• KIDDERMINSTER • BEWDLEY • ARLEY • HARTLEBURY • WOVERLEY • STOURBRIDGE • ENVILLE • KINVER • STOURTON • AMBLECOTE • HAGLEY • WOLLASTON • WORDSLEY • ASHWOOD • KINGSWINFORD • WALL HEATH • STOURPORT • BROMSGROVE • DROITWICH • OMBERSLEY • WYCHBOLD
Contents
WHERE TRADITIONAL ELEGANCE MEETS MORDERN TECHNOLOGY Food & Drink
Pages 6 - 10
Home & Garden
Pages 12 - 21
Leisure & Lifestyle
Pages 22 - 33
Business & Finance
Pages 34 - 36
The Summer Holiday Edit
Pages 37 - 50
Motoring
Pages 51 - 54
Fashion & Beauty
Pages 55 - 59
Horoscopes
Pages 58 - 59
Health & Fitness /Puzzle solutions
Pages 60 - 67
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
All competition entries for the July/August edition need to be received by 1st September 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 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. 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 advertisng 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
2
July / August
www.localzest.co.uk
3
Welcome Note from the editors
W
e 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.
Time For SomeZest! Welcome to your Local Zest magazine dedicated to Kidderminster and the surrounding areas.
4
July / August
This very first edition is packed with lots to keep you busy over the next few weeks including our Holiday Edit special, with ways to make the most of the Summer break come rain or shine. Pick up your must have holiday items and reads this Summer and find out how we are getting “beach body ready” this month with Rejuvenate! Check out the ‘Out and About’ guide for things to do during the long haul summer holidays and save the date now for The Swan Shopping Centre Beach Bash in August. Meet our guest writers Amy and Louise featuring the very best Summer beauty buys and craft corner as well as plenty to window shop for inspiration on for improving or selling your home, garden and motoring. Fingers crossed, Summer pays us a real visit
over July and August and you can try out the BBQ lamb recipe on page 8 or for the days Mr sunshine undoubtedly doesn’t put in an appearance, try out the Banoffee Loaf with the little ones. Yum! If you are heading about and out with the family over the Summer, 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.
and get registered now on page 32. We’ll see you there! Plus don’t forget to enter our fantastic competitions to win tickets to see The Sound of Music at the Grand Theatre on page 28 plus your chance to win a meal for 4 at the delicious Frankie & Benny’s on page 6! Last but by no means least, a huge thank you to all the local businesses for their support in this launch edition of Local Zest.
See the latest pictures from We really hope Kidderminster you enjoy the Town Hall’s first edition “This very first edition is huge refurof Local Zest packed with lots to keep bishment, one and don’t you busy over the next of the area’s forget we’d few weeks” most iconic love to hear venues, plus from you, if you take 5, grab have an event a coffee and enjoy this month’s just happening, let us know, send us your for fun puzzles! Keep your health in good news stories and pictures and check with some fantastic offers and you may very well see your face in information from local businesses the next issue! plus read all about Kidderminster’s brand new leisure facility, open to the public now! We are delighted to be working with Kemp Hospice on their first ever Kemp to Compton Walk to help raise much needed funds for this fantastic cause. Many people do not truly understand the extent of care and services provided by a hospice until they have first hand experience either through a friend or relative and just how important every single volunteer and donation is. This year Kemp are celebrating caring for this community for 35 years and they are looking for as many people as possible to get involved this September in the Kemp to Compton Walk. It will be a perfect way to spend a Sunday with family and friends, so dust of those trainers
Sam & Marie xx
www.localzest.co.uk
5
Food & Drink
Win a family feaster for four and four soft drinks or a jug of mocktail T
he story is that in 1924, at the age of 10, Frankie left Sicily with his parents and moved to “Little Italy’ in New York. Within a year of moving, the family had opened a restaurant, everybody helping with the building and the cooking in equal measure. Frankie went to the nearby high school and became lifetime friends with Benny, already a third-generation American. The business was taken over by Frankie and Benny in 1953, and combines popular American food with traditional Italian dishes. Frankie
6
& Benny’s restaurants are themed to reflect the 1950s Italian-American backstory. The entire restaurant is themed around its American Italian background from the numerous artifacts found inside the restaurant including old photos of Italian heritage Americans, publicity shots of musicians and sportsmen to the Italian lessons playing over the speakers in the bathroom. Throughout the visit you will be entertained with classic American 1950s pop music and be looked after by the restaurants attentive staff.
July / August
Competition Time!
