November 2018 - Stockton on Tees by My Local Magazine Middlesbrough & Stockton on Tees

My Local Magazine ®

Issue 89 | November 2018 | The BEST of Stockton’s Business, News, Reviews and To-Do’s

Local Stories | Local Businesses | Gardening | Car Reviews Health & Beauty | Home

distributed by GPS Leaﬂet Distribution

Keep Me for 2 Months

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This Winter… STAY WARM, STAY SAFE, STAY WELL As the Nights are starting to close in and I do believe I had the first frost on my car this week. HomeInstead Senior Care Cleveland would like to share the following tips on how best to say fit and health this winter. Get a flu jab. Everyone over the age of 65, living in the UK is eligible for a flu jab and is encouraged to take up this free NHS service to protect themselves from the flu virus, which can be unpredictable and serious. You can get a flu jab at your GP’s surgery or at participating pharmacies. See your pharmacist if you aren’t feeling well. Even if you have just a cough or a cold, your pharmacist might be able to help you prevent it from becoming more serious. If you can’t physically get to a pharmacy, make sure to call them to discuss your symptoms. If you

Keep mobile. Try not to sit still for more than an hour at a time. Even simply standing up to stretch your legs for a few moments can help to increase your body temperature. If you have good mobility, moderate exercise is a great way of keeping warm when temperatures are low.

need more urgent advice, ring the NHS helpline on 111. Keep warm. During the cold winter months, it is advisable to wear several layers of clothing, rather than one thick layer. Clothes that are made from cotton, wool or fleecy fibres help to maintain body heat, and are better than silky and thin materials that don’t insulate well.

Drink warm beverages. When you get up to stretch, why not make yourself a hot drink to help keep you warm? You should also try to eat at least one hot meal a day. Making sure warm foods and drink are going into your system will keep your weight up and contribute to keeping your body temperature up. Keep your medicine cabinet stocked. If you treat early-onset symptoms of illness they are less likely to develop into anything more serious. By keeping your medicine cabinet stocked, you could avoid having to go out in the cold, if you do find yourself unwell. The temperatures were really cold last year, so it’s important to think about what you can do to protect yourself and any vulnerable friends and family from the ill-effects of the cold. At Home Instead Senior Care, our wonderful CAREGivers can help older people to stay well and can help with many of the tips mentioned here. If you or your loved one need help or support, please call us on 01642 309650.

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Quality in the materials that we use for all our installations and the fact that all our loft packages are fitted by time served tradesmen so our customers are assured of the best job. Integrity in that we will turn up at the time we The company, based locally, say and make sure the house offers homeowners the opis spotless when we leave, portunity to maximise their and Value in that we offer storage space with a loft our services at a price people ladder, 50 sq ft of boarding can afford. Our business and a light all fully fitted in relies on referrals and we got less than a day from just a huge amount of our calls £277 + VAT. But it’s not just from people who have been the affordability of the pack- referred to us by our existing age the company offers that customers - that simply makes Yorkshire Loft Ladwouldn’t happen if we didn’t ders stand out as manager adhere to our overriding Mark Hodson explains: principles. These days most homeowners suffer from a lack of storage space. So many precious items that need to be kept – but where to store it all? That’s where Yorkshire Loft Ladders come in.

‘Our watchwords are Quality, Integrity and Value.

lead to more happy customers is true and we work hard to make that happen for every installation we carry out!’ So, if you want to make use of your loft space, however

big or small, call Mark on 0800 612 8359 and he’ll be happy to pop round and give you a no obligation quote so you too can make use of your loft!

At the end of the day the old adage that happy customers

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Hiring a Cleaner There has been a long association that it's only the wealthy who hire a cleaner when in reality one in three households hire domestic help of some kind. Free Up Your Time. Most working families are really busy these days.What most people value most is more free time for themselves and their family. Also, the joy of coming home to a clean home after a busy day always makes you feel that it's one task less you have to do. What If You Can't Clean Your Home Some people who require a cleaner are sometimes elderly or maybe in respite. People who are houseproud and can't bear the thought of an untidy house. Not being able to keep on top of things can lead to people feeling unhappy. You can see those little annoyances that you just can't do anymore and it usually leads to frustration or feeling slightly down with yourself. Reliable,Trustworthy and Insured. A good cleaning company will be able to meet your needs. Most cleaning

companies or agencies have already checked and vetted your cleaner before being allowed in your home. Most cleaning companies have liability insurance if the cleaner has an accident in your home, or if something was accidentally damaged. Asking a cleaner to vacuum with a poorly wired vacuum cleaner, leaving toys on stairs or leaving the bar of soap on the shower floor causing an accident, will probably not be covered by an insurance company. Once a cleaner enters your home to do work, then your home becomes their place of work. It is essential that you do a quick check before the cleaner arrives. Work Away One of the significant advantages if you work away, is that not only is your home lovely and clean when you arrive back, but you are also getting someone to check your home as well. Fixing Problems. Do you have areas in your home that you just can't get clean? Professional cleaning companies have seen it all and usually have

professional cleaning products that may solve a problem like taps and shower screens covered in limescale, or mould and mildew build up in bathrooms and en-suites. A task like this can usually take a few hours of your time, but professional cleaners will know professional cleaning products that can solve these problems for you. Hire a Cleaner Most cleaning companies usually offer a minimum of two hours a week or a fortnight.You can request that only specific areas are cleaned, and you can ask that some rooms are out of bounds like a home office for example. If you decide on getting a cleaner for your home, ultimately the decision is yours whether you choose to interview a local cleaner yourself or allow a local agency who have done the interviewing for you. Local agency and franchises have the appropriate accident and liability insurance. Lastly, if a cleaner decides on a different career direction and leaves the agency, the domestic cleaning company or agency will arrange another cleaner for you on your behalf.

