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GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S BIGGEST LOCAL MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2019

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ANSWER North Gloucestershire – 20,000 copies Cheltenham – 43,000 copies Cotswolds – 30,000 copies Gloucester – 46,000 copies Stroud District – 41,000 copies

Managing Director Dave Kingscott dave@thelocalanswer.co.uk

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Entertainment Tom Hadfield To entertainment@thelocalanswer.co.uk

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Februuary’s winning coover photo: Keerry Palmer o Lydney of

Weelcome l to February F ...

Now we w are past the January blues, ma any of us will be b looking forward to the middle of the month h, which is all about spending time with that specia al someone in our lives. As Valentine’s Day falls on o a Thursday this year, why no ot stay at home and cook your significant other a romantic meal?? For a fantastic finale, check out our Delicious Dish – we’ve got the perfectt dessert recipe pe for y you to g gain some extra browniie p points!

The Local Answer team are very much looking forwa ard to next month’s issue, as we will be celebrrating our 10th anniversary! We’ll have lots of themed articles for you to enjoy reading and a few exciting announcements, so stay tuned! If you run r a local business or organisation and would d like to be part of our special issue, be sure to gett in touch by Friday 8th February.

Inside this month ...

Delicious Dish Pet Care Looking Good, Feeling Great Sudoku Medical Health Motoring Word Search Holidays & Travel Parenting & Guardianship TLA Entertainment What’s On Distributors Required Homes & Gardens In the Garden Wildlife Matters Interior Design Gadgets & Gizmos Quick Crossword Save the Planet Money Matters TLA Sport Index, Competitions, Solutions

5 6 9 12 13 15 16 17 19 20-21 22 25 28 33 35 39 41 43 45 47 48-49 50

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Delicious Dish with Helen Kingscott

A decadent dessert for your y valentine This indulgent dessert will surely help to win over your loved one this Valentine’s Day!

Ingredients: For the base and sides: 40g plain chocolate; 75g Hobnob biscuits (or similar); 225g strawberries.

For the mousse: 200g good quality white chocolate; 200g full-fat cream cheese; 200ml full-fat crème fraiche.

Method: 1 Place six 6cm x 7cm metal rings on a baking tray t lined with greaseproof paper.

2 Put the plain chocolate into a medium bowl and melt gently over a pan n of simmering water.

3 Crush the biscuits (pop them in a bag and use a rolling pin) then ad dd them to the chocolate and stir until cove ered.

4 Press the mixture into the bottom of the rings with a teaspoon and pop p in the fridge to set.

5 In I another th bowl, b l break b k up then th carefully f ll melt lt the white chocolate using the same method as above. Leave to cool then add the cream cheese and crème fraiche and mix until smooth.

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6 Remove the e rings from the fridge then slice e the strawberries thinly and arrange them m around the sides of the rings.

7 Spoon the mixture m carefully onto the biscuit base and le evel off the tops – it doesn’t have e to be smoo oth.

8 Chill the mo ousses until firm.

9 Carefully re emove from the rings and serve e on a plate. Decorate with chocolate hearts, mint leaves s, a drizzle of chocolate or love e hearts! The swirly chocolate decoration was s from leftover leftov ver chocolate, chocolate which I drizzled d onto greaseproof paper and put in the fridge e to set.

Tip: This is a very rich dessert so I served it with the leftover strawberries.

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Page 5

Pet Care with Oliver Wilkinson of Dragon Vet Centre

Dog worming: myths and facts I recently had a conversation with a client who informed me that they didn’t need to worm their d dog as it was on a raw food f d diet di t that th t would ld naturally protect it from gut parasites. It’s not the worst advice about worming I’ve ever heard, but it is patently wrong.

The worst advice probably goes to the breeder who told the new pet owner that the best way to prevent worms was to simply avoid ever changing the water in the dog bowl and allow it instead to develop a green hue. As it turned out the dog owner felt that the strategy wasn’t working, as the puppy was passing both a large quantity of visible worms and some rather profuse diarrhea. Clean water and a worming tablet sorted both problems.

A 2018 study in the Netherlands looking at commercially i ll available il bl raw food f d diets di t for f dogs d found high levels of potentially harmful bacteria and two types of parasites; Sarcocystis and Toxoplasma. Whilst dogs can often tolerate many To of the bacteria in raw meat, two bits of advice I always give to dog owners who feed raw food is to take particular care when handling the raw food, as any bacteria in the food is more likely to be harmful to us than our dogs, and to make sure that they worm their pets regularly.

Regular worming is so important Dogs and cats can pick up a variety of gut worms.

Hookworms, whipworms, roundworms and tapeworms are the most common varieties of gut parasites. Worms can be passed directly to puppies whilst in the womb or through milk/ k/lactation, and puppies and kittens are particularly sensitive to the effects of worm burdens, which is why regular worming is so important in juveniles.

Adult dogs and cats can pick up worms through ingestion of contaminated soil, grooming eggs off their fur, r, eating infected rodents and from fleas.

Fleas are one of the main routes of transmission of tapeworms, which is why flea control is also important in preventing worm burdens.

Several types of these worms are also transmissible to humans, To Toxocara canis being responsible for causing eye dama damage ge in children. children The bottom line is that regular flea f and worm control is easy, safe and prevents health h issues in both our pets and us. If you are unssure about how often or what type of worming yo our pet needs, speak to your vet for advice.

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Tewke kesbu ury ry New Veterinary y Care in Tewkesbu ury Dragon Vets now has a new Tewkeesbury branch; we have taken over the owneership of 31 Church Street in Tewkesbury. We will be providing the same high quality veeterinary care and advanced treatment that haas been our trademark in Cheltenham for overr 50 years.

£40 + VVAAATT for a starter course of two vaccinations for puppies or kittens OPEN MONDA AY Y-FRIDA AY Y 9AM- 6.30PM 31 Church Street, Tewkesburyy,, GL20 5PD

www w..drra agonvet.co.uk

01684 217 708 in affiliation with

OPEN SATURDAY AY 9AM-12 2 NOON Prestbury Park, Park New Barn Lane, Lane Cheltennham GL50 4SH

T: 01242 580324

F: 0124 42 241908

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24 HOUR EMERGENCY ~ 01242 522022

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Page 7

Looking Good, Feeling Great with Will Mbanga

Time to move! m We’re W ’ already l d over half h lf way through winter and hopefully you have found a way to keep yourself physically active, despite the wet and cold weather. Having a plan to keep healthy is a great first step, but without action it remains just that. We spoke of New Ye Year Intentions last month and putting actions to your intentions is what will bring about the wellness outcomes you desire this year.

Th The h human b d body was designed to move, but modern life has resulted in a de-evolving population with obesity, y, postural defects and mental health problems all rising significantly over the last 40 years. Add in modern stressors, poor nutrition choices, the breakdown of traditional families and, in some cases, poorly designed training programs and one can see how this combination of factors result in injuries/illness, poor posture and impacts on movement capacity.

To ensure your physical activity regimen adequately addresses muscle imbalances or structural impediments, the following tips would be useful additions to your training plan.

1. Mobility and flexibility Work on improving your range of motion and flexibility about your joints through regular stretching and including mobility exercises between sets in the gym or in your daily routine.

2. Exercise pairing Aim to pair exercises, for example pulling and pushing exercises (pull first, then push).

Getting appropriate rest and recovery are essential components to good health.

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Adequate sleep, finding g ways of de-stressing, and allow wing your body time to regenerate are essential componen nts of ensuring your mind and body are in good health. We all service and MOT our ca ars – the same is necessary for ou ur health; ensuring robust physical and mental health is critical for f when th tough the t h times ti come.

A good balanced d diet is essential With regard to nutrittion and hydration, while every yone has unique individual needss, a good balanced diet (and where necessary, adding to it with w high grade, nutritional supplements) is essential. A good starting point is to take a Food d Intolerance test to establish the t most appropriate food grou ups and nutrients for your in ndividual needs. Thereafter, r, ensuring you eat regularly, or find an n optimal Fasting protocol, and are well hydrated are the final p pieces of the puzzle. Try carrying a 1 litre bottle and refilling it 2-4 4 times a day depending on yourr activity levels.