What year was Frankie & Benny’s in Kidderminster opened? a) 2001 b) 2002 c) 2003 All competition entries for the July/August edition need to be received by 1st September 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 selected at random from all the correct entries received. 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.
Home & Garden
8
July / August
www.localzest.co.uk
9
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
12
July / August
www.localzest.co.uk
13
14
July / August
Home & Garden
the Plant of Month
Gerberas It’s hard not to be filled with a sense of joy upon seeing a Gerbera. These bright and cheerful flowers come in a variety of vibrant colours: orange, yellow, pink, red and white and it’s no surprise that they are the fifth most cut flower in the world. Gerberas are in the Asteraceae family (also known as the Daisy Family) and are native to Africa, South America and Asia. When displaying Gerberas in your house, keep in mind they turn their heads towards the light so be careful about putting them near bright light. They have very long vase lives so make sure to keep their water topped up so you can see their beautiful colours for longer.
Househ old Tips
16
July / August
Flower Tea Cups
Tricky Thread
Fancy a change from your typical indoor plant pots? Try switching your normal vases and tubs for tea cups and mugs! This quick and easy idea will help add a vintage and quirky look to any home while utilising what you already have around the house.
If you’re having trouble trying to get that pesky end of your sewing thread into the eye of the needle, why not use hairspray? By spraying the end of the thread with just a bit of hairspray it will make it much easier to attach the thread to the needle.
www.localzest.co.uk
17
18
July / August
more out of your marketing with
Call Marie on 01902 906020 or email marie@localzest.co.uk
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 coffee. A gobby feminist, she is the quickest crocheter in the county (erm, probably!) and is owned by a dog and a cat. 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
22
is not what I expected; who would have thought that so many grown-ups dream of 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! 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 with a knitting “80% of my orders for these 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
July / August
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!
SPECIAL OFFER
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
www.localzest.co.uk
23
Leisure & Lifestyle
Newly refurbished throughout Choice of Wedding Ceremony and Reception rooms Fully equipped to deliver the day you both deserve
24
July / August
www.localzest.co.uk
25
MONMORE GREEN STADIUM
A Top
GREAT VALUE
Party Pack Deals
Night Out! Every Thursday & Saturday Evening
3 Course Meal
For non-stop entertainment every Thursday and Saturday evening why not experience the thrills and excitement of Greyhound racing at Monmore Green Stadium.
ENJOY
ACTION PACKED
Its action all the way from the moment the dogs leave the traps right up to the winning line. You can pre-book for a delicious 3-course meal in our viewing Restaurant or enjoy a basket meal with the great value Party Pack deal.
T GREA FUN 26
July / August
PREBOOK
call us on 01902 452648 @monmoredogs www.monmoredogs.co.uk
www.localzest.co.uk
27
Leisure & Lifestyle
*Image includes some of the previous cast.
One of the greatest musicals of all time returns to the stage in a magnificent new
Competition Time!
production to enchant the young and the young at heart. competition’s runner up earlier this year, impressing the nation and chart topper will.i.am with her stunning vocal range.
This wonderfully lavish new staging tells the true story of the world-famous singing family, from their romantic beginnings and search for happiness, to their thrilling escape to freedom at the start of WWll. Coronation Street's Andrew Lancel stars as Captain Von Trapp alongside Lucy O’Byrne, fresh from her success on BBC One’s The Voice, who will play the title role of Maria. She became the
28
The unforgettable score features some of the most memorable songs ever performed on stage, including Edelweiss, My Favorite Things, Do-Re-Mi, Climb Ev’ry Mountain, So Long Farewell, and of course, The Sound of Music. Suggested by ‘The Trapp Family Singers’ by Maria Augusta Trapp Presented by special arrangement with R&H Theatricals Europe www.rnh.com
July / August
Who played Maria in the 1965 film The Sound of Music? a) Angela Lansbury b) Julie Andrews c) Audrey Hepburn All competition entries for the July/August edition need to be received by 1st September 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 selected at random from all the correct entries received. Winners will be notified by email/telephone and listed in the September/October edition of Local Zest. No cash alternative to the prize. Winner to collect tickets from the box office on the night of the show. The competitions are free to enter but in doing so you agree to the terms and conditions as detailed above.
www.localzest.co.uk
29
KEMP – Your Local Hospice
KEMP – Your Local Hospice
We cannot run our services without your support You make a real difference to the lives of others in our community.
www.kemphospice.org.uk 30
July / August
tel. 01562 756000
Reg. Charity: 1146310
Turnover for details of our next fundraising event www.localzest.co.uk
31
32
July / August
www.localzest.co.uk
33
Business & Finance Wallet Workout
By Martin Lewis @moneysavingexpert
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’.