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EDITOR’S LETTER

November 2018 Octobers. I do like October. I always look forward to this month, watching Autumn finally settling in and the changing colours of the new season. Halloween is still fun, then looking forward to November 5th and Christmas. If you have got friends and family staying over the festivities, then NOW is the time to start and get those little jobs done. If you haven’t got time to do this yourself, well this little monthly magazine has probably got every service you’ll ever need. If you have been reading or thumbing through the magazine on a regular basis, then you will

The Top 10 of Motoring CONTENTS

The top 10 most expensive motors, according to Features Luxhabitat: Recipe 7 1. Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita: £3.6m 2. Lamborghini Travel Veneno Roadster: £3.4m 8 3. Lykan Hypersport: £2.6m 4. BugattiParenting Veyron by Mansory Vivere: £2.5m9 5. Aston Martin Home Valkryie: Interiors £2.4m 10 6. Ferrari Pininfarina Sergio: £2.3m you next - The Greatest 7. PaganiAre Huraya BC: £2.1m 12 8. Ferrari Showman Laferrari Aperta: £1.7m 9. Zenvo TS1: £1.5m Books 18 10. Mazzanti Evantra Millcavalli: £900K

Quirky top Britain Confused.com’s 10 most stolen cars: 19 1. Mercedes C-class Beauty 2. BMW X5 Home Products 3. Range Rover Sport 4. Mercedes-Benz Motoring E-class 5. BMW 3 Series Motoring: Wackiest 6. Land Rover Discovery Editions 7. Range Special Rover Autobiography 8. BMW M3 Trades

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notice that the advertisers very rarely change. This is because they have gathered a reputation for being good and reliable. This is why they are still in the magazine as well. If you can recommend a business that should be in the magazine, you can always drop me a quick note to: jeremy@ mylocal-magazine.co.uk Until Next Time

@mylocalmag 9. VW Golf /mylocalmagazine 10. Audi RS4

Jeremy Middleton Managing Director T: 01642 924847 M: 07533 265 475 E: jeremy@mylocal-magazine.co.uk W: www.mylocal-magazine.co.uk My Local Magazines Ltd, Office 4, Walker House, 3rd Floor, High Street Stockton on Tees TS18 1BG My Local Magazine does not endorse any advertisement within this publication. My Local Magazine cannot be held responsible for breach of copyright arising from publication artwork supplied. It is the advertiser’s responsibility to ensure conformity with the Trades Description Act 1975 Business Advertisement Disclosure Order 1977 and The Consumer Act 1974. Reproduction of this magazine is in any way is strictly prohibited. If you wish to use any of the advertisements or content within this publication, please contact Jeremy Middleton 01642 924847 While we, the publisher take great care to be accurate, no liability will be accepted under any circumstances should any of the contents of this publication be incorrect.

From the Honest John website, we come to a rogue’s gallery top 10 of cars that gave the least overall owner satisfaction. 1. Ford Ka 2. Citroen C1 3. VW Touran 4. Fiat 500 5. Renault Laguna 6. Renault Megane 7. Peugeot 407 8. BMW Z4 9. Citroen C3 10. Vauxhall Vectra

So, where do that leave us? Just that buying a farEastern made, mid-priced, security equipped car, won’t get you onto any of these top-10s. Happy Motoring! By Iain Betson

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Struggling with dentures? We can help Can you eat with conﬁdence? Are you happy with how they look? Are you embarrased to smile? Chris Egan GDC 119949

will not only treat you personally in clinic, but he’ll also carefully handcraft your dentures from start to ﬁnish.

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POTTED SMOKED SALMON This is the perfect starter for the lunch on the big day â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you can make it the night before and the recipe will easily double up if you are feeding a crowd at Christmas! Serves 6 Ready in 30 minutes, plus chilling time 275g honey roast salmon flakes 250g smoked salmon slices, chopped 100g unsalted butter, softened 125g full-fat soft cheese 2 tsp creamed horseradish 1 tbsp lemon juice Salt and freshly ground black pepper Fresh dill sprigs and green peppercorns, to garnish Slices of toasted brown or granary bread, to serve

flakes for garnish (cover and chill in the fridge until required).

flakes in a food processor with the

Method 1 Reserve about 25g of the salmon

2 Place the rest of the salmon

horseradish and lemon juice. Process

smoked salmon, butter, soft cheese, until smooth and creamy. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper and process for a further few seconds. 3 Divide the mixture between 6 small ramekin dishes and level the surface. Cover and chill in the fridge until required. Garnish with the rest of the salmon flakes, dill sprigs and green peppercorns. Serve with toasted brown or granary bread. TIP Most supermarkets sell packs of ready-flaked honey roast salmon but if unavailable just buy readycooked smoked salmon fillets and roughly flake the fish, discarding any skin and fine bones.

