18ft x 16ft Lounge with Inglenook Fireplace, Re-fitted Kitchen with Range of Appliances, Open Plan Dining Room, Three Bedrooms with Fitted Furniture, Re-Fitted Bathroom, Splendid Exposed Cruck Frame Timbers, Delightfully Private Rear Gardens, EPC D.

Kidderminster 01562 747755

Bewdley 01299 400555

Stourport 01299 825522

www.allan-morris.co.uk 46

August / September

Kidderminster 01562 747755

Bewdley 01299 400555

Stourport 01299 825522

www.allan-morris.co.uk www.localzest.co.uk

47


Fashion & Beauty To go alongside that beautiful bronzed glow I like to go minimal with most of my makeup but off-set the golden tones with a bright lip. Something that’s easy to maintain throughout the day but still gives a cute pop of colour? I’d recommend something like the YSL Juicy Shaker in Wonder Melon. Give them a good shake and this tinted oil-like balm glides on the lips, gives a hint of colour and ohh

“I like to keep my skin extra hydrated during the warmer months but also to help keep that fake tan going for as long as possible and make sure it fades nicely.”

easier to remove. It’s a great little brush that bends so you can really get into the root of the lashes to build up dark fluttery peepers. Then pull out your favourite natural blush, a touch of highlighter and you’re ready to go! Perfect for the nightclub or the beach club.

baby – they smell yummy! It just looks great and is effortlessly chic. Plus, the packaging is super cute! Finally, to finish off the whole look – lashings and lashings of mascara. Now, I like to go for waterproof to keep a nice curl and ensure there’s no smudging and have been really enjoying the Maybelline Miss Manga mascara. It comes in non-waterproof as well for those who like something

O

oh blink and you’ll miss it! Summer keeps rearing its beautiful head and then passing us by before we even know what to do! So I think we’re going to have to second guess that bad boy and make sure we’re fully prepared for any warm weather that comes along – stay one step ahead, I say! The talk of favourite summer products is always a popular topic but for me it changes every single season depending on my current style or what new products have come out. The biggest one for me though... fake tan. Now, I think it’s safe to say we all feel better with a bit of a glow don’t we? Myself, I don’t tan in the sun. At all. I could be in the Caribbean for 3 months and still come home with what my mother would say it “a healthy glow”. So I give up on trying and opt to fake my way to that sunkissed skin. I’ve tried an abundance of high street products as well getting professional spray tans and I think I’ve finally found a true winner. Bondi Sands is an Australian brand that’s recently made its way over here to the UK – it’s sold in Boots, Superdrug and on ASOS online to name a few. There’s a ton of products in the range but my favourite by far is the Liquid Gold Self Tanning Dry Oil. It goes on seamlessly (with a mitt!), doesn’t streak, smells like coconut and has never

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August / September

developed into that nasty biscuit smell I dread! Theres’ no need to wash it off, just let it dry before popping your clothes on and off you go! It fades really well too so no obvious tell-tale signs. Winner! I like to keep my skin extra hydrated during the warmer months but also to help keep that fake tan going for as long as possible and make sure it fades nicely. A couple of skincare favourites are both from The Body Shop – quite possibly one of the greatest stores for amazing skincare that smells delicious! I completely swear by the Vitamin E Moisture Mask and always have a back up for when I’m running low. Leave it for 10 minutes or even overnight and your skin will truly glow like nothing else when you take it off. It’s super cooling on the skin and just makes everything brighter whilst feeling super nourished and hydrated. It’s like a tall glass of water for the skin! For the rest of the body, I demand every one of you go to your nearest store and get a whiff of the limited edition Piñita Colada range – a piña colada cocktail in skincare form and I cannot get enough! It smells insanely good!! Plus, the body butter is crazy hydrating and you get to smell like a holiday for the whole day- perfect.