01902 271000 0739 122076 www.office28.co.uk
34
July / August
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.
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.
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
www.localzest.co.uk
35
CALL NOW ON
01902 57 57 57
01902 423456
The
Gerry, Matt and all the team at Central, would like to wish Marie & Sam all the very best with LOCAL ZEST MAGAZINE on it’s launch!
CENTRAL EXECUTIVE
EXECUTIVE FLEET
Offering Executive vehicles for all your transport requirements nationwide.
AUDI A8’S - A6’S - A4’S - MERCEDES - BMW
Business Travel - Airports - Ports - Days Out Door to Door service
TAXI FLEET
“Meet & Greet” boards in your business or personal name as requested. 36 Years experience in the transport industry.
Summer Holiday
Edit
FORD - SKODA - VAUXHALL - VW MPV AND 7-8 SEAT VEHICLES AVAILABE
All our vehicles are fully insured and licensed by the local authority, all of our drivers are experienced and hold local Private Hire licences. Each driver has been CRB background checked.
Is it me, or do the school holidays seem to be getting
Please call us for a quotation for any of your travel arrangements or to pre-book.
longer every year? Maybe, it’s just I have little ones now and finding something to occupy their little minds and hands every single day that doesn’t cost the earth can be real task!
BOOKING APP AND ONLINE BOOKING COMING SOON ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED* “WE APPRECIATE YOUR CUSTOM” *fees apply
W
ell we have scoured the area and found some of the best ways to entertain the family throughout July and August.
Out & About Events are subject to change without notice visit www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/ summer. for the latest information
Bewdley Museum
Kidsfest
Between 25th July and 2nd September, Bewdley Museum are holding creative craft activities for children.
Saturday 13th August 12pm-4pm St Georges Park, Radford Avenue Free A park filled with workshops, shows and activities to keep all the little people, their friends and families entertained and inspired.
All activities run 11am-3pm and usually last for one hour and are £4 per session. Create and decorate bug houses, sun catchers, mosaic tiling and painting wooden and ceramic items.
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.
Summer Skool
August Family Theatre at the Castle – Pack a picnic and join in an evening of fun and laughter as Heartbreak Productions present their fabulous stage adaptation of David Walliam’s book for children ‘Ratburger’.
Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday throughout 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.
Saturday 27th August 10am-1pm £5 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.
A whole range of 4 day sporting activities for 12-15 year olds including Tennis, Athletics, Netball, Dance and cycling throughtout July and August, see www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk for exact dates, times and costs.
July / August
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/
Tuesday 26th July 10am-1pm Hurcott Pools and Woods Cost: £5 Two teams will be building camps, learn skills needed to complete this secrey mission in a beautiful yet challenging natural environment.
Knights & Princesses Bank Holiday Monday 29th August from 11am – 4pm
Teddy Bears Picnic – Aged 3-7
Sporting Actvities
For even more events and to book visit www.wyreforestdc. gov.uk/summer or call 01562 732984 open Monday-Friday 9am-12pm.
Infiltration – Aged 8-10
Survive - Aged 12-15
Hartlebury Museum and Castle
38
Seussical The Musical
Monday 8th August 10am12noon Burlish Top £4 Follow clues to find the teddies hidden around Burlish Top and enjoy a picnic with them too!
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. For more information visit www.museum@worcestershire.gov.uk or call 01299 250416.
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.
Spiders, Centipedes & Creepy Crawlies – Aged 5-8 Monday 25th July1pm-2.30pm Habberley Valley Nature Reserve £4 Join the Rangers and creep and crawl around in the undergrowth to find fantastic mini monsters that live at our feet.
Aliens of HabberleyAged 8-10 Wednesday 10th August 10am-1pm Habberley Valley Nature Reserve Cost £5 Can you escape detection from the aliens and avoid getting shot by their secret weapons as you clamber through the reserve. Can you reach the final destination intact?
The Playteam Between Monday 1st August and Friday 2nd September, join the play team who will be organising games and activities all designed to ensure the whole family has a great time. 10am-12.30pm Monday – Lickhill Memorial Park, Stourport on Sever
PlayDay – All Ages
Tuesday – Cookley Playing Fields, Cookley
Wednesdsy 3rd August 11am3pm Lickhill Memorial Park, Stourport on Severn Free
Wednesday – Springfield Park, Kidderminster (excluding 3rd August)
Play day will fill the park with activities for you to try like climbing walls, Stars wars training academy, arts and crafts, donkey rides, face painting, smoothie making as well as sporting activities with Kidderminster Harriers and Worcester Warriors. *some activities are chargeable
Thursday – Northwood Lane Park, Bewdley Friday –Wolverley Memorial Park, Wolverley *parental supervision required at all times.
www.localzest.co.uk
39
The Summer Holiday Edit
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.
