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FOREST OF DEAN LOVE MUSIC? OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUDDING MUSICIANS INSIDE!

The Children’s Family Trust

DO YOU have a spare room? ARE YOU over 21?

DO YOU consider yourself a warm and caring individual?

WOULD YOU LIKE to help, support and care for vulnerable children?

Contact us to find out more: 0300 111 1945 www.thecft.org.uk

/thecft

@fostering_CFT

Charity number: 208607 • Registered charity since 1945

“You can change a person’s life forever.”

D (aged 10) – Birth Child

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FForest orest ooff D ean – 222,000 2,000 ccopies opies Dean G loucester – 446,000 6,000 ccopies opies Gloucester G loucestershire SSouth outh – 441,000 1,000 ccopies opies Gloucestershire G loucestershire N orth – 220,000 0,000 ccopies opies Gloucestershire North CCheltenham heltenham – 443,000 3,000 ccopies opies CCotswolds otswolds – 228,000 8,000 ccopies opies M anaging D irector Managing Director D Dave ave K Kingscott ingscott dave@thelocalanswer.co.uk dave@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Editorial Editorial & PProduction roduction LLois ois K Kingscott ingscott editorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk e ditorial@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Helen Helen K Kingscott ingscott

Distribution D istribution JJulia ulia B Ball all – 001242 1242 5541075 41075 ddistribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk istribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk

R Robert obert K Kingscott ingscott rrob@thelocalanswer.co.uk ob@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Accounts Accounts K Kerry erry FFell ell aaccounts@thelocalanswer.co.uk ccounts@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Unit Unit I,I, CChurchill hurchill IIndustrial ndustrial EEstate, state, Churchill Churchill Road, Road, GL53 LLeckhampton, eckhampton, Cheltenham, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire Gloucestershire G L53 7EG 7EG

T Telephone elephone 0 01242 1242 5 510500 10500 thelocalanswer thelocalanswer

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Welcome Welcome ttoo M March arch ... ...

Are you a budding musician? Gloucestershire Music has something for everyone – from orchestras to jazz bands, beginners to advanced players. Check out the opportunities and events available across the county on the centre pages.

Join Al Hidden as he explores the Japanese island of Hokkaido. Read about the mesmerising kaleidoscope of agricultural lowlands, the jaw-dropping views of Mount Oakan, and the rainbow-coloured flower fields in this month’s ‘Holidays & Travel’ feature.

If you’d prefer to admire flowers a little closer to home, read Jenny Stevens’ ‘Wildlife Matters’ article about the woodland wildflowers popping up throughout the spring.

Thank you to everyone who entered our ‘TLA Charity’ competition. We had an incredible response and hope you will join us in congratulating the winner. Read more inside!

IInside nside tthis his month month ... ...

Wild ood FForaging oraging Wild FFood Cocktail ime Cocktail TTime Delicious Dish ish Delicious D TLA Winner harity W inner TLA CCharity Wildlife Matters atters Wildlife M Education Education TLA ravel TLA TTravel Holidays ravel Holidays & TTravel What’s On n What’s O Homes Gardens ardens Homes & G In Garden he G arden In tthe Gadgets Gizmos izmos Gadgets & G Quick rossword Quick CCrossword Sudoku Sudoku Save the Planet Planet Save the Word earch Word SSearch Index, Competitions, SSolutions olutions Index , Competitions,

4 4 5 6-7 6 -7 9 13 13 14 14 15 15 16 16 20 20 21 21 25 25 28 28 29 29 31 31 32 32 34 34 Page 3

W Wild ild F Food ood F Foraging oraging

Cocktail Cocktail T Time ime w with ith L Lois ois K Kingscott ingscott

w with ith S Steven teven Hawley Hawley

Laver Laver As the warmer weather creeps lethargically toward us, we can once again begin to turn our attention inland for our foraging needs. But before we start scratching about in hedgerows for our goodies, let ’s take one last look along the coast for some Laver to really warm us up and get us in the mood for spring and summer. Laver is a seaweed found on the west coast, which usually covers rocks and looks like molten black plastic. Or snot – big black snot.

Easy Easy tto om make ake b but ut vvery ery ttime ime cconsuming onsuming A traditional Welsh dish makes good use of Laver and you may or may not already be familiar with Laverbread.

It’s easy to make but very time consuming. It’s full of iron, iodine and protein, so it would be a shame not to give it a go at least once just because of the preparation time!

Rinse a fair sized handful with clean water a couple of times to remove sand and other nasties. It might take a couple of attempts to get it really clean. Put into a pan of water and boil for about ten hours.

Once cooked, put into a mixing bowl and add oatmeal until the mixture goes from a runny green sludge to a not so runny green sludge. Fry up some bacon in a frying pan and then use the bacon fat to fry big dollops of Laverbread.

A ttrip rip tto oW Wales ales m may ay be be in in order order The main issue I noticed is that at no stage did the Laverbread ever resemble anything close to regular bread. As I watched my cheese sandwich ooze off the kitchen counter and onto my foot, I concluded that I had misunderstood its intended use. So I bought some regular bread from a shop and spread my Laver on it like butter and topped it with fried bacon.

I think a trip to Wales is in order to see how it ’s supposed to be done.

If If you’re you’re not not 100% 100% sure sure that that w what hat you’re you’re ppicking icking iiss safe safe for for human consumption, consumption, don’t don’t pick pick it. it. If If you’re you’re prone prone to to food food human allergies, or or pregnant, pregnant, always always seek seek medical medical advice advice before before allergies, consuming anything anything fforaged oraged in in the the w ild. consuming wild.

Page 4

TTom om Collins Collins The Tom Collins recipe was first recorded in the book ‘The Bartender’s Guide’, which was written by Jerry Thomas and published in 1876. There is an amusing story surrounding the cocktail named ‘The Great Tom Collins Hoax of 1874’, which was used as a prank for months, fooling many people.