“The talk of favourite summer products is always a popular topic but for me it changes every single season depending on my current style or what new products have come out.”

www.localzest.co.uk

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Horoscopes

50

August / September

www.localzest.co.uk

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Motoring

52

August / September

www.localzest.co.uk

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Got some Juicy News? Tell us

Call Sam on 01902 906020 or email sam@localzest.co.uk Get Involved - We want local residents and businesses to get involved and help shape future editions of Local Zest Limited. Tell us your good news, exciting news and send us the pics to go with it. If you are organising a local event or something big is happening in the area, we want to know about it! Keep us in the know by emailing sam@localzest.co.uk


Motoring

Stay Safe on the road this Summer

W

e rely heavily on our cars for everyday use, getting us from A to B but we pay limited attention to them... until they go wrong that is. We can’t ever guarantee what’s around the corner but we can, and should be taking precautions where our family’s safety is involved. With the summer holidays upon us, days out, UK holidays and trips to visit relatives will be on the cards, avoid delays and disappointment and ensure simple but essential tyre safety checks are made. Tablets charged, check. Snacks purchased, check. Well that’s the kids and teenagers quiet for now but what about the basic vehicle checks before that road trip. In particular, making sure that their tyres have adequate tread depth, ensuring the tyres are properly inflated for the load being carried, not forgetting the spare tyre and making sure that the general condition of the tyres is good.

56

When checking tyre pressures, drivers can alter yours cars performance drashould ensure they are inflated to the matically. In wet conditions, vehicles correct levels for without the corthe load being rect tread depth carried. Did you take substantially realise that Running tyres longer to stop but many vehicles at less than the as well as being require higher recommended extremely danthan normal tyre pressure can reduce gerous it is also pressures when tyre life by up to 65%. illegal to drive carrying extra a vehicle with passengers or unroadworthy heavy items such tyres. If found to as suitcases, bikes or roof boxes? be driving a vehicle with unroadworthy As well as the reducing the chances tyres, you run the risk of a hefty fine of being involved in an accident, corof £2,500 and three penalty points on rect tyre care can mean reduced fuel your license... that’s per tyre! consumption and a longer tyre life. Stay safe this Summer and ensure Another consideration before you hit your vehicle is ready for the road at Mr the road is the tread depth on your Tyre, 100 Comberton Hill Kiddermintyres. The British weather is renowned ster. Visit mrtyre.com today to book for being unpredictable, none more your essential vehicle check to keep so, than recent weeks. We have to be you moving this Summer. prepared for every eventuality and a sudden change in weather conditions

August / September


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August / September

www.localzest.co.uk

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Health & Fitness

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August / September


Health & Fitness

Get Beach Body Ready this Summer Our Hypoxi Journey

W

ith holiday season just around the corner, we jumped at the chance when Dianne at Rejuvenate, Kidderminster offered us a 6 week Hypoxi pro-

of the only weight/fat loss treatments we hadn’t tried. We have spent the majority of our lives dieting, following the latest fad for a few days, half hearted attempts

gramme. For those of you that haven’t heard about Hypoxi before now or didn’t know enough to even consider it, our 6 week journey will give you our real life experiences with it and most importantly our results!

at the gym and obsessing about reaching that magical number on the scales. Dianne’s own personal story was inspiration enough to get Marie and me thinking differently about not only weight loss but fat loss, body shape and our daily lifestyle choices too. Week One – Where it all began: Despite being very excited at our new beach body project, both Marie and I were feeling a little apprehensive before our first session as we were not entirely sure what to expect. However, Dianne and Asia were so lovely we felt instantly at ease even during the dreaded “before pic” photo shoot!?

HYPOXI® is a targeted method of body shaping. It was developed at the end of the 90's by Dr. Norbert Egger in Salzburg and is now successfully in use in over 40 countries worldwide. The HYPOXI-Method® has a unique effect on typical female - but also male - problem areas: legs, bums, tums, cellulite and weak connective tissue. The HYPOXI-Method® uses the natural principles of lipid metabolism to systematically reduce undesired fat deposits, an effect that does not usually occur when losing weight using the more traditional methods. So with Marie’s holiday 7 weeks away and mine not far behind, the before and after stories Dianne shared with us was enough motivation to get started straight away. Hypoxi was probably one 62

On our first visit, we each had a full body analysis consultation which confirmed there were good areas and areas that needed improvement. Apparently, I have good ankles, who knew!? A programme was then devised to our own personal requirements to target our individual areas of improvement. The strangest part of the first visit was probably putting on the equipment required to maximise the treatment plan. We giggled a lot at each other in the “wetsuit” (it isn’t really a wetsuit) and the ballerina tutu (it also isn’t really a ballerina tutu). We can absolutely confirm that the equipment is far more sophisticated than we have just described however on first impression we weren’t sure if we were there for a body makeover or being prepared for the next Tim Peake journey