The combination of inttentional

movement through regular exercise, along with mobility and flexibility work will improve posture and play an im mportant role in delivering im mproved health and wellness ou utcomes.

A few exercises to include in your routine are: • Neck rotations – to len ngthen and strengthen the musscles that h are bent b over mobile bil phones/computers 24-7.

• Scapular retraction – to relieve shoulder tension and improve neck posture.

• Thoracic extension – to lengthen and strengthen the spine, and relieve tension and improve posture.

• Hip extension – to reduce negative effects of hunched sitting posture.

• Ankle dorsi-flexion – toe to shin flexes to release tension and improve movement function.

As your body moves more efficiently from a mechanical perspective, you will begin to enjoy the benefits of improved digestion, sleep and general well-being. So what are you waiting for? Let’s get moving!

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Local partner solicitors are donating their expertise and time to write a basic Will in return for a suggested donation to Cobalt.

For further information visit our website www.cobalthealth.co.uk or call 01242 535922

Places are limited so make your appointment today!

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Medical Health with Holly Hannigan

Dealing with stress Stress is a word thrown around everyday, yet many people don’t realise the impact stress can have on their physical health, as well as mental health.

Everyone responds differently to varying levels of stress and what one person might be able to cope with, another might feel is the end of the world. It’s therefore important to remember that recognising how y you as an individual respond to stress in the early stages will help you be able to regain control over your emotional, mental and physical health.

Even happy events can cause stress Even happy events like planning a wedding or having a baby can cause stress. The most common causes of stress are bereavement, work, money and relationships.

When we are in a stressful situation or have a build up of stress in our lives, then some of the responses we physically feel are:

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• Headaches • Sleep problems • Upset stomach • Muscle tension or pain • Appetite changes Emotionally you may feel: • Overwhelmed • Low self-esteem • Anxious • Irritable Mentally you may feel: • Racing thoughts • Constant worrying • Difficulty concentrating • Difficulty making deccisions Managing stress can become part of your everyday liife if you become aware of wha at works for you. One of the biggest changes that can help is accepting that you can’’t always change the stressful situation, all you can do is take co ontrol of how you feel and act about a it.

Becoming mindful an nd living in the present is a goo od habit to have, as it limits the amount of unnecessary worryin ng about the future, which has h not happened yet. It is i very empowering g to gain control ove er your emotional wellbeing and along with that making sure you are e talking to someone e about your stressses and problems, w whether that’s friendss, family or a professional.

Self care is vital for being able to deal with stresss, especially getting g a good work/life b balance.

Making time to do To advertise call 01242 510500

what you enjoy, whetther that is exercising, reading g a book or socialising with friends, will help you maintain that balance.

Do not develo op unhealthy habitts to deal with stre ess It is also important tthat you do nott develop d d l unhealthy h lth habits to deal with stress, such as drinking lots of alcohol, smoking or relying on a high caffeine intake. These are avoidance behaviours and simply mask the problems, often creating new ones.

Maintaining a positive attitude can be challenging at times, especially where there are high levels of stress involved. However, it can be as simple as writing down three things you are grateful for in your life every day that can make all the difference and keep you focused on staying positive and finding solutions to your problems.

If you feel like stress is getting too much for you, contact your GP. P. Page 1

Motoring with Al Hidden

All-season tyres come c of ag ge Years ago, tyre choices for winter conditions were limited.

You could struggle with traditional summer tyres or use an effective get-you-home solution such as AutoSocks, which work well, but only on snow or ice.

For serious winter grip, you could fit winter tyres. Indeed, in parts of Britain where winter hits hardest, such as Scotland or The Peak District, this remains a preferred solution. solution There are devotees in the Cotswolds too. Just imagine commuting from somewhere like Amberley in snow!

Widespread expert approval For years, tyre makers worked on true all-season tyres. The earliest never got close to the performance of dedicated winter or summer rubber. Then Michelin and G d Goodyear l launched h d thei th ir i CrossC Climate and Vector 4S Seasons and began dominating allseason-tyre review ws by AutoExpress, Germany’s ADAC motoring organisatio on and magazines such as Au uto Bild

from countries where dedicated winter rubber is a necessity. Viable all-seaso on tyres were a reality at last – a fact reinforced when Peuge eot fitted them to its 2008 as standard.

A few comprom mises remain Okay, there’s still some compromise. No all-season tyre yet gives quite the ultimate performance of dedicated winter or summer rubber in its intended season n. If you live in mid Wales, seasonal switching to winter ty yres will still make sense. And A for ultimate track-day performance, you’ll probably stick with w your favourite summer rubb ber.

However, if you re egularly drive in typical cold, damp, occasionally snowy, British weather, tyres like Michelin’s CrossClimates, the Vector 4Season Gen 2 tyres on our Sk d Ye Skoda Yeti, ti or Conti C tinental’s t l’ new AllSeasonContacct are a no-brainer.

The downside?

Softer compounds which ma ay mean a shorter life. Furtherm more, the Goodyears – though always Picture: www.tyrereviews.co.uk

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reassuring – don’t quite match the ‘on-rails’ feel of Sko oda’s exworks Pirellis in summer. s They’re not budgett tyres either, although prom motions seem frequent.

Reassuring all-se eason performance e That said, for many drivers, the compromises are e acceptable given reassurin ng fourseason performance. Besides, B the latest all-season tyres give real benefit wheneve er roads are wet or temperature es below 7°C degrade summ mer-tyre performance.

How often do you u drive under such conditionss (this is Britain after all)? An nd how highly do you value p peace of mind when you mee et fresh snow in Wales, Gloucestershire freezes, or you drive in European countries ssuch as Germany – where all-season tyres with the Alpine m mountain snowflake symbol are e legally required in winter?

For more and more o of us, allseason tyres deserve serious consideration – whate ever the season. If you’re like m me, once you’ve tried them, I suspect you won’t go back!

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Page 15

Word Search Wo S N H E R L D D Q L Z E X W P C P Q V V U J U D

L Y M O H O S I W F S S C S U I V P K I H L Z W

M E S K O R M Q P L R E F D T A H A N M K M M F

N E S M E S V A B U G J D T L Q T S C W X M X L

S P N W Y Q O Y N D C L P E B S E K D G R F I F

B R O D I N N E R T E A N V C U R X M N Y E W X

A L M S F R L B Z C I T R C W T R A E H E P R M

F D L O U K L F Z Q I C I D V V P J W L C I Y P

X Y P G W R O W K N G C Q J H M K K F K I A R Y

T K R N C G E V E N M C U W K Z L S D O H Y G F

D Y T I Z G K V F E E L I N G S P S B V Q F I F

Q N U R X L J S E F X W U K H B D I H B N B V D

Q M O A G L E K A R G Y G Z B D N K S R V M I G

Z D E H Y J W F R D O L O E R N M K Q U Y Q N N

E F L S E I E G O W J F W G K C Q S V J Q C G E

M V L V Z B L E L P U O C B A A Q Y D M T O K O

R M O X Y G L G F W R Z W Y Q R T V Q B E T X J

R L O A N X E Q A R B R X R O D F W K L Q O T A

X H Q E I B R D A K O M B W W F X J B N B R P G

Z J X I S E Y X Y E D G B E P W L V D E T R L V

B Q N N W D D H D E T A L O C O H C X L M E C F

A N A O E T F U N C L J A Y D A T E U M C I S V

U C J Q E F K I A K Y K U U O T E W X H P A N D

V K U C T X V V C E Z A M M G Y N T X N O Q D E

Valentine’’s Va s Day ARROW BE MINE CANDY CARD CHOCOLA AT TE COUPLE CUDDLE CUPID DA ATTE

DINNER FEELINGS FLOWERS FOREVER FRIENDSHIP GIVING HEART JEWELLERY KISS

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Holidays & Travel with Al Hidden

Ausstralia just got g closer Australia, always popu ular with Brits, came even clo oser in March 2018 with fligh ht QF10, the new non-stop Qantas Boeing 787-9 Dre eamliner service from London He eathrow to Perth. Okay, may ybe not closer by distance, but the 7,828 nautical ti l mile il (14,498km) (14 498k ) direct di t flight certainly makes reaching Oz faster than ever.