According to the story, Tom Collins was a loud, boisterous m a n w h o f re q u e n t e d t ave r n s a n d b a d - m o u t h e d a l m o s t everyone he met – and even those he hadn’t. However, those who fell victim to his wrath had good friends who would inform them immediately of the profanity directed at them. The victim would then be encouraged to find Collins and confront him. But in searching for Tom Collins at the tavern he was rumoured to be in, he was nowhere to be seen, as Tom Collins didn’t exist! Finally, seeking revenge, the victim would ask the barman for a Tom Collins and receive the sour cocktail instead.

While this is highly unlikely to be true, it makes a great tale and one can imagine it would’ve been great fun to trick friends with!

Ingredients: Ingredients: 50ml gin; 25ml lemon juice; 10ml sugar syrup; splash soda water; few slices of lemon; maraschino cherry (optional).

M ethod: Method: 1 Fill a tall glass with ice.

2 Pour gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup into the glass and mix well.

3 Top up with soda water and garnish with a few slices of lemon and a maraschino cherry.

PLEASE PLEASE D DRINK RINK R RESPONSIBLY ESPONSIBLY W Why hy n not ot h have ave a M Mocktail? ocktail?

For a non-alcoholic alternative, pour 120ml lemon juice, 60ml soda water and 1 tsp sugar syrup over ice and garnish with lemon and a maraschino cherry.

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D Delicious elicious Dish Dish with w ith Helen Helen Kingscott Kingscott

P Pomegranate omegranate g glazed lazed sshoulder houlder o off llamb amb TTreat reat yyour our mum mum on on Mother’s Mother’s D Day ay b byy ccooking ooking h her er a d delicious elicious d dinner. inner.

Ingredients: Ingredients: 4 garlic cloves, chopped (use lazy garlic for ease); 2tsp ground cumin; 2tsp ground cinnamon; 1tbsp dried oregano; 1 lemon, quartered and seeds removed; salt a n d p e p p e r ; 1 . 5 k g b o n e - i n l a m b s h o u l d e r j o i n t ; 2 re d onions, cut into wedges; 1 litre carton pomegranate juice; 2tbsp clear honey; seeds from 1 fresh pomegranate; mint to garnish.

Method: Method: 1 Put the garlic, cinnamon, cumin, oregano and lemon in a blender with 1tsp salt and 2tsp black pepper. Blend until smooth. Put the lamb in a large roasting tin and tip the marinade over the top. Massage all over the lamb and leave for 24 hours in the fridge.

2 Remove the lamb from the fridge 1 hour before cooking.

Heat oven to 160°C (140°C fan/gas mark 3). Sprinkle the onions around the lamb, then pour over the pomegranate juice. Cover the lamb with foil and cook for 4 hours.

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3 Remove the foil, carefully pour the meat juices from the tin into a large saucepan and add the honey. Increase the oven temperature to 220°C (200°C fan/gas mark 7), cover the lamb back up and continue to cook for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, cook the meat juices and honey on a high heat until reduced, thick and syrup-like. This will take about 25-30 minutes.

4 Pour the marinade glaze over the lamb and onions and return uncovered to the oven for approximately 30 minutes, until the glaze is bubbling and starting to char, and the lamb is tender. Shred the lamb and serve with the sticky onions and a handful of pomegranate seeds.

5 Serve the lamb with mediterranean flavoured couscous and roasted vegetables, such as courgette, red peppers, aubergine and spring onions. Drizzle a little olive oil over the vegetables and add 2 tbsp of harissa. Mix together and roast for 30 -40 minutes.

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interior needs

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AN ANSWER SWER PPAVING AVING SPECIALISTS SPECIALISTS

GLOUCESTER GLOUCESTER CARPET CARPET OUTLET OUTLET

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Garden Garden Rooms R ooms

Bowden Bowden QUEDGELEY Hall Hotel Hall H otel CARPETS

Congratulations!

Darren Scrivens, Arabella Davis, Ben the pony and Kate Beim

Thank Thank you you to to everyone everyone who who entered entered our our ‘TLA ‘TLA Charity’ Charity ’ ccompetition ompetition over over tthe he last last couple couple of of months. months. After After the the success success of of the the first first competition competition in we ew were ere expecting expecting a g great reat rresponse es p o n s e in 2016, 2016, w and disappointed! isappointed! Over Over 300 300 d different ifferent and we we weren’t weren’t d non-profit organisations were nominated nominated for for the the non-profit o rganisations were prize how much prize money, money, which which goes goes tto o sshow how h ow much yyou ou – our our rreaders eaders – support support llocal ocal good g ood ccauses. auses. winner off tthe £5,000 TThe he llucky ucky w inner o he £ 5,000 prize was Watershed Riding p rize w as W atershed R iding ffor or the the Disabled D isabled Group, Group, nominated nominated by by one one of of Darren ttheir heir ssupporters, u p p o r te r s, D arren Scrivens.

Scrivens.

Kate Beim, K ate B eim, community community fundraiser fundraiser ffor or Watershed overwhelmed RDA , was was o verwhelmed W atershed RDA, upon hearing u pon h earing the the news news and and couldn’t couldn’t us, our generous tthank hank u s, o ur g enerous advertisers advertisers aand nd tthose hose who who nominated nominated the the enough. ccharity harity e nough. based TThe he charity, charity, b ased near near CCirencester, irencester, provides development p rovides ttherapy, herapy, d evelopment aand nd llearning earning opportunities wide o pportunities ffor or cchildren hildren aand nd aadults dults with with a w ide off d disabilities. mission rrange ange o isabilities. Their Their m ission iiss tto o create create aan n environment have while e nvironment where where rriders iders can can h ave ffun un w hile

learning personal learning new new sskills kills and and aachieving chieving p ersonal goals. goals.