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Tokyo, A City of Contrasts Once again in 2018,Tokyo has been ranked among the ‘most liveable cities in the world’ (Monocle), an impressive achievement for the biggest metropolis on the planet. Rebuilt after the war, the capital has few remnants from the past, at least at first sight, but today’s lofty architecture keeps you spellbound, from the elegant skyscrapers to the panoramic Sky Tower or the Rainbow Bridge gracefully stretching across the bay. A million trees have been planted to clean the air along the roads, lawns and flowers beckon in open parkland and Tokyo is safe, efficient and highly colourful with bright posters and lights, museums, theatres and immaculate restaurants with more Michelin stars than any other city. But this 21st century icon has a few surprises in store, especially around the lively Shibuya district where alongside shopping malls and super-sized zebra crossings, animal lovers head for the pet cafés to

cuddle rabbits or cats they can’t keep at home, or stroke the auspicious statue of Hachiko, the dog who waited nine years for a master who never returned. Then the nearby Harajuku area is all about fun and creativity, with street art and parades in the most playful costumes you have ever seen. Yet these excited youngsters with quirky clothes and fancy hair may turn up another day, beautifully dressed in kimonos for a traditional tea ceremony or a trip to Senso-ji, the most visited Buddhist temple in town. This is the Tokyo of the past with lanterns and prayers, fortune telling and lots of stalls around a bright red shrine and a five-tiered pagoda. According to legend, the temple was first built in the 7th century when two fishermen brothers found in their net a small statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. Meanwhile in the Chiyoda ward, visitors look across the moat to the imperial palace, still home to the family and former site of the Edo castle, the seat of the shoguns whose power ended in 1868. Emperor Meiji

then moved the capital from Kyoto to Edo which he renamed Tokyo, the ‘Eastern Capital’. Remembered as the ‘enlightened ruler’ who brought the country into the modern world, he is revered in Tokyo’s Meiji-jingu, the atmospheric Shinto shrine where locals come to pray or get wed in traditional style. The Shinto religion is based on respect for nature and is home to thousands of gods, but when the shrine was built in the 1920s the surrounding district had no natural world. So right at the heart of the capital, 100,000 trees were planted in seven years, followed by many more and it is now a botanists’ paradise claiming hundreds of different species. Meiji would be pleased. Looking forward to the 2020 Olympics, his capital is now one of the world’s most dynamic cities but traditions linger and nature is part of the picture. From the nearby mountains to the outlying islands, 36% of the land in the Tokyo prefecture is protected by nature reserves and national parks. Solange Hando

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A Calmer Christmas The season of goodwill can sometimes feel more like the season of discontent. If you’re hoping to avoid the tantrums, sugar crashes and slamming doors this year (or some of them at least), keep reading… Family time It can be incredibly difficult to fit everything in around Christmas. Kids often seem to demand the most of you when you have the least to give. If you’re time-poor, think quality over quantity. Half an hour spent on a family activity now might well avoid a lengthy melt-down later on. Arts and crafts with the kids can be fun, but you might want to leave the messier aspects until the new year. (Unless you really enjoy cleaning out paint pots, scrubbing slime out of the carpet and hoovering up glitter.) Paper craft is a good alternative. Paper snowflakes are cheap, easy and not too time-consuming. Cut them out at the table so you can sweep most of the scraps straight into the recycling bin. Paper chains are even easier. Or pick up a paper craft book. Christmas Paper Play by Lydia Crook (£9.99) is packed with things to cut out and make,

including decorations, mini crackers and games. Jigsaw puzzles can be a good way to unwind and de-stress. If your children are older and you have the space, buy a Christmas-themed 1,000 piece puzzle and leave it out so family members can do a few pieces of it when they need some quiet time. Charity gifts If Christmas is starting to feel a bit too commercial, how about choosing charitable gifts? Wild animal adoptions tend to prove popular with kids and adults alike.You can adopt King the lion from Born Free for just £3 a month.The adoption pack includes King’s story (he was rescued from a Parisian apartment), a glossy photo, cuddly toy, personalised certificate and window sticker.You’ll also be sent Born Free’s biannual magazine. Other animals to adopt include elephants, polar bears and monkeys. See www.bornfree.org.uk/ adopt. Or why not do a good deed as a family, for someone closer to home? You could make a meal together for an elderly

neighbour, take a busy friend’s dog for a walk, or donate a gift to a homeless shelter. Setting limits It’s easy to let the usual rules slip at Christmas.While it’s good to have some flexibility, you might want to set some boundaries. Try to agree rules as a family for the Christmas holidays, whether it’s no screen-time after 5pm, no more than two sweet treats a day, or a set bedtime. Agreeing a few chores for the kids to do can help to keep them occupied and you from getting too frazzled. Even young children can make a bed, feed the pets or swish a duster around. Forget perfect Above all, try to accept that perfection is impossible. There will be sulks, fallings-out, spills and arguments.When you look back at this Christmas, you won’t remember whether the sprouts were perfectly cooked or your child wrote their thank you cards, but you might remember the time you spent doing a jigsaw together or hunting the Gruffalo through the woods.