40
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 as well as being at less than the require higher extremely danrecommended than normal tyre gerous it is also pressure can reduce pressures when illegal to drive tyre life by up to 65%. 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
July / August
42
July / August
The Summer Holiday Edit
44
July / August
www.localzest.co.uk
45
The Summer Holiday Edit
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 programme. 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!
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 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 46
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
July / August
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 .
The Summer Holiday Edit
Travel Must Haves W
hether holidaying abroad or in the UK this Summer, there are always those holiday must haves that we all need. Make sure you aren’t caught short this Summer and start by... 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 aswell 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! 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 school disco tunes, keep the kids happy with the latest, most
48
up to date chart music or stream your favourite radio station wherever you are. Moisturiser – Whether its hot or cold, you’re male or female, young or old. Moisturiser is an absolute must to protect your skin against the elements, whether thats 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.
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 your memories and create a scrapbook 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!
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.
July / August
www.localzest.co.uk
49
The Summer Holiday Edit
50
July / August
Motoring
THE MG GS - FAMILY, AFFORDABLE, FUN The wait is over, MG’s all new SUV, the MG GS has been officially launched and the lid has been lifted on what a fantastic package this new MG is offering.
The good news keeps coming, with the MG GS benefiting from a full five year factory warranty as standard; which shows the confidence we have in the quality of this new model. The MG GS, which has been designed and engineered in Longbridge, Birmingham, has been developed to make it drive and handle like an MG should. The chassis has been tuned to deliver agility and great handling, making the driver feel confident when they take on the most challenging of roads.
MG is proud to announce that, like the other models in the range, the MG GS is no exception to being affordable; with the line-up starting from only £14,995
and finishing at £19,495 for the manual transmission and £20,995 for the DCT (dual-clutch transmission).
The MG GS is available in three trim levels, with an option of manual or DCT on the top specification. Introducing the:
MG GS EXPLORE - from £14,995
MG GS EXCITE - from £17,495
MG GS EXCLUSIVE - from £19,495
This entry level model certainly isn’t short on specification.
The ‘Excite’ should do just that, particularly when you get even more toys for your money. As well as what the ‘Explore’ offers, this trim level has DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity and rear parking sensors. All of that for £17,495? We said it would excite!
The ‘Exclusive’ is available with a choice of transmissions; 6-speed manual or MG’s first 7-speed DCT gearbox. Leather sports seats, that are electrically adjustable, and an iGO navigation system are great additions that allow the driver to relax and enjoy stress-free-driving.
The price tag of £14,995 doesn’t mean you will lose out on life’s little luxuries, such as cruise control, automatic headlamps and air conditioning. This car is extremely affordable, whilst still being equipped to tackle your everyday adventures. • AUX/USB input • Air conditioning • Automatic headlamps • Cruise control • Electrically adjustable wing mirrors • Intelligent stop-start engine • Hill hold
52
In addition to ‘Explore’: • Leather steering wheel with audio controls • MP3 and iPod compatibility and AUX/USB input • Bluetooth telephone integratio and audio streaming • Auto air conditioning • Automatic headlamps • Cruise control • DAB radio • Rear parking sensors and cameraElectrically adjustable wing mirrors
July / August
The manual is available at £19,495 and the DCT at £20,995. In addition to ‘Excite’: • 18˝ alloy wheels • Leather steering wheel with audio controls (plus paddle shift on DCT) • Front fog lamps• Leather sport seats • Electrically adjusted heated front seats • GO navigation • DAB radio • Cruise control • Roof bars • Side step
NOW WITH 0% APR FINANCEASK FOR DETAILS
Fashion & Beauty REMARKABLE RELATIONSHIPS
The Three Common Mistakes People Make When They Want to Change Their Life.
A
re you feeling jaded? Like the life you have worked so hard to create is not actually what you thought it was?