They provide They currently currently p rovide services services for for 29 29 rriders iders aaged ged 5 yyears old Arabella ears tto o 60+, 60+, iincluding ncluding 6 yyear ear o ld A rabella Davis uss iin D avis who who kkindly indly modelled modelled for for u n tthe he photo photo above on RDA pony, Ben. en. above o nR DA p ony, B The money will The prize prize m oney w ill be be put put ttowards owards building building a fully fully insulated insulated rroom oom for for riders, riders, parents parents aand nd carers use carers tto ou se before before aand nd after after riding riding activities, will Watershed activities, and and w ill enable enable W atershed RDA RDA to to install install a properly properly plumbed plumbed disabled portaloo disabled toilet toilet tto o replace replace tthe he p ortaloo they use. be they ccurrently urrently u se. The The room room will wil l b e equipped equipped with with kkitchen itchen ffacilities, acilities, aass well well aass a separate separate changing changing rroom oom ffor or those who RDA DA aafter fter sschool. chool. those w ho visit visit R To more To ffind ind out out m ore aabout bout Watershed Watershed RDA how RDA and an d h ow you you ccan an support support tthem, hem, visit visit www.watershedrda.co.uk. www.watershedrda.co.uk .

Finally, we would Finally, w ew ould llike ike to to thank thank our our 10 extremely generous 1 0e xtremely g enerous aadvertisers dvertisers for for putting prize money we p utting fforward orward tthe he incredible incredible p rize m oney – w e have ccouldn’t ouldn’t h ave done done this this ccompetition ompetition without without you you pledged make aand nd tthe he money money yyou ou p ledged will will no no doubt doubt m ake massive difference Watershed RDA. am assive d ifference tto oW atershed R DA .

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Wildlife W ildlife M Matters atters

w with ith Jenny Jenny S Stevens tevens o off Gloucestershire Gloucestershire Wildlife Wildlife Trust Trust

Woodland Woodland W Wildflowers ildflowers With lightening nights, the everincreasing sounds of birds in the trees and colour creeping across the landscape, it ’s time to dust off the winter blues and embrace the beauty of the oncoming spring.

Getting out and about in early spring can be so rewarding, never more-so than when we explore local woodland and take in the delights of light-dappled floors and stretches of plucky colour along paths.

A sshining hining e example xample o off h how ow w we e ccan an a all ll help help tto o ssave ave nature nature

However, strong conservation e f fo r t s b e t we e n o r g a n i s a t i o n s, vo l u n t e e r s a n d r e s i d e n t s o f l o c a l communities means the two species are not lost in Gloucestershire.

Wonderful representations of thriving populations of both native species can be seen in the county – a shining example of how we can all help to save nature, whether we’re actively getting our hands dirty or supporting conservation through membership and donations.

O n e wo o d l a n d p l a n t t h a t i s abundant in our county is usually smelt before it is seen. For lovers of garlic, walking into a wood scented with their favourite allium is nothing short of heaven. Swathes of plump green clumps and crowns of delicate white flowers can mean only one thing – wild garlic (or ramsons) for dinner. The leaves of the plant add a s u b t l e f l av o u r to d i s h e s a n d c a n b e fo u n d i n m o s t d a m p wo o d l a n d s i n s p r i n g – b u t m a k e s u r e yo u k n o w Wonderful W onderful sspectacles pectacles tthat hat what you’re foraging. If in doubt, don’t we we sshould hould m make ake tthe he e effort ffort pick .

A n o t h e r wo o d l a n d d e l i g h t , o f te n tto o find find and and enjoy enjoy There are those certain flowers we overlooked, is lesser celandine. expect to see – wild daffodils a real treat and the beautiful lilac of native b l u e b e l l s f l o o d i n g wo o d l a n d f l o o r s ; b o t h wo n d e r f u l s p e c t a c l e s t h a t we should always make the effort to find and enjoy for the short time they ’re with us each year.

Both of these flowers have suffered from habitat loss and are at risk from hy b r i d i s at i o n . T h e S p a n i s h b l u e b e l l encroaches on the native common bluebell and wild daffodils declined in l a rg e n u m b e r s t h ro u g h t h e 1 9 t h century, with the disappearance of m a n y o f o u r wo o d l a n d s a n d meadows – as well as the risk of hybridisation from garden varieties.

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F l owe r i n g from late February, t h i s b u t te r c u p - l i k e l ow - g r o w i n g p l a n t c a r p e t s w o o d l a n d f l o o r s, hedgerows and river banks – g re e n a n d b r i g h t ye l l ow i n colour. Look closely and you’ll see the heart shape of the leaves and the glossy sheen of the flowers. It’s not hard to see why William Wordsworth was such a fan.

White White fflowers lowers resemble resemble stars stars o on nag green reen n night ight ssky ky Last but not least , wood anemone is always worth seeking out .

Flowering around the same time as w i l d d a f fo d i l s , i t s w h i t e f l o we r s resemble stars on a green night sky.

Easily recognisable from its white or purple streaked petals, yellow centre and thin red stem. This is another of our native species that it’s important we take care of. Its seeds are largely infertile, so it spreads via the growth of roots. However, this is so slow that it can take many years to cover even a small distance.

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CCharnwood harnwood H House ouse NURSING HOME

Charnwood House Nursing Home specialises in caring for elderly people, younger people with a physical disability and people with dementia. Warm and friendly atmosphere.

Highest standards of nursing care provided.