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Create a comfortable guest room Is your spare room ready for Christmas? Our guide to setting up a cosy and welcoming space will help you ensure your guests feel completely at home. Hosting family or friends during the festive season can be as stressful as it is heart-warming.The best way to make sure everyone is relaxed is to start preparations well in advance.Your first task is to check the spare bedroom. Is it full of the clutter that inevitably accumulates over time? This is a good opportunity to have a clear-out and to sell, give or tidy away as much as possible. Create enough space in wardrobes and drawers for guests to unpack their clothes – or at least store your stuff neatly and leave them a few hangers on a hook on the back of the door. In general, is the room too hot or too cold? Address issues such as windows that are stuck or radiators that don’t work – if necessary, plug in a small standalone heater, which may be a welcome boost during a cold December evening. Another task, while checking out the room, is to draw the curtains during daylight hours to check whether they will adequately block early-morning light. Given enough planning time, you may even wish to upgrade your spare room window treatments by adding blackout lining for curtains or fitted blackout blinds. While it goes without saying that the room should be sparklingly clean and as clutter-free as possible, there are some key elements that will really enhance your guests’ comfort. First, test out the bed. How is the mattress? If it has seen better days, a topper or enhancer will probably help, at least in the short term. Now is also the time to have duvets and pillows dry cleaned, and to check that you have the necessary bed linen at the ready. Small tables either side of the bed are incredibly useful for guests to store a book, a glass of water, a phone and a pair of glasses.They need not be expensive – a folding tray table, a small chair, a stool or just an upturned wooden crate will all be fine (since this is not a full-time bedroom, a great deal of bedside storage space is 10

not necessary).Though not essential, soft rugs beside the bed and some pretty prints on the walls are a lovely enhancement if you can manage it. Some additional pillows and a snuggly blanket or two will always be welcome, as will a hair dryer, a full-length mirror and a waste paper basket.You could hang a spare dressing gown on the back of the door, too – especially useful if the room doesn’t have an en suite bathroom. Older bedrooms are often lacking in plug sockets, so add an extension lead or an adaptor, just in case. After all, everyone needs to charge their phone regularly, and some guests might also bring a tablet, laptop or other device. Speaking of which, another thoughtful touch would be to write out your router’s name and password on a small card and leave it somewhere obvious. Not all of us are fortunate enough to have a spare bedroom, but no problem – a sofa bed, day bed, futon, bed-in-a-box or good quality airbed in the living room will all be fine, provided there is enough space to set them up without colliding with other items of furniture. If your living room is acting as a temporary bedroom, clear away as much as possible so your guests have room to put down their luggage, and place a small lamp near the head of their ‘bed’ and a spare throw or blanket nearby. A box, bag or basket into which they can stow bedding during the day will also help keep things tidy, while a note on the door will make sure they are not interrupted before they get up in the morning. Finally, think about the little extras that

will make your guests’ stay a five-star experience.You might leave out for them a small alarm clock, a pen and paper, a carafe of water with matching glass, a few books or magazines, a hot water bottle, a sprig of flowers in a bud vase and a scented candle or diffuser. With such care and forethought, your guests are sure to be delighted – and will soon be back to stay again.

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Are You Next? - The Greatest Showman Circus has been a hot topic in recent times following the massive global success of The Greatest Showman, and the release coincided with the launch of Circus250 – a UK wide celebration of 250 years of circus. While the film is internationallyrenowned, what is less known is that Teesside is home to a thriving circus club where budding performers can learn the skills and gain the confidence to run away to the circus – and without a bearded lady in sight! JUST – Juggling and Unicycling Stockton on Tees – is based at Marsh House Sports and Community Centre in Billingham and was founded in 2000 as part of a Stockton International Riverside Festival (SIRF) initiative, Circus 2000. From the early days, it has grown into a thriving, family-orientated club offering a massive range of skills including unicycling, juggling, slacklining, hula-hooping, Diablo, poitwirling and much more! JUST even holds the accolade of being the largest unicycling club in the country and members regularly take part in all sorts of internal and external activities including Muni – mountain unicycling - rides where they decide to off-road routes on one wheel including Guisborough Forest and Roseberry Topping! Regardless of ability and age, everyone is made to feel welcome at JUST. Even if you’ve never held a juggling ball or been in the same room as a unicycle, and whether you’re 5 or 85, JUST offers a friendly welcome and a vast range of activities and workshops. The benefits of circus skills are multiple and invaluable and cross a whole range of factors including building confidence, improving physical health, supporting good mental health and encouraging social interaction. 12