How fast? You leave Heathrow at 13:15 and reach Perth at 13:00 the next day, in time to find your hotel, grab lunch, enjoy some tinnies or sip Margaret River Chardonnay in the sunshine. Perth’s relaxed west-coast vibe consistently puts the city high in liveability rankings. Attractions such as Rottnest Island, Kings Park Gardens and Fraser Avenue Lookout complement a great restaurant scene for guaranteed good times.

Will this new route finally get you to Oz? Alternatively, stay on board to Melbourne. Or make one of 11 The Local Answer

more same-day Au ustralian connections. Oh yes, Perth is the perfect gateway to o Australia’s wonders from Can nberra to Port Hedland. Whether you’re a seasoned visitor or want w an excuse for a first visit, the new route could be whatt finally makes k your antipodea ti d n dream d come true.

opera house, are genuine icons.

A little further, Ta Tasman nia offers a refreshing contrast to t mainland Australia plus, wo ould you believe it, the world’ss official ‘best’ whisky courtesy of o William McHenry & Sons in Porrt Arthur!

That famous Syd dney harbour bridg ge

Alternatively, head north to Brisbane. Try the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Queensland Art Gallery and Museum of Modern Art, Mt Coot-tha and swimming with dolphins at Tin Can Bay for starters.

And what about Ay Ayers Rock, aka Uluru? It’s impossible to capture Australia’s wonders fully in 400 words. The only way is to discover them for yourself.

With the new Qantas flight and rumours of more planned (hint: watch London to Sydney), Australia’s allure only grows stronger.

Will 2019 be the year you leave Heathrow at lunchtime and arrive in Western Australia for next day’s lunch? Go for it!

What’s to do when yo ou finally touch Australian soil?? If not planting your feet firmly in Perth, Melbourne is home h to Federation Square, Me elbourne Cricket Club, the 975ftt (297m) high Eureka Skydeck, colourful c trams, and engaging la aneways that await exploration p on foot.

Hungry? Enjoy an accclaimed food and coffee sce ene; try Lygon Street, Southba ank and Chinatown for delicious Italian, Modern and – surprise, surprise – Chinese cuisine respe ectively.

A 90-minute flight further east, Sydney’s attractions, in ncluding that famous harbour briidge and To advertise call 01242 510500

400 00 words o ds just isn’t s ’t enough

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Parenting & Guardianship with Roberta Smart

Empty Ne esting Whilstt some families Whil f ili are bustling with new babies, growing kids and all the chaos that includes, for others this is a time of reflection and slowing down as the older kids are settled into university or setting off to find their own lives. But Empty Nesting is not what it used to be.

Once upon a time our children lived at home until marriage when they then moved out into the new marital home and began domestic lives of their own. As parents we knew where they were, who they were with and quite often we had a key!

Nattering over a cup of tea and the latest gossip Sundays were sacrosanct for lunch with ‘mum and dad’ and midweek suppers were accompanied by a load of washing or the car needing a bit of a tinker.

C dad Cue d d and d son/son / in law in l up to their ears in grease and oil for an afternoon whilsst mum and daughter/daughter in law nattered in the kitchen n over a

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cup of tea and the late est local gossip!

These days our kids are a more likely to leave haphazardly as they ‘stay’ with partne ers overnight – or for weeks at a time – maybe going travelling g for six months before returning to take up residence again and dive headlong into a ‘just for f now’ job whilst saving up for the next great adventure.

But what of the pare ents left behind? We now live in n a weird kind of limbo where we e are not needed on a daily ba asis, yet cannot yet take our eye e off the ball, sell up and take ourselves off on a round the world d cruise!

Our previously hecticc schedules, now clear of the demands d of the constant taxi taxi-ing ing of teens or playing maidserv vant to hoards of kids on a w weekend sleepover, leave us free to explore adventures of o our own, albeit closer to home.

Many parents are ta aking up new hobbies. Photogrraphy is highly popular, r, with Instagram offering the option to ttravel to To advertise call 01242 510500

‘meets’ and take fabulous f pictures of the most beautiful b parts of Britain and Europe.

Parents repatriatte the now ‘spare roo om’ Art and writing are e on the uptake as parents eve erywhere repatriate the now ‘spare room’ into a studio for painting or finally writing those memoirs.

Volunteering is always a winner and can replace a little of the lost sense of feeling needed that we all experience as the kids move on with their lives.

Personally I have rediscovered my love of performance and joined a local Improv Comedy Group. We meet weekly to develop our improv skills and many members report enjoying a massive confidence boost and are making new lifelong friends.

Oh, and there is nothing like making people laugh to remind yourself that, regardless of what your kids might say – you ARE funny!

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Entertainment

If you have a story to share, please email full details to TToom. with Tom Hadfield ‒ entertainment@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Camerata performss for foodban nk The Te Tewkesbury Camera ata are a group of musicians who perform three times times a year at the Tewkesbury Methodist Church.

However, unlike many other groups, the Camerata does not charge an entrance fee for their shows, instead asking for a donation to good causes.

“Once costs have been covered, advertising, venue hire, music hire, then proceeds go to charity,” explained Mark Aitchison, founder and codirector of the Camerata.

“To date we have donated around £6,000 to charities including The Royal British Legion, Cancer Research, Alzheimer’s Society, and Winston’s Wish.”

Mark grew up in South Wales and studied for a Music Degree at the University of Wales, in Cardiff.

The Tewkesbury Camerata rehearsing

He continued: “I moved m to Tewkesbury in 2005 while Te w teaching at a school in Gloucester.

“I founded Te ewkesbury Camerata in 2012 and now codirect with Nicky Enderby, a violinist from Chelten nham who now lives and works as a professional violinist in Lo ondon.”

The Camerata is made up of musicians from all over the country, and usually averages

Film Review – Tom Hadfield Welcome to Marwen ‘Welcome to Marwen’ tells the true story of Mark Hogancamp, an artist who struggles to cope with life following a vicious assault.

Mark, played by Steve Carrell, is left unable to remember his old life following his beating, and also suffers from severe anxiety and PTSD. This leads him to take solace in the town of Marwen, a model town he has created to tell the story of Cap’n Hogie, his action figure alter-ego.

The film is split between Mark’s real life, as he struggles with an addiction to prescribed medication and to face his attackers, and events in Marwen, which are CGI animated.

As it g goes on,, the lines be etween real life and Marwen become more and more blurred, allowing the viewer to understand from Mark’s point of view how the toys provide him co omfort following his ex xperience.

Fu ull review online.

around 30 players p per concert. The music the group plays varies from concert to concert, ranging from m hits from stage and screen s to a more classical repertoire.

The Camerata’s next performance will w be at the Tewkesbury Te Methodist Church on Sa aturday 16th February, whe ere they will be playing cllassics from Vaughan Williams, Marquez M and Copland.

Mark added: “We have decided to support Te Tewkesbury Foodbank for our firrst concert of 2019, as all members of the orchestra are aware e of the vital service they provide the people of Te Tewkesbury.

“We ask the audie ence to leave a donation, no matter how large or small.”

Full story online.

Book Review – Aloÿse of Daylesford Book Club The Salt Path by Raynor Winn If yo ou need to recalibrate follo owing the start of the new w year, I recommend you read d the incredible true story ‘The Salt Path’ by Raynor Winn, shortlisted for the Wainwright W Book Prize.

Raynor and Moth have lost their home through a bad investment and Moth is term minally ill. They decide to walkk the 630-mile South Wesst Coastal Path starting in Minehead.

M They purchase flimsy sleeping bags and a tent,, and with £115 in cash they y set off. They y are aged 50 and 53 and this is their story.

There was no money for camp sites or B&Bs. They could only just manage to carry their packs, yet they were free. Along the way the challenges were great. Precipitous paths, dreadful weather conditions and unfriendly locals, but Raynor writes thoughtfully and with great humour about the expedition.

Full review online.

Above is a selection from local entertainment stories available online ...

Art • Events • Experiences • Film • Lifestyle Literature • Music • Reviews • Theatre • TV

The choir bringing people together Hilary Davies is a very busy Tewkessbury every year, woman when it comes to mainly y at local events and music music. fundraisers.