Owned and managed by Wotton Rise Nursing Home Ltd ● Residents always treated with dignity and respect ● Registered nurses on duty 24 hours a day providing personal and nursing care ● Freshly prepared home cooked food from a menu of residents’ choice ● Activity programme to include regular external entertainers ● Attractive patio and garden for residents ● Close to shops ● Wheelchair access throughout the home ●

Contact Diana or Marina Martinez for more details

Tel: 01452 523478 01452 451249 email: wottonrisenursinghome@hotmail.co.uk 49 Barnwood Road, Gloucester GL2 0SD

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Education Education with w ith John John B Beales eales

A Applying pplying for for w what hat yyou ou w want ant tto od on ext do next Competition for jobs, training schemes and university courses is fierce, with many attracting hundreds of applicants. It is therefore e s s e n t i a l t h a t y o u i n ve s t t i m e i n g e t t i n g yo u r a p p l i c a t i o n s r i g h t a n d making yourself stand out from the crowd.

Read the person or course specification carefully, checking that y o u f u l f i l l t h e re q u i re m e n t s . I f a qualification, skill or experience is considered essential for the position or course and you don’t have it, be realistic and work on meeting the specification for a future application rather than applying when you don’t.

For those applying for a first job this can seem daunting. However, employers are realistic about first steps on the career ladder jobs, but a re l o o k i n g t o s e e i f y o u h a ve potential and have transferable skills a n d q u a l i t i e s f ro m w h a t e ve r yo u have done so far.

Never Never llie ie o orr e exaggerate xaggerate your y our a achievements chievements I f t h e s p e c i f i c a t i o n a s ks fo r evidence of being a team player in a wo r k i n g e n v i r o n m e n t a n d t h i s i s your first job, it is perfectly acceptable to illustrate your abilities through examples such as sport , h o b b i e s , c l u b s a n d s o c i e t i e s, volunteering or work experience placements. Employers want to get an indication of an applicant ’s personality, so including extrac u r r i c u l a r a c t i v i t i e s a n d i n te re s t s i s important . However, never lie or exaggerate yo u r ro l e or achievements. Personal integrity is a fundamental expectation of all employers.

If you believe you fulfill the person specification, ensure you document The Local Answer

how and give specific examples in your application, showing how they w o u l d b e u s e f u l i n w h a t yo u a r e applying for. Be clear and succinct in what you say, but ensure you answer questions on the application fully.

CCompleting ompleting a an na application pplication ccorrectly orrectly iiss e essential ssential A n y o m i ss i o n o f re q u i re d information is the opportunity for an employer to reject you. They have to filter applicants somehow, so e n s u r i n g a l l s e c t i o n s of a n application are completed – checking spelling , grammar, punctuation, character and word counts – is essential.

If you are completing an online a p p l i c a t i o n yo u c a n n o r m a l l y v i ew the application, save any entries and go back and complete it within a specified time frame. This gives you the opportunity to write down all the questions, draft and check answers in a Word document (or alternative), a n d t h e n c u t a n d p a s te t h e f i n a l

version into the application at a later t i m e . T h i s a l s o g i ve s yo u t h e opportunity to polish your answers, and importantly to have them proof read by someone else.

Tailor your Tailor your a application pplication tto o tthe he e employer mployer o orr ccourse ourse Ev e r y a p p l i c a t i o n s h o u l d b e tailored to the employer or course you are applying for, adapting skills and experience to those required by the employer. Sending in a generic a p p l i c a t i o n o r C . V g i ve s a p o o r impression and is highly unlikely to be successful in getting you an interview. It is essential to have done some research on the company or course you are applying for and to incorporate evidence of this into your application, avoiding repeating information directly taken from their website or other sources. Search company websites, look at news items about the company and become familiar with competitors and key issues within the service sector you are interested in.

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For more information on all holidays and trips:

la a www.newmarketholidays.co.uk www.newmarketholidays.co.uk/laa

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TTour our highligh highlights ts A visit to historic Canterbury A visit with entrance to the Historic Dockyard in Chatham, including a 60 -minute guided ‘Call the Midwife’ walking tour innerr,, bed and English breakfast One night’s dinner accommodation at a three-star hotel in the Kent area Coach travel from the local area Escorted by a friendly tour manager For full itinerary or to book visit

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A AIR IR H HOLIDAYS OLIDAYS & B BREAKS REAKS • COACH COACH & RAIL RAIL BREAKS BREAKS • THEATRE, THEATRE, S SPORTS PORTS & EVENTS EVENTS FFAMILY AMILY FFUN UN B BREAKS REAKS • C CRUISING RUISING • R ROCK, OCK , POP POP & LIVE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT FOR FULL DETAILS ON ALL HOLIDAYS & TRIPS VISIT w www.newmarket.travel ww.newmarket.travel/llaa aa

Steam Steam Railways Railways of Austria Austria 8 days from £719pp Flying direct from Bristol & Birmingham in May, June, September & October 2017 All the pleasures of a wonderful lakes and mountains stay with some unforgettable train rides to savour and enjoy.

TTour our highlights highlights Spend a week in the idyllic Austrian Tyrol Journey on the nostalgic Zillertal Steam Railway Explore glorious Innsbruck and the Ambras Castle See some of the world’s oldest steam engines on the Achensee Cog Railway Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager Seven nights’s three-star half-board hotel accommodation, return flights and transfers For full itinerary or to book visit

www.newmarketholidays.co.uk/laa19934 These holidays are organised and operated

by Newmarket Air Holidays Ltd. ABTA V7812. ATOL protected 2325. Subject to availability. Single supplements apply.

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Page 14

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Holidays H olidays & T Travel ravel w with ith A Al lH Hidden idden

Hello H el l o H Hokkaido! okkaido!

W h e n yo u t h i n k o f J a p a n , d o yo u imagine Tokyo’s frenetic Shibuya Crossing, Kyoto’s temples or Mount Fuji? They ’re amazing, as we discovered on our first trip.

However, fly north from Tokyo and t h e i s l a n d o f H o k k a i d o o f fe r s sublime autumn experiences – but book your accommodation now if you’re planning to visit for October’s colours.