For children, there are proven results including improving hand-eye coordination, reflexes and concentration, along with encouraging patience and perseverance. Improvement is often seen in social skills and selfconfidence, and as the activities are physical but non-competitive, circus skills are perfect for those who don’t enjoy competitive sports. If you or your child are looking for opportunities to go further with your circus skills, JUST offer a variety of opportunities to take part in events, having been regular features in the SIRF over the last 18 years along with the Festival of Thrift 2018 opening parade, Hardwick Live and even the Tour de Yorkshire Grand Depart in Middlesbrough in 2016. Also, JUST are frequently found at local events giving people the chance to have a go! Everyone involved in the club is a volunteer, and for young people looking to achieve a Duke of Edinburgh Award, the club offers many opportunities to work

towards the award including through volunteering and skill building. Chairman Doug Harris says, “Circus skills are just that bit different and offer a range of benefits to participants, the most important being that they are immense fun! We are very proud to offer an all-inclusive, friendly club where, no matter your age, ability or background, you are made to feel welcome and given the support and encouragement to grow your skills and your confidence.” If you’d like to find out more about the things on offer at JUST or want to give it a go, JUST would be delighted to welcome you. Sessions at JUST cost only £3 for a weekly session which runs 6:30-9: 00 pm every Thursday and the fee includes all equipment and regular workshops. For more information about the club, visit http://justonline.org.uk/ or search for JUST – Juggling and Unicycling Stockton on Tees on Facebook.

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The Gift of a Great Read Stuck for the perfect present this Christmas? Or need some inspiration for your own wish list? Read on… For historical fiction fans Washington Black – Esi Edugyan 11-year-old slave Washington Black is taken from the sugar fields and lent to his tyrannical master’s brother, Titch, to work on a ‘cloudcutter’ hot air balloon. The duo form an unlikely friendship that, coupled with Washington’s artistic talent, could provide a way out of slavery. For parents Parent Alert, How To Keep Your Kids Safe Online – Nadia Sawalha, Kaye Adams and Will Geddes Thousands of kids will be receiving new smartphones or tablets this Christmas. But how do you make sure they’re not being bullied, giving too much information away to strangers or being targeted by predators? This book gives parents lots of actionable advice on how to keep kids safe online. For romantic fiction fans A Miracle on Hope Street – Emma Heatherington When she learns that one act of kindness has transformed a man’s life, Ruth decides to put her own loneliness aside and create a Christmas to remember for people in need. A heart-warming tale that’s perfect for fans of JoJo Moyes and Marian Keyes. For history buffs Bloody Brilliant Women – Cathy Newman

From quick and easy midweek dinners, to showstopping dinner party favourites, Tasty has them all. Recipes include Nashville Hot Turkey Tenders, Roast Pork Tex Mex Burritos, The Best Crispy Chicken Parmesan, Slow-Cooked Honey and Spice Lamb Shank, and Latte Coffee Cake. Recipes are simple to follow and bright photographs make every dish look mouth-wateringly tempting. For Harry Potter Fans The Crimes of Grindelwald – The Original Screenplay Albus Dumbledore enlists Newt Scamander to recapture Gellert Grindelwald, who’s recently escaped and is gathering followers. This is the second in the Fantastic Beasts series. It’s a screenplay of the recently released film, rather than a traditional novel, so it’s quicker to read but no less enjoyable. For young children The Jolly Christmas Postman – Janet and Allan Ahlberg This is an all-year-round favourite in our house. The Jolly Postman sets off to deliver letters and parcels to fairy-tale characters. Kids aged three and up will love opening each envelope to reveal the surprise inside – whether it’s a Christmas card for Baby Bear, a jigsaw for Humpty Dumpty or a game for Red Riding Hood. For older children A boxset

This book uncovers the ‘pioneers, revolutionaries and geniuses your history teacher forgot to mention’. Read about women such as engineer Beatrice Shilling, whose work played a role in helping RAF pilots in the Battle of Britain, and developmental biologist Anne McLaren, whose work paved the way for IVF. 18

For foodies Tasty Ultimate

Head to www.thebookpeople.co.uk to pick up a boxset. When I checked there were lots to choose from, including twelve Diary of a Wimpy Kid books for £14.99, ten How to Train Your Dragon books for £17.99, fifteen Roald Dahl favourites for £21.99, and six David Walliams books for £23.99. Bargains galore.

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Lost in Austen: why Jane’s superfans are still going strong Around the middle of the 19th century, one of Winchester Cathedral’s vergers asked why so many people were asking to see the grave of Jane Austen. “Was there”, he enquired, “anything particular about the lady?” These days Jane Austen is such a household name it’s hard to imagine anyone having to ask what was special about her. However, when Jane died in Winchester on 18th July 1817, she was far from being famous. It wasn’t until 1870 – when her nephew wrote a “Memoir of Jane Austen” – that the wider public was introduced to her work. Everything Austen The genteel world of bonnets, barouches and blushing heroines that Austen conjured up so effectively in her novels continues to attract new fans all the time, and now a niche industry has grown up to support those who want to take part in Austen-themed events. One of the key dates in the Austen calendar is the Jane Austen Festival, which takes place in Bath every

September. Here you can take part in more than 70 activities over ten days, including writing workshops, city tours, dramatised readings and Regency dance lessons. Talks offered this year included “Rummaging through the reticule” and “Underwear in Georgian England”, and, as usual, the Regency Costumed Masked Ball held at Bath’s historic Pump Rooms offered “a marvellous opportunity to wear your very best Regency gown or breeches, complete with glittering accessories and a mask in the Venetian style.” The Grand Regency Costumed Charity Parade provided a further opportunity for over 500 costumed participants to parade their finery. Meet the superfans