As the leader of four choirs, “We’v ve also got a special across two counties, plus a connecction with South Africa. special singing group for We raise money for a charity people suffering from COPD – called ‘Umthombo Street breathing problems – Hilary is Childre en’, which is a project to never left wanting for work. help ch hildren in Durban.”

“I’ve been running singing Anoth her unique aspect to the group is that Hilary teaches workshops since 1998,” she the cho oir without sheet music, explained. “Then I started g parts to her members leading my first choir in Members of Heartt&Soul performing at the annual singing Community Choirs Festival in Stratford Upon Avon. who the en sing back to her.

Worcester in 2001.

She sa aid: “It’s a lovely way of “My background is in folk with 15 me embers. Now, she has learning,, it creates a real sense music, and that’s where my around 90 regular members. of comm munity in the choir. passion for harmony singing “It began b as a series i off singing i i “Listening to them gradually comes from.” workshopss for over 50s, but improvin ng and all come Now a full-time choir leader they were e so enthusiastic it togetherr is really fun. and singing teacher, t r, Hilary runs became a full-time choir,” she “Not ha aving to be able to read community choirs c in Worcester, r, music m makes it a lot more explained.

Cheltenham and Te Tewkesbury, accessib ble, and the sense of “Our olde est member is 97 – a who meet and rehearse every achievem ment everyone feels at very good tenor t – and the youngweek. the end is really wonderful.”

Her Tewkesbury Te w choir, est are in their 40s.

‘Heart&Soul’’, began in 2003 Full story y online.

“We do a few performances in

Concerts bringing stars to th he barn The Bishop Bishop’s Cleeve Tithe Barn has undergone a massive transsformation over the years.

Originally built b in the 15th century, the barn is now a grade 2 listed d building and a versatile aud ditorium, available to hire for the general public.

For the lastt few years the barn has play yed host to ‘Cleeve Concerts’, a set of shows featuring mu usicians and bands from all overr the country. y Lee Noble has been involved in organising g the shows since 2015.

He said: “I run Cleeve Concerts alo ong with Christian Finn.

“We took the events over around four years y ago now and have really helped h develop the

The Tithe Barn in Bishop’s Cleeve

amazing programme p of music that is happening in Bishop’s Cleeve.”

A Acts such h as Eddi Reader R d and d Martin Kemp have featured in the past, bringing visitors from all over the country to the village.

“The shows have had a very positive effect on the town and people seem to be amazed with the names that are coming to

play here,” Lee continued.

“We e have been lucky enough to have Jason Dono ovan, Beverley Craven, Kiki Dee, and so many otherrs. It’s a blessing.”

The e Cleeve Concerts began in 201 12, and the 2019 edition gets underway this month, starting with a return to the Tithe Barn for 80s New Wave singer To oyah.

Following Toyah will be local saxopho onist and singer songwriter Kim Cypher, and Lee is looking forward to the gigs.

He added: “We are very excited about the upcoming year.

“There may not be as many shows this time, but the ones that are coming are top quality and are guaranteed to give people a great night out.”

Full story online.

For full articles and more stories visit www.thelocalanswer.co.uk

What s On The Local Answer Event Listings are compiled and pre esented in good faith with the kind support of many contributors. We recommend you use the contact details provided to check event information updates prior to planning your visit.

UNTIL 23 FEBRUARY ORIGINAL ARTISTS’ POSTERS EXHIBITION AT AT CHAPEL ARTS

Original posters, created by some of the most prominent artists of the 20th Century, for their own exhibitions.

Wednesday to Saturday.

Saturday 10am 10am–4pm 4pm. www.thechapelarts.com 29 JANUARY – 2 FEBRUARY CRIMES ON THE NILE Belgian detective Artemis Arinae is set to enjoy a holiday cruise along the river Nile when tragedy strikes once more. All the passengers and staff aboard are suspects, and the murder count is growing. Will Arinae’s little grey cells identify the murderer in time? Full details: barntheatre.org.uk.

The Barn Theatre, 5 Beeches Road, Cirencester GL7 1BN. 2-9 FEBRUARY A BUNCH OF AMAT ATEURS Keen to boost his flagging career, fading Hollywood action hero Jefferson Steele arrives in England to play King Lear in Stratford – only to find that this is not the birthplace of the Bard, but a sleepy Suffolk village.

Jefferson’s monstrous ego, vanity and

insecurity are tested to the limitt by the enthusiastic amateur thespianss.

7.30pm (2.30pm matinee on Satuurday 9th). £14. Cheltenham Playhouse, 4753 Bath Road, GL53 7HG. 01242 522852. www.cheltplayhouse.org.uk 2-24 FEBRUARY LIGHT UP CHELT LTENHAM IS BACK

Light Up Cheltenham will illuminnate over 20 of the most iconic buildings in the town. This spectacular display will take place over three weeks and will be launched on 2nd February byy illuminated drumming band Spark! It will also be the first time a giantt observation wheel will be brougght to the town as the focal point of ann expanded Light Up Cheltenham.

The three-week event, organiseed by Cheltenham BID, will run from 2nd 2 to 24th February.

4 6 FEBRUARY 4-6 SCHOOLS WILL ROCK YOU The story of a group of Bohemians who struggle to restore the free exchange of thought, fashion, and live music in a distant future where everyone dresses, thinks and acts the same. Let Tewkesbury School take you

on a rocking journey, using the best of Queen’s music. 7pm. £11-£13. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. www.rosestheatre.org 7-13 FEBRUARY PHOTOGRAPHY MASTERS EXHIBITION – UNIVERSITY OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE An inspiring exhibition, showcasing the work of 8 recent MA Photography graduates, with a diverse range of individual student led projects: from abstract macro photography to large landscape pieces, 3D works and documentary film. 10am-5pm. The Gardens Gallery, Montpellier, Cheltenham. gardensgallery.co.uk 7-16 FEBRUARY WAITING FOR GODOT TTw wo hungry, battered drifters wait by a dead tree. They might have been here yesterday. And they might well come back tomorrow. Unless Mr Godot arrives first. Which he might, if they’re lucky. Which they don’t tend to be. For times and prices visit www.everymantheatre.org.uk The Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ. 01242 572573.

8 FEBRUARY THEE ONES WITH JACK P PA AGE Thee Ones are a Stroud band delivering Soul, Jazz, R&B and 60s Hammond Beats. Their original material weaves story telling lyrics and an infectious groove that moves mind and body in equal measures. 8pm.

Full details: theprincealbertstroud.co.uk The Prince Albert, Rodborough Hill, Stroud, GL5 3SS.

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9 FEBRUARY THE RUFF GUIDE TO SHAKESPEARE A glorious celebration of the work of the world’s greatest playwright.

Expect silly sketches, toe-tapping songs, daft dance routines and extracts from all the famous and some less well-known plays. Suitable for ages 5+. For times and prices visit www.everymantheatre.org.uk The Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ. 01242 572573.

IMPRESSIONS OF WESTONBIRT – CREATIVE ABSTRACTS PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP This fun and challenging one day workshop is designed to help you look beyond the obvious and develop your creative eye. Discover new ways of interpreting Westonbirt and learn to see traditional scenes in a new light.

9.15am-5pm. £120 (10% discount for Friends of Westonbirt). Booking essential. For full details please visit www.forestryengland.uk/westonbirtthe-national-arboretum. Westonbirt Arboretum, Tetbury, GL8 8QS. 9-10 FEBRUARY GREEK LITERATURE WEEKEND Our focus for this weekend will be 5th c. Athenian theatre in all its forms.

After discussing the social context

and the venue in which the plays were performed, we’ll take in Plato’s attack on the theatre and Aristotle’s defence. For full details of the weekend, please visit gloucestercathedral.org.uk. 10.30am5pm. Gloucester Cathedral, 12 College Green, Gloucester, GL1 2LX. 10 FEBRUARY THE CLASSIC ROCK SHOW From AC/DC to ZZ Top and everything in between. Anthem after anthem, riff after riff, solo after solo, ‘The Classic Rock Show’ brings the original recordings back to life on stage; with a huge sound and light show to match. Culminating in a showstopping guitar duel that is definitely not to be missed. 7.30pm. From £26.50.

Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, Cheltenham GL50 1QA. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk THE GREAT BIG HARRY POTTER QUIZ The Braintrust invites you to our very first quiz in Gloucester… and it’s HARRY POTTER themed! We’ll be transforming Gloucester Blackfriars into the Great Hall where we won’t just be testing your knowledge of the books and films, but also your wisdom in a variety of other magical classes!

Hint; you’ll want to dust off your spell

book…and maybe your broomstick.

6pm. £30 for a table of 6. Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, GL1 1NS. www.gloucesterguildhall.co.uk 12 FEBRUARY STROUD SCHOOLS DRAMA FESTIVAL Come and see the wonderful talent of local primary school children working together in Stewart Auty’s adaptation of ‘Wind in the Willows’. Join us at the Stroud Subscription Rooms and have the best fun for all the family you’ll have in ages! Who doesn’t want to ‘Toot Toot!’ with Mr. Toad on stage?

5pm. £11 (£8.50 concessions). Stroud Subscription Rooms, George Street, GL5 1AE. 01453 760900. www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk 14 FEBRUARY ROB HERON AND THE TEA PAD ORCHESTRA Enjoy a reet treat Valentines Night with these lovely chaps – Rob and the gang never fail to entertain and tonight is going to be an extra terrific affair. So come on Up The Hill for a dive back in time when men wore waistcoats and ladies wore the prettiest of dresses. 8pm. Full details at theprincealbertstroud.co.uk. The Prince Albert, Rodborough Hill, Stroud, GL5 3SS.

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15 FEBRUARY ALE TASTING EVENING WITH GLOUCESTER BREWERY We’ve teamed up with Gloucester Brewery to bring you a wonderful evening of ale tasting. If you’ve always wanted to know your maize from your barley, this evening is perfect for improving your knowledge on local beer. Each session will last 60 minutes and provides the chance to taste and discuss up to five different ales with Gloucester Brewery’s guru’s.

Minimum required age to participate is 18. £10 per person (ticket purchases are subject to a £2 booking fee per cart. Postage is free of charge if desired). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk CROONERS The story of 3 very British gentlemen who exude the characteristics of a crooner; suave, self-assured, stylish, as they defend the role of a crooner in our modern world. By the very same nature, it is not always obvious that these characteristics are adopted quite so well by the quintessentially British. Cue a splendiferous injection of British comedy. Tongue firmly in cheek. And an outrageous injection of Big Band Swing. 7.30pm. £24.50.

Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, Cheltenham GL50 1QA. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk WILLE AND THE BANDITS Essentially Wille and the Bandits is a classic blues rock three piece much in the vain of Cream or The Jimi Hendrix experience. But in a similar way to how these bands pushed the genre in their time, Wille and the Bandits try to take their sound beyond what is expected of such a traditional line up. 7.30pm. £13.50. Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, GL1 1NS. www.gloucesterguildhall.co.uk 16 FEBRUARY ANDREW LAWRENCE: CLEAN The star of Live at The Apollo and Michael McIntyre’s Roadshow and UK comedy’s foremost contrarian takes a break from all the controversy in this new show. No politics. No religion. No smut. No swearing. Just great jokes and good clean fun. 8pm. £17. The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. www.rosestheatre.org DREADZONE One of the most energetic, exciting and powerful live bands to emerge from the post-rave scene, Dreadzone have steadily been releasing albums and progressively bettering, refining and perfecting their own unique and

Page 24

inimitable take on dub since their inception in 1993. Still going strong after 25 years in the game they have also long been and still are, one of the best live bands around. 7.30pm. £19 in advance, £21.50 on the door. Stroud Subscription Rooms, George Street, GL5 1AE. 01453 760900. www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk 16-24 FEBRUARY HALF TERM ACTIVITIES AT CHEDWORTH ROMAN VILLA Join us this February half term for a fun day out. We’ve got a special trail, craft activities for children and you’ve got the chance to meet Chedworths’ Romans. Look out for the children’s mosaic workshop on Thursday 21st February. Full details of activities can be found at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ chedworth-roman-villa. Chedworth Roman Villa, Yanworth, near Cheltenham, GL54 3LJ. SOUTH WEST PUDDLE JUMPING CHAMPIONSHIPS Get your wellies and waterproofs on and jump into the puddles for a chance to be our ultimate splasher.

We’ll be looking for the biggest splash, and most enthusiastic, stylish jumpers. Take part in our daily puddle jumping competition at 2pm in Welly Boot Land with a chance to win a prize. Included with admission. WWT Slimbridge, Bowditch, GL2 7BT. www.wwt.org.uk/wetlandcentres/slimbridge 19 FEBRUARY DON QUIXOTE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE LIVE BALLET Cervantes’s story of the bumbling knight Don Quixote has inspired countless artistic interpretations. The story follows Don Quixote’s picaresque journey to do deeds in honour of his imaginary noble lady, Dulcinea. Sunny, charming, funny and touching – a ballet as full of uplifting emotion as it is of astonishing ballet technique. 7.15pm. £15-£17. Full details at coriniummuseum.org. Corinium Museum, Park Street, Cirencester, GL7 2BX. 20 FEBRUARY THE TRAGEDY OF KING RICHARD THE SECOND Simon Russell Beale plays William Shakespeare’s Richard II, broadcast live from the stage of the Almeida Theatre in London. Richard II, King of England, is irresponsible, foolish and vain. His weak leadership sends his kingdom into disarray and his court into uproar. Seeing no other option but to seize power, the ambitious Bolingbroke challenges the throne and the king’s divine right to rule. 7pm.

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£16.50 (£14.50, students £12.50). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk GODS, GODDESSES, SPIRITS & FATES Join Dr Valija Evalds as she takes you on a journey through Roman beliefs, superstitions and rituals. In this walk through the galleries we will consider objects depicting deities, honouring spirits and propitiating the fates.

Children 7 and above are welcome with an adult. 2pm. £5-£5.50. Full details at coriniummuseum.org.

Corinium Museum, Park Street, Cirencester, GL7 2BX. RAY COOPER A story-led singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Ray sings both his own compositions and arrangements of traditional songs. He plays guitar, mandolin, cello and harmonica. 8pm. £12. Full details at theprincealbertstroud.co.uk. The Prince Albert, Rodborough Hill, Stroud, GL5 3SS. 21 FEBRUARY THE MUSIC OF JOHN DENVER The real spirit of the music of John Denver is captured beautifully by Chris Bannister. Chris has been touring with his solo show since 2010 and, having performed around the world, he is now internationally applauded for his delivery of some of the best songs ever written. 8pm. £16.50 (£14 concessions). Stroud Subscription Rooms, George Street, GL5 1AE. 01453 760900. www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk STONE AGE ADVENTURES Join the Yarn Whisperer for an adventure that takes you back into the Stone Age. The story is told weaving props and traditional musical instruments to bring the Stone Age to life for family audiences. 10.30am. £2.50-£3. Full details at coriniummuseum.org. Corinium Museum, Park Street, Cirencester, GL7 2BX. 22 FEBRUARY BYE BYE BABY Bye Bye Baby is more than your average tribute band. They deliver a full theatre show covering the journey of the Four Seasons from the very beginning up until the Disco era and the rock and roll hall of fame. In fact a musical journey through the sounds of one of the most successful bands of all time. They perform 31 numbers in close 4 part harmony, with slick choreography and the recognisable falsetto. 7.30pm. £20 (£18). The Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP. www.bacontheatre.co.uk

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22 FEBRUARY PINHOLE PHOTOGRAPHY Young visitors will be able to build their own compact pinhole camera in honour of Antarctic photographer Frank Hurley. With enough light children will be able to point their newly made camera at a subject and the image will be projected on the back of the camera. Please bring your own container (shoebox or similar).

11am. £3.50 per child. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, Cheltenham GL50 1QA. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk 22-24 FEBRUARY GLOUCESTER FOLK FESTIV VA AL Featuring live music and entertainment, this festival draws on traditional folklore of the local area.

Events are mainly free of charge and many local bands will be playing.