Hokkaido, home to the indigenous A i n u , o f fe r s a m e s m e r i s i n g kaleidoscope of fertile agricultural l ow l a n d s , to w e r i n g m o u n t a i n s, imposing coast and Sapporo’s city vibrancy. Hire a car and head for the S h i r e to k o UNESCO p r o t e c te d peninsula. Nearing Hotel Chinohate, look for Salmon-hunting bears, then enjoy a delicious, beautifully supper, p r e s e n te d traditional skinny-dip in a steaming Onsen and sleep deeply on a comfy futon.

re m a r k a b l y lightly trafficked highways to Hokkaido’s lake district.

There’s a warm welcome at Yado Hanafurai B&B at Kussharo – and wild deer outside your window.

Next , cruise switchback Highway 241 with its jaw-dropping views of Mount Oakan, explore sacred Lake Akan and marvel at its mysterious green Marimo algae spheres.

W Wake ake to to w winter’s inter’s ffirst irst ssnow now

The scenery keeps thrilling as you circle the Daisetsuzan range before d r i v i n g t h ro u g h t h e a u t u m n a l H Hokkaido’s okkaido’s llake ake d district istrict browns and yellows of the forested Then drive over the Shiretoko valley to Grand Hotel Daisetsu and a Pass, with views to Russia, along delicious spider crab feast . Maybe

you’ll wake to winter’s first snow – Hokkaido is renowned for amazing powder. Ride the cable car higher, walk in fresh snow and breathe champagne air while admiring Asahi-Dake and its steaming volcanic fumaroles.

Heading on, marvel at rainbowcoloured flower fields and savour d e l i c i o u s J a p a n es e cu r r y w i t h t h e locals at Furano’s Yuiga Doxon.

Reaching Sapporo, check in at your hotel (we loved the Mercure near Susukino subway station) and start enjoying city life. Head up the JR Tower for spectacular city views, shop ‘til you drop, daytrip to seaside Otaru or stroll Odori Park to the ‘Eifelesque’ Sapporo TV Tower with someone special.

Hakodate’s H akodate’s llights ights Your Hokkaido visit is nearly over, but there’s a last treat if you travel south to Russian-influenced Hakodate and ascend Mt Hakodate to celebrate sunset , and the impressive city lights, with myriad Japanese. Then catch the Hokkaido S h i n k e n s e n t h ro u g h t h e 5 4 k m Seikan tunnel to mainland Honshu and Tokyo.

When you say ‘Sayonara’ to Japan, we’re sure you’ll fly home with m e m o r i e s o u t o f a l l p ro p o r t i o n t o the time spent there. We did!

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What’s W hat’s O On n TThe he LLocal ocal A Answer nswer EEvent vent Listings Listings are are ccompiled ompiled and and presented preesented in in good good faith faith with with the the kind kind support support of of many many contributors. contributors.

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11-31 -31 MARCH MARCH DAFFODIL & EARLY MAGNOLIA MONTH The perfect time to see the host of golden daffodils in all their spring glory! Wander through swathes of yellow and enjoy the spring sunshine from beneath the glorious tree canopy. We’ll soon be seeing pops of pink appear, as early flowering magnolias start to blossom. Entrance fee applies. www.batsarb.co.uk. Batsford Arboretum, nr Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 9AD. MARCH 4 MARCH STORY SPACE: WATCHERS OF THE SKIES Edna Leigh’s story takes us on a dramatic journey across the Atlantic, to post-war England where this ordinary woman stumbled upon a mystery in Homer’s Odyssey, decoding the hidden meaning.

She kept her findings a secret throughout her life. Now her granddaughter shares this fascinating journey. 7.30pm. £12. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. 01242 258002.

9 MARCH MARCH HEDDA GABLER

Just married. Bored already. Hedda longs

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to be free… Hedda and Tesman have just returned from their honeymoon and the relationship is already in trouble. Trapped but determined, Hedda tries to control those around her, only to see her own world unravel. Tony Award-winning director Ivo van Hove returns to National Theatre Live screens with a modern production of Ibsen’s masterpiece. 7pm. £16.50 (£14.50, students £12.50). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. 01242 258002.

18 18 MARCH MARCH CCA ANTORES CHAMBER CHOIR & STRINGS 7.30pm. Cirencester Parish Church. German Masterpieces. Conductor John Holloway, Organist David Whitehead. Including Bach Cantata No.4, Mendelssohn motets, Schutz motets, Brahms Geistliches Lied, Mozart Ave Verum. Tickets £15 available from Cirencester and Cheltenham TICs, www.cantores.net, Lorna 01242 603988 or on the door. Concessions available.

THE BOHEMIANS LIVE QUEEN

The Bohemians are the most dynamic and exciting Queen tribute band currently

touring the world. Standing ovations greet their performances which include full staging, stunning lighting, backdrops, pyrotechnics and a baby grand piano. The Bohemians promise a night to remember as they recreate the glory days of Queen, including the craziness of the 1970s and the magic of the 1980s, live in concert.

7.30pm. £18 (£16). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. 01242 258002.

2244 MARCH MARCH LIFTING THE BLUES: RUBY TURNER

Ruby Turner can breathe life and meaning into any song. Over a long and fruitful career, Ruby’s vocal prowess has been employed by Brian Ferry, Mick Jagger, Steve Winwood and Jools Holland.

Described as the genuine article and blessed with a voice that has been likened to Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin, Ruby continues to win the hearts and minds of an ever-growing and diverse fan base. 7.30pm. £25. The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. 01242 258002.