Sometimes referred to as ‘Janeites’, Austen superfans love to embrace the whole sweep of Regency culture and history. Clare-Violet Hanley from Southampton enjoys linking up with other fans to immerse herself completely in Austen’s world. “We talk to each other and write letters in Regencystyle language [and] bake traditional Regency food for our picnics by the river,” she told the Daily Echo. “Though sometimes I do cheat and just stick something from M&S on a Regency plate and hide the bag”. Finance Director Roland Anderson, now in his mid-forties, has been an Austen fan for over twenty years. “After I started posting at the Austen messageboard pemberley. com, I met other fans”, he told the Guardian newspaper. “We visited Bath and other locations, and spent the afternoons drinking tea and talking about Austen.” One of Jane Austen’s youngest superfans is Sophie Andrews, who started her blog ‘Laughing with Lizzie’ – inspired by Elizabeth Bennet’s line “I dearly love a laugh” in Pride and Prejudice – when she was just 16. Sophie, who has suffered from ill-health, is frank about the way Jane Austen’s novels have helped her: “The books have been my lifeline; when things are tough in the real world, I can just dive into hers. It sounds melodramatic but, in a way, she’s saved me.” Over 150 years on, there’s no doubt that there was something ‘particular’ about Jane Austen. And thanks to the enduring popularity of her work, it seems that her novels will go on attracting superfans for centuries to come. By Kate McLelland

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Gifted Inspiration For your best friend Origins’ Best of the Best collection is a celebration of their most popular products. There’s the Mega-Mushroom™ Skin Relief Soothing Treatment Lotion, Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream, Ginzing Energy-Boosting Gel Moisturizer, Modern Friction™ Nature’s Gentle Dermabrasion, Clear Improvement™ Active Charcoal Mask, Checks and Balances™ Frothy Face Wash and Spot Remover Blemish Treatment Gel. Most are travel-sized. You’re getting over £58 worth of products for £32 so it’s fantastic value for money. For fragrance fans If you’re looking to surprise someone with a new fragrance, Angel Muse could be a good choice. It might be Angel’s little sister, but it’s lighter, warmer and a bit more grown-up.The freshness of grapefruit and pink berries is combined with the warmth of hazelnut and the earthiness of patchouli and vetiver.The giftset is priced at £65, which gets you the full 50ml eau de parfum plus a handbagfriendly 9ml bottle. For a Secret Santa gift Clarins Festive Treats crackers are just

£10 each.The Eyes & Lips one is particularly good value for money as its contents (a mini Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector and Supra Volume Mascara) are worth a total of £17.33.

bandeau. All products are organic and cruelty-free.Treat yourself or add it to your Christmas wish list. Kate Duggan:

For stockings Some giftsets are just made for splitting up and adding to stockings. Korres’ The Greatest Mini Shower Collection is a case in point. Six gorgeous smelling 40ml shower gels are just waiting to be popped into individual stockings. Add Kneipp’s Herbal Bath Collection (£9.95) to your basket for another six stocking fillers. Both sets are available from www.biggreensmile.com. For crackers Planning to swap the plastic fish and silver keyrings for luxe cracker gifts? Bobbi Brown’s Lip Crush Kit (£39.50) might be the answer. There are five mini lipsticks in a range of wearable shades.They’re pretty generously sized so are good value if you consider that one full-size lippy is £24.50. For chocoholics Chocolate lovers will adore Akamuti’s Chocolate Marshmallow Face Mask. Organic cacao, crushed rose petals, gentle marshmallow, warming vanilla and detoxifying pink clay combine to make this mask a real treat for skin and senses. Add a bar of Green & Blacks to the gift and you’ll really make their day. £7.96 from www.akamuti.co.uk. For teachers Teachers often need to wash their hands several times a day, so a soothing hand cream is likely to be gratefully received. Dr. Organic’s Shea Butter Hand & Nail Cream is full of natural ingredients, including shea butter, aloe vera, coconut oil and rose oil. It provides instant relief for sore hands and feels lovely and rich. £7.99 from Holland and Barratt. For you! Green People’s Green Regime Beauty Box contains £125 worth of full-sized and mini goodies for £75.There are two exfoliators, three moisturisers, a lipstick, mascara, eyeshadow duo, shampoo, shower gel, night cream, cleanser, facial oil, reusable cleansing pad and organic cotton