King’s Square, Gloucester, GL1 1RW. Full details at thecityofgloucester.co.uk 23 FEBRUARY THE SOUNDS OF BROADWA AY Y An evening of songs from the musicals. Join the Cotswold Canaries, a group of six sensational singers, centre stage for a stunning evening of musical storytelling based on the showstopping hits of Broadway. Their

dazzling show includes songs from the popular musicals Billy Elliot, Chicago, Les Misérables, Hairspray, Bloood Brothers, Wicked, Chorus Line, Chess and more. 7.30pm. For prices please visit kingstheatregloucester.co.uk. The Kings Theatre, Kingsbarton Streeet, Gloucester, GL1 1QX. THE JOHNNY CASH STORY

songs has won audiences and wowed critics. 7.30pm. £17.50 (£15). Thee Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Road, Chelteenham, GL51 6EP. P. www.bacontheatre.cco.uk 28 FEBRUARY & 3 MARCH ROCK AND A HARD PLACE A new play in aid of Stroud Wom men’s Refuge. Kayleigh, a talented teenager whose life is full of promise, expeeriences a cycle of domestic abuse until Aunty Jan helps her find a way out. Stroud Subscription Rooms.

Rooms 7.30pm.

7 30pm 28t 8th February. www.subscriptionroom ms.org.uk Chantry Centre, Dursley. 4pm. 3rrd March. www.eventbrite.co.uk Students FREE. 3 MARCH CAT ATE CODY “I’m old-fashioned...” sings Catte Cody in a hauntingly beautiful voice tthat has been compared to a youngg Peggy Lee. She might well be describing herself, because these days it’ss very rare to find a jazz chanteuse w with such authentic phrasing, who genuinely understands the nuances, and is capable of capturing thee idiomatic gradations and modulations required to swing. 2pm. £15. Thhe Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5NX. www.rosestheatre.org

An incredible journey through the career of the 18 time Grammy winner. w Featuring powerful renditions of o ‘Folsom Folsom Prison Prison’, ‘Ring Ring Of Fire Fire’, ‘M Man In Black’, ‘Hurt’ and many more.

This astonishing back catalogue is realised with authenticity by Jamie Rodden, a critically acclaimed performer whose renditions of Cash’s

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In the Garden with Julia Smith

An unpredictab ble month F b February i a very unpredictis di t able month; it may be the coldest month of the year with snow and ice, or on the other hand it can be a month of unexpected sunny days which lull you into the false security that spring is just around the corner. You then rush to get started on sowing in the vegetable patch, only to get very disheartened when winter returns!

Sweet scented to S attract the bees Some trees and shrubs are at their best in this unpredictable month, which is quite surprising. As there are not many pollinating insects about at this time of year they can be quite sweet scented so as to attract the few bees that are around and foraging. Think of the witchhazels (hamamelis mollis), the spikey Mahonia, Mahonia th the he lovely

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Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’, or D. mezureum.

My clematis cirrh hosa is another good plant for this time of year. It attracts bumblebees even in very early spring to feed on the lovely flowers that dangle down frrom the archway that I grow it over.

Now is a good time to turn the composst heap, especially if you are still carrying a few w extra pounds from Christmas!

After you have turned it, keep it covered up and you will soon hav ve lovely crumbly composst to add to your veg patcch or to use as mulch aro ound the beds.

Why not try yo our hand at growing globe artichokes thiss year?

They are really very decorative at the e back of a border. You ca an grow this month from m seed, two seeds per 8 8cm pot.

Germinate at 18°C. Rem move the weaker of the two se eedlings, and set the plants out in late April.

Give your lawn itts first cut of the yea ar If the soil is relatively y dry you can give your lawn its first cut of the year. It is best to raise the blades of the mower to take off just the tips of the grass, and then as the weeks progress you can lower them to get down to the shorter levels. This technique stops the grass being weakened and inviting moss and weeds into the sward.

The yellow flowers of winter jasmine are a welcome splash of colour throughout the winter. If left unpruned they turn into a woody mess – now is the time to prune them as they are just about finishing flowering. Cut back flowering shoots to within two or three pairs of buds of the main branch, leaving the framework intact.

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Wildliffe e Matters with Maxine Raggatt

The mountaain hare The Peak District is home to the UK’s only native arctic animal – the mountain hare. They can also be found throughout all of Ireland, in the highlands of Scotland and the Isle of man, along with other arctic climates around the world.

When spotted, they will often be found grazing alone, as they tend not to live in groups. Their diet changes with the seasons depending on what is available at the time, time but it mainly consists of heather, grass, twigs, rush and sedge species.

Spot the difference The mountain hare and brown hare are very similar, r, but certain traits set them apart. The coat of a mountain hare has more of a grey tint to it, and they have brown eyes and shorter ears to minimise heat loss. The eyes of a brown hare are a shade of amber with the fur appearing more e orange tinted.

The average head an nd body length of a mountain hare is around 50cm, with females

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weighing in at about 2.9kg and males slightly less at around 2.6kg. Its body is smaller than a brown hare, and another defining factor is that the mountain hare has an all-year-round white tail.

Their fur turns white One of the fascinating abilities of the mountain hare is that during the winter months their summer coat moults and turns white, although brown fu ur can sometimes still be se een. The fur changing process iss usually complete by Decemb ber, and they will keep their wintter coats until early spring. The purpose of this is to camouflag ge themselves amongst the snow s to hid from hide f predators, d t b t with but ith our everchanging climate, it can often make them stand out more when there is no snow s on the ground. Young ha ares are

Picture: Tom Aspinall

hunted by foxes, wildcats, w stoats and buzzards, wiith many not making it to adulthood, while larger adults are e preyed upon by eagles.

Boxing behaviour From January to September the well-known boxin ng behaviour takes place where e several males will chase a fem male and she will retaliate by boxing.

Females may producce up to three litters per yea ar, with gestation being only 50 5 days.

Each litter of offspring will usually produce 1-4 leverets born with fur and eyess open.

The leverets are left alone during the first week of their life while the mother goes to feed, but she will return n at dusk to the thick vegetation where she left her y young g so they t can suckle her milk. By thre ee weeks of age, the leverets will be fully weaned and will g go their separate ways to find th heir own territories. The lifesp pan of a mountain hare is 3-4 y years but they have been known to live to 9 years old when kept in captivity.

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Interior Design with Gill Greenwell

How green is yo our house?

Plants Pl t lift the th spirits i it like lik nothing thi else; they bring life to a room and make it look more welcoming. They’re also an easy and affordable way to update your home. As we (eventually) move from the dark winter days to the first signs of spring, it’s a good time to think about bringing the outside in.

Here are some ways to add a feeling of spring to your home.

Plants with style At this time of the year I like the chic simplicity of plants with white flowers – I love to have lots of pots around the house filled with paperwhite narcissi, white hyacinths, and hellebores – they smell lovely and you can group them together to make more impact.

Create a contemporary look

mid-century, seventiess favourites like the rubber pla ants and ferns are also back in vo ogue. Do make sure you take ad dvice on the care of your plants and check they are safe for f your pets.

Super succulents

Create a pared back Nordic feel with i h houseplants h l – the he current trend is for plants with sculptural shapes as a focu us point.

Popular varieties include the exotically named drag gon and snake trees. If your style e is more

If y you don’t have a lott of time then go for something low maintenance. Small succulents and cactuses are having g a bit of a moment, they don’t cost c a lot and are in all the interiors shops. They come in a wide variety of shap pes and colours and need minimal watering – perffect for millennials living in small apartments. My daughter d can’t get anything g to grow in her London flat f so I bought her a gold tipped aloe vera in a lovely coloured pot an nd she’s now started a collection.

plant they can make a real r style statement. A group of aged terracotta pots filled wiith herbs will add a nice rustic note to your contemporary kitcchen.

Mix textures and go for unusual shapes. I parrticularly like some cream woven cotton pots I brought bacck from holiday that I filled with with white cyclamens. Te Terrariums filled with succulents also look very stylish, and macramé plant hangers are back in style.