Vinyl Records WANTED e-mail: e -mail: w willowpitch@blueyonder.co.uk illowpitch@blueyonder.co.uk 01242 0 1242 7 702947 02947 o orr 0 07785 7785 5 515987 15987

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Full Full training training & expenses expenses ppaid aid For more information call 01242 244998 0 1242 2 44998 admin@buildingcirclesglos.org.uk www.buildingcirclesglos.org.uk

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LOCA LOCAL CAL BUYER PAYS PAY PA AYS YS CA CASH ASH FOR AS YOUR UNWANTED RECORDS YOUR U NWANTED R ECORDS

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2255 MARCH MARCH CANTORES CHAMBER CHOIR & STRINGS 7.30pm. Holy Apostles Church. German Masterpieces. Conductor John Holloway, Organist David Whitehead. Including Bach Cantata No.4, Mendelssohn motets, Schutz motets, Brahms Geistliches Lied, Mozart Ave Verum. Tickets £15 available from Cirencester and Cheltenham TICs, www.cantores.net, Lorna 01242 603988 or on the door. Concessions available.

2266 MARCH MARCH CINDERELLA A mistreated young girl, a glass slipper, two comical ugly step-sisters and a handsome prince add up to one of the best known rags-to-riches stories of all time. Enjoy a perfect mix of classical dancing, delicate storytelling and a touch of pantomime, plus a ballet score of Rossini’s most famous operatic achievements. 5pm. £19 (£18, children £14). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. 01242 258002.

MOTHERING SUNDAY We’re spoiling mums rotten with free entry to the arboretum when accompanied by a paying child! What better way to show mum how much you love her than with a visit to Batsford at the height of blowsy spring bulb colour? You could also stay for lunch or afternoon tea in the

Garden Terrace Cafe! No need to book – just turn up and enjoy. www.batsarb.co.uk.

Batsford Arboretum, nr Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire GL56 9AD. 2299 MARCH MARCH THE PARTY

The cake is made, the presents have arrived, and the music is playing. Enter some uninvited visitors: a French cyclist and a man dressed as a giant chicken.

What ensues is a fast-paced, acrobatic and endlessly entertaining circus show that humorously explores topics such as sharing, social exclusion and not always getting what you want. A fantastically engaging show for all the family (3years+). 10.30am. £11 (£9, family £36).

The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, GL51 6EP. 01242 258002.

3300 MARCH MARCH EASTER CRAFTS & COFFEE MORNING At Dolphins Hall, Tetbury. 10am-12.30pm.

In aid of Parkinsons UK and Arthritis Research UK. 88-9 -9 APRIL APRIL SHIPTON QUILTERS EXHIBITION Rendcomb College, Rendcomb, Cirencester GL7 7HA . Saturday 8th 10am-5pm, Sunday 9th 10am-4pm. Entry £4, U16s free. Quilt displays, demonstrations, traders, sales table, raffle. Refreshments and parking available. Shiptonquiltgroup@gmail.com 88-23 -23 APRIL APRIL THE BIG BATSFORD CHICKEN HUNT!

You may have heard of an Easter Egg hunt – now find the chickens that laid them hiding at Batsford! Simply mark their locations on the map provided to win a prize! £2.50 per child (plus entrance fee).

All children must be accompanied by an adult. No need to book , just turn up and enjoy! www.batsarb.co.uk. Batsford Arboretum, nr Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 9AD.

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A local Forest of Dean company R Rectory ectory Fields, Fields, R Rudford, udford, G Gloucestershire loucestershire G GL2 L2 8 8DT DT

Tel: T el: 01452 01452 6 668005/01453 68005/01453 2 297010/01285 97010/01285 2 238089 38 0 89 www.marshallsdriveways.co.uk www.marshallsdriveways.co.uk C Company ompany rregistration: egistration: 0 090645563 90645563

Keep Keep uupp ttoo ddate! ate!

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We are a trusted, professional roofing company with many years’ experience in the trade and a reputation to be proud of. We provide all types of roofing repairs and maintenance to the highest finish, and with a quality that is made to last.

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IIn nT The he Garden Garden with w ith JJulia ulia Smith Smith

TTry ry yyour our hand hand aatt ssomething omething nnew ew March in Gloucestershire is always exciting with the racing buzz in the air! The daffodils are at their best on t h e ro u n d a b o u t s a n d ve rg e s to welcome the punters, and the weather can be beautiful – we have sat outside a pub in the town at 10 o’clock at night after the races in our shirt-sleeves! On the other hand there has also been snow at race week , so fingers crossed!

Try growing some vegetables, ev e n i f y o u h av e n ev e r g r o w n a n y t h i n g b e fo r e . M a k e s u r e y o u have some decent soil to plant in, and dig in some compost or other organic matter. Old bags of half used compost can all be used to s u p p l e m e n t t h e s o i l . R a k e i t ove r and cover with black plastic to warm up and keep weed-free until you are ready to sow.

FFool ool p proof roof v varieties arieties for for b beginners eginners T h i n g s fo r b e g i n n e r s to g r o w would be runner beans, courgettes, cherry tomatoes, and cut and come again lettuces. Don’t plant a whole p a c k e t o f s e e d ( y o u c a n s h a re a

f i e r y re d s a n d ye l l ow s . S p e c i e s grown for their colourful stems include Cornus alba, C . sanguinea and C . sericea (all dogwoods). The willows (salix) include Salix alba and S. irrorata. Cut back to two or three buds from the base of the shrub.

T h i s ve r y o l d te c h n i q u e i s c a l l e d ‘coppicing’ or ‘stooling’ and will N No oo one ne n needs eeds 1 10 0 provide lots of fresh new shoots and ccourgette ourgette p plants lants u unless nless colour for the next winter. This can tthey’re hey’re rrunning unning a be done every year, or every two rrestaurant estaurant years depending on how you want The lettuce can be sown in small the shrub to grow. short rows every couple of weeks so you get a succession of plants to pick over. No one needs 10 courgette plants unless they are running a restaurant – two or three are ample, and really one is just fine if space is limited. The runner beans can be made into a wigwam of c a n e s a n d f i ve o r s i x p l a n t s a re enough for this. Sow two beans per pot and nip off the weaker one to ensure good germination. packet amongst a couple of i n te r e s t e d f r i e n d s ) . T h e c h e r r y tomatoes need starting off inside in a warm place towards the end of the month. Varieties like Tumbler can be grown in baskets and pots, and need no special training so are pretty fool proof.