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Great beds for guests Not enough bedrooms? A sofa bed – or other type of informal guest bed – is your answer. Make sure you invest in one that combines both comfort and style, says Katherine Sorrell. Choose the right occasional bed • Whether you are choosing a sofa, a day bed or a bed-in-a-box, your first consideration is that it should be well made, comfortable to sit on (seats are often firmer than on conventional sofas), and suits the size, shape and style of your room when closed. • Look for a mechanism that is easy to open and doesn’t squeak, stick or feel overly loose. A lock-down bar is an asset, ensuring that the bed is properly closed.The inner workings should be smooth, with no parts sticking out that might catch on your sheets. • For a sofa bed to be really comfortable to sleep on, wooden slats with webbing offer the best support, while a proper sprung mattress is much better than a thin foam one, though similarly more expensive. Always test before you buy! • Size matters. A two-seater sofa will open out into a great bed for one

person, but a couple will struggle for space unless you invest in a three-seater.That said, a large sofa does not inevitably transform into a large sleeping space, so always check dimensions. • If storage is an issue, look for a style that contains space for tucking away bedding. CAPTIONS 1 Add cushions to turn this day bed into a sofa, pop on some bedding and it’s a single sleep space, or pull out the base and it transforms into a double bed. Hemnes day bed frame with three drawers, £239, Ikea. 2 Sofa beds come in all shapes and sizes, including this sleek leather version with deep seating, wooden slats and a five-inch deep, fully sprung mattress. Sloane three-seater sofa bed in Old English Hazel, £1,861.50, Darlings of Chelsea. 3 Get some bling on with this affordable, modern sofa bed with a sprung foam seat and back upholstered in hard-wearing PU leather.Vinci sofa bed in gold, £259, made.com. Words Katherine Sorrell

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How to make your Conservatory Feel like a Proper Room If you’ve ever tried to use your conservatory in the winter, you’ll know that it can feel like a cold, damp and dismal part of the house. In all the glossy conservatory sales catalogues, the sun is always shining, the garden is blooming and everyone is having fun being in the bright and clean ‘new room’. The reality is that most conservatories are too hot to use in comfort in the summer, and certainly too cold to use in the winter. Condensation can be a problem in the winter, and it’s too bright to watch a tv in there in the summer. And when it rains, the noise can be deafening! Most conservatories have been built as temporary structures and usually as a less expensive alternative to an extension. This means that they don’t comply with the building regulations that an extension would have to do especially in terms of the thermal efficiency. The team at local specialists Inceil talk to homeowners every day

who want to be able to use their conservatory all year round and not on the handful of days when the temperature is just right! Their cost-effective solution is to fit an insulated ceiling fitted to the existing roof structure in just 1 or 2 days. The new plastered ceiling follows the contours of the existing roof and uses the most thermally dynamic insulation available. Your conservatory will feel like a proper room with a better temperature year round. And you don’t have to do anything to the external roof. It’s important when having any works done that you are happy with the people working in your home. Customers frequently comment on how polite and friendly everyone is in the Inceil team – and that they cleaned up when they had finished! On the Inceil informative website www.inceil.co.uk you can watch

an installation video which shows exactly how the process works, and request a free survey and quote. Or give them a call on 01904 891936. In just one or two days, your conservatory can be transformed into a comfortable and usable part of your home.

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e legs of one of the back-seaters are e dashboard, the rest of them is through creen. You look down to see your10 virtual The Top of shed against the glovebox. Outside, gency services are

undeterred by fines and points. enough happening on our road yet another distraction within a Motoring seems insane.

The top 10 most expensive motors, according to Luxhabitat:

Confused.com’s top 10 most stolen cars:

1. Ford Ka

1. Mercedes C-class

1. Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita: £3.6m

3. VW Touran

2. BMW X5

2. Lamborghini Veneno Roadster: £3.4m

3. Range Rover Sport

4. Fiat 500

3. Lykan Hypersport: £2.6m

5. BMW 3 Series

4. Bugatti Veyron by Mansory Vivere: £2.5m

6. Land Rover Discovery

5. Aston Martin Valkryie: £2.4m 6. Ferrari Pininfarina Sergio: £2.3m 7. Pagani Huraya BC: £2.1m 8. Ferrari Laferrari Aperta: £1.7m 9. Zenvo TS1: £1.5m 10. Mazzanti Evantra Millcavalli: £900K

4. Mercedes-Benz E-class

7. Range Rover Autobiography

2. Citroen C1

5. Renault Laguna 6. Renault Megane 7. Peugeot 407 8. BMW Z4

8. BMW M3

9. Citroen C3

9. VW Golf

10. Vauxhall Vectra

10. Audi RS4

So, where do that leave us? Just that buying a far-Eastern made, midpriced, security equipped car, won’t get you onto any of these top-10s. Happy Motoring!

From the Honest John website, we come to a rogue’s gallery top 10 of cars t hat gave the least overall owner satisfaction.

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The Wackiest Special Editions Manufacturers love making special editions. Whether it’s to stir up a little bit of buzz around a single car, or simply stand out from the crowd, these weird and wonderful creations showcase what car makers can do when they let their imaginations run wild. Here, we’ve picked out eight of the wackiest special editions ever to have been created.

Bentley Bentayga by Mulliner Fly Fishing The Bentley Bentayga is a decent combination of luxurious craftsmanship and go-anywhere allwheel-drive capability. However, what if you want to take your Bentayga fly fishing, and need specific storage for rods, reels and flies? That’s where the Fly Fishing by

Mlliner edition Bentyga comes in. Fitted with bespoke rod tubes trimmed in saddle leather and a central storage station, as well as a waterproof wader stowage trunk, it’s a great option for those who want to spend time at the river but be able to head home in the very highest luxury.