Add some drama

Finally, take a tip from the Japanese and add a bit of drama to your room with an indoor tree – really striking with all-white interiors. I first saw this look used in a friend’s turn of the century apartment in Paris. The room was all white minimalist, softened with two beautiful fig trees in pots at each side of a large window – it New ideas for looked amazing. containers Now you have freshened up Plant containerss don’t your home, you can look have to be boring – forward to those first signs of partnered with the right spring.

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Gadgets & Gizmos with Laura Nicklin

February fresh f Are you still feeling blue this February, as winter lingers on? Then check out some of these gizmos that are sure to brighten up the dull month. From temperaturecontrolled mugs to codecracking robots, these winter wonders will be sure to kickstart your year.

contouring, t i clean l shaving, s body grooming A AND ear and nose trimming!

With blades for the e perfect shave and precisio on, this grooming kit doesn’t lag in performance, thanks s to its durable design. The e kit is available from Bo oots at £34.49.

Ember Te Temperature Control Ceramic Mug We ve all been guilty of We’ve making a cup of tea or coffee and then promptly forgetting about it, until it’s nice and chilled. If you’re slightly absent-minded, like myself, then you’re bound to appreciate this snazzy new device from Apple, who seem to have branched into kitchenware.

Introducing the very stylish Ember Ceramic Mug, made from durable stainless steel and a ceramic coating; not only l does d it look l k nice i e, but b t it has the added bonus of temperature-control.

Anki Cozmo Robot

Programmed with an app that lets you remotely change your drink’s temperature, the Ember Mug will also let you choose your notification preferences, and ensure th hat with a battery life of on ne hour (when fully charged d), your beverage won’t turn lukkewarm.

It also comes with its own Charging Coaster, Coaster so s you won’t need to worry y about boiling kettles, orr even popping your mug in the microwave when you’ve been really desperate. At £79 9.95, the Ember Mug is a true e winter warmer.

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Develop your codin ng skills and make a new frie end with this clever little bott that is just bursting with energy.

The Anki Cozmo Rob bot from John Lewis is one of the latest robots that combines s gameplay with teaching g. The interactive bot is full of o games and comes with his h own Power Cubes to play with, as well as his own Cozmo app!

With new updates co onstantly being added, there are e always fun new ways to play; the more you interact with h Cozmo, the more new gam mes and upgrades are unlocked d. With a compatible iOS or Android device, you can connect with Cozmo and help him develop new ranges of emotion. Just don’t ignore him too m much, as he can turn sassy. Ava ailable at £129.99.

If you’re suffering frrom the bushy-beard syndrome, or know someone who needs n a good grooming, the en the Multi Grooming Kit from Braun is the perfect gizmo. g The ultimate 9-in-1 hea ad-totoe kit comes with all the trimmings (pun inten nded) with different attachm ments for stubble, short/me edium/ long beards, hair clipping, The Local Answer

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Save the Planet with Lily Curle

The ethical foo od market Ethi l food Ethical f d is i becoming b i a bigger market than ever. As Veganuary comes to a close, it is time to think about how to source more ethical food, and what choices will reflect well on the environment.

It is important to consider not only our meat consumption, but also the places and retailers from whom we get our food, and the way in which it has been produced.

Of course, cutting down on your consumption of meat is a fast and easy way to make your diet more ethical. With the production of meat products comes vast amounts of greenhouse gases, from growing food for the animals, the machinery required to rear the animals and then the production of the products.

There is no need to go totally vegetarian or vegan just to help the planet, however simply cutting down to eating meat four times a week instead of every day will cut nearly half of the gases produced.

Vegan and vegetarian food can be delicious!

Try to include a few vegan dinners and vegetarian lunches a week, and this will become an easy habit that you can sustain. And, despite what many people think, vegan and vegetarian food can be very delicious and satisfying when done the right way!

F th Furthermore, cutting tti down d on your dairy consumption can also help to save the planet.

Dairy farming requires a lot of energy, and many resources are needed to help care for dairy cows. In cutting down your consumption, you cut the overall demand for these products, and so less farming is The Local Answer

required – in turn, you save the energy!!

Meat is not the only cu ulprit for ethical food, however. There T are also plant foods that are less than ethical, both for human and environmental reassons. For example, Brazilian av vocados contribute to sig gnificant deforestation of the Amazon rainforest. It is always worth being careful of whe ere your food is coming from, as a many mass producers will sacrifice the environment for the e sake of a large l yield i ld off crops.

The easiest way to enssure that your food is ethical is to o look for products from close to o home.

Consider buying from m farm shops, as you can definitely know the methods o of production for these crops.. Buying locally will also hugely y reduce food miles of your chosen To advertise call 01242 510500

produce – another be enefit for the h planet. l

Buy seasonally and locally Try to buy vegetabless that are in season, ones tha at don’t require the use of artificial heating in order to be e grown.

Choosing these products p means that the same greenhouse gases are n not made during production, creating a much happier planett and a much healthier you!

There are, of course, e many reasons why you may or may not choose a particular diet.

Everyone is entitled to a personal choice, but buying seasonally and locally is easy enough for us to do in the UK and the combined positive effect it could have would be huge for our planet.

Page 45

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Money Matters with Roger Downes of Andorran

Changing times Ask anyone at the moment about what 2019 will bring and they won’t be able to tell you, courtesy of the ever-changing picture regarding the UK’s exit from the European Union. These are changing times in anybody’s language.

Stick or twist? Save or spend? I guess these are questions ti th t we’ve that ’ asked k d off ourselves l f for decades, but priorities appear to be changing across the generations.

The generally accepted model of my age group In my younger days, it was save first, for a deposit on a house, spend next as you enjoyed your 20s and 30s, dread the big four-O and begin the gentle descent into retirement (in my case a very gentle one!) by lumping money into pension schemes in the way that you should have been doing for more years than you care to remember. If there was anything left, it went to the kids if they were lucky. It wasn’t the only way of doing it, but it was the generally accepted model of my age group.

As I’ve watched the next generation grow up, that model has changed a lot. Firstly, there is no saving for your first house. The house you want is probably unaffordable, if it hasn’t already been snapped up by a buy-to-let investor. And the price of it doesn’t fit against your multiple of salary to enable you to get a sensibly-priced mortgage.

Disposable income is lower as a percentage of income Disposable income amongst most young adults is lower as a percentage of income than it was years ago, with rents, cars, mobile phones, etc. eating into your funds for spending on holidays or ‘luxury items’. And the standard of living is now based on a twoperson income, such that if you live alone, you have no chance of ‘keeping up with the Joneses’.

Four-O has moved on a decade as everyone is living longer and the government is making us save for our pensions from the moment we start work. That’s a good thing, of course, and hopefully as this generation reaches its last ten working years, it won’t have to be setting aside quite as much as the previous one did at that age.

And none of that is anything to do in the slightest with Brexit. What happens next?!

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Page 47

Sport

with Roger Jackson

WA W ANT TO SHARE YOUR SPORTING STORY ON OUR WEBSITE? Please email full details to sport@thelocalanswer.co.uk

A lifetime’’s involvementt in so many sp ports By his own admission Mike M Edwards wasn’t very good at school. school In fact, that’s a bit of an understatement because he left the education system at the age of 15 without a qualification to his name.

“I couldn’t wait to get out,” he said, “they were the worst days of my life. I didn’t do any sport, I didn’t work hard.”

But while school was clearly a bit of a non-starter for the now 72-year-old, it’s fair to say he has been a frontrunner in life for the best part of six decades now, working in the racing industry for a good number of years, travelling the world to watch some of the top sporting events through his job as a sports travel agent, and working tirelessly on the administrative side to support rugby and cricket in Gloucestershire.

National Hunt racing was w always his first passion.

He has worked for some top county trainers, ha as owned horses as part of a family syndicate – he still do oes – and, wait for it… he is also the racing tipster for The Local Answer!

And as you’d expect frrom some-

one who has be een involved in the sport for so s long, he’s a rather good tipster too!

“Cheltenham Racecourse shaped my life e and it still influences me today because I live in Guiting Power which is right att the heart of National Hunt racing,” he said.

“In the 1950s I was just a scruffy kid wh ho lived in Cleeveland Strreet by the gasworks but itt was only a short walk to o the racecourse.