P Providing roviding llots ots o off ffresh resh new new sshoots hoots a and nd ccolour olour ffor or n next ext w winter inter Now is also the time to hard prune the stems of willows and dogwoods t h a t h a ve b e e n wo n d e r f u l a n d bright during the winter with their The Local Answer

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interior needs

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Gadgets G adgets & G Gizmos izmos with with Laura Laura N Nicklin icklin

Seeking Seeking ideas ideas ffor or sspring? pring?

A f te r w h a t f e e l s l i k e a n e te r n a l winter, spring has returned, though it might not necessarily be bringing sunshine and warmth with it . For the stronger-willed people, March 1st marks the beginning of Lent – a chance to give up their indulgences.

However, if you are feeling like treating yourself – or someone else – h e re a r e s o m e handy gadget gift ideas to look at.

His intimidating scowl a n d t r u s t y g a rd e n spade should serve to scare off any potential intruders! Both gnomes are weather-resistant and the Nin ja Gnome i n c l u d es a s o l a r p a n e l in his back , which contributes to his g l o w i n g e ye s . T h e s e g u y s wo u l d m a k e fo r fun housewarming g i f t s, a n d b r i n g character to any garden.

A Amazon mazon K Kindle indle V Voyage oyage Spring is also an o p p o r t u n i t y to g e t a h o l i d ay b o o k e d , s o yo u ’ l l n e e d s o m e reading material to pack . Instead of stuffing heavy books into your luggage, slip in the light Amazon Kindle Voyage.

Considered one of the best eReaders, the Kindle Voyage’s high

Ninja Ninja Garden Garden G Gnome/ nome/ Game of of G nomes Game Gnomes Garden G nome Garden Gnome One of the advantages of spring is the extra time those with green fingers can spend in their gardens.

P ro t e c t yo u r d a f f o d i l s a n d t u l i p s with these miniature warriors who, a t £ 1 9 . 9 9 , w i l l n o t s t a n d fo r a n y trespassers disrupting your gardens.

The Ninja Gnome’s glow-in-the-dark eyes will alert him to any nightt i m e a c t i v i t i e s, w h i l e h i s p r o n e reflexes should let him do some serious damage with his samurai sword.

Meanwhile, the Game of Gnomes Gnome, complete with his own Iron Throne, will sit as a regal display a m o n g s t y o u r p l a n t s , p r ov i d i n g some royalty to his surroundings.

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resolution display and easy PagePress system are just two of the features that will make your reading easier.

Available on Amazon for £169.99, its long-lasting battery power, adaptive front light and a choice of ov e r 8 0 0 , 0 0 0 t i t l e s m a k e s t h e Kindle Voyage a must-have. Even if you don’t find yourself going on your hols this month, this kindle will be perfect for curling up on the sofa with on a rainy day. y.

SSony ony D DSCW800 SCW800 D Digital igital CCompact ompact CCamera amera Another option, if you find yourself going on holiday, is the Sony DSCW800 Digital Compact Camera, available on Amazon for £69.00.

Equipped with a 5x optical zoom, 26mm wide-angle lens and SteadyShot, this camera shoots high quality photos in HD. Whether you’re taking scenic landscape shots, or simply snapping s o m e p i c s b y t h e h o te l p o o l , t h e c r i s p p h o to q u a l i t y w i l l a d d a p ro fe ss i o n a l f e e l . I t a l s o h a s t h e practical feature of being small enough to slip in your pocket. After all, you’ll need something to take all those holiday snaps to show off to your friends when you get back home.

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We specialise in taking baths out and replacing them with low level shower cubicles. Our bathrooms are designed with your safe ty and comfort in mind.

Unobtrusive U nobtrusive m mobility obility ssolutions olutions Our goal is to design your bathro om so that you can walk in without even realising it has been altered to meet your mobility needs. We provide unobtrusive mobility solutions from a simple grab rail, high raise comfort WC pan, slip-resistant flooring, easy to use taps and much more, and it’s all fitted by our own in-house work force – no sub-contractors!

At Severn Vale Bathrooms we never use tiles, but insttead opt for easy clean UPVC panels. There are numerous colours and designs to choose from. The benefits of panels are that there is no grout to discolour, they reduce condensation and, above all, they are low maintenance.

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Quick Crossword ACROSS 1 7 8 10 12 14 16 17 20 23 24 25

Privileged class Former soldiers Edible organs Horseracing track Entitling Moved through water Tasks Scraps Pop instrumentalists Finnish steam bath Highly charged River-mouth land

DOWN 1 Develop 2 Rupture 3 Measure (out) 4 Furnishing scheme 5 Diminishing 6 Admiration 9 Large spoon 11 Partly cooked 13 Gesture of assent 15 Radiates 16 Sharply serrated 18 Musical composition 19 Taunts 21 Curved-bill bird 22 Auction

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Save S ave t the he P Planet lanet with w ith A Annabel nnabel L Laughton aughton

Going Going g green reen iin n the the office office Maybe because we don’t generally pay the office utility bill, sometimes it’s easy to think that when we get to work , our responsibility to consider o u r i m p a c t s to p s . B u t m o s t o f u s spend at least 37 hours a week at work , and we don’t stop consuming energy and resources or producing carbon while we do.

SSpeak peak u up pa and nd cchange hange tthe he o office ffice cculture ulture P re c i s e l y b e c a u s e o f t h i s, o u r w o r k i n g w e e k i s a n o p p o r t u n i t y to m a k e b i g re d u c t i o n s i n o u r i m p a c t .