You’ve worked really hard to achieve that place called success but now you are there it all feels rather empty and meaningless?
once you understand this – practise this, reconnect with your heart and soul - then if you still want the stuff you can have it. When you no longer need it to feel good in your life then it has no hold on you and you can play with whatever you want. Caring what others think
You’re not alone. There has never been so many people in the world who have so much and yet it means so little. In the UK Telegraph newspaper researchers found that 69% of people feel trapped in the same old routine. However, this moment of desperation was actually a great moment because it is what I call ‘The Wake UP Call’. It is waking up and realising that there must be another way. There must be another way to be happy, feel like life has a meaning, contribute to the world. And there is. And, because I have been there done that and got the t-shirt I want to let you know about 3 mistakes that you can avoid to make your journey easier. You don’t have to dump all the ‘stuff’ For some reason when people have this ah-ha moment that they can live life differently many people think that they have to get rid of all the ‘stuff’. They make the mistake of thinking that it is the ‘stuffs’ fault they are miserable. Now the stuff I am talking about is all the material things we collect along the way. There might be big stuff like houses and cars and small stuff like gadgets and the next best updated ‘whatsit’. The truth is it is actually ok to have this stuff in your life as long as you don’t tie in your self-esteem to it. If you think that owning all this stuff is who you are then think again. You are far more than the external things you currently give value to. Close your eyes for a moment and breath. Simply breath and notice your breath. Do this ten times. In those few breaths your focus was not on anything external – it was on the inner you, the unchanging part of you. The part of you that existed before you were born and will exist after you die. This part of you needs no stuff to feel good – and neither do you. However, the cool thing is that
And lastly – when you start making changes in your life some people are going to think you’ve lost it. They are going to point out the mistake you are making and try to get you to stop. They will be challenged by your new direction and do all in their power to get you to put the brakes on. Learn this and learn it quickly – stop caring about what others think! You cannot make heartfelt decisions based on what others think. And, learn who you can share this journey with. Find your cheer leaders – these are maybe two or three people in your life who will stand on the sidelines with the pompoms and cheer you on no matter what they think. They will support you if you flag and remind you why you wanted this in the first place. They are 100% on your side. As for the others do not let them stop you, it is your life and you are a unique being with a unique life journey ahead of you. You had your wake-up moment, some part of you deep inside knows that this is the right way forward, it knows that all the outer stuff is not who you are, and if you learn to listen it will guide you through this whole amazing life changing journey. You can change your mind and by definition change your life. Jessica McGregor Johnson, an international Life Guide & Mentor and author of “The Right T-Shirt, Write Your Own Rules and Live the Life You Want”. She works with people who are experiencing the ‘Wake Up Call’ and are at a crossroads in their life. Working with her they discover themselves anew, identify their true passions, and how live them, whether it be in their work or personal life. You can sign up for her free Life Lessons course here. http://www.jessicamcgregorjohnson.com/ www.localzest.co.uk
55
Fashion & Beauty To go alongside that beautiful bronzed glow I like to go minimal with most “I like to keep my skin of my makeup but off-set the golden extra hydrated during tones with a bright lip. Something the warmer months that’s easy to maintain throughout but also to help keep the day but still gives a cute pop of that fake tan going for colour? I’d recommend something as long as possible like the YSL Juicy Shaker in Wonder and make sure it fades Melon. Give them a good shake and nicely.” this tinted oil-like balm glides on the lips, gives a hint of colour and ohh baby – they smell yummy! It just looks great and is effortlessly chic. Plus, the packaging is super cute!
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.
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
56
July / August
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
57
Fashion & Beauty
58
July / August
www.localzest.co.uk
59
60
July / August
Health & Fitness
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
62
July / August
July/August Index of Advertisers KAW Interior Design
Bathrooms Carvers Easy Bathrooms
Pg 21 Pg 18
Kidderminster Town Hall Monmore Green The Grand Theatre Places for People
Pg 41
Charities Kemp Hospice
Pg 30-33
Motor Dealers
Pg 60-61
All Electric Hills Ford Summit Garage
Dental Care Lion Dental Estate Agents Hunters Estates
Office 28
Executive Travel Central Executive Travel
Pg 36
Pg 12-13
Health & Beauty Rejuvenate
Pg 46-47
Hospital - Private The Nuffield Wolverhampton Hospital
Pg 66-67
Home Improvements/Accessories Tile Choice
Pg 68
Kitchens Carvers
64
Frankie & Benny’s
Pg 10
July / August
Pg 42
Website Design beuie.com Websites
Pg 34
Pg 6-7
Shopping Centres/Retail The Swan Shopping Centre
Pg 51 Pg 54 Pg 52-53
Pg 64
Restaurants/Eating Out
Pg 43
Windows, Doors & Conservatories Wombourne Windows
Furniture Cousins
Pg 24-25 Pg 26-27 Pg 28-29 Pg 62-63
Office Space Pg 14-15
Opticians Boots Opticians Kidderminster
Leisure
Car Services/Repairs Mr Tyre
Pg 19
Pg 2
Health & Fitness
66
July / August
68
July / August