Volkswagen Golf Harlequin The Volkswagen Golf is one of the best-selling cars of all time and appears across the globe in a variety of different colours, specifications and body styles. The Harlequin, however, was something slightly out of the ordinary.

Created in 1996, the Golf Harlequin was produced for just one year. Just 264 of these colourful cars were produced and were made as a result of the immense popularity of the smaller Polo Harlequin.

Ssangyong Korando Sports DMZ The ‘regular’ Korando Sports proved to be somewhat of a success for South Korean-based SsangYong. The pick-up was impressive off-road and came with a generous amount of standard equipment too.

However, the DMZ edition possessed something particularly special – camouflage paint. It either stood out from or blended into the crowd – whichever you preferred – and gave the Korando Sports a beefy, military edge. It was cleverly named, too.

Bentley Bentayga Falconry Yes, it’s another Bentayga – but we couldn’t ignore this special edition either. Catering for what can only be a very niche pastime, the Bentayga Falconry by Mulliner features a removable ‘transportation perch’ and has a variety of trim pieces crafted

from cork. A veneer inlaid with a falcon graphic features on the car’s passengerside trim piece and is made up of 430 separate pieces which are painstakingly placed together by hand.

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Skoda Felicia Fun You won’t miss a Skoda Felicia Fun in a hurry. A bright yellow exterior was matched by an equally jazzy interior, with yellow accents used on the steering wheel, gearstick and even the main dials.

However, the Felicia Fun had a trick up its sleeve – the rear bulkhead could be extended to reveal two rear seats with a convertible section above, meaning four people could come along for the ride.

Rolls-Royce Wraith ‘Luminary Collection’ Rolls-Royce is certainly one for creating staggeringly impressive – and staggeringly expensive – special editions. This, the Wraith ‘Luminary Collection’, was limited to just 55 examples and uses a specially-developed ‘Sunburst

Grey’ exterior paint. Inside, the main dashboard is fitted with 176 individual LEDs, designed to resemble ‘the trailing light of a shooting star’. Which is nice, if you want stars on your dash.

DS3 Black Lezard The DS3 is a car built on the ability to customise each and every aspect, and the Black Lezard edition is a more luxurious take on that. For instance, the Lezard design – created to mimic the look of

lizard skin – is hand applied to each and every car, taking two hours per vehicle. The interior of the car is finished in high-quality leather, and gloss black trim is used to help lift the overall look of the cabin.

Range Rover Evoque Special Edition with Victoria Beckham Back in 2012, Range Rover revealed a special edition version of its Evoque SUV made in partnership with Victoria Beckham. The exterior is handfinished in matte grey paint, while the alloy wheels feature gloss black paint and rose gold detailing.

impressively high, with the special edition coming in at a weighty £79,995.

Inside, the four seats are finished in high-quality leather with contrasting white ‘baseball’ stitching. Prices at the time were www.mylocal-magazine.co.uk | E: jeremy@mylocal-magazine.co.uk

Don’t let Christmas costs ruin your New Year 3 ways to stay in control of spending this December

If you’re wondering how to manage your Christmas spending more effectively, saving, budgeting, and making a list is just the start. Here are three other ways you might not have considered to start the New Year with a healthy bank balance and reduced financial stress. Pre-arranged overdraft facility Intended to be a temporary and controlled use of credit in line with your Christmas budget, an arranged overdraft facility that’s repaid over a few months helps gets you back on track financially. How do overdrafts work? An overdraft that’s pre-arranged with your bank means you can withdraw more money than is in your current account, up to an agreed limit. There is generally a set period of time that the facility is available, and typically a charge for each day you’re overdrawn. Overdraft fees vary between banks, but generally include a charge for setting up the facility, a fee for each day it’s used and a renewal fee if you need to extend it. Some providers

offer fee-free amounts, whilst others base their daily charge on the level of your overdrawn balance. Daily deals websites Take advantage of the growing number of daily deals websites and you can save a significant amount at Christmas. Wowcher, Groupon, and Living Social are just a few of the sites where you’ll find great deals on gifts, experiences, fitness products and lots more. It’s straightforward to sign up, and you can receive emails with the latest deals. It’s easy to get carried away when you have access to so many discounts, but if you do your research and stick to your list, it should save you money overall. How do deals websites work? You simply sign up with your email address and you can get targeted gift ideas, often with a significant discount. Key in the home town of people you’re buying for and you’ll receive ideas that are local to them – meals out, afternoon teas or experience days, tailored to your family and friends. Prepaid debit cards Prepaid debit cards are an alternative to bank debit

cards and credit cards.You don’t have access to your entire bank balance, or the credit limit on your credit card – it’s preloaded with a specific sum of cash, and you can only spend up to this amount. How do prepaid debit cards work? You won’t be credit-checked when you apply for a prepaid card, but a number of different fees may apply, including application and transaction fees. Some providers charge monthly fees and top-up fees, whilst a renewal charge may apply as these types of card expire after three years. It’s easy to be swept up in the spirit of giving at Christmas, but it can take months to recover from overspending. Whether arranging an overdraft with your bank, applying for a prepaid card, or taking advantage of a few daily deals works for you, they could all help you take control of your Christmas spending and enjoy a peaceful and financially harmonious New Year.

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