August / September

to the moon! Dianne and Asia talked us through each piece of equipment and how it worked, we felt in very safe hands and completely comfortable. We each had a 20 minute session on the Dermalogy Comfort Couch which is designed to improve skin tone and connective tissue and although the equipment you are required to wear was somewhat surprising, the actual experience on the couch was really quite relaxing. This was then followed by a 30 minute session on the trainer machine which was gentle to moderate cycling in the Hypoxi pod. Dianne’s own personal experience using the Hypoxi treatment for fat loss in 2009 meant she had a complete understanding and empathy for our starting point that day and made us feel so positive and motivated about the next 6 weeks. Hypoxi does still require that you need to adhere to a healthy eating plan as a lifestyle choice but more specifically the food choices on Hypoxi days. Dianne and Asia advised us on all of this providing us with information sheets and food diaries to aid us on our journey. By our second visit the apprehension had subsided and we were looking forward to our next Hypoxi session. Although the full body analysis is not completed again until the end of the program, we were both weighed and thrilled that Marie had lost 1lb and I had lost 3lb. By our third visit we felt right at home, the chilled water was on tap and despite the weekend, Marie had lost another 2lb and I had l another 3lb. Both of us agreed that we had already felt and noticed a difference in our clothes and in the mirror whilst getting dressed!! After a Hypoxi session, it is really important to be as disciplined as possible with food choices, in particular the 8

hours following the treatment as it is still taking effect. This was difficult the first couple of occasions while we adjusted however the secret is definitely planning ahead as there is no restriction in the quantity you can eat, just the types of food you consume within that 8 hour window. One week on and the results are in! Although Hypoxi focuses more on shape and fat loss, it was good to see the numbers on the scales coming down too and needless to say Marie was delighted with her 4lb loss and I came in at just under 7lb, half a stone! We can already feel a difference and can’t wait for the end result. But for now, roll on week two. Both Marie and I continued to lose weight during our second week at a slower rate which is to be expected. Marie lost another 2.5lb and I lost another 2lb but more exciting to us was the measurement results”. We were really looking forward to this as we have both noticed a marked difference particularly around the hip and thigh section which is what this Hypoxi programme is designed to target. So almost half way through

the programme and I am 10lb and a 39.6cm down and Marie 5lb lost and 27.3cm down! We are thrilled with the results so far especially as our main areas of loss were our stomachs and thighs! Result! We are feeling very motivated and looking forward to completing the programme. We will keep you posted on the results! Follow our journey in our next edition of Local Zest and for further details of Hypoxi and how the team could help you on your body image journey visit www.rejuvenateathypoxi.co.uk .


August / September Index of Advertisers August / September Index of Advertisers

Kitchens

Bathrooms

Leisure

Easy Bathrooms

KAW Interior Design

Pg 8-9

Car Services/Repairs Mr Tyre

Pg 19

Pg 32-33

All Electric Clark’s of Kidderminster Hills Ford

Pg 22-23 Pg 20-21 Pg 30-31

Restaurants/Eating Out The Island Pool

Pg 58-59 Pg 55 Pg 53

The Swan Shopping Centre

Pg 44-47

Furniture Pg 12-13

Health & Beauty Rejuvenate

Pg 62-63

Home Improvements/Accessories Tile Choice

Pg 68

Hospital - Private The Nuffield Wolverhampton Hospital Pg 66-67 Hot Tubs Jacuzzi

64

Pg 26-27

Windows, Doors & Conservatories Wombourne Windows

Pg 2

Pg 38

beuie.com Websites

Cousins

Pg 40-42

Website Design

Pg 65

Estate Agents Allan Morris

Pg 61

Shopping Centres/Retail

Office Space Office 28

Dental Care Lion Dental

Boots Opticians Kidderminster

Motor Dealers

Camper Converters CC Campers

Opticians

Pg 56-57

Carpets & Flooring Carpet Factory Outlet

Kidderminster Town Hall Places for People The Palace Theatre

Pg 6-7

Pg 11

August / September

Pg 43


Health & Fitness

66

July / August


68

August / September


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