“In those days you u could walk onto the middle off the course and you could stan nd by any of the fences, I had a connection with racing.”

Since those early days he has barely missed a me eeting at the home of National Hunt H racing, going to the Festiva al meeting in March 50 times in a row.

Full story online.

We’re very lucky in Gloucestershire because we get to see some of the best sports stars in the country – and indeed the world – strutting their stuff on some of the biggest stages.

Think National Hunt racing, rugby and cricket; and in February sports fans are in for another treat because the leading players from the world of snooker will be heading to The Centaur at Cheltenham Racecourse to take part in the Coral World Grand Prix.

It will ill take t k place l f from 4th 10th 4th-10th February and among those set to take part are Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins and Judd Trump.

clearly know how to enjoy themselves because they meet on the second Mond day of the month at the Roya al Oak in Bishop’s Cleeve.

In fact, some of the t club’s members meet more often than that because, according to their website, “you will also find a few of us most Mond days at the Royal Oak!” “We are a relatively small club of about 30 membe ers,” said Graeme Ross, who is the club’s membership secretary and one of the founding memb bers.

“Quite a few of us live in Cleeve and all the founding members – Stuart and Craig Cameron, Mike and John Mitchell, Phil Robbins, Malcolm Middleton-Salt, Jeremy Williams – are still involved.”

It’s ’s full speed ahead

singles semi-final at Wimbledon.”

Those are the words d off Simon Si Corbishley who last year was named official of the year by Gloucestershire Lawn Tennis Te Association.

It’s important Siimon Corbishley to say at this stage that Corbishley isn’t currently c a tennis umpire, he h was just thinking out loud when w he was considering his career options in a sport he has been heavily involved in for many y years now.

“I’m a tournament director and referee, I’m a tennis coach and I also re-string rackets,” the 44year-old said.

A tennis all-rounder

Cleeve Motorsport Club are well into their eighth year and they

“You never know, in 10 years’ time I could be umpiring a men’s

Right on cue…

Mike Edwards, second from m left, taking part in a charity fun runn in 1983

FFo or fu full vers rsions of alll th these stori ries and more please vis isitt our website: www. w.thelocalanswer.r.co.uk

Above is a selection from local entertainment stories available online ...

One of England rugby’s great rugby great men men Mention the name Phil Blakeway around these parts and it’s likely to be followed by four words, ‘Gloucester, England, British Lion’.

And yet, if he had chosen another sporting path, it may have been another four words – equally impressive – that followed the mentioning of his name.

You see, Phil Blakeway, as well as being a Gloucester rugby legend and cornerstone of England’s 1980 Grand Slamwinning pack, was also a modern pentathlete back in the day.

And a good one he was too, good enough h to be the reserve for Great Briitain’s world junior championship team in London in 1968.

And come to think of it, ‘Phil Blakeway, Grreat Britain modern pentathlon’ does have quite a nice ring to itt!

“I used to play rugby and do modern pentathlon,” said Blakeway, “but eventually Robbie Phelps, the four-time Olympian, sa aid I had to choose between the two sports. I chose rugby b becaus b se it was easier!” i !”

Many injuries later – including a broken neckk – in a rugby career spanning more m than two decades, it co ould be argued that the teenaged Blakeway didn’t go for the easie er option, although it’s debateable whether he’d have enjoyed the level of success in modern m pentathlon that he had in rugby.

“I was goo od at the shooting, fencing and riding,” he said, “but running and swimming weren’tt my forte. weren fo orte ” He may be being a bit harsh on himself there as far as his running is concerned because although he was an out and out prop for the whole of his career and good enough to play 19 times for England – he was mainly a tighthead but could also play on the loose – he was

also quickk enough to play on the wing for Gloucesterr in the Middlesex Sevens on occasion.

Born in Cheltenham, Blakeway was w educated at Sherborrne School, a small priv vate school, but it wass at Cheltenham RFC C that he learned hiss rugby.

He was part of the junior sett-up before graduating g to the Colts, the team th hat launched Phil Blakeway was thhe cornerstone of England’s a good number of Grand Slam-w winning pack in 1980 players onto top same number that I played for careers in the t game. h first fi t team,” ” Blakeway Bl k said. id “John Fidler, Nigel Jackson the He mad de his first-team debut and Chris Mourton were all just before me,” said Blakeway, who against Moseley in 1971 and has fond memories of that over the years played alongside Gloucestter greats such as Mike period in his life.

Teague, John Gadd, Gordon Blakeway, who was 68 on New Te Year’s Eve and lives in Sargent, Robin Cowling, Mike Ye Sevenhampton, is very easy to Nicholls,, John Orwin, Steve talk to and is happy to tell stories Boyle, Mike Longstaff and M to name just a few. from yesteryear in an era when Richard Mogg His firsst game for England players were fearsome rivals on me until 1980 and while the field and drinking pals in the didn’t com y seem to have been a clubhouse almost as soon as the that may long waitt, there was a very good final whistle had blown. or that because he broke They were unwritten rules that reason fo Blakeway was more than happy his neck in 1977.

“I broke e it on the Wednesday, to abide by and he was certainly n the Saturday and found starting to make an impression played on he Sunday!” he said. as a rugby player in his late out on th Typically, Blakeway said that Ty teens because he was captain of n necks go, his wasn’t a Gloucestershire Colts as well as as broken bad one, but it was bad enough Cheltenham Colts.

By the age of 19 Blakeway for him to stop playing for a thought he’d try his luck at couple off years.

When h he returned to action he Gloucester. In those days, wannabe players pretty much was catapulted into the England took themselves over to Kings- set-up after just two secondd two first-team games, holm and it was a case of sink or team and making g his debut against the swim.

Tw wickenham in 1980.

Blakeway swam of course, Irish at Tw That year – 1980 – was the year despite what he said of his swimming prowess in his when Biill Beaumont and his merry me en won the Grand Slam modern pentathlon days! e and Blakeway, modest Not that he was an overnight of course success at Gloucester, it rarely as ever, said: “It was unbelievable, talk about being in the right worked like that in those days.

“I think I played 140 games for place at tthe right time.” the United, which was about the Full story y online.

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N E S M E S V A B U G J D T L Q T S C W X M X L

S P N W Y Q O Y N D C L P E B S E K D G R F I F

B R O D I N N E R T E A N V C U R X M N Y E W X

A L M S F R L B Z C I T R C W T R A E H E P R M

F D L O U K L F Z Q I C I D V V P J W L C I Y P

X Y P G W R O W K N G C Q J H M K K F K I A R Y

T K R N C G E V E N M C U W K Z L S D O H Y G F

D Y T I Z G K V F E E L I N G S P S B V Q F I F

Q N U R X L J S E F X W U K H B D I H B N B V D

Q M O A G L E K A R G Y G Z B D N K S R V M I G

Z D E H Y J W F R D O L O E R N M K Q U Y Q N N

E F L S E I E G O W J F W G K C Q S V J Q C G E

M V L V Z B L E L P U O C B A A Q Y D M T O K O

R M O X Y G L G F W R Z W Y Q R T V Q B E T X J

R L O A N X E Q A R B R X R O D F W K L Q O T A

X H Q E I B R D A K O M B W W F X J B N B R P G

Z J X I S E Y X Y E D G B E P W L V D E T R L V

B Q N N W D D H D E T A L O C O H C X L M E C F

A N A O E T F U N C L J A Y D A T E U M C I S V

U C J Q E F K I A K Y K U U O T E W X H P A N D

V K U C T X V V C E Z A M M G Y N T X N O Q D E

Competition Winners The TLA Photography winner for the Feebruary 2019 cover is Kerry Palmer of Lydney.

Competition Rules 1 Prizes are as stated and no cash or prize alternative will be offered. 2 Employees of The Local Answerr and their families or households are not eligible to enter. 3 Thhe first correct entry drawn at random after the closing date will win the prize as stated. 4 The winner will be notifieed by telephone after the closingg date has ppassed. 5 The Edditor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. 6 Entrants must be over 18 years, unless 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 yyou be drawn as a winner of the pprize. 10 Byy enteringg any competition you agree to have your details passed to a third party. 11 One entry per household.

BOOKING DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE – Friday 8th February 2019

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