Take gas and electric. Have you ever walked into your office to find the radiators on and the windows open?

Me too. But just one person can change the culture by speaking up and making this unacceptable.

Another common one is leaving lights, photocopiers or computers s w i tc h e d o n . S e t t i n g y o u r P C t o ‘sleep’ mode reduces the amount of energy it uses by about 95%, so why n o t r o u t i n e l y s w i tc h t o s l e e p w h e n you go to lunch or a meeting, as well as switching off the end of the day?

And then, the humble office kettle.

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Has there ever been a harderworking appliance? And yet I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve found a well-meaning colleague boiling a full kettle ‘for the next person’, or emptying a full kettle only to refill it with fresh water – both pointless and wasteful. By all means make a brew for the whole team, but just boil what you need!

throwing away unrecyclable coffee cups every day? Could you pop a compost caddy in your work kitchen to collect all the used tea bags and banana skins, or encourage everyone to batch print rather than firing up the printer for just one page?

Report Report ffaulty aulty a appliances ppliances until until they they a are re ffixed ixed

You can also make a difference by m a k i n g s o m e n o i s e w i t h yo u r bosses; maybe you could lobby your employer to provide glass and plastic recycling facilities? Could they create a central register of unused office furniture, to avoid buying new?

Employers should be receptive to these kinds of suggestions, as most measures will result in cost savings for the company as well. A good company should have a sustainability plan, which you can use to frame your ideas. Depending on your b u s i n e s s, a s i n g l e e m p l o ye e c a n make enormous differences in a company ’s carbon footprint – just take a look around you, think about where the waste is in your business, and use your imagination.

And if the kettle is faulty and not functioning efficiently, report it . We can sometimes have an attitude of ‘somebody else will deal with it’ at wo r k , b u t we a l l h a ve a responsibility, and can make a big difference. Window jammed open?

Tap dripping? Radiator stuck on high?

Report it, and keep reporting it until it’s fixed.

Then there’s waste. We throw away a lot of stuff at work . As usual, think reduce, reuse, recycle – in that order.

Do you really need to print that whole 17 page report, in colour ink?

Could you bring in a reusable cup for your morning latte, instead of

M Most ost m measures easures w will ill result result iin n ccost ost ssavings avings

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The Local Answer

‘‘Grand Grand d designs’ esigns’ at at KKing’s ing’s A Acre cre If you dream of designing your own home, a special event at King's Acre in Twigworth will let you know just how easy it could be.

King’s Acre – the latest phase of homes at Orchard Park , the popular over-50s residential park in Twigworth – has a number of new plots available for made-to-order homes. On Sunday 19th March, the park is holding a special Grand Designs Event when h o m e b u ye r s s e e k i n g s o m e t h i n g a l i t t l e m o r e ‘personalised’ can learn how easy it is to tailor-make a park home for the plot of their choice.

Homes Homes ttailored ailored tto oy your our e exact xact specification specification During the event , the team at King’s Acre will show visitors the park’s range of plots and suggest the most suitable home models for each. Visitors can learn how the homes can be tailored to their exact specifications and how homebuyers have the opportunity to change t h e l a yo u t o f t h e r o o m s , c h o o s e k i tc h e n s t y l e s a n d appliances, flooring finishes, carpets and curtains and even choose the colour and finish of the exterior of their home.

The Local Answer

One example is 11 King’s Acre at the far end of the park . This is a 42x20 plot suitable for a park home of the customer ’s choice, such as the Omar Regency, available to purchase from £198,000.

“If you are looking for something a bit special, talk to us!” said Helen Ford, Sales Manager for Park Home Life.

“What a fantastic way to ensure your home meets your every need. You could end up having a one-off design that will look like no other!”

Find out more about the event at King’s Acre at www.parkhomelife.com or call Helen on 01452 730605.

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16 8 Vinyl Records 8 H HOMES OMES & G GARDENS ARDENS BATHROOMS B ATHROOMS WHAT’S W HAT’S O ON N Severn Vale Bathrooms 26-27 & 29 EEVENTS VENTS & A ATTRACTIONS TTRACTIONS BUILDING SSERVICES ERVICES Gloucestershire Music 18-19 BUILDING 29 Inflatable Theme Park 17 A1 Roofing & Contractors 20 The Bird & Deer Park 17 LS Roofing Marshalls Driveways 20 IINFORMATION NFORMATION R. Richards & Son 20 Building Cirlces in Glos 16 FFURNISHING URNISHING & A APPLIANCES PPLIANCES P PROPERTY ROPERTY Interior Needs 24 Park Home Life 33 Just Fabrics 22 Cafe Rene Tiger’s Eye

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CCOMPETITION OMPETITION W WINNERS INNERS Thank you to all who took part in our February 2017 competition and congratulations to the winner! TLA Charity – Darren Scrivens of Tetbury on behalf of Watershed RDA .

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COMPETITION R COMPETITION RULES ULES 1 Prizes are as stated and no cash or prize alternative will be offered. 2 Employees of The Local Answer and their families or households are not eligible to enter.

3 The first correct entry drawn at random after the closing date will win the prize as stated. 4 The winner will be notified by telephone after the closing date has passed.

5 The Editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

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stated. 7 Proof of posting is not regarded as proof of receipt of entry. 8 The Local Answer accepts no responsibility for the provision of the prize, which remains at all times the full responsibility of the prize donor(s). 9 By entering any competition you agree to have your name published in the next issue of The Local Answer should you be drawn as a winner of the prize. 10 By entering any competition you agree to have your details passed to a third party.

B BOOKING OOKING D DEADLINE EADLINE FFOR OR N NEXT EXT IISSUE SSUE – Friday Friday 1 10th 0th M March arch 2017 